Open Source Scan Converter + VBXE.

[leech]

So after the success of the GBS-8220, I thought I'd give a shot to with the OSSC, since after all, eventually all TVs/screens with VGA will die off...

 

For those that don't know what the Open Source Scan Converter is; https://www.videogameperfection.com/products/open-source-converter/

 

Basically it's a higher range scan doubler, not quite as expensive as the Framemeister, but supposedly just as good. There are DIY things to build it yourself and the firmware is open source.

 

I bought one for various systems, and today just got in my Atari ST and Atari Jaguar SCART cables!

 

Now from my (admittedly limited) understanding, the VBXE and Atari ST should have nearly identical outputs. In fact I tested this just now with my cable from Best Electronics (the one that has the Hi-Low/Med resolution switch, which I just tried on the VBXE output of my 130XE and it actually made it monochrome/color, though unlike the ST, did not cause a reboot. I tried this on the GBS-8220).

 

Unfortunately the SCART cable doesn't not behave when connected between the Atari 130XE's DIN13 port and the OSSC. Gives zero signal. I know the cable works (I ordered it from Retro Computer Shack) and going from the 1040STe and the OSSC it gives an absolutely brilliant picture quality on my 27" Dell. The OSD on the OSSC says 'No Sync' so I'm not sure which sync wire is connected so that it works on the ST and not on the VBXE.

 

Any thoughts? I mean Retro Computer Shack does sell a 8bit to SCART cable, but it's meant for the actual 8bit's monitor port, not the DIN13 connection flashjazzcat connected.

 

I suppose if I have to, I can check out the wiring of the VBXE and see how it looks, not to suggest it was wired up incorrectly, but I'm wondering if there is an extra.. something that the SCART connection needs that it doesn't have and normally isn't needed. I also need to post a request on the forums for the OSSC because even using the VGA input for the 8bit looks terrible compared to the GBS-8220, and that really shouldn't be the case.

Through GBS-8220 (stupid camera/frequency artifacts, it really is a solid blue)

 

On the OSSC there are vertical lines that flicker, not sure how well people can see that with the picture.

Edited November 23, 2017 by leech

[Frankie]

After I installed my VBXE and hooked it up to a $100 scan doubler that's exactly what it looked like. Nothing I could figure out fixed it. Eventually I bought an XRGB-3 and the picture looks amazing.

[leech]

Interesting; I posted the question over here: https://www.videogameperfection.com/forums/topic/atari-130xe-with-vbxe-upgrade/Does the VBXE use Composite Sync or a separate Sync?

[flashjazzcat]

SYNC comes straight from CD4050 pin 15 on your machine, so may be a bit strong. You could use a voltage divider to get it down to 0.75v or so (as suggested to me by MytekControls).

[leech]

Cool, thanks! Looks like the SCART cable I bought indeed uses the C-SYNC then, which is not connected, but I could definitely try the voltage divider.

[twh/f2]

I just watched this video about the OSSC 1.6.

 

 

So did you eventually get some better results out of the VBXE?

Even though OSSC is a lot cheaper than the Framemeister it is still somewhat expensive, only to find out that VBXE+OSSC isn't a perfect match.

[leech]

From what I saw in a thread for the 1088XEL there are plans for a new SCART cable specifically for the VBXE and Sophia.

[twh/f2]

Hi leech,

 

sorry. I don't understand. What do you mean with "1088XEL"? and what is Sophia?

 

grüße,

thomas

[leech]

1088XEL is a miniITX kit for building an Atari 8bit system. The Sophia is the RGB video upgrade, like the VBXE, but I think without all of the extra colors and such. Check the forum here.