Supergun Video Issue/ Bad Encoder?

Gamester · Feb 28, 2009

Hey guys,

I had time to work on my supergun today. I got all of the power and video hooked up correctly i think. I am using the Neobitz video board with S-video, Composite and Component outs. I have the TMNT JAMMA board that I am testing out and this is the only JAMMA board I have at the moment. When I try hooking up composite video, I get a lot of orange coloring and garble on the demo running and when it shows parts of in game it is black and white. When I hook up component video, the demo runs with correct coloring, but when it shows the ingame part it is all orange/red colored. The S-video only displays only static and no image.

Could I have a bad video encoder board, or do you thing something hooked up incorrectly could cause this? Bad JAMMA board maybe?

Thanks,
Gamester

xiao_haozi · Feb 28, 2009

I might be pretty far off....but I know there are some compatibility issues with the encoders. I THOUGHT that it was usually just that people used neobitz for mvs stuff as it was made mainly for that whereas guys like jrok were geared towards SGs. Maybe there is some kind of compatibility issue with your jamma TMNT and the neobitz?!?
Can you get any other PCBs to try?

But I'm an idiot so probably best to wait for the real people to reply.

Xian Xi · Feb 28, 2009

The s-vid and composite on a Neobitz has low compatibility compared to that of the JROK but the Neobitz Component circuit has a very wide range of compatibility.

Use the component output for TMNT.

Gamester · Feb 28, 2009

Yea I tried component also and it displays the correct coloring when the game runs it's demo, but on the parts of the demo that show the in game play it is all orange/red colored, not correct coloring.

Also, I don't know if this is related, but when I plug in my Neo Geo MVS MV-1A board and put in my Metal Slug 3 cart, which is the only one I have at the moment, it just displays white checkered lines with a black background and stays there. I am using a power supply that has 5,12, and -5 volts running at 5amps if that matters.

I chose the Neobitz card because I read that it was highly compatible for a supergun. TMNT is a very common JAMMA game that a lot of people have. Surely some has experienced these issues? :conf:

Xian Xi · Feb 28, 2009

If it's a V2 turn off the sync cleaner.

Gamester · Mar 1, 2009

You know the strange thing, it is the V2.0, but I do not see a switch.

Here is a pic of what my Neobitz board looks like...

Unless it is under the foam on the back side, which would be really inconvenient if it was. It even shows on the diagram paper that came with it that there is supposed to be a switch there. :scratch:

Thanks,
Gamester

Xian Xi · Mar 1, 2009

Looks like you need one. You can get a stand alone sync cleaner from JROK. Send him a PM. Did you have any pots on your supergun? I'm asking this because I can see you have fixed resistors on the board in the upper right of the picture. If you are running pots take those off.

Gamester · Mar 1, 2009

Nope, I am not using pots on this one.

Shouldn't this board have a built in sync cleaner? Should I try to unsolder that jumper and move it to the left to connect the circuit path, or is that not what I think it is?

This board cost $90, I don't really want to put any more money into it, if you know what I mean.

Thanks,
Gamester

werejag · Mar 1, 2009

the lm181 and suporting circuit isnt on it but it could be added for under a few bucks. contact him and he will tell you the missing parts. i added the same parts to the diy one from him

Xian Xi · Mar 1, 2009

Ya you can either get the parts from your local electronics store but you might need to order the LM1881 from online. The JROK one is about $10 assembled, that's why I said to get it instead. Also you need to make an on/of switch for the sync cleaner, use a spst switch.

o---To Encoder
o---Sync from board
o---To Sync Cleaner>Encoder

Gamester · Mar 1, 2009

Yea that must be it because I just cleaned my Metal Slug 3 cart and now my Neo Geo board displays the game perfectly with all outputs.

Ok, so if I bought this sync cleaner board...

http://www.jrok.com/project/sync_cleaner/sync_pics.html

...this would allow most JAMMA PCBs to display correctly, right?

Also, how would I hook it up to the Neobitz board?

Thanks,
Gamester

Xian Xi · Mar 1, 2009

I actually posted the pinout in my prior post. That's how it will connect to the switch. There is only 3 pins on a spst on/on switch.

The sync cleaner cleans the sync signal if it has noise on the line. It helps remedy a lot of weird picture problems. But sometimes turning it off helps as well.

Gamester · Mar 1, 2009

Ok, so I guess I will shoot an email to JROK and see if I can get me a sync cleaner for a decent price.

In the mean time, I can play Metal Slug 3 until I drop

Thanks a bunch for the help!

Thanks again,
Gamester

buaku · Mar 2, 2009

I have an X-men board and it's a Konami one too. I'm guessing that TMNT is also Konami.

My X-men doesn't play nice with the Neobitz no matter which way I have the sync cleaner switch set. The Neobitz I have does have the sync cleaner switch on it. So even if you had the Neobitz with the built in sync cleaner I don't think it'd make a difference. I've never tried the JROK sync cleaner with it though. If that works that'd be cool.

As far as your MS3 issue have you tried cleaning the cart and the slot?
Also you might want to check the actual voltage on the +5 line, maybe it's a bit low.
I know on my 6-slot if the voltages are too low all I get is the crosshatch.

Gamester · Mar 2, 2009

Ok, I will let you guys know if the JROK video cleaner works. X-men is on my list of PCBs to buy as well.

Yea, my MS3 works fine, it was just a dirty cart

buaku · Mar 2, 2009

Cool deal!

If you want X-men to be playable be sure to get the 4 player version :P
I still can't figure out how to mirror the video for the 6-player one so I can play it on the TV.

Xian Xi · Mar 2, 2009

It's easier to mirror if you have a projector.

buaku · Mar 2, 2009

I keep hoping for some sort of device. Well something not crazy expensive.

A projector might actually be cheaper than some of those devices, lol.

Gamester · Mar 3, 2009

Still waiting on a reply from JROK, sent him an email on Sunday.

I'm sure he is busy, has anyone talked to him lately?

Gamester · Mar 12, 2009

Hey guys,

I got my JROK video sync cleaner from Gatorcade and got it installed in my supergun. All I can say is WOW! This little device fixed all of my video issues and then some. I can now play my TMNT PCB and other boards with crisp, vibrant, and correct colors on my Neobitz encoder. To my amazement, even my already working MVS Neo and Battletoads boards look noticeably better, we are talking night and day difference here. Not to mention, I am running composite video through an old VCR to an old 25" 1988 TV set and it still looks great! I'll have to hook up the component video to my plasma and see how good it is, I expect it will be awesome. I played TMNT until midnight last night and would have played longer, but I had to wake up at 6:30

I didn't even know my Battletoads PCB coloring was off until I seen it displayed correctly through the sync cleaner. I thought the initial "EA" screen background was supposed to be green tinted, but it is actually pure white and that is what it is supposed to look like. Not to mention the general coloring of the game is much more defined, it is just gorgeous

Needless to say, I could not be happier with my purchase of this sync cleaner and recommend it to anyone running a Neobitz

Later,
Gamester

Xian Xi · Mar 12, 2009

+1 for me.

Gamester · Mar 12, 2009

Xian Xi said:
+1 for me.

Yep, thanks a bunch for suggesting that Xian Xi. I am one very happy camper now

You are the man! :buttrock:

Thanks again,
Gamester

Xian Xi · Mar 12, 2009

Make sure you make a switch though as sometimes it's better when it's off.

Gamester · Mar 12, 2009

Xian Xi said:
Make sure you make a switch though as sometimes it's better when it's off.

I will do that if I run into a problem with future boards. However, it has only made mass improvements to my boards so far

I got TMNT: Turtles in Time coming next. I bet it will look great for that too, but we will see.

Thanks again,
Gamester

Neo Alec · Mar 12, 2009

TMNT is the only board I have that doesn't work 100% even with the sync cleaner on the Jrok. Never make a supergun with the Neobitz.

Xian Xi said:
Make sure you make a switch though as sometimes it's better when it's off.

I've never seen a case of that. I have no switch, but I used to not have a sync cleaner before.

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