raspberry_pi_arcade [sommerp.net]

Cabling Overview Layout

Sony PVM 14M4E (RGB)
Consumer TV (SCART)

Modified Retropie Files

Importance	File	Quick Infuse
required	config.txt	cd /boot sudo wget http://sommerp.net/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=config.txt -O config.txt -P /boot
optional	bashrc	cd /home/pi sudo wget http://sommerp.net/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=bashrc -O .bashrc -P /home/pi
optional	onstart	…
optional	onend	…

hdmi_timings (WIP)

a lot of testing is needed to expand the table below. Usefull ressources on the internet are still very rare

change resolution on the fly via vcgencmd without reboot
- Example for CPS II System
- ```
vcgencmd hdmi_timings 384 1 0 11 28 224 1 30 0 30 0 0 0 60 0 6400000 1
```

h_active_pixels	h_sync_polarity	h_front_porch	h_sync_pulse	h_back_porch	v_active_lines	v_sync_polarity	v_front_porch	v_sync_pulse	v_back_porch	v_sync_offset_a	frame_rate	pixel freq	aspect_ratio	Comment
240	1	54	48	54	160	1	50	10	60	0	60	6400000	1	#GBA #240:160 (Prototyp) - Rand ist unten
256	1	6	17	18	192	1	26	22	29	0	60	4800000	1	#Sega Master System (NTSC) # 256:192
256	1	8	17	21	224	1	7	10	24	0	60	4800000	1	#NES, SNES (NTSC) #256:224
256	1	8	17	21	229	1	0	30	0	12	60	4800000	1	#PC Engine (zuckelt oben)
260	1	8	17	21	230	1	7	24	0	0	60	4800000	1	260x230x60Hz
320	1	20	29	35	224	1	10	14	16	0	60	6400000	1	#SEGA Genesis (NTSC) 320:224
320	1	14	46	28	256	1	17	32	9	0	50	6400000	1	#Amiga 320:256 Amiga (PAL)
320	1	17	33	34	224	1	14	8	18	0	60	6400000	1	#320x244x60Hz
320	1	20	30	35	240	1	12	12	16	0	60	6400000	1	#320:240
336	1	10	30	34	252	1	15	3	42	0	50	6400000	1	#336:252 6.4MHz progressive
384	1	0	11	28	224	1	30	0	30	0	60	6400000	1	#CapcomPlaySystem 1 #384:224
386	1	10	15	30	226	1	30	0	30	0	60	640000	1	#386×226
480	1	29	35	66	234	1	4	10	18	0	60	9600000	1	#480x234x60Hz
506	1	8	48	56	240	1	3	10	6	0	60	9600000	1	#506x240x60Hz
512	1	16	48	64	288	1	3	5	6	0	50	9600000	1	#512x288x50Hz
512	1	22	32	54	244	1	3	5	6	0	60	9600000	1	#512x244x60Hz
512	1	16	48	64	320	1	5	5	0	0	60	9600000	1	#512x320x60Hz - flickering stressfull for eyes
1010	1	24	96	120	288	1	3	10	6	0	50	19200000	1	#1010x288x50Hz
1068	1	10	62	72	256	1	2	4	2	0	60	19200000	1	#1068x256x60Hz

EMULATIONSTATION
hdmi_timings 450 1 50 30 85 288 1 10 1 25 0 0 0 60 0 9600000 1

NEOGEO
hdmi_timings 1920 1 152 247 280 224 1 13 8 19 0 0 0 59.186 0 40610000 1

PCENGINE
hdmi_timings 1920 1 158 250 286 232 1 4 3 23 0 0 0 59.94 0 41060000 1

PLAYSTATION
hdmi_timings 1920 1 152 247 280 240 1 1 7 14 0 0 0 60 0 40860000 1
hdmi_timings 1920 1 132 247 280 288 1 3 3 18 0 0 0 50 0 40240000 1

MEGADRIVE/GENESIS/MASTER SYSTEM
hdmi_timings 1920 1 48 192 240 240 1 3 3 16 0 0 0 59.92 0 37680000 1
hdmi_timings 1920 1 48 192 240 288 1 6 3 16 0 0 0 49.70 0 37340000 1

NES
hdmi_timings 1920 1 158 200 286 240 1 1 8 13 0 0 0 60.10 0 40380000 1
hdmi_timings 1920 1 158 200 314 240 1 23 6 43 0 0 0 50.01 0 40450000 1

SNES
hdmi_timings 1920 1 160 200 286 224 1 9 8 21 0 0 0 60.10 0 40410000 1
hdmi_timings 1920 1 158 200 314 239 1 25 6 42 0 0 0 50.01 0 40450000 1

AMIGA
hdmi_timings 1920 1 180 192 334 262 1 14 15 22 0 0 0 50 0 41200000 1

224p x 60Hz
hdmi_timings 1920 1 152 247 280 224 1 8 7 23 0 0 0 60 0 40860000 1

240p x 60Hz
hdmi_timings 1920 1 152 247 280 240 1 3 7 12 0 0 0 60 0 40860000 1

216 x 60Hz
hdmi_timings 1920 1 152 247 280 224 1 8 7 23 0 0 0 60 0 40860000 1

192 x 60Hz
hdmi_timings 1920 1 152 247 280 224 1 8 7 23 0 0 0 60 0 40860000 1

256p x 55Hz
hdmi_timings 1920 1 100 320 260 288 1 1 3 1 0 0 0 55 0 41900000 1

254p53.20Hz
hdmi_timings 1920 1 100 320 260 254 1 1 3 36 0 0 0 53.20 0 40670000 1

224p58.97Hz
hdmi_timings 1920 1 50 250 250 250 1 8 10 8 0 0 0 58.97 0 38750000 1

240p55.72Hz
hdmi_timings 1920 1 50 250 250 260 1 4 5 8 0 0 0 55.72 0 38130000 1

source: https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/issues/734#issuecomment-282567810

FAQ

Will it work with the official “gert666 VGA adapter”, too?
- yes

For what distro does it work currently
- retropie → OK
- recalbox → output only blue image
- rgb-pi → color mismatch

Why do you use the “VGA Shield / Hat Board” and not the “gert666 VGA adapter”
- Technically it´s the same. I ordered the gert666 from china but unfortunately it never arrived. So i had to search for a good alternative. The PCB quality is really good.

Why should i not use a HDMI to VGA Adapter?
- The video signal must be converted from digital to analog. Inside of the adapter is a small chip, who is responsible for this process. This procedure needs time. For normal desktop usage, you wouldn´t notice it at all. Regarding for games, it leads to a common, but unwanted issue called “input lag” or “input delay”

Are there known problems i should know?
- Only Progessive Video works with hdmi_timings. Interlaced modes (for higher resolutions) seem not work however. I tried many different settings but i were not able to get a stable image.
- Ingame Resolutions and the currently used resolution for retropie may not the same. The image seems “blocky” or “cuted off”. The effect is most visible on text and scrolling.

Does this work on recalbox?
- I´ve tried it with recalbox 4.0 with the same settings but red and green is missing. The default Kernel image for recalbox seems customized. I haven´t done a deeper drilldown to this topic.

VGA uses PIN 13 for H-Sync and PIN 14 for V-Sync. How did you combine those two in order to get the C-Sync Signal (= H+V) for your PVM Monitor?
- With the BNC-Y-Adapter. Thats all :)

The hdmi_timings dont work. All i got is a fuzzy, moving image like this one
- Reason #1 - According to my experience so far, each tube needs its own settings. You will not come arround finding the right timing for your TV.
- Reason #2 - (unsure/guessing) Your CRT accepts only negative sync. I have no experience and knowledge with this issue, sorry.

The screen image seems too big.
- If you have a newer CRT, check for scaling settings.

The top area seems bent / My TV detects the channel as new input all the time / The image disapears and shows again randomly
- Your´re near to get a perfect hdmi_timing. Slightly change the h_front_porch,h_sync_pulse and h_back_porch settings.

Do you know a tool i can use to get a approximately point of origin for the timings i want?
- Yes - I use the Custom Resolution Utility (CRU)

Where can i download the CRU Tool?
- https://www.monitortests.com/forum/Thread-Custom-Resolution-Utility-CRU

A new distro fork from recalbox “RGB-PI” has been launched. How will it perform with the hat board and/or UMSA?
- Tested with RGB-Pi 4.0 Beta 3

Hardware List

Core Components

	Raspberry Pi 3 Model B
	64 GB MircoSD Card
	Vullers Tech®. VGA Shield V2.0 for Raspberry Pi 2B, B+ GPIO to VGA Interface Expansion Board
	GPIO Extender Cable (optional)
	Audio Splitter, 3.5mm Stereo Male To 2 RCA Female
	Two/2 RCA Cable male to male audio stereo cable
	VGA Cable Male to Male

For Sony PVM

	RCA Phono Adapter / 1 RCA to 2 RCA Adapter
	5 BNC to VGA Breakout Cable
	BNC-Y-Adapter / BNC-male to 2 BNC-female（Y）
	VGA Gender Changer Female to Female / D-Sub Gender Changer

For SCART TV

	UMSA - Ultimate Scart Adapter
	Full 21 PIN SCART Male to SCART Male

...

Erik FARAVEL asked me to test it with 306/1/21/30/50/224/1/12/3/23 for SNES - These is the result on my PVM

Again from Erik FARAVEL for SNES → vcgencmd hdmi_timings 306 1 21 30 50 224 1 12 3 23 0 0 0 60 0 6400000 1