Scart issues... with a Mega Drive

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Reeves
Posts: 257
Joined: Mon 08 May, 2006 19.59

I've decided to dig out my old Mega Drive system and get hold of a Scart lead for it because I was tired of the picture quality I was getting from the RF lead, which didn't give a sharp picture and was rather shaky and unstable.

After trying the Scart, everything is fine except for the shakiness. It's nothing severe but you can't help but notice the juddering. Would this be the system being rubbish or is there something I can do about it?

Thanks :)

P.s. I've noticed that it's in a letterbox, for some reason. Is this normal with a Scart lead on a Mega Drive?
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Reeves
Posts: 257
Joined: Mon 08 May, 2006 19.59

It's a PAL system with a PAL cartridge, which makes me wonder why the flickering is present with the Scart as well as on RF. As far as I know, the TV is fine with NTSC signals but, if it's getting one, I'm very confused why.
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Dr Lobster*
Posts: 2123
Joined: Sat 30 Aug, 2003 20.14

all i can suggest is to see if it makes any difference to try the console on a different tv - then you'll at least know if it's something specific going on with your tv or if the megadrive has got a fault.

if all else fails, head over to http://www.eidolons-inn.net/tiki-index.php?page=kega and download kega fusion - an emulator so you can play the games on your pc. you can then trawl the web and torrents for all your favourite games.
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Reeves
Posts: 257
Joined: Mon 08 May, 2006 19.59

I do use Fusion but, as with most emulators, nothing beats the real thing...

Anyway, I've just set the system up to a 15" LCD TV, about five years old, and the picture is faultless, so I can only assume it's down to my TV. Any advice on what I can do with it? I can't think of anything I can do with the picture to stop it wobbling.
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Gavin Scott
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Reeves wrote:I do use Fusion but, as with most emulators, nothing beats the real thing...

Anyway, I've just set the system up to a 15" LCD TV, about five years old, and the picture is faultless, so I can only assume it's down to my TV. Any advice on what I can do with it? I can't think of anything I can do with the picture to stop it wobbling.
Maybe your scart socket on the TV has a bad connection. They get damaged with the strain of scart plugs being pushed and pulled into them and the solder breaks on some of the connections.

Not always, but its not uncommon.

EDIT: Reread your o/p - if it exhibits the same problem via RF cable then its not a bad scart socket. Could be something more electronic in the TV at fault.
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Ebeneezer Scrooge
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Sounds as if some of the capacitors could be drying out - often exhibits flickering and stuff as a result, mostly on peak whites which are more commonly found in video games.
Snarky
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Reeves
Posts: 257
Joined: Mon 08 May, 2006 19.59

The unusual thing is that this only happens with the Mega Drive - no other device. That's why I'm confused by why it's worked fine on the other TV.
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Reeves
Posts: 257
Joined: Mon 08 May, 2006 19.59

Okay, after some fiddling around with it all, I've found out the issue, but not a solution.

I've got the Mega Drive hooked up to a multi scart adaptor with a Dreamcast and Ps1. Ps1 and DC work fine but the MD still has the wobbly picture it has when it's plugged straight into the TV. However, when I plug the adaptor into a DVD recorder and bring the feed up, the picture on the MD is fine, as is the Ps1 and the DC.

Needless to say, I still don't know what I can do about it as my TV has no effective options for such an issue.
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Dr Lobster*
Posts: 2123
Joined: Sat 30 Aug, 2003 20.14

not a solution to your problem either, but i'm curious... what are you playing right now?

i'm fancying a bit of wiz n liz.... but torn by the temptation of speeding through sonic 2's casino night zone... decisions decisions !
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Malpass93
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu 16 Oct, 2008 16.19
Location: Ealing

Dr Lobster* wrote:not a solution to your problem either, but i'm curious... what are you playing right now?

i'm fancying a bit of wiz n liz.... but torn by the temptation of speeding through sonic 2's casino night zone... decisions decisions !
Chemical Plant is the one for speed imo. Gotta love the Mega Drive games - it's high-def, remember!

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The New Malpass.
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Reeves
Posts: 257
Joined: Mon 08 May, 2006 19.59

I've had Robocop vs The Terminator in the slot for most of the time since my first post.
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