PC Engine 'Jail Bar' Video Noise - repair guide by Tim W

[leonk]

The biggest issue is would it fit on the pads. Don't want the caps to be too big.

[Corredor X]

I keep reading that the white PCE gives jailbar free RGB in the IFU

Sadly that's not always the case, my RGB modded white PCE gives me jailbars on a IFU  They are visible in places like Keith Courage's blue sky and Bomberman/Bonk 3 title screens. Looking forward to do viletim's mod too, saw it on Shmups forums and the results look amazing for a very simple procedure; before that I was wondering if modding the IFU could get me a better image.

[SegaSonic91]

I keep reading that the white PCE gives jailbar free RGB in the IFU

Sadly that's not always the case, my RGB modded white PCE gives me jailbars on a IFU  They are visible in places like Keith Courage's blue sky and Bomberman/Bonk 3 title screens. Looking forward to do viletim's mod too, saw it on Shmups forums and the results look amazing for a very simple procedure; before that I was wondering if modding the IFU could get me a better image.

That's disappointing.  But in saying that, it seems that nothing is ever 100% the same with this wacky system.  Some people report no jailbars with a Core Grafx while others say it's terrible.  Same can be said with just about every other iteration, save the US versions, it seems.  I am STILL waiting for my power cables for both my IFU and DUO (which I finally finished capping today) to arrive before I can test them out.  I am not impressed with "Retro Game Suuplies" service, at all. 

I do not have Wataru yet (been meaning to buy it for years!!) or PC Genjin 3 to test with, what games are good to test for jailbars?  I think I've seen Super Raiden used before, I can use that.  Legend of Hero Tonma has quite a lot of blue backgrounds from memory, I may try that, too.  Although, I don't remember full solid backgrounds, it tends to have more going on in the background.

One other thing I was wondering, does the Super Grafx suffer from jailbars, too? 

[incrediblehark]

my white pce+ifu30 has perfect picture without this mod, but my duo could use it for sure. just don't know how comfortable i feel about doing it myself.

[mickcris]

location on the CoreGrafx.  They have the same part ids as the white PCE

[incrediblehark]

Got my caps in the mail today from digikey, the smd ones leonk linked to. Man these are small! I'm going to give it a shot but worried I'm going to kill my duo.

[L-Digital]

Yeah, so far every system seems to act a little different with RGB. Just last week I installed an amp in a pcengine IFU setup and it had no jail bars whatsoever. I didn't even do any of the cap additions or changes. All I did was take everything needed from the exp port pins inside the IFU. I used C-sync, not composite video for sync.

It's too bad we can't just toss one of these inside our consoles to fix everything.

Hi Keith

Do you have a guide you can point me to for getting c-sync when modding the if unit? Do you use an amp or just channel it from the pins to the output?

Thanks

[Keith Courage]

Here is a pic of the pin out inside an IFU. Use the pin labeled sync. Do not use composite video.


Then wire up your Din port like this. Pic is from a DUO but the pin out should be the same.


Although there are many who prefer that the red and blue lines be swapped around. Either way works as long as you wire up your scart cable accordingly.

[NightWolve]

Great find, the guide was put together and presented well! Him and Steve have never talked on each others' findings but oh well. Will be interesting to see if this works better than everything we have reported here.

[incrediblehark]

EDIT: The following post appears to be unrelated to the jailbar issue, new thread to be started as I don't want to mislead others looking for what seems to be a reliable fix for jailbars

So I installed the 2 caps per viletim's instructions and the jailbars are gone! I have to say I did a pretty terrible job of soldering these to the board but it seems to have worked. However, I am still having another issue. I am getting a lot of interference on screen in the form of diagonal wavy lines. I tried taking pics of it:


It appears as snow in the photos, best I could do to capture them. This issue was ongoing for me even before the fix, and I was hoping this would clear it up. Any idea on what could solve this issue? its the only thing holding me back from a clear picture on my Duo.

[ApolloBoy]

What kind of power supply are using with your Duo? If you're using a cheap PSU it can generate interference like the kind you're seeing.

[incrediblehark]

It is an official US Duo adapter. I could try a newer one but would have to get a tip for my universal.

[NightWolve]

The original is an el cheapo unregulated model, yeah, I would upgrade it quick. Might as well give less work to the internal regulators.

http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=14453.msg374635#msg374635

You want a 9 VDC adapter preferably rated at/above 1.5 Amps. You can go 1 volt lower per Steve's findings/recommendations. I have a link on where to buy a tip in that post as well.

[deubeul]

Did you have the diagonal wavy lines before you put the 2 caps?

I had  diagonal wavy lines on 2 CGX too. At first I assumed it was because of the RGB amp I used ( a homemade Sodipeng amp), because a Duo-R with Pnauts' amp did not have the problem.

I tried the CGXs with others PSUs, even an other TV, but problem was still there. I even tried with a different kind of  din8 base in one of the CGX.

I also tried to get the RGB from the Huc6260, since I get it from there in the Duo, but no difference.

Then I received everything needed to build a Micro's amp and the diag lines were still there. Note that I replaced C135 and C133 with the 4.7 uF on this CGX. Let's call it CGX1.

Then I desoldered the Pnaut's amp to put it in the other CGX, the CGX2 then, and the diag lines were still there. What the f*ck?, did I say to myself.

Then I noticed the wires I used in the CGX1 for the RGB mod were not the same I used for the Duo-R. So I desoldered the wires and replaced them with the same I used with the Duo and BAM! Bye bye the diagonal wavy lines.

Problem was still there on the CGX2 with Pnauts' amp though. Goog wires, good amp, good PSU, good Din8 base, same Scart cable, same psu. What the hell was the problem? What's the difference with the CGX1? Answer was: C133 and C135 replacement. Now the picture is just perfect, freed from jailbars and  diagonal lines.

In these cases the issue was a combination of severeral little things. Maybe my handmade Sodipeng amp would work now? But hey, I'm tired of soldering/desoldering for today. Tomorrow I'll see if the diagonal lines come back if if get the RGB from the exp port and let you know.

[mickcris]

The original is an el cheapo unregulated model, yeah, I would upgrade it quick. Might as well give less work to the internal regulators.

http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=14453.msg374635#msg374635

You want a 9 VDC adapter preferably rated at/above 1.5 Amps. You can go 1 volt lower per Steve's findings/recommendations. I have a link on where to buy a tip in that post as well.

these adapters are easier to use as no soldering required:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-Power-Plug-Jack-Change-Adapter-3-0x6-3mm-Male-to-2-1x5-5mm-Female-lot-/131665973582

Im not really sure those cheap chinese supplies are better than the original though.  Some can cause noise in the picture.