Blue horizontal lines, yellow whites

[NCC2569]

Ahoy m8ies!

I am in desperate need of attention, or 'help', if you prefer.

First, I'll summarise:

- Master System I

- PAL VA3 board

- SEGA 315-5237

- SEGA 315-5246

- SONY 9001 CXA1145

- Bone stock, as far as I can tell

- Model 3025 power supply unit

- RGB cable from RGC website

- Only issue: Occasional blue horizontal lines flickering across the screen, making whites yellow and tinting the other color channels

Now the full version:

So I bought my SMS I and put it aside until I got my RGB cable from the RGC website. I did not try the RF cable first.

Once it arrived I fired up the on-board Hang-On, which was ok.

Then I plugged in my Jurassic Park cartridge, which was also ok for roughly ten minutes.

You know the part where you fight the Triceratops? That's when I first got these weird blue horizontal lines all over the screen which influence the other colors, too. The first time this happened I noticed a modulated sound, like wave or ocean sounds, increasing in intensity for a moment.

Those lines are not always there from the start now, but they do appear after a while.

You can see the lines in the attached video right below.

Link to video on imgur (embedding didn't work)

The RF cable does not present this issue, btw.

I went ahead and read up on how the ICs on the board work, watched tons of videos about fixing graphical issues with the SMS, but none of them really helped with this type of issue.

Aside from measuring the resistors with my simple multimeter (which all checked out ok and matched their color codes), I don't think there's much else I can do.

Well, except for desoldering and replacing stuff. I can do that. I just don't have advanced equipment like e.g. an oscilloscope to do the checks described in the service manual (which doesn't match up with my board too well, anyhow).

If I got this right, then the SONY CXA1145 is responsible for taking whatever it gets as input to generate a composite signal for RF and also feeds the separate RGB channels into the RGB connector.

It also seems to generate the audio output, which leads me to thinking this IC may have an issue.

I didn't find bad solder connections anywhere, btw.

There are also no unusual heat spots while the system is running (I carefully thumbed the IC casings while I had the SMS open for a trial run).

So, has anyone seen this before and have an idea what I should do next?

Neither do I have an additional RGB cable nor another power supply unit with the right values (yes, I have the SMD one, but I read stuff about the output being wrong for the SMS).

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[dpkt101]

Hello! I'm not a SMS hardware expert..
But, did you test other cartridges, or you have tested only Jurassic Park cartridge?

[NCC2569]

Thanks for your reply!

I have also tried Castle of Illusion and Secret Commando and I forgot to mention that the lines do appear in Hang-On and Snail Maze since that first incident in JP.
They're everywhere.

[dpkt101]

Ahh ok!

Umh... I don't have idea how to help you! Sorry! :-(

However, I suggest you bring your text message to a retrogam shop! I hope you have a retrogame shop in your city, or near your city!

[NCC2569]

Thanks for trying and for the suggestion, but my only chance would be to send the unit to someone.
And looking at repair service pricings, I'd be better off with another unit

For now I'm waiting for a replacement cable and we'll see what happens.

[Retrobob]

Were you able to try another RGB cable, in case it's the cable?

[NCC2569]

There's one on the way since yesterday, but it may take a week or two from the UK to Germany.
I'll update as soon as it arrives.

[NCC2569]

Hi guys,

I have received a replacement cable and put a couple of hours of gameplay onto it yesterday.
The issue is gone. No more weird blue lines.

The earlier cable did produce a heavy ozone smell at the SCART plug end, which the replacement does not.
Also there was some static coming from the TV speakers even with the SMS switched off, which is now also gone.

I hope this thread helps anyone who might come along this issue in the future

And thanks again for your thoughts!

[asterix]

Good to hear it only was the cable , you had to change.
I can clearly remember how I almost go in panic when the little antenna switch box , do the picture a kind like what you describe, it was so painful 😉 I haven’t fixed it yet, but got at modded sms2

[NCC2569]

I'm happy it was an easy fix.
I would have had to go back to RF or begin replacing components by trial and error otherwise.

Good luck with your Antenna box!
Perhaps disassembling it and cleaning any contacts will help with that issue.
My RF switch isn't looking too good, too.
Glad I don't have to use it.

[dpkt101]

Oct 18, 2018 6:47:49 GMT NCC2569 said:

Hi guys,

I have received a replacement cable and put a couple of hours of gameplay onto it yesterday.
The issue is gone. No more weird blue lines.

The earlier cable did produce a heavy ozone smell at the SCART plug end, which the replacement does not.
Also there was some static coming from the TV speakers even with the SMS switched off, which is now also gone.

I hope this thread helps anyone who might come along this issue in the future

And thanks again for your thoughts!

GREAT!!! I'm very happy to read that the problem was only tha cable!

Now you can play with your SMS without another thoughts!! :-)

I haven’t fixed it yet, but got at modded sms2

 Do you have a SMS2 modded with connector for rca cable?

[NCC2569]

Haha. And so I do
Those games are really affordable and fun!

[asterix]

I got a sms2 with scart cable modded.