"Out of range" When trying to use VGA

[LG18]

Hi,

I'm trying to connect my dreamcast using a VGA box.

I've had the box about ten years now but never used it on a TV.
I'd always connected it to a computer monitor with no issues, but when trying to connect it to my Sony TV, I get "out of range" as soon as I turn on the power button on the dreamcast.

any ideas?

Thanks allot.

[irishsea]

The same thing shows up on my Lg 42" Lcd tv, I simply after hours of trying to trouble shoot it manually selected the connection in the inputs even though it is not highlighted and it simply worked. My display works at 16:9 and 4:3.

Hope this may help a little.

[krssn]

Apparently not all modern screens accept the VGA box's signal. If that's the case you might be out of luck.

A few things you can try...

- Check if your TV accepts a 640 x 480 @ 60Hz signal.

- Make sure the game you're trying is VGA compatible.

- See if it works on an oldschool PC CRT monitor.

- If there is a TV / PC switch on your VGA box, try flicking that switch.

- Burn a copy of DC-X. Go into the menu and try all the options until you (hopefully) find one that works.

- Turn the Dreamcast on. Start the game. Then turn on the TV and put it in VGA mode.

Never had this problem myself though. So no hands-on experience I'm afraid...

Let us know if any of these workarounds work for you if you please...

[LG18]

The same thing shows up on my Lg 42" Lcd tv, I simply after hours of trying to trouble shoot it manually selected the connection in the inputs even though it is not highlighted and it simply worked. My display works at 16:9 and 4:3.

Hope this may help a little.

Hi, thanks for the reply.

What was it you selected?

You said the connection in the inputs, not quite sure what you mean.

Thanks again

[LG18]

Apparently not all modern screens accept the VGA box's signal. If that's the case you might be out of luck.

A few things you can try...

- Check if your TV accepts a 640 x 480 @ 60Hz signal.

How would I go about checking that?

- Make sure the game you're trying is VGA compatible.

Well, I tried without a game in, so that can't be it.


See if it works on an oldschool PC CRT monitor.

I'll try that

- If there is a TV / PC switch on your VGA box, try flicking that switch.

Tried that, and the TV only seems to react in the PC switch. By react, I mean displays out of range when I press the dreamcast power button.
[/

- Burn a copy of DC-X. Go into the menu and try all the options until you (hopefully) find one that works.

Haven't heard of that program but I'll give it a go and do some research

- Turn the Dreamcast on. Start the game. Then turn on the TV and put it in VGA mode.

Will try

Never had this problem myself though. So no hands-on experience I'm afraid...

Let us know if any of these workarounds work for you if you please...

Will do, thanks for the help!

[krssn]

How would I go about checking that?

Check if your TV's manual says anything about resolutions.

If it doesn't, google your TV and try to find out that way.

If you still can't find it, you can try emailing the manufacturer.

And if that still doesn't help, I guess you could put your PC in 640 x 480 @ 60Hz and see if that works.

Not sure about that last possibility though. Maybe you'll run into other problems with a PC. Dunno...

Well, I tried without a game in, so that can't be it.

You're right. The startup screen and menu should work. So we can rule that one out.

Haven't heard of that program but I'll give it a go and do some research.

Here's a link:

http://www.theisozone.com/downloads/dre ... -apps/dcx/

Don't bother just yet though. If you can't even see the startup and menu, this won't help either.

DC-X sometimes helps incompatible games work with a little tweaking. It won't help with your problem.

[irishsea]

The pc input, on mine it was bot highlighted that it was available but I moved over to it anyways and selected it and boom, started working. If I have time tomorrow I'll make a video if that helps.

[LG18]

How would I go about checking that?

Check if your TV's manual says anything about resolutions.

If it doesn't, google your TV and try to find out that way.

If you still can't find it, you can try emailing the manufacturer.

And if that still doesn't help, I guess you could put your PC in 640 x 480 @ 60Hz and see if that works.

Not sure about that last possibility though. Maybe you'll run into other problems with a PC. Dunno...

Well, I tried without a game in, so that can't be it.

You're right. The startup screen and menu should work. So we can rule that one out.

Haven't heard of that program but I'll give it a go and do some research.

Here's a link:

http://www.theisozone.com/downloads/dre ... -apps/dcx/

Don't bother just yet though. If you can't even see the startup and menu, this won't help either.

DC-X sometimes helps incompatible games work with a little tweaking. It won't help with your problem.

Can't locate the manual anywhere, unfortunetly.
I'll have a look online.

Thanks for the link to that program - may come in handy if I manage to get things working.

Many Thanks

[LG18]

The pc input, on mine it was bot highlighted that it was available but I moved over to it anyways and selected it and boom, started working. If I have time tomorrow I'll make a video if that helps.

I see, That's what I've selected on mine. All I get to indicate that there's a signal going to that Chanel from the dreamcast is the fact that it displays the "out of range" message when the power button is pressed.

That'd be great, if you have time.

Thanks very much

[LG18]

I just tried it on a PC monitor and it works, but more interestingly I tried it on a small 24 inch LG TV and it worked on there too.

The Chanel I selected to use it was the RGB input, which had a picture of the VGA pin set up on it.
Booted up just fine and looked great, though that's in a small TV I don't use.

the only one it won't work on is the big living room TV I've been talking about, which is where I have everything set up and want to be playing.