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    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    Help! Unable to get anything on screen via composite

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    compositevideodisplaycrtcrt issues
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    • F
      foxcek
      last edited by foxcek

      Hey! I hope someone is able to help me out, I'm having a really hard time changing my output from HDMI to composite. In an attempt to build an arcade unit using an old CRT television I purchased a 3.5mm to tri RCA cable. Unfortunately I haven't had any luck changing anything in config.txt to force a display onto the TV.

      (The cable I purchased from Amazon has positive reviews from people using it with Raspbery Pi 3 and I've tested an old camcorder to make sure it's working)

      I've pasted my current config.txt here so hopefully someone can point me in the right direction? Any help would be appreciated! Greatly!! :) (I'm located in the US so looking for NTSC output)

      I'm using Raspberry Pi 3B with Retropie

      # For more options and information see
      # http://rpf.io/configtxtreadme
      # Some settings may impact device functionality. See link above for details
      
      # uncomment if you get no picture on HDMI for a default "safe" mode
      #hdmi_safe=1
      
      # uncomment this if your display has a black border of unused pixels visible
      # and your display can output without overscan
      disable_overscan=0
      
      # uncomment the following to adjust overscan. Use positive numbers if console
      # goes off screen, and negative if there is too much border
      #overscan_left=16
      #overscan_right=16
      #overscan_top=16
      #overscan_bottom=16
      
      # uncomment to force a console size. By default it will be display's size minus
      # overscan.
      #framebuffer_width=1280
      #framebuffer_height=720
      
      # uncomment if hdmi display is not detected and composite is being output
      #hdmi_force_hotplug=1
      hmdi_ignore_hotplug=1
      
      # uncomment to force a specific HDMI mode (this will force VGA)
      #hdmi_group=1
      #hdmi_mode=1
      
      # uncomment to force a HDMI mode rather than DVI. This can make audio work in
      # DMT (computer monitor) modes
      #hdmi_drive=2
      
      # uncomment to increase signal to HDMI, if you have interference, blanking, or
      # no display
      #config_hdmi_boost=4
      
      # uncomment for composite PAL
      sdtv_mode=0
      
      #uncomment to overclock the arm. 700 MHz is the default.
      #arm_freq=800
      
      # Uncomment some or all of these to enable the optional hardware interfaces
      #dtparam=i2c_arm=on
      #dtparam=i2s=on
      #dtparam=spi=on
      
      # Uncomment this to enable the lirc-rpi module
      #dtoverlay=lirc-rpi
      
      # Additional overlays and parameters are documented /boot/overlays/README
      
      # Enable audio (loads snd_bcm2835)
      dtparam=audio=on
      gpu_mem_256=128
      gpu_mem_512=256
      gpu_mem_1024=256
      overscan_scale=1
      gpu_mem=320
      
      
      
      edmaul69E 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • edmaul69E
        edmaul69 @foxcek
        last edited by edmaul69

        @foxcek if you bought a cheap cable the red is video and the yellow is the right audio on the pi. Even if it works correctly with your camcorder.

        F 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • F
          foxcek
          last edited by

          This post is deleted!
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          • F
            foxcek @edmaul69
            last edited by

            @edmaul69 said in Help! Unable to get anything on screen via composite:

            @foxcek if you bought a cheap cable the red is video and the yellow is the right audio on the pi. Even if it works correctly with your camcorder.

            Thanks for the quick response edmaul69. I forgot to mention I've tried switching the RCA cables around in multiple combinations. (red to yellow, white to yellow).

            I'm also failing to get it to display on two seperate TVs

            edmaul69E 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • edmaul69E
              edmaul69 @foxcek
              last edited by

              @foxcek you arent keeping an hdmi cable plugged in either right?

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • edmaul69E
                edmaul69 @foxcek
                last edited by edmaul69

                This post is deleted!
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                • edmaul69E
                  edmaul69 @foxcek
                  last edited by

                  @foxcek also try sdtv mode 16 (320x240)

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • F
                    foxcek
                    last edited by

                    No HDMI plugged in and sdtv mode 16 also doesn't work either :(

                    I'm stumped

                    edmaul69E 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • edmaul69E
                      edmaul69 @foxcek
                      last edited by

                      @foxcek the only thing i can see to try in the config is hashtagging out disable overscan. Other than that no clue.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • edmaul69E
                        edmaul69 @foxcek
                        last edited by

                        @foxcek please read my last post. Can you take a picture of the tv screen when you hit the info button or change the channel to the video mode you are using? I want to see what mode its on. Plus a pic of the back of your tv's video hookups with and without the cables plugged in.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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