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Due to present COVID-19 situation, GLOBAL EXPRESS / POLISH PARCEL deliveries work only for selected destinations. UPS/FEDEX - no problems worldwide
Fully automatic SCART switch with full galvanic inputs separation.
Do not use garbage power supply – any decent micro usb mobile charger will do the work.. and please be careful with USB SOCKET 😉
How doees it work ?
Imagine, You have many retro system in use. Amiga, Atari ST, ZX spectrum, etc... And You have only one classical TV/Monitor with one SCART INPUT. Each time, You want to switch system, You have to connect Your machine to Your monitor. Everytime, You do it - You damage scart socket inside. Those days are over. Connect up to 8 computers/consoles to HYDRA, then connect HYDRA to Your TV/Monitor and power on hydra with You mobile phone charger with MICRO USB plug. Since now, HYDRA will detect active scart input and forward all signals to Your monitor. Simple and efficent.
NEVER connect / disconnect SCART PLUGS
when HYDRA is ON
especially when CONSOLE/SYSTEM is ON !
You may ask why..
Designing device, I put much effort into ability to passthrough many types of signals: from composite to component. To protect device and not to cut signal`s range, HYDRAs have additional ESD protection diodes, but for a short period of time when scanning for active scart, Hydra is defenseless. If You got hit that moment plugging powered on device, You will damage RGB chip with ESD voltage that may reach thousands of volts (not dangerous for you, but electronics is fragile..). This chip may become very hot and protection will probably brick hydra till one of chips is replaced (NCS2564). Cost of repair is 10Euro !!!
Possible symptoms:
USE SIMPLEST SCART CABLES POSSIBBLE
BUTTONS:
Hydra 8port scart switcher, may be “easily” expanded with 2 additional HYDRA HEADS devices to offer outstanding 24inputs scart functionality.
How does it work ?
After establishing connection with flat cables between HYDRA (master unit) and HYDRA HEADS (slave unit), user forces HYDRA to work with HEADS expansion and 8 additional scart inputs it offers.
To obtain above functionality, jumper (solder pads) JP1 must be shorted. From that moment, HYDRA does scanning between 16 scart input ports in search for active one to route all signals to output scart.
How about connecting another Hydra Heads to already connected one ?
Additional Hydra Heads unit may be added to previously installed one to achieve 24 inputs. JP2 jumper needs connection.
FIRMWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE: (thanks to Frank Skilton for debugging)
Q.What happens if i have two active sources the same time ?
Nothing, First applied input is a master signal. You can switch to next one by pressing buttons ( previous/next) or switching first computer off
Q. ...all my consoles with cables from RETROGAMINCABLES , most of them with sync on luma. Will I need to mod all my cables like the ps1 one in order for them to work with the hydra?
There are 4 types of signals, that can be fed to pin 20 of scart sokcet as SYNC:
All cables recently sold by RGC shall be compatible with scart standart, but If Your cables are:
probably You will need to add 470 ohm resistor before pin 20 of scart ( to get proper csync level). Please, contact cable supplier for further details.
Composite video or luma as sync cables shall work without any modifications.
Q: Hydra1 is making "click sounds" when scanning. ?
A: Yes, it does. it is normal. simple experiment: detach all input cables and try again...
Q. I want to send component through the whydra2 as well and I wonder if that is possible?
480p component works well through the W-Hydra2 with proper adapter ( https://www.amazon.de/Scart-Svideo-Comp-Kurzad-umschaltbar/dp/B0014HB7T6) - Thaks Jonas to for deep tests and report !!
480p (reported as 525p 50Hz on ossc) works
480p (reported as 525p 60Hz on ossc) works
720p (reported as 750p 50Hz on ossc) works
720p (reported as 750p 60Hz on ossc) works
1080i (reported as 1125i 50Hz on ossc) works
1080i (reported as 1125i 60Hz on ossc) works
1080p (reported as 1125p 50Hz on ossc) works
1080p (reported as 1125p 60Hz on ossc) works