PS2 PS2 Display Black and White on Old TV

T

TechnoGoblin

Forum Noob
Hey all,
I have an NTSC SCPH-70001 slim PS2 that was modded with a Modbo v2 modchip installed in Turkey some time in the early 2000s, along with the most recent version of Free McBoot that I updated yesterday (1.965).

When I use component cables to plug it into semi-modern TVs (tested on 720p and 1080p Samsung TVs) everything works perfectly as expected.

When I plug the PS2 into my old Symphonic NTSC CRT, the screen only shows black and white both in the menu and in games.

So far I've tried:
  • using component cables and plugging the green, blue, or red component cable into the yellow jack of the CRT
  • using multiple pairs of composite cables
  • using S-video cables.
  • using GSM to switch between NTSC and PAL, NTSC display black and white, PAL breaks the display, PAL 60hz displays black and white just like NTSC
  • ignoring the black and white menu and booting both into NTSC and PAL games
  • changing System Configuration Component Video Out (tried using both RGB and Y Cb/Pb Cr/Pr)
  • updating FMCB
  • checking the TV settings for anything that could possibly be relevant, there is nothing beyond adjusting picture settings or turning on game mode which I have tried
Regardless of all of the above, no matter what I try my PS2 outputs black and white onto this CRT. Other NTSC devices like my Nintendo 64, Wii, and VHS player work perfectly fine full color on this CRT.

Does anyone have any idea as to what could possibly be causing this or how I might fix it?

I've heard modern TVs can work with both PAL and NTSC signals without issue, could it be that my PS2 is outputting PAL signals and it only works on the newer TVs because of that? It's an NTSC console, is it possible that the Modbo v2 switched my console to only outputting PAL back when I had it installed all those years ago? If that were the case I'd think my GSM settings or trying both PAL and NTSC discs would make some kind of difference but they haven't. Again, it displays color just fine on newer TVs using the same cables.

Any input is greatly appreciated, this has been driving me crazy.
 
Haven't fussed with FMCB in a while but I see quite a few folks having issues when using a modern build with a modchip. Try to disable the modchip and see if you have any luck.
 
Update: It's a Modbo v2.1
I found out that to disable it I need to hold start on boot, continue holding start and then restart it after I get a "DISABLED modbo v2.1" screen.
I've tried booting with and without memory cards plugged in (so completely without FMCB) and even with the modchip disabled and no FMCB I get a black and white screen. This seems like a system-level issue.

I'm wondering if I can try and just desolder the mod chip for testing? I'm pretty good with a soldering iron, would I have to undo the wiring too or would it be enough to just remove the mod chip and make sure the wires aren't shorting (in case I want to re-install it later)
 
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Have you tried composite video on a modern LCD? Component cables use neither NTSC nor PAL so you would get color as that bypasses the composite encoder. Modern TVs should tell you what color format composite is using.

It also sounds like the console is outputting PAL60 for some reason. I'd say remove the modchip and see if it is fixed. Otherwise, I ran out of ideas.
 
MonkeyBoyJoey said:
Have you tried composite video on a modern LCD? Component cables use neither NTSC nor PAL so you would get color as that bypasses the composite encoder. Modern TVs should tell you what color format composite is using.

It also sounds like the console is outputting PAL60 for some reason. I'd say remove the modchip and see if it is fixed. Otherwise, I ran out of ideas.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this recommendation! I'm not sure why I didn't think to try this.
Plugging the PS2 into my newer TV using Composite video to the AV input on the TV also produces a black and white picture. The menu seems to "vibrate" a little bit.
I think your guess was correct that my PS2 seems to be outputting PAL60 when I use composite cables. Can this be configured by the modchip somehow? I would have thought setting NTSC in GSM should have fixed this.

Do you have any recommendations on how I can resolve this?

I'm thinking of buying a PAL to NTSC converter but I can't find one that supports S-Video
 
TechnoGoblin said:
Hey all,
I have an NTSC SCPH-70001 slim PS2 that was modded with a Modbo v2 modchip installed in Turkey some time in the early 2000s, along with the most recent version of Free McBoot that I updated yesterday (1.965).

When I use component cables to plug it into semi-modern TVs (tested on 720p and 1080p Samsung TVs) everything works perfectly as expected.

When I plug the PS2 into my old Symphonic NTSC CRT, the screen only shows black and white both in the menu and in games.

So far I've tried:
  • using component cables and plugging the green, blue, or red component cable into the yellow jack of the CRT
  • using multiple pairs of composite cables
  • using S-video cables.
  • using GSM to switch between NTSC and PAL, NTSC display black and white, PAL breaks the display, PAL 60hz displays black and white just like NTSC
  • ignoring the black and white menu and booting both into NTSC and PAL games
  • changing System Configuration Component Video Out (tried using both RGB and Y Cb/Pb Cr/Pr)
  • updating FMCB
  • checking the TV settings for anything that could possibly be relevant, there is nothing beyond adjusting picture settings or turning on game mode which I have tried
Regardless of all of the above, no matter what I try my PS2 outputs black and white onto this CRT. Other NTSC devices like my Nintendo 64, Wii, and VHS player work perfectly fine full color on this CRT.

Does anyone have any idea as to what could possibly be causing this or how I might fix it?

I've heard modern TVs can work with both PAL and NTSC signals without issue, could it be that my PS2 is outputting PAL signals and it only works on the newer TVs because of that? It's an NTSC console, is it possible that the Modbo v2 switched my console to only outputting PAL back when I had it installed all those years ago? If that were the case I'd think my GSM settings or trying both PAL and NTSC discs would make some kind of difference but they haven't. Again, it displays color just fine on newer TVs using the same cables.

Any input is greatly appreciated, this has been driving me crazy.
Click to expand...

Being an NTSC CRT, 99% of chances the answer will be negative, but better to ask anyway: it has a SCART input?

So with both composite and S-video you get B&W either using GSM-PAL and GSM-NTSC, right?

If that's the case as MonkeyBoyJoey guessed, the Ps2 seems to be outputting PAL60 (480i at 60hz with PAL colors). The problem is that I'm not sure it is possible.
AfaIk There isn't any program or chip that makes the Ps2 outputting PAL60 (Ps2 can output only PAL or NTSC).

Have you checked the TV with other devices/consoles recently?? Perhaps it is a TV problem?

Also the fact that GSM PAL breaks the screen (it is like in this video at 1:35
??) and PAL60 (that's actually just PAL at 50HZ) works is weird.

For verify if the games are running at 50 or 60HZ, try DMC 2 if you can. At 50HZ it has a very evident stuttering. At 60HZ it is perfectly smooth.
Or also with PAL slowered down games like DMC 1 or FFX, you can compare the speed (using youtube videos). So at least we'll know at what frequency the Ps2 is outputting (maybe your tv supports also 50HZ).

Can you check if Ps1 games also give you B&W?
 
TechnoGoblin said:
Thank you for this recommendation! I'm not sure why I didn't think to try this.
Plugging the PS2 into my newer TV using Composite video to the AV input on the TV also produces a black and white picture. The menu seems to "vibrate" a little bit.
I think your guess was correct that my PS2 seems to be outputting PAL60 when I use composite cables. Can this be configured by the modchip somehow? I would have thought setting NTSC in GSM should have fixed this.

Do you have any recommendations on how I can resolve this?

I'm thinking of buying a PAL to NTSC converter but I can't find one that supports S-Video
Click to expand...

So it is something with the PS2 itself. I wonder if maybe some component in between the encoder and the AV port or the encoder itself went bad.

@Peppe90 I was under the impression that there were some that could force a particular format. I remember reading about one at some point. I'm probably just misremembering. Though, that wouldn't matter here as it looks like the Modbo 2.1 can't do that regardless.

@TechnoGoblin For now do what Peppe90 said and check those games. Unfortunately this is where my knowledge ends and someone else's begins. Hopefully someone here can figure it out. This definitely stumped me.


As for PAL to NTSC converters, use something like an Extron VCS 500 to convert RGB to S-Video instead. You'll get better results that way. Or just have the CRT RGB-modded... though, that is a bit dangerous. Totally worth it in the end.
 
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