problem displaying PAL console on NTSC TV set

[manuel]

Today I tried to connect my region modded PAL PS2 to a NTSC TV set.
At first the screen rolled down very fast, which is normal I suppose, because it's a PAL console. As soon as the game (NTSC Dragon Quest) began, the rolling stopped, but I only get a black and white picture.
Is there a possibility to get games running in color on my system?

(133MHz probably knows about this... I'm counting on you  )

[133MHz]

Your PS2 is outputting a PAL60 video signal, that is, 60Hz video (like NTSC) but with PAL color encoding. It's not a proper standard, but it's very popular in European countries since it gives proper 60Hz video (no more slowdown & black bars!) without requiring a proper NTSC capable TV, so lots of PAL TVs support this unofficial mode for gaming purposes.

I don't know much about how PS2s process their signals, but this is what is happening:

* When the B&W picture rolls down the PS2 is putting a proper PAL signal (50Hz 4.43). NTSC is 60Hz 3.58. The 10Hz difference produces the rolling picture and the incorrect color clock produces the B&W picture.
* When your NTSC game starts up it switches to 60Hz, so the screen stops rolling, but it keeps putting out a 4.43 color clock, when your TV is expecting a 3.58 one so you get a steady, B&W picture.

Either config your PS2 to output a proper NTSC signal instead of PAL60, or get one of those PAL -> NTSC converter boxes which convert 4.43 to 3.58 but leave the frame rate intact.

Somebody who knows more about PS2 consoles could tell us if the former option is possible, the latter option would let you play NTSC games, but PAL games & your console's menus will have a color, but rolling picture (the box would be converting PAL color to NTSC color but it would still be in 50Hz!).

[manuel]

Thanks for the fast reply.
I configured the chip to output an NTSC signal, and now it works fine. 

I had some problems, though. It was mighty hard to read the menu when the screen is rolling like mad. 
So I recorded the menu with my videocamera and replayed that frame by frame. After a few minutes I could successfully change the settings.

[133MHz]

Glad to be of help

It was mighty hard to read the menu when the screen is rolling like mad. 
So I recorded the menu with my videocamera and replayed that frame by frame.

Hey that's a good idea! I'll keep it in mind if I ever run into a similar problem .

[MattyD]

Bear in mind if you ever force a PAL game to run in NTSC you're likely to get glitches. Why do you have a PAL one anyway?  As someone who grew up playing games in stop-motion 50hz with huge borders I think I'm qualified to say PAL sucks! 

[133MHz]

manuel's German (PAL-B/G) and now he lives in Japan (NTSC-J), he probably brought his PS2 with him.

[manuel]

133MHz knows me very well.  What he said is correct. I brought my modded (modded for playing imports, not so much for backups) PS2 from Germany to Japan.

[Har the cat]

i have the same problem, but from ntsc to pal.
i have now a tv thats black and white playing ntsc games and consoles.
but i have found that there is a device to help this problem out the world. i havent bought it yet though.

[MattyD]

i have the same problem, but from ntsc to pal.
i have now a tv thats black and white playing ntsc games and consoles.
but i have found that there is a device to help this problem out the world. i havent bought it yet though.

That would be a transcoder. It converts the colour part of the video signal into PAL signals from NTSC. But trust me, in the long run, you'll be better off buying a new TV. Just about all TVs made in the last decade support both PAL and NTSC and some brands such as Sony and Sharp have done so for much longer than that. Even if you just buy a cheap second-hand TV it'll be worth it as playing games in 50hz really spoils them.

[133MHz]

I think that the cost of replacing your TV depends on the size of it. If you have a big set you bought 10 years ago and it's still going like new, I wouldn't change it for an inferior one (big screen CRTs are still expensive) just for a feature a relatively inexpensive little box provides. But if you have a 21" TV like me, then go ahead!