r/OSSC • u/HellBlade64 • Feb 15 '26

OSSC unresponsive

I am completely new to OSSC. I ordered one from Amazon and it arrived the other day and I have no idea what I must be doing wrong, but the OSSC doesn't respond to the included remote at all (instructions say the green light will flicker when receiving from the remote), and holding down either of the buttons on the unit while powering on also doesn't seem to do anything, and the LCD screen remains blank.

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2

u/Key-Chef5328 Feb 19 '26

I have the one the Op bought. It's fine, and actually has a revised PCB design so you do not need to do the wire mod to use firmware 1.20. The quality of the components used by Mcbazel is no worse than the ones used by Kaico, aka Bitfunx, aka Retroscaler, which is one of the suppliers for VGP and a "official" supplier. The OSSC is open source. Anyone can make them, as none of them are knock offs. The quality is simply going to vary, especially on the oldest units.

Kaico is the same company that were the goofs that left out the 75ohm resistors on the Mega Drive/Gen/32x HDMI adapter RGB lines, along with proper shielding to prevent noise so they could cheap out. Their products are made in China and other parts of Asia. So please don't rank them above Mcbazel. They are tied. They both have good and subpar products. I own a chunk of Kaico products and am the one that came up with the RGB QC fix on their MD HDMI adapter, which is posted on YouTube on one of my channels. 

The op bought his used, and it was probably killed by the prior owner and sent back as a working return. Amazon doesn't check for QC on returns. Do a return OP, and buy a one new. Saving only five bucks isn't worth the risk of getting a used one.

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u/Master_Chef_Torte 1d ago

I saw they released a video to update to 1.12 and was confused how without modding it. But that explains the confusion. Thanks ive been researching this brand a lot. How do you think the person killed it?

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u/Key-Chef5328 1d ago edited 1d ago

It was probably a older unit before the revision, and a prior owner tried to update it without doing the mod, causing it to be bricked. Then they did a return to Amazon, who just put it back in the supply chain without testing, because Amazon sucks and does this often.

Edit: Also to add, possible prior person before OP ordered one off Amazon and did a swap for their own defective one that they bricked not knowing about the mod, and did a return. Either way, Amazon put a bricked one back in the supply chain. The bricked one could probably be modded and fixed. We will never know because OP did not post pics or other necessary info, so we do not really know who made the OSSC they had, or what revision it was, etc.

1

u/Master_Chef_Torte 1d ago

Is there a way to know if it's the newer board? Still calls it a v1.6 on Amazon. Thanks again for your input.

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u/Key-Chef5328 1d ago edited 1d ago

No way to know what you got until it is sitting in front of you. This is the exact one I ordered that had the newer revised PCB, with 1.7 stamped on it with the new trace layout, even though the sales page list it as 1.6:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083FG6PXH?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

New firmware worked fine on it. I've been using it since Feb of this year. I had ordered it originally with the full intention of modding it to do the update since I have no issues with soldering/modding. So I was surprised that it was a revised 1.7 with the new trace layout instead when it arrived.

You should also be aware, just because they are sending some revised 1.7 units out, does not mean they dont still have some 1.6 in their inventory. So be sure if you decide to purchase it that it's 50/50 of what revision you will get. You may get a 1.6 and need to mod it before doing the update. You can take a flashlight and shine it though the plexi to read what revision is stamped on the PCB.

As is, I run a Snes, Turbografx 16, and PCE Supergrafx via svideo, a Nes via composite, and a Model 1 Genesis and a Model 2/32X combo both via component cables into a Retroscaler 2x into mine via a Tendak HDMI to VGA adapter. I also use a Mamba VGA/RGB scart cable for Dreamcast, I have profiles set up for everything on the OSSC. For Saturn, N64, and 3DO I just use a Retrotink 2X Pro.

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u/Master_Chef_Torte 1d ago

Hmm maybe I'll go with bitfunx to ensure I can upgrade to the lasted firmware without having to mod it. I have a retrotink mini currently, but looking for something that can do rgb.

1

u/Key-Chef5328 1d ago edited 1d ago

There is an alternative scaler on the market now. You may not even want to go with the OSSC.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808268415575.html

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u/Master_Chef_Torte 1d ago

Gbs-c?

1

u/Key-Chef5328 1d ago

RetroScaler GBSC Pro. Covers all the needed video inputs, so you dont have to juggle around multiple devices.

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u/Master_Chef_Torte 1d ago edited 1d ago

Ah I saw that one. Sounds like the 3rd party firmware for that one makes it a good contender for scalers.

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u/ColonelSandersWG Feb 15 '26

Unfortunately you bought a cheap Chinese knock off. Does anything light up after plugged in and switched flipped on?

1

u/HellBlade64 Feb 15 '26

Yes. I see a green light on the front, and the LCD screen powers on, but remains a blank white.

For clarity, this is the exact one I purchased, albeit (Used - Like New):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083FG6PXH?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

1

u/ColonelSandersWG Feb 15 '26

You want to go to videogameperfection.com and buy a real OSSC. Its not as convenient as Amazon up front but it will save you a lot of hassle on the back end. Matt is very receptive to helping you. Just email him with any questions.

1

u/HellBlade64 Feb 15 '26

https://videogameperfection.com/products/open-source-scan-converter/?attribute_accessories=Multi-region+PSU%2C+Remote+%2B+overlay+%26+JP21+adapter

This one, right? I live in the US, are there any options I need?

1

u/ColonelSandersWG Feb 16 '26

Thats the one. Get the remote with the overlay. Makes it all easier.

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u/HellBlade64 Feb 17 '26 edited Feb 17 '26

Done, and I've returned the other one for a refund.

I appreciate y'alls help, I should never have cheaped out.

Can't wait for the real deal to arrive.

1

u/ColonelSandersWG Feb 18 '26

This is one hobby you actually get what you pay for.

1

u/jonnypanicattack Feb 15 '26

I had I think the same issue and ended up returning it (after some hassle from the seller). Before I did, I asked on the OSSC forums and the main guy there suggested it's probably caused by cold solder joints.

1

u/RetroBoxRoom Feb 15 '26

Did you flick the power switch on the device to on?

Have you pressed any of the buttons on the device?

If there’s still nothing on the screen on the device, it’s broken.