How to hook up your SEGA Genesis – Model 1 – HDMI
This page will show you how to connect your SEGA Genesis Model 2 with the latest HDTV’s using a HDMI Cable.
SEGA Genesis – Model 1
Ports and Connections
CH3-CH4:
This switch is used in conjunction with the RF OUT port to pick which channel will display the game. You wont need this port when using the HDMI cable.
NOTE: You wont need this port when using the HDMI cable.
RF OUT:
This port is used with the RF Converter box to hook the unit up via your cable/coaxial connection on the TV. You wont need this port when using the HDMI Cable.
NOTE: You wont need this port when using the HDMI cable.
SEGA A/V OUT:
This port will be used with the SEGA HDMI Cables.
SEGA GENESIS AC ADAPTER:
This is the power supply port for the SEGA MK-1602 AC unit.
EXT PORT:
This port was never used by SEGA, and was eventually removed. I think there is an audio mixing kit for development that can be used, but I’m not sure.
1/8 Headphone Jack to Stereo RCA cable:
This port is used to pump stereo sound from your games out to your TV or Stereo. The AV port on the back does not output stereo audio. This is very noticeable on a game like Sonic the Hedgehog, where every time you grab a ring, the sound jumps from right and left in stereo. So use this option whenever you can for the sound, Heck! you could even use headphones if you want! Don’t forget to turn the VOLUME KNOB up when you do use this.
This can be a bit tricky when using the HDMI Cable. The HDMI Cable ports on the back of TV’s do not have separate audio inputs, as the HDMI cable carries both sound and video. So to get stereo sound you would need to run this cable to a separate stereo system and use it for the audio.
METHOD – HDMI
What you will need:
SEGA Genesis
(Model 1 – MK-1601)
SEGA MK-2103
AC Power Supply
SEGA Genesis Model 2
HDMI Cable
USB Charger Box
5V 1Amp
This method will give you an awesome chrisp picture on your HDTV.
STEP #1 
Combine the SEGA Genesis 1 adapter with the HDMI cable. Plug the HDMI Cable into your SEGA Genesis.
STEP #2
Attach the other end of the HDMI to your TV. You could have multiple HDMI inputs available like on the diagram. You can place it in any one that is not in use (except the OUT if you have one).
STEP #3 
Plug the SEGA 1602 Power Supply into the SEGA Genesis.
STEP #4
Plug the SEGA 1602 Power Supply into the wall.
STEP #5
NOTE: This step MAY be optional. The box on the HDMI requires power. It may be able to get power by just being plugged into the SEGA Genesis. But in most cases will require the Micro-USB cable to be plugged into the box and into a seperate USB Power Supply (like the one used with cell phones). You can tell if your HDMI cable is getting power by the red LED on the box.
Plug the small end of the Micro USB cable into the box on the HDMI cable.
STEP #6
Plug the USB Charger into the wall outlet.
NOTE: This little USB Plug is not included with the HDMI Cable. You can use one that you have laying around the house, or we have them available by themselves and combined in a pack.
STEP #7
Plug the Micro USB cable into the USB Charger plugged into the wall. This is the standard USB sized plug at the other end of the Micro USB cable.
STEP #8
Set the switch on the HDMI box to either 4:3 or 16:9 to set the ratio. Do this before you power on the system. You can find out more about the ratio settings below.
STEP #9
Plug in a game and turn on the game system on, even if you don’t see it on the TV yet. You should see the power light on the SEGA light up (a good sign) and the power light on the HDMI cable. Doing this first will help you the right TV settings. When you’re searching for the right TV Input and you see the game, you’ve got it right!
NOTE: If you don’t see the RED LED on the HDMI cable lit up, then plug in the Micro USB cable included if you haven’t done so already.
STEP #10
Turn your TV to the appropriate VIDEO SOURCE. You probably have several INPUTS available from VIDEO 1 2 & 3 and so on. In the diagram above you would need to change your TV to HDMI 1. To change to these different video signal options, you usually have an INPUT or SOURCE button on your remote or television.
STEP #11
Enjoy some High Definition SEGA Genesis!
Well, those are the basics. If you have any additional questions, feel free to send us an email. The Trog is always happy to help!
Gametrog Video Instructions
For hooking up the Genesis using the HDMI cable
Need these cables?
We have a pack that contains them all!
How the new HDMI Cable works:
Being able to connect your classic console to new HDTV’s using a HDMI cable was not possible for a long time. These systems were released long before HDMI and HDTV’s were ever thought of. That being said, some clever engineering has now made the unthinkable, possible. Let me show you what to expect when hooking your retro system up to a HDTV using HDMI.
Aspect Ratio
You may have heard about aspect ratio of TV’s. 4 by 3 (written 4:3), 16:9, widescreen, standard definition and so on. I wont go to much into it but will give you a quick overview.
At the end of the classic CRT / Tube Television era, widescreen was starting to become the thing. As such there were a few high-definition, widescreen CRT’s right before flat screens took over the world. Before that, every TV was in 4:3 ration. The 4 refers to the width of the screen and the 3 to the height. So 4:3 is a little wider than it is tall. For example, for every 1 inch of height you would have 1.33 inches of width. New HDTVs have a ration of 16:9. This works out to 1.79 inches wide for every 1 inch in height.
So why does this matter? Because almost every game system was built to display in a 4:3 ratio until around the original XBOX and Playstation 2. There are a handful of titles for the SEGA Dreamcast and original SONY Playstation that support widescreen, but not many. And when you’re talking about the SNES or SEGA Genesis, you can forget about it. When you connect a retro system up via HDMI it will not show you more of the map for instance than you could see before on a 4:3 TV. It will have “black bars” on the left and right of the 4:3 image, which gets centered on your 16:9 TV. This is completely fine and normal, but there are some options if you want it to fill the screen.
Widescreen 16:9 vs. Standard 4:3
Sonic – on good-ole 4:3 tube TV
Sonic – on Widescreen TV
Normal, Full and Fill Screen
When presented with an old 4:3 signal, most new widescreen TV’s give you a few options on how to display it. The first method is to maintain the aspect ratio and leave the image 4:3. This will have the black bars on the right and left of the image.
The next method is the stretch the image. The TV will take the 4:3 image and stretch it left and right to fill the screen. This will distort the image some. So Sonic or Mario will appear fatter and circles will be more like an oval. After playing for a few minute you will probably not notice.
A third option often available is to Fill the screen. This will not stretch the image, but instead enlarge the whole image until it reaches the left and right sides of the TV. In doing this it will end up cutting off the top and bottom of the screen. So this method should almost never be used as you are often unable to see scores, lives, platforms or whatever else if off screen.
Normal – on 16:9 widescreen TV
Full – on 16:9 widescreen TV
Fill – on 16:9 widescreen TV
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