Mega Drive RGB Mod (Triple Bypass)

£85

No fix, no fee · 12-month warranty · Insured, tracked returns

Reasons to book

  • Faint vertical lines (jailbars) across your picture
  • A picture that looks soft or muddy over RGB SCART
  • Colours that look smeared or uneven
  • You want the sharpest picture your Mega Drive can give for playing or capturing
  • You want a cleaner signal to feed an upscaler or a SCART-equipped TV

RGB is a way of sending the picture that carries the red, green and blue colour signals separately, so it's much sharper than composite (the single yellow plug). In the UK, RGB traditionally goes through a SCART socket, the wide 21-pin connector found on older TVs. The catch is that many new TVs no longer have one, so check your setup before you book.

The Mega Drive's own video amplifier section can leave the picture looking less clean than it could. One well-known symptom is "jailbars": faint vertical lines running down the screen, most visible on plain backgrounds. A Triple Bypass board replaces that video amplifier section. The result is a cleaner RGB picture with reduced jailbars.

When your console arrives, I check it powers up and outputs a picture as it is. Then I fit the Triple Bypass board, which is included in the price, and test the picture over RGB before it goes back to you.

A few honest limits. The mod reduces jailbars rather than removing every trace, and the final picture still depends on your cable and TV. It improves the RGB signal the console puts out, so you'll still need a way to get RGB into your screen, whether that's a SCART socket or a converter or upscaler. If your console has another fault, such as quiet or crackly sound, that needs a separate fix like the Mega Drive recap. And if you own a rare or boxed console, modding it can reduce its value to collectors.

If you're not sure which route suits your TV, RGB SCART vs an HDMI mod walks through the options.

Mega Drive RGB Mod (Triple Bypass)

Frequently asked questions

What are jailbars?
Faint vertical lines that run down the picture, easiest to spot on flat colours like a blue sky. The Triple Bypass board is fitted to reduce them.
Will this give my Mega Drive HDMI output?
No. It gives a cleaner RGB signal. To use it with an HDMI-only TV, you'd need a separate converter or upscaler.
Does the mod change how games play?
No. It only affects the video signal. Games run exactly as before.

Related repairs

About this service

How does your mail-in repair service work?
Three steps: book and pay for your repair online, post your item to me using the packing instructions I email you, and I repair it, test it, and send it back tracked. You'll get updates as it moves through each stage.
What is your no-fix-no-fee promise?
Payment is taken upfront at booking. If I can't fix your item, there's no repair fee — I refund what you paid, less £4.99 return postage to send it back to you. Assessment bookings work differently: the £4.99 covers return postage and comes off the repair if you go ahead, but isn't refunded if you decide not to or it can't be repaired.
Do your repairs come with a warranty?
Yes. Every repair carries a 12-month workmanship warranty against the same fault returning. If it does, I'll put it right.
How long will my repair take?
Most repairs are completed within 3-6 working days of arrival, then posted back by tracked post. If a part needs ordering, I'll tell you as soon as I've diagnosed it and give you a realistic date. Diagnostic-led jobs take a little longer if I'm waiting on your approval of a quote.
How do I package my item safely to post it?
I send clear packing guidance when you book. In short: wrap the item well, use plenty of padding, and a sturdy box — the return leg is insured and tracked, and good packing on the way in protects your item too.
Where do I send my item?
Your postage address is included in the confirmation email after you book — you don't post anything until you've booked, so your item is always matched to your order.
Do you cover the whole UK?
Yes — I run a mail-in repair service, so you can send your item from anywhere in the UK. There's nothing local you need to find.
What if my item turns out to be unrepairable?
I'll tell you honestly and, where the fault allows, offer an alternative. If I can't fix it, there's no repair fee — I refund what you paid, less £4.99 return postage to send it back to you.