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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Karlos on July 02, 2003, 01:55:31 PM
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Hi all,
I recently had to reflash my blizzppc card which meant booting a genuine AGA early startup screen since the bvision was obviously not recongised.
I have an old 1084 monitor lying around and connected it up. I never realised it had aged so badly. The tube is on the way out I think, very dark, out of focus and lacking any contrast.
Anyhow, I got it reflashed ok but then I started feeling all nostalgic about AGA and put some old demos on, but I could barely watch them...
So I was wondering if any of you could suggest a replacement, preferably something at least dual sync (15 khz / vga), maybe even a flat panel (I seem to recall some Samsung ones could cope with PAL).
Any suggestions?
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Yeah, a flatscreen coping with Pal would be really cool.
However i have an NEC Multisync 3d monitor, and i've had it since 6 years, and before that it was owned by a school that used it with Deluxe Paint educating in art. So the monitor is about 14 years old.
I cleaned it through 5 years ago, and it has worked perfectly, sharp and without any problems.
That is truely a hardware masterpiece.
But as said earlier, a flatscreen would be alot nicer, if anyone have a tip so bring it on please. :-)
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This is the one you want:
PHILIPS 150MT20
It's a 15 inch flatscreen monitor/TV with built in tuner.
Should handle all VGA resolutions up to and including 1024x768.
It has a separate input for scart, VGA, SVHS and HDTV.
Comes with a pricetag of around 450£ here in Norway.
They should have it at Dixons or equal stores...
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Sounds nice but a little pricey :-)
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What about a scan doubler and a used VGA monitor?
$200euro maybe for the pair?
Plaz
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Or maybe get your 1084 repaired. Sounds like there's a problem in the high voltage section. I good TV repair shop should be able to diagnose and repair it.
This course of action saved my 1084S.
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I suggest you use a TV. I used to have my Amiga connected to a TV but the composite output of the A1200 doesn't have good quality. One day I was reading on the net about the RGB connection that DVD's have, and how it provides the best picture possible on PAL TVs. It has the 3 signals for the colour components separated, and it's better than SVideo. I thougt damn, and I thougt SVideo was the best one. I happened to have an old but BIG TV around that doesn't support SVioeo in, but it has RGB in!!! So I ordered an Amiga RGB output to Scart (RGB) to give it a try and was completely amazed by the result. Every picture defect that exists specially on old TVs that don't have digital comb filter (signals interfere with each other) disappears. I couldn't recognize the TV!
Actually even my friends get amazed, how come such an old TV has such good quality.
I'm even gonna buy a DVD player for it.
All due to the excellent RGB connection.
Ok, I'll shut up... :-x :-D
[EDIT] Don't forget to insist that you want the Scart connection to be RGB. Most Scart connections are composite, and actually most TV equipment sellers sell the Scart cables as if it was all the same thing. (it may be if it has all the pins on it)
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so Jose, what make was this 'ere telly of yours then ? sounds good ! :-D
nice Avatar by the way ! -
actually I was in Dudley (West Mids) looking in toyshops for a sandpit for me daughters, when I saw an Eddie figurine in the window of one of em - it was Eddie in his Trooper guise, with interchangeable Union Jack flag, rifle (i fink) and sword !
I so very nearly bought it that minute ! :-D
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Err, why not just get a scandoubler/ff? Then use any monitor you choose.
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Madgun68 wrote:
Err, why not just get a scandoubler/ff? Then use any monitor you choose.
Well I already own a 19" monitor that handles 1600x1200 @ 85Hz fine and use that for the BVision and my windoze/linux box.
I just wanted something I could connect to the normal video out for some backwards compatibility (nostlgia mostly).
I'd prefer a 15" sized monitor of some kind, maybe flatscreen because my work area is a little crowded - two towers, 19" monitor, fullsize midi controller keyboard, some rackmount stuff - you get the picture :-)
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I've never had the space for two monitors. I used a KVM for the Amiga. (Only used it for switching video though.) You don't get to see both outputs at once, but it's not like they're both active at the same time.
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I used a Nec Multisysnc 3D in my early Amiga-Days. Now after several years I got that Monitor back from my sister (exchanged with another old VGA monitor, she used it for an old PC) and connected it to the A1200 of my son. It still works perfect and the picture quality is so much better than the old TV he had before (via antenna input)
The Nec3D is really a good coice!
The best would of course be a scandoubler with bouldin flickerfixer (to make the interlace modi useable). I have an external one for my C=A4000T. Really good device it was not cheep ;)
selco, http://selco.da.ru
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The tube is on the way out I think, very dark, out of focus and lacking any contrast.
There are coarse adjustments for these inside my 1080 I found out, so I drilled holes in the back of the case to access them. 8-)
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@Karlos:
Regarding your original problem (reflashing the BlizzPPC without a 15khz monitor):
Reset your machine and keep the ESC key pressed until the BlizzardPPC's own "startup-menu" comes up. Here you can adjust several things (e.g. disable all unused SCSI nodes, this will speed up the boot process).
There's an option somewhere that can redirect AmigaOS' 15khz screenmodes (early startup menu, boot without startup-sequence) to your BVision. It works fine (albeit scrolling is a bit slow) over here.
I could finally get rid of my 15khz monitor after enabling this feature (I have a seperate A1200 setup for nostalgia/retro-gaming stuff).
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@Agafaster
It's an old Sanyo. From the time Sanyo was still very strong in Europe, and produced those very cool digital VCRs with digital effects or something. The thing has around 14 years. I didn't even knew it supported RGB, I found the manual by occasion and read some stuff just by nostalgia.
Eddie rules :-D
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cgutjahr wrote:
@Karlos:
Regarding your original problem (reflashing the BlizzPPC without a 15khz monitor):
Reset your machine and keep the ESC key pressed until the BlizzardPPC's own "startup-menu" comes up. Here you can adjust several things (e.g. disable all unused SCSI nodes, this will speed up the boot process).
Thanks, I actually knew that and have the early startup redirected to the BVision anyway.
The problem is that the flashrom was trashed somehow and the only part of the card that was detected was the 040 chip (no scsi, no ppc, no memory, no bvision). The flash menu wouldnt come up no matter how long I pressed the Esc key...
This has happened to me a few times in the last couple of years. Once it 'forgets' you just cant do anything with it other than reflash it seems.
When the card is reflashed it works fine again.
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Once I disabled the card (using the '2' key) only to discover you cant re enable it without holding the reset key combination for 10 seconds. Its disabled completely until you do this (reboots included).
What an unbelievably stupid design :-x
I have a pc keyboard via an eyetech EZ-key interface and it won't hold the KBRESET line for anything like that long.
I had to re flash it then too! :-x
Has anybody else ever had this happen?
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Nokias with TV capability will handle 15 KHz, both on the RF input and as RGB on the VGA connector.
Your Amiga dealer may have some flat screens which will, too. I know GGS-data has some rather sexy ones.