Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga community support ideas => Topic started by: Treadwheel on July 01, 2008, 09:02:29 PM

Title: RGB to VGA 15 kHz Scan Converter
Post by: Treadwheel on July 01, 2008, 09:02:29 PM

Hello,

Just wanted to let people know of this relatively low cost Scan converter that is advertised to work with the Amiga. It is suppose to enable the RGB signal to view on a flat panel monitor at various resolutions.

Link here:

http://www.ambery.com/rgbcgatovgac.html

I have ordered one and will let you know.
Its also on Ebay marketplace at same price.

Title: Re: RGB to VGA 15 kHz Scan Converter
Post by: Nlandas on July 01, 2008, 10:05:38 PM

Is this part true?

From their site -
Supports 16-bit and 24-bit color depth.

-Nyle

Title: Re: RGB to VGA 15 kHz Scan Converter
Post by: Treadwheel on July 02, 2008, 01:31:10 AM

I'll let you know next week.
It was shipped today.

Title: Re: RGB to VGA 15 kHz Scan Converter
Post by: Nlandas on July 02, 2008, 03:56:58 AM

Thanks, let me know if it's full 24-bit all the way. I've seen these listed before and the seller said that it was. So far I haven't seen the guys on here say it's fully AGA compatible but maybe no one has bought one yet.

Title: Re: RGB to VGA 15 kHz Scan Converter
Post by: orange on July 02, 2008, 07:33:39 AM

someone has already posted that link here and, IIRC, said it worked great for him..
link (http://www.amiga.org/search.php?query=ambery&action=results)

Title: Re: RGB to VGA 15 kHz Scan Converter
Post by: alexh on July 02, 2008, 08:42:22 AM

Despite what they put on their web-page this device (a Cypress CM-397 (http://www.cypress.com.tw/product.php?PId=87936&CId=001&CName=PC%20Multimedia/Scan%20Converters&SR=1)) is not a 24-bit scandoubler.

I mean come on, it says it converts CGA signals and it doesn't.

Also it has a built in frame-rate converter (automatic 50Hz -> 60Hz conversion) that cannot be disabled making it impossible to get smooth scrolling in PAL games and demo's

Title: Re: RGB to VGA 15 kHz Scan Converter
Post by: Treadwheel on July 07, 2008, 02:25:54 PM

Alexh was right.

Received  the AV-1 Scaler/Converter and I just don't recommend it. It does not hold with the interlace modes. If you change screen modes the interlace flicker fixer just shows 1 field.  Not 24 Bit as advertised either. Some colors have dither patterns.

It only holds interlace at first bootup. Not usable in my book.
I have to  return it.

Getting an ideal monitor may be the answer.
I have a SVHS to VGA converter solution that looks better & holds interlace.
I'm using a Dell 14" LCD with an A4000T.

Title: Re: RGB to VGA 15 kHz Scan Converter
Post by: alexh on July 07, 2008, 02:59:05 PM

Quote

Treadwheel wrote:
Some colors have dither patterns.

Interesting. Not what you expect from a scandoubler. If it doesn't support 24-bit colours you get quantisation errors (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_quantization) and the result, rather than looking like dither look more like banding as fine details are lost for solid blocks of colour.

Title: Re: RGB to VGA 15 kHz Scan Converter
Post by: mfletcher on July 07, 2008, 05:21:42 PM

Regarding this device -

Im using it to test three A500's that Ive picked up on Ebay, and Im not having any troubles using them. Ive been playing Alien Syndrome on them to test the Floppy / Video.

IMHO - they appear to be perfectly acceptable for pre-AGA machines.

Mark

Title: Re: RGB to VGA 15 kHz Scan Converter
Post by: Treadwheel on July 07, 2008, 06:27:13 PM

That may be the case. AGA woes.
The 640 x 200 mode was fine as I expect the
320 x 200 OK too.

I specifically had an issue with 640 x 400 interlace
that would not hold when going from workbench to
DPaint. When I returned to workbench the text was unreadable.
I may have had a bad unit too.

Title: Re: RGB to VGA 15 kHz Scan Converter
Post by: codenetfx on July 11, 2008, 07:16:23 AM

There is an excellent thread at English Amiga Board about using RGB-to-SCART cable with Samsung Syncmasters (which are essentially LCD TVs with SCART input). Results are scandoubling good. I will try to find that link and post it here tomorrow.

I have spent too much time on looking for scandoublers and just don't like the idea of spending hundreds of dollars on it. I'd rather buy a monitor/LCD TV (plus cable).