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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Guille64 on August 20, 2010, 10:05:34 PM

Title: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: Guille64 on August 20, 2010, 10:05:34 PM
Hello,
I wonder if it is possible to use my LCD tv (which has a VGA socket) in combination with the RGB-VGA adapter and...
Replace (or almost do that) the Amiga monitor which I don't have anymore.
I don't know if the LCD is Multisync and don't have the adapter, so, before buying it I prefere to ask you about this.

Thank you all!
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: Nostalgiac on August 20, 2010, 10:42:31 PM
sadly unlikely to work - the common 23-15 pin adaptor is just that.. a pin adaptor.. and will use 15(something) which standard vga and your tele will not take (wants 30+

cant remember exact Hz levels without getting out of the sofa :/

You need a scan-doubler

ta
Tom UK
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: CSixx on August 20, 2010, 11:05:00 PM
It depends on the make/model of the TV or Monitor.
I have some lcd monitors that can handle 15Khz (NEC AccuSync LCD 51v), but most will not.

Same story with lcd tv's, some will, some won't.
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: fitzsteve on August 20, 2010, 11:17:19 PM
My 19" JVC LCD TV works with a standard VGA-RGB adapter so I guess its just a case of try and see :)
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: AmigaEd on August 21, 2010, 01:15:05 AM
A similar discussion was going on in this thread...

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53866

This seems to be a reoccurring topic. In my opinion it is an important topic for both new and old Amiga users alike. It would be great if LCDs which work could be compiled into a database or perhaps the super cool awesome spectacular (Note: gratuitous praise intended) moderators here at A.org could make a sticky thread.

I would envision something like the following...

Manufacturer:
Type: LCD, Plasma, LED, etc.
Size:
Mfg Model Number:
Amiga video modes confirmed:


Regards,
AmigaEd
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: Guille64 on August 21, 2010, 03:26:28 AM
I am sure that the best and quick way to find out the possibilities of vga adapters on lcd's is just testing them.
But it's 20 pounds to put an adapter in Argentina and it is 1/5 of the scandoubler after all.
I have a Samsung 32" series 4. I will look at the manual to find some clues...
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: amigadave on August 21, 2010, 03:57:42 AM
Quote from: AmigaEd;575520
........

This seems to be a reoccurring topic. In my opinion it is an important topic for both new and old Amiga users alike. It would be great if LCDs which work could be compiled into a database or perhaps the super cool awesome spectacular (Note: gratuitous praise intended) moderators here at A.org could make a sticky thread.

I would envision something like the following...

Manufacturer:
Type: LCD, Plasma, LED, etc.
Size:
Mfg Model Number:
Amiga video modes confirmed:


Regards,
AmigaEd

Good idea Ed.  I would suggest adding the years of manufacture to LCD monitors that are no longer in production and the word "Current", or something like that to indicate that the monitor is still being produced.
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: rvo_nl on August 21, 2010, 11:15:21 AM
I dont get it. Cant you just hook the RF output up to the tv for configuring and playing games and such, and hook up the RGB port of your Amiga to the VGA input on the tv, and use a DBLPAL driver for your workbench? I guess Im missing something, its been 15 years ago.
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: ajk on August 21, 2010, 03:38:12 PM
Well for one the RF output quality is pretty awful, and you'd need to switch between the inputs manually when you launch a game or such, so it's not very optimal. A TV with RGB SCART would be a good choice, but maybe not a possible one in Argentina...
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: AmigaEd on August 21, 2010, 03:50:53 PM
Quote from: rvo_nl;575551
I dont get it. Cant you just hook the RF output up to the tv for configuring and playing games and such, and hook up the RGB port of your Amiga to the VGA input on the tv, and use a DBLPAL driver for your workbench? I guess Im missing something, its been 15 years ago.


I think this also falls in to the category of possible but with what hardware?

In my experience of trying to use the RF input, S-Video or Composite input with my various TVs the displayed image often looks pretty poor. I believe that even with the SCART input that the good folks in Europe have, that a there are LCD TVs that either work, partially work, or don't work at all.

Someone more knowledgeable that I would need to comment on using DBLPAL or DBLNTSC, but it seems to me that this might work with the VGA input on some LCD TVs and not with others. I believe that DBLPAL runs at 27.5Khz as opposed to standard VGA which is 31KHz.

Regards,
AmigaEd
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: Boot_WB on August 21, 2010, 03:51:22 PM
Depending on the model you could also use the composite out (A600/1200) or the composite out of an A520 modulator.

As the previous poster said, SCART would be the ideal way if it were available on your TV (unlikely though).

Alternatively, there was a Amiga RGB > S-Video adapter project going on over at EAB (http://eab.abime.net) - you may want to check in there on the status of the project (ask Zetro).

In my experience even dblpal modes are often out of range on most monitors - just under 31kHz iirc.

Regards



Rich
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: Boot_WB on August 21, 2010, 03:59:05 PM
Just found the relevant thread.

It seems that AmigaManiac is building/selling these.

They're available from his website (http://www.amigamaniac.com/RGB_to_PAL_NTSC_adapter.html).

Regards



Rich
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: ajk on August 21, 2010, 04:00:56 PM
Here's what the output of an A500 looks like on my LCD TV. JPEG compression on the photo is pretty heavy but the output is quite sharp and very stable. S-video should be reasonably close if it's a good converter.
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: AmigaEd on August 21, 2010, 06:02:56 PM
Quote from: ajk;575568
Here's what the output of an A500 looks like on my LCD TV. JPEG compression on the photo is pretty heavy but the output is quite sharp and very stable. S-video should be reasonably close if it's a good converter.


@ajk

What model LG TV is that? Are you using composite output?

Regards,
AmigaEd
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: Guille64 on August 21, 2010, 06:42:28 PM
I have good results with the composite like the pic

[ATTACH]797[/ATTACH]

But my original question is about using the VGA in of the LCD TV. Just like a monitor.

(In the picture I was using a high standard composite cable; now I am using one that is even better and the results are better too)
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: orange on August 21, 2010, 07:14:12 PM
there should be no (much) difference between SCART and VGA connector if its TV.
I would try connecting the RGB signals and see if it works. there have been reports that it does.
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: ajk on August 21, 2010, 10:19:40 PM
Quote from: AmigaEd;575576
What model LG TV is that? Are you using composite output


No, RGB output from the Amiga. I believe the A500 composite output is in greyscale. This is an LG Flatron M237WDP but I think pretty much any model will do ok.

Quote from: orange

there should be no (much) difference between SCART and VGA connector if its TV.


The VGA input is often handled by completely different circuitry in my experience. The SCART input can handle the Amiga video signal but it does not at all mean that the VGA input can too.

Sorry if I have muddled the topic a bit, with VGA only very few monitors will handle the Amiga modes :/ Someone on IRC mentioned that his Dell monitor can do it.
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: rvo_nl on August 21, 2010, 11:17:34 PM
Quote from: ajk;575564
Well for one the RF output quality is pretty awful, and you'd need to switch between the inputs manually when you launch a game or such, so it's not very optimal. A TV with RGB SCART would be a good choice, but maybe not a possible one in Argentina...

Well, you would only use RF output for hardware-banging stuff ofcourse, there is no other way of getting this to display on LCD anyway (apart from getting an indivision). the VGA output is then used for productivity stuff using DBLPAL. Still worth a try IMO.
 
As for switching between inputs whenever you start a game - this is pretty common these days for Amiga users. I have my Bvision hooked up to the same monitor as my indivision,works pretty well but the switching is indeed manual labour. No problem though.
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: ajk on August 22, 2010, 12:18:03 AM
Well, indeed it is hard to get it the display on the LCD via the VGA input, since only very few monitors can handle the native modes - without knowing the exact model we can't know. But I was thinking his LCD TV might have either a SCART, s-video or component input (not sure what is prevalent in Argentina) in addition to VGA, which would all allow the modes to be displayed. SCART would do it directly or the other two via adapters. Any of them would be much nicer than the RF or composite output for sure. Of course, it may be a good idea to just save that money and consider an Indivision instead if VGA is a must.
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: Guille64 on August 23, 2010, 02:05:20 PM
Thanks for the advices. My LCD doesn't support SCART and s-video. The results using composite are really good (thanks to a very good cable), so I must consider buying an indivision internal scandoubler in the future to really improve the experience.

Regards
Title: Re: LCD and RGB-VGA adapter
Post by: rvo_nl on August 23, 2010, 02:13:13 PM
Its a fantastic device. So you could do worse than that :)