Amiga.org

Amiga.org specific forums => New User Introductions => Topic started by: Maximillian on January 12, 2011, 04:55:03 PM

Title: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: Maximillian on January 12, 2011, 04:55:03 PM
Hello!

I had obtained a PAL Amiga 500 and as of right now I am going to have to get some things to hook it up to my TV. Since I live in America. :lol:

Anyway, I plan to get a PAL to NTSC converter, and hope that my TV will accept the 50Hz signal.

I also am looking out for upgrades for it, mainly memory because I think it only has 512k
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: motorollin on January 12, 2011, 04:57:32 PM
Welcome! Hope you enjoy your new hobby.

--
moto
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: Speelgoedmannetje on January 12, 2011, 05:35:59 PM
Welcome :)
IIRC modern televisions accept both signals, so check your tv specs first before spending any money!
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: motorollin on January 12, 2011, 05:39:37 PM
Out of interest, what made you decide to get an Amiga?

--
moto
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: Maximillian on January 12, 2011, 05:55:01 PM
Quote from: Speelgoedmannetje;606211
Welcome :)
IIRC modern televisions accept both signals, so check your tv specs first before spending any money!

Okay, I will give it a check. :)

Quote from: motorollin;606215
Out of interest, what made you decide to get an Amiga?

--
moto

Very good question, which deserves a very good answer. :)

I have high interests in old school gaming just as I am current gaming.

Every time I turn on my old DOS machines I admire the old graphics on the CRT screens...

I in general like old computers especially, and thanks to a review here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVZrL4k1los

On the Amiga 500... as well as Fire & Ice for the Amiga 500, I was really interested in getting one.

I chose the PAL Amiga 500 due to more popular games. I do plan for some upgrades to help it out, but it's real purpose will be for games for me. :)
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: save2600 on January 12, 2011, 05:56:52 PM
Quote from: Maximillian;606202
Hello!

I had obtained a PAL Amiga 500 and as of right now I am going to have to get some things to hook it up to my TV. Since I live in America. :lol:

Anyway, I plan to get a PAL to NTSC converter, and hope that my TV will accept the 50Hz signal.

I also am looking out for upgrades for it, mainly memory because I think it only has 512k

Welcome! Lots to consider when spending money on a system such as this. First off, it's highly doubtful your TV will accept the 50hz signal. Picture will either roll, be in b/w or if it is in color, they'll most certainly be way off. Green will be pink, etc. An NTSC A520 composite adapter won't work either and the built-in composite output of your A500 is B/W.   (wait, is that true guys? I know the NTSC mobo's output only B/W)

There's a chap in Australia that sells relatively inexpensive video converters too, although his site eludes me right now, but he's often out of stock anyway.

Indivision ECS is a Flicker Fixer and Scan Doubler that plugs into the video chip socket (Denise) and allows you to use modern VGA CRT and LCD monitors.

Do you not have access to an Amiga monitor? 1080, 1084, 1960, etc. When you do find 'em, they're usually really cheap. Free to $50 in most cases.

Same with the 512k trapdoor memory expansion. The A501 or third party knockoff's can be had for next to nothing on eBay and a 1MB Amiga system can go a long way, especially if you're only into gaming on it.

Then there's the Kickstart issue... do you know what version you happen to have? Kickstart 3.1 allows you to switch between PAL and NTSC using the early startup sequence. If you have 1.2 or 1.3, you can use a program such as Degrader to switch between modes, but getting 'em on a floppy for you to use may be tricky.

Lots of great software like this to be found on aminet.net
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: trekiej on January 12, 2011, 06:01:08 PM
Welcome
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: Speelgoedmannetje on January 12, 2011, 06:09:38 PM
Quote from: Maximillian;606223

Every time I turn on my old DOS machines I admire the old graphics on the CRT screens...
I don't think a standard CRT television will support both PAL and NTSC however, I only thought about modern LCD/LED/Plasma tv's supporting both signals.

You might as well consider the CM-345S (http://www.converters.tv/products/rgb_to_vga/100.html), or an Indivision (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=918) to attach it to a standard vga CRT monitor.
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: save2600 on January 12, 2011, 06:16:10 PM
Quote from: Speelgoedmannetje;606228
I don't think a standard CRT television will support both PAL and NTSC however, I only thought about modern LCD/LED/Plasma tv's supporting both signals.
Here in the U.S. (where the OP lives), you are NOT going to find a modern TV capable of handling the Amiga's RGB signals through a VGA port sitting on a shelf at some retailer. Europe you're more likely to with their S-cart input, but we're gypped that way.

-edited to make more sense-
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: Maximillian on January 12, 2011, 06:26:36 PM
Quote from: save2600;606229
Here in the U.S. (where the OP lives), you are NOT going to find a modern TV capable of handling 15khz signals sitting on a shelf at some retailer. Europe you're more likely to, but we're gypped that way.

Isn't the 15KHz signal only on RGB output? I thought the adapter that plugs into there that does Composite and RF out makes it 50/60Hz ? :confused:
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: tone007 on January 12, 2011, 06:32:21 PM
Any TV with a composite or s-video input will support a 15kHz (horizontal) scanrate via those ports.

The 50Hz/60Hz is the vertical scanrate, and the 50Hz option is the one most older TVs in the US have issues with.  Newer LCD/plasmas can probably handle it, but it's definitely worth looking up.
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: save2600 on January 12, 2011, 06:35:20 PM
Quote from: Maximillian;606231
Isn't the 15KHz signal only on RGB output? I thought the adapter that plugs into there that does Composite and RF out makes it 50/60Hz ? :confused:

Yes, sorry for the cloudy explanation. :lol:  Brain was stuck in RGB FF/SD mode. Still.... the composite output is only going to be in black and white. Unless you wear a pair of those old fashioned 3D glasses where the lenses are red and blue. You can get some pretty psychedelic effects and colors that way.  lol
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: koshman on January 12, 2011, 06:57:47 PM
That's interesting - here in Europe I can't recall seeing a TV that wouldn't accept 60Hz signal in the last 10 or so years - all CRT, nothing fancy. I guess it must be more complicated the other way round.
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: murple on January 12, 2011, 07:03:59 PM
You're MUCH better off investing in either an Amiga RGB monitor (my preferred display for authenticity) or an Indivision that can bee hooked up to a modern VGA monitor.
Title: Re: New to Amiga.Org AND Amigas
Post by: Maximillian on January 12, 2011, 07:13:57 PM
I notice a couple of you mentioned the Indivision. I noticed they done away with the external (why I don't know), but they have the internal.

Are there any instructions as to installing it into the Amiga 500?


As far as getting a Amiga RGB monitor, I have to take a look to find one of them.