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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: runequester on July 20, 2011, 12:29:58 AM
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PAL amiga, Im in the US. My previous external scan doubler thingie croaked. Neither of our TV's accept PAL as far as I can tell. Neither of my PC monitors accept the amiga tv signal. SCART basically does not exist here.
So what options are recommended?
As far as I can tell there is...
the ambery scan doubler thingie. I've used one of those and they work decently if not great.
Upside is I can buy one right away, downside is its a hundred bucks
Indivision. Twice the cost and not available. Rarely comes up for sale.
Get a PC monitor that actually accepts the amiga signal. Any suggestions here?
Get a TV that accepts PAL input. Any suggestions here?
Various S video adapters.
Anything else?
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I hate to state the bleeding obvious but it all comes down to price and the resolutions that you need. I've had the pleasure (and it was a pleasure I assure you) of using some very nice Multisyncs with standard pc inputs as well as RGB video inputs. Trouble is they cost a mint as they were all broadcast monitors with BNC jacks for TV studios.
Sadly good quality PAL SCART TVs, though cheap and easily found on ebay here in the UK are a lot harder to get in the US too.
Mmmm....
.....So how about something like the Dell Ultrasharp 2005FPW, it's got composite and svideo inputs. NEC and Dell both have nice monitors with video in's, as do Samsung too. A lot of the PC monitors with video in can take PAL or NTSC so it's all good.
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In that other thread, there was a $40 model that the guy had posted his screenshot of..
I'd consider that..
Because, if you are serious about your 1200, you'll want an Indivision MK2, which isn't out yet...
So, you want to get something small that kind of works for a bit so you can wait (and save up money) for the indivision.. ;-)
I'd say also find a 1084s or something like that, but those are getting harder to find local and shipping is a killer on them..
desiv
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I am eyeing this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190469541654#ht_2576wt_1192 to see if it'd work.
A 1084 is ideal but they are slowly dying off, and shipping is indeed a pain. A 20 dollar monitor easily becomes a 60 dollar purchase and it might croak in a few months.
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As a PAL Amiga owner and who converts all of his NTSC Amigas to PAL (despite liviving in the USA, because PAL is best), I would say... you're buggered until new IndivisionAGAs are released.
Alternatively, look for some LCD TVs that do PAL and use the RCA video output (Good luck with that!).
Pick up any older SDFF that attaches to the video out and pick up a monitor that syncs to 50Hz (I buy Viewsonic monitors because most of them do - but check each model) such as this one:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6052506&CatId=2775
Look for an NTSC RF adapter that came with an old NTSC A500/A500+.
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Don't got for a CRT, although they are great displays they are all getting a bit long in the tooth now.
I've found a Benq LCD monitor that will sync down to the Amiga's native signal....all you need is a simple RGB->VGA adapter.
Here's a video of the Monitor in action -> Benq (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmtQZiebDws)
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Don't got for a CRT, although they are great displays they are all getting a bit long in the tooth now.
I've found a Benq LCD monitor that will sync down to the Amiga's native signal....all you need is a simple RGB->VGA adapter.
Here's a video of the Monitor in action -> Benq (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmtQZiebDws)
I used something similar myself to test my A1200 "wedge" on my living room TV.
I used a SCART-RGB adpater and then used my old A1081 monitor cable to the adapter and 3 RCA jacks to the TV. It worked, but as the TV was a 40" Panasonic plasma then it might not be the most economic option. :D
Here's some pics:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/darrin01311/100_1262s.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/darrin01311/100_1253s.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/darrin01311/100_1258s.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/darrin01311/100_1260s.jpg)
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Oh, now that's wicked!!!
:-)
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Oh, now that's wicked!!!
:-)
I was amazed it worked. I even tested Super Hi-Res laced...
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/darrin01311/100_1265s.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/darrin01311/100_1266s.jpg)
Colour was a bit off, but I think that was because I hadn't adjusted them correctly on the TV yet and my A1081 scart cable was falling apart at the connector (or perhaps it didn't like a 256 colour display because the games looked OK).
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I use this one, its decent output
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230623195622&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
Desktop in high res
(http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp278/desantii/DSC00181.jpg)
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I use this one, its decent output
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230623195622&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
Does it work for interlace modes?
From the picture, doesn't look like much, if any ghosting. Do you just connect it to the amiga with the normal component cables?
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The image is a high res interlace, I used an Amiga 9 to 23 pin cable, bought a female 9 pin and connected to that (its not pretty but works), used the connector on the bottom left hand side.
(http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp278/desantii/DSC00184.jpg)
(http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp278/desantii/DSC00183.jpg)
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The image is a high res interlace, I used an Amiga 9 to 23 pin cable, bought a female 9 pin and connected to that (its not pretty but works), used the connector on the bottom left hand side.
Wouldn't a 23 pin RGB to 15 pin VGA adapter connected to the VGA_IN on the board also work?
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I did try that and for some reason it did not work...
Wouldn't a 23 pin RGB to 15 pin VGA adapter connected to the VGA in on the board also work?
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Ugly, but nice! :-)
I'm guessing the VGA-in is just a passthru and doesn't convert.
It's that way on my s-video to VGA (piece of junk) card. It has a VGA-IN, but it's a passthru, so you can use it as a switchbox too..
According to some of the specs I've seen online (google GBS 8200), it's a 24bit A/D converter chip..
If I hadn't spent too much on my Amiga recently, I might get one as a backup.. ;-)
desiv
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as an aside, at least my miggy is "up".
Currently have to change to NTSC in the boot menu, its grey scale on a tiny TV (through the composite) and it sucks.
It'll load stuff from the hard drive though it cuts off the bottom of course.
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How about ordering a SVHS adaptor from www.amigamaniac.com (http://www.amigamaniac.com) does NTSC and PAL
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How about ordering a SVHS adaptor from www.amigamaniac.com (http://www.amigamaniac.com) does NTSC and PAL
I actually shot him an email earlier, to see if he is still doing them.
Am I right in assuming they'd fix my concern of playing a PAL game on an NTSC tv?
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Dealextreme has several scart to something convertes.
Is it so that you really can't get LCD TV with scart??? Is it really out of options??? This only because it would be so easy and clean solution.
I do know that us tvs doesn't have scarts usually, but must there be some of those tv with scart???
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Don't know about not having SCART on LCD TVs. I picked a 32-inch TV here in Iraq and it had two SCART inputs...
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I actually shot him an email earlier, to see if he is still doing them.
Am I right in assuming they'd fix my concern of playing a PAL game on an NTSC tv?
No. If you try and throw a PAL signal through a S-Video cable to a NTSC only TV then you'll still have the signal issues just like trying to use the RCA jack.
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I suggest you look for Samsung SyncMaster 940MW 19" LCD TV / Monitor. These were sold in USA! They support PAL and NTSC (even via composite) and they DO have a SCART input. Also, you may often find them offered dead where they wouldn't power up. The problem is one of the capacitors in the power supply section. After replacement, they should work fine. That is how I got mine for $40.
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unfortunately, SCART is rarely used over here. Thanks for the tv recommendation. I'll keep my eyes open
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I know SCART is not used in the States, but having a monitor with SCART input would allow you to use inexpensive Amiga RGB to SCART cable and enjoy the best possible output from your Amiga. Other solutions (S-Video, Composite) are of lower display quality, while scandoublers are expensive.
unfortunately, SCART is rarely used over here. Thanks for the tv recommendation. I'll keep my eyes open
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Well the other issue is the pal / ntsc trouble.