GBS-8220 Why not work Ami vga modes

[desiv]

I'm pretty sure that's it.
I've thought about wiring the Amiga into the RGB AND the VGA input (which I believe is just a passthru) of the GBS, but that would mean I'd have to use the GBS buttons to swap inputs (I think), and my GBS is cased with no button access and sitting behind my LCD.

Some type of auto switching would be nice, but that's not something the GBS is going to do by itself...

desiv

[desiv]

it's meant to do 14.5-32.5khz as input.  So not sure that's the problem.

You can input a VGA khz signal..
In the VGA plug that is basically a passthru.  ;-)

But as for the RGB inputs that get converted, it doesn't appear to like the higher ranges.

In fact, when you look at the manual, the only 15khz modes is says it works with is for CGA.  For RGB in the manual it lists 30.5-32.5.

Of course, we all know that it works with RGB lower at 15khz, but the specs don't specifically say it.

desiv

[desiv]

I know that going from pal, to ntsc, the gbs simply reports "no signal" until you do this...

That's weird, I run PAL and NTSC modes on my GBS all the time.
I only ever had to use that button on the initial setup.

I did try using that button with some of VGA style modes yesterday and it didn't do anything.

It is weird tho, if it's not a passthru, then why don't the VGA modes work?
According to the specs in the manual, it should.
Then again, according to the specs in the manual, RGB 15khz shouldn't work.  ;-)

(And if standard 30ish khz doesn't passthru, then what is the point of the 15pin port???)

desiv

[desiv]

GBS video is never ever "clear".
(long justifiable rant about GBS follows..)

There's a reason that the GBS is $30 and we all (generally) know it...
It's not anywhere near the best device of it's type.  It's not perfect.

But it is affordable (read: cheap) and acceptable (for lots of people).

It also draws waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to much power from your RGB port.  Over 10x more than is legal.   You are liable to destroy your RGB port after a few years of this sort of abuse unless you wire up an external powersupply.

Yes!  I use an external power supply and everyone using one (IMHO) should do that...

GBS force converts all 50hz PAL modes into 60hz which messes things up as its impossible to smoothly upscale 50hz to 60hz.

Again, it's not perfect, but I enjoy playing PAL games on my 1200 with the GBS.
Would I enjoy them more if I spent more money on a much nicer product..
I imagine so..  ;-)
But it in no way ruins the experience for me.

You had a problem.

Yep...

Your problem was the monitor manufacturer ripped you off with a monitor that could display 50hz pictures just fine but was rigged (sabotaged/vandalized) not to display 50hz video on purpose.

er..  kind of I suppose.. but not really...
I'd say my problem is that I (for space reasons) needed to display my Amiga on my currentl LCD monitor.

The solution was to buy a proper monitor.

er..  That's one possible solution, but one that involves spending more money than other solutions..

But instead you made your problem worse by adding a GBS which damages the video quality of every single Amiga gfx mode, even the ones that display on your silly obsolete monitor that they tricked you into buying.

er.. No one "tricked me into buying my monitor."  It was inexpensive and I knew it at the time.  I didn't expect it (at the time) to work with PAL modes, so it's not anyone's fault that it doesn't do that...

You can reduce your problems down to 0 by buying a normal (not ripoff) monitor from a normal (not ripoff) monitor manufacturer + a good flickerfixer.

i.e.  You can pay a LOT of money for a really nice solution.
Yes, that's an option..

I am not even sure u need a flickerfixer.  If you want to play PAL games the best way to do that is to simply play them on a 1084S.  It gives the absolute best picture quality for lores PAL games.

I agree.  I love my 1084s.  But desk space wise, I needed another solution.  And cost wise, it needed to be a"not top of the line" solution  ;-)

GBS was really made for old Nintendo and Sega consoles.  That target market does not care about quality. (If they did care about quality then they would be using Amigas)  

Well, I wouldn't say we (as a portion of that audience) don't care about quality, but we might have some other (financial primarily) considerations as well.. ;-)
I'm glad the GBS is there as an option.  I think it is a decent solution for a group of people who are looking for an answer with a set budget...
Doesn't mean that I won't decide to spend more and get a better product in the future and be happier.  
But the fact that I can be happier later doesn't mean I'm not happy now. ;-)

desiv

[desiv]

Is there a version of the GBS-8220 that accepts NTSC colour composite input and outputs to a VGA monitor?

You don't have to worry about NTSC/PAL color issues when you use RGB.
So, it works.
There are some issues around PAL/NTSC timing.  Some people don't like the resampled solutions.  I don't mind the GBS at all....
(That means I don't notice any issues.  I play PAL games on my NTSC A1200 all the time..)

Does it introduce any latency when playing video games?

I'd guess that there has to be some, but not that I've noticed.

desiv

[desiv]

:idea:  You can solve your space problem and your money problem all at the same time (depending on make, model and mileage) by just selling your wife.  

I'm not going to react.....

..

...as my wife is very internet savvy..  :sealed::sealed:  
:lol:

desiv

[desiv]

I was actually thinking of using the device with a ColecoVision modified to have composite out, so I was wondering about that.

The GBS device doesn't handle composite or s-video.
So that's probably not going to work.

There are several inexpensive composite - VGA adapters on e-bay.
This just isn't one of them.  ;-)

(I actually have one that is a composite or s-video to VGA adapter that works nicely for composite, but not for s-video (one of the colors is shifted 1 line lower in s-video and there is no adjustment).)

However, composite and s-video are probably/possibly going to have PAL/NTSC color issues depending on the adapter.  I didn't test mine for that.

desiv