A question about monitors (groan). RGB to Scart to Component to VGA?

[stephenmcleod]

Okay..

So I've spent days reading over this stuff, and a lot of it's out-dated now that tech has moved on.

The scenario is the usual. I've got an Amiga 600 that I want to connect up to my LCD tv.

I've got a box that acts as an upscaler with VGA output, which is fine... but the composite quality is not the greatest. However, the box has got component video input.

Would I theoretically be able to take the Amiga RGB to Scart from amigakit, run the scart into a Scart to Component convertor, and then run the component to VGA? Is this going to give me an improved signal?

the convertor is: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QED-Scart-RGB-Component-Video-Adaptor-/290548604355?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item43a60bddc3

or..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JS-Technology-RGB-SCART-Component-YUV-Converter-/250794135491?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a647ecfc3

Apologies if this is obvious, but my brain feels like it's about to melt with all of this. I'm trying to avoid having to buy an LCD TV with Scart in when I really don't need it..

[Franko]

Okay..

So I've spent days reading over this stuff, and a lot of it's out-dated now that tech has moved on.

The scenario is the usual. I've got an Amiga 600 that I want to connect up to my LCD tv.

I've got a box that acts as an upscaler with VGA output, which is fine... but the composite quality is not the greatest. However, the box has got component video input.

Would I theoretically be able to take the Amiga RGB to Scart from amigakit, run the scart into a Scart to Component convertor, and then run the component to VGA? Is this going to give me an improved signal?

the convertor is: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QED-Scart-RGB-Component-Video-Adaptor-/290548604355?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item43a60bddc3

or..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JS-Technology-RGB-SCART-Component-YUV-Converter-/250794135491?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a647ecfc3

Apologies if this is obvious, but my brain feels like it's about to melt with all of this. I'm trying to avoid having to buy an LCD TV with Scart in when I really don't need it..

Normally it would be quite expensive to do this but if you can get that convertor on eBay cheap enough then it would be worth having a try at least...

It work fine, though there is no telling what the picture quality will be like after converting it from RGB to component (especially with a cheap RGB to Component convertor) but it should be far better than any composite signal... :

For best quality convertors try Keene, but be warned they are very expensive...

Keene AV

[Zac67]

As Franko stated, technically that wouldn't be a problem. Given acceptable quality components you probably wouldn't be able to tell a difference between component (YCbCr) and RGB - the VGA upscaler would probably add some slight blur though.

Additionally, you should check your TV for input compatibility - many accept component or S-Video signals as well. The latter would be very cheap to generate be hooking up an old S-Video genlock to your Miggy and far better than anything composite. May be slightly bulky though with the small 600.

Also, you can try running the RGB signal directly into the VGA input (with a bog standard VGA adapter for AGA machines). Apart from timing these signals are very similar and some flat TVs do accept 15 kHz RGB.

[stephenmcleod]

As Franko stated, technically that wouldn't be a problem. Given acceptable quality components you probably wouldn't be able to tell a difference between component (YCbCr) and RGB - the VGA upscaler would probably add some slight blur though.

Additionally, you should check your TV for input compatibility - many accept component or S-Video signals as well. The latter would be very cheap to generate be hooking up an old S-Video genlock to your Miggy and far better than anything composite. May be slightly bulky though with the small 600.

Also, you can try running the RGB signal directly into the VGA input (with a bog standard VGA adapter for AGA machines). Apart from timing these signals are very similar and some flat TVs do accept 15 kHz RGB.

Thanks for the replies! Very helpful.

Thing is.. It's not really a TV, it's a big computer LCD TFT masquerading as a TV.. so it's only got VGA and DVI inputs. I hadn't really anticipated attempting to hook up a C64 and A600 to it when I made the purchase!

It does seem like quite a faff.. converting all sorts of different signals, but hopefully it should work! I'll wait and see how it goes.

In terms of a genlock, that sounds interesting. The VGA box has s video input as well, so I could hook it up that way, but I'm not entirely sure what a genlock is or where to get one?

There's one here:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AMITEK-FUSION-VIDEO-GENLOCK-AMIGA-COMPUTERS-/250794245930?pt=UK_VintageComputing_RL&hash=item3a64807f2a

but it's a bit vague about its input/outputs.

[Zac67]

A genlock is intended for mixing Amiga video with external video (for effects, captioning, ...) and some of them are S-Video capable, not all. Apart from the mixing, they convert the RGB signal and this is what you'd need.

Bought mine a couple of years ago on eBay for <10€, in Germany they're still quite common. E.g. this one is similar to mine and will do. Watch out for NTSC genlocks from the US - composite and S-Video are NOT compatible with PAL.

I used the genlock to generate a quality video signal to connect into a WinTV card in my PC to have the Amiga run in a window.

[stephenmcleod]

A genlock is intended for mixing Amiga video with external video (for effects, captioning, ...) and some of them are S-Video capable, not all. Apart from the mixing, they convert the RGB signal and this is what you'd need.

Bought mine a couple of years ago on eBay for <10€, in Germany they're still quite common. E.g. this one is similar to mine and will do. Watch out for NTSC genlocks from the US - composite and S-Video are NOT compatible with PAL.

I used the genlock to generate a quality video signal to connect into a WinTV card in my PC to have the Amiga run in a window.

That makes a lot of sense. I've found this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RG-300C-RocGen-Genlock-fur-AMIGA-s-/190507314347?pt=Klassische_Computer&hash=item2c5b1eecab

but it doesn't look like it's got S Video out. Just Composite. (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong since it's one of the cheaper ones!)

but it looks a good alternative to buying all the different converters.

I'll keep an eye out!

[tasmanian guy]

Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to just purchase an www.amigamaniac.com svhs adaptor for the Amiga to connect it up to your tv, since your tv / monitor has that innput.  
 
I use mine on a 19" LCD tv in laced mode and it is a great picture quality!

[Zac67]

Good suggestion - not necessarily cheapier than a bargain genlock but quality hardware for a good price.

@Stephen
The RocTec ones aren't very good and that one doesn't seem to support S-Video. The EV-10 is cheaper still and much better, and there's another Hama 290 on German eBay.

[stephenmcleod]

Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to just purchase an www.amigamaniac.com svhs adaptor for the Amiga to connect it up to your tv, since your tv / monitor has that innput.  
 
I use mine on a 19" LCD tv in laced mode and it is a great picture quality!

The RGB to S-Video connector? I'd looked at that, but it says it's sold out, and I wasn't sure if they were still being made (since everything else I'd read was fairly out-dated). I'll drop him an email!

Compared to RGB quality, how good does S video come?

Zac: Good call. Getting them to post to the UK from the German site is proving a fun task mind you...

Cheers all!