Amiga 1000 RF Modulator Question

[commatari]

Is it possible to disassemble the RF modulator that attaches to an Amiga 1000? I'm looking to reverse engineer one and don't want to break the case or the circuitry inside in the process.

[mechy]

Is it possible to disassemble the RF modulator that attaches to an Amiga 1000? I'm looking to reverse engineer one and don't want to break the case or the circuitry inside in the process.

This doesn't answer your question,but the rf from amiga is horrible , composite being not much better, have you considered maybe doing svideo mod to the 1000, the output is very nice usually.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

You mean an A520 RF modulator?  Sure, people do it all the time.  There's mods to convert it to S-Video, and even one that replaces it's insides with HDMI, instead.

[IanP]

If you want to tear down an RF modulator just pick up an old VCR. I would imagine somebody you know has one they want rid of. If you damage a VCR who is going to care. You say you want to reverse engineer it, is that with the intention of building new ones for the Amiga? As mechy said RF is bad there are much better ways to get video from an Amiga to a modern TV or monitor.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I'm still not even sure what you mean when you say (quote) "the RF modulator that attaches to an Amiga 1000"?  Doesn't the A1000 have a built-in modulator?  Uses that round DIN connector?  When you say "attaches", do you mean something external?  Like the A520?  If that's the one you're referring to, sure - plenty of people have disassembled them.  You can convert it into S-Video, as Mechy mentioned, even convert it to HDMI like this guy did:

https://amigafun.wordpress.com/2015/08/07/more-amazing-amiga-projects/

Please be more specific, aaah!  

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Never seen the RF modulator that attaches to the A1000.  Probably a pretty rare piece of kit.  If it's anything like an A520, sure - plenty of people have modded them to output S-Video, even HDMI.  But why?  Use composite, SCART, RGB, or get yourself an Indivision or GBS board... anything is better than RF!  :p

[danbeaver]

I had one with my first Amiga, but quit using it do to the absolutely lousy output.  The S-Video was a tad better, but had to go through a video enhancement box to be minimally viewable, and had to be set to 60 columns of text in the old preferences to read any screen text.

[commatari]

If you want to tear down an RF modulator just pick up an old VCR. I would imagine somebody you know has one they want rid of. If you damage a VCR who is going to care. You say you want to reverse engineer it, is that with the intention of building new ones for the Amiga? As mechy said RF is bad there are much better ways to get video from an Amiga to a modern TV or monitor.

No, I'm not planning on building any new ones as far as I know. Basically I want to draw a schematic and compare the circuit with other Commodore RF modulators, namely the one inside the A520.

[commatari]

This doesn't answer your question,but the rf from amiga is horrible , composite being not much better, have you considered maybe doing svideo mod to the 1000, the output is very nice usually.

Yes. The composite input on my 1084P only shows monochrome (it's not just with my 1000 either, same behavior with my C64). S-Video (Luma/Chroma) would be preferred.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Yes. The composite input on my 1084P only shows monochrome (it's not just with my 1000 either, same behavior with my C64). S-Video (Luma/Chroma) would be preferred.

Wait, what?  You have an A1000 and a 1084, why don't you just use a standard RGB cable?  :confused:

[paul1981]

I had one with my first Amiga, but quit using it do to the absolutely lousy output.  The S-Video was a tad better, but had to go through a video enhancement box to be minimally viewable, and had to be set to 60 columns of text in the old preferences to read any screen text.

I've only ever used RF output on the C64, A600 and A1200, but all three gave good pictures. Is PAL RF output superior to NTSC RF output possibly? I can't say there's need to complain about my PAL tv sets regarding RF or Composite Video from my computers. Thoughts anyone?

When I was a young teen I used to run my A1200 in 1280 x 512 interlace via composite video to a 14" portable TV. Crazy when I think about that now LOL.

[commatari]

Wait, what?  You have an A1000 and a 1084, why don't you just use a standard RGB cable?  :confused:

I have an RGB cable and use it with the Amiga most of the time. The RF out is more interesting than useful. It's kind of cool to see Workbench on my CRT TV though, flicker and all.

[danbeaver]

For those of us who remember our C64 days, there was a program called, FTOUWSM, that was really "cool" too!  The acronym meant, "For Those Of Us Who Smoke Marijuana;"  many things are "cool" if you are stoned -- for the rest of us, (IMHO) I recommend RBG.:laugh1:

[commatari]

Well, I have successfully opened the unit. The case was glued together and uses a couple screws to secure the DIN connector to the back half.

For the disassembly I used a guitar pick and the lever of a fingernail clipper for minimal damage.

The modulator is made by Mitsumi. Will post pictures soon.