The great video standard fiasco of 2015!

[AmmoJammo]

What I am discovering, after buying quite a few monitors and TVs, is that the "standards" used, apparently aren't actually standard...

And I can't work out specifically whats going on....

My latest discovery, is that a Dell 2007fp 4:3 monitor, that features svideo and composite.

Excellent!

Except, they won't accept the output from a Sega Mega Drive, in either s video, or composite, it also doesn't work with the composite signal from an AT Games "Mega Drive" hand held console, nor a cheapo Chinese game console.... It will however accept the signal from a plug and play Tetris game... why?

Its not the sync frequency, they're all 15.7khz, and I've measured this! It will most likely also accept the composite signal from newer consoles, such as the Nintendo GameCube, also 15.7khz...

I started investigating this more, in relation to the RGB scart to YUV/component adapters, and some people having them simply not work, and the reasoning people gave, was that the TV couldn't accept the 15.7khz on the component inputs, or, that it didn't like the bi level sync from the RGB signal...

But this isn't the case, because once again, I have known 15.7khz sources, that simply don't work on the component input, then others that do! Or I can plug a 15.7khz composite signal directly into the components "green" connector, and have it display an image, from some sources... but then not others....

So, why?! whats going on? how is svideo and composite a standard, that apparently some people didn't follow as a standard? :hammer:

[Britelite]

So, why?! whats going on?

First thing that came to mind is PAL vs NTSC. Or that the monitor expects an interlaced PAL/NTSC-signal, while getting a 240p/288p signal.

[AmmoJammo]

First thing that came to mind is PAL vs NTSC. Or that the monitor expects an interlaced PAL/NTSC-signal, while getting a 240p/288p signal.

All the screens should be pal, all the sources are pal, except the mega drive, when its switched to 60Hz pal...

I'm thinking it must be interlaced vs non interlaced, or the actual resolution itself when it comes to the rgb to component adapter, but this shouldn't be an issue for composite or svideo inputs!

[vince_6]

I have an LG TV 22"
I can connect my amiga via scart or composite.
My C64 with composite on component and scart for svideo.
My consoles just fine too.

My ZX doesn't work there, not even with composite to scart adapter...

[ElPolloDiabl]

Wouldn't the older consoles use RF adaptor?

[mark_k]

So, why?! whats going on? how is svideo and composite a standard, that apparently some people didn't follow as a standard? :hammer:

The problem is probably that your monitor doesn't accept non-interlaced signals. Technically, standard-compliant NTSC or PAL video has to be interlaced. The signals from a Mega Drive, Amiga, C64, NES, Super NES, PlayStation etc. etc. are not.

It's still disappointing though; you'd think monitor manufacturers would at least test with non-interlaced signals. On some TVs the S-video and composite inputs accept non-interlaced ("240p/288p") video, but the component video input doesn't. You'd also think manufacturers would include some kind of CRT-look mode with scanlines and handle 240p/288p images properly (instead of trying to deinterlace them) but I don't think any do.

If you play, say, Sonic 2 on the Mega Drive in two-player mode, that does output interlaced video. Can you get a picture on your monitor then? What about an interlaced Amiga Workbench?

[AmmoJammo]

The problem is probably that your monitor doesn't accept non-interlaced signals.

If you play, say, Sonic 2 on the Mega Drive in two-player mode, that does output interlaced video. Can you get a picture on your monitor then? What about an interlaced Amiga Workbench?

I figured it was something along those lines...
I do also have a few tvs that will take the non interlaced signal via component...

I wanted to test Sonic in 2 player, as I knew it changed something, but I was too lazy to go get the cartridge :roflmao: I'll give it a try sometime thought.

[AmmoJammo]

And this video pretty much sums up the title of this thread!

http://youtu.be/dIGB6QUJno4

[AmmoJammo]

And this video pretty much sums up the title of this thread!

http://youtu.be/dIGB6QUJno4

And to take it further, if I set it so the megadrive reset button resets to the everdrive menu, rather than to the game, I get the menu on the Dell screen, that won't display the everdrive otherwise...

And you guessed it, I can then start and play other non interlaced games... :hammer:

[trekiej]

Has anyone here ever run their Amiga NTSC through a video equalizer?
edit:
I wonder if an NTSC signal could be cleaned up.
It is garbage in garbage out.

[mark_k]

And to take it further, if I set it so the megadrive reset button resets to the everdrive menu, rather than to the game, I get the menu on the Dell screen, that won't display the everdrive otherwise...

And you guessed it, I can then start and play other non interlaced games... :hammer:

It should be possible to patch the Everdrive menu code so it sets up the display to be interlaced. That way you should be able to play any/all Mega Drive games on the Dell monitor with no need to mess around with starting Sonic 2 every time. You might want to suggest that to the Everdrive developer.