Scan Doublers

[mdivancic]

I was looking around e-bay tonight and came across this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/INLINE-IN1424-SCAN-DOUBLER-HOME-THEATRE_W0QQitemZ5820140680QQcategoryZ71585QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Is there any reason you couldn't use one of these to scan double and flicker fix an amiga signal? Some are listed as cheap as $120, about what a good Amiga Flicker Fixer seems to go for these days on e-bay. What do you think?

Mike

[amigadave]

I posted a question to confirm that the RGB input #4 also gets doubled if it is 15.5kHz (like from an Amiga) and output as 31kHz.  Very interesting item, specially for Toaster/Flyer users.  Thanks for the posting of this.

[N7VQM]

Before you bid, I can find out some detailed information on this device and possiby get you a user manual in electronic form.  My employer absorbed Inline some time ago.

[humppa]

You might also want to have a look at the DVDO Iscan Pro/Ultra Series. Functionality is quite similar. Please note that the refresh-rate they output might be too low for most TFTs (especially if it's a 50hz-PAL signal). These devices are also quite expensive compared to "real" Amiga-scandoublers.

My idea is at the moment to buy a cheaper VGA box such as the "Grand Video Console II" and use the S-video inputs (instead of Component) for a gain in image quality. Genlocks are cheap nowadays and some of them can convert the RGB signal to S-Video. Has anybody tried this yet?

Another advantage of this solution would be that I could hook up my C64 to the Composite port so that I can toggle between Amiga-PC-C64 signals (all on one monitor).

[mdivancic]

humppa wrote:
You might also want to have a look at the DVDO Iscan Pro/Ultra Series. Functionality is quite similar. Please note that the refresh-rate they output might be too low for most TFTs (especially if it's a 50hz-PAL signal). These devices are also quite expensive compared to "real" Amiga-scandoublers.

Actually, if you look at past auctions these are selling for as little as $40. That makes them less than most scan doublers I've been bidding on lately. I'm looking forward to hearing from M7VQM. If this would work the only disadvantage I see is it's size (rack mount). On the plus side, as this is designed for video there is a very good chance that the quality is higher than any of the external Amiga Scan Doublers available. I wonder what bit depth it supports?

Mike

[bubba]

The INLINE 1424 has passive RGB input meaning it does not scan-double the RGB input.  It will convert the RGB to SVHS, composite, and component out only.

A couple of INLINE models do scan double 15khz RGB to 31.5 khz including the INLINE 1404, INLINE 1404XL, and INLINE 1424RGB.  I have not tried any of these with the amiga.

-bubba

[N7VQM]

From the information I found at work, bubba's statement may be correct.  I didn't find a manual, electronic or otherwise, but I did find an IN1424 in the retired equipment pile.  I'm pretty sure I can locate a 15Khz RGBHV source somewhere at work so I'll give it a spin today and let you know my findings.

Incidently: Despite the seller's statement of "light use," those rack ears look beat up.  Also, the Inline 1404 bubba mentioned is still a current model.  Visit www.extron.com for more info about it.  

[amigadave]

That 1404 looks interesting as a possible scan doubler for an Amiga, but the specs show two possible problems.

1. finding a proper cable to go from the Amiga 23 pin RGB output to the 1404's component RGB inputs (unless you are talented enough to make one yourself, which I am not).

2.  the minimum RGB resolution input accepted by the 1404 is listed at 720 x 525.  I think this would pose a problem for some Amiga programs and games which open their own screens at fixed resolutions less than those numbers.

[humppa]

As soon as it accepts RGB over the Component cable, the cabling should not be too difficult. There are VGA->Component cables offered on Ebay quite frequently. You would just need a 23p->15p VGA connector.
In most of the cases, however, things are not so easy with a Component input since it is used for YCbCr-signals rather than RGB-signals. So a signal-conversion would be necessary (not for the 1404!).

[N7VQM]

I tested the IN1424 for scan doubling on input 4 (RGB). The signal chain:

Extron VTG300 -> IN1424 Input 4 -> Dell Monitor

The VTG300 was set for NTSC and the HD15 connector was used to output the signal to the IN1424.  The IN1424's output was NTSC.  The input signal was not scan doubled.

The IN1424 will not work for the intended application.

[amigadave]

FYI,

I forgot to get the link, but there is an external Apollo scan doubler/flicker fixer on eBay listed today.  The bid is currently under $20 US.

[Nickman]

amigadave wrote:
FYI,

I forgot to get the link, but there is an external Apollo scan doubler/flicker fixer on eBay listed today.  The bid is currently under $20 US.

Apollo SD/FF