PAL A1200 in the US?

[broken]

I have had several NTSC Amiga's over the years and I would like to get another A1200. Is it worth my while to spend the extra money for an NTSC machine, or should I just import a PAL version from somewhere?


Also, what about the monitor? Can I use a NTSC 1084 with the machine or would I also need a PAL version of it as well?


I just know all the problems I have had with trying to get euro games and demos working on my Amigas that I figure since most of the software is PAL based, I might as well just get a PAL machine to begin with.


Thoughts?

[tonyvdb]

Ok its been awhile since I have thought about this.

Pal Amigas will work in the US as long as they have the duel voltage power supply. Amigas were designed to work with Pal and NTSC out of the box. all you need to do is make sure that you have the NTSC monitors placed in the "Monitor" drawer on your sys drive.
As far as a monitor, a standard 1084 will work or even better a 1960 multisync.

[mr_a500]

Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you'll also need to worry about a power converter (220V to 110V). EDIT: you beat me to it, tonyvdb ;-)

I was also wondering about this because NTSC A1200s are damn hard to find. You should check out www.amigakit.com. Check out the A1200 "build-to-order" option - there's an option for NTSC. Maybe it's just wishful thinking - you select that option and it says "sorry out of stock" or something. Maybe I'll try to order one.

You shouldn't have a problem running PAL stuff on an NTSC A1200. I run PAL demos and games all the time on my NTSC A500.

[amigakit]

The website shouldnt say out of stock as we have NTSC Amiga 1200's currently in stock at the moment.

No 110v PSUs though - but I have enquired regarding a production run of 110v PSUs so I will report more information as I get it.

[mr_a500]

The website shouldnt say out of stock as we have NTSC Amiga 1200's currently in stock at the moment.

That is shocking and amazing. And they are new? How is that possible? I think I'll order one right away and change my name to mr_a1200. ;-)

[broken]

So, would the monitor be more of a concern with running PAL software on the NTSC A1200 than the actual Amiga itself?

Basically all the monitors I have ever used were 1084s, 1080 and 2002s.

I haven't tried any of the Multisync models.


edit: I see a 1960 on eBay, but at $300 that seems rather steep.

What about the NEC 3D Multisync? Good alternative for ntsc and pal usage?

[drewz21]

AmigaKit.com is fast becoming my favorite Amiga store...period!  

The last order I placed with them, yesterday, I made sure they knew I ordered from them because of their presence on this board.

Thanks for the support of the Amiga, AmigaKit!

[K7HTH]

drewz21 wrote:
AmigaKit.com is fast becoming my favorite Amiga store...period!  

The last order I placed with them, yesterday, I made sure they knew I ordered from them because of their presence on this board.

Thanks for the support of the Amiga, AmigaKit!

Oh, yeah! AmigaKit watches this board like a Hawk! Even moreso than the Mods.  :-D

[mr_a500]

Running PAL software on an NTSC Amiga with an NTSC 1084, the extreme top and bottom of the screen will be cut off. So for example, in Fire&Ice the score at the top can barely be seen and in Babeanoid the "bat" at the bottom of the screen can't be seen. This is only a problem in the few games and demos that put things on the extreme edges.

On some 1084 monitors, you can adjust the V-height and "squash" the screen so everything is seen.

This makes me wonder - is the PAL 1084 physically taller or is the screen just "squashed" to fit?

[tonyvdb]

NTSC has a total of 525 horizontal lines per frame, with two fields per frame of 262.5 lines each. Each field refreshes at 60Hz.

PAL has a total of 625 horizontal lines per frame, with two fields per frame of 312.5 lines per frame. Each field refreshes at 50Hz.

The 1084 monitor is NTSC here in North america it wont display the top and bottum of a pal screen because NTSC monitors only display 525 lines. The screen size is the same but on Pal monitors the lines are closer together.

I will be silling my 1960 next week on ebay unless you offer me something resonable. I am up in Canada so shipping may be around $60

NOTE: Just for your info some US communities up until recently were still using a 50hz signwave on the electrical grid and as time has gone on have converted to 60hz as this messed around with the internal clock running slow in computers due to the fact that they use the frequency of the power to keep time. Thats why you still see some companies lable the power supplies with the 50/60hz lable unlike in Canada where it has always been 60hz.

[leirbag28]

@mr_a500


Get NTSC4NTSC for Aminet and alot of Your PAL problems will be solved!

I can play Klondike on my Amiga in NTSC mode yupee!

If youhave a AGA machine just type:  NTSC4NTSC FORCENTSC

and that will force all PAL programs into NTSC Atoscroll screens so that you can see all the lines.

if you have an ECS machine, type:  NTSC4NTSC  USEAUTO
and i will do he same as I dont think the FORCENTSC part works on ECS.


Also you can ge a Philips  or Magnavox TV. When in PAL mode they shrink the Image to fit NTSC screens!
no all of them do it, so test i first with an A600 in hand like I do :-)  I just hold both mouse buttons and the boot menu comes up..then just tap a key for PAL and again for NTSC

I also have a Magnovox RGB monitor that was made for Amiga..it shrinks the image also automatically!



Haha.........I just sold my Commodore 64 DTV to someone local who just rang my bell as I was typing this................Gave it away for $7

I know where to get NTSC units!


here is a link of the item I just sold:  (off topic, I know :-)

http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/sys/132577986.html

[mr_a500]

NTSC4NTSC won't help with WHDload installed games. And I just tried it with BabeAnoid and it doesn't open an autoscroll screen. (tried USEAUTO and FORCENTSC)

So that makes NTSC4NTSC useless for me. I use Degrader to open PAL screens for non-WHDload games and demos - and ModePro to promote or change screenmode of others.

[adolescent]

Keep in mind the PAL A1200 doesn't output a true NTSC signal.  
Changing to NTSC requires changing some components on the board to different frequency parts.  (I think Catherder mentioned having these in stock recently)

[adolescent]

@mr_a500

Why not put in a hardware PAL/NTSC switch and forget the software.  It's just a matter of wiring a SPDT switch to a pin of Agnus.

[mr_a500]

Why not put in a hardware PAL/NTSC switch and forget the software. It's just a matter of wiring a SPDT switch to a pin of Agnus.

Using software to switch to PAL mode is not a problem. It works fine. The problem we were discussing was PAL screens being "cut off" at the top and bottom when viewed on an NTSC 1084. A hardware switch on Agnus would not help this.