Amigas and Plasma TV!

[TjLaZer]

I am trying to use my A500 on my 42" Hitachi Plasma TV!  Interestingly I can hookup the A500 via the CBM VGA Adaptor and almost get it working!  The screen rolls a bit but the TV seems to be locking in at 15KHz.   Playing around, if I set the screenmode to interlace the rolling goes away and then I can go back to non interlaces screens and all is just fine.  But on a re boot this does not work so most games will not work.  Not sure why this is happening.  Also when I try to use composite video (via A520) all is fine but I cannot use PAL, I get a monochrome display with bottom not visible (where the extra lines would be for PAL).  Anyone else succesfully able to use an Amiga on a plasma?

[CLS2086]

Hi,
be a warrior, hack your Plasma !
The same model is avaible in Europe with Peritel/Scart "RGB" input that can handle all 15 Khz Amiga Mode (50/60 hz).
So you must try to get in touch with a technician and go to the internal "SERVICE MENU" to enable 15 Khz input  :-)

[Darrin]

I tried a PAL A1200 on my Panasonic 42" PAL/NTSC plasma with mixed results.  The AV connection produced an unstable black and white image.  I then tried my NTSC scan doubler equipped A1200T and got mixed results  - some screenmodes worked perfectly, while some lower res ones needed for games just clapped out.

When I have more time then I'll probably experiment again, but meanwhile I have a P2.8 PC attached to the TV (via the monitor port) with a wireless keyboard and mouse and an old A1200 keyboard attached via the USB port using the Keyrah so that I can use WinUAE.

MAME works good too.  There's nothing like playing Amiga Lemmings or the arcade classic Pheonix on a 42" plasma!  Of course, the wife has other ideas...

[Dennis]

I've tried Minimig on an 37" panasonic plasma. It was connected through the SCART (RGB) connector in 15khz mode. I got a fine picture with only a small black border on the right side of the screen.


@Darrin,

Yes, Lemmings on a plasma is a whole new experience...

Dennis

[Akiko]

I'd like also use my 46" plasma TV to output AGA to play WHDLoad games. I know it works perfect because I've tryed already and results were amazing!
Is this safe? I ask because I heard several people before say this will wreck a plasma screen.  :-o

[TjLaZer]

CLS2086, there is an internal service menu?  How does it work? Hmmm

[Darrin]

Dennis wrote:
I've tried Minimig on an 37" panasonic plasma. It was connected through the SCART (RGB) connector in 15khz mode. I got a fine picture with only a small black border on the right side of the screen.

@Darrin,

Yes, Lemmings on a plasma is a whole new experience...

I love playing some of those old games on the big screen, plus I have the audio conected to my surround sound system.  Those extra large pixels really help when it comes to completing certain levels.  

Hopefully I'll have a chance to try a minimig on my TV one day.  That's one facinating project you're working on there.  

[pierre]

1, how does this effect interlaced (flickery) screen modes?
2, did you make some cables for scart)
3, what about those fancy hd connectors on new tvs (USA)
4,what about componets inputs..

I made some scart cables from my 2000 while I lived in germany as a kid......  but that was a long time ago and I can't remeber the details, expt that there is an R G and B so I figure it should be possibe to connect to the compentet in on my fance plasma.   what about 30hz do new tvs do that?  Sorry I need to do some homework... (but if you want to help me..)
5, what's minimig
Pierre

[TjLaZer]

When I connected to Composite on my A500 Hi-Res was flicker free!  Nice clear screen too.  But I could not do PAL.

My kid is playing GODS on my 42" Plasma right now!  Looks awesome!!!  

[CLS2086]

Hi,
it's a hard time to live in the USA...
There is few solutions :
Your brand new Plasma/LCD TV got
1 - a VGA input -> try to use it simply with the old VGA Commodore or AmiVGA adapter. If you're lucky enought, you'll enjoy all Amiga PAL/NTSC and VGA modes in fully RGB maximum quality (like in europe since ages..).
2 - an analogique component input (YUV) -> try to build a RGB (15 Khz) to analogique Component adapter (may be on Aminet).
http://www.keene.co.uk/cgi-bin/bigcodesearch.pl?RGB2C
or try to tweak this one :
http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcables/YUV-RGB-SCART.html
http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcables/scan/st=db/co=yes/sf=category/se=Scart%20to%20Component/op=eq/sf=prod_group/se=Scart%20Leads/op=eq.html
3 - a digital Component input (YPrPb) : buy a not cheap adapter : http://www.cyberselect.co.uk/product/753
4 - a hdmi : well... convert your RGB/VGA to DVI-D ($200), then buy a DVI-D to HDMI cable ($5-10).
http://www.avcable.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=VIDFIN
5 - a PAL/NTSC composite input locked in NTSC mode : go and see a technician to allow the PAL mode by the secret "mode service", or by a soldering.
6 - a secret scart "room" : Ask for a technician, he normaly got the international service manual of the TV. Most ot TV are made in China or Japan like European and japaneses models who have the Scart, so there is a luck that you get a working RGB input.

[pierre]

thanks for the info!  Very helpfull.  I will ahve to try this out...once I get some time.  Nice links!  I will let you guys know if I can get wired up to my sony 20inch plasma...if I do I will have to brag....
Pierre

[TjLaZer]

Interestingly the quality of the RGB to VGA was not better than the composite on my Plasma!  On Composite interlace is gone and no flicker, where on the VGA it flickers!  No PAL though

[Argus]

@tjlazer

I think you may have a problem with the silver C= rgb to vga adapter. There is a bit of a hardware flaw in the Rev.1 ones that give trouble w/ 15kHz, this problem is famously apparent with genlocks such as the Video Toaster.  Try a Rev. 2 (if you can find one) or a Syncstrainer instead.