Scandoubler alternative

[Ianoakley]

Spotted this on the Maplin web site

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=a18gx&source=15&SD=Y

Looks a s useful bit of kit as it accepts composite video and converts it into VGA - certainly cheaper than a scan doubler - that is if you can get hold of one.

Has anyone any experiences of these boxes ?

[orange]

this one is similar:
http://www.grandtec.com/videomate.htm
but they both lack RGB  :-(

[Tripitaka]

Comp. to VGA.... :/
I've got years of video experience and every fibre says...."NOOOO!!!!"
I've not seen Composite to VGA yet that's good enough, composite's just too crappy.
Go RGB SCART to VGA before even thinking about composite.

[orange]

hey, composite is quite good if you've spend years on RF! (like me) and with heavy ingress noise
esp. if its for games

[DrDekker]

Well - at 40 quid I've just taken the plunge and bought one.  I agree with orange that for gaming, composite isn't that bad provided you've got good quality cabling.  Since it's got VGA in too, an Amiga > VGA adapter can be used for the 24KHz+ modes.  The fact that it can be used with a whole load of other devices makes it even better value.  The description given on the Maplins website is a little vague in some areas - the device may even have built-in TV (presumably analogue).

If someone could design a cheap RGB > component adapter we'd be laughing as the VGA Gamer TV Box also has component in.

Some mixed reviews

[Ianoakley]

I would say at the price this is well worth taking the risk particularly when compared to scan doublers. The last one I had was an external one and produced a very sparkly display at times. At least this unit should give some improvement from the composite output and you can display on a standard monitor.

[DrDekker]

I've just received my TVBox 1440ex - only a couple of days after ordering it (nice one Maplin :-) ).

First impressions are that it is pretty good for gaming - but pants for text related stuff via composite.  Pretty much as expected.  As I've mentioned somewhere before - the quality of the composite output is much better from my A600 than it is from my A1200.  It's hooked up to my AG Neovo 19" TFT @ 1280x1024 - perhaps a smaller TFT, say 15" may be better.

The unit itself is pretty small (6"x3"x1") and has composite, VGA, Component RGB, S-Video, RF & stereo audio inputs.

When using the VGA input (DblPAL mode?), it provides picture-in-picture, so it may be possible to run two Amigas (i.e. the second connected to the composite in) at once.  I haven't tested that just yet though.

There is also a built-in speaker.  The sound from this is understandably tinny and won't burst your eardrums - but you can hear your games well enough.

I haven't tested the analogue TV tuner either.  Although it won't be much use when we switch over to digital - it's nice to have all the same.

All-in-all, a good piece of kit for forty quid      :-D

Edit: - I've just found this article -  RGB to Component RGB.

Might work well with the Amiga and TVBox 1440ex :idea: