Hello

[jimmer78]

Hi,

Just re-discovered my A1200 after finding it in a box in the loft.

Forgot I still had it, last used it over 10 years ago!

It's got a 040 card plus extra 16 meg RAM, 2 Gig HD, squirrel CD-ROM, power box.

Did have a Amiga m1764 monitor but that broke a long time ago and was binned.

So now I want to get it up to date. Is it worth getting 3.1 ROMS and the latest work bench and a tower? Really wanted a scan doubler - impossible to find so am thinking of alternatives. Or shall I just wait for the Netami thing to come out?

 :-?

[blanning]

Welcome.

There's a number of options.  If you don't go the scan doubler route, then you'll need to find a monitor that can handle a horizontal frequency of around 15khz.  That's almost none of them.  I ordered a 19" lcd the other day from an ebay store that claims to go this low.  I'm hoping to get it today and post my results tonight.  The guy had 30 or 35 left last I looked.  I suspect if it works we'll all buy him out.

brian

[countzero]

even without the scandoubler you can set your workbench to a VGA compatible screen mode and use it. It won't work for games and demos though, but still good to catch little bit of amiga feeling.

[DBAlex]

by countzero on 2008/6/6 13:55:48

even without the scandoubler you can set your workbench to a VGA compatible screen mode and use it. It won't work for games and demos though, but still good to catch little bit of amiga feeling.

Will that work with *any* monitor?

What I mean is... the monitor doesn't need to be specialist...  like a multisync for instance?

Would it work on a 15" TFT?

 :-)

EDIT: Also, How do I set this up? Do I need to set the screenmode up before I attach it to a monitor?

Where do I find these VGA Screenmodes/Install them?

[countzero]

no, any monitor is ok. I use a 17' LCD perfectly. The files are already there in any wb 3.1 installation. copy files dblpal, dblntsc, multiscan and vgaonly from storage/monitors to devs/monitors and restart. then go to prefs/screenmode and select a mode which suits you best. I recommend multiscan-productivity.

[golem]

countzero wrote:
no, any monitor is ok.

Sorry that is wrong. It seems to me that very few modern TFTs, and even CRTs work with the native VGAonly Amiga modes. I've found that only Philips monitors work for me (without a scandoubler).

[countzero]

but why ? its a 30 KHz 60 Hz signal, why wouldn't it work ? I have to admit I only tried with my LCD. Even so there's no harm in trying as he doesn't need to make any extra purchase (aside from a RGB/VGA converter maybe)

[DBAlex]

by countzero on 2008/6/6 16:01:57

no, any monitor is ok. I use a 17' LCD perfectly. The files are already there in any wb 3.1 installation. copy files dblpal, dblntsc, multiscan and vgaonly from storage/monitors to devs/monitors and restart. then go to prefs/screenmode and select a mode which suits you best. I recommend multiscan-productivity.

Cool... So I can copy the Monitor drivers for VGA before I plug in the VGA monitor, but when do I set the screenmode? Because I presume it won't show on a TV... What happens if It doesn't work though... Do I just boot using the WB disks and delete the VGA monitor driver so I can run the miggy on a TV again?

Cheers, Alex.

BTW: Posting from my A1200 @ 640x256... Heh... :crazy:

[countzero]

after changing the screenmode, select USE. this will activate the screenmode, but won't save it, so you can get the old screenmode by rebooting. If you find the screenmode to be working, select SAVE. This will save the screenmode and activate it. When you restart, new screenmode will be used.

if something goes wrong, you need to delete prefs/env-archive/sys/screenmode.prefs by booting with no startup sequence.

[jimmer78]

So if any TFT / LCD tv with a SCART in and VGA IN will work with any screen mode on AGA ?

The SCART IN on TFT / LCD TVs have flicker fixers built into them don't they, to step up the 15KHz signal....so that it will work on that display.

...so does that mean all amiga AGA screen modes will work if connected through the Video out on A1200 into SCART in on LCD / TFT TV? And just don't use the VGA input (as the A1200 output is only 15Khz....no good for these input right.

This is so confusing....why didn't they just have a VGA output on the A1200's?? :idea:  :madashell:  :crazy:  :pissed:

[golem]

countzero wrote:
but why ? its a 30 KHz 60 Hz signal, why wouldn't it work ?

I'm not sure why but I've tried HP and Compaq CRTs and these have problems syncing to the signal. Almost like they need it stepping up a little. A Sony Trinitron I tried could sync ok but the screen shape was distorted. I've tried probably 2 TFTs and they displayed squat. Is it just me!? My two 1200s work beautifully on my Philips 107Ps and I had a 15" Philips that worked fine too.

I have a Viewsonic LCD monitor here that I'd love to use with my 1200, but despite their website telling me this: "Frequency fh:30~62kHz, fv:50~85Hz", I can't get anything to display on it at all. The monitor just reports a lack of sync, regardless of whether I use the double ntsc mode or the vga only mode. The annoying part is that the composite signal changes and of course doesn't get displayed on my TV because it's out of range! I think it's because the output of the Amiga is just a slightly longer wavelength than the 30kHz input the monitor needs, but I'm not really sure.

[DBAlex]

I have a Viewsonic LCD monitor here that I'd love to use with my 1200, but despite their website telling me this: "Frequency fh:30~62kHz, fv:50~85Hz", I can't get anything to display on it at all. The monitor just reports a lack of sync, regardless of whether I use the double ntsc mode or the vga only mode. The annoying part is that the composite signal changes and of course doesn't get displayed on my TV because it's out of range! I think it's because the output of the Amiga is just a slightly longer wavelength than the 30kHz input the monitor needs, but I'm not really sure.

I think thats your problem... Amiga can only display the VGA modes at 60kHz...

Not comepletely sure though... would a couple of kHz really matter?  :-?

[MozzerFan]

I think thats your problem... Amiga can only display the VGA modes at 60kHz...

His monitor can handle 30 to 62kHz.

Frequency fh:30~62kHz

Regards,
Lloyd

[stefcep2]

put vga-only and multisync, dblntsc and pal/ntsc drivers in devs/monitors and reboot.  (Use the composite out on your a1200 and any rubbish tv to see a PAL or NTSC screen).  open screen mode prefs up and select multisync and hit use and see if you get a screen up on the tft.