What is this puppy?

[KatManDEW]

Found this in my Miggy archives. it's a 23 pin female to 15 pin female adapter. Apparently a video adapter? It surely doesn't scan double or anything like that, but what is it used for?

[dannyp1]

It's a video adapter that just allows you to use a different monitor cable.  It does nothing fancy.  They usually sell for between $10 and $20 on Ebay.

[Ilwrath]

Yep.  You can use an HD15 cable like you'd find on any VGA monitor.  Of course, you are very correct that it does not modify any frequencies.  It can still be very useful, though.  Some 15-30khz multisync monitors have an HD15 cable.  This will allow you to plug in and use those.  Also, the full ECS and AGA Amigas can output 30khz workbench screens, so you can view those on standard VGA monitors (using the VGAOnly and DblNTSC/DblPAL screenmodes).

Helpful little item.  I have a couple squirreled away.

[orb85750]

Just curious, is there any viewable output on a VGA if you use only this cheapo unit with the 15KHz signal?

[Damion]

orb85750 wrote:
Just curious, is there any viewable output on a VGA if you use only this cheapo unit with the 15KHz signal?

On 99% of monitors, no.

[KatManDEW]

Where do you find the 30khz VGAOnly and DblNTSC/DblPAL screenmodes? I don't see them in Pref's...

I'm glad I have a Flicker Fixer and Picasso II in my A2000, and glad that I ordered a Indivision for my A1200, bucause Amiga video is aweful wimpy otherwise... It was my main beef with the Amiga "back in the day"...

[countzero]

KatManDEW wrote:
Where do you find the 30khz VGAOnly and DblNTSC/DblPAL screenmodes? I don't see them in Pref's...

check storage, and move them to devs/monitors

[AmigaPixel]

Ilwrath wrote:
.......Also, the full ECS and AGA Amigas can output 30khz workbench screens, so you can view those on standard VGA monitors (using the VGAOnly and DblNTSC/DblPAL screenmodes).

Helpful little item.  I have a couple squirreled away.

You say full ECS can output to DblNTSC/DblPAL screenmodes? I have never been clear about this. I thought only AGA could run in 31khz. I own an A2000 with rev 6 mobo, I believe 6.2 or 6.3, I'm not sure anymore since the tag either fell off or is hiding under the accelerator. Anyway would that be full ECS?  :-?

[countzero]

Yes, ECS can run 31 KHz modes. But not as good as AGA. For ex, Multiscan mode is only 4 colors instead of (16 ? 256 ?) of AGA. I'm not sure about the bit depth of dblNTSC, dblPAL modes (I don't use them).

Actually you don't need full ECS. Just ECS denise will probably be fine. I'm not familiar with A2000 mobo revisions. You should check with a diagnostic tool (SysInfo) to see if you have ECS Denise.

[AmigaPixel]

Thanks clears it up. I am still a little confused about setting it up since I have never used a multisync monitor before. I have a NEC XV17+ that will sync down to 31khz. Since my 1080 monitors all died I will have to rely temporarily on a tv. Do have to set it up to dblNTSC first and then shut the Amiga down to connect the multisync? Or do I connect the monitor first? If that is the case how will the monitor run since it does not sync down to 15khz? :-?

[AmigaPixel]

Also do I need to move the VGA modes from storage to the devs/monitors when using dblNTSC mode? Thanks

[KatManDEW]

countzero wrote:

KatManDEW wrote:
Where do you find the 30khz VGAOnly and DblNTSC/DblPAL screenmodes? I don't see them in Pref's...

check storage, and move them to devs/monitors

Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle. That worked! (with my A1200 - haven't tried it with my ECS A2000, which has a Flicker Fixer and Picasso II).

Chip mem took a hit (I only have 2 meg chip in my A1200 at the moment, and no fast - yet). I had ~ 1.4 meg chip mem with the 1084 monitor in "NTSC High Res mode" (unlaced), and ~1.1 meg chip mem in 640x480 modes at ~30khz.

Biggest problem I see with this is the boot menu isn't visible (I have no internal DF0 in my A1200 at the moment), and what happens with games with a monitor that won't sync below 30khz?

At any reate, thanks for the info! Pretty cool stuff! Lack of a 640x480 "VGA" mode is a killer on an Amiga without a flicker fixer...

[pyrre]

You need that adapter to use 1942 monitor.
(or similar adapters)

[Piru]

@KatManDEW

what happens with games with a monitor that won't sync below 30khz?

You won't see anything. Depending on the monitor perhaps "out of sync" message or some weird corrupt display.

[taunusand]

AmigaPixel wrote:
Thanks clears it up. I am still a little confused about setting it up since I have never used a multisync monitor before. I have a NEC XV17+ that will sync down to 31khz. Since my 1080 monitors all died I will have to rely temporarily on a tv. Do have to set it up to dblNTSC first and then shut the Amiga down to connect the multisync? Or do I connect the monitor first? If that is the case how will the monitor run since it does not sync down to 15khz? :-?

Most Commodore monitors are easy to repair, I'm sure someone here can explain it better than I can :-)
A lot of times the fly-back transformer just need a bit of soldering.