Planning new A1200 purchase, need advice for NTSC connectivity.

[pkupcik]

Hi,
Back in the early 90s I used to own A500 with Commodore monitor. Now I'm thinking about purchasing A1200 to have a little flashback and have some fun with Amiga games. Naturally I need some help, advice regarding what I needed to buy. Here's my situation.

I live in the USA (NTSC) and intend to connect the A1200 to two of my TVs. TV1 is Pioneer Kuro Plasma and that one seem to be able to accept PAL and NTSC resolutions and 50/60hz refresh rates on composite, component, DVI and HDMI inputs. It also has VGA input, but that one needs 60hz or more. My second TV is a Panasonic Plasma and this one only accepts NTSC signal via S-video, component or HDMI; this should be my primary TV for the A1200, even though it has fewer connectivity options compared to the Pioneer.

Now the question is, how should I hook this up. I was going to buy a PAL A1200 from AmigaKit, should I instead by trying to locate used NTSC version of A1200? I think I've read somewhere that NTSC Amiga's have problems with some PAL games anyway? If I buy the PAL A1200, would something like Indivision AGA help? I'm intrigued by it's capability to support higher, progressive resolutions in workbench for the few times that I might use it. It does however only have VGA output, which only one of my TVs has and that requires 60hz, which I've read the Indivision has problem with as the games tend to get jumpy. So am I maybe better off buying some high quality s-video PAL to NTSC converter? I'm really lost somewhat by the various output types and frequencies on the Amiga. It seems that workbench uses one type of setup and games a different setup. Maybe I could attach some VGA to component or HDMI converter on top of the Indivision VGA connector.

My hopes are that I can get reasonably quality viewing experience with both games and workbench. What do I need to accomplish that on NTSC devices. I'm looking for off-the-shelf solutions, converters and hopefully not something where I have circuit boards hanging out the back of the Amiga.

I'm hoping that any video related expenses should not exceed $400 - Indivision, converters, cables, etc. Connecting to any other display device is currently not an option, it has to be one or both of the TVs I mentioned.

I would appreciate any advice you may offer.

Thank you,

Pavel

[amigadave]

Get the Indivision for your A1200 and connect it to the VGA input of TV-1

[XDelusion]

When ever they become available again.

Also I would suggest the PAL system. It'll save you a lot of heart ache in the long run as the majority of good software is from across seas and can have screwed up timing like with music programs when running on an NTSC system.

Granted you can hold down your mice buttons and boot into PAL mode, but that's a pain in the arse.

Also some LCD Flat screens will not display the Amiga at all, such as my Sylvania here. It seems to be O.K. with my PAL Atari 130XE, but hates the Amiga.

[amigakid]

I would stick with an NTSC machine and use the PAL boot option (Hold both mouse buttons down).  Also there is a program you can put on your workbench that can switch your screen mode between PAL/NTSC by double clicking it prob is i just can't remember the name of it lol, I'll bet it's on AMInet tho, so you could search and find it on there.

[pkupcik]

I would stick with an NTSC machine and use the PAL boot option (Hold both mouse buttons down).

Forgive my ignorance, but what would I gain by having NTSC A1200? I assume it would allow me to connect the composit video output to NTSC TV. Is there anything else I would gain to potentially get better S-video or VGA connectivity to NTSC screens? Are there any disadvantages of having NTSC Amiga. Will I be able to play PAL games? If I have to switch to PAL to play Pal games, what have I gained by buying NTSC Amiga. These are honest questions, I really don't know.

Thank you.

[ChaosLord]

My advice is to get a Commodore 1084S monitor.  Commodore is not racist against Americans and does not ban then from using PAL mode.  You can happily display NTSC or PAL and switch from one to the other as you wish.

[runequester]

Connecting to an NTSC tv will still give you trouble with PAL games and software. Monitor is better or one of the various solutions that allow youto use a VGA monitor

[amigakit]

The most compatible Amiga to buy out of the choice of NTSC or PAL is PAL.

However, it will not be compatible with the majority of North American televisions as they dont accept PAL input.

So an Indivision 1200 would be an ideal option, the only problem is that we are expecting the new production run now in the fall of this year (hopefully ready for Amiwest).  This is due to the new FPGA chip that is used is currently in constraint.

So an option maybe to get a second hand RGB monitor to use until then.

Hope this helps!

[pkupcik]

Thank you everyone. So it looks like the best option is PAL A1200. For now I should be able to connect it via composite output to my Pioneer TV as it  accepts PAL composite signal. Then in Q3 order Indivision AGA and start using VGA. I assume that the composite signal should be ok quality wise for the games, workbench will probably look horrible, but that's not the priority for now.

[pkupcik]

Wrong Post. Sorry.

[runequester]

failing that, there is this:

http://www.ambery.com/rgbcgatovgac.html

Combined with an adapter for amiga monitor port to vga (amigakit sells these I believe, and vesalia does as well), and a male to male vga cable, you are in business.

It has a bit of ghosting in workbench but works a charm for games and seems fine with deluxepaint though I didnt mess with it that much.

[abbub]

My advice is to get a Commodore 1084S monitor.  Commodore is not racist against Americans and does not ban then from using PAL mode.  You can happily display NTSC or PAL and switch from one to the other as you wish.

Urm.  'American' isn't a race...  I have a 1084S and an Indivision ECS.  The Indivision is far superior to the 1084S.  I suspect the AGA version is likewise better.

[pkupcik]

failing that, there is this:

http://www.ambery.com/rgbcgatovgac.html

Combined with an adapter for amiga monitor port to vga (amigakit sells these I believe, and vesalia does as well), and a male to male vga cable, you are in business.

It has a bit of ghosting in workbench but works a charm for games and seems fine with deluxepaint though I didnt mess with it that much.

Thanks for the suggestion. What do you think about this device:
http://www.ambery.com/rgrgtotvcosc.html
It looks like it can convert the RGB signal to S-video, which may be easier to use on TVs that don't have VGA port.

[runequester]

The main question would be if it'd allow PAL to be converted to NTSC or vice versa. Without that, you're propably going to have issues still on a tv

[trip6]

@Amigakit - can you clarify... when you say new FPGA does this mean the new version will have features otherwise unavailable in the older production run beacuse they are using a new larger FPGA for the new production run? If so what new features?

@runequester - NTSC or PAL is irrelevant with the Indivision. Indivision outputs VGA, VGA is PAL\NTSC agnostic... Hope This Helps...

The main question would be if it'd allow PAL to be converted to NTSC or vice versa. Without that, you're propably going to have issues still on a tv