Converting TV signal from Amiga to HDMI?

[djos]

How is $41.95 half the price of a DCE Scanmagic, a CompServ/Arxon, a 4-button thingy on eBay, an Indy AGA, a host of other solutions, and is available.  I don't see many monitors in the states with component inputs, but I could be wrong now.

The OP was primarily asking about using an Amiga on TV's, most TV's still have Component inputs.

Hi' all.

I realise that there are quite a few posts about how to get the best signal from your A500/600/1200 etc. to your TV/Monitor. However, I cannot seem to find any, which is exclusively about transferring signal from Amiga to a modern TV, with some sort of HDMI cable.



Does anybody have good solid experience on the easiest/cheapest way to get your Amiga out-signal into a HDMI cable and on to the huge and wonderful livingroom TV? :-)

All best,
Anders, Copenhagen.

[mindprober]

I'm considering one of these SCART conversion devices. I have already acquired an RGB -> SCART cable.

My TV is an almost ten year old Sharp  LC-37D90U. It does just fine with most HDMI devices connected. I even have an HDMI switcher I am using for a couple of computers with HDMI out.

I like the argument in favor of choosing component over HDMI in the case of the Amiga as I would be concerned about how my old TV would handle a 4:3 image over HDMI. It is not sophisticated enough to handle "computer" signals over HDMI unless they are in the native 1920x1080 resolution. My TV also has a DVI-I input but it is picky about what you feed it too. Right now, an old Intel Mac Mini does fine on that input.

So getting to the component input, I have only ever connected video-based devices here (DVD and Blu-Ray players) and they do well for the most part.

I am concerned about how the TV will handle a PAL signal through this input, though. My Amiga 500 is an NTSC-native device but I plan to run it in PAL mode from time to time. Currently, I am using an RGB --> S-Video device and the S-Video input on the Sharp is rather poor, as would be expected. It seems to be better when fed and interlaced signal. When fed an NTSC Hi-Res, it flickers! Just the opposite of what you get with Commodore CRTs! When fed a PAL signal, the display starts rolling.  

If this is what happens over S-Video, is this an indication of what I will expect over component?

With the Windows PC connected over HDMI, I run WinUAE in PAL frequently. However, I suspect this is actually a cheat. The emulation may be running in PAL, the screen resolution may change, but I doubt the TV is actually receiving a 50Hz signal. This is fullscreen mode, by the way. I see that WinUAE has other v-sync options in the display section that might change the way this behaves. Perhaps I can use that to more-closely simulate a real Amiga's video output.

Anyway, for the reasons described here, I think the component is a better way to go. My only concern is if my TV can handle PAL over component. Is there any way to test this prior to purchasing the adapter?

[djos]

Any tv with component input should support 50/60hz content natively, it's part of the standard so not a cheat at all - grab the component converter and give it a shot, mine works in NTSC and PAL happily.

[magnetic]

It doesnt work with DVI-D only Monitors as 99% of them dont support HDCP - they only work with HDMI equipped monitors.

.

Are you 100% sure about this? I was going to get a scart cable and hdmi converter to use with an older Dell DVI monitor with dvi to hdmi adaptor. (It doesnt have hdmi inputs or component just vga and dvi)

[danbeaver]

The SCART to HDMI converter handles PAL & NTSC and upscale to several resolutions; although I've been programming since 1974 with a degree in CS from a private university and an Amiga owner since 1986, don't consider anything I say as reasonable or truthful -- "the doctor lies."

[magnetic]

danbeaver
Yes you are right most all those converters do PAL and NTSC. One of the reasons I want one is the monitor I use with my amigas is DVI only and wont display pal on the analogue inputs only NTSC. I have another vizio monitor that has HDMI but displays both PAL and NTSC modes though only through AV composite in (and its flicker fixed!)

[djos]

Are you 100% sure about this? I was going to get a scart cable and hdmi converter to use with an older Dell DVI monitor with dvi to hdmi adaptor. (It doesnt have hdmi inputs or component just vga and dvi)

100% sure.

Check your manual for references to hdcp support, if there are none then the HDMI converter won't work. HDMI is essentially DVI-D + HDCP and the latter is entirely optional on DVI-D.

[lionstorm]

I am with djos here.
I also have one of those SCART-to-HDMI and I am too not very happy with it.
it is as djos said : try Hybris and see how blurry the moving scrolling is but as soon as you pause the game, it is blocky so I might sell mine and get the one djos mentions (thanks man for the link).
Switching resolution is also not not accessible and always have a few seconds lag. and sometimes the screen goes black like if it lost the settings and have to reset.

I hate to be a party pooper but the SCART(RGB)-HDMI Converters arent that great, the bad news is the picture looks nice until things start moving then the picture goes very soft, it's quite distracting (even the pointer in WorkBench).

Basically the "de-interlace picture" part of the converter isnt all that good and results in moving items looking really really soft - like they were shot with a slightly out of focus camera, then as soon as the motion stops the picture sharpens up, it's quite distracting especially on side-scrolling games.

[AmmoJammo]

If you're not sure if your TV will support the component signal from the scart to component adapter, try plugged the composite output from the Amiga into the GREEN component socket, and see if it displays a black and white picture

Although I'm not 100% sure this will show if the TV doesn't work, as all my TV's displayed the scart to component from the Amiga just fine.

[magnetic]

If you're not sure if your TV will support the component signal from the scart to component adapter, try plugged the composite output from the Amiga into the GREEN component socket, and see if it displays a black and white picture

Although I'm not 100% sure this will show if the TV doesn't work, as all my TV's displayed the scart to component from the Amiga just fine.

On my vizio 22" lcd tv I use the Green on the Component input section on the back of the tv and select "AV" mode. This gives full colour and works in both PAL and NTSC interlaced and non and also Flicker Fixes the image!

[djos]

On my vizio 22" lcd tv I use the Green on the Component input section on the back of the tv and select "AV" mode. This gives full colour and works in both PAL and NTSC interlaced and non and also Flicker Fixes the image!

You are missing AJ's point, his test is to see if your TV supports the Amiga's bi-level sync - a minority of tv's don't like it and require the more common tri-level sync via component.

[mindprober]

My results are much the same as magnetic's. I see a rock-solid monochromatic image, in the correct aspect-ratio as well! The TV reports it as 480i.  

Unfortunately, when I switch to PAL mode, the screen goes blank.  

I will test an interlaced screen when I get my WB 3.1 booted up again.

[mindprober]

djos,

Were you referring to TVs in your native country?  

I saw your post over on EAB where you pointed out that North American sets would still have trouble:

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=72555&page=3

So it would seem my only solution would be SCART to HMDI if I want to see a PAL display mode. But the disadvantages of SCART to HDMI are just sad.

Any tv with component input should support 50/60hz content natively, it's part of the standard so not a cheat at all - grab the component converter and give it a shot, mine works in NTSC and PAL happily.

[mindprober]

I'm a little late getting back on this thread to report my experience with one of the SCART to HMDI devices. It does the job, but I have to agree with djos on the soft-focus effect with objects that are in motion. If you're only a casual user and are sitting at a distance to a large screen TV, you probably won't mind this at all.

In addition to that, however, I found another problem I find more offensive. Take a look at the attached image. Why the zipper-like pattern? I am using overscan on my Workbench screen to maximize the display, but since it shows up on games as well, I have no control over those.

This happens on NTSC signals only (what I will be using most of the time). PAL signals do not show this.

@djos -- does the SCART to Component adapter do the same? I have an NTSC/PAL friendly LCD panel now with a component input. One of these devices could be a good fit.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Why the zipper-like pattern? I am using overscan on my Workbench screen to maximize the display, but since it shows up on games as well, I have no control over those.

Can't you just resize the display on the TV to get rid of these?  That's what I would do.  

[mindprober]

Not sure what you mean. In this case, I am using an actual widescreen LCD monitor at the 4:3 aspect ratio. Any resizing would distort that and cause other undesirable effects.  

A better question is why this exists in the first place. Perhaps something to do with "exceeding the limits". I'm just guessing.

Can't you just resize the display on the TV to get rid of these?  That's what I would do.