Indivision ECS and Picasso II

[AmigaPixel]

I had friend with a Picasso II in his A3000 but I never got good close look at it. I think he switched to a Retina card if memory serves. I would like to see how this comes out for you.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Well, crap.  Last effort, I hooked up the 23-to-15 pin silver C= adapter and plugged that into the input on the Picasso II, and switched to Multiscan mode.  Display came right up.  So that solves it, the PII input and switcher work fine, but don't play nice with the output of the Indivision ECS.  Wonder how the heck I'm supposed to fix that?  

[gertsy]

Well, crap.  Last effort, I hooked up the 23-to-15 pin silver C= adapter and plugged that into the input on the Picasso II, and switched to Multiscan mode.  Display came right up.  So that solves it, the PII input and switcher work fine, but don't play nice with the output of the Indivision ECS.  Wonder how the heck I'm supposed to fix that?  

Aren't there options for controlling the Indi ECS output freqs..?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Tried them all.
 
"Mode" changes from 1.00 (60Hz) to 1.25 (75Hz), and toggles the built-in Graffiti emulation.
 
"Video Output" lets you toggle normal, scanlines, or TV emulation.
 
If you toggle the Display Config from "Internal" to "User" it allows you to flip the Hsync and Vsync from negative to positive. Tried all combinations.
 
Screen Timing and Screen Position don't seem to do anything on my monitors.
 
This is with the latest version of the config tool that I'm aware of.
 
In all cases as soon as I plug the output of the Indi into the PII the screen just goes black.

[Tenacious]

Even the Early Startup screen doesn't display when hooked into the pass-through (monitor flickers for a second and says something about "cannot display this analog mode"), so I don't think it's software-related.

- If I pull the cable going between the Indivision output to the PII input, then (and only then) will the PII display the Workbench.

...I hooked up the 23-to-15 pin silver C= adapter and plugged that into the input on the Picasso II, and switched to Multiscan mode. Display came right up. So that solves it, the PII input and switcher work fine, but don't play nice with the output of the Indivision ECS...

 

I also haven't had the best luck replacing CRTs with LCDs.  The LCDs seem to clock differently and are more particular about the input.  I have often seen that message "cannot display this analog mode".  With much more modern graphic cards, those Blue-shelled monitor cables have saved the day with Debian.  They are probably a problem for Picasso era cards, though.

I know you don't have any old style CRTs.  Right now, they are plentiful in Thrift stores for next to nothing.  Next year, they might be hard to find (There is a panic on to recycle them).  I'd be interested how your experiments come along with a CRT, even if you don't intend to ultimately keep it in this system.

You have tried other (different spec'd) LCDs?

On the bright side, lots of folks have jumped thru hoops for the novelty of having dual monitors with their computer.  

[AmigaPixel]

@Oldsmobile_Mike

What make and model of LCD monitor are using with your Indivision ECS? I have a Sony Trinitron I plan to use at first with the Indivision but later I want to replace it with a LCD screen.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

What make and model of LCD monitor are using with your Indivision ECS? I have a Sony Trinitron I plan to use at first with the Indivision but later I want to replace it with a LCD screen.

Hi! My office is primarily a Dell shop, but I've had no problems using about a half-dozen different models of generic Dell business monitors with the Indivision ECS. Mostly I stick to 19" 4:3 models since the Miggy doesn't like widescreen so much, but I did once briefly use a widescreen setup with a super-high res screenmode. Haven't had a chance to try out "HD720" screenmode yet.
 
I've got an old 1906FP and a 1907FP hooked up right now, on the Indivision and PII, respectively, with no issues. (well, aside from my issue that the PII input pass-through doesn't seem to work with the Indivision output, blargh) I've also hooked up our office projector to my A2000 and used it to play Battlesquadron projected up on the wall, LOL.
 
At home my A500 is hooked up to a 37" Vizio LCD TV, but I've hooked it to a few other monitors as well. Again, no issues. If you're looking at Dell monitors look for models labeled "Ultrasharp" for best display, and also if you're planning on playing games look for one with a fast refresh rate (<5ms).
 
IMHO the Indivision is a rock-solid piece of kit for a great price. All these nay-sayers that say an Amiga needs to be hooked up to a CRT monitor to look good need to come visit my office, LOL.

[AmigaPixel]

@Oldsmobile_Mike

OK thanks for the information. I figured the 4:3 would still be the best choice for the Amiga even with the Indivision.

[TCMSLP]

Does the Indivision ECS have analogue and digital output?  I know on the AGA model it can be toggled;  I'm wondering if your Indivision may be set to digital, or if set to analgoue+digital if the digital 'noise' is effecting the analogue sync signals (there is some crosstalk/interference on the AGA model).   Perhaps the Picasso is particularly fussy?

Of course, this may all be irrelevant for the ECS model...

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Does the Indivision ECS have analogue and digital output? I know on the AGA model it can be toggled; I'm wondering if your Indivision may be set to digital, or if set to analgoue+digital if the digital 'noise' is effecting the analogue sync signals (there is some crosstalk/interference on the AGA model). Perhaps the Picasso is particularly fussy?
 
Of course, this may all be irrelevant for the ECS model...

Good ideas, AFAIK the Indi ECS only does analog (HD15 VGA output), it doesn't have a digital mode or DVI connector option.  The config program for the ECS model seems to have many less options than the AGA version so I don't really know about that stuff.  I've got another PII on the way (a Rev. 1.6, my current one is Rev. 1.4), maybe I'll have better luck with a newer model?

Not having much luck with google searching, I vaguely recall seeing someone say they had a PII+ that worked with an Indi, but now I can't find the link for it any more.    Wonder if I'd have any luck asking Jens?

On the bright side I was showing the system off the other day and people were pretty impressed by my "dual monitor" Amiga, LOL.  :crazy:

[AmigaPixel]

I had forgotten the Picasso II came in a + version, A former Amiga user I knew I think had that version in his A3000 but later replaced with a Retina card. Or was it the other way around, Ah it's been over 10 years ago. I would'nt mind having either one of those.

As far as the Indivision ECS, I assume you need a VGA to DVI adapter to use it even with the older Dell Ultrasharp 4:3 ratio monitors?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

All of the monitors we have have HD15 VGA inputs, most also have DVI and either DisplayPort or HDMI connections.  Business class products don't eff around.    Only thing I wish they had was internal speakers (not for our office users, but for my Miggy, LOL).

[AmigaPixel]

OK that makes sense since those monitors came out ealier (well I assume they older unless they still make 4:3 types) the industry was in a transition stage so they icluded both connector types the same way graphic cards had both VGA and DVI for a while. Some cards still do I think but less and less.

[AmigaPixel]

I"ll take look on Ebay and Craiglist for the Ultrasharp Dell monitors. They should be pretty inexspensive. Hopefully there won't be any dead pixels!

[AmigaPixel]

I found this Dell pc with the monitor, it might be worth buying and installing Linux on it. Then again I would be using the LCD on the Amiga and sticking the old CRT with the Dell if I went that route.
http://tucson.craigslist.org/sys/4285938194.html

 On the other hand I found this Ultrasharp monitor in phoenix. I would have to drive 120 miles out of my way but I have family there anyway.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/sys/4249089056.html

I am really getting ahead of myself here, I do that sometimes when I plan on Amiga and PC upgrades. I need the PSU and adapter cable first, and of course the Indivision ECS.  

[orange]

don't forget the +5V pin resistor