Is possible to use CGA to S-Video for 80 columns mode?

[MIRKOSOFT]

Hi!


I have dilemma. I'm not sure to order this product:
http://www.arcadeshop.de/product_info.php?products_id=510&language=en
(it's CGA to S-Video adapter)


I'm not sure if it will work will full 16 colors palette of VDC.


Can anybody help me?


Thank you very much.


Miro

[Steve Gray]

Yes, this has been discussed in other threads here.... anyway, check here:
http://sites.google.com/site/h2obsession/CBM/C128/rgbi-s-video

Steve

[MIRKOSOFT]

So, mean you that it will work?


Why I'm searching for this?
I have two C128 (C128 & C128DCR). 40 column mode (VIC-IIe) I have connected to my LCD, there's no problem and also to my TV-Card on PC (so, I can also record video & sound), and I want to connect 80 col. mode (VDC) to LCD and TV-Card too. 
I know that Allan's RGBI 2 Video adapter is still in testing version, I want to buy one of these two: Allan's RGBI2Video or this adapter.
Problem is price: don't know how many money wants Allan Bairstow (RGBI2Video)
This adapter has pretty price ~ 50 EUR...
But will have problems? Robert Willie's site I know... there's it written completely.
Try to look at this:
http://pinouts.ru/Video/C128Rgbi_pinout.shtml
http://pinouts.ru/Video/CGA_pinout.shtml


Here it seems that there's no problem - monochrome wire 7 has 3 shades of grey, in CGA connection Reserved...


So, last:


HAVE I TO BUY THIS ADAPTER OR WAIT ON ALLAN'S

[Shaun_CCC(UK)]

Allan is getting an electronics guy around to work out the final problems with his SVideo/SVGA adapter, though it's over 90% accurate but with solid colour against a normal Commodore monitor. Currently, the prototypes are SVideo only though, SVGA is next up. More details will be announced through the club's site (members will get a bit of a discount when the product is finished).

Regards,

Shaun.

[tokra]

If 8 colors are enough http://sites.google.com/site/h2obsession/CBM/C128/rgb-conversion seems the easiest solution. This is probably the same converter as on arcadeshop.de but it can be found for $23.99 on http://www.arcademvs.com/ARCADE_ACESSERIOR.htm as well. The other adapter shown there just above this one also looks interesting. For $49.99 it converts to VGA.

But I would just LOVE a simple solution as well: A cable from the C128 40- and 80-column ports to VGA with a switch in the middle. Oh, and support for interlaced modes like 640x720 or 720x700 would be nice as well

[MIRKOSOFT]

Hi!


So, for me is not enough 8 colors.
Here's adapter http://www.arcadeshop.de/product_info.php?products_id=510&language=en
which (I think only, but don't know) produces 16 colors, or not?


I don't want VGA output, I need CINCH/S-Video...
Also, it seems that your link shows CGA converter which I have selected in link of ArcadeShop.de...


So, the adapter on my link produces only 8 colors?


Thank you for help.


Miro

[tokra]

I'm pretty sure both are the same adapter, they look completely alike. Also judging by http://sites.google.com/site/h2obsession/CBM/C128/rgbi-s-video you will need to build something extra to get 16 colors out of it. I read the latest Commdore Free magazine with Allain Barstows posts, and it looks like that's exactly what he's doing: taking those boards and adding the extra-colors. So you have two options right now: Buy the 8 color version and do the conversion yourself as noted in the link above or wait for Allain's much improved boxed version. I'd go for the latter option myself. But since my 1901 is still running fine, I'm in no real hurry :-)

[MIRKOSOFT]

Adapter on my link (ArcadeShop.de) is the same like on your link.


So, here it is in all: DON'T WANT 8 COLORS ONLY... so, I don't order


Thank you for warning.


Miro

[commodorejohn]

Yes, this should work. CGA and the 128's RGBI video are the exact same standard. The organization is a bit different on the computer end of things, but as far as video output goes, they're identical.

[MIRKOSOFT]

So, really it seems that it supports 16 colors?


Thank you for fastest reply

[Hydrophilic]

The board in question (first post: arcadeshop.de) looks identical to the one I use.  It supports only 8 colors when connected to C128 without special modifications noted previously.  The device is capable of thousands (probably milliions) of colors, but when connected directly to C128 it only reads binary (0V or 5V) from the three color lines (R, G, B).

That means 2**3 = 8 colors.  To repeat: only 8 colors.

So you need special "Intensity" board for all 16 colors.  Because you want all 16 colors, you can wait for Allen's new device or you can buy the one you mentioned and build Intensity-circuit.

[Steve Gray]

My first reply pointed to a page that explains the 8 and 16 colour issue, and tells you how to build the required adapter to get 16 colours from the poster's board in question. It's a very detailed page. Other pages on the site even cover the board itself. A good place to start.

Secondly, the web page for the board in question is incorrect. It describes the board as a "CGA to Video" converter. In fact, it is actually an "RGB Analog to Video" converter. CGA is IBM's term for RGBI, which is what the C128 uses. RGBI is a DIGITAL interface. RGB Analog was used in early arcade units and is much more like VGA (the main difference being the scan rate).

Steve

[RobertB]

RGB Analog was used in early arcade units...

And on Amiga computers, too.

          Truly,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[Steve Gray]

RGB Analog was used in early arcade units...

And on Amiga computers, too.

True, of course ;-)  These video conversion boards seem to be popular on sites geared toward those arcade units. In the Amiga community the focus seems to be on "scan doublers" and "flicker fixers"....

Steve