Output to VGA?

[David Nelson]

Over on comp.sys.cbm there were a few mentions from October and November that someone had spoken to Allan and confirmed that the device is working and complete, but that arrangements with a distributor in Florida need to be finished before it can go on sale.

Interesting, I think. You see, awhile back, I had emailed him and offered assistance. I've been heavily involved in setting up a business here on the Treasure Coast of Florida. The company has three areas of interest, so my work involves setting up three e-commerce sites. One of them is tech related. We're in beta testing but should be up and online within a few months. I never got an email back. Maybe the email got trapped in a spam filter? Think I should try emailing again?

Offer still stands... david@lauroracorp.com would be the best contact address.

-David

[11001010]

Hi guys,

I no longer have any converter boards left. Due to the interest generated I might try to source a few more.

Anyway, here's a quick guide on how to modify the board. As you'll discover it's not that difficult to do. The parts required are three diodes and three 680 Ohm resistors.

This is incredible!  Why aren't people going nuts over this?

[RobertB]

I no longer have any converter boards left. Due to the interest generated I might try to source a few more.

Due to Charles G. of 8-Bit Designs forgetting to bring one to CommVEx v3, I am very interested in obtaining one, putting it in action, and then showing off its functionality at C= shows (possibly AmiWest 2007 in October, more likely Vintage Computer Festival 10.0 in November).  Please put me on the list of people who would gladly pay for getting your modded board.

CommVEx v3 info at http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex
or http://www.commodore.ca/forum
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[Mangelore]

I no longer have any converter boards left. Due to the interest generated I might try to source a few more.

Due to Charles G. of 8-Bit Designs forgetting to bring one to CommVEx v3, I am very interested in obtaining one, putting it in action, and then showing off its functionality at C= shows (possibly AmiWest 2007 in October, more likely Vintage Computer Festival 10.0 in November).  Please put me on the list of people who would gladly pay for getting your modded board.

No problem. I'll try to source another 5 of these boards. If anyone is interested please say so in this thread.

Are any of you guys interested in a very affordable C128 80 column composite output solution that's colour?

Cheers
Fotios

[Blacklord]

I no longer have any converter boards left. Due to the interest generated I might try to source a few more.

Due to Charles G. of 8-Bit Designs forgetting to bring one to CommVEx v3, I am very interested in obtaining one, putting it in action, and then showing off its functionality at C= shows (possibly AmiWest 2007 in October, more likely Vintage Computer Festival 10.0 in November).  Please put me on the list of people who would gladly pay for getting your modded board.

No problem. I'll try to source another 5 of these boards. If anyone is interested please say so in this thread.

Are any of you guys interested in a very affordable C128 80 column composite output solution that's colour?

Cheers
Fotios

I'll put my hand up!

[Guest]

How about instead of 80-column composite, do 80-column component (HDTV 480p)?  I'm afraid that 80-column composite will look just as horrible as an Amiga on a TV.

And BTW, I'll take one of the VGA adapters, too.  I'm sorry I never got around to ordering one from the first batch.

[11001010]

No problem. I'll try to source another 5 of these boards. If anyone is interested please say so in this thread.

Most definitely put me down for one.

[11001010]

Are any of you guys interested in a very affordable C128 80 column composite output solution that's colour?

Composite?  Plain old composite?  Would 80 columns be readable?

[RobertB]

Are any of you guys interested in a very affordable C128 80 column composite output solution that's colour?

80-column composite in color?  I'm not sure...  An 80-column device with S-video would be better.

CommVEx v3 info at http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex
or http://www.commodore.ca/forum
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[RobertB]

I'm afraid that 80-column composite will look just as horrible as an Amiga on a TV.

Well, at CommVEx v3 I used the Amiga RGB analog-to-composite converter (now what was its model number?) to connect the A500 to a 1702 monitor, and though it appeared dimmer on the screen, for games the conversion seemed good.

CommVEx v3 info at http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex
or http://www.commodore.ca/forum
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[Blacklord]

I'm afraid that 80-column composite will look just as horrible as an Amiga on a TV.

Well, at CommVEx v3 I used the Amiga RGB analog-to-composite converter (now what was its model number?) to connect the A500 to a 1702 monitor, and though it appeared dimmer on the screen, for games the conversion seemed good.

CommVEx v3 info at http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex
or http://www.commodore.ca/forum
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

A520 ?

[hydrophilic]

Are any of you guys interested in a very affordable C128 80 column composite output solution that's colour?

I'm interested in a color 80-column output for composite (S-Video if possible)!!
Assuming it works for NTSC and shipping to USA isn't too crazy.

Composite?  Plain old composite?  Would 80 columns be readable?

80-column monochrome is sharp and legible on my TV (composite input) but it is still mono
Edit
On second thought, with color it probably would be blurry since the same problem occurs to a lesser effect with 40-column hi-res graphics.  So, S-Video would be prefered, but I'd try Composite if that's all there is.

[11001010]

On second thought, with color it probably would be blurry since the same problem occurs to a lesser effect with 40-column hi-res graphics.  So, S-Video would be prefered, but I'd try Composite if that's all there is.

S-Video would be great of course.  Color 80 column output on the same 20" TV I use for my 64? Awesome.  But I'm a little skeptical that it would look good.  Even monochrome 80 column output to a TV is pretty lousy looking with my setup.

[11001010]

How well does this look on a CRT monitor?  I have an old 19" that would be great for this.  Is there any advantage/disadvantage to using a LCD monitor opposed to an old CRT?

Also, I know the 128 has some different text modes in some software.  DesTerm is one that comes to mind, where you can change the number of text rows and so on.  Forgive me if I don't know the proper term.  Interlaced?  Anyway, my question is: will all software look OK with this converter?  Or are there some things out there that won't work/will look like crap?

[Guest]

I'm afraid that 80-column composite will look just as horrible as an Amiga on a TV.

Well, at CommVEx v3 I used the Amiga RGB analog-to-composite converter (now what was its model number?) to connect the A500 to a 1702 monitor, and though it appeared dimmer on the screen, for games the conversion seemed good.

If all you ever do is 320x200 games then it's perfectly fine, but the instant you drop to 640x200 workbench your head feels like it might explode trying to read text.  Some moderns TVs make it better (I have a kick-ass Sony Wega 4:3 CRT HDTV that is by far the best composite display you'll ever see), but you can't escape the artifacts on the screen on fonts that are appropriate for an 80-column display.  Bil Herd actually gave a good description of why this happens in another thread when answering questions on why the VIC-II was left alone.

[Rixa]

Are any of you guys interested in a very affordable C128 80 column composite output solution that's colour?

Wow, me. Is it too late?

[airship]

Has anyone tried this converter that was hacked for the NeoGeo? Looks like it should work for C128 CGA, and it's tiny:




http://www.neobitz.com/Pages/Mods/Neobitz-S_DIY.aspx

[Golan Klinger]

FWIW, the Neobitz works just fine on the Amiga.

[airship]

Lance, you're not viewing the crisp, clear 80-column composite on your 1701?

[Blacklord]

Lance, you're not viewing the crisp, clear 80-column composite on your 1701?

Bloody hell - no I've collected 6 108x's in the last few months, enuf to keep my various Amiga's, 8 bitters & XT's quite happy thankyou!

[airship]

Has anyone tried the scan-doubler circuit on Vanessa's Commodore Projects page? It creates a true VGA output, looks relatively simple compared to some of the other stuff mentioned here and elsewhere, AND allows for all 16 colors since it takes the Intensity input. Only a schematic is up so far, and she hasn't built one, but if someone would breadboard one and try it out, then design a board if it works, that would be cool.

http://starbase.globalpc.net/~vanessa/hobbies/projects.html

[Mangelore]

Interesting. I wonder how easy it is to get a hold of the CY7C138 or equivalent.

[Guest]

It would be beyond awesome if someone did a scan doubler that took both the 40 and 80 column video and allowed them to be synced together to a 1280x480 frame side-by-side, VIC on the left, VDC on the right.  Then, you could have awesome applications, games and demos on the 128 and for folks with any widescreen LCD capable of at least 1280 horizontal pixels, it would look freaking awesome.

[swordfish1030]

Tagging in to follow this, I have seen many sites talk about it but none with working examples. I have one simple question
How do I get one =o)

[xlar54]

Mangalore - can you post some screenshots of GEOS 128 on the LCD?  Id like to see how it looks.  Am thinking of going ahead and getting one of those boards.