Is it possible to do this?
The A500 is bw but the 600/1200 & 1000 are colour.
Cheers
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Is it possible to do this?
The A500 is bw but the 600/1200 & 1000 are colour.
Cheers
Doesn't the A520 modulator have a composite output as well as RF?Quote:
Originally Posted by mjnurney
Does it ? I don't know with out digging an a520 out of storage.
Is the colour compisite signal missing on the 500?
The A520 does indeed have Colour Composite & RF. Naff picture though :(
No idea on what trickery is missing on the A500's built in composite port though. They even mention it being B&W in the manual, stupid idea.
Cheers guys. I don't mind a slightly hazy pic in games :-)
It's not hazy, it's actually really clear, just pixely if that makes sense. You'll see when ya try it :)
Im no expert (by a long shot!) but would it be possible to just cut the mono line and take it from the RGB port and solder a wire from that to the old mono out line?
Unfortunately not - there's no composite video available at the RGB port, and the A520 contains an RGB-to-colour-composite converter (which I presume is the first stage of generating an RF-modulated signal.)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tajmaster
As an aside, the A520's composite out is significantly better than that of my A1200, which is somewhat over-bright. The A520's output is much better, though maybe not quite as sharp.
Isn't the Amiga 500+ just an Amiga 500 with minor updates? If so the answer is no. ;)
It would need a whole new reworked mobo to do that.
@Mike
my friend, the composite port on the A500/A500+ is only monocrome as it doens't have an colour encoded into the comp signal, - the comp signal is derived from the video hybrid -
the Video Hybrid takes the 12 digital inputs of 4x RED, 4x Green and 4x Blue, and derives colour intensities of these which it then outputs to the Video port - along with Sync's voltages and grounds - unfortuantely there is no colour encoding of the RGB only Luma (Y) is provided with the Sync Signal I beleive.
The Hybrid outputs R,G and B, also SYNC - with a CXA1145 (sony Composite / SVideo [Y/C]) encoder and the right clock frequency (for PAL) you could convert the output to either Colour Composite or even SVideo (Y/C)
or buy / build one that connects to the video socket - or just get an RGB SCART cable.
For those of us not 100% anointed with the High Priesthood of Digital Electronics (like our pal Zetr0 here :bowdown:) I was wondering if it would be possible to disconnect the mono composit plug, hack the case off of an A520 and rewire it between the RGB PINS and the mono plug and build the whole thing inside the case (I have no idea if there is space for it.. Quick and dirty solution but with the case on you wouldnt notice, and voila you have color composite built in! :roll:
@ Zetr0
Does the A500 have the CXA1145, or did it use the earlier MC 1377? I thought the A500s had the Motorola chip.
*ponders*
Edit: They had the Motorola MC 1377 in the A520 - see here:-
http://www.amiga-stuff.com/hardware/mc1377.html
It may be easier to wire that chip in on a small breadboard, then disconnect the connection from middle pin of the Composite video RCA jack to the main board, and wire in pin 9 of the MC 1377 to the RCA jack middle pin.
All the signals required are on the 23-pin video port, so it's just a case of taking wires to the appropriate inputs of the M1377 chip and tapping off a composite out. Leave pin 20 disconnected for PAL video, ground it for NTSC.
You could take the MC 1377 chip out of an A520, but I would prefer it if you bought the chip and spared the A520.
This sounds very interesting :)
I had considered doing the same with an old modulator.
But got a new scart cable in the end.
Yep, just checked.
RGB, Sync and and 12v are are available at the 23-pin connector. This could be worth a punt with a MC 1377 chip.
im confuzed i think my a500+ is colour using the RGB scart connection at the back isnt the 500 the same?
Wouldnt it be easier just to use the rgb output.
the rgb is colour its the composite output? they are talking about its mono
Johnim is right; what we are pondering is converting the monochrome composite output of the A500's RCA jack socket to colour. If this can be done, you don't necessarily need the A520.
What about the A2000? B&W too?
Pretty damn close, just different bit of kit, the A520 modulator at the heart uses the MC1377 colour encoder, infact with a little hackery you can get SVideo out of an A520 modulator box.Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlin
yes, I see where you are going with this, but the MC1377 is really a bad choice given virtually anything else!, the MC1377 produces way to much noise and as such I would recommend near enough anything else as replacement (including two paper cups and a bit of string!)Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlin
But in all seriousness - given the option - for the simplest integration, I would use a CXA1145M or P varien, these are infact used in the A600 and A1200, interestingly they are used in a variety of consoles including the Sega MegaDrive.
Now rather than rummage around ripping Megadrives apart, there is a very cheap Fujitsu CXA1145 compatible (about $2.50 from farnell) - I will dig up my notes and post'em when I get a moment, and also put together a small PCB for the community.
With this all you need to do is tie down the VREF's the R,G and B, provide an XClock / CCK (colour clock - 4.43361875 MHz PAL / 3.58 Mhz NTSC) and a sync(s)
I would add a small 10 - 15pf ceramic cap between the clock and chip just to reduce noise from the +5v / pcb rf pickup.
A small board could be made and the comp track of the composite out from the hybrid could be cut and redirected to this board providing Composite out - alternatively, one could even add a small amplification to the Y/C output of the CXA1145 (or compatible) and provide SVideo output as well - there is plenty of backplane space to mount it.
Thanks Keith,
I knew we were thinking along similar lines, with different hardware. ;)
I think a little circuit board with a CXA 1145 compatible chip to convert the monochrome composite to colour would be a really good and cheap hack, and would allow RCA to Scart cables to be used on the A500 with no A520 hanging out of the back (I always thought that the A520 was an ass-nasty way of doing things from a hardware point of view).
It's not that bad from a wiring in point of view either. R,G,B, Clk and Sync, Vcc, Gnd and Comp Out. Very do-able. :thumbsup:
The Composite Out would probably need to be a screened cable, but that would be a benefit in reducing noise interferance.
Add a sticky pad to mount it inside the A500's case and I think we have a winner.
This enables the A500 to catch up with the A600 & A1200 with full colour composite out. It could probably be hacked into other retro hardware too - bonus! :)
Put me down for a couple right now.
What to call it? How about the Colour Wizard..??
I like the sound of this - I was considering pulling a 520 apart and fitting it in the 500 but your idea is much neater and smaller too.
At some point I will hack a 520 to give better colour , my 520 is a bit blurry
Yes Xanxi, the A2000's composite out is monochrome. The device Keith and I are talking about could be fitted to the A1500/2000 models too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Xanxi
Now, this gets a +1Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlin
a small integrated board wont cost much, arguably about $10 - $15 pending the cost of the CX1145 / compatible encoder replacement..
This would work on anything that had an an analog RGBHV / RGBS output - so that would be any Amiga, Spectrum 128K +3, Spectrum 128k +2AB, CPC 464, CPC 6128 and more....
However I should stress that a better signal can be achieved from the RGB scart output would be worth persuing first.
With a little more electrickery, this concept could be taken over to work on TTL RGB as well, so things like the Acorn BBC's, Spectrum 128k, Spectrum 128+2, Sinclair QL even the RGBi of the Commodore 64/128 to name but a few.
Me Likes! :nod: This could have a *lot* of potential for the retro computer (and possibly console) scene. :thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Zetr0
Am I right in thinking that this could possibly output S-Video too..??
@Thread
Here is the fujitsu (CXA1145) compatible -
MB3516A (data sheet)
Now off to find a cheap supplier =D
Is anyone working on a guide on this mod? :)
Shhh! Geniuses at work.....:shhh:
I have a lot of work on right now, but I will come back to this with the big Z...
nice :-)
Awesome! I come by A500s all the time and it'd be great to mod them all with this as well as my own :)
This afternoon I finished debugging and testing some prototype boards that provide composite video and s-video output from the Amigas RGB connector.
They can operate in PAL 4.43MHz or NTSC 3.58MHz via a switch.
Will post up some piccys tomorrow but the S-Video output is superb ;)
Have to think about options and configuration as well as platform compatibility before I start laying out a final PCB for manufacture.
To help does anyone have a spare Atari ST 13pin video connector to donate so I can design in this option, in the meantime I will start trials to add TTL RGB capability using my trusty BBC Micro.
Dont get too excited folks still a bit of work and testing to go before commiting the design and ordering parts.
Hope its good news
TC ;)
nice one TC mate
Thanks for the update TC, looks like youre making great progress :thumbsup:
Great work tc :-)
As Promised ---- Pix
The Final Board size will be half of the prototypes and have capability for TTL RGB as well as separate sync inputs, and of course The ST, ie dual supply +12V or +5V
Does anyone have a spare 13pin Atari ST connector chaps ;)
TC :lol:
fantastic work :-) :thumbsup:
:wooha: thats cracking quality! Is it going to be external? If so, is there a way to make it internal?
Bas and I were discussing the headers on the board and as the final versions will be smaller than the prototypes, you should be able to connect internally to most systems.
The intention is to make this cross-platform, so you can fit this to BBCs, Spectrums, C64s, etc.
We are also looking into parts supplies, to ensure that we can produce these in volume.
Patience; more testing is needed, before the design is finalised.
Good things come to those who wait.....;)
Any progress on this gents? :)
Any updates on this gents?:)
Trying to find a cheap source for the chip...
AD724JRZ
If anybody wants to help out sourcing it I would be most thankful
Oh & still waiting for some kind person to donate an ST 13 Pin DIN plug
TC :)
Thanks John....
But we can do cheaper.............:lol:
The search is on :thumbsup:
TC :D
I'm about to order £500+ of various EPROMs, dacs, etc from my supplier in china. I can ask for a price on these and if the price is right, bundle them in with my order.
Will let you know
That's very decent of you fella :thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Bad_Ad84
I spoke to a few suppliers from China but the Shipping was horrendous considering we were talking 2 small tubes..
Thanks :cool:
Exactly. I am already paying the transfer fees and shipping fees. Your chips can get a free ride back to the uk
Let me know quantity please :-)
cheers adam :thumbsup:
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheCorfiot
I'm sure I've got a couple of 13-pin DINs knocking around somewhere. They're also used on Icom radios for the ACC socket. If I can find them, I'll pop one in the post for you.
Thanks for the updates guys :thumbsup: This is a really interesting project :)
It is a stupid idea but back in the day it didn't bother me. All my parents could afford was a monochrome (green) monitor...Quote:
Originally Posted by Gouldin
Still to this day it's jarring for a moment to see Workbench boot up in blue.