A500 upgrade or ???

[desiv]

Re: A500 upgrade or ???

So what can this device do? well I should say that I have two of these units and I am enthrawled by them.

Actually, if you have a NTSC Amiga and these guys, could you test it?
Just to make sure the PS2 thing isn't a different issue.

So, we'd be talking NTSC Amiga to this box to a Computer Monitor. (Standard SVGA type, not a multisync)

And then try to run a game that flips to PAL.

If you have access to tosec or Zophar or ??? I was trying this one and my TV would go "Out of Range"...

Pinball Dreams (1992)(21st Century)(Disk 1 of 2)[cr FLT].zip
Pinball Dreams (1992)(21st Century)(Disk 2 of 2)[cr FLT].zip
(I didn't need Disk 2, it went out of range before asking..)

(Yeah, it's on Zophar as: pinball-dreams-1992-21st-century-disk-1-of-2-cr-flt-.adf )

There was another one that was nice because the crack intro screen let me left click to enter PAL (and an "out of range"), but I can't remember what that was now.

If you can get that to come up through that combo, that should give me what I need.
(Well, OK, need isn't probably the right word.. )

Thanx,

update: Found this one: http://www.tomtop.com/vt521-av-to-vga-c ... p2487.html that looks similar and mentions NTSC/PAL autodetection.. Very possible...

Also interesting, the above also has VGA in. I'm sure it wouldn't take an Amiga to VGA in and convert it... but.. probably not.. but.. Hmm.. Might be fun to play with this guy... And I could use it for my other systems on a monitor if the Amiga doesn't pan out...
(See what I mentioned about my being impulsive.. :nod: )

Dammit! I ordered one! I'm so weak!!! :-(

:wink:
desiv

 

[Zetr0]

Re: A500 upgrade or ???

@Desiv

LOL reading you in this thread is like watching a leaf blow around in a storm!!! LOL

Congrats on the box, I believe its NTSC AV Inputs, as you mention the VGA is Throughput only (and wont upscan a 15Khz source)

The unit might allow for the larger screen. remember PAL output on an NTSC amiga is just a 50hz frequency not a Colour burst frquency that still is NTSC so yu may get lucky =)

best of luck =)

 

[desiv]

Re: A500 upgrade or ???

I agree!

I have no self control!!! :woot:

But, it's all your fault! You are all ENABLERS!!!! You should be ashamed of yourselves!! :nono:

The best thing about this is that even if it only works for some of my other consoles, that will help keep the house a bit cleaner and I'll be much less likely to keep dragging the systems out to the front room to plug into the TV...

:roll: :roll:

What do you think? That's the phrasing I was planning on using to tell the wife I ordered it.
:run:

She has already banned me from auctions. I don't know why. I think they are great. And I ALWAYS WIN!!!!

desiv

 

[desiv]

Re: A500 upgrade or ???

OK, quick update.
I got the video converter in the mail. Not bad for shipping from a China ebay company...

First impressions:
It's smaller and lighter than I thought it would be.
The power connector is "weird" (as in not NORMAL!!) Why the rest of the world can't use NORMAL American 110 standard plugs, I don't get it! Ok, I need another adapter.. ;-)
The adapter is a 5V 500ma plug.. I have a 6 volt 200.. Nope.. doesn't work. I find a 6 volt 300, that works!
(But I'll get a 5V 500 (or more, the manual says it comes with a 1000, but it came with a 500) to be safe)

Ok, I plug in the VGA from a PC and the monitor, and it works. Looks fine...
There is a "select" button, so basically, it's also a switchbox. That's nice..
I hook up the A500 with composite color (A520) and flip over to it. Works!

Ok, a little dark, but there's a "menu" button, and I can adjust brightness, contrast, etc..).

Not bad. It is a little warm, and so is the adapter.. So, I shut it off for now. I'll find the correct voltage adapter for it before I do too much else...

All in all, it does what it says. And as a 3-way switchbox, it's kind of nice. I can have my C64 connected composite, my Amiga with SVideo (if I do the s-video mod on the A520), and my PC.
Or, some other combination.

Also, I get to choose the resolution it outputs. I was running it at 1280x1024, but I saw some "sparklies" scrolling up the screen. (With the Amiga/composite) So, I drop it down to 800x600 and it looks better.
I'll try hooking up my 3D0 (S-video) and see what that looks like.

The VGA passthru only works if it's plugged in. Makes sense, but would be kind of nice if i could leave it unlpugged for my PC.

I think the big question will be, how long will it last. I'm not sure about the quality at this point, but it seems to do what it says...

Now, I have to find that disk that let me flip my Amiga to PAL for the game (which blanked out my TV on composite, "out of range") and see what it does with that..

desiv

p.s. It came with an RCA cable, a BNC to RCA adapter, an SVideo cable, and a VGA cable.
Also, the AC adapter has 2 screws holding it together, so if I can find a dead AC adapter I can take apart, I should be able to pop the insides from this on to there to get it to work with USA power. It said it's good for 100-240volts. (If I don't have the right adapter somewhere else..)

 

[desiv]

Re: A500 upgrade or ???

OK, well, I loaded up an ADF convert to disk of Speedball 2, which had an NTSC PAL toggle on the cracktro screen...

When I selected PAL, the screen started rolling, but I could see stuff... Hmmm...
OK, so I flipped over to other inputs (SVideo, VGA, and back to composite) and it was there, but no scrolling. Apparently, this device didn't detect that the computer had "flipped' to PAL.

But I had PAL going now (and the info text said it recognized it as PAL, it hovers the mode/resolution in the top right for a few seconds as I flip through them).
Hmm.. Speedball 2 looks even more monochrome than I remember... checking...
No, it is monichrome...

So, I can do PAL, but apparently in monochrome.

Not sure if that's my NTSC Amiga 500, or the A520 I'm using or the adapter or which.
But apparently, I can do PAL, but in monochrome.

If I get a 1200, it will be interesting what he outputs from his composite for PAL through this adapter...

I swear I think the picture quality seems a bit better on my CRT through this adapter than on my LCD TV straight composite.. I'll do some more tests... and comparisons.

It's a fun box, and not bad so far. Remains to be seen how useful it will be, but so far so good.

desiv

 

[rkauer]

Re: A500 upgrade or ???

Your problem is the NTSC-only A520. Hook the device to the Amiga via the RGB port directly (if the device have an "analog CGA" input), then you'll have an "agnostic" colour monitor.

 

[desiv]

Re: A500 upgrade or ???

Your problem is the NTSC-only A520. Hook the device to the Amiga via the RGB port directly (if the device have an "analog CGA" input), then you'll have an "agnostic" colour monitor.

OK, so it'll be interesting to see what happens with an A520 s-video mod, and whether it's also NTSC only.
I don't know enough about s-video (or the A520) to have any idea what will happen.

I know Amigamaniac's Amiga-svideo adapter (which uses a totally different chip than the A520) is jumper selectable for NTSC/PAL, but probably not a good idea to change the jumper while it's running. Anyway, I missed that one and he has no near future plans for another run...

I haven't opened the device yet to see what I might be able to add to it, if anything.

Also, at some point, I'll try hooking the RGB directly to the VGA in port on the device. I don't expect it to upsample the RGB through that port, but I have to try.. I mean, that's what my wire stipper is for! ;-)

Thanx,

desiv