LCD monitor hacking "development" thread

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First public release of software in support of monitor modification service is now available as the attached ZIP file in the service thread.
Enclosed are schematics for connecting Arduino Uno, Nano or Mega2560 to the monitor via a VGA cable, software for Arduino and software for PC.
Patching tool is just for users of the modification service.
Dumping tool can be used freely and has sort of a dual use. One is to discover whether monitor is running on a Realtek or on a MStar scaler without opening the thing up. Other is to dump the monitor data. Other scalers are not supported (yet).

Whoever bought a modified monitor from me feel free to send me a PM if you feel adventurous enough to use this and gain the ability to switch between original, Amiga and Atari firmwares and to apply potential future firmware updates.
 
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Perhaps a bit of a preview on what I've been toying with lately.
This is a brand new 19" IPS Dell P1917S:
20241118_215404.jpg
20241118_215759.jpg
20241118_221204.jpg

I've seen some unconfirmed reports that this monitor can display Amiga PAL out of the box, but my (revision A22) did not - it showed only a message that the signal is out of range.

This is perhaps a significant development as this monitor is based on a MStar chip and is therefore the first modified non Realtek based monitor which maybe opens the door to modifying other MStar based units. It's an interesting piece of kit. Unlike it's Realtek based counterparts this thing can properly digitize even super hi res and display some modes Realtek ones could not, like Euro 36 or CPU driven modes used in Dyna Blaster and BC Kid. Interlace is perhaps a bit worse than on Realtek and oddly each interlace counterpart of a regular video mode is seen as a separate video mode by this thing, which means regular and interlace video modes need to be adjusted separately. It also means there is a slight delay when switching between non interlaced and interlaced mode as scaler is getting reprogrammed whenever video modes change. Not yet sure how good or bad this thing can be. We'll see.
 
Another success story here. I bought a returned monitor from Cyberport on eBay, a well-known online electronics outlet.

DHL played ping pong with the parcel for about two weeks until it finally arrived in good shape - in original packaging, with all cables, protective foam, and bags still in place.

To my surprise, the monitor has VGA and DVI inputs:
20241202_155023.jpg

The type was not in @drugkito's supported list, though.

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I tried to dump the firmware using the Arduino method, and after some trial and error, it worked just fine.

I sent the dump to @drugkito, who set to work immediately. He sent me a patch file after about two and a half hours. It worked on the first try, and today, the monitor already helps debug an A2000 with a poorly done 2MB chip RAM upgrade:

20241203_094516_1.jpg

That's what I call a pleasant service experience. Thank you, @drugkito!
 

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I have upgraded two of my BL912's to the custom firmware made by @drugkito and they work very good. Much better support for Amiga native resolutions that I use. Overall, great work and I am really looking forward for future development of this.

Will write a better summary later :)

Once again, huge kudos to @drugkito
 
Darby_Crash said:
@drugkito is this firmware also for BL702A?
Click to expand...
This is not one firmware for all. It's rather a number of firmwares for each supported monitor, depending on hardware and firmware version of the unit.
List of supported monitors, or the one which can be fiddled with atm, together with hardware and firmware versions which have already been done is part of the guide - just check the individual monitor. There are currently 22 different modified firmwares done, * 2 coz of Atari = 44 modified firmwares, for 6 different monitors, spread across who knows how many hardware revisions in total.

As for BL702A, I no longer own one so no, BL702A is currently not modified yet. However, it is Realtek based and modified firmware could probably be done.
I've no intention of buying one again but if someone has one they wish to donate I'll happily accept it :p
 
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Last month I bought service package 1. Right from the start, he responded very quickly to enquiries and the support was always very professional and quickly led to a perfect result.

Thanks to this positive experience, I made use of the offer again today for another monitor.

I can only echo my predecessors and say a big thank you to @drugkito.

Here are some impressions captured in pictures ...

1. b196l
ek-yams-b076f07f4caa4f9b9445ce202838ce02-DF95715B-9DDA-4524-BFEF-3220E995E250.jpg
IMG_3742.jpg


photo_5327843447232654116_y.jpg
photo_5327843447232654115_y.jpg



2. b196l

IMG_3832 2.jpg
b196l-13-02-08.jpg


IMG_3835.jpg
 
drugkito said:
First public release of software in support of monitor modification service is now available as the attached ZIP file in the service thread.
Enclosed are schematics for connecting Arduino Uno, Nano or Mega2560 to the monitor via a VGA cable, software for Arduino and software for PC.
Patching tool is just for users of the modification service.
Dumping tool can be used freely and has sort of a dual use. One is to discover whether monitor is running on a Realtek or on a MStar scaler without opening the thing up. Other is to dump the monitor data. Other scalers are not supported (yet).

Whoever bought a modified monitor from me feel free to send me a PM if you feel adventurous enough to use this and gain the ability to switch between original, Amiga and Atari firmwares and to apply potential future firmware updates.
Click to expand...
Hi @drugkito !
How to contact to you ? I'm a newbie member.
 
Quang Nguyen said:
Can you add 50hz scanmode to this boarb, main chip Realtek RTD2281CL
Click to expand...

This was regarding CRT replacement project on a CNC machine.
CRT was supposed to be replaced by a generic RTD based controller board driving a LCD panel, but machine produces a non standard video output which was not supported by the board. After a bit of fiddling with the firmware, generic board now accepts video input good enough so that it can be used as a CRT replacement.

IMG_20250103_152027937_HDR.jpg
 
Hi very curious about your work on this. It's pretty amazing. I have an NEC Multisync EA192M monitor that I bought on the premise that is can accept 15khz signal. IT does display a picture however not the entire display when using Hi Res PAL 640 x 256. Also no DBLPAL or Hi Res Interlaced Pal. It cuts say an 10th of the screen off with Pal 640x256 and cannot be adjusted to correct this. I was wondering how difficult it would be to amend the firmware of a monitor like this to work a bit better with 15khz. It can display NTSC Hi Res and Hi Res interlaced (flickers) and DBLNTSC also but for some reason the PAL Hi Res mode cuts off the lower part of the screen. I suppose the the picture isn't the sharpest either actually, (well not in comparison to the GBS-8220+GBS-Control).
 
rabidgerry said:
Hi very curious about your work on this. It's pretty amazing. I have an NEC Multisync EA192M monitor that I bought on the premise that is can accept 15khz signal. IT does display a picture however not the entire display when using Hi Res PAL 640 x 256. Also no DBLPAL or Hi Res Interlaced Pal. It cuts say an 10th of the screen off with Pal 640x256 and cannot be adjusted to correct this. I was wondering how difficult it would be to amend the firmware of a monitor like this to work a bit better with 15khz. It can display NTSC Hi Res and Hi Res interlaced (flickers) and DBLNTSC also but for some reason the PAL Hi Res mode cuts off the lower part of the screen. I suppose the the picture isn't the sharpest either actually, (well not in comparison to the GBS-8220+GBS-Control).
Click to expand...
Similar NEC EA190 monitor runs on an MStar chip and can be adjusted, at least partially. Never had NEC units on my desk so not entirely sure how far can it go.
You could run Dumper.exe from archive available over here to check whether EA192M runs on Realtek or MStar chip. If it does, there's some hope.
I never quite finished Arduino support for MStar so in best case flash chip would need to reprogrammed manually (I did decypher some MStar firmwares to an extent though).
 
drugkito said:
Similar NEC EA190 monitor runs on an MStar chip and can be adjusted, at least partially. Never had NEC units on my desk so not entirely sure how far can it go.
You could run Dumper.exe from archive available over here to check whether EA192M runs on Realtek or MStar chip. If it does, there's some hope.
I never quite finished Arduino support for MStar so in best case flash chip would need to reprogrammed manually (I did decypher some MStar firmwares to an extent though).
Click to expand...
Ok I will try this. Need to get my hands on an arduino board to do this. Is it possible to open it and look also to identify the chip? Actually I just had a look at the back and it looks like that might be a nightmare to dismantle.
 
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