How do you deal with multiple 8-bit systems?

[llopis]

For those of you who like to collect a few (or many) 8-bit systems, what do you do about monitors? Do you use one CRT TV for all of them? What about the Amstrad, does it also share that TV, or is the default monitor better? Or do you use a flat-screen monitor instead?



I'm about to get a Speccy and a Commodore 64 on top of the Amstrad, so I'm curious how some of you are organizing your systems.

[VincentGR]

It depends where am I.
When at home I use a CTM, at work I have a 14" grundig TV but if I move my amstrad I connect him to a GT65 or a VGA upscaler to an lcd monitor.

[Shaun M. Neary]

One TV for all here.

That said, I might buy a SCART box that way I don't have to keep swapping cables all the time which is a right pain in the ass.

[TMR]

That said, I might buy a SCART box that way I don't have to keep swapping cables all the time which is a right pain in the ass.

That's what I'm doing, a cheap 5 way SCART switcher (I think it came from a Cash Converters) with video going to a 15" CRT and audio split off to a mixer.

[llopis]

That's what I'm doing, a cheap 5 way SCART switcher (I think it came from a Cash Converters) with video going to a 15" CRT and audio split off to a mixer.

How does that work? I thought most 8-bit computers put out a composite signal (or RF, but can usually be upgraded like in the case of the Speccy). Is there a composite-to-SCART converter or cable?


Also, how does that fit with the Amstrad? You need to make a SCART cable like this, right? http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/TV_SCART_cable


One more question: Do you prefer a CRT monitor to be more authentic, or are you using an LCD panel for convenience and sharpness? Just curious.

[tjohnson]

How does that work? I thought most 8-bit computers put out a composite signal (or RF, but can usually be upgraded like in the case of the Speccy). Is there a composite-to-SCART converter or cable?


Also, how does that fit with the Amstrad? You need to make a SCART cable like this, right? http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/TV_SCART_cable


One more question: Do you prefer a CRT monitor to be more authentic, or are you using an LCD panel for convenience and sharpness? Just curious.

Make DIN to RGB scart cable as above, feed into Scart switch box, easy peasy.

[VincentGR]

For scart-composite you need this:

[khaz]

the gscartsw.

This is just an example. Lotharek's Hydra is a bit cheaper, and you can get up to 24 (!!) inputs with addons. You'll never need another switch. It's currently at about 150€, plus shipping. I plan to get a Hydra very soon to get all the consoles plugged in.

If you only have a few systems and don't plan to add more, the Bandridge 5 Way Scart Selector SVB7735 Automatic SCART Selector can be found for very cheap on ebay, like £20 to £25. It's new old stock. It's what I'm using.

Automatic switches are great as you just put them in your setup and basically forget about them. You just turn on whatever device and it shows up on your TV. For a more involved control (maybe you need more than one output, or need having more than one device powered at the same time and switch between them), then manual switches are widely available. Or you could go the (gasp) Extron road.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=998tBzpJhVo

[tjohnson]

Holy smokes 150 euro on a scart switch.......I'm sure it does more than that but all the same, most people couldn't give a scart switch away in this day and age.

[VincentGR]

150e... this better has a NEO-GEO in there.

[TMR]

How does that work? I thought most 8-bit computers put out a composite signal (or RF, but can usually be upgraded like in the case of the Speccy). Is there a composite-to-SCART converter or cable?

As others pointed out, SCART has composite video baked into the standard so you just need those little converter blocks.

Also, how does that fit with the Amstrad? You need to make a SCART cable like this, right?

At the moment it doesn't work with the Amstrad, but my "daily driver" rig is a TC-equipped C64, PS2 and a Wii with a couple of "floating" connectors for the other 8-bits I use for testing code. If I need to do something with the CPC then I get the machine and it's monitor out to play.

One more question: Do you prefer a CRT monitor to be more authentic, or are you using an LCD panel for convenience and sharpness? Just curious.

I'm using a CRT because personally I prefer how it looks with older computers and consoles; LCD panels can be a very mixed bag and some really don't handle 8-bit systems very well. For events I take half a dozen HP VGA monitors along and arm most of the machines with MyGica upscalers, but that's more a convenience solution, in part because trying to get all the machines and six CRTs into the boot of my friend's car was never going to work. =-)

[llopis]

I'm using a CRT because personally I prefer how it looks with older computers and consoles; LCD panels can be a very mixed bag and some really don't handle 8-bit systems very well. For events I take half a dozen HP VGA monitors along and arm most of the machines with MyGica upscalers, but that's more a convenience solution, in part because trying to get all the machines and six CRTs into the boot of my friend's car was never going to work. =-)

That makes sense and I sort of suspected that. Unfortunately I don't have any CRT TVs around so I'll have to buy one for this. Any particular recommendations, or is just about any 14" TV fine for this?

[mr_lou]

That makes sense and I sort of suspected that. Unfortunately I don't have any CRT TVs around so I'll have to buy one for this. Any particular recommendations, or is just about any 14" TV fine for this?

I've bought a lot of 14" CRT TV's to be used for retrocomputers. For my CPC464 I've had good experience with Philips. Other brands has been a bit disappointing for the CPC, but worked ok with e.g. a C64 and Amiga for some reason.

[VincentGR]

Grundig 15" flat crt, great colors, full picture.
Philips Hitachi and Sony also good.

[TMR]

That makes sense and I sort of suspected that. Unfortunately I don't have any CRT TVs around so I'll have to buy one for this. Any particular recommendations, or is just about any 14" TV fine for this?

I'm just throwing a 15" Panasonic at the job right now, with an old Bush TV/VCR combi lying around as a backup; I've not had any bad experiences previously but usually stick to the better known brands.

[dthrone]

Are new CRTs stocked anywhere or have they all been dumped?  I've had no luck at all, just 2nd hand collection only stuff on ebay.

[khaz]

Are new CRTs stocked anywhere or have they all been dumped?  I've had no luck at all, just 2nd hand collection only stuff on ebay.

The CRT market died ten years ago. All you'll find will be second hand.

[VincentGR]

Try not to buy an after 2000 model, they were cheap with a dot pitch like a cent.

[tjohnson]

I remember going to the local dump just after Christmas quite a few years ago, there was a steady flow of people bringing in their old CRT TVs, must have been hundreds pilled up I'm sure the majority were fully functional when dumped.  Quite a wasteful world we live in.

[dthrone]

I remember going to the local dump just after Christmas quite a few years ago, there was a steady flow of people bringing in their old CRT TVs, must have been hundreds pilled up I'm sure the majority were fully functional when dumped.  Quite a wasteful world we live in.

I'm sure there must be still millions of the things in lofts up and down the UK, there needs to be an amnesty!