Author Topic: Limited batch of new S-Video Adapters. (Read 15264 times)

Bryce · « **on:** 21:54, 03 April 13 »

Hi all,
you may remember the S-Video adapter that I did a while back, if not, take a look here: RGB SVideo - CPCWiki . Well I was asked to make a small batch (for an Amiga user) and decided to make a few more than required for the obvious economic reasons. As some of you may also know, I like hardware to be small, but this time I out-did myself. The new version is almost half the size of the old one (which wasn't very big to start with anyway) and is a mere 25mm x 32mm, so it can fit almost anywhere you might care to put it. It's also done on a professionally manufactured PCB this time around. I'll be building some of these over the next few weeks and I'll have a (very) limited few spare ones, so if you didn't get one first time around and want one, then now is probably the time to let me know (send me a PM). They cost €38 + €5 postage.

Here's a few pictures of the first one for your viewing pleasure:

Mini_S_Video2.jpg
(100.03 kB, 1024x768 - viewed 401 times)

Mini_S_Video1.jpg
(103.15 kB, 1024x768 - viewed 414 times)

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Bryce.

Devilmarkus · « **Reply #1 on:** 16:40, 04 April 13 »

Ordered...

Nice work!

redbox · « **Reply #2 on:** 23:04, 04 April 13 »

Can you do any connector cables for them (6128 Plus 5v end, not S-video of course)...?

Bryce · « **Reply #3 on:** 23:18, 04 April 13 »

I hadn't intended offering cables, because there are so many variations and most people in the past wanted to install them internally. The connections are all on the Wiki page. The new version is pin compatible with the old one.

Bryce.

redbox · « **Reply #4 on:** 23:24, 04 April 13 »

Thought you might say that, but totally understandable.

My soldering iron makes me cry. I need some bell wire, old ICs, about 3 days and P R A C T I C E.

Bryce · « **Reply #5 on:** 23:27, 04 April 13 »

Soldering a cable isn't that difficult, I'm sure you'll manage it

Bryce.

sigh · « **Reply #6 on:** 14:19, 05 April 13 »

I advise to anyone who hasn't got one to pick one up asap!

Quote from: Bryce on 23:27, 04 April 13

Soldering a cable isn't that difficult, I'm sure you'll manage it

Admittedly ,I've yet to install it on my Plus 6128. Is there a little youtube vid to see how your doing it as paper instructions can be my downfall

.

redbox · « **Reply #7 on:** 14:27, 05 April 13 »

Quote from: sigh on 14:19, 05 April 13

Admittedly ,I've yet to install it on my Plus 6128. Is there a little youtube vid to see how your doing it as paper instructions can be my downfall .

I was worried about fecking up the ICs in my Plus by soldering directly to the pins. Hence wanting to make a cable.

You need a DIN connector and a 5v through connector. Anyone got any ideas where I can buy these from?

Bryce · « **Reply #8 on:** 15:32, 05 April 13 »

It's not a video, but the pictures here should be enough for anyone to wire it up internally or externally: RGB SVideo - CPCWiki
The points you need to solder to are far enough from any sensitive parts that it is almost impossible to damage anything no matter how ham-fisted your soldering skills are.

Bryce.

HAL 6128 · « **Reply #9 on:** 20:28, 19 April 13 »

I received mine yesterday. Wow, that a nice part of Hardware and so small!!

Thanks Bryce.

TFM · « **Reply #10 on:** 00:10, 20 April 13 »

Which monitor did you connect to it? Do you like the picture? Can you suggest a good monitor?

.... just asking

OCT · « **Reply #11 on:** 14:46, 20 April 13 »

Run through an S-Video to VGA converter such as the Pollin classic 721 190 "Video zu VGA Konverter-Box PREMIUMBLUE V2V" or its tuner-equipped sibling known as the "Geniatech LCD TV BOX Supera Color", pretty much any TFT or even CRT will do.
As suggested for the earlier version (much recommended, though trying&soldering differing capacitors was needed back than), I'd propose to move the red wire to pin 2 (different from the Wiki schematic below) so the modulator won't be always-on:

OCT · « **Reply #12 on:** 15:04, 20 April 13 »

Quote from: redbox on 14:27, 05 April 13

I was worried about fecking up the ICs in my Plus by soldering directly to the pins. Hence wanting to make a cable.

You need a DIN connector and a 5v through connector. Anyone got any ideas where I can buy these from?

The DIN connector is documented in detail at How to connect a CPC+ to the CTM 644? &
How to connect a CPC+ to the CTM 644? (for the few screens/projectors that will work without a modulator).

For the power Y adapter, Pollin's 561 880 won't fit (at least without drilling it out quite a bit) on the thick inner pin of the 5V supply on the Plus (might be a 5.5/2.5mm rather than the more conventional 5.5/2.1mm connector).

The solder points are on the bottom/underside (yes, actually an English word too

) of the Plus circuit board, i.e. rather accessible though.

Bryce · « **Reply #13 on:** 22:30, 20 April 13 »

Quote from: OCT on 14:46, 20 April 13

As suggested for the earlier version (much recommended, though trying&soldering differing capacitors was needed back than), I'd propose to move the red wire to pin 2 (different from the Wiki schematic below) so the modulator won't be always-on:

Actually, there's a good reason why I suggest taking the power from that point. The S-Video won't be always on, because most people will turn off their power supply / Monitor when they aren't using the CPC. More importantly, it ensures that the modulator has booted before the CPC, so it has time to initialise and stabilise the picture before the CPC starts sending data, otherwise you get an ugly flickering black and white stripes for the first second after you turn the CPC on.

Regarding the capacitor: That bug has been removed in this version. I've also made some other improvements, which improve the picture in some circumstances. There's also a further mod you can do, to improve the picture on the Plus (remove the vertical striping). I can upload the details here if anyone needs them.

Bryce.

OCT · « **Reply #14 on:** 12:46, 21 April 13 »

Quote from: Bryce on 22:30, 20 April 13

Actually, there's a good reason why I suggest taking the power from that point. The S-Video won't be always on, because most people will turn off their power supply / Monitor when they aren't using the CPC. More importantly, it ensures that the modulator has booted before the CPC, so it has time to initialise and stabilise the picture

I was thinking many people using a modulator won't have the original monitor including PSU anymore (my Plus at least can't drive both a plugged RGB and the modulator at the same time anyway) but rather use some PC or external switching PSU that stays on longer for other reasons outside the CPC anyway.

No harm except for the first flicker expected from using Pin 2 after the cartridge lock/power switch though I hope?

Additionally of course I had the situation that more frequent power cycles wouldn't hurt on the older IC which wouldn't always get the proper sync.

Quote

Regarding the capacitor: That bug has been removed in this version.

I wouldn't have doubted,

and clearly referred to the earlier model lest there be any misunderstanding among prospective customers of yours.

Quote

I've also made some other improvements, which improve the picture in some circumstances. There's also a further mod you can do, to improve the picture on the Plus (remove the vertical striping). I can upload the details here if anyone needs them.

By "vertical striping" you mean a "prison bar"-like effect of approximately MODE 1 character width, and especially shadowing on blue edges?
Very interested in any improvements I can make as I have to reseat the connector anyway.

OCT · « **Reply #15 on:** 13:52, 21 April 13 »

Quote from: sigh on 14:19, 05 April 13

Admittedly ,I've yet to install it on my Plus 6128. Is there a little youtube vid to see how your doing it

Thought I'd already uploaded some pictures like these (anybody know where they were?), also showing the "mechanical" details:

OCT · « **Reply #16 on:** 13:58, 21 April 13 »

N.B. the above is a somewhat larger earlier model, and Master Bryce on the Wiki and previous page recommends using the unswitched side of the power plug instead of Pin 2.

Bryce · « **Reply #17 on:** 14:15, 21 April 13 »

No, there's no other negative effects to switching the S-Video with the CPC, just the visual flicker.

Yes, it's the "prison bars" I was referring to. If you compare the classic CPCs RGB lines (just before the monitor socket), you'll see that there were 3 colour buffering capacitors. Amstrad in their infinite wisdom decided to leave these out on the Plus. This isn't a problem on the original monitor, but on modern TVs it causes these "prison bars". Add the capacitors back in and the problem will be greatly reduced.

Bryce.

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OCT · « **Reply #18 on:** 20:04, 21 April 13 »

Capacity "220" in picofarads?

Bryce · « **Reply #19 on:** 10:25, 22 April 13 »

Yep, 220pF ceramic disk type.

Bryce.

atomicburner · « **Reply #20 on:** 17:34, 04 March 14 »

Interest in one.
PM Sent.

Cheers

atomicburner · « **Reply #21 on:** 01:17, 05 March 14 »

Payment sent.
Waiting for the SVideo adapter....

Bryce · « **Reply #22 on:** 10:57, 10 March 14 »

The adapter will be sent today. Here's the connection diagram you asked for. The adapter can be powered directly from the video port. It uses around 60mA at most, well below the 100mA limit of the port.

Bryce.

(Yes guys, I know this is a CPC Forum, move it to Other Retro if you like

)

beaker · « **Reply #23 on:** 23:21, 10 March 14 »

Oh dear. Is the Wiki community getting that tetchy these days? Lol. Shame, I used to enjoy it here

atomicburner · « **Reply #24 on:** 14:04, 11 March 14 »

Hey Bryce, thanks for the diagram.

You are the best..

Cheers

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Author Topic: Limited batch of new S-Video Adapters. (Read 15264 times)