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General Category => Amstrad CPC hardware => Topic started by: cpcitor on 20:53, 22 October 13

Title: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: cpcitor on 20:53, 22 October 13
Hello,

On my vacation location I have a french MP-1 power adapter for CPC 464. It outputs RGB signal through a SCART connector (no RF modulation or whatever). It works but there's no 12V only 5V so it can't power a CPC6128 disk drive.

I'm considering:
I can't test that now (no power supply, no cable, no tools).

Does anyone know if an unpowered MP1 can function as a cable ?

If not, I guess it should work when the MP-1 is powered, too. It just looks silly to have a device that produces unused +5V while the CPC is powered by the PC power supply.

When it's known (either someone answers or I try), I will update the wiki page Amstrad MP1/MP2 modulator - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Amstrad_MP1/MP2_modulator).
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: redbox on 20:56, 22 October 13
Quote from: cpcitor on 20:53, 22 October 13
It works but there's no 12V only 5V so it can't power a CPC6128 disk drive.

You could get rid of the internal 3" drive and replace it with a HxC as they only require 5v.

Then you won't need the 12v at all.
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: Bryce on 20:57, 22 October 13
I'm not sure what you mean with the MP-1. The CPC already outputs RGB, you don't need an MP-1 to do that. The MP-1 takes the RGB and converts it to UHF. Or is this some weird modded version?

If the missing 12V is the problem, here's a guide on how to convert an MP-1 to an MP-2: Convert an MP1 into an MP2 - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Convert_an_MP1_into_an_MP2)

Bryce.
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: redbox on 21:20, 22 October 13
Quote from: Bryce on 20:57, 22 October 13
I'm not sure what you mean with the MP-1. The CPC already outputs RGB, you don't need an MP-1 to do that. The MP-1 takes the RGB and converts it to UHF. Or is this some weird modded version?

There are French versions that output SCART.
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: cpcitor on 21:22, 22 October 13
Quote from: Bryce on 20:57, 22 October 13
I'm not sure what you mean with the MP-1. The CPC already outputs RGB, you don't need an MP-1 to do that. The MP-1 takes the RGB and converts it to UHF. Or is this some weird modded version?

As written, the french MP-1 doesn't do RF modulation: at the time SCART was already mandatory on french TVs and its superior quality made RF modulation obsolete.

The french MP-1 boils down to power supply plus SCART connector outputting voltage-compliant RGB signal (see TV SCART cable - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/TV_SCART_cable) about voltage compliance).

In other words, no need to make a cable when I already have one even if it's big and heavy a has a "Amstrad MP-1" label on it.  ;)

Quote from: Bryce on 20:57, 22 October 13
If the missing 12V is the problem, here's a guide on how to convert an MP-1 to an MP-2: Convert an MP1 into an MP2 - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Convert_an_MP1_into_an_MP2)

Bryce.

Thanks for the link. That's interesting although it's more work.
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: Bryce on 21:44, 22 October 13
Wow I didn't know these Péritel versions existed, do you have pictures?

Bryce.
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: Gryzor on 18:51, 23 October 13
I saw this on the wiki earlier today. Damn, another thing to track down?
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: cpcitor on 21:12, 23 October 13
Quote from: Bryce on 21:44, 22 October 13
Wow I didn't know these Péritel versions existed, do you have pictures?

Bryce.

I've uploaded two pictures: overview and connector details.
Amstrad MP1/MP2 modulator - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Amstrad_MP1/MP2_modulator#Pictures)

Regards,
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: Bryce on 08:52, 24 October 13
Cool. And even photographed on a tradition French table cloth to add credibility :)

Bryce.
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: cpcitor on 09:56, 24 October 13
Quote from: Bryce on 08:52, 24 October 13
Cool. And even photographed on a tradition French table cloth to add credibility :)

Bryce.

Glad you like the raster effects on the table cloth. Both horizontal and vertical, wow ! You can't imagine how hard it is to finetune the cloth's CPU cycles.  ;)
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: Gryzor on 10:36, 24 October 13
Should have framed it with some wine and bagels.


...next time I shoot something I'm putting a souvlaki next to it (hope the tzatziki is not to runny though)
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: Bryce on 10:47, 24 October 13
Don't forget the Ouzo!!

Bryce.
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: Gryzor on 10:52, 24 October 13
Then I should also include some fine cheese. Or an octopus. This would get out of hand soon.
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: redbox on 11:46, 24 October 13
Quote from: Bryce on 10:47, 24 October 13
Don't forget the Oozo!!

"One bottle of Ouzo-destructo and ooh the regret" - Marsha Klein (http://spaced.wikia.com/wiki/Marsha_Klein), Spaced.
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: Gryzor on 18:26, 26 October 13
lol.
Title: Re: Use MP1just as SCART cable, not power supply ?
Post by: cpcitor on 15:15, 05 November 13
Quote from: cpcitor on 20:53, 22 October 13
Does anyone know if an unpowered MP1 can function as a cable ?

Hello all,

I have not yet actually tried, but I opened my MP1 and posted photos on Amstrad MP1/MP2 modulator - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Amstrad_MP1/MP2_modulator) .

In the MP1, RGB sync and ground from the CPC are wired straight to the SCART connector. Not even a resistor. So, powering a CPC by other means and plugging to an unpowered MP1 will send the signals to the TV.

Still, there is a difference between powering the MP1 and leaving it off:

The MP1 send 12V to both slow switch and fastswitch (although the standard says 12V for slow switch and 1V-3V, 1V nominal for fast switch).

So, an unpowered MP1 is like the SCART cable described on TV SCART cable - CPCWiki (http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/TV_SCART_cable) without the battery. See there the consequence.

I may test that or not depending on whether I power my CPC with a PC power supply (easier but noisy) or transform my MP1 into an MP2 as @Bryce suggested.

Cheers,
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