Hi everyone.
Just thought I'd ask for a bit of advice.
My CPC6128's monitor is not doing too well.
The image is *very* blurry and is virtually unusable.
So I'd like to join all of you that have hooked your CPCs up to a more modern display.
I have an LED TV, but I don't know where to begin with connecting the 6128 to it.
Can anyone give me some pointers?
Thanks so much for any advice.
Oh by the way, not sure if it makes any difference, but I'm in Australia.
Hi Erwin,
welcome to the "Modern TV connection club" :) .
More important than your geographical location would be: "What inputs does your TV have?"
Useful inputs would be SCART, Composite, Component, S-Video, VGA and HDMI. Some are cheaper than others
to convert to and picture quality will also vary. Let us know and we can make a few suggestions.
Bryce.
erwin,
Try looking at youtube for retro computer connection to TVs, such as GBS 8200 device, ISSC, framiester. These will take CPC screen outputs and make it work on VGA monitors (including TVs with VGA).
SCART is not common in AUS (i live here to) as i tried to find a TV with such a connector and found none (at least in Kmart, Target, BigW, Harvey Normal, The Good Guys). Of course there is ebay, amazon, etc where one can be bought, but beware the voltage may be wrong type and have a different plug for power.
bryce made a great device to connect modern monitors to the CPC (i think using S-video, correct me if i am wrong bryce).
rpalmer
Thanks guys.
:)
My TV has component and composite connections.
Does anyone have similar?
You can get a picture from composite, but it's a relatively fuzzy picture compared to the other methods. Component can give you a decent picture, but no-one has made a CPC to component convert yet.
@rpalmer (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=379): Yes my device does RGB to S-Video.
Bryce.
In addition to a nice sharp picture when connecting a CPC to a modern LED screen TV or monitor, can we expect to experience any side effects such as loss of ability to display special video tricks in some demos which might only work on a real CPC monitor?
Yes, any CRTC tricks that change the display settings will go wrong as soon as you convert to a digital display. These effects only work on a completely analogue system. Luckily this is mainly only Demos, I don't know of any commercial games or software that did any such trickery.
Bryce.
Hmmm... I've not had much luck finding a composite connector for my 6128. :'(
And I haven't even started to think about the power supply.
I'm wondering, if anyone knows how to make this sort of thing, I'd be very interested, and I'd be very happy to pay a fair price for it.
Any takers?
8)
Quote from: ervin on 12:29, 13 March 18
Hmmm... I've not had much luck finding a composite connector for my 6128. :'(
And I haven't even started to think about the power supply.
I'm wondering, if anyone knows how to make this sort of thing, I'd be very interested, and I'd be very happy to pay a fair price for it.
Any takers?
8)
The CPC doesn't natively output composite so it's not a simple cable, you'd need something like my S-Video adapter which can do S-video or Composite: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/RGB_SVideo
And yes, I still have some if you want one.
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 12:34, 13 March 18
The CPC doesn't natively output composite so it's not a simple cable, you'd need something like my S-Video adapter which can do S-video or Composite: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/RGB_SVideo (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/RGB_SVideo)
And yes, I still have some if you want one.
Bryce.
That would be tremendous!
Absolutely yes, I would love one.
;D
But how would I power the CPC without the old monitor?
As far as power is concerned, you'll either have to source 2 seperate PSU's, one for 5V and one for 12V, or alternatively, you can use another one of my devices, the 5VCPC: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/5vcpc/msg139702/#msg139702
(Hmmm, I never made a Wiki page for it) which will convert your 6128 to a 5V only system. So you'd just need a rather chunky 3 or 4A 5V PSU to power it.
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 13:06, 13 March 18
As far as power is concerned, you'll either have to source 2 seperate PSU's, one for 5V and one for 12V, or alternatively, you can use another one of my devices, the 5VCPC: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/5vcpc/msg139702/#msg139702 (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/5vcpc/msg139702/#msg139702)
(Hmmm, I never made a Wiki page for it) which will convert your 6128 to a 5V only system. So you'd just need a rather chunky 3 or 4A 5V PSU to power it.
Bryce.
I've read through the forum post about the 5VCPC - looks great.
Yes please, if you have a 5VCPC, I'd love one.
How much money would you like for the 5VCPC and the S-Video adapter?
Do you have a rough idea of how much postage to Australia would cost?
Thanks again for all your help.
8)
I'll PM you with all the info.
Bryce.
I had also found last month a site selling an item that seems to help connecting to TV, but i didnt order, as i dont have money now, so i dont know if it is good.
Ervin i sent you the link in pm
Share the link here. Maybe others would be interested in it too?
Bryce.
ok, i didn't know if it was allowed! Here it is
http://retrocables.es/tienda/index.php?id_product=75&controller=product&id_lang=1 (http://retrocables.es/tienda/index.php?id_product=75&controller=product&id_lang=1)
That's a simple SCART connection set. Useful for many, but erwin doesn't have SCART on his TV.
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 15:14, 12 March 18
Yes, any CRTC tricks that change the display settings will go wrong as soon as you convert to a digital display. These effects only work on a completely analogue system. Luckily this is mainly only Demos, I don't know of any commercial games or software that did any such trickery.
Bryce.
A number of commercial era games modified R3 of the CRTC for a smoother horizontal hardware scroll that wont work on a digital display, an incomplete list can be seen here (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Programming_methods_used_in_games#Hardware_Scrolling).
Quote from: Bryce on 14:19, 13 March 18
That's a simple SCART connection set. Useful for many, but erwin doesn't have SCART on his TV.
Bryce.
Correct. Generally, i don't know if connecting a scart to HDMI wiil make it work on a newer TV.
Bryce, does your connector work on HDMI or only for S video? If it is ok for HDMI, pls send me a pm about this, as i may be interested in the future
Thx
I didn't realise there was so many games using those tricks. I also think that Codemasters Transmuter is missing from the list, cos it definitely jutters all over the place on the LCD screen, but maybe it was just badly written, can't remember if it was smoother on a CRT.
@skylas (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=2543): Nope, HDMI is a completely different protocol and digital, S-Video is analogue. SCART (also analogue) also won't connect to HDMI without a lot of electronics in between.
Bryce.
Hi folks.
Would this be the right sort of power supply?
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gefen-Genuine-5V-4A-AC-Switch-Mode-Power-Supply-Adapters-PSU-5-Volt-4-AMP-w-Plug/311845496202?epid=756092199&hash=item489b70a58a:g:mqkAAOSw3utY7cf7 (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gefen-Genuine-5V-4A-AC-Switch-Mode-Power-Supply-Adapters-PSU-5-Volt-4-AMP-w-Plug/311845496202?epid=756092199&hash=item489b70a58a:g:mqkAAOSw3utY7cf7)
Hi everyone.
Just re-posting, in case anyone has any advice.
;D
Would this sort of thing make a good power supply?
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gefen-Genuine-5V-4A-AC-Switch-Mode-Power-Supply-Adapters-PSU-5-Volt-4-AMP-w-Plug/311845496202?epid=756092199&hash=item489b70a58a:g:mqkAAOSw3utY7cf7 (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gefen-Genuine-5V-4A-AC-Switch-Mode-Power-Supply-Adapters-PSU-5-Volt-4-AMP-w-Plug/311845496202?epid=756092199&hash=item489b70a58a:g:mqkAAOSw3utY7cf7)
Quote from: ervin on 12:06, 29 March 18
Hi everyone.
Just re-posting, in case anyone has any advice.
;D
Would this sort of thing make a good power supply?
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gefen-Genuine-5V-4A-AC-Switch-Mode-Power-Supply-Adapters-PSU-5-Volt-4-AMP-w-Plug/311845496202?epid=756092199&hash=item489b70a58a:g:mqkAAOSw3utY7cf7 (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gefen-Genuine-5V-4A-AC-Switch-Mode-Power-Supply-Adapters-PSU-5-Volt-4-AMP-w-Plug/311845496202?epid=756092199&hash=item489b70a58a:g:mqkAAOSw3utY7cf7)
I'm not sure about the locking thing, I've not used one before but can locking power supplies be used in a non-locking appliance? In terms of specs though, it looks correct.
Sent from my VKY-L09 using Tapatalk
Thanks Dominoid. 8)
You can absolutely get Component out from your CPC to your TV. In fact, if you can't find a CRT with Scart in your country, the next best thing you can use is an SD CRT with Component input. If you want to use your modern TV, it's cool too, if it doesn't have HDMI.
You need a Scart cable for your Amstrad, and a Scart to Component adapter like the ShinyBow SB-2840. RGB Scart is the best signal you can get out of the computer, and the adapter is a simple encoder that has no visual degradation (unlike Composite and SVideo) or lag (unlike HDMI). Such a setup would give you the same picture quality as using Scart directly on a compatible TV.
If your TV has HDMI (I'd be very surprised if it doesn't), there are more expensive options that give amazing picture quality, like the OSSC. It's a very versatile option that you can use in a lot of different ways, with tons of options to configure your display exactly to your liking. Though it can be a bit difficult to get hold of it at first.
In my opinion, nothing beats a CRT. But you have very good options to connect to a modern TV!
Quote from: khaz on 14:02, 29 March 18
You can absolutely get Component out from your CPC to your TV. In fact, if you can't find a CRT with Scart in your country, the next best thing you can use is an SD CRT with Component input. If you want to use your modern TV, it's cool too, if it doesn't have HDMI.
You need a Scart cable for your Amstrad, and a Scart to Component adapter like the ShinyBow SB-2840. RGB Scart is the best signal you can get out of the computer, and the adapter is a simple encoder that has no visual degradation (unlike Composite and SVideo) or lag (unlike HDMI). Such a setup would give you the same picture quality as using Scart directly on a compatible TV.
If your TV has HDMI (I'd be very surprised if it doesn't), there are more expensive options that give amazing picture quality, like the OSSC. It's a very versatile option that you can use in a lot of different ways, with tons of options to configure your display exactly to your liking. Though it can be a bit difficult to get hold of it at first.
In my opinion, nothing beats a CRT. But you have very good options to connect to a modern TV!
That's great info - thanks!