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C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 6:27 pm
by rbernardo
BIT-C='s C128 VGA adapter (80-column RGB digital-to-VGA) has been long time in coming. However, 5 to 6 of the hand-assembled production model may be available for sale at CommVEx this year. In fact, the engineer who designed the C128 VGA adapter may be coming to the show.
The C128 VGA adapter is an improved version of Richard Goedeken's C128 Video DAC, improved in that it has more accurate colors than the older Video DAC. For a look at the C128 VGA adapter prototype and screenshots, go to
http://blog.retro-link.com/2014/01/c128 ... otype.html
Truly,
Re: C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?
Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 1:54 pm
by PyroferUK
Hey, what a coincidence. I designed and built 10 CGA to RGB adaptor boards too
Mine is finished and working, just waiting for the PCBs to arrive from the board house. I am coming to CommVex (all the way from the UK) would there be interest in me bringing some of my boards along?
Re: C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 2:28 am
by rbernardo
PyroferUK wrote:I am coming to CommVex (all the way from the UK)
Let me know how I can make your visit more accommodating.
would there be interest in me bringing some of my boards along?
Yes, of course! Bring them along, and we could compare, and you could make some sales.
Truly,
Re: C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 2:35 am
by PyroferUK
Ok, so here is a photo of the adapter on my Samsung Smart HDTV directly via SCART (rgb in, no other adapters).
http://postimg.org/image/xf2u202lv/
I get rock solid sync, very stable clear colours, no bleeding or blurring. I will try to get as many assembled as I can to bring along.
I am also looking into making a second board that converts the RGB into YUV Component for all the HDTVs that have that as an input.
Re: C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?
Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 12:33 am
by rbernardo
PyroferUK wrote:Ok, so here is a photo of the adapter on my Samsung Smart HDTV directly via SCART...
Remember that here in North America we don't have SCART for our NTSC Commodores... just composite-in, the rarer S-video, the more common VGA, component inputs, and HDMi.
Even 75-ohm coaxial inputs,
Re: C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?
Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 2:12 am
by PyroferUK
I have made the board up to simply have a pin header for connecting the input/outputs. Whatever connector is needed can then be easily attached, this is exactly why
The cheap arcade CGA to VGA adapter boards on eBay should work with this but I have heard a problem with them on PAL machines.
Re: C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?
Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 9:44 pm
by rbernardo
PyroferUK wrote:I have made the board up to simply have a pin header for connecting the input/outputs. Whatever connector is needed can then be easily attached,
Well, you'll have to give us a demonstration of the board in action at CommVEx.
Truly,
Re: C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?
Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 2:13 am
by PyroferUK
Well, here is hoping somebody has a monitor with RGB inputs there! What's the most likely connector I would have to put on it to connect to a machine there?
Re: C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?
Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 9:37 am
by rbernardo
The most likely RGB connectors would be the round coaxial or the 9-pin D-connector on Commodore 1084 monitors, the RGB on them being digital or analog.
Truly,
Re: C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?
Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 10:32 am
by PyroferUK
I might make up an Amiga style video out on it. I expect there will be Amigas around connected to monitors so I won't need to worry what Cable to make
just put a 23pin Dtype out.
Re: C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?
Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 11:21 pm
by rbernardo
An Amiga has a 23-pin RGB output on the back of the computer, but at the 1084 monitor input, there is a round coaxial or 9-pin D-sub connection. Most monitors for the Amiga have this input, unless you are talking about a Sony monitor with its 25-pin D-sub input or a Sears RGB monitor with its IBM-style RGB input.
No monitor having a 23-pin input,
Re: C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?
Posted: Sat May 16, 2015 4:43 am
by PyroferUK
No, but I bet somebody there would have the 23-pin to Whatever their monitor is cable for connecting an Amiga handy.
I am just talking about making my box look like an Amiga output so whatever cables are handy there should plug in to a monitor.
Anyway, The thing works, it looks better in person than in this photo though.
http://postimg.org/image/wydzs3zub/
Re: C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 1:06 am
by rbernardo
rbernardo wrote:BIT-C='s C128 VGA adapter (80-column RGB digital-to-VGA) has been long time in coming.
Confirmed. The C128 VGA adapter will be available at CommVEx.
However, 5 to 6 of the hand-assembled production model may be available for sale at CommVEx this year.
Yes, a few will be available for sale.
In fact, the engineer who designed the C128 VGA adapter may be coming to the show.
Engineer John Carlsen will be at CommVEx to show off his work. He has created a very basic webpage about his adapter at
http://www.bit-c128.com/
More information to come,