C-128 RGBI to VGA or HDMI?

Welcome back to our Commodore Discussion forum. If you have a question, comment, problem, or just want to chat about Commodore, post it here for free.

Have some fun and talk to others interested in the Old and New Commodore world.

Moderators: wiskow, Trazan

Post Reply
User avatar
JoeGUSA
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2023 9:28 pm
Are you a real person?: No... I am a spambot, delete my account!
Location: Yucaipa, California (USA)

C-128 RGBI to VGA or HDMI?

Post by JoeGUSA »

Today I read numerous posts about potential solutions to convert the C-128 RGBI output to VGA. It seems that what is needed is two pieces of hardware. One that takes the RGBI signal and converts it to EGA. Then, another piece of hardware with accompanying wires (no idea how these are used) is required to convert that EGA to VGA. This configuration seems to satisfy some and not others.

I also tried to find a RGBI to HDMI solution. No luck.

I'd really like to get an 80 column display on my LCD TV if possible. I found a cable that might work by converting the RGBI output to a S-Video connector, and two RCA connectors for audio (I think!). I emailed the seller to see if that is how the cable works. It's unclear in their product description, and the photo of the product shows coiled cables that I am unable to follow from one end to the other.

Does anyone else have something they have seen, or are using, that you would recommend?

Thank you!

Joe
User avatar
rbernardo
Posts: 3130
Joined: Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:00 pm
Are you a real person?: No... I am a spambot, delete my account!
Location: Visalia, California, USA
Contact:

Re: C-128 RGBI to VGA or HDMI?

Post by rbernardo »

Here is what I recommend, the BIT-C128 Video DAC

http://www.bit-c128.com/

Truly,
________________
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
User avatar
JoeGUSA
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2023 9:28 pm
Are you a real person?: No... I am a spambot, delete my account!
Location: Yucaipa, California (USA)

Re: C-128 RGBI to VGA or HDMI?

Post by JoeGUSA »

Thank you!

I did find this after my post: https://www.tindie.com/products/cyberne ... converter/

And I received this reply to my question about needing a 9-pin male/male straight through to connect it to the C128: "It definitely does work with the c128 and there is a specific RGBi profile for them. It uses the same straight thru DB9 cable as CGA, which is basically a serial cable."

It ships from Australia. The developer is taking time to recover from surgery, and is hopeful to be back at it on March 18, 2023.

Joe
User avatar
LoneWolf33
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue May 14, 2013 9:42 am
Are you a real person?: No... I am a spambot, delete my account!
Location: Budapest, Hungary

Re: C-128 RGBI to VGA or HDMI?

Post by LoneWolf33 »

There would be a third option: if your display has RGB capable SCART input, then an RGBI to RGB converter can be used directly,
without need of a scan/line frequency doubler. SCART directly is compatible with the ~15kHz line frequency that the C128 produces.

commodore.ca discussion

HDMI converters will add some conversion delay. Ultra low latency converter is recommended for gaming.
User avatar
rbernardo
Posts: 3130
Joined: Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:00 pm
Are you a real person?: No... I am a spambot, delete my account!
Location: Visalia, California, USA
Contact:

Re: C-128 RGBI to VGA or HDMI?

Post by rbernardo »

JoeGUSA wrote: Thu Mar 16, 2023 2:39 pm I did find this after my post: https://www.tindie.com/products/cyberne ... converter/

And I received this reply to my question about needing a 9-pin male/male straight through to connect it to the C128: "It definitely does work with the c128 and there is a specific RGBi profile for them. It uses the same straight thru DB9 cable as CGA, which is basically a serial cable."
Does it take into account the C128's brown color? The CGA color palette is different.

Truly,
________________
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
User avatar
JoeGUSA
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2023 9:28 pm
Are you a real person?: No... I am a spambot, delete my account!
Location: Yucaipa, California (USA)

Re: C-128 RGBI to VGA or HDMI?

Post by JoeGUSA »

I'm not sure. I'll have to order one and find out, when I get my 128 back from repair.

Joe
Post Reply