C128 VGA adapter to be released at CommVEx?

[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,

[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?

[rbernardo]

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,

[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.

[rbernardo]

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,

[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.

[rbernardo]

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,

[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?

[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,

[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.

[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,

[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/

[rbernardo]

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,