ZX Spectrum in US Problem

[edmondsfarm]

I have a few Spectrums my friend brought over from the UK. all worked before boarding the plane, but we are not having much luck here in the US. We have a multi regional TV which shows a blurred black and white image of the boot screen when going from scart to rca. 2 converters (one of these mini converters from Ebay and a CMD-1700) which do the same or nothing in any TV we try. Anyone have any Ideas on what we can do? Tempted to just bring a scart tv back next trip but don't want to wait 8 months.

[rolandg]

I understand that 128K Spectrums had composite video but if you have the earlier models then presumably they have been modified. Probably just the single wire fix but there is a better single transistor fix at the following link (look below the svideo stuff)

 

http://www.atkinsoft.com/spectrum.html

 

Blurry b&w picture sounds more like what you get when using the original modulated video. Auto tune TVs aren't very good at picking it up so if you aren't using composite video try a manual tune TV.

[edmondsfarm]

They worked In the UK with RGB to scart. Here we have been trying to go from scart to composite to multi regional tv, or threw pal-ntsc converter. Was wondering if I should go scart to HDMI instead. Thank you for the link I will take a look at that.

[Bill Loguidice]

SCART to HDMI works fine on these. The converter is about $40, but it works with everything I've thrown at it.

[edmondsfarm]

Thanks Bill I will order one tonight. Wanted to get these ready to go In the rec room/arcade. Should look good with the rest of the old computers and game consoles surrounded by the bright lights of 200 arcade machines.