Commodore Computers HDMI, VGA, COMPONENT, S-Video, Composite video, and RF

[HDTV1080P]

While RF channel 3 and 4 output offers the worse possible picture and sound quality, this is information on the best cable to use with the Commodore Computers if one still wants to use RF

Internally modifying ones Commodore computer so that it offers native HDMI, VGA, RGB, or component video is better than using S-Video, composite video, or RF channel 3 or 4 (Commodore 128 offers 80 column color with its internal factory RGBi output). However for various reasons one might want to use the legacy RF connection on a very old TV that does not offer S-Video or composite video.

 

Both the TI-99/4A and Commodore VIC-20 computers unfortunately do not have an internal RF modulator and instead come with a special external RF modulator TV box (So the following information well not work with TI-99/4a or VIC-20 computers). However, the advantage of the Commodore 16, Commodore 64, and Commodore 128 computer is that those computers have a built in RF modulator, and with those Computers built in external channel 3 and 4 RF RCA jack it allows one to install a RG-11 14 gauge, RG-6 18 gauge, or RG-59 22 gauge 75 ohm cable. I successfully tested a 100 feet RG-6 QUAD Shield cable on the Commodore 128, and it offered almost the same exact picture and sound quality as a 3 feet RG6 QUAD shield cable (The 3 feet connection was a little bit better than the 100 feet cable, but not by much). While RG-11 is better quality cable because of less signal loss per foot, it is also a much more expensive cable and for someone that is looking to run their Commodore computer 200+ feet over RF.

 

If one purchases a Gold plated RCA male to F female adapter for around 82 cents, this adapter can be plugged directly into the Commodore 16, 64, and 128’s RF output jack. Doing this allows one to use any standard RG11 or RG6 QUAD shield cable with male F connectors on each end, and with any length of cable between 1.5 feet to 100+ feet. For example, a 100 feet QUAD Shield RG-6 cable with male F connectors works great with the Commodore Computers and only costs $12.99 .

Edited August 1, 2018 by HDTV1080P

[HDTV1080P]

Internally modifying ones Commodore computer so that it offers native HDMI, VGA, RGB, or component video, is better than using S-Video, composite video, or RF channel 3 and 4. However, for various reasons one might want to use the legacy composite video output that does offer a better picture and sound quality when compared to RF channel 2 and 3.

 

 

Cables Online has released a couple of high-end composite video/audio cables for the Commodore computers

 

These high-end Cables Online cables are 100% compatible with the Commodore C16, C116, Plus/4, VIC-20, Commodore 64, and Commodore 128 computers. This is a high-end cable with shielded wires, one end of the cable uses a metal neutrik connector with all 5 pins on the DIN connector being gold plated, the second end of the cable uses two metal RCA connectors with yellow for video and white for audio (RCA connectors are gold plated). When the white RCA connector is connected to the left audio input jack on a stereo TV/monitor, 99% of stereo TV/Monitor’s will internally split the mono audio signal to both speakers. On the rare 1% of stereo TV/Monitors from the 20^th Century that do not internally split the mono audio to both speakers when a cable is plugged into the left audio input, this 53 cent gold plated RCA plug splitter can be plugged into the back of ones stereo TV/monitor to hear mono audio out of both speakers.

 

 

(1 ) The high-end 6 feet Cables Online ADX-506 composite video cable with audio for the Commodore computer is now $24.95 plus free shipping.

 

 

(2) The high-end 6 inch Cables Online ADX-300 Audio/Video adapter cable for the Commodore computer is now $20.95 plus free shipping. This ADX-300 cable ended up being the best quality composite video option when used with two high-end RG-6 double shielded cables (one RCA cable for video and one RCA cable for audio). High quality RG-6 cable with two RCA connectors on each end can be purchased directly from Monoprice in lengths between 3 feet and 100 feet (Monoprice offers a lifetime warranty on this quality cable).

 

 

I tested this ADX-300 cable over a 100 feet connection using RG-6 cables and the picture and sound quality at 100 feet was excellent (3 feet slightly better picture then 100 feet). The purpose of the ADX-300 cable is that it allows consumers to have their Commodore home computer connected to any length of RG-6 cable between 3 feet and 100 feet in length.

 

[HDTV1080P]

Both the Commodore computers and Coleco ADAM computers after around 35 years suffer from age related Audio/Video hum from the composite video and audio output

While testing the Commodore 128 computer I notice that it suffers from the exact same audio/video hum problem that I experienced on 7 different standalone ADAM computers (I originally reported the problem with the Coleco ADAM computer at this link back in December of 2017). The Coleco ADAM computer and Commodore 128 computers are the most powerful 8-bit computers in my collection and they both suffer with a faint scrolling horizontal video ground loop and slight audio buzzing in the audio. The RDL EZ-HK3 Audio/Video Hum Killer that solved the group loop problem for my ADAM computer, also ended up solving the ground loop problem for the Commodore 128 computer (For some reason both Coleco ADAM and Commodore computers when they get around 35 years old have an internal ground loop problem).

 

Again, the RDL EZ-HK3 Audio/Video hum Killer fixed the problem on both the ADAM and Commodore computers. At one time one could get this RDL EZ-HK3 on sale for $75, and the regular price use to be $95, however some dealers have marked the product up to $137.95 since the product is so popular with classic 80’s and 90’s composite video equipment. I did notice that one online dealer still offers the RDL EZ-HK3 for only $95.49 with free shipping.

 

What is very interesting is that both the TI-99/4a and ATARI 130XE computers do not suffer from age related ground loop hums

Testing two different TI-99/4a computers and an ATARI 130XE computer I discovered that the composite video and audio quality was perfect and no Audio/Video hum killer product needed to be used at all. Texas Instruments and ATARI must have done something different to their computers to make them immune to internal composite video and audio ground loop problems even after the computers are around 35 years old. Now the Coleco ADAM and Commodore 128 are faster and more powerful computers and perhaps that has something to do with how the internal video and audio ground loop problem develops around 35 years later.

 

Therefore, when using the TI-99/4a computer and ATARI 130XE computer I ended up getting perfect picture and sound quality without any special Audio/Video hum killer product attached. However when the Coleco ADAM and Commodore 128 computer are connected I have to use the RDL EZ-HK3 Audio/Video hum killer to restore the video and audio quality to what one would experience back in the 80’s.

Edited August 1, 2018 by HDTV1080P

[HDTV1080P]

One day all classic 70’s and 80’s videogame and computer systems well need a native HDMI output

When computer monitors and TV’s break most consumers end up purchasing a new model if the display is 10+ years old instead of getting the display repaired. And sometimes even if one wants to get the display repaired it is not possible to get the display repaired because the parts needed to repair the circuit board went out of production and can no longer be found in stock from parts supplies . Therefore, the reality is consumers always end up with new models of electronics for various reasons.

 

Around 3+ years ago, I mentioned that all desktop computer monitors in production have only a digital HDMI input and sometimes also digital Displayport input (but no analog video inputs at all on desktop computer monitors). The work around to the issue was consumers instead were purchasing flat panel TV’s and projectors that offered both HDMI and analog video inputs. Around the year 2010 the S-Video jack was removed from all new displays and A/V receivers. Therefore, consumers have gone through 8 years of TV models that no longer offer 480i S-Video jacks. But in general back in 2015 (much less true in 2018), flat panel HDTV’s especially the higher-end models came with at least one component video input good for 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and sometimes 1080p resolution, at least one 480i composite video input, and a RF input that worked with NTSC/ATSC/QAM signals (basically everything except the S-Video input).

 

However, in the year 2018 new models of displays are changing rapidly. Normally the high-end top of the line models of HDTV’s well have more input jacks when compared to lower end and lower priced flat panels. Displays can be made cheaper if they have no analog inputs or less analog input jacks on them. On some of the high-end top of the line 2018 LG OLED Ultra HDTV’s and some other HDTV’s on the market from various companies there is no longer any component video input jacks at all. What happen to S-Video back around 2010 is now happening to many 2018 Ultra HDTV’s when it comes to no longer offering analog component video inputs. Some of the 2017 or 2018 TV models that do still offer component video input require a special 3.5mm to RCA adapter plug to be used to feed component video into the display. Now the latest 2018 LG Ultra HDTV’s still have the legacy 480i composite video feature but to use that feature a special 3.5mm to RCA composite video adapter needs to be used. So at least on the 2018 models from LG and some others, composite video input is possible with the correct adapter connected. Also LG still makes RF tuners that handle a channel 2, 3, and 4 NTSC modulated video and audio signal from a classic 70’s and 80’s videogame and computer system (but that well not be the case in the future). Looking at the specs for this year’s 2018 high-end Samsung Ultra HDTV that cost around $2,800, there is no analog video inputs at all, not even the legacy 480i composite video inputs. To make matters worse Samsung has dropped the NTSC feature from their built in tuners according to the spec sheets I was looking at. In reality for over a decade all full power TV stations in the United States have been broadcasting in digital ATSC. In addition, all or most all Cable TV companies are now 100% QAM with no more NTSC channels. So it’s very logical to not offer analog NTSC tuners in all new TV’s and instead only offer 100% ATSC/QAM tuners. However, there are some consumers that have videogame systems, computer systems, and VCR’s from the 20^th Century that need a RF input with a NTSC tuner built in. Yes, one can purchase a digital ATSC RF modulator with both a HDMI input and a composite video input but the problem is those ATSC RF modulators cost around $895 (ATSC RF modulators one day in 5-10+ years might cost under $100 when all future TV tuners in 2020+ only offer ATSC/QAM and drop the NTSC feature). NTSC RF modulators that sale for around $20 or $30+ well become useless non-compatible item when connected to a new flat panel TV that only offers ATSC/QAM tuners. One needs to really hunt to find a 2018 TV that has all three of the following features on a flat panel: component video, composite video, and analog NTSC.

 

What all or most 2020+ flat panels TV’s well have in regards to input jacks (say goodbye to NTSC RF that ColecoVision, ATARI, and other people have used over the decades)

Because of inflation and because manufactories are looking to produce flat panels and projectors at cheaper prices. Most likely somewhere around 2020+ all or most flat panels including the top of the line Ultra HDTV models well no longer offer any component video inputs, no longer offer composite video inputs, and no longer offer NTSC RF tuners (And this is starting to happen on the latest top of the line models in 2018). Also in the future with the new ATSC 3.0 standard we are looking at all new built in TV tuners to be exclusive ATSC/ATSC 3.0/QAM models with no NTSC feature offered (again NTSC not needed since all or most cable TV companies have converted to QAM) and full power broadcast TV stations have been 100% ATSC for over 10 years.

 

What this means is on all or most 2020+ flat panel TV’s and projectors, the only way one is going to be able to connect their classic 70’s and 80’s videogame and computer system is if they externally or internally modify it to have a HDMI output (some systems have expansion module interfaces that would allow a hardware developer to make a native external HDMI graphics card for their favorite videogame and computer system). Now there is 480i composite video to HDMI converter boxes on the market for around $14.99 but that is not as good as solution as having a native HDMI output. There is also the issue of classic 1982 ColecoVisions, and 70’s videogame systems from ATARI and others that only have a RF output. If one is going to have to modify their classic videogame system for composite video so that they can use an external composite video to HDMI adapter, it is much more logical to just go in and remove the RF NTSC modulator and install a HDMI output on all the classic 70’s and 80’s videogame and computer systems that cannot have native HDMI output from its expansion interface (some videogame systems like the ATARI 2600, 5200, and many others do not have an expansion module interface).

[White Flame]

Are these all affiliate/partner referral links being posted? If so, then this really just smells like spam.

[256 colors]

No doubt it's another spam thread like the one in the Atari 8-Bit Computers sub-section

[+OLD CS1]

No doubt it's another spam thread like the one in the Atari 8-Bit Computers sub-section

 

And in the TI-99/4A sub...

[carlsson]

If it is affiliate link spam, it is rather counter effective as he mentions how expensive and poor the solutions he link to are. Who would pay for such text advertisements, telling readers these products exist but I strongly advice you not to buy them?

 

Basically he seems to be dreaming about technical solutions that don't exist, something like the F18A but for the C64, Atari 800XL etc that will output HDMI signals. Heck, the F18A outputs VGA as far as I remember and you'd need some sort of converter to make it HDMI as well but perhaps there is an additional generation of the F18A that indeed will do HDMI output?

[jaybird3rd]

HDTV1080P, please do not continue to cross-post in multiple subforums with nearly-identical messages which look and sound like spam. If you wish to share information about A/V cable solutions that you think would be of value to others, please create one (and only one!) thread about them in the Marketplace.