hunter44102 Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 What do we need to design a circuit that would allow -ANY- VGA or HDMI monitor to connect to ST? The Falcon has a VGA connector and it works on any monitor (even new LED backlit ones), so we know its possible even back to the 90's. So either a circuit that is soldered in the ST or possibly a conversion board that connects to the multi-sync video output It just doesn't make sense to buy a $60 VGA cable from Best Electronics that only works with very few NEC monitors. And these NEC monitors are old and use fluorescent backlights that will die sooner or later. for $60 we can buy a vga connector and some chips and use a regular 5 dollar vga cable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 There is a current project going on here : https://www.exxoshost.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=330 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter44102 Posted January 31, 2019 Author Share Posted January 31, 2019 Thanks Fletch checking it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vattari Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 (edited) I swear by the OSSC and ST2VGA switch for this: https://youtu.be/S6_06fd8oWY Of course, if $60 is your budget, then this is not an option either. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Edited January 31, 2019 by vattari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParanoidLittleMan Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Such converters already exist. And it must be not made special for Atari ST(E). Any converter what can convert PAL and NTSC RGB to VGA or HDMI will be good. Worse quality is with composite video-VGA conversion, and I think that it is now harder to find. Of course, it can't be cheap, and as I see prices are at 80 Euros upwards. Considering quality, best is using internal converter, which is connected directly to shifter digital outputs. That is of course not easy to do, and I don't know is there such project or device available. And as best solution by me I can say: get some new TV with SCART input. That can be for some 100-120 Euros. And you have not only display for Atari, but TV, PC monitor ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenious Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 The cable is less than $10 if you make it yourself, and there are better options, such as the UBESwitch. there are actually quite a few flat panel monitors that can handle the ST aswell. There are many sites listing these monitors, since it is not a 'problem' limited to the ST, but all retro computer/consoles... http://15khz.wikidot.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfollowell Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 What is needed is something like the Sophia Rev C DVI board the 8-bit line has now, but for the ST line. All digital signal from start to finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ngtwolf Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 (edited) Since everyone else is kinda circumventing the original request (of a technical solution you can build yourself) and offering other options, i guess I will do so as well. What I currently use is the ST to Scart cable you can buy from a place like coolnovelties for under $20 US dollars and a specific SCART to HDMI Converter (Supports PAL and NTSC) which is usually about $25 US Dollars on ebay (just make sure you use the exact one). So that's under $50. Plus, if you have other retro computers, this Scart to HDMI Converter comes up pretty handy quite a bit. The caveat is that this doesn't appear to work with the base ST line of computers without the Modulator. In theory that shouldn't matter, because the cable i got is definitely RGB and not Composite, but for some reason it didn't work on my 520ST but worked find on my 520STFM (and comments on the video below are similar experience). BTW, don't use the cheap scart cables you find on ebay as those are composite and not RGB and you'll get a pretty lousy picture. Basically, theres a video: Obviously if you live in a country with SCART built into your TV and monitors, you can do that directly and circumvent the hdmi converter, but if you're in the US, that isn't an option. Edited February 1, 2019 by ngtwolf 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParanoidLittleMan Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 Original question is really something on what nobody will answer - "What do we need to design a circuit' - really ? If question was "to build" - then it could be reasonable. But don't know is some adapter schematic, project available. Most of it is commercial, probably with removed markings on chips "but for some reason it didn't work on my 520ST but worked find on my 520STFM" - it was talk about it in another, recent thread. The reason must be that there is no color encoder circuit in 520 ST, and it gives not composite signal out on pin 2, only RGB .Surely, sounds little contradictional, because we need RGB signal for good quality. But the key is in need for composite sync signal. Some STs without modulator/encoder have simple solution for composite sync. with 1 transistor and couple diodes, but it may be not good enough for "specific SCART to HDMI Converter" . Well need to watch YT video + ad for it Now, the real question is how to make that composite sync signal outside 520 ST what will be OK for this Teardown Lab converter - which is not in Amazon offer now, btw. So, generally, for PAL/NTSC RGB-HDMI or RGB-VGA . And this is how properly call it. SCART doesn't define it accurately, and RGB can go on different kind of inputs than SCART. Btw. that Teardown quality is really good, as much is visible on too bright shot. Searching for it with Google did not give any loc. where can buy it ... And if it is really about 25 bucks, I would like to buy it, if nothing else for design/making that composite sync. circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goochman Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 (edited) Since everyone else is kinda circumventing the original request (of a technical solution you can build yourself) and offering other options, i guess I will do so as well. What I currently use is the ST to Scart cable you can buy from a place like coolnovelties for under $20 US dollars and a specific SCART to HDMI Converter (Supports PAL and NTSC) which is usually about $25 US Dollars on ebay (just make sure you use the exact one). So that's under $50. Plus, if you have other retro computers, this Scart to HDMI Converter comes up pretty handy quite a bit. The caveat is that this doesn't appear to work with the base ST line of computers without the Modulator. In theory that shouldn't matter, because the cable i got is definitely RGB and not Composite, but for some reason it didn't work on my 520ST but worked find on my 520STFM (and comments on the video below are similar experience). BTW, don't use the cheap scart cables you find on ebay as those are composite and not RGB and you'll get a pretty lousy picture. Basically, theres a video: Obviously if you live in a country with SCART built into your TV and monitors, you can do that directly and circumvent the hdmi converter, but if you're in the US, that isn't an option. So the 1040STF wouldnt work with this setup either then? What about a Mega 2ST? Med and High Rez? Edited February 1, 2019 by Goochman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParanoidLittleMan Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 Truth is that we don't know with what it will work, simply because that YT video is for product what can not buy anymore. Other versions, with similar look and price may act not 100% same as this Teardown. So, as in many other cases, 7 min video, where only some 20 secs are interesting - at the end. YT will be soon worse than commercial TV channels with advertisements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ngtwolf Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 Truth is that we don't know with what it will work, simply because that YT video is for product what can not buy anymore. Other versions, with similar look and price may act not 100% same as this Teardown. So, as in many other cases, 7 min video, where only some 20 secs are interesting - at the end. YT will be soon worse than commercial TV channels with advertisements. Well, I agree in that we don't know if it'll work on the STF or not. To be honest, I only have a 520STFM and a 520ST, and it didn't work on the 520 ST I have so my data pool is pretty small. Someone mentioned another non modulated one in the comments that didn't work as well, so my assumption was the modulator but I have nothing to back that up. My assumption is only based on the fact that the composite cables also don't work on ST's without the modulator as well. Obviously you can open these things up and with some soldering and/or parts make this work, but I'm only referencing out of the box solutions. As an aside, you can still get the box. I actually didn't get the exact link on the video either, the key is you have to get the same box because this specific box has a TV tuner in it, where-as many of the other boxes out there do not. Here is another link for the product, but just doing an ebay search for hdmi scart converter and finding the ones that look exactly like this are all the same chinese box. https://www.ebay.com/itm/SCART-to-HDMI-Converter-with-SCART-HD-Switch-PAL-NTSC-Video-Scaler-Ship-from-US/264094246559?hash=item3d7d3e669f:g:ybcAAOSwJotbBjMs:rk:2:pf:1&frcectupt=true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jefffulton Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 Since everyone else is kinda circumventing the original request (of a technical solution you can build yourself) and offering other options, i guess I will do so as well. What I currently use is the ST to Scart cable you can buy from a place like coolnovelties for under $20 US dollars and a specific SCART to HDMI Converter (Supports PAL and NTSC) which is usually about $25 US Dollars on ebay (just make sure you use the exact one). So that's under $50. Plus, if you have other retro computers, this Scart to HDMI Converter comes up pretty handy quite a bit. The caveat is that this doesn't appear to work with the base ST line of computers without the Modulator. In theory that shouldn't matter, because the cable i got is definitely RGB and not Composite, but for some reason it didn't work on my 520ST but worked find on my 520STFM (and comments on the video below are similar experience). BTW, don't use the cheap scart cables you find on ebay as those are composite and not RGB and you'll get a pretty lousy picture. Basically, theres a video: Obviously if you live in a country with SCART built into your TV and monitors, you can do that directly and circumvent the hdmi converter, but if you're in the US, that isn't an option. I have this solution working perfectly with a 4meg Pal STE working on a plain old HDMI TV I purchased at Target here in the USA. It looks and plays awesome. Total cost was roughly $60 with this box (SCART to HDMI in the video) and the RGB to SCART STE Cable. Both off of Ebay. It works with my 1040ST NTSC also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goochman Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 I have this solution working perfectly with a 4meg Pal STE working on a plain old HDMI TV I purchased at Target here in the USA. It looks and plays awesome. Total cost was roughly $60 with this box (SCART to HDMI in the video) and the RGB to SCART STE Cable. Both off of Ebay. It works with my 1040ST NTSC also. Does it do Med and High Rez? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter44102 Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 In the USA there is no SCART so the quest for a VGA solution still exists. I tried 6 different VGA monitors with the cable (RGB to VGA) and none of them support the signal/resolution of the ST Will be keeping my SC1224's for now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jefffulton Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Does it do Med and High Rez? Medium, but not high (as far as I can tell). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParanoidLittleMan Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 In the USA there is no SCART so the quest for a VGA solution still exists. I tried 6 different VGA monitors with the cable (RGB to VGA) and none of them support the signal/resolution of the ST Will be keeping my SC1224's for now There are tons of threads here and on other Atari forums about LCD monitors which support Atari PAL and NTSC refresh rates. All you need is proper cable - ST RGB to VGA . http://15khz.wikidot.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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