Macross_VF1
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Posts posted by Macross_VF1
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The SG-1000 does have an RF modulator and I did try to get the composite and audio signals from there but again, I wasn't happy with the result.
Now it should be possible to get RGB from this system. As stated earlier the VDP is the TMS9918 and it can only do composite but the later TMS9928 outputs a set of signals that can be converted to RGB. However they are not completely pin compatible, the 9918 provides both the CPU and sound chip with the clock signal on pin 38, something that the 9928 does not. In fact, pin 38 on the 9928 outputs one of the video signals necessary for RGB.
It should therefore be possible to build a separate clock circuit for the CPU and sound chip and swap the 9918 for a 9928, isolate the necessary pins on the 9928 and get RGB that way. However I don't know how to build a clock circuit with the proper MHz. -
I recently added Segas first home console to my connection. I had a hell of a time getting it to work properly, though that turned out to be two broken traces to the cartridge connector.
Anyway, I figured I should add composite to it but the very few references I found on the subject was to add a 470 ohm pulldown resistor to pin 36 on the TMS 9918 and then pull the video signal directly from the same pin. This works but the picture quality was quite frankly worse than the RF-signal.
Instead I looked to the sister system, the Sega SC-3000 home computer, which was released at the same time and was pretty much the same system. It featured composite out as standard so I dug up the schematics for it and straight up copied both the composite video and audio circuitry and this made a big improvement to the picture and sound output on my SG-1000. I'm pretty sure this will work with any system using the same SN76489 and TMS9918 chips though I haven't rested it yet. I've included a cobbled together schematic and the red marks are the parts I had to substitute due to lack of components.Now it's still only composite but when run trough a Retrotink 2X the picture quality is certainly decent. At the very least I hope this will stand as a better alternative to the crappy 470 ohm pulldown resistor method.
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On 1/7/2021 at 7:02 PM, CatPix said:The ComputerSpiel Museum in Berlin
That one looks promising. Thanks!
16 hours ago, Mikebloke said:My house.
To be honest I think it really depends what you have. Obviously unique collections, particular those with memorabilia are going to be more usable for public display. You'll find most localised museums will probably already have a "focus" if they are video game or computer related. Many UK local VG museums focus on nostalgic elements, and hence tend to be strongly 80s microprocessor system based but there is other things out there.
If you have any stored data (game data, builds, etc that is just not found on the Internet) then you might find larger institutions might be interested in keeping it for archive purposes even if it's not for public display.
General VG collections of "Common" commercially available games however is likely to be better off being sold and then donated to preservation projects. Region exclusive, rare runs (such as misprints, mistypes etc) will likely have more interest though for preservation purposes. Anything from developers will also increase preservation value.
Deep down, there needs to be a "story" behind it, some history that can be shared, particularly if it's not already commonly known, or at least backing up previous rumours.
Some people also do commercial rental/convention style services where organisations or groups can buy in the use of machines and games for an event. While these are "for profit" initiatives it does have preservation of using these machines as a medium of enjoyment. This might be something you want to do yourself rather than waiting for your will to be enacted though. It comes with its own risks of course.
I hadn't really considered that angle but you are of course correct. Now to be clear I don't really collect games, but rather systems, and I do own a fair amount of systems that would be considered quite rare. I obviously have lots of games as well, but that's not my aim with the collection.
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On 1/4/2021 at 9:25 PM, jhd said:I have no suggestions about specific video game museums, but I want to commend you for thinking of (eventually) donating your collection to a public institution. I too have an extensive specialized collection (albeit not at all related to video games) and in the absence of a family I want it to go to an institutional repository.
Note that some general history museums have computers and video games in their holdings (e.g. the Royal Alberta Museum has a very extensive collection of children's toys and related artifacts as well as some old computer hardware) even if they never actually exhibit them. You may wish to inquire within your local area to determine what they will accept.
The Canadian Science and Technology Museum has some computers and video games in its holdings, but I don't know if they are only accepting objects with a connection to Canada.
Aww, you make me sound so noble.
Anyway, I know most would consider it a bit early to start thinking about this stuff at the age of 40, but I like to plan ahead and I really don't want my collection to end up in the 'wrong' hands.
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I'm not sure this is exactly the right category but I figured it can't be completely off topic.
Anyway, serious question time, I'm currently thinking about writing my will and testament and since I have a rather large collection of video games, consoles, computers and other related stuff, I need to give that special consideration. Ideally someone could inherit the collection and continue it but I have no children of my own and my sister's children might not be interested. Not that I'm planning to die anytime soon, I plan to celebrate my 40th birthday this year and continue at least 40 more years.
One viable option would to donate to museums but I know very little of the museums around the world that would want this stuff. So this is my question to you guys. Are there any really good museums, preferably in Europe, that deal with these items? I mean I can google as well as any one but that doesn't truly help me narrow it down a whole lot.
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Yup, that's exactly the site I have been using. Thanks for confirming!
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So I might be able to score a pal Atari 800 computer in just a few days but it is missing the power supply. I have a pal Atari 400 with PSU and from my research it would seem that it should work with the 800 as well, but just to be on the safe side I figured I should confirm that it actually is compatible?
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If the specs I can find for the Adam are correct it does feature the same TMS9928A video chip as the standard Coleco. That means it should be no problem fitting a TMS-RGB to it. The mod chip pulls the necessary signals directly from the VDP, without any other inputs necessary, making it independent of the rest of the computer/console. The only reason I can think this wouldn't work is if the VDP itself aren't supplied with all the signals necessary for the TMS-RGB to function but that does seem unlikely.
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OSSC firmware updated and unfortunately no difference. Next I started fiddling around with the TV settings and I found that the right mix of the 'sharpness', MPEG-artifact reduction' and 'noise reduction' settings on my TV can pretty much eliminate the jailbars. The overall picture quality does become a bit blurrier as a result but it's a compromise I can live with.
I'm usually a bit hesitant to fiddle too much with these kinds of settings as they can introduce strange artifacts and lag but this time it proved to be necessary.
As for the TMS-RGB itself, I can really recommend it to any owners of a system which feature the TMS992xA video chip. While it isn't exactly something a complete novice can install, it doesn't require too much in the way of equipment and skills. And it's hard to beat the price. I was prepared to buy and solder the necessary components myself as I have both the tools and skills to do so but for $30 it's just not worth the effort.
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6 minutes ago, Falonn said:Nice work!
The ringing in your DK picture is a little disconcerting though:
I never saw anything like that during development. I wonder if there are some signal reflections happening somehow with your cabling setup?
Have you tried adjusting your OSSC's offset controls mentioned in step 10 of the install guide? I always saw the vertical lines through the OSSC (but not the Framemeister), but I was able to clean them up by tweaking the offsets for each channel.
Otherwise, that sync issue is interesting. I'd imagine newer TVs have started dropping support for ancient resolutions. It might be getting confused because 240p is very similar to 480i, where it probably doesn't support the former and is trying to force a square peg into a 480i-shaped hole. Hmm.
In any event, that looks like a great install and your DIN adapter still isn't as bad as the 3 or 5 separate holes you see sometimes with composite/component mods.
Aw crap, that's an old photo from before I attached the shield wire (I think that's what it's called) to the DIN socket . With it attached the ringing is gone.
As for the offset controls I have tried those and experienced no difference, but I did just realize that my OSSC has never been updated. Maybe it's time to do so? -
So I got myself some of the new TMS-RGB mod chips intended for any system equipped with a TMS992xA video chip.
I first installed one in one of my MSX computers and next I did it in my Colecovision. Pics below to prove it because we all know it didn't happen other wise.
Some notes on the install, I first mounted the chip the wrong way around so the length of the wires were measured from that position. This of course meant that when I turned it around the other way, the wires were longer than necessary but I cut them down somewhat and changed the placement of the DIN socket. The second picture shows where I pulled the sound from and picture three shows how I placed the wires inside the case. Finally, I know I'm going to catch some flack for the hole I drilled in the case for the DIN socket but I honestly don't think it's a big deal.
So how's the picture quality? On an old CRT and an old flatscreen TV (2006) it looks bloody awesome (picture 5), however my current flat screen behave really strangely if I connect to it directly, as if it has trouble locking onto the signal (attached video). Now this isn't much of a problem as I plan to run it through an OSSC first but then I run into what looks like vertical scan lines. Picture six shows them though they are much more noticeable in real life. It's not the worst problem though somewhat irritating. Of note is that I see the same lines on my TMS-RGB modded MSX, and other than sharing the same video chip, they only share that they are both PAL machines and the Scart cable so the cable might very well be the culprit.
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Visited RetroRGB today and found some very helpful info about this project. As it currently stands I probably need at least three, possibly five of these boards. I currently own a MSX Canon V-20, MSX Spectravideo SVI-728, TI-99/4A and a Colecovision (all PAL). Also looking to add an SG-1000 to my collection.
At first I thought I could just build these on my own but if the price for a complete board is just $25 (please confirm) plus shipping, I don't think I can justify trying to do it myself. -
Thanks mate! I have the necessary photos and material to do a similar tutorial for a PAL light sixer if it is of interest.
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Since this forum has been quite helpful and provided a good amount of assistance to me (and will probably continue to do so in the future) I figured it was time to give something back. Hopefully someone will be able to benefit from this.
Background
This actually started with an Atari 5200 that I added to my collection. I figured I should do something about the video signal as I live in Sweden and old NTSC RF-signals just isn't very good or easy to tune into when you live in PAL territories. I settled on doing an S-video mod on my 5200, this particular one in fact and got a good result.
A few months later, I added a PAL Atari 2600 'Vader' to my collection and I started looking into video mods for it as well. I found another S-video mod, the instructions can be found right here on Atari Age. What really struck me was the similarity between the two. However the instructions were not quite clear enough for my taste, as they really didn't seem to take into account PAL consoles, only NTSC. So I figured why not make my own tutorial.
Now while this is aimed at the PAL Vader I would be highly surprised if some/potentially all other four switch Atari 2600 versions/revisions can’t use alot of the information I’ve provided.
Why S-Video?
Partially because I have invested in a Retrotink 2X and it’s a great little device for this sort of stuff. The other reason is cost; an S-Video mod is far cheaper than a RGB mod, probably just a tenth of the cost and I have several Atari 2600 consoles. Plus I really like the kind of mods where I can pretty much put together everything on my own.
Schematic
I’ve cobbled together a schematic using photoshop and various resources found on the net. I have no idea where I got the base schematic so I fully admit to being a filthy, dirty thief (credit goes to whoever made the first one). What I’ve hopefully done is make it easier to read and interpret.
Before attempting this you should really read up on the instructions I linked to above as it covers the essentials. There are a few differences however, for instance I haven’t used quite the same order for the inputs and outputs from the CD4050 chip. However that shouldn’t matter as the chip has several unused pins already and any of them should work. Also, a quick note on the 4050, many Atari consoles have this chip inside so you could potentially use the outputs from it instead; however my Vader did not so I had to buy a brand new one. It’s not a strictly necessary component but the picture quality is improved by its’ inclusion.
There are also references to resistors and capacitors in the original instructions, which are not particularly helpful, partially because the part numbers are hidden underneath the components on the circuit board and also the numbers seems to be different on PAL consoles.
Finally, my one personal contribution to this schematic is the circled 6.8k resistor for the chroma signal. I highly recommend replacing it with a 10k trim pot. Not only were it used to great effect in the very similar 5200 S-video mod, but as I discovered when I did this exact same mod on a light sixer, a 6.8k resistor made the colours really faded. My Vader on the other hand was fine with a 6.8k resistor but having the ability to make fine adjustments is a nice and potentially necessary bonus. Unfortunately I was out of 10k trim pots when I did this mod. *grumbles*
Installing the mod
Once the circuit has been assembled it’s time to crack open the console. Turn it upside down and remove the four screws. Take note that the screws comes in pairs and are ever so slightly different from each other. I don’t think it really matters but better safe than sorry. Flip the case over again and remove the top. It can be a bit fiddly due to the protruding switches but it shouldn’t be too difficult.
When the circuit board is free, the RF shield needs to be removed. There are several tabs around the shield that must be straightened out. I know there’s somewhat of an ongoing debate on what to do with RF shields. Some claim that it’s rather unnecessary in this day of digital devices and just throw it away. Others feel that the shield was put in for a reason and it should be left in place.
Personally, I like to keep my consoles as original as possible and besides, RF shields are sometimes truly integral to a consoles design, providing protection against interference as well as odd ball purposes like acting as heatsinks and providing Ground.
With the circuit board fully exposed, take note of the TIA chip in the middle, the marked point to the right and the trim pot to the left. The last one is important because the pot might have to be adjusted before everything is put back into place. Besides, it’s a common failure point, giving it a bit of TLC when the console is already open is not a bad idea.
I’ve also, provided a better close up of the smaller circle. This is the point where C212, C213 and R214 all connect and the place where I picked up the Chroma signal. I’m not completely sure it’s the best place but it certainly worked out well enough for me.
Now you could solder the wires directly to the top but personally I found it easier to flip the board and connect everything there. It also meant I could make a fairly small cut in the RF shield for the wires to pass through. I used some Velcro to fasten the mod circuit to the lower RF shield and a zip tie to keep the wires collected.
On the back of the console I drilled the appropriate holes and installed the necessary connectors. You don’t actually need two RCA connectors, it’s not like the system provides Stereo but it’s nice to have. I also installed a molex micro-fit wire to wire connector on the output wires, visible between the plastic case and the circuit board. It’s not at all necessary to do so but it will be really handy if I ever have to open up the case and do further service.
All that’s left now is decide what to do with the old RF cable and then put the top case back on. As stated earlier, I like to keep my consoles as close to original as possible and that includes the RF cable. However since it’s not needed and the plastic case have a lot of spare space I just left it disconnected inside the console.
And the result? Well take a look! The signal has been routed through my Retrotink 2X and then into the TV. Not bad for something cobbled together by a blithering idiot.
Closing words
I fully expect some of the smarter/more knowledgeable of you to point out all my mistakes and what I could have done better. Heck, I invite you to do so, especially if it turns out I’ve made any terrible and potentially dangerous mistakes with the S-video circuit. However, I really hope this will at least provide some help to someone out there.-
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When I looked at the RAM chips I realized they are the same as found in some other consoles, particularly the same as in my XEGS. Almost every chip is socketed in it so all I needed to do was desolder the chips in the Lynx and do a swap. The RAM worked flawlessly in the XEGS so that's apparently not the problem.
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I managed to find this thread and the problems described seem very similar to what I'm experiencing. I suppose I can try a recap and switch the ram chips with some fresh ones, it's easy and fairly cheap. If it's Suzy however, I'm pretty SOL, right?
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Just got an Atari Lynx I in the mail today. And while it does power on and I get to the title screen, I can't get to the actual game. Now I only have one game, Roadblasters, but that's not the problem as it works flawlessly on my Lynx II.
So what basically happens is that I power on, I wait a second or two, get the boot/title screen but when the music is supposed to start or when I press an action button, I either get a black screen or the screen just freezes and nothing happens. In both cases I also get a constant screeching noises from the speaker and the only way to stop this is to shut off the unit.Things important to know:
One capacitor, C36 has already been replaced as it was visibly leaking. I haven't done anything to the other caps.
It's a rev 2 board.
While the console was powered on, I put my finger on the RAM chips to feel if they got hot but they are nice and cool. -
I had forgotten about the color pot. Sure enough, as soon as I touched it, the colour started flickering like crazy. The solder joints didn't seem to be bad but I retouched them anyway. Also, while I don't have any electronics de-oxidizer spray at the moment, I figured I could use Isopropanol instead. Some twisting later and it seems to work as intended.
Thanks for the help!-
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21 hours ago, DrVenkman said:Check the output of the voltage regulator when first powering on the console. If it has been running, leave the power off for 10 minutes or so to make sure it’s cold (room temperature) before turning it back on and check the voltage immediately.
The voltage regulator seems to output a steady 5V no matter if the console have been started cold or been powered on a few minutes. Even more strange is the fact that the flickering have stopped. I have done nothing else to the console, no changes, repairs or mods apart from the previously mentioned composite mod. It apparently just decided to behave itself. -
6 hours ago, EpikalPuppy said:Pins 4 and 7 sound right to me.
Thank you
6 hours ago, DragonGrafx-16 said:What's the point of having console and modding it if you aren't going to play it?
I can understand your point but you never know, I might do it in the future and also, I like to think ahead. I have a collection of around 190 computers and consoles (at the moment) and maintenance and repairs have become a necessary evil. Part of that includes ensuring that I (or possibly another, future owner) actually can use them in the future. Any unit that only feature RF out are particularly vulnerable since analog TVs and monitors are already somewhat scarce and will only become more so in the future. Other connection types have several good digitizing options available, I myself use both a Retrotink 2X and an OSSC, but RF out does not. -
I have a PAL Atari 2600 jr that I've just upgraded with this composite mod: https://www.console-corner.de/videomod.html. It's not the first time I've modded a 2600 with this particular mod, nor will it be the last and it has worked great so far.
However this particular 2600 have an odd quirk, when it's powered on it flicker between black and white, a distorted colour set and the correct one. If I leave it on for a few minutes the flickering gradually stops until I only get the proper set of colours. This has nothing to do with the B/W switch, nor does it have to do with the mod as it also happens when using RF. Best I can tell, it quite frankly reacts as if the colour information from pin 9 on the TIA chip isn't correctly supplied. Is it something as simple as the capacitors needing replacement or do I have a more serious problem? -
Here's a bit of an oddball technical question. I've recently managed to acquire a 5200 at a pretty good price that was listed as powering up but no signal. I thought it was worth looking into and I'm glad I did as it actually works, though the picture over RF is pretty poor so I will mod it with S-Video and/or composite. I like to future proof my consoles and computers so they at least can output composite.
However, it also lacked controllers and while this is not much of a concern to me, this particular unit is mostly just going to sit in my collection, I do want to see at least one game going past the start/title screen. If this were a 2600 or similar machine I could easily just short the appropriate controller input pins to produce the necessary 'button' press but the 5200 is of course different in this regard. So basically, which input pins needs to be 'connected' to produce the start and indeed any button press? I'm not terribly familiar with the grid layout of the buttons on the 5200 but if I'm reading the schematic correctly I think the start button should be activated with pin 7 and 4? -
So I've managed to snag myself a rather unusual old computer (at least over here in Sweden), a PAL TRS-80 Coco model 1. Now I'm wondering if there is any big differences between the PAL model and the far more common US version? Because if at all possible I want to give it a composite mod, something that seems to be rather easy to do just based on a simple google search, though I can't tell if the mods available will work without modification on a PAL computer.
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No matter, it's dead now. I tried reseating the socketed chips and I must have damaged at least one because it only shows a black screen. FML
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Sega SG-1000 AV mod
in Classic Console Discussion
Posted
That would likely work as well, though I think I have found an easier solution, should I ever want to try it out in the future. I have spent some time looking into the schematic of the PAL SC-3000 and it solves the clock exactly as I suspected it could be solved. It features a TMS9929 (PAL version of the TMS9928) and has a separate crystal 3.58 MHz crystal and a 74HC04 chip to generate the clock for the CPU and sound chip. It should be easy to copy that part of the SC-3000 and insert it into an SG-1000. However I do find it a bit odd that the PAL SC-3000 runs on 3.58 MHz, same as the NTSC SC-3000, as that was primarily an NTSC frequency if I have understood it correctly.