Atari STE: NTSC vs PAL?

[Awol]

Hi. I'm an Atari n00b in North America and I'm thinking about buying an Atari 1040 STE from someone in Holland. Would I have any problems with NTSC vs PAL, and if so, is there a way to fix or get past them? Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me!

 

By the way, I don't have an Atari monitor so I was planning to connect it to the TV from the RF output. Or, would a cable like this or this, that connects an Atari RGB output to a TV composite input, let a PAL Atari work with an NTSC TV?

[Rybags]

STs can do PAL or NTSC out of the box, but I believe the TOS ROMs are "regional", e.g. UK keyboard with pound sign, totally different key layout in some parts of Europe, as well as the default PAL or NTSC video mode.

 

An adaptor like that will work with any machine that also has an RF modulator, so yours should be covered. The A/V output doesn't come from the RGB lines, but the composite one.

 

As for the TV - most modern TVs simply auto-detect what type of signal they're receiving and display the mode properly.

 

For mode changes, many of the compiled pirate disks had a 50/60 mode changer, and I'd imagine there are plenty of Autorun type utilities that could do the same for GEM startup disks.

Edited February 17, 2008 by Rybags

[Awol]

STs can do PAL or NTSC out of the box, but I believe the TOS ROMs are "regional", e.g. UK keyboard with pound sign, totally different key layout in some parts of Europe, as well as the default PAL or NTSC video mode.

 

An adaptor like that will work with any machine that also has an RF modulator, so yours should be covered. The A/V output doesn't come from the RGB lines, but the composite one.

 

As for the TV - most modern TVs simply auto-detect what type of signal they're receiving and display the mode properly.

 

For mode changes, many of the compiled pirate disks had a 50/60 mode changer, and I'd imagine there are plenty of Autorun type utilities that could do the same for GEM startup disks.

Hey, thanks so much for replying so quickly!

A lot of what you said went over my head and was a bit technical for me, but are you telling me that I could hook up a Dutch Atari STE to an American TV with that cable and the audio/video would work properly? I guess I would also need a step-up tranformer. But would that cable work? I would be so happy if I don't have to buy an expensive and heavy monitor.

 

By the way, I am getting this Atari pretty much solely so I can use gwEm's maxYMiser. At first at least. I expect later I'll try some cool games and demos and stuff.

 

EDIT: Also, about how common/rare are NTSC Atari STEs?

Edited February 17, 2008 by Grey_and_Purple

[+Mitch]

Very few US TV's will work properly with a PAL signal unless you have a multi-standard TV. Most likely you will get a rolling black and white picture. If your TV has a V-Hold dial on it you may be able to fix the rolling screen but it will still be black and white.

 

Mitch

[tjlazer]

Very few US TV's will work properly with a PAL signal unless you have a multi-standard TV. Most likely you will get a rolling black and white picture. If your TV has a V-Hold dial on it you may be able to fix the rolling screen but it will still be black and white.

 

Mitch

 

 

You will need a PAL capible TV, but a TOS swap might resolve that issue. You will also need to get a step down transformer to use it!! I would just get a US model. They tend to cost more BUT with the enormous shipping cost you are better off! I got both my STEs from eBay.

[Awol]

Very few US TV's will work properly with a PAL signal unless you have a multi-standard TV. Most likely you will get a rolling black and white picture. If your TV has a V-Hold dial on it you may be able to fix the rolling screen but it will still be black and white.

 

Mitch

 

 

You will need a PAL capible TV, but a TOS swap might resolve that issue. You will also need to get a step down transformer to use it!! I would just get a US model. They tend to cost more BUT with the enormous shipping cost you are better off! I got both my STEs from eBay.

Ok, thanks guys!

 

What's a fair price for an NTSC STE then? They seem a lot harder to come by.

[robcatron]

Ok, I am going to chime in here as well, as I think the original poster and I have both been talking to the same fellow in the Netherlands.

 

Let's say in my situation - forget about the TV output - if I buy a MegaSTE from Europe and I already have my SC1224 monitor that I use with my 4MB 520STE - will this work? Now I was around the Pirate scene quite a bit back in the day and know all about using the hertz fixers and stuff like that - heck, most all of the software that I have for my STe came from Europe, but I am not sure about whether or not a European STe would work in the US - primarily the Power supply and cord. I Know the cord is removable - can I simply use a U.S. type three prong power supply cord to connect the MegaSTE to the power in my home and it work?

 

Also, what about a hard drive - say a SH205 or similar from Europe - would it work with US power? I know it should work on the ST functionally no problem, but I am concerned again about power.

 

I am embarrassed, but I dug my STe out last week as I would like to start playing around with it again. I had a nice Quantum HDD with tons of my software on it, along with an ICD host adapter. I bought it new from Toad in a nice case. I cannot find it ANYWHERE, and I am miffed - I am pretty sure I must have thrown it away. So basically I need a hard drive - nothing huge, but maybe 200mb or so. Also, before I put my STe in storage about 4 years ago, my original floppy went kaput (the kind with the rhombus shaped eject button). I made a "hybrid" STe using an old STF drive (with the long flat eject button) and the top part of the STf case. Now, I want my baby back to the way she way. The STf case is nasty and yellow, and I want it looking sweet again. Dummy me must have thrown away the top of my 520STe case (

 

So where I am at - I am looking at two options:

 

1. Get a new (or used) STe case top (either 520 or 1040 would do, but prefer 520ste to match my case bottom), the STe floppy drive (and any spacers and hardware that is required to mount it back the way it came in the STe) and finally a Hard drive. If anyone has any surplus parts, I would just as soon pay someone on this board than Myatari, or best, as they quite frankly want way too much (especially for the floppy drive). This fellow in Holland said he would send me an STE case, floppy, hardware for $65 shipped, which I think is quite fair - anyone else have a similar setup for sale?

 

2. I actually have a "wild hair" to just say forget it and buy a MegaSTE. Does anyone have one that they want to sell? I missed out on the one that ended on eBay the other night (It went for a hair over $200) - a nice system 4 MB, 40MB internal drive. I don't really need it, as my expanded STE is just fine, but still

 

thanks to all

 

Rob Catron

Frankfort, KY

[ppera]

To work with European Atari Mega STE (and other Atari machines) in US you need power transformer 110-220V. Now we have many computer components capable to work with power in range of 100-250 Volts, but old machines can not it.

Same stays for external hard drives with case and power supply.

 

Other solution would be to use some PC power supply for (any) Atari. You will have all required voltages + lot of power, enough for external hard drives etc.

[Rybags]

An old PC power supply would be a good solution, but the ST only uses about 21 Watts (I tested mine with a power meter. Funny thing was, the Amiga 500 only used 10).

 

PC PSUs need to be run under some load, so maybe run a car brake-light globe or something off it as well.

[ppera]

An old PC power supply would be a good solution, but the ST only uses about 21 Watts (I tested mine with a power meter. Funny thing was, the Amiga 500 only used 10).

 

PC PSUs need to be run under some load, so maybe run a car brake-light globe or something off it as well.

 

Yes, some load is good for safety. Although I had correct voltages with ST alone attached - on newer power suplies.

Point is that you can buy PC power supply for much less money than 110-220 transformer.

[robcatron]

To work with European Atari Mega STE (and other Atari machines) in US you need power transformer 110-220V. Now we have many computer components capable to work with power in range of 100-250 Volts, but old machines can not it.

Same stays for external hard drives with case and power supply.

 

Other solution would be to use some PC power supply for (any) Atari. You will have all required voltages + lot of power, enough for external hard drives etc.

 

Are all MegaSTE switchable 110-220V? The reason I ask is that Best Electronics list their MegaSTE that way.

 

thank you

Rob

[carmel_andrews]

RobCatron...Just to correct you on something...In europe/UK we use 3 pin plugs...in the US you use 2 pin plugs (even though i've never been to the US)

[ppera]

Are all MegaSTE switchable 110-220V? The reason I ask is that Best Electronics list their MegaSTE that way.

 

I don't see switch by my machine. But if Best claims it, then it should be so - maybe they replaced PS units or made some corrections.

[robcatron]

RobCatron...Just to correct you on something...In europe/UK we use 3 pin plugs...in the US you use 2 pin plugs (even though i've never been to the US)

 

I am not certain if we are talking about the same cords/plugs. Our US outlets used to be 2 pin (or blade) -- years ago (probably in the 1950s-60s) but all house outlets are three prong now (two blade, and one round ground). There are still some low power consumer devices (like cell phone charges and the like) that only have the two blade (thus lacking the ground prong), but most (like any computers - even the ST as it used a standard PC power cord) have three - again - two blade type positive and one round "prong" negative.

 

thanks

Rob

Edited February 22, 2008 by robcatron

[robcatron]

Are all MegaSTE switchable 110-220V? The reason I ask is that Best Electronics list their MegaSTE that way.

 

I don't see switch by my machine. But if Best claims it, then it should be so - maybe they replaced PS units or made some corrections.

 

The only thing I can think of is if it is "auto switching" though I think that would have been way too ahead of it's time for an ST computer. I recently asked a seller in the UK that was selling an ST hard drive (the 1GB model that ended recently) and I think he said that his power supply in the case was automatically switchable, but - his item was probaly quite newer than the ST - I would say a modern Hard Drive Case/enclosure.

 

Rob