wyerd Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 (edited) I've always thought since upgrading my TI with the F18A Video Board, the position of the VGA connector in the middle of the back of the case wasn't very aesthetically pleasing and it was a PITA re-connecting the hex screws every time I opened it up. I have a spare TI that I use for donor parts and I thought that if I can remove the cassette port which is the same size and shape as the VGA connector, it would look a lot better. Also, it would only need two small holes either side for the hex screws, no other cutting the case would be needed. I used a solder sucker to remove the solder from the solder side and carefully removed the old port in one piece. Next, the metal shielding needs to be cut along the edge behind where the old cassette port was so that the VGA cable from the F18A can be routed to where the port was. Next, the holes for the hex screws need to be made. I placed the old cassette port connecter in its old cut out as its the same shape and size as a male VGA connector, making sure that the bottom of the port touches the case and is straight along the top edge. I then used a 7/64" drill bit to mark the holes by pushing it into the holes of the old cassette port so that it then touched and marked the case, by hand. Once marked, I then used the same bit to make the holes. A small piece of plastic has to removed from the GROM assembly that is secured to the case by 2 small screws. Remove the assembly and using a small hacksaw, cut off about half. This is to allow the VGA connector enough room to sit comfortably in place. This is where the power socket sits. Line up the holes and the hex screws can be screwed into place. All done! Thanks to Omega for the blue LEDs. Edited June 11, 2015 by wyerd 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opry99er Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 You sure have a nice looking system there. Thanks for the post. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Nice indeed! But hey... the cassette port is "obsolete", but the computer itself isn't? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Schmitzi Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 cool solution, very nice setup. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opry99er Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I couldn't lose my cassette port... love my cassettes too much. But it is a very cool solution. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift838 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 very nice.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Excellent thread/post. I can see that this one will be revisited over and over again in the coming years. Very well done! This is another one I'll have to bookmark in my 'special thread' folder. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperious Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 (edited) I knew I should have patented that design Thanks for putting up the "How-to", something I failed to do. I actually used a smaller drill bit first as I wasn't sure how brittle the plastic might be, also I had to file the hex screws down to fit the VGA cable in, due to the VGA connector being recessed into the case a bit. Mine is a beige case, so maybe some minor differences there. Edited June 12, 2015 by Imperious 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphb Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Very elegant solution! I finally got my own F18A and installed it over the weekend, but I'm not sure where to put the VGA connector. I was thinking of removing the old video connector, but I couldn't get it off the mainboard by physical means. Has anybody gone that route before? Your pictures above seem to suggest that you connected your TI to both composite video and VGA -- wouldn't the old video connector be dead with the F18A installed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyerd Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 I'm still using the old video port for the audio. I made up a cable with a 3.5mm audio connector on the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyerd Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 http://www.mainbyte.com/ti99/hardware/cables/monitor.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphb Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 I'm still using the old video port for the audio. I made up a cable with a 3.5mm audio connector on the end. Doh ... Totally forgot about audio! Well, fortunately I couldn't get the connector off last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Doh ... Totally forgot about audio! Well, fortunately I couldn't get the connector off last night. If you decide to make up an audio only cable, this is a good connector at a good price... delivered right to your mailbox. << HERE >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphb Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 If you decide to make up an audio only cable, this is a good connector at a good price... delivered right to your mailbox. << HERE >> Well, since it's a standard DIN (= German Institute for Standardization) connector I might even have the matching cable already at home. AFAIR those were quite common before Japanese audio and cinch took over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyerd Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 (edited) If you decide to make up an audio only cable, this is a good connector at a good price... delivered right to your mailbox. > Don't forget the euro version has 6 pins. Edited August 18, 2015 by wyerd 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyerd Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 Doh ... Totally forgot about audio! Well, fortunately I couldn't get the connector off last night. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dphirschler Posted May 28, 2016 Share Posted May 28, 2016 I desoldered the audio/video port and put a standard 1/8" audio connector. To see more photos, look in this thread: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/228626-who-has-vga-out-on-their-console/page-2?do=findComment&comment=3511398 http://atariage.com/forums/topic/228626-who-has-vga-out-on-their-console/page-3?do=findComment&comment=3516448 Darryl 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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