Monitor Hook-up options

[Casey]

I've got a device that takes as input the composite video and audio from the stock 99/4A console I have and it converts it to HDMI and that's how I have my TI hooked up to a modern monitor. The monitor has speakers in it, so the audio comes along with it. All that works fine, but the video quality, especially on certain color combinations, can be kind of terrible. I was just curious if other people have tried something like this and have some recommendations. The device I have was a cheapy thing I got from Amazon, but I'm willing to spend a little more if there is one people have had better luck with.

 

Thanks!

[Omega-TI]

Sadly, the best, so only option I recommended to people is no longer available.

Wish I could help, sorry.

[+OLD CS1]

Been a while since I perused the entire thread, and I think there is another one somewhere, but check out this thread on composite to VGA.

[pixelpedant]

A short overview of the composite upscaling situation:

 

When it comes to Composite, it'll always be a messy signal, and the TI 99's particularly bad. In most cases of computers and consoles which are limited to RF and/or Composite output, mods featuring superior output options are pursued where possible. Unfortunately (as likewise hinted), while there was such a mod for TI 99/4A, offering 31KHz RGBHV output (i.e., "VGA"), this is no longer available. And there is no immediate replacement, since the TI 99 is not a case like those of a majority of other systems, where there are preferable video signals to be hijacked off the board somewhere (so all you need is amplification, possibly/optionally sync processing, and a jack). It's a case analogous to the NES or 2600, where you either need to outright replace the PPU/VDP (TI99 F18A mod, NES PlayChoice-10 mod), or do some real time analysis of palette RAM interactions (2600RGB, NESRGB).

 

There are some devices out there which do as well as may be done, nonetheless, in processing, upscaling and even sometimes cleaning up the idiosyncratic and non-standard 60Hz-per-scanline every-other-scanline Composite video produced by analogue era video game consoles and some early home computers. Micomsoft's XRGB line of scalers (from Japan) are the top of the line, as far as that goes. The market for this sort of thing is otherwise dominated by line-doubler solutions such as the OSSC and RetroTINK. But because these don't do framebuffered image processing, they can't really do much of anything to "clean up" a bad signal. They're simply duplicating (or triplicating, or quadrupling, in the case of the OSSC) scanlines. Moreover and in any case, the OSSC does not accept Composite input, for the simple reason that this is not in high demand, among the enthusiast community (due to its poor quality). So this makes the meaningful options, when it comes to upscaling video like the TI 99/4A's Composite signal:

 

RetroTINK: A line-doubling, transcoding solution which is, as such, very light on options and picture processing, but gets you to HDMI 480p, for what that's worth.

XRGB-3: A relatively powerful upscaling and transcoding solution with both framebuffered and line-multiplying modes. Accepts most signal types, including Composite. Significantly, outputs both analogue and digital.

XRGB-Mini: A feature-rich framebuffered upscaling and transcoding solution. Accepts most signal types, including Composite and, also, HDMI. Easier to use and more of an "it just works" solution than the XRGB-3.

 

There are also devices designed for upscaling regular interleaved 15KHz broadcast signals, which can be found. These incorrectly process the non-standard signal as if it were interlaced, the principle effect of which tends to be that every other frame is dropped. Some noticeable latency is also typically introduced.

 

In my opinion, when it comes to Composite output, you're better off just using a CRT. To me, even using a higher end transcoder, digital display just exaggerates issues. Where a CRT really helps to smooth out the noise.

[PRStoetzer]

I use an Extron DVS-204 Digital Video Scaler I got for under $20 on eBay with a Dell 1920x1080 monitor hooked up with VGA. The scaler isn't designed for the non-interlaced video, but doesn't seem to introduce any lag or any problems. My TI looks much better on it than composite video from my VIC-20, but you still see some ghosting and significant color artifacting, especially on text which is annoying. Sitting a bit farther away from the monitor than normal makes things look a lot better.

 

It works far better than the $20 Amazon special composite to VGA adapter, but still doesn't look as nice as my dad's setup using a 13" color CRT TV and the TI RF modulator (the TV does not have composite input). The picture on that is crystal clear. Quite amazing for RF. My Commodore 128 hooked up to the same TV through RF looks terrible.

[+dhe]

I purchased a Retrotink 2X Pro.

 

I'm hooking this up via 4:3 DVD Player Screen with VGA Input.

 

 

 

Here is the display with Video IN:

 

Here is the display with VGA IN:

 

There is a mode, that is magnificently crisp, but it's black and white.

 

I will probably just keep the display hooked up to Composite IN. But I will keep the

Retrotink because unless you want to carry a monitor, VGA - and it's decedents

are much easier to find.

 

 

Connections: Composite in to RetroTink, MicroUSB Power Supply in to RetroTink (small cable),

HDMI Out to an HDMI 2 VGA Connector, in to VGA connector on TruTech.

 

It might be possible to get even better output with an HDMI to HDMI connect.