What is the status of a C128 or c64 to VGA interface...

Hi, I've been gone from the news group for awhile. Does anybody know if anybody ever successfully built a sellable Commodore to VGA interface, specifically a c128 80col color to VGA interface? I'm getting ready to donate a large lot of surplus VGA monitors and was wondering if there was a point in hanging on to few for my Commodores? Thanks, John

"John Heitmuller" <john.heitmuller@jrfcorp.net> wrote in message news:1193746361.243562.183600@57g2000hsv.googlegroups.com... > Hi, I've been gone from the news group for awhile. Does anybody know > if anybody ever successfully built a sellable Commodore to VGA > interface, specifically a c128 80col color to VGA interface? I'm > getting ready to donate a large lot of surplus VGA monitors and was > wondering if there was a point in hanging on to few for my > Commodores? > > Thanks, > John > Yes, there are some off-the-shelf solutions that just need a little tweaking to support the C128. There's a lot of chatter about this at the Commodore 128 Alive! forums. You can get there from <http://www.commodore128.org>.

On Oct 30, 5:49 am, "Payton Byrd" <pay...@paytonnospambyrd.com> wrote: > "John Heitmuller" <john.heitmul...@jrfcorp.net> wrote in message > > news:1193746361.243562.183600@57g2000hsv.googlegroups.com... > > > Hi, I've been gone from the news group for awhile. Does anybody know > > if anybody ever successfully built a sellable Commodore to VGA > > interface, specifically a c128 80col color to VGA interface? I'm > > getting ready to donate a large lot of surplus VGA monitors and was > > wondering if there was a point in hanging on to few for my > > Commodores? > > > Thanks, > > John > > Yes, there are some off-the-shelf solutions that just need a little tweaking > to support the C128. There's a lot of chatter about this at the Commodore > 128 Alive! forums. You can get there from <http://www.commodore128.org>. Yeah, I purchased one from FOTIOS in Australia and it works (Well, Ok). Like Payton said, "They still need to be <TWEAKED> a bit." Lolol Charles

Another funny thing is there is a half the hardware you need for 128 to VGA converter built in the 1902A monitor. This is a DAC board in the monitor like all CGA monitors have. First off, the CGA or C128 VDC video output is actually digital. The RGB values are merely bits. What happens is that when the video bits are being sent to the 1902A monitor ( and most other CGA monitors ) is the signal is then converted from bits to analog R,G,and B and I video signals. So why do I say that this is half of what you need. You'll need to supply power to it if you take it out of the monitor. (Basically, steal this little board out of the monitor) You also need to build a scanline doubler which would be to convert the analog R,G,B signals running at 15 KHz scan rate to 31 KHz scan rate just like the Amiga. The Analog R,G,B signals are in all respect, the same as the analog R,G,B on the Amiga. Without this card in a 1902A monitor, the 1902A would be nothing more than an analog RGB monitor like the Amiga RGBs (pre-VGA like the A1000,A500,A2000). So in reality, you mainly need is a scan-doubler. There maybe some other components for stabilization and quality of video signal. All CGA monitors contains this basic circuit with varying output results. THEORY: With additional data lines and components and replacing of the "4bit digital input (R,G,B,I) to 4 Bit resolution R,G and B" DAC to 4bit DACs for each of the R,G,B and I lines with 16-BIT analog RGB output. However, you would need to pipe in additional data lines (although with limitations*) to supplement the colors. You would also need some sort of buffer to remember the extra data signals. Limitations would be that you would only be able to provide the additional 12 Bits at data rate of the CIA not the dot clock rate. Thus, you would not be able to have the 16 colors at a time per character cell or two at a time at best. Since only 4 bits would be sent at full speed. So you would typically use the slower 12 Bits as a palette switch. Like a bank switch mechanism. Which you would only change at a slower rate. Right off the bat, these are something that would be apparent and obvious. Since the C-128 has no other data lines operating at the rate that the normal VDC's RGBI "data lines" operates at. You would have to have some sort of memory mechanism for remember the 12 bits that are are fed in from other sources. It is most likely that you will have to have 8 bits to supplement the 4 bits from the VDC and only get 12-BIT (4096 colors with only 16 colors at a time). Another option is two use a two stage palette switching mechanism. 8 bits from User Port, 4 bits from say the Joystick port or another port and the 4 bits from the VDC. However, this is basic theory. So far, we been testing this theory out with typical CGA to VGA converter chip not with very basic and straightforward TTL DACs which would be more flexible in my opinion. In fact, it would be more flexible because we can outright make the circuit to what we want at component level since some of these pre-built chip solutions are "hard-wired" a certain way and there is little to no option. At the same time, we can proof-test this at 15 KHz and see it functional on an actual CGA / 1902A monitor since the analog side should have really no limit of color like the analog RGB monitors on the Amiga. Since we don't need to scanline double until later. The CRT should be able to display an unlimited number of colors. This very board in the monitor is the "governor" on terms of color output. Mechanically, there can be and should be no limit on color. Each of the Red,Green and Blue raster guns should be able to send out virtually as many shades of red,green and blue that you can set a setting for. In theory, you can have a 16-BIT DAC resolution for each of the Red, Green and Blue raster gun. Imagine 65536 shades of Red. 65536 shades of Green and 65536 shades of Blue. For a total of 65536 x 65536 x 65536 colors. 281,474,976,710,656 colors ???? Ok, we don't need that many. At the same time, there is likely little to any chance of getting a clean 65536 states for each of the R,G and B raster gun. The C128 also doesn't have sufficient data lines. A modern PC would have the speed to be able to sufficiently supply enough data lines at sufficient speed to match the clock rate of a CGA or VDC card. "John Heitmuller" <john.heitmuller@jrfcorp.net> wrote in message news:1193746361.243562.183600@57g2000hsv.googlegroups.com... > Hi, I've been gone from the news group for awhile. Does anybody know > if anybody ever successfully built a sellable Commodore to VGA > interface, specifically a c128 80col color to VGA interface? I'm > getting ready to donate a large lot of surplus VGA monitors and was > wondering if there was a point in hanging on to few for my > Commodores? > > Thanks, > John >

"Wildstar" <wildstar128@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:EYRWi.114$n75.34@newsfe05.lga... > Another funny thing is there is a half the hardware you need for 128 to > VGA converter built in the 1902A monitor. This is a DAC board in the > monitor like all CGA monitors have. > > First off, the CGA or C128 VDC video output is actually digital. The RGB > values are merely bits. What happens is that when the video bits are being > sent to the 1902A monitor ( and most other CGA monitors ) is the signal is > then converted from bits to analog R,G,and B and I video signals. > > So why do I say that this is half of what you need. You'll need to supply > power to it if you take it out of the monitor. (Basically, steal this > little board out of the monitor) You also need to build a scanline doubler > which would be to convert the analog R,G,B signals running at 15 KHz scan > rate to 31 KHz scan rate just like the Amiga. The Analog R,G,B signals are > in all respect, the same as the analog R,G,B on the Amiga. > > Without this card in a 1902A monitor, the 1902A would be nothing more than > an analog RGB monitor like the Amiga RGBs (pre-VGA like the > A1000,A500,A2000). > > So in reality, you mainly need is a scan-doubler. There maybe some other > components for stabilization and quality of video signal. All CGA monitors > contains this basic circuit with varying output results. > > THEORY: > > With additional data lines and components and replacing of the "4bit > digital input (R,G,B,I) to 4 Bit resolution R,G and B" DAC to 4bit DACs > for each of the R,G,B and I lines with 16-BIT analog RGB output. However, > you would need to pipe in additional data lines (although with > limitations*) to supplement the colors. You would also need some sort of > buffer to remember the extra data signals. > > Limitations would be that you would only be able to provide the additional > 12 Bits at data rate of the CIA not the dot clock rate. Thus, you would > not be able to have the 16 colors at a time per character cell or two at a > time at best. Since only 4 bits would be sent at full speed. So you would > typically use the slower 12 Bits as a palette switch. Like a bank switch > mechanism. Which you would only change at a slower rate. > > Right off the bat, these are something that would be apparent and obvious. > Since the C-128 has no other data lines operating at the rate that the > normal VDC's RGBI "data lines" operates at. You would have to have some > sort of memory mechanism for remember the 12 bits that are are fed in from > other sources. It is most likely that you will have to have 8 bits to > supplement the 4 bits from the VDC and only get 12-BIT (4096 colors with > only 16 colors at a time). Another option is two use a two stage palette > switching mechanism. 8 bits from User Port, 4 bits from say the Joystick > port or another port and the 4 bits from the VDC. > > However, this is basic theory. So far, we been testing this theory out > with typical CGA to VGA converter chip not with very basic and > straightforward TTL DACs which would be more flexible in my opinion. In > fact, it would be more flexible because we can outright make the circuit > to what we want at component level since some of these pre-built chip > solutions are "hard-wired" a certain way and there is little to no option. > At the same time, we can proof-test this at 15 KHz and see it functional > on an actual CGA / 1902A monitor since the analog side should have really > no limit of color like the analog RGB monitors on the Amiga. Since we > don't need to scanline double until later. The CRT should be able to > display an unlimited number of colors. This very board in the monitor is > the "governor" on terms of color output. Mechanically, there can be and > should be no limit on color. Each of the Red,Green and Blue raster guns > should be able to send out virtually as many shades of red,green and blue > that you can set a setting for. In theory, you can have a 16-BIT DAC > resolution for each of the Red, Green and Blue raster gun. Imagine 65536 > shades of Red. 65536 shades of Green and 65536 shades of Blue. For a total > of 65536 x 65536 x 65536 colors. 281,474,976,710,656 colors ???? Ok, we > don't need that many. At the same time, there is likely little to any > chance of getting a clean 65536 states for each of the R,G and B raster > gun. > > The C128 also doesn't have sufficient data lines. A modern PC would have > the speed to be able to sufficiently supply enough data lines at > sufficient speed to match the clock rate of a CGA or VDC card. > Do you just make this stuff up as you go along or what?

There is truth in the matters of the board in the RGBI monitors. Have you ever looked at the schematics of a 1902A monitor. Wouldn't you think that will solve part of the matter because VGA monitors are 31KHz Analog RGB monitors. Always has and always was. Is that clear? I am suggesting an option that can work with some little bit of work. You do realize the VDC "R,G,B,I" pins are nothing more than digital bits that are converted to analog R,G,B signals for controlling the signal intensity of each of the R,G,B raster guns. Basically the raster guns convert voltage signals to light. It is like having three light bulbs with a red, green, blue plastic filter and a variable setting light switch. You can get where they got the idea from a classic experiment you see in a Physics class. More digital bits, more color. Why do you think the 1902A is called a digital RGB monitor. The truth is, the CRT is analog like any other CRT. It is the DAC board that makes the difference. The key is what form of signals it accepts. Amiga does this onboard - hence analog output. There is no particular reason - what I said can't work. At least the theory. It is general enough to be worked out. If I had the equipment and the time and sufficient knowledge of where to solder a wire and what editional components that I need for memory buffering and how to wire that. That is the technical details that I don't have the skill in. I am pretty confident that it is possible with someone who knows how to properly wire several transistors/capacitors, resistors, ect. sufficient to know blow the circuit and destroy components. I am however have a little idea of what to do and with the time, I would be able to make it work. I do have electronics books and read them in the past but haven't practice with basic electronics in recent times to remember everything. When you on rare occassions dabble with something, you don't remember all the details. I am familiar with the fact that you need to put in a scanline doubler to make it work with a VGA monitor. The number of colors part is merely mathematics and the trick is finding distinct states of color and at a point, there would be no way to distinquish between one color and the next color at such resolution as 48-BIT color (16-BIT Red, 16-BIT Green, 16-Bit Blue.) That doesn't matter and having access to more color is merely going to be based on tuning the number of shades of each of the Red,Green and Blue raster gun and what intensity settings for each raster gun beam. The color you see on-screen is based on these three raster beams projecting to the same point on the screen (pixel / picture element). With RGB, each picture element is formed by the three raster guns projecting light at the same point (or area of proximity too closely placed together that the human eye does not distinques each of the r,g,b elements forming the pixel) You know it. I know it. That is what a CGA/VGA/VDC chip does. Sends the signals needed to set these raster guns. There really is no distinct number of settings. Like there is no limit of how many settings you can have in a variable switch for you incandescent light bulb. The limit is in the switch. The DAC board, + number of input lines to the DAC board and the output side of the DAC board is the limit. The DAC board is the key point of interest. Not the VDC or the CGA card. It helps but not the only way to overcome color limitation. It wouldn't matter what your video card is if the monitor can't display more color. That is why we went to analog monitor so all someone had to do is replace the video card. The video card then contained the DAC not the monitor. "Klompmeester" <whowhere@andwhy.com> wrote in message news:13iq2dolr6mst36@corp.supernews.com... > > "Wildstar" <wildstar128@hotmail.com> wrote in message > news:EYRWi.114$n75.34@newsfe05.lga... >> Another funny thing is there is a half the hardware you need for 128 to >> VGA converter built in the 1902A monitor. This is a DAC board in the >> monitor like all CGA monitors have. >> >> First off, the CGA or C128 VDC video output is actually digital. The RGB >> values are merely bits. What happens is that when the video bits are >> being sent to the 1902A monitor ( and most other CGA monitors ) is the >> signal is then converted from bits to analog R,G,and B and I video >> signals. >> >> So why do I say that this is half of what you need. You'll need to supply >> power to it if you take it out of the monitor. (Basically, steal this >> little board out of the monitor) You also need to build a scanline >> doubler which would be to convert the analog R,G,B signals running at 15 >> KHz scan rate to 31 KHz scan rate just like the Amiga. The Analog R,G,B >> signals are in all respect, the same as the analog R,G,B on the Amiga. >> >> Without this card in a 1902A monitor, the 1902A would be nothing more >> than an analog RGB monitor like the Amiga RGBs (pre-VGA like the >> A1000,A500,A2000). >> >> So in reality, you mainly need is a scan-doubler. There maybe some other >> components for stabilization and quality of video signal. All CGA >> monitors contains this basic circuit with varying output results. >> >> THEORY: >> >> With additional data lines and components and replacing of the "4bit >> digital input (R,G,B,I) to 4 Bit resolution R,G and B" DAC to 4bit DACs >> for each of the R,G,B and I lines with 16-BIT analog RGB output. However, >> you would need to pipe in additional data lines (although with >> limitations*) to supplement the colors. You would also need some sort of >> buffer to remember the extra data signals. >> >> Limitations would be that you would only be able to provide the >> additional 12 Bits at data rate of the CIA not the dot clock rate. Thus, >> you would not be able to have the 16 colors at a time per character cell >> or two at a time at best. Since only 4 bits would be sent at full speed. >> So you would typically use the slower 12 Bits as a palette switch. Like a >> bank switch mechanism. Which you would only change at a slower rate. >> >> Right off the bat, these are something that would be apparent and >> obvious. Since the C-128 has no other data lines operating at the rate >> that the normal VDC's RGBI "data lines" operates at. You would have to >> have some sort of memory mechanism for remember the 12 bits that are are >> fed in from other sources. It is most likely that you will have to have 8 >> bits to supplement the 4 bits from the VDC and only get 12-BIT (4096 >> colors with only 16 colors at a time). Another option is two use a two >> stage palette switching mechanism. 8 bits from User Port, 4 bits from say >> the Joystick port or another port and the 4 bits from the VDC. >> >> However, this is basic theory. So far, we been testing this theory out >> with typical CGA to VGA converter chip not with very basic and >> straightforward TTL DACs which would be more flexible in my opinion. In >> fact, it would be more flexible because we can outright make the circuit >> to what we want at component level since some of these pre-built chip >> solutions are "hard-wired" a certain way and there is little to no >> option. At the same time, we can proof-test this at 15 KHz and see it >> functional on an actual CGA / 1902A monitor since the analog side should >> have really no limit of color like the analog RGB monitors on the Amiga. >> Since we don't need to scanline double until later. The CRT should be >> able to display an unlimited number of colors. This very board in the >> monitor is the "governor" on terms of color output. Mechanically, there >> can be and should be no limit on color. Each of the Red,Green and Blue >> raster guns should be able to send out virtually as many shades of >> red,green and blue that you can set a setting for. In theory, you can >> have a 16-BIT DAC resolution for each of the Red, Green and Blue raster >> gun. Imagine 65536 shades of Red. 65536 shades of Green and 65536 shades >> of Blue. For a total of 65536 x 65536 x 65536 colors. 281,474,976,710,656 >> colors ???? Ok, we don't need that many. At the same time, there is >> likely little to any chance of getting a clean 65536 states for each of >> the R,G and B raster gun. >> >> The C128 also doesn't have sufficient data lines. A modern PC would have >> the speed to be able to sufficiently supply enough data lines at >> sufficient speed to match the clock rate of a CGA or VDC card. >> > > > Do you just make this stuff up as you go along or what? > > >

On Oct 30, 7:12 am, John Heitmuller <john.heitmul...@jrfcorp.net> wrote: > Hi, I've been gone from the news group for awhile. Does anybody know > if anybody ever successfully built a sellable Commodore to VGA > interface, specifically a c128 80col color to VGA interface? I'm > getting ready to donate a large lot of surplus VGA monitors and was > wondering if there was a point in hanging on to few for my > Commodores? > > Thanks, > John http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/video-vga-gvm-2000.html .... oh, wait, C128 80col color to VGA. Sorry, I don't know. Is there a C128/CGA converter? since there are prolly still commercial CGA to VGA converters available ... at a price.

Same thing. C128 80col output is basically CGA. CGA and VDC = digital RGB/RGBI. Be careful. Some CGA to VGA converter doesn't always do the full 16 colors (not using the "Intensity" bit.) All these things are, are DACs. Converting digital bits to analog signals. However, for signal sync, that is what the Hsync and Vsync signals are for. The monitor does rest of the work. "BruceMcF" <agila61@netscape.net> wrote in message news:1194378484.389910.95640@22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com... > On Oct 30, 7:12 am, John Heitmuller <john.heitmul...@jrfcorp.net> > wrote: >> Hi, I've been gone from the news group for awhile. Does anybody know >> if anybody ever successfully built a sellable Commodore to VGA >> interface, specifically a c128 80col color to VGA interface? I'm >> getting ready to donate a large lot of surplus VGA monitors and was >> wondering if there was a point in hanging on to few for my >> Commodores? >> >> Thanks, >> John > > http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/video-vga-gvm-2000.html > > ... oh, wait, C128 80col color to VGA. Sorry, I don't know. Is there a > C128/CGA converter? since there are prolly still commercial CGA to VGA > converters available ... at a price. >

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