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Old Acorns and New Tellys

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Matthew Thompson

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May 14, 2013, 12:55:15 PM5/14/13
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Apologies if this is covering old ground but I couldn't see any
threads on it and a google search didn't show much either.

I would like to be able to have an RISC OS 3.1 machine and also a BBC
Micro all nicely set up to use regularly, but due to lack of space
this isn't remotely possible, but I was wondering the following would
work.

Can you connect an A3000 (or equivalent) to a LCD TV - I have a 22
inch LG TV and a LG 42inch TV, would these be capable of such a thing,
i've seen on Ebay Scart leads which connect your BBC to a new TV, and
Retro Software have a picutre of such a thing on their website.

If it was workable I could setup my A3000 (if it will work again) and
treat it like a Playstation, and then put it away when not using it,
same with a BBC and then I could get rid of my bulky A4401/ and
monitor set up.

Would this work? and would an A3010 be better than an A3000?

many thanks
cheers
Matthew

--

Message sent from an IYONIX www.iyonix.com
Using RISC OS 5 : RISC OS Open Ltd www.riscosopen.co.uk

Dave Plowman (News)

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May 14, 2013, 2:03:31 PM5/14/13
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SCART inputs on TVs tend to only work at TV frequencies. I'm not sure what
the A3000 does?
I have my RPC running into a TV via a VGA connector - many TVs have one of
these. The TV seems happy at any of the screen modes I've tried.

--
*I have a degree in liberal arts -- do you want fries with that

Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Stuart

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May 14, 2013, 2:55:33 PM5/14/13
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In article <534bd20...@davenoise.co.uk>,
Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> SCART inputs on TVs tend to only work at TV frequencies. I'm not sure
> what the A3000 does?

If I remember correctly, and it is a long time ago, I had an A3000 running
into an old Microvitec Cub, as previously used for a Model B. I had to
delve into the back of the monitor to change it from TTL to analogue and I
think the necessary lead came from CJE

This would suggests that the A3000 outputs at TV line and scan rate.

A little search reveals

http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/micros/individual/newprodpages/prodinfo.php?prodcode=CAB-SCRT9

Works for some modes only.

--
Stuart Winsor

Midlands RISC OS and Raspberry pi show, 13th July 2013

http://www.mug.riscos.org/show13/MUGshow.html




Alan Adams

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May 14, 2013, 4:27:16 PM5/14/13
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In message <534bd6ca...@argonet.co.uk>
Stuart <Spa...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:

> In article <534bd20...@davenoise.co.uk>,
> Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
>> SCART inputs on TVs tend to only work at TV frequencies. I'm not sure
>> what the A3000 does?

> If I remember correctly, and it is a long time ago, I had an A3000 running
> into an old Microvitec Cub, as previously used for a Model B. I had to
> delve into the back of the monitor to change it from TTL to analogue and I
> think the necessary lead came from CJE

> This would suggests that the A3000 outputs at TV line and scan rate.

> A little search reveals

> http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/micros/individual/newprodpages/prodinfo.php
> ?prodcode=CAB-SCRT9

> Works for some modes only.

I did this for a BBC B years ago. I took the separate GGB and Sync
signals and reduced the amplitude with resistors to the (I think) 1
volt level needed by SCART.

You do need to keep to TV compatible modes, although it is unlikely to
do damage if you try others. Some TVs might be more tolerant.

--
Alan Adams, from Northamptonshire
al...@adamshome.org.uk
http://www.nckc.org.uk/

Chris Evans

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May 15, 2013, 4:29:46 AM5/15/13
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In article <2b30df4b53...@iyonix.adamshome.org.uk>, Alan Adams
<URL:mailto:al...@adamshome.org.uk> wrote:
> In message <534bd6ca...@argonet.co.uk>
> Stuart <Spa...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > In article <534bd20...@davenoise.co.uk>,
> > Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> >> SCART inputs on TVs tend to only work at TV frequencies. I'm not sure
> >> what the A3000 does?
>
> > If I remember correctly, and it is a long time ago, I had an A3000 running
> > into an old Microvitec Cub, as previously used for a Model B. I had to
> > delve into the back of the monitor to change it from TTL to analogue and I
> > think the necessary lead came from CJE
>
> > This would suggests that the A3000 outputs at TV line and scan rate.
>
> > A little search reveals
>
> > http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/micros/individual/newprodpages/prodinfo.php
> > ?prodcode=CAB-SCRT9

I'm hoping to get a small batch of longer Arc/A3000 to Scart leads made up,
they should be available next month!

>
> > Works for some modes only.
>
> I did this for a BBC B years ago. I took the separate GGB and Sync
> signals and reduced the amplitude with resistors to the (I think) 1
> volt level needed by SCART.

We have BBC to Scart available in 1m, 2m, 3m and longer
see

http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/micros/individual/newprodpages/prodinfo.php?prodcode=CAB-BBCSCART

> You do need to keep to TV compatible modes, although it is unlikely to
> do damage if you try others.

I've never heard of any damage though Acorn and other manufacturers often
gave warnings of possible damage.

> Some TVs might be more tolerant.

To damage possibly! If you mean might display higher resolutions on a
Scart input then I very much doubt that, I've certainly never heard of it.


Chris Evans

--
CJE Micro's / 4D 'RISC OS Specialists'
Telephone: 01903 523222 Fax: 01903 523679
ch...@cjemicros.co.uk http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/
78 Brighton Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2EN
The most beautiful thing anyone can wear, is a smile!

Andrew Wickham

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May 15, 2013, 7:53:06 AM5/15/13
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On 14 May, 17:55, Matthew Thompson <m...@REMOVETHISred-squirrel.com>
wrote:
>
> would an A3010 be better than an A3000?
>
Yes, in that you could try UHF and also might have the option of using
the 15-pin DSUB present on many (most? - though perhaps less often on
older models) LCD TVs.

However the A3000 also has composite output, which again may also be
present as an input option on the TV.

Our 22LG3000, a few years old, has 2 HDMI, component, composite, SVHS,
DSUB/VGA and SCART inputs as well as UHF. The quoted horizontal
frequency range does not go as low as the old RISCOS modes (31KHz
rather than 15KHz), but I think that would only be for "PC mode" (VGA/
HDMI) rather than TV-style inputs (SCART, composite, etc).

Go for it!

Dave Plowman (News)

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May 15, 2013, 9:21:05 AM5/15/13
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In article
<1f9af673-e7b9-49c7...@gw5g2000vbb.googlegroups.com>,
Andrew Wickham <ajw...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> Our 22LG3000, a few years old, has 2 HDMI, component, composite, SVHS,
> DSUB/VGA and SCART inputs as well as UHF. The quoted horizontal
> frequency range does not go as low as the old RISCOS modes (31KHz
> rather than 15KHz), but I think that would only be for "PC mode" (VGA/
> HDMI) rather than TV-style inputs (SCART, composite, etc).

I have a cheap LCD TV bought from CPC in the workshop, and via the VGA
connector on that can see a pic from the RPC after a CMOS reset - unlike
on my V. expensive pukka computer monitor. ;-)

--
*Sometimes I wake up grumpy; Other times I let him sleep.

Stuart

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May 15, 2013, 11:34:24 AM5/15/13
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In article <534c3c0...@davenoise.co.uk>,
Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> I have a cheap LCD TV bought from CPC in the workshop, and via the VGA
> connector on that can see a pic from the RPC after a CMOS reset - unlike
> on my V. expensive pukka computer monitor. ;-)

Last night I was running my daughter's RPC at 1280x1024 into a couple of
month old Samsung T24B350EX. Apart from the fact that this is full HD,
with a 1920 horizontal resolution, so things were a little stretched
horizontally, it was fine.

Chris Evans

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May 16, 2013, 5:52:40 AM5/16/13
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In article <534c4836...@argonet.co.uk>, Stuart
<URL:mailto:Spa...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <534c3c0...@davenoise.co.uk>,
> Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> > I have a cheap LCD TV bought from CPC in the workshop, and via the VGA
> > connector on that can see a pic from the RPC after a CMOS reset - unlike
> > on my V. expensive pukka computer monitor. ;-)
>
> Last night I was running my daughter's RPC at 1280x1024 into a couple of
> month old Samsung T24B350EX. Apart from the fact that this is full HD,
> with a 1920 horizontal resolution, so things were a little stretched
> horizontally, it was fine.

Presumably you are plugging into a 15pin HD VGA Socket on the Samsung?

Unfortunately many LCD TV's don't have VGA input.

I think Dave's comment re 'after a CMOS reset' relates to the fact that
quite a few LCD Monitors and TV's need *con. sync 0 on a RiscPC which is not
the default.

It's a bit naughty but I know some people put *con. sync 0
into an obey file in PreDesk!

I can't recall ever hearing of a monitor that needed *con. sync 1

Stuart

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May 16, 2013, 7:45:37 AM5/16/13
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In article <ant16094...@client.cjemicros.co.uk>,
Chris Evans <ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:

> Presumably you are plugging into a 15pin HD VGA Socket on the Samsung?

Yes.

> Unfortunately many LCD TV's don't have VGA input.

Ah, well, I made sure this one had. My old 19" CRT Iyama was getting "a
bit long in the tooth" and I wanted something with HDMI for a RaPi as well
as something to use with a computer.

It is normally connected to my PC which can drive it at native resolution.

I have moved the "Taskbar" to be vertical down the RH side, run VA in
1280x1024 and still have space down the LH side to access the Icons on the
windows desktop, if I need to fire a Windows program up.

If there is something on the TV I want to watch, while my wife is watching
something else, it serves that purpose too. <g>

Dave Plowman (News)

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May 16, 2013, 8:33:52 AM5/16/13
to
In article <ant16094...@client.cjemicros.co.uk>,
Chris Evans <ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:
> I think Dave's comment re 'after a CMOS reset' relates to the fact that
> quite a few LCD Monitors and TV's need *con. sync 0 on a RiscPC which is
> not the default.

No - it's to do with the RPC default screen mode (frame rate?) being
outside the specs of most modern monitors. But usually ok on a TV.

--
*Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool*

Matthew Thompson

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May 16, 2013, 3:12:12 PM5/16/13
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If I ever manage to get my A3000 working again I will see if I can get
anything to work with it, same with a BBC, but be a while off yet.

thanks for the replies

Jess

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May 17, 2013, 11:59:10 AM5/17/13
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In message <534cbb8...@davenoise.co.uk>
"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

> In article <ant16094...@client.cjemicros.co.uk>,
> Chris Evans <ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:
>> I think Dave's comment re 'after a CMOS reset' relates to the fact that
>> quite a few LCD Monitors and TV's need *con. sync 0 on a RiscPC which is
>> not the default.

> No - it's to do with the RPC default screen mode (frame rate?) being
> outside the specs of most modern monitors. But usually ok on a TV.

It's to do with acorn monitor identification predating (and being
totally different to) the way modern PCs do it, and sometimes getting
it wrong. This makes the default it chooses incorrect for some
monitors. (Whether sync or mode or both).

You would normally need a con. monitortype 4 as well, to be sure for
it to work.

--
Jess Iyonix

Dave Plowman (News)

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May 17, 2013, 12:36:03 PM5/17/13
to
In article <8426524...@itworkshop.invalid>,
I first noticed it when I got a 17" CRT Panasonic monitor to replace the
original Acorn one, many years ago. If I did a CMOS reset, no picture. The
old monitor Acorn monitor did give a picture - allowing you to continue
with the configure. And the same with my later LCD ones - no picture and
says out of range. But the TV does give a picture under these conditions.

--
*Gargling is a good way to see if your throat leaks.

cfe...@freeremoveuk.com.invalid

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May 17, 2013, 12:46:42 PM5/17/13
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In message <8426524...@itworkshop.invalid>
When you startup your machine - what about pressing no4 on the numbers
keyboard to get monitortype 4.

Jess - hows the new Dell comming on - what sort of res are your
getting with your Iyonix?



--
Colin Ferris Cornwall UK

Jess

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May 18, 2013, 5:37:11 AM5/18/13
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In message <534d558...@davenoise.co.uk>
"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

>> It's to do with acorn monitor identification predating (and being
>> totally different to) the way modern PCs do it, and sometimes getting
>> it wrong. This makes the default it chooses incorrect for some
>> monitors. (Whether sync or mode or both).

>> You would normally need a con. monitortype 4 as well, to be sure for it
>> to work.

> I first noticed it when I got a 17" CRT Panasonic monitor to replace the
> original Acorn one, many years ago. If I did a CMOS reset, no picture. The

Similar, but a Compaq monitor.

> old monitor Acorn monitor did give a picture - allowing you to continue
> with the configure. And the same with my later LCD ones - no picture and
> says out of range. But the TV does give a picture under these conditions.

I think what is happening is that the actual monitor type is 4, but
the EDID is confusing the simple Acorn identification system and
making it think it is a multisync. (type 1)

Multisync will accept TV frequencies and different sync signals, which
an SVGA may not. (the different syncs may trigger energy star power
savers.)

The fixes are either chopping out the edid pin in the cable or
manually setting the correct values.

--
Jess Iyonix

Jess

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May 18, 2013, 5:43:06 AM5/18/13
to
In message <c680564d5...@cferris.freeuk.com> you wrote:

> Jess - hows the new Dell comming on - what sort of res are your
> getting with your Iyonix?

I got given an old Apple cinema display, which went on the g5, so the
1920x1200 Dell went back on the Iyonix, and my son got the High res
Dell for his birthday. (It wasn't new, I was using it as a video
display, but got a projector, so wanted to find a new use.)

I got no luck with the VGA input, I think the Iyonix could put out the

correct signals, but the monitor rejected them for no good reason, as
far as I can see.

--
Jess Iyonix

Andrew Wickham

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May 28, 2013, 5:32:25 AM5/28/13
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On May 15, 2:21 pm, "Dave Plowman (News)" <d...@davenoise.co.uk>
wrote:
> In article
> <1f9af673-e7b9-49c7-8aad-0cadd99ab...@gw5g2000vbb.googlegroups.com>,
>    Andrew Wickham <ajw9...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > Our 22LG3000, a few years old, has 2 HDMI, component, composite, SVHS,
> > DSUB/VGA and SCART inputs as well as UHF.  The quoted horizontal
> > frequency range does not go as low as the old RISCOS modes (31KHz
> > rather than 15KHz), but I think that would only be for "PC mode" (VGA/
> > HDMI) rather than TV-style inputs (SCART, composite, etc).
>
> I have a cheap LCD TV bought from CPC in the workshop, and via the VGA
> connector on that can see a pic from the RPC after a CMOS reset - unlike
> on my V. expensive pukka computer monitor. ;-)
>
I thought I was having a similar problem with a CRT monitor and A5000
yesterday, but think it's more a dodgy VIDC - Colourcard modes display
OK but RISCOS ones appear occasionally but more often "no signal".
Removing the CC left me with no display, but Ctrl-G beeps so the VIDC
cannot be entirely decrepit. No problem, as the CC modes are better
anyway, but it did put paid to seeing how far RISCiX would get on the
A5000. Judging by the lack of HD noise, nowhere, but it would have
been nice to see the "kernel panic" or whatever.
The relevance here is that (before diagnosing the VIDC problem) I did
consider hooking up the TV, which might have been more forgiving, but
baulked at the disruption to the study!

Andrew
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