External scandoubler problems...
Steven Folberg
I purchased an Apollo external scandoubler/flickerfixer for use with
my new Viewsonic 17-inch monitor. I also have a Pixel 64 gfx card,
but the scandoubler should allow me to run old games and demos on the
new monitor.
Problem: I get no output from the scandoubler at all. I tried booting
Problem: off a self-booting floppy that I know comes up in a native
Problem: Amiga screenmode, and still, the monitor gives me a message
Problem: that it's getting no input signal from the computer.
As far as I know, this is a normal, SVGA monitor, that goes from
30khz up to whatever. And since this is the second (replacement)
scandoubler from Software Hut, I must assume that both units weren't
defective.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Steve
Eelke Blok
"Steven Folberg" <re...@texas.net> wrote in message
news:D2.62.tC2AL3c...@texas.net...
> Problem: I get no output from the scandoubler at all. I tried booting
> Problem: off a self-booting floppy that I know comes up in a native
> Problem: Amiga screenmode, and still, the monitor gives me a message
> Problem: that it's getting no input signal from the computer.
>
> As far as I know, this is a normal, SVGA monitor, that goes from
> 30khz up to whatever.
Try another monitor. The frequency supplied by Amiga scandoublers is at the
very bottom of the spectrum. It might just fall outside of the range of your
particular monitor.
Cheers,
Eelke
Steven Folberg
EB> (I took the liberty of setting the follow-up to csa.hardware
EB> only).
EB>
EB> "Steven Folberg" <re...@texas.net> wrote in message
EB> news:D2.62.tC2AL3c...@texas.net...
EB>
EB> > Problem: I get no output from the scandoubler at all. I tried
EB> > Problem: booting off a self-booting floppy that I know comes up
EB> > Problem: in a native Amiga screenmode, and still, the monitor
EB> > Problem: gives me a message that it's getting no input signal
EB> > Problem: from the computer.
EB> >
EB> > As far as I know, this is a normal, SVGA monitor, that goes
EB> > from 30khz up to whatever.
EB>
EB> Try another monitor. The frequency supplied by Amiga scandoublers
EB> is at the very bottom of the spectrum. It might just fall outside
EB> of the range of your particular monitor.
EB>
EB> Cheers,
EB>
EB> Eelke
EB>
EB>
EB>
Okay --
I took my scandoubler to the Amiga Show in St. Louis, and tried it on
another computer, with another monitor, and it worked!
So, I brought it home, and again, it didn't work. :-(
So, I tried running Final Writer in NTSC Hi-Res and attached my old
1438S monitor to the Amiga's RGB port; it displayed it no problem
(that shows that the port itself is fine). Then, I attached the
scandoubler and attached the 1438S to my Scandoubler... and nothing
showed on the 1438S. Then I attached the new Viewsonic to the RGB
port without the scandoubler; the screen was black, but I didn't get
the "no signal" message from the monitor.
So, why would the scandoubler work on somebody else's RGB port but
not on mine?? I'm totally stumped!!!
Steve
--
re...@texas.net
http://lonestar.texas.net/~rebbi
www://main.org/ctacs
Amiga -- think different; think REALLY different!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted with Amiga NewsRog
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ralf Gruner
> So, why would the scandoubler work on somebody else's RGB port but
> not on mine?? I'm totally stumped!!!
Missing power supply? Check the voltage of your DB32 connector:
Pin 21 -12V
Pin 22 +12V
Pin 23 +5V
Pins 16-20 GND
Ralf
Steven Folberg
RG> Steven Folberg wrote:
RG>
RG> > So, why would the scandoubler work on somebody else's RGB port
RG> > but not on mine?? I'm totally stumped!!!
RG>
RG> Missing power supply? Check the voltage of your DB32 connector:
RG> Pin 21 -12V Pin 22 +12V
RG> Pin 23 +5V
RG> Pins 16-20 GND
RG>
RG> Ralf
Thanks for the suggestion, Ralf.
How would I test this? (I'm not at all experienced repairing
hardware.) And if something is broken and the voltage is wrong, can
this even be fixed? By the way, I know that the port works, because I
can still get NTSC video out of it to my old 1438S monitor.
Marcel DeVoe
> "RG" == "Ralf Gruner" writes:
> RG> Missing power supply? Check the voltage of your DB32 connector:
> RG> Pin 21 -12V Pin 22 +12V
> RG> Pin 23 +5V
> RG> Pins 16-20 GND
> RG>
> RG> Ralf
> How would I test this? (I'm not at all experienced repairing
> hardware.) And if something is broken and the voltage is wrong, can
> this even be fixed? By the way, I know that the port works, because I
> can still get NTSC video out of it to my old 1438S monitor.
A monitor does not use all the pins available at the 23 pin port.
The extras are there for things like Genlocks and such and voltages needed
for some other things that don't have power on their own, unlike your
monitor.
--
Marcel J. DeVoe - mde...@shore.net - Team *AMIGA*
A4091scsi CV64 96 megs CDRW M1764-17" Catweasel FUSION/Emplant
A4000/060 CyberStorm MKII overclocked 66mhz - see "How to Overclock!"
and "DIY A4000 Tower for $45" @ http://www.shore.net/~mdevoe
Marcel DeVoe
> MD>
> MD> The extras are there for things like Genlocks and such and
> MD> voltages needed for some other things that don't have power on
> MD> their own, unlike your monitor.
> MD>
> Yes, I see, Marcel. But the scandoubler does draw power from the
> port. I wrote to somebody at Eyetech, who said that he's run across a
> very few A1200 motherboards over the years which refuse to work
> properly with an external scandoubler, although he does't know why.
> Such boards will work with an internal model though. Perhaps I'll
> have to go that route.
Someone once explained to me here a few years ago that there is a problem
with Genlocks on certain A1200's, that it needed a pullup resistor or some
such on the output port, otherwise you get a blank screen.
I wonder if this may be related?
Armin
<snip>
> Yes, I see, Marcel. But the scandoubler does draw power from the
> port. I wrote to somebody at Eyetech, who said that he's run across
> a very few A1200 motherboards over the years which refuse to work
> properly with an external scandoubler, although he does't know why.
> Such boards will work with an internal model though. Perhaps I'll
> have to go that route.
A. You could get someone at the Austin Amiga club to measure
the voltages on the A1200 video connector for you.
B. Perhaps some club member has got the excellent MV 1200
external scandoubler/flicker fixer (AKA Eyetech EZ VGA Plus),
so that you can see if your A1200 works with that adapter.
C. (This is a long shot). Are you using BlizKick?
If so, have you tried configuring it to use the BBlank module?
Also try PAL High Res Laced w/ 724 x 566 overscan and 8 colors
as your Screenmode default.
Armin
Steven Folberg
A> Hi Steven, on 05-Apr-2001, at 14:43:00, you wrote:
A>
A> <snip>
A>
A> > Yes, I see, Marcel. But the scandoubler does draw power from the
A> > port. I wrote to somebody at Eyetech, who said that he's run
A> > across a very few A1200 motherboards over the years which refuse
A> > to work properly with an external scandoubler, although he
A> > does't know why. Such boards will work with an internal model
A> > though. Perhaps I'll have to go that route.
A>
A> A. You could get someone at the Austin Amiga club to measure
A> the voltages on the A1200 video connector for you.
I asked, but nobody seems to have the proper equipment. :-(
A>
A> B. Perhaps some club member has got the excellent MV 1200
A> external scandoubler/flicker fixer (AKA Eyetech EZ VGA Plus),
A> so that you can see if your A1200 works with that adapter.
A>
This is exactly the one that I'm trying to use that won't work!
A> C. (This is a long shot). Are you using BlizKick?
A> If so, have you tried configuring it to use the BBlank
A> module? Also try PAL High Res Laced w/ 724 x 566 overscan and
A> 8 colors as your Screenmode default.
A>
No, no BlizKick here. As for testing the scandoubler, the (NTSC)
early startup screen won't show up.
A> Armin
A>
thanks for trying to help, Armin!
Armin
>> A. You could get someone at the Austin Amiga club to measure
>> the voltages on the A1200 video connector for you.
> I asked, but nobody seems to have the proper equipment. :-(
You will only need a simple multimeter and help from someone
with technical knowledge to properly handle the instrument
(so that they do not "fry" your mb).
>> B. Perhaps some club member has got the excellent MV 1200
>> external scandoubler/flicker fixer (AKA Eyetech EZ VGA Plus),
>> so that you can see if your A1200 works with that adapter.
> This is exactly the one that I'm trying to use that won't work!
Assuming the voltages are checked and found OK, connect the
monitor plug to the sd/ff and the sd/ff to the A1200 and boot up.
Adjust the potentiometer at the back of the sd/ff (beside the
monitor plug). Use a small screwdriver and adjust by one
quarter turn at a time until the end stop and then back again.
Be careful, do not force the screw too far in either direction.
I have tested my MV1200 sd/ff on different Amiga models, and
after som minor adjustments it works perfectly with all of them.
>> C. (This is a long shot). Are you using BlizKick?
>> If so, have you tried configuring it to use the BBlank
>> module? Also try PAL High Res Laced w/ 724 x 566 overscan and
>> 8 colors as your Screenmode default.
> No, no BlizKick here. As for testing the scandoubler, the (NTSC)
> early startup screen won't show up.
Hmm, somehow I had got the impression that you were using a
Phase5 Blizzard board with your A1200.
(The reason behind this suggestion was to see if changing the
video/RGB signal would have triggered the sd/ff).
Armin
Marcel DeVoe
> "A" == "Armin" writes:
> A> Hi Steven, on 05-Apr-2001, at 14:43:00, you wrote:
> A>
> A> <snip>
> A>
> A> > Yes, I see, Marcel. But the scandoubler does draw power from the
> A> > port. I wrote to somebody at Eyetech, who said that he's run
> A> > across a very few A1200 motherboards over the years which refuse
> A> > to work properly with an external scandoubler, although he
> A> > does't know why. Such boards will work with an internal model
> A> > though. Perhaps I'll have to go that route.
> A>
> A> A. You could get someone at the Austin Amiga club to measure
> A> the voltages on the A1200 video connector for you.
> I asked, but nobody seems to have the proper equipment. :-(
A simple $10-$15 meter from the Rat Shack will do the trick.
Surely someone must have one or you can get one yourself.
One should always have one around the house.
George Wyche
George Wyche here. I've got a voltmeter that can be used
on Steve's A1200. Next meeting is less than 2 weeks away and
this'll give us something to do at the meeting.
I got a job that is 100% Microsoft so I have been quite
busy learning about that OS. I can create a base Win98 on a
test computer in 22 minutes! I think that in a month or so
I'll be able to get back to my beloved Oberon. The project
that was being developed their may yet breathe with life in
a money making way. It will be an interesting summer.
I am glad to see that you are a help to more and more of
us from Austin, Texas
ge||ge 1/2 of cjw...@io.com
> Armin
Carol Wyche of Firewheel Designs
for private replies mailto:cjw...@io.com
http://www.io.com/~cjwyche
Armin
> George Wyche here. I've got a voltmeter that can be used
> on Steve's A1200. Next meeting is less than 2 weeks away and
> this'll give us something to do at the meeting.
About time someone in Austin came to the rescue of the
man who made you all immortal with a Twirl (AA no5) :-)
> I got a job that is 100% Microsoft so I have been quite
> busy learning about that OS. I can create a base Win98
> on a test computer in 22 minutes!
I found this story in The Daily Telegraph yesterday:
There was in Russia a very old and famous rabbi, who
was lying on his death bed, surrounded by his disciples.
They were gnashing their teeth and tearing their clothes
at the prospect of him passing away.
One says: "How are we to survive when there is no one
to set an example of piety such as you have set us?"
Another says: "You are the most learned man of your
generation - who will there be to teach us the law
as brilliantly as you have done?"
A third says: "You are the most ethical man in the world
- who will be able to teach us ethics as you have done?"
The rabbi summons up his last ounce of strength and says:
"And about my humility you have nothing to say?"
(Told by Norman Podhoretz)
Armin