Question for the RGB folk on the boards...

[AB Positive]

Would this work as an RGB monitor?

http://home.comcast.net/~rchan00/pics/rgb.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~rchan00/pics/rgb2.JPG


I got it at a yard sale for $10, saw the RGB and took a shot at it. Can't seem to find a model number for it though and I've no clue if that sort of RGB in is workable with a system. Would anyone know?


-AG

[Push Upstairs]

I'm not sure on its RGB ability but i can tell you that those connectors on it are BNC connectors and you can find pieces to convert then the standard RCA connectors at RadioShack.

I have a PAL/NTSC TV i bought from someone that has those exact same connectors.

[1bigmig]

It's clearly a RGB monitor, but the question is whether it syncs up at 15hz horizontally or not so that you could use it with old systems. Sorry I cant help more without a brand and model. Also, Push Upstairs is exactly right about the BNC connectors. I got a gold plated adapter at Radio Shack for my monitor and it works great.

[Ze_ro]

It's hard to say without knowing technical specs... but my guess is that it probably will work properly. Check out GameX (http://www.gamesx.com/index2.htm) for information on making a cable and try it out.

Keep in mind that there's more to RGB than just three cables... you also need a composite sync signal (I'm guessing that's what the unlabelled BNC jack on the right is for), and you'll need some way to get audio out to a speaker, since RGB doesn't provide for that.

--Zero

[AB Positive]

I see lots of FAQs about getting pinouts for the system but what about making the cables for the monitor end? Are there people that makes cables for this type of monitor still?


where's Anthony1 when you need him? :D



-AG

[davidleeroth]

BNC connectors are readily available on electronics stores so no problem there.

I would suggest you do or ask someone to make a SCART to BNC adapter with audio out. It's a simple point to point job and using a female SCART would allow you to connect every system easily using RGB SCART leads.

[Ze_ro]

what about making the cables for the monitor end?
Unfortunately, there hasn't really been any standard connector for RGB monitors, so this can be a little tricky. Most monitors use a 9-pin D connector just like an Atari joystick... but the actual pin assignments are often different. Having seperate BNC jacks might actually make the job easier for you, since you don't have to find actual pin-outs...

For anyone who DOES need pinouts for their monitor, The Hardware Book (http://www.gamesx.com/hwb/menu_Connector.html) has most of them. Probably the most common RGB monitors are the Atari ST monitors (SC1224 and SC1435) and the Commodore 1084S... both of them are on there.

If you're confused about where to start to actually build a cable, what I usually do is just find a cable that has a jack to fit the monitor, and another that fits the system... cut them both in half and splice them together. It's not the cleanest way of doing it, but it's pretty easy. The only annoying part is trying to figure out which wire leads to which pin, so you'll probably need a multimeter of some sort.

If you want to do things the "right" way... then find yourself an electronics store that sells components. You should be able to find cable and bare jacks that fit the monitor so you can use them to make "real" cables that look professionally made and don't have a bunch of tape over the splice in the middle. Finding jacks that fit game systems is a little tougher though... you might have to cannibalize existing cables to get them.

--Zero

[chadtower]

I'm guessing it won't. Very few monitors can sync to 15khz and a lot of monitors had those style of coaxial connectors. The odds are not good. Look up the model name/number with google and that will tell you.

[ClubNinja]

Building your own cable would be painfully simple - as said, the parts are available and the wiring is essentially "this to that" a few times.

My concern is the same as Chad's - the sync frequency. My general rule of RGB and gaming is to only use them good ol' Commodore monitors since they're a sure bet. I know there's a list of other models out on the web somewhere, but otherwise, it's totally a crap shoot.

[AB Positive]

If someone could tell me where to find the model and number on this beast that would be rather helpful :-/ I can't find it anywhere.

EDIT: which means of course as soon as I say that, I find the model number. Time to forum search for that link to monitors that work at 15 hz




-AG