omnedon
10-12-2004, 02:57 PM
Well, it's finally done. I've done the AV and BIOS mod for a spare ColecoVision. I used the Composite method from here: http://www.a1k0n.net/projects/coleco/, and the S-video from here http://www94.pair.com/jsoper/cv_svideo.html, except I altered it (switched) so the two mods could co-exist. I also went with two mono audio channels instead of one, so you can get two speaker audio, from standard AV cables, no splitter required.
Pics!!
The jacks.
http://members.arstechnica.com/x/omnedon/ColecoAV%20005%20jacks.jpg
Now, this was a spare CV. I'm going to now use it as my personal one. Now that I've done one, the next one I do will have cleaner and better jack placement. Not pictured is a small switch, also on the back, that allows the composite and S-video to exist in the same unit.
Composite screenie:
http://members.arstechnica.com/x/omnedon/ColecoAV%20004%20composite.jpg
Notice how black the black is. How much more black could it be? ( :lol: Spinal Tap reference) With the composite signal, the colours seem truer than RF, and have less bleed. Visual noise (static sparkles) are GONE. Mr. Smashy was over last Wednesday, and wrapped Pepper II on the unfinished mod last week (composite only). Many CV games use a black background, and the absence of visual noise is the most striking, next to the more vivid colours.
S-Video Screenie:
http://members.arstechnica.com/x/omnedon/ColecoAV%20003%20Svid.jpg
Sharper yet. Bleed nearly eliminated, and the colours just seem to *pop* more brightly than the composite. Only one problem with the S-Video - it will not work with the Atari expansion pack. the audio and the composite work fantastic with the Atari expansion pack, but no S-video. There seems to be no easy way for me to pull a Luma signal from the Atari expansion, without wiring it to the CV permanently, or running some frankenstein style wiring on the exterior of the two units. Yuck. S-video for CV games only I guess. Pixels so sharp, they may cut you. :lol:
I think those screenshots are quite impressive looking, considering it's a 1 MP Digital camera pointed at my TV.
The audio is a big jump from the flat RF audio, with a much sharper and brighter sound, in two mono channels no less! The BIOS mod is the standard Deathskull BIOS mod from here:
http://users.erols.com/tiltonj/games/tech/ that allows a press of fire, to let you skip the very long COLECOVISION presents splash screen should you desire to.
If anyone wants to do this themselves, I'm always up to answer questions. John Soper was kind enough to clarify some things for my adaptation on his mod, and I'm happy to share what I've learned as well. I will be willing to do this mod for others, for $ or trades. I'm in Canada, which makes the exchange rate very favourable to Americans. 8-)
I will be doing another for Ebay, in an entire set.
OK. I'm done bragging. Time to play some Zaxxon and some Spy Hunter. 8)
Pics!!
The jacks.
http://members.arstechnica.com/x/omnedon/ColecoAV%20005%20jacks.jpg
Now, this was a spare CV. I'm going to now use it as my personal one. Now that I've done one, the next one I do will have cleaner and better jack placement. Not pictured is a small switch, also on the back, that allows the composite and S-video to exist in the same unit.
Composite screenie:
http://members.arstechnica.com/x/omnedon/ColecoAV%20004%20composite.jpg
Notice how black the black is. How much more black could it be? ( :lol: Spinal Tap reference) With the composite signal, the colours seem truer than RF, and have less bleed. Visual noise (static sparkles) are GONE. Mr. Smashy was over last Wednesday, and wrapped Pepper II on the unfinished mod last week (composite only). Many CV games use a black background, and the absence of visual noise is the most striking, next to the more vivid colours.
S-Video Screenie:
http://members.arstechnica.com/x/omnedon/ColecoAV%20003%20Svid.jpg
Sharper yet. Bleed nearly eliminated, and the colours just seem to *pop* more brightly than the composite. Only one problem with the S-Video - it will not work with the Atari expansion pack. the audio and the composite work fantastic with the Atari expansion pack, but no S-video. There seems to be no easy way for me to pull a Luma signal from the Atari expansion, without wiring it to the CV permanently, or running some frankenstein style wiring on the exterior of the two units. Yuck. S-video for CV games only I guess. Pixels so sharp, they may cut you. :lol:
I think those screenshots are quite impressive looking, considering it's a 1 MP Digital camera pointed at my TV.
The audio is a big jump from the flat RF audio, with a much sharper and brighter sound, in two mono channels no less! The BIOS mod is the standard Deathskull BIOS mod from here:
http://users.erols.com/tiltonj/games/tech/ that allows a press of fire, to let you skip the very long COLECOVISION presents splash screen should you desire to.
If anyone wants to do this themselves, I'm always up to answer questions. John Soper was kind enough to clarify some things for my adaptation on his mod, and I'm happy to share what I've learned as well. I will be willing to do this mod for others, for $ or trades. I'm in Canada, which makes the exchange rate very favourable to Americans. 8-)
I will be doing another for Ebay, in an entire set.
OK. I'm done bragging. Time to play some Zaxxon and some Spy Hunter. 8)