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Connecting the Toast rack to VGA

aysterayster
edited May 2012 in Hardware
Hi,

I've been trying to get my 128k toast rack to connect to my VGA screen for a while now with not much luck. I couldn't find a cable or adaptor to go from RGB to VGA, so thought I'd try a different approach.. I bought an RGB - Scart cable (which works going to TV) a TV tuner card, with RCA connectors, a SCART coupler and a SCART TO RCA cable. Set up the TV Card in my PC, installed all the software and drivers, then connected my PS2 to the RCA jacks and it worked, great, however when I try with the speccy, I get a very distorted picture, you can just about make out the sinclair copyright line, but it is not usable. I connected the RGB -SCART to a coupler, then connected the SCART to RCA into that coupler and then the RCA into the RCA Jacks.

Its driving me bonkers now! Can anyone suggest a way of achieving what I'm trying to do, preferably cheaply as I've spent a fair bit already trying to get this working! I don't mind plugging directly into the screen as I have a VGA switchbox, am also happy to use the TV Card and play from the TV Tuner software. (oh and I also tried going from the RF to the aerial socket on the TV card, with no success (guessing it needs a scandoubler or something?))

Thanks in advance!
A
Post edited by ayster on

Comments

  • XorAXorA
    edited May 2012
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARCADE-GAME-RGB-CGA-EGA-VGA-VIDEO-CONVERTER-GBS8220-/320733430559?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item4aad33c31f

    Should work, I use one for CPC, +3, Sam Coupe, QL
  • KnikKnik
    edited May 2012
    Does your screen look like this ?
    https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/krPHzSMcbQ6bEkSBxc4GKWvEyy9_oMMADQ4qTRJyUkY?feat=directlink
    Or is it worse ?
    Just curious because I suspect I might have a similar issue.
  • aysterayster
    edited May 2012
    XorA wrote: »
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARCADE-GAME-RGB-CGA-EGA-VGA-VIDEO-CONVERTER-GBS8220-/320733430559?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item4aad33c31f

    Should work, I use one for CPC, +3, Sam Coupe, QL

    Does that work with a computer monitor, as one of my 'solutions' previously was a SCART to VGA cable, which of course didnt work as it was for HD TVS instead (didnt realise there was a difference)
  • aysterayster
    edited May 2012
    Knik wrote: »
    Does your screen look like this ?
    https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/krPHzSMcbQ6bEkSBxc4GKWvEyy9_oMMADQ4qTRJyUkY?feat=directlink
    Or is it worse ?
    Just curious because I suspect I might have a similar issue.

    I would love it to be that clear!! :) no, mine is worse, ....

    zxspecscreen.jpg

    Those lines are moving all the time too, give you a headache to look at!!
  • XorAXorA
    edited May 2012
    ayster wrote: »
    Does that work with a computer monitor, as one of my 'solutions' previously was a SCART to VGA cable, which of course didnt work as it was for HD TVS instead (didnt realise there was a difference)

    Yes it works for computer monitor, thats what it is designed for. VGA monitors can't in general sync low enough to display a RGB signal designed for displaying on TV's.

    I have no idea why they keep this silly limitation now TVs and monitors are using identicle LCD panels.
  • XorAXorA
    edited May 2012
    250139_2103786239197_1381731948_2472031_7311528_n.jpg

    Here hopefully is an image of it in action!
  • aysterayster
    edited May 2012
    XorA wrote: »
    Yes it works for computer monitor, thats what it is designed for. VGA monitors can't in general sync low enough to display a RGB signal designed for displaying on TV's.

    I have no idea why they keep this silly limitation now TVs and monitors are using identicle LCD panels.

    OK, thanks, I was hoping to use the cables I already bought, but I guess thats not going to work, also its a bit more than I wanted to spend as I'm upto nearly ?50 already! Maybe I should trade in my monitor for one with an inbuilt tv tuner?!
  • aysterayster
    edited May 2012
    XorA wrote: »
    250139_2103786239197_1381731948_2472031_7311528_n.jpg

    Here hopefully is an image of it in action!

    Nice, so what extra cable would I need to connect the toast rack to that board, and would they be readily available pre-built as I've no skills in soldering stuff !
  • XorAXorA
    edited May 2012
    I built all my cables myself. 8 pin din to VGA connector. I have incorporated all the resistors needed to reduce to SCART volatage levels inside the VGA connector. Haven't built a cable for a toast rack yet though, need to get round to that!
  • rustyredlinerustyredline
    edited May 2012
    I got a peritel to scart connector for my +2A, which makes a perfect, clear picture on my portable but has a black background and is practically invisible on a big old fashioned projector tv. Can't play speccy downstairs :(. Unless does anyone sell peritel din to vga cables. So i could play my +2A on monitors? cheers
  • aysterayster
    edited May 2012
    XorA wrote: »
    I built all my cables myself. 8 pin din to VGA connector. I have incorporated all the resistors needed to reduce to SCART volatage levels inside the VGA connector. Haven't built a cable for a toast rack yet though, need to get round to that!

    Cool, .. would you consider making one for me? It would be good practice! :) Or maybe if you had some quick instructions of how to build one I could have a go myself :o ?
  • XorAXorA
    edited May 2012
    ayster wrote: »
    Cool, .. would you consider making one for me? It would be good practice! :) Or maybe if you had some quick instructions of how to build one I could have a go myself :o ?

    I need to work out hot to fit the extra 5 resistors and 3 diodes in there without shorting anything. It might take me a while to design it :-)
  • aysterayster
    edited May 2012
    XorA wrote: »
    I need to work out hot to fit the extra 5 resistors and 3 diodes in there without shorting anything. It might take me a while to design it :-)

    OK, no problem! Let me know when you get it sorted! :)
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