Is this a normal looking video output?

matsondawson · Post by **matsondawson** » Fri May 08, 2009 5:12 pm

I've just bought a Vic 20 and it's image out looks like this:

Since I don't have another vic to test on my lcd tv, does it look right?

It looks like colour causes the pixels to be off.

English Invader · Post by **English Invader** » Fri May 08, 2009 5:49 pm

I'm new to the VIC myself, but if I'm reading this right, your problem is that your television is maximising one part of the VIC screen and not showing the complete image.

I read another posting recently from someone who had a similar problem, and it was suggested that he try using an AV instead of the old PAL scart lead. You can buy a commodore 8 bit AV lead for about a fiver on e-bay.

matsondawson · Post by **matsondawson** » Fri May 08, 2009 8:42 pm

Ah, if by scart you mean RF, RF is worse. This is the AV connection.
I suspect it might be normal, so I'm going to try a S-Video conversion to see if that fixes it.

matsondawson · Post by **matsondawson** » Fri May 08, 2009 11:05 pm

Ok, I've gone to do the svideo hack, and shock horror my 2 vic's don't match the revesion E or N schematic.

There's an extra capacitor soldered onto the back of the board across R5 labeled 56. And instead of a capactior coming off FB7 there's a 230 resistor.

matsondawson · Post by **matsondawson** » Sat May 09, 2009 12:44 am

ok, I have the S-VHS mod done, and quality is about 50 times better, but...

I now have vertical bands every 4 pixels, light followed by dark followed by light. It looks like (i guess) video mem access, char rom access.

So my question is, should FB7 have been removed, could that be why i'm seeing these bars?

channelmaniac · Post by **channelmaniac** » Sun May 10, 2009 12:02 am

Try a different TV... or if it's a wide screen put it in normal viewing mode and not 16:9.

matsondawson · Post by **matsondawson** » Sun May 10, 2009 1:04 am

Mmm with a lot more fiddling with the lcd and intensity levels I've reduced the lines to a point where I can put up with it.
First thing to do is turn off the "vibrant" setting on your lcd if it has one.
Then adjust the brightness pot, to a point where the lines are acceptable.

I did try a big fat cap on the VIC chip power supply but that had no effect.

I have noticed with the s-video mod the colour looks to be off to the left by about a half pixel, but I can also put up with that.

matsondawson · Post by **matsondawson** » Sun May 10, 2009 1:20 am

Final image output, sorry about my crappy photo, but my female flatmate was bleeting in my ear that she couldn't wait the 10 seconds it took to take a photo and she abolutely had to watch some stupid pre-recorded crime show now.

Mikam73 · Post by **Mikam73** » Sun May 10, 2009 8:33 am

Is there info somewere how do S-video mod? Would be nice

gklinger · Post by **gklinger** » Sun May 10, 2009 11:23 am

Mikam73 wrote:Is there info somewere how do S-video mod? Would be nice

Geez, did you even bother to look before asking? There are three (1, 2 and 3) threads about the S-video hack all on the first page of the Hardware and Tech forum overview and it's in the Denial Wiki too.

Mikam73 · Post by **Mikam73** » Sun May 10, 2009 12:28 pm

Thanks. I must have missed those before.

Kweepa · Post by **Kweepa** » Sun May 10, 2009 1:37 pm

matsondawson wrote:Final image output

Looks great! Clear and sharp.