15 replies to this topic

[Yurkie]

I would like to offering installing a 40 pin socket in place of the VDP. And then installing the video card mentioned in this thread.

http://www.atariage....ic/168968-f18a/

It completely replaces the video output circuitry, so it won't matter if there is a bad RF board or bad DRAM chips. Since it will be brand new hardware, and video issues are the main ColecoVision problem this seems like a good thing.

As I said above it will insert into a 40 pin socket where the VDP was and will ouput VGA video. I would then also install a jack for audio.

Not sure what the cost will be and also not sure when the gentleman making the video card will finish and start offering it for sale.

This could probably be offered 2 ways.

Replace the VDP with a 40 pin socket and person plugs the video card in themselves and installs the jacks on the back of the console on their own.

OR

The above, plus installing jacks on the back of the console. Perhaps with cords included.

This is mostly to gauge interest in this service.

I suppose people with extra CVs (especially ones with video issues) could have the socket installed now if they wanted. It's a pain to remove a 40 pin IC without either breaking the chip or messing up traces, so I will be cutting the pins and desoldering each pin 1 at a time. I'll do the 40 pin socket install for $25 if anyone wants to get that done now and install the video themselves later. Add a $20 power switch refurbishing and I'll throw in the cart slot cleaning for free.

Comments and question are welcome

[Murph74]

Sounds cool! So i assume it will disable any composite mods or the like since it's a different video circuit top to bottom?

[Yurkie]

Yes no mods that are tied into the current video circuitry will work.

A plus is most New TVs have VGA in.

[retroillucid]

I'm in!

Sounds like an excellent idea!

[Yurkie]

If 10 or so people want in on this, I may be able to get you a small discount on the video cards.

[retroillucid]

Yurkie, on Sat Oct 8, 2011 3:25 PM, said:

If 10 or so people want in on this, I may be able to get you a small discount on the video cards.

I may ended up taking 2 units ..... but would need to know how much it will cost for 1 unit first

This is something I was looking for such a long time.. can't wait to get this actually

[Yurkie]

I guess $100 for the card and I will likely install for $60 and that will include audio jack, cart slot cleaning and power switch refurbish.

[retroillucid]

Yurkie, on Sat Oct 8, 2011 3:38 PM, said:

I guess $100 for the card and I will likely install for $60 and that will include audio jack, cart slot cleaning and power switch refurbish.

Sounds good

[pimpmaul69]

Im in

[SlowCoder]

I'm not sure I'm ready to make a big jump like that right now, as I still enjoy playing on older TVs. But I think it's an excellent idea.

I'd love to hear what some of the people who do get it think of the hardware.

[Ikrananka]

Well I'm extremely interested and will say that I am definately in for two units (but would like to do the install the mod myself if that option will be available - I just enjoy DIY). Although I like the component video mod by 5-11under, the image is very soft around the edges and there is vertical banding present which I suspect are limitations imposed by using the existing video chip and circuitry. I am assuming that the VGA mod would eliminate these issues and thus would allow the CV to be played on big screen TVs (and even projectors) with the image still looking crisp and clear.

Edited by Ikrananka, Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:44 PM.

[5-11under]

Ikrananka, on Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:44 PM, said:

Well I'm extremely interested and will say that I am definately in for two units (but would like to do the install the mod myself if that option will be available - I just enjoy DIY). Although I like the component video mod by 5-11under, the image is very soft around the edges and there is vertical banding present which I suspect are limitations imposed by using the existing video chip and circuitry. I am assuming that the VGA mod would eliminate these issues and thus would allow the CV to be played on big screen TVs (and even projectors) with the image still looking crisp and clear.

For DIY, you'll of course be able to buy from Matt (code/hack/create) directly, once it's available, of course. The VGA output should be pretty much be as good as VGA can be, I think.

[retroillucid]

5-11under, on Tue Oct 11, 2011 3:37 PM, said:

Ikrananka, on Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:44 PM, said:

Well I'm extremely interested and will say that I am definately in for two units (but would like to do the install the mod myself if that option will be available - I just enjoy DIY). Although I like the component video mod by 5-11under, the image is very soft around the edges and there is vertical banding present which I suspect are limitations imposed by using the existing video chip and circuitry. I am assuming that the VGA mod would eliminate these issues and thus would allow the CV to be played on big screen TVs (and even projectors) with the image still looking crisp and clear.

For DIY, you'll of course be able to buy from Matt (code/hack/create) directly, once it's available, of course. The VGA output should be pretty much be as good as VGA can be, I think.

Who is Matt ?

Also, what about you told me about VGA mod?

[Ikrananka]

retroillucid, on Tue Oct 11, 2011 3:40 PM, said:

5-11under, on Tue Oct 11, 2011 3:37 PM, said:

Ikrananka, on Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:44 PM, said:

Well I'm extremely interested and will say that I am definately in for two units (but would like to do the install the mod myself if that option will be available - I just enjoy DIY). Although I like the component video mod by 5-11under, the image is very soft around the edges and there is vertical banding present which I suspect are limitations imposed by using the existing video chip and circuitry. I am assuming that the VGA mod would eliminate these issues and thus would allow the CV to be played on big screen TVs (and even projectors) with the image still looking crisp and clear.

For DIY, you'll of course be able to buy from Matt (code/hack/create) directly, once it's available, of course. The VGA output should be pretty much be as good as VGA can be, I think.

Who is Matt ?

Also, what about you told me about VGA mod?

Matt is the person creating the FPGA VDP as detailed by Yurkie in the first post of this thread (checkout the link that Yurkie provided).

[retroillucid]

Ikrananka, on Tue Oct 11, 2011 3:43 PM, said:

retroillucid, on Tue Oct 11, 2011 3:40 PM, said:

5-11under, on Tue Oct 11, 2011 3:37 PM, said:

Ikrananka, on Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:44 PM, said:

Well I'm extremely interested and will say that I am definately in for two units (but would like to do the install the mod myself if that option will be available - I just enjoy DIY). Although I like the component video mod by 5-11under, the image is very soft around the edges and there is vertical banding present which I suspect are limitations imposed by using the existing video chip and circuitry. I am assuming that the VGA mod would eliminate these issues and thus would allow the CV to be played on big screen TVs (and even projectors) with the image still looking crisp and clear.

For DIY, you'll of course be able to buy from Matt (code/hack/create) directly, once it's available, of course. The VGA output should be pretty much be as good as VGA can be, I think.

Who is Matt ?

Also, what about you told me about VGA mod?

Matt is the person creating the FPGA VDP as detailed by Yurkie in the first post of this thread (checkout the link that Yurkie provided).

Doh! .... sorry

[XavierGames]

That sounds like a great plan ! count me in !