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Re: Speccy help needed!
Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 8:33 pm
by MonkZy
I bought a very similar looking device for use with my Spectrums. Unfortunately it proved to be useless with both a rubber key (composite mod with capacitor) and a +2 grey (composite via the DIN socket). The image is terribly distorted with shearing of the image reminiscent of horizontal hold problems on old UHF tellys.
I use the gadget with a Raspberry Pi using the composite output and also a couple of other retro consoles (PS1,PS2, Dreamcast) and for these it works really well.
I was going to ask on here why this may be so, but eventually found a very cheap 'Easy CAP' USB composite capture dongle which can be used to display my old Spectrums on my Linux PC.
Re: Speccy help needed!
Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 10:24 pm
by Alessandro
PeterJ wrote: ↑Sat Jul 28, 2018 4:23 pm
I'm way from being an expert on the hardware aspects, but the 48K rubber key Spectrum I purchased with the composite mod had a standard aerial lead with a SCART connector at the end and it works with modern TVs on the AV setting. You can get the cables on eBay for a couple of pounds.
Same for me, and it works quite fine.
On the other hand, 'Euroconnector' is another name for the SCART. I believe it's used in Spanish-speaking countries. Strangely enough, although it was designed in France (SCART being the acronym of
Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs, Association of Manufacturers of Radio and Television Receivers), the French call it
Péritelevision or shortly
Péritel. Here we simply call it SCART.
Re: Speccy help needed!
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 5:30 am
by chequered flag
Re: Speccy help needed!
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 7:25 pm
by SteveZX81
Thanks for all that!
one question. if I get a scart connector working on the Spectrum, would a scart to hdmi converter mean it would then work on a PC monitor?
Re: Speccy help needed!
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 7:54 pm
by chequered flag
I don't know for sure but this configuration:
Spectrum RCA Composite Video to SCART Composite Video to hdmi converter to HDMI,
will still depend on the spectrum composite signal that is not 100% correct.
Here is an example how difficult it can be:
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=911&start=20
This configuration:
Spectrum edge connector to SCART RGB to hdmi converter to HDMI,
depend on the SPECTRA interface generating a correct RGB signal. That is more likely to work.
If you really need HDMI then go for the ZX-HD. No SCART and no HDMI converter to worry about.
Re: Speccy help needed!
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 8:00 pm
by SteveZX81
chequered flag wrote: ↑Sun Jul 29, 2018 7:54 pm
I don't know for sure but this configuration:
Spectrum RCA Composite Video to SCART Composite Video to hdmi converter to HDMI,
will still depend on the spectrum composite signal that is not 100% correct.
Here is an example how difficult it can be:
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=911&start=20
This configuration:
Spectrum edge connector to SCART RGB to hdmi converter to HDMI,
depend on the SPECTRA interface generating a correct RGB signal. That is more likely to work.
If you really need HDMI then go for the ZX-HD. No SCART and no HDMI converter to worry about.
ZX-HD looks ideal, however the price is waaaaay out of my budget. Thanks anyway for your help!
Re: Speccy help needed!
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 11:09 pm
by 1024MAK
SteveZX81 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 29, 2018 7:25 pm
one question. if I get a scart connector working on the Spectrum, would a scart to hdmi converter mean it would then work on a PC monitor?
The SCART to HDMI converter that I have actually converts the RGB signals to HDMI. This when used with either a Sinclair QL or an Acorn BBC Micro computer. Both of which have RGB outputs. I don't know if mine will do composite video. I would test it for you, but it's in storage at the moment
One thing to keep in mind about SCART. It can carry one of a number of video signals, but only one set at any time. The most common video signals that a SCART can carry are:
- Composite video
RGB video
S-video
All SCART connectors should support composite video. Use of the other signals is optional, but most TVs (that have SCART socket(s) have at least one that supports RGB video.
A composite video modified ZX Spectrum only outputs a composite video signal.
Are you sure that your TV does not have a composite video input? The connection is normally a phono socket with either yellow markings, or yellow plastic insulated parts. Often next to a white and a red phono sockets (which are the left and right audio channel inputs).
Mark
Re: Speccy help needed!
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 10:44 am
by SteveZX81
1024MAK wrote: ↑Sun Jul 29, 2018 11:09 pm
SteveZX81 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 29, 2018 7:25 pm
one question. if I get a scart connector working on the Spectrum, would a scart to hdmi converter mean it would then work on a PC monitor?
The SCART to HDMI converter that I have actually converts the RGB signals to HDMI. This when used with either a Sinclair QL or an Acorn BBC Micro computer. Both of which have RGB outputs. I don't know if mine will do composite video. I would test it for you, but it's in storage at the moment
One thing to keep in mind about SCART. It can carry one of a number of video signals, but only one set at any time. The most common video signals that a SCART can carry are:
- Composite video
RGB video
S-video
All SCART connectors should support composite video. Use of the other signals is optional, but most TVs (that have SCART socket(s) have at least one that supports RGB video.
A composite video modified ZX Spectrum only outputs a composite video signal.
Are you sure that your TV does not have a composite video input? The connection is normally a phono socket with either yellow markings, or yellow plastic insulated parts. Often next to a white and a red phono sockets (which are the left and right audio channel inputs).
Mark
The problem is, I don't have a TV, I only own pc monitors (4-5 of them, but no TV)
I gave my TV away some years ago when I decided to stop paying the TV Licence fee.
I guess it's come back to bite me now. haha
Re: Speccy help needed!
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 12:19 pm
by Ast A. Moore
SteveZX81 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 30, 2018 10:44 am
The problem is, I don't have a TV
I threw mine away in 2005. The only reason I got one again last year was a Spectrum development stage that
required real hardware, not emulation. It’s a tiny 14-inch CRT jobbie. Don’t even know if the tuner works. So, yeah.
