Date   : Fri, 03 Jun 2005 19:38:54 +0200
From   : John Kortink <kortink@...>
Subject: Re: BBC Z80 Second Processor

Anyone interested in a pretty good alternative to an
actual 80's monitor, blurry, and doubling as central
heating, read on.

Ingredients :

a) Creating an S-Video output on the beeb
b) Installing a TV card on your PC
c) Connect
d) Tweak

a) It's actually pretty easy to get usable S-Video out of
the beeb with just an S-Video socket and some soldering :
1) Remove link S-39. 2) Your Y/luma signal (refer to e.g.
http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/av/svideo.html) is
the old, now b/w composite video signal (middle pin of the
BNC socket). 3) Your C/Chroma signal is the 'east' pin of
S39. 4) Finally, connect both Y and C grounds to beeb
ground e.g. the other BNC socket pin/flap.

b) Get yourself a Pinnacle PC-TV Rave (e.g. the mono one).
Install on your PC.

c) Connect beeb's S-Video socket to 'S-Video in' of TV card
with an S-Video cable.

d) Use special settings : 1) In 'Video' select S-Video, and
select '1 field only' (plus, perhaps, 'Noise filter'). 2)
In colors (matter of taste this, to some extent) turn up
both Contrast and Saturation, all the way, and reduce
Brightness a notch or two.

Resize as needed (640x480 is good, or full screen). Done.

IMO the result is surprisingly good (mainly due to the
seperate luma and chroma, which avoids a lot of the
patterning problems of composite video). I actually
prefer it to a traditional CRT (saves desk space as
well, although your PC needs to be on). Really good
solid colours, no tearing (due to '1 field only'
setting). Just a /little/ colour noise left.

Whole thing should set you back around 33 (PC-TV card)
plus 2-ish Euro, i.e. 35 total (25 UKP or thereabouts).

Have fun.


John Kortink

-- 

Email    : kortink@...         
Homepage : http://www.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink

GoMMC, the ultimate BBC/Master storage system :
http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink/home/hardware/gommc