Date   : Thu, 02 Jan 2014 12:50:39 +0100
From   : anders.carlsson@... (Anders Carlsson)
Subject: Modernisations

Paul Vernon wrote:

>> I noticed John mentioned a Beeb to VGA converter
> Yes, something like this is suitable...
> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RGB-RGBS-TO-VGA-converter-1-VGA-for-arcade-game-etc-/260847913225

A few years ago I bought one of those and while it does it job, it adds a 
little delay on the picture. For your daily word processing, programming and 
perhaps art drawing needs it might be acceptable, but you might find that 
some action games will be more difficult to play if you see on screen what 
is happening 0.2 seconds after the CPU decided it already happened. YMMV, 
and the firmware and size of programmable chips may have improved to shorten 
the lag.

I don't know about HDMI, but if you have a display that takes SCART RGB, it 
is not rocket science to convert the TTL RGB signal from the Beeb to analog 
level signals. I realize this neither what John nor Thomas was asking about, 
and I also understand that any signal converter can't operate at the speed 
of light, but perhaps it would be better to look for a RGB to HDMI converter 
from the start than going through VGA as a middle step.

I noticed there are a few RGB/component to HDMI converters on eBay, but I 
don't know if they'd be suitable with a BBC Micro, with or without 
additional circuitry. My bet is on "not compatible out of the box", but I'd 
glad to be proven wrong.

Best regards

Anders Carlsson