1040 STF -> SCART -> Composite -> TV

[Tenorman]

I've currently got an NTSC Atari 1040 STF and a SC1224 monitor. The picture on the monitor is pretty dark even though the brightness is turned up all the way which makes some games hard to play. I might try to find somebody who can repair the monitor at some point, but shipping it would be pretty expensive. I've been kicking around the idea of just trying to hook the computer up to a TV since all I really do on it is play games anyway. It is my understanding that a ST->VGA adapter will only display monochrome on any even remotely modern VGA monitor, and since I have an STF, I won't have a composite signal coming off the video connector.

 

My idea is to chain together this:

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574883395&toolid=10001&campid=5336500554&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FAtari-ST-RGB-AV-Scart-Cable-TV-Lead-cord-NEW-RCA-sound-break-out-%2F120799097530

With one of these:

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574883395&toolid=10001&campid=5336500554&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FRGB-Scart-to-Composite-RCA-SVHS-S-Video-AV-TV-Audio-Cable-Adapter-%2F200843908116

and then plug it into the composite input on a TV.

 

All I am really looking for here is a passable color low-res picture for playing games. Has anybody ever done this? Are there any issues that I am not aware of?

 

Thanks.

[Tenorman]

I just realized that the SCART->Composite adapter that I linked to probably only passes the composite video signal from the SCART cable through to the RCA jack. It probably isn't actually doing any kind of conversion. Since I don't have any composite signal coming from the ST, I'd probably actually need something like this:

 

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574883395&toolid=10001&campid=5336500554&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FSEGA-SCART-to-RGB-YPbPr-YUV-Component-Video-Converter-%2F370695549265

 

This is just becoming more expensive and annoying all the time. I might be best off just fixing the monitor. Unless somebody has any other ideas on how to accomplish this on the cheap.

[Charlie_]

Don't forget most NTSC TV sets don't display PAL games.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

I think that no cheap solution. When no composite out, you can use only RGB, or some RGB converter.

No TV repair-man in area ? They should be able to fix monitor.

[Tenorman]

Looks like I might just be able to adjust the flyback to get some extra brightness. I'm not real excited about taking apart a CRT monitor and messing with it while it is on though.

[GadgetUK]

Be extremely careful, there are lethal voltages inside a CRT. If you want to be extra safe, wear rubber gloves, and make sure you know what you are doing.

[oky2000]

I've currently got an NTSC Atari 1040 STF and a SC1224 monitor. The picture on the monitor is pretty dark even though the brightness is turned up all the way which makes some games hard to play. I might try to find somebody who can repair the monitor at some point, but shipping it would be pretty expensive. I've been kicking around the idea of just trying to hook the computer up to a TV since all I really do on it is play games anyway. It is my understanding that a ST->VGA adapter will only display monochrome on any even remotely modern VGA monitor, and since I have an STF, I won't have a composite signal coming off the video connector.

 

My idea is to chain together this:

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574883395&toolid=10001&campid=5336500554&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FAtari-ST-RGB-AV-Scart-Cable-TV-Lead-cord-NEW-RCA-sound-break-out-%2F120799097530

With one of these:

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574883395&toolid=10001&campid=5336500554&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FRGB-Scart-to-Composite-RCA-SVHS-S-Video-AV-TV-Audio-Cable-Adapter-%2F200843908116

and then plug it into the composite input on a TV.

 

All I am really looking for here is a passable color low-res picture for playing games. Has anybody ever done this? Are there any issues that I am not aware of?

 

Thanks.

There is a process that can be done on most CRT tubes which they call 'boosting' but it does shorten the life of the CRT tube(think making a 200bhp Turbo engine produce 350bhp) but if the screen is dark already you might as well see if anyone in your area can boost the tube for you. It requires specialist equipment from the 80s era of TV repair however so not many engineers could do it.

 

Failing this then I'd say either get a 1040STFM or get a new monitor I would say. That way you have spares that will be useful in the future (driving electronics for the SC1224 or a fully working 1040STF etc). Cables and converters are not really worth much used whereas a working 1040STF is worth something and probably will appreciate in value over the years as these machines start to fall off the ebay listings.

 

Possibly sell the 1040STF to fund the purchase of another machine?

[dhoser]

Wow, you're doing exactly the same thing I have been trying to do. My monitor died and I'm trying to ge my 1040ST to work on a CRT TV or LCD.

I had an Atari monitor that died so that's why I'm going the CRT TV/LCD route. Those ST monitors are hard to find and usually quite expensive.

What I am trying to do is use an Atari St to Scart/w audio cable

http://www.retrogamingcables.com/atari-st-rgb-av-scart-cable-tv-lead-rca.html

with the Scart to component converter box you mentioned

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/370695549240?lpid=82

to get the component out.
I've tried it on my Toshiba 32" CRT with component/audio input and only got a ghosted wavering image.
I also tried it with a Dynex 19" LCD with component/audio input and also got a ghosted wavering image.

I then bought this Scart to RCA adapter

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCART-MALE-TO-FEMALE-TO-3-x-RCA-PHONO-SVHS-SWITCH-/320429793267?pt=UK_Computing_Sound_Vision_Video_Cables_Adapters&hash=item4a9b1a9ff3

and hooked it up to the Atari ST Scart cable to try RCA inputs on the LCD and got no image at all. Not sure why, any ideas on that?

Hopefully we can some combination to work and if anyone has any suggestions please pass them along. Just trying to get the ST up and running so my grandson can enjoy some of the education software and classic games that I still have.

 

Are there any other forums we can post this too as I'm new to this one.

[GadgetUK]

Many (if not all) of the scart cables on EBAY for the ST have one pin wired to the wrong connection for some LCD TVs. Techie Alison detailed this in one of her threads over on Atari-Forum. I wish I could remember which pin it was. All I know is until I made a small change to the cable it wouldnt work on any of my LCD TVs. I think its one of the sync pins if memory serves.

[delvis]

In the posting on this forum about the HD9800 or GBS8200 these scan doubler cards will allow you to play Color or Colour games on most LCD monitors with your ST. Following a simple pin out guide I built a cable that with the HD9800 works. See the posting in this forum.

 

There are other postings all over the different forums doing stuff to work with SCART too.

[Sowden]

Wow, you're doing exactly the same thing I have been trying to do. My monitor died and I'm trying to ge my 1040ST to work on a CRT TV or LCD.

I had an Atari monitor that died so that's why I'm going the CRT TV/LCD route. Those ST monitors are hard to find and usually quite expensive.

 

What I am trying to do is use an Atari St to Scart/w audio cable

 

http://www.retrogamingcables.com/atari-st-rgb-av-scart-cable-tv-lead-rca.html

 

with the Scart to component converter box you mentioned

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/370695549240?lpid=82

to get the component out.

I've tried it on my Toshiba 32" CRT with component/audio input and only got a ghosted wavering image.

I also tried it with a Dynex 19" LCD with component/audio input and also got a ghosted wavering image.

 

I then bought this Scart to RCA adapter

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCART-MALE-TO-FEMALE-TO-3-x-RCA-PHONO-SVHS-SWITCH-/320429793267?pt=UK_Computing_Sound_Vision_Video_Cables_Adapters&hash=item4a9b1a9ff3

 

and hooked it up to the Atari ST Scart cable to try RCA inputs on the LCD and got no image at all. Not sure why, any ideas on that?

 

Hopefully we can some combination to work and if anyone has any suggestions please pass them along. Just trying to get the ST up and running so my grandson can enjoy some of the education software and classic games that I still have.

 

Are there any other forums we can post this too as I'm new to this one.

 

 

I was just about to go this route before I read this. I find some posts talking about this daisy chain idea but they never seem to confirm if it works or not. I am hearing some saying it doesn't. I am starting to think that this is something I can't solve with money. That I will have to learn how to cut wires and solder. Has anyone gotten a process like this to work? Thanks, later.

[Sowden]

Sorry to double post. Take a look at what this guy did.

 

 

He basically took a Scart to RGB box, opened it, put the board inside a bigger box tucked next to a GB8220. He popped off the RGB plugs on both boards and wired them together. That then sends the VGA signal out to the output. Now in the video hes working with a Sega, but he did this previously in a video for the ST. I've been talking to him about it and he said it works just as well with the ST as it does everything else (that supports it). So what do you guys think? Have you seen this before? Later.