Simius Posted February 17, 2021 Author Share Posted February 17, 2021 On 2/13/2021 at 3:22 PM, Mclaneinc said: @Simius A bit OT, have you ever thought about cleaning up a C64's display? I don't know if you have C64 knowledge or not? Its just that the C64 needs a similar item.. Never thought. My C64 knowledge is the first degree - I know it exist. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 Lol...Thought I'd ask... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madness77 Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 On 2/13/2021 at 3:22 PM, Mclaneinc said: @Simius A bit OT, have you ever thought about cleaning up a C64's display? [...] Commodorians have a similar solution: https://github.com/c0pperdragon/C64-Video-Enhancement 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 (edited) Aha, that exactly what I'm looking for, never heard of it before and I'm deep in the old C64 scene...Thank you very much, you learn something new every day..Now to see if there's a kit for it and if so, how much (dreading that bit) Edit: 60.00 EU....Not bad, time to save up! Edited February 18, 2021 by Mclaneinc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillC Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 8 hours ago, Mclaneinc said: Aha, that exactly what I'm looking for, never heard of it before and I'm deep in the old C64 scene...Thank you very much, you learn something new every day..Now to see if there's a kit for it and if so, how much (dreading that bit) Edit: 60.00 EU....Not bad, time to save up! Just be aware that it has component video output(similar to RGB) and not DVI/HDMI digital. There is also an older analog only upgrade that provides improved chroma/luma/composite signals. It uses a TMS7316 video amplifier/buffer which I believe to be similar to the IC used in the UAV. https://videogameperfection.com/products/c64-svideo-bypass/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Thanks, don't want to derail the thread more than it has been, will look at both of these projects, thank you both very much.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aleomark Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 Hi folks, I need a long cable from Sophia 2 board to dvi board, my kit came with one half long of this picture, anyone can tell me the cable name in order to search for one ? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari8guy Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 just got this installed in my 800xl, holy $#@%$! Love it. Nice Work!!!!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calab Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 8 minutes ago, 8bitguy1 said: just got this installed in my 800xl, holy $#@%$! Love it. Where did you get it? I thought it wasn't available until March? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari8guy Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 2 minutes ago, Calab said: Where did you get it? I thought it wasn't available until March? I was on page one of the pre-order list when Simius first put it up. Had mine for a while, just got it installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMinus Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 I really want to get one Sophia 2, 800 version ASAP. The only option I have seen is from TBA, which is currently sold out. You can see me a private message if you wish: bodhilabs@gmail.com. Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle22 Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 On 2/18/2021 at 1:19 AM, madness77 said: Commodorians have a similar solution: https://github.com/c0pperdragon/C64-Video-Enhancement Commodorians ? ...? Like This? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 That was awesome when I was 7 years old. Then I grew up and can talk to people who are different to me. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 11 hours ago, CMinus said: I really want to get one Sophia 2, 800 version ASAP. The only option I have seen is from TBA, which is currently sold out. You can see me a private message if you wish: bodhilabs@gmail.com. Many thanks. You need register your interest on the sophia2 sales thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMinus Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 Simius, I want to have the Sophia 2, 800 version. Can I get from you? Thank you so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockdoc2010 Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 I am truly blown away by this mod! My VBXE never worked. My original Sophia-C never worked. My GBS8200 WITH RGB2VGA for XLD worked but always required resetting and it was in PAL color scheme. I have upgraded a 1200XL to Super Video ver 2 and that was very clean, however this screen is so sharp I might cut my fingers tracing a line on the monitor! Absolutely BRILLIANT Simius! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockdoc2010 Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 THANK YOU.. it worked and I am now the proud owner of one insanely sharp video mod! BRILLIANT! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simius Posted March 13, 2021 Author Share Posted March 13, 2021 This is an exemplary application for palette loading. Palette file "palette.asc" have to be present on the same disk/partition. loadpal.zip 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 at first I thought it was load PAL.... then I read it's to load a palette... so a deem thee loadpalt.zip I get confused to easily... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erichenneke Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 I finally got around to installing my Sophia 2. Unfortunately, it didn't really go as planned. I was expecting it to "just work" so I was surprised when it didn't. But before I jump to some conclusion that it is a bad unit, let me explain and also ask a few questions I have. First, I am installing in a 800XL PAL system. From the DVI-I connector on the Sophia 2, I connected it to a DVI-I cable (with the 4 extra analog pins on both ends of the DVI-I cable). Then I connected the cable to this Startech DVI to HDMI converter (which also should act as an audio injector --> that's why I bought it at least, but I didn't really get that far! ) From the Statech converter, I connect the HDMI out to my Vizio LCD TV via HDMI cable and HDMI-in on the TV of course. When I turn it on, I'm getting nothing. The TV isn't getting any signal to that HDMI input port. With the Sophia 2 still installed, I also tried running the monitor out (S-video out) from the stock Atari 800XL monitor jack to a CRT monitor, and that also does NOT get any signal to the monitor. My understanding is that the normal stock monitor-out video should remain functional too, even with the Sophia 2 installed. So the fact that I am not getting any video signal from the stock monitor-out jack does make me suspect the Sophia 2 unit I have might not be working. Double I then removed the Sophia 2, and I put my GTIA chip back in. And then the 800XL system works like usual again, with video coming out of the stock monitor-out jack just fine. So at least I know it's not my system. Thoughts? An additional question I have is whether a DVI-I cable is really required? I know the output port on the Sophia 2 is a DVI-I jack. Does that mean the DVI cable I use also needs to be DVI-I on both ends? And if so, does that mean it can only be used with monitors that have a DVI-I input jack (including the 4 analog signal pins unique to DVI-I) ? I'm kind of stumped at this point, other than jumping to a conclusion that my Sophia 2 unit might indeed be a bad one. Appreciate any help or guidance here. Thanks! -Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 Can't you try it direct to a monitor without that converter? And is it powered by it's own wall-wart? If not then it might be trying to leech power from the input or output device which might be insufficient. If your RF modulator is still intact then you can always try the old way of connecting first. Though without the shielding I found the signal to be a bit ordinary (though in my 600XLs case I suspect the RF jack is more a cause of it's problems) Though you say you tried the traditional monitor approach so I suspect there's some problem with your installation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erichenneke Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 21 minutes ago, Rybags said: Can't you try it direct to a monitor without that converter? And is it powered by it's own wall-wart? If not then it might be trying to leech power from the input or output device which might be insufficient. If your RF modulator is still intact then you can always try the old way of connecting first. Though without the shielding I found the signal to be a bit ordinary (though in my 600XLs case I suspect the RF jack is more a cause of it's problems) Though you say you tried the traditional monitor approach so I suspect there's some problem with your installation. The converter has it's own power supply and it was plugged in (LED on converter was lit) separately. Yes, RF is still intact but I didn't try that. I did, however, try the stock monitor-out jack on the 800XL while the Sophia 2 was installed, and it didn't work either. It does work when the Sophia 2 is removed and GTIA chip is put back in place though. I did not try plugging the Sophia 2 directly to a monitor without the converter because the only Monitor I have with DVI-in port does NOT accept a DVI-I (with the extra 4 pins), so the cable would not plug into the monitor. I could try it with a DVI-D cable, but not sure if the DVI-I cable (with analog signal pins) is a requirement for the Sophia 2 to work with a DVI monitor. By the way, i completely removed the sophia 2. Re-installed the GTIA and confirmed system was working. Then I removed the GTIA again, and re-installed the sophia 2. And tried it again. No luck. I did this three times actually. So I don't think anything is wrong with the actual installation. But I am all ears on suggestions. -Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LarryL Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 I always thought that Sophia2 is DVI-D, so a simple physical adapter to HDMI is sufficient 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+tf_hh Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 13 minutes ago, erichenneke said: I did not try plugging the Sophia 2 directly to a monitor without the converter because the only Monitor I have with DVI-in port does NOT accept a DVI-I (with the extra 4 pins), so the cable would not plug into the monitor. I could try it with a DVI-D cable, but not sure if the DVI-I cable (with analog signal pins) is a requirement for the Sophia 2 to work with a DVI monitor. This is really uncommon. I´ve tested over 20 models of TVs and PC monitors since Sophia-1 with DVI output exists and none of them have a jack which prevents to plug in cables with the "analogue extension". Most monitors just ignore the signals here. So I think, you better get another cable (or monitor). From my personal experience after installing roundabout 20 Sophia´s it´s mostly a broken or non-compliant cable or at last the monitor/TV which makes trouble. Regarding your DVI to HDMI converter with Audio injector I would suggest to use the standard "DVD compatible" resolution (the first one in the list of digital modes). This resolution should work with ALL DVI/HDMI equipment due to backward compatibility. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 Also note, you can use a DVI to DE-15 (VGA plug) plug and use the VGA analog signal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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