Sophia 2 - improved GTIA replacement

[Mclaneinc]

I want to RGB scart the cable as well, although I can do the soldering I'm not mr electronics, I looked at the tech info and think I might be close, could anyone confirm if it looks right or I'm going to blow my monitor / atari up?

 

I'm guessing here

DVI    Scart
C3     7 Blue
C2    11 Green
C1    15 Red
C5     5, 9, 13 linked? Grounds for above
C4    20 Sync
? 21 for shield, not sure in needed

[Simius]

DVI    Scart
C3    7 Blue
C2    11 Green
C1    15 Red
C5     5, 9, 13 linked, Grounds for above
C4    20 Sync
8      16 Blanking

        21 -  Cable shield (do not connect to ground)

Edited December 19, 2020 by Simius

[Mclaneinc]

You sir are a god..I was almost there....ish

 

Thank you..

[chevymad]

Stunning picture! Easy as pie to install in an 800xl. However, I had an issue on my XLD.. but i'll get it straightened out. My VBXE never looked like this! Different monitor though. I'm using hdmi to my Phillips HD CRT.  VGA must still need a scan doubler? My VGA monitor won't recognize it. 

[BillC]

1 hour ago, chevymad said:

VGA must still need a scan doubler? My VGA monitor won't recognize it. 

According to the PDF attached to the first post VGA mode should work, 480P @ 60Hz. for NTSC or 576P @ 50Hz. for PAL.

Have you configured the Sophia2 to VGA mode? The config software is attached to post #150.

 

[aleomark]

Hi guys, Im waiting the Sophia 2 to install in my atari 5200, I want to use it in a sony pvm and Also a framemeister, what cable could I Get /buy and were?

 

thanks

Edited December 24, 2020 by aleomark

[manterola]

Which output of Sophia 2 do you pan to use? or which input in your PVM and frameister want to use? 

[aleomark]

Hi, Scart input

[Blues76]

On 5/23/2020 at 9:48 AM, mytek said:

Fantastic ? ?

 

 

@mytek I’m not sure if you have already discussed this but would this be the prefer video for 576+ or you have another video adapter in mind ?

[Blues76]

@Simius Thank you for doing this new revision. I'm looking forward to this.

 

I have a question. And my knowledge about video adapters/standards (DVI, HDMI) is extremely limited, to say the least.

 

Some monitors have started to drop DVI. I think there is no loss of quality going from DVI to HDMI (the same for display port?)... but I wonder why is the selection for DVI for Sophia 2? I figured it may be that you have already being working on this and it is best to continue this route?

 

Any comments about it, so I can learn more, would be greatly appreciated.

 

[+mytek]

14 hours ago, Blues76 said:

@mytek I’m not sure if you have already discussed this but would this be the prefer video for 576+ or you have another video adapter in mind ?

The Sophia2 is the only version that would fit into a 576NUC+.

[Blues76]

1 minute ago, mytek said:

The Sophia2 is the only version that would fit into a 576NUC+.

Great to hear.

[+Stephen]

1 hour ago, Blues76 said:

1 hour ago, mytek said:

The Sophia2 is the only version that would fit into a 576NUC+.

Great to hear.

Please keep in mind, that the current case designs do not have any provisions for the DVI connector.  This is certainly not a reason to not install one (sorry - double negative), just something to consider.

 

That being said, I would not be sad to have a Sophia2 in every machine I own!

[chevymad]

2 hours ago, Stephen said:

 

That being said, I would not be sad to have a Sophia2 in every machine I own!

That's exactly where I think I'll end up.. At least 3 machines, might leave my original 400 out. 

[Simius]

10 hours ago, Blues76 said:

@Simius Thank you for doing this new revision. I'm looking forward to this.

 

I have a question. And my knowledge about video adapters/standards (DVI, HDMI) is extremely limited, to say the least.

 

Some monitors have started to drop DVI. I think there is no loss of quality going from DVI to HDMI (the same for display port?)... but I wonder why is the selection for DVI for Sophia 2? I figured it may be that you have already being working on this and it is best to continue this route?

 

Any comments about it, so I can learn more, would be greatly appreciated.

 

The DVI standard is most suitable because includes both analog and digital signals. Connecting DVI to HDMI is simple and only requires a cable. Dropping the DVI standard by manufacturers isn’t a problem as well as dropping Atari computers. 

Edited December 27, 2020 by Simius

[Blues76]

12 hours ago, Simius said:

The DVI standard is most suitable because includes both analog and digital signals. Connecting DVI to HDMI is simple and only requires a cable. Dropping the DVI standard by manufacturers isn’t a problem as well as dropping Atari computers. 

Thank you. I have learned something new. I didn’t know that DVI had both signals. 

 

Does DVI to Display Port also suffers no conversation problems with a cable, right ? 

[Dinadan67]

6 minutes ago, Blues76 said:

I didn’t know that DVI had both signals.

Not all DVI-connectors have analog signals. There are two kinds of DVI, DVI-D ist digital only and DVI-I has both digital and analog signals.

[Gunstar]

23 hours ago, Blues76 said:

@Simius Thank you for doing this new revision. I'm looking forward to this.

 

I have a question. And my knowledge about video adapters/standards (DVI, HDMI) is extremely limited, to say the least.

 

Some monitors have started to drop DVI. I think there is no loss of quality going from DVI to HDMI (the same for display port?)... but I wonder why is the selection for DVI for Sophia 2? I figured it may be that you have already being working on this and it is best to continue this route?

 

Any comments about it, so I can learn more, would be greatly appreciated.

 

I had an old projection TV for a while about 15 years ago (until it went belly-up) that the most modern input on it was DVI. At that time I had a direct TV reciever/DVR with HDMI output. I knew nothing of DVI at the time. Anyway I did my research and found out that DVI and HDMI used compatible video signals, so I bought a DVI-to-HDMI adapter plug that I plugged into the TV's DVI port, which worked great, with a perfect picture. I still have the plug and it's what I will use to plug my Sophia 2 out into the HDMI of my current monitors. (once the 800 version is available for me to purchase)

Edited December 27, 2020 by Gunstar

[mimo]

On 11/28/2020 at 7:46 AM, Simius said:

Configuration software.

sconf.zip 1.61 kB · 79 downloads

How do I use this with a stock 64k XL and an AVG cart?

I tried making an atr with makeATR but just get a boot error 

[tmp]

renaming it to .xex and running it directly doesn't work?

[mimo]

20 minutes ago, tmp said:

renaming it to .xex and running it directly doesn't work?

Didn't know I could do that, I'll try later. Thanks 

[+Philsan]

I think first post needs to be updated with actual Sophia2 board photo, specs/datasheet and config software.

 

@Simius you can ask Albert to grant you the right to update first post.

 

[mimo]

@tmp thanks, that worked perfectly 

[aleomark]

On 12/24/2020 at 12:54 PM, aleomark said:

Hi guys, Im waiting the Sophia 2 to install in my atari 5200, I want to use it in a sony pvm and Also a framemeister, what cable could I Get /buy and were?

 

thanks

hi, for scart input into pvm, could these work?

1. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007NLJJYM?pf_rd_r=BZ00HJ7E925NDTWYWT6J&pf_rd_p=5ae2c7f8-e0c6-4f35-9071-dc3240e894a8

plus

2. https://retro-access.com/products/db9-to-scart-for-atari-5200-sophia-board?_pos=1&_sid=a84a88efa&_ss=r

 

Thanks

Edited December 29, 2020 by aleomark

[MrFSL]

4 hours ago, Philsan said:

I think first post needs to be updated with actual Sophia2 board photo and specs/datasheet.

Throw the latest version of the configuration software in there and you will be truly in business!!