MarkC Posted November 4, 2022 Share Posted November 4, 2022 Can I theoretically connect my STFM to any TV with an aerial socket...? Currently tested on my Sony lcd and fine, but need something smaller to reduce the pixelation. Would the portable (camping) type work, about 10 inch screen, but with aerial socket. https://www.amazon.co.uk/August-DA100D-10-1-Portable-Freeview/dp/B001GHAMB8/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1O82RPW4H5D9R&keywords=10+inch+monitor+tv+aerial&qid=1667583946&sprefix=10+inch+monitor+tv+aerial%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGB1718 Posted November 4, 2022 Share Posted November 4, 2022 (edited) Yes, if its an old UHF analogue RF input you can use it the description doesn't actually say, it my be digital only Edited November 4, 2022 by TGB1718 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted November 4, 2022 Author Share Posted November 4, 2022 (edited) Weighing up my options, while keeping an eye out for a 'reasonable' Atari monitor....😐 Most modern TV's (with freeview) have an RF in, so cool. Is Scart better than RF...? I assume just one of the Atari to Scart cables off eBay (picture and sound). Edited November 4, 2022 by MarkC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGB1718 Posted November 4, 2022 Share Posted November 4, 2022 2 hours ago, MarkC said: Is Scart better than RF...? So much better, sharper picture, RF always seemed a bit "fuzzy" to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfollowell Posted November 4, 2022 Share Posted November 4, 2022 2 hours ago, MarkC said: Weighing up my options, while keeping an eye out for a 'reasonable' Atari monitor....😐 Most modern TV's (with freeview) have an RF in, so cool. Is Scart better than RF...? I assume just one of the Atari to Scart cables off eBay (picture and sound). Almost anything in the world is better than RF. RF is the absolute bottom of the barrel when it comes to video quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted November 4, 2022 Author Share Posted November 4, 2022 58 minutes ago, TGB1718 said: So much better, sharper picture, RF always seemed a bit "fuzzy" to me So does it matter if the TV is digital only when using Scart. My Sony TV is Analogue/Digital, so I tuned a channel on the Analogue setting for the Atari. I assume most new TV's don't have Analogue now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oky2000 Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 As you are in the UK I would recommend a 14" portable CRT TV that has SCART RGB input and the appropriate cable really 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted November 10, 2022 Author Share Posted November 10, 2022 I have just received my Atari - Scart cable from 'Retro Computer Shack'......😁 Very comprehensive contents in the package...printed instructions etc, very impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oky2000 Posted November 12, 2022 Share Posted November 12, 2022 SCART RGB on my plasma TV bypasses all the horrible analogue to digital flash conversion (looks like 1991 JPEGs with max compression if I use composite video on them with my C64 with loads of digital compression around stuff) so even if you don't have a CRT TV SCART RGB is always my recommendation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted November 12, 2022 Author Share Posted November 12, 2022 (edited) The Scart (RGB) is great compared to RF......as everybody DID tell me....😃 RF Scart (RGB) Edited November 12, 2022 by MarkC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfollowell Posted November 12, 2022 Share Posted November 12, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, MarkC said: The Scart (RGB) is great compared to RF......as everybody DID tell me....😃 Yeah, that SCART image looks really good. RF, unless you're REALLY wanting to relive some painful nostalgia, should always be your last resort when you have absolutely no other option. You're looking really good now though. Edited November 12, 2022 by bfollowell 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oky2000 Posted November 12, 2022 Share Posted November 12, 2022 On modern TVs it's a bit of a problem if you use retro gear that doesn't generate SCART RGB. SNES looks great but N64 looks duff as Nintendo decided to make that system composite only (a tiny amount of them also have S-video). Of course you can buy a professional quality composite to HDMI converter (less than £200 and it isn't going to be professional quality). My plasma TV in 2012 cost something like £2000!! It's a bad showing from Panasonic to put in such pathetic digitizers in such a flagship TV. I bought mine used 5 years ago and expected better really. SCART RGB bypasses all that as it is essentially 15khz VGA input. RF modulators need as much re-capping etc as the rest of the motherboard, a 30+ year old RF modulator is not going to generate a nice signal like it did in the 1980s. Some are better than others but RF was fine when your computer and TV was brand new in 1984 etc for 320x200 or lower resolutions back then. Ditto for composite video too. Same problem with duff caps and resistors in the demodulating circuits inside an old CRT TV. RF wasn't as bad as people think, it did after all generate crystal clear broadcast quality images in 576p etc In the old days you could buy an aerial booster to increase signal gain from any electrical shop and this would help but really you need to budget for getting them serviced if you really want to use them today. Of course some machines did have horrible RF output even when new, 16/48k Spectrum is notorious for dot crawl and the 7800 wasn't great either, the built in Asteroids game had interference patterns on the output even in the early 1990s when I bought one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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