Lcd Tv
 

Hi all,

I aplogise if this has been answered millions of times on here. Every topic I see regarding connecting an Amiga to a modern LCD tv just confuses me.

Basically, I want to buy an amiga 500 like the one I had all those years ago ;)
The one I have my eye on comes with the A520 rf unit.
What I'd like to know is.. will this work with my current tv, which is a.....

Samsung LE40A656A ?

How would I connect it, what cables or equipment will I need? Etc?

Any help would be great, and if possible keep it simple. I confuse easily :)

Thanks in advance!

There are 3 options for connecting to a TV (actually there might be more, but I can't be bothered):

RF: This works on any TV that can receive analogue terrestrial, since it plugs into the aerial socket (still probably every TV around, despite the rise in digital), but gives a shit picture and is a pain in the arse on some Amigas (though not as bad as on older machines) since I've noticed a few of them drift gradually in tuning...

If it doesn't come with a cable, you'll need to buy one or grab one off another old computer or console. Standard aerial cables that connect a TV to the wall or a TV to a VCR won't do, but any cable from another console or computer usually should.

Composite: This works on any TV with composite inputs - three round sockets, one yellow (video), one red (right audio), one white (left audio). Since it splits the audio off and there are no tuning problems, this gives a better picture. The cables needed are standard RCA cables (used for a variety of purposes), that are usually colour-coded the same as the TV and Amiga (but they don't have to be, especially if they were intended for a different purpose).

RGB: This is the ultimate in quality, it splits off not only the audio, but the three separate colours. There are two variants; RGB used in SCART cables, and YPbPr used in component cables (the latter of which you can't use on an Amiga so forget about it). The Amiga has a proprietary Video port that serves RGB, but there are cables to connect it to a SCART socket you can buy on the internet.




So yeah, Composite is the best compromise, as you're bound to have some RCA cables lying around somewhere...


EDIT: I've just read on Wikipedia that composite is only in monochrome on the Amiga 500, so you'd have to use RF or RGB if you want colour.



EDIT: I've took the liberty of finding pictures of your TV to show you where all the options would plug in.

RF: the "ANT IN" socket at the top-right of this picture: http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/image/hdtv...onnections.jpg

Composite: The bottom 3 sockets (ignoring the headphone port) in this picture of the side of the TV: http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/image/hdtv...onnections.jpg

RGB: One of the two large rectangular sockets on the bottom left of the first picture







There are probably more options like VGA and S-Video, but these will probably need convertor circuits, so they will be more expensive and have a reduced picture quality

The A520 RF modulator has a color composite output on it as well as RF. See pics here: http://www.easygalaxy.net/cfamiga/a520-modulator.html

Back in the day when I still used my A500 with a composite/separate video monitor, I connected the composite video out from the modulator to the monitors color input, and the black and white out on the A500 to the monitors luminance input to get better image quality (not that much, but still sharper ;)). I don't know if it's safe to try that method with an LCD TV (perhaps it's harmless, I don't know).

hey up duck and welcome to EAB tagliarino, if you want any help trying to set your amiga up when you get it I might have a scart lead going spare

Why go for an A500 ? go for a A1200 much more fun to be had

Agreed.

I have 2 flat screen TV's the best picture on my A1200 and my previous A500 were via the scart lead so that would be my reccomendation.

Also as has been said go for an A1200 and hard drive then you can enjoy games via whdload.

If you need any advice setting it up you've come to the right place!

Steve.

This is how I connect my Amiga to a LCD monitor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kaz6fNpHYIg

It's an RGB-S-Video adapter from AmigaManiac.com

As I said, it's a little pointless, since you need extra hardware which no doubt is more expensive and degrades the quality slightly - just go with RGB SCART if composite isn't enough.

Wow,

I'm shocked at the amount, and quality of the responses already - thanks alot! :)

So basically the general concensus is that I should connect it via SCART? And for that I will need a cable which goes from the proprietary Video port at one end and into the SCART at the other end?
And thats just plug in and play?

Sounds easy enough lol.

Going off topic regarding the A1200 and A500. I know absoloutly nothing about the 1200. All I know about the 500 really is what I can remember from when I was about 9 - so not much! lol.

Whats so much better about the 1200 over the 500?

Thanks thanks thanks :)

So much better is naturally very subjective.

AGA chipset = more colours, better resolutions
68020 at 14MHz = faster
Built in IDE interface for hard drives and cd-roms
2MB of chip ram for larger pictures and longer sound samples
PCMCIA slot for network cards and mem card readers..

It supports most (but not quite all) old games, it's only really the unpopular or crap ones that are unsupported - the only one in my (admittedly small) collection that doesn't work is Street Fighter II, which apparently was a rubbish port.

Is there a RGB scart cable for A1200?

Yes, I have one. :)

It fits all models having the 23-pin D-type monitor port.

There is no such thing like A1200 RGB port or A500 RGB port.

All Amiga video ports are practically the same.

SCART cables are the heaven for Amiga connection... if the TV set accept it!:banghead Most newer TVs simply don't accept RGB inputs.:shocked

For people outside Europe (where the SCART plug doesn't exists) and even for people who does not have a functional SCART is where S-VHS, component (Y-Pb-Pr) and VGA devices comes in handy.

A new lcd tv (With RGB inputs) and A1200 with this RGB Scart cable :

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=778

Do you think it works?Or i need other cables?:confused

That looks the same as my Scart cable which works with my A1200 on my Toshiba 40 inch HD LCD TV. No other cables are needed.

It also works on my smaller (19inch) JVC non HD LCD TV. Which is my main display for my A1200

Thanks for the info :great

I have found a 22" Lcd tv with the three inputs i need
1 VGA (PC)
2 HDMI (Xbox 360)
3 Scart RGB (A500/A1200)

No problem! Sounds like you will have the perfect entertainment centre!

...if at least two of those SCART sockets are true RGB and not just silly composhite + audio... Better test the TV before buying.

Yes, call me paranoid. :p

Over on Atari-Forum.com there was a thread where they compared and contrasted different LCD's... I think a 19" Sharp won out in the end:

http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=15614