adaptor ID

20 October 2005, 13:58

I have been an Amiga user for over 10 years, and my current Amiga monitor is randomly doing a fade-to-black. I am looking for a way to use standard monitors with my Amiga500s or 4000. I have never had a problem, before, because I could switch from one monitor to another as they wore out, but currently Amiga monitors dont seem to be available.
I have a Commodore adaptor, SN#390682-01, which is a 15 pin to 23 pin adaptor. I also have a similar adaptor made by PreVueTechnologies, labeled a MS-15b Sync Strainer. which I am told will enable me to connect my Amiga to a monitor with a 15 pin SVGA connector. The question is, will either of these match the Amiga scan rate to the PC monitor scan rate, or will I have to get something else?

thomas · 20 October 2005, 15:34

The Commodore adapter is just an adapter, it does not change the signal. It will work with the A4000 if you choose a screenmode like DblPAL, DblNTSC or Multiscan. This will only work with system-friendly software. (Workbench and applications which use or copy the Workbench screen)

Not sure about the Sync Strainer, never heard of it. What you need is a so-called scan doubler. It will make the PAL or NTSC signals displayable on a VGA monitor.

OddbOd · 20 October 2005, 15:55

Short answer: No, most standard Amiga display modes will not work with either of those adpaters. You will require a scan-doubler, preferably an external one, to use your Amigas with most PC monitors.

The Commodore adaptor that you have is designed for connecting multi-sync monitors such as the 1950, 1960 or 1962 which have VGA-style 15 pin connectors to an Amiga, they are just an adapter nothing more. The Sync Strainer is a more interesting device that is also an adapter for connecting multi-sync monitors but in addition it contains a sync separator (generator?) that is intended for use when a VideoToaster is present, without it the Toaster will not start when a multi-sync is connected.

20 October 2005, 21:21

okay, so my adaptors wont let me use my A4000 with a pc monitor. Can I use such a monitor with my amiga and a program like UAE or Amiga Forever or Siamese? My understanding is that the latter program is supposed to enable such a usage/sharing of resources. I have a copy of Siamese v2.1 I have installed it on my Amiga, but never used it.

lopos2000 · 20 October 2005, 22:11

@Wizard
Wear your glasses.

Your font are way to big.

OddbOd · 21 October 2005, 07:07

If you have a full Siamese system then yes, you do have the Siamese ISA card as well right?

21 October 2005, 10:50

nobody said anything about needing a special board with Siamese program. Question is then, what can I do without it, and if it won't do what I want, where can I get a board, and at what cost?
Would it be easier to get a copy of UAE, and just port everything over to the PC?

thomas · 21 October 2005, 12:36

AFAIK Siamiese 2.x didn't need any hardware. You need a network connection to the PC, though. Siamese allows you to watch your Amiga's screen in a window on the PC. It works only with system-friendly software, though.

Why don't you use the Commodore adapter with an appropiate screen mode ?

Zetr0 · 21 October 2005, 17:14

hmmm, an interesting problem, but there is a very simple (temporary solution) before you even go down the siamise route, how do you inted to configure it if you cannot see the display.

you can use pinout guides to create a very simple composite output from the a4000 video signal output port. from this you can use any tv / vcr that is composite equiped (most newish TV's are and VCR's more so) to help you configure any grphix card or siamise solution.

the pinouts you can get from doing a search on google. you can also spend 20 mins on ebay ebay.com / ebay.de / ebay.ca and ebay.co.uk (and ask sellers that wouldn`t normaly post worldwide if they would consider it if you picked up all costs (thats postages and ebay fees) you will find most sellers agreeable. as long as you are sincere in your request.

you could get a real cheap zorro gfx card like a picasso II ( i have seen them on ebay sell for under $10. )

As mentioned the purchase of a "scan doubler / flicker-fixer" would seiously help you. so you could use a standard SVGA monitor for low screen rates these items sell for about 50 / 60 Euros on average

OddbOd · 22 October 2005, 05:49

My apologies, the fingers were typing before the brain was fully engaged. Siamese 2.1 does indeed run over a serial connection, Siamese 2.5 Pro is needed for TCP/IP Ethernet use, it's only the original Siamese system that needs the switcher card.

20 October 2005, 13:58	#1
Wizard Posts: n/a	adaptor ID I have been an Amiga user for over 10 years, and my current Amiga monitor is randomly doing a fade-to-black. I am looking for a way to use standard monitors with my Amiga500s or 4000. I have never had a problem, before, because I could switch from one monitor to another as they wore out, but currently Amiga monitors dont seem to be available. I have a Commodore adaptor, SN#390682-01, which is a 15 pin to 23 pin adaptor. I also have a similar adaptor made by PreVueTechnologies, labeled a MS-15b Sync Strainer. which I am told will enable me to connect my Amiga to a monitor with a 15 pin SVGA connector. The question is, will either of these match the Amiga scan rate to the PC monitor scan rate, or will I have to get something else?

20 October 2005, 21:21	#4
Wizard Posts: n/a	adaptor okay, so my adaptors wont let me use my A4000 with a pc monitor. Can I use such a monitor with my amiga and a program like UAE or Amiga Forever or Siamese? My understanding is that the latter program is supposed to enable such a usage/sharing of resources. I have a copy of Siamese v2.1 I have installed it on my Amiga, but never used it.

21 October 2005, 10:50	#7
Wizard Posts: n/a	siamese nobody said anything about needing a special board with Siamese program. Question is then, what can I do without it, and if it won't do what I want, where can I get a board, and at what cost? Would it be easier to get a copy of UAE, and just port everything over to the PC?

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20 October 2005, 15:34	#2
thomas Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 7,001	The Commodore adapter is just an adapter, it does not change the signal. It will work with the A4000 if you choose a screenmode like DblPAL, DblNTSC or Multiscan. This will only work with system-friendly software. (Workbench and applications which use or copy the Workbench screen) Not sure about the Sync Strainer, never heard of it. What you need is a so-called scan doubler. It will make the PAL or NTSC signals displayable on a VGA monitor.

20 October 2005, 15:55	#3
OddbOd Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Australia Age: 46 Posts: 666	Short answer: No, most standard Amiga display modes will not work with either of those adpaters. You will require a scan-doubler, preferably an external one, to use your Amigas with most PC monitors. The Commodore adaptor that you have is designed for connecting multi-sync monitors such as the 1950, 1960 or 1962 which have VGA-style 15 pin connectors to an Amiga, they are just an adapter nothing more. The Sync Strainer is a more interesting device that is also an adapter for connecting multi-sync monitors but in addition it contains a sync separator (generator?) that is intended for use when a VideoToaster is present, without it the Toaster will not start when a multi-sync is connected.

20 October 2005, 22:11	#5
lopos2000 Zone Friend Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cider is best In The West Posts: 1,238	@Wizard Wear your glasses. Your font are way to big.

21 October 2005, 07:07	#6
OddbOd Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Australia Age: 46 Posts: 666	If you have a full Siamese system then yes, you do have the Siamese ISA card as well right?

21 October 2005, 12:36	#8
thomas Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 7,001	AFAIK Siamiese 2.x didn't need any hardware. You need a network connection to the PC, though. Siamese allows you to watch your Amiga's screen in a window on the PC. It works only with system-friendly software, though. Why don't you use the Commodore adapter with an appropiate screen mode ?

21 October 2005, 17:14	#9
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	hmmm, an interesting problem, but there is a very simple (temporary solution) before you even go down the siamise route, how do you inted to configure it if you cannot see the display. you can use pinout guides to create a very simple composite output from the a4000 video signal output port. from this you can use any tv / vcr that is composite equiped (most newish TV's are and VCR's more so) to help you configure any grphix card or siamise solution. the pinouts you can get from doing a search on google. you can also spend 20 mins on ebay ebay.com / ebay.de / ebay.ca and ebay.co.uk (and ask sellers that wouldn`t normaly post worldwide if they would consider it if you picked up all costs (thats postages and ebay fees) you will find most sellers agreeable. as long as you are sincere in your request. you could get a real cheap zorro gfx card like a picasso II ( i have seen them on ebay sell for under $10. ) As mentioned the purchase of a "scan doubler / flicker-fixer" would seiously help you. so you could use a standard SVGA monitor for low screen rates these items sell for about 50 / 60 Euros on average

22 October 2005, 05:49	#10
OddbOd Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Australia Age: 46 Posts: 666	My apologies, the fingers were typing before the brain was fully engaged. Siamese 2.1 does indeed run over a serial connection, Siamese 2.5 Pro is needed for TCP/IP Ethernet use, it's only the original Siamese system that needs the switcher card.

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