I.WANT.V.G.A. lol

[MikeModified]

After all, I have VGA for my TRS-80 Model I courtesy of the Mise and VGA on my Apple IIGs by using a GBS-8220* to convert the Gs's 16kHz signal to VGA.

After reading in this thread - http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?40965-Commodore-128-Video-DAC-Board-Available - that the DAC board would work, in conjunction with the GBS-8220, with PC CGA, I ordered one from http://he-insanity.blogspot.com/2014/03/commodore-128-cga-video-dac-board.html

It works! On my $20 thrift store HP flatscreen @1024x768, the colors are good (my camera washes out the lighter colors):







The characters are crisp, much more readable than the standard jr monitor, although some pixels are grey instead of white:



Additional items needed:

1) Adapter cable for IBM color display
2) DB-9 M/F extension cable (I got a 6' cable cheaply at a Tandy store close-out)
3) A 5VDC power supply, 5mm-2mm
4) 1 6-pin Molex connector (Digi-key numbers on the DAC website) to adapt the GBS-8220 cable to the DAC adapter
5) 2 2-pin Molex connectors (Digi-key numbers on the DAC website) to power the DAC from the 8220

Mike

*Manual: http://www.jammaboards.com/arcade_manuals/GBS-8220_CGA_to_VGA_HD-Converter.pdf
eBay source: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261153377967?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Sharkey1331]

Looks real cool!!! I never knew about this project- thank you!!!

Can you post another picture, showing the 80 column text, zoomed out a bit so I can see the overall quality/readability?

Thanks!!
Jason

[MikeModified]

How's this?

http://s233.photobucket.com/user/4-BarrelMike/media/Tandy%20stuff/vga%2005_zpshi5mwnpx.jpg.html 1200 pixels wide.

Mike

[James]

What is the 6' DB9 cable for? I must be missing something, The PCjr to CGA cable plugs into the DAC. The DAC uses the 6 wire molex to send signal to the GBS-8220 (and two wire molex for power). The VGA cable plugs into the GBS-8220. What am I missing.?

Does the DAC come with any instructions?

[MikeModified]

Correct. It's not needed, but it greatly helps to ease the congestion immediately behind the jr.

Mike

[James]

I took a look at the PCjr to CGA monitor adapter and it is a stubby little thing. It's probably a good idea to add an extension cable just to protect the pins and plastic separators.

[MikeModified]

Exactly!

Mike

[James]

Good find. One of my PCjr monitors is being to hum. Maybe nothing, maybe a sign of impending death. Could be the way to go

I too have a few of those thrift store 1024 x 768 14" LCD monitors. How do you pass up flawless monitors for $12.99

[OldComputerGuy]

Are games actually playable with this monitor on a Jr? I would think they would be a slideshow.

[James]

The PCjr puts out a CGA signal. The processing of the upscaling and conversion takes place in the d/a converter and cga to vga converter