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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:AMIGA NOTES
Notice:Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:HYDRA::MOORE
Created:Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5378
Total number of notes:38326

72.0. "Amiga on TV" by SLDA::DUNAISKY (Jon Dunaisky) Tue Aug 05 1986 12:29



Can anyone tell me if an Amiga works with a color television?

If its a good color television, would it be suitable for modest usage without
any other type of monitor?

What would be included and how much then would a typical Amiga start-up
system cost, not including any monitors?


Thanks, Jon.
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72.1Yes...CYBORG::LAMBERTMax Headroom....Catch the wave...Tue Aug 05 1986 13:4614
    You could use it on a color TV, however you will need some type
    of modulation device to take the composite video signal out of the
    Amiga and convert it to channel three or four.  If you have a Video
    recorder you can pipe the composite video signal from the Amiga
    to the Video in on the VCR and do it that way.  If your tele has
    Video in jacks (monitor) it will also work that way.
    
    I thing that because you are not using a monitor you will be limited
    to 60 characters of screen width, as 80 characters can be very hard
    to read (depending of course on the quality of your television set)
    I also heard mention that the number of on-screen colors is SLIGHTLY
    less on a television set that on a monitor. (???)
    
    brian
72.2MOSAIC::BANKSDawn BanksTue Aug 05 1986 14:0124
There's one of two things you have to do to get the Amiga to work with a Color
TV:

   Either get an RF modulator to produce a channel 3/4 signal (I think Amiga
     may sell one of these, but I'm pretty sure it ain't standard)

	or

   Get a Color TV/Monitor.  Turn the thing around and look for something
     labeled Video In or some similar babblage, usually on a female RCA
     connector.  Connect this to the Video out on the back of the Amiga
     (another female connector), and you're in business.

In both cases, it helps a lot to have a fairly decent color TV.  Even with
a fairly decent color TV, NTSC composit video isn't going to give you all
the color resolution that the Amiga is capable of producing.

On the other hand, we've plugged our Amiga into our RCA TV/Monitor a bunch of
times, and the results, while not being as good as our RGB monitor, are better
than I expected. The 80 column font is barely readable, so you'd be better off
using the 60 column font.

It's completely reasonable to use a color TV, but extended use will probably
make you want an RGB monitor real bad.
72.3DONJON::BRAVERThu Aug 21 1986 18:034
    Would there be any difference between a color TV monitor that had RGB
    inputs versus just and NTSC input?
    
    Would you be able to get 80 chars/line clearly?
72.4RGBHYSTER::DEARBORNThe One to Watch <>Thu Aug 21 1986 18:1014
    A color monitor with ANALOG RGB will give you the best picture possible
    for your Amiga.  If it is a digital RGB monitor, it will not be
    much help.
    
    Make sure it is analog.  Otherwise, you are throwing money away.
    An analog monitor will give you the complete palette of Amiga colors.
    A digital one is limited to 8 colors (I believe).  There seem to
    be a lot of digital monitors available, and not very many analog
    ones.
    
    RGB will give you 80 columns, and will support 130 columns...as
    soon as there is software to provide it.  The terminal package coming
    from Amiga will have 130 columns.
    
72.5more...HYSTER::DEARBORNThe One to Watch <>Thu Aug 21 1986 18:124
    I forgot to add that RGB is much, much better than NTSC composite.
    Composite, as noted earlier, is OK for a while, but RGB is so much
    clearer and sharper....you will want to upgrade.
    
72.6Buy the Sony.NINJA::HEFFELOwned by a catTue Aug 26 1986 02:4110
    One small nit to pick.  The RGBI (digital) monitors will display
    16 colors.  The Commode-door 1902 monitor for use with the 128 will
    display its 16 colors.
    
    Also, spend the extra $$'s for an RGBA monitor if you can.  The
    picture they produce is beautiful, easy on the eyes, and worth every
    penny.
    
    Happy he sprung for the Sony,
    Gary