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Uh, and BTW the Microway FF (I assume we're talking about this thingie)
does not allow (in any of it's incarnation I've seen) to display
FULL PAL resolution. I believe it can go only up to 510 scan lines
without any horizontal overscan. I would happily shell out the money
for such an item, IF it would support PAL overscan AND did not fiddle
with the external sync. Yeah, that's right, the Microway FF not
only blocks the video slot, it uses the external sync signal (probably
since this eased the design).
Regards,
<CB>
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| Re: .0
> I am going to sell the FF+ the NEC and buy a C= monitor!
I recommend that you keep he NEC multisync monitor: an upgrade to the
custom chips is coming that supports new video modes that will only
be available with a multisync monitor.
Also, the Commodore monitors are, at best, only OK.
> the f#@*&%# thing is NOT compatible with a GENLOCK. I had never
> read anything about this in any of the reviews nor do their ads
> mention this annoying "feature".
I've read at least one review that pointed out the problem. But, I
read so many Amiga magazines that I don't remember which one it was.
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While it's true that Microway doesn't mention it in their add, the
lack of genlock capability along with the fact that is uses up the
video slot (which may lock out other options) was discussed over
a year ago in Amiga magazines. I'm far from an experienced Amiga
user but I sort of felt the flicker ficker pro's/con's were common
knowledge.
Before I bought my Flickerfixer I called Microway (very cooperative
folks) and asked if there were any disadvantages. The told me:
1. It consumes the video slot, which could be considered a disadvantage
by some.
2. It's incompatable with Genlocking devices.
3. Because of the way they do frame buffering you get ghosted images
on fast moving graphics which may be unacceptable to some,
espicially on video games. In real life:
- I get the blured pointer almost constantly. Amount depends
on mouse speed. I can get 2 pointer images 3/8" apart if I
try. To me it's not a big deal.
- It's very noticable (but a fair $$$ compromise to me)
on fast moving video games. For Example:
- the banner which comes across the top of the screen in
the introduction to Hostage is terrible to read.
- many of the fast moving screens in Emerald mine are blury.
- Moving the 2 miner creatures around the maze in Prospector
often causes them to blur or double immage. The screens also
blur as they scroll from scene to scene.
- The ball blurs in Marble Madness if you get it going fast.
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re .5(?)
I called MicroWay (508-746-7341) and spoke to one of their tech support
persons. Apparently, the DEB 2000 board *does* contain the genlock mod,
and goes in the far right side of the A2000 enclosure. It uses about
half of the XT slot space, and doesn't eliminate the use of the bridgecard.
So I've ordered one from Safe Harbor. Will report on how the installation
goes, and if it works as advertised.
Rob
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As promised, here's a summary of my experiences with installing the
MicroWay DEB 2000 board.
Installation:
Installation went fairly well, taking about an hour. It's basically
a three step process: installing the DENISE extender, installing the
new video slot, and adjustment.
Installing the DENISE extender is not for the faint of heart, as it
involves removing the DENISE chip, and replacing it with a board that
fits into the now empty socket. The DENISE chip is then installed on
the new board. I did have a problem with the board clearing a capacitor
on my motherboard (rev 4.3). This was easily fixed with judicious use of
diagonal pliers, by extending the notch already present on the DEB
board.
The new video slot takes up the last Bridgeboard slots. It's installed
by removing two screws that hold down the motherboard, placing the slot
board over the holes, and screwing it down with new, longer, screws that
are provided. A cable is routed along the front of the slot bay to the
DENISE extender board. The FlickerFixer video goes to a new bulkhead
connector at the end of the Bridgeboard slot.
The first adjustment procedure involves retuning a variable
capacitor, and is perhaps the most dangerous in terms of potential
hardware goof-ups. The instructions call for connecting the FlickerFixer
to the video slot before it's actually installed on the motherboard,
laying it down on a non-conductive surface, and powering up the system.
This is done so that you can reach the capacitor. In my experience,
adjusting the capacitor was an unnecessary step, as my monitor (Sony
CP1302) didn't sync up when I placed the jumper block on J2 (as per
instructions). The instructions state that this is a "clarity"
adjustment.
A second adjustment procedure is performed after the video slot is
installed on the motherboard. This is the "phasing" adjustment, and
involves turning a pot, while displaying a setup screen on the monitor.
Easy, except that my adjustment tool was too long to fit inside the
Amiga, and reach the pot.
General Comments:
It does work! I can now use the SuperGen and the FlickerFixer at the
same time. And the video slot is freed up, for future use. (The Toaster,
perhaps? :-) The instructions were sketchy (no pictures), but adequate.
One other bit of installation trivia: the connector bracket on the
FlickerFixer is replaced with a new one. In my opinion, the new bracket
should have been insulated so that it wouldn't harm the board installed
next to it. (I made an insulator out of an old IC carrier tube, and
taped it on).
One thing that I'm not particularly pleased about is that I did
have to give up one of the Bridgeboard slots. When I spoke to MicroWay,
I was lead to believe that a quarter-sized card could still be used, along
with the DEB 2000. Well, this just isn't true. A quarter card will
overlap the FlickerFixer by approximately an eighth of an inch, and
routing the FlickerFixer video cable would be impossible.
Rob Scott
P.S. I have to give Safe Harbor a plug - quick shipment, and very low
prices.
P.P.S. Watch for my review of VISTA 1.0 from Virtual Reality. Really neat
stuff!
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