Modern TV's and retro gear

power · 24th July 2010, 11:02 AM

So I've seen these issues posted in other forums, someone's bought a new tele and it doesn't accept their retro gear.

Personally I have a Panasonic 50" Plasma that's about 2 years old and it display's everything without issue, what does everyone else use and do you have issues?

elvis · 24th July 2010, 6:49 PM

The shmups, shoryuken and racketboy forums all have great articles on upscaling devices.

Here's a couple of good ones:

XRGB3:
http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6987

HD Box Pro:
http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=20122

Fubarducks's brilliant HDTV/Lag thread:
http://shoryuken.com/f177/hdtvs-vide...olution-94426/

The brilliant deinterlacing/scanline/upscaling page:
http://retrogaming.hazard-city.de/

These days lag issue appears less and less (particularly on brandname TVs). My Sony Bravia W series really doesn't have any lag dramas with older consoles and lag when "Game Mode" is selected.

With that said, older consoles look like complete arse on a 46" flat screen. By comparison (and entirely subjectively), I'd much rather play even my PS2 on my 80cm (30") CRT than either my 32" or my 46" Bravia. 15KHz consoles belong on 15KHz displays, IMHO.

Also I have seen some older consoles on no-name flatscreen TVs that flat out don't work. Often the fix was just to use a better connector (use S-Video or SCART instead of composite, for example). But again, it appears to be limited to low-end TVs.

power · 25th July 2010, 10:01 PM

I must say I've heard of plenty of issues on sets like Samsung's and LG's so I'm not sure it's limited to cheapies (but that would be nice).

Asteroid · 25th July 2010, 10:06 PM

Personally I don't accept that modern tvs don't accept older consoles, it usually just comes down to inability of the user to tune an RF signal (or they are trying to use a console with a foreign tuner). The only issue I have come across is that the "blue background" on some tvs isn't triggered off by the a/v output on some consoles, but the solution is to disable the "blue background" in the TV's menu.

For those trying to use an import Famicom or Mark III on an aussie tv the trick is ensure the tuner is set for (and has) an option for "M" system tuning.

elvis · 25th July 2010, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asteroid

Personally I don't accept that modern tvs don't accept older consoles, it usually just comes down to inability of the user to tune an RF signal (or they are trying to use a console with a foreign tuner). The only issue I have come across is that the "blue background" on some tvs isn't triggered off by the a/v output on some consoles, but the solution is to disable the "blue background" in the TV's menu.

Heh... I never tried the obvious fix.

A friend had a Master System that wouldn't work on his flatscreen some years back (same "blue background" issue). I ended up soldering a 2200uF cap on the line as a poor man's signal booster to fix it. Sounds like there was a much easier option.

Asteroid · 25th July 2010, 11:10 PM

Both my Saturn (via Svideo) and my NES (via composite) did exactly that on a 2002 vintage Teac CRT. Easily solved and being a simple 50/60Hz curved crt the old games look great on it, combined with modern tv reliability. Sadly no RGB on that one, but I have a second late model Teac kicking around with RGB that's begging for a JAMMA conversion and a Raiden Fighters pcb.

flugle · 26th July 2010, 10:43 AM

While I have a few consoles hooked up to my 46" Bravia, the majority of them stay connected to a 68cm Sony Wega. They just look better

I'd recommend these to any retro game lover, they are practically being given away nowadays. My Wega is the only TV I've tried that can handle everything I can throw at it.

It can even handle my problematic Atari 5200 NTSCs. I tried about half a dozen Panasonics, Teacs and everything in between that claimed to handle all PAL/NTSC modes, but this is the only one I've come across that can display a rock solid picture from that - it can handle anything.

24th July 2010, 11:02 AM	#1
power Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: brisbane Posts: 27,147	Modern TV's and retro gear So I've seen these issues posted in other forums, someone's bought a new tele and it doesn't accept their retro gear. Personally I have a Panasonic 50" Plasma that's about 2 years old and it display's everything without issue, what does everyone else use and do you have issues? __________________ this is who we are.

24th July 2010, 6:49 PM	#2
elvis Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 19,921	The shmups, shoryuken and racketboy forums all have great articles on upscaling devices. Here's a couple of good ones: XRGB3: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6987 HD Box Pro: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=20122 Fubarducks's brilliant HDTV/Lag thread: http://shoryuken.com/f177/hdtvs-vide...olution-94426/ The brilliant deinterlacing/scanline/upscaling page: http://retrogaming.hazard-city.de/ These days lag issue appears less and less (particularly on brandname TVs). My Sony Bravia W series really doesn't have any lag dramas with older consoles and lag when "Game Mode" is selected. With that said, older consoles look like complete arse on a 46" flat screen. By comparison (and entirely subjectively), I'd much rather play even my PS2 on my 80cm (30") CRT than either my 32" or my 46" Bravia. 15KHz consoles belong on 15KHz displays, IMHO. Also I have seen some older consoles on no-name flatscreen TVs that flat out don't work. Often the fix was just to use a better connector (use S-Video or SCART instead of composite, for example). But again, it appears to be limited to low-end TVs. __________________ Child's Play Charity

25th July 2010, 10:01 PM	#3
power Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: brisbane Posts: 27,147	I must say I've heard of plenty of issues on sets like Samsung's and LG's so I'm not sure it's limited to cheapies (but that would be nice). __________________ this is who we are.

25th July 2010, 10:06 PM	#4
Asteroid Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lapping Freo Posts: 2,233	Personally I don't accept that modern tvs don't accept older consoles, it usually just comes down to inability of the user to tune an RF signal (or they are trying to use a console with a foreign tuner). The only issue I have come across is that the "blue background" on some tvs isn't triggered off by the a/v output on some consoles, but the solution is to disable the "blue background" in the TV's menu. For those trying to use an import Famicom or Mark III on an aussie tv the trick is ensure the tuner is set for (and has) an option for "M" system tuning. __________________ The boxen: A8-3870/ F1A75-V Pro/ 8GB \| A64 3000+/ K8V-X/ 1,25GB \| X230 ThinkPad Shtbox rally 2013 - The Mining Magnets!

25th July 2010, 11:10 PM	#6
Asteroid Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lapping Freo Posts: 2,233	Both my Saturn (via Svideo) and my NES (via composite) did exactly that on a 2002 vintage Teac CRT. Easily solved and being a simple 50/60Hz curved crt the old games look great on it, combined with modern tv reliability. Sadly no RGB on that one, but I have a second late model Teac kicking around with RGB that's begging for a JAMMA conversion and a Raiden Fighters pcb. __________________ The boxen: A8-3870/ F1A75-V Pro/ 8GB \| A64 3000+/ K8V-X/ 1,25GB \| X230 ThinkPad Shtbox rally 2013 - The Mining Magnets!

26th July 2010, 10:43 AM	#7
flugle Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Newcastle, NSW Posts: 795	While I have a few consoles hooked up to my 46" Bravia, the majority of them stay connected to a 68cm Sony Wega. They just look better I'd recommend these to any retro game lover, they are practically being given away nowadays. My Wega is the only TV I've tried that can handle everything I can throw at it. It can even handle my problematic Atari 5200 NTSCs. I tried about half a dozen Panasonics, Teacs and everything in between that claimed to handle all PAL/NTSC modes, but this is the only one I've come across that can display a rock solid picture from that - it can handle anything.