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C64 Monitor Woes

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 4:40 am
by Alt255
Hello all,

I was gifted with a c64 1802 monitor, I connected to the RaspPi but I can't seem to get the monitor to display. I tried all the rca ports in the back. There are three rows. First row is Yellow and White.
Second is Yellow, Red and White
Last Row is Black.

The Pi has booted to the login as I check via HDMI after a reboot. So is possible? As I said it was gifted, and I use to use a C64 in the day, and would love to get this monitor going.

Re: C64 Monitor Woes

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 8:26 am
by FTrevorGowen
Alt255 wrote:Hello all,
...
The Pi has booted to the login as I check via HDMI after a reboot. So is possible? As I said it was gifted, and I use to use a C64 in the day, and would love to get this monitor going.
How did you install your O.S. (Raspbian) - via NOOBS or from a direct "image" file (*.img)?
Assuming you installed using the HDMI display, given that the Pi can only use one of HDMI or composite video, not both (at the same time) you will need to edit a config.txt file and make the changes "permanent" for use with the C64 display. The location of said file(s) depends upon the installation method. (I'm also not certain if the C64 display accepts NTSC/PAL colour info. or not, never having owned such)
Trev.

Re: C64 Monitor Woes

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:04 am
by drgeoff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTAXZIyESSI confirms that the 1802 can accept colour video from a VCR. It isn't stated but that almost certainly means it has at least a composite video input. If the monitor was originally sold in N.America it will definitely support NTSC. (Judging by the posting time Alt255 is in the American continent.)

Almost always the yellow phono socket is for composite video. White and red are for left and right audio respectively.

Re: C64 Monitor Woes

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 10:25 am
by redhawk
Does the C64 monitor accept composite video I was under the impression it was only capable of Y/C aka S-Video??

My guess is it should work but maybe only capable of black and white rather than colour (unless the yellow connector is actually a composite video input port).

Richard S.

Re: C64 Monitor Woes

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 10:29 am
by redhawk
Here's a user manual to help you get started - http://gona.mactar.hu/Commodore/monitor ... ion%29.pdf
The top two are for audio only, the bottom three (left to right) is Composite (CVBS) , Luma (Y), Chroma (C) so for video you'll need to use the bottom left yellow connector.
There is also a signal selector switch which you would probably need to set in the down position.
Also if you have a TINT control at the back this monitor is 99.9% likely to be an NTSC model.

Richard S.

Re: C64 Monitor Woes

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:06 am
by Alt255
Thanks for the input. I suspect the monitor is working, I suspect a signal issue from the PI to the Monitor. I will test it against an old VCR to see if the video signal will work. I also had the HDMI port free during the composite port testing. My understanding that the firmware will default to the composite if no HDMI connection is available. Yes I'm using the NOOBs distro. I will look at the config to see if there something to it.

Didn't realize how rare the one I have. It isn't the monitor with the user manual linked in the Thread, I suspect it was maybe for the c128.

Anyways I'll get back to all in a few days when I get to test different devices. Looks like a fun experiment I have ahead.

Cheers.

Re: C64 Monitor Woes

Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 12:49 am
by Alt255
Hello All,

Here's an update, A DVD will play on the monitor. The guy suggested ( From his experience using SEGA, XBAX) is that I connect and power the monitor first, then start the boot off the PI. Anyways, There are three Signall Swithes and I tried differnt combination, with the yellow jacks in the back and the Swith on the front. No good.

I will re-install NOOBS, and look for this config.txt.

Next round.

Re: C64 Monitor Woes

Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 6:30 am
by fruitoftheloom
Alt255 wrote:Hello All,

Here's an update, A DVD will play on the monitor. The guy suggested ( From his experience using SEGA, XBAX) is that I connect and power the monitor first, then start the boot off the PI. Anyways, There are three Signall Swithes and I tried differnt combination, with the yellow jacks in the back and the Swith on the front. No good.

I will re-install NOOBS, and look for this config.txt.

Next round.
You need to press 3 (PAL) or 4 (NTSC) during NOOBS startup to get it to switch to composite video mode.

Re: C64 Monitor Woes

Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 2:24 pm
by Alt255
Hello All

Success!

I re-installed the NOOBS. Pressed 4 for the NTSC and I got the NOOBS Main Menu, and asked if I want to make the NTSC the default display. The display was cutting the Horizontal ( There is a Vert. Size Control only on the Monitor). So I`m playing with the Overscan settings in the config.txt. I will report on a setting combination that I consider the best comprimise. The image is slightly blurry and not great, but the Geek Factor of getting this old 1802 Monitor back in use trumps everything! Dam thing is about 30 years old.

Re: C64 Monitor Woes

Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:46 pm
by hansotten
Alt255 wrote:Hello all,

I was gifted with a c64 1802 monitor, I connected to the RaspPi but I can't seem to get the monitor to display. I tried all the rca ports in the back. There are three rows. First row is Yellow and White.
Second is Yellow, Red and White
Last Row is Black.

The Pi has booted to the login as I check via HDMI after a reboot. So is possible? As I said it was gifted, and I use to use a C64 in the day, and would love to get this monitor going.
The C64 has a (sort of) S-Video output, hence the many RCA connectors. The 1802 has composite input also.
At http://gona.mactar.hu/Commodore/monitor ... rsion).pdf you ca find a manual.

Connect the Pi to the video inout (the left bottom one) and set the switch on the right to video.

Since you tried all RCA inputs, at least a monochrome picture should have appeared. So it looks you have the usual RCA RPi output problems, which many threads in this forum are about. RCA works fine, but it takes careful reading and following steps ot the letter. SFrom software HDMI is very well supported, composite support is eh, less, sophisticated (IMHO it needs a good overhaul).

Noobs, rasbpian? B, B+?

Re: C64 Monitor Woes

Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 4:24 pm
by fruitoftheloom
hansotten wrote:
Alt255 wrote:Hello all,

I was gifted with a c64 1802 monitor, I connected to the RaspPi but I can't seem to get the monitor to display. I tried all the rca ports in the back. There are three rows. First row is Yellow and White.
Second is Yellow, Red and White
Last Row is Black.

The Pi has booted to the login as I check via HDMI after a reboot. So is possible? As I said it was gifted, and I use to use a C64 in the day, and would love to get this monitor going.
The C64 has a (sort of) S-Video output, hence the many RCA connectors. The 1802 has composite input also.
At http://gona.mactar.hu/Commodore/monitor ... rsion).pdf you ca find a manual.

Connect the Pi to the video inout (the left bottom one) and set the switch on the right to video.

Since you tried all RCA inputs, at least a monochrome picture should have appeared. So it looks you have the usual RCA RPi output problems, which many threads in this forum are about. RCA works fine, but it takes careful reading and following steps ot the letter. SFrom software HDMI is very well supported, composite support is eh, less, sophisticated (IMHO it needs a good overhaul).

Noobs, rasbpian? B, B+?
The OP appears in the previous post to yours to have it working. :roll:

Re: C64 Monitor Woes

Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 5:54 pm
by hansotten
Good to read it is solved!