Vanishing CRTs and ZXmores...

[dessony]

Vanishing CRTs... It will happen gradually to us. And parts for these CRTs, especially their own H.O.T.s and flyback transformers, will be harder to find as time goes on. So, I decided to order a AV/BNC to VGA video converter online. Its model number is 7503W. I hooked it up to a flat panel TV with its VGA cable and its AV cable. I tested the video converter with my own available TS1000/ZX81 computers. These computers' characters are sharper on the flat panels TV's screen than CRTs!

However, I tried the abovementioned video converter and the flat panel TV with a ZXmore, I noticed the ZXmore's characters are sharper on the horizontal section but not vertical section! The vertical section is "vibrating like crazy". I tried NTSC and PAL on the ZXmore, no change! I also tried a "double shift one pokes", no change! The "black square with white "K" was vibrating vertically. I was not sure about adjusting the flat panel TV's vertical hold.

[1024MAK]

I have not tried my ZXmore with a converter, but I do use it with a LCD TV via the composite video connection. And I don't get any problems.

I have a composite video to VGA converter, I will give it a try sometime.

Mark

[gammaray]

I noticed the ZXmore's characters are sharper on the horizontal section but not vertical section! The vertical section is "vibrating like crazy". I tried NTSC and PAL on the ZXmore, no change! I also tried a "double shift one pokes", no change! The "black square with white "K" was vibrating vertically. I was not sure about adjusting the flat panel TV's vertical hold.

Interlacing/timing problem with a specific monitor?

[PokeMon]

I tried NTSC and PAL on the ZXmore, no change! I also tried a "double shift one pokes", no change! The "black square with white "K" was vibrating vertically. I was not sure about adjusting the flat panel TV's vertical hold.

Did you try to start ZXmore with the ROM switch in position 1 (ZX81) rather than selecting it by software ?
Could you post pictures ?

[dessony]

I have a 19" LCD TV. Its brand name is Insignia (Best Buy Brand). Its model number is NS-19E320A13 Rev. A (June 2012). That TV is now discontinued by the Best Buy store( in the USA).

With the CRT, I can touch the vertical hold knob. But not the abovementioned LCD TV!

Double Shift 1 Result.JPG (89.08 KiB) Viewed 3202 times

ROM Switch Result.JPG (88.63 KiB) Viewed 3202 times

Code: Select all

10 FOR A = 1 TO 32
20 PRINT "-";
30 NEXT A

[PokeMon]

Is this NTSC or PAL ?
There maybe an issue with some TVs if they have very strong timing requirements, not sure.
Which software release do you have installed on ZXmore ?

[dessony]

NTSC. How do we determine what last software release was installed on ZXmore? The last time it was installed, it was a NTSC bug which you successfully smashed it for me.

I will test ZXmore and any available TS1000 / ZX81 computers and how they work with CRTs and LCD TVs while these computers are saving or loading some programs with some audio cassettes. Also "FAST" and "SLOW" commands. Just out of my own curiosity.

[PokeMon]

NTSC. How do we determine what last software release was installed on ZXmore? The last time it was installed, it was a NTSC bug which you successfully smashed it for me.

Just press double shift R in instance 0 or hold shift key while pressing reset button.
This will bring up the start screen with version number.

[dessony]

Rev. 1.7 12/2015

[PokeMon]

There are some things changed which could affect timing - I have this in my mind.
Please try the update to release 1.8, you can find the latest release here:

http://sinclairzxworld.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1832

This is by the way tested for NTSC as well.