[Coco] Current Status of the "Help Send A Fellow CoCoNut To This Year's CoCoFEST" Campaign

embsys dev embsysdev at gmail.com
Sat Feb 14 19:50:49 EST 2015 

Reply to self:  but multi-core ARM boards don't boot to terminal prompt in
2 seconds without a lot of u-boot and startup hackery.



On Sat, Feb 14, 2015 at 5:46 PM, embsys dev <embsysdev at gmail.com> wrote:

> Ah yes, RGB input, sorry. I know, NTSC = Never Twice the Same Color, heh.
>   But since the coco3 max resolution is 640x192x4, and 320x192x16 is as
> good "full color" as you can get, I don't see any benefit to using RGB
> through a fancy FPGA scan doubler, no matter how good it is, the source
> signal is the limiting factor. Again, I'm not dissing Kip's design in any
> way, actually I think it is quite impressive and the output is clearly very
> high quality.
>
> Please don't get me wrong, I dig the coco as a platform for 8-bit hacking
> (I learned 6809 with an EDTASM pak back in 83) but I just don't get all
> this fuss over the video output.  I say if you want crystal clarity and big
> screens, just run an emulator.
>
> And finally, I don't care how much money and time people waste dicking
> with their antique home computers, I've got armfuls of low-cost multi-core
> ARM Cortex-Ax boards with HDMI out, SDHC, I2C, SPI, and GPIOs on headers
> <BOOM>
>
> Haha j/k y'all, I really do understand the sentiment and passion, just
> don't feel it like some of you people obviously do... ;-)
>
>
>
> On Sat, Feb 14, 2015 at 5:08 PM, Zippster <zippster278 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Yeah, it’s all about the quality of the video output.
>> If it wasn’t , I guess even RF produces a useable picture.
>>
>> But yes, the price is a little off-putting.  I bought 3 of the PCBs
>> through
>> OSH Park but haven’t gotten around to buying the nano units yet.
>> Too many projects.
>>
>> He’s coming out with one using a less expensive FPGA,
>> so there’s that.  :)
>>
>> - Ed
>>
>>
>> > On Feb 14, 2015, at 5:52 PM, Arthur Flexser <flexser at fiu.edu> wrote:
>> >
>> > I'd be surprised if it got a decent picture, since the CoCo 3's
>> composite
>> > output is so vastly inferior to the RGB output that the RGV2VGA uses.
>> >
>> > Art
>> >
>> > On Sat, Feb 14, 2015 at 6:46 PM, embsys dev <embsysdev at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >> People seem surprised and put off at the additional cost of the FPGA
>> board.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Here's a $55 AV to HDMI converter box from newegg:
>> >>
>> >> http://goo.gl/Pa9W9s
>> >>
>> >> Looks like you simply plug your coco composite video and audio in one
>> side,
>> >> and an HDMI TV into the other, and done.
>> >>
>> >> The RGB2VGA design is interesting for the hardware DIY coolness and
>> >> hackability if you're into that sort of thing (and many here are,
>> >> obviously), but a simple low-cost consumer solution might be better for
>> >> some people.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Sat, Feb 14, 2015 at 3:37 PM, Kip Koon <computerdoc at sc.rr.com>
>> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> Hi Joe,
>> >>> The cost for the RGB2VGA Converter interface PCB is $45 + $6
>> shipping.  I
>> >>> will be ordering the PCBs to be fabricated Monday, then ordering all
>> the
>> >>> parts.  I'll be using OSHPark to fabricate the PCBs and since I have
>> to
>> >>> purchase the PCBs in multiples of three, I'm doing orders in sets of
>> >> three
>> >>> as people commit.
>> >>>
>> >>> Kip Koon
>> >>> computerdoc at sc.rr.com
>> >>> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Kip_Koon
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> -----Original Message-----
>> >>> From: Coco [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com] On Behalf Of Joe
>> Grubbs
>> >>> Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2015 5:25 PM
>> >>> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
>> >>> Subject: Re: [Coco] Current Status of the "Help Send A Fellow CoCoNut
>> To
>> >>> This Year's CoCoFEST" Campaign
>> >>>
>> >>> What is the cost and ETA?
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>> From: computerdoc at sc.rr.com
>> >>>> To: coco at maltedmedia.com
>> >>>> Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2015 16:53:07 -0500
>> >>>> Subject: Re: [Coco] Current Status of the "Help Send A Fellow CoCoNut
>> >>> To      This Year's CoCoFEST" Campaign
>> >>>>
>> >>>> HI Joe,
>> >>>> Yes, the RGB2VGA converter is for the 9 pin RGB male header on the
>> >>> bottom of the Coco 3.  The converter also has and input and output VGA
>> >>> style 15 pin connectors.  It converts the old 15KHZ video signals from
>> >> all
>> >>> computers to the current 31KHZ video signals.  Luis has successfully
>> used
>> >>> it with several different retro computer systems.  And yes, from what
>> I
>> >>> have seen in his videos, the picture looks very sharp.  I'm looking
>> >> forward
>> >>> to eventually building one for myself, but that is a little bit in the
>> >>> future of course.  :)  Check the following link from Luis' web site.
>> >>>> https://sites.google.com/site/tandycocoloco/rgb2vga
>> >>>> It has all the minute details about the RGB2VGA converter.  Luis
>> >>> thoroughly explains the entire operation of the RGB2VGA Converter
>> which
>> >>> includes pictures of the PCB mounted on top of the Altera DE-0 Nano
>> >> board.
>> >>> It's a nice small package.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Kip Koon
>> >>>> computerdoc at sc.rr.com
>> >>>> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Kip_Koon
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> -----Original Message-----
>> >>>> From: Coco [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com] On Behalf Of Joe
>> >>>> Grubbs
>> >>>> Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2015 11:07 AM
>> >>>> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
>> >>>> Subject: Re: [Coco] Current Status of the "Help Send A Fellow CoCoNut
>> >>>> To This Year's CoCoFEST" Campaign
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Kip,
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I need a refresher... The RGB2VGA converter is for the CoCo3,
>> correct?
>> >> I
>> >>> assume it adapts the connector under the CoCo to a DB15 for use with a
>> >> VGA
>> >>> monitor? What's the general consensus on the performance? Does it work
>> >> well
>> >>> with modern LCD monitors? Also, what is the cost?
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>> From: computerdoc at sc.rr.com
>> >>>>> To: coco at maltedmedia.com
>> >>>>> Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2015 02:34:16 -0500
>> >>>>> Subject: [Coco] Current Status of the "Help Send A Fellow CoCoNut To
>> >>> This   Year's CoCoFEST" Campaign
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Hi Everyone,
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> First of all, much thanks goes out to all those who have already
>> >>>>> ordered either the RGB2VGA Converter or the Wodpak2+ or both fully
>> >>> assembled PCBs.
>> >>>>> Every order will certainly help send a fellow CoCoNut to this year's
>> >>>>> CoCoFEST - namely me!  :P  I do appreciate everyone who has
>> >>>>> participated so far.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> I will be finalizing the PCB order with the fabrication house in the
>> >>>>> next day or the day two, so if any of you who are interested but
>> >>>>> have not yet ordered, please do so as soon as possible.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> So far I have paid orders for 3 RGB2VGA Converters and 3 WordPak2+
>> >>>>> fully assembled PCBs.  Thank you again for all who have ordered thus
>> >>>>> far.  I'm sending in the PCB designs in tonight and will do the
>> >>>>> final order probably Monday.  I was going to ordering from a Chinese
>> >>>>> PCB Fabrication house, but they are having their New Year's Day
>> >>>>> celebrations this month, so I'm going with my original plan to use
>> >>>>> OSHPark.  After the PCBs' order is done Monday, I should have the
>> >>>>> finished PCBs back in about 10 days.  By then, the parts orders
>> >>>>> should be about ready to arrive as I will put together the finalized
>> >>> orders for parts Monday and sending in those orders as well.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> I'm delighted to put these PCBs together for you guys or should I
>> >>>>> say for Y'all!  :)  To correctly pronounce Y'all, it should be held
>> >>>>> out approximately 1 to 2 seconds.  :P  Thank you all again.  Take
>> >>>>> care my friends.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Kip Koon
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> <mailto:computerdoc at sc.rr.com> computerdoc at sc.rr.com
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> <http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Kip_Koon>
>> >>>>> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Kip_Koon
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> --
>> >>>>> Coco mailing list
>> >>>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> >>>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> --
>> >>>> Coco mailing list
>> >>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> >>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> --
>> >>>> Coco mailing list
>> >>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> >>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> --
>> >>> Coco mailing list
>> >>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> >>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> --
>> >>> Coco mailing list
>> >>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> >>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Coco mailing list
>> >> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> >> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>> >>
>> >
>> > --
>> > Coco mailing list
>> > Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> > https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>>
>>
>> --
>> Coco mailing list
>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>>
>
>

More information about the Coco mailing list