Modifying a B&W TV for composite video input

From: Fred Cisin <cisin_at_xenosoft.com>
Date: Mon Jun 30 22:16:01 2003

On Mon, 30 Jun 2003, Ian Primus wrote:
> Those little RF boxes don't really convert from composite to RF, they

The Sup'R'Mod II DOES convert from composite to RF (Channel 34).
Most of the other RF modulator boxes are channel 3, or 4, or switchable
between 3 and 4.
But some people don't know the difference between an RF modulator box and
a switch box.

But modifying a TV for composite input is a good project.

Maybe start with Don Lancaster's book(s) on the subject.

... and be careful! You will be working near high voltages; and some are
hot chassis

--
Grumpy Ol' Fred     		cisin_at_xenosoft.com
> just provide a switch and a connection to a TV antenna input. The
> output signal from the computer is already RF. Actually, what I
> generally do with machines that have RF out only (i.e. Atari 2600) is
> to just go to Radio Shack and get an RCA to F type screw connector
> adapter. It's much smaller, and gives much better picture than those
> little metal boxes do. It just doesn't provide a switch. What I want to
> do is to actually input a true composite video signal into the TV. Of
> course, this can be done by using a broken VCR with A/V inputs and a TV
> output, but I want to modify the set as a learning experience, as well
> as to create something useful for old computers.
>
> Ian Primus
> ian_primus_at_yahoo.com
>
> On Monday, June 30, 2003, at 09:17 PM, John Rollins wrote:
>
> > I would think the easiest and cheapest way is to use a plain old RF
> > modulator box that will put composite video on to channel 3 or 4. I've
> > taken apart one or two and they seem to have little more than a few
> > coils and small parts, a far cry from the rack mounted cable TV
> > modulators I just picked up(ooohh... so many trimmer caps and
> > coils...). I don't know a whole lot about it, but I'm slowly learning
> > as my interest in fast scan ATV increases... The converter box I have
> > goes with my TI-99, I probably have one in the box with my C-64, too.
> > I think you can still get them at Radio Shack. Otherwise, all you need
> > to do is dump the composite signal into an AM modulator and then
> > through a transmitter that the TV can pick up. I would guess these
> > small boxes having only coils just use a tuned circuit for channel 3
> > and the voltage from the composite signal to provide the signal. But
> > then I'm just guessing, I've never poked and prodded those little
> > boxes very much, I think I'll go do that now(when I find it,
> > anyhow...).
> >
> >
> >> I have read a lot about the SWTPC TV Typewriter, and I am interested
> >> in how people modified a black and white TV for a video monitor. I

Received on Mon Jun 30 2003 - 22:16:01 BST