#Fc problems
12 messages in this thread
I'm having a problem with a FC24. I am training a customer of mine on using
the Fc with many packages. I am setting up the Fc in my A3000, and having
just installed it, with a new Fc cable (customer lost the original) which I
ordered from Impulse, I find the overlay combo doesnt work.
That is, if I use the 'overlay' cable, my Multiscan monitor which is
plugged into the VDE port on the 3000 goes crazy. The 1084 monitor that I
have the FC plugged into is working fine, overlay mode and all. BUT, I
cannot make the two monitor happy together with the overlay cable
installed. I tried plugging both monitors in (direct, bypassing the FC) and
they co-exist just fine. Any ideas? The only thing I can think of is that
my A3000 is not very new, I think its a Rev 7.1 motherboard. As I say,
everything works fine if I had only the 1084, but I would like the Fc,1084,
and 1950 to co-exist peacefully. Where should I start looking?
Jim
Jim:
I'm not from Impulse, but I think I know your problem. It seems that some
A3000's as well as some A2320 display enhancers (basically the same
circuitry) don't like having a genlock of any kind installed on the system.
When you use the overlay cable the Amiga thinks it has a Genlock attached
(which it does sort of). I think the people to ask about this is Commodore,
not Impulse, as this is a known problem.
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
Jim, I noticed another message from Mike S.; he is correct. I have a FR24
and an A2000, with the FlickerFixer card in it. When I hook up the Amiga
in overlay mode on the FR24, the VGA (FlickerFixer) output is real cr*p.
Totally unusable.
In the FlickerFixer case there may be a solution, as the MicroWay makes a
'genlock' adaptor for the the FF board, which I have ordered. They say it
will clear up my FF display even when used in overlay mode. We'll see. Does
Commodore make anything similar for the A3000?
The only solution I have right now (until I see if the cable I ordered will
work) is to turn off the FF monitor each time I hook up the overlay.
One thing that helped me was to put a switch box between the amiga RGB port
and the FR24 input. That way I just needed to flip the switch to go into
overlay mode or not. Beats turning the machine on/off each time I wanted
to connect/disconnect the overlay cable.
–jp–seattle–
John:
It seems that with the A3000, as well as with the A2320 that some seem to
be able to work with a genlock, and some can't. In my case, I really didn't
think I'd be able to use the overlay mode, as I once had a SuperGen hooked
to my machine, and it made the Display enhancer display real flakey, but
apparently the FC24's signal is stable enough that the Amiga display stays
put for me. Perhaps there is some adjustment on either the FC24 and/or the
display enhancer (C= Flicker fixer) that can fix the problem.
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
That's sad that Commodore would release the A3000 with the problem. There
are certainly a lot of people using the flickerfree port of the A3000, and
also wanting to use a genlock. When the genlock cruds up the display of
the flickerfree port it ain't fun. Particularly since it is apparently not
necessary at all (since Microway came up with a solution, at least).
Commodore takes two big advantages of the A3000 (works with video via
genlocks; built-in flickerfree display) and makes them incompatible with
each other. !!!
–jp–seattle–
John:
I'm sure that when C= finds the problem (if they havn't already) that
they'll be some sort of fix for it.
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
John–
My 3000 worked well with both a Vidtech Scanlock and a Supergen 2000S in
the video slot (although they recommend against it, officially). I had the
video scoped; no problems with it (especially the 2000S – great unit), and
only minor problems with the flickfixed video. Seems that the Supergen can
cause some problems, but Digital Creations can fix that problem – it has
nothing to do with the 3000.
Just to let others know that it can be done…
Jonathan
– via Whap!
Thanks. You say that the flickerfixed video only had 'minor problems'?
What were they, if you don't mind. The message I was responding to was
having problems with the FireCracker in overlay mode (basically similar to
genlocking) and their flickerFree display (on the A3000). Did you do
anything to get them to work? If so, what you did may help others?
–jp–seattle–
John–
The vidtech Scanlock worked without any hassle at all. Although I
wasn't pleased with some other things about the Scanlock, I have to say it
is apparently A3000 compatible.
I had to fairly rip the 3000 apart to physically fit the 2000s in it
(cut away large chunks of the inner case/rf shielding). Apart from this, I
get some fuzziness in low-res, and a "zipper" pattern on the right edge of
the display. Digital Creations can fix this if the card is sent back, and
may have implemented the fix on newly manufactured 2000s genlocks. So, I
didn't really have to do much of anything, and I can live with the zipper
and low-res fuzz, in order to have great quality genlock output. If only
it didn't compete with the Toaster for the same slot…
Jonathan
– via Whap!
Mike,
the latest AmigaWorld has an item about Supergen and the 3000. Seems
like early models must be returned to Digital Creations for a $45 upgrade.
Now I know I wasn't crazy when I thought the Supergen made my 3000 display
all weird! (Basically, it seemed like every other line would disappear from
the display, or at least be superimposed right on top of the previous line,
instead of fitting neatly netween its neighbors as a good interlaced line
should; this made reading menus impossible)
Blaq! – via Whap!
John,
I have the Genlock option board from Microway and it does fix the
problem you have when using two monitors with the FC24 and using overlay.
I also have an A2000 with with the A2320 in it but haven't tried the FC24
in that machine.
I wonder if an adjustment to the A2320 would stabilize it. I have to
readjust the Flickerfixer slightly when I hook of unhook the overlay cable.
….Mark
Mark, thanks for the confirmation. That makes me feel better, cause I was
only -hoping- it would work for me. Now I can look forward to a clear FF
display as well!
–jp–seattle–