Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!cornell!rochester!ur-tut!sunybcs!boulder!hao!oddjob!gargoyle!ihnp4!ihlpm!njd
From: njd@ihlpm.ATT.COM (DiMasi)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Video Cables
Message-ID: <1732@ihlpm.ATT.COM>
Date: 3 Mar 88 00:26:09 GMT
References: <880229-110709-1608@Xerox>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois
Lines: 37
Summary: video outputs and resolution

In article <880229-110709-1608@Xerox>, "Hugh_E._Wells.ElSegundo"@XEROX.COM.UUCP writes:
> The composite output from the 65XE, as with most all 8-bit Atari's, is
> compatible with any video monitor or TV configured for composite signal input.
> ....
> support 80 columns adequately.  That is why most 80 column systems tend use a
> monichrome screen.  Many patterns of character generation have been tried for
> color TV screens in an attempt to achieve high resolu
> 80 columns is a tough road for a color TV monitor.

I am not sure about the 65XE (since I don't own one), but I felt the need to
point out that the 130 XE has a color alternative to the composite output.
There are 2 other pins in the 5-pin DIN connector (which ones I can't say now,
as my manual is at home - but look in a 130XE manual if you can borrow one)
that provide 2 signals:  one, the "chroma" [chrominance], and the other,
the "luma" [luminance] signal.  There are also some monitors, that cost about
the same as "ordinary" color monitors did a couple of years or so ago, that
accept these signals.  The one I have is a Commodore 1802C.  I bought it at
a local discount store (Service Merchandise).  All I had to hack on was the
cable that came with the monitor: replace the Commodore 8-pin plug with a
5-pin plug, using the 130XE and 1802C manuals as a guide.  

It works quite well, and provides enough resolution for use with 80 columns,
at least for the 80col. display provided by OMNIVIEW, which is a very well-
worked-out GR. 8 - based rendition of a character set.  I am sure that a
monochrome monitor would appear even sharper, but I didn't want to play
"musical monitors," and where would I put it?  (I looked for a composite
monitor with a mono. mode, but never found such a beastie.  Existence proof,
anyone?)  Oh, yes - all the other graphics is sharper with the chroma/luma
monitor too, although artifacting is mostly [entirely?  Super 3D Plotter II
seems to be able to use it still] gone.  If anything, it's the artifacting
that makes the composite 80-column display unreadable (all I have to do
to see this is change cables and switch the 1802C to composite video mode).

Nick DiMasi
Uni'q Digital Technologies (Fox Valley Software subsidiary;
   ^          working as a contractor at AT&T Bell Labs in Naperville, IL)
(  | this is an accent mark, supposed to replace the dot over the 'i')