From: tpang@fraser.sfu.ca (Tsui Ting Debbie Pang)
Subject: Re: does this device exist? YES, and READ!
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 10:39:49 GMT

grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins) writes:
>The original A1300 genlock definitely provides the combined computer and
>composite video on both the RBG outputs and composite outputs.  A mode
[details edited]
>There may exist 3-rd party genlocks that simply pass through the computer
>RBG to their 23-pin connector, I haven't looked at an Amigen or similar
>device in a while.

Any other cheap genlock works?

>What the guy really wanted was a "consumer" composite to RBG decoder.  It

And I have actually found them in a local computer store selling clones!
It is a Hong Kong or Taiwan made (not sure which) (the computer store is
Chinese run, inside a Chinese mall). There is no brand name, and the specs
are put cheaply on the box in both English and Chinese. It is a black small
box, with some switches and LEDs on the front. And some connectors in the
rear. It's function is to decode NTSC/PAL/SECAM composite signals to
RGB (I would guess it's 15.7kHz interlace, but I couldn't even find the
spec on the box), a secondary function is a small stereo amp and audio
input selector and speakers output. The computer video is cut off when
the composite video is active, automatically. They showed me playing
a VHS tape (in NTSC) on a VCR, and thru that box, on to a TVM 3+ monitor.
The picture looks interlaced, but the lines are a little overlapped, and
the picture is not very good, overscan is not very accurate, may be
due to the design of the monitor rather than the decoder box.

About business: The price is CDN$99 (some months ago, there was a sale for
$79, but don't know if it was an earlier version, since this one says II).
The Chinese employee and boss are not very helpful in the specs, but promised
to find out more since I mentioned I worked for a computer dealer specilized
in video (Amiga :), and might find their products useful, thus might buy
a lot! I have not heard from them, as if they don't care! I found it amazing,
since I was polite, and gave him my business card. The boss doesn't even
give me his card, but gave me the employee's, which says manager, he doesn't
know anything about computers I found after talking to him, so I guess the
title is more of boasting than actual. It is a small scale store. I talked to
them in Cantonese (since I am Cantonese Chinese) (some months ago, the
employees in the store spoke Mandarin, which I didn't, so I asked about
that product in English, but couldn't spend much time, as I was with some
friends (who are also in computer dealership).

Conclusion: The product exists, and I was excited, since I had been looking
for similar products since 1990, when I had to buy another monitor for my
new A3000, and no one knows, even on Usenet, at that time. However, since
there is no brand name, and the packing quality, and specs are all of
doubtful quality, I don't know if it is a good product. It is directly 
imported from Hong Kong or Taiwan, mostly likely from Hong Kong, so if
you know someone there (I'm from there), you might be able to track down
some more info on that. The local support might vary, since I have never
seen one in California for my previous years living there.

2nd source: On a TVM monitor catalog, I remember there is a device which
you can buy to do the same thing on their monitor, but the computer store
which I saw it at (CompUSA, ex-Software House), doesn't know how to get one.

I have also heard some other monitor catalog/manual/flyer also mentioned 
similar device.

>-- 
>George Robbins - now working for,     work:   to be avoided at all costs...
>but no way officially representing:   uucp:   {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
>Commodore, Engineering Department     domain: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com

Mail me if you have any info/questions.

Good luck,

Bye,
David

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  David Tse      E-mail: tpang@sfu.ca (Internet)
  Snail Mail: P.O. Box 26052, Richmond, BC, V6Y 1Z3, Canada
  Machine: Amiga A3000/25 + AMaxII = 2 Computers!
  Questions: What is "A" to do with 68k?
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