SavoNARA - easy mod for HDMI Scan Doubler

[pancio]

Hello,

I've long break from Atari because of workload but i found a few hours to check very simple mod...

Today I managed to build and run a very simple interface that allows you to easily display the image from Atari via HDMI on any monitor/TV with stereo sound. It is a simple alternative to solutions installed in the computer such as VBXE or Sophia. It does not provide such a good image (especially as Sophia) but allows for very pleasant work and play with our Atari. For details, please visit my website.

savoNARA1.0.4-pcb.png (262.07 KiB) 485 mal betrachtet

savoNARA1.0.4-3d.png (182.61 KiB) 485 mal betrachtet

Have FUN!

[andymanone]

Cool mate,
sounds great !

Is it possible to get this upgrade from you to test it?

BR,
andY

[pancio]

Sure!

I'll order a fer PCB as always. Use one or two, rest is for testers for free :-) I'll update you when new version arrived. We will in touch!

Best Regards,

[andymanone]

Perfect !

I'm looking forward to it !

Thx and BR,
andY

[wosch]

Perfect replacement for the modulator.
Wolfgang

[andymanone]

@Pancio:
Btw.: Nice Sally replacment .

Higher clocked or standard clock?

Gtx.,
andY

[pancio]

Thank you Wolfgang.

The main reason why we added additional components to PCB is reconstruction for COMPOSITE signal which is lost when modulator is drop from the Atari. So you may use standard monitor as always and use signal from miniDIN6 for ScanDoubler HDMI. Author of idea to recover COMPOSITE is my colleague KKRYS. He made easy interface called Easy Modulator Replacement in the past.

mr.jpeg (1.39 MiB) 467 mal betrachtet

[pancio]

@Pancio:
Btw.: Nice Sally replacment ;).

Higher clocked or standard clock?

Gtx.,
andY

In this particular case it's replacement but PCB is prepared for "turbo" mode... We will se if it's possible to speed it up!

BR,

[CharlieChaplin]

Hmmmm,
I am a bit confused. Since I am no electronics expert, I do not see the advantage of this mod other than removing or replacing the modulator. Please forgive me, when my questions sound like complaints, they are not, just questions from an amateur who has no clue.

1) What does this extension exactly do ? Replace the RF out with mini-DIN6, okay. We have Composite on the board or the mini DIN6 then it seems. But we still require a scan-doubler and HDMI converter...

Currently I have cables from the Abbuc shop that convert the DIN5 monitor out into a) S-Video, b) Composite (cinch) and c) Audio (mono, cinch). With a simple Composite and/or S-Video to HDMI converter I can convert the signal to HDMI. At the moment I am using the McBazel ODV converter (67,99 Euro at amazon.de) which gives a great picture and has no latency.

2) So, what does this mod do that the DIN5 monitor out to S/Video and Composite + Audio cable does not do ? I still need a scan doubler and HDMI converter and I could not find a mini DIN6 to HDMI converter, so some extra work is required - whereas there are dozens or so Composite and/or S-Video to HDMI converters readily available. Does your mod give a better picture ? Or why should I convert to mini DIN 6 ? Whats the advantage there?

[pancio]

Hi CharlieChaplin,

That's right. This extension only replaces the modulator but also provides LUMINANCE and CHROMINANCE signals, stereo sound and power to the Atari outside. Why?
Because in this situation you can use one HDMI converter with multiple Atari - until now to get an HDMI signal (or rather VGA/DVI) you had to use an expensive device. The mod is an alternative form of a scandoubler mounted inside. klaVO - Easy video mod with HDMI with audio stereo... The mod also provides power to this scandoubler.

I preferring use scandoubler inside but somebody's have more than one Atari and want to use these with HDMI - it's possible to install SavoNARA into these and use only one scandoubler. That's advantage. Nothing else... Maybe one more thing... you don't want to damage housing e.g. with bigger hole for HDMI/SCART/DVI socket.

McBazel ODV? Ok - Let me check it as well... I bought about 10 different SDs for test and bitfunx is very good! :-)

Only that much and as much as that...

Best Regards,

[CharlieChaplin]

McBazel ODV? Ok - Let me check it as well... I bought about 10 different SDs for test and bitfunx is very good!

Only that much and as much as that...

Best Regards,

That one: https://www.amazon.de/Mcbazel-Composite ... ref=sr_1_3
I am using it for more than a year now. One of our Abbuc members tested it and was surprised how good it is. In his opinion this one is as good as the Framemeister (400 Euro) or the Medusa (200 Euro)... but has less connections of course. (Only Composite, S-Video and YPrPb.)

[Mathy]

.
Hallo pancio

Why did you call it SAVOnara? What does "SAVO" stand for?
And why did you use yet another connector that is incompatible with an other video cable?

Sincerely

Mathy

[pancio]

.
Hallo pancio

Why did you call it SAVOnara? What does "SAVO" stand for?
And why did you use yet another connector that is incompatible with an other video cable?

Sincerely

Mathy

It's funny story... SavoNARA paraphrasing word 'sayonara' and 'SAVO'. The 'sayonara' from Japanese means 'goodbye' and 'savo' means: 1. mold removal liquid, 2. very expensive small PCB made by Piotr D. Kaczorowski with 10 wires and miniDIN socket using for VBXE to transmit signal to TV equipped with SCART socket thru very expensive cable.

So, SavoNARA is junction from these definition and means 'Goodbye SAVO!'

Why I decided to develop SavoNARA (it's too big word to define tons of work I need to spend with so tiny and funny device :D ) ?

The functionality is similar but SAVO cannot produce video signal without VBXE. Moreover, SAVO eliminates the possibility of using the original monitor socket (cuts out the COMPOSITE signal) and broken backward compatibility. When author of SAVO start selling his solution forgot to say that SAVO can't work without VBXE... MAny people bought it and were very disappointed. The SavoNARA is my response to the ignorance of the author of SAVO and treating the community as naive buyers. It's nothing personally, just retro scene event :-)

Why I cannot use the same cable?
The answer is simple - because I don't want to go to war with the author of Savo, who is known for intimidating everyone with law firms and high costs. Besides, SavoNARA is an interface between Atari and scandoubler and SAVO uses more signals (RGB + 2xAUDIO) - there is no compatibility here.
Additionally, the intention behind SavoNARA was to use only one HDMI cable (with a scandoubler) - no other cable on the market offers such a possibility...

Of course you can use SavoNARA as SAVO, but it is a regression and degradation of functionality and completely pointless.

Best Regards,