TI 99/4A ep 3

_source/_posts/2025-05-01-ti99-4a-restoration-ep3.md

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+---
+layout: post
+title: "Restoring the TI 99/4A, ep. 3"
+date: 2025-05-01 17:00:00 +0200
+comments: true
+categories:
+---
+
+## Video hookup
+
+In the previous episode, I got a live console and was able to test TI Basic as well as a few cartridges, connecting the PAL modulator to a modern LCD TV.
+It worked, but the colors were wayyyyyyy off.
+
+Now, this is a European console with a TMS9929 VDP, and a 6 pin DIN video output socket, providing component video (YPbPr) with sync on Y.
+It was a pretty simple job to build a component cable with 5 RCA plugs, by beheading a Playstation cable and soldering a DIN plug instead.
+
+{% figure caption:"PlayStation cable" %}
+![PlayStation cable](assets/TI-resto/20250501-PS-cable.jpg)
+{% endfigure %}
+
+I finally hooked that into a [RetroScaler2x](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005763694233.html), and got beautiful HDMI output :tada:.
+
+{% figure caption:"Component cable & RetroScaler" %}
+![component cable & retroscaler](assets/TI-resto/PXL_20250501_150700385.jpg)
+{% endfigure %}
+
+It worked beautifully, the boot screen with its rainbow stripes on cyan background brought fond memories. Small TI BASIC programs and game cartridges brought me back 40+ years ago. Wonderful time machine!
+
+{% figure caption:"Boot screen" %}
+![boot screen](assets/TI-resto/PXL_20250428_192425638.jpg)
+{% endfigure %}
+
+{% figure caption:"TI BASIC ready" %}
+![TI BASIC ready](assets/TI-resto/PXL_20250428_192158460.jpg)
+{% endfigure %}
+
+## Kids come in, trouble is there!
+
+One of the secret goals of this renovation was to put the console in the hands of my kids.
+My son played a while with Parsec, and then my daughter tried Alpiner...
+
+And there, right in the midst of the game, the console 100% froze again, with the image still displaying, and a continuous tone playing. Not good.
+I let it cool for several hours (the power supply board appears to be heating way more than I'd love it to after maybe 15-20 minutes of play), and I'm now back at the initial symptom: continuous random tone at startup, no display. :unamused: Back to the bench!