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| layout | title | date | comments | categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| post | Restoring the TI 99/4A, ep. 3 | 2025-05-01 17:00:00 +0200 | true |
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" %}
{% endfigure %}
I finally hooked that into a RetroScaler2x, and got beautiful HDMI output 🎉.
{% figure caption:"Component cable & RetroScaler" %}
{% 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" %}
{% endfigure %}
{% figure caption:"TI BASIC ready" %}
{% 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. 😒 Back to the bench!