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44 lines
2.0 KiB
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44 lines
2.0 KiB
Markdown
---
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layout: post
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title: "Restoring the TI 99/4A, ep. 3"
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date: 2025-05-01 17:00:00 +0200
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comments: true
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categories:
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---
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## Video hookup
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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.
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It worked, but the colors were wayyyyyyy off.
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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.
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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.
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{% figure caption:"PlayStation cable" %}
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{% endfigure %}
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I finally hooked that into a [RetroScaler2x](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005763694233.html), and got beautiful HDMI output :tada:.
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{% figure caption:"Component cable & RetroScaler" %}
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{% endfigure %}
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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!
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{% figure caption:"Boot screen" %}
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{% endfigure %}
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{% figure caption:"TI BASIC ready" %}
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{% endfigure %}
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## Kids come in, trouble is there!
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One of the secret goals of this renovation was to put the console in the hands of my kids.
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My son played a while with Parsec, and then my daughter tried Alpiner...
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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.
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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!
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