Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Commodore 128/ CGA Video DAC Board Available

I just completed a new build of Richard42's fantastic Commodore 128 video DAC board.  This is a fantastic little board that, in combination with a Gonbes GBS-8220 arcade RGB scaler, produces great 16 color, with intensity, output on any modern VGA monitor.  To boot, the combination also works great with IBM CGA or low-res EGA cards!

I did two rounds of prototypes, and the following is what the final board looks like.  Please excuse the poor quality of my living-room photos.

Video DAC Front
Video DAC Back
I am now making these available to the vintage community for the price of what the components cost me, plus shipping.

If you would like to purchase one, I am offering several different ways to get it.

Please let me know if you have any comments. I'll work on getting some screenshots, as I was referring to some posted on Commodore128.org, but that forum seems to have gone down, rather unexpectedly.

24 comments:

  1. HI.

    Are these still available?

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  2. Yep. I just stopped building them, as I don't have the spare time. I can sell you a PCB or a kit.

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  3. The kit version is fine. I've been kit building and scratch building for about 50 years, si I think I can handle it!

    :-)

    Just buy a kit via PayPal OK??

    Thanks!

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  4. Sure. Just add it, and international shipping, if you need it, to your cart, and check out.

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  5. I'm going to discontinue availability of the kit, for now, as my daughter was just born. I hope to continue availability, in the future.

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  6. Congrats!

    Will I still receive the one I ordered?

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  7. All previous orders will be filled. Sorry for the worries!

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  9. Dominik,

    I haven't received any orders from you. Unfortunately, I am not accepting orders, at this time. I will post, again, when orders can be fulfilled.

    Thanks!
    - Alex

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  10. Hello, Interested In this device. When it will be available for purchase?

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  11. In July 2015, I introduced an improved version of Richard's design. It's available via Amazon for $50 + S&H, or save $5 by using PayPal at < http://www.bit-c-128.com >.

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  12. Do you have dimensions for this board, or a drawing with measurements? I've had a couple of requests to build mounts for it for my Commodore 128 VGA Module enclosures.

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  13. wfp,

    The board design is available, through OSH Park. Go to https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/9MPsJlrJ to see it. You can get the dimensions from there.

    Good luck!

    - Alex

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  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  15. Errr... I seem to be missing the "connect wire X to post Y" directions... Help!

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    1. David,

      Please reference this other post, on my blog:
      http://he-insanity.blogspot.com/2014/03/video-dac-assembly-information.html

      Good luck!
      - Alex

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  16. FWIW: These seem to be incredibly cheap on eBay. And already assembled.

    New RGB CGA EGA YUV to VGA HD Video Converter Board Moudle HD9800 GBS8200

    (ebay 362299529454)

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    1. That auction is part of the solution, yes, but you will also need something like this:
      https://www.ebay.com/itm/GGLABS-CGA2RGB-Commodore-Tandy-PC-digital-RGBI-to-analog-RGB-converter-C128-DAC/401220864442?hash=item5d6aa089ba:g:W~0AAOSw8lpZGQ3Y

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  17. Hi, do you have 1 kit for sale or 1 board. If yes please tell me how I can buy it from you. Thank you

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  18. Where can I find a kit with the brown fix? Or the link to the items? Thank you

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  19. You can look up the previous comments to see that there is a new source, using a similar design from:
    http://www.bit-c-128.com

    - Alex

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  20. Ok excellent. I have a XRGB-mini Framemeister then can I connect the http://bit-c128.com to the c128 then the output of the http://bit-c128.com to a scart cable to 8 pins RGB of the Framemeister and not use the GB 8220? Or what would be the best for the 80 columns and all colors?

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    1. I don't know anyone who has tried a Framemeister. It seems possible, though. What does work, for sure, are the bit DAC + GBS8220, or the https://www.serdashop.com/MCE2VGA, or http://www.retrotink.com/.

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