Getting NTSC to display on PAL CRTs

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Fudoh
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Re: Getting NTSC to display on PAL CRTs

Post by Fudoh »

there are those cheap NTSC to PAL color converters which take composite NTSC and output PAL60 instead. These have been around since the late 80s when the first import video game systems showed up in Europe. You can probably pick up one of those for very little money.
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Fudoh
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Re: Getting NTSC to display on PAL CRTs

Post by Fudoh »

I remember linking this one here and you said it wouldn't work. Any others?
but then your question was different back then. Maybe in regard to framerate conversion or capturing. If your display can right now display NTSC signals in b/w, but otherwise alright, then a converter like this will likely give you PAL60 in color.
I'm primarily thinking of S-Video though. Specifically, the N64.
can't think any affordable color conversion for s-video, sorry.
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Xer Xian
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Re: Getting NTSC to display on PAL CRTs

Post by Xer Xian »

The problem with these format converters is that they usually conform to the standards, and as far as I know PAL60 was not really used outside of console gaming, so it's unlikely they will offer it as an output.

I'd look for Extron or Kramer products on eBay, these were geared towards the professionals and will perform well but can be had for very cheap today since the demand is so low. An Extron TSC 100 went for less than $20 around a month ago. But again, I'd expect them to force frame-rate conversion, which as Fudoh already said, may pretty much kill any scrolling game.

There's also this thing up for sale right now.. it's apparently more of a converter/upscaler combo, but still I wouldn't spend that much on it (nearly $100 after shipping and taxes).
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Fudoh
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Re: Getting NTSC to display on PAL CRTs

Post by Fudoh »

The problem with these format converters is that they usually conform to the standards, and as far as I know PAL60 was not really used outside of console gaming, so it's unlikely they will offer it as an output.
the ones I know definitely use PAL60. They have been widely available in the late 80s and early 90s and were sold together with NTSC consoles to customers that didn't have RGB yet.
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LEGENOARYNINLIA
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Re: Getting NTSC to display on PAL CRTs

Post by LEGENOARYNINLIA »

ross wrote:I've heard some say you could route it through a VCR, though I'm not sure how that works.
I have a VCR that can do it. Basically you need to find a model that lets you choose the output signal. Mine is a Panasonic AG-W3. But as it's just composite to composite I don't use it for that, ever.
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Lawfer
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Re: Getting NTSC to display on PAL CRTs

Post by Lawfer »

CRTs which display in black and white because they can't do NTSC are very old models, maybe grab a newer CRT off ebay or on the flee market? Or mod your N64 to output RGB.
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Lawfer
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Re: Getting NTSC to display on PAL CRTs

Post by Lawfer »

ross wrote:It's a 1995 set, which isn't that old.
22 years is a long time.

ross wrote:I have a 2003 Trinitron but I prefer the former outside of lacking NTSC support.
Then use that one, no need to complicate your life.
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Syntax
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Re: Getting NTSC to display on PAL CRTs

Post by Syntax »

You could open the set, find the crystal and add an ntsc one and switch, or a dual crystal.

Actually very shocked a 95 model does not have ntsc support. Please double check the service menu and standard menu for color info.
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Lawfer
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Re: Getting NTSC to display on PAL CRTs

Post by Lawfer »

ross wrote:
Lawfer wrote:
ross wrote:It's a 1995 set, which isn't that old.
22 years is a long time.

ross wrote:I have a 2003 Trinitron but I prefer the former outside of lacking NTSC support.
Then use that one, no need to complicate your life.
I'd do that if it supported S-Video!
Well the only other choice would be to just get a used CRT that support S-Video and NTSC, if not you can get your Nintendo 64 modded for RGB here:

https://www.videogameperfection.com/pro ... -consoles/

This way you get the best picture quality and you don't have to worry about NTSC being black and white.
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LEGENOARYNINLIA
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Re: Getting NTSC to display on PAL CRTs

Post by LEGENOARYNINLIA »

Have you tried composite or s-video with a SCART adapter with this TV? I had a small Grundig that gave a black and white image from the composite and S-video ports in the front, but displayed colour just fine with a SCART adapter from the back.
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falseelectronics
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Re: Getting NTSC to display on PAL CRTs

Post by falseelectronics »

Syntax wrote:You could open the set, find the crystal and add an ntsc one and switch, or a dual crystal.

Actually very shocked a 95 model does not have ntsc support. Please double check the service menu and standard menu for color info.
It's not that unusual for cheap models. I had a 14" model around 97-98 that was the same. Swapping the colourburst crystal usually rights it.
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charlie chong
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Re: Getting NTSC to display on PAL CRTs

Post by charlie chong »

as long as the graphics aren't garbled and just in black and white then them old skool convertors work.i used them in college in the late 90s to play backups of imports (we traded through the mail in those days :twisted: ) for psx and dreamcast when i had a rubbish hand me down tv and no money.. i seem to remember you had to get them to warm up as the colours would sometimes randomly go black and white then back to colour for a bit
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