I keep seeing a lot of good written about the Retrotink devices. I'm thinking of cutting down the number of screens I have lying around here, and picking up one of the scart builds; it feels like it'd be a a solid choice for capturing RGB from my STEs and putting it out over HDMI.
Anybody here used them/have opinions on them?
I do have an old LCD screen that handles ST low & medium via an ubeswitch, but it's imperfect: there are some glitches on the display that I don't much like. I've seen the great work on an HDMI mod for STFMs -- and I'll totally consider buying one if/when the project gets there -- but most of my machines are STEs. Between that and my Jaguar, I'd love to get a reliably good HDMI output for these.
Retrotink, or other upscalers
Re: Retrotink, or other upscalers
Here is a recent topic on atari forum where they are talking about it:
https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=39445
https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=39445
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Re: Retrotink, or other upscalers
I don't have a RetroTink device, but I can vouch for using SCART. I had one of the Best Electronics VGA cables and the output was only ever acceptable at best. Low resolution was pretty good, but medium was just only acceptable. I used it with my NEC multisync monitor and it was OK. Things were maybe just a tiny bit better when I ran the cable through my OSSC that I bought later and used it with the HDMI output. I finally purchased a Cool Novelties STE SCART cable and ran that through my OSSC's SCART input. The difference was night and day. Both low and medium resolution are crystal clear and utterly beautiful. I honestly don't think it's possible to get a better picture from my old STE. For that matter, using one of the VGA switches rather than the Best cable may have yielded better results. The cable may have been the issue all along, though it seems really well made.
I'm assuming you using a SCART cable with a RetroTink would provide similar results. I know most people are really pleased with them. The only issue is that it will only work with the two color modes, obviously, but you could still use your switch and just about any VGA compatible display to get high resolution whenever you needed it.
It really just depends on what you do with your ST. If you're only using it for games, or more specifically, low and medium resolution applications, you should be fine.
I'm assuming you using a SCART cable with a RetroTink would provide similar results. I know most people are really pleased with them. The only issue is that it will only work with the two color modes, obviously, but you could still use your switch and just about any VGA compatible display to get high resolution whenever you needed it.
It really just depends on what you do with your ST. If you're only using it for games, or more specifically, low and medium resolution applications, you should be fine.
8-bit - 800XL - 1050 w/Happy Mod - XF551 - SIO2PCUSB - Ultimate Cart - an assembled, but not quite 100% working 1088XEL & CF3 Dual, "new" filthy 600XL & 800XL winter repair & restoration projects, 400 restoration project
16-bit - 1040STF, TOS 1.4, Gotek - 4160STE, dual-TOS 1.62/2.06, Gotek - Ultrasatan - SF314 Drive - Golden Image Master 3A-1D Drive
Consoles - 2600 Vader - Lynx II
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Consoles - 2600 Vader - Lynx II
Re: Retrotink, or other upscalers
Interesting; thanks! This makes the OSSC look more flexible and maybe more reliable. That's a useful datapoint.Steve wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2020 10:13 am Here is a recent topic on atari forum where they are talking about it:
https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=39445
Interesting. Since the signals are coming from the same output, I'd figure the cables are the likely cause here? If I was going to go to SCART, I'd figured I'm either doing it direct from the monitor output (i.e. a custom Atari ST monitor port to SCART cable), or Atari ST to VGA (via ubeswitch) then VGA to SCART if it turns out to be simpler.bfollowell wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2020 7:30 pm
I don't have a RetroTink device, but I can vouch for using SCART. I had one of the Best Electronics VGA cables and the output was only ever acceptable at best. Low resolution was pretty good, but medium was just only acceptable. I used it with my NEC multisync monitor and it was OK. Things were maybe just a tiny bit better when I ran the cable through my OSSC that I bought later and used it with the HDMI output. I finally purchased a Cool Novelties STE SCART cable and ran that through my OSSC's SCART input. The difference was night and day. Both low and medium resolution are crystal clear and utterly beautiful. I honestly don't think it's possible to get a better picture from my old STE. For that matter, using one of the VGA switches rather than the Best cable may have yielded better results. The cable may have been the issue all along, though it seems really well made.
But now I realise the OSSC has VGA-in and SCART-in, which might bring me the most flexibility for various devices.
It does depend, but it's probably 80% low-res games. It'd be nice to put some older screens with VGA-in into storage.I'm assuming you using a SCART cable with a RetroTink would provide similar results. I know most people are really pleased with them. The only issue is that it will only work with the two color modes, obviously, but you could still use your switch and just about any VGA compatible display to get high resolution whenever you needed it.
It really just depends on what you do with your ST. If you're only using it for games, or more specifically, low and medium resolution applications, you should be fine.
What prevents the retrotink handling ST-High?
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Re: Retrotink, or other upscalers
The only issue I've found with the OSSC is that it doesn't have composite video input on the SCART connector (or elsewhere), so for that I have to use something else for capture, and just use the TV's upscaler otherwise.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
Re: Retrotink, or other upscalers
I'd like the RetroTINK 2x to be a good option, it's half the price of an OSSC. And the form factor of the Rad2x makes it suitable for an internal mod for say a MegaSTe. However someone wrote on EAB that it wasn't particularly good with their Amiga
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=100692&page=2
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=100692&page=2
Principal ASIC Engineer - SystemVerilog, VHDL
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A500+,A600,A4000/060,CD32,CDTV
Thalion Webshrine - http://thalion.atari.org
STf,STfm,STe,MegaST,MegaSTe,Falcon060
A500+,A600,A4000/060,CD32,CDTV
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Re: Retrotink, or other upscalers
The OSSC is extremely more powerful and flexible than the RetroTink, but it also quite a bit more expensive. It does have a lot more settings and adjustability as well.
You definitely want to go straight from ST to SCART, not ST to VGA to SCART. Also, there's really no need for it.stween wrote: ↑Thu Aug 27, 2020 10:48 am Interesting. Since the signals are coming from the same output, I'd figure the cables are the likely cause here? If I was going to go to SCART, I'd figured I'm either doing it direct from the monitor output (i.e. a custom Atari ST monitor port to SCART cable), or Atari ST to VGA (via ubeswitch) then VGA to SCART if it turns out to be simpler.
Again, by all I've read, the various RetroTinks are excellent devices, but they can't touch the OSSC in terms of flexibility.
I can't answer that in general terms, but you specifically mentioned the SCART version, and SCART only works with the two color, lower resolutions.
Stephen has a good point here. For all it's power and flexibility, it really seems strange that the OSSC is missing a composite input.stephen_usher wrote: ↑Thu Aug 27, 2020 2:04 pm The only issue I've found with the OSSC is that it doesn't have composite video input on the SCART connector (or elsewhere), so for that I have to use something else for capture, and just use the TV's upscaler otherwise.
8-bit - 800XL - 1050 w/Happy Mod - XF551 - SIO2PCUSB - Ultimate Cart - an assembled, but not quite 100% working 1088XEL & CF3 Dual, "new" filthy 600XL & 800XL winter repair & restoration projects, 400 restoration project
16-bit - 1040STF, TOS 1.4, Gotek - 4160STE, dual-TOS 1.62/2.06, Gotek - Ultrasatan - SF314 Drive - Golden Image Master 3A-1D Drive
Consoles - 2600 Vader - Lynx II
16-bit - 1040STF, TOS 1.4, Gotek - 4160STE, dual-TOS 1.62/2.06, Gotek - Ultrasatan - SF314 Drive - Golden Image Master 3A-1D Drive
Consoles - 2600 Vader - Lynx II