Blacklisted

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Re: Blacklisted

Postby lizardb0y on Tue Feb 04, 2014 8:22 am

tezza wrote:
RonTurner wrote:My favourite is * it wont tune into my modern TV set * :?

Depending on the machine this can be valid. My ZX-81 for example has real trouble tuning into any modern TV set. Autofind just skips over it, or even if it does find it, it's hard to get a good signal. On older TVs it's not a problem.


The early ZX81s didn't generate a complete RF signal so many newer TVs, even back then, struggled to produce a clear picture. The signal lacked the "back porch" which was a pulse that contains colour information for the TV. Without the "back porch" the TV won't generate the right colours, including black and white. As a result many ZX81s produced a messy grey picture instead of a clean black-on-white. Even with systems that generate a compete signal, the RF modulators often degrade over time and it can be difficult to get a clean or even recognisable picture.

The fact remains that when we buy old hardware we're taking a calculated risk. Many people really are scared of "doing something wrong" and others just don't see that it's worth the effort to properly test what they're selling. I don't think it's deliberate deception in most cases, and you just have to accept the risk and bid accordingly. Sometimes "untested" gear turns out to be fine and you get a bargain :)
lizardb0y / Andrew
Just another 8-bit hustler

blog: http://www.vintage8bit.com
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Re: Blacklisted

Postby lizardb0y on Tue Feb 04, 2014 8:23 am

SpidersWeb wrote:Yeah it's funny these days. I actually keep a VCR around as an RF -> RCA adaptor.
Been thinking I should probably get a cheap 14" TV set for the workshop.


I have a 14" and 21" that each have RF, Composite and SCART RGB. Damn handy :)
lizardb0y / Andrew
Just another 8-bit hustler

blog: http://www.vintage8bit.com
twitter: @vintage8bit
google+: http://gplus.to/lizardb0y
trademe: andrew9 - over 500 positive trades.
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Location: Wellington

Re: Blacklisted

Postby Radar on Tue Feb 04, 2014 11:26 am

lizardb0y wrote:
SpidersWeb wrote:Yeah it's funny these days. I actually keep a VCR around as an RF -> RCA adaptor.
Been thinking I should probably get a cheap 14" TV set for the workshop.

I have a 14" and 21" that each have RF, Composite and SCART RGB. Damn handy :)


I've found that many of the later 14" Philips sets are very good for testing - the couple I've picked up recently are very "multi system" - they allow manual selection of PAL, SECAM, NTSC.
Importantly they allow for manual selection of the various flavours of PAL I, B/G etc. - getting the right sound carrier frequency is most useful.

No Scart unfortunately.
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Re: Blacklisted

Postby RonTurner on Tue Feb 04, 2014 2:20 pm

My best old school display is a 14" panasonic TV set, it was listed on TM, when on one bid, they left it outside there house (on the street) I drove past and happened to recognise it, and scooped it up, was absolutely mint condition, and works great, I use it for spectrums and the likes, its just not an authentic experience running a spectrum through a LCD/LED screen.

One thing I keep one eye peeled for is cheap 14' portable CRT's, there will come a time when they will be hard to find.
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Re: Blacklisted

Postby Matt on Tue Feb 04, 2014 9:27 pm

Since Gavin got blacklisted I've been feeling left out so I've embarked on a campaign of awkward questions in an attempt to join the club:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/peri ... 994599.htm
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Re: Blacklisted

Postby RonTurner on Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:02 pm

You can try but you will never get blacklisted from as many traders as me :P

( don't tell me ; you asked him if its wireless :) )
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