The Sinclair QL Forum

Well, posting a more than 10-year-old link to a Chinese vendor (that I likely won't have any more anyways) wouldn't help a lot, don't you think? These vendors change every other day, and if not, they change the specification of their product. That is why I sent a picture and was thoroughly recommending to build (or, have built) a QLVGA from the Github page

tofro wrote: Wed May 07, 2025 6:29 pm Well, posting a more than 10-year-old link to a Chinese vendor (that I likely won't have any more anyways) wouldn't help a lot, don't you think? These vendors change every other day, and if not, they change the specification of their product. That is why I sent a picture and was thoroughly recommending to build (or, have built) a QLVGA from the Github page

You are right,
that's why I deleted my post.

In any case, it was more a suggestion when available.
I didn't mean to bother you, I'm sorry if I did.

Hi,

Please be careful, I had 5 of these Converter boxes from Amazon, which did not display the QL full Monitor mode display, though occasionally some do.

Fortunately, I had Amazon Prime, so free returns.

Better using: QLVGA, HDMI2RGB which converts the RGB to VGA or HDMI, where the above converter boxed only convert Composite Video,

Derek_Stewart wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 7:10 am Hi,

Please be careful, I had 5 of these Converter boxes from Amazon, which did not display the QL full Monitor mode display, though occasionally some do.

I think that's more a TV than a converter thing: Some TVs will display everything, some are off to the left. The cheaper the TV is, apparently the better it works. The cheap Chinese TVs I have work absolutely fine, a Sony and Samsung TV both shift the picture to the left.

tofro wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 12:25 pm I think that's more a TV than a converter thing: Some TVs will display everything, some are off to the left. The cheaper the TV is, apparently the better it works. The cheap Chinese TVs I have work absolutely fine, a Sony and Samsung TV both shift the picture to the left.

It is a little more complicate than the image produced or generated by those devices.
Sometimes it is not about better or worse, but standards, compatibilities (before), policies... too long to describe.

Just keep in mind that there are a lot of complexity and what works for me, could not work for you.
That is the main reason why I prefer to rely on of policies and procedures than very specific acknowledge.
A little example is when you put by Vid.comp your QL in mode 2 vs mode 8. Same computer, same cable, same display... why the hell is hiding first columns?

Just to expose the problematic:
Computers versions could have different video modules or treatments for signals.
Computers may have different video modes that modify video signals affecting how the image is displayed on a TV/Monitor.
Same computers versions could have different clocks for signals (PAL vs NTSC)
Cables could have different ways to built up.
Cables could have different materials.
Cables could have different lengths
Videos converters brand and looking could be faulty in a high percent
Video converters brand and looking could have gotten different components (capacitors the most common)
Video converters brand and looking could work in 2 different mode: Active or passive.
Video Converters bran... .... may have different clocks signals (PAL...)
V... could be sold even faulty in an important number
V... connectors may fail due bad soldering or low quality flux resting on it
V... and the cable may not connect well (micro interruptions or even shorts)
... and yet we didn't start to list all the options for a TV...

So IMO it is so complex that I don't dare to be sure about some specific context. Thus I prefer to start from the point zero and start to check basic things than more specific, trying to consider every imaginable option but prioritizing the most common group of them. And about devices... as I said, when it is possible (not your case by your comment) to give the link of the seller that was fine for me, and the same model that I have tested. Always (you warned it) warning about the complexity (typical "it works for me" is an enough good warning).

Nothing more frustrating than to buy something that was supposedly to works great and fail with me. When I was aware of it may happen, no problem.
Do you understand my point?
It is not an attack to you when you are nice helping,
It is my policy when I try to help.

For me, it makes sense.

Popopo wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 12:54 pm Just keep in mind that there are a lot of complexity and what works for me, could not work for you.
That is the main reason why I prefer to rely on of policies and procedures than very specific acknowledge.
A little example is when you put by Vid.comp your QL in mode 2 vs mode 8. Same computer, same cable, same display... why the hell is hiding first columns?

What is Mode 2?

Derek_Stewart wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 7:01 am What is Mode 2?

one of the video graphics resolutions of the QL.
You can type it directly on the basic prompt.
But I am sure you know it perfectly so I don't understand the question,
Perhaps did I say something wrong?

Popopo wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 8:26 am

Derek_Stewart wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 7:01 am What is Mode 2?

one of the video graphics resolutions of the QL.
You can type it directly on the basic prompt.
But I am sure you know it perfectly so I don't understand the question,
Perhaps did I say something wrong?

Hi,

Nothing wrong, just I did not know what you were talking about.

In general, on a standard QL, the MODE command accepts any number, but the required value is 4 or 8 depending on the TV or Monitor mode.

TV mode: MODE 8 - 8 colours, resolution: 256x256
Monitor Mode: MODE 4 - 4 colours, resolution: 512x256

This is documented in the QL Usr Guide, Online Superbasic Manual.

There is a MODE 2 in the Atari Emulator, but no one uses Atari QL it seems, except me.

Popopo wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 8:26 am

Derek_Stewart wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 7:01 am What is Mode 2?

one of the video graphics resolutions of the QL.
You can type it directly on the basic prompt.

You're likely referring to "MODE 4", 512x256 with 4 colours?

tofro wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 8:49 am

Popopo wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 8:26 am

Derek_Stewart wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 7:01 am What is Mode 2?

one of the video graphics resolutions of the QL.
You can type it directly on the basic prompt.

You're likely referring to "MODE 4", 512x256 with 4 colours?

Probably yes... but... what strange... why did I say mode 2?... I think it works for me in my QL (with Minerva + TK2).
Hummmm probably I missed it up with something, but in background the concept remains.

Later I will check to type mode 2 in my QL because I think I was using it to change video modes in order to explore the video memory (in a algorithm to check the whole RAM properly).
Thanks tofro.