2.1) What video display devices can I use with my Atari?

Subject: 2.1) What video display devices can I use with my Atari?

Contributors to channel output variations list:
Jon Levy, Rene de Bie, Sysop Fox-1

Most 8-bit Atari computers put out video signals in two places:

1) Radio-Frequency (RF) signal, either one VHF channel, or two VHF channels
selectable by a switch on the computer. Variations depend primarily on the
part of the world that the particular version of the computer was desgined
for.

Most North American computers: VHF channels 2-3 switch-selectable.
channels 3-4 switch selectable also reported
European computers: VHF channels 3-4 switch-selectable,
or no switch (what channel?) both reported
UK computers: VHF channel 36, no switch,
or channels 38-39 switch selectable both reported
Australian computers: VHF channel 1 (400/800: channels 1-2 selectable)

Any further clarifications would be appreciated!

Accessories needed:
a) RF Cable. (RF=radio frequency--video and audio signals in the same line)
On the 400/800 models, the RF Cable does not detach from the computer.
The output end of the cable is an RCA male connector.

b) TV Switch Box. Includes an RCA female connector for RF signal input from
the Atari, input connector(s) for your TV attenna and/or cable TV
company, and 75- and/or 300-ohm VHF output connector(s) for connection to
the VHF input on the television. (Radio Shack carries a suitable TV
Switch Box.)

2) A proprietary 5-pin DIN Monitor Jack, which includes two video signals:
a) Composite video.
b) Y/C Video, also known as S-Video:
separate composite luminance (Y) and chrominance (C) signals.

Exceptions among the computer models:
-the 400 and North American 600XL lack the Monitor Jack.
-the XE Game System includes an RCA-style jack in place of the Monitor Jack,
providing a plain composite video signal only.
-the Monitor Jack on the 600XL, 800XL(most) and 1200XL lacks the separate
chrominance signal. (But it exists internally, and can be restored to the
monitor jack via hardware modification.)

The pinout for the Atari Monitor Jack is in the pinouts sections of this FAQ
list.

The typical Atari Monitor Cable includes the male 5-pin DIN connector on one
end, and two RCA male connectors on the other end. One of the RCA connectors
will carry the monophonic sound signal, and the other will carry the composite
video signal. Color composite monitors were common in the mid-80's, but these
days many televisions have an RCA female composite video input connector which
works fine with the Atari.

You may find an Atari Monitor Cable where the video signal carried on the
second RCA connector is not the composite video signal, but the composite
luminance signal. These cables are for use with monochrome composite video
monitors (usually green or amber).

The ideal Atari Monitor Cable includes 4 RCA male connectors on the output
end, carrying the sound signal, the composite video signal, the composite
luminance signal, and the composite chrominance signal. Only the best
composite monitors include separate chrominance and luminance inputs. When
the separate chrominance and luminance connectors are used, the composite
video connector is not used.

There is no real standard for colors for the different monitor cable
connectors. It is safe to identify them by trial and error.

Commodore produced many fine monitors of this type, popular with Atari users.
Lonnie McClure provides this information on suitable Commodore monitors:
1701, 1702, 1802, CM-141, 1080, 2002, 1902, 1902A*, 1084**, 1084S**

* The 1902A used a DIN connector for chroma/luma, which makes cabling a
bit more of a problem. The composite and audio connectors are standard
RCA jacks, however.

** The 1084 and 1084S had more than one version. Some used the a DIN
connector for chroma/luma connections, like the 1902A, while some used
standard RCA jacks.

The 1902 and 1902A are very different in appearance. The original 1902
shares the same slightly rounded front case design as the 1080 and 2002,
while the 1902A is has a rather square case design, and was manufactured
by Magnavox (as were some of the 1084 and 1084S versions).

The separate composite chrominance and luminance signals that the Atari puts
out comprise what the world has since come to call Y/C video or S-video.
S-video connectors are normally Mini4. It is possible to build a cable, or
purchase several adapters, that can allow you to utilize the separate Y/C
signals generated by the Atari with a television (or other display device)
that provides a standard S-video Mini4 input jack. This is the ultimate
display option for the 8-bit Atari. Clarence Dyson has a nice page about
such a project at http://www.geocities.com/atarimods/svideo.html .

Adapters also exist that will take in composite video or s-video, and output a
conversion of the signal as a standard VGA video signal. These are often
known as a "VGA converter" or "Scan doubler" or "Up-converter." With such a
device, the 8-bit Atari can be used with a standard PC VGA monitor. One such
adapter is the Cheese Video Box from AV Toolbox, http://www.avtoolbox.com. AV
Toolbox produces several other similar devices. An earlier popular adapter
was the JAM!! from AIMS Lab.

SCART - an acronym for Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorecepteurs
et Televiseurs - is a 21-pin universal connecting cable/socket system used for
audio/video components in Europe. The cables transmit RGB, composite video,
S-Video, mono and stereo sound. SCART, which is also known as PERITEL, EURO
AV BUS and EUROCONECTOR, is common throughout Europe, particularly in France,
England, Germany, Switzerland, and Scandinavia. SCART is also very popular in
the Russian Audio Video market. It is possible to interface the Atari's
composite video signal, along with the audio signal, through a SCART
connector, though there have been few reports of people actually doing this.

Keith Howell has a nice page on some of these topics:
http://www.howell1964.freeserve.co.uk/Atari/800XL/Atari_800XL_Video.htm

December 2003--More Than Games announced "A8 A/V BOB", an audio/video
breakout box featuring phono connectors for composite video, chroma,
luminance, and mono audio; it also features an s-video jack providing chroma
and luminance. http://www.a8maestro.com/sites/mtgcat/mtgcat.htm