Chameleon Core update 9j released

This is fantastic, thank you. I only stopped by to look for any news on a C64 Reloaded MK3, so this is a real bonus

So I tried this new update. So for my BenQ BL 702A with the sync to VIC setting the only usable resolution with the new firmware is 768x576 50Hz (switches my screen to 1024x576). I have to put pixel clock to 100 to stretch the picture horizontally or the picture will be too narrow. I get a sharper picture with this than the previous 800x600 50Hz and sync to VIC II (which was the only real usable resolution with the old firmware. This setting is now not very usable with the new firmware. Does not matter as the new 768x576 is sharper for me). All other settings I tried when having sync to VIC II enabled was not any good. The quite horrible ghosting/smearing on the right side of objects are still there. Just like with the Indivision ECS V2 VGA output. I guess this would need a hardware modification to fix.

Quote from turrican9

The quite horrible ghosting/smearing on the right side of objects are still there.

Sadly I can confirm this. This is 1600x1200@60Hz

But it varies from resolution to resolution: This is 800x600@50Hz, the shadows are not gone but way less visible, especially with other colors then blue on yellow.

But VC20 looks quite bad.

)-:

The higher the resolution, the higher the required output frequency. And that's where the quite conservative filtering kicks in - every component that's brought into the market must pass CE, and that's getting more difficult if you allow higher frequencies to pass on external cables.

So whatever I come up with for Indivision ECS V2 might be possible for Chameleon V2 as well, but needs to pass CE. No promises.

Quote from Jens

The higher the resolution, the higher the required output frequency. And that's where the quite conservative filtering kicks in - every component that's brought into the market must pass CE, and that's getting more difficult if you allow higher frequencies to pass on external cables.

So whatever I come up with for Indivision ECS V2 might be possible for Chameleon V2 as well, but needs to pass CE. No promises.

So this explains why the older products like ECS V1 and TC64 V1 had way less smearing/ghosting. Because the CE requirements was not as strict as they are now.

Could there be any solution for us to build something after the VGA output that increases the signal strength to improve this somehow? Something that we could put between the VGA output and the VGA cable.

Looking inside the TC64 V2 it has extremely small components. Even smaller than the ECS V2. So not easy to solder

Quote from turrican9

So this explains why the older products like ECS V1 and TC64 V1 had way less smearing/ghosting. Because the CE requirements was not as strict as they are now.

Correct - the rise from a max. frequency to measure of 1GHz to 40GHz added quite a burden for product designers.

Quote from turrican9

Could there be any solution for us to build something after the VGA output that increases the signal strength to improve this somehow? Something that we could put between the VGA output and the VGA cable.

No chance on the cable - a signal that's not there can't be amplified. The change needs to be done on the circuit board. If this is possible within the limits of CE is still to be found out.

Quote from turrican9

Looking inside the TC64 V2 it has extremely small components. Even smaller than the ECS V2. So not easy to solder

The component sizes should be identical, as I have made these almost at the same time, intending to give both contracts to the same assembly house to get a synergy effect. Placements (=component-to-component distance) may be closer on Chameleon V2.

In both cases, it'll have to be "remove a bunch of components, then solder a patch-PCB to the unit".

Quote from Jens

Correct - the rise from a max. frequency to measure of 1GHz to 40GHz added quite a burden for product designers.

No chance on the cable - a signal that's not there can't be amplified. The change needs to be done on the circuit board. If this is possible within the limits of CE is still to be found out.

The component sizes should be identical, as I have made these almost at the same time, intending to give both contracts to the same assembly house to get a synergy effect. Placements (=component-to-component distance) may be closer on Chameleon V2.

In both cases, it'll have to be "remove a bunch of components, then solder a patch-PCB to the unit".

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Yes, it's probably what I noticed, that the components was more crammed closer to each other in the TC64 V2 VS the ECS V2.

Anyway, will be interesting to see if you come up with a solution and crossing my fingers for the CE stuff.

As it is now I get a sharper picture on my particular monitors with the new 768x576@50Hz and Sync to VIC II than I did with the previous firmwares on 800x600@50Hz and Sync to VIC II. So at least I got something from the new firmware, even if I still have ghosting/smearing.

Have the Turbo Chameleon 64 V1 and updated from 9i to the new 9j update. Have set VGA Mode to 640x480 60Hz and use a BenQ BL702A VGA monitor. The screen with the old 9i update looks great the letters but with the new 9j update the letters are strange looking. Use the Turbo Chameleon 64 V1 on the C64 Reloaded MK2 and use the iComp 12V DC 2.0A Power Adaptor.

On the first pic, the colours look "off" (too much green), and on the second picture, every other pixel appears to be missing. Is that the same if you increase the resolution to the next higher one?

The 9i had VGA Scanlines 75% brightness use that also with 9j but it look worse on it.

Have now this but the letters are looking stranges on it.

With 800x600 the screen is not center right on the BenQ BL702A monitor.

Is the 640x480 60Hz change with the 9j update. With 9i it can do it that resolution and have use it a lot. Can I downgrade it to 9i than 9j.

I will take a closer look at the logic.

It looks like the "scaler" (if you can really call it that) is eating pixels when set to 1.5x for horizontal (that is only used for 640x480).

Not sure why, the scaler logic hasn't been changed, probably a case of "only worked by accident and now doesn't", because... reasons.

Has the sync polarity changed on V1? (I saw recent mention that it's inverted on V1 hardware) - if so that could certainly affect what screen mode the monitor thinks it's seeing and thus the pixel clock it uses when sampling.

JohanSSID: If you open the monitor's OSD does it give any information about the detected screen mode?

The BenQ BL702A see 640x480 50Hz but it set on 60Hz.

Ok, found the reason for the "pixel eating bug" visible only on 640x480 resolutions.

The fix will be included in the next firmware release. Thanx for reporting.