Best options for outputting older mac video to TV?

[MacTV]

I've got a 6100av and while it's pretty cool - the big drawback is that using the TV as an external monitor is limited to 256 colors.

What are the most realistic options for outputting this and other Macs of that era to TV with thousands of colors?

I know at one time I played with a Mac Video to VGA - then VGA to TV adapter and I couldn't get it to work.

And yes, I know I should get a newer LCD TV that has VGA inputs, but that just isn't an option at the moment.

I guess what I'm asking is - are there Mac video to Composite video or S-Video adapter that will do 640x480 at thousands or millions of colors?

I found a device for $69 that may work - seems a bit pricey:

http://www.svideo.com/vga2video2.html

 

[macintoshme]

might be able to source a video card for that beast with composite out. Just a guess.

 

[Bunsen]

It's a 6100av - he already has the only TV standard card available for that model, with SVHS out. You might find a link to ways to make an adapter in this ancient Applefritter thread

 

[Franklinstein]

If all you've got on the card standard video and SVIDEO out, you could go find an SVideo-to-composite adapter. Those usually come with modern video cards that have SVideo ports. Maybe you could find a friend who has one that they're not using. Maybe Radio Shack or the like would have one, too.

 

[Bunsen]

the big drawback is that using the TV as an external monitor is limited to 256 colors.
What are the most realistic options for outputting this and other Macs of that era to TV with thousands of colors?

... are there Mac video to Composite video or S-Video adapter ...

you could go find an SVideo-to-composite adapter.

OK - new rule: read the OP and understand it before posting.

Reading back, I realise my hint above was vaguely worded:

.... with SVHS out. You might find a link to ways to make an adapter ....

What I meant was an adapter from a Mac monitor port to composite or a similar PAL/NTSC video standard. In the thread, I'm trying to achieve the same with a 6100 which can't take an AV card because the slot is in use.

it's a pity I can't use the AV card, it would widen my choice of displays. The PSone LCD for example...

You can get a composite video signal out of a standard Mac monitor port, at least in monochrome, without anything too fancy. There used to be directions on Apple's site; I think they might be in the old Hardware Tech Notes somewhere on the developer site. If not, google around or try the "Loten am Mac" site (in German, but Babelfish does an acceptable translation).

... an Apple Presentation System ... for composite or S-video output. With prices in the $10-$30 range on eBay ...

Plugs into the Mac monitor port, outputs to TV. I have no idea if it will do thousands of colours.

A FAQ

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/vidconv.htm#nvcvgtv

This link:

http://www.ralentz.com/old/mac/hardware/dale-adams/video-quad700-900.html

is where I learned to make a simple greyscale Mac video to PAL composite adapter. I can't be arsed reading through it, but there's probably something in there for getting colour.

 

[Bunsen]

Ah curiousity got the better of me:

To acquire a color NTSC signal from a Quadra (or any Apple Macintosh display card), an RGB-to-NTSC converter is required, such as those available from RasterOps, Truevision, and Computer Friends.

So it looks as though the Apple Presentation System is your best bet for colour, unless you feel like doing more research and building something. That something will be more than just a few diodes and wires though. I have no doubt that a bit of Googling would turn up a home build RGB-NTSC converter project, maybe even a kit or two.