Stuff and Things.

[exxos]

That about sounds like my luck ! :lol: :roll:

[rubber_jonnie]

That about sounds like my luck ! :lol: :roll:

Yes indeed.

[stephen_usher]

HDMI switches or splitters only seem to last a couple of years these days. I guess that the chips overheat inside.

[rubber_jonnie]

HDMI switches or splitters only seem to last a couple of years these days. I guess that the chips overheat inside.

Indeed.

I mean at least the Retrotink was a quick fix, it's far cheaper to replace an HDMI switch these days than a Retrotink.

[rubber_jonnie]

So the Retrotink still has me at a disadvantage it would seem...

The audio is just not working, so I'v had to revert to my not quite as as chineseum as the other adapter, which gives slightly better picture quality, but still means I can't use my SVideo cable with the Atari 800.

Wondering just whats' wrong now...

:dizzy:

[rubber_jonnie]

Well the Retrotink 2x-Mini seems to have a general issue with audio it would seem. There have been other reports of audio failing.

Doing some testing over lunch I could see that there is a signal up to the caps in front of the PC1808 ADC, but nothing at the input pins of it, so I suspect it's dead and have ordered a replacement.

Not good for something that was nearly £100, and whilst that was a few years back now, I expect more from Retrotink. I'm not inclined to buy the next model up which is currently £140, so I've ordered a simple Composite/SVideo to HDMI converter from Amazon. Image quality probably won't be as good but we'll see.

I can potentially use an HDMI Audio injector as I have one and will consider that if needs be, but it adds in another HDMI cable and I have rather too many cables already.

[rubber_jonnie]

Well I'm still waiting on the ADC to try and fix the RetroTink, but in the meantime I bought one of these: Composite/SVideo to HDMI adapter

Like the RetroTink it has Composite, Audio and SVideo inputs and unlike the Retrotink has a separate audio out 3.5mm jack if you need it (Audio is also over HDMI) and allows for both 720P and 1080P output.

Now it might have some features that the RetroTink doesn't have, and the Retrotink has some retro specific feature such as a comb filter and a smoothing filter, but for just £20 versus the near £100 for the RetroTink, I'm willing to forgive that it doesn't have the retro features.

Output is bright and clear and if I'm honest as good as the RetroTink and it even comes in a sturdy metal enclosure.

Of course time will tell if it lasts and continues to deliver but for the price I'm pretty pleased with it.

[stephen_usher]

Oh, that looks interesting. I'm generally not interested in the filter side of things anyway.

Can you do HDMI capture? It'd be interesting to see how sharpened/oversharpened the image is. I've a gap in my capturing capability as the OSSC, of course, doesn't do composite/s-video.

[rubber_jonnie]

Oh, that looks interesting. I'm generally not interested in the filter side of things anyway.

Can you do HDMI capture? It'd be interesting to see how sharpened/oversharpened the image is. I've a gap in my capturing capability as the OSSC, of course, doesn't do composite/s-video.

Difficult to say as I don't have an HDMI capture device, so I'd rather not say 'Yes' emphatically as I just don't know.

It is however pretty decent for £20 so might be worth a punt.

[rubber_jonnie]

Well, I seem to have fixed the RetroTink :)

Looking at this image, U5, the top IC is an ADC converter:

IMG20260223142805.jpg

My replacement arrived today and I fitted it over lunchtime and it's restored the RetroTink to full audio. Video never failed but I did have to reflow the USB power in socket previously.

I'm wondering if the slow fail of the ADC converter was the start of the problems I was having with it in the run up to it failing fully. It was very erratic up to that point, though as I said, video never failed.

I will see how I feel about it but suspect I'll just keep it as a backup or additional input now I have a 5 port HDMI switch rather than a 4 port.

Very pleased its fixed, but still disappointed it failed to begin with.