SidecarTridge ST2VGA Enhanced Version

[Darklord]

I ordered one of these recently and it just came in today. This is a newer variety of the ST2VGA adapter that lets your venerable ST use a modern monitor that is ST video signal compliant. I had some of the older models from various sources and they worked pretty good but one big disappointment for me personally was that none of the models I had worked correctly with my STacy. The output was always weak and fuzzy on an external monitor.

Even the standard ST2VGA model from SidecarTridge didn't clear this up.

I'm happy to report that this new offering from SidecarTridge works great and clears up the video on my STacy nicely. One caveat of this model is that it does require an external +5v power source. Considering that I couldn't get any other model to work correctly, that's a small price to pay, IMHO.

Here's a link to the ST2VGA Enhanced unit on the SidecarTridge website:

https://sidecartridge.com/products/st2v ... -atari-st/

Here's a few pictures showing it in action. The Photochrome picture looks great (better in real life) but did show some artifacting in the black borders. The Gauntlet II intro screen's colors are a bit off because I started it under TOS v3.06, which changes the pallet a bit for some reason. The last in-game Gauntlet II picture shows the weak, fuzzy picture in the upper right hand corner.

SidecarTridge ST2VGA-Enhanced01.JPG (159.78 KiB) Viewed 952 times

SidecarTridge ST2VGA-Enhanced02.JPG (231.44 KiB) Viewed 952 times

SidecarTridge ST2VGA-Enhanced03.JPG (180.72 KiB) Viewed 952 times

SidecarTridge ST2VGA-Enhanced04.JPG (194.09 KiB) Viewed 952 times

SidecarTridge ST2VGA-Enhanced05.JPG (187.68 KiB) Viewed 952 times

[alexh]

I'd be curious to see a comparison of "Jail Bars" between normal ST2VGA and the new ST2VGA on the same monitor and if there is a significant reduction.

[Darklord]

I'd be curious to see a comparison of "Jail Bars" between normal ST2VGA and the new ST2VGA on the same monitor and if there is a significant reduction.

Give me a bit and I'll try to do some comparisons. I was just really happy to get this much improvement on the STacy's external color monitor port. It was atrocious before - I'll post some pictures of what it looked like there previously as well.

[Darklord]

@alexh

Okay, I'm assuming when you mean "jail bars" you're referring to the vertical bars that appear on the screen with some monitors and setups?

If so, typically I only see those in a pronounced way here when I'm in hi-res (mono). All pictures are taken using that popular Dell 27" monitor.

First, my Mega STe, using the older style ST2VGA adapter (I've got a handful - I'm pretty sure that all of them came from UK vendors).

ST2VGA (Older).JPG (239.74 KiB) Viewed 866 times

Then using the newer SidecarTridge unpowered adapter.

ST2VGA (SidecarTridge-Unpowered).JPG (353.26 KiB) Viewed 866 times

Then using the newer SidecarTridge powered adapter.

ST2VGA (SidecarTridge-Powered).JPG (343 KiB) Viewed 866 times

To me, I can tell very little difference between the 3, although I give a slight edge overall to the SidecarTridge models. Regardless, those vertical bars are there in hi-res/mono, with all 3 adapters.

Interestingly enough, using the powered SidecarTridge adapter in color mode on the Mega STe seems almost too much. Maybe because the Mega STe's video signal is actually pretty good, leaving it overdriven? (for want of a better description).

ST2VGA (Sidecartridge-Powered-Color).JPG (109.45 KiB) Viewed 866 times

Using color mode on the Mega STe, which is where I'm at most of the time, the unpowered SidecarTridge ST2VGA adapter seemed to give the best results.

[Darklord]

Now back to my STacy. This is using the STacy's external color monitor port, then to the Dell 27" monitor in all examples.

Here it is using the older ST2VGA adapter.

ST2VGA (Older).JPG (219.23 KiB) Viewed 865 times

This is the unpowered SidecarTridge adapter.

ST2VGA (SidecarTridge-Unpowered).JPG (212.08 KiB) Viewed 865 times

This is the powered SidecarTridge adapter.

ST2VGA (SidecarTridge-Powered).JPG (218.37 KiB) Viewed 865 times

Again, just like the Mega STe, I can't tell much difference although I still give a slight edge to the newer SidecarTridge adapter models. But all 3 still show those vertical bars.


Backing up for a moment, here is what color mode (where I spend most of my time) on the STacy's external color monitor port, to the Dell 27" monitor, using one of the older ST2VGA adapters looks like.

ST2VGA01 (Older-Color).JPG (194.11 KiB) Viewed 865 times

ST2VGA02 (Older-Color).JPG (110.36 KiB) Viewed 865 times

As you can see, that's pretty ugly. Using the powered SidecarTridge adapter clears that all right up in color, which makes me very happy and worth the purchase.

SidecarTridge ST2VGA-Enhanced01.JPG (159.78 KiB) Viewed 865 times

BTW, on the SidecarTridge website, they use the word "enhanced" to differentiate between their powered and unpowered models.

I hope this helps somewhat...