RGB input installation-hack on any T.V. for perfect picture? How hard is it?

[Holering]

Hi there. Was wondering if someone could tell me how easy it would be to cut, hack and solder an RGB input into any kind of T.V. (especially american ones) whether it be scart, bnc, etc. Couldn't this be done on virtually any T.V. and bypass the encoder (NTSC encoder for american tvs) to get a perfect picture?

I've ripped open an older 1990 TV from my motorhome and there's a small pcb that plugs into the light bulb behind the screen. It has red, green, blue, purple, and black wires. They're also labeled c2, c3, c4, c5, and c6? Could these be RGB lines? Also this T.V. only has an RF input. Would I have to put it on a certain channel?

Could anyone point me in the right direction for this kinda hardware mod. Maybe a schematic or something to look for thats common? Thanks

Oh and I'm interested in doing this for all my retro video gaming needs!!! Yeah so please don't tell me to just a buy a HighDef and use hdmi... Yeah older 1980's and 90's video game systems don't have hdmi...
GOD BLESS

[MarkTaylor]

Moved.

Hope you find people with similar interests in this forum.

[bsuttie]

Hi

It may be potentially possible on some sets, but there are quite a few issues to be resolved.

First and most important is safety. CRT TVs have very high - potentially lethal - voltages in them, and early sets had what is termed a "live" chassis. i.e. the chassis is not at earth potential.

Connecting anything to the chassis or even touching it can be dangerous for you or your connected equipment.

Unless you are aware of these issues and have a suitable isolating transformer, RCCB, and test equipment don't even think of taking the back off!

Those RGB cables that connect to the CRT base (that is what you mean by "light bulb" isn't it?) may carry red green and blue signals, but they will not be the 700mV signals that your games console will be outputting.

For that, you'll need to dive in with an oscilloscope and find a suitable point to interrupt the signals at the right level.

A good starting point would be finding where the NTSC decoder chip is. You can then look it's spec up to see what pin relates to what.

You may be lucky and find suitable RGB outputs at the right level.

I once performed a similar mod on a PC capture card to feed RGB in with very good results.

However I must re-iterate the safety issues - unless you are confident in what you are doing - leave well alone!

regards

Brian