Amiga Developer CD 2.1/Amiga Developer CD v2.1.iso/Reference/Amiga_Mail_Vol1/Program/TravelAmiga

Text File | 1999-10-27 | 5.4 KB | 128 lines

(c)  Copyright 1989-1999 Amiga, Inc.   All rights reserved.
The information contained herein is subject to change without notice, and
is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied.
The entire risk as to the use of this information is assumed by the user.



     Testing For European Compatability Without Going to Europe

                         by Dan Baker


You don't have to fly to Europe to test your Amiga software for European
compatability.  Even if you currently don't have a PAL Amiga, you can at
least check how your program logic handles 256 scan lines by modifying your
program code to open PAL size screens and windows on your NTSC system.

Under the 1.2 system software, you can open a PAL sized 256 line screen
(512 interlaced) even on an NTSC machine.  This is not a supported feature
and should not normally be done on an NTSC system, but it will allow you to
check your program logic in a PAL size screen.

You won't be able to see all of the 256 or 512 lines at once because many
will be below the last visible line on your monitor.  However most of the lines
can be viewed if you first use Preferences to move your screen up so that the
title bar is above the first visible scan line on your monitor.  In addition,
if your monitor has a control for adjusting the vertical size of the display,
this may allow you to view all 256 or 512 lines at once.

For a more rigorous test, change the crystal and the Agnus chip on your
Amiga to the PAL versions and run your software with a multi-sync or other
PAL compatible monitor.  You shoucld use a PAL monitor if aspect ratio
or other cosmetic factors are important to your application.  The PAL Agnus
will let you check that your code properly detects and adapts to the PAL
environment.  For more about this, see the FullScreen program elsewhere in
this issue.

For final testing, consider trying your application on a PAL Amiga running
under 50Hz/220v.  You can do this with a power transformer.  We recommend this
in particular for applications which use special hardware such as the Genlock.





                     Traveling with Your Amiga
                     -------------------------

                   by Dan Baker and Don Gilbreath


   If you plan to take your U.S. Amiga to Europe or your European Amiga
to the U.S. here is what you will need.

   Temporary visitors should bring their Amiga with monitor and software.
The only other thing required is the proper power transformer.  If you are
going from the U.S. to Europe, you will need a step-down power transformer
to change the voltage from 220 to 115 volts.  European systems brought to
the U.S. will require a step-up transformer (115 to 220 volts) such as
the Stancor P8640.


   For long-term visits, you will want to change your Amiga to match the
local power and video standards.  On the Amiga 2000, there is an internal
jumper on the power supply which allows you to select either the U.S. or
the European power standard.


   Power on the Amiga 500 and 1000 cannot be adjusted this way.  Instead you
will have to remove the old power supply and substitute the local version.
Part numbers are listed below.


   To change the video standard requires two changes to the main logic board
on all Amiga models.  First, you must change the 8361 Agnus chip.  Use the
NTSC Agnus in the U.S. and the PAL Agnus in Europe.  Second, change the
system clock to the local version.  The system clock runs at 28.63636 MHz
under NTSC and at 28.37516 MHz under PAL.


    In most cases you should use a PAL monitor in Europe and an NTSC
monitor in the U.S.  But, some monitors will work with both systems.
For instance, the Commodore 1081 monitor works with both PAL and NTSC
video and will automatically adjust itself to the standard being used.
You can get similar results on the Commodore 1080 by changing the
vertical size, but the change requires manual adjustment of an internal
control.


    In general, U.S. and European software is interchangable.  However,
there are more scan lines visible under the PAL video system.  Because
of this, the bottom of the screen is sometimes clipped when you run
European software with U.S. Amiga systems.  Likewise, there may be some
empty space at the bottom of the screen when you run U.S. software in
Europe.


    Here are the part numbers of the components mentioned above.  They
can be purchased at any Commodore Service Center.

                          U.S.                    Europe
                    ----------------        -----------------

Agnus     A 500     part # 318070-01         part # 318071-01
          A1000     part # 252125-01         part # 252362-01
          A2000     part # 252125-01         part # 252362-01

Crystal   A 500     part # 325566-14         part # 252344-01
          A1000     part # 325566-14         part # 252344-01
          A2000     part # 325566-12         part # 252344-01

Power     A 500     part # 312503-01         part # 312503-02/3/4
          A1000     part # 327173-01         part # 327173-02/3/4

                                                01 - USA  110v
                                                02 - BSI  240v
                                                03 - VDE  220v
                                                04 - SEV  220v


Disclaimer:   Commodore part numbers subject to change.
              Modifying your Amiga may void your warranty.
              Contact your Commodore Service center for
              more information.