80-Column Display on Modern Hardware - Option 1

Now there was a lot of discussion on old C128 forum about this, so I think it is a good place to start.

Unlike the 40-column VIC, which is easy to connect to modern displays (due to multiple outputs: Composite, RF, and S-Video), the 80-column VDC is not so easy.  It produces true digital outut, at a not-so-impressive (by todays standards) resolution of 4 bits per pixel: Red, Green, Blue, Intensty = RGBI.

OPTION 1
So the easiest/cheapest way is to use the monochrome output of the C128 with any TV/monitor that accepts a Composite input.  You can (last I checked) buy simple cable from eBay etc. for this purpose.  Or you can make your own with a knife or wire-cutters and commonly available RCA cord.  To make your own, do this:

• Cut off one end of the RCA cable
• Strip about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the outer plastic
• Seperate the ground "braid" from the inssolated core
• Twist up the "braid" into a wire
• Strip about 0.5 inch (1.25 cm) from the inssolated core
• Connect the "braid" to the Pin 1 or Pin 2 of the RGBI output
• Connect the exposed core to Pin 7 of the RGBI output

Note this cheap soultion only gives you "monochrome" display.  Which is to say you get Black, (ultra) Light Gray, and White.  Not good, but...

If you want color (and who doesn't?), then you need to invest in some hardware.  The C1901 (PAL) and C1902 (NTSC) are ideal for the C128.  Also the C1084 works very well.  Other CGA monitors might work too.

However, those monitors are hard to come by these days.  If you are lucky you can find one locally, but more likely you will need to have it shipped to you... this is NOT recommended because shipping CRTs is risky.  And expensive.  Plus, I bet you have an unused TV or VGA monitor laying around...