Need Help

[Bernardhny]

First of all, thanks in advance for helping me out.

Here is my scenario. I used to be a commodore junkie 30 years ago. It was my first computer and recently I just got one on Ebay. Now that I have it all setup here are the details:

1902 Monitor
128D
1541 Drive

Here are my problems and forgive the ignorance..I am sure it will all come back to me soon enough but for now, dumb questions.

1) I can't start up in 80 column mode. I get just the normal background no text. My monitor (1902) is supposed to be able to handle this. On the front of the monitor I have tried COMP, SEP and RGB (although I don't have it hooked up to the VGA port in the back of the monitor (or computer). I have tried moving the back switch to all of the settings and any combination.

I would keep it in 40 column mode but any game I try to load just shows garble once it is loaded. I am assuming because the video mode is not in 80 column and needs to be. I have tried 5 or 6 games and it all does the same thing (standard loading load "file",8,1 or load "*",8,1. I can't remember if there was some other load command I need to use to get these games to work.

2) Where do I get a VGA cable in this day and age so I can use the RGB mode (is that the best mode to run?) I have a spare PC monitor but not sure how or if I can even think of hooking up this beast to a newer LCD monitor. Any suggestions?

Any other helpful hints would be appreciated. In my past life I had the 128 hooked up to a TV and never had these issues. Now...I am at a loss.

Thanks

Bernard
bernardhny@gmail.com

[Andrew Wiskow]

1) I can't start up in 80 column mode. I get just the normal background no text. My monitor (1902) is supposed to be able to handle this. On the front of the monitor I have tried COMP, SEP and RGB (although I don't have it hooked up to the VGA port in the back of the monitor (or computer). I have tried moving the back switch to all of the settings and any combination.

First of all, you need the RGB cable connected between your 128D and your 1902 monitor.  The one you need is a male DB9 (computer end) to female DB9 (monitor end) cable.  Some Commodore monitors, like the 1902A, have a round DIN plug instead of the DB9 connection, so for those monitors, you need a male DB9 to male 8-pin DIN cable.  Then, on front of your monitor, you switch it to RGB when you're in 80-column mode, and to COMP or SEP (as applicable) when you're in 40-column mode.  If you're using a combined video composite cable, then you'll use COMP.  If you're using a split luma/chroma cable, then you'll use SEP.  Finally, to startup in 80-column mode, just push the 40/80 col. button on your keyboard so it's in the down position when the computer is off, then turn the computer on, and it'll start up in 80-column mode.  Alternatively, if you start up in 40-column mode and want to switch to 80-column mode, press ESC and then press X to switch over.

I would keep it in 40 column mode but any game I try to load just shows garble once it is loaded. I am assuming because the video mode is not in 80 column and needs to be. I have tried 5 or 6 games and it all does the same thing (standard loading load "file",8,1 or load "*",8,1. I can't remember if there was some other load command I need to use to get these games to work.

You do realize that most games are written for the Commodore 64, not the Commodore 128, right?  So about 98% of the time, you'll want to be in 64 mode.  To get to 64 mode, you can type GO64 while you're in 128 mode.  It'll ask "ARE YOU SURE?"...  Just type "Y", press return, and you'll be switched to 64 mode.  Or better yet, just hold down the Commodore Key ( C= ) when you turn your computer on, and it'll start up in 64 mode.

2) Where do I get a VGA cable in this day and age so I can use the RGB mode (is that the best mode to run?) I have a spare PC monitor but not sure how or if I can even think of hooking up this beast to a newer LCD monitor. Any suggestions?

Doing this is neither easy nor inexpensive... But this page may be of some help if you're determined:
http://home.comcast.net/~kkrausnick/c128-vga/c128-vga.html

Any other helpful hints would be appreciated. In my past life I had the 128 hooked up to a TV and never had these issues. Now...I am at a loss.

You're much better off using your 1902 monitor than you are using a TV with a 128.  Just get the correct RGB cable and you'll be all set.  

-Andrew