CRT TV's have low resolution - what exactly depends on PAL or NTSC region and won't display higher resolutions/refresh rates properly.

TVs tend to do overscan of the picture which causes all sides to be cut off, a little.
On some TVs this can be adjusted internally by adjusting the potentiometers.
maybe your adapter has an adjustment that can be enabled to compensate for this.

small warning though, the inside of a tv contains live mains electricity and high voltages (>10kV) to drive the CRT.

sounds like your VGA SCART adapter is kind of bad
no, you cant change resolution of dos text mode

kamiledi15 wrote on 2022-10-27, 20:32:

But when I start Windows 3.11 with CRT connected, something weird happens - the screen cuts in half and I can see right side of the screen on the left, and left side on the right... It's hard to explain, parts of the screen switch places. I can post a photo if you want.

https://youtu.be/i1g6RQWC14Q?t=631 😀 its normal with bad converters, unplugging/turning off/on tv might help

What you could try is making this cable https://www.geocities.ws/podernixie/htpc/cabl … n.html#vgascart
and running http://www.geocities.ws/podernixie/htpc/misc/dos-en.html https://geocities.restorativland.org/SiliconV … /dosDriver.html

This adapter seems to be good, it has it's own remote control, which lets me to change position and size of the screen. I can move the screen in all directions, but the missing part of screen doesn't appear.
I messed something, because I tried to change resolution in Windows 3.11 and suddenly my hard drive stopped working - I have "missing operating system" right now. I will try to fix it.
I found that it should be fixed by service menu in tv, but I don't know how to enter it - I tried holding CH+ and Vol-, CH- and Vol+, etc, nothing works. My CRT is Sharp DV-5451, would you be able to check if it has service menu? I can't find it in Google.

Ok, I fixed this drive - my motherboard was fixed by my friend and Bios settings got messed up, that's why hard drive failed after changing resolution in Windows 3.1. So, the question is - is it possible to force custom resolution, 640x512 (because on Windows 10 this is the resolution in which crt displays full image without cuts)? Maybe in Windows 3.1, if not maybe another operating system?
I will also try to change resolution to something normal, like 640x480 first - because as I said, the screen was messed up in Windows 3.11, probably because of some another resolution - and then play MS-Dos in window, maybe it will help?

kamiledi15 wrote on 2022-10-28, 16:48:

This adapter seems to be good, it has it's own remote control, which lets me to change position and size of the screen. I can move the screen in all directions, but the missing part of screen doesn't appear.

so its good because you can change position and size of the screen and ... still not see part of the picture? sure sounds like its actual bad cheap chinese noname garbage

kamiledi15 wrote on 2022-10-28, 16:48:

I found that it should be fixed by service menu in tv

no, if moving picture around using converter menu shows cutoff picture then nothing will bring it back, the problem is converter not being able to grab whole screen and cutting it off internally

Agree ! sounds like it is cutting off part of the horizontal scan if you can adjust the width but that text still does not show then it is the converter imho

You are right that it's the converter's fault, but I didn't find anything better. If you know aby better adapter, then let me know - probably people in the past were also connecting their computers to crt tv, it seems impossible that noone did that. I have old computer and old tv and I need to connect one to another. How people were doing it in the past? Are there aby better solutions? I know that the best would be to buy the monitor, but is it impossible to correctly view the screen from old pc on old crt tv? Of course I am not able to build my own adapter.
The solution would be to change aspect ratio in games, to add borders around them or to run them in window mode. Windows 3.11 can run Ms-Dos prompt in window, but the games will probably go full screen anyway?
Some games have buit-in screen control, for example Doom - you can squeeze the screen and add borders around, but there are only few games which can do that. And it squeezes the screen from all sides, and the problem is only on left and right.
Thankfully, it's only about 1 centimeter from left and right, which is not visible, so it's not a big deal, but of course I would prefer to see the whole screen.
I will try the drives presented by rasz_pl, maybe it will help.

Unfortunately these drivers didn't help - The first one did let me to move the screen in all directions, but I need to squeeze it, not to move around. Other drivers Just loaded into memory, but also didn't help.
I found something like this:
http://www.lanet.lv/simtel.net/msdos/vga-pre.html
Do you think that some of them would help? But which one?
I also found this cable:
https://north.pl/promo/kabel-scart---vga-2m-d … MkaAqzDEALw_wcB
Do you think that it will be better than mine? This is what I currently have: https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB18nlOMgHqK1RjSZ … wania-kabel.jpg

kamiledi15 wrote on 2022-10-29, 08:12:

[..] it's the converter's fault, but I didn't find anything better.

I'm using an AVerKey Pro converter for my experiments..

Some recordings with it and a big CRT TV..
Games are using 320x200 res/MCGA..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VZMme7Edx6s

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NcyDC2mGQa4

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4w22Yuy2bcY

Edit: Here's a test pattern generator..

Re: XT video test

Looks good, but this converter is "out of stock" on most pages. I found only one offer for 69 dollars, a lot too much for just converter...

I found it on Ebay for rather good price, but I can see that it doesn't have audio output? So you are playing without any sound?
Also, if I am right, this converter only supports CVBS - composite output, and I have CRT TV with scart input. I also have adapter composite-scart, so it's not a big deal, but lack of sound is bad.

I found something like this:
https://3.allegroimg.com/s512/0348eb/39ff7e29 … mini-jack-3-5mm
If Averkey doesn't have audio output, will I get sound from computer with this cable in my TV?

kamiledi15 wrote on 2022-10-30, 14:48:

Unfortunately these drivers didn't help

those arent drivers, those programs reprogram VGA from 31KHz to 15KHz, they make VGA output signal compativle with any TV without converters, all you need is
this basic cable with 3 resistors https://www.geocities.ws/podernixie/htpc/cabl … n.html#vgascart

kamiledi15 wrote on 2022-10-30, 14:48:

I also found this cable:
https://north.pl/promo/kabel-scart---vga-2m-d … 08-YE-1652.html

very likely same as that diagram above, imo waste of money if you can solder few cables to a socket

kamiledi15 wrote on 2022-10-30, 14:48:

Do you think that it will be better than mine? This is what I currently have

it removes conversion altogether from the equation, converters need some heuristics as to what to capture and how to convert it, they are usually made to work ok when plugging a laptop to projector/tv to do a powerpoint presentation, but suck at atypical/dos resolutions.
Programs forcing VGA chip into 15KHz mode arent perfect either, you can only fine tune output if you can program and know how to modify their code.
on the other end of the spectrum is stupid expensive hardware for console audiophools https://www.retrotink.com/product-page/5x-pro still with some warts and not entirely suitable for DOS

Thanks,

waste of money if you can solder few cables to a socket

unfortunately I don't have enough knowledge to make this alone. I also don't have cables to solder, so first I would need to get them. The one which I found - https://north.pl/promo/kabel-scart---vga-2m-d … 08-YE-1652.html - is rather cheap, 31 zlotys, so about 6,50 dollars.
Ok, so it seems that you are sure that this cable will help me. So I will buy it and then I need to use these programs, right? I tried using this one with my converter:
https://geocities.restorativland.org/SiliconV … /dosDriver.html
And it lets me to move the screen around and yes, finally I am able to see the part of the screen, which was previously missing. But it only lets me to move the screen in all directions, so when I reveal missing part on the left, I hide more part on the right. The goal is to squeeze the image on left and right. Which command I need to use when I will have the right cable, to make whole screen visible?
Some of the programs on this site: http://www.geocities.ws/podernixie/htpc/misc/dos-en.html need something called "composite sync adapter circuit". I don't know whether the cable from the shop has it or not.

Programs forcing VGA chip into 15KHz mode arent perfect either, you can only fine tune output if you can program and know how to modify their code.

So what exactly I need to do? Buy a cable and download program from the site - but which one? The quality of image which I'm getting is great, all I need to do is to squeeze the screen a little to reveal missing parts.
This Averkey is probably the "key" for my problem, but it's big and rather expensive, so if I can achieve the same result with cheap, small cable then of course it would be better. But it would be best if I would know for sure what exactly to do and whether it will work for sure.
This is how it looks now with my converter:
https://i.imgur.com/9C5gLNB.jpg
As you can see only small parts on left and right are missing (you can see it clearly at the command line in the bottom), but of course I want to see whole screen. The image quality is good, it looks worse on the photo.
The site says: "The output is PAL or NTSC compatible at 15 kHz.". So it seems that all I need to do is to run the program and it should be enough, right? With the right cable of course.

kamiledi15 wrote on 2022-10-31, 21:53:

unfortunately I don't have enough knowledge to make this alone. I also don't have cables to solder, so first I would need to get them. The one which I found - https://north.pl/promo/kabel-scart---vga-2m-d … 08-YE-1652.html - is rather cheap, 31 zlotys, so about 6,50 dollars.
Ok, so it seems that you are sure that this cable will help me.

no Im not! 😀 It can be a special cable for a VGA card switching one of analog pins into composite output (seen those in Laptops). It doesnt say RGB anywhere in there, nobody knows how its wired and how many conductors are connected.
The only known good thing about this particular cable are sockets that can be opened and rewired, but that just means its these two
cable + scart plug https://allegro.pl/oferta/kabel-euro-euro-sca … -dvd-8774317561
vga plug https://allegro.pl/oferta/wtyk-na-kabel-db15- … iant=8771268335
or
cable + vga plug https://allegro.pl/oferta/kabel-do-monitora-t … old-11151815788
scart plug https://allegro.pl/oferta/kabel-przewod-audio … -2m-12303490239
plus unknown wiring inside

kamiledi15 wrote on 2022-10-31, 21:53:

So I will buy it and then I need to use these programs, right? I tried using this one with my converter: https://geocities.resto […]
Show full quote

So I will buy it and then I need to use these programs, right? I tried using this one with my converter:
https://geocities.restorativland.org/SiliconV … /dosDriver.html
And it lets me to move the screen around and yes, finally I am able to see the part of the screen, which was previously missing. But it only lets me to move the screen in all directions, so when I reveal missing part on the left, I hide more part on the right. The goal is to squeeze the image on left and right. Which command I need to use when I will have the right cable, to make whole screen visible?
Some of the programs on this site: http://www.geocities.ws/podernixie/htpc/misc/dos-en.html need something called "composite sync adapter circuit". I don't know whether the cable from the shop has it or not.

Programs forcing VGA chip into 15KHz mode arent perfect either, you can only fine tune output if you can program and know how to modify their code.

So what exactly I need to do? Buy a cable and download program from the site - but which one? The quality of image which I'm getting is great, all I need to do is to squeeze the screen a little to reveal missing parts.

more about vgatv deeper in here Possible to output 320x200 for EGA games? (re: doublescanned 640x400)

kamiledi15 wrote on 2022-10-31, 21:53:

https://i.imgur.com/9C5gLNB.jpg

if you look at the upper edge you can see some garbage starting just at CRT edge (overscan area) = its not the TV that is cutting off picture but your converter as I guessed at the beginning. 80x25 mode is 720x400. Your converter is cutting off 6 characters, maybe all it can manage is hardcoded ~640x400 and anything bigger is automatically cut off.

kamiledi15 wrote on 2022-10-31, 21:53:

As you can see only small parts on left and right are missing (you can see it clearly at the command line in the bottom), but of course I want to see whole screen. The image quality is good, it looks worse on the photo.
The site says: "The output is PAL or NTSC compatible at 15 kHz.". So it seems that all I need to do is to run the program and it should be enough, right? With the right cable of course.

Cant tell you if/how its going to work for you. What I can say is I used such cable with my very first 386dx in mid nineties for a ~year because VGA monitor cost one monthly wage back then in Poland 😀 Bought it on Wolumen market in Warsaw 😀 DOS Text mode was not cut off and readable, so were all the 320x200 games (doom/xcom). Afair even 640x480 worked, albeit in interlaced mode. But mine used different program (it was pre vgatv, ~1994-95), and 21 inch Thomson tv.
I dont know if you should be investing time and money into this if you cant solder one yourself. It might end up just waste of $10
for example this https://allegro.pl/oferta/adapter-euro-scart- … ama-11369454147 looks like what you want, but totally isnt, its meant for connecting a DVD with scart to a VGA projector with composite sync support. Different signals and pins, but externally looks exactly like what you want.
You can buy a working 17-19 monitor for less https://allegro.pl/oferta/monitor-led-asus-vw … ali-12567455336

Well, it's true that I can try to solder it by myself, but from where can I get cables for this? You mean that I should buy one cable vga-vga, and another scart-scart and then solder them together?
Shit, now I'm not sure whether the cable from the shop is vga to scart or scart to vga. It seems that it's scart to vga, so it's not what I need.
As I'm searching in the internet it's extremely hard to find any cable which description says vga to scart, not scart to vga. Seems that I'm unlucky. I found one offer, but it's an adapter, not a straighforward cable - so I would need to connect vga-vga first to this. What do you think? It's the closest to what I need which I found: https://www.olx.pl/d/oferta/kabelek-adapter-v … 99-IDFtQGL.html
It's easier to find vga to rca cable, than vga to scart. I also have adapter from rca to scart in home, so maybe it would work? But first tell me about the link above, will it be good solution?

Also, I don't know why we are speaking in English if we are probably both from Poland 😁

kamiledi15 wrote on 2022-11-01, 02:31:

Also, I don't know why we are speaking in English if we are probably both from Poland 😁

its funnier that way, plus someone else might find this thread helpful in the future

https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB18nlOMgHqK1RjSZ … wania-kabel.jpg
You already have scart-scart cable, unscrewing one end will give you access to all the needed pins. For the experiment you will need soldering iron, some solder, two ~1K resistors, bunch of loose wires to connect everything up and 6 pins (resistor legs will do) to stick into VGA connector on your card to make a temporary plug. Sketchy, but works if you are careful https://www.flickr.com/photos/puregin/3709319216.
https://www.geocities.ws/podernixie/htpc/cabl … n.html#vgascart diagram shows rear side of VGA male plug, looking at teh VGA card female plug pins are mapped like this http://www.filmmaskiner.dk/kvs/01/pincount.jpg

and make sure your card is compatible https://geocities.restorativland.org/SiliconV … patibility.html

Well, my card is Cirrus Logic CL-GD5420 and I don't see it on this list. There is GD5402, and I have GD5420. But when I used VGATV in computer, it correctly found my card. Also in the text instruction for this VGATV there is: "parameter /CIRRUS - For the GD54xx range of chipsets.". So I assume that it should work?
Of course I can solder my own cable, but it will be ugly as hell, also I'm not very good at it - I already soldered cables, which were broken and they work, but it's not the same. I have soldering iron, but it's about 50 years old, big and heavy, not very useful for tiny cables which are close to each other. The cheapier, easier and more safe way would be to buy cable from the shop.
I edited my last post, I don't know whether you saw that - please take a look. I found few solutions, maybe they would work?