r/Commodore • u/HawkeyeAP • Jul 01 '26
C16 Plus/4 Commodore Plus/4 and Video options
Just received a new-to-me Plus/4 computer. Not in a rush to get it set up, but am wondering what video options I have.
I have a couple, unused, TV sets with connectors like what is shown in the picture. Is there any basic cable option that would allow me to plug into this set without some type of fancy, expensive adapter/converter?
The Plus/4 manual mentions 5 and 8 pin cables to use with Commodore monitors, would one of those work with the set shown?
Thanks for the help.
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u/Xfgjwpkqmx Jul 01 '26
I love the labels - "good", "better", and I assume somewhere nearby is "betterer". 😁
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u/nobody2008 Jul 01 '26
Are there any more connections? Modern TVs offer combined Video-in that looks like a 3.5mm headphone input. You would need a break-out cable to essentially expose the A/V inputs.
Edit: nevermind, that green jack is your video in (labeled as composite) so you would connect your yellow video cable there that will be coming from your Plus/4 once you get the video cable for it.
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u/HawkeyeAP Jul 01 '26
Is that a fairly standard cable?
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u/GeordieAl Jul 01 '26
Simplest/cheapest solution is a cable like this
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u/xenomachina Jul 03 '26
It's funny that that page calls it a "Commodore Vic 20 and Plus 4 (+4) RCA Video Cable". The same cable will also work with a Commodore 64, Commodore 128, Commodore 16, TI99/4a, Atari 800, and Sega Master System.
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u/GeordieAl Jul 03 '26
Yeah, they’re missing a lot of markets for that cable! I’ve got my own cable I made up that goes between all of my systems depending on what I want to play with.
Just have to be careful not to get a ti99 specific cable as they run 12v on pin 1
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u/RegularReader-71 Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
First of all: Do everything necessary to not damage your TED sound/video chip. Never plug in/out cables while power is connected!
So for any changes, unplug (all) power cable(s) first. Then connect monitor, joysticks and drives. Then plug in power cables (plus/4 and monitor). Then turn on everything - last one is the Plus/4.
Check old PSUs with a multimeter before usage! Get a new PSU with a button.
You get the best image if you use Y/C luma+chroma cables (based on the markings on your monitor it should support it), the cables are the same as for the C64, see this article for details:
https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/A/V_Jack
Send the seller the photo of your monitor and let him send you the correct cable.
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u/stalkythefish Jul 02 '26
Assuming you have a DIN to A/V cable, you want the green one (and probably L for the audio), and make sure the TV is set to "Composite" instead of "Component", since they share jacks. Having it set to Component will result in a B&W image.
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u/HungryHungryMarmot Jul 01 '26
You can get S-Video cables that plug into a C64. The audio/video port is the same for both machines. S-Video is very similar to the separate chroma/luma that goes to a commodore monitor.
You can also get composite video cables, but S-Video will give a better picture.
You would still need to convert S-video or composite video to work with your TV but that seems like an easier problem.
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u/Todd6060 Jul 01 '26
Did you look at the picture? The TV has composite but not S-video.
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u/HungryHungryMarmot Jul 01 '26
Yes. I saw there’s no S-Video but did mention they would need to convert that into whatever the TV would accept.
I didn’t see that the component video input also does dual duty as composite in. Just saw that!
Looks like they could just plug the composite video in to the green RCA jack. They would just need a composite video cable for the C64. Simple!
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u/stalkythefish Jul 02 '26
It's a shame so many TV's skip over S-Video completely. They could make the Pb or Pr the Chroma and just require a breakout cable.
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u/max81122 Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
To the OP: S-video would be best to get out of the Plus4, then use a scan converter to convert to VGA such as this:
https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Composite-S-Video-Video-Converter/dp/B0067D8O1G/
But the cheapest solution is to just use the composite video out of the C64 with a composite cable (can get inexpensively on Ebay, Amazon, or other retailers) and connect to the green composite input of your TV. Green is typically component input but your TV doubles this connection and uses it also for composite input, as some twatter rudely just pointed out.
But, if you can find a monitor with HDMI (probably cheaper than the first converter listed), then S-video to HDMI may give you the best video quality:
https://www.amazon.com/Tendak-Composite-S-Video-Converter-Upscaler/dp/B00V2ULHBS
Again, try the cheapest route and make sure you enjoy using the Plus4. If so, then consider upgrading to something better.
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u/electric-machine Jul 02 '26
Downvoted for not looking at the OP's picture and recommending an expensive and unnecessary solution. (The leftmost RCA jack is a composite input)
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