From: Robin Hollands <R.Hollands@sheffield.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: TECH: NTSC to VGA converter
Date: Fri, 09 Aug 1996 15:18:16 +0100
Message-ID: <320B48A8.605A@shef.ac.uk>
Organization: Automatic Control & Systems Engineering, University of Sheffield 


Robert Zoller wrote:
> 
> I am researching HMD's because I plan to buy one, and I want to be
> able to use it for TV and the computer.  I have about 1,000 dollars to
> spend, and right now the VFX1 by forte has caught my eye, but it
> doesn't have the ability to use NTSC input...at least eaisly.  I was
> wondering if there was A) a device to convert a NTSC signal to VGA, or
> B) if there was a better headset I should be looking into.  Any input
> from anyone would really be great.

 Although I would have suggested looking in multimedia suppliers for a
TV-tuner card similar for your PC, the Forte has a strange way of
working with existing hardware in your PC, since all communication is
via its own plug in board. Having tried the VFX1 myself, I'd suggest
looking around for a CyberMaxx 180K. The quality of the displays and
field of view are comparable, and the CyberMaxx has NTSC as one of its
standard inputs.  Since VictorMaxx are not longer producing the HMD,
however, you may have to shop around fairly quickly, but you should be
able to get one for $400 or less.

Alternatively, if a large field of view is not a requirement, you may 
want to get a pair if Virtual i-O i-glasses, or if you don't need head 
tracking, the cheaper Virtual i-O Virtual TV. Both HMDs take NTSC as an 
input and I think the V-TV is priced at around $300-$400.




Cheers,

Robin
(r.hollands@sheffield.ac.uk)
http://www.shef.ac.uk/~vrmbg/staff/rjh/rjh.html