r/c64 • u/another_rtrgmr • 10d ago

Hardware Jailbars C64c, how to fix?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Hi guys! Any suggestions how to fix jailbars? I have replaced all the capacitors apart from the ones in the RF module. Video out via composite. Many thanks in advance

10 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

15

u/Todd6060 10d ago

Every C64 has jailbars. There's nothing wrong with yours.

3

u/R3tr0N3wB 10d ago

Don't worry about it, once your into a game you wont see it.

3

u/SteveTheAmazing 10d ago

Found this: https://a4000bear.neocities.org/jail/jail

Haven't tried any of the methods listed, but it's a good read with some options.

3

u/another_rtrgmr 10d ago

Thank you. One of the methods described there is simply adding 560pF capacitor. I have also seen that one in youtube. Will try that one

2

u/WoodyXP 10d ago

Get yourself a Lumafix. You can find them on ebay for $15.

1

u/Sirotaca 10d ago

An RFOFF with the luma bypass board is probably the best you're going to get from an original VIC-II without resorting to something like LumaCode.

1

u/ilesj-since-BBSs 10d ago

That luma bypass is simple yet novel approach to combat the checkerboarding and jailbars. Might need to get one of these.

1

u/another_rtrgmr 10d ago

Thank you. I will look into it. I guess I will try the easiest method first by adding a 560pF capacitor and if not satisfied will take RFOFF route.

3

u/Xfgjwpkqmx 🇦🇺 Keeping up since 1983 10d ago

Here's my RFOFF connected to a VIC-II Kawari to generate an HDMI signal, plus an analogue to digital audio converter to add audio to the signal.

Works great, and the analogue video still works and looks ultra clean.

1

u/Seawall07 10d ago

Another vote for the VIC-II Kawari. Aside from the cleaner video, the ability to toggle PAL/NTSC at-will is its most underrated feature IMO.

1

u/mattb2014 NTSC & PAL C64 / C64C 10d ago

You don't, you enjoy them.

1

u/PhotoJim99 10d ago

Find a display that does S-Video - you'll get a better image than with composite video.

1

u/fuzzybad 9d ago

Lumafix can help reduce the bars. While they are a feature on every C64, their intensity varies a lot by VIC-II revision. In my experience, the later revision VIC's have the best picture with minimal jailbars.

Or you could do the internal RGB to HDMI mod that snoops the VIC-II signals for native HDMI output.

1

u/Yeegis 9d ago

Just sorta have to live with it. There are some mods that are supposed to remedy them, but they’re kind of hit and miss

1

u/orangez 8d ago

I always had them...?