Review
- Gametech GBA TV Adapter
(Added 27th
December 2001)
Introduction
If you've always wanted to play GBA games on your
TV, then the GBA TV Adapter from Gametech is the peripheral
that you've been waiting for.
Purpose And Features Of The
Gametech GBA TV Adapter
As the name suggest, the GBA TV Adapter is a peripheral
that attaches to your GBA and allows it to display your
games on a regular TV or monitor. Of course, you don't
only get to see your games on TV, you also get to hear
it, since the adapter also supports the GBA's PCM sound
system.
Using The Gametech GBA TV Adapter
Using the GBA TV Adapter is relatively simple, although
you'll need to remove the GBA's original back cover
and replace it with a special dual-purpose back cover
(item No: #2 in the picture below). Both the Tri-wing
and Cross-wing screw drivers are included in the package
so you won't have any trouble removing the screws.
You will also need to insert a ribbon cable into the same slot
that the GBA's LCD screen is plugged into. This is an easy operation, and once
you've done that, you only need to screw in the cover
and you're done (see picture below).
The new back cover will then allow you to easily
attach or detach the AV Unit. You can still play your
GBA without the AV Unit, so you needn't worry about
loosing your GBA's portability.
The AV Unit has 3.3 meter long cable that branches
out into 3 RCA plugs for your composite video and stereo
sound inputs. It also has an S-Video plug for better
quality picture. The on/off and picture size switches
are also there, as well as a mini-jack that plugs into
the GBA's headphone socket (see picture below). The
picture size switch allows you to toggle between the
regular 240x160 format or full screen. In the regular
mode, the screen will have a black border around it
just like a letterboxed movie.
You'll also need to plug in the supplied DC power
pack to power the system. Once all that is done, you're
ready to plug the AV connectors into your TV or monitor.
Pros Of The Gametech GBA TV Adapter
Of course, the best thing about the GBA TV Adapter
is the fact that you can now view your GBA games on
a regular TV. Another good thing is that GBA's portability
is not hampered, since the adapter can be easily detached,
and the GBA used as normal.
For those who want to capture screen shots or even
short videos of their games, the GBA TV Adapter, together
with a computer and capture card is all you'll need.
In terms of picture quality, in my opinion, the output
from the GBA TV Adapter is really good. I prefer the
native letterboxed format, as I found that the full-screen
format made pictures look a little distorted, and tend
to shimmer during fast speeds and quick scrolling. For
better picture quality, however, you'll need a TV that
has an S-Video input. The composite input from the adapter
isn't that bad, although not as sharp.
Cons Of The Gametech GBA TV Adapter
Although it's not really an issue for me, one disadvantage
in using the GBA TV Adapter is the fact that you'll
need to replace your original back cover and insert
the ribbon cable that's attached to it. This unfortunately,
will void your warranty.
Aside from that, I couldn't find anything else that
would warrant a grumble.
Conclusion & Final Remarks
Some might comment that a TV Adapter defeats the
GBA's purpose of portability and gaming-on-the-go. This
is true, if the adapter totally alters the form and
function of the GBA. The TV Adapter from Gametech, however,
doesn't do this. What it does, and very well I might
add, is to give us all a choice between home and portable
video gaming. A choice is always nice to have, and so
I have no qualms in heartily recommending the GBA TV
Adapter as a must have accessory for any GBA fan.
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