I would like to recuperate my youth and play around with Zx81, BBC Micro, Commodore Amiga, etc. All of these use a TV as their display, and in Europe take PAL input.
Can anyone recommend something very, very cheap to use as a monitor?
It doesn't have to be a TV, a CCTV monitor might work I guess. Just so long as it displays a PAL input.
Given it's retro computers, the image quality is not an important factor.
If you have a modern monitor, such as one with a HDMI input there are some adapters which can which are described as converting PAL to HDMI.
E.g. RCA to HDMI Adapter, RCA to HDMI Video Converter, Mini RCA Composite AV CVBS 3RCA to HDMI Video Converter Adapter Support PAL NTSC for PC Laptop VCR Xbox PS4 PS3 TV STB VHS Camera DVD for which the description contains:
- Convert Analog Composite Rca Input To Hdmi 720P/1080P Output And Display It On 1080P (60Hz) Hdtv/Display (Note: This Is An Rca To Hdmi Converter And Cannot Be Used As An Hdmi To Rca/Av Converter. )
- Support Pal And Ntsc Two Format Output, With Selector Switch. Note: If Your Tv Shows Black And White, Please Change The Rca Output Format Ntsc To Pal Or Pal To Ntsc Via The Switch Next To The Power Port.
I haven't tried it myself, but the linked Amazon page shows being used to connect a retro console to a modern HDMI monitor:
