Re: What is with these silly monitors

[shack@southwind.net (Randy Shackelford)]

In article <37D0A19F.CFCDD230@internex.net.au>,
spierings  <omgang@internex.net.au> wrote:
>> > I got my hands on two Apple IIe Color Composite monitors. I was hoping
>> > that the RCA jack at the back would take a standard video signal. All is
>> > fine except that everything is B&W. I have tried from video player and
>> > AV Mac computer and I get the same result. Did the IIe have some wired
>> > color signal. I was thinking if I could get the specifications for this
>> > signal I could program a converter that would change the IIe signal to a
>> > standard color video signal. Any ideas? Anybody?
>>
>> Sounds familiar. I picked up a IIe Color monitor a few years back and
>> tried it out with a VCR. Since the picture came up B&W (maybe a bit
>> pastel actually) I assumed the color was broken - I had a couple of
>> identical Commodore 64-class monitors and all except one had a color
>> picture so it's not a rare occurence with older monitors.
>
>Well I'm going to get my screwdrivers out and see if I can see if there are
>any obvious problems. The monitors are 1990 so they are not that old. I've
>never seen a color tv lose its color. It seems strange to me that it could
>happen.
>
>> Having no IIe I can't test it out from that end :-(
>
>This is my problem too. If I had a IIe I would at least know if the monitors
>are broken in some way.

The monochrome only button isn't depressed by any chance is it? All the 
composite color monitors I've ever tried out give color until you press 
that button. I have one of the IIe variety connected to the VCR next to my 
840av which I use for A/V stuff. I have a pair of the IIc variety in the 
basement too. One gives kinda washed out color, and belonged to a buddy who 
used it as a TV monitor until we found a complete //c system with a better
monitor and IW II at a thrift store for $15 and he took that monitor. My IIe
version gives pretty good color once it warms up. It has a bit of mileage on 
it but still looks good.
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