Re: GS international?

[sagochangi@aol.com (Sagochangi)]

Robert,

As far as I know, there were no differences in German and American production
models.  My only basis for this hypothesis is the fact that under the Control
Panel (and through GS/OS), keyboard settings can be mapped to German.

The power supply uses a (US?) standard IEC connector, the kind with three
prongs that terminates as a wall plug.  The power supply was only designed to
operate at 110V, 60 Hz.  I know that adaptors are made for US devices to
operate in Europe, so one of those adaptors is your safest bet.  If the voltage
and frequency are the same, you could wire your own cable, which would be
cheaper, or you could rewire a German PC power supply to work with the IIgs
motherboard.  I've done that myself; it has the advantages of taking a major
source of heat out of the case, and providing higher power ratings if you use
lots of peripheral cards.

You may have a problem with the display.  Before you get ready to shoot
yourself like I did, I'll tell you that the signal coming out of the 15-pin
video connector has a 15 kHz horizontal refresh rate, which is totally
incompatible with modern Mac/VGA monitors, which expect a 30 kHz signal.  In
short, you can't cheat by using a Mac to VGA adaptor.  The NEC Multisync 1 and
2 are the only exceptions to the 15 kHz rule.  These are the only VGA monitors
I know of that will work that way.

The only other video out on the GS motherboard is the composite RCA line.  In
America, you could either use a standard RF converter or run the signal through
a VCR to display the picture on a television.  If German video units can use
RCA lines, this is easiest.  Or could you get a color composite monitor?

I'll caution you, though, that the resolution on the composite signal is
*really* poor.  The only last alternative is Sequential Systems' VGA card for
the Apple II.  Sounds great, except despite their website's assurances, I was
told the card is not currently shipping.

I hope this helps you.  If you have any other questions, I'll try to answer
them.

Hochachtungsvoll!
Adam Murray