Re: Apple IIe to a TV?

[mlsmithjr<ANTI-SPAM MODE>@pobox.com (Mark Smith)]

Thanks to you and Nathan for the good advice.  I was using a
"cheap" RF modulator/game converter that I had laying around.
I have a very cheap IIe green monitor on the way and I hope
that corrects the problem.

Besides, I don't want to use my 32" TV as a computer monitor.


On Sun, 26 Apr 1998 02:12:47 -0500, Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>
wrote:

>mlsmithjr @pobox.com (Mark Smith) writes ...
>> 
>> I just purchased a IIe w/o monitor and was under the impression you
>> could hook it to a TV via an RF modulator.  Well, I tried it and
>> no luck.  Was I wrong?  Do I need a special modulator?  I guess I'll
>> just get a cheap green monitor....
>>
>
>     Not merely a green monitor, but a _cheap_ green monitor!
>
>     The usual problems users have with connecting to a TV via an RF
>modulator are ...
>
> 1. The "RF modulator" is not an RF modulator. Some shops mess up and
>hand you a TV-Game Switch instead. One way to tell is the price. For
>example, a Radio Shack TV-Game Switch may cost a few dollars; their RF
>Modulator sells for around $30.
>
>
> 2. The RF modulator output is connected to the wrong place. A typical
>RF modulator intended for computer display connects to the TV's VHF
>Antenna Input. (You will not get much of a display if the RF modulator
>is connected to the UHF Input.)
>
>Since you also want to be able to watch TV, you need some way to switch
>between the computer + RF modulator signal and your TV Antenna. The RF
>Modulator box may have a place to connect the TV antenna and a switch to
>choose.
>
>If your RF modulator just has an input for the computer and an output,
>you will need a TV-Game Switch. The RF modulator's output leads usually
>go to the TV-Game Switch "Game" (or "Computer") input. The TV-Game
>Switch has another input ("Ant" or "TV Antenna") for the TV antenna. The
>output end of the TV-Game Switch is connected to the TV's VHF Antenna
>Input.
>
>The RF modulator should be set to CH3 or CH4 depending upon which gives
>the better display.
>
>
> 3. The TV is not set for CH3 or CH4 and/or not correctly tuned. Lots of
>TV's can be set to the correct channel number but show a rotten display
>until the tuning is adjusted. Some old knob-type TV's need to have the
>channel switch jiggled to get a good display.
>
>
>     A good color TV connected via an RF modulator makes a decent
>monitor for hi-res and color double-hires games and lots of other
>software. As has already been mentioned, it's not much good for
>80-column displays. Due to AC voltage which may be present on the TV
>chassis "ground", it is best to avoid any audio or other connection to
>the TV.
>
>
>
>Rubywand


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Mark Smith (mlsmithjr (at) pobox.com)
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