Re: What use is a Taxan Monitor? Apple2? Vcr Monitor?

[valthoff@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Victoria M Althoff)]

In article <jspinnowCHwnnG.HD5@netcom.com> jspinnow@netcom.com (John S. Pinnow)
 writes:
>I had a taxan monitor sitting in my closet for awhile and would love
>to do something with it.
>
>
>It has the following settings.
>
>IT has a switch:
>
>    Position I: IBM P/C
>    Position II: Apple II & NEC PC 8001
>    Position III: Apple III
>
>    Two plugs:
>
>    A circular outlet that will accept 8 prongs.
>
>    Another a flat connecter similar to this:
>         ______---_____
>        |  * * *  *    |
>        |  * * *  *    |
>        |______________|
>
>
>One of two possibile things that I want to do with it.
>
>One:     Use it as a possible Apple IIgs monitor.
>Two:     Use it for a vcr monitor and turn it into sortof a tv.
>
>
>I would really love to know of a way to get this thing to allow input
>of NTSC video.
>
>
>Any recommendations? Thank you!

That big rectangular connector is a 'classic' VCR connector.  Those eight pins 
include Audio IN, Audio OUT, Video IN (NTSC), and Video OUT.  That particular 
connector was often used for industrial and professional VCRs.  The upshot of 
all this is that, YES, you can get the monitor to accept NTSC video.  Just 
connect the tip and ring of an RCA cable to the appropriate pair of pins.  
Unfortunately, I can't seem to find my copy of that data right now.  Try 
setting the switch to the Apple ][ position, then experiment with connecting 
the tip of an RCA cable (connected to the VIDEO OUT on the computer) to each of
the eight pins, and connecting the sleeve to the pin opposite.  Meanwhile, I'll
look around and find out for sure what those pinouts are.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.