Re: RGB card

[mojoehand <jgray@zianet.com>]

On Nov 9, 1:33 pm, mojoehand <jg...@zianet.com> wrote:
> In another thread, I posted the information below about a card I am
> trying to figure out. Since I posted several questions in that thread,
> I thought I would break this one out separately.
>
> Upon further searching, I understand that Apple sold an RGB card for
> the IIe that was manufactured by Video-7. I can't seem to find any
> manual or other information on the Apple card. I thought that perhaps
> it is similar enough to help me figure out the card I have (also made
> my Video-7). In particular, I would like to know the pinout of the
> DB9F on my card. Then I could wire up a video cable to test the card.
>
> > I also have a video card that I need help figuring out. The card
> > measures 5-1/2" long by 2-3/4" high (w/o the gold fingers). Near the
> > upper left are a 16-pin header and a 10-pin header. The 10-pin header
> > has a ribbon cable that terminates in a DB-9F. Just above the 16-pin
> > header is "Seiko-AAF". To the right of the 10-pin header, in large
> > letters is "AMDEK___". About an inch below the 10-pin header is a 3-
> > pin jumper, labeled "J2". About an inch below that is "Video - 7
> > Inc.". The board is populated with 14 TTL chips and one PAL. I assume
> > that it drove an Amdek monitor, but was it B/W, color, TTL, RGB, or
> > whatever? Anyone have a clue?

I found an image of a card that is decribed as a Video-7 RGB card on a
web site. I posted it here: http://i38.tinypic.com/ndlq9z.jpg

This is a picture of the very similar card that I have:
http://i36.tinypic.com/2e0vkp0.jpg

Note that the first card has a part number of 600-0002 and my card is
600-0012. Checking my card with an Ohm meter, pins 1,2 and 7 of the
DB9 are grounded. This corresponds with the pinout of an IBM CGA
monitor (although pin 7 is "Reserved" on CGA). My card also has a 16
pin header, which I'm guessing would be used with an Apple RGB (TTL)
monitor instead of a CGA monitor. From my research, both monitors are
capable of 16 colors (not analog RGB, like the IIgs monitor).

There is a 3 pin jumper block on my card. It came with the two left
pins shorted. I assume this is used to select which header is used for
output. I'm not sure what the J1 connector is for (just below the work
AMDEK). Would it be for picking up the composite video from the Apple
IIe motherboard? Isn't that what the similar looking 2 pin connector
on the Apple motherboard is?

I tried plugging the card into my Apple IIe and thankfully, no magic
smoke escaped. Connecting the card to a CGA monitor gives me nothing
but a blank screen. The Apple composite video works as always.

Does anyone have any thought, suggestions, brilliant ideas, etc. :-)