Re: Question about Apple Monitors

[NoEmail@NoEmail.NoNet (copper wire)]

In article <HqudnVLqJtYcwHOiRVn-uA@comcast.com>, <ikvsabre@comcast.net> wrote:
> Hi all.
> Dumb question about RF and Composite Video.  They both use the same cables
> and connections, so I am wondering if there is any differences; can I plug
> the RF output from an Apple //c (using the RF modulator) into an Apple IIe
> monitor?

The Apple //c (or for that matter, all Apple II models with the exception
of the IIe emulation card for Macintosh) have a built in composite video
output in the form of a standard RCA style female connector on the back of
the computer. So in order to hook your Apple //c up to an Apple IIe
monitor, all you need is the standard composite video cable (with male RCA
style plugs at each end). You would not need to use the Apple //c RF
modulator attachment (the one that plugs into the 15 pin connector) in
this type of situation.
**When you say "Apple IIe monitor" I'm assuming you are talking about a
composite video monitor (either monochrome or color) such as the ones that
Apple sold back in the day, or for that matter, any brand of composite
video monitor that was available from other manufacturers.



> Can I plug the Composite Video output from an Apple IIe into a TV
> using a TV switch box?

No. If the television has composite video input(s), you would hook the
Apple IIe video out directly to the composite video input of the
television. If it's a television without composite video inputs, and it
only has a 75 ohm coax input and/or 300 ohm twin lead inputs, then you
would need to get an RF modulator for the Apple IIe and a TV/Game
switchbox for hooking up the computer to the TV. The first kind, which are
no longer being produced, were the kind that attached to an area on the
motherboard of the Apple IIe, and outputted an RF signal. The second kind,
such as one that is currently sold by Radio Shack (which looks like a
small external black box), takes a composite and/or S-Video signal into
it, converts it to RF (in other words, RF modulated) and then outputs the
signal to the TV via a standard 75 ohm coaxial cable. Considering the cost
of such an RF modulator unit, you would be better off just getting a used
color composite video monitor to hook up directly to the Apple IIe. They
are easy to find, my favourite one is the Commodore 1702 color video
monitor which has a built in speaker, and it also has the equivalent of
S-Video connections on the back, although not the standard S-Video
connector. Commodore used seperate chroma and luma jacks (in the form of
RCA style connectors), but one can easily interface S-Video equipment to
this monitor using a simple patch cable, as S-Video is exactly that,
seperate choma and luma signals being sent on seperate pins.

Anyways, in regards to RF modulated signals, you would have to tune your
TV to the channel that the RF modulator is "broadcasting" it's signal to
(usually here in North America, it's commonly Channel 3 or Channel 4).

If I need to clarify what I've wrote here, please feel free to ask any
questions, I typed this out quickly and perhaps have missed something or
have not made it clear enough.