Re: IIGS question

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

epwg1 <epwg1@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> Is it possible to connect the IIgs RGB output to a scart connector, if it
> is does anyone know where I can find the pinouts?

I don't have enough information on SCART to be able to answer this
fully.  I can describe the IIgs video output, however.

The signals on the IIgs RGB connector include separate analogue red,
green and blue signals, various ground and power connections, composite
sync and audio output.  I'd have to look up the manual to see whether it
includes a composite video output (probably does).

The video output isn't identical to a standard TV signal, but is close
enough to work with most TV sets.  For example, it doesn't use
interlaced fields, instead outputting non-interlaced frames at twice the
frame rate (but with half as many lines as an interlaced TV frame).

The composite output always uses the NTSC colour system.

The frame rate can be set to 50 Hz or 60 Hz (using Ctrl-Option-Reset to
get the menu with the options which change the frequency and restore
default control panel settings).  I haven't checked whether these rates
are exactly right; if so, 60 Hz will be slightly too fast - it should be
59.994 Hz to have the same timing as NTSC.

> (from what I can gather I can't use a Mac monitor, or can I??)

You need an analog RGB monitor which can operate at a horizontal scan
rate compatible with television (15.75 kHz).  Standard Mac RGB monitors
only support horizontal scan rates of 30 kHz or higher.  Some older
(late '80s) multi-sync monitors can support the IIgs output.

> I have a 400k external Mac drive, can I use this on the GS??

Not with the built-in drive connector.  You can probably use if it you
managed to get hold of a third-party disk controller card known as the
Universal Disk Controller, but even then it would be of limited use with
standard IIgs 3.5" disks, as they are almost exclusively 800K.