Re: Mystery (was Apple //e w/o Color)

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

"Matthew T. Russotto" writes ...
> 
> In article <39BE9C28.2D403FD6@swbell.net>,
> Rubywand  <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:
 ....

> }> I once had a really hard time trying to figure out why I got no color
> }> on the TV I had connected to the Apple II -- turns out the cable
> }> wasn't even connected.  How's that for a capacitive load? :-)
> } ....
> }
> }It would be a very light capacitive load! A few nights ago I nearly took
> }apart a 'defective' joystick before remembering the emulator had been set
> }to swap in mouse inputs. (On such occasions have you ever thought to
> }yourself: Suppose it had worked, anyway?)
> 
> I think you misunderstand.  It DID work -- aside from the lack of color, the
> picture was normal.

     No, got that part okay. Even getting color would not be terribly strange
for an RF interface and not unthinkable for a composite signal picked up by a
high impedance input with an unshielded cable flopping around near the
computer.

     The story about your unconnected cable just reminded me of many 'dumb
mistake' situations where there really should be no way for equipment to
work. (And, almost always, it doesn't.) 


> And you wonder why the FCC wasn't particularly
> happy about RF modulators :-)
 ....

     Yes; some modulators are not very well shielded. You have your own
little TV broadcasting station.



Rubywand