Re: Composite B/W only? ][europlus and (French) //e

[heuser.marcus@freenet.de (Marcus Heuser)]

Sean McNamara <sean@macassist.com.au> wrote in message news:<sean-CA0B79.17434202112004@news-server.bigpond.net.au>...
> 
> I have a quick question about composite output from ][europluses and 
> French //es (haven't tried my Australian //e yet).
> 
> I hooked these machines up to my VCR (thence onto my TV) and directly 
> into my TV, which both have AV inputs, and the output is Black & White 
> only - no colours. Is this normal behaviour for PAL Apple ][s? Is my TV 
> doing something screwy with the signal? The composite signal from our 
> VCR and DVD player are both in full colour, so I don't think it's the 
> TV.

First let me say that I'm not exactly a big expert but maybe there is
some truth in my words ;-)

To my knowledge French-TVs use the SECAM color system. The "color
encoding" is completely different than with PAL (don't ask me about
details). The luminance should be practically identical, though.

The consequence is that PAL-devices can only output B/W (or different
grayshades on ATARIs for example) on SECAM-only-TVs.

Consequently the other way round is also true: SECAM-device show only
in B/W (or grayscale) on PAL-only-TVs.

A video output with an analogue RGB connection would be a solution
because it has, as its name implies, separate connections for the
three base colors red, green and blue. So there is no color-encoding
at all!

AFAIK only the IIgs has an analogue RGB video output - neither the II+
nor the IIe. I don't know of any video card for the Apple-II-line
which has an analogue RGB (not TTL) output, but maybe there is someone
out there who could help you with this.


> I don't have an RF modulator to see if that output is any different.

This wouldn't help you either because RF is a further step upwards on
the "modulation ladder". Although its the most complicated connection
it also gives you the worst picture quality - so actually it would
make thinks even worse.


Here is a chain of "priority":

RGB -> S-Video -> Composite -> RF

Everything except RGB will give you trouble because then there is
color encoding/modulation involved.

So you'll probably have only these three options:

a) Use a PAL-color-monitor with your II+/e's
b) Use an Apple IIgs and a TV with RGB-input (and an adaptor cable)
c) Be happy with B/W

I hope this helped you a bit ;-)

bye
Marcus