Re: Need help hooking up Apple IIe to TV

[Linards Ticmanis <ticmanis@coli.uni-sb.de>]

Theresa (or Andrew?) Fiori wrote:

> Is there a way to do this? I have a modern TV with a coaxial input. The
> Apple IIe uses RCA for video (looks like it) and I have used an
> RCA-to-coaxial adapter piece, but it isn't working. What am I doing
> wrong?

The Apple doesn't output "Radio Frequency", it outputs a "Composite
Video Signal". "Radio Frequency" is what is used to carry *more than
one* program on a single cable---for example an antenna cable. "Video
Signal" is the type of signal better suited for carrying *one* program
only on a cable.

Either you need to buy a RF Modulator - a little box that turns the
Apple's signal into Radio Frequency, and feed that to the Antenna input
of your TV. Your TV will then internally turn the signal back to a video
signal. Since the conversion is not 100% exact, some picture quality
will be lost. Especially any programs that display text will be affected.

OR, and this is the MUCH BETTER and also CHEAPER solution, try to find
out if your TV can accept a composite video signal as input. If your TV
has a SCART socket, or any type of socket marked "VCR" or "CVBS", then
it should be able to accept a composite video signal. Most TVs built in
the last couple of years, after VCRs came into most homes, can accept a
composite video signal.

If you're not into electronics, take a photo of the back of your TV,
write down its model number, go to the next store that carries TV stuff,
and say that you want to feed a composite video signal into your TV,
which comes from a RCA socket. They should be able to sell you a cable,
provided the TV does accept composite video.

Hope this helps,
-- 

Linards Ticmanis

 The Master said, "The business of laying on the colors follows the
preparation of the plain ground."