mojoehand wrote:
> On Nov 9, 1:33 pm, mojoehand  wrote:
>> In another thread, I posted the information below about a card I am
>> trying to figure out. Since I posted several questions in that thread,
>> I thought I would break this one out separately.
>>
>> Upon further searching, I understand that Apple sold an RGB card for
>> the IIe that was manufactured by Video-7. I can't seem to find any
>> manual or other information on the Apple card. I thought that perhaps
>> it is similar enough to help me figure out the card I have (also made
>> my Video-7). In particular, I would like to know the pinout of the
>> DB9F on my card. Then I could wire up a video cable to test the card.
>>
>>> I also have a video card that I need help figuring out. The card
>>> measures 5-1/2" long by 2-3/4" high (w/o the gold
fingers). Near the
>>> upper left are a 16-pin header and a 10-pin header. The 10-pin header
>>> has a ribbon cable that terminates in a DB-9F. Just above the 16-pin
>>> header is "Seiko-AAF". To the right of the 10-pin
header, in large
>>> letters is "AMDEK___". About an inch below the
10-pin header is a 3-
>>> pin jumper, labeled "J2". About an inch below that
is "Video - 7
>>> Inc.". The board is populated with 14 TTL chips and one
PAL. I assume
>>> that it drove an Amdek monitor, but was it B/W, color, TTL, RGB, or
>>> whatever? Anyone have a clue?
> 
> I found an image of a card that is decribed as a Video-7 RGB card on a
> web site. I posted it here: http://i38.tinypic.com/ndlq9z.jpg
> 
> This is a picture of the very similar card that I have:
> http://i36.tinypic.com/2e0vkp0.jpg

Similar in intent, and perhaps function, but quite different in design.
They are clearly both digital RGB cards.

> Note that the first card has a part number of 600-0002 and my card is
> 600-0012. Checking my card with an Ohm meter, pins 1,2 and 7 of the
> DB9 are grounded. This corresponds with the pinout of an IBM CGA
> monitor (although pin 7 is "Reserved" on CGA). My card also has a 16
> pin header, which I'm guessing would be used with an Apple RGB (TTL)
> monitor instead of a CGA monitor. From my research, both monitors are
> capable of 16 colors (not analog RGB, like the IIgs monitor).

Sounds right.

> There is a 3 pin jumper block on my card. It came with the two left
> pins shorted. I assume this is used to select which header is used for
> output. I'm not sure what the J1 connector is for (just below the work
> AMDEK). Would it be for picking up the composite video from the Apple
> IIe motherboard? Isn't that what the similar looking 2 pin connector
> on the Apple motherboard is?

The jumper may select a mode unrelated to the connector being used.

The only 2-pin Molex connector I remember on the Apple II main board
is the speaker connector (right side, toward user, if the board is
oriented as it would be in a case).

There is a 4-pin Molex connector with video and power on the right side
of the board near the back.  This was used to connect RF modulators.

> I tried plugging the card into my Apple IIe and thankfully, no magic
> smoke escaped. Connecting the card to a CGA monitor gives me nothing
> but a blank screen. The Apple composite video works as always.
> 
> Does anyone have any thought, suggestions, brilliant ideas, etc. :-)

The 9-pin connector is probably not a CGA pinout, but an Amdek color
monitor pinout.  The 16-pin connector is, as you surmised, for a 1:1
(minus pin 16) ribbon cable to a Dx-15 connector for an Apple RGB
monitor.

-michael

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