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Apple IIgs question...


ataridave

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I know that the IIgs is compatible with Apple II games, but can you hook it up to a TV set? I know you can do this with other '80's computers, but I've never seen it done with an Apple IIe, although I saw an old Apple IIc ad on Youtube that advertised that you could do so. I wonder if the older Apple II games would display just green and black, or the full range, so to speak, of colors on a TV.

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... but I've never seen it done with an Apple IIe, ...

 

Not really relevant to answer your specific question, but:

 

With the Apple ]['s prior to the gs, TV output was an option. The base ][e for example, just output to a monitor. The Apple ][e I have is like that, and I have to use it with the Apple III green monitor I have for it. You needed to add an optional TV output card to send it to a TV in color.

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... but I've never seen it done with an Apple IIe, ...

 

Not really relevant to answer your specific question, but:

 

With the Apple ]['s prior to the gs, TV output was an option. The base ][e for example, just output to a monitor. The Apple ][e I have is like that, and I have to use it with the Apple III green monitor I have for it. You needed to add an optional TV output card to send it to a TV in color.

 

Ok, well how would you install something like that TV output card?

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Ok, well how would you install something like that TV output card?

 

You just plug it into the video expansion port. When the ][ was ready to be released, the Apple RF modulator didn't meet FCC approval, so they left it out. There were third party RF modulators available at first, then later an official Apple one (I don't know if that one was made by Apple or was a third-party one rebadged).

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The Apple II natively outputs composite video. If you want to hook it up using a normal RCA video cord, then you don't need to do anything. I have Apple II's ranging from the original model up through the IIgs and they all have composite video out jacks on the back of the computer. The really old computer monitors like the Apple II and Apple /// green monochrome monitors were nothing more than composite video monitors that didn't display in color.

 

What Mirage is talking about is an RF modulator, which will let you hook the computer up to an old TV that only accepts the old coaxial cable. When people bought Apple II's way back in the day, many of them didn't want to spend the extra money buying one of those composite video monitors, and just wanted to hook the computer up to a small TV. Like Mirage said, the RF modulator that Apple built into the system didn't pass FCC tests, so they just took it out and let a third party company (M&R Electonics) market something called a "Sup'R'Mod", which was just a little RF modulator that stuck to the inside of the Apple II with some double-stick foam tape. Customers would generally just buy one at the point-of-sale when purchasing their computer, and the salesman would install it on the spot. These modulators have become obsolete now because composite video has become ubiquitous.

 

Bottom line, you don't need to get anything to enjoy your Apple II in color. Just plug the video out on the back of the computer into one of the video in jacks on your TV and you are good to go.

 

Chris

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The Apple II natively outputs composite video. If you want to hook it up using a normal RCA video cord, then you don't need to do anything. I have Apple II's ranging from the original model up through the IIgs and they all have composite video out jacks on the back of the computer. The really old computer monitors like the Apple II and Apple /// green monochrome monitors were nothing more than composite video monitors that didn't display in color.

 

What Mirage is talking about is an RF modulator, which will let you hook the computer up to an old TV that only accepts the old coaxial cable. When people bought Apple II's way back in the day, many of them didn't want to spend the extra money buying one of those composite video monitors, and just wanted to hook the computer up to a small TV. Like Mirage said, the RF modulator that Apple built into the system didn't pass FCC tests, so they just took it out and let a third party company (M&R Electonics) market something called a "Sup'R'Mod", which was just a little RF modulator that stuck to the inside of the Apple II with some double-stick foam tape. Customers would generally just buy one at the point-of-sale when purchasing their computer, and the salesman would install it on the spot. These modulators have become obsolete now because composite video has become ubiquitous.

 

Bottom line, you don't need to get anything to enjoy your Apple II in color. Just plug the video out on the back of the computer into one of the video in jacks on your TV and you are good to go.

 

Chris

 

Well, blow me away, that's really good news. I never knew that. I thought I had to have that RF box to output in color. Huh... well, I'm glad I brought it up. So, does that mean that I can plug my Apple ][e into my 1702 C= monitor just like I use my C64/A8 etc? Thanks for the info.

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Well, blow me away, that's really good news. I never knew that. I thought I had to have that RF box to output in color. Huh... well, I'm glad I brought it up. So, does that mean that I can plug my Apple ][e into my 1702 C= monitor just like I use my C64/A8 etc? Thanks for the info.

 

Correct.

 

Chris

Edited by Jibbajaba
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My ]['s and ][e's look fine on my 1702, but both my ][gs computers have messed-up colors when attached this way. It's very strange, the colors are correct in the control panel, but games look all wrong like the artifacting doesn't work. I don't know if it is using "fake" artifacting that is supposed to work with the RGB monitor or what...

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