TI-99/4A Video cable?

[SRGilbert]

I picked up a TI-99/4A computer in the box today at a yard sale, but I didn't realize that it didn't have the AV cable with it. Any suggestions? It looked like an old Sega Genesis Model 1 av cable would work, but all I get is sound. Is it possible to mod one to do it?

 

Thanks.

[+remowilliams]

It's a standard 5 pin DIN plug, you can google for the pinouts. Be careful as the TI99 has 12V output on one of the lines (meant to power the external RF box).

 

Or you can pick one up on ebay for 10 bucks or so.

[jaybird3rd]

The plug might be the same but the pinout is probably wrong. Here is a page that includes pinout information and instructions for building your own TI video cable. There are also new cables for sale on eBay.

 

EDIT: Oops, I guess remowilliams beat me to it! Here is one on eBay from the same seller that I bought mine from.

Edited June 23, 2007 by jaybird3rd

[Lord Thag]

FYI the TI uses the same 5-pin video cable that the Atari and Commodores use. You can get S-video ones off ebay for $15.

[Jetboot Jack]

What about a video cable for a UK Ti99?

 

They have a 6 pin DIN - I have 2 machines, and boat load of games rotting in the attic, 'cos I can't connect them to a TV

 

sTeVE

[MiKOTRON]

What about a video cable for a UK Ti99?

 

They have a 6 pin DIN - I have 2 machines, and boat load of games rotting in the attic, 'cos I can't connect them to a TV

 

sTeVE

 

 

Wha? 6 pin DIN? I thought those were the same as ours. Oh PAL I guess. Not sure how you'd go about making a modulator. You'll probably have to locate a modulator locally.

[MiKOTRON]

Hey check this out. Hope this helps. http://www.99er.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikon...act=ST;f=4;t=32

[SRGilbert]

The plug might be the same but the pinout is probably wrong. Here is a page that includes pinout information and instructions for building your own TI video cable. There are also new cables for sale on eBay.

 

EDIT: Oops, I guess remowilliams beat me to it! Here is one on eBay from the same seller that I bought mine from.

Thanks, after checking out my local RatShaq it seems they don't carry the connector anymore so I just ordered the one you linked to. I figure $9.99 isn't too bad. Probably would have been at least $5 in parts anyway, and now I don't have to solder!

[Bruce Tomlin]

FYI the TI uses the same 5-pin video cable that the Atari and Commodores use. You can get S-video ones off ebay for $15.

Its audio, video and ground pins may be the same, but you aren't going to get S-video from a TI.

 

I found it easier to just chop the cable off of one of their HUEG LIKE XBOX modulator boxes and wired it up to RCA connectors.

[Tursi]

Best reference site for TI-99 hardware is http://nouspikel.com/ti99

 

Although there's some debate about the UK monitor pinout (which is covered in the forum topic that was linked ).

 

Like Bruce said, there's no way to get SVideo out of a US TI-99, not even with hardware hacks. The 9918 outputs composite video right from the chip. (Sure, you could split it later, but that defeats the purpose and won't improve the signal). UK TIs have a different signal from their 9928, seems like it might be possible but I don't know exactly how (and it would be 50hz).

[guy767]

I hate to play Forum Necromancer but I just purchased a TI-99/4A for 15 cents at Ebay (plus $23 shipping) and mine didn't come with a video cable too. I don't normally collect vintage computers but the lot was too good to pass up.

 

I tried a Sega Master System RCA video cable because it fits but I get no sound or video. I guess the pins for the SMS are different or something...

 

I'm hoping someone here has a spare video cable to sell or trade. Any help procuring a TI-99/4A video cable would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[+thegoldenband]

Ha, I'll join you in necromancy, since I bought a TI-99/4A at a flea market today, and I have the exact same issue -- I also tried the SMS/Genesis Model 1 cable, with no luck, though I could tell some sort of non-zero signal was being passed. Mine does have the RF box so I'll try it tomorrow with a portable TV.

 

One thing that's not clear to me: I know the C64, SMS, Model 1 Genesis, TI-99/4A, and Atari 8-bit all use the same 5-pin DIN for AV. What's not clear to me is whether the TI-99/4A is an outlier with a totally different pinout than the others. In other words, which systems have compatible cables? "A cable that works on system X will work on systems Y and Z, but not on system W", that kind of thing.

[S1500]

FYI the TI uses the same 5-pin video cable that the Atari and Commodores use. You can get S-video ones off ebay for $15.

 

I don't believe so. I bought some light-grayish video cable from a thrift store, and it didn't work. I think it was for a Vic 20. Either way, it needs re-wiring to get it to work right with the TI. A project I never had free time to get around to.

[jaybird3rd]

Yes, lots of systems used DIN-5 connectors for their monitor ports, but the 99/4A pinout is different (heh, I just noticed that I said the same thing in #3, five years in the past now!).

 

There don't seem to be any pre-made cables on eBay at the moment, but it's not difficult to make your own. You can re-wire a DIN-5 video cable from another system, or you can buy an inexpensive DIN-5 AT keyboard extension cable (there are still plenty of those around), chop off the female end, and wire a pair of RCA jacks to the correct pins from the male end. It may not look pretty, but it should work. I never liked using the cables from TI's RF modulators, since I found them to be very prone to breaking.

[+thegoldenband]

I ended up hitching the TI's RF modulator directly to the antenna input of my switchbox. Not an ideal solution but it looks serviceable, and all the carts work!

 

I find it hard to imagine that someone, somewhere hasn't summarized all of the consoles & computers that use 5-pin DIN connectors and their mutual compatibility (or incompatibility, or partial compatibility). I've found a couple things, like this page about building your own cable for the Model 1 Genesis which also notes the necessary changes for the TI-99, or this image from AtariAge. But I haven't found a master chart yet.

 

EDIT (crosspost with jaybird3rd): Yeah, the page I linked makes it sound fairly doable. I may give it a try later this summer, once I've gotten my soldering skills up to snuff (as in greater than nil).

[+boxpressed]

AA user "unhuman" made two of these cables for me. No more RF modulator! Send him a PM -- you'll be happy.

[RobertLM78]

Help! I've been trying to convert my RF modulator into a straight composite cable. I'm 99% certain I have all the wires connected properly, as per this page's instructions:

http://www.99er.net/TIvideoadapter.htm

 

I can get audio, but no video - Grrr!!!

[lushgirl_80]

I've got the A/V cable for TI-99 4/A and it's great. Never liked the RF box, imo the RF box for the TI-99 4/A is way worse than the one for the 4-port Atari 5200.

[RobertLM78]

Yeah, I chopped off the RF box as it is unnecessary - what I wanted from there was the 5-pin din cable .

 

To deepen this mystery, I tested the resistance between the pins and the new composite ends I've spliced on it, and oddly, the audio, which is working, gives on O.L. while the video, which isn't working shows a complete circuit not only when I touch the test lead to the video pin (#4) but also to the audio pin (#3). The only culprit I can think of is the instruction (on http://www.99er.net/TIvideoadapter.htm) to twist the two separate grounds together on the composite cable.

 

Edit: I should mention the the RF din cable has two grounds (and apparently two audio wires as well).

Edited May 16, 2013 by RobertLM78

[RobertLM78]

I figured out what was wrong - firstly the instructions on that website are a bit off, but I made my own mistake in not just opening the RF box to begin with.

[yell0w_lantern]

Yes. You should always check what the wires are bfore you solder and with the TI box a flat head screw driver is all you need. Personally, I desoldered all the wires; seemed neater that way. Anyway, not very hard as long as you know which wires do what and remember that each RCA plug needs a ground.

Edited May 17, 2013 by yell0w_lantern

[+boxpressed]

Just for kicks, I decided to plug in the 5-pin DIN to composite cable for my Atari 8-bit into the TI. Works! Easier to find on eBay than a TI cable in case you're still having trouble making one.

[zander21510]

Just for kicks, I decided to plug in the 5-pin DIN to composite cable for my Atari 8-bit into the TI. Works! Easier to find on eBay than a TI cable in case you're still having trouble making one.

Hey just picked up a TI-99/4a today with no video adapter, checked the pinout for the Atari 8-bit adapters and it seems to be the same (with the atari having extra data on the TI's unused pins), you were able to use it just fine? Thanks!

[zylon]

I've found that Vic-20 Modulators work fine. I made my own composite cord from a dead one and a set of rca patch cables.

[+boxpressed]

Hey just picked up a TI-99/4a today with no video adapter, checked the pinout for the Atari 8-bit adapters and it seems to be the same (with the atari having extra data on the TI's unused pins), you were able to use it just fine? Thanks!

 

Yes. You should be good to go with an Atari 8-bit 5-pin DIN cable on your TI.