[Coco] Coco Monitor Question

[Frank Swygert]

For anyone interested, the Commodore 1084 Magnavox equivalent is the 8CM515. Just remembered that! I think the 1080 Maggie equivalent is an 8CM505.

Bill, he can get 64 columns with the composite output but that's about it. If one of you run across an old PC CGA type monitor you can wire it directly into the CoCo but will only get a few colors from the digital RGB monitor (PC type). But as I said, good for text, and no extra circuit board needed. EGA monitors will also sync down to the 15.7 kHz sync signal used by the CoCo RGBA (A=Analog -- similar to CGA but will produce more colors).

Monochrome TTL monitors can be connected, I think, but also require a special cable with a circuit to combine RGB into a single video feed. At least I seem to recall some people doing that!

It's hard to find the old Mono/CGA/EGA monitors now. I believe one of the expensive Sony Multi-Syncs will still go down to 15.7 kHz, but I'm not sure...

Here's a site showing most monitor pin-outs:
http://www.monitorworld.com/Cables/video_standards.html
Has everything for PC/Apple/Sun, but no Commodore or other brands (a couple IBM only standards).

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Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2012 09:23:13 -0400 (EDT)
From: Bill Pierce<ooogalapasooo at aol.com>


Thanks Frank, He already has the composite monitor conected but can't see 80column in OS9. He wants to try the RGB. Still don't know which one he has




-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Swygert<farna at amc-mag.com>
To: coco<coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Fri, Sep 7, 2012 6:02 am
Subject: Re: [Coco] Coco Monitor Question


The Commodore 1080 and 1084 are both made by Magnavox, but I forget the Maggie
model number. The 1080 needs the sync circuit modified as described in a
previous post, the 1084 will automatically adjust sync and work as is. I agree
with Bill -- the 1084 is one of the most versatile classic RGB monitors, will
work with a PC also IIRC. About the only one more versatile would be a Sony
Multi-Sync, but they cost a lot more back then! The later Multi-Syncs wouldn't
sync down to the level that the CoCo used though (standard CGA, but analog
instead of digital). Yes, you can connect a standard CGA monitor (if you can
find one!), but you won't get the range of colors with the digital RGB (CGA)
monitor. Still, it's good for text based applications.