IIgs confusion

[notcrazy_iminsane]

I just got a IIgs the other day. Just the computer, a power cable, and what I believe to be a cable for connecting the computer to the monitor. After looking around, I realized that the pins on the cable (and on the computer itself) wouldn't support any of the monitors I have access to. xx( Are there any types of converters I can use to hook this IIgs up to either an LCD or CRT monitor so I can test it?

I know it turns on and starts up. It will beep once, wait a couple seconds, then beep again. I have no clue what that means at all since I can't get a display to go with it. I don't think there's anything wrong with the board. I opened it up and the board was virtually untouched (No expansions, no capacitor leakage, and only a little bit of dust). The discoloration aside, this computer looks brand new ;D

 

[Gorgonops]

You can use a plain RCA cable to connect a IIgs to a TV or monitor that supports composite input. (Meaning of course you might have to hijack the family TV.) Composite is far from ideal if you want to use the IIgs for anything besides games, but it should be enough to verify that the system works. Keep in mind it's not going to be very useful without a disk drive.

These days it is... nontrivial, to find new RGB monitors that will work directly with the IIgs. Here's an Apple knowledge base article with the pinout. The sync rate is half that of a standard VGA monitor (IE, the same as US NTSC) and most modern (IE, later than early 90's) "Multisync" units will refuse to work with less-than-VGA signals. Essentially the same monitors that work with the original Commodore Amiga (sans scan doubler) will work, which isn't a huge sample. If you don't want to find an original vintage monitor, well... there are adapters that can convert RGB to the Y-Pb-Pr Component video standard used by modern TVs, but you'll pay through the nose for that. Other options include looking for a TV with RGB input (some currently shipping High-Def TVs have analog RGB/VGA ports but I don't know if any of them will accept the IIgs's output), using a European TV with an RGB SCART connector, or finding/building a scan doubler with RGB input so you can use a VGA monitor. (This would probably work. There are also homebrew designs floating around although building one might not be much cheaper.)

 

[notcrazy_iminsane]

I managed to find a few converters to use either a modern monitor or a tv on eBay once I got off the school internet. I'm going to look for some homebrew options so I don't have to sink any money into the IIgs just yet.

 

[david__schmidt]

I know it turns on and starts up. It will beep once, wait a couple seconds, then beep again.

The machine is happy and healthy, then. First beep = power on, ROM boot screen. Second beep = complaint that there's no disk to boot. Ctrl-Reset will then get you to an Applesoft command prompt.

As Gorgonops points out, any video display device old enough to have (composite) video in will do you just fine for 40 column work.

 

[notcrazy_iminsane]

Alright It's good to know it's happy. Now I gotta find a hard drive for it... And a floppy drive... And a display...

 

[notcrazy_iminsane]

I just took a closer look at the backside of my IIgs and found what looks like a white Female RCA connector :O If I used a double sided male RCA cable, could I connect the IIgs to one of my CRT TVs from the 90s?

 

[david__schmidt]

I just took a closer look at the backside of my IIgs and found what looks like a white Female RCA connector :O If I used a double sided male RCA cable, could I connect the IIgs to one of my CRT TVs from the 90s?

Yes. Second connector from the right.

 

[notcrazy_iminsane]

I tried it when I got home and was excited to see it connected to my TVs especially since people at school said it wouldn't work. I can't wait to rub it in their faces on Monday. Now to find a floppy drive for it or to see if there's a converter to use a usb floppy drive

 

[david__schmidt]

Tell them they're right. And to give you more gear that "won't work."

No USB solution is in the offing. You need to look for a vintage Apple II drive. See this page for details on all the different models, and the ones that are compatible with your GS.

 

[Gorgonops]

If you want to have some fun with your IIgs before you get a disk drive there's always the Apple // Game Server software. It lets you use the same serial cable you'd use with ADTpro to bootstrap game files (that don't require any disk interaction once loaded) on an Apple II with no drives.

 

[notcrazy_iminsane]

Alright I'll keep those both in mind As soon as I can find the proper cables and/or a compatible 3.5" floppy drive this IIgs should be fully operational.