Micrographic Images Megascreen 3 - SE PDS Video card

[rollmastr]

Hello guys! Today I picked up a Macintosh SE that had a Micrographic Images Megascreen 3 card installed.
I think it's safe to assume that this is a video card for some weird external B/W monitors.
Do you have any info on the card and perhaps drivers? Thanks!

See the attached images of the card.

 

[bdurbrow]

I’m wondering if that d-sub 9 pin connector is supposed to drive a PC standard MDA monitor?

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Forget the D-Sub, you've got BNC available! That should be straight up Analog B&W that can be fed into any good MultiSync monitor. It may look like hell at first, but you can get there one way or another. Bookmarks to the relevant threads have fallen victim to the crash, but the threads are in Hacks under my byline. Radius TPD comes to mind.

 

[rollmastr]

Found and uploaded to: https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/micrographic-images-megamac-10-megascreen-megamath-megadrive

 

[cy384]

I think the thread got lost, but I found a "MegaScreen for Macintosh SE" that looks much like yours. There is a working driver for system 6. @quorten has a page with some info and drivers: https://github.com/quorten/megascreen

I couldn't get mine talking to any displays I have, curous to see if anyone else has any luck.

 

[rollmastr]

Thanks for the link. This seems to be the same driver that I found. Unfortunately I do not have a compatible display, but that driver does seem to work in System 6.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

In depth info and DE9 pinout:

https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/im-new-to-68kmla-my-68k-mac-hardware-at-a-glance.34289/post-369584

First rev of your board reviewed. Looks like you can hook it up to a TV input to see if it's working. Hadn't noticed that in the other thread.



edit: looks like Broderbund's The Toy Shop would be a cool toy, has anyone used it or seen it in a repository?

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

DRAT! Edit surrounding original link expanding on the BNC output saved right on the 45min. edit limit. Oddly the text took, but link was borked, here's the clickable version I'd posted alone at first:

https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/im-new-to-68kmla-my-68k-mac-hardware-at-a-glance.34289/post-369584

Edit: very strange, text was there with non-clickable link until I refreshed page, now the text edit is gone and the link is still clickable?

At any rate, strange that the DE9 pinout is RGB output from a B&W SE? Figuring it may have to do with compatibility requirements for Medical imaging, CAD or DOD/Government large screen CRT compatibility? Trying to summarize post by @quorten made in thread link:

https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/im-new-to-68kmla-my-68k-mac-hardware-at-a-glance.34289/page-3#post-370296

 

[rollmastr]

Great information, thanks!

 

[Aeroform]

Just found one of theese in a newly acquired SE, thanks for the interesting background and info. Now you know at least one found its way across the pond to Sweden sometime in the early 90’s

 

[cheesestraws]

I especially like the way the words "face down" are facing up

 

[aboutthismac]

I picked up an SE today with this card installed as well from its original owner. He told me that he used the card to connect it to his TV as he was using the Mac for his desktop publishing business.