[comp.sys.ibm.pc] VGA board <-> Multiscan Monitor Cable Adapters

rpg@security.uucp (Robert P. Goldsmith) (04/21/88)

I recently bought a Taxan Multivision (770+) monitor to run with my
Paradise VGA+ graphics board.  Like MANY multi-scan monitors (the old
NEC Multisyncs, for example), the Multivision has a 9-pin connector
for video input, while the VGA board has a 15-pin connector for
output.  It is not hard to find an adapter cable for the NEC, but the
Taxan (and others) uses slightly different pin assignments than the
NEC.  I found getting a ready-made cable for my Taxan difficult and
expensive (see flame at the end).

For the Taxan (and I suspect, several others), you can make a small
change to the NEC adapter so that it will support Taxan.  10 minutes
with a soldering iron to swap the leads for pins 4 and 5 and you have
a Taxan adapter cable.  My thanks to Taxan's technical support for
this tip.

			VGA - Monitor Pin Assignments

					Taxan	
			OVGA	Monitor Monitor 
Function		Pin	Pin	Function (Analog Signal)
--------		---	---	-----------
Red Video		1	1	Red Video
Green Video		2	2	Green Video
Blue Video		3	3	Blue Video
Monitor Id Bit 2	4	
- not used -		5	
Red Ground		6	6 	Red Ground
Green Ground		7	7 	Green Ground
Blue Ground		8	8 	Blue Ground
Key (no pin)		9	
Synch Ground		10	9 	Synch Ground
Monitor Id Bit 0	11
Monitor Id Bit 1	12
Horizontal Synch	13	4	Hor/Vert Synch
Vertical Synch		14	5	Mode Select	
- not used -		15

On the NEC adapter, pins 4 and  are reversed.

<FLAME ON> I bought the monitor from 47th St Computer mail order.  I
told the salesman that I wanted to connect it to the Paradise VGA+
board (which they also sell) and that I wanted to be sure the monitor
had the right cable.  He said the cable was included.  It wasn't.  It
turns out 47th St Mail Order doesn't even sell the necessary cable
The 47th St *stores* sell it, and they refused to let me buy one
through the mail ("You have to get it through our mail order
division").  I've never had a problem with these folks before, but
this is outrageous.  

Thumbs down to the Mail Order Division for feeling free to sell
monitors and boards, but not stocking the necessary parts to connect
them.

Thumbs down to the Retail Division for refusing to sell the cable
through the mail.

and Two thumbs down for 47th St management for letting their two
divisions play these kinds of games.
<FLAME OFF>


BTW, the Taxan got nice reviews in both BYTE and PC Magazine.  I am
very pleased with the monitor itself.

rpg@security.uucp (Robert P. Goldsmith) (04/21/88)

There is an error in the Pin assignment table I gave.  Pin 9 on the
monitor input splits to both pins 10 and 11 at the board.  The correct
assignments are given below.  Sorry for the error.


			VGA - Monitor Pin Assignments

					Taxan	
			VGA	Monitor Monitor 
Function		Pin	Pin	Function (Analog Signal)
--------		---	---	-----------
Red Video		1	1	Red Video
Green Video		2	2	Green Video
Blue Video		3	3	Blue Video
Monitor Id Bit 2	4	
- not used -		5	
Red Ground		6	6 	Red Ground
Green Ground		7	7 	Green Ground
Blue Ground		8	8 	Blue Ground
Key (no pin)		9	
Synch Ground		10	9 	Synch Ground
Monitor Id Bit 0	11      9
Monitor Id Bit 1	12
Horizontal Synch	13	4	Hor/Vert Synch
Vertical Synch		14	5	Mode Select	
- not used -		15

On the NEC adapter, pins 4 and  are reversed.

rmeyer@cca.CCA.COM (Richard Meyer) (04/22/88)

I had a similar experience, so let others be warned.  I bought a
Mitsubishi Diamond Scan from MHI in Arizona.  They too said that
the analog cable is included -- well it was not, and they don't
sell it.  On the other hand PC Network (from whom I also got a bid)
claimed there are no cables included at all and wanted 
to sell me the RGB cable as well as the analog
cable (the RGB cable is included).  It then turned out that the
analog cable they were going to sell me was the wrong one, anyway
(I got the Mitsubishi part number for it in the meantime).  I am
still trying to find a local supplier for the cable (to be
sure that I will get the right one).  I tried to make one myself, 
but my local electronic store does not sell the right 15-pin plug. 

dts@cloud9.UUCP (Daniel Senie) (04/24/88)

I recently got an NEC Multisync II. It came with the normal 9 pin cable
for TTL, and an adapter to place on the end of the cable to convert it to 15
pins. I have tried their adapter with the VGA analog output of my Zenith
Z-449 card (has both TTL and Analog outputs) and it worked great.

Dan