Really old computer/electronics question (like 1985 old)

[Nimick]

I'm stuck in a facility using a really old lighting control console that supports a monochrome monitor.

I have two of the last remaining monochrome monitors in rochester.

the problem is that the board wants a DB-9 connection and the monitors only have video in. Would it work for me to just solder the video line to the video pin on a DB-9 connector (I have the pin-out), or would the monitor have a fit because it has no v-sync or h-sync info from the board.

any help would be appreciated, I don't really have the time to solder the mess together if it won't work.

 

[Shoki]

By 'video in' do you mean VGA? If so, maybe give this a try:
http://www.amazon.com/9-Pin-Female-15-Pin-Video-Adapter/dp/B001MVCPW2

 

[Tostig]

You could try finding an adapter. Radio Shack may have them.

Tostig

 

[Nimick]

By 'video in' do you mean VGA? If so, maybe give this a try:
http://www.amazon.com/9-Pin-Female-15-Pin-Video-Adapter/dp/B001MVCPW2

definetly not VGA. There is nothing digital about this. its an analog interface, it just looks like VGA.

edit: on the monitor all I have is an RCA jack that says "Video". that's what I meant by video in. It's like a tv, but pint sized.

 

[shunsui]

You really need to identify what signal is coming out of the DB-9. Maybe you just need a special cable, but probably you'll need some kind of black box converter.

http://www.nullmodem.com/DB-9.htm

 

[wildmanh]

definetly not VGA. There is nothing digital about this. its an analog interface, it just looks like VGA.

edit: on the monitor all I have is an RCA jack that says "Video". that's what I meant by video in. It's like a tv, but pint sized.

What you have is a Video Monitor. No tuner, it's designed to be hooked up to a computer, survalence system, mixing system, camera or other video source.

This is more interesting, The computer is DB9 video and the monitor is RCA. RCA video is a composit signal where as MonoChrome (MDA) is a Digital TTL signal. You'd have to find a way to convert from one to the other.

Back in the Monocrome, CGA, EGA days most IBM compatible computers used a DB9 connector for monitors. Some of the EGA monitors could handle VGA (640x480 w/256 colors) all you needed was an EGA to VGA adaptor, which was DB9 to DB15. The first NEC Multisync monitor was that way.

There are comverters that plug into a VGA (DB15) port on a computer then convert to Composit so that you can use a TV as a monitor. Last I knew (sold them 4 years ago but not followed it since) they were around $100. Lots of old Video cards had Composit outs along with Monochrome, CGA or EGA. If you figure out what type of slot the computer uses for the video card (lets hope it's 8bit or 16bit ISA) maybe you can find a video card that has a composit out and the right buss connector.

One of my first computers (Laser Apple IIe clone) used composite out. A monitor we had had composit and EGA connectors on it so we used the composit port. Works good as a TV monitor hooked to a VCR. Has a busted power switch so we jurry rig it with a wood clothes pin, got to shove it in a slot just right to make it work. It's in storage right now incase my mom's TV ever dies, she'll hook it to the VCR.

So check with a computer shop that sells used equipment, Recycling centers, thriftstores and the like. I know there are a bunch of those shops in the Provo/Orem area of Utah and there should be plenty in any major City. I don't live there now or I'd go looking for you. We got nothing down here but sheep, cows, deer and Rednecks!