From: hugh@kink.PhaedraV.On.Ca (Hugh D. Gamble)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Problem booting with NEC ultisync. (cable problem?)
Date: Sat, 09 Jan 1993 00:37:26 EST
Keywords: NEC Multisync II Amiga Boot Problem
Summary: Amiga won't boot with v/h sync cable.
Distribution: world
Organization: Phaedra V

Regarding monitors that support all Amiga screen modes, there used to
be the NEC Multisync II and 3D that work like a champ from NTSC or PAL
up through to SVGA and Super72.

I used to use a NEC II with a Productivity Workbench under 2.0. When
it broke, I switched to a friend's NEC 3D which works just great with
a Super72 Workbench overscanned to 896x628.

Having just gotten around to getting my II fixed, I discover I have a
problem. The cable I used to use with the II to connect it to the 23
pin port of my A2500 uses Csync rather than separate H and V sync.
This worked alright for productivity mode, but I discovered it doesn't
let the NEC II sync to Super72 Superhirez interlaced. Switching to the
cable I've been using with the NEC III, that does use H and V sync, the
II manages Super72 mode just fine. But there's another problem.

I discovered that the Amiga will not boot when the II is attached via
the H and V sync cable, even if the monitor is turned off. The monitor
has to be disconnected before the Amiga will boot. Once the Amiga is
up I can reconnect the monitor and everything is fine. So the question
is, how do I make a cable that will let the II use Super72 mode and
let the Amiga boot?

The Cable that causes the booting problem only connects to the Amiga
side pins for R,G, and B, H and V sync, and ground pin 20. The shell
is also grounded. Removing either of the grounds makes no difference.
Is there another signal I need to add or hold high or low?

The cable that lets the Amiga boot, but doesn't let the NEC II sync to
Super72 has R,G,B, and Csync connected and grounds the cable shield to
pins 16 through 20.

This is a real problem because the Amiga is supposed to reboot
unattended if there's a power outage, so it can keep receiving and
sending mail and news.

If the problem is the monitor and not the cable, I guess I'll just
have to go out and get one of those Electrohome 20" monitors that were
on display at World of Commodore in Toronto. Not only do they handle
all Amiga screen modes, but they do a darn good job at automatically
adjusting the height, width and position of the image on the screen
when you change modes.  

The NEC II and 3D are just fine, but I find a 14" monitor is a tad
small to read topaz 8 in Super72 Superhirez Interlaced. Right now I'm
using topaz 9, which just gives me enough room for 80 column shell
windows that don't overlap the icons down the left side of my
workbench. I get 66 lines of text or code with topaz 9 in a full
height emacs window now vs. the 54 I used to get in Productivity mode
with topaz 8.

I'd like to move to at least a 17" monitor and go back to an 8 point
font for the extra character room. If not the Electrohome, maybe an
IDEK? I haven't seen good comments about IDEK and I don't know of a
local dealer. Is the monitor advertised in the magazines any good? How
well does it handle NTSC, SVGA and Super72?

Any help with my cabling/monitor problem would be appreciated. Please
send me email and I can post a summary if there's enough interest.

-- 
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