I am unable to find any documentation or even discussion about this PAL colour card. At first I thought it was simply an Apple II series PAL encoder card but that's not the case.
The card itself has markings "Apple IIe Pal Colour Card" and "A2A005". Looking at the connector it appears to fit a regular slot and I wonder if this card can be used in slot 3. I also need to know about the connectors - one is a four 4 pin connector to a header and the other one is a thin black one which connects somewhere else.
I should point out that I use a Platinum //e (NTSC International IIe which outputs 50Hz) and only displays monochrome on a composite input to an LCD TV. It does of course produce colour with my Apple Colour Composite monitor. If this card can produce PAL colour for my NTSC IIe then I should be able to get colour output to my TV. Unless of course I'm barking up the wrong tree.
Any help appreciated.
Can you please provide a picture of the back as well? (Preferably the same resolution as the second picture.)
Also what are the markings on the Q1 and Q2 transistors?
One thing I can tell you from looking at the front side is that it uses the SYNC pin (pin 19), so it must be in slot 7 (the very last slot) in order to work. The blue cable probably plugs into the 4-pin connector in the upper right corner of the motherboard labeled MODULATOR, but I am not certain without seeing the back of the card.
The 4 pin connector is plugged into J13 near the composite video output. It's single wire goes to pin 2 of this header, picking off the composite video after it is amplified but prior to the 75Ω source termination. The clip wire goes onto the leg of some IC, probably something that it can use to change the video timing.
Or maybe it is used to force monochrome mode, similar to what SW1 does on the PAL version of the Apple IIe.
Most important part of this is "MUST BE IN SLOT 7" due to the signal that is only there. For a ][+ you really want an 80 column card in slot 3. This card only provides color (colour), not 80 columns.
You are correct about the 4 pin connector. The clip connector, that's the one I don't know where it goes, and I don't think the card will work properly without it connected correctly.
Thanks everyone for your help. When I get time I will upload a few more photos.
palcard.jpg
palcard2.jpg
I see. The brown cable with the clip is directly connected to slot pin 23 through a bowtie on the back side of the card. The reason for this can be found in 7-18 of "Understanding the Apple IIe". If your motherboard is Rev.B, you need to just join the X7 pad with some solder and not connect the clip to anything:
Slot7Pin23.png
If however you have Rev.A there is no X7 pad on the motherboard, so you need to connect the clip to GR+2, which is pin 21 of the Video ROM:
GR+2.png
Wow, the official PAL Card for the Platinum Apple IIe International NTSC which sold for A$135 in Australia (attached pricing). Never laid eyes on one before, thanks!
Apple IIe IIgs Price List Summer 1991-92 (Australia)
Apple Products and Prices Summer 1991-92 brochure (Australia)
I am curious to see if this card has good picture quality on PAL, or if it’s just as crappy as the built-in PAL of the european Apple IIe.
Yeah maybe they tweaked it, here's hoping. I assume the best available PAL composite output will be from the Apple II Video Overlay Card (PAL version), something you basically never see.
Hey John.
Did you get the board working? Any chance you might want to part with it for a week or two and recieve yours back with an extra clone for testing? :-)
Best to email me directly on the RM site. But I should get the email alart that you answered here.
Thanks!
HenryReActiveMicro.com
Hello all,
It;s been a while since I checked this thread and I apologise for the delay,
Henry, I have tested the PAL Colour Card on my Platinum //e (NTSC 50) and it works well. I have not used it recently as I moved to a VGA card.
I should point out that I live in Australia so if you really want to use the card I will have to organise international postage. I was actually thinking of putting it on eBay but I decided it's better that someone make a clone of the card as it's very rare.
Hello John.
If you don't need the card since you have VGA card now, perhaps you wouldn't mind parting with the card and I can just pay you for it and the shipping? We could also work out a deal for RM Store credit, if that works better for you.
Best to email me directly if you can. Thanks!
Henry