Hello, all.
I'm new to the Apple II retro scene (had a II+ in the 80s). I just got a IIe Platinum at VCF MW this weekend and have started the process of building up the system. I'm currently using a little 12" LCD with composite for the monitor, but the video sync is not great. I usually have to start the IIe, then turn the TV on and off a couple times to get it to "catch" the video and show up properly. The system works fine otherwise; it's just a little inconvenient to fiddle with it on a reboot.
I was successful with a workaround for now, too. I ran the video through an old VCR to the TV, and that seems to have stabilized the image and works through full power offs of the IIe.
What I'm curious about is if there's anything that can be tweaked on the IIe itself, or if I just need to get a better display that is more tolerant.
Thanks!
Apple II's play fast and loose with the NTSC "standard". Analog TVs and monitors were very sloppy and tolerant. You will probably find it easier to try a different display. I have a cheap 22" Emerson 720P TV that works surprisingly well as a monitor. Even on composite in (it has multiple inputs) it even generates a fairly crisp and readable display in 80 columns, which most vintage composite color monitors will not. I bought it several years ago, and it was under $150.
I've used a number of flat-panel color monitors with my two IIe and original II, Acer, HP, and HD color TVs with composite video inputs and never had any problem with video sync. B&W text, 40 or 80 column always look great, and even better if you use a Composite to HDMI or DVI converter.
I should mention that all my II's are HAL not PAL.
I tried a different flatpanel TV. The image was super sharp, but no color. What's getting dropped by that TV?
Thanks.
What the H is HAL?
H stands for "Hard" (HAL) vs. P for Programmable Array Logic. It was a poor joke, sorry.