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From: neil@amiga.UUCP (Neil Katin)
Newsgroups: net.micro.amiga
Subject: Re: Monitor stuff...
Message-ID: <247@amiga.amiga.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 14-Nov-85 11:25:16 EST
Article-I.D.: amiga.247
Posted: Thu Nov 14 11:25:16 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 16-Nov-85 08:47:16 EST
References: <407@caip.RUTGERS.EDU> <830@masscomp.UUCP>
Reply-To: neil@rocky.UUCP (Neil Katin)
Organization: Commodore-Amiga Inc., 983 University Ave #D, Los Gatos CA 95030
Lines: 45
Keywords: video, DB23, DB25, rgb

In article <830@masscomp.UUCP> garyo@masscomp.UUCP (Gary Oberbrunner) writes:

>I'm using an old Aydin Controls rgb monitor on my Amiga, and I had a similar
>problem when I tried to hook it up.  There are NO DB23 connnectors on the
>market.  According to the guy at You-Do-It Electronics, Commodore may pull the
>stunt that IBM used when they introduced their monitor, which was to get an
>exclusive license from AMP (#1 big connector company) so that only IBM could
>buy those connectors, and thus you could only get 'em from Big Blue.
>
>Hopefully Commodore won't do this.

Gary goes on and says he did a field upgrade with a hacksaw to make db23's
out of db25's.

The amiga uses four D connectors on the back of the machine:  2 db25's,
and 2 db23's (one each male and female).  We did this on purpose --
at one point it was all db25's.

The machine is intended for consumers.  We wanted to minimize the number
of ways you could connect the machine incorrectly.  Most consumers
NEVER make connectors -- they buy them from the dealer.  Even on the
C-64 (which only has two connections, one of which was the power cord)
there was a significant problem with users plugging in the machine
correctly.  YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TOO EASY TO SET UP A MACHINE.

Now for the hackers out there:  Yes, db23's are hard to get.  We have
no exclusive contract for them.  We hope that they will be available
in your local Radio Shack (ask for them and they might stock them).

The connectors are distributed in the US by TRW-Cinch.  I don't have
a part number, but give them a call to find a local distributor.

When we were making prototypes we also used a saw to change db25's to
db23's.  I found that a small power jig saw worked the best.


A final note from Gary's original message:

>Oh - don't forget that when you hack off the end of the DB25, the pin numbering
>changes on the bottom (hi-numbered) half.  I forgot this and grounded the
>Video Clock Out from the Amiga.  The monitor blitzed out, but no damage was
>done.  I fixed the connector and I was back in business.  Good job Amiga!

    Neil Katin
    Commodore-Amiga Inc.