Documentation for DB15 to VGA adapters

[Branchus]

I'm regularly asked which adaptor to use when connecting a vintage Mac to a modern monitor using a DB15 to VGA adapter.

There are so many different types of adapter around: some with 10 DIP switches, some with 8, some with 16 and some with none. Some sync on green, some do not. I would love people to come forward with the adaptors they own, include a picture of the adaptor and the DIP switch instructions, so that we can build a resource of all the adapters out there, and the associated documentation.

I have a few, but I'll start with one that seems to readily available at the time of writing this.

I will post details on some of my others soon. If anyone has better pics of this one, feel free to submit them.

 

[pfuentes69]

I got this one recently:

If you have the doc for that one would be cool, as it seems to support many other modes than the ones in the sticker.
Txs!

 

[max1zzz]

I will post details on some of my others soon. If anyone has better pics of this one, feel free to submit them.

I have always used this site for my 10 switch adapters: http://myoldmac.net/FAQ/RGB-VGA-DIP-switchconfiguration.htm
Looks to be the same table, just much easier to read

 

[Branchus]

I have always used this site for my 10 switch adapters: http://myoldmac.net/FAQ/RGB-VGA-DIP-switchconfiguration.htm
Looks to be the same table, just much easier to read

Excellent. I might make a PDF of this. I'd hate for someone to click on the link at some time in the future and... 404!

 

[Branchus]

I got this one recently:
View attachment 770

If you have the doc for that one would be cool, as it seems to support many other modes than the ones in the sticker.
Txs!

Are some of those switches broken off, or are they just in the "on" position? I'm pretty sure I have complete documentation for this one, I'll post it as soon as I find it...

 

[pfuentes69]

Are some of those switches broken off, or are they just in the "on" position? I'm pretty sure I have complete documentation for this one, I'll post it as soon as I find it...

All seems OK, and the adapter is working at 832x624.
I think the previous owner painted with a permanent marker the switches that had to be set “on” for his config.

 

[Nitram78]

I got this one recently:
View attachment 770

If you have the doc for that one would be cool, as it seems to support many other modes than the ones in the sticker.
Txs!

Hi, looks like the UniMac adapter. I have a couple of these as well.
I only found a low-res scan of the manual here: https://ronsnet.tripod.com/adap82d1.htm

 

[Branchus]

Here's another.

 

[alxlab]

Yeah actually working on replicating the MacView / UNIMAC 82D that @Drake showed me:

 

[Branchus]

And another. This is for the ones with 16 DIP switches.

 

[Drake]

Yeah actually working on replicating the MacView / UNIMAC 82D that @Drake showed me:

View attachment 800View attachment 801View attachment 802View attachment 803

What are all these little resolutions with teeny tiny numbers?! get outta here 640x480! This is an 1152x870 high-res party.
- me, who stares at 512x all day.

 

[Elemenoh]

I have a 10-pin adapter, but the instructions it came with include settings for 6-pin as well. The only thing I couldn't get working was my NeXT 21" color display. It wouldn't sync to a Mac with any of these settings. Anyone know if it's possible to get that display working with any model of Mac?

 

[pfuentes69]

As this is of general interest for many models and not only Macintosh II, I suggest this post is moved to
Vintage Apple > Add-ons, Peripherals & Networking > Graphic Cards & Audio / Visual

 

[Branchus]

As this is of general interest for many models and not only Macintosh II, I suggest this post is moved to
Vintage Apple > Add-ons, Peripherals & Networking > Graphic Cards & Audio / Visual

That makes sense, and has been done.

 

[Branchus]

Another one.

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

I have had the best luck with the NEC MultiSync adapters that used to ship with NEC monitors in the 90s. Ones like this one. No jumpers required.

 

[fehervaria]

I got this one recently:
View attachment 770

If you have the doc for that one would be cool, as it seems to support many other modes than the ones in the sticker.
Txs!

Here is it. Enjoy!

 

[alxlab]

Here's the schematics I made for the Sony MacView:

Stay tuned for the kicad pcd in the The Lab -> Hardware section hopefully soon-ish. Maybe I'll make two designs. One faithful to the original design which uses edge connectors and wire and another which uses through hole connectors. It will be CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 as always.

I'm not 100% sure if this is the same as the UNIMAC 82D. Would have to sit down and start comparing the manuals to see if they match which I don't feel like doing right now

Edit: The Unimac 82D is the same.

Edit: Fixed the line label for the composite sink. CS should have been HS-CS.

 

[alxlab]

Ok yeah. Curiosity got the better of me and I compared the sheets and schematics and they seem to match. If you combine the two manual together you get a super set of settings. The Unimac 82D seems to mention the jumper settings for portrait monitors, 2 page mono and 512 x 384 and multi res which the Sony MacView lacks. On the other hand the Sony MacView manual will actually specify the Mac models for different settings so both are nice,

 

[The House of Moth]

Here's a 10-pin ADB to VGA adapter, not branded. Used it with pins 1, 4 and 5 on to connect various IIx's to a 15" VGA display but haven't used it for anything else. (I removed the thumbscrews from the adapter as they kept getting in the way, typically these are present)