🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1997122010083045041@thebeast.demon.co.uk>,
steverogers@thebeast.demon.co.uk (Steve Rogers) wrote:

> I've got hold of an old Pivot 0276 which has lost both its proper cable
> and any software it needed.  (No, it's not stolen, it was just disposed
> of by a former owner in one of those typically dim corporate throwouts.)
> 
> What does it need?  I've got it plugged into my Mac through a Mac-PC
> monitor plug adaptor which gives only one working resolution - 832 x 634
> - but at several different settings - switches 1+5+6 on, 2+4+6 on,
> 2+5+6, 3+5+6, 1+2+5+6, 1+3+5+6, 2+3+5+6 and 2+4+5+6.

This is the later version I believe - designed to work directly with built
in video. The one we have at work is the earlier (original) version that
had its own card*.

You will NOT get the pivot functions using a PC-Mac converter since these
'hardcode' the three sense pins which the Mac uses to detect the monitor
type - you will have to make your own. The sense pin connections you need
(on the Mac video connector) are : Pin 4 not connected, Pin 7 grounded
(connect to pin 11), and pin 10 connected to the monitor position switch.

You will have to find the switch pin on the monitor using a multimeter.
This pin will be connected to ground when the monitor is in one position,
and not connected when the monitor is in the other - connect it to pin 10
on the Mac. I don't seem to have the connections to the PC-Mac adapter to
hand, but you can check them with your meter (the PC end is R,G,B on 1,2,3,
grounds for RGB on 6,7,8, Sync Gnd on 10, H&V Sync on 13,14)

As far as software goes, you will need the Radius Pivot software and the
Soft-Pivot extension. Try <http://www.radius.com> or
<ftp://ftp.radius.com>. Last time I needed an update I was able to download
the entire package - well the software is dongle protected** ;-)

* After some investigation I found that all I needed to do was make an
adapter to move the position signal to a different pin and it works almost
perfectly on supported built in video systems.

** Well the software isn't much use if you don't have a pivot monitor !

Simon Hobson <simon@nospam.ccomms.demon.co.uk> wrote:

[Sage advice snipped]

Good stuff.  The SoftPivot software says it won't work with my 6200,
however.  Drat!  I'll have to try it out on my son's LCIII instead.
Just one more question - what's the right method to make the required
connections tidily, after I've worked out which to make?  I've got
soldering equipment & bits of wire...

Or is there any chance of getting the right cable from somewhere,
ready-made?

-- 
Steve Rogers http://www.thebeast.demon.co.uk
     mailto:steverogers@thebeast.demon.co.uk
Mail must use the above address to reach me.

In article <19971221183325212980@thebeast.demon.co.uk>,
steverogers@thebeast.demon.co.uk (Steve Rogers) wrote:

> Simon Hobson <simon@nospam.ccomms.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> [Sage advice snipped]
> 
> Good stuff.  The SoftPivot software says it won't work with my 6200,
> however.  Drat!  I'll have to try it out on my son's LCIII instead.
> Just one more question - what's the right method to make the required
> connections tidily, after I've worked out which to make?  I've got
> soldering equipment & bits of wire...
 
When I did it I just happened to have a 15pin gender changer lying around
(bought in error) and swapped one of the connectors so that I had a 15pin
plug-socket adapter and simply swapped a few wires around. We already had
the right cable for the monitor (to the Radius I/F card) and this was all I
needed.

IF a 'standard' VGA cable connects the right pin for the position switch,
then you could use the technique I use for VGA-Mac adapters : Ingredients 1
15pin HD socket, one 15pin plug, 6 to 9 inches of 9 core screened cable.
Fit the plug and socket to either end of the cable so that the connections
are correct and jumper the monitor sense pins on the Mac end. In your case
you will need an extra wire for the position switch, 12 core is the next
size up.

Alternatively you can make the entire cable : ingredients 1 15pin HD plug ?
(for the monitor end), one 15pin plug for the Mac end, and 2m VGA monitor
cable (adjust length to preference). Wire as above. This cable can be
difficult to find - the last time I needed any I was making a number of
cables and bought a longish VGA cable from Lindy (01642 754000,
http://www.lindy.com) and chopped it up to the lengths I needed - their
'Premium' VGA cables are coax/screened, the standard ones are not and I
would keep well clear of them ! The cable itself is maked AWM 2919 which
specifies the arrangement of cores etc*. Going down this route you would
have to chop off both ends (the're moulded on) and rewire both - and this
triple coax plus 4cores cable is mighty fiddly to work with in the confines
of a D connector shell !

> Or is there any chance of getting the right cable from somewhere,
> ready-made?

Of course, visit any Radius dealer with a few portraits of the Queen and
they should be able to get one for you.

TTFN, Simon


* In this cable, three coaxes (Red, Green, & Blue signals) plus four single
cores and an overall screen. The four cores are sufficient in this case for
H & V sync plus ground plus your monitor position signal.