Indivision ECS and Picasso II

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Got my Picasso II yesterday.  Still learning everything about it.    Right now I've got it hooked up to a 19" LCD monitor displaying all the PII screenmodes, and output of my Indivision ECS hooked into an identical monitor, displaying all the normal Amiga screenmodes.

Trying to figure out the monitor passthrough of the PII.  As soon as I run a standard HD15 VGA cable between the output of my Indivision and the input of the PII, the screen displaying output from the PII goes black.  Even if it's got a PII screenmode open and displaying correctly, just the act of plugging the Indivision output into the PII input blanks it.

I know from reading the instructions that the PII should support scandoubled input.  Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?  Maybe my cable is too long?

About to go out and buy this one unless anyone has any better suggestions:

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-82-191-085
 
Thanks!  

[Tenacious]

Got my Picasso II yesterday.  Still learning everything about it.    Right now I've got it hooked up to a 19" LCD monitor displaying all the PII screenmodes, and output of my Indivision ECS hooked into an identical monitor, displaying all the normal Amiga screenmodes.

Trying to figure out the monitor passthrough of the PII.  As soon as I run a standard HD15 VGA cable between the output of my Indivision and the input of the PII, the screen displaying output from the PII goes black.  Even if it's got a PII screenmode open and displaying correctly, just the act of plugging the Indivision output into the PII input blanks it.

I know from reading the instructions that the PII should support scandoubled input.  Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?  Maybe my cable is too long?

About to go out and buy this one unless anyone has any better suggestions:

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-82-191-085
 
Thanks!  

  Yes, I would have thought that would work, too.  My A3000 has a built-in FF/SD and passes straight thru.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Thanks, yeah, that's what it seems like it should do.  The PII seems to have no problem switching between displays using the two monitors, I can hear the relay clicking at the appropriate times and whatnot, don't understand why the display completely goes black when I plug anything into the pass through.

Is the cable you're using a standard HD15 VGA cable? How long is it? All of mine are the standard 5-6', hence why I'm thinking to order a shorter one.

I also tried changing the Indivision between 1.00 mode (60hz) and 1.25 mode (75hz output) with no difference.  It's running the updated 1.10 firmware and otherwise "just works"(tm).

Am wondering what would happen if I hooked the VGA output from a laptop or PC into the input of the PII? Theoretically that should just "pass through" as well, right?  (if I switched the Miggy to a non-P96 screenmode first, of course).

Bah, always something!

[matt3k]

Hi Mike,

That should work.  I have a picasso II that has bad relay/switch.  It makes a clicking noise but it doesn't hold the signal.

There were jumpers for segment/non segmented setup.  I don't remember what the details were here, but you may want to make sure of the jumpers.

I hope it isn't bad like mine, mine won't display anything.  Did the prior owner test it before selling it to you?

As a last resort you could run 2 screens, which is kinda cool, for your 2000.  I did with my 2000 and Retina.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I have a picasso II that has bad relay/switch. It makes a clicking noise but it doesn't hold the signal.

Oh. That doesn't sound good at all. Jumpers are already off.  I'll order myself a shorter cable, cross my fingers, then get in touch with the seller. *sigh* Dual monitors is cool, it's what we use on all our PC's at the office (or three monitors, or four), but it's not what I'm intending for my Miggy. Thanks! Maybe I can track down a good external switch...

[Tenacious]

Is the cable you're using a standard HD15 VGA cable? How long is it? All of mine are the standard 5-6', hence why I'm thinking to order a shorter one.

 

My cable is long like yours.  I don't currently have this system running.  But it did work fine, video-wise.

Am wondering what would happen if I hooked the VGA output from a laptop or PC into the input of the PII? Theoretically that should just "pass through" as well, right?  (if I switched the Miggy to a non-P96 screenmode first, of course).

Will you be running the laptop from its battery?  In other words, will its ground reference be floating (perhaps safer with no loops or currents) when you try this?  

To be on the safe side, I think I would try to resolve this with an old style CRT first.  The PII and software came out before LCDs were common.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Amusingly enough I don't have any old-style CRT's, just racks and stacks of LCD monitors, LOL. There are worse problems one could have, right?
 
Well, I do still have a couple 1084's that I keep tripping over. They've been listed on Amibay for months. Anyone want one?
 
I'm using the latest Picasso96 software, released May 2011, so age of software shouldn't be an issue. Leaning more toward mine maybe having the same problem as Matt's. Want to sell your PII, by any chance?  :laugh1:

[Tenacious]

Nice pic.  I do like your matching dual monitors!  

I'm off to sleep.

[Tenacious]

I'm using the latest Picasso96 software, released May 2011, so age of software shouldn't be an issue. Leaning more toward mine maybe having the same problem as Matt's. Want to sell your PII, by any chance?  :laugh1:

Judging by the clicking sound that mine makes, they are probably simple mechanical relays, right?  Was Matt suggesting the relay itself is bad?  If true, couldn't you test that by jumpering the contacts?  A relay should be easy to replace.

Thanks for the offer, I have hopes of resurrecting this machine.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I would assume so. The challenge will be to find schematics and replacement parts.  Here's a thread with someone else apparently looking for the same thing:

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=66843

Will poke around at it a bit more, or else just try to pick up a different card. What the heck, I'm just crazy enough that I want to get this working right, and still have some holiday bonus $$ sitting around that I dedicated to spending on Amiga parts, LOL.

[Tenacious]

Trying to figure out the monitor passthrough of the PII.  As soon as I run a standard HD15 VGA cable between the output of my Indivision and the input of the PII, the screen displaying output from the PII goes black.  Even if it's got a PII screenmode open and displaying correctly, just the act of plugging the Indivision output into the PII input blanks it.

Hi Mike

I just had a thought, it's probably a long shot.

I recently found out that there are 2 kinds 15-pin VGA cables.  Those with blue connector shells have an extra signal from the monitor back to the graphics card so the monitor can identify itself to the card (so I've heard).  Those VGA cables with any other color shell do not pass this signal.  Are you running blue-shelled cables in this system?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Hi!  It was worth a shot checking.  I've got a tub full of cables and tried with both blue and black ones.  The blue ones have all 15 pins, the black ones are missing one pin on the second row.  I haven't gone so far as to do a continuity check to see if the pins are wired straight through, but wasn't having any luck with either of the types... and I tried quite a few.  That's why I was wondering if there's some special wiring the PII needs, but as far as I've been able to determine that is not the case?

[Matt_H]

Er, dumb question maybe, but are you sure the cables are connected to the right ports on the PII? Software settings for passthrough correct? Hardware connection being made with power turned off?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Er, dumb question maybe, but are you sure the cables are connected to the right ports on the PII? Software settings for passthrough correct? Hardware connection being made with power turned off?

Yup, tried all that.  I'm using the latest Picasso96 2.1c and have "Display Chain" enabled through PVS and the tooltypes (that's the only setting I could find that seems to be related to switching).  Even the Early Startup screen doesn't display when hooked into the pass-through (monitor flickers for a second and says something about "cannot display this analog mode"), so I don't think it's software-related.

I normally make my connections with the hardware off, but I've noticed the following scenerio:

- Output of Indivision hooked into input on Picasso
- Output of Picasso hooked into LCD monitor
--- System boots but screen remains black, even though once booted into Workbench it should be displaying a PII mode
- If I pull the cable going between the Indivision output to the PII input, then (and only then) will the PII display the Workbench

Seems like I'm getting no love from this card if anything is plugged into it's input.  Blargh.  

[AmigaPixel]

I had friend with a Picasso II in his A3000 but I never got good close look at it. I think he switched to a Retina card if memory serves. I would like to see how this comes out for you.