NextStation Color Custom VGA Y-Cable
Background:
Nextstation color systems use a 13W3 connector to connect both the
soundbox and color monitor. This cable is getting harder to find and
also requires an additional adapter to use modern VGA compatible
displays. Creating a custom cable negates the need for either.
Pinouts:
NeXT 19 Pin Connector (male)
1
10
__________________
\ o o o o o o o o o o /
\ o o o o o o o o o /
---------------------
11
19
1. +12V
2. -12V
3. MON CLK
4. MON DATA OUT
5. MON DATA IN
6. MON PWR SWITCH
7. ADB
8. VSYNC
9. HSYNC
10. VIDEO
11. +12V
12. -12V
13. GND
14. GND
15. GND
16. GND
17. GND
18. GND
19. GND
NeXT 13W3 Connector
Pin A1 - Red/Red Ground
Pin A2 - Green/Green Ground
Pin A3 - Blue/Blue Ground
Pin 1 - 12V
Pin 2 - PWR switch
Pin 3 - Mon clk
Pin 4 - mon data out
Pin 5 - mo data in
Pin 6 - -12V
Pin 7 - ADB
Pin 8 - GND
Pin 9 - GND
Pin 10 - VMODEINJ
VGA Connector
Connections:
Signal
|
13W3
|
DB-19
|
VGA DB-15
|
RED
|
A1
|
NC
|
Pin1
|
RED/GND
|
A1
|
NC
|
Pin6
|
BLUE
|
A3
|
NC
|
Pin3
|
BLUE/GND
|
A3
|
NC
|
Pin8
|
GREEN
|
A2
|
NC
|
Pin2
|
GREEN/GND
|
A2
|
NC
|
Pin7
|
12V
|
Pin1
|
Pin1
|
NC
|
-12V
|
Pin6
|
Pin2
|
NC
|
PWR SWITCH
|
Pin2
|
Pin6
|
NC
|
MON CLK
|
Pin3
|
Pin3
|
NC
|
MON DATA OUT
|
Pin4
|
Pin4
|
NC
|
MON DATA IN
|
Pin5
|
Pin5
|
NC
|
ADB
|
Pin7
|
Pin7
|
NC
|
GND1
|
Pin8
|
Pin 13, 16
|
NC
|
GND2
|
Pin9
|
Pin 14, 15
|
NC
|
VMODEINJ
|
Pin10
|
NC
|
NC
|
Discussion:
The 13W3 connector was used by many workstations contemporary to the
NeXT. The NeXT only shares the RGB connections in common with these
other systems. 13W3 connectors are quite expensive when purchased stand
alone. The easiest way to get one is to find a VGA to 13W3 adapter and
cut off the connector. The NeXT color systems use SOG (Sync on Green)
technology. This means that the frequency information is shared with
the Green signal. Your monitor will need to support this protocol. The
-12V signal is likely optional. I have left this unconnected with
seemingly no ill effect.