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Can I use as external monitor with the 35670A Dynamic Signal Analyzer?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Summary

Can I use as external monitor with the 35670A Dynamic Signal Analyzer?

Question

Can I use as external monitor with the 35670A Dynamic Signal Analyzer?

Answer

Yes, external VGA monitors can be used with the newer 35670A analyzers. For older 35670A analyzers, please read on:

Evidently the terms "multi-sync" and "multi-scan" are somewhat interchangeable. Monitors of this type can detect and lock to the input horizontal and vertical scanning frequencies. The input connection is typically a Red-Green-Blue trio with the sync signal on green or on a separate connection. It is also common to use a 9-pin "RS-232" style of connection or a 15-pin "VGA" mapped connector.

Key to making the monitor work with the 35670A is to have a monitor that can detect and lock to the Horizontal and Vertical scan rates. The 35670A has a vertical rate of 55 Hz and a horizontal rate of 24.8 KHz. The vertical rate is low compared to most "PC" monitors. It is compatible with many monitors in the broadcast and video industry. As more video applications become PC based there will be more monitors that can be used.


The following topics summarize the requirements for an external monitor to work with the 35670A:

  1. EXTERNAL MONITOR TECHNICAL DETAILS
  2. EXTERNAL MONITOR CONNECTION CABLE "EGA to VGA" CONVERSION
  3. DRIVING SONY CPD 1302 MULTI-SYNC MONITORS
  4. DRIVING SONY / BARCO PROJECTION TELEVISIONS
  5. TESTED MONITORS
  6. AMAZING Alternative to Use PC Monitors
 

1) EXTERNAL MONITOR TECHNICAL DETAILS:

These requirements apply to multi-sync monitors. Only multi-sync monitors will work with the HP 35670A external monitor port. The external monitor port must be turned ON. Select [Display Format], <MORE>, <MORE>, <EXT MONITOR -ON>. Signals are present even if the external monitor port is turned OFF.

Requirements for the monitor are as follows:

* at least 560 horizontal by 400 vertical pixels
* capable of synchronizing to a 24.8 kHz HSYNC signal or 55 Hz VSYNC signal

The pin out is as follows:

1 GRND
2 GRND
3 RED
4 GREEN
5 BLUE
6 GRND
7 Not Used
8 HSYNC
9 VSYNC

Some additional technical details on the monitor signals.

1. Number of horizontal lines: 500
2. Number of vertical lines: 400
3. Frequency for pixel clock: 24.8 kHz horiz or 55 Hz vert 
4. Polarity of horizontal sync: Positive
5. Polarity of vertical sync: Positive
6. Separate composite sync (RED, BLUE or GREEN): NO .. Only horiz or vert
7. Pulse width of horizontal sync: 4 usec
8. Pulse width of vertical sync: 316 usec
9. Trigger Edge of horizontal sync: Leading 
10. Trigger Edge of vertical sync: Leading
11. Total Number of horizontal lines front to back porch: See diagram below 
12. Total Number of vertical lines front to back porch: See diagram below 
13. Number of lines front porch horizontal: See diagram below 
14. Number of lines back porch horizontal: See diagram below 
15. Number of lines front porch vertical: See diagram below 
16. Number of lines back porch vertical: See diagram below

Signal timing diagram for external monitor output on 35670A:

NOTE: All signals are TTL

35670A Timing Diagram


2) EXTERNAL MONITOR CONNECTION CABLE "EGA to VGA" CONVERSION:

(THIS IS NEEDED FOR CONNECTION TO NEC 3D Multi-Sync) Following is a wiring diagram for connecting the HP 35670A external monitor to a 15-pin "VGA" style interface. The 15-pin interface map comes from a computer standard for such items.

HP 35670A VGA Pin

1 GRND 10 GRND + optionally 6,7,8 (R, G, B GRND) 
2 GRND 10 GRND + optionally 6,7,8 (R, G, B GRND) 
3 RED 1 RED
4 GREEN 2 GREEN
5 BLUE 3 BLUE
6 GRND 10 GRND + optionally 6,7,8 (R, G, B GRND) 
7 Not Used
8 HSYNC 13 HSYNC
9 VSYNC 14 VSYNC

Unused VGA connections are:

4 MONITOR ID BIT 2
5 Not Used
6 RED GRND (optional)
7 GREEN GRND (optional)
8 BLUE GRND (optional)
9 KEY, No Pin
11 MONITOR ID BIT 0
12 MONITOR ID BIT 1
15 Not Used

The VGA Pin out calls for a separate ground for R, G, B and Sync. The 35670A does not use that convention, instead defining only one ground. It is probably not necessary to common all the grounds together. This is a matter of choice at the time of cable fabrication.

A cable built to the above specifications can be plugged directly into the NEC 3D Multi-Sync monitor. The 9 pin "35670 end" of the cable needs to be male. The 15-pin "VGA" end needs to be female. The NEC 3D Multi-Sync monitor comes with a 9 to 15-pin connection adapter.

The adapter does not match the wiring of the 35670A and will not work.
 

3) DRIVING SONY CPD 1302 MULTI-SYNC MONITORS:

We have successfully connected a 35670A to the COVID EZ Pix Video Interface and then driven a SONY CPD 1302 Multi-Sync monitor. The COVID EZ Pix provides a RGB output signal. The signals were connected to the SONY CPD 1302 as follows:

CPD 1302

1 GRND
2 Not Used
3 RED
4 GREEN
5 BLUE
6-9 Not Used


4) DRIVING SONY / BARCO PROJECTION TELEVISIONS:

These are devices, which require an R-G-B and SYNC signal to drive correctly. 
The 35670A can be connected to such machines using the COVID EZ Video Interface.
COVID can be reached at:

1725 West 17th Street
Tempe, Arizona 85281
602-966-2221 or 800-638-6104

 

5) TESTED MONITORS:

The only monitors we have tested with the HP 35670A are:

NEC 3D 
Sony CPD-1302
Sony GVM 2020

Sony claims the following monitors will also work:

US 
GVM 1311 13 inch $1515.00
GVM 2020 20 inch $1870.00

EUROPE 
GVM 1411 14 inch $N/A
GVM 2110 21 inch $N/A


The difference between the US and European versions is the way the monitor size is measured (US, from corner to corner of viewing area; Europe, from corner to corner of TUBE) and the input line power frequency.


6) AMAZING Alternative to Use PC Monitors

Most of the PC monitors available do not work with the HP 35670A because of low sync rates on the analyzer. The HP 35670A External Monitor port can be turned on or off via the front panel soft keys. Turning the port off attenuates the output amplitude and compresses the time cycle of the output signal.

The time compression effectively increases the scan rate on the external port to where many external monitors can lock to it. The amplitude needs to be boosted using an external video amplifier.

Using an external amplifier with the HP 35670A External Monitor port "off" we have been able to use a large variety of displays. There is some overscan and a small amount of flicker, but we have yet to find a monitor that did not work using this technique. This technique requires you to adjust the 
contrast, brightness and image position on the monitor. Once adjusted the monitor works well with the HP 35670A but will need to be readjusted to work again with the PC.

The customer needs to build a 9-pin male to 15 pin female cable. This can be easily manufactured using a 9 pin RS-232 male connector and a VGA extension cable. These are available at most any computer or Radio Shack store. Tools required are: volt/ohmmeter, soldering iron, wire strippers and wire insulating tubing (shrink-fit.) Simply cut off the male end of the VGA extension cable and replace it with the 9 pin RS-232 male. Wire it using the directions given in section 2 above.

The video amplifier* we recommend is the: Extron P/2 DA2 PLUS.
It is available for both 110 and 220-volt operation. 
The unit is a box about the size of a walkabout cassette player, with an external, wall mounted AC adapter power supply.

 

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