The PROWLER Hardware section


 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
//// CatBox Manual
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

[Ed: The following is copyright 1994, Black Cat Designs.)

CatBox Preliminary Manual  - December 13, 1994

CatBox is a low cost, high value peripheral designed to plug into the
Jaguar AV/DSP connectors on the rear of the console and provide
standard ports for connectability.

CatBox consists of two printed circuit boards (PCBs) mounted inside a
stylish case.  The larger lower main board is called the I/O PCB.  The
upper board is called the AVC PCB and holds the logic, amplifier,
signal conditioning, and patchwork in order to make everything work.
The AVC PCB also has space for future expansion and custom designs.
CatBox power is provided by the Jaguar game console.  There are two
LEDs on CatBox which illuminate to show power and flicker to show
communications activity.

//// Cleaning the CatBox

If you need help with this, call a cat lover.  We like dogs.

//// Opening the CatBox

There may be a need to see what is really inside the CatBox.  Most
developer types wouldn't have read this far so this is really intended
for the novice and it will not void your warranty.

Remove the volume knob by gently prying it off with a screwdriver or
knob extractor.

There are two screws that hold the CatBox metal case together and two
more that hold the circuit boards in place.  Remove the two philips
screws on the case bottom and slide off the top.  Remove the two inner
screws that hold the boards in place.

Lift the board assembly out of the case bottom and pull the two
boards apart with your fingers.

The top AVC board which looks like it is mounted upside down has all
the electronics on it that make CatBox work.  The bottom I/O board has
most of the connectors on it and the LEDs.  The user moveable jumper
plugs are all on the AVC board.

Wow!

Besides looking extremely cool, CatBox provides three main functions
for Jaguar owners.  These are Audio, Video, and Communications (AVC).
Each has three sections for a total of nine features!

AUDIO SECTION

Audio signals are distributed on CatBox in three different places.
These are the RCA type line level audio output jacks for left, right,
or mono output, the mono line level RGB monitor output, and the
amplified stereo headphone jacks.

//// Line level audio.

The I/O PCB has two RCA phono jacks that pass high quality line level
audio signals (600 ohm) from the Jaguar to other audio devices such
as audio pre-amplifiers.  The red colored jack passes right audio
while the white colored jack passes either left or mono audio.  The
left/mono switching logic works in the following manner.  When an RCA
cable is plugged into the right audio jack, the white jack passes the
left audio signal.  When there is no plug inserted into the right
audio jack, the white jack passes the sum of left and right audio
which is called mono.  Use standard RCA stereo audio cables.

//// RGB monitor audio.

Pin 9 of the Analog RGB connector also carries the mono audio signal.
 
This signal is used for Atari SC1224 or SC1435 monitors or any other
monitor that has an audio amplifier and passes mono audio through its
monitor signal cable.  Since most users will prefer to use stereo
audio, this mono signal is automatically disconnected when an RCA
cable is plugged into the right/mono (red) audio jack or when
headphones are installed.  This function can also be disabled by
removing jumper J1 (RGB Audio).  For more information, see Analog RGB
in the Video Section.

//// Headphones.

CatBox includes dual stereo headphone jacks on the AVC PCB.  These
support the common 3.5mm (1/8 inch) size headphones as used with most
portable stereo equipment.  Low noise amplification is provided to
match the 32 or 16 ohm loads common with headphones.  We have found
that headphones with a sensitivity rating of about 100 dB SPL/1mW work
very well with the CatBox.  Headphones with lower sensitivity numbers
usually have lower quality sound and lower volume.

The headphone jacks take top audio priority and will disconnect all
other audio output signals when a 3.5mm plug is inserted.  There is a
volume control knob on the rear of the CatBox.  Take care when
adjusting this level as higher volume levels for extended periods of
time may cause permanent hearing damage.  Optional headphone extension
cables are also available for your convenience.


VIDEO SECTION

The three video outputs from CatBox are Composite Video, S-Video, and
Analog RGB.  These three and the Jaguar RF output may all be used at
the same time or in any combination to connect multiple displays.
Analog RGB has the best quality display while Jaguar RF has the lowest
quality.  Composite is much better than RF and S-Video is better than
Composite.  The output you will use depends on the capabilities of
your television or monitor.

//// Composite Video

The yellow RCA jack provides composite video out.  This signal is
commonly available on VCRs and may be used for recording purposes.
Since composite video has no provisions for audio, be sure to use one
of the CatBox audio sources as well.

//// S-Video

S-Video used to be called S-VHS but was often confused with the
totally different S-VHS high definition video tape standard.  S-Video
has also been called Composite Chroma and Composite Luminance and was
used in the early 1980s on the Atari 800 XL and the C-64 computers.
Today the standard S-Video connector is the 4 pin round mini DIN as
found on many high end VCRs, TVs, video cameras, and CatBox.  S-Video
cables are commonly available at Audio/Video stores.  S-Video provides
an extremely sharp picture that is surpassed only by a good analog RGB
monitor.

//// Analog RGB

This connector is a female (holes instead of pins) DB9 located
between the composite video and S-Video connectors.  Don't confuse
this with the other DB9 on the CatBox I/O PCB which is male (pins) and
provides RS232.  The Jaguar supports Analog RGB monitors with a
Horizontal Sync rate of 15.75 KHz.  These monitors were very popular
around 1985 but are not all that common anymore since VGA which has an
H-Sync of 31.5 KHz became the new standard.  Look in the older used
market for some great bargains.  An H-Sync rate of 15.75 KHz was found
more commonly on monitors made between 1984 and 1990.  The Atari ST
color monitors and the Amiga color monitors both required this slower
H-Sync rate.

Since there is no one standard for RGB connections, custom RGB cable
adapters are available to adapt most monitor cables.  These include
Atari SCxxxx, Amiga, DB9, and DB15.  If you would like to make your
own cable adapter, the pin connections follow.

DB9S    

1  Red
2  Green
3  Blue
4  Horizontal Sync
5  Vertical Sync/Composite Sync
6  Ground
7  Ground
8  Ground
9  Mono Audio/NC
 
Note that jumper J7 (VS CS) on the AVC PCB allows you to select
Vertical Sync (VS) or Composite Sync (CS) which is a combined sync
signal not to be confused with Composite Video.  The CatBox default
is set for VS.  If the vertical screen keeps rolling after adjusting
vertical hold, try moving this jumper to the CS position.

The mono audio signal which feeds to the Analog RGB connector may also
be disabled by removing the audio jumper J1 on the AVC PCB.  Although
there is built in protection so that leaving this jumper enabled will
not cause any problems, it is a good idea to disconnect J1 if you do
not plan to use the Atari13 monitor adapter.

The following is a list of compatible Analog RGB monitors that have
been tested and the adapter requirements.

15.75KHz Horizontal Sync monitors that have been tested and their
general requirements.

Monitor/Model               Adapter     J7 Position     J1 Position

Atari SC1224  JVC           Atari13     VS or CS        ON
Atari SC1224  Goldstar      Atari13     VS Only         ON
Atari SC1224  Samsung       Atari13     VS or CS        ON
Atari SC1435  Magnavox      Atari13     VS or CS        ON
Commodore 1084D  Magnavox   Amiga23     CS Only         OFF
Commodore 1084S  Magnavox   Amiga23     CS Only         OFF
Commodore 1950              Amiga23                     OFF
Magnavox Professional RGB 80                            OFF
NEC Multisync Color Monitor None        VS Only         OFF
NEC 3D                      HD15S       VS Only         OFF
Sony 1302                                               OFF
Princeton Graphics Ultra 14 None        VS Only         OFF


Please write or send a fax if you have any questions about other
monitors or would like a custom adapter made.  Please also send us
your positive experiences with other RGB monitors that we have not
listed so we can let others know.  Please do not ask us to support VGA
and SVGA monitors that can't sync down to 15.75KHz.  The required scan
doubling adapter would cost more than the Jaguar even if manufactured
in high volumes.

There are exceptions to the above rules.  For example if an Atari ST
monitor cable for a Commodore 1084 monitor then naturally you should
use the Atari13 adapter instead of the Amiga23.

//// Atari SC1224 & SC1435 History

The following information is an attempt to clear up the confusion in
identifying the three different SC3224 monitors made for the Atari
ST.  These are all 12 inch color monitors and were later replaced by
the SC1435 14 inch color stereo monitor which was made by
Philips/Magnavox.

The oldest was made by JVC and is identified by the 'Made in Japan'
label on the back.  These were mostly made in 1985.  The FCC ID
number is EBA90YSC1224.  The signal cable and power cables both unplug
from the rear of the monitor.  The case top has ventilation slots.
The JVC has a two-tone color scheme with a dark gray bezel (around the
tube face) and a light gray casing.  The push On/Off power switch is
on the front bottom next to volume and contrast knobs.  The JVC
monitor is the best of the SC1224s.

Next came the Goldstar monitor which was 'Made in Korea'in 1986.  The
FCC ID is EBA9QKSC1224.  The signal cable does not unplug from the
rear.  The case top is solid and the entire case is light gray in
color.  There are three knobs all on the right side of the case.
These are On/Off/Volume, contrast, and brightness.

The last SC1224 was also 'Made in Korea' in 1987 by Samsung.  The FCC
ID is A3L9QNSC1225.  Perhaps they had intended to call this the SC1225
when it was registered.  Both the signal and the power cables are
fixed in the case and cannot be unplugged.  Like the JVC monitor, the
Samsung is back to the two-tone color scheme with a dark gray bezel
and light gray casing.  The push On/Off power switch is on the front
bottom next to volume, brightness, and contrast knobs.  This is the
least desirable and ugliest of the SC1224 monitors but it does work.

In 1990 the SC1435 was “Made in Taiwan” for Atari by Philips/Magnavox.
This is a 14 inch stereo monitor.  Both cables unplug in the rear.
The color is all light gray and a nice swivel stand is available.  The
push On/Off switch is on the rear.  This is the best color monitor
made by Atari for the ST  and also works quite well with the CatBox.


COMMUNICATIONS SECTION

Two new communications methods are available on CatBox along with a
DSP pass through.  These are called CatNet and RS232.  Communications
allow you to connect two or more Jaguars together for multi-player
games either directly or with modems.  Each method is exclusive
depending on the toggle switch position on the rear.  The three
position communications toggle switch next to the RJ11 jacks,  points
to the port which is enabled.

    UP = CatNet.  Center = DSP Pass though.  Down = RS232. 

The dual purpose power LEDs (lights) also show communications
activity.  The left LED blinks off when the Jaguar transmits data.
The right LED blinks off when the Jaguar receives data.  The activity
should be visible to the human eye up to about 57.6K baud.  Yow will
need bionic eyes to see the activity on higher baud rates.

Naturally since the Jaguar is a cartridge based system and not user
programmable, drivers, baud rates and protocols are set by game
developers.  Check your game manual for more information on
communicatimns support.

//// RS232

Simple RS232 is provided on CatBox through a male DB9 on the I/O 
PCB.  This is connected as in the IBM AT standard as follows.

//// DB9P   

1  NC
2  RXD (receive data)
3  TXD (transmit data)
4  NC/DTR
5  Ground
6  NC (DSR)
7  NC (RTS)
8  NC
9  NC

Note that there is no hardware handshaking.  DTR is fixed on.  An IBM 
AT type null modem cable may be used to connect two Jaguars together 
by their RS232 ports.  An IBM AT type modem cable may be used to 
connect CatBox to a modem.  

//// CatNet

The communications toggle switch should be up for CatNet support
CatNet is a new dual-differential type of communications which is
based on RS485.  CatNet connects Jaguars together with standard 4 or 6
wire telephone cablilg and RJ11 plugs.  Although common telephone
extension cables may be used, two conductor cables are not supported.
 
Because of the wiring scheme used, plug polarity is not important.
Cable runs of 1000 feet have been"successfully tested but it is more
practical to keep cable runs under 100 feet"between Jaguars.
Terminators should be left in the unused CatNet ports (ends) when
running a network.  Low cost 25 foot cables and replacement
terminators are available from Black Cat Design.

CatNet is a half duplex network which requires arbitration.  CatNet
uses 6P4C RJ11 phone type connectors and cabling and is reliable up to
120K baud per second with very long cable lengths.  Up to 32 devices
will work under CatNet although we expect to see it used more commonly
in small local networks with a maximum of 4 or 8 players.

//// DSP pass through port

A DSP pass through port has been provided for compatibility with
future devices that may require it.  A prototype of Atari's Jaguar
Voice Modem has been successfully tested while plugged into the DSP
port.  The communications switch should be in the center neutral
position when using devices plugged into the DSP port.


//// Options and miscellany.

The following parts and accessories are available from Black Cat
Design and better dealers:

CatBox                      $69.95
Atari13 adapter             $14.95
Amiga23 adapter             $14.95
HD15S adapter               $9.95
Custom adapter              $19.95  (please supply pinouts)
Headphone extension cable   $9.95
Null modem cable            $9.95
CatNet cable 25ft.          $4.95
CatNet terminator           $4.95   (standard equipment)


Every effort has been made to make this a cost effective, innovative,
indispensable peripheral for your Jaguar system.  We would like to
hear your comments and suggestions.  Please write.

CatBox is a product and trademark of Black Cat Design, Inc.
Copyright 1994 All rights reserved.

For more information contact Tom Harker at:

ICD, Inc.
1220 Rock Street
Rockford, IL  61101

815-968-2228 ext. 222
fax 968-6888

GEnie  ICDINC
CompuServe 76004,1600


PROWLER The Atari Console Disk Magazine February 27, 1996

Copyright (c) 1996 All Rights Reserved Issue No. 01