Apple TV/Video System
| Apple TV/Video System | |
|---|---|
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|
| The TV tuner card for the 630 family, service part 661-0160 (Apple Module Identification) | |
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | TV tuner and video input kit |
| Release date | 1994 |
| Interface | 60-pin video-in slot (video input card); 10-pin TV tuner connector (tuner card) |
| Compatible | Macintosh LC 630, Macintosh Quadra 630, Performa 630 family, Performa 640CD DOS Compatible, Power Macintosh 5200/75 LC, 5260/100 and 5260/120, Performa 5200, 6200, 6300CD and 6320CD |
| Part number | M2896LL/C (kit); 661-0160 (630 family TV tuner card) |
The Apple TV/Video System is a kit that turns a Macintosh LC 630, Quadra 630, Performa 630 or later compatible Performa or Power Macintosh into a television receiver. It contains the video input card of the Apple Video System, a TV tuner card, a remote control and the Apple Video Player software, and shows television in a window on the desktop while other work continues.[1][2] Apple's documents name it both "TV/Video System" and "Video/TV System".[2][3]
Hardware
[edit | edit source]The tuner card on its own does nothing: Apple's guide states that the TV tuner card will not work without the video input card, which must be fitted even if no other video equipment is to be connected. The tuner feeds the video input card, which digitises the picture in YUV format.[3][4] On the 630 family the tuner card fits behind the TV tuner access cover on the back of the case and plugs into a 10-pin TV tuner connector; the video input card goes in the 60-pin video-in slot.[4][5] Some Performa 630 models, such as the 637CD and 638CD, were sold with both cards already fitted.[5]
The 630 family's developer note gives the tuner's features:[4]
- 181 broadcast and cable channels (US version)
- a coaxial antenna or cable input, F-type in the US and Japanese versions and IEC-type in Europe
- versions for NTSC, PAL and SECAM
- the picture in a window, 320 × 240 by default, resizable from 160 × 120 to 640 × 480 by pixel doubling
- closed captions and teletext
- password protection of channels, and automatic or manual channel programming
- one remote control for the TV and for audio CDs, using the computer's built-in infrared receiver
The developer note lists NTSC, PAL and SECAM versions. Apple's March 1995 note, answering a buyer in the United States, says that card cannot be used in countries with PAL television, such as Australia and most of Europe.[6]
Installation
[edit | edit source]Apple's guide covers two cases: "compact" computers with a built-in monitor, where the logic board has to be removed, and "modular" computers with a separate monitor.[3] In the compact case, leave the power cord plugged in while the computer is off to keep it earthed, avoid walking about while the board is out, and move the board as little as possible.[3] The Performa 5200 series needs the Apple External Video Connector (M4099LL/A) for this kit.[2]
Video equipment connects to the video input card, by S-video (the better picture) or by composite video, with the sound through the RCA audio inputs. A VCR can also be connected to the tuner card's antenna input, which is the way to see closed captions on a tape.[3][7]
Troubleshooting
[edit | edit source]| Symptom | Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Remote control does nothing | "Disable Remote Control" ticked in Preferences; the battery's plastic shipping tab still in place; flat battery; out of range[3] | Untick the option; remove the tab; fit a new 3 V lithium cell (push it out through the hole in the back with a pen tip); point the remote at the receiver on the front of the computer |
| Remote control's Power button does nothing | A dialog box is open[3] | Close the dialog box |
| TV/Mac button does not switch to the right source | Wrong video source selected[3] | Choose the source in the Controls window |
| Static or blank screen | Loose antenna, cable or video connection; wrong source; poor reception[3] | Check the coaxial cable to the tuner card and the video cables; select the right source; check the antenna or cable service |
| Picture small or in odd colours | Wrong video input standard[3] | Change the standard in Preferences |
| No channels above 13 on cable | Cable service uses HRC frequencies[3] | Choose HRC Cable in Channel Setup |
| Closed captions on a tape do not appear | VCR connected to the video input card[7] | Connect the VCR to the tuner card's coaxial input |
| Some UHF channels cannot be tuned (630 family) | Revision A video-in card, 661-0159[5] | Replace it with the Revision B card, 661-1073 |
Service parts
[edit | edit source]Apple listed the 630 family's TV tuner card as service part 661-0160 and the video-in card as 661-0159, exchanged for 661-1073.[8]
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Apple's Service Source and Module Identification list both cards only as exchange modules, with no board-level procedure.[5][8]
Documentation
[edit | edit source]- Apple Video and TV Systems Documentation: the TV/Video System User's Guide and the related manuals.
Related pages
[edit | edit source]- Apple Video System
- Apple TV/FM Radio System
- Macintosh LC 630
- Macintosh TV, whose built-in tuner Apple's developer note compares with this one
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ Apple Computer, Apple Facts, October 1994, section on the Macintosh LC 630, Quadra 630 and Performa 630 series and their multimedia kits, https://vintageapple.org/applefacts/pdf/Apple_Facts_9410_10.94_October_1994.pdf (retrieved 2026-10-04). Source for: the TV/Video System gives the Video System's capabilities plus TV in a window, closed captions, password protection of channels; it comes with a video card, TV tuner card, remote control and software.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Apple Computer, "Apple Video, Video/TV, and Presentation Systems (2/97)", Tech Info Library article 18523 (TA34375), created 31 August 1995, updated 17 February 1997. Archive.org item APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES, file TIL00001_to_TIL60496.zip (retrieved 2026-10-04). Source for: order number M2896LL/C; the kit contents; the list of compatible computers; the Apple External Video Connector M4099LL/A for the Performa 5200 series.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Apple Computer, Apple TV/Video System User's Guide, 1995, 104-page scan. Hosted as File:Apple TV-Video System User's Guide (1995).pdf. Preface p. ix (PDF p. 10); what you should have p. 2 (PDF p. 12); installing in a compact computer pp. 3-20 (PDF pp. 13-30); installing in a modular computer pp. 21-31 (PDF pp. 31-41); connecting video equipment pp. 33-40 (PDF pp. 43-50); troubleshooting pp. 83-86 (PDF pp. 92-95).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Apple Computer, Developer Note: Macintosh LC 630 and Macintosh Quadra 630 Computers, 1994. Hosted as File:Macintosh LC 630 and Quadra 630 Developer Note.pdf. TV tuner module pp. 6-8 (PDF pp. 20-22); video input module p. 8 (PDF p. 22).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Apple Computer, Macintosh Performa 630 Series Service Source. Hosted as File:Performa 630 series.pdf. Product configurations pp. 9-10 (PDF pp. 11-12, Performa 637CD and 638CD with TV tuner and video-in cards fitted); rear view and I/O door diagrams (PDF pp. 13-14); shield and wiring harness with the 10-pin TV tuner connector (PDF p. 16); I/O interfaces (PDF p. 23); video symptom chart (PDF p. 37).
- ↑ Apple Computer, "Macintosh 630: TV Tuner Card only for U.S. (3/95)", Tech Info Library article 17484 (TA33538), created 30 March 1995. Archive.org item APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES, file TIL00001_to_TIL60496.zip.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Apple Computer, "Apple TV/Video System: Closed Captioning Not Appearing (3/96)", Tech Info Library article 19466 (TA35184), created 7 March 1996. Archive.org item APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES, file TIL00001_to_TIL60496.zip. Source for: captions are decoded only through the TV tuner module; connect the VCR by F-type coaxial cable.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Apple Computer, Module Identification, Service Source 2.0 CD (1996), Interface Cards pp. 52-53. Disc image in archive.org item apple-service-source-2.0-cd-rom-set-1996.