11 Dec
2018
11 Dec
'18
4:59 a.m.
On 2018-12-11 1:17 AM, devin davison via cctalk wrote:
The line about being used with an early computer as a
display caught my
eye. How would it be used as a display, what kind of graphics capability
would it have? is there an interface for the thing for the pdp 11 or a
modcomp? Those are the old systems i have on hand that i might be able to
interface to it.
A scope is at heart an electrostatic CRT with X and Y deflection (and
perhaps Z axis blanking control). Many older systems did have such
displays -- the PDP-1 is a well known example (e.g. see Marc and Lyle's
CHM demo on YT[1]). Imlac PDS-1 is another. And before _digital_
systems, scopes or X-Y displays were a typical output medium for
_analog_ computers.
For digital computers, output is point plotting, vector drawing, and/or
character generation depending on the sophistication (= cost) of the
hardware involved. You'd also need to find or write suitable software :)
Yes, there were interface cards for PDP-11, such as AA11 (dual DACs).
Several manufacturers including Tektronix and HP made dedicated X-Y
displays for computer use. These are smaller than oscilloscopes as
relatively little supporting hardware is required for this function.
If anyone has budget to experiment with this, I know that Sphere[2] in
West Kelowna, BC, has a few X-Y displays still in stock. With some
cleverness it's also possible to modify magnetic deflection CRT's for
vector use[3].
But I hope the Tek 555's can find a good home, they're beautiful
instruments. I suggest posting on the TekScopes mailing list[4].
--Toby
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EWQYAfuMYw
[2] http://www.sphere.bc.ca/
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2O01mNVMN0 ,
https://www.thedefenderproject.com/other-arcade-games/building-a-vector-mon…
[4] https://groups.io/g/TekScopes
Trying to find a good home for it. I just went through the back room and
found another of a similar design, ill post back with that one too. I was
not even aware i had two of them, quite odd when you can misplace/ miscount
something so large.
On Tue, Dec 11, 2018, 12:57 AM ED SHARPE via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
wrote:
so many of these older scopes,are getting
scrapped we have a few.. there
was one made by tek. for example to be sold with TV broadcast gear we
cherish here...gave a few others too.. but they do take up room....early
scopes are good to display with early computers... in reality it was needed
often as early comp. geAR had bad. mtf !..
ed#.... get one... save one...
Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
On Monday, December 10, 2018 devin davison via cctalk <lyokoboy0 at gmail.com;
cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
More of a computer list I know, but I need to clean out and this needs to
go soon. Big ol tektronix scope on a cart. Was part of a community
workshop, i cleared out all their equipment and have not had the time to
repair it. I was planning to go over it and put it to work at my desk, but
i decided to get a bigger desk and don't have the space for it. i picked
up a hp logic analyzer that fits on the desk, and is more than capable for
working on my pdp 11 and other minicomputer stuff.
open to offers, come pick it up and its yours.
https://i.postimg.cc/NFPC5cDG/scope-555.jpg
located in Melbourne FL
--Devin D.
