12 Sep
2003
12 Sep
'03
7:04 a.m.
Does anyone have a spare VT220, 320 or 420 that they'd be willing to part
with? My 320 just bit the dust...very inconvenient time, too, since I was
about to install my brand new OpenVMS hobbyist... :(
Failing that, does anyone know how I can interface another kind of terminal
to my MicroVAX 3100? It's got the MMJ connector on it...maybe if I could
send the output to a wyse 60 that I have lying around...
Cheers,
Chris Cureau
12 Sep
12 Sep
7:22 a.m.
Christopher Cureau wrote:
Does anyone have a spare VT220, 320 or 420 that they'd be willing to part
with? My 320 just bit the dust...very inconvenient time, too, since I was
about to install my brand new OpenVMS hobbyist... :(
Failing that, does anyone know how I can interface another kind of terminal
to my MicroVAX 3100? It's got the MMJ connector on it...maybe if I could
send the output to a wyse 60 that I have lying around...
Cheers,
Chris Cureau
Yeah, a VT420... Where are you though?
--
--- Dave Woyciesjes
--- ICQ# 905818
7:41 a.m.
Christopher Cureau wrote:
Does anyone have a spare VT220, 320 or 420 that
they'd be willing to part
with? My 320 just bit the dust...very inconvenient time, too, since I was
about to install my brand new OpenVMS hobbyist... :(
Burned out the flyback transformer, I'll bet. Most common
failure I saw on those. Apparently they used a really cheap transformer.
Failing that, does anyone know how I can interface
another kind of terminal
to my MicroVAX 3100? It's got the MMJ connector on it...maybe if I could
send the output to a wyse 60 that I have lying around...
MMJ is just another RS-232 connector. You can easily buy/build adapters
to connect up a 25-pin connector. BlackBox sells them, for example, but
they are more expensive there than from other places.
VT terminals are also available from many places for very little.
Just check ebay for example.
8:27 a.m.
I use VanDyke's CRT, on a n IBM Thinkpad laptop, as a console for my
11/44.
I have a few VT220s and a re-badged Televideo VT100 lookalike, but when
I'm just mucking about as a 'single user', then I generally connect the PC
to the PDP via a funky adapter cable I cobbled together one dark and
stormy night.
BTW: I use pins 2,3 and 7, and map them to the appropriate 9-pin pins on
the laptop side, whose exact pin numbers escape at the moment, but it's
too easy to find them out.
Until you get a replacement 'tube', perhaps a nice terminal emulator on
your PC or Mac might get you going. There was a long thread recently on
Emulators for this purpose - a lot of us here use and like 'CRT', but
there are other products. FWIW, I have *never* had anything other than
horrible experiences with 'Hyperterm' that comes bundled in all Windows,
but YMMV.
Cheers
John
10:17 a.m.
On Fri, 12 Sep 2003, Paul Williams wrote:
John Lawson wrote:
From observation (and ancient memory) - I think you're exactly right.
Been too busy to actually make the dispswitch test, but the Weekend
Looms...
Thanks!
Cheers
John
I have a few VT220s and a re-badged Televideo
VT100 lookalike
Did you manage to confirm that your Covalent 1410 is actually a
TeleVideo 950 then?
10:56 a.m.
John Lawson wrote:
I use VanDyke's CRT, on a n IBM Thinkpad laptop,
as a console for my
11/44.
I have a few VT220s and a re-badged Televideo VT100 lookalike, but when
I'm just mucking about as a 'single user', then I generally connect the PC
to the PDP via a funky adapter cable I cobbled together one dark and
stormy night.
BTW: I use pins 2,3 and 7, and map them to the appropriate 9-pin pins on
the laptop side, whose exact pin numbers escape at the moment, but it's
too easy to find them out.
Until you get a replacement 'tube', perhaps a nice terminal emulator on
your PC or Mac might get you going. There was a long thread recently on
Emulators for this purpose - a lot of us here use and like 'CRT', but
there are other products. FWIW, I have *never* had anything other than
horrible experiences with 'Hyperterm' that comes bundled in all Windows,
but YMMV.
NEVER try to do anything useful with HyperTerm. You will quickly find
that it is the WORST vt100 emulator available. Besides starting up at
80x23, strange implementation of some of the basic escape sequences,
and overall flakiness; the keyboard mapping is horrible. You can get
either one backspace, or two or more deletes. You cannot send a single
delete. 80/132 mode is non-existant. Gah! don't get me started!
For a decent VT220 emulation, Kermit-95 on Windows, or even xterm on a
recent
version of Linux is MUCH nicer. ANYTHING else is better than HyperTerm.
Others at least try to follow the stantards.
15 Sep
15 Sep
12:24 p.m.
New subject: Junkbox to the rescue
I was pretty disappointed with a box of misc I bought last week, nice
looking stuff, that does not work. A 1.2 GB drive, but aack, its a Conner
CPF1275A, and I had no luck making it appear to any computer (Seagate
remembers it, but their install tool doesn't support it. Essentially for
$40 I got a sink for about 10 hours of my time.
Good news
Two of the funky CD drives were the same brand, so I started looking for
the problems. Both had stuck doors, and one even turned out to be a DVD
drive. I took them apart, and turns out most of the drive mechanism is the
same, and while one had a broken lever, the DVD only had a bad gear which I
managed to swap. End result, one working drive, one still in the parts
donor bin.
14 Sep
14 Sep
3:48 p.m.
Quothe Christopher Cureau, from writings of Fri, Sep 12, 2003 at
08:23:13AM -0500:
Does anyone have a spare VT220, 320 or 420 that
they'd be willing to part
with? My 320 just bit the dust...very inconvenient time, too, since I was
Wouldn't you rather repair it than replace it? What went wrong with it?
Did the fuse blow? Is there high voltage on the CRT? Did part if the PSU
fail? Is there anything displayed on the screen?
--
Copyright (C) 2003 R. D. Davis The difference between humans & other animals:
All Rights Reserved an unnatural belief that we're above Nature &
rdd(a)rddavis.org 410-744-4900 her other creatures, using dogma to justify such
http://www.rddavis.org beliefs and to justify much human cruelty.
15 Sep
15 Sep
4:25 p.m.
Quothe Christopher Cureau, from writings of Fri, Sep
12, 2003 at
08:23:13AM -0500:
It's a VT320... 99.9% fo the time the failure with these is the flyback
transformer which develops shorted turns (and then fails visibly, with
'gunge' leaking out). Sometimes it takes the horizontal output transistor
with it as well, or maybe even bits of the PSU.
If the power indicator is flashing on/off, then it's the flyback, period
(well, it _might_ be something else, but it's a fairly safe bet it's the
flyback).
-tony
Does anyone have a spare VT220, 320 or 420 that
they'd be willing to part
with? My 320 just bit the dust...very inconvenient time, too, since I was
Wouldn't you rather repair it than replace it? What went wrong with it? 
17 Sep
17 Sep
7:04 p.m.
New subject: Replacing VT flybacks (was: Re: Needed - VT terminal)
On Tue, 16 Sep 2003, Tony Duell wrote:
Is there a commonly available flyback that will work in the VT340? I've
been unable to locate a service manual for that model terminal, and don't
really know much about the flyback that it uses. Mine let out its magic
smoke some time back, and I'm really starting to miss that color VT.
-Toth
Quothe
Christopher Cureau, from writings of Fri, Sep 12, 2003 at
08:23:13AM -0500:
It's a VT320... 99.9% fo the time the failure with these is the flyback
transformer which develops shorted turns (and then fails visibly, with
'gunge' leaking out). Sometimes it takes the horizontal output
transistor with it as well, or maybe even bits of the PSU.
If the power indicator is flashing on/off, then it's the flyback, period
(well, it _might_ be something else, but it's a fairly safe bet it's the
flyback). Does anyone have a spare VT220, 320 or 420 that
they'd be willing to
part with? My 320 just bit the dust...very inconvenient time, too,
since I was
Wouldn't you rather repair it than replace it? What went wrong with
it?
18 Sep
18 Sep
6:21 a.m.
New subject: Replacing VT flybacks
Tothwolf wrote:
Is there a commonly available flyback that will work in
the VT340? I've
been unable to locate a service manual for that model terminal, and don't
really know much about the flyback that it uses. Mine let out its magic
smoke some time back, and I'm really starting to miss that color VT.
When I fixed several VT220's/320's, I just read the part number off the
flyback
itself, and went to a local electronics shop and ordered a replacement
based on that. Bought the transisters from Radio Shack, and replaced them
without testing the original, since they were probably stressed out
from the fried flyback and I didn't want to see
those terminals come
back again.
I quit repairing them when replacements became cheaper to buy than the
transformer.
6:54 a.m.
New subject: NEC Drive Problem (CP/M System)
Ok, I have a puzzle that I need help on. I have an NEC Dual 8" Drive System. This
is a
CP/M system. But my drive #2 has a problem. Drive #1 works fine.
Symptoms:
Can't boot from drive #2
Can't read files from drive #2
Can't write files to drive #2
CAN get a directory listing from drive #2
CAN write to FAT, as when trying to copy files
If I try to load files from drive #2, I get a failure with the following error:
"Bdos Err On B: Bad Sector"
If I try to write files to drive #2, the directory entry is written (except that it is
TEST.$$$ instead
of the correct extension). But the data for the file is apparently NOT written. I get
the same
error.
I see attempts to read and write but these always end with the error above.
It looks like the write head must be good, as a filename is saved to disk.
It looks like the read head must be good, as the directory can be listed.
Any suggestions as to what could be causing this? Could it have something with head
movement? Perhaps the directory storage is on a track (sector) that can be reached and
the
others can't? I'm stumped.
Note: I have not actually looked inside to see if the head is moving properly (that may
be
next but I know it does move some.) but I have reattached all the connectors to the drive
and
controller.
SECOND QUESTION:
The drive is an FD1165-A. I can't locate such a drive. But I have located an
FD1165-FQ. I
wonder how compatible the FQ version is with the A version. Can parts be exchanged?
7:23 a.m.
New subject: NEC Drive Problem (CP/M System)
From: "Mike Davis" <mike-cc(a)msdsite.com>
To: <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 5:43 PM
Subject: NEC Drive Problem (CP/M System)
Ok, I have a puzzle that I need help on. I have an
NEC Dual 8" Drive System. This is a > FD1165-A. I can't locate such a
drive. But I have located an FD1165-FQ. I
wonder how compatible the FQ version is with the A version. Can parts be exchanged?
Gigabite.com has the -A drive, according to http://www.gigabite.com/floppy.html
In my conversion systems, I use a mix of FD1165-FQ, YD-180 and shugart 860-1. The only
problem is the power plug, they are all different.
Nico
9:46 a.m.
New subject: NEC Drive Problem (CP/M System)
I already spoke to GigaByte and they don't have the A drive any more. They
do have the FQ, which is why I asked the question.
BTW, I have tracked the problem down to a sticky head actuation part. I
have seen this similar situation other devices. There is a white piece that
rotates to place the heads on the disk. There is also a fiber baffle of sorts
that is used to quiet this operation.
This part has dissolved and left a black gooey residue. Consequently, this
lever sticks and doesn't normally place the head onto the floppy. I cleaned
this mess and did a test and now I can read and write as it should. Odd that
I could get a directory listing but not read a file. But, now I can read, write
and copy files between the drives. Still can't boot from B drive though. But
that might be some sort of setup issue. The disks created on that drive do
boot on the other drive. So, I'm getting close.
Miike
On 18 Sep 2003 at 18:11, Nico de Jong wrote:
From: "Mike Davis"
<mike-cc(a)msdsite.com>
To: <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 5:43 PM
Subject: NEC Drive Problem (CP/M System)
Ok, I have a puzzle that I need help on. I have
an NEC Dual 8" Drive System. This is a > FD1165-A. I can't locate such a
drive. But I have located an FD1165-FQ. I
wonder how compatible the FQ version is with the A version. Can parts be exchanged?
Gigabite.com has the -A drive, according to http://www.gigabite.com/floppy.html
In my conversion systems, I use a mix of FD1165-FQ, YD-180 and shugart 860-1. The only
problem is the power plug, they are all different.
Nico
9:59 a.m.
New subject: (PHOTOS) NEC Drive Problem (CP/M System)
I have placed some photos at the site below to show the black goo, if
anyone is interested.
http://www.msdsite.com/vcomp/NEC/goo.html
Mike
On 18 Sep 2003 at 11:33, Mike Davis wrote:
I already spoke to GigaByte and they don't have
the A drive any more. They
do have the FQ, which is why I asked the question.
BTW, I have tracked the problem down to a sticky head actuation part. I
have seen this similar situation other devices. There is a white piece that
rotates to place the heads on the disk. There is also a fiber baffle of sorts
that is used to quiet this operation.
This part has dissolved and left a black gooey residue. Consequently, this
lever sticks and doesn't normally place the head onto the floppy. I cleaned
this mess and did a test and now I can read and write as it should. Odd that
I could get a directory listing but not read a file. But, now I can read, write
and copy files between the drives. Still can't boot from B drive though. But
that might be some sort of setup issue. The disks created on that drive do
boot on the other drive. So, I'm getting close.
Miike
On 18 Sep 2003 at 18:11, Nico de Jong wrote:
> From: "Mike Davis" <mike-cc(a)msdsite.com>
> To: <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
> Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 5:43 PM
> Subject: NEC Drive Problem (CP/M System)
>
>
> > Ok, I have a puzzle that I need help on. I have an NEC Dual 8" Drive
System. This is a > FD1165-A. I can't locate such a drive. But I have located
an FD1165-FQ. I
> > wonder how compatible the FQ version is with the A version. Can parts be
exchanged?
> >
> Gigabite.com has the -A drive, according to http://www.gigabite.com/floppy.html
> In my conversion systems, I use a mix of FD1165-FQ, YD-180 and shugart 860-1. The
only problem is the power plug, they are all different.
>
> Nico
19 Sep
19 Sep
3:54 a.m.
New subject: NEC Drive Problem (CP/M System)
At 06:11 PM 9/18/03 +0200, you wrote:
Gigabite.com has the -A drive, according to
http://www.gigabite.com/floppy.html
From: "Mike Davis"
<mike-cc(a)msdsite.com>
To: <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 5:43 PM
Subject: NEC Drive Problem (CP/M System)
> Ok, I have a puzzle that I need help on. I have an NEC Dual 8" Drive
System. This is a > FD1165-A. I can't locate such a drive. But I have
located an FD1165-FQ. I
> wonder how compatible the FQ version is with the A
version. Can parts
be exchanged?
In my conversion systems, I use a mix of FD1165-FQ,
YD-180 and shugart
860-1. The only problem is the power plug, they are all
different.
If this is for a NEC APC then the other drives won't work. The front of
the drive is part of the computer case, similar to the way that IBM built
the PS/2s.
Joe
Nico
3:52 a.m.
New subject: NEC Drive Problem (CP/M System)
At 08:43 AM 9/18/03 -0700, you wrote:
Ok, I have a puzzle that I need help on. I have an NEC
Dual 8" Drive
System. This is a
CP/M system. But my drive #2 has a problem. Drive #1
works fine.
Is this one a NEC APC? I'm having similar problems with my APC but not
as bad and on BOTH drives. I've cleaned the drives but it didn't help. I
opened the APC up but the drives are completely enclosed and I can't see
anything including the drive model numbers. Next step is to remove the
drives and take them apart and see if I can find out what's going on.
Joe
18 Sep
18 Sep
9:08 a.m.
New subject: Replacing VT flybacks (was: Re: Needed - VT terminal)
Is there a commonly available flyback that will work
in the
VT340? I've been unable to locate a service manual for that
model terminal, and don't really know much about the flyback
that it uses. Mine let out its magic smoke some time back,
and I'm really starting to miss that color VT.
You'll find a VT330 Pocket Service guide if you look here:
http://vt100.net/docs/vt330-ps/
I don't recall how close that is to a VT340. I also have
Illustrated Parts Breakdowns for both the 330 and 340 which
may help. If all you want to do is replace the flyback,
then I assume that it is easily identified and all you
want is an available replacement part number - the
manuals are unlikely to help there.
Antonio
--
---------------
Antonio Carlini arcarlini(a)iee.org
1:50 p.m.
New subject: Replacing VT flybacks (was: Re: Needed - VT terminal)
Is there a commonly available flyback that will work
in the VT340? I've
been unable to locate a service manual for that model terminal, and don't
really know much about the flyback that it uses. Mine let out its magic
smoke some time back, and I'm really starting to miss that color VT.
I was under the impression that the colour monitors on VT terminals were
not DEC designs (the VR241 is _certainly_ a Hitachi chassis!). In which
case you might find a 'standard' flyback is available. Does the monitor
chassis have any clues as to its origins?
-tony
7646
days inactive
7653
days old
19 comments
13 participants
participants (13)
-
arcarlini＠iee.org -
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
chrisc＠addpower.com -
dwoyciesjes＠comcast.net -
jpl15＠panix.com -
kth＠srv.net -
mike-cc＠msdsite.com -
mikeford＠socal.rr.com -
nico＠farumdata.dk -
paul＠frixxon.co.uk -
rdd＠rddavis.org -
rigdonj＠cfl.rr.com -
tothwolf＠concentric.net