A while back I picked up a Miniterm 1205 but it needs some help. Category:Computer Devices - Terminals (terminals-wiki.org) <https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Computer_Devices> Computer Devices Miniterm 1205 - Terminals (terminals-wiki.org) <https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/Computer_Devices_Miniterm_1205> After removing the cover, I see evidence of a pretty massive tantalum failure (and these tants are huge!) and perhaps other concomitant damage to the power supply. Also the rubber tractor band that moves the head back and forth appears to have dry rot on it - not sure that can be cleaned up. And the label on the unit says it's for 230V/50Hz (not sure if there's an option on the power supply board to reconfigure that (?). (hmm. Wondering if someone attempted to power with 120V?) This is an impressively built machine with a beautiful keyboard. It has a NASA property sticker on it. I am nostalgic for the old era of these terminals (I used a TI silent 700 back then) and when I picked it up was hoping to get it in working order some day. So I'm trying to decide what to do with this unit. Are schematics or service manuals likely to be available? If not, how best to repair the power supply? (find someone else who has one?) Am I likely to be able to find a workable replacement for the belt? Or fix it? I guess I'd have to get a power converter to run this. Feels like a lot to take on. Interested in any advice or pointers. If someone in the group would be interested in tackling this project I'd be happy to have a discussion (off list) on that. Thanks * Glenn
On 9/18/24 08:57, Glenn Roberts via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
A while back I picked up a Miniterm 1205 but it needs some help.
Category:Computer Devices - Terminals (terminals-wiki.org) <https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Computer_Devices>
Computer Devices Miniterm 1205 - Terminals (terminals-wiki.org) <https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/Computer_Devices_Miniterm_1205>
After removing the cover, I see evidence of a pretty massive tantalum failure (and these tants are huge!) and perhaps other concomitant damage to the power supply. Also the rubber tractor band that moves the head back and forth appears to have dry rot on it - not sure that can be cleaned up. And the label on the unit says it's for 230V/50Hz (not sure if there's an option on the power supply board to reconfigure that (?). (hmm. Wondering if someone attempted to power with 120V?)
This is an impressively built machine with a beautiful keyboard. It has a NASA property sticker on it. I am nostalgic for the old era of these terminals (I used a TI silent 700 back then) and when I picked it up was hoping to get it in working order some day.
So I'm trying to decide what to do with this unit. Are schematics or service manuals likely to be available? If not, how best to repair the power supply? (find someone else who has one?) Am I likely to be able to find a workable replacement for the belt? Or fix it? I guess I'd have to get a power converter to run this. Feels like a lot to take on.
Interested in any advice or pointers. If someone in the group would be interested in tackling this project I'd be happy to have a discussion (off list) on that.
I have one of those, at least I'm pretty sure I still have it; I've had it since I was in my teens. I've never had any docs for it, it always "just worked" though I've not powered it on since sometime in the late 1980s. It's a really nice little terminal with, as you observed, a fantastic keyboard. I've never seen another, before or since. Reading your post really put a smile on my face. I'll keep an eye open for it the next time I'm up on the storage floor. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
It would be cool to get it operational. Made in Burlington MA (I used to travel up there all the time in my working years). But I am realizing (apologies to Clint Eastwood) that "a man's got to know his limitations..." Will I ever likely get this working again? Dunno... - glenn -----Original Message----- From: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic-bounces@lists.vcfed.org> On Behalf Of Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 9:02 AM To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> Cc: Dave McGuire <mcguire@neurotica.com> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Miniterm 1205 terminal. love it or list it? On 9/18/24 08:57, Glenn Roberts via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
A while back I picked up a Miniterm 1205 but it needs some help.
Category:Computer Devices - Terminals (terminals-wiki.org) <https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Computer_Devices>
Computer Devices Miniterm 1205 - Terminals (terminals-wiki.org) <https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/Computer_Devices_Miniterm_1 205>
After removing the cover, I see evidence of a pretty massive tantalum failure (and these tants are huge!) and perhaps other concomitant damage to the power supply. Also the rubber tractor band that moves the head back and forth appears to have dry rot on it - not sure that can be cleaned up. And the label on the unit says it's for 230V/50Hz (not sure if there's an option on the power supply board to reconfigure that (?). (hmm. Wondering if someone attempted to power with 120V?)
This is an impressively built machine with a beautiful keyboard. It has a NASA property sticker on it. I am nostalgic for the old era of these terminals (I used a TI silent 700 back then) and when I picked it up was hoping to get it in working order some day.
So I'm trying to decide what to do with this unit. Are schematics or service manuals likely to be available? If not, how best to repair the power supply? (find someone else who has one?) Am I likely to be able to find a workable replacement for the belt? Or fix it? I guess I'd have to get a power converter to run this. Feels like a lot to take on.
Interested in any advice or pointers. If someone in the group would be interested in tackling this project I'd be happy to have a discussion (off list) on that.
I have one of those, at least I'm pretty sure I still have it; I've had it since I was in my teens. I've never had any docs for it, it always "just worked" though I've not powered it on since sometime in the late 1980s. It's a really nice little terminal with, as you observed, a fantastic keyboard. I've never seen another, before or since. Reading your post really put a smile on my face. I'll keep an eye open for it the next time I'm up on the storage floor. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
I think it's worth putting some effort into, if you're willing. -Dave On 9/18/24 09:11, glenn.f.roberts@gmail.com wrote:
It would be cool to get it operational. Made in Burlington MA (I used to travel up there all the time in my working years). But I am realizing (apologies to Clint Eastwood) that "a man's got to know his limitations..."
Will I ever likely get this working again? Dunno...
- glenn
-----Original Message----- From: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic-bounces@lists.vcfed.org> On Behalf Of Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 9:02 AM To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> Cc: Dave McGuire <mcguire@neurotica.com> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Miniterm 1205 terminal. love it or list it?
On 9/18/24 08:57, Glenn Roberts via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
A while back I picked up a Miniterm 1205 but it needs some help.
Category:Computer Devices - Terminals (terminals-wiki.org) <https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Computer_Devices>
Computer Devices Miniterm 1205 - Terminals (terminals-wiki.org) <https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/Computer_Devices_Miniterm_1 205>
After removing the cover, I see evidence of a pretty massive tantalum failure (and these tants are huge!) and perhaps other concomitant damage to the power supply. Also the rubber tractor band that moves the head back and forth appears to have dry rot on it - not sure that can be cleaned up. And the label on the unit says it's for 230V/50Hz (not sure if there's an option on the power supply board to reconfigure that (?). (hmm. Wondering if someone attempted to power with 120V?)
This is an impressively built machine with a beautiful keyboard. It has a NASA property sticker on it. I am nostalgic for the old era of these terminals (I used a TI silent 700 back then) and when I picked it up was hoping to get it in working order some day.
So I'm trying to decide what to do with this unit. Are schematics or service manuals likely to be available? If not, how best to repair the power supply? (find someone else who has one?) Am I likely to be able to find a workable replacement for the belt? Or fix it? I guess I'd have to get a power converter to run this. Feels like a lot to take on.
Interested in any advice or pointers. If someone in the group would be interested in tackling this project I'd be happy to have a discussion (off list) on that.
I have one of those, at least I'm pretty sure I still have it; I've had it since I was in my teens. I've never had any docs for it, it always "just worked" though I've not powered it on since sometime in the late 1980s. It's a really nice little terminal with, as you observed, a fantastic keyboard.
I've never seen another, before or since. Reading your post really put a smile on my face.
I'll keep an eye open for it the next time I'm up on the storage floor.
-Dave
-- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
-- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
I would say that's a rarity, I suggest taking pictures because there are not really too many out there. I would say "love it" but that's if you want to put in the time. if not list because then someone else can. I need to list more items that I can't put in the time on. On Wed, Sep 18, 2024 at 9:12 AM Glenn Roberts via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
It would be cool to get it operational. Made in Burlington MA (I used to travel up there all the time in my working years). But I am realizing (apologies to Clint Eastwood) that "a man's got to know his limitations..."
Will I ever likely get this working again? Dunno...
- glenn
Pix here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GozVKmoQ2FARMciZ8 I've mostly worked on Heathkit systems where we generally have full schematics and technical manuals. If I could find schematics for this I could proceed with power supply repairs, otherwise I'm flying blind. Also the deteriorated rubber tractor band feels like a pretty big show stopper unless I can find a source (seems like a long shot). If anyone has specific thoughts on these two topics it would help me decide whether to "love it" or find a new home for this baby. Thanks for the feedback... - glenn -----Original Message----- From: Christian Liendo <cliendo@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 9:25 AM To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> Cc: glenn.f.roberts@gmail.com Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Miniterm 1205 terminal. love it or list it? I would say that's a rarity, I suggest taking pictures because there are not really too many out there. I would say "love it" but that's if you want to put in the time. if not list because then someone else can. I need to list more items that I can't put in the time on. On Wed, Sep 18, 2024 at 9:12 AM Glenn Roberts via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
It would be cool to get it operational. Made in Burlington MA (I used to travel up there all the time in my working years). But I am realizing (apologies to Clint Eastwood) that "a man's got to know his limitations..."
Will I ever likely get this working again? Dunno...
- glenn
As with any other project, you have to determine what needs to be done. Evaluation, Part sources and cost, time involved for such a repair are things that need to be taken into consideration. One of the main things, are you up to the task? If you’re not up to the task, then maybe selling it off to someone who can take on the task or you would have to pay someone to do the repairs. We all know that many of these old units take a lot of resources to do a “restoration” And even a repair takes quite a bit time. My two pennies worth. Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device.
On Sep 18, 2024, at 9:12 AM, Glenn Roberts via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
It would be cool to get it operational. Made in Burlington MA (I used to travel up there all the time in my working years). But I am realizing (apologies to Clint Eastwood) that "a man's got to know his limitations..."
Will I ever likely get this working again? Dunno...
- glenn
-----Original Message----- From: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic-bounces@lists.vcfed.org> On Behalf Of Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 9:02 AM To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> Cc: Dave McGuire <mcguire@neurotica.com> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Miniterm 1205 terminal. love it or list it?
On 9/18/24 08:57, Glenn Roberts via vcf-midatlantic wrote: A while back I picked up a Miniterm 1205 but it needs some help.
Category:Computer Devices - Terminals (terminals-wiki.org) <https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Computer_Devices>
Computer Devices Miniterm 1205 - Terminals (terminals-wiki.org) <https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/Computer_Devices_Miniterm_1 205>
After removing the cover, I see evidence of a pretty massive tantalum failure (and these tants are huge!) and perhaps other concomitant damage to the power supply. Also the rubber tractor band that moves the head back and forth appears to have dry rot on it - not sure that can be cleaned up. And the label on the unit says it's for 230V/50Hz (not sure if there's an option on the power supply board to reconfigure that (?). (hmm. Wondering if someone attempted to power with 120V?)
This is an impressively built machine with a beautiful keyboard. It has a NASA property sticker on it. I am nostalgic for the old era of these terminals (I used a TI silent 700 back then) and when I picked it up was hoping to get it in working order some day.
So I'm trying to decide what to do with this unit. Are schematics or service manuals likely to be available? If not, how best to repair the power supply? (find someone else who has one?) Am I likely to be able to find a workable replacement for the belt? Or fix it? I guess I'd have to get a power converter to run this. Feels like a lot to take on.
Interested in any advice or pointers. If someone in the group would be interested in tackling this project I'd be happy to have a discussion (off list) on that.
I have one of those, at least I'm pretty sure I still have it; I've had it since I was in my teens. I've never had any docs for it, it always "just worked" though I've not powered it on since sometime in the late 1980s. It's a really nice little terminal with, as you observed, a fantastic keyboard.
I've never seen another, before or since. Reading your post really put a smile on my face.
I'll keep an eye open for it the next time I'm up on the storage floor.
-Dave
-- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
participants (4)
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