[vcf-midatlantic] WTD: cable Digital VR 260 Terminal

[Dave McGuire]

On 09/08/2016 02:14 PM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
>>   The VR260 is a monitor, not a terminal, and the required cable will
>> depend on what you need to connect it to.  I have spares of nearly all of
>> them and can "hook you up", as the cool kids say.
>
> Ah, like a 3-post co-ax color display I get it, thanks.  Monochrome = one
> post.

  Yes, it's composite video, but not NTSC. (far higher resolution than NTSC)

> I have adapters that convert various displays of this era.  I can
> also try using one of three color cable connectors, perhaps in some cases
> one of the three leads will suffice.  I don't know what I will attach it
> to, maybe a DEC 5000 or something with a display port and keyboard port
> that are separated.

  I don't know if something that recent will drive it at the right sync
rates, but you'll find out quickly enough if it doesn't. ;)

  Let me know what cables you need when the time comes; it's likely I've
got it.

> Were these on par with things like the PS/2 monochrome VGA display,

  Significantly higher-end than that.  The framebuffers it was designed
to work with drive it at 1024x864.  It was commonly used in 1-bit
displays, but 8-bit grayscale was doable also.

> I am guessing the VR260 was not a graphics terminal, but I will learn soon
> enough.

  Oh they're very much for graphical use.  They were used for bitmapped
graphics displays on VAX workstations, targeted at CAD applications, but
frequently used for regular GUIfied workstation tasks as well.

> Here is a pic
> http://vintagecomputer.net/digital/VR-260/
> 
> Anyone use this display, like it?  Worth using?

  I sat in front of one for years, on a VAXstation-II/GPX, running in
grayscale mode.  It was one of the sharpest displays I've ever used.

             -Dave

-- 
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA