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

[william degnan]

thanks.  I updated the pic of the rear of the display.  I point to the
connector "holder" - can you confirm that the small hole is just a peg hole
to hold the cable in place, so that there is no strain on the co-ax
connection?

On Thu, Sep 8, 2016 at 2:19 PM, Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic <
vcf-midatlantic at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:

> 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
>