On 7/23/2017 8:29 PM, Toby Thain via cctalk wrote:
On 2017-07-23 7:27 PM, Douglas Taylor via cctalk wrote:
All
I have a DEC VT320 that powers up just fine, sees the attached keyboard,
and I can enter the setup menu.
However, when I attach it to my microPDP11 to use as a console nothing
appears on the screen during power up (there is a boot rom dialog that
is supposed to appear).
When I press a key on the keyboard it appears on the screen but I don't
think anything is transmitted out of the terminal.
I have looked at the maintenance print set and it appears there are a
pair of rs232 driver ic's, could they be the problem?
I agree with Paul, rule out all possible causes outside the terminal
case first. Ideally you can test the same computer with a different
terminal or serial interface.
--Toby
How do you open the case up? It is not obvious.
Doug
Turns out to be very cogent advice....
I tried the setup with a working VT420 and the same cable and it worked
just fine starting the microPDP11 via the console.
While I had the VT420 on I looked at the setup and lo and behold there
is an 'on-line' 'local' setting.
So I brought the VT320 out again and hooked it up and after searching
through the setup menus I found a lighted bar set to 'local', changed
this to 'on-line' and success!
I rescued this terminal about 4 years ago from curbside pickup and hoped
it was working, turned out it was. Patience paid off.
I wish the rest of the computer problems we encounter were this easy.
Doug
