On 11/18/2017 3:44 PM, william degnan via cctech wrote:
On Nov 18, 2017 4:09 PM, "Douglas Taylor via cctech" <cct...@classiccmp.org>
wrote:
I have a couple of vaxes that output 'unique' video, Alpha 3000 300,
Alpha 3000 400, Vax 4000 VLC, and Vax Station 3100 M76.
The Alpha and VLC each have a 3W3 type of connector and the 3100 has a 15
pin DEC designed connector.
What does it take to connect these to inexpensive, modern VGA light
weight monitors?
Doug
I have played around with that problem. If you have a converter to get
into a VGA port a newer high-end vga display will be able to adjust, but
not a cheap one. Because I use my vice vga/digital display for mode stuff,
I use a huge SGI color display for all of my 3w3 outputting systems and I
just switch the cable around. If you could imagine 5 or 6 systems
clustered around the one display.
I am sure someone here has a technical explanation, but in a nutshell the
3W3 world signal isn't the same as a standard vga and cheap vga displays
can't handle the refresh rate. Someone will prob. refine my answer but
that's why you can't just stick an adapter on there.
Bill Degnan
twitter: billdeg
vintagecomputer.net
The 13w3 Sun and the like world of video is different than the three
wire sync on green video from Dec. There is a feature on a lot of the
Sony displays, including the ones that Dec rebadged that supported the
sync on green.
There is a Raritan converter for Sun keyboard and video conversion to
PS2 and VGA that is powered off the 13W3 connector to solve the problem
for the Sun systems.
Also note there is a monochrome option with just a single coax populated
in the 13W3 for sun. I'm currently getting ready to hook it up to the
above noted converter, can report back whether it works. FWIW the
system is an IPC Sparc 1 mini system.
I have the DEC Sony monitor, and a friend and I are collecting
information to make a general DEC Vax sync on green / Pro 3xx / Rainbow
/ Decmate board / jumper board / connector adapter for all the crap we
have. Output will be VGA.
Right now we've run the video to regular RS-170 monitor. Levels weren't
necessarily happy with direct connection but video showed up.
thanks
Jim
