20 Apr
2016
20 Apr
'16
7:58 p.m.
I?ve got two VAXstation 4000s, and I think they both have a graphics card in them - one
with a weird connector with 3 circular sockets and another with a DB25-looking thing and
they seem to have a picture of a monitor on them.
So a couple of questions?
Anyone know where I can get an adapter cable for one or the other of those to a VGA
monitor? (basically, does anyone have a spare that they?d like to sell)?
Are they likely to work with an LCD monitor or do I need to get an older CRT one?
Finally, can I use the LK keyboard from a VT420 as the ?console keyboard?? How about mice,
are these still available (or does someone want to sell me one)?
Thanks for any advice..
Sampsa
20 Apr
20 Apr
8:03 p.m.
On 2016-04-20 19:58, Sampsa Laine wrote:
I?ve got two VAXstation 4000s, and I think they both
have a graphics card in them - one with a weird connector with 3 circular sockets and
another with a DB25-looking thing and they seem to have a picture of a monitor on them.
So a couple of questions?
Anyone know where I can get an adapter cable for one or the other of those to a VGA
monitor? (basically, does anyone have a spare that they?d like to sell)?
Are they likely to work with an LCD monitor or do I need to get an older CRT one?
Basically the video output from all DEC stuff is analog video with sync
on green. So just find a video converter that can take analog RGB video
input with sync on green, and then output to VGA or whatever, and you're
good.
Johnny
8:05 p.m.
On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:03, Johnny Billquist <bqt at
softjar.se> wrote:
On 2016-04-20 19:58, Sampsa Laine wrote:
OK, got that. What about the cabling, anyone got any spares lying around? :)
Also how do I hook up a mouse/keyboard to these things (I think the icon above the DB25
looking connector implied it carries video, keyboard [LK-style with RJ connector like on
the VT420 I hope] and mouse [no idea about DEC mice])?
Sampsa
I?ve got two VAXstation 4000s, and I think they
both have a graphics card in them - one with a weird connector with 3 circular sockets and
another with a DB25-looking thing and they seem to have a picture of a monitor on them.
So a couple of questions?
Anyone know where I can get an adapter cable for one or the other of those to a VGA
monitor? (basically, does anyone have a spare that they?d like to sell)?
Are they likely to work with an LCD monitor or do I need to get an older CRT one?
Basically the video output from all DEC stuff is analog video with sync on green. So just
find a video converter that can take analog RGB video input with sync on green, and then
output to VGA or whatever, and you're good.
8:15 p.m.
On 2016-04-20 20:05, Sampsa Laine wrote:
Not me. But the connector, which is like a DA-15 shell, with just three
coaxial connectors inside were used by others than DEC as well. So there
are some possibilities to locate one if you search around.
On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:03, Johnny Billquist
<bqt at softjar.se> wrote:
On 2016-04-20 19:58, Sampsa Laine wrote:
OK, got that. What about the cabling, anyone got any spares lying around? :) I?ve got two VAXstation 4000s, and I think they
both have a graphics card in them - one with a weird connector with 3 circular sockets and
another with a DB25-looking thing and they seem to have a picture of a monitor on them.
So a couple of questions?
Anyone know where I can get an adapter cable for one or the other of those to a VGA
monitor? (basically, does anyone have a spare that they?d like to sell)?
Are they likely to work with an LCD monitor or do I need to get an older CRT one?
Basically the video output from all DEC stuff is analog video with sync on green. So just
find a video converter that can take analog RGB video input with sync on green, and then
output to VGA or whatever, and you're good.
Also how do I hook up a mouse/keyboard to these things
(I think the icon above the DB25 looking connector implied it carries video, keyboard
[LK-style with RJ connector like on the VT420 I hope] and mouse [no idea about DEC mice])?
That DB25 would be a DA-15, I suspect. Yes, that was sometimes used to
get to a keyboard and mouse connector. But, as far as I can remember
from my VAXstation 4000, the keyboard and mouse connectors are actually
on the backside of the box.
Johnny
8:18 p.m.
On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:15, Johnny Billquist <bqt at
softjar.se> wrote:
OK I?ll have a closer look, I assume the keyboard connector is the same as on an VT420
(I?ve got a VT420 with a pretty burnt out screen so could use the keyboard from that)..
Now I just have to find a mouse and a monitor cable :)
Sampsa
OK, got that. What about the cabling, anyone got any spares lying around? :)
Not me. But the connector, which is like a DA-15 shell, with just three coaxial
connectors inside were used by others than DEC as well. So there are some possibilities to
locate one if you search around.
Also how do I hook up a mouse/keyboard to these
things (I think the icon above the DB25 looking connector implied it carries video,
keyboard [LK-style with RJ connector like on the VT420 I hope] and mouse [no idea about
DEC mice])?
That DB25 would be a DA-15, I suspect. Yes, that was sometimes used to get to a keyboard
and mouse connector. But, as far as I can remember from my VAXstation 4000, the keyboard
and mouse connectors are actually on the backside of the box. 
8:19 p.m.
But the connector, which is like a DA-15 shell, with
just
three coaxial connectors inside ....
It's called a "3W3" connector. It, and variations some pins and some coax
connectors, were fairly common on workstations once upon a time.
A cable from 3W3 to 3xBNC should be easy to find. HOWEVER, none of the VAXstation-4000
graphics cards output anything like VGA video, and whether your PC monitor will sync up
with the VAXstation is a different question.
Bob
8:22 p.m.
On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:19, Robert Armstrong <bob at
jfcl.com> wrote:
Yeah found some cables on ebay for Sun?s version of 3W3 but they look a bit different.
So basically if I get a 3W3 -> 3xBNC cable, hook that up to a sync-on-green to
?regular? VGA video adapter I can probably plug in a monitor, correct?
Any idea if DEC mice are still available?
sampsa
But the connector, which is like a DA-15 shell,
with just
three coaxial connectors inside ....
It's called a "3W3" connector. It, and variations some pins and some coax
connectors, were fairly common on workstations once upon a time.
A cable from 3W3 to 3xBNC should be easy to find. HOWEVER, none of the VAXstation-4000
graphics cards output anything like VGA video, and whether your PC monitor will sync up
with the VAXstation is a different question.
8:24 p.m.
On 2016-04-20 20:22, Sampsa Laine wrote:
Probably because SUN didn't use 3W3, but used 13W3... :-)
On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:19, Robert Armstrong
<bob at jfcl.com> wrote:
Yeah found some cables on ebay for Sun?s version of 3W3 but they look a bit different.
But the connector, which is like a DA-15 shell,
with just
three coaxial connectors inside ....
It's called a "3W3" connector. It, and variations some pins and some
coax connectors, were fairly common on workstations once upon a time.
A cable from 3W3 to 3xBNC should be easy to find. HOWEVER, none of the
VAXstation-4000 graphics cards output anything like VGA video, and whether your PC monitor
will sync up with the VAXstation is a different question.
So basically if I get a 3W3 -> 3xBNC cable, hook
that up to a sync-on-green to ?regular? VGA video adapter I can probably plug in a
monitor, correct?
Depends on what you mean by "a sync-on-green to ''regular'' VGA video
adapter", but for some instance of that, the answer would be yes.
Any idea if DEC mice are still available?
Only used. And you'll need to search around.
Johnny
8:22 p.m.
On 2016-04-20 20:19, Robert Armstrong wrote:
Thanks. Yes, 3W3 rings a bell.
But the
connector, which is like a DA-15 shell, with just
three coaxial connectors inside ....
It's called a "3W3" connector. It, and variations some pins and some
coax connectors, were fairly common on workstations once upon a time. A cable from 3W3 to 3xBNC should be easy to find.
HOWEVER, none of the VAXstation-4000 graphics cards output anything like VGA video, and
whether your PC monitor will sync up with the VAXstation is a different question.
Unless his PC monitor have BNC connectors for RGB, and can sync on
green, it will most definitely not work, unless you get a video
converter unit to put in the middle.
(I do have PC monitors with analog RGB input and sync on green, and they
work just fine.)
Johnny
8:26 p.m.
On 2016-04-20 20:24, Sampsa Laine wrote:
If you locate any older PC CRT monitor with BNC connectors, it should
work for you. I have two. One in Sweden, and one in Switzerland.
Johnny
On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:22, Johnny Billquist
<bqt at softjar.se> wrote:
(I do have PC monitors with analog RGB input and sync on green, and they work just
fine.)
Intersted in selling one? I could even pick it up if it?s in Sweden.. :)
8:27 p.m.
On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:26, Johnny Billquist <bqt at
softjar.se> wrote:
On 2016-04-20 20:24, Sampsa Laine wrote:
If you locate any older PC CRT monitor with BNC connectors, it should work for you. I
have two. One in Sweden, and one in Switzerland.
I?m in Finland right now, could I persuade you to part with the Swedish monitor? :)
Sampsa
On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:22, Johnny Billquist
<bqt at softjar.se> wrote:
(I do have PC monitors with analog RGB input and sync on green, and they work just
fine.)
Intersted in selling one? I could even pick it up if it?s in Sweden.. :)
8:36 p.m.
On 2016-04-20 20:27, Sampsa Laine wrote:
Well, I live in Switzerland, and only come by Sweden about once a year,
so that's not possible.
Johnny
On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:26, Johnny Billquist
<bqt at softjar.se> wrote:
On 2016-04-20 20:24, Sampsa Laine wrote:
If you locate any older PC CRT monitor with BNC connectors, it should work for you. I
have two. One in Sweden, and one in Switzerland.
I?m in Finland right now, could I persuade you to part with the Swedish monitor? :)
On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:22, Johnny Billquist
<bqt at softjar.se> wrote:
(I do have PC monitors with analog RGB input and sync on green, and they work just
fine.)
Intersted in selling one? I could even pick it up if it?s in Sweden.. :) 
8:47 p.m.
It's worth noting that some flat panels are happy displaying sync on green,
especially 1280x1024 18/19" panels. I can let you know which work for me. I
think I've probably been lucky in that respect. Beats converters and the
like.
On 20 April 2016 at 19:36, Johnny Billquist <bqt at softjar.se> wrote:
On 2016-04-20 20:27, Sampsa Laine wrote:
On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:26, Johnny Billquist <bqt at softjar.se> wrote:
Well, I live in Switzerland, and only come by Sweden about once a year, so
that's not possible.
Johnny
On 2016-04-20 20:24, Sampsa Laine wrote:
I?m in Finland right now, could I persuade you to part with the Swedish
monitor? :)
On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:22, Johnny Billquist <bqt at softjar.se> wrote:
>
>
> (I do have PC monitors with analog RGB input and sync on green, and
> they work just fine.)
>
>
Intersted in selling one? I could even pick it up if it?s in Sweden.. :)
If you locate any older PC CRT monitor with BNC connectors, it should
work for you. I have two. One in Sweden, and one in Switzerland.
8:50 p.m.
Yep - pretty sure it's the F-417, like this:
http://www.itinstock.com/ag-neovo-f-417-19-tft-lcd-monitor-display-flat-pan…
Works a treat.
On 20 April 2016 at 19:47, Mark Wickens <mark at wickensonline.co.uk> wrote:
It's worth noting that some flat panels are happy
displaying sync on
green, especially 1280x1024 18/19" panels. I can let you know which work
for me. I think I've probably been lucky in that respect. Beats converters
and the like.
On 20 April 2016 at 19:36, Johnny Billquist <bqt at softjar.se> wrote:
On 2016-04-20 20:27, Sampsa Laine wrote:
On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:26, Johnny Billquist <bqt at softjar.se> wrote:
Well, I live in Switzerland, and only come by Sweden about once a year,
so that's not possible.
Johnny
On 2016-04-20 20:24, Sampsa Laine wrote:
>
> On 20 Apr 2016, at 21:22, Johnny Billquist <bqt at softjar.se> wrote:
>>
>>
>> (I do have PC monitors with analog RGB input and sync on green, and
>> they work just fine.)
>>
>>
> Intersted in selling one? I could even pick it up if it?s in Sweden..
> :)
>
If you locate any older PC CRT monitor with BNC connectors, it should
work for you. I have two. One in Sweden, and one in Switzerland.
I?m in Finland right now, could I persuade you to part with the Swedish
monitor? :)
2929
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2929
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15 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
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bob＠jfcl.com -
bqt＠softjar.se -
mark＠wickensonline.co.uk -
sampsa＠mac.com