> On 31 Aug 2023, at 07:07, William Sudbrink via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> > wrote: > > Now that I'm thinking about it, there were also instructions for hacking the > composite signal straight into the TV, bypassing the tuner... but Mom and > Dad probably wouldn't go for that (mine didn't).
I paid a local electronics store to add an RCA composite input to our old black & white TV, bypassing the tuner. It think it cost $50 at the time (early 80s) d > -----Original Message----- > From: William Sudbrink via cctalk [mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org] > Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 4:54 PM > To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts' > <cctalk@classiccmp.org> > Cc: 'W2HX' <w...@w2hx.com>; William Sudbrink <wh.sudbr...@verizon.net> > Subject: [cctalk] Re: Silly question about S-100 and video monitors > > There were RF modulators. See the November 1976 review of the Poly-88 here > (on page 16): > > http://cini.classiccmp.org/pdf/DrDobbs/DrDobbs-1976-11-12-v1n10.pdf > > Note the reference to the "Pixie Verter". It is a little cheap circuit > board that takes the composite signal and modulates it onto channel 3. You > will find references to the Pixie-Verter in a number of publications and > user manuals for early video boards. The Matrox and the Cromemco Dazzler > and the Ohio Scientific documentation all reference it. David Ahl in his > "Saga Of A System" magazine article references it. With that, a TV, video > board, RF modulator and a parallel keyboard were much cheaper than any > serial terminal back then. The RF modulator was separate from the video > board (usually hung on the back of the TV) for noise reasons. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: W2HX via cctalk [mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org] > Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 3:39 PM > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk@classiccmp.org> > Cc: W2HX <w...@w2hx.com> > Subject: [cctalk] Silly question about S-100 and video monitors > > Hi all, > > I recently acquired an S-100 computer, and it came with a video card and a > keyboard (3rd party products, not originally equipped with these). I am > trying to figure out the benefits of having a video card and keyboard vs > just using a serial port and terminal. Certainly if the video card supported > graphics, that would be a reason to go that route over a terminal. As for > the keyboard, ok-maybe you need specific keys for a specific application. > But I don't understand the video monitor. I could understand maybe if there > was an RF modulator so that you could use a standard TV. That would save the > builder some money. But this computer just provides composite. > > Other than graphics (and maybe some special function keys for an application > on a keyboard), why would an S-100 builder in those days opt to buy a video > card instead of a terminal? > > Thanks for the bandwidth. > > 73 Eugene W2HX > Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@w2hx/videos > > > -- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > www.avast.com > > > -- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > www.avast.com
