Was the picture significantly better then with the modulator ? Sent from my iPhone
> On Aug 31, 2023, at 14:14, David Arnold via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> > wrote: > > >> 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 >
