dd26+@andrew.cmu.edu (Douglas F. DeJulio) (02/28/91)
I've got this old TRS-08 Model 1 that I've just recently found in the basement of my parents' house during a visit, and I'd like to hook it up and test it out (and play some of those Big Five games again). The problem? No monitor. Does anybody know what I'd need to do to wire something from the video out of the TRS-80 to the video in of a VCR? -- Doug DeJulio dd26+@andrew.cmu.edu
cameronjames@snoc01.enet.dec.com (James Cameron) (02/28/91)
In article <0bmzJQ_00VI8I0t_5p@andrew.cmu.edu>, dd26+@andrew.cmu.edu (Douglas F. DeJulio) writes: > Does anybody know what I'd need to do to wire > something from the video out of the TRS-80 to the video in of a VCR? 1) 1 Shielded cable; of appropriate length; though twisted pair might work, 2) 1 VCR Connector; see your VCR for this, 3) 1 5pin DIN (male) connector [or was it six pin??]. The pins on the VIDEO out connector on the TRS-80 include +5v regulated Ground Video Out and I think there might be a sync output that isn't used much, since the video out is a composite sync type signal. I'm pretty sure that a VCR can handle an accidental 5vdc pulse; it gets heaps more out of an electrical storm. VCR video in sections normally include a capacitor to filter out DC levels. The composite video signal is around 2v peak-to-peak, I think. The point of all this is that I don't know off hand which pin is which, but I do think that trying out every pin sequence will give you what you need eventually. If you have a multimeter handy, use that first so that you can identify the +5v output pin. If you have the cassette drive cable available, use the shield of one of it's plugs as the ground reference. If you have nothing, then you'll find that the +5v pin will give a white flash on the screen. My model I's have monitors, and it's been a while since I connected them to my VCR... -- James Cameron Digital Equipment Corporation (Australia) P/L (cameronjames@snoc01.enet.dec.com)
yetsko@interlan.interlan.com (Mike Yetsko) (02/28/91)
Hmm.... It really HAS been years.... I THINK that the TRS-80 originally had video out, but it was 5V p-p, kind of high, but not bad. I've seen old mod 1's tied to modulators, and then to TV's but they looked kinda bad. If you take it direct video, it should be halfway decent. I have this nagging in my head that maybe it was separate syncs, but I don't t think so. Mike Yetsko
bill@bilver.uucp (Bill Vermillion) (03/01/91)
In article <0bmzJQ_00VI8I0t_5p@andrew.cmu.edu> dd26+@andrew.cmu.edu (Douglas F. DeJulio) writes: >I've got this old TRS-08 Model 1 that I've just recently found in the >basement of my parents' house during a visit, and I'd like to hook it >up and test it out (and play some of those Big Five games again). The >problem? No monitor. Does anybody know what I'd need to do to wire >something from the video out of the TRS-80 to the video in of a VCR? The video connector on the back of the I is a 5-pin din connector. On the connector there are 3 significant signals. video, +5 v, and ground. The original monitor was made by RCA and was a hot-chassis tv set with the tuner out. The 5v powered an opto-isolator circuit to keep the 110vac out othe computer (and user). The easiest way is to get a mono 5pin din (with 3 connectors) to two RCA plugs. They were available for the original cassette machines. One plug will have the video signal on it with the associated ground. Cut of the other and wire directly to a standard video monitor. Or build your own. This is from memory (about 11 years ago now) the only pins you need to worry about a 1,3 and 5. You could check with an ohm-meter and find ground. Then find 5v. Use the one that is NOT 5v and the ground. Video is standard composite. I used non-RS monitors for years. Big improvement. -- Bill Vermillion - UUCP: uunet!tarpit!bilver!bill : bill@bilver.UUCP
) (03/02/91)
In article <1991Feb28.085743@snoc01.enet.dec.com> cameronjames@snoc01.enet.dec.com (James Cameron) writes: >In article <0bmzJQ_00VI8I0t_5p@andrew.cmu.edu>, dd26+@andrew.cmu.edu (Douglas F. >DeJulio) writes: >> Does anybody know what I'd need to do to wire >> something from the video out of the TRS-80 to the video in of a VCR? I've done this -- all you need to do is go out and buy one of those $50-90 black-white/amber/green COMPOSITE monitor and hook two of the pins (video out and ground) to the monitor. Works perfectly, (letters are sharp) except it seems that you will not get the full use of the screen (remember, the model I can print 64 characters across the screen). It seems like you are boxed up! Anyways, if you need more info, feel free to leave me email @ ghong@ucsd.edu Gary