[comp.os.vms] DEC VT240 repairs

SYSTEM@CUCEVX.CIVIL.COLUMBIA.EDU (Holt Farley) (06/13/88)

Net Land:

	We have a number of DEC VT240 terminals that have been very 
unreliable.  They die (regularly) with "NVR Error - 10" errors on powerup.
This indicates that the non-volatile memory that stores set-up information 
has problems.  The local terminal repair services fix this by replacing 
the terminal controller board --- typically charging $350+ for the board
exchange and another $100 for labor.  Needless to say, there costs are 
not justified when I can replace the terminal with a non-DEC equivalent 
for not much more money.

	Has anyone found a cheap repair for these VT240 terminals?  Are
there less expensive sources for the controller board exchange?  Does 
this NVR error indicate a replacable component on the controller board?
Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Holt Farley
System Manager
Columbia Univ. - Civil Engineering
system@cucevx.civil.columbia.edu	(InterNet)
system@cucevx				(Bitnet)
cucevx::system				(CCnet)

youssef@NADC.ARPA (P. Youssef) (06/20/88)

I had the same problem  Look at your setup If the baudrate is not set on the 
printer as the system baud it some t[D[Dtimes come up with that error als[D[D[D[D. Also xon/xoff
this worked in my case  [D[D. 

                                  Good luck
                                    Peter

reden@sys1.TANDY.COM (06/22/88)

I've had that error occur a number of times as well.


According to our DEC service rep, it occurs when the non-volatile RAM
breaks down.

What happens is this... the non-volatile RAM is just normal RAM with a 
capacitor for a batter supply.  In time, if the terminal isn't turned on,
it will lose it's charge and the terminal will give you that message.


Note: the terminal still should work, just with default settings...

The solution.... just write to the volatile memeory (SAVE) a couple of times
(3-4)...... This fixed it for us....

COST?? a little time (about 20 seconds)