Re: help needed finding a VT100/VT101 keyboard

From: Richard S. Shuford (shuford_at_list.stratagy.REM0VE-THlS-PART.com)
Date: 08/30/04 

Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 22:22:22 -0400 (EDT)

Dan wrote:
|
| I have recently purchased both a DEC VT100 and a VT101,
| both without keyboards.

Sadly, people who want to sell off equipment of this vintage seldom
understand the need to keep the keyboard and display unit together.

| I was able to find a newer DEC keyboard at the local surplus store,
| one with the RJ11 connector, but from what I read there isn't any
| easy way to make this work as the VT10x uses a bi-directional data line.

Your newer keyboard is probably either an LK201 or LK401. Practically
speaking, neither can be used with the older-technology VT100-series
display units.

On the other hand, from time to time somebody posts in "comp.terminals"
lamenting that he has obtained a VT220 or VT420 display unit without
its keyboard; such a person would be pleased to take the one you have
off your hands. Don't trash it.

| Does anyone have an extra keyboard that they are willing to part
| with, or any leads on where to find one? This is the one that uses
| a 1/4" headphone connector.

People who are collectors of DEC PDP-11 and early VAX computer systems
might possibly have an assortment of VT100 components, since the VT100
was the console terminal of choice for classic VAX-11 machines. Here
are some websites for such interests:

    http://www.osfn.org/rcs/
    http://www.village.org/pdp11/faq.html
    http://webpages.charter.net/thecomputercollection/periphs/

The other possible source of VT100 keyboards and components would be
amateur-radio hamfests, where old electronic gear of every description
might be for sale or trade. A list of such weekend events is maintained
by the American Radio Relay League:

    http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html

For other information about VT100 terminals, their keyboards, and
related technology, you can check my archive:

    http://www.cs.utk.edu/~shuford/terminal_index.html

A diagram of the VT100's key layout appears here:

    http://vt100.net/docs/vt100-ug/figure3-2.html

| I don't regularly check this group, so I would appreciate a copy of
| any response via e-mail to dano at agora dot rdrop dot com. Thanks.

It's not the best Internet manners, to ask a question and then "leave
the room" without checking for an answer, but maybe I'll be nice...

 ...RSS 

-- 
K.L. says to try http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/herb/r.php
which, however, contains no caffeine.