Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Tell us your ongoing tales and experiences with your French car here. Post pictures of your car here as well.
User avatar
Zelandeth
Donor 2024
Posts: 5327
Joined: 16 Nov 2014, 23:36
x 1607

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by Zelandeth »

Some really interesting things happen if you accidentally send a binary to a VT100 rather than an ASCI text file...

Image

As a random aside - this is about the only photo I've got where the camera has accurately captured the deep emerald green colour properly.

This however shows something quite interesting. In fact it shows a couple of interesting things.

Firstly is that we clearly have an extended character ROM installed. None visible in that photograph as far as I can see, but we definitely saw a lot of characters while being slowly hypnotised by it that absolutely are not in the standard VT100 character ROM. Whole load of Greek characters were most conspicuous.

What is also interesting is that we have clearly accidentally sent the control codes which have changed it into the advanced graphics mode, and been drawing point to point graphics.

Image

This is interesting as it shows that it's obviously possible to get into and manipulate the graphics mode using escape codes just the same as used for cursor control etc. So we might be able to do some interesting things with that later on, even though we obviously don't have the proprietary software which originally would have utilised it.

There is something really hypnotising about text just scrolling past on a long persistence phosphor CRT.

This was me just chucking the Windows 3.0 Readme.txt file to it when I was testing.



Yes, the phosphor really does fade out that slowly.

Which gives quite a spectacular display of the frame collapsing when the power is turned off as well.

Image

Kind of interesting that we have a green screen, the documentation suggests a normal white P4 phosphor rather than our green. Which honestly looks far better to me!
Current fleet:
07 Volvo V70 SE D5, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 73 AC Model 70, 62 Rover 110.
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 55135
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
x 8415

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by CitroJim »

I'm loving this Zel :D
Jim

A bit of a Citroen AX fan...
User avatar
xantia_v6
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 10985
Joined: 09 Nov 2005, 22:03
x 1464

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by xantia_v6 »

I suspect that a green screen with slow phosphor was an option for some graphics application with slow refresh where the phosphor delay covered up flicker as the screen was re-drawn.
User avatar
Zelandeth
Donor 2024
Posts: 5327
Joined: 16 Nov 2014, 23:36
x 1607

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by Zelandeth »

[quote=xantia_v6 post_id=877987 time=1793081201 user_id=5382]
I suspect that a green screen with slow phosphor was an option for some graphics application with slow refresh where the phosphor delay covered up flicker as the screen was re-drawn.
[/quote]

That would make sense. Especially as all of the examples I've seen fitted with the VT640 expansion so far seem to be green screen. Wonder if they came from DEC with that CRT or if it was changed as part of the upgrade process.
Current fleet:
07 Volvo V70 SE D5, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 73 AC Model 70, 62 Rover 110.
User avatar
Zelandeth
Donor 2024
Posts: 5327
Joined: 16 Nov 2014, 23:36
x 1607

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by Zelandeth »

You couldn't make this up.

After three years of faultless behaviour, the Volvo has decided to blot its copy book. An "unpleasant" noise when moving off with any degree of urgency has appeared, coinciding with the cruise control going AWOL.

...On the first outward trip of 30 getting my other half to his radiotherapy appointments.

Great. Wonderful. Perfect. I'm excited to be part of it. This absolutely wasn't a stressful enough process already. The car deciding to actually up in an unlikely to be easily fixable way was exactly what I needed right now.
Current fleet:
07 Volvo V70 SE D5, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 73 AC Model 70, 62 Rover 110.