televideo model 925

[RedWolf]

Are there any dumb terminals that, I don't know, stand above the rest? Like a make/model that would be ideal? Or any that should definitely be avoided?

DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) terminals are generally considered the best serial, text-only terminals.  IBM and Wyse brands are also very good in general, although with IBM you have to make sure it actually has RS-232 support (they made some that just interfaced with their 820 series of servers).  I have a really nice, relatively modern Wyse (150, I think?) terminal with an extended PC-like keyboard (green screen) that I use a lot.

I'd recommend a terminal that was made in the late 1980s or early-mid 1990s for the best mix of features, price, and relatively compact size.  I have a few DEC VT-125s (early 1980s era), and while they are really nice, they are also very bulky.

[Stull]

I started scoping around eBay for such things and found two new-in-box Wyse 150 terminals. I wonder what price those will fetch? I also don't see a keyboard in the pictures so I don't know if one is included?

I also found a guy demonstrating the use of his DEC VT320 to control music and do some web surfing. Kind of neat, kind of pointless.

[lighthugger]

OK good news I'm still alive! Bad news the cleaning didn't work.

Here are some pictures of the motherboard and my attempt at typing QWERTY

I think I'll leave the old girl alone now, just leave it as something to look at! 

[lighthugger]

I'd love a DEC VT05 http://hummingbirdsales.com/VT05.html , looks like it's straight out of Space 2001 a space Odyssey

This had an asking price of $3500 last year! I wonder if anyone brought it.

[IGadget]

mmm video terminals, my first connection to the internet...a terminal connected to a 1200 baud modem.

On the video side I've always been partial to the IBM 3151, There are three in my storage which I need to do something about. All have the optional emulation cards to support VT100 in addition to the 6 other emulations built in. The DEC VT220 (VT == Video Terminal) is a wedge shaped unit with a rear kickstand that has an output port for a serial printer. DEC also made a VT420 which supported color, I think that was in the ANSI format.

If you don't restrict yourself to video, then my personal favorite was the Digital(DEC) LA120. This beast is a serial line connected 24 pin printer with a keyboard and supported 132 cols of output. Instead of a screen you had a box of continuous form paper between your feet and another empty box on the outside for your output. Using one of these is the only way to see some of the ASCII Art I have. The files have sections where a Line Feed(LF) was not issued after a Carriage Return(CR) so the text was overprinted on the line making it darker.

When testing terminals, if you are not connected to a device like a modem or unix host, you need to turn on local echo to be able to see what you are typing. You will want to turn it off after connecting unless you wanted to see two of every typed character. If the host you were connecting to was busy enough to slow processing, when you pressed a key there would be a noticeable delay before the character appeared on your screen.  Think 200+ simultaneous serial connections either direct or though a terminal server and everyone trying to get their CIS homework done.

[RedWolf]

mmm video terminals, my first connection to the internet...a terminal connected to a 1200 baud modem.

On the video side I've always been partial to the IBM 3151, There are three in my storage which I need to do something about. All have the optional emulation cards to support VT100 in addition to the 6 other emulations built in. The DEC VT220 (VT == Video Terminal) is a wedge shaped unit with a rear kickstand that has an output port for a serial printer. DEC also made a VT420 which supported color, I think that was in the ANSI format.

If you don't restrict yourself to video, then my personal favorite was the Digital(DEC) LA120. This beast is a serial line connected 24 pin printer with a keyboard and supported 132 cols of output. Instead of a screen you had a box of continuous form paper between your feet and another empty box on the outside for your output. Using one of these is the only way to see some of the ASCII Art I have. The files have sections where a Line Feed(LF) was not issued after a Carriage Return(CR) so the text was overprinted on the line making it darker.

When testing terminals, if you are not connected to a device like a modem or unix host, you need to turn on local echo to be able to see what you are typing. You will want to turn it off after connecting unless you wanted to see two of every typed character. If the host you were connecting to was busy enough to slow processing, when you pressed a key there would be a noticeable delay before the character appeared on your screen.  Think 200+ simultaneous serial connections either direct or though a terminal server and everyone trying to get their CIS homework done.

Welcome to the forum, IGadget.  Great to have you.  Glad to see we have another terminal fan on here.  Maybe if you start some new threads up, forum veterans will join in.

Benj