Whilst in a self-induced trance, Marvin happened to blather:
>I was at one of the local thrift stores (a once a month or so experience)
>and found a Radio Shack TRS-80 Disk/Video Interface unit for $0.90 with
>manual. Apparently it was marked down from about $3.95 or so to get it gone
>and I was more than happy to help out at that price even not knowing what it
>was. After reading the manual, I still don't know but it talks about the
>portable computer and I see one reference to a model 100. Anyone have more
>information on this thing as far as what it attaches to? The model 100 is
>obvious but since it talks about the connecting it to the Portable Computer,
>are there others this thing might work with? Also since it didn't come with
>a floppy disk, is this just a standard TRS-DOS or is there something special
>about it? Finally, it is missing the connecting cable and does anyone have
>the pinout for it or know where I might find it on-line? Thanks!
Ohhhh... nice buy! They wouldn't happen to have 3 more at that price, would
they??? ;-)
The DVI as it was shortened to would give 180K floppy (40 track, SSDD,
18SPT) storage and 40x24 & 80x24 VT-52 compatible screen capability to a
Tandy 100, 102 (later, lighter, redesigned 100), or the Tandy 200 (which I
own).
[[ Editor's note: Obviously, you need one of the above-mentioned portables
to make use of the DVI... ]]
It needs a special cable that I have seen for sale on comp.sys.tandy, and
at the for-sale listing at:
http://www.value.net/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/~thedock/c100sale.pl
[[ Editor's note: this is a cgi-program accessable from the "For Sale" link
at:
http://www.the-dock.com/club100.html
They also have a wanted listing and a guestbook! ]]
It *does* require a boot floppy disk, I believe these are still available
at Radio Shack for a few $$$ apiece (at least in the US... not sure about
other countries) I have a boot disk for the DVI that boots the Model 100 --
too bad it doesn't seem to work with my T200. :-(
I do have the pinouts for the cable, but the connection to the M100 was a
specially wired 40-pin DIP cable, that I've heard is mongo-painful to try
to build yourself (and, of course, RS doesn't stock those IIRC). The cable
for the T200/T102 is easier to build with 40-pin IDC connectors and ribbon
cable (I successfully converted an IBM-PC Clone IDE data cable)
If you wish more information on this or most anything else from the "Model
'T'" world, just let me know.
"Merch"
--
Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed,
Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should *not*
zmerch_at_northernway.net | be your first career choice.
Received on Sun Aug 24 1997 - 11:57:06 BST