Wyse terminal modes

From: Bruce Lane <kyrrin_at_jps.net>
Date: Sun Aug 9 10:12:26 1998

At 03:04 09-08-98 -0700, you wrote:

>This is probably not a 10yr thing, but I don't know any other list that's
>got this many people that know what they're talking about...
>
>I've got a Wyse WY-50 terminal. From the menus, it's got four modes:
> FDX, BLOCK, HDX, H-BLK
>
>After reading (on this list) that the old HP terminals had something
>called "block mode", I was wondering what it meant here. Also, what's FDX
>and HDX? The first thing that came to my mind was Full Duplex and Half
>Duplex, but I don't know how those would apply.

        You're correct on block mode. Block is often used in cases where the host
computer downloads an electronic form to the terminal's display. The titles
and format of the form itself are protected, so you just fill in the fields
and press enter. Away it goes.

        Example: Most IBM mainframe terminals (the 3270'ish species) are block
mode devices.

        As for FDX and HDX, you're right on with the meanings. Some early host
computers couldn't handle full duplex, hence the option for the terminal to
do half duplex. Also, HDX will echo what is typed locally; FDX will not.

        I'm not sure what H-BLK is.

>Also, are these terminals just really lacking features or are Linux and
>*BSD just not running it right? It seems that tabs get ignored, for one.
>And it is just generally awkward looking. (And the arrow keys don't work
>in pine, but that's not terribly critical.) It doesn't act in a logical
>way at times.

        The Wyse 50 can emulate a couple of different terminals. Make sure its
emulation setting and what Linux is expecting agree with each other.

>What were these terminals meant to be used with? I got this one from a

        <snip>

        Any compatible serial port. ;-) I've seen 'em used on everything from IBM
compatibles to big mainframes, and I've also seen them used by my fellow
radio hamateurs as packet terminals in conjunction with a TNC and radio.

>AS/400 installation, though I don't know if it was ever actually used for
>the AS/400 (they had a whole mess of IBM twin-ax terminals for that).

        AS/400's are, as I recall, capable of accomodating serial terminals.


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272)
(Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin_at_jps.net)
"Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own
human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."
Received on Sun Aug 09 1998 - 10:12:26 BST