Liberty Freedom One Plus (was Re: My GE Terminet 300)

From: Philip Pemberton <philpem_at_dsl.pipex.com>
Date: Mon Aug 30 18:08:33 2004

In message <41339040.729BA357_at_cs.ubc.ca>
          Brent Hilpert <hilpert_at_cs.ubc.ca> wrote:


> The manual mentions a couple of keyboard options, one uses an explicit
> "SETUP" key to get into setup and one uses the SCROLL-LOCK key to get into
> setup, the manual doesn't mention use of F3 to get into setup (?).

The slot-in keyboard guide strip on my terminal has "SETUP" listed as F3
(i.e. "SETUP" printed above the F3 key).

> Getting into full-screen setup should be accomplished with Shift-<setup>,
> where <setup> is whichever setup-entry-option you have. The behaviour is
> somewhat unusual in that it doesn't display the full-screen setup until you
> *release* the shift key and may be why you haven't discovered it.

Ah-HA! That did it.

> Once you get into full-screen setup:
> - Shift-F1 goes into a self-test and displays the firmware version
> (Version 02.6, Keyboard 04.3, Copyright 1986 on mine)

Version 02.1, Keyboard 02.3, Copyright 1986 Liberty Electronics USA, Inc. on
mine.
I did find the URL for what used to be Liberty's website. Unfortunately one
of the "lets buy expired domains" search engine type cybersquatter things
bought the domain, put up their search engine... and added a ROBOTS.TXT file
to the server that blocked Wayback (web.archive.org). Wayback noticed the
file... and promptly nuked all the old pre-cybersquat stuff as well.
Another reason why I want the jackasses who do that sort of stuff to be
removed from the genepool in the most painful and thorough way possible.

> - Shift-F3 presents some other self-test screens
> - Exiting self-test modes is accomplished with *right*Shift-Break ("soft
> reset")

Break being F5 on this terminal.

> Ctl-<setup> saves setup, as you discovered.
> Ctl-Shift-<setup> restores default config.

Now that I didn't know - thanks.

> There are several emulation modes (some Wyse, Televideo and ADDS models and
> ADM-31).

Mine has:
  DEC VT100 (ASCII)
  DEC VT100 (U.K.)
  DEC VT52 (ASCII)
  DEC VT52 (U.K.)
  DASHER 210 [Data General... Hmm...]
  DASHER 211 (7-bit)
  DASHER 211 (8-bit)
  DEC VT200 (7-bit) [the mode I usually use my terminal in]
  DEC VT200 (8-bit)

Interesting that Data General made terminals. ISTR the city council had the
libraries system redone in '94 or thereabouts - part of that included
installing a few terminals in each library. All bolted down, tilt-stands
locked, and all with Data General labels on the front. Most were amber-screen
CRT, the rest were white-screen CRT. Nice little terminals.
What I do remember was there being a power cut - the power came back on a few
seconds later and the terminals rebooted... to a "*" prompt. I would like to
know what system they were running the database on - I'm guessing one of the
DG systems, but I've never seen the shell prompt on one of those things...

> I'm using the terminal as a console for a minicomputer and something I
> have found useful is that the printer/aux port can be set into
> 'bi-directional' mode, making it possible to connect another computer to
> the second port for transparent downloading and uploading between the two
> computers without having to switch cables or requiring a switch box.

Neat trick. I might build a second terminal cable then.

> If there is some particular info you need from the manual let me know.

I would like to know what triggers the "WAIT" LED on the keyboard and what
"U.K." is supposed to signify in the VT52 and VT100 entries.

I suspect the WAIT LED is triggered by DCD going inactive or something like
that.

Any chance you could scan the manual?

Thanks.
-- 
Phil.                              | Acorn Risc PC600 Mk3, SA202, 64MB, 6GB,
philpem_at_dsl.pipex.com              | ViewFinder, 10BaseT Ethernet, 2-slice,
http://www.philpem.dsl.pipex.com/  | 48xCD, ARCINv6c IDE, SCSI
... (A)bort (F)ail (C)reate a holographic image in plasma memory?
Received on Mon Aug 30 2004 - 18:08:33 BST

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