WTB-P [UK] Serial terminal like Wyse 520 or VT240 etc - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mubes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2018, 08:28:34 am
content: I hesitate to even ask this for fear of what might come back, but does anyone have a spare, decent condition (It'll be on my workbench) serial terminal that they don't want...preferably either UK Nottingham or NL Gouda regions to avoid extortionate shipping costs and the possibility of the postie kicking it all the way here? I feel an irrational hankering for old-skool and I'm pretty sure there are plenty of these in the backs of cupboards here and there. I gave away my (very nice condition) vt220 years ago and now I'm regretting it...DAVE

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2018, 10:12:07 am
content: I'm pretty sure there aren't lots in the back of cupboards any more. Its been at least a quarter of a century since a dedicated terminal was cost-effective compared to a PC, and 25 years is an eternity in business terms so your only chance is the very small number saved by enthusiasts. Unfortunately those enthusiasts are an ageing population, and as they die off or downsize a lot of gear in storage is going in skips.

author: woodchips
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2018, 04:58:07 pm
content: I have a Motorola Exorterm, all TTL based, off to scrappy tomorrow.Or a VT520 and a Wyse of some type, buried at the moment. VT520 works, intermittent keyboard but PC Minidin type, but screen very burnt, Wyse looked ok last time I looked, was going to keep it but really no need.Near Grantham.

author: picitup
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2018, 11:05:58 am
content: You've probably thought of this, but have you considered using a USB serial port and a pc with something like TeraTerm?I used to use a dumb terminal for PIC work, using the serial port for debug output but now I use a second monitor on my laptop.CheersSteve

author: mubes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2018, 09:48:13 pm
content: Hi Steve,I did say it was an irrational hankering :-) I tend to use USB<->TTL adapters quite often for debug work, or HC-05 type bluetooth adapters when I don't want an electrical connection to the target, but there's something about a 'real' terminal that can't be emulated by minicom, cu, screen or seyon...A couple of people have popped up and it looks like I've actually got a Wyse 520 on its way. As usual this community has proved to be remarkably productive - thanks to everyone who replied or sent me PM.DAVE

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 03:48:39 am
content: I love the old terminals. I looked for one for a couple years, and then three fell into my lap. A Wyse-60, VT-220 and a clone of that called a C.Itoh CIT-220+. The VT-220 was missing the keyboard and it cost me $50 to get one of those. Neat old retro hardware, I recently hooked them up to a Raspberry Pi, eventually I'll try setting up the IBM mainframe emulator.Sure a terminal emulator on a modern PC makes more sense, but what's the fun in that? Preserving and playing with the old tech is so much more fun. I'd love to find one of the newer color CRT terminals.

author: mubes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 11:23:09 am
content: ...for those that have the same irrational hankering, but a rational constraint on desk space, checkout cool-retro-term, which plays nicely on Linux and MacOS....see attached.