#Modem/Monitor info
20 messages in this thread
I know *nothing* about Amigas and next to nothing about modem connections. I am
posting this question for a friend who is trying to resuscitate an Amiga 500
that he got for a song. Up until about a month ago, he was completely computer
illiterate. We are both ignorant but I told him that I access to the font of
knowledge.
Right now he is using some sort of radio switch (??) to hook the 500 to a TV.
He wants a dedicated monitor (monochrome will do) and he wants it cheap. What
should we be looking for?
He also recently scored a Apple IIe and a printer for a whistle (e.g less than
a song). He is looking for a modem for that machine, but I told him that he may
have better results hooking up the Amiga. Is anyone here bi-lingual? Which
machine will work better for email and some limited downloading here.
I will cruise the classified section here to see what is available, but I won't
have any idea what I am looking at.
Any help/info would be appreciated.
– Steve
Well, I am probably as unbias (bi-Lingual) as any as far as cross platforms but
I have to admit: Of all the machines I've worked on I have not had any time on
the IIe. The Amiga 500 is not the latest but it will hold it's place for some
time. I would suggest the 500 as the one to work on.
2.
There are 1084 monitors availible, refurbed for around $129.00. That's a decent
deal for composit and RGB plus a speaker with volume…. Maybe he could find
one for a "dance" (more than a song or a whistle but still a deal for an
Amiga.)
Goodluck
Zeddock
Thanks for the unbiased Bi-linqual advice.
I learned this evening that my friend bought the IIe sight unseen. He is
completely computer illiterate, and he admitted tonight that when he heard
"Apple" he really thought that he was getting an old compact Mac (like an SE).
Nonetheless, he got a computer and a printer for $150 and it's just like the
one his nine-year old daughter uses at school and she's pleased as punch!
We also learned today that just to hook the thing to a modem would require an
upgrade. There comes a time when retro-computing goes from being a noble cause
to just throwing good money after bad. A good mail order price for the chip
upgrade/serial card/modem/cable and telecommunications software is $200. I
think that's just too much.
I agree that the Amiga would be the one to work on… I've always been
impressed with what they are capable of, but I never had the opportunity to use
one. The question now becomes one of how much of what kind of work he wants to
do with the machine and how much money he is willing to part with.
He has said that he only wants to use the machine for email (but we know how
that goes… next it's managing the checking account, a couple of paint
programs, a few games, then the shareware collection starts to grow.
Are there any plain 'ol monochrome monitors for the Amiga out there? (You're
right though, $129 is cheap!)
Thanks,
– Steve
>Are there any plain 'ol monochrome monitors for the Amiga out there?
There sure are! All you need is any mono monitor with a composite RCA jack
input. You don't really see these too much anymore for computers, but you
can still get them. (I've seen them for sale as security monitors.)
Bob Comer — Cruising the nets on Autopilot!
Cheyenne, Wyoming U.S.A.
Robert,
Somebody else suggested the security monitor route and I got a chance to tell
my friend about it tonight – he says it sounds like a plan! It's just the kind
of down and dirty (and cheap!) solution we need to get the boy connected here.
Thanks – Steve
Steve,
The Apple IIe is a 6502 based monochrome display machine. (read Old
useless piece of floppy using plastic) I compare them to C= 64's. What's
a whistle going for these days? I can get a IIe, w Ext. 80-col. card,
duo-disk and Monitor III for $350.
I recall that I bought a similar system for about the same as what I
paid for my last A3000 25/120 system w/monitir and 18 megs. Of course
that was when the Apple IIe came out in 81 or so. It was avant-gaurd
stuff then yha know.
The A500 is much better suited for most anything he is doing. Not to
mention faster and color.
//
Gary Vander Mei on Auto-Pilot \X/
Gary,
> What's a whistle going for these days? I can get a IIe, w Ext. 80-col.
> card, duo-disk and Monitor III for $350.
Well, it turns out that my pal picked up the IIe and a printer for $150; but he
bought it sight unseen and when he heard "Apple" he really thought that he was
getting an old Mac. His nine-year old daughter is happy (it's the same machine
she uses at school) and he is wiser. He *did* find out that even to hook up a
modem would require an ROM/serial card upgrade… and he's really not willing
to spend the money to do that.
Is hooking up a modem to a Amiga 500 pretty much plug and play? (uh…
nevermind, Betty just answered that question in the next frame).
Thanks for the advice.
– Steve (on Navigator:)
Steve,
If your buddy needs a cheap external modem Midwest Micro (800-972-8822)
has Infotel 14.4's for $109 and 96's for $75. (Just can't beat those
prices!) I have two of the 14.4's for my bulletin board and they work
great. I am thinking of trashing a Supra I have and getting one to
replace it also.
//
Gary Vander Mei on Auto-Pilot \X/
At those prices it doesn't make sense to pay even $25 for a used 2400 buad
modem! I'll be sure to pass the info along to a couple of folks.
Thanks again
Steve,
Your friend needs an Amiga 1084 or 1070 or other Amiga monitor, if
possible. Otherwise, he can use a multisync if it will go as low as 15.7.
Most of the newer ones start at about 31.4, and those won't work.
As for the modem, his Amiga can use any Hayes-compatible modem and a
standard serial cable. That is VERY simple to do. And we have a library
full of term programs he can choose from. If he is lucky enough to have
found an Amiga500 with 2.04 or later installed, and he has a 1M Agnus and
at least 2M of fast memory, he could even use AutoPilot, the automated CIS
navigator for the Amiga. It is in AmigaVendor, Library 9, AP.LHA. This
is a demo version. He can see if it works on his machine, and if so, then
he can register it and get the full version.
—Betty
Betty,
> Your friend needs an Amiga 1084 or 1070 or other Amiga monitor, if
> possible. Otherwise, he can use a multisync if it will go as low as
> 15.7.
Forgive my ignorance, but as low as 15.7 what? (actually, I'm just curious.
There is no chance that he would ever buy a new monitor). Is there such a thing
as a really cheap monochrome Amiga monitor? Is it even worth looking for? He
claims that he really only wants to use the computer for email.
> As for the modem, his Amiga can use any Hayes-compatible modem and a
> standard serial cable.
So am I to understand that the 500 comes with a serial port? We found out that
the IIe would require an upgrade to add one… just too much effort and expense
to become roadworthy on even the backroads of the information e-way.
> If he is lucky enough to have found an Amiga500 with 2.04 or later
> installed, and he has a 1M Agnus and at least 2M of fast memory, he could
> even use AutoPilot
That's complete gibberish to me (except for the AutoPilot part) but please
don't waste the bandwidth trying to explain, I really don't want to know <G>. I
will pass your comments on to my friend and he can work it out with the fellow
he bought the machine from.
Thanks for the info and the tips on the available comm programs here.
– Steve
> Forgive my ignorance, but as low as 15.7 what?
KHZ –> kilohertz
My multisync is a NEC 1401P3A. It's a 14 inch monitor. There are other
good choices. I got mine used for $200. Otherwise, I'd tried the
multiscan CTX that Creative Computers is advertising in Amiga World.
As for the Apple //e, you can get plenty of help from the APPUSER forum
here on CompuServe or the A2 RoundTable (page 645) on GEnie. Software, a
modem, and serial card (cable, too, of course) should be enough for email.
There is a place in Shreveport, LA that sells used equipment. Quality
sells mailorder and still has an Apple II specific magazine/mailorder
brochure.
Sincerely,
(Mr.) Gayle Lee Fairless
'Perfessor Fearless' from the Rocket City!
via AutoPilot 1.03a
Gayle,
> > Forgive my ignorance, but as low as 15.7 what?
>
> KHZ –> kilohertz
I kinda figured that, but I really wasn't sure. Using a Mac and sticking to
Apple equipment is easy, but it makes you stupid. I think the only reason I am
not a computer tecky is because I don't have to be.
I have gotten some good info from the folks in at APPUSER, but I think it's
going to be more trouble than it's worth to get the ol' IIe rolling on the Info
eway.
I already ordered the Quality catalog to be sent to my friend's address.
Thanks for the info.
– Steve
>>My multisync is a NEC 1401P3A.
Egads!! There is someone out there beside me using one of these dinasours?
I thought I had the only one still living! Bought it over 3 years ago
used for my flicker fixer/bridgeboard/VGA card and have not had a lick of
trouble (knock on wood), good workhorse of a monitor (wish the screen was
larger though) <sigh>
…Steve
====>>> Motorola 68030 Inside <<<====
> multisync is a NEC 1401P3A.
> There is someone out there beside me using one of these dinasours?
Steve,
Yes, I'm quite happy with the better display for my bridgeboard. I
haven't gotten an A/B switch yet. The only thing I miss is the ease of
screen capture when the BB display is emulated on a screen. At the price
I paid, the screen is fine!
Sincerely,
(Mr.) Gayle Lee Fairless
'Perfessor Fearless' from the Rocket City!
via AutoPilot 1.03a
>>At the price I paid, the screen is fine!
Amen, got mine used for $150 from a PCer moving to SVGA. Got my A/B
switch box from Dave Cinenge with cables if I remeber for around $30 bucks
or so. yes I too miss being able to snap text from the BB side to the
amy, but life is full of compromises!
====>>> Motorola 68030 Inside <<<====
Steve,
If you really want a cheap mono monitor, you'll need to find a composite
monitor, like the kind used for closed-circuit TV or video use. The TTL
kind used with pc-type monochrome cards won't work. Note that if you get a
color composite monitor, you'll still only get monochrome out of the
computer unless you use a RGB->Composite encoder. Unless you can find a
really cheap mono monitor the used/refurb 1084 route is probably best.
Jim
MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
Jim,
> If you really want a cheap mono monitor, you'll need to find a composite
> monitor, like the kind used for closed-circuit TV or video use.
Now we're talkin'!
This is the kinda dirt cheap kludgy workaround that my buddy likes! (In his
defense, he's not cheap and he is tremendously talented… he just likes to
tinker).
I also have a friend who used to install closed-circuit systems. I'll bet he
can put his hands on about fifty nine-inch monitors without leaving his
workroom. I had no idea they would work with the Amiga.
Thanks.
– Steve
Steve,
I understand the hardware hacking urge… I built a Z80 system from the
chips up back in the 'Elder Days' of personal computers. 😀 In fact,
that system has a scavenged monitor from an old Burroughs terminal that
would work fine on an Amiga. They made it easy for me to save the monitor
part, it even came with a BNC connector for the video input. Junk the
logic & power supply & zap off the surplus case room with a saw… Zap-
instant ugly monitor!
Good luck with the project.
-Jim
MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
Jim,
> I understand the hardware hacking urge…
Fortunately or not, I don't. But, I really respect those who have it – I have a
friend in Tennessee who is really proud of the gasoline washing machine motor
that he rescued from the dump – now all he needs is a machine to put it in! The
same guy built an eight-foot high upside-down bicycle when he was twelve. Ralph
Nader would have had a stroke!
In all honesty, I think my tinkering Amiga Amigo may be considering getting a
system that was built in this decade for his telecommunicating needs… but I'm
also sure that the Amiga will not end up as trash.
Thanks for the encouragement
– Steve