I just became the steward of two Sol-20 machines of unknown operability. I am carefully and slowly assessing their status, but I have quickly realized that I have to let go of a lot of the assumptions I've developed over the years about "retro computers." I am coming mostly from the Apple II world, and everything that came after in the 80s. For example, I think I may have taken things like RF Modulation for granted.
I have a thread going on the comp.os.cpm google group, and there's been some interesting debate about 50 ohm vs 75 ohm coax. https://groups.google.com/g/comp.os.cpm/c/cmIiymZNH-k
I wanted to see if a wider audience might be able to help me get to the crux of the issue.
What is the simplest way to connect the Sol to a TV? Everything I know about that era of computing would tell me to rely on a serial connection or RF modulation for display, and so I think my options are to connect the Sol to an older TV via an RF modulator, or connect it to the composite video of a new TV.
Also, I can count on one hand the number of fuses I've had to buy in the last 20 years. The user manual only states that a 3A or 3.2A (contradictory statements on different pages) slow blow fuse is required. A quick search turns up 3A fuses, but of varying sizes. Which is the correct size? And finally, at least one of the fuse holders should probably be replaced. I think I have found a replacement part with Littelfuse p/n 03420038, but it looks like there are three variations - 38H, 38X, and 3HXL. Any idea what the suffixes mean and if any of these are compatible?
Thanks.
I have a thread going on the comp.os.cpm google group, and there's been some interesting debate about 50 ohm vs 75 ohm coax. https://groups.google.com/g/comp.os.cpm/c/cmIiymZNH-k
I wanted to see if a wider audience might be able to help me get to the crux of the issue.
What is the simplest way to connect the Sol to a TV? Everything I know about that era of computing would tell me to rely on a serial connection or RF modulation for display, and so I think my options are to connect the Sol to an older TV via an RF modulator, or connect it to the composite video of a new TV.
Also, I can count on one hand the number of fuses I've had to buy in the last 20 years. The user manual only states that a 3A or 3.2A (contradictory statements on different pages) slow blow fuse is required. A quick search turns up 3A fuses, but of varying sizes. Which is the correct size? And finally, at least one of the fuse holders should probably be replaced. I think I have found a replacement part with Littelfuse p/n 03420038, but it looks like there are three variations - 38H, 38X, and 3HXL. Any idea what the suffixes mean and if any of these are compatible?
Thanks.
