Old graphics to modern graphics

[MrB]

I have a client who has a telephone monitoring system in a motel
environment. It tracks time of calls, etc. It uses an old green screen. To
save space, he wants to install a flat panel LCD. The connectors are not the
same. Can this be done with expectation of a reasonable image? (DOS program
displays image)

 

[kony]

I have a client who has a telephone monitoring system in a motel
environment. It tracks time of calls, etc. It uses an old green screen. To
save space, he wants to install a flat panel LCD. The connectors are not the
same. Can this be done with expectation of a reasonable image? (DOS program
displays image)

What output does this system have for video?

You may need an adapter to DB15, if not a converter.
Since you'll run at lower resolution than the native
resolution of a modern LCD, it'll be a little bit blurry,
but still quite usable for mere DOS text. You could buy a
low resolution LCD instead, one that was smaller but it will
likely cost as much or more and being smaller, that
increases difficulty (or really, comfort and distance) to
read it as much as the slight blurring of using a larger LCD
at non-native resolution.

 

[Hachiroku]

I have a client who has a telephone monitoring system in a motel
environment. It tracks time of calls, etc. It uses an old green screen. To
save space, he wants to install a flat panel LCD. The connectors are not the
same. Can this be done with expectation of a reasonable image? (DOS program
displays image)

If you can replace his graphics card/engine with one that can output to 15
pins (vga) or digital.

 

[Paul]

I have a client who has a telephone monitoring system in a motel
environment. It tracks time of calls, etc. It uses an old green screen. To
save space, he wants to install a flat panel LCD. The connectors are not the
same. Can this be done with expectation of a reasonable image? (DOS program
displays image)

Would the "green screen" be an old RS-232 terminal like a
Cybernex ? The telephone monitoring system could have an
RS-232 output.

The companies that sell "green screens" are still using CRTs.
I did see one product that was for rackmount systems, but
the packaging would not be useful for your application, and
the specifications for the product made it unclear as to
exactly how it functioned.

http://www.boundless.com/text terminals.htm

Another way to solve the problem, would be to find a box
that accepts RS-232 on one port and renders to VGA on its
output. The electronics necessary to do this, might be
nothing more than a small computer (no hard drives, just
firmware for the fixed function to be performance). But
the trick will be finding one. If you could find
such a box, the box would talk VT-100 or similar emulation,
and draw characters on its VGA output. With such a converter,
you could then purchase any LCD monitor at a computer store,
as the display device.

I tried searching on "data terminal" with "80x25" as an extra
search term, but so far nothing really useful is turning up.

Paul

 

[paulmd]

I have a client who has a telephone monitoring system in a motel
environment. It tracks time of calls, etc. It uses an old green screen. To
save space, he wants to install a flat panel LCD. The connectors are not the
same. Can this be done with expectation of a reasonable image? (DOS program
displays image)

Yes, adapters do exist. Ebay, if nowhere else. You might need mulitple
adapters to get to a DVI LCD, but you can still buy the ones with VGA.

 

[Sjouke Burry]

If you can replace his graphics card/engine with one that can output to 15
pins (vga) or digital.

It might be a hercules card(the old one) and
if so , you need an extra piece of software
to simulate one. Checked my old software, if
it is a hercules card you have to install in
autoexec.bat hgc.com ,font.com and(maybe)msherc.com,
i am not sure about the last one.
If you have to switch to vga , and let the
program believe that the old card is stil a hercules
run the above.
Send me an email if you need them.
antispam:change the figures, and after @ remove
double letters.

 

[John McGaw]

I have a client who has a telephone monitoring system in a motel
environment. It tracks time of calls, etc. It uses an old green screen. To
save space, he wants to install a flat panel LCD. The connectors are not the
same. Can this be done with expectation of a reasonable image? (DOS program
displays image)

It would be a really great start if you were to actually tell everyone
what sort of "green screen" you are describing (actual maker and model
number if such can be determined, rather than the name of the telephone
equipment vendor) and exactly what sort of connector it uses. It could
even be a simple video monitor using a BNC coaxial connector for all
anyone can tell.

 

[DaveW]

LCD monitors require much higher native resolutions than CRT's which his
computer system cannot provide due to its old age of design.

 

[MrB]

OK, more info. I was wrong it is not a green screen. It displays lines of
text in different colors. The connector on the monitor is a 25 pin. The
reason it is a 25 pin is that it has a keyboard interface. The actual
computer is upstairs, about 50 feet away. The owner already bought a flat
screen monitor. It has both digital and analog inuputs. The phone people
said they could make it work if we could find a 25 to 15 pin adapter. I
looked in two electronic stores today and found such animal. I didn't find
much on Google. It seems DB9 to DB25 is common for serial adapters, but the
critter I need seems scarce. I know many more questions were asked by the
respondents to this post and I appreciate the interest. Unfortunately, I can
only check NEWS at home and the monitor in question is at work.

Thank you all

 

[paulmd]

OK, more info. I was wrong it is not a green screen. It displays lines of
text in different colors. The connector on the monitor is a 25 pin. The
reason it is a 25 pin is that it has a keyboard interface. The actual
computer is upstairs, about 50 feet away. The owner already bought a flat
screen monitor. It has both digital and analog inuputs. The phone people
said they could make it work if we could find a 25 to 15 pin adapter. I
looked in two electronic stores today and found such animal. I didn't find
much on Google. It seems DB9 to DB25 is common for serial adapters, but the
critter I need seems scarce. I know many more questions were asked by the
respondents to this post and I appreciate the interest. Unfortunately, I can
only check NEWS at home and the monitor in question is at work.

Thank you all

Can you provide Model numbers, labels, corporate logos, anything on the
keyboard, monitor, unit, or cables. ANYTHING may help in IDing the
thing.

I found this. Not much else. THeres always the thought of a DIY
adapter.

http://www.pcmicrostore.com/PartDetail.aspx?q=p:475039;c:36142

http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=261462&SourceID=k22350

 

[philo]

OK, more info. I was wrong it is not a green screen. It displays lines of
text in different colors. The connector on the monitor is a 25 pin. The
reason it is a 25 pin is that it has a keyboard interface. The actual
computer is upstairs, about 50 feet away. The owner already bought a flat
screen monitor. It has both digital and analog inuputs. The phone people
said they could make it work if we could find a 25 to 15 pin adapter. I
looked in two electronic stores today and found such animal. I didn't find
much on Google. It seems DB9 to DB25 is common for serial adapters, but the
critter I need seems scarce. I know many more questions were asked by the
respondents to this post and I appreciate the interest. Unfortunately, I can
only check NEWS at home and the monitor in question is at work.

Thank you all

It might be easier putting in an ISA VGA board,,,

If you need one email me at my gmail address: philo565 ...I can send
you one (or many) *free*

 

[MrB]

I am thinking the DYI also.
Thanks

Can you provide Model numbers, labels, corporate logos, anything on the
keyboard, monitor, unit, or cables. ANYTHING may help in IDing the
thing.

I found this. Not much else. THeres always the thought of a DIY
adapter.

http://www.pcmicrostore.com/PartDetail.aspx?q=p:475039;c:36142

http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=261462&SourceID=k22350

 

[MrB]

Thanks Philo. I'll let you know.

It might be easier putting in an ISA VGA board,,,

If you need one email me at my gmail address: philo565 ...I can
send
you one (or many) *free*

 

[Hachiroku]

It might be a hercules card(the old one) and
if so , you need an extra piece of software
to simulate one. Checked my old software, if
it is a hercules card you have to install in
autoexec.bat hgc.com ,font.com and(maybe)msherc.com,
i am not sure about the last one.
If you have to switch to vga , and let the
program believe that the old card is stil a hercules
run the above.
Send me an email if you need them.
antispam:change the figures, and after @ remove
double letters.

Hey, thanks!

Haven't tried it yet, but will tomorrow!