Mastodawn

I should really document this setup.
Playing music with #MusicPlayerDaemon on my #Marantz controlled through a #VT420, both from around 1990.
Software is #MPD on #Debian on an #RPi 2. Soundcard is some cheap old usb Soundblaster, but using #lirc I can control MPD using its controller.
This all took some effort. 😌
#retroComputing #somaFM

Daniel Neuman Mar 18

Trying out #Mastodonochrome by @simontatham on my trusty old #DEC #VT420 terminal.
Generally works ok, but all normal text is flashing for some reason. And it's not respecting my ISO-8859-1 codepage preference.
But it's fun that it's running at all! It does have a #BBS feeling. 😄
#retroComputing

Michael Engel Jan 3

Now that's what I call a terminal emulator – this one is written in Rust and emulates a real DEC VT420 on hardware and 8051 machine code level: https://github.com/mmastrac/blaze

#retrocomputing #DEC #VT420 #terminal #unix #vms

GitHub - mmastrac/blaze: Blaze: a VT420 emulator

Blaze: a VT420 emulator. Contribute to mmastrac/blaze development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub

Rhii Alexander 🏳️‍⚧️Dec 28

Before Christmas I hauled two MicroVAX 3100s and a VT420 back from Lincoln (on the train)

Seller said one of them (a 3100/90) was booting but was having issues with hanging during boot sometimes, and also had licencing issues + no login

The other (a 3100/10) was apparently completely dead with not even the drives spinning up

The VT420 appeared to be fully functional albeit with what appeared to be mouldy plastics, which also affect the two MicroVAXen to a lesser extent; this turned out to be paint splatter and dirt which wiped off, revealing the all plastics are actually in great condition barring very yellowed plastics on the VT420

#vintagecomputing #retrocomputing #dec #vax #microvax #vt420 #digital

Paul SomeoneElse Aug 8, 2025

I want an old PC or a terminal machine.
It is self indulgent, but if I come across something
reasonable I might get it.

My idea with a terminal is I can experience C programming
and vi and the commandline the way they were used.
Like the vi interface lends itself to some lag. I think it would make
ncurses programming make more sense. Why careful
screen draw/redraw matters.

Also I guess the biggest thing is the aesthetic.
A terminal screen with green text is so cool and
my first computing experiences were with a Zenith Z100
green screen (i think, or maybe amber).

I could just get the monitor by itself and plug it into an PC.
Using a minimal PC would make the machine more like
a terminal where you don't expect to do much processing
on it itself.

#vt100 #vt220 #vt420 ... ?

An Inhabitant of Carcosa Jul 28, 2025

Hi all. I have an amber CRT DEC VT-420 terminal that is free (you pay shipping) to anyone with the repair skills or resources and love to get it working again. I bought it about 2 years ago in working condition, and happily used it for about a year. One day, it suddenly developed a condition where the startup screen and settings screen still come up, but displaced so that only their top right corner is visible in the bottom left of the screen. It's probably fairly easily fixable by anyone with experience working on CRTs and/or retro logic boards, but I don't have the skills and don't want to risk further damage to it by learning those skills on it.

Keyboard is included. DM me for details. It's located on the east coast of the US, for figuring shipping.

#retrocomputing #dec #vt420 #terminal #repair #hardware #forsale #FreeToAGoodHome

Daniel Neuman Jun 30, 2025

The ever present legacy of old teletypes and glass terminals…
Recently @b0rk made a zine about terminals and @pid_eins is mentioning monochrome terminals relating to systemd development.

I should dig out my old #VT420 again and explore some more of its lesser known features.

From: @remaster
https://mastodon.social/@remaster/104167061097939249

Mr Cool Sep 5, 2024

It's time to put the #server into a bigger case.
#linux #vt420 #decvt420

Show thread

nullagent Jul 14, 2024

We're finally in the digital age. Here's a DMS-10 digital switch. It's got a DEC VT420 hooked up for remote management.

It's notably quite, cold and clean down here. Gone are the accidental 48v zaps you get when you touch the wrong parts of the mechanical switches a floor above. Not sure if I like all this efficiency.

You gotta see this boot screen tho...

#DMS10 #DEC #VT420

Ubuntu Peronista Apr 30, 2024

Just use this DEC #VT420 #Terminal #Beep #sound as you wish. #Retrocomputing