Sony Viewdata Terminal KTX-9000UB
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- čas přidán 14. 03. 2021
- Join me to take a look at the popular travel agent terminal from the 1980's
The Sony KTX-9000UB Super Viewdata Terminal.
It's a device I've owned for getting on for 25 years now. I initially was looking to use it back in the 90's - but it didn't go anywhere. Onwards 25 years and lock-down boredom helped me get back on track.
Now this guide is informational - it's how I have managed to get the system working for me. It's not an authoritative guide, so I expect I've probably got some details wrong.
So far I've spotted one mistake on SteveText!
00:24 - So what is viewdata?
00:59 - Prestel
01:20 - Screen Setup
01:55 - Device History
02:28 - MS-Dos Demo
03:15 - Mode Switch
03:37 - Dial up Mode
04:10 - Pages from SteveText
05:40 - Back to Viewdata Demo
06:20 - Front Panel esc codes
06:42 - Look at the C Program and how the esc codes work
10:05 - Turbo C for Dos demo
10:50 - Output to DOS console
11:22 - Pages App overview
11:40 - Github link
12:30 - Device features
13:24 - Summary
14:37 - End screen
My data repository: github.com/StevesRetroLoft
ViewData / Teletext Resources:
www.viewdata.org.uk
zxnet.co.uk/teletext/
qsl.net/zl1vfo/teletext.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videotex
Music Credits:
Opening Jingle: Half Moon Bay Short - From Apple iMovie (Licenced by EULA)
SteveText Music: 75 & Lower - DJ Williams - CZcams Audio Library
End Jingle: Elysium Medium - From Apple iMovie (Licenced by EULA)
My other Links:
Instagram: StevesRetroLoft - Hry
Very detailed video. That keyboard definitely leaves a lot to be desired.
Thank you. Not sure how travel agents kept there sanity using that for a days work. A normal type keyboard was available, but this one was the more common variety.
OK - I couldn't wait until after work. Great job Steve! Fascinating to see that these things can still be used in todays day and age. Look forward to some more videos!
Thank you :) I do have a plan to attempt to get it to work via a Sinclair Spectrum as I have a device with a serial port for that!
Hi Steve. Great video! I’ve recently acquired one of these (sans keyboard) and note the other two keyboard models are KB-103 and KB-104. These keyboards seem to be pretty rare, so I wonder if connecting a PS2 or AT keyboard (clk/rst/data) via a TTL converter might be a reasonable option. The 6-pin DIN keyboard pinout is discussed in an early ViewData document I found as the proposed “standard,” it’s funny there was a time when Sony used standard connections…
Anyhow, I thought connecting TX/RX pins to serial, and shorting ground->signal would make the device function in terminal mode. I’ll try and make sense of your crossed connections now that I know there is more to be done to set the mode.
From some cursory research it looks like a bunch of UK folks (e.g. viewdata.org.uk) are having a renaissance with this gear, including live PSTN services, and even getting ViewData terminals connected over wireless. I’m trying to get where you were a year ago, this is your annual reminder to dust off the project (don’t wait another 24 years!)
Regards, Graeme.
Thank Graeme glad you liked the video, it was one I needed to do at some point! - I'm not sure if a PS2 keyboard would work, but it's worth a go - probably something some of the clever Raspberry or Audrino folks could attempt to work out. If you need any help give me a shout and i'll see what I can do with my (limited) knowledge.
Brilliant !! , yeah good video , I have this viewdata able to dial to outside line via a bt pabx , I like your teletext be great to dial in to it , theoretically that should work, I was going to make the server thing this end and run it on a laptop on another phone line but I'm far from doing that so your set up is very clever and looks like it works well cheers :)
It'll be good to see if you can get that solution to work. I was hoping to find a user guide online to help fill in the gaps of my knowledge - I have a service manual, but there's little info with regards to the config of the device.
@@stevesretroloft did you manage to find a manual ? Or do you have any idea how to change the programmed directory or any other goodies? Thanks
Do you know how to hack a modem to serve data to these? Usually these have a 1200/75 modem, so for the server side, you need 75/1200, which is very rare.
Not sure to be honest. Although you may be able to setup a serial port on a Linux box to use this async type connection. This unit has a modem built in, but it's the old pulse dial system so won't work on a modern exchange (I also no longer have a landline either - so the linux/unix tty port is probably the only option.