On the right is a waveform capture by the AX08 from the microphone on the left of the monitor. In this picture the 611 is not in storage mode so it is acting like a normal vector monitor. The AX08 is drawing the display from a bunch of dots which it is continuously redrawing. The operation is very similar to the VR14 and VC8E described here.
The unique ability of the 611 is can also operate in a storage mode where when the dot is drawn it is stored in the CRT. This allows the display to be viewable without the computer continuously redrawing it. It allows much more complex displays to be drawn. The stored picture is only recommended to be stored for 15 minutes and can be stored up to an hour without damage to the CRT. The display is automatically switches from view to hold mode after 1 minute without update to prolong the CRT life. Storage mode is also very dim (6 foot-lambert, a good LCD is 200 foot-lambert). When in this mode you need to be in a darkend room to see the image. Non store mode is bright enough to view in normal room light. The 611 has a very high quality display with a sharp picture.
Tektronix also made terminals with this storage tube technology. My Tektronix 4010 page has more information on storage tubes.
Also visible is a 2.5 megabyte RK05 disk platter.
Back to Previous page All of Vintage Computer Festival East 2007 pictures
Feel free to contact me, David Gesswein djg@pdp8online.com with any questions, comments on the web site, or if you have related equipment, documentation, software etc. you are willing to part with. I am interested in anything PDP-8 related, computers, peripherals used with them, DEC or third party, or documentation.
PDP-8 Home Page PDP-8 Site Map PDP-8 Site Search