Sparc 20 Video

[kd5qac]

Hello,
I just bought a sparc 20 from a friend that needed to unload it before he left town. I had him boot it before I purchased it and everything worked fine. I brought it home and now everything looks like its booting, but I get no video. I have used the same monitor, a different monitor and gone to the extent buying a 13w3 to SVGA adapter...still same problem...no video...any suggestions?

Thanx in advace
Joe

 

[tuka]

Is the Sun keyboard connected?
What indications are you getting on the monitor when you first power up?

Please let me know and will follow up .

 

[kd5qac]

Yes, the keyboard is connected. All the lights, caps, scroll, etc, light up properly when they are supposed to. I can hear the system boot up. After like 1 min, I can even type something on the keyboard hit enter twice and it will beep at me, as if I had an incorrect login. But I dont even get the monitor to get a signal, any of them. I thought it was the graphic accelerator, but I removed it and went with the built in graphics, still doesn't give me anything.

Thanx for your response and assistance.

 

[tuka]

Sparc 20 doesn't have a built in graphic. There are four
S-Bus slot which allows you to install the optional controllers.

If you have a PC or Notebook you can use their serial port
and connect it to the serial port of the SS20.

cable pinout

PC(DB-25) Notebook(DB-9) Sparc-20 (DB-25)

pin # 2 2 3
3 3 2
7 5 7

You can purchase this cable (sometime referred to as a Null
Modem cable) from Best Buy, Fry, Comp USA or other outlets.

Also you can build a cable.


HOW TO USE A TERMINAL ON A SPARC STATION.

1. Disconnect the Sun keyboard , You can leave the monitor
connected if desired. KEYBOARD MUST BE REMOVED

2. connect the cable between the SS20 and the PC or Notebook

3. On the PC or Notebook set up a HyperTerminal session.
9600 baud
8 data
1 start/stop bit
Xon/Xoff

4. IF THE SYSTEM IS BOOTED YOU CAN HIT THE ENTER KEY AND
SHOULD SEE A LOGIN PROMPT. IF NOT THEN POWER CYCLE
AND SEE WHAT IS DISPLAYED.

5. If the HyperTerminal session is set up corretly you
will see data printed out on the PC or Notebook.

6. If working you will eventually get a login prompt.

ALSO IF YOU HAVE A DUMB TERMINAL USE IT IN PLACE OF THE
THE PC OR NOTEBOOK. USE THE ABOVE DATA TO CONFIGURE THE BAUD RATE AND OTHER.

Let me know what happens after you try the above. By the way from you above message it appeared you knew about the keyboard LEDs' There will give you a clue on bootup.

Do you have any experience on the Sparc 20?

 

[aego]

What monitor are you using ? I have a 20" Sun Trinitron which needs a powercycle every once in a while to get it to work... ( This could actually be your problem... ). Check if all components are still in place, that nothing came loose internally.

Check the boot process by connecting a serial cable as already suggested before...

___________
I'm in yer face, even when you don't want me to be
___________

 

[navasun]

Hello.

I bought Ultra 10. I have the same problem. I have been thinking of connecting to serial port as I do with my v120. Will try that and share it with you guys.

Meantime, if Joe has figured out something that he can share, please do so. That will save time for me.

Thank you!
Jay

 

[sucram65]

I have the exact same problem as described here. I also bought a 13w3-VGA adapter but get no video. My next move was to use the serial port also but I have had trouble finding the correct serial cable. I didn't realize that I could use a null modem cable so I will go out to CompUSA tomorrow to find one. I will also try the suggestion with the monitor. Mine is a Dell 171FP 17" LCD. I thought that might be the problem so I am gratified to see that my situation is not unique.

 

[sucram65]

I forgot to mention that this is a Sparc 20 and I saw it boot before I bought it so I know the video works. I'll also look at the internals and see if anything is loose.

 

[navasun]

Hello....

I read the prob could be due to incorrect vidoe sync settings on the Ultra. Or, your monitor should have multisync feature. I do not have that link which details this. i will give that link later.

Jay