Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mcsun!hp4nl!tuegate.tue.nl!svin02!wsinti01!wsinkees
From: wsinkees@wsinti01.info.win.tue.nl (Kees Huizing)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.tandy
Subject: TRS-80 monitor goes blank
Keywords: TRS-80,monitor,problems
Message-ID: <1335@svin02.info.win.tue.nl>
Date: 13 Aug 90 11:07:41 GMT
Sender: news@info.win.tue.nl (Usenet account)
Distribution: comp
Lines: 34

I hope this is the right newsgroup for this question, since I don't read it
usually.  Otherwise, please point me (by e-mail) to the right group.

Now for the problem.

My father in law has an old TRS-80 Model I with a expansion box with
extra memory, floppy connector, etc.  He still uses it, because he
likes the computer, although connections are bad and things often fail
several times before they work properly, etc.  Recently, a more serious
problem occurred:  the monitor doesn't work anymore.  First, it showed
a lot of >-signs and "encrypted" text, but he knew the questions, like
"HOW MANY FILES?" (in Basic) and just typed the answers, and the
program worked.  The output of the program got better and better, until
suddenly, everything went blank and didn't come back anymore.  Now, the
monitor shows nothing, just nothing.  I am not sure that this is
exactly how it went (I wasn't there), but the result is quite
definite.  My questions to you are:

1.  Do you have any idea what could be wrong?  
2.  How can we find out what the failing component is (we're not very
technical and we are quite disconnected from TRS-80 hobbyists)?
3.  If it is the monitor, can we connect another monitor to the computer,
for testing or replacement?  Is there some kind of interface name with which
we can go to a dealer and ask: "What is your cheapest <whatever> monitor?"
4.  Does it make sense to go to a Tandy shop and ask for advise, or are the
guys there too young to know about this machine?


Thank you very, very much, if you want to think about this.  I will read
this group for some weeks, so you can post replies if you want, but e-mail
is welcome.
-- 
Kees Huizing - Eindhoven Univ of Techn - Dept Math & Comp Sc - The Netherlands
DOMAIN: wsinkees@win.tue.nl    BITNET: wsdckeesh@heitue5    FAX: +31-40-436685