Difference between revisions of "ADDS Consul 880"
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| − | The {{PAGENAME}} terminal was introduced in April | + | |
| + | The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a raster-scan CRT computer terminal produced by | ||
| + | [[:Category:ADDS|ADDS]] (Applied Digital Data Systems). It was introduced in April 1970 | ||
| + | with a base price ranging from $2,990 to $3,710 depending on installed | ||
| + | options.<ref name="allAbout">{{cite web | ||
|url=https://manx-docs.org/details.php/160,22071 | |url=https://manx-docs.org/details.php/160,22071 | ||
|title=All About CRT Display Terminals | |title=All About CRT Display Terminals | ||
|page=17 | |page=17 | ||
| − | |accessdate=2 April 2023}}</ref> | + | |accessdate=2 April 2023}}</ref> The terminal was designed for connection |
| + | to time-sharing systems and minicomputers using asynchronous serial | ||
| + | communication and provided a full-screen 80 by 24 character display. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Consul 880 forms part of the early generation of video display | ||
| + | terminals introduced around 1970 as replacements for electromechanical | ||
| + | printing terminals and teleprinters. These terminals provided immediate | ||
| + | visual feedback and allowed applications such as interactive editing, | ||
| + | data entry, and time-sharing access to large computers. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Description== | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Consul 880 is a text-mode display terminal using a raster-scanned CRT. | ||
| + | Characters are generated using a 5x7 dot matrix and displayed in a screen | ||
| + | format of 80 columns by 24 lines. Display attributes include normal, | ||
| + | blink, and bold text modes. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The terminal supports asynchronous serial communication over an RS-232 | ||
| + | interface with selectable data rates from 110 to 9600 baud. Such speeds | ||
| + | allowed it to be used both over dial-up modems and over direct serial | ||
| + | connections to minicomputers or communications controllers. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Like a number of early CRT terminals, the Consul 880 only displays | ||
| + | upper-case ASCII characters. This restriction simplified character | ||
| + | generation hardware and reduced memory requirements in the terminal | ||
| + | electronics.<ref name="allAbout"/> | ||
| + | |||
| + | The keyboard provided standard ASCII data entry along with control keys | ||
| + | used to transmit editing and cursor-control functions to the host | ||
| + | computer. Cursor positioning and screen updates were performed under | ||
| + | control of the host system. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Local storage options== | ||
| + | |||
| + | An optional cassette tape subsystem could be added to the terminal to | ||
| + | provide local storage. Either a single cassette drive or a dual cassette | ||
| + | configuration could be installed. These drives were used for loading | ||
| + | programs, storing data locally, or transferring files between systems. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Local storage options were commonly offered on terminals of this period | ||
| + | to support offline data entry, local buffering, or program distribution | ||
| + | in installations where host computer access was limited or expensive. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Consul 880A== | ||
| + | |||
| + | A later variant, the '''Consul 880A''', was introduced in September 1973. | ||
| + | This version supported communication only in block mode and was priced | ||
| + | between $3,300 and $3,800 depending on options. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In block-mode operation, characters typed by the operator are accumulated | ||
| + | locally and transmitted to the host computer as a block rather than | ||
| + | character-by-character. This mode was commonly used for structured data | ||
| + | entry applications. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The 880A also supported multi-terminal configurations in which as many as | ||
| + | 96 devices could be daisy-chained on a single communication line. Such | ||
| + | configurations were typically used in data-entry environments where | ||
| + | multiple operator stations shared a common communication controller.<ref | ||
| + | name="allAbout"/> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Applications== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Terminals such as the Consul 880 were commonly deployed with | ||
| + | time-sharing systems, minicomputers, and communications front-end | ||
| + | processors. Typical applications included program development, | ||
| + | interactive editing, and business data entry. | ||
| − | The | + | The introduction of CRT display terminals in the late 1960s and early |
| + | 1970s significantly improved operator productivity compared to printing | ||
| + | terminals, as screen-based editing allowed users to view and modify text | ||
| + | before transmission to the host computer. | ||
==Images== | ==Images== | ||
| Line 95: | Line 167: | ||
[[Category:Local Storage]] | [[Category:Local Storage]] | ||
[[Category:1970]] | [[Category:1970]] | ||
| − | |||
Latest revision as of 23:00, 6 March 2026
| ADDS Consul 880 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Manufacturer | ADDS |
| Model | Consul 880 |
| Lifetime | |
| Introduced | April, 1970 |
| Introductory Price | $2,990 to $3,710 |
| Communication | |
| Interface | RS-232 |
| Baud Rates | 110 to 9600 |
| Character Modes | |
| Resolution | 80x24 |
| Attributes |
Normal, Blink, Bold |
| Matrix | 5x7 |
The ADDS Consul 880 is a raster-scan CRT computer terminal produced by ADDS (Applied Digital Data Systems). It was introduced in April 1970 with a base price ranging from $2,990 to $3,710 depending on installed options.[1] The terminal was designed for connection to time-sharing systems and minicomputers using asynchronous serial communication and provided a full-screen 80 by 24 character display.
The Consul 880 forms part of the early generation of video display terminals introduced around 1970 as replacements for electromechanical printing terminals and teleprinters. These terminals provided immediate visual feedback and allowed applications such as interactive editing, data entry, and time-sharing access to large computers.
Description
The Consul 880 is a text-mode display terminal using a raster-scanned CRT. Characters are generated using a 5x7 dot matrix and displayed in a screen format of 80 columns by 24 lines. Display attributes include normal, blink, and bold text modes.
The terminal supports asynchronous serial communication over an RS-232 interface with selectable data rates from 110 to 9600 baud. Such speeds allowed it to be used both over dial-up modems and over direct serial connections to minicomputers or communications controllers.
Like a number of early CRT terminals, the Consul 880 only displays upper-case ASCII characters. This restriction simplified character generation hardware and reduced memory requirements in the terminal electronics.[1]
The keyboard provided standard ASCII data entry along with control keys used to transmit editing and cursor-control functions to the host computer. Cursor positioning and screen updates were performed under control of the host system.
Local storage options
An optional cassette tape subsystem could be added to the terminal to provide local storage. Either a single cassette drive or a dual cassette configuration could be installed. These drives were used for loading programs, storing data locally, or transferring files between systems.
Local storage options were commonly offered on terminals of this period to support offline data entry, local buffering, or program distribution in installations where host computer access was limited or expensive.
Consul 880A
A later variant, the Consul 880A, was introduced in September 1973. This version supported communication only in block mode and was priced between $3,300 and $3,800 depending on options.
In block-mode operation, characters typed by the operator are accumulated locally and transmitted to the host computer as a block rather than character-by-character. This mode was commonly used for structured data entry applications.
The 880A also supported multi-terminal configurations in which as many as 96 devices could be daisy-chained on a single communication line. Such configurations were typically used in data-entry environments where multiple operator stations shared a common communication controller.[1]
Applications
Terminals such as the Consul 880 were commonly deployed with time-sharing systems, minicomputers, and communications front-end processors. Typical applications included program development, interactive editing, and business data entry.
The introduction of CRT display terminals in the late 1960s and early 1970s significantly improved operator productivity compared to printing terminals, as screen-based editing allowed users to view and modify text before transmission to the host computer.
Images
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "All About CRT Display Terminals". p. 17. https://manx-docs.org/details.php/160,22071. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
