TRS-80 Data Terminal DT-1

The TRS-80 DT-1 is a video data terminal. It is meant to be used with the TRS-80 Model 16 Multi-User Office System or with other host computers. Technically this is not a computer, we have included it in our database for completeness. A data terminal is a connection between the user and a computer, it is not a computer in itself. The data terminal transfers information from human form (numbers and letters) to information that is sent to a host computer. The terminal has a small monitor program running on a 8051 microprocessor that allows the user to type commands and configure the terminal. When hooked up to another DT-1, the users can communicate by keyboard, but that is all the monitor software allows.

The DT-1 has non-volatile memory that retains the terminal configuration without external power and without a battery backup. The terminal is code compatible with four standard terminal protocols

• Televideo 910
• Lear Siegler ADM-5
• ADDS 25
• Hazeltine 1410

The terminal has a built in CRT that can display 80 columns by 24 lines of text. The video signal is generated by the 8276 Video Generator chip, using a 2716 character generator IC. The character set has special single-character symbols to represent certain control characters. Any character can be repeated by holding down the key, after a short period the repeat rate goes up.

The DT-1 has a RS-232C serial interface and a centronics parallel interface. There is a local monitor mode in which you can enable printer ports and position the cursor using escape codes. The terminal is capable of data transfer rates from 75baud up to 19200 baud.