Light pens?

[GManuel (GMC)]

> > I have two IBM Model 5150s (one original rev, and a rev b).  I 
> think I've 
> > explored every single inch of the hardware except for light 
> pens -- I would 
> > really like to experiment with one and write some software that 
> interfaces with 
> > one.  Does anyone know:
> > 
> > 1. What light pens were available and for which PCs?  (I also 
> own Tandy 1000s, 
> > and they have "light pen" ports too)
> 
> I can tell you that although the MDA card has a light pen connector, the 
> light pen certainly doesn't work on the 5151 monitor (far too long a 
> persistance). It does work on most CGA monitors
> 
> As regards machines that could take light pens. The Sirius could (or at 
> least there's a light pin input on the user port header). There's a light 
> pen signal on the analogue port of the BBC micro (I have the Torch 
> lightpen for the Beeb, it's not exactly simple!). The FTS88 could take 
> one as an option too (there's a header on the diagnostic LED board. 
> Obviously the GT40 does. As does the Vectrex. And I think the Atari 400, 
> 800, etc. The Gemini has a lightpen socket (which happens to be the same 
> pinout as the connector between the Torch lightpen and its interfae box, 
> hmmm). The HH Tiger has a lightpen connector
> 
> > 
> > 2. Does anyone have any light pens for sale or trade?
> 
> No, but it's not hard to make one if you don't require high resolution. 
> There was at least one design in 80-micro for the Tandy 1000. There were 
> plenty of designs for the Beeb (most of them use the Honeywell 'Sweet 
> Spot' devices). Thoese were not as good as the Torch one I mentioned, but 
> they do work.
> 
> -tony
> 

There was also a light pen for the Commodore 64 that came with software
called Picasso's Revenge (if I remember correctly). It hooked up through the
standard Joystick port on those systems and actually works fairly well.
Probably to simplistic for those on this list but it is another option
available.

Greg




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