Talk:TRS-80 Model 4

Latest comment: 5 years ago by Wikkileaker

Odd

The text states that Gate Array model 4's have the arrows grouped together, however the unit I own is a GA with separated arrow keys.

  • Be aware that the description in the article pertains to Mod 4s as originally sold by Rad Shack. Some owners returned their machines to Shack Service Centers for repair work...it is possible the R.S. technicians used a non-gate keyboard as a replacement in a G.A. machine. Also I have heard of some users who were dissatisfied with the G.A. clustered arrow keys, and had their keyboards replaced with old non-gate keyboards. This also pertains to the black-and-white CRTs used in the original non-gate M4s...sometimes these are replaced with the green CRTs. It is even possible to replace the CRT with an amber/yellow CRT available from third parties like Langley-St. Clair (you can find ads for these in the 80 Micro archive).
  • The definitive proof of a particular machine's identity is the metal plate on the back which states the R.S. catalog number...26-1069 = non-gate, 26-1069A = gate array. Furthermore, the G.A. PCB has the Z80 in the upper left hand corner; DRAM in lower right hand corner. Naturally the DB-25 for the serial port also points directly out the rear of the cabinet since it's not on a daughterboard. Wikkileaker (talk) 18:55, 28 October 2019 (UTC)Reply