View source for VCB02 Video Controller

The '''VCB02 Video Controller''' (also sometimes called the '''QDSS''') is a [[QBUS]] [[bit-mapped display]] option, a successor to the [[VCB01 Video Controller]]. It is a 1/4/8 plane video subsystem, providing 1024x864 [[resolution]].

It used the [[QBUS#Variable address size|Q22]] version of the QBUS, and consisted of a number of [[DEC card form factor|quad]]-height modules.

The VCB02 also provided several basic I/O functions, including:

* [[Cursor]] controls
* [[Mouse]] interface
* [[Keyboard]] interface
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== VCB02 Modules ==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! Module !! Description
|-
| M7615 || Quad Monochrome Graphics Module
|-
| M7168 || Quad 4 Plane Color Bitmap 
|-
| M7169 || Quad Q22 Bus Video Controller Module
|}

== VCB02 Configurations ==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! colspan="2" | VCB02 Option !! M7615 !! M7168 !! M7169
|-
| -A || Mono 1 Plane (B/W) || 1 || - || - 
|-
| -B || Color 4 Plane || - || 1 || 1
|-
| -C || Color 8 Plane || - || 2 || 1
|-
| -D || Mono 4 Plane || - || 1 || 1
|-
| -E || Mono 8 Plane || - || 2 || 1
|-
| -F || Upgrade 4 to 8 Plane || - || 1 || -
|}

1 Plane allows black/white graphics. 

4 Planes allow for 16 colors / resp. 16 shades of gray from a palette of 16.7 million.

8 Planes allow for 256 colors / resp. 256 shades of gray from a palette of 16.7 million.

The only difference between the 4/8 Plane Color and Mono versions are the bulkhead assemblies; [[DEC part number]]s:
* 70-22661-01: Color
* 70-22661-02: Color to Mono

== VCB02 Options and VAXstation Enclosures ==

In the times of the [[MicroVAX II]], the smaller [[BA23]] enclosure supported only the 4 Plane VCB02 options.

To use the 8 Plane options you had to use the bigger [[BA123]] enclosure.

This restriction was due to problems with the BA23 power supply and cooling.

For the [[VAXstation 3200/3500 | VAXstation 3200]], the BA23 power supply as well as cooling were improved so that the restriction was removed. 

== VCB02 Monitors ==

Initially the VCB02 was delivered with one of the two types of monitors:
* [[VR160]] 19" 1024 x 864 Monochrome Monitor; connected with a BC18P-10 Monochrome Cable 
* [[VR290]] 19" 1024 x 864 Color Monitor; connected with a BC18Z-10 Color Cable

More monitor models were added lateron, e.g. the [[VR299]]

== VCB02 Usage ==

The VCB02 was used with the following [[VAXstation]] models:

* [[VAXstation II]]
* [[VAXstation II | VAXstation II/GPX]]
* [[VAXstation 3200]]
* [[VAXstation 3500]]
* [[VAXserver 4000 series]], upgraded with: VS30U Field Upgrade of Q-bus [[VAXserver]]s to Q-bus [[workstation]]s

==External links==

* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/qbus/vcb02/ VCB02] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/qbus/vcb02/VCB02_PrelimHwRef.pdf VCB02 Hardware Manual (preliminary)]
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/qbus/vcb02/AZ-GLGAB-MN_VCB02_Technical_Manual_Feb86.pdf VCB02 Video Subsystem Technical Manual] (AZ-GLGAB-MN)
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/qbus/MP02083_VCB02_schem_Jan86.pdf VCB02 Field Maintenance Print Set] (MP-02083-01)
* [https://vt100.net/dec/ek-104aa-tm-001.pdf VCB02 Video Subsystem Technical Manual] (EK-104AA-TM-001)
* [https://manx-docs.org/collections/antonio/dec/MDS-2000-01/cd1/VAX/VS30UAD1.PDF VAXserver 4000 Series Systems VS30U Graphic Upgrade Addendum] (EK-VS30U-AD-001)
* [https://www.9track.net/simh/video/#vcb02 Video Devices]

[[Category: QBUS Display Controllers]]