[rescue] Q about Voyager screen repair; bonus: pictures of T-SPARCstation 2
Todd Vernon
todd at toddvernon.com
Fri May 8 02:49:18 UTC 2026
Dan, love it. Interested in both subjects, obviously!
T
---
Todd Vernon
Entrepreneur | Investor
Email: todd at toddvernon.com
LinkedIn: toddvernon
On May 7, 2026 at 8:43 PM -0600, Dan Moisa via rescue <rescue at sunhelp.org>, wrote:
> I got jailed for sending images that are too big, resending.
>
> I couldn't find a parallel input LCD under the same spec either, but I'm sure it's possible. I'm using basically a VGA signal generator on a chip that takes RGB and puts out VGA, and patching to a LCD internally in the frame so I don't have to drill and I'm using the original interface. Dave if I get one more display working, I'll ship it to you. The original B&W display looks great. They are not interchangeable, the graphics card inside is different, but you can move them around as a pair.
>
> RE: memory modules, they can be replicated "easily". The 32MB and 16MB are basically the same PCB, just one or two sides populated.
> The board is trivial to trace, the connector is readily available and the memory chips can also be "found". There are two concessions: SUN used some mirror image parts (pinout is literally mirrored between the chips) undoubtedly for cleaner PCB, we'd have to ditch that. The other thing we'd ditch is low-power auto-refresh, so you wouldn't be able to suspend (on battery?) and get back, but I didn't look into it more.
>
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N-1HbpxhCvszUFYAwsYkuVSEjONagAJr/view?usp=sharing
>
> This project is in the queue and I have the part numbers/etc to run it. I'm not going to pick it up until I'm done with the CG4, but if anyone wants to play along we can make it happen faster.
>
> Dan.
>
> On Wed, May 6, 2026 at 3:07 PM Todd Vernon via rescue <rescue at sunhelp.org> wrote:
> > I too need one more memory module if anyone is selling.
> >
> > -t
> >
> > Todd Vernon
> > Entrepreneur | Investor
> > Email: todd at toddvernon.com
> > LinkedIn: toddvernon
> >
> >
> > > On May 6, 2026 at 3:55:24 PM, Dave McGuire via rescue <rescue at sunhelp.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I have thought about cloning that memory module.
> > > >
> > > > LSSM has a color Voyager, but with a physically broken display. :-(
> > > >
> > > > -Dave
> > > >
> > > > On 5/6/26 17:32, Peter Stokes via rescue wrote:
> > > > > I have sort of got two working ones, the problem is finding memory as I
> > > > > only have one memory module and never seen another for sale.
> > > > >
> > > > > Peter
> > > > >
> > > > > Sent from my iPad
> > > > >
> > > > > > On 6 May 2026, at 22:05, Todd Vernon via rescue <rescue at sunhelp.org>
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I would say that it true. There are two kinds of Color Voyagers.
> > > > > > Those that are broken, and those about to break 🙂. The machine is
> > > > > > solid, the screen is a nightmare. Some dude has been trying to sell
> > > > > > the same one “working” but no screen image posted on eBay for over 2-3
> > > > > > years.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -t
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Todd Vernon
> > > > > > Entrepreneur | Investor
> > > > > > Email: todd at toddvernon.com <mailto:todd at toddvernon.com>
> > > > > > LinkedIn: toddvernon <https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddvernon/>
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On May 6, 2026 at 2:59:41 PM, Steve Hatle via rescue
> > > > > > <rescue at sunhelp.org <mailto:rescue at sunhelp.org>> wrote:
> > > > > >> I guess I got lucky when I sold my Voyager last year when everything
> > > > > >> still worked!
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >> Steve
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >> ------ Original Message ------
> > > > > >> From "Todd Vernon via rescue" <rescue at sunhelp.org
> > > > > >> <mailto:rescue at sunhelp.org>>
> > > > > >> To "Dan Moisa" <dmoisa at gmail.com <mailto:dmoisa at gmail.com>>
> > > > > >> Cc "Todd Vernon" <todd at toddvernon.com <mailto:todd at toddvernon.com>>;
> > > > > >> "The Rescue List" <rescue at sunhelp.org <mailto:rescue at sunhelp.org>>
> > > > > >> Date 5/6/2026 3:43:02 PM
> > > > > >> Subject Re: [rescue] Q about Voyager screen repair; bonus: pictures
> > > > > >> of T-SPARCstation 2
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >>> Point me to it. I looked and looked for one with a parallel output.
> > > > > >>> -t
> > > > > >>>
> > > > > >>> Todd Vernon
> > > > > >>> Entrepreneur | Investor
> > > > > >>> Email: todd at toddvernon.com <mailto:todd at toddvernon.com>
> > > > > >>> LinkedIn: toddvernon <https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddvernon/>
> > > > > >>>
> > > > > >>>
> > > > > >>> On May 6, 2026 at 2:17:12 PM, Dan Moisa <dmoisa at gmail.com
> > > > > >>> <mailto:dmoisa at gmail.com>> wrote:
> > > > > >>>> Before you guys drill more irreversible holes in that aging
> > > > > >>>> plastic, wait up. You can plug into the RGB stream from the
> > > > > >>>> connector inside the screen housing and have a fully enclosed panel
> > > > > >>>> that externally looks OEM. It's all off the shelf components as
> > > > > >>>> well, though if more ppl have this problem a PCB can be easily built.
> > > > > >>>>
> > > > > >>>> I've also tried resurrecting dead screens by replacing caps, and no
> > > > > >>>> dice. Voyagers on the whole are unreliable though, I've had every
> > > > > >>>> single component fail on me - the regulator, the graphics card,
> > > > > >>>> Ethernet, you name it.
> > > > > >>>>
> > > > > >>>> Dan
> > > > > >>>>
> > > > > >>>> On Wed, May 6, 2026, 12:48 Todd Vernon via rescue
> > > > > >>>> <rescue at sunhelp.org <mailto:rescue at sunhelp.org>> wrote:
> > > > > >>>>
> > > > > >>>> Yeah, I replaced the caps. I ultimately went with the new
> > > > > >>>> option as you simply never see old voyagers with screens that
> > > > > >>>> work. Went with the slightly
> > > > > >>>> Less elegant but more future proof option.
> > > > > >>>>
> > > > > >>>> I was actually surprised the problem wasn’t pixel streaks
> > > > > >>>> problem, but there way go.
> > > > > >>>>
> > > > > >>>> -t
> > > > > >>>>
> > > > > >>>>
> > > > > >>>> Todd Vernon
> > > > > >>>> Entrepreneur | Investor
> > > > > >>>> Email: todd at toddvernon.com <mailto:todd at toddvernon.com>
> > > > > >>>> LinkedIn: toddvernon <https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddvernon/>
> > > > > >>>>
> > > > > >>>>
> > > > > >>>> On May 6, 2026 at 12:42:05 PM, Andy Piercy
> > > > > >>>> <andy.piercy at gmail.com <mailto:andy.piercy at gmail.com>> wrote:
> > > > > >>>>> On the Voyager, have you checked the inverter module and its
> > > > > >>>>> output, as the surface mount caps go bad.
> > > > > >>>>>
> > > > > >>>>> On Wed, 6 May 2026, 15:42 Todd Vernon via rescue,
> > > > > >>>>> <rescue at sunhelp.org <mailto:rescue at sunhelp.org>> wrote:
> > > > > >>>>>
> > > > > >>>>> I tried and failed. I’n my opinion all the color screens
> > > > > >>>>> eventually die. Here is how I fixed mine with a new screen:
> > > > > >>>>> https://www.oldsilicon.com/workstations/sparcstation-
> > > > > >>>>> voyager/ <https://www.oldsilicon.com/workstations/
> > > > > >>>>> sparcstation-voyager/>
> > > > > >>>>> If you ever want to get rid of the B/w one let me know.
> > > > > >>>>> T
> > > > > >>>>>
> > > > > >>>>> ---
> > > > > >>>>> Todd Vernon
> > > > > >>>>> Entrepreneur | Investor
> > > > > >>>>> Email: todd at toddvernon.com <mailto:todd at toddvernon.com>
> > > > > >>>>> LinkedIn: toddvernon <https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddvernon/>
> > > > > >>>>> On May 6, 2026 at 8:36 AM -0600, Walter Belgers via rescue
> > > > > >>>>> <rescue at sunhelp.org <mailto:rescue at sunhelp.org>>, wrote:
> > > > > >>>>>> Hi all,
> > > > > >>>>>>
> > > > > >>>>>> Continuing the testing of all my systems, I have found
> > > > > >>>>>> that I have 3 Voyagers, one with bwtwo that works; two
> > > > > >>>>>> with cgsix, both of which do not display anything on the
> > > > > >>>>>> screen (but do work on external monitors). Does anybody
> > > > > >>>>>> have tips for repair/problem finding? Originally I had
> > > > > >>>>>> one that I thought the backlight was broken and I tried
> > > > > >>>>>> swapping screens to determine the defect but now I have
> > > > > >>>>>> two that are not working.
> > > > > >>>>>>
> > > > > >>>>>> Meanwhile I have gotten my SSA100 working with the
> > > > > >>>>>> SS1000. I printed some hinges (see earlier mail of Steve
> > > > > >>>>>> Hattle) and have ordered batteries to replace in the SSA100.
> > > > > >>>>>>
> > > > > >>>>>> I also powered up the T-SPARCstation 2 (4/75T) again. I
> > > > > >>>>>> got this from Whitfield Diffie, whom I got to do the
> > > > > >>>>>> keynote at the 25-year anniversary congress of the Dutch
> > > > > >>>>>> UNIX Users Group I was leading at the time (2007). It
> > > > > >>>>>> took until 2010 until Joep Vesseur of Sun Netherlands
> > > > > >>>>>> could physically fetch it and bring it back to me in his
> > > > > >>>>>> hand luggage. I always thought the casing was riveted
> > > > > >>>>>> shut (I was expecting this due to it being tempest
> > > > > >>>>>> proof). But now when I looked I saw the rivets were
> > > > > >>>>>> actually T8 torx screws (duh)! So after 16 years in my
> > > > > >>>>>> posession I finally was able to open it and fix the
> > > > > >>>>>> NVRAM. The system works fine but is missing disk trays.
> > > > > >>>>>> It uses a 29-pin Hypertronics milspec "KA type" connector
> > > > > >>>>>> for the disks. Slim chance of finding trays.. After
> > > > > >>>>>> opening up I now understand that the hole in the front
> > > > > >>>>>> has nothing behind it. And the weird power cable setup is
> > > > > >>>>>> to route mains to the power switch on the front and then
> > > > > >>>>>> back to the normal PSU.
> > > > > >>>>>>
> > > > > >>>>>> I put some pictures online at https://cloud.giga.nl/apps/
> > > > > >>>>>> photos/public/1RpIilmfnAgqfDEiSen1QgGhgRww0gYq <https://
> > > > > >>>>>> cloud.giga.nl/apps/photos/
> > > > > >>>>>> public/1RpIilmfnAgqfDEiSen1QgGhgRww0gYq>
> > > > > >>>>>>
> > > > > >>>>>> Walter.
> > > > > >>>>>> _______________________________________________
> > > > > >>>>>> rescue list - http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/
> > > > > >>>>>> rescue_sunhelp.org <http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/
> > > > > >>>>>> rescue_sunhelp.org>
> > > > > >>>>> _______________________________________________
> > > > > >>>>> rescue list - http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/
> > > > > >>>>> rescue_sunhelp.org <http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/
> > > > > >>>>> rescue_sunhelp.org>
> > > > > >>>>>
> > > > > >>>> _______________________________________________
> > > > > >>>> rescue list - http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/
> > > > > >>>> rescue_sunhelp.org <http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/
> > > > > >>>> rescue_sunhelp.org>
> > > > > >>>>
> > > > > >> _______________________________________________
> > > > > >> rescue list - http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue_sunhelp.org
> > > > > >> <http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue_sunhelp.org>
> > > > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
> > > > New Kensington, PA
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > rescue list - http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue_sunhelp.org
> > _______________________________________________
> > rescue list - http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue_sunhelp.org
> _______________________________________________
> rescue list - http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue_sunhelp.org
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