Re: Fixed Frequency Monitors

[Joe Cooper <joe swelltech com>]

Mick Mearns wrote:
> 
> Hello;
>     I just got a Sony GDM-1604-15 fixed frequency SUN monitor (4 BNC). I made
> an adapter (7486) for the sync, and have it working on my Win98/RH6.0 box.
> 
>   I set it up as 1024x768 with 256 colors. It works in Linux but is dim. In
> Win98 I can adjust the Brighness/Gamma/Tint, how can I do thiis in Linux?

Hmmm...Does it not have any kind of manual adjustment knobs or buttons? 
You could try giving some slightly altered modelines a shot.  I would
imagine if they are slightly off (maybe a little too high?) you will
lose some brightness.  Try using xvidtune to tune it.

Also, try setting the dot clock (the first number in your modelines)
higher or lower.  That can impact picture brightness significantly...it
will also affect scan rates, so you'll have to do some experimentation.
 
> Also I have to boot to KDE to see anything on the screen. Is there a utility
> that I can run to kick the video card into 1024x768 so that I can use it as a
> regular console?

Depending on your video card, you may be able to use a framebuffer
console.  My Matrox Millenium II does a beautiful 160 line console on an
old 20" HP workstation monitor (not fixed freq. but it doesn't scan low
enough for standard text modes so I'm in the same boat you are). 
Assuming the fixed freq supported by your Sun (some of the Suns do two
freqs if I recall correctly) is one that you can get your card to do
when being driven by the FB console device.  Have a look at the docs
found in your kernel source at:

/usr/src/linux/Documentation/fb

I think there is also a howto or something out there that I found when I
was trying to do the same thing.  I would love to tell you how I got
mine to work, but it's been so long I've forgotten all specific
details.  I know you have to recompile with the relevant framebuffer for
your card and then add a couple of lines to your lilo.conf, sort of like
so:

boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout=50
default=linux
vga = 792

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.2.14
        append = "video=matrox:vesa:282"
        label=linux
        root=/dev/hda5

Look at the above mentioned docs to interpret those numbers and such.

I've also written a page a few months back about my adventures getting
my HP workstation monitor working.  It may have some info worth reading
for you (but you seem to have gotten through most of the hard bits that
I cover on your own).

But it may be of interest. you can find it here:

http://freeweb.pdq.net/jcooper

Good luck!
                                 -- 
                    Joe Cooper <joe swelltech com>
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