NEC Multisync 1401 monitor settings

[chris_nh]

I'm playing around with the original NEC multisync 1401p3a monitor, trying to sort out all of the settings. After searching around I've unfortunately been unable to find a user manual.

The color settings all work fine, and CGA/EGA display nicely on this monitor, but there are settings I'm having trouble figuring out...

1) Switch on back labeled "manual" (on/off) ... doesn't seem to do anything. What is it for?

2) Text mode switch on top ... I'm trying to get this to work with a monochrome adapter, but text only appears in dark blue. When I switch "text" button ON, the blue text basically disappears to black screen. RGB switches on back are for selecting text color in text mode, right? All are on, so I'm expecting white. I only see a few white pixels on the screen where high-intensity text is on the screen, but the characters are incomplete. Otherwise, I have to be in "text off" mode to see mono in dark blue. Without a user manual, I'm not sure what to expect here.

3) H. Width switch on top ... doesn't seem to do anything, but why in heck is this not a knob?

Can anyone help shed some light on the monitor settings?? I'm looking especially to figure out the proper operation of "text" mode with a mono adapter.

Does anyone have a link to a PDF user manual for this monitor?

Thanks!

 

[modem7]

There is an advert for the JC-1401P3A at the last page of the document at [here].
I see that compatibility is not claimed for MDA !!!

 

[Stone]

Here's a link for a file with info on the NEC:

https://web.archive.org/web/20131207174317/http://www.welook4things.com/nec1401.zip

 

[chris_nh]

Thanks Stone, the documents are very helpful!

Yeah, I know technically they don't list MDA as compatible, but the monitor works just fine with MDA as long as you don't mind seeing only dark blue text. Unfortunately, the "Text" mode doesn't seem to work with MDA, but it does work as advertised when using a color adapter. At least now I know the monitor functions are correct.

 

[Stone]

Chris, have you tried it in VGA mode yet?

 

[chris_nh]

Not yet, but I'll give it a try in the near future