Thanks everyone for the help.  I'll give the serial console a try, firstly 
via minicom and then via VT320.  Just what I need... an excuse to buy a VT320.

;)


Michael Kukat <michael@unixiron.org> said:

> Hi !
> 
> lists@khubla.com wrote:
> > I read that I needed a serial console, but having seen the boot loader 
output
> > to the CRT guessed that the documentation was outdated.  What type of 
serial
> > console would work?  Is VT100 reasonable?  Can I connect via minicomm 
with an
> > i386 box?
> 
> Na, this just seems to be this way. The booter does it's whole console
> I/O via the PROM routines on many machines, especially the VAXstations.
> So it is here with the 4000/60. But as soon as the kernel comes up,
> which of course uses its own console I/O, you will just lose the
> framebuffer console, and maybe the kernel comes up on the serial
> console. To get sure, you should flip the S3 switch under the small
> cover on the front to the upper (i think it was upper... just toggle it)
> position to select the serial console by default.
> 
> You can connect anything knowing about 9600 Bps, 8 bits, 1 stopbit and
> no parity. I even connected my Nokia 9110 communicator to a MicroVAX II,
> so nearly everything should work. Preferable you should use an original
> DEC terminal (VT320s are very nice), or a good terminal emulation.
> Minicom is ok for this, if you want it a bit comfortable, the tool
> screen is also very good for this (i use this on my SGI for 2 VAXen),
> and it goes down to tip or cu, which also fit your needs very well.
> 
> You just need some adapter or special cable for the MMJ connector (this
> RJ11 thing with the notch not centered), the 25pin connector can't be
> used as console AFAIK, this is another port.
> 
> ...Michael
> 



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