DEC bus transceivers

[allison]

On 10/26/16 7:38 AM, Noel Chiappa wrote:
>   
>
> But DS8641's are available in the 10's of thousands, there's no earthly way
> we could use them all on repairs. Yes, when they run out, we'll have a
> problem - but I plan to cross than bridge _if_ and when we get to it.
>
> 	Noel
>
Actually since about 1987 I've used about 1200 pieces of the 8641 alone 
repairing boards
at the commercial level.  Up till recently I had a side business keeping 
commercial in use
pdp-8 and pdp11 system in NC machines.  Subs are not possible in that 
case as its all
about pin out and form factor.  Same for unique no-DEC boards in that 
service.
There is no choice for them, it has to fit the same hole.  And most of 
the 11s were Qbus
as the Unibus machines even minimal sized ones were generally large.

No they are scarce, any parts are NOS(new but old stock) of an out of 
manufacture part.
If you going to build a board or three maybe even 20 its not a big deal 
but its not
a reliable source of predictable quality.    If you get to the bridge 
your talking redesign
in reality or an expensive buy from unreliable source then testing them 
in bulk.

Allison