I finally got around to fixing a Brian Instruments BRIKON
model 723 floppy drive tester/analyzer I purchased (broken)
some time ago. It was a pretty easy problem in the power
supply (two shorted capacitors). It now powers up, lights
blink, and I don't know how to use it :-)
Inside the unit the EPROM stickers say "P723 Apple Dual
Analog 4/29/92", so I assume that means this puppy can
test Apple analog drives. Just for fun I tried plugging
in an old 5.24 inch IBM-PC drive, and after moving the
drive select (DS) jumper on the drive to "1", I can step
the head back and forth using buttons on the front of the
Brian. Ohh I'm a clever monkey!
There's a lot I don't know about floppy drives, and I don't
understand most of the info the unit presents on it's front
panel or display. What's "Radial Select" mean? Or "Binary
Select?" Or "Mux Control," for that matter? What does the
following pattern mean when displayed following completion
of a test cycle?
--.
|
| |
Looks like a seven, but there's an extra segment lit up!
BTW, the 723 reported that my old floppy drive failed the
test, which is quite possible. I was willing to sacrifice
that drive in the interests of my education. :-)
I would really like to get my hands on a manual for the
unit. My search in Google took me to this web site, where
someone way back in 2002 was looking for a BRIKON 723
with the analog/alignment attachment (option R). I don't
know if that's the same as the Apple Dual Analog feature
my 723 has. There's nothing on the back of my unit that
says "option R" has been installed. My unit has one "free"
slot inside. I guess that's for an option I don't have.
Could anyone out there provide me with a copy of the
owner's manual? Of course I'll pay for photocopy charges,
etc. Alternately, anyone out there interested in outlining
how to use this puppy?
Thanks so much,
Kenn
I have posted the following to my web site:
http://www.dunfield.com/pub/is32.pdf <- IS32 Optic Ram datasheet
http://www.dunfield.com/pub/mdcam1.pdf <- Byte "Micro D-Cam" artical part-1
http://www.dunfield.com/pub/mdcam2.pdf <= Byte "Micro D-Cam" artical part-2
I have not yet scanned the Apple code listing that accompanied part two of the
byte artical - will try and do this in the next few days (it's fairly lengthy).
I won't be able to leave these here forever - if anyone can take them and put
them somewhere for long-term availability, that would be great!
Btw, you can't access the pub directory directly, so you will have to point
your browser at the specific files indicated.
Regards,
Dave
--
dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield
dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com
com Vintage computing equipment collector.
http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html
Hi all !
Who's interested in big old iron ?
For the next 3 or 4 weeks, a hole Unisys mainframe will be available.
The System 80 comes with several hard disks, a DCP-rack (with this thing, you can talk to VAXen),
a high speed plotter and four big nine-track reel tape drives !
There are lots of terminals going with it.
I defintely haven't enough space for it, you will need a truck to load this huge baby !
The mainframe will be scrapped in several weeks and it's apparently the last one in working condition in Europe (I don't know if it's right but the administrator told me so).
I'll get several parts out of one reel tape drive and two HDDs, that's all.
Contact me offline if you are interested.
I can get more information about the model numbers of the parts.
Cheers
Pierre
PS: I could make some photos, before it goes to the scrapper if nobody wants it.
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I have a PDP-11/60 available in Houston TX along with an HP 9836. If interested contact me off list. Looking to see if anyone is interested in them whole before parting it out. Seems most people just want bits and pieces.
David
-----
"When the mind is free of any thought or judgement, then and only then can we
know things as they are."
David Williams
dlwfanservice(a)sbcglobal.com
I have one of those IO selectrics from
eBay too. It looks like they were pulled
>from service, are nicely cleaned and lubricated
but not repaired (e.g. mine has one shorted solenoid).
Have gotten most of the wiring figured out, will send
the documentation to any interested party -- contact me
off-list. Later this summer I'll be building an interface
for it, probably with usb, maybe serial also.
Brian
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
_| _| _| Brian Knittel
_| _| _| Quarterbyte Systems, Inc.
_| _| _| Tel: 1-510-559-7930
_| _| _| Fax: 1-510-525-6889
_| _| _| Email: brian(a)quarterbyte.com
_| _| _| http://www.quarterbyte.com