10 Sep
2008
10 Sep
'08
4:19 p.m.
Bob Armstrong wrote:
Intersil made several PDP-8 "work a
likes" based on their 6100 chip, and
I'm trying to figure out a few of the exact details. OK, I know this is
really obscure, but I'm hoping somebody out there has used one or at least
seen one :-)
I have an Intersil databook copyright 1982 that describes some of these
things. It is a product line book with abbreviated data sheets.
made a thing called the "Micro12" which was
a little like the Intercept Jr
No mention of the Micro12, but then this is an Intersil manual.
And the "Intercept I/II Microcomputer
Development Manual" (which I do
No mention of the Intercept I, but there is an Intercept III. This is
the same basic size as the Intercept II, but has a power switch, power
light, and reset switch on the front (no switch panel) and comes with
32kW as standard. The option cards listed are the same for both the
Intercept II and III, so it must be bus compatible.
BUT, I've also seen pictures of something that
looks like an Intercept I
(exact same chassis), but with a lights and switches front panel. Intersil
Nothing like that in this book.
Also, Intersil had their own disk (floppy disk, that
is) operating system
for the Intercept I/II called IFDOS. I have a manual for IFDOS, but it
doesn't describe the floppy disk hardware for the Intercept. Was it a clone
of the RX01/RX8E? Have any copies of IFDOS media survived?
The only disk controller mentioned is the "6914 IFDC Double Density DMA
Floppy Disk Controller." The page is pretty much wasted with useless
information, and there is no mention of RX8E compatibility. The text
states that it has an "LSI controller" and that "you can choose the
drive and format best suited to your application."
There is a page for 6970-IFDOS. No mention of platform other than
Intercept development system. One bullet says "IBM 3470 compatible media
with multiple sources" and the follow says "Software compatible with DEC
RX8 for the PDP-8 minicomputers."
Thanks!
Bob Armstrong
Perhaps a little more information than you had.
-chuck