22 Nov
2005
22 Nov
'05
8:51 p.m.
[Econet test box]
It is. > Amazingly I have this test box, I don't
have the software.
Ditto! The test box pre-dates the Master series, though. It was
around when Beebs were.
Is that this critter? :
http://www.beebmaster.co.uk/ETB.html clock boxes were in the same style of "bought
from Maplin" cases :)
Standard Veroboxes (from the same company that makes Veroboard
stripboard). Very common in the 1980s.
(Actually, didn't the Econet software protocol
change very early on... maybe
such a unit - or at least the software - wouldn't even work on a typical
'modern' Econet even if anyone did have a copy)
The Econet test box knows nothing of the Econet protocol. What it
contains is a mini-econet -- 2 DIN sockets with the termination circuits,
linked together. There's a relay which switches in an RC network to
degrade the network line (to ensure the unit-under-test will work on a
normal cable) and a simple clock circuit (fixed frequency, fixed duty
cycle). Two lines of the user port on the testing computer control the
relay and enable the clock.
That's all there is to it. I've traced out a schematic, I think a copy
of that in the pile of stuff to give you when we meet up.
-tony