27 May
1997
27 May
'97
12:37 a.m.
Due to massive amounts of caffeine & sleep deprivation, Doug Spence said:
...and a BIZARRE
piece of IBM equipment: an external 5-1/4" floppy drive, model 4869.
Actually, if one worked in an IBM shop, they were quite commonplace...
especially when the PS/2's came out. The PS/2's had *no* way to hook an
internal 5.25" floppy (due to size of case... and IBM's wanting to create a
new standard...) so you had to go external if you wanted/needed to share
data with other machines with 5.25" drives.
Now, on the subject of that weirdo IBM 4869 disk
drive... what does this
plug into? The guy I bought it from said it was for an old PC. It has a
37-pin connector on the end of its cable. It's LARGER in two dimensions
than even a Commodore 1541 drive. Its power switch is very high quality.
:) Would this be a 160K drive? I haven't ripped it apart (yet) to see
how many heads the thing has.
The size of the drive is mainly because of the PS & case (the case is
*very* well RFI shielded)... the drive itself is a standard 1/2 height 360K
40TKDSDD 48TPI drive, with a standard 34-pin edge connector. I have one
sitting on my desk at home, modified to use a standard cable (read: hole
cut with dremel tool in top of case to fit cable) so I can use it with
either my PC or with my Tandy CoCo3. *Very* nice drive. Trying to find a
few more, so I can floppyize my CoCo2 and CoCo1.
If you (or anyone) needs more info on this drive, lemme know. But I can
tell you, that just taking it apart is *fun*, if you have 3-4 hours to get
it apart and back together. I've had mine disassembled 3-4 times now, to
figure where to cut holes & stuff for my cable mods.
Enjoy!
Roger "Merch" Merchberger
--
Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed,
Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should
zmerch(a)northernway.net | *not* be your first career choice.
29 May
29 May
11:59 p.m.
On Tue, 27 May 1997, Roger Merchberger wrote:
Due to massive amounts of caffeine & sleep
deprivation, Doug Spence said:
Does the PS/2 not have any 5.25" drive bays? Weird. :) I'm not an IBMer
so I don't know these things, though I *think* one of the machines I used
to do CAD work on was a PS/2 of some flavour.
...and a BIZARRE
piece of IBM equipment: an external 5-1/4" floppy drive, model 4869.
Actually, if one worked in an IBM shop, they were quite commonplace...
especially when the PS/2's came out. The PS/2's had *no* way to hook an
internal 5.25" floppy (due to size of case... and IBM's wanting to create a
new standard...) so you had to go external if you wanted/needed to share
data with other machines with 5.25" drives. The size of the drive is mainly because of the PS
& case (the case is
*very* well RFI shielded)... the drive itself is a standard 1/2 height 360K
40TKDSDD 48TPI drive, with a standard 34-pin edge connector.
OK, that makes it useful. Would you happen to know what the pinout is of
the 37-pin connector, so that I can try to make use of the drive without
modification? Is it even possible to buy a matching female 37-pin
connector?
I want to connect this drive to my A1060 SideCar on my Amiga 1000. I
removed the internal floppy drive in the SideCar in order to install a
5.25" hard drive in its bay. If I build an extension cable, I should be
able to get this IBM drive hooked up instead, so that I'll actually have
an A: drive on the machine. :)
Then I'll have a machine I can run 22DISK on so I can avoid a lot of the
foolishness with serial cables, etc.
I have one
sitting on my desk at home, modified to use a standard cable (read: hole
cut with dremel tool in top of case to fit cable) so I can use it with
either my PC or with my Tandy CoCo3. *Very* nice drive. Trying to find a
few more, so I can floppyize my CoCo2 and CoCo1.
Interesting. How are the drives interfaced to the CoCos? I've got a
CoCo1, CoCo2, and CoCo3, but I've never found a disk drive for these
machines.
If you (or anyone) needs more info on this drive,
lemme know. But I can
tell you, that just taking it apart is *fun*, if you have 3-4 hours to get
it apart and back together. I've had mine disassembled 3-4 times now, to
figure where to cut holes & stuff for my cable mods.
Heh. I couldn't even get mine apart, because of the two six-pointed
screws on the bottom. The screws have a lump in the middle so I can't use
a flat-blade screwdriver as I did when I had a similar problem opening my
Mac 512K.
Enjoy!
Roger "Merch" Merchberger
--
Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed,
Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should
zmerch(a)northernway.net | *not* be your first career choice.
Doug Spence
ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca
30 May
30 May
6:40 a.m.
Does the PS/2 not have any 5.25" drive bays?
Weird. :) I'm not an IBMer
so I don't know these things, though I *think* one of the machines I used
to do CAD work on was a PS/2 of some flavour.
No, AFAIK the PS/2 cases had (special!) 3.5" bays only.
The size of the drive is mainly because of the PS
& case (the case is
*very* well RFI shielded)... the drive itself is a standard 1/2 height 360K
40TKDSDD 48TPI drive, with a standard 34-pin edge connector.
OK, that makes it useful. Would you happen to know what the pinout is of
the 37-pin connector, so that I can try to make use of the drive without
modification? Is it even possible to buy a matching female 37-pin
connector? Interesting. How are the drives interfaced to the
CoCos? I've got a
CoCo1, CoCo2, and CoCo3, but I've never found a disk drive for these
machines.
You need a disk interface cartridge. It fits into the ROMpack slot, and
it contains a ROM containing the disk extenstions to BASIC and the disk
controller (WD1773 in later models, WD1793? in earlier ones). The disk
drive plugs into a 34 pin connector on the end of the cartridge
Late version disk interfaces (FD500 and later) work in all CoCo's. Early
interfaces need a 12V line (I forget if it's +ve or -ve) that's only
available on the CoCo1. Of course there's nothing to stop you hacking it.
Heh. I couldn't even get mine apart, because of
the two six-pointed
screws on the bottom. The screws have a lump in the middle so I can't use
a flat-blade screwdriver as I did when I had a similar problem opening my
Mac 512K.
Tamperproof TORX screws. Drivers for them are available from good tool
shops in the UK - I have a reasonably complete set to deal with such
things...
Doug Spence
--
-tony
ard12(a)eng.cam.ac.uk
The gates in my computer are AND,OR and NOT, not Bill
1:12 a.m.
Due to massive amounts of caffeine & sleep deprivation, A.R. Duell said:
> Interesting. How are the drives interfaced to the
CoCos? I've got a
> CoCo1, CoCo2, and CoCo3, but I've never found a disk drive for these
> machines.
You need a disk interface cartridge. It fits into the
ROMpack slot, and
it contains a ROM containing the disk extenstions to BASIC and the disk
controller (WD1773 in later models, WD1793? in earlier ones). The disk
drive plugs into a 34 pin connector on the end of the cartridge
Late version disk interfaces (FD500 and later) work in all CoCo's. Early
interfaces need a 12V line (I forget if it's +ve or -ve) that's only
available on the CoCo1. Of course there's nothing to stop you hacking it.
Uhhhh, yea, what he said. I forgot to mention the disk interface cartridge
in my last post... I have a few Disto mini-controllers (MC-1's) sans case
if you're interested... I think I have a PD dos available as well, as the
DOS chip (on ROM) is no longer available from RS.
> Heh. I couldn't even get mine apart, because
of the two six-pointed
> screws on the bottom. The screws have a lump in the middle so I can't use
> a flat-blade screwdriver as I did when I had a similar problem opening my
> Mac 512K.
Tamperproof TORX screws. Drivers for them are available
from good tool
shops in the UK - I have a reasonably complete set to deal with such
things...
Boy... y'all got everything over there, don't you? I've *never* seen a
T-proof Torx screwdriver on this side of the pond... therefore I just
tampered the tamperproofs to get in.
HTH,
"Merch"
--
Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed,
Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should
zmerch(a)northernway.net | *not* be your first career choice.
7:37 a.m.
Tamperproof
TORX screws. Drivers for them are available from good tool
shops in the UK - I have a reasonably complete set to deal with such
things...
Boy... y'all got everything over there, don't you? I've *never* seen a
T-proof Torx screwdriver on this side of the pond... therefore I just
tampered the tamperproofs to get in.
HTH,
"Merch"
--
-tony
ard12(a)eng.cam.ac.uk
The gates in my computer are AND,OR and NOT, not Bill
9 Jun
9 Jun
8:52 a.m.
On Fri, 30 May 1997 (eons and eons ago), A.R. Duell wrote:
Brilliant. :)
Reminds me of the "special" PCMCIA slot on my A1200, but I guess that
couldn't have been avoided.
<snip>
Well, I haven't seen any around here (Canada) but perhaps I haven't been
looking hard enough. I also haven't been trying to get the drive open
because other things have come up.
It's funny how I can be out of school for the summer, unemployed, and
STILL not have enough time for all the stuff I want to do.
Does the PS/2
not have any 5.25" drive bays? Weird. :) I'm not an IBMer
so I don't know these things, though I *think* one of the machines I used
to do CAD work on was a PS/2 of some flavour.
No, AFAIK the PS/2 cases had (special!) 3.5" bays only. If it's the same as the XT external floppy
connector (and I think it is!),
the 34 wires of the standard floppy connector are connected to the
'bottom' (higher numbered) pins on the 37 pin D plug. Pins 1,2,20 are no
connection, pin 3 is wire 2, pin 4 is wire 4, pin 5 is wire 6, etc. Pins
21-37 are all grounded.
It's a standard DC37 connector, available from any good electronics parts
place, I think. You can get solder, PCB mount or IDC versions.
Excellent! Thanks for the info! As I said earlier, I have a use for this
drive, but I don't really want to modify it. Hopefully I'll be able to
feed a ribbon cable with the 37-pin D connector on it out of my Amiga's
Sidecar.
I hope there wouldn't be problems with noise, etc, over lengthy cabling?
I also wouldn't mind using it as an external 5.25" drive for my Amigas,
but I guess that would take some added trickery.
Heh. I
couldn't even get mine apart, because of the two six-pointed
screws on the bottom. The screws have a lump in the middle so I can't use
a flat-blade screwdriver as I did when I had a similar problem opening my
Mac 512K.
Tamperproof TORX screws. Drivers for them are available from good tool
shops in the UK - I have a reasonably complete set to deal with such
things... --
-tony
ard12(a)eng.cam.ac.uk
The gates in my computer are AND,OR and NOT, not Bill
Doug Spence
ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca
3:03 p.m.
If it's
the same as the XT external floppy connector (and I think it is!),
the 34 wires of the standard floppy connector are connected to the
'bottom' (higher numbered) pins on the 37 pin D plug. Pins 1,2,20 are no
connection, pin 3 is wire 2, pin 4 is wire 4, pin 5 is wire 6, etc. Pins
21-37 are all grounded.
It's a standard DC37 connector, available from any good electronics parts
place, I think. You can get solder, PCB mount or IDC versions.
Excellent! Thanks for the info! As I said earlier, I have a use for this
drive, but I don't really want to modify it. Hopefully I'll be able to
feed a ribbon cable with the 37-pin D connector on it out of my Amiga's
Sidecar.
I hope there wouldn't be problems with noise, etc, over lengthy cabling?
Well, at one time floppy cables were properly terminated (a 150 Ohm
resistor pack in the drive furthest from the controller), and could be
quite long. Alas, termination was considered too hard for the average
user, so modern drives have 1k pull-ups (they are in no sense
terminators), and nothing else. They may therefore fail to work on long
cables.
If you are feeling hackish, you might try adding some 150 Ohm termination
resistors to the last drive on the cable (or replacing the 1k ones, which
may well be microscopic SMD ones, alas) and seeing if that helps.
Heh. I couldn't even get mine apart, because of
the two six-pointed
screws on the bottom. The screws have a lump in the middle so I can't use
a flat-blade screwdriver as I did when I had a similar problem opening my
Mac 512K.
Tamperproof TORX screws. Drivers for them are available from good tool
shops in the UK - I have a reasonably complete set to deal with such
things... 
10:24 a.m.
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2:23 p.m.
New subject: Bit-3 Full-View80 video card for Atari 800
Here's something I've been wanting to pick up for quite a while and
just happened to come across one in my favorite thrift shop today while
out picking up some groceries. I came across an Atari 800, with the
standard 10k ROM and a single 16k RAM cartridge in it, as well as a 3rd
party 32k RAM cartridge and a Bit-3 Full-View80 80-column video board!
The video board has a mini-din connector and what appears to be a
composite video connector (RCA female plug) for a monitor. Is this a
composite video connector? I can't remember if software had to be
written specifically for the Bit-3 or not? Also, could someone tell me
the power requirements for an Atari 850 interface, as I also picked up
one of those but it didn't have the PSU. Thanks.
Jeff jeffh(a)unix.aardvarkol.com
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collector of Classic Computers: Amiga 1000, Apple II+, Atari 800,
800XL, MegaST-2, XE System, Coleco Adam, Commodore 128D, 16, Plus/4,
VIC-20, IBM 5155, Kaypro 2X, Mattel Aquarius, Osbourne Executive,
Radofin Aquarius, TI-99/4A, Sinclair ZX-81, Timex-Sinclair 1000, TRS-80
Color Computer 3, Model 4, and Model 4P. Also Odyssey2, Atari SuperPong
and Atari 2600VCS game consoles
3:24 p.m.
New subject: Bit-3 Full-View80 video card for Atari 800
Jeff Hellige wrote:
written specifically for the Bit-3 or not? Also, could someone tell me
the power requirements for an Atari 850 interface, as I also picked up
one of those but it didn't have the PSU. Thanks.
Can't help with the Bit-3 unit, but the power supply for my 850
interface is P/N C014319, is marked for use with Atari 400/800 systems,
and is listed as 9.5 VAC output @ 1.7Amps. Hope this helps.
11:24 a.m.
New subject: Bit-3 Full-View80 video card for Atari 800
On 10-Jun-97, Marvin wrote:
Can't help with the Bit-3 unit, but the power
supply for my 850
interface is P/N C014319, is marked for use with Atari 400/800 systems,
and is listed as 9.5 VAC output @ 1.7Amps. Hope this helps.
Marvin,
Thanks for the info! I just happen to have an extra one of these PSU's
sitting here. Isn't this the same PSU that powers the 800 itself?
Jeff Jeffh(a)unix.aardvarkol.com
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent from an Amiga 3000..the computer for the creative mind!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Collector of classic home computers:
Amiga 1000, Apple II+, Atari 800, 800XL, Mega-ST/2 and XE System,
Coleco ADAM, Commodore 128D, 16, Plus/4 and VIC-20, IBM 5155,
Kaypro 2X, Mattel Aquarius, Osborne Executive, Radofin Aquarius,
Sinclair ZX-81, TI-99/4A, Timex-Sinclair 1000, TRS-80 Color
Computer-3, Model 4, and Model 4P, plus Odyssey2, Atari Superpong
and 2600VCS game consoles.
10 Jun
10 Jun
3:33 a.m.
New subject: Bit-3 Full-View80 video card for Atari 800
Can't help with the Bit-3 unit, but the power
supply for my 850
interface is P/N C014319, is marked for use with Atari 400/800 systems,
and is listed as 9.5 VAC output @ 1.7Amps. Hope this helps.
Marvin,
Thanks for the info! I just happen to have an extra one of these PSU's
sitting here. Isn't this the same PSU that powers the 800 itself?
5:21 a.m.
New subject: Tandy 600
In checking through the master computer lists, I found a Tandy 600
computer that is not listed. In checking through the docs, I can't find
any reference to what the CPU is and I would prefer not to take it apart
to find out:). Anyone know what CPU it uses? The manual was copyright
1985 but I don't know when the machine was actually released although I
would *assume* 1985. It operates with MS-DOS style files and with all
software residing in ROM. It appears that the basic machine comes with
32K of RAM expandable to 128K or 224K with special 96K upgrade kits. It
is classified as a "lap-size" or "handheld" computer; this with the
dimensions being 11 1/2" x 12 1/2" x 2 1/2" and weighing about 9 1/2
pounds. It comes with a 16 line x 80 character LCD screen, 3 1/2" drive
and a build-in modem. Built in software includes MS Works V1.2 with
Word, Calendar, File, Telecom, and Multiplan.
10057
days inactive
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days old
12 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
-
ard12＠eng.cam.ac.uk -
ds_spenc＠alcor.concordia.ca -
jeffh＠unix.aardvarkol.com -
marvin＠rain.org -
shoppa＠alph02.triumf.ca -
zmerch＠northernway.net