Actually, I've spent most of my 17 years in working on the IS side of things, including doing a few custom programs. You don't want to hear my view of the DP/RM fiasco...let's just say I thought it was stupid from the start. Too bad there's an even bigger fiasco looming on the horizon, but that's best left off-list. He had the right idea...i'm an SK not an SH. The fact i've spent most of my time in the service doing some form of IS work vice my normal job is one of the reasons I'm still an SK2! Yes, have used both the Harris mini of SNAP-II and the Honeywell DPS-6 that used to be SUADPS. Had a lot more contact with SNAP-II though as far as direct interaction at the system itself. We had an EMCS that was our SNAP-II and 3M coordinator and he really knew his stuff. He'd routinely do direct downlods of the 3M data to one of the Z-248's and inport it into Dbase-II/III/IV to do what he wanted with it. We had a couple of ET's that did the backups and actual hardware repairs, though the EMCS generally did the tape updates. Our Harris used to destroy disk packs quite often. The thing I liked about the DPS-6 was the version of the classic 'Star Trek' game that was installed with it! Too bad the A/C on the ships was rarely up to keeping the DPS-6 cool enough and it tended to crash quite a lot. SUADPS was later ported to HP Unix and run from a micro and then phased out somewhat as of last year, though there may still be some ships using it. I applogize to all of those not familiar with the USN terminology that had to sit through that <g> Jeff -- Collector of Classic Microcomputers and Video Game Systems: Home of the TRS-80 Model 2000 FAQ File http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lakes/6757

Here's my background, military-wise, for those that don't already know it: Served aboard: USS Sierra (AD-18), Coarl Sea (CV-43), USNS Comfort (TAH-20), USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6), and Enterprise (CVN-65). Also worked out of Bethesda Naval Hospital , Bethesda MD and Special Trials Unit at Patuxent River Naval Air Station (gotta love R&D work!). Currently working for Naval Media Center in Washington D.C. Jeff -- Collector of Classic Microcomputers and Video Game Systems: Home of the TRS-80 Model 2000 FAQ File http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lakes/6757