Wierd AUI Connector on VAXstation 2000 - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

14 Sep 2013

...

 I just collected a VAXstation 2000 that has an AUI connector on the back.
 The trouble is that the connector is a bit strange. It has screw holes like
 you might get for screwing in a serial cable or a video cable, rather than
 the locking slider that grips some studs on the cable you are connecting (or
 a transceiver in my case).

 Is it possible to get an AUI cable or a transceiver that will fit this
 connector or must I physically modify something I already have? 
Some machines did indeed have screwposts, not the sliding clip. PERQs 
did, for example.

If the connector is a DA15, it is very likely that it is the standard 
wiring (again PERQs were), the difference is the locking system only. 

There seem to be 2 solutions : 

1) Replace the screwposts with the locking clip and screws. I _think_ 
those locking kits are still available, although mot easy to find or 
cheap. Look inside the machine before you start dismandling anything to 
see if the posts go into tapped bushes in the socket or if there are 
loose nuts ot worry about. 

It might be possible to scrounge locking clips off old dead ethernet cards
...
 from the junk box.  With any luck, the thread of the
screws might be the same as the thread of the screwposts.

...

2) Make up a cable. Maingt the AUI drop cable is not easy as the raw 
cable is 4 twisted pairs, the power pair being thicker wire than the 
other 3. When I was looking for some about 20 years ago I couldn't find 
anyone who would sell me less than a 100m reel (not cheap!). I finally 
found a freindly networking person who gave me an 'offcut'.

There is at least one more option - get a readymade cable designed for use in
these cases.  I came across a hoard of these by DEC once but sadly, not knowing
what they were for, I only saved one sample.  It is a BNE4E-02 - I suspect the
02 is the length as it is 2m long.  The connector at the machine end is right
angled.  I also use it with my Alphaserver 2100 which has the same issue.

Maybe someone else was sensible enough to save more of these cables?

Regards,
Peter Coghlan.