Chi Corp. / Computer Logics PCTD3 and PCTD16 Pertec-interface - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

8 Mar 2007

Pulled this out of archives:

...
  Chuck Guzis cclist at sydex.com
 Wed Nov 30 01:06:31 CST 2005

 I've got both Chi Corp./Computer Logics PCTD3 and PCTD16 Pertec-interface
 tape controlers.  What I don't have is a clue as to how to drive them.

 Normally, this wouldn't be a problem that running down traces and some
 pencil and paper work wouldn't cure.  But, other than for a couple of
 lines, much of the logic for these cards is hidden inside an early Xilinx
 FPGA.  Thus far, my "pork poking" hasn't given up any information.

 So, I'm wondering if anyone has any information on these beasts or perhaps
 has hung onto the TDRIVER.EXE or API.EXE files.  I'm not interested in
 using the files, but rather want to use them to give up some clues on how
 that blasted FPGA is set up.

 Thanks,
 Chuck

Do you still have a PCTD16?  I acquired one not too long ago and have
it cabled up to a Fujistu 2444AC.  I'll have to take another look at
the card.  I don't remember seeing anything that looked more
complicated that 16-pin DIPs.  Nothing that clearly stood out as an
FPGA.

Luckily it was acquired inside a PC with Chi API.EXE and Outright on
the MS-DOS boot drive, along with a small manual with the programming
interface for the API.EXE TSR.  No sign of TDRIVER.EXE.

It didn't take too much to port the 2.11BSD maketape.c program
(http://www.tribug.org/pub/tuhs/PDP-11/Distributions/ucb/2.11BSD/) to
an MS-DOS application using the API.EXE TSR interface.  Last night I
created a 2.11BSD installation tape using the PCTD16, then connected
the 2444AC to a QT13 (using a pair of Pertec cables I built up myself)
and finally got 2.11BSD installed and booting up on my 11/73.

-Glen