DEC Pro 350

[Kurt Hamm]

 Yeah, the fact that the issue is intermittent (mostly not booting) is
weird.

Just to be clear,  You mentioned a 25 pin connector.  My understanding is
that the console port is the printer port which is a 9 pin connector.

Thanks for the info.  I have ordered the stuff to make a cable so should be
able to test console port this weekend.

Kurt


On Mon, Feb 26, 2018 at 9:23 AM, Paul Koning <paulkoning at comcast.net> wrote:

>
>
> > On Feb 25, 2018, at 5:39 PM, Kurt Hamm via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks for the suggestions. Interestingly, upon first boot I was able to
> > get the hard disk controller error with the picture of the computer.
> Then,
> > sure subsequent reboots failed to display anything.
> >
> > I removed all the cards and booted with no luck.
>
> That would be the expected result if the status lights indicate a
> motherboard failure -- it means you're not reaching the point where it
> looks at the I/O cards.
>
> > It looks like I will need to build a cable to try terminal mode.  I did
> > hook a vt220 with a 9to25 cablw, but didn't get anything.
>
> You need a cable specifically wired as console cable.  Check the technical
> manual for the details.  The DB25 connector is used to connect either a
> (serial) printer or a console, and the two are distinguished by a jumper
> between two of the pins.  So a console cable has that jumper in its
> connector, a printer cable does not.  If you don't have the jumper, the
> speed will be set differently (4800 rather than 9600) and the UART will not
> appear at the console UART address.
>
>         paul
>
>