HP3000 help needed

From: Aaron Christopher Finney <A_Finney_at_wfi-inc.com>
Date: Fri Nov 27 21:22:32 1998

/* note: sorry if this is coming through twice - I had a power outage
right as it was sending so I don't know if it made it the first time. */


Well, I finally got around to ripping apart the HP3000 rack I got from
John Lawson a couple of months ago. And desperately need some pointers...

I've read the HP3000-L FAQ and searched most of the day for info, but
there isn't much geared toward the Classic HP3000 home-hobbyist.

What I've got is this:

9144 tape drive - I've already deduced that it's a low-density, 16-track
capable of 67/134 megs and the tapes have to be purchased pre-formatted.

2563A Printer - with a modular connector.

9123 3 1/2" dual floppy - picked up after-the-fact at a yard sale. It's
HP-IB, but has a weird DIN power connector cord. No P/S.

(2) 7914 drives - one of these may be a non-op, having suffered some
damage during transit.

(2)HP3000 series 37's - these are piggy-backed, is this the usual
configuration? . Here's where I need some info:

    The "top" unit has a DB-25F in slot one, and an HP-IB in slot 4, as
    well as those DE-3F (correct terminology?) connectors in ports 0-5.

    The "bottom" unit has the DB-25F in slot one, the HP-IB in slot 4,
    and an AUI (ethernet? Is this a Lanic board?) in slot 5, as well as
    the 3-pin deals in ports 0-5. Above the ports is a female
    Centronics-50 which connected to what I believe is a terminal
    splitter, p/n 40290-60003. Above that is a *very* high-density 99-pin
    male connector, this is attached to the board with the HP-IB
    connector.

    The two units are connected vi an HP-IB cable on port 4 of each. Also,
    the top has the keyed power switch for both.

What I need is *really* basic info on the system and some pointers to
information sources. Some quick ones:

1) How in the heck do the two 3000/37 units come apart?
2) How do I wire a terminal to this?
3) Is the AUI connector an ethernet card? A lanic card?
4) Could someone please ID all the rest of the ports?
5) Is there a graphical display capability on this machine? As an add-on?
6) What kind of Pertec tape interface is available for this machine?
7) If my 2nd drive is damaged, how might I go about getting an OS for it?

I apologize for such a long post and my absolute lack of knowledge here. I
had a buddy who was supposed to help me out (3000 guru) but he's just gone
overseas for work indefinitely. It's such a cool system, the way it's put
together, and there's a bunch of neat freeware that I'd love to use too.
Any help at all would really be appreciated.

Thanks,

Aaron
Received on Fri Nov 27 1998 - 21:22:32 GMT