s100 busses! / H8

From: KB9VU_at_aol.com <(KB9VU_at_aol.com)>
Date: Wed May 10 12:00:17 2000

In a message dated 5/10/00 11:25:42 Central Daylight Time,
pat_at_transarc.ibm.com writes:

> > >
> > >Heath made a computer (the H-8) which is similar to the IMSAI but
> actually
> > >does use a program to control the computer along with the usual
hardware.
> > >The H-8 is a lot newer than the IMSAI, however.
> > >
> > >-- Derek
> >
> > Any idea where I can get info on how to run an h8? I saved one from the
> > garbage a while back, and it seems to function..at least it reacts to
> > it's front panel, but I have no doc for it whatsoever.
> I used to wander up to the local Heathkit store every weekend to play with
> the H8, H11a (LSI-11 based machine running a variant of RT-11), and the
> H89 - essentially a Z80 processor board and a 5.25" disk drive built into
> an H19 terminal - I'd actually really love to have one of those, if anyone
> has one they don't want ... :-)
>
> Anyway, I was such a frequent visitor to that store that the manager gave
> me a couple of advertising posters for the machines - one was a poster
> that said "H8 POWER", above an illustration of the bootstrap address, as
> it would appear on the H8 display in red 7-segment LEDs; I'm almost
> positive that the display read "040000 Pc" .... The poster is still
> hanging on my old bedroom wall at my mother's house, unfortunately I can't
> get to it to look just at the moment ....
>
> --Pat.


I have two complete operating H8 machines and complete documentation. One id
stock Heathkit with the gold pin MB. The other is a Trionix equipped unit
with dual fans, modified power supply and an operating 8086 CPU board. Runs
CP/M-86 from hard sector disks at a screaming 2 MHz. If someone needs a copy
of the operating instructions for the H8, I'll see if I can get it for them
for the cost of copies and postage. Can't be in a hurry though as I travel
almost 100% of the time and copies will be done at the local Office Max when
I have a spare hour or so.

The H8 used a 50 pin buss designed by Heathkit. The boot loader could be
initiated from the front panel and used a cassette tape or any of several
disk drives depending on the controllers installed. AAMF, programs could be
keyed into the front panel in Octal and executed from the panel without the
use of an external device. Kind of fun watching the display as the program
executed.

I also have two working H/Z-89's left after today. Planning on keeping them,
however. I just finished selling/giving away 8 complete H/Z-89's. (Sorry Pat)

I do still have a small supply of spare parts and boards for the H8 and H89
if someone is in a bind. Also have complete documentation on the
H/Z-88/89/90 series of computers.

Mike Stover, KB9VU
Florissant, MO
CCA# 404
CRA# 77
USAF MARS AFA3BO
Received on Wed May 10 2000 - 12:00:17 BST