At 08:13 AM 5/25/00 -0700, Doug wrote:
>**************
> I'm sending this again because my first attempt went to
>classiccmp-classiccmp-org_at_jade.tseinc.com and was rejected.
>If you are receiving a second copy of this,ignore it.
>**************
>Joe <rigdonj_at_intellistar.net> wrote:
>> I found this in a pile of surplus computers yesterday. Can anyone tell
>> me what it is? It looks like an ordinary external 5 1/4" drive box but on
>> the back of the box it has a DB-25M connector marked "MODEM/CPU" and a
>> DB-25F connector marked "TERMINAL". There's also a rotary switch labeled
>> "RATE" with positions marked "10", "30", "120", "240", "480", 960" and
>> "EXT". Then there's a toggle switch with positions marked "BIN CTRL ON"
>> "ODD" and "EVEN". And another toggle switch with positons marked "FULL" and
>> "HALF". It has a socket for a standard AC line cord. It's made by Techtran
>> Industries of Rochester, N.Y. and it's a model 950A. My guess is that it's
>> a disk drive that's made to go between a terminal and it's MODEM or
>> computer but I've never heard of one before. If that's what it is, then
>> how do you give it coomands?
>
> Joe,
> I don't think this is one of those file-system/data logger type
>drives,I have one of those and it has a keypad on the front of the
>drive you use to open a disk file before dumping serial data to it
>and to close the file when you're done.
>
> Instead, I think you have a CP/M computer. It sounds alot like
>my PMC 101 "MicroMate".
> http://www.best.com/~dcoward/ebay/micromat.jpg
> The MicroMate is about the same size as and looks like a TRS-80
>Model 1 disk drive. On the back it has DB-25s for "Terminal" and
>"Modem". It weights only 10 pounds but when you open the case
>there is a DSDD 400K floppy drive, a power supply and a board
>that runs the length of the case, which is a 128K 4Mhz Z80A based
>CP/M computer. If this is the "case" - you'll need a boot disk.
> What is inside this box of yours?
> --Doug
Doug,
I think Tony is right about it beins some kind of buffer box. I wish it
was some kind of small computer! There are a couple more where I found this
one. I opened it this morning and it has has a 8085AH CPU in it along with
a 8212 IC (8 bit latch) and two 8156 ICs (8 x 256 bit SRAM with timer and
I/O ports) in it along with a lot of SSI TTL chips. All the ICs seem to be
dated 1979 and 1982. There's also a linear power supply in it and it has a
Tandon model 100A1 single sided floppy drive in it. There's no keypad on
the front but it does have three LEDs marked "READ", "WRITE" and "READY"
and a toggle switch with postions marked "BINARY", "ON-LINE" and "OFF". I
found an original disk for it and installed it and powered it up and the
READ and WRITE LEDs flash a few times then go out and the READY LED comes
on and stays on. I tried the same thing with another disk and the READ and
WRIE LEDs flash a few time but then the READ, WRITE and READY LEDs all
start flasking in turn so it knows that it's not the proper disk. I tried
to find a file system on the original disk but I haven't found one yet.
I'll post some pictures as soon as I can. Perhaps someone will recognize
it. If it is just a buffer, I may see if someone wants it for a small
computer box or for an external drive for an old computer. It's in a good
stout steel case and has a good power supply and a fan with filter in it.
What was your MicroMate made for? It seems kind of limited with so few
ports.
Joe
Received on Thu May 25 2000 - 15:28:20 BST
