Epson QX-10 was:Source for 8 Pin male to male DIN cables?

From: Lawrence Walker <lgwalker_at_look.ca>
Date: Sun Sep 24 08:24:20 2000

> > Thanks guys. I wasn't aware it had color monitor ability. With it's
> >
>
> It doesn't (or to be more exact, the standard QX10 doesn't).
>
> There's no graphic circuitry on the motherboard of the QX10, it's all
> on a daughterboard. The 2 pins that Don said were for the Red and
> Green (I think) signals are routed to the connector for this
> daughterboard (CN10), pins 2 and 4. The normal graphics card, the
> Q10GMS or Q10GCS (depending on which version you have) ties these pins
> to ground. There is only one video output signal (== mono video) on
> this board.
>
> > svelte low-profile and 2 FDDs a pretty classy machine for its day.
>
> Those FDDs are _nice_. They use a linear positioner, a bit like an
> RK05 hard disk, with the same photosensor feedback. The theory and
> schematics for the drives are in the manual as well...
>
> > I imagine it would need a color card for the CR-6700.
>
> Ues. The staandard card is mono only. I've never heard of a colour
> card for this machine and the manual doesn't show it.
>
> >
> > Damn ! It provided power to the monitor. An added complication.
> > While I have a lot of multi-syncs and configurable monitors most
> > have their own PSUs and I wonder about the interrelationship in the
> > QX-10 circuity.
>
> That 12V supply is just a convenient power output for the standard
> monitor. If your monitor is self-powered, you can ignore it. I've run
> my QX10 with no monitor connected (while tracing a fault on the
> garphics board) and had no ill effects.
>
> According to the manual, the monitor draws less than 1.5A on average.
> If you're seriously worried about no load on the 12V monitor supply,
> try connecting a 12V 12W (or thereabouts) car bulb between this pin
> and ground to act as a dummy load. Personally, I'd not botherabout it.
>
> >
> > I acquired the K-B separately and looking at Tom Carlsons pics
> > I thought I had the wrong K-B even tho it had the same connector.
> > Turns out there were 2 versions as I understand it, one for Valdocs
> > and one for CP/M. The connector for the K-B has 1 center pin and
>
> Correct. The HASCI (Valdocs) keyboard has a few more keys and some
> different labels. Maybe the internal microcontroller code is different
> as well. Electrically they're very similar and have the same
> interface.
>
> > 7 around the outside the same as the monitor. One troubling note is
> > that the QX-10 came with a separate coiled cable, with 2 male
> > connectors, each with the little tabs for pulling it out. The k-b I
> > acquired later has an attached cable with a similiar tab. The coiled
> > cable ends insert easily into the K-b socket on the QX-10 but the
> > K-B cable only with difficulty. The obverse applies to the monitor
> > socket.
>
> Ah...
>
> According to the manual, the connectors for the keyboard and monitor
> are different. Since they're both 8 pin DIN sockets, I am going to
> assume (dangerous...) that one is the 'circular' type and the other is
> the 'offset' type.
>
> Both have circular shells of the same size. The difference is in the
> pins. The 'circular' ones has the 7 outside pins in a circular arc,
> the 'offset' one has the outermost 2 pins (near the locating notch)
> offset outwards. If you've forced the plug into the wrong socket you
> might have bent the pins or damaged the socket so that they don't look
> different any more.
>
> Look carefully at the 2 connectors on the board to see if you can see
> the difference. Then examine the cables you have. If possible, open up
> the plugs and look at the solder side, since the pins won't be bent
> there.
>
> > Keeping in mind Tony's recent comments on variations in 8-pin
> > DIN connectors, I compared the 2, but could find no dfference
> > except that the shell on the k-b cable DIN could be a fraction
> > smaller. I had thought originally that it could be slightly
> > out-of-round but now I am wondering if I do have the right Epson
> > K-B. The K-B is labelled m.Q503-A.
> >
>
> I can't find that number (or any number other than 'QX10 keyboard') in
> the manual.
>
> [Delay while ARD digs into the workshop...]
>
> OK, I've looked at my QX10. The monitor connector is the 'circular'
> type, the keyboard connector is 'offset'. They are different. And my
> keyboard (ASCII, probably UK layout) is a Q703.
>
> Sounds like you might have the wrong keyboard.
>
> Also, the pins on a 'circular' connector (the monitor connector) are
> conventionally numbered (looking at the solder side of the plug) :
>
>
> 2
> 4 5
> 1 8 3
> 6 7
> ^
> |
> Locator
>
> -tony
>
>
 Thanks Tony. It would seem that I have neither monitor or nor K-B.
Sounds like it will go on a back shelf with other uncompleted
projects amongst the nonworking tube(valve) radios lacking either
the oldstyle batteries (the replacements are now astronomically
expensive and you need 2 different v+) radios or special parts,
until the proper k-b and monitor surface. Better to see if I can
ressurect the H89 or some other stalled project.
 If the k-b for the QX10 is labelled Q703 and assuming(as you said-
dangerous) they were sequential, what-in-hell could this Q503-A
keyboard be for ? I wasn't aware that Epson made any puters
before the QX-10, although the existant model # might imply
otherwise.
  BTW , knowing you're into "valves", I have one of those old TV
servicemans tube cases crammed full of arcane boxed tubes, as
well as several boxes of tubes waiting to be tested in my Eico
as need arises. Should you have need for an any oddballs, mainly
american, contact me off-list, I might have it. Except for the
common audio ones I don't have much use for them, but can't bring
myself to toss them.

ciao larry

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Received on Sun Sep 24 2000 - 08:24:20 BST