Apple ][ boards -- what have I found?

From: Richard Erlacher <edick_at_idcomm.com>
Date: Mon Jul 23 14:36:23 2001

comments inline.

Dick

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sellam Ismail" <foo_at_siconic.com>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2001 12:03 PM
Subject: Re: Apple ][ boards -- what have I found?


> On Sun, 22 Jul 2001, Tony Duell wrote:
>
> > Memsoft TC2E0260. This board looks hand-soldered, and some components are
> > missing. It's got a 6850 (ACIA), MC3486, MC3487 (Buffers), and TTL glue
> > on it. And space for a 2716 EPROM.
>
My guess is that this is a serial interface intended for RS423 or RS422 use,
i.e. longer distances. It's possible the 2716 was intended to support some
customed protocol, but the 6850 is essentially a UART, (no synchronous
capability) and somewhat rate limited. The 3486/87 are differential drivers for
RS422/423. One wouldn't have used the diff drivers unless one needed to have
the signal travel some considerable distance.

I'd guess distance is the motivation for using the diff drivers together with
the 6850, since the ACIA is rate-limited.

>
> >
> > Advanced Text Systems P.001. Contains a 6520 (PIA), 2 off 7416 (buffers).
> > There's a DB25 connector on the end of a short length of ribbon cable.
>
> No clue...I have hundreds of Apple ][ boards and have never heard of
> these (at least according to current memory).
>
> > Mountain Computers ROMwriter. Clearly an EPROM programmer, with a 24 pin
> > ZIF socket. I found 2 of these boards.
> >
> > Prog RWP. Another EPROM Programmer, this one has a 28 pin ZIF socket.
> > Also an 8255 (Parallel chip), EPROM, PSU components (to get the Vpp line,
> > I guess).
>
> I've got a couple EPROM programmer boards, but I don't know if I have
> either of these. I know with one of them I got the software.
>
> > ICE Apple Cold Boot Adapter. Contains 6116 RAM, EPROM, TTL glue, and a 26
> > pin header
> >
> > ICE Multiplexor (sic) Host Adapter. 6116 RAM, EPROM, TTL, 20 pin header
>
> Interesting. Again, never heard of them. They sound like some sort of
> terminal server system, maybe allowing an Apple to be shared? Naw, that's
> silly.
>
> > Ronan Corp. I can't find a number on this board, and the name is
> > almost unreadeable. This is not an Apple ][ card, but it was with the
> > above 2 boards and may have something to do with them. It contains a
> > Z80, EPROM, 1K RAM (2*2114), SCX6225 (ASIC/gate array? It's in a PLCC
> > package). There's a 26 pin header (host?) and a 34 pin + 2*20 pin
> > headers (ST506 hard disk??). There's also a disk-drive like power
> > connector.
>
> No clue.
>
> > Orange Micro Buffered Grappler+. This looks to be a printer
> > interface/buffer and contains 64K DRAM, EPROM, Microcontroller, TTL
> > glue, and has a 26 pin header (to the printer?)
>
> A very nice buffered parallel printer interface. Made life MUCH nicer
> when you went to print a long multiple page document and didn't have to
> wait for the print to end before you could use your computer again.
>
> > Apple Synch Printer Interface Card. I think this is the Silentype interface.
>
> Probably.
>
> > Apple PC Link Interface. Contains an EPROM, M58725, TTL glue and
> > buffers. Also a 20 pin header.
>
> Sweet. Does what it says, let's you link an Apple to a PC. Who is the
> manufacturer on this? The only card of this type I know of was the PC
> Transporter by Applied Engineering (still looking for one of those BTW :)
>
> Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
>
>
Received on Mon Jul 23 2001 - 14:36:23 BST

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Fri Oct 10 2014 - 23:33:53 BST