H&T 20(?) in TRS model 100 ???

From: Roger Merchberger <zmerch_at_30below.com>
Date: Tue Sep 25 20:13:50 2001

Rumor has it that Joe may have mentioned these words:
> I recently found a TR model 100 with an odd looking device plugged into
>it. Abouty half of the access door on the bach is cut away in it and there
>is a 20 pin ribbon cable header inside the cut out. Stamped in the header
>is "H&T 20". I don't know if that's the name of just the head4er or the
>entire assemble.

I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that this is just the name of the connector.
But something is tickling at my brain........

> I removed the cover plate and inside is a small PC card
>with the header and three SSI ICs (74HC245, 74HC02 amd a 74HC244).

This is sounding even more familiar... Is anything printed or silkscreened
on the circuit board itself?

> The whole thing fits inside the original opening (so you don't have to
> remove the back case to install or remove it) and it plugs into the 28
> pin LSI IC socket. Does anyone know what this is?

Erm... don't you mean 40-pin socket? That 40-pinner is the expansion bus
where most (all?) of the CPU signals are available, and would be the most
logical place for a unidirectional 8-bit buffer, a bi-directional 8-buffer
& a Quad 2-input NOR gate... Anything 24 or 28-pin is prolly a ROM or RAM
socket, and you'd not see these chips used there...

> Hint: It will ber looking fore a home at this weekend's computer junkfest
>in Orlando.

Now for the prize, if it's what I think it is. If *anyone* out there is a
Model 100/102/200 fan, you'll want to definitely save this from the
dumpster... If it indeed plugs into the 40-pin expansion bus, there's only
one thing I've seen that matches this description: A "Chipmunk" floppy
drive interface. This is (IIRC) a 360K SSDD floppy drive designed for
(primarily) the Model 'T' scene. These drives are quite rare -- I have one.
I've never been able to get it running, tho: I have a Model 200, and the
expansion interface is a 40pin dual-row header -- not the 40-pin DIP
socket. Now that I've been reminded of this, mebbe my next PCboard building
project will be a Model 200 to Model 100 interface converter, so I could
finally hook it up. I dunno if a regular 720K drive will work for these --
yer best bet is to post the question at the email address:
m100_at_list.30below.com.

<Shameless Plug> That's the Model 100/200/102/NEC8201/(anything that's a
Kyocera OEM laptop) mailing list that I run. It currently has around 160+
members, including the most honorable & knowledgeable Richard Hanson who
*still* runs "Club 100" -- dedicated to providing service & support for all
Model 'T's since 1983. Anything you need for a Model 'T' if it can be
found, he can find it. Tell him "Merch" sent ya.
</Shameless Plug>

Meanwhile, if I remember (read: doubtful, but you just never know) I'll pop
the lid on my chipmunk drive & see if it has any special I/F boards...

If you get no takers for the board after the "junkfest" just lemme know &
I'll gladly give you something for it & shipping. I'm getting rid of a lot
of my computers shortly (no time to play with them all, and I may be moving
to a new smaller home, so I won't have the storage room... :-( ) but I
still plan on rescuing anything Tandy laptop based (well, the
100/102/200/600, anyway. IBM compatibles never did excite me...).

Anywho, I hope this helps!
Roger "Merch" Merchberger
Received on Tue Sep 25 2001 - 20:13:50 BST