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

From: Joe <rigdonj_at_intellistar.net>
Date: Tue Sep 25 21:26:40 2001

At 09:13 PM 9/25/01 -0400, you wrote:
>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?

    Yes, It's marked "Holmes" in the top RH corner. There's no other
markings except U1, P1, etc. Does that help?

>
>> 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,

   You're right. It is a 40 pin socket. I just wanted to see if you guys
were paying attention :-)

 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.

   If you think that this is what it's for, can you describe the drive?
I'll go back and look for it.

 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

    Thanks Roger.

    Joe
>
>
Received on Tue Sep 25 2001 - 21:26:40 BST