Compiling a list of "neo-retro" hardware

From: vrs <vrs_at_msn.com>
Date: Wed Jun 16 23:29:54 2004

> > I also have stuff that may never see implementation (like my TC08
replica),
> > and an EAGLE library of DEC Gxxx and Mxxx modules (both as components
for
> > projects like the TC08 replica and as individual boards you could have
> > produced).
>
> Never say never...

Problem is that it would cost upwards of a couple thousand bucks to make a
one-off prototype ot the TC08 replica. The backplane PCB is $500 (in qty
1), then there are the inobtanium connectors, and then 77 Mxxx and Gxxx
modules to fabricate or obtain.

> now a generic Mxxx board with, say, 4 16-pin sockets
> and a double row of 32 pads might be handy - one set mapped to the
sockets,
> the other set mapped to the fingers - drop in the necessary chips and wire
> up the pads... that would be nice to have for certain projects (like
adding
> an EAE or memory extension hardware). It would, in fact, resemble a
paddle
> card for a 40-pin cable like we've been talking about, but with 4 sockets
> above where the cable connector would go (and an extra row of vias not
> attached to the fingers).

That is easy, and not a bad idea.

> Between PDP-8/Ls, a PDP-8/i, an RK11C, and a few odds and ends, I'm not
> exactly hurting for M-series cards, but there are a few that I don't have
> abundant spares of - I do at least have a pile of boards that have
verified
> bad chips (mostly 7474s and 7440s). Still, I wouldn't mind being able to
> whip out a module for which I _don't_ have a sample of. I only have two
> blank proto modules.

I currently have drawings (schematic and board) for the G821, G879, G888,
H807, M101, M103, M111, M113, M115, M117, M119, M121, M161, M206, M207,
M228, M302, M307, M401, M502, M602, M623, M627, M633, M903, M916, W005,
W023, and W032. These, and the TC08, are "replicas", by which I mean that
they follow the DEC schematics, layout, etc. There are few other Mxxx/Wxxx
paddle cards, and of course the M452x and W076x as well, that aren't
replicas of DEC parts (which I call "replacements" instead).

I think it would be useful to have a pointer page similar to what Sellam is
proposing, but that included this kind of stuff. Although it isn't stuff
you can buy (yet, or maybe ever), it is still useful to prevent duplication
of effort and provide resources for people interested in doing this kind of
work.

(I could do that myself, but I don't find maintaining websites to be fun
:-).)

    Vince
Received on Wed Jun 16 2004 - 23:29:54 BST