A closer look
A really close look
November 23, 2006
Over time, I have acquired a number of Q-bus boards that I have little knowledge of. Most are 'spares' from previous owners. I'd like to determine what they were used for and, if documentation can be found, possibly put them to some use in a PDP-11 or MicroVAX.
If you have knowledge of and/or documentation for any of these boards, please pass it along to <oldcpu .at. rogerwilco .dot. org>. Thank you!
Unknown (AT&T?)
Unknown (CompuServe?)
Alloy LSI-50
AVIV QSA
AVIV TFC-909
Data Translation DT????
Data Translation DT2769
Dilog DQ-20x
GenComp 2142
MTI "THORN"
This appears to be some kind of communications I/O module. It is about 1-1/2" longer than the standard Q-bus card. I have been unable to locate a datasheet for the six ATT3020-70 VLSI chips that I suspect would help in determining this board's purpose.
A closer look
A really close look
Yes, "CompuServe" is etched into the board. Quite a surprise to find this one. I never even considered that CompuServe may have developed their own hardware. My suspicion is that it is an 8-line communications controller, probably for a bank of modems. I find it interesting that there are locations for soldered-in DB9 connectors along the upper-right edge of the board. But the 40-pin header probably became the preferred connection, and the DB9s were not installed in later manufacturing runs.
A closer look
A really close look
Alloy LSI-50
AVIV QSA
AVIV TFC-909
Data Translation DT????
Data Translation DT2769
Dilog DQ-20x
GenComp 2142
MTI "THORN"
This appears to be some kind of tape controller (the "Alloy" brand-name probably helps in that regard!), and I suspect that the controlled device was some form of early QIC cartridge unit. There is a 34-pin ribbon cable header on the top edge.
A closer look
A really close look
UPDATE - November 28, 2006 - This board might now be properly identified. Searching the internet, using the assembly number of 50-1276 produced no results, but at last some web/newsgroup searching turned up a couple of hits on 'QSA', which indicate that this is some kind of SCSI controller. The 50-pin header might have given some clue to this being a SCSI host controller, but I wasn't paying attention, I guess. And the 'QSA' imprint, while immediately below 'AVIV', is not large and was overlooked previously. What this controller looks like to the host is unclear. Does it emulate another disk type?
This appears to be some kind of tape controller. I actually have three of these boards, but the other two are lacking the small push button switch located on the right edge (it was never soldered in). It is interesting to note that at the top edge, next to the 50-pin ribbon cable header, there is a small 10-pin connector labeled "TERM". A possible diagnostic terminal port that can communicate with the board, without requiring a CPU, etc.?
A closer look
A really close look
This board was acquired already installed in a VAXstation II/GPX. From the cabling that was attached to this board when acquired, along with a Cipher M89 tape drive that is co-branded "AVIV", I am pretty sure that this is a Pertec-style tape drive controller. It has two 34-pin headers at the top. It sure would be helpful to have documentation that describes the configuration options and settings.
A closer look
A really close look
The following two items are all from a set of Data Translation Inc. boards found in an LSI-11/2 based data acquisition systen called LAB DATAX, also by Data Translation Inc. Documentation would be interesting.
Solder side etch reads "EP058 Rev. F".
A closer look
A really close look
Solder side etch reads "EP057 Rev. J".
A closer look
A really close look
It looks like an SMD disk controller, with a 60-pin 'A' ribbon cable and two 20-pin 'B' cable headers on the top edge. I'd like to see if this will support the two Fujitsu 2361A Super Eagle 10.5" winchester drives that I also have.
A closer look
A really close look
This board appears to be a tape controller, with two 40-pin ribbon cable headers on the top edge. But who knows? Not my hairdresser, that's for sure! With six banks of DIP switches, it would appear that the configuration possibilities are nearly endless. Documentation, anyone?
A closer look
A really close look
May 12, 2007 - This board arrived with an Exabyte 8505XL 8mm tape drive bought through an eBay action. It is marked with "MODEL: THORN" and "T/A: 640036-001 REV M", and according to the seller, this board is a DSSI-to-SCSI adapter. From what scant information Google turned up, it seems that this board is innards from an MTI subsystem called the 'Liberator'. Information on this board, it's jumpers and headers and connectors, would be most welcome!
