Hello :).
I recently got an Apple 2 ( a pal one ) and I have some unknown boards inside. I absolutely don't know why these board are used for.
Here are some info about them :
- AMPEX ASSY 3586600 with a stickers where " Host Adapter for Apple IIe " is wrote on it. It ends with a 50pin connector at the back of the computer. It's plugged on port 4.
- One with a stickers where " LPV1 " is wrote on port 1. It ends by a "Centronic 50 pin" connector.
- One with a stickers where " Jumper for high resolution monitor " is wrote on it. It's on slot 3.
If someone could tell me what they are and how they are used it would be very nice :).
Here is some picture of the AMPEX board : https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B3qrqUNdYbREWmEwbFFkSE5nTEk&usp=sharing
Thanks,
Ishiru
If memory serves me correctly from readings on the past ampex was used for data backup, a whole 20MB, I think it was more for faster recovery of data without a whole lot of typing to recover it. Unique, I've never came across one.
Keep me posted if you find out more!
Samm
Ishiru,
Is this an Apple IIe?
This looks like the unit that was on eBay a while back that was connected to a CNC Machine.
Steven
Yeah it's an Apple 2e. I think he stayed many years on an attic before I found it. So i think it never went on Ebay before ^^.
I also got a disk drive ( a TEAC one ) with it with a label " Drive 1 ", so i imagine they were a second, maybe connected to the Ampex board. It's hard to find any info about that.
I have no disk for it so when I start the computer, the only thing i can do is going on basic by pressing Reset + Shift if I remember. But here the spacebar seems not working, is it normal ? Every other keys works.
Hello Ishiru,
i´ll coment picture 3 IMG_0460.jpg from the given link starting from the farest card at rear of the view:
slot 1 is occupied by a printer interface card.
slot 2 seems to be empty.
slot 3 is occupied by 64 kB additional RAM on 80 column card.
slot 4 is occupied by the ampex card and that is a kind of SCSI or rather more SASI interface card ( host adaptor )
and it usually should be connected to a SCSI or rather more SASI tape or harddiskdrive.
slot 5 is empty.
slot 6 contains a Disk II diskdrive interface. There is a cable plugged to it.
At the other end that interface expects a Disk II drive.
slot 7 seems to be occupied by a Z80 clone.... but thats not for sure due to the fact that i can´t see the entire card.
If it is a Z80 card then it should be relocated to slot 4 or 5 instead.
Unless you don´t have a SCSI device and the related software it´s recommended to remove the
SCSI / SASI host adaptor from slot 4 and set is aside in a antistatic bag.
Unless a Disk II drive isn´t plugged to the outer end of the cable from interface at slot 6
the computer won´t boot but instead try to boot from a non existing drive.
So your next step might be to get a working disk II drive to boot from.
For confirmation of the card in slot 7 it´s recommended to add a picture to the others with better view to the card.
sincerely speedyG
Hello everyone,
Thanks for your answer.
I updated the picture folder with some new pictures as Speedy asked them.
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B3qrqUNdYbREWmEwbFFkSE5nTEk&usp=sharing
I think the Ampex board was plugged to a backup storage after some research but not sure. Yeah I will relocate some boards as you said Speedy and remove the Ampex one as i don't have the peripheral that worked with.
I put a picture of the connector the board in slot 1 is connected to.
What about the spacebar question I asked before ?
Thanks, Thomas.
Hello Thomas,
well after updating the pictures i can confirm the card in slot 7 is a Z80 clone.
That card is used for booting and working with CPM.
The plug at the cable from the card in slot 1 is a Centronics plug that was used for connections
at old dot matrix printers like those from Epson ( FX80, RX 80, FX85 and so on...
same connection was also used at the Apple Dot Matrix Printer a nearly every Printer at the
early 80´s )
If the space bar is not working there may be several reasons....
maybe a visit at page:
http://www.appleii-box.de/D03_1_AppleIIKeyswitchesKeyboardsPage.htm
might be of use....
but there are several threads here related to the topic of stuck or non operating keys....
in most cases that´s result of oxydation to the contacts inside of the switch and
in general the proposal would be to first try removing that oxydation by use of contactspray
( it´s quite difficult to apply it in the keycase ) and repeatingly pressing the key several dozends of times ....
search for former threads on that topic at the search field at the right top corner of this page...
if that does not help because of mechanical damage of the key then the next step would be
to replace that keyswitch... in that case the link to the page at my site might be of use...
did you find in the storage a DiskII drive for the cable of the card at slot 6 ?
It also would be usefull to post some links to pictures of the TEAC drive.
In general that drives had to be modified for use with the Apple.
And in such case there should also be a interfacecard somewhere around along with that drive that has
a so called shugart bus - with 34 pin cable.
sincerely speedyG
The card in Slot 6 is connected to the Teak disk drive. I have it and will update the folder with some pictures tomorrow.
I didn't got any official Apple disk drive with it and any disks.
I'll investigate about the spacebar problem :).
Thanks,
Thomas