Acorn Econet Fileserver

[Tony Duell]

> >> [Econet test box]
> >>>> Amazingly I have this test box, I don't have the software.
> >>> Ditto!  The test box pre-dates the Master series, though.  It was
> >>> around when Beebs were.
> >> Is that this critter? :
> >>
> >> http://www.beebmaster.co.uk/ETB.html
> > 
> > It is.
> 
> Hard to date it then. The only thing that springs to mind is that early Acorn 

I can see if there are any date codes on the chips in mine, which would 
be a starting point.

> clock boxes were in the same style of "bought from Maplin" cases :) 

Standard Veroboxes (from the same company that makes Veroboard 
stripboard). Very common in the 1980s.

> (Actually, didn't the Econet software protocol change very early on... maybe 
> such a unit - or at least the software - wouldn't even work on a typical 
> 'modern' Econet even if anyone did have a copy)

The Econet test box knows nothing of the Econet protocol. What it 
contains is a mini-econet -- 2 DIN sockets with the termination circuits, 
linked together. There's a relay which switches in an RC network to 
degrade the network line (to ensure the unit-under-test will work on a 
normal cable) and a simple clock circuit (fixed frequency, fixed duty 
cycle). Two lines of the user port on the testing computer control the 
relay and enable the clock.

That's all there is to it. I've traced out a schematic, I think a copy 
of that in the pile of stuff to give you when we meet up.

-tony