HP 21xx update

[Tim Riker]

Jay West wrote:
> You wrote...
> 
>> I've fixed the visible issues with the HP-2116A and powered it up slowly
>> with a variac with a minium of cards installed.
> 
> Ok, where did you find a variac that supports that kinda amp load? :)

Heh. borrowed one from TI, and then forgot I had, and the packers packed
it up. Now I have a brick I probably need to mail back to texas. =/

>> Fans spin up ok, I get a couple of the power circuits live, but fuse F8
>> blows and the rest of the power circuits do no come up. No lights on the
>> front panel etc.
> 
> I'm guessing fuse F8 blowing has something to do with that ;) I haven't
> a clue, the power system in 2116 is likely pretty different I think from
> what I'm used to. Now, if someone wants to donate an HP2116 to me, I'll
> get all familiar with it. Promise ;)

I'll get right on that. =)

>> I don't have any manuals specific to the
>> HP-2108A here, but I suppose I should try some of the memory diagnostics
>> routines from the 2100 or 2116 to check things out.
> 
> And you don't need anything specific to the 2108. Look in the CE
> handbook.

CE handbook on line someplace? This one?

http://bitsavers.org/pdf/hp/1000/5950-3767_M-E-F_CEhbk_Jul84.pdf

Grabbing. Thanx.

> Common data I think is the section (going from memory). There
> are quite a few short ditty's there that you can enter via the front
> panel and use to test the system for basic function before heading to
> diagnostics that require certain things to work. Most of the ditty's
> there are expressly designed to test the functions that are required to
> load diagnostics, so there is little or no guessing. Make sure you run
> the diagnostics (from media) in the order put forth. Once you get past
> the ditty's in the CE book, let me know what media you have to load
> diags on. I'll get you a diagnostic library and you can learn the joys
> of the Diagnostic Configurator :) Once that's up, you can test most
> peripherals and I/O interfaces quite thoroughly.

Well, that's the issue. I don't have any media working yet. My paper
tape reader might work. I've not tried reading from it yet.

>> Any suggestions on getting pc based paper tape images over to real HP
>> hardware?
> 
> Since you expressly limited it to pc based paper tape images... there is
> a solution. Look at the 264X terminal loader rom. It speaks a trivial
> protocol to get binary images into the cpu. You could write a very
> simple script to download the binary files on the pc to the memory of
> the 2108.

Sounds like a great idea. Is the source for this ROM around someplace?

Also, what does an ASR-33 do to load tapes? or perhaps it's tape drive
cannot be used for diags/booting? (I don't have an ASR-33, I just
figured it might be easy to emulate)

>> I do have a paper tape punch, but no docs on it. Also I don't currently
>> have any blank media.
> 
> I could send you a little bit of blank paper tape if you need it.

Yes please! My punch is not an HP, so I doubt I'll find docs. It's a
"Motorized Tape Punch - Model 2 - Commercial Controls Corporation -
Rochester 2, New York"

http://rikers.org/gallery/hardware/20050415_133155
http://rikers.org/gallery/hardware/20050415_133110
http://rikers.org/gallery/hardware/20050415_133239

> Jay

Thanx for the help!
-- 
Tim Riker - http://Rikers.org/ - TimR at Debian.org
Embedded Linux Technologist - http://eLinux.org/
BZFlag maintainer - http://BZFlag.org/ - for fun!