(last updated: 07-Aug-2016)
The current configuration is in its original 'as acquired' condition.
I believe this unit 'belongs' to the VAXstation II/GPX
Jumpers on SW U8W are: 1,2,4,5 ON; 3,6-8 OFF which match factory defaults of: Unit #0, External Parity
Terminating resistor packs are installed
20-Feb-2006
This unit was part of a large pickup in Longmont, Colorado.
08-Mar-2006
Unit is dusty, of course, boot looks in reasonable shape. The slide rails on either side have both suffered though. The left side slide has had its 'ear' with the stop button snapped right off, while the right side one is bent completely back.
I vacuumed and wiped the exterior. It came clean very nicely.
I opened both the front and top covers/doors and photo'd. I cleaned the tape path with a quick wipe. That's about all I can do. I don't want to try disassembling the whole unit until I can read a maintenance manual.
On the rear are a row of four sets of PCB 'fingers', each 50-pins. I don't know if this is a standard interface or not.
I tried to bend the right side slide rail 'ear' back so that it wouldn't snag on anything else but it snapped right off. The metal had been flexed too far. No unexpected, really.
I'm setting this unit aside for now pending more information and study.
17-Oct-2006
While waiting for some disks to get imaged on the DECsystem 5400, I took a look at this unit. Since last looking at it, I have located an electronic copy of the manual and reviewed it. I learned that the whole transport mechanism can be hinged up just like the top cover. Having done that, I saw that everything inside looked really good.
I pulled the two screws the hold the power supply cover and confirmed that the voltage selection card was properly set for 120V 60Hz operation. The power supply has 4 sizable capacitors, but I couldn't easily figure out how to remove them. I decided to go ahead and power up the unit without reforming the caps.
Using the manual as a guide, I felt confident that I could power up and run a few stand-alone checks safely. I connect the AC line and hit the power button.
Wahoo! The front panel lights show a sequence of power up self tests and then it is ready for a tape load. I grabbed one of my Memorex tapes, inserted it into the front slot and pressed "LOAD". Unfortunately, it wouldn't load. Turns out that these Memorex tapes have a special 'hooking' end on them, and it is too thick to be properly picked up by the take up reel in this unit. I could just snip the end off, and I'm sure it would work fine, but I have other tapes to try before I do that.
I got my small reels of INMAC tapes and tried one of them. It has just a bare end. It loaded!
17-Oct-2006
Using the manual, I tried a few Diagnostic Aids and excercised the unit. All functions that I tried look good. While fiddling with all of this, I saw that this INMAC tape as Beginning-Of-Tape and End-Of-Tape markers already applied. I wonder if the Memorex tapes have these BOT and EOT markers, or with their little snag loop maybe they were intended for other types of usage.
Copyright © 2006-2025 Jared Blaser. All rights reserved.