bpalmer@bbn.com (Brian Palmer) (02/16/91)
Hi Again, The post about my PT68K's first signs of life caused a flood of mail for more information. Here is a more detailed description of the PT. I have no ties to the vendor of this computer other than I'm building one. I'm only a less than thrilled customer. I'm happy with the computer but cool towards the company that makes it. Background: The PT68K2 was the subject of a series of articles in Radio & Electronics in late 1987-1988. It gave step by step (I mean detail!) how to assemble and test this beast. I suggest getting the articles (library or reprints) since the doc's that came with my kit are minimal and assume everthing works on the first try. The changes from the PT68K2 to PT68K4 are small enough that you can figure out what to do if something doesn't work. The PT68K4 features more memory and 1.2 and 1.44 meg floppy support. It's also faster allowing a 16Mhz 68000. The Vendor: Peripheral Technology (404)-984-0742 Hardware: The PT68K4 is a 12/16 Mhz single board computer that fits a Baby IBM AT cabinet. It may be purchased assembled or purchased kit by kit. Terminal connection is by either an RS-232 type terminal or and IBM XT/AT keyboard and mono/CGA/EDA/VGA video card. (2/4 serial ports) The PT68K4 may contain 512K to 4M of on board memory w/ a 8M memory expansion card as an option. (256x4 DRAM in DIP) Seven IBM XT slots for: MFM hard disks, video, etc. Prices: Kit1-16: 4 layer board, 16Mhz 68000, monitor in ROM, 4K static, first 2 serial ports, sockets, etc. [$189] Kit2 First 512K DRAM + DRAM control/refresh + sockets for the first 4M. ($95) Kit37C65 Floppy controller [$35] Kit4 PIA/CLOCK option [$35] Kit5 IBM XT bus support, I/O connectors, IBM keyboard interface chips. [$60] RS232 2 more ports [$15] Software: The original article used a monitor called HUMBUG which has a BASIC and the ability to download Motorola S-records. The other monitor MONK lacks these features but you can buy source for a few dollars. Get the HUMBUG monitor! Don't accept MONK ... (You have to ask) HUMBUG was on my price list. They shipped MONK and I had to fight to get a copy of HUMBUG. (... I hope they fixed their price list) There are a couple of DOS's, OS9, and someone did a Minix 1.3 port. I'm doing a Minix 1.5 port. My Plans: Finish the kits. Minix 68030 upgrade Upgrade MONK with the features I need Future Hardware: PT is working on a 68030 version but plan to use the 68EC030. I want a working MMU so this doesn't meet my needs. I've talked with several people who wish to do a PD 68030 board much like the PC532 people did with the NS32532. Time will tell. Brian