Now that we can finally see more close up what the internal workings of an Entrex Data/Scope keyboard look like, we can see the manufacture and at least one of the model numbers:
KEY TRONIC CORPORATION
065-01159-
And then the stamped 003 after that. Not sure how significant that is, but since it's stamped and the other numbers are etched directly into the board, it seems like those last 3 digits can change easily, where the previous digits are the true model number "set in stone" for this board.
Let's see what insights the experts over on Deskthority.com have on this...
Seeking To Preserve Entrex 180, 280, 380, 480, 580 & Nixdorf 620 Systems & Data/Scope Keystation Terminals
Sunday, June 9, 2019
Thursday, June 6, 2019
Entrex Data/Scope in Atari 400 800 XL XE catalog - ZiMAG
I came across this advertisement for ZiMAG magnetic media (clearly quite vintage early 80s) at
And on PAGE 10 (or 11, depending on if you count the front cover as page 1), we clearly see an Entrex Data/Scope! What's that doing in there? Well...let's take a closer look...
And on PAGE 10 (or 11, depending on if you count the front cover as page 1), we clearly see an Entrex Data/Scope! What's that doing in there? Well...let's take a closer look...
Firstly, the chassis cover is painted this very nice dark charcoal color, which matches the advertisement colors very nicely. I've never seen one in charcoal before, only white and off-white (or yellowed with age). I've seen red, but then again, it could be for exactly the same "display only" reason that I suspect here. Here's why I say this:
It sure looks like the blue and white keys have been all painted black, and that a few red and black keys have been moved around a bit. (Note that only a few black keys show the white lettering, but most are just plain black).
For example, the HELP! key should be on the top of the right (atop the right vertical row), but instead, it is on the extreme left middle of the main key group, which should be a red RESET key instead of the black HELP! key.
It sure looks to me like this keyboard has been modified for the aesthetics of the advertisement, rather than functionality. Still, VERY nice job...from first glance, it is quite an attractive piece in this context.
What I'm more interested in, is the code on the screen. Looks like standard line basic to me...was it really displayed on this Entrex, or superimposed there? It appears a bit too close to the top edge to be on a CRT, and they were all black & white screens, displaying only 480 characters (12 rows of 40), which is WAY larger letters than what se see here... BUT, who knows?
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Entrex Data/Scopes (Keystations) spotted in Germany
We JUST found TWO Entrex Data Scopes on eBay.de from March & April 2018...in GERMANY!
And they SOLD! And we missed them...
Haben Sie eine dieser Data/Scope Keystations gekauft? Bitte kontaktieren Sie uns, wenn Sie es getan haben!
Did you buy one of these Data/Scope Keystations? Please contact us if you did!
March 5, 2018 222852550966 (archived by me)
(original auction, now removed, was at http://bit.ly/312R6Xc )
AND
April 28, 2018 222930393667 (archived by me)
(original auction, now removed, was at http://bit.ly/31bKSob )
On first guess, one might think that these two auctions are one single Keystation, listed twice. However, while each of them are remarkably similar, a closer inspection of the labels and serial numbers indicate that they are, indeed, two distinctly separate Keystations.
So, how did we miss these? I guess we failed to learn how to set up eBay alerts in GERMANY...that's why...ebay.de only, NOT reported on ebay.com!
And they SOLD! And we missed them...
Haben Sie eine dieser Data/Scope Keystations gekauft? Bitte kontaktieren Sie uns, wenn Sie es getan haben!
Did you buy one of these Data/Scope Keystations? Please contact us if you did!
March 5, 2018 222852550966 (archived by me)
(original auction, now removed, was at http://bit.ly/312R6Xc )
AND
April 28, 2018 222930393667 (archived by me)
(original auction, now removed, was at http://bit.ly/31bKSob )
On first guess, one might think that these two auctions are one single Keystation, listed twice. However, while each of them are remarkably similar, a closer inspection of the labels and serial numbers indicate that they are, indeed, two distinctly separate Keystations.
So, how did we miss these? I guess we failed to learn how to set up eBay alerts in GERMANY...that's why...ebay.de only, NOT reported on ebay.com!
Auction 222852550966 (serial # 220123)
Saturday, June 1, 2019
Pertec T7840
And hats off to Al Kossow at bitsavers.org
Even though this particular model can't be found at
Al knew that he had seen this tape transport as a [rebranded] Burroughs Series 9491 Magnetic Tape Unit, so he was able to provide the exact correct manual! Thank you, Al!
Years later, we map the pinout from the 100884_T6x40-T6x60_Sep78 manual on bitsavers
(because there are no detailed T7x40 manuals there yet, so this seems to match!)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Archival of someone else's tape archive process:
https://hackaday.io/project/133859/gallery#f4a5a1568797bfc70b0d1fa9469f09c8
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10xKa6q84BujQPtLeVs6Y-TdBVcJkQtI0?usp=sharing
http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?17430-Pertec-ISA-interface-card&p=152911#post152911
https://museo.freaknet.org/en/recupero-dati-nastri-magnetici-del-computer-polacco-mera-400/
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10xKa6q84BujQPtLeVs6Y-TdBVcJkQtI0?usp=sharing
http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?17430-Pertec-ISA-interface-card&p=152911#post152911
https://museo.freaknet.org/en/recupero-dati-nastri-magnetici-del-computer-polacco-mera-400/
https://ecma-international.org/wp-content/uploads/ECMA-62_1st_edition_january_1980.pdf
https://github.com/jakubfi/ninetracklab
https://github.com/jakubfi/ninetracklab
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