On 12/12/2015 10:52 AM, Glen Slick wrote:
On Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 8:32 AM, Jim Brain <[email protected]> wrote:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USED-KAYPRO-4-COMPUTER-MOTHERBOARD-/331730690952?
The non soldermask boad on top of the main unit intrigues me. Does anyone
know what it is?
Jim
The board says Centram Systems, Inc, Camp Hill, Pa.
There is a marketing blurb in the August 15, 1983 issue of
Computerworld. Don't know if it is for that exact board.
Long ugly link:
https://books.google.com/books?id=soGti0kvtgwC&pg=RA1-PA71&lpg=RA1-PA71&dq=centram-systems+inc+kaypro&source=bl&ots=6Vnr0qZn3W&sig=otazIdpkt4Y5Oyrp9jjKKrv_dq4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjHtaP34tbJAhUL9mMKHWnaDYQQ6AEIIDAB#v=onepage&q=centram-systems%20inc%20kaypro
Sorry for the delayed update, but after a few relistings, I was able to
secure the PCB for a reasonable price.
It is indeed the board listed on the link, and here is another link:
https://books.google.com/books?id=7xNVAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA267&lpg=PA267&dq=the+web+nt+centram+systems+inc+kaypro&source=bl&ots=xy6yxBjbgc&sig=ByqG8cnOV0sZbxZDf3rKwxA30rg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwirpYH76pvKAhWDNiYKHeDfA2oQ6AEIIDAB#v=onepage&q=the%20web%20nt%20centram%20systems%20inc%20kaypro&f=false
The product is called "KayNet", a baseband twisted pair CSMA/CD local
network operating at 125kbps. It uses a network called Web, designed by
Centram Systems, Inc. of Camp Hill, PA. The network software , OPSnet,
was written by Aquinas, INc., and is compatible with CP/M 2.2
I secured the board, but it needs to be reverse engineered and I lack
the time at present. Anyone want to take on the effort?
I also need to track down OPSnet OS, and I think there is a bit more to
this board (the documentation I found mentions a switch and an RJ-11
connector. I see what looks like the LED wires on the PCB, and there
are 3 more pins on the PCB that could be the RJ11 pins. There is a wire
that is soldered to U65:pin4 on the motherboard, which I assume is the
switch but maybe hooked to this gate as a way to make the switch a
softswitch.
Here is some documentation:
https://archive.org/stream/bitsavers_kayproKayn_4822341/Kaynet_Users_Guide_1983_djvu.txt
Here is the KayNET documentation:
https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_kayproKayn_4822341
http://maben.homeip.net/static/S100/kaypro/hardware/kaypro%20kaynet%20users%20guide.pdf
(Thanks Jason Scott!)
Anyone interested in bringing this network back to life? I am happy to
design and manufacture replacement PCBs at cost for this...
More on KayNET:
https://books.google.com/books?id=ui8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3&lpg=PA3&dq=kaynet+kaypro&source=bl&ots=0BU3jTdrH3&sig=LsCiZJVRumQ7QgRa1-QpuzpefQ8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiOjZLr75vKAhXL8CYKHVxUAdwQ6AEIKjAC#v=onepage&q=kaynet%20kaypro&f=false
http://gopherproxy.meulie.net/gopher.floodgap.com/0/archive/walnut-creek-cd-simtel/KAYPRO/KPRO-LAN.INF
This looks very interesting, but I think I need help to move forward.
Jim
--
Jim Brain
[email protected]
www.jbrain.com
