a bad day for vaxen

[Martin Bishop]

MMJ connectors ex-stock (in the UK), acutally four flavours (doubtless
flat/round x solid/stranded).  Also, the (US) OEMs details are given.

http://uk.farnell.com/429790/connectors/product.us0?sku=STEWART-CONNECTO
R-937-SP-3066-OST

Regarding stw of 3100
- it's usually best to get them going on the console before stw the
video
- there is a motherboard switch (accessible from the rear of the case)
which configures whether the console is the video or the serial port.
Finger trouble is not uncommon and the switches aparent position may be
a false indication (i.e. check the manual and re-make the switch).
- VS3100 cables use the same connector as uVII cab kit (and maybe other
things).  However, they do not use the same internal wiring.  At a
minimum check the part numbers against the manual.  It is best to scope
what comes out of the BNCs, to identify continuity and sync.  And, of
course the monitor has to be happy with the video signal (sync on green
and Hx / Vt rates).

HtH

Martin

-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Dave Dunfield
Sent: 24 February 2008 11:58
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: RE: a bad day for vaxen


> yeah I dont have a dremel, and I'm not good that way.

It's not as hard as you might think - all you need to do is
grind down one side of the connector - you can do this with
a file... I usually use a disk sander because the table gives
me a nice straight edge - then I dress the edges with flush
cutters. All you need the dremel for is to "adjust" the tab
because the one on an ethernet connector is too wide.

Another solution is to use a 6-conductor RJ-11 phone cable,
and simply cut off the tab - this doesn't lock in, however
it works well enough for testing purposes.


> it'd be best if I could just test some known good cables

If you have a multimeter or continuity tester, you can buzz
out your cables and see if they work. The pinout I sent should
give you a prerry good idea of what should go where.


 
> even with a monitor hooked up, and let it wait over 5 minutes I got
nothing.
> even 15 minutes and still nothing.

Definately should have seen something by then.


> one system I get a "blue" screen and thats it
> on another i get the color test patterns, then nothing
> the third i get a black screen and monitor says its receiving no
signal.

Have you checked the position of the console switch?
Also, some VAXen require certain pins bridged on the console
connector.

What are the status lights doing? They will tell you how far it
gets into it's startup routine.

Dave

--
dave06a (at)    Dave Dunfield
dunfield (dot)  Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com
com             Collector of vintage computing equipment:
                http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/index.html