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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:AMIGA NOTES
Notice:Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:HYDRA::MOORE
Created:Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5378
Total number of notes:38326

3127.0. "Flexible Bus Extender" by YUPPIE::WILSON (Tony, the HOSS TRUMPET) Mon Nov 20 1989 17:55

    Is anyone working on/Has anyone developed a flexible extension to the
    A500 bus (side port)?  If I add the expander box to my existing
    harddisk interface, my desk will become a peripheral parking lot. 
    These peripherals can and should easily be placed to the rear or on
    another shelf, since they don't require any user interaction.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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3127.1Possibly great ideaULTRA::KINDELBill Kindel @ BXB1Mon Nov 20 1989 18:3413
3127.2BAGELS::BRANNONDave BrannonTue Nov 21 1989 09:006
    The Vault harddisk has a flexible cable that attaches to the 500
    or 1000 expansion bus.  Don't know how the do that, I assume the
    connector has the SCSI interface hardware and the cable is just
    SCSI cable to the drive.
    
    -Dave
3127.3Maybe this is the answer...FSDEV3::JBERNARDJohn Bernard 292-2591 YWO/E3Tue Nov 28 1989 12:4644
    Tom Senna has put together a 3 slot expansion board.  He has one
    installed on his 500, and I believe recently installed on on a 1000.
    I have one of the boards and have sucessfully run a Hardframe,
    ASDG Dual Ser Port board, and a 2052 mem board w/no problems.
    
    I had been unable to run this configuration in other expansion
    boxes (2 board limit), and most would barf with the ASDG Ser board.
    
    It seems like Tom has a good product here.  The expansion box sits
    at the end of a couple cables, there is a transition connector that
    plugs in to the 86 pin bus and two ribbon cables plug into that.
    This assembly protrudes approximately an inch or so on the left.
    Currently, I have about 15" of cable to allow positioning of the
    expansion in an unobtrusive place on my desk.
    
    Some benefits of the board are:
    
      1. Requires it's own power supply (+5, +12, -12) so it does not
         load down the A500 supply.
    
      2. Has 3 2000 style slots  vs the normal 2 slot expanders on
         the market.
    
      3. Has built-in bus termination which cleans up the signals.
    
      4. Connects to the 500 through cables; flexible placement of the
         expander box.
    
  Needless to say, I am happy with the performance of the board.  I
    use my 500 at work and was looking for a way to expand it without
    having to buy another 2000.  Tom mentioned an add-on board which
    would allow a processor/video slot to possibly be added, but you
    should talk to Tom about this (HPSTEK::SENNA if I remember right).
    
    No, this hasn't been a paid announcement...  It just seemed this
    might be what some 500 owners have been looking for...
    
    As an aside, I have tested the expansion with a CLtd Kronos, CLtd
    2000, Hardframe, Phoenix, ASDG Dual Ser Board, A2052 Mem, Micron
    Mem (sensitive).  All work ok (Micron is sensitive in the 2000 also)
    
    John