Andromeda Systems DC11

Bill Gunshannon

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Mar 21, 2018, 9:11:50 AM3/21/18

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Anybody here remember the Andromeda DC11? More importantly, does
anyone still have Andromeda stuff laying around?

The module used something called "Personality Cards" which were
actually just connection adapters for different kinds of disks.
I am trying to find a couple (I'd be happy with one) WPC8F adapters
for connecting 8" disks to my module. Any chance anyone has these
taking up space? Of course, I would also take other kinds of
adapters, well, except for the WPC5FA. That's for the RX50 and
even I don't have any more of them left. :-)

bill

jjhu...@gmail.com

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Mar 22, 2018, 8:15:59 PM3/22/18

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Hi Bill:
Yes, I definitely remember them. I configured a few 11/23s with them, back in the day. I always thought they were the most versatile disk interface if one didn't want to get tied to DECs offerings. Even doing MSCP conversion they had similar through put compared to the RQDX (even rev 3) controller.

Anyway, I don't have any DC11s or adapters. I've been looking for a WDC-11 for years and haven't uncovered any.
I wish I could find their design and firmware...I'd duplicate it in a heartbeat.
Andromeda systems vanished without much fanfare or engineering artifacts/documents left around.
Good luck
John

P.Lj

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Mar 30, 2018, 4:41:55 PM3/30/18

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I have some Andromeda DC11 QBUS SCSI "I think" adapter .. around.

^P

Bill Gunshannon

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Mar 30, 2018, 5:13:31 PM3/30/18

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On 03/30/2018 04:41 PM, P.Lj wrote:
> I have some Andromeda DC11 QBUS SCSI "I think" adapter .. around.
>
> ^P
>

They are definitely not SCSI. They connect to ST506 hard disks,
8" floppies, 5.25" floppies and 3.5" floppies all thru adapters
they call "Personality Cards". If you hook a SCSI disk up to
it I would expect a real good possibility of destroying one or
both of them.

I take it the fact that you thought the 50 pin connector was
SCSI means you have none of the "Personality Cards".

bill

P.Lj

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Mar 31, 2018, 2:07:01 AM3/31/18

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Yes, that is probably correct, I think it was connected to a ST506, I got them over ten years ago so my memory is a byte vague.

^P

Bill Gunshannon

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Mar 31, 2018, 7:52:27 AM3/31/18

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On 03/31/2018 02:07 AM, P.Lj wrote:
> Yes, that is probably correct, I think it was connected to a ST506, I got them over ten years ago so my memory is a byte vague.
>
> ^P
>

If you ever feel you want to get rid of them feel free to send
them here. I only have three of the "Personality Cards" but I
do still use them. Who knows, maybe I'll find more somewhere.

bill

Charles Richmond

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Apr 3, 2018, 6:55:44 PM4/3/18

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You want ST506's??? Are those the MFM drives that were in the IBM XT???

--
numerist at aquaporin4 dot com

Bill Gunshannon

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Apr 3, 2018, 8:45:25 PM4/3/18

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Yes they are but the at this point they are not worth the postage to
ship them. Likely to fail in a very short time. I still have about
a half dozen but I have had 4 or 5 fail in the past couple months.

bill

P.Lj

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Feb 27, 2022, 2:40:03 PM2/27/22

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Do you know what failed on your boards?
^P

Bill Gunshannon

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Feb 27, 2022, 3:22:00 PM2/27/22

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Do you realize how old this message is? I have a hard time remembering
what I had for breakfast. :-)

But in this case....

Most of the time it is bearings. The drives get louder and louder and
then one day they just don't spin any more. One or two were probably
logic boards but I don't think many go that way.

bill

P.Lj

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Feb 28, 2022, 12:47:41 PM2/28/22

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you were looking for a DC11, still?

^P

Bill Gunshannon

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Feb 28, 2022, 2:59:19 PM2/28/22

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Not necessarily a DC11. I have two of them. But I really could use
the "Personality Cards" Especially one or two for 8" disks. And I
could always use some for the ST506 disks as I am hoping to be able
to spring for a couple of the emulators at some point.

bill

P.Lj

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Mar 1, 2022, 7:22:44 AM3/1/22

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I have one ST506 left, it worked the last time I tested it, not sure now though, interested, should I check it?

^P

Bill Gunshannon

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Mar 1, 2022, 8:30:57 AM3/1/22

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I'm not looking for disks. I still have a bunch of ST506 disks
that may or may not spin up the next time I try them. :-)
I am only looking for the adapters (which Andromeda called
"Personality Cards") which hang off the cable coming from the
DC11. I have two ST506 adapters and one 5.25/3.5" floppy
adapter. I would love to get two more ST506, another floppy
and I would love top get a pair of the ones for 8" disks.
But I expect there is little hope of that by now.

bill

P.Lj

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Mar 2, 2022, 1:52:16 PM3/2/22

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Ah, you mean the cable kit?
^P

Bill Gunshannon

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Mar 2, 2022, 2:14:42 PM3/2/22

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Well, there's really no cable per se. Maybe a couple stubs on the
ST506 ones. Mostly just a cute little pc board with a couple
connectors on it. But, yes, they're the ones.

bill

Al Kossow

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Jul 11, 2022, 9:16:38 PM7/11/22

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I just uploaded the UDC11 rt11 utilities to http://bitsavers.org/bits/AndromedaSystems