Questions about PEB...

[cbmeeks]

So, I just bought a flex cable off eBay. I already own the PEB box but it's empty other than a PSU.

 

I have never put power to the PEB so I have no idea of the PSU is good. I couldn't wait for my flex cable to get here before I asked some questions.

 

1) Assuming the PSU is totally shot, can they be replaced with modern ATX PSU's? I don't remember the form factor of it (need to get it out of storage). I could always recap the board but I like modern PSU's whenever I can.

 

2) Does the speech synthesizer connect to the side of the TI and the flex cable into the side of it? Or can the two be used together?

 

3) What kind of floppy drives can I use with the PEB/TI? I want to get a TIPI but I like actual drives too.

 

Thanks!

 

 

[+arcadeshopper]

Likely the existing PS is fine.. fan will be SUPER LOUD just warning you.. its loud.. I took out the ancient fan and put in a quiet box fan on mine.. http://www.mainbyte.com/ti99/peb/peb_box_project.html

 

only people that i know swap it out are looking for more juice for hard disks or something or blow the fuse in the xformer.. there's 2 fuses. one internal one xternal

 

There are instructions for swapping in an ATX type supply, the voltages are wrong, couple ways to go there.. ymmv I don't see the need myself even with a full pbox i have enough power with my dual half height floppy drives.

 

drives are 360k DS/SD with the TI controller.. what controller will you have? you can get DSDD on corcomp, myarc and bwg controllers.. most likely you'll have a TI one though

 

You can use 3.5" drives in 40 track mode with that controller, or mod it to go 80 track.. i sell that stuff on arcadeshopper.com to do that.. I also have drive cables, mounting kits etc..

 

speech side port, yes and the black cable into that.. they daisy chain.. you can also get a splitter (on my store)

[cbmeeks]

Likely the existing PS is fine.. fan will be SUPER LOUD just warning you.. its loud.. I took out the ancient fan and put in a quiet box fan on mine.. http://www.mainbyte.com/ti99/peb/peb_box_project.html

 

only people that i know swap it out are looking for more juice for hard disks or something or blow the fuse in the xformer.. there's 2 fuses. one internal one xternal

 

There are instructions for swapping in an ATX type supply, the voltages are wrong, couple ways to go there.. ymmv I don't see the need myself even with a full pbox i have enough power with my dual half height floppy drives.

 

drives are 360k DS/SD with the TI controller.. what controller will you have? you can get DSDD on corcomp, myarc and bwg controllers.. most likely you'll have a TI one though

 

You can use 3.5" drives in 40 track mode with that controller, or mod it to go 80 track.. i sell that stuff on arcadeshopper.com to do that.. I also have drive cables, mounting kits etc..

 

speech side port, yes and the black cable into that.. they daisy chain.. you can also get a splitter (on my store)

 

 

Thanks for the tips.

 

I pulled the PEB out of storage last night and it's a little dirty and a tad banged up but nothing major. Should clean up nicely. I did notice some debris inside the fan grill. So I will take that apart to make sure it's clean and no critters are inside. Also, it appears the original owner removed the floppy drive but didn't replace the cover. So the right side plate is missing. Which is fine because I eventually plan on putting a drive back in.

 

As far as floppies and controllers.... My goal is 5.25" floppy. 3.5" and 80 tracks are nice but I want a stock drive as much as possible. Even if I don't really use it that much. When I was a kid, I saw a picture of the PEB with a 5.25" drive (back when I only had cassette) and was blown away. I couldn't believe such equipment existed! (I was 9-10 at the time) So I basically want now what I wanted then. If that makes sense. lol

 

We will definitely be doing some business when I save up some more blow money. The following are items on my list:

 

1) 32K RAM for PEB

 

2) SAMS (???) RAM for PEB (not sure how useful this one is...)

 

3) RS-232 and/or parallel printer card (I have a parallel dot-matrix printer I'd like to use with it)

 

4) TIPI for PEB

 

5) Disk controller with 5.25" drive

 

6) Prototyping card (I want to make a sound card)

 

 

Those are in no particular order. But the 32K RAM for the PEB might be the smartest next move as I already own a FR99 and I have a FG99 on the way.

 

Thanks!

[+Lee Stewart]

...

2) SAMS (???) RAM for PEB (not sure how useful this one is...)

...

Those are in no particular order. But the 32K RAM for the PEB might be the smartest next move as I already own a FR99 and I have a FG99 on the way.

 

 

Actually, if you can afford it and you plan on getting it anyway, the SAMS card would be better because it replaces the 32KiB card along with its (SAMS’) additional paged memory. SAMS is useful for programs (yours or others’) written to take advantage of its considerable, extra memory. You can use it with various programming languages including Editor/Assembler, RXB, fbForth 2.0, TurboForth, TI Forth, Camel99 Forth, et al.

 

...lee

[+Ksarul]

Cost for the SAMS board is in the same range as a tested 32K card for the PEB too. I sell them for $85, shipped to a US address.

[cbmeeks]

Ah, thanks for the tips.

 

I will be in the market for the SAMS card sometime soon.

 

Thanks everyone.