[SPARCbook] SPARCBook Digest, Vol 51, Issue 1

Liam liam1f at blueyonder.co.uk
Sat Oct 23 13:02:03 CDT 2021


Hi,

I can confirm I used an old Apple connector and it was a direct fit. I didn't know the model number. The CDROM boots, as I recall, with 512 bytes per sector, which is the original 'single speed' which all others (24x, 48x, etc) are based on. I had/have several internal drives that I just power externally, and they have a jumper to select 1x.

There was a converter board (ADTX?) that allowed the use of a larger IDE hard drive in the sled - I still have some, and gave one away to someone here several years ago, who wasn't even polite enough to confirm receiving it! I have read about, bought, but never got round to using, CF card converters and PCMCIA boards. I also have SCSI2SD boards, which I bought for my long-lusted-after Tadpole Bullfrog, and again never got around to doing.

I have a bit of a collection of SparcBook3s and peripherals. A SparcBook2, an RDI Powerlite, a PreciscionBook (HP-UX), a couple of Voyager IIis, one still in the box, a Talin 15, a Talin 12, a P1000.... and a Naturetech which MIGHT be a 777S; I can't remember. I'll probably have batteries and external chargers somewhere too.

I spent years collecting this stuff, and the people at Tadpole used to be great. When I was passing Cambridge, I would nip in for advice. Jan (Eden?) once even sorted me out circuit board component values to get a SB3 damaged in transit from the US repaired. (Not by me, I might add.. I took it apart and put it back together. Someone else did the dirty work).

All this stuff really needs rehoming with someone who appreciates it, but I live in the UK and there's never seemed to be much of a following.

Good luck with yours.

Cheers, Liam


> On 23 October 2021 at 18:00 sparcbook-request at sunhelp.org mailto:sparcbook-request at sunhelp.org wrote:
> 
> 
>     Send SPARCBook mailing list submissions to
>     sparcbook at sunhelp.org mailto:sparcbook at sunhelp.org
> 
>     To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>     http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/sparcbook
>     or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>     sparcbook-request at sunhelp.org mailto:sparcbook-request at sunhelp.org
> 
>     You can reach the person managing the list at
>     sparcbook-owner at sunhelp.org mailto:sparcbook-owner at sunhelp.org
> 
>     When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>     than "Re: Contents of SPARCBook digest..."
>     Today's Topics:
>     1. SPARCbook 3 external SCSI connector. (Andrew Back) 2. Re: SPARCbook 3 external SCSI connector. (Bob Bramwell) 3. Re: SPARCbook 3 external SCSI connector. (Andrew Back) 4. Re: SPARCbook 3 external SCSI connector. (Andrew Back)
>     _______________________________________________
>     SPARCBook mailing list - SPARCBook at sunhelp.org mailto:SPARCBook at sunhelp.org
>     http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/sparcbook
> 



> On 23 October 2021 at 11:20 Andrew Back <andrew at carrierdetect.com mailto:andrew at carrierdetect.com > wrote:
> 
> 
>     Hello,
> 
>     Recently picked up a SPARCbook 3, would like to attach an external drive
>     and need to source a cable. The connector looks to be a HDI-30, as once
>     used on AppleB computers. Is this correct, with the same pinout and can
>     I just use a cable sold for use with old PowerBooks?
> 
>     Regards,
> 
>     Andrew
> 



> On 23 October 2021 at 12:38 Bob Bramwell <stuff0001 at gmail.com mailto:stuff0001 at gmail.com > wrote:
> 
> 
>     Hello Andrew,
> 
>     Itb s been so longb& Ib m sorry, but I really donb t recall. The
>     connector youb re talking about is about 1cm square, right? Looks like I
>     asked if anyone wanted it back in 2009. Ib ll see if Ib ve still got it,
>     but that is very doubtful. Ib ll let you know.
> 
>     Best of luck,
>     Bob.
> 
>         > > On Oct 23, 2021, at 7:20 AM, Andrew Back <andrew at carrierdetect.com mailto:andrew at carrierdetect.com > wrote:
> > 
> >     > 
>         > > Hello,
> > 
> >     > 
>         > > Recently picked up a SPARCbook 3, would like to attach an external drive
> >         and need to source a cable. The connector looks to be a HDI-30, as once
> >         used on AppleB computers. Is this correct, with the same pinout and can
> >         I just use a cable sold for use with old PowerBooks?
> > 
> >     > 
>         > > Regards,
> > 
> >     > 
>         > > Andrew
> >         _______________________________________________
> >         SPARCBook mailing list - SPARCBook at sunhelp.org mailto:SPARCBook at sunhelp.org
> >         http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/sparcbook
> > 
> >     > 



> On 23 October 2021 at 12:42 Andrew Back <andrew at carrierdetect.com mailto:andrew at carrierdetect.com > wrote:
> 
> 
>     Hi Bob,
> 
>     That's the one. 5 rows of 6 pins I think, and thanks!
> 
>     It would be nice if it was the same pinout as an Apple cable, as those
>     can be found on eBay.
> 
>     Best,
> 
>     Andrew
> 
>     PS. On the off-chance you or anyone else has one, I'm also on the
>     lookout for a battery pack for the SPARCbook 3. Dead is totally fine and
>     can re-cell it. Mine didn't come with one, sadly.
> 
>     On 23/10/2021 12:38, Bob Bramwell wrote:
> 
>         > > Hello Andrew,
> > 
> >     > 
>         > > Itb s been so longb& Ib m sorry, but I really donb t recall. The
> > 
> >     > connector youb re talking about is about 1cm square, right? Looks like I
>     asked if anyone wanted it back in 2009. Ib ll see if Ib ve still got it,
>     but that is very doubtful. Ib ll let you know.
>     >
> 
>         > > Best of luck,
> >         Bob.
> > 
> >     > >> On Oct 23, 2021, at 7:20 AM, Andrew Back <andrew at carrierdetect.com mailto:andrew at carrierdetect.com > wrote:
>     >>
>     >> Hello,
>     >>
>     >> Recently picked up a SPARCbook 3, would like to attach an external drive
>     >> and need to source a cable. The connector looks to be a HDI-30, as once
>     >> used on AppleB computers. Is this correct, with the same pinout and can
>     >> I just use a cable sold for use with old PowerBooks?
>     >>
>     >> Regards,
>     >>
>     >> Andrew
>     >> _______________________________________________
>     >> SPARCBook mailing list - SPARCBook at sunhelp.org mailto:SPARCBook at sunhelp.org
>     >> http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/sparcbook
> 



> On 23 October 2021 at 15:02 Andrew Back <andrew at carrierdetect.com mailto:andrew at carrierdetect.com > wrote:
> 
> 
>     Hi Kevin,
> 
>     Thanks! ISTR something about Sun sector size being different, but in any
>     case I have a Sun CDROM drive that I've previously used with an IPX, so
>     should be good on that front.
> 
>     I've also heard mention of people replaced the 2.5" SCSI HDD with a
>     SCSI2SD "PowerBook Edition", but can't seem to find anyone online with
>     these, apart from a vendor in Australia who has not responded to e-mail.
> 
>     Regards,
> 
>     Andrew
> 
>     On 23/10/2021 13:35, kevin kociba wrote:
> 
>         > > Andrew.
> >         Congrats on the 3. They are getting hard to find! Yes thatb s a good old
> > 
> >     > apple PowerBook scsi! Are you looking to boot it from a external cd? If so,
>     you are going to have to find either an old sun or early Panasonic made apple
>     CD drives. SUN arch had an different boot sector on the OS cds, not all drives
>     can boot them. Save you throwing cables drives and adapters around :)
>     >
> 
>         > > Kevin
> > 
> >     > 
>         > > Sent from my iPhone
> > 
> >     > >> On Oct 23, 2021, at 7:42 AM, Andrew Back <andrew at carrierdetect.com mailto:andrew at carrierdetect.com > wrote:
>     >>
>     >> o;?Hi Bob,
>     >>
>     >> That's the one. 5 rows of 6 pins I think, and thanks!
>     >>
>     >> It would be nice if it was the same pinout as an Apple cable, as those
>     >> can be found on eBay.
>     >>
>     >> Best,
>     >>
>     >> Andrew
>     >>
>     >> PS. On the off-chance you or anyone else has one, I'm also on the
>     >> lookout for a battery pack for the SPARCbook 3. Dead is totally fine and
>     >> can re-cell it. Mine didn't come with one, sadly.
>     >>
>     >>> On 23/10/2021 12:38, Bob Bramwell wrote:
>     >>> Hello Andrew,
>     >>>
>     >>> Itb s been so longb& Ib m sorry, but I really donb t recall. The
>     >> connector youb re talking about is about 1cm square, right? Looks like I
>     >> asked if anyone wanted it back in 2009. Ib ll see if Ib ve still got it,
>     >> but that is very doubtful. Ib ll let you know.
>     >>> Best of luck,
>     >>> Bob.
>     >>>
>     >>>>> On Oct 23, 2021, at 7:20 AM, Andrew Back <andrew at carrierdetect.com mailto:andrew at carrierdetect.com >
>     wrote:
>     >>>> Hello,
>     >>>>
>     >>>> Recently picked up a SPARCbook 3, would like to attach an external drive
>     >>>> and need to source a cable. The connector looks to be a HDI-30, as once
>     >>>> used on AppleB computers. Is this correct, with the same pinout and can
>     >>>> I just use a cable sold for use with old PowerBooks?
>     >>>>
>     >>>> Regards,
>     >>>>
>     >>>> Andrew
>     >>>> _______________________________________________
>     >>>> SPARCBook mailing list - SPARCBook at sunhelp.org mailto:SPARCBook at sunhelp.org
>     >>>>
>     https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sunhelp.o
>     rg%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fsparcbook&data=04%7C01%7C%7C5f1812b927204db595e
>     008d9961a2ddf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637705861474850670
>     %7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwi
>     LCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=hAKvDCz4UBvEsF3tOkEiejTxOl1KoFss%2Bcj5VJPXvzo
>     %3D&reserved=0
>     >> _______________________________________________
>     >> SPARCBook mailing list - SPARCBook at sunhelp.org mailto:SPARCBook at sunhelp.org
>     >>
>     https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sunhelp.o
>     rg%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fsparcbook&data=04%7C01%7C%7C5f1812b927204db595e
>     008d9961a2ddf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637705861474850670
>     %7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwi
>     LCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=hAKvDCz4UBvEsF3tOkEiejTxOl1KoFss%2Bcj5VJPXvzo
>     %3D&reserved=0


More information about the SPARCBook mailing list