TechTools Archives: Re: Old test equipment kits...Alpha's IC tes

From: sales htbs <sales_at_htbsusa.com>
Date: Mon Sep 10 2012 - 12:27:15 EDT

Anyone have any info on this
Pics
model number
support list
would like to see it
or find one like it
thanks tony

-----Original Message-----
From: techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com
[mailto:techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com] On Behalf Of John Robertson
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2012 12:54 PM
To: techtoolslist@flippers.com
Subject: Re: [Techtoolslist] Old test equipment kits...Alpha's IC tester.

Rodger Boots wrote:
>
> It's very unlikely that program code was in RAM, get power to RAM
> straightend out first before panicking.
>

Sorry Rodger, the code IS in the volatile RAM....as the manual states
the code is in the first 4K of the DALLAS device, with the rest of the
device set aside for IC parameters. Grrrr.

Don't ask me why he did it that way - the device had a sticker on it
saying 'Do not remove or warranty is void' too.

No sign of the source code anywhere. Tried reading the device, but
while there was data on it, hard to say if it was any good...next I
guess I could check if the data has a reasonable boot vector (somewhere
in the 1st 4K) for Z80 and hope that the thing is not too badly
scrambled...it is always possible that the ROM code is good, but that
the display logic has failed.

John :-#(#
> On Sep 7, 2012 5:36 PM, "John Robertson" <jrr@flippers.com
> <mailto:jrr@flippers.com>> wrote:
>
> John Robertson wrote:
>
> Dave Caroline wrote:
>
> On Fri, Sep 7, 2012 at 9:03 PM, John Robertson
> <jrr@flippers.com <mailto:jrr@flippers.com>> wrote:
>
>
> John Robertson wrote:
>
>
> I just received an interesting piece of late 80's
> technology. An
> in-circuit Digital IC tester (kit). Made by Alpha
> it is a Z80 based tester
> that clips over the IC in question and lets you
> know if it is working
> correctly. I suspect it is not unlike the Bug-Trap
> (HP) Logic Comparator.
> You need to key in the logic table for each IC
> that you wish to test (up to
> 24 pin), and it stores these in non-volatile RAM.
>
> Seems to work and I shall post the manual, Eprom,
> and stored RAM (Dallas)
> eventually to TTL's FTP.
>
> Originally published in Radio-Electronics in
> November and December 1987 as
>
>
>
> One has to ask, was the source in the article :)
>
> Dave Caroline
>
>
>
>
> Ah, no, that would be 'easy' - the code was only in the
> battery backed up RAM. (background sound of person kicking
> self around the room)
>
> It also appears that Mr. Green may have died - am checking
> with another author who mentions a Bill Green from
> Radio-Electronics and Popular Electronics as the 'late Bill
> Green'.
>
> John :-#(#
>
> Unfortunately it has now been confirmed that Bill Green has died.
> I just received the following note in response to asking about Bill:
>
> /Yep.. Bill is no longer with us.
> I would be the only keeper of the grail...
> However, I don't have one of those or the code./
>
>
> So, now to find one of these machines that still works...right...
>
> John :-#(#
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Re: Old test equipment kits...Alpha's IC tester.