Max number of side car addons

General discussions on the PCjr
Chuckphd53
Posts: 368
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 9:15 am
Location: Florida, USA
Contact:

Re: Max number of side car addons

Post by Chuckphd53 »

If this issue becomes an 'issue' and there are enough folks that would like a fix...
I can make a small PCB with SMT resistors that would fit flat against the backside
and easily attach with small jumper wires....
as the Resistor fix that I did in the previous email works fine, it is cumbersome and takes a bit of work
to dress everything out....
if you need to contact me pcjr@terradock.com feel free I am happy to help with questions on this..

Chuck
(PCJR/JR-IDE-512DOM,TandyMod,V20-10Chip,BiDir,LPT2,3FlopBrd,
USBEmulator,ZIP100,PS2Keybrd,MouseSysMouse,InternalSwitcherPS)
KenG
Posts: 239
Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2016 5:36 pm
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Re: Max number of side car addons

Post by KenG »

Could this be included in a revision? Also, could something be made to plug into the sidecar similar to the SCSI termination to go on the last sidecar in the chain?
Enhanced PCjr with a jr-IDE (1GB DOM) and a parallel port side car with a compact flash reader and backpack 1.44mb floppy attached. Tandy video mod.
Chuckphd53
Posts: 368
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 9:15 am
Location: Florida, USA
Contact:

Re: Max number of side car addons

Post by Chuckphd53 »

I have included the resistors in my Rev 'C' of the JRIDE and it works.

Yes a plug in ( scsi ) as you mentioned is what I did when I tested this fix, but it hangs off the JR connector and you cannot put the side car cover on.
It is just looks tho, if you dont mind that.

I dont think alot of the folks suffer from this issue, as I am guessing they just have the JRIDE on the Jr only, or in the First position that does
offer some reliability in my testing...
(PCJR/JR-IDE-512DOM,TandyMod,V20-10Chip,BiDir,LPT2,3FlopBrd,
USBEmulator,ZIP100,PS2Keybrd,MouseSysMouse,InternalSwitcherPS)
alanh
Posts: 339
Joined: Tue May 10, 2011 6:52 pm
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Max number of side car addons

Post by alanh »

If anyone is to make a board revision, please fix it with a proper 245. The totem-pole setup is a bit of a hack.
Chuckphd53
Posts: 368
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 9:15 am
Location: Florida, USA
Contact:

Re: Max number of side car addons

Post by Chuckphd53 »

Already being done, but the Pullup/Pulldown is a viable solution for the existing users.
(PCJR/JR-IDE-512DOM,TandyMod,V20-10Chip,BiDir,LPT2,3FlopBrd,
USBEmulator,ZIP100,PS2Keybrd,MouseSysMouse,InternalSwitcherPS)
FortMax
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:50 am
Location: Coppell, TX

Re: Max number of side car addons

Post by FortMax »

Do other people with this issue get two beeps and a black screen (which usually indicated a power issue)? I've found that resetting the PCjr by inserting a ROM cart gets it to boot properly every time.
PCjr w/ Rapport Drive 2 + 384KB Memory Expansion Package, jrIDE
Wanted: light pen
Documentation (including new and updated pages for the Guide to Operations) from:
PC Compact Printer
Speech Attachment (except for the installation instructions)
DoctorOctal
Posts: 94
Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2020 12:41 pm

Re: Max number of side car addons

Post by DoctorOctal »

FortMax wrote:Do other people with this issue get two beeps and a black screen (which usually indicated a power issue)? I've found that resetting the PCjr by inserting a ROM cart gets it to boot properly every time.
Do you have a jr-IDE attached? If so, what POST code is it displaying when you get two beeps?
FortMax
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:50 am
Location: Coppell, TX

Re: Max number of side car addons

Post by FortMax »

0.0
PCjr w/ Rapport Drive 2 + 384KB Memory Expansion Package, jrIDE
Wanted: light pen
Documentation (including new and updated pages for the Guide to Operations) from:
PC Compact Printer
Speech Attachment (except for the installation instructions)
DoctorOctal
Posts: 94
Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2020 12:41 pm

Re: Max number of side car addons

Post by DoctorOctal »

Chuckphd53 wrote:How many side car add ons did IBM spec was the limit.
I understand it depends on the design and power consumption, but was there a Rule Of thumb from IBM on this subject…
My quest is the Data and Address Control line Fan out /signal propagation degradation.
I just ran across this:
The I/O Channel signals have sufficient drive to support five I/O Channel expansion-adapters and the internal modem and diskette drive adapter, assuming one standard TTL load per attachment.

—PCjr Technical Reference, 2-21
OldComputerGuy
Posts: 114
Joined: Sun Dec 04, 2016 6:28 pm

Re: Max number of side car addons

Post by OldComputerGuy »

If you do a power supply conversion, do you still have to use power sidecars, or will the new power supply be enough?
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