Oh my wordee yes, this is golden (literally) old technology (1988-ish) but a great example of Hewlett Packard engineering from days gone by and perhaps someone has a 3852A Data Acquisition & Control Mainframe just waiting for this module to be plugged in so it can talk to peripheral devices!
HEWLETT PACKARD HP-IB Communications Module
Model: 44788A
Serial #2846A00560
Release to industry around late 1980's
Intended to be used with the HP 3852A Data Acquisition & Control Mainframe - I have seen one of these 3852's online recently although I think the asking price is a bit steep!
I do have the full (scanned copy) configuration & programming manual (CD-r) and can provide this if required (please ask for it!)
As with all HP equipment, this is high specification, high reliability equipment and below I have included a couple of "snapshots" from the Manual (50 pages!)
This module provides CS/80, SS/80 disk drive control, printer control and instrument control and can be user programmed, details in the extensive manual.
Here is a interconnect diagram to give an idea of how it was intended to be used
You may be wondering "what on earth is that gigantic laptop in the diagram?"
Here is a website that has a nice clear photograph of these Series 200 computers (68000 based running at a lightning speed of 8 or 12Mhz!)
Oh and those disk drives? They look like the floppy/hard drive combinations such as the 9153A, a "massive" 10Mb to 40Mb hard drive with these beasties and watch the wallet, just this peripheral would set the client back at least $2000! Have a look here for lots of juicy information
COSMETIC CONDITION:
Connectors are clean
Front panel is clean (just the HP-IB connector anyway!)
NO damage to the casing
Inside is clean as is the edge connector
TESTING:
Examined internally (see photographs) under ESD safety conditions. Nothing amiss, all clean and no "mods" visible.
I love the extensive gold plated tracks on the PCB's! but no components are socketed so recovery of special purpose components is not just a case of "plucking" from the socket.
As I do not have a 3852A mainframe nor one of those ancient disk drives (or media), I am unable to test this module.
This module (and a large amount of other HP gear) came from a large manufacturer in Singapore which was in the process of upgrading their automatic assembly test equipment. I knew the folks personally and this equipment was obsoleted, NOT discarded due to failure.
It has been stored in an ESD protective bag and this is how it will be supplied to the new owner.
