From: "blair groves" <blair.groves@canrem.com>
Subject: televideo ts-806
Reply-To: "blair groves" <blair.groves@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: comp
Date: 3 Oct 92 20:52:12 EST

to: jfoy@glia.biostr.washington.edu

Hi Jeff, I tried to send you mail in reply to your message on FIDO, but
this node's FIDONET isn't transmitting yet... AARRGGHH!!!

Anyways, I am Sysop of TeleVideo Station BBS, (416)-507-9608, and you
can contact me voice (416)-507-9606, if you have any further questions
after I explain a few details...

The TS-806/20 has a built-in hard disk, 20 megs unformatted, (but who
uses unformatted hard disks?), 15 megs formatted. That's a good start,
but you might want to install a larger MFM drive. I have two Seagate
ST251-1 drives in a clone tower case, along with the TS-806 motherboard
and hard disk controller...  I run the BBS off a TS-800A connected to
it, and have four other workstations including three CP/M TeleVideo
computers and a MS-DOS machine with TeleVideo's RS-422 card. The sixth
connection has a TS-806C cartridge tape backup unit connected. This is a
great system with lots of potential.

For software, you can run TeleVideo's MMMOST, Software-2000's TurboDOS,
or CBIS's Network-OS. MMMOST is standard issue, and not very friendly or
capable. TurboDOS is very powerful but not too friendly either. CBIS's
Network-OS (my choice) is powerful and easy to use. It let me easily
configure it for different sizes and quantities of hard disks, (up to
four hard disks can run on *certain* TS-806 hard disk controllers), and
there is a patch provided to automatically load time and date to the
system from a Hayes Chronograph on starting the network.

Starting the network... well, its done by RS-422 obviously, and all 15
pins are required, wired straight through. Use round-jacket cable
(twisted pair will give you extended distance), standard 22 guage
stranded core cable. The workstations will auto-boot off the TS-806,
after the network has been started.

Your workstations in all probability are really TeleVideo TS-800A's with
925 keyboards... (the TS-800A, Model 925 and Model 950 terminals all use
the same parts 'cept for the motherboard), you can determine if they are
merely dumb terminals or TS-800A workstations by looking at the rear
panels: if there are only two DB-25 RS-232 connectors and the keyboard
jack, they are indeed dumb terminals. If they have two DB-25 RS-232
connectors, the keyboard jack, *and* a 15 pin RS-422 connector, then you
have TS-800A's.

I can send you lots of information on these beasties, (copies of
manuals, literature sheets, etc... and there are also bulletins and
articles on my BBS (see above), to fill in other details. Also, Sharon
Industries, in San Jose California, (408)-456-1600, can supply you with
parts, manuals, new and used machines etc... Ask for Terry, he has
helped me with a lot of things.

There are a lot of things that I can tell you that you might want to
know, so feel free to give me a ring any time (days/nights) at the above
voice number too.

        /B/

blair.groves@canrem.com
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