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PowerBook Duo modem alternative cards?

DracheMitch

Well-known member
Does anyone know if alternatives were made for the modem slot on Duos? I have a 230 that just has the blanking card, a 280 with a modem, and I know there’s an alternative modem for international Duos.

Did anyone create additional serial port or Ethernet port for that slot?
 

4seasonphoto

Well-known member
Does anyone know if alternatives were made for the modem slot on Duos? I have a 230 that just has the blanking card, a 280 with a modem, and I know there’s an alternative modem for international Duos.

Did anyone create additional serial port or Ethernet port for that slot?
To the best of my knowledge, that slot wasn't used for anything besides a modem. Ethernet for Duos was typically implemented as some sort of mini-dock device.
 

DracheMitch

Well-known member
To the best of my knowledge, that slot wasn't used for anything besides a modem. Ethernet for Duos was typically implemented as some sort of mini-dock device.
Yeah, I’ve seen the Newer micro dock with Ethernet being the closest thing to having it on board. SuperMac also made a mini dock under their E-Machines brand that had Ethernet instead of a modem pass through.

Do you know if Newer ever released the PC Card dock?
 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
Do you know if Newer ever released the PC Card dock?
Nope, but their UltraDocks(?) were made using the tooling for it, that's why there's lots of empty cubic under the PCBs.

I don't recall any alternate cards for the slot, but one member was recently trying to implement EtherNet via the modem connector.

In terms of hacks, the best one I've seen (or maybe it one of my flights of fancy?) was the installation of an ADB/S-Video connector on the Power Board for the RJ opening with the lines jumpered from the docking connector's soldertails. Such would have been awesome for powering my external modem.
 

DracheMitch

Well-known member
In terms of hacks, the best one I've seen (or maybe it one of my flights of fancy?) was the installation of an ADB/S-Video connector on the Power Board for the RJ opening with the lines jumpered from the docking connector's soldertails. Such would have been awesome for powering my external modem.
That would be easy to do, as the Duo case was designed to have different coverings in that slot, so 3D printing a holder for the ADB port would be easy. You would need the blanking board that came with the Duos without a modem because the reset button is strangely there and not on the logic board. I have one of those with my 230.

Ethernet while the Duo is undocked is the pain point for me. I have a Duo Dock II, and with that it's a near-perfect 68k machine, as there's 2 NuBus slots, 1MB VRAM, and all the normal connections (save for the bizarre use of HDI-30 on a desktop). The only downside is the 8-bit, 22kHz mono audio, but I have a Digidesign NuBus card for 16-bit, 48kHz Stereo IO. I don't mind at all the grayscale display, because the refresh rate has to be over 60Hz, it's so easy to look at.
 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
How does that work? I really don't understand Scuznet, and not sure I understand this card.
I've been following those developments since day one, but haven't been around much to see that there was a PowerBook fork in the development. That's fabulous!

As I understand it, Scuznet emulates the function of any given external SCSI->EtherNet box, of which there were several. Apparently it's magic bits are tiny enough for internal use on any Mac and now it seems they're suitable for use as on an internal modem replacement for PowerBooks.

Dunno if the 68K Duo's support multiple SCSI IDs on the internal bus, but have no solid reason to doubt so. The 2300c has both SCSI and IDE buses, so it will definitely be able to support a Scuznet modem replacement.

As for the seemingly odd placement of the power-on button, clearances for internal components, hinges etc would seem to be the reason for it. I wouldn't print an adapter for the existing power board. I'd suggest doing a new PCB with provisions for momentary switch, soldertail S-Video connector and a connector for internal flex cable adaptation. Printing a support/close off the square opening structure to be melt point or bolt mounted to the new PCB would be the ticket I'd think.

Meanwhile, wait to see what happens in the other thread, You and saybur have me thinking that an RJ45 medusa cable breaking ADB out on the two unused pairs of the connector might be perfect for the Duos and PB150.
 

aladds

Well-known member
Chiming in from the other thread :)

I had a 5 sets of boards made as a test - all I've done is split the scuznet module in half. The "meat and potatoes" is still the bit connected to the SCSI connector, and replacing the HD with an SD card. Then there's a 10 pin connector to the board you linked the picture to above, the interface is SPI.

Note that by using SPI, this could lead to replacing the current board with somehting else, e.g. a WiFi module. That would require quite a lot of effort on the programming side, mind you.

Having already tested this with an external version on my PB100, I know that the software and hardware are compatible. Now I'm just trying to make it fit in the case!

If it works, I'll get to neatening up the designs (there are a few things to fix already, like the connector being slightly off to one side) and at the very least release the designs for others to make. Depending on the time I have I may also make a few boards "to order" :)
 

DracheMitch

Well-known member
all I've done is split the scuznet module in half. The "meat and potatoes" is still the bit connected to the SCSI connector, and replacing the HD with an SD card
So your current module also acts as a SCSI2SD replacement along with the Ethernet SCSI?
 

aladds

Well-known member
Yep! Also, according to my tracking information the remaining parts should arrive today so I can test it soon :)
 
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aladds

Well-known member
Still one part missing, the SCSI connector! And the tracking says 2 weeks... I'll update as soon as I can :)

Everything else is assembled though, and the ATXMEGA chip is programmed!
 

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