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Questions about SE/30

Blougram

Well-known member
Hello,

A few years ago, living in Sweden, I was having fun with an SE/30: getting it online (through a SCSI > ethernet adapter) and playing online chess, hooking it up to an external "14 LCD monitor for 24-bit 640x480 browsing. I have since moved to the US, and recently the itch to play with a compact came back with a vengeance. I got hold of an SE/30 with 8 MB RAM and a 1 GB HD; it seems to be working just fine, but I do realize that it probably needs to be recapped sooner rather than later.

Anyway, I have two questions:

1) Is there any way to split up large StuffIt files into floppy-sized chunks on a PC? I have no trouble transferring smaller files through HFVExplorer and a USB floppy drive (including installing 7.5.3 using one floppy), but I haven't figured out how to transfer larger files. Would it be a good idea to get USB and SCSI zip drives?

2) I'll be getting an ethernet card in the mail, and was wondering about the best way to connect it to my WLAN. In an earlier thread, someone recommended an N300 Wi-Fi extender; would that work without a switch?

Cheers,

Blougram

 

hunter44102

Well-known member
The networking will solve your big file issue. I run 'filezilla' on a PC on one folder, and use 'fetch ftp' on the SE/30 to transfer files that I put in the PC folder

Those wifi extenders can be configured a few ways, but it looks like the n300 ethernet port is an extended port. So you should not need a switch.

However I read that some newer ethernet switches either dont support 10mbit or have trouble with it. I connect using an old 10/100 switch before up linking to router

 

Themk

Well-known member
Curious, what ethernet adaptor did you order? Anyway, you can use stuffit deluxe in basilisk II, to create multiple new stuffit archives from the single old one. Networking really is the best way to transfer large files though, even if your network is just a RS-232 serial connection.

 

Blougram

Well-known member
That's a great idea. I'll split the files in Basilisk and copy them to the floppy. If I remember correctly (it's been many years) BasiliskII has full support for physical (USB) floppy drives?

Curious, what ethernet adaptor did you order?
It's an Asante SE/30 card with an RJ-45 connector. I'm a bit wary of installing it (I love tinkering with software, not hardware and it's such a crammed space inside the SE/30) but I'm sure it will be fine. I loved my DaynaPort (?) SCSI > ethernet adapter. Very snappy, but it's an ocean away.

While I'm at it, I'll also upgrade the RAM to 64 or 68. Any thoughts on the ROM-inator? It sounds like an amazing project, but do I need it?

 

Themk

Well-known member
You don't need the ROM-inator II, as you can use MODE32 with the SE/30's built in ROM to get 32-bit memory addressing, but I really like the ROM-inator II (need to order one myself). If you get the ROM-inator, also get the programming tool as well. While I have 68MB of RAM in my SE/30, it's great, but unless you have something that will use all of that RAM (which is easy to do), it's kind of a costly upgrade for not really a performance or experience boost. However, if you don't have at least 8MB of RAM, then upgrade to at least that.

I installed a VidCard in my SE/30, wasn't too difficult. I don't think its a big deal to work inside of the SE/30, it is a little cramped, but its not a big deal. Just avoid the CRT's neck, and you should be okay.

Now, with the ROM-inator II, and 68MB of RAM you can actually run System 8.1 on this machine! (even though 8.1 wants a 68040 or better to run!)

 
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Blougram

Well-known member
I'll keep you updated about my progress getting it up and running on the information superhighway. From reading other threads, I understand that email is pretty much a dead cause nowadays, which is a pity. In 2011 I was able to log in to my Fastmail web account with no problems (reading and replying to emails was definitely doable on the SE/30), but all of a sudden it was no longer possible. I'm not sure about the technical specifics, but I think they implemented SSL.

So with email being a no-no (if it *is* possible to access modern email servers -- web or POP/IMAP -- do let me know) I was thinking of getting a text-based browser -- something that would be able to render the text on modern sites. Any suggestions? I remember browsing the web using Lynx on an otherwise sluggish 80386 in high school; it was a pleasant experience, but then again, the web was a simpler place back then.

In the future, I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one of those 68030 50 MHz accelerator cards, if nothing else so that MacChess puts up more of a fight. :) But my my short-term goal is to get it online and to get some distraction-free writing done using Word 5.1.

 

Blougram

Well-known member
Darn it. When I turned it on today, it displayed a pattern very similar to the picture depicting "early symptoms" of simasimac on Low End Mac: http://lowendmac.com/brierley/09pb/simasimac.html

When I power cycled the SE/30 it booted up normally. I'll open it up and inspect/clean the motherboard once I get hold of a torx screwdriver (probably this weekend). Would you recommend that I stop using the computer until then? Can this be something other than bad capacitors? I guess I'm hoping against hope that I won't need to recap it straight away. There is no start-up bong, and the sound volume is very low even when cranked up. There are no other symptoms I can think of.

 
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Themk

Well-known member
Well, if it hasn't been recapped yet (at some point in its life), then it will need to be recapped. Hate to break it to you, but the SE/30 caps are very prone to leaking, and I would say that 99.9% of the factory original caps have leaked. So, 30 year old motherboard, never been recapped, now is the time to recap :-/

Showing the pattern, then power cycling is one of the early warning indicators. Also, if you let it sit too long, than the cap goo will get all over the traces pins of ICs, etc. Clean it  and recap it now, before you have to repair broken traces.

 
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Blougram

Well-known member
Thanks! I'm not sure if there is a battery there or not, but I guess I'll find out tonight. Speaking of which, would you recommend not using a battery because of the risk of corrosion? The only setting I have to change when I power up is the mouse speed (odd that the default is so slow).

 

Themk

Well-known member
I use a battery, but only for keeping the RTC going after I have shut down the computer. A lot of people around here also don't use batteries. So, you decide.

 

hunter44102

Well-known member
The chances of a new battery leaking/exploding in an indoor climate environment  are almost none. It's only if you have it for 15 years and forget about it,or store it too hot or cold. 

 

Blougram

Well-known member
I will definitely have it recapped sooner rather than later. Except for the early-stage simasimac pattern at startup everything works, including the sound and external SCSI, so hopefully this means that the damage is not as extensive as to render it unsalvageable.

 

Blougram

Well-known member
So, I ventured inside earlier today. It was something of a struggle; it probably took me 5 minutes to figure out how to detach the power cable from the mother board, and a further 5 to figure out how to get the memory modules out, but in the end...

While tbe board was clean, it looks (to my untrained eye) as if C1 is leaking, but I'd be happy to get some input from people who actually know.

There's anew old battery there, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to remove the plastic cover. Does it just snap off?

I installed 4 x 16 modules, and they were recognized once I installed MODE32. I also installed an ether net card, and will try to get it online before I send it off to have it recapped.

20170330_194929.jpg

20170330_195015.jpg

 

Blougram

Well-known member
And I'm online... which is exciting, but doesn't change the fact that my caps are leaking.

tmp_29551-20170330_221347-241702497.jpg

 
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hunter44102

Well-known member
You just insert a small flat head down the end of one side of the battery cover and gently lift the tab and lift it up. 

You can try to clean up around the cap(s) with rubbing alcohol for now. 

 

CC_333

Well-known member
It's amazing Google works on that ancient browser!

Speaking of which, what browser is it? It looks like iCab....

c

 

Themk

Well-known member
Really wishing I had Ethernet for my SE/30... I'm just too cheap.

Replace the caps sooner rather than later. Hoping to get mine replaced within a week.

 
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