Identifying DEC boards
It's worth remembering the following guide if you're identifying PDP11 or
VAX boards :
Hex height, metal handles -> Unibus (or special PDP11 CPU board)
Quad height, metal handles -> Q-bus
Quad height, plastic handles -> Unibus
Dual height, plastic handles -> Qbus (or maybe a very early Unibus option
to use with an M105 and M782).
Bus priority jumper (a little PCB about 1"*3/4" on a 16 pin header) ->
Unibus.
Yes, there are a lot of exceptions, but it works a lot of the time (and
it's easy to remember)
Omnibus (PDP8/e, etc) boards are often also quad height with plastic
handles. A couple of tricks to spot those :
'Top' edge connectors -> Omnibus
Plastic spacers between handles and PCB -> Omnibus
Connectors on the 'wrong' edge -> Omnibus -- If you hold the board,
component side up, edge connectors on the left (and handles on the
right), then a header plug on the 'top' edge -> Unibus, one on the bottom
edge -> Omnibus.
ard_@_p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell)
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