Hello Retronians,
I just saw some interesting DEC Professional items on eBay from
smhelectronics261 (https://www.ebay.com/sch/smhelectronics261/m.html):
1. Pro-350 (and presumably -325) video board
https://www.ebay.com/itm/294933607768
2. RD (hard disk) controller https://www.ebay.com/itm/294933620853
3. CTI RAM board https://www.ebay.com/itm/294933515548
4. RAM daughtercards https://www.ebay.com/itm/294933505973. The
description says "This added 512MB or Ram" but I think it is
mistaken. The boards are marked "5415084" which I believe is the
2-layer version of the board populated with 64 Kibit DRAMS, for a
total of 128 KiByte/board or 256 KiByte for both boards (assuming
that's actually what they're selling).
5. Something called a "DEC Digital Professional DMA tester diagnostic
module Pro350" board https://www.ebay.com/itm/294933577848.
I've bought from this seller before and they seem to have had access to
DEC-internal development stuff. I bought a prototype TMS board and a
prototype never-released high speed serial board from them.
#5 is especially interesting because, as far as I know, no production
CTI board ever did DMA (not even the disk and Ethernet controllers, to
everyone's disappointment). Looking at the photo I see the name "Dave
Iacobone". I wonder if he is still around and remembers that board.
Just FYI: I, too, might bid on some of these items, but I thought it'd
only be fair to let everyone know.
--Bjoren