ISA Slot in any T2x Docks, or not ??

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dozer · #1 Post by **dozer** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 8:01 pm

howdy,

Am I correct that none of the T2x series docks include an ISA slot?

Is the 600 series the last (i.e. most recent) series to include ISA ?

I have an older CNC machine-tool that I need to run in the field. It has an ISA interface card; and as this model is discontinued, there isn't any upgrade to a newer card available.

So, I need a rugged laptop with an ISA slot...but also with as modern a CPU as possible...and also with as large a screen as possible.

I'd prefer a T2x series, to get a reasonably quick P3....but if no ISA slot...then I'll have to use something else.

thanks much!

Website · #2 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:53 pm

That is correct. They use half height PCI cards... (I have one)

dozer · #3 Post by **dozer** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 11:41 pm

thanks tff...appreciate the info

hitokage · #4 Post by **hitokage** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:46 pm

I did a Google search and came across this - USB 2.0 to ISA card. This isn't as expensive as a PCI to ISA bridge, and would allow you to use a faster laptop/PC - assuming it's actually compatible with the card you need to use.

Steve G.

Six_Shooter · #5 Post by **Six_Shooter** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 7:16 pm

hitokage wrote:I did a Google search and came across this - USB 2.0 to ISA card.

That's an interesting device.

dozer · #6 Post by **dozer** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:30 pm

Yes, very interesting indeed.

I came across that myself just a few months ago.

Sadly, it won't work for this project.

This machine runs around 100K-150K timer-IRQ's and bus-operations second...right about at the practical limits of ISA.

His board cannot support that flawlessly. And a single flaw in timing equals a missed step on 3 axes and a crash of the machine-tool.

That requirement for perfect timing also causes it to not work well in DOS-under-Windows...as you can imagine...LOL...

....and unfortunately, ARStech still doesn't support native DOS...altho they've been talking about it for a while. Perhaps someday they'll do it. Which would be -great-, because I could get rid of the whole dock mess, and also run the machine on ANY laptop...no longer limited to older/slower choices.

Steve, thanks very much for posting that link. Appreciate you taking the time.

Notwithstanding what I said above, it did help to be reminded of that card, because it's been 3 more months since I talked to them. It's certainly worth touching base with them again to see about DOS progress...

I think if it would run native on DOS, it might just work, even with USB being non-deterministic....so long as nothing else at all is on the USB.

flashstar · #7 Post by **flashstar** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:53 am

It looks like you need a new machine-tool.

You should just go and get an old P2 computer and use that. They usually run around $20 a piece.

#8 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:25 am

You may have to molest your dock to fit this in, but there is a PCI-to-ISA bridge card available here: http://www.costronic.com/Ev71p.htm
You'll have to write your own software to make it go...

If you want to go 'nostalgic', see if you can unearth a Toshiba 5200/100 386 portable that has two ISA slots.
Don't know if it is powerful enough for your purposes though.

Some more adapter-info here: http://www.control.com/1026156647/index_html

dozer · #9 Post by **dozer** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:43 pm

flashstar wrote:It looks like you need a new machine-tool. .

well....I don't know about that....not when the CNC is 20K+, while an old laptop with ISA dock is $50-150...lol...

Yes, I've thought a lot about continuing to run it on an old P2 mini-tower (what it's -been- running on).

But they eat power, compared to a laptop. Although this machine is mostly powered by a diesel gen-set, there are times that it -is- run from batteries and an inverter.

I also felt that I'd like to get rid of all the separate pieces flopping around...box, monitor, kbd, mouse (a mouse is not an easy thing to use around a machine-tool...lol...and of course all the cables.

Black, too bad Toshiba didn't make a P3 with a single ISA in it!

Sadly, that 386 will NOT do the job...lol

The machine is 'usable' on a P133...though that limits its feed-rates and affects a couple other things. Performance improves up until a P2-333. Faster than that isn't essential; but I do like P3's...

Thanks for the ref to that PCI-card. I'm not in a position to write code, plus that double-stack of cards can become an issue...can become a kludge, really...LOL...

During research, I read that the 760 series (I have an ED) had a dock available that was quite compact (Dock-1 I think ?) which still had an ISA in it.

I'm currently trying to find out if the 770X and Z also fit that dock...because those machines would be quick enough; while still using that very compact dock.

thanks again for all the suggestions and thoughts.

#10 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:56 pm

I may have found what you are looking for:
http://www.acces-usa.com/go.cgi?p=../pci/pci-isa.html
Pricey though!

dozer · #11 Post by **dozer** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:31 pm

hmmm....domain not found, is all I get.

I tried adding an 's' so it said "access"....and tried trimming the end off too...but still can't get a page up for that url.

'course, if it's -that- pricey...maybe I'm better off not going there anyway...lol...

#12 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 7:51 am

try this: http://www.accesio.com/go.cgi?p=../pci/pci-isa.html
Shows the same result.

SMA · #13 Post by **SMA** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:29 pm

I guess the docking station you are referring to is the one called SelectaDock I,
since this model is compact in size. It is not so tall as them other docking stations of that age.
Unfortunately it does not support any of the 770 and 600 machines.
I have just verified this by trying.
I have tried it with both a 770 and a 600 - all I could get was lots of beeps, which is the normal behaviour for those docking stations, when an incompatible computer is attached.
So, if size is important, you will have to do with a 760 thinkpad.

But there is another docking station. The SelectaDock III (3547-003).
It is taller though, but it has an ISA slot and it supports the 770 and 600 series.
Occasionally I am running a such with a 770 and I just tried it with a 600x, which was success.
I did not do a full test with the 600x, but I could get into bios. I can do more testing if needed. The 600x used for testing has a P3 cpu.

I would say that a SelectaDock III with a 600x would be the best choice for the described requirements.

ISA Slot in any T2x Docks, or not ??

ISA Slot in any T2x Docks, or not ??

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