What we ALL need

[blackwaterstudios]

Well, not so sure about you 500 and 600 series guys but someone could make some coin if they'ed come up with some extender cards for the 400 series consoles.  I'd buy 2 (always buy a backup if ya can!).

Sure seems simple...1 to 1 connection, I guess getting the right amphenol male and female connectors is the problem...  I just know I hate removing 10 strips just to have room to work on one, not to mention it's prolly not good to keep removing them and plugging them back in all the time.

Oh well, just thinking out loud to myself again...

[Dualflip]

Well it could probably be done, i mean all you need is to cut some aluminum, some ribbon cable and the cardedge connectors, probably it would be easy to find one on ebay or with Randy Blevins, but in case that doesnt happen someone could venture into the project..

[brianroth]

I vaguely recall seeking something to use for the edge connectors, but came up empty-handed.

Someone remind me...how many pins, and what centers (0.156')?

Best,

Bri

[blackwaterstudios]

Ehhhh, I don't do Blevins.  Looked 4 years now on ebad but no luck. Not THAT big of a deal but sure would be nice to have one.  Brian, I can measure when I get home - and sorry I couldn't talk today but I was in my boss's office!

[Bill Wilson]

My employee # at MCI was #32;  started in early 72. Ran console check out worked for Tom Hay, later Chief Engineer. As far as I know there never has been
an extender card for any of the 400  series modules.

I did replace quite a few 400 series preamps with my own transformerless preamps in 416 boards.

[brianroth]

Welcome aboard, Bill!  Glad you're here.

Back on the extender topic...

I never knew of any extenders for the 400, either, and there were more than a few of the desks in my region over the years.

One problem is the fact the edge connectors down on the motherboard have open ends, making the "stab" of a random "finger card" problematic.  IOW, the card could be easily offset along the lenthg of the edge connector.

Similarly, the female edge connector for the extender would have to have the ends removed (Dremel tool?  <g>) since the 400 modules didn't have routed areas around the contact fingers which would "dodge" the plastic ends of a typical female edge connector.

The extender for the 600 desks got around some of the problems by having everything mounted on sheet metal parts which mechanically acted as a module replacement.

Best,

Bri