UniProbe - Using, Getting, Building, Downloads

Details: Written by: Administrator; Parent Category: Tools; Category: UniProbe - an UNIBUS signal adapter

It works!

UniBone proved its value even before prototype tests where complete:

Testbed was my work-horse PDP-11/34. Soon after first power-on, I noticed (quite frightened) that the first prototype had its "BG4" LED burning sometimes.

Of course the error vanished under debugging.

After checking UniProbe several times, resoldering the SMD op amps and suspecting THE BIG ERROR in the design, it turns out that a memory card had a bad backplane contact and was not able to close the Grant Chain reliably.

So the 11/34 indeed had a flaw, I never noticed this before!

Bottom line: Validating a new test instrument in a defective test bed can drive you crazy.

Use Patterns

As I started to work with my UniProbes, I almost instantly found me using two in parallel:

The first one is build as M9302 terminator with LEDs for the Standard UNIBUS slot. It is only used to show the signals visually, and remains in place all the time.
A 2nd one has only the logic analyzer interface populated and is plugged into the Modified UNIBUS on demand when working on a specific PDP-11. The LA cables remain plugged in all the time, the whole UniProbe is, well, the LA probe.

uniprobe la probe

So if you have <n> PDP-11s , you probably need <n> UniProbes with LEDs and M9302, and 1 connected to your logic analyzer as flexible probe.

Getting One

In case you find UniProbe useful, I can provide them.

The PCB is a 4-layer with gold fingers.

uniprobe empty

To hand it over to you, multiple options were requested. Sadly in 2021 electronic components clearly increased in price. We now have:

you download the schematic and the Gerber files for own production (no hazzle for me and all for you!)
sending the blank board and the electronic parts (including pin headers and LEDs) as kit. Can do that for 130€, shipping to U.S. will be > 16€.
a kit for the "two board" use case above. Two bare boards, and parts for the "LED+M9302" and a "LA-probe only" setup: €220.
a ready-build and tested is 220€. The LEDs will be mounted as shown below: looking "sideways".

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Build variants

The UniProbe PCB can be populated to run either in the "Standard UNIBUS" socket or in the "Modified UNIBUS" socket ... but not in both! (Also see here).

Differences between variants are these:

PCB section	Build variant
	"StdUB"	"ModUB"
Solder jumpers (total of 15)	1-2 ("up")	2-3 ("down")
Front LEDs	All LEDs operable. Power stabilizing capacitors only needed if high speed op amps are populated. 560 Ohm LED resistors for "bright" appearance, 1K for "faint" and more precise.	Grant LEDs BG*, NPG not connected. Op amps U19,U20 not necessary. If populated, tie inputs to defined levels with 100K terminator in RN8
Front voltage header J5	Single row, only +5V and GND available	Double row, several voltages from -5 to +20V on pins
Logic analyzer interface		Grant signals BG*, NPG not connected.
M930/M9302 terminator	For M930, open "M9302 SACK turnaround" jumper	Do not populate: - 180/390 SIP resistors - ACLO/DCLO termination R1,R2,C2,C3 - SACK logic ICs U1,U2,U3 (8837, 8881, 74LS30) SIP resistors may be populated with high-Z (100K) to get defined levels for "open" UNIBUS signals, LEDs would burn with half intensity on backplane errors.
Plug into Standard UNIBUS slot?	OK	UNIBUS not properly terminated. Not all backplane GND pins connected Grant signals BG*, NPG not connected.
Plug into Modified UNIBUS slot?	NEVER! Some non-5V system power short cut against GND -> possible power supply damage Non-5V voltages on GRANT signals -> damage to UniProbe and attached logic analyzer!	OK

Mounting LEDs

All LEDs should be visible when looking onto the card edge. Rotating them by 90° with a special 3D printed mounting block proved almost impossible to install. A more feasible solution does not rotate the LEDs, but just raises the 2nd row:

led raiser 1