Good all-around programming computer?

[redbeard]

I have a couple of decent 486 SX/25 machines but I think for some of this stuff I should get a 386 to be reliable or maybe even a 286. My question is how do you find an old machine like this that doesn't have severe hardware issues? You have to deal with 720k floppies, ancient drive controllers that don't support new disks, hard drives that usually are scrap, amongst other issues. I've been using my P-200MMX running DOS 7.0 to do Jedi series, Maxtracs, and Spectras with no problem so far.

I'm starting to mess with the older stuff like Sabers and Syntor X rigs and want to make sure I don't brick anything. Maybe if a few of you pros would list your RSS machine specs, I could get some ideas from that.

[wa2zdy]

A 386-sx16 laptop served very well for a long time. Lately a now-dead P75 worked. You mentioned the Syntor X. I'm assuming you meant the X9000 as the X uses an EPROM that does not program by PC/RIB. And the X9000 requires a S L O W machine - like an original AT - the 286/8 or 286/12.

The absolute bottom line is DOS 6.22 and NO Windoze at all. No running in a DOS window and no using USB serial cards.

Where to get one of these? Luck and deep searching. A "want" on the FS forum here is probably the best bet but even with the best intentions of the sellers, these machines, most of them designed to last 3-5 years at most are now 15-20 years old. Reality is bound to set in eventually.

Good luck.

[George]

The best machine I have used for this purpose is the IBM model 720/720C. It's a 486 SX2/50. Run this is 25MHz mode and it will work fine with any piece of X9000 software. 140 mb disk drive will handle all your needs and it's a fairly rugged machine overall. I have several as a hedge against the future failures.

George

[sglass]

oh it all depends what you are programming.

I have a 286 for things like p200's

But in reality the newer releases of most rss runs fine on a 486


I plan to experiment with a p3-700 running dos next week. I'll report on what runs stable.


Seth

[wavetar]

Many of the 486 machines have BIOS options to turn caching on/off, and some even let you adjust clock speed. I've never programmed X9000 units, but I've never had a problem with 486-25MHz machines for MCX1000 software, which is the same era. Saber RSS will work on a much faster machine, assuming you're using the latest RSS version, so it's not really a concern.

Todd

[Tom in D.C.]

My workhouse is a $15.00 P60 that I picked up at a hamfest. I run it
at 25 mhz and it never gives me any trouble. If the HD ever quits I'll
replace it with another old working piece of junk; same with the
diskette. It even has an old 8X CD-ROM that still works.

Moral: Never throw anything out that's still working.

[RKG]

I have a stable of old NEC 486-66 laptops that I somehow keep alive (sort of an electronic ER) and they have programmed portables as far back as P200s without a problem.

[va3wxm]

I'm using a Compaq Contura 3/25 with two other Conturas on the shelf I cannabalize for parts as needed.

I have this fear that the programming hardware for some of the older radios will eventually die off altogether before the radios do!

[redbeard]

All good information guys. I do know that the last time I tried to get Saber RSS going on a machine I dug out an old Unisys 486/33 and it still gave me problems. I'm starting to wonder if my RSS is hosed or not. I did use it for a railroad spectra though and it did well.

Believe it or not, if you reboot a Win98 machine using the 'EMS support for DOS games' or whatever the .pif is in the windows folder it will act like regular DOS and has done well for most of my radios. Makes it nice for doing hammy stuff in winders then a reboot to fiddle with the codeplugs in a rig.

I'd never think of using RSS in a DOS box, unless it was just to review a codeplug setting real quick, using a saved file. Hell I guess even modifying a saved codeplug wouldn't be to bad either...just keep the RIB unplugged in case you get the urge to write the file!