#analogcable — Public Fediverse posts

And now my Philips PT5230 analog-digital test pattern generator has a clock and a time code input! #analogcable

And now my Philips PT5230 analog-digital test pattern generator has a clock and a time code input! #analogcable

Never in a million years did I imagine I'd end up with a copy of the GI ACC-4000 cable headend controller manuals.

Anyone got a copy of the Message Editor or OSD Edit install disk or executables?
#analogcable

Never in a million years did I imagine I'd end up with a copy of the GI ACC-4000 cable headend controller manuals.

Anyone got a copy of the Message Editor or OSD Edit install disk or executables?
#analogcable

Seems like I accidentally found out which Pascal compiler General Instrument were using for the ACC-4000 software.
Oregon Pascal - for Interactive Unix/Xenix on the 80386.
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.lang.pascal/c/sxHYa0Qx-VM/m/-u26L7t1wnUJ
#AnalogCable

Seems like I accidentally found out which Pascal compiler General Instrument were using for the ACC-4000 software.
Oregon Pascal - for Interactive Unix/Xenix on the 80386.
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.lang.pascal/c/sxHYa0Qx-VM/m/-u26L7t1wnUJ
#AnalogCable

I'm getting way too deep into this #AnalogCable business. I just bought a pair of Avitech Rainier multiviewers. The best part is they can cascade, and the video-out is DVI-I for convenient connection to a cheap LCD monitor :D

I'm getting way too deep into this #AnalogCable business. I just bought a pair of Avitech Rainier multiviewers. The best part is they can cascade, and the video-out is DVI-I for convenient connection to a cheap LCD monitor :D

Hooked the #AnalogCable headend to the Belkin IP-KVM, and now I really want to turn this Java applet (and the one for the IDRAC) into little C programs which translate between VNC and the arcane Raritan/IDRAC RFB protocol.
Actually, maybe they should be little Rust programs.

Hooked the #AnalogCable headend to the Belkin IP-KVM, and now I really want to turn this Java applet (and the one for the IDRAC) into little C programs which translate between VNC and the arcane Raritan/IDRAC RFB protocol.
Actually, maybe they should be little Rust programs.

The #AnalogCable headend has finally finished clearing out its database ... it seems like the ID numbers went up almost as far as they could, and the cable company didn't remove a box until it was issued to another customer. Tons of disconnected and faulty boxes. It's taken nearly a week to run, ugh.

The #AnalogCable headend has finally finished clearing out its database ... it seems like the ID numbers went up almost as far as they could, and the cable company didn't remove a box until it was issued to another customer. Tons of disconnected and faulty boxes. It's taken nearly a week to run, ugh.

Hooray, another #analogcable box - and with OSDs loaded too :)

Hooray, another #analogcable box - and with OSDs loaded too :)

This is making it easier to figure out how the #analogcable headend protocol works. Seems like the line idles low until the ANIC's Xilinx code initialises - then it transmits some kind of idle signal. Then the ANIC software loads and it starts transmitting what appear to be FF bytes.

This is making it easier to figure out how the #analogcable headend protocol works. Seems like the line idles low until the ANIC's Xilinx code initialises - then it transmits some kind of idle signal. Then the ANIC software loads and it starts transmitting what appear to be FF bytes.

Welp, I think the #AnalogCable headend PC is going to need one of the ISA slots replacing ... I found some on ebay, how hard can it be? ™️

Welp, I think the #AnalogCable headend PC is going to need one of the ISA slots replacing ... I found some on ebay, how hard can it be? ™️

I've been having a think about how to do return-path on my #AnalogCable setup. That led me to an auction listing for a bunch of rackmount combiners, one marked "FORWARD COMBINER" and the other marked "REVERSE SPLITTER". [1]

That got me thinking, how do you split the two apart? A directional coupler may be a way to do it, but it's lossy and there's an easier way... the frequency bands are separate, so a diplexer (fancy name for a bunch of filters) is enough.

1: https://www.ebay.com/itm/143536319504

I've been having a think about how to do return-path on my #AnalogCable setup. That led me to an auction listing for a bunch of rackmount combiners, one marked "FORWARD COMBINER" and the other marked "REVERSE SPLITTER". [1]

That got me thinking, how do you split the two apart? A directional coupler may be a way to do it, but it's lossy and there's an easier way... the frequency bands are separate, so a diplexer (fancy name for a bunch of filters) is enough.

1: https://www.ebay.com/itm/143536319504

If you're at #EMFCamp #EMF2024 or watching the stream online, I'm doing a talk about building a cable headend on Stage C in a little over an hour!
#AnalogCable

https://www.emfcamp.org/schedule/2024/203-being-elliot-carver

Livestream: https://streaming.media.ccc.de/emf2024/

If you're at #EMFCamp #EMF2024 or watching the stream online, I'm doing a talk about building a cable headend on Stage C in a little over an hour!
#AnalogCable

https://www.emfcamp.org/schedule/2024/203-being-elliot-carver

Livestream: https://streaming.media.ccc.de/emf2024/

I'm doing a talk on DIY cable TV at @emf next weekend, if you're into #AnalogCable TV please feel free to pop by, or find me in the ECHQ (EMF Hams) village :)
https://www.emfcamp.org/schedule/2024/203-being-elliot-carver #EMFcamp

I'm doing a talk on DIY cable TV at @emf next weekend, if you're into #AnalogCable TV please feel free to pop by, or find me in the ECHQ (EMF Hams) village :)
https://www.emfcamp.org/schedule/2024/203-being-elliot-carver #EMFcamp

On #AnalogCable tonight, a talking horse on a distant planet called "New Texas"... no, we don't know what we're airing either, but our programme director is from Houston, owns a Dremel and an IBM Executive PC (and no screwdrivers), and loves this show...

On #AnalogCable tonight, a talking horse on a distant planet called "New Texas"... no, we don't know what we're airing either, but our programme director is from Houston, owns a Dremel and an IBM Executive PC (and no screwdrivers), and loves this show...

More #analogcable shenanigans. This is an attempt to undo a modchip...

More #analogcable shenanigans. This is an attempt to undo a modchip...

Huh. The cable headend PC has Telnet and FTP enabled by default. This is both useful and scary. #analogcable

Huh. The cable headend PC has Telnet and FTP enabled by default. This is both useful and scary. #analogcable

Well what do you know. I hacked up the cable headend OS and software last night, so it runs over the local interface instead of Ethernet. This morning it's still online.
I guess 3C509 issues? I need another Ethernet card to try. #analogcable #InteractiveUnix #Unix

Well what do you know. I hacked up the cable headend OS and software last night, so it runs over the local interface instead of Ethernet. This morning it's still online.
I guess 3C509 issues? I need another Ethernet card to try. #analogcable #InteractiveUnix #Unix

My current #analogcable wants list...

- a later version of the ACC-4000 software (DEC Prioris or Proliant server running SCO OSE)
- documentation, especially the Wirelink protocol spec

My current #analogcable wants list...

- a later version of the ACC-4000 software (DEC Prioris or Proliant server running SCO OSE)
- documentation, especially the Wirelink protocol spec

Hands up if you have a cable TV headend in your living room #AnalogCable

Hands up if you have a cable TV headend in your living room #AnalogCable

A little finishing work on the #AnalogCable ANIC tonight. Turns out General Instrument tapped the base screws for UNC 4-40 screws, but left the side screw holes untapped. These are going to be taking M3 screws.

A little finishing work on the #AnalogCable ANIC tonight. Turns out General Instrument tapped the base screws for UNC 4-40 screws, but left the side screw holes untapped. These are going to be taking M3 screws.

It's alive! #AnalogCable
Also, someone asked if I could get some SCSI traces, so the SCSIView is out too.

It's alive! #AnalogCable
Also, someone asked if I could get some SCSI traces, so the SCSIView is out too.

Back on the #AnalogCable #ANIC repair tonight. I figured - this thing is a PC, right? The top board has a UART at COM1? Why not try Ruud's diagnostic ROM [1]?

Turns out Version 4.7, programmed into a 27C256, booted far enough to print out these checkpoint codes:
33 0 2 3 4 6 8 9 A t8A

Boot, port detect, video init (there isn't any). 0A is "detecting video RAM" (which is used for stack to test the main RAM) ... and 8A is "no video RAM, test halted".

Good start!

1: https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/ruuds_diagnostic_rom/clones/clones.htm

Back on the #AnalogCable #ANIC repair tonight. I figured - this thing is a PC, right? The top board has a UART at COM1? Why not try Ruud's diagnostic ROM [1]?

Turns out Version 4.7, programmed into a 27C256, booted far enough to print out these checkpoint codes:
33 0 2 3 4 6 8 9 A t8A

Boot, port detect, video init (there isn't any). 0A is "detecting video RAM" (which is used for stack to test the main RAM) ... and 8A is "no video RAM, test halted".

Good start!

1: https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/ruuds_diagnostic_rom/clones/clones.htm

Good news on the #AnalogCable front: the Ghidra team have fixed a bug in the COFF loader. It can now load SysV (ISC) binaries!

I've been ripping into the ANIC utilities this evening. The ANICDownload utility (which boots the ANIC) has full symbols. Sadly the "LXTest" utility has been stripped...and seems to be written in Pascal! (it's full of Pascal strings)

Good news on the #AnalogCable front: the Ghidra team have fixed a bug in the COFF loader. It can now load SysV (ISC) binaries!

I've been ripping into the ANIC utilities this evening. The ANICDownload utility (which boots the ANIC) has full symbols. Sadly the "LXTest" utility has been stripped...and seems to be written in Pascal! (it's full of Pascal strings)

The one thing I'd really like to find is a spec for the Jerrold Wirelink protocol... It's how a billing system talks to a headend computer to activate and deactivate settops. The manual is probably sat in some wise old NTL or TCI engineer's desk. #AnalogCable

The one thing I'd really like to find is a spec for the Jerrold Wirelink protocol... It's how a billing system talks to a headend computer to activate and deactivate settops. The manual is probably sat in some wise old NTL or TCI engineer's desk. #AnalogCable

Here's a neat bit of #analogcable history - a behind-the-scenes video showing Swindon Cable's headend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INXXd4E6sUM

Interestingly (to me) they have a couple of General Instrument MVP scramblers (photo 1) - "SBY" on the display means they're in standby.
Above them are three General Instrument modulators, probably Commander-6M's.
The cable box is an INTERCON 7000.

Seems like that's proof PAL versions of the MVP and C6 existed. I'd love to find one of each - or even just ROM dumps.

Here's a neat bit of #analogcable history - a behind-the-scenes video showing Swindon Cable's headend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INXXd4E6sUM

Interestingly (to me) they have a couple of General Instrument MVP scramblers (photo 1) - "SBY" on the display means they're in standby.
Above them are three General Instrument modulators, probably Commander-6M's.
The cable box is an INTERCON 7000.

Seems like that's proof PAL versions of the MVP and C6 existed. I'd love to find one of each - or even just ROM dumps.

That poor cable box :( #analogcable

That poor cable box :( #analogcable

I need to find some MOD/XM/S3M files that'd make for a good background music for a cable-TV programme guide. Something you'd expect to hear on "Pages from Ceefax" or "Prevue Guide". Anyone know of any? (boosts appreciated) #chiptunes #analogcable

I need to find some MOD/XM/S3M files that'd make for a good background music for a cable-TV programme guide. Something you'd expect to hear on "Pages from Ceefax" or "Prevue Guide". Anyone know of any? (boosts appreciated) #chiptunes #analogcable

Small #analogCable update - I've been reverse engineering the ROM code with Ghidra. It's a bit of a mess.
Also there's one person watching who'll be extremely happy I decided to use MAME and the MAME Debugger to emulate the ANIC and trace the ROM code.

Sadly I've yet to work out how to make this work without trying to bring up the keyboard controller and a load of other stuff the ANIC doesn't have and thus I don't need.

Small #analogCable update - I've been reverse engineering the ROM code with Ghidra. It's a bit of a mess.
Also there's one person watching who'll be extremely happy I decided to use MAME and the MAME Debugger to emulate the ANIC and trace the ROM code.

Sadly I've yet to work out how to make this work without trying to bring up the keyboard controller and a load of other stuff the ANIC doesn't have and thus I don't need.

ICYMI I was posting about the #AnalogCable stuff on mastodon.radio last night. Quick recap:
- I've put known good RAM on the processor board, no change.
- I've tried fitting a jumper cap to the one which had none
- Checked the capacitors, none shorted.
- There's no output on the serial port, but there are text strings in the ROM which look like they should print out at some point.
- The CPU seems to be accessing the ROM. I haven't hooked up the 28pin DIP clip to see what it's accessing.

ICYMI I was posting about the #AnalogCable stuff on mastodon.radio last night. Quick recap:
- I've put known good RAM on the processor board, no change.
- I've tried fitting a jumper cap to the one which had none
- Checked the capacitors, none shorted.
- There's no output on the serial port, but there are text strings in the ROM which look like they should print out at some point.
- The CPU seems to be accessing the ROM. I haven't hooked up the 28pin DIP clip to see what it's accessing.

A bit of #AnalogCable #ReverseEngineering today! This is a General Instrument 824-566-000 ANIC (Asynchronous Network Interface Controller). This box sits in the headend PC and converts SCSI (!) to asynchronous (Manchester coded 13.98kbaud) Jerrold DataChannel data. It's an embedded 286 PC...!

A bit of #AnalogCable #ReverseEngineering today! This is a General Instrument 824-566-000 ANIC (Asynchronous Network Interface Controller). This box sits in the headend PC and converts SCSI (!) to asynchronous (Manchester coded 13.98kbaud) Jerrold DataChannel data. It's an embedded 286 PC...!

Mystery chip is getting decapped... #analogcable #ICRE #ICReverseEnginering

Mystery chip is getting decapped... #analogcable #ICRE #ICReverseEnginering