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Lanier Model 103 "No Problem" word processor

Phil, 8216's are pretty easy to come by, since they are/were made by several outfits. My recollection is that they're power hogs and ran hot as a two-buck pistol--and Intel-branded ones were the worst. Try AMD, Siemens, or NEC versions, if you can get them.
 
I used Samsung 4164 chips and bent the MSB pins over to ground. I am not sure if they're good.

It had NEC chips in before.
 
Yessir. The -5 pin on the 4116 is the MSB bit on the 4164.

Lift the pin up and fold it over and solder it to the ground pin to hold it low (it's not used by a machine that has 4116 memory).

Most 4164 is faster than 4116 so 200 or 150ns memory works.


Phil
 
I was under the impression that the internal organization was a bit differen (number of rows and columns). I'm surprised that you can get it to work.
 
No, all the other data lines are pin compatible.

I bought a can of "air", that you use to blow the dust from electronics.
Held upside down it ejects the contents as fluid, evaporating rapidly and cooling significantly. Switched the Lanier on and started having a go at the bus transceivers.

Spray one and the beep returns. Spray the other and it stops crackling for a while, and the screen fills with very regular nonsense rather than random junk.

I see this as a good thing. It means definitely I need some 8216 transceivers. They recognized the things would be trouble as they're all socketed...

Phil
 
I was reading that, but there don't appear to be that many on offer that I found.

I bought some little aluminum heat sinks designed for modern video RAM to attach to them also, to try extend their life expectancy.

Any suggestions on alternative manufacturers of the same part? I had read that the closest one doesn't share 100% functionality.

Phil
 
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Have you checked Anchor Electronics? They list the 8216s for $1.60.

If you want to pay for it, there's an eBay seller with NOS DP8216s in quantity: here It's probably a pretty good bet that these are compatible, as NSC also offered the 8080A.
 
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I see this now. I think what I'll do is buy a handful of them from Anchor and replace as required. The heat sinks should help, the air flow around that board is reasonable. It's not going to be a high-hours machine.
 
Placed an order for most of the chipset from Anchor. Orville was most pleasant and very helpful.

Hopefully the bits will be here soon and I can try again.

Phil
 
Thanks. It's been dragging on long enough, in and out of storage as I get enthusiasm/money/insight/information (delete as applicable) for it.

The goal here is to get to a stage where it does what it's meant to without discs, then try and get some discs...


Phil
 
Okay, so I replaced the bus transceivers. That got me a result: less than before. No beep, nothing.

Replaced the rest of the chipset, same deal.

Checked the clock generator as it does get hot.

20180712_212527.jpg

Phase 1 and 2 as pulled up from the pins on the 8080.

Pulled the RAM. Same result, video card init with trash on the screen.

20180712_215713.jpg

So, I put the board in the freezer.

20180712_202336.jpg

Crackling beep but no organized nonsense on the screen like last time. Argh. I'm trying to be positive. I know at least it's not the bits I changed and now I have spares. Back to the board again.

Phil
 
Interesting read! I got my own model 103 today, so I'm all over the internet checking checking. The bad news is that mine won't boot, the good news is that the woman selling this said she had the disks that came with it. She just didn't know where they were.. They were cleaning out the house so fingers crossed they find them then. Before I open the thing up to see how it's inside, how do you discharge the CRT?

Attaching picture of my model, it's the canadian branded 103
20190905_201019.jpg

-Bjørn
 
bjorneven said:
Interesting read! I got my own model 103 today, so I'm all over the internet checking checking. The bad news is that mine won't boot, the good news is that the woman selling this said she had the disks that came with it. She just didn't know where they were.. They were cleaning out the house so fingers crossed they find them then. Before I open the thing up to see how it's inside, how do you discharge the CRT?

Attaching picture of my model, it's the canadian branded 103
View attachment 55793

-Bjørn
Click to expand...

I was an AES - Lanier word processing tech in the early 80's.
I used a giant screwdriver and one arm behind my back and would pop the CRT connector off. :)
Still to this day when working around voltage put my free arm behond me. After you get a jolt across your chest, you never forget, lol
 
Bjørn,

If you did ever get the disks, let me know. Apparently if you can boot the machine there's a utility to copy the disks in the software on them.

Thanks


Phil
 
Hi, This is my AES Alphatext. Of Course the Nameplate on the back says its a Lanier. In Germany it was sold under the Label AES Alphatext, the Disks are labeled with AES Data.

The System Disk only contains the WP-Software, there is no Tool to generate new Disks .
This was not intended by the manufacturer / dealer. The manufacturer wanted that you could only buy the right floppy disks from him.

The disks are hard-sectored (16 sectors). They were preformatted by the vendor and labeled with a serial number. There is a System and a Data Disk. Unfortunately only one of my WP-System Disks is working. I have no data disk so i can't save the written text.
I am currently looking for a way to duplicate the system disk. Maybe this is possible with one of the flux controllers. (SuperCardPro / Kryoflux / Fluxengine / Greaseweazle). On the Fluxengine Page there is also talk of an AES image. Maybe someone here can help with advice.

alphatext3.jpg

alphatext_001.jpg
 
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