Tektronix 4052 Computer, has issues.

DVST Digital video storage tube. This Tek 4052 is sick and might need major fixing to get it to work.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• tektronix
• video game
• 4052
• super mega turbo
• rarity 10
• heavy metal
• 1977
• el paso tx
• apple lisa

[oldcomputerexpert]

I've repaired the 4051 systems before, which is about the same except for the processors. If the screen dims and you hit a key to bring back the display, that's normal operation and I believe that shows the processor is working, and your proms are most likely good. You should be able to find a service manual and prom images including the microcode for the processors at bit savers.org Let me know your progress, I would be glad to help you get it working!

[nathanallan1]

@oldcomputerexpert Great link, lots of good info on there, I will give them a shot. Thanks!! When it gets back up and running I will definitely be making a video of it, as well as several forum posts on a few different forums :) Great that you are interested! Is it true that these are about as rare as the Lisa machines from Apple? If so, that makes it even better.

[oldcomputerexpert]

@nathanallan1 A lot of the old tapes will break the drive bands when you try to use them. That's the band inside the tape cartridge that drives the tape. I have replaced it with a band out of a new cartridge to allow me to read some of the old tapes. I have been dumping programs from my 4051 to a PC through the serial port on my 4051. You can also load and save basic programs using the serial port. If you get your 4052 working, I would be glad to help you read your tapes.

[nathanallan1]

@oldcomputerexpert Thanks! It's stuck in storage at the moment and I really would love to see what it can do with all this neat stuff available. I do want to see what is on those tapes, so I might ask you questions about it. Lately I am on the bandwagon of 'everything should have an SD card reader on it." Maybe an RS232 based SD card reader? I dunno, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.

[NuGanjaTron]

Nathan, DVST was Tek's acryonym for Direct View Storage Tube. Just for the record. :^)

I afraid it's gonna take more than a little love to resuscitate this baby; it's gonna take some serious hardware wizardry, probably in the form of an adapter board with modern replacement parts. Shame on Tek for using such $#*& oddball components!

[nathanallan1]

@NuGanjaTron yeah, and I just started a new job, so it will have to wait longer. It stays proudly in my collection for now, though. A great machine, it deserves not to be tossed. I wish I could get a new keyboard for it, but that too will have to wait.

[GPatsos]

Thes machines were used in Battlestar Galactica!

[GPatsos]

Graphic Resolution: 1024x768. Impressing!

[NuGanjaTron]

@oldcomputerexpert Bitsavers doesn't have the 4052 service manual, only for the 4051. The ROM dumps are for a very late revision MAS board, apparently read from 8x 2764 EPROMs rather than 10x MK36000 mask programmed ROMs (combined with two 82S107 FPLA patch ROMs). Nathan, have you checked what's on your MAS board?

[NuGanjaTron]

More metal than Metallica?!? OUCH! :^D

But yeah, it is bloody heavy!