Editing DECmate I Documentation

'''DECmate I Documentation''' describes four Digital Equipment Corporation documents for the [[DECmate I]] (VT278), published between 1981 and 1982, with the PDF of each.

== DECmate Technical Description (EK-VT278-TD-001) ==
The ''DECmate Technical Description'' is DEC's 54-page hardware description, part number EK-VT278-TD-001, 1st edition, March 1981. It refers the reader to the VT278 print set for circuit detail.<ref name="td" />

Contents: 1 System description (CPU board, keyboard, power supply, video monitor, options); 2 CPU functional description (microprocessor, I/O controllers, main memory, control panel memory, terminal I/O emulation, keyboard and video control); 3 Printer port; 4 Floppy disk interface; 5 DP278 communication option; 6 RL278 disk controller option.<ref name="td" />

It does not contain schematics, parts lists, adjustments or a troubleshooting procedure.

<pdf width="800" height="500">File:DECmate Technical Description (EK-VT278-TD-001).pdf</pdf>

Download: [[:File:DECmate Technical Description (EK-VT278-TD-001).pdf|DECmate Technical Description (EK-VT278-TD-001).pdf]]

== DECmate System Architecture Manual (EK-VT278-HR-001) ==
The ''DECmate System Architecture Manual'' is DEC's 184-page programming and operating reference, part number EK-VT278-HR-001 on its title page, 1st edition, June 1981. Bitsavers files it as ED-VT278-HR-001.<ref name="sam" />

Contents: 1 Introduction, operating systems and specifications; 2 System description; 3 Operating procedures (controls and indicators, self-test, SET-UP mode); 4 Programming the VT278; 5 Programming standard I/O devices; chapters 6 and 7; appendices A to G.<ref name="sam" /> Chapter 3 holds the rear-panel LED descriptions and Table 3-1, the self-test LED patterns used on [[DECmate I Troubleshooting Guide]].

<pdf width="800" height="500">File:DECmate System Architecture Manual (EK-VT278-HR-001).pdf</pdf>

Download: [[:File:DECmate System Architecture Manual (EK-VT278-HR-001).pdf|DECmate System Architecture Manual (EK-VT278-HR-001).pdf]]

== VT278 field maintenance print set (MP-00900) ==
DEC's VT278 field maintenance print set, MP-00900, dated May 1981, 74 pages.<ref name="mp900" />

Contents: unit and terminal sub-assembly drawings and parts lists for every language variation; the M8436 CPU module parts list and 13-sheet schematic; the M8437 communications adapter (DP278); the 5414322 I/O connector board; the keyboard and its 5413404 board; the 5414131 VT100 monitor board parts list and schematic; the H7836 power supply assembly drawing.<ref name="mp900" />

The contents page lists a switching power supply schematic and parts list for the H7836, but those sheets are not in this scan. The capacitor tables on [[DECmate I Capacitor Replacement Guide]] come from the module parts lists in this set.

<pdf width="800" height="500">File:DECmate VT278 Field Maintenance Print Set (MP00900).pdf</pdf>

Download: [[:File:DECmate VT278 Field Maintenance Print Set (MP00900).pdf|DECmate VT278 Field Maintenance Print Set (MP00900).pdf]]

== DECmate Owner's Guide (AA-K330E-TA) ==
The ''DECmate Owner's Guide'', AA-K330E-TA, first printed July 1981; this copy is the fifth printing, July 1982, 183 pages.<ref name="og" />

Contents: installation of the pedestal and RX02 drive configurations; DECmate operation, including the self-test and the "Solving Problems" chart (pp. 5-12 to 5-15); printers; modems and communications; US and European environment and power requirements (chapters 9 and 10).<ref name="og" />

It has no circuit information. The hosted copy was reduced to 65 dpi greyscale from the 95 MB archive.org scan.

<pdf width="800" height="500">File:DECmate Owner's Guide (AA-K330E-TA).pdf</pdf>

Download: [[:File:DECmate Owner's Guide (AA-K330E-TA).pdf|DECmate Owner's Guide (AA-K330E-TA).pdf]]

== Pages that cite these documents ==
* [[DECmate I]] – specifications, hardware, rear panel
* [[DECmate I General Maintenance]] – environment, power, selector switches, routine checks
* [[DECmate I Troubleshooting Guide]] – self-test, LED patterns, problem chart
* [[DECmate I Capacitor Replacement Guide]] – capacitor values from the print set parts lists

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="td">Digital Equipment Corporation, ''DECmate Technical Description'', EK-VT278-TD-001, March 1981, title page and contents (pp. iii to v). Source: [https://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp8/cmos8/DECmate/ bitsavers.org].</ref>
<ref name="sam">Digital Equipment Corporation, ''DECmate System Architecture Manual'', EK-VT278-HR-001, June 1981, title page and contents. Source: [https://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp8/cmos8/DECmate/ bitsavers.org].</ref>
<ref name="mp900">Digital Equipment Corporation, VT278 field maintenance print set MP-00900, May 1981, table of contents (PDF p. 1) and drawing directory (PDF p. 4). Source: [https://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp8/cmos8/ bitsavers.org].</ref>
<ref name="og">Digital Equipment Corporation, ''DECmate Owner's Guide'', AA-K330E-TA, fifth printing July 1982, title verso. Source: [https://archive.org/details/decmate-owners-guide archive.org].</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Digital Equipment Corporation]]
[[Category:Service Manuals]]