All my content and ptohos
Siemens MultiKom S1
This is another Bildschirmtext (BTX) terminal released
in Germany for their network. BTX was a telephone-based network with
information pages, telephone registry or some services such as bank
information, ticket reservation or news. This terminal is quite late
one, from 1990, with a Deutsche Bundespost logo (German Post Office),
but it was made by Siemens as their modular design used in
Multitel/Bitel models was getting older and more expensive. Some newer
technologies have been used here, like EEPROM memory instead of
battery-backed SRAM, logic arrays minimizing amount of 74-chips used or
modem-in-a-chip circuit made by AMD. The power supply unit is built in
monochrome, CRT-based monitor.
The unit is password-protected by default, after entering password it is
possible to choose numbers from registry, configure unit or enter
terminal mode using serial port. The external power for printer/modem is
supplied by the unit, as well as we have serial and parallel ports for
printer or external modem. The unit has 64kB of dynamic RAM and is based
on MC6803 microcontroller with its own 128-byte RAM. The internal modem
is based on AMD WorldChip FSK modem in a single IC.
According to some manuals, the keyboard is roughly AT-compatible.
Looking at this PLA logic I haven't dared to try.
There were more models in MultiKom series, in early 1990s even a version
of Loewe Multitel D (white one) was called Multikom L1. Of course it had
an older, Loewe's modem design and battery-backed memory. I think that
the main reason of so large diversity among these terminals was similar
like one in beginings of French Minitel - standards were not strict
enough. MultiKom Script was Multikom S1 with typing machine/teletype
capabilities added.
A nice description of BTX service is in Multitel D page.
| Manufacturer: | Siemens |
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| Model | MultiKom S1 | ||
| Year: | 1990 | ||
| CPU: | Motorola 6803 | ||
| Memory: | 64kB of RAM EEPROM NVRAM |
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| Display: | CRT, monochrome, white | ||
| Keyboard: | External | ||
| Main port: | Telephone line | ||
| Additional ports: | Centronics port for printer V.24 serial port for modem Serial port Printer/monitor port
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 User manual |
Starting manual |
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Peripherals in collection: |
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My unit is in a very good shape. It looks like it was unpacked, used shortly and then packed back to box. There is a handwritten note in the manual stating that the password is "kennwort" ("password" in German), and it indeed opens the system, with probably OEM phonebook full of BTX services. Contrary to earlier units this one has no cleartext password in ROM and I haven't analysed where it should be present. For my unit, I decided not to change password.
Controls, pinouts (source: Starting Manual)
Monitor/printer connector:
1 - Monitor blanking
2 - GND
3 - Printer ready
4 - Printer? / Monitor COmposite Sync
5 - Printer enable
6 - Printer? / Monitor Green
7 - Printer? / Monitor Blue
8 - Printer? / Monitor Red
No idea how exactly the printer is connecter nor how it operates.
Modem V.24, printer:
 |
1 - DCD 2 - Rx 3 - Tx |
4 - DTR 5 - GND 6 - DSR |
7 - RtS 8 - CtS 9 - RI |
PRINTER is 4800bps, 8bit, 1start, 1stop bit, Standard EPSON German.
Centronics port:
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| 1 - STROBE 2 - D0 3 - D1 4 - D2 5 - D3 6 - D4 7 - D5 8 - D6 9 - D7 11 - BUSY 12 - PAPER OUT 16 - INIT 18-25 - GND 10,13,14,17 - N.C. |
Links:
http://web.archive.org/web/20140505033154/http://btxmuseum.de:80/Hardware/geraet.asp?id=68
- In BTX Museum
http://casandro.dyndns.org/btx
- Manuals for some BTX machines, standard descriptions