the alpha syntauri system
 a ancient synthisizer concept for the Apple II		    Page No.H212-7
 
             making of a replacement for the missing IFcard
      of the alpha syntauri Keyboard		  
       

In the upper part of the page there is the description of making a "prototype looking card"
while in the lower part of the page there is the description and the needed files
for ordering a professional like looking replacement of the Interfacecard.

  
   
     
First of all after i have recieved all parts of the alpha syntauri system with the Mountain Computer Music System except of the missing
alpha syntauri Apple II Interfacecard i decided to speed up things by making "on the fly" a "prototype like" interfacecard. the target is to
get very fast a working setup, that permits me to check all components and the availiable software for correct basic functions. While
entering data in the CAD system and getting the files required for ordering a replacement PCB with professional look i have the chance
to get proof if anything is missing and that the circuitplan made for the Interfacecard turns out to be correct and gets verified. Besides
i may recognize if the files i have picked from the archives in the internet for the system are working correct or if i have to continue
hunting for somethiong that still is missing.

At the stage this picture has been made i only have mede the connections for the powersuppplylines. I keep the layout of the
card same as the original.

Thatīs the rear soldering side of the card at this point:

At this stage i have have made the card up to the point that i was able to detect from traces recognized from the picture of the soldering side
and that parts that i was able to detect from the picture of the component side adding only very few parts that i have been able to assume by
logic conclusion and knowledge of the internal functions of the used chips. But there are still important parts ( related to the R/W line and the
timing and the handling of the DevSel connecttion to the Apple II. This lines have been fixed after soldering with 2 component glue to protect
the soldered wires from tear off or damage.



In the mean time i have recieved the upmost missing picture from the USA that displays the unpopulated ( in this case even just desoldered )
card and therfor i was able to detect the missing connections below of the circuits. So first of all i immediatlly started entering the data in the
CAD system and then started with the missing part of the interfacecard.
So here now is the picture of the componentside of that "prototype like" interfacecard. Itīs now finished and ready for testing. There is one big
difference to the circuitplan: The Adressinglines from A4 to A7 are only connected to the empty sockets and therefor they are NOT used
with the communication between Apple II and the alpha syntauri keyboard. Therefor i have left them away in this version. At the replacement
interfacecard designed with the CAD system they are of course integrated and connected to the empty sockets - it permits to take signals from
that sockets for measurement purposes. So at the card in the now following section that traces are connected exactly like at the original interface card -
only the layout of the traces changed due to the fact that the CAD-programm carried out a job of rerouting that traces.

Here is the picture of the componentside of the prototypecard:


Here is the picture of the solderingside of the prototypecard:




 

  
      At this point i must state, that for the final documentation i am still searching for pictures of the second version of the interface card
that was sold later by alpha syntauri. That version did not have a DB25 connector on the interface card but instead Pinrows on top
of the card. See at the bottom of the first page the very last picture. Itīs only thing i found about that card. That card was also sold
with the ALF card instread of the Mountain Computer Music System. So if anybody has pictures , information, manuals, software
of that second version please contact me at Applefritter.com . You may contact me there with my nickname "speedyG".
 		  
     
 		  
      After finally getting the missing pictures of the Interfacecard which have displayed the traces below the circuits,
it was passible to generate the productiondata that enables the user to get a chance of ordering a professional
looking replacement interfacecard  from any  PCB-manufacturer.

This alternate interfacecard is deffent from the original interfacecard by several marks:
I dropped of the empty sockets without use
i flipped the layout due to the fact that at original card the DB25plug connector was heading to the front of the Apple and
therefor the thick cable to the alpha syntauri needed to twist around to the rear outlets of the computer - in my design
the DB25-connector is set a bit forward bit flipped around - permitting the DB25plg to be connected within the Apple II and
the cable running staight back outside of the Apple II without inside twisting.

The following pictures display a new rerouted interfacecard.
 

  
      here is the circuitplan of this alternate interfacecard:



and here now is the view to the combination of both layers:



 

  
      Here is now the solderingside of the new alternate alpha syntauri interfacecard:

  
      and here is now the view to the unpopulated componentside of the alternate alpha syntauri interface card:

  
      finally the view to the population of the card:


 

  
      and finally here is the completed and populated interfacecard of the alpha syntauri:

  
     
 and for those with incomplete system and missing interface is the link to the file that contains the so called "Gerber-files" used for
production of the replacement interfacecard and mailed to the PCB manufacturer:

ASalternateGerber.rar

Please recognize :
the measurement unit used in this files is Millimeters / Centimeters
and not inches !
Please inform manufacturer on this important fact !