IMC Traveller 286

The IMC Traveller 286 is a portable computer with a LCD monitor. Mine looks just like this one.

  • cpu: 80286
  • memory: 640K
  • disk controller: WD1003-WA2 (config info)
  • floppy drive: 5.25 inch half height, Teac FD-55-GFR-570-U
  • hard drive: 20 MB - Seagate ST-125, (type 6 in setup)
  • display: LCD, monochrome, 640 x 200, 80 x 25 text
  • i/o card: ATA-5061, ports, see below
  • ports: serial (9-pin male), parallel (25-pin female), serial (25 pin male, on separate bracket)

Documentation

Scanned PDFs: IMC Binder contains the documentation list, ATA-5061 Serial/Parallel I/O Adapter, WD1003-WA2 User's Guide -019, BABY-286 Mother Board Users Manual, LCD Portable Computers Assembly Manual, User's Manual,

History

2022-10-08: I scanned the documentation that I got with the machine and put up PDFs here. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like a manual for the video card was supplied with the machine.

2009-11-25: WD1003-WA2 jumper settings are default. JP1 (E2 - E3). Hard drive port address is 1F0-1F7h, JP2 (E5 - E6). Floppy drive port address is 3F0-3F7h, JP3 (E7 - E8) Supports 360 RPM floppy drives.

2009-10-23: Oops, a ST-125 hard drive should be type 6, I just verified with the at_fdpt program, and that is correct. It still doesn't help - the machine times out on trying to access the hard drive. I wonder if the hard drive spins up at all? Tapping the drive on the side with a screwdriver handle (several times) made the drive spin up, and it works. Seems to be stiction.

2009-10-08: I used Fastlynx (from the NEC 3150 laptop) and a null-modem cable to transfer the gsetup program to the machine. I hadn't noticed before, but the machine was running in 40 columns mode, a mode con cols=80 fixed that. After that, the screen of gsetup was readable, and I configured the machine. I set the hard drive to type 2 (it is a ST-125). When the machine boots, there is a long wait, and then it says "Hard disk unit 0 failure". The drive light (on the hard drive itself) turns on when the machine is powered on, and stays on.

2009-10-07: the '9' key on the main keyboard didn't work at all. I disassembled the keyboard and cleaned it, which fixed the problem. Note: this keyboard has a switch for "XT" or "AT" mode (set to "AT"). When set to "XT", the machine beeps continuously when the keyboard is plugged in.

2009-10-03: Today I disassembled the machine completely (remember to take off the handle and the LCD before the metal frame can be taken out of the plastic case). Then I took out the motherboard and re-seated all RAM chips. Re-seating: I used a tiny screwdriver to carefully lift each chip a few millimeters, first on one side, then on the other. After lifting all chips, I pushed them firmly down in their socket again. This appears to have fixed the machine, it now works, even after reassembly and with all cards. Cool!

2009-09-20: memory - the RAM consists of two banks. All chips are in sockets. BANK 0 is two rows of nine chips of type M41256A-12 (OKI). BANK 1 is two rows of chips of type KM4164B-12 (some Korean manufacturer).

2009-09-20: PSU - On the motherboard, the "P8" connector from the PSU is to the left, and the "P9" connector to the right, seen from the front / top of the motherboard. Voltages (measured on a floppy power connector, PSU connected to the machine): +12V = 12.09 V, +5V = 5.07V.

2009-09-12: The key combination Ctrl-Alt-Minus (on the numeric key pad) turns on / off the turbo feature.

2009-09-10: I bought the Traveller 286 for NOK 300.- Included with the computer was a power cord, a serial mouse (two-button), the manuals and two boxes of floppies (5.25 inch).