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DVW Microelectronics Huskys

The standard menu options on a DVW Husky:
6 BASIC Interpreter (Every 8-bit computer used the BASIC language)
5 Initislize Clock (RTC clock, not the american spelling)
4 Initialise Communications (Settings for the serial port)
3 Special Facilities (Basicly bar code reader software)
2 Cloneing Husky (Backup software & configerations)
1 VDU Simulation (Terminal emulator for mainframe systems)

Husky ROM Images: DVW Microlectronics Husky

Civilian DVW Husky

These are probaly the rarest machines I have in my collection as these really don't pop up oftern. I don't think meany (only a handfull) exsist anymore & I have three of these somehow. Two work, one does not & is a parts unit. The basic specs are, the CPU is a NSC800N-1 clocked 1MHz, the CPU is a low power Z80 clone. The clock crystal is clocked at 2MHz & devided by two for the CPU. Base ram is 16KB but his unit has 80KB. Part of the RAM is used as a battery backed RAM disk where a PX23 5.7V battery is used to keep it alive. There also also a 3V lithium cell on the motherboard. I/O is a standard RS-232 serial port, however other options can be added. The OS is periatary however custom software & front ends can be loaded onto the machin. The LCD is a 32x4 line text only display. Sound is a singal channel pizo beeper. The machine had 32KB of ROM & takes 4 C cell batterys.

These computers were relesed in 1981 makeing them the first truely portable computer that you could use on the move, arguably the first laptop.

I am on the hunt for a manual for one of these machines so I can copy & publish it online.

The rear of the Husky complete with arm strap so you could use them in a two handed configeration. The model has the amount of memory in the number starting a treand.

When opened, the back of the membrain keyboard, actualy a PCB with dome switches. Silicon sealent is used to waterproof the keyboard. You can also see the pizo beeper.

When the Husky is opened you are presented with the display & the RAM card if one is installed. This RAM card also has the extra serial port hardware included, You can see the connector for this hardware on the top right.

With the RAM board moved out the way you can see the msin motherboard. The machine has 4 8KB EPROMs, you can see the NSC800 & its I/O chip next to it. There is also a little buck regulator next to a DC to DC converter, these will most likely be used for the serial communications.

Army DVW Husky

The only real diffrence with this one is its green, does not have the extra serial port for a light pen. It also has not seen as much use, or was just used in some kind of rig protecting it from damage. These were used by the MoD & I have seen even more hardened versions of these on eBay. These or the Husky Hunters were used in an portable anti aircraft missile system. This one like the other model i have, just has the standard programs on the ROM.

From the name plate on the back this one has 48KB installed, same as the ZX Spectrum. Note the cute paw logo.

Here you can see there is a lot less momory installed on the RAM card. Also note the serial I/O hardware that is in my other unit is not populated here.

View of the motherboard, same as the other one. You can see the battery tube & the keyboard cable which is very fragile & like to disintergrate like a rotting corpse. I plan to replace all the ribbon cables in these computers due to this.

Under The Display

The base 16 KB of onboard memory these machines had by defult.

Descrete logic for the I/O interfaces. You can also see the 3V 2320 Lithium cell in the bottom right of the motherboard.

The internal clock backup battery, intrestingly a 5.6V mercury cell. Type PX23. Probaly works with the 3V Lithium cell.

Intresting Misk

The EPROM board plugs into the left most socket & also the ROM addressing chips also plugs into the small socket.

Here is a seprat EPROM board that would allow more than the usual 4 EPROMs to be installed. This would allow for more options for the user in ROM.

The rear of the LCD, no suprise it is an EPSON design. The display is a MA-B965B which is onobtainium.

Detailed Internal Shots

The front of the LCD module, a 32x4 line display which has a panel size of 160mmx60mm.

The rear of the LCD uses a 34 pin connector & EPSON silicon. the chip is an E3891. The PCB has markings of MA-B965BY-1 however once again it does not appear on any Google results.

The RAM expansion board has HM6167LP-8 & has 24 of these memory chips. The other 4 chips are standard 74 series logic chips.

The rear of the RAM expansion board.

Front of the keyboard PCB. Uses tactical dome switches healed down with 40 year old tape.

The rear off the keyboard PCB does not have anything on it apart from a piezo buzzer.

The front of the main PCB with the ROM board installed.

The rear of the main logic board, the bodge wires are from me adding a connector from the screen, de-soldering these old boards is risky.

The raw main PCB front. It is mostly, CPU an NSC800N-1 CMOS Z80 clone. The 16K of RAM on 8 HM6167LP-8 chips & a whole bunch of 74 series logic. There is some power regulation on the bottom right of the board two with two DC-DC converters. The NSC810N is the main CPU support chip.

The ROM board, can take up to 8 8KB EPROMs. Only the base 4 are currently populated, the other chips on the board are to do with addressing the EPROMs.

The rear of the EPROM board you can see one EPROM pins are passed though to the main board & the addressing chip is also passed though the ROM board.

Rear side of the front of the case. The keyboard plastic is vacuum formed & round the screws are hand cut rather than being cut by an automatic process.

There is not much to see in the rear off the case. A hand written serial number & a plastic sheet to isolate the main PCB from the metal case.

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