I got this in the haul from Rob, where I picked up the PDP-11/23. Cool about this PROM programmer
is that it is brand labelled "D|I|G|I|T|A|L". The OEM manufacturer is Data I/O,
a company famous for their modular PROM programmers.
The opening in the top left is for a cooling fan. The black foam was completely disintegrated, and I was
lucky to get the remains of the foam removed so cleanly. The PROM programmer is a desktop unit measuring 15" x 10.75" x
6" (38.1 cm x 27.3 cm x 15.2 cm) with an RS-232C serial interface for connecting to a PDP-11 disk-based development system.
Besides the Instruction Manual, I found one other document about this device. It is "PB11 OPTION BULLETIN" - MARCH 1979. It calls
the prommer "Universal PROM Programmer". The PB11 is a complete hardware/software solution to PROM programming requirements for
LSI-11 micro-computers. PB11 hardware consists of a table-top PROM programming unit. The unit is capable of accepting a number
of adapter modules which makes it possible to program a variety of PROM chips.
The PROM programmer connects to the development system (PDP-11/03 type up to PDP-11/34) by means of a serial line. This
direct connection to the development system is far simpler to use than an off-line PROM programmer which requires the user
to create a program and then physically transfer it to the PROM programmer.
The software utility (which is included in the PB11 package) operates under RT-11 and includes Class C (no support services)
software. The entire PROM programming process is controlled from the user's terminal.
The PROMmable FORTRAN (RT-11 FORTRAN IV V2.1) is a full implementation of the language, with I/O statements, data formatting
and data conversion facilities already provided. Object programs are put out in runtime format, without any intermediate
assembly. And the FORTRAN package automatically segments user programs into read-only and read/write sections, thus
simplifying the work of programming for PROM applications.
