Thread
TEMPEST SE Project
Well its about time I start on this one. I have a dual floppy TEMPEST SE. The fact that its dual floppy seems rather odd to me. While I may be able to add a hard drive, it would not be proper without the right hardware for the cabling, etc. So I will restore this back to the way it was built.
One problem I have is the motherboard. It does not work and boots to thick jail bars with 10 seconds of crackling noise thru the speaker. While I have never had an SE board with bad caps, its my only suspect so far. I've swapped RAM/ROMs, etc. A regular SE board works fine in its place. But there are a few minor modifications to the board that I am not sure about. I will put those pics in the next post.
Here a couple pics as I start my overhaul.
One problem I have is the motherboard. It does not work and boots to thick jail bars with 10 seconds of crackling noise thru the speaker. While I have never had an SE board with bad caps, its my only suspect so far. I've swapped RAM/ROMs, etc. A regular SE board works fine in its place. But there are a few minor modifications to the board that I am not sure about. I will put those pics in the next post.
Here a couple pics as I start my overhaul.
The mobo mounts to a tray with port connections. The tray slides into a metal box that is attached to the modified bottom of the Mac SE. I am not sure what any of these modifications are for, but they are not present on any other SE board I have. The only one I suspect is factory is the RAM configuration mini-board. I have seen it before, but I am not sure if the criss-cross of resistors is part of this mod.
Holy crap man, thats awesome.
That's SEXY man. Keep us posted.
Well its a dual 800k SE. And I will leave it as such. EVERY part has a label on it. Some match, like each floppy, as if the part number is just that. Some seem to be serials. Lots and lots of little labels on the inside.
I transfered the mobo modifications, less the weird stuff by the RAM selector, to a new mobo of the same part number and revision. Works fine. I am not sure what the modifications are for, but I wanted to keep this rebuild project as original as possible.
I have some new parts coming late next week so there will be a delay in updates. I have done all I can so far when it comes to operation and cleaning. One snag will be the keyboard and mouse. I could hook up regular ones, but this one has DB-9 connectors for everything. I will have to map them out and modify a set.
I transfered the mobo modifications, less the weird stuff by the RAM selector, to a new mobo of the same part number and revision. Works fine. I am not sure what the modifications are for, but I wanted to keep this rebuild project as original as possible.
I have some new parts coming late next week so there will be a delay in updates. I have done all I can so far when it comes to operation and cleaning. One snag will be the keyboard and mouse. I could hook up regular ones, but this one has DB-9 connectors for everything. I will have to map them out and modify a set.
I am watching with great enthusiasm. Tempest versions are the ultimate in modded computers.
One odd thing about this one, that I have not seen on others, is a gold screen overlay. I originally thought this was for privacy but now I think its part of the RFI sealing package. Conductive tape and copper mesh hold it in place and these materials are very specific to holding the display overlay. They are then grounded to copper tape around the display.
This interests me: what is the necessity for a tempest computer?
Didn't think it was too easy back then, no wireless network to tap into. Probably some very sophisticated stuff to be able to do that.
Ya, I know. Seems really weird that people could actually snoop in this way. But it had to be a valid concern for all these tempest systems to be made. Also I think having a system like this provides some level of protection from an EMP.
It's definitely still around too, though I'd be surprised if any of it hits the surplus markets.
What are the new parts you are waiting for?
Im waiting for some shielding pieces, copper tape, etc. Just some odds and ends.
I watch this with interest!
If anyone wants specific photos, let me know. If I have time I plan to take some studio quality ones. But it will be when the machine is mostly back together.
System attackers and hackers still spy on EM radiation to this day, especially with smartcards.
Using EM probes and other little odds and ends, you can spy on the chip as its processing AES/DES/RSA, etc and systematically attack it and evaluate the results to steal encryption keys.
Using EM probes and other little odds and ends, you can spy on the chip as its processing AES/DES/RSA, etc and systematically attack it and evaluate the results to steal encryption keys.
The outside case is stock less the entire underside being removed. They clearly had a jig for doing so, its really well done. I will get more pics soon once I reassemble.
That's unusual. Usually the cases on TEMPEST machines are steel, or at least covered in mesh to act as a Faraday cage to manage stray RF. However, by the pics of the internals, they may have been able to certify with all the covers over the logic board, etc.
There are two ways to do it. Either a new case design which leaves the internals stock. Or this design, which leaves the case intact but heavily modifies the internals. I would think a metal case would be the most cost effective way to go.
Not really. The signal going to the CRT is high voltage, high current, and varies up and down according to the brightness of each pixel. A varying current in a wire is a radio transmission antenna. So all you need is a receiving antenna (probably a highly directional one so you can pick your target), some amplification, and a matching (or configurable) monitor. Some way of recording it for future reference also I guess, probably direct to tape in the day.
Well after having a delay in parts AND being hit by the worst flu I have ever had, this project is finally coming together tonight. 
Well its back together and runs! I just need to put the back bucket on and call it finished. Really overall not too much work. Just lots of cleaning and lubricating the floppy drives.
I considered making this an SE/30 but there would be no way to install a hard drive properly and the SE/30 does not support two internal floppy drives. But I do have an 030 upgrade for an SE that I might drop in here. If I do, it will never come out. I tried once and the RAM on the upgrade acts like barbs and its almost impossible to slide the mobo sled back about now that its back together. But still, I may.
The only remaining thing to do will be converting a mouse and keyboard to DB-9. I really doubt the original Mac mouse will work and I dont want to try it and fry something. So for now, I have no mouse/keyboard to use with it unless I bypass the modification (easy to do).
I just need to put the back bucket on and call it finished. Really overall not too much work. Just lots of cleaning and lubricating the floppy drives.I considered making this an SE/30 but there would be no way to install a hard drive properly and the SE/30 does not support two internal floppy drives. But I do have an 030 upgrade for an SE that I might drop in here. If I do, it will never come out. I tried once and the RAM on the upgrade acts like barbs and its almost impossible to slide the mobo sled back about now that its back together. But still, I may.
The only remaining thing to do will be converting a mouse and keyboard to DB-9. I really doubt the original Mac mouse will work and I dont want to try it and fry something. So for now, I have no mouse/keyboard to use with it unless I bypass the modification (easy to do).
Well done and thanks for the update. Awesome piece!