Mystery PDS card - Audio out? 25-pin connector?

#1 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 - 20:29 68kMLA

Hello everyone,

I got a box of parts not too long ago, mostly PC stuff, so I was surprised to find this inside.

Looks like some kind of Audio Out PDS card. There's also a 25-pin connector around the size of the old Apple monitor ports. It says Apfel rm96abct2.5 13128 on the card.

Any idea of what this is? Here are some photos of it. Thanks!

http://www.stevenmatarazzo.com/oldmac/misc/PDS-Card-Front.jpg

http://www.stevenmatarazzo.com/oldmac/misc/PDS-Card-Back.jpg

#2 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 - 13:05 68kMLA

I have no idea what it is....but what I will say, is that I don't think thats a Mac part at all. For a start, the ports aren't mounted in the correct way for any model Mac. Secondly, the board doesn't appear to have a chipset or really any other circuitry of any kind. Thirdly, the 96 and 120 pin EuroDIN connectors used for PDS and NuBus slots were/are used for a lot of purposes which have nothing to do with Macs.

#3 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 - 15:48 68kMLA

Ack!! How silly of me! I completely overlooked that it could be just an odd looking NuBus/PDS-like card and due to the size of the card (and my Mac LC sitting not too far away) I immediately thought it was a Mac PDS type board. Whoops! Thanks for the reminder... :lol:

#4 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 - 17:23 68kMLA

It looks like it might be an interface daughter-card for an A/V breakout box, especially with the foam buffer between it and whatever it plugs into. I wouldn't dismiss the possibility of it being Mac-related out of hand, even though it wouldn't fit into any Mac with which I am familiar.

Dunno, though, that is one strange lookin' lil' critter!

#5 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 - 19:48 68kMLA

Could be audio/music related - I know many of the older Akai samplers used Euro DIN connectors for expansion and upgrades.

#6 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 - 19:50 68kMLA

What's under the cover on the back of it?

To me it's strange how the AV connectors are soldered directly to the pins on the front... And then the traces are there as well.

#7 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 - 20:56 68kMLA

its just the lugs of the rca jack going tru the board and soldered to the ground plane

#8 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 - 12:25 68kMLA

I don't think thats a Mac part at all. / EuroDIN connectors / were/are used for a lot of purposes which have nothing to do with Macs.

On the other hand, "apfel" is German for "apple". :?:

doesn't appear to have a chipset or really any other circuitry

You can see a couple of chip-like objects peeking out from under the foam on the back. LimeiBook86, any chance you could post a pic, preferably a scan, of the rear of the card with the foam removed?

that is one strange lookin' lil' critter!

Yeah you got that right.

#9 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 - 13:48 68kMLA

just put it in a mac and see what happens...

Id be prepared to catch the magic smoke somehow just in case it gets released by that procedure. }

#10 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 - 14:14 68kMLA

I wouldn't put it in any Mac, purely for that reason.

Even if by chance it was some kind of incredibly strange add-on card for a Mac, best of luck hunting down the drivers and software for such an esoteric piece of gear.