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Apple's Set Top Box
- Thread starter arn
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I don't know about the prototype, but the final version I have uses HDI-30, which is the format the PowerBooks used before FireWire came along. You can get HDI-30 to SCSI-1 adaptors fairly easily.
I've read this a few times and it cracks me up on each occasion. Sounds very sinister, as if they were locked away from society because the project was so disturbing.
Good work! It looks like a right mess, but would be amazing to play around with and explore.
I've hit a bit of a brick wall with mine. It seems that despite the clear similarities with the LC475 (I managed to acquire one), the ROM the STB uses is a different form factor so they're not interchangeable. Based on the fact my box boots (as seen in the previous pic), I'm certain that if I could get a suitable Apple ROM (to replace the BT ROM), and an external SCSI drive, I'd have a working LC475 with a TV Tuner, plugged into my telly via SCART.
In the meantime, here are some pics I've taken of my box. I'm going to create a web page to include all the details and history I've collected. I'm also probably going to sell the box, hopefully to someone who has the means to get it working (including HDI-30 to SCSI-1 adaptor), as I don't really want to spend any money on it. Unless someone's got a ROM that will work?? *wink wink*
My friend IMed me this link from eBay today. Looks exactly like the Set Top Box I have! 
There are some pretty nice photos of it too! The condition is much better than mine, and I see the original brackets are to hold a Floppy Drive. I thought they were to hold a Hard Drive. Looks like something is on the internal SCSI port, terminators? I found that odd. Also by looking at the photos I saw some wires which may help me get mine working (although it may not). I wonder if the guy has gotten it to boot up, I mean if he plugs a Mac Monitor up to it, a keyboard, and a power cable he should either get a response...or nothing.
I'll keep an eye on the auction, but I think it'll probably go high and become too rich for my blood. Oh well...maybe somebody here will have a go at it Still, it's great to look at just for the photos!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ODD-Vintage-199...tcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
There are some pretty nice photos of it too! The condition is much better than mine, and I see the original brackets are to hold a Floppy Drive. I thought they were to hold a Hard Drive. Looks like something is on the internal SCSI port, terminators? I found that odd. Also by looking at the photos I saw some wires which may help me get mine working (although it may not). I wonder if the guy has gotten it to boot up, I mean if he plugs a Mac Monitor up to it, a keyboard, and a power cable he should either get a response...or nothing.I'll keep an eye on the auction, but I think it'll probably go high and become too rich for my blood. Oh well...maybe somebody here will have a go at it
Still, it's great to look at just for the photos! http://cgi.ebay.com/ODD-Vintage-199...tcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Looks like the guy knows what he's got - it's now on Buy It Now for... wait for it... $200!!!
I suppose if someone buys it from the UK it'll only be £100, but plus shipping and that won't be cheap. Damn - what a piece of history this is though!
Even the ugliest girls can be damn good in bed.
Don't know what you mean Andrew!Been married forever so i'll take your word for it!
During the (short) period while I owned the STB, I gathered quite a selection of sources from online about it and how it was used (in the UK anyway). Maybe they'll shed some light:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1995_May_8/ai_16919334
http://www.dotco.co.uk/clients/bt/btitvtrials
http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~nd/surprise_96/journal/vol4/khp1/report.html
http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lakes/6757/M4120.HTML (i think someone already linked to this)
http://www.gare.co.uk/technology_watch/vod.htm
white papers one the technology the STB was included in
official apple manuals
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1995_May_8/ai_16919334
http://www.dotco.co.uk/clients/bt/btitvtrials
http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~nd/surprise_96/journal/vol4/khp1/report.html
http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lakes/6757/M4120.HTML (i think someone already linked to this)
http://www.gare.co.uk/technology_watch/vod.htm
white papers one the technology the STB was included in
official apple manuals
DEFINITELY GET ONE! Especially with Apple's return to the TV fray...
I got one new in box from a guy who had extras that were never shipped to Europe!
The one I got didn't have any manuals - obviously since they were preliminaries. Are there any REAL manuals around?
I have the original manual (whose PDF is included in the zip file in the forum thread). My unit also has the rare card that goes into the slot in the motherboard -- actually a riser card and a video card that horizontally connects to the riser card.
I'll see if I can dig up the pictures I took years ago.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but while I was searching patents on this device I came across this patent: http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5583560-fulltext.html
The patent states, "The non-volatile part of system memory 65 includes read-only memory (such as ROM), which is used to store an operating system and playback software, fonts, sounds and the like used in the present invention." If you read through the whole section discussing RAM, ROM, and other storage devices it looks like the only thing the STB attempts to do is download the programming data.
I was researching FCC documentation and I came across this page. If you do a search on the FCC ID (BCGM4120), you'll see that Apple's, and others' patent information were taken out. They were all taken out on the same day, so I'm wondering if there was some kind of lawsuit, the lawyer who took out the information deals with intellectual property.
By the way, I did see a STB on ebay; but it will cost me $61 shipped (a little too expensive for something I'll probably put in storage).
The patent states, "The non-volatile part of system memory 65 includes read-only memory (such as ROM), which is used to store an operating system and playback software, fonts, sounds and the like used in the present invention." If you read through the whole section discussing RAM, ROM, and other storage devices it looks like the only thing the STB attempts to do is download the programming data.
I was researching FCC documentation and I came across this page. If you do a search on the FCC ID (BCGM4120), you'll see that Apple's, and others' patent information were taken out. They were all taken out on the same day, so I'm wondering if there was some kind of lawsuit, the lawyer who took out the information deals with intellectual property.
By the way, I did see a STB on ebay; but it will cost me $61 shipped (a little too expensive for something I'll probably put in storage).
Apple Settop Box Remote Pictures
Hi everyone,
I have been hunting high and low for pictures of the orignal Apple Settop Box Remote. I was hoping that some of you who have this unit also have the remote and can post some images or send them to me.
For interest some has posted some more images up on Fllicker of the Apple Settop box. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14329937@N00/
Thank you in advance,
Ian
ian.dudley@primus.ca
Hi everyone,
I have been hunting high and low for pictures of the orignal Apple Settop Box Remote. I was hoping that some of you who have this unit also have the remote and can post some images or send them to me.
For interest some has posted some more images up on Fllicker of the Apple Settop box. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14329937@N00/
Thank you in advance,
Ian
ian.dudley@primus.ca
Well, it's been a few years since the last post, I know, but I've just picked one of these up on eBay for not so much.
I've done a little research and opened mine up - it's a very late BT European model with a few patches on the motherboard and 18th Aug 1995 SW Ver 7.0.
Haven't tried to boot it up as I don't have an ADB keyboard around at the moment (preparing to move house).
Anyways, does anyone have a link to the driver software that was mentioned earlier in the thread, about 7 years ago? I can't find it anyway.
From the BT article linked on Wikipedia, I have gathered the following:
I wonder if there's a dev mode one can access through a keyboard combo on startup?
I've done a little research and opened mine up - it's a very late BT European model with a few patches on the motherboard and 18th Aug 1995 SW Ver 7.0.
Haven't tried to boot it up as I don't have an ADB keyboard around at the moment (preparing to move house).
Anyways, does anyone have a link to the driver software that was mentioned earlier in the thread, about 7 years ago? I can't find it anyway.
From the BT article linked on Wikipedia, I have gathered the following:
- The Ethernet port is an E1/T1 interface
- With the consumer ROM, the Set top box will not boot fully unless it can download an OMO (Oracle Media Net) application over this interface - this is why the boxes appear dead/not bootable
- E1/T1 cards are expensive, and the network protocols are not explained in enough detail for me to try and install one in a Linux box yet (it's G.703 at 2Mbps)
I wonder if there's a dev mode one can access through a keyboard combo on startup?
Lucky you, I found my copy!
I put the link on my website: http://mac84.net/ - click on "Some Other Random Downloads" at the bottom of the page, then "Apple STB Items" in the directory listing. Here's a screenshot of the files inside: https://imgur.com/a/mWUVaxs Good luck!
I also did a video about my prototype here on YouTube if you're interested.
I was still looking for them! Now I'm waiting to pick up my old SCSI Zip Drive to see if I can boot System 7.5.x on it. Thanks again for the drivers!
That's incredible! You have some crazy technology stamina. I would have moved on by now. Happy you got them!
Fantastic! I'm glad you found them useful. I wish you the best of luck, feel free to keep us posted on your efforts. 🤓
Will do, so far I've managed to get the Zip drive, not get an ADB keyboard and mouse, get the right HDI SCSI adapter from Germany... and then get locked down so I can't actually get the ADB keyboard and mouse from my mum.
Also got distracted by a prototype Powerbook - and finally have the parts to finish that from China!
Edit: Also the video cables. I have the right video cables to hook it up to the TV as well.
Also got distracted by a prototype Powerbook - and finally have the parts to finish that from China!
Edit: Also the video cables. I have the right video cables to hook it up to the TV as well.
I got mine booted! A fresh install of System 7.5 (or was it 7.6?) did the trick! I did the installation on my SCSI2SD adapter on my LC system. I setup AppleTalk and also setup Timbuktu (remote desktop). Then, I used my SCSI2SD adapter to boot the Set Top Box. It took a while, but it worked! There were no changes to the red LED on the front of the unit.
I was able to remote desktop in (via a LocalTalk network) and see the system running. I tried to dump the ROM, but the system froze. However, I'm happy I got that far.
I was able to remote desktop in (via a LocalTalk network) and see the system running. I tried to dump the ROM, but the system froze. However, I'm happy I got that far.
