Siemens/Intel UPP

This Web page last updated Feb 17 2024. - Herb Johnson

Introduction

Leif Weispfennig contacted me in early Feb 2024 from Germany, to inform me about a Siemens rebranded Intel UPP (Universal PROM Programmer) he obtained. This page includes photos and descriptions of the unit, its cards, and work in progress to restore the unit to use and operation. There's also a photo of the Siemens equivalent of the Intel MDS-800 8080 development system. - Herb Johnson, New Jersey USA

Background: the Intel UPP

The UPP's are an Intel 4040 processor based peripheral, from Intel, for PROM development for 8080 development (mostly) from the mid 1970's. This Web page discusses an Intel UPP made for or by Siemens with the Siemens brand and color. For more information about the Intel UPP, check my Intel UPP Web page. It also links to Intel 4040 and 8080 development systems. - Herb Johnson

The Siemens UPP

Leif Weispfennig: An online friend of mine discovered an apparently licensed OEM version of the Intel UPP made by Siemens, [and] managed to save it for me. Unlike the Intel version, it comes in a grey case. It also seems to come with an adapter board not yet documented on your website. I will send more details and detailed photos of all the boards once it gets here. Have you ever seen this variant before?

Herb Johnson: I've not seen this Siemens equipment. My Google Group intel-devsys colleagues remind me, that a Siemens varient of ISIS-II, the OS for the Intel development systems for the 8080 and 8086, was produced for the Tandberg TDV-2114 and TDV-2124 from Norway. My impression is that Tandberg replicated Intel's functionality but may not have licensed ISIS from Intel. Various Tandberg files are at this link. Other references about the Tandberg, led me to this German Web site

The Siemens 6610 is apparently an 8080-based computer that runs ISIS-format diskettes and some variation of ISIS-II software called AMBOSS. As the documents are German it's hard for me to navigate them. "Siemens_Systeme_6_000_AMBOSS_1.pdf" references ISIS and Intel. I'm not quite sure of the relationship between Tandberg and Siemens. - Herb

Leif Weispfennig: The UPP arrived today and it's in good shape, after some cleaning. Unfortunately the insides were a bit disappointing and I only found one single [EPROM programming] personality card - the PWA 102488-08 REV M. I was hoping to get at least one more inside that can handle 2708 and earlier.

The PSU looks a bit questionable with some heavy discoloration and some signs of corrosion. Might need a rebuild before I power it up. I have attached very high quality photos of the system and the adapter. If you are interested, I can clone the 2764 adapter and send you a blank PCB.

I was half expecting that I would be able to peel off the front panel and find the original Intel one underneath it or maybe some leftover blue paint inside.. but nope. This seems to be entirely original and made by Intel for Siemens directly.

I currently started a slightly ambitious project of getting the UPP working without the need for another MCS system. I plan to write software for the Arduino to emulate the control computer and let me use the UPP pretty much stand alone. Luckily the technical manuals are very good and it seems like a task I can actually achieve. The main problem right now is finding a 28 wire cable loom for the required cable...

You are free to use any pictures and information that I provided on your homepage! I think it's important to archive this stuff and as I mentioned before you are pretty much the only source for anything UPP online.

Photos

Herb Johnson: The label says UPP-101 by Intel, but serial number "PG 1784 SI". Possibly SI means Siemens? Label is dated 12/77. Two boards inside are the UPP-833 rev M personality board (with 1981 IC's), same 4001 ROMs as mine. Also the 4040 Prom Programmer Control (CPU) board PWA (board number) 1000366-3 REV C, with one 4002-1 RAM and a number of 4001 ROMs (same as mine).

My UPP notes for the UPP-833 card says "I'm told it does 2732, 2764 and Intel 8751. It needs the 564 or 551 adaptor ZIF socket for the last two, which installs in the front panel 24-pin ZIF socket."

Also, you photographed a small adapter "2764 Programmer Module" PWA 162293, 1981-82 dated chips.

Siemens UPP cabinet

back of Siemens UPP cabinet

Siemens UPP power supply

Siemens UPP 833 programmer card

Siemens UPP 4040 CPU card

Siemens UPP 2764 adapter (for 833?)

Siemens / Intel MCS-800?

Siemens version of Intel MCS-800 I think

I have attached another photo of another Intel/Siemens rebadged machine that I encountered before, unfortunately I was not able to save this one, but I have a full set of the boards from it. - Leif

Copyright © 2024 Herb Johnson