NBI System 4000S: anyone has knowledge of this system?

[olifiers]

Got hold of an NBI System 4000S, and have been slowly restoring it. Problem is, there is absolutely no information about it online, it’s as if it never existed, aside from a few scans from old computer mags.

Anyone knows about this system? I’m particularly keen on finding out about its video output so I can try to connect a monitor to it. It’s a Motorola 6800 machine.

Although its video connector is a DB9, it doesn’t seem either MDA nor CGA as it outputs 30V on pin 1 (!!!)

 

[cruff]

During the liquidation of NBI, they sold off the contents in their office buildings in Boulder, There was nothing in the way of their product nor documentation, just office furniture and various non-NBI office equipment.

 

[olifiers]

It’s an incredibly well built machine, and the board design is very unique — as are the connectors and outputs. The keyboard uses a connector I’ve never seen before, and what I assume is its network port resembles a phone connector.

The DB25 in the back is definitely a serial port as it’s hooked to a daughterboard featuring a NEC D7201C, might be one way of unlocking its mysteries. But I’m really keen on getting a monitor hooked up to it, appreciate any help.

As far as I can tell, this is the pinout:
1. 30v
2. 18KHz (likely H sync)
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?
6 - 9. GND

I tried combinations of video, intensity and V sync on 3-5 on a Commodore 1084S in TTL and Analog, but no dice. Any ideas?

 

[dbarry]

Got hold of an NBI System 4000S, and have been slowly restoring it. Problem is, there is absolutely no information about it online, it’s as if it never existed, aside from a few scans from old computer mags.

Anyone knows about this system? I’m particularly keen on finding out about its video output so I can try to connect a monitor to it. It’s a Motorola 6800 machine.

Although its video connector is a DB9, it doesn’t seem either MDA nor CGA as it outputs 30V on pin 1 (!!!)

The NBI 4000 was a proprietary word processor - one of the best in its time. I wish I could recall the video port, not VGA. the only monitors NBI offered were monochrome but with lettering in white or green or amber. The 4000 was networkable using a coax connector to store on the NBI OASys 8 or 64 control unit. The RJ11 port was for an external coupler or modem. The 4000 did have some sophisticated comm capabilities for that time to connect to INM and DEC mainframes.

 

[dbarry]

Got hold of an NBI System 4000S, and have been slowly restoring it. Problem is, there is absolutely no information about it online, it’s as if it never existed, aside from a few scans from old computer mags.

Anyone knows about this system? I’m particularly keen on finding out about its video output so I can try to connect a monitor to it. It’s a Motorola 6800 machine.

Although its video connector is a DB9, it doesn’t seem either MDA nor CGA as it outputs 30V on pin 1 (!!!)

The NBI 4000 was a proprietary word processor - one of the best in its time. I wish I could recall the video port, not VGA. the only monitors NBI offered were monochrome but with lettering in white or green or amber. The 4000 was networkable using a coax connector to store on the NBI OASys 8 or 64 control unit. The RJ11 port was for an external coupler or modem. The 4000 did have some sophisticated comm capabilities for that time to connect to IBM and DEC mainframes.