Data I/O Unisite Ebay Gamble
https://www.ebay.com/itm/188120717650 Seller
Seller had this listed as an XPI with 8Mb Ram anyone thats been in the programmign business knows this is not an XPI photos showed that it it did not have a Mini-Centronics port on the back so not an XPI, it was Equipped with a 48 pin Socket so Min 40 Pin Drivers Hope for 48 (2 Extra Cards Form Standard) Maybe 1MB Ram. With this equipment geenrally sellers will say it works if it powers up. Most don’t understand how to actually test them.
So Knowing what I know and that it was not an XPI Unit and a Gamble on the Pin driver Amount and Ram actually how much was installed. I made My offer for an amount I would be willing to gamble. The Seller Accepted My offer.
Unboxing Live Stream With Cottie Kitty Cat.
Well, it was Kind of a Bummer it did not have 48 pin drivers only (40) or the 1MB of ram (128kb) but I knew going in it was not XPI so was a gamble if it would even work or not 🙁 but I am happy with what I received. it will be a good base for some basic refurbishment. I will only use it for the rare device older devices that requires a Unisite but i believe it will Support every device the 29B does and then some ill need to verify that.
Data I/O Unisite Boot W/ Flash Floppy V3.6 (The V3.6 IMZ Image From this Site) the OS I believe is Hunter and Ready VRTX
Inside the Data I/O Unisite… PCB #701-2012-008 it has 10 Pin Driver Boards for a Total of 40 Pin Drivers. No Additional Memory Just the 128K base memory. 
Electrolytic Caps Main Board
330uf 10V X 4 LS 5.0
47uf 63V X 1 LS 5.0
This unisite will get a nice refresh made in 1988 and it’s pushing 40 Years old. Ill get the thing opened up further and add the photos and BOM of items replaced as I do it.
There is a Maintenance manual with schematics for this version of unisite so will be rather straight forward. Maintenance Manual later version Rev 12+. The Unisite was the last of the “Repairable” Data I/O programmers. Back in the day it company’s like Data I/O once prided them selves on serviceability. even though they charged for the manuals and repair documents service tech or owners were happy to pay a fair and reassemble amount. Knowing that they were not going to be held over a barrel for repair or service from the manufacture.
More Info and Data I/O resources Here, Here, and Here
My Data IO Flash Floppy Config with V3.6 Boot Image and Algo1 You will only need the FF Directory and the FF.CFG file. V3.60 does not work gives error.
V2.60 Zeroed seems to function and allows selecting a device and programming without a security error.
Dual Flash Floppy Setup use the FF.cfg to folder FF on the USB then add the boot image drive A set jumpers s0 and JC add the same FF.CFG add the Algo’s to another USB set drive B jumpers to s1 and JC
Photo with Dual Flash Floppies Installed…
Working With V2.60 here is what the OS looks Like
The OS: VRTX32 by Ready Systems
The UniSite runs VRTX32 (Virtual Real-Time Executive), a commercial RTOS made by Ready Systems (later acquired by Microtec Research, then Mentor Graphics). It was one of the dominant embedded RTOSes for Motorola 68000 systems in the late 1980s and 1990s used in everything from medical equipment to industrial controllers.
CPU: Motorola 68000
Confirmed from the instruction set LINK/UNLK stack frames, 68k exception vectors, TRAP-based syscalls. Likely a plain 68000 (not 68010/20) given the era and cost constraints of the hardware.
Memory Map (reconstructed from SYSTEM.SYS code):
| Region | Address | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Low RAM/ROM | 0x0000–0x0FFF |
68k exception vector table + VRTX kernel |
| VRTX kernel | ~0xB000–0xDFFF |
RTOS code (in ROM, called by SYSTEM.SYS) |
| Data I/O app code | ~0x9DE00 |
App data/buffers |
| SYSTEM.SYS | 0xC0000–0xC477D |
Main OS application (what’s on the floppy) |
| Extended app | 0x107000–0x114000 |
Additional loaded modules |
| I/O registers | 0x8000–0xFFFF |
Hardware peripherals |
Now decision on what MSM to Get Form SCS Kits I want to go with the 1 MB or the 8 MB
PL2260+ Windows Software V1.5.0.2 Archive
We Shall See!
April 19th 2026 Request Photos of the TEAC FD-35FN-04-U 720K Floppy Drives and Jumpers.
Jumpers Data I/O Unisite Floppy Drive A
Data I/O Unisite Floppy Drive B Jumpers
Comparing Size to to a Standard 1.44mb floppy drive.
Anyone have a 3D printable Gotek Flash floppy case for this drive size?
I am going to try This Housing for the Flash Floppy.. It should fill in the hole and allow to use oled display. But the flash floppy will be useless if I go with the SCS Kits SSD on these and uising the PC Control Software but could always just save and load to USB drive also.
Unisite Power Supply
Data I/O Part Number 806-0170-001
BOSCHERT Patrt Number 700051-01 / XL250-3621/4621
110/220VAC 400W
Some The Caps Look a Little Swollen but not bulging yet the shrink wrap is creeping towards the corner signs signs signs!! Mainly the 1000uf 25V In the center next to the Black Cap.
Electrolytic Caps PSU Ill post the lead spacing soon as i pull em out but should be common.
1000uf 25V X 4 16D X 30L LS ?
470uf X 50V X 2 16D X 35L LS?
2200uf 16V X 3 18D X 38L LS ?
100uf 200V X 2 18D X 40L LS ?
100uf 25V X 1 10D X 20L LS ?
100uf 10V X 2 6.5D X 11L LS ?
3.3uf 63V X 1 5D X 11L LS ?
10uf X 50V X 1 8D X 11L LS?
100uf X 16V X 1 5.5D X 11L LS?
470uf X 50V X 2 22D X 35L LS?
Rifa’s (These Have To Go!!)
2 4700PF 13mm L X 10.6mm H LS?
2 1000pf 13mm L X 7.2mm H LS?
Snagged Another Data I/O Unisite 05/29/2026 Awaiting Shipment, I will now do the refurbishment on both and have a backup always good to have a backup or two.
Ebay Link https://www.ebay.com/itm/257532606686
Unboxing..
I am Happy so far… More Later.
Cable Wiring For Memory Board, I Was told it was a non standard Cable? I’ll stick it in the cableeye and get the pin-out.
Inspect Power Supply
Boot Up on Flash Floppy.
Last Updated on June 8, 2026 by Steven Rhine