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View Full Version : INFO: The Sony DTL-H2040


ASSEMbler
04-07-2005, 05:29 AM
http://assemblergames.com/images/news/dtlh2040/dtlh2040.jpg


The unusual device you see before you is the SONY DTL-H2040 Memory card unit, used in the earliest playstation development days way back in 1994. Long before the final hardware designs, these units were shipped to trusted early developers. These units were replaced only a few months later with a break box that combined the controller and memory ports, replacing the then non standard ports with retail style ones.


http://assemblergames.com/images/news/dtlh2040/dtlh2040_2.jpg


I don't have exact production numbers, but in the early days playstation was far from the behemoth that it is today. Surely the very early dev kits that this device was part of shipped in the low hundreds before the revised break boxes were introduced making this device obsolete.


http://assemblergames.com/images/news/dtlh2040/dtlh2040_3.jpg
http://assemblergames.com/images/news/dtlh2040/replaced.jpg


The DTL-H2040 and serial style playstation pad were soon replaced by this interface box.
AntiPasta
04-07-2005, 07:37 AM
Pretty cool. Mind opening the memory card thing up?
SuperGrafx
04-07-2005, 12:42 PM
I agree, this is pretty fascinating stuff.
Photos of the innards please?
Calpis
04-07-2005, 02:45 PM
Wonder if it's serial, if so where does it get power?
AntiPasta
04-09-2005, 07:01 AM
From the serial port?
Calpis
04-09-2005, 12:25 PM
Nah, serial doesn't provide power
zappenduster
04-09-2005, 01:48 PM
Nah, serial doesn't provide power

hmm found some data specs

Data:
- logical "1" (Mark) is represented by a negative voltage of -3V to -25V
- logical "0" (Space) is represented by a positive voltage of +3V to +25V

no info on how much mA or A or whatever but that could be enough power for a memory emulator since memory doesnt need much power (but i dont know whats in the box to emulate a memory card but memory at least for data storage in this way shouldnt be very power hungry)
ASSEMbler
04-09-2005, 02:46 PM
I've found an even earlier one of these, it's not even labeled as sony with a serial number, it's just in a plain blue sony box that says "memory access unit".
hl718
04-09-2005, 03:56 PM
You should sacrifice a standard memory card and try to hack together a serial -> PSX mem card interface for that thing. Would be quite the conversation piece if the emulation is done purely in hardware -- have that big ass box hooked up to store your save games. :)

-hl718
Benedict_Arnold
03-27-2006, 07:17 PM
I didn't see a picture of the complete memory box. It comes with a blue box as well. I just got a brand new sealed one and I had to open it up to see it.
madhatter256
03-27-2006, 08:06 PM
Well it probably gets its power from the serial ports. My Dexdrive works without the AC adaptor and can read Sony memcards if I mess with the settings in windows.
Benedict_Arnold
03-27-2006, 08:09 PM
Well it probably gets its power from the serial ports. My Dexdrive works without the AC adaptor and can read Sony memcards if I mess with the settings in windows.

Wow, I didn't know that. That's nice to know. But what settings do you mess with?

BTW, the pictures posted here make the box look big. It's actually quite small and light. I wish someone would open it up and show us inside.