website/content/museum/dvw-micro-electronics-husky.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	params
DVW MICRO-ELECTRONICS Husky	Computers	Portable	United Kingdom	1981	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos links oc_id source Husky /media/museum/photos/dvw-microelectronics_husky_1.jpg /companies/dvw-micro-electronics DVW MICRO-ELECTRONICS label value NAME Husky label value MANUFACTURER DVW Micro-electronics label value TYPE Portable label value ORIGIN United Kingdom label value YEAR 1981 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE Basic label value KEYBOARD Flat membrane keyboard (40 keys) label value CPU NSC 800 - Z80 low power clone from National Semiconductors label value SPEED Unknown label value CO-PROCESSOR NSC 801 label value RAM 32 KB label value ROM 16 KB label value TEXT MODES 32 chars x 4 lines (LCD screen) label value GRAPHIC MODES Unknown label value COLORS Black & white label value SOUND Beeper label value SIZE / WEIGHT 24 x 19.5 x 4 cm / 2kg label value I/O PORTS Serial port, Barecode reader label value BUILT IN MEDIA Battery backup label value POWER SUPPLY Batteries label value PRICE 5335 (France, 83) photos links 465 title subtitle text image IN USE [www.obsoletecomputermuseum.org](http://www.obsoletecomputermuseum.org) /media/museum/photos/dvw_husky_main.jpg title subtitle text image ARMY GREEN VERSION Thanks to **Javier Fernandez** /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_brownversion_1.jpg title subtitle text image GREEN VERSION #2 Thanks to **Javier Fernandez** /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_brownversion_2.jpg title subtitle text image GREEN VERSION #3 Thanks to **Javier Fernandez** /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_brownversion_3.jpg title subtitle text image GREEN VERSION #4 Thanks to **Javier Fernandez** /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_brownversion_4.jpg title subtitle text image WHITE VERSION /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_system_1.jpg title subtitle text image RIGHT SIDE /media/museum/photos/dvw_husky_r-side_2_150908.jpg title subtitle text image BOTTOM **(1)** This strap allows the user to fasten the system on his arm\ **(2)** DB25 connectors. Allows the Husky to be connected to various mainframes thanks to several internal data transfer protocoles.\ **(3)** Barcode reader connector\ **(4)** Programs and data battery backup housing /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_systembottom_1.jpg title subtitle text image LCD DISPLAY **Top pict**: Welcome display at power on.\ **Bottom pict**: A system menu offers 6 submenus:\ - **1** - VDU simulation. Husky can be used as a terminal\ - **2** - Cloning Husky. An easy way to transfer programs and data into other Husky's\ - **3** - Special facilities. Barcode type selection\ - **4** - Initialise communications. Serial communication setup\ - **5** - Initialise Clock. Time and date\ - **6** - Basic Interpreter /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_display_1.jpg title subtitle text image SYSTEM OPENED Upper memory board is fitted with 32 KB of RAM. A second 32 KB bank could be added. /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_inside_1.jpg title subtitle text image SYSTEM OPENED #2 No connectors are used, only soldered rigid flat cables. Maintenance should'nt be really easy.\ The right memory board is normally superposed on the main board /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_opened_1.jpg title subtitle text image MAINBOARD Only standard low power IC are used.\ **(1)** NSC 800 processor from National Semiconductors. A low power version of the Z80\ **(2)** NSC 810 provides I/O ports, a timer and buffer RAM\ **(3)** 32 KB ROM (4 x 2732 chips) holding the BASIC interpreter and system routines\ **(4)** 32 chars x 4 lines LCD display provided by Epson\ **(5)** Clock battery backup\ **(6)** Power and barcode reader connector\ **(7)** Serial connector /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_mainboard_1.jpg title subtitle text image MAINBOARD CLOSE-UO /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_mainboard_2.jpg title subtitle text image WATERPROOF CASE Note the black seal and silicon pointing at the back of the keyboard and display glass. /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_etancheite_1.jpg title subtitle text image CASE #2 The very robust case is made of two thick aluminium parts.\ The copper cylinder is the main batteries housing. /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_case_1.jpg title subtitle text image LEATHER SATCHEL #1 /media/museum/photos/husky_dvw_bag_1.jpg title subtitle text image LEATHER SATCHEL #2 /media/museum/photos/dvw_husky_sacoche.jpg title url text Husky official website http://www.itronix.co.uk/uk/ Husky (now Itronix) is still producing rugged field notebooks ! 471 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20221205135157/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=471 2022-12-05

This is an obscure computer, not very well known. It's a rugged field computer, conceived to be used outdoor, and resistant to extreme conditions (it was used in the British Army for example).

In 1981, responding to a request from Severn Trent Water, DVW designed and manufactured the first rugged handheld computer - the Husky, dramatically featured on the BBC TV programme 'Tomorrow's World'. This caught the attention of the UK Ministry of Defence, who subsequently awarded DVW a contract to supply the MOD with rugged handheld computers as part of the Rapier missile project.

Husky (it will become the name of the company some years later) has become since a familiar name in the niche market for rugged field hardware.

The Husky was the first, or at least one of the first real portable computer. And as it was waterproof against accidental immersion and rugged, it was very expensive (~5600 Euros).

The Husky had a small LCD screen (32 x 4) and a flat membrane keyboard, just like the Sinclair ZX-81.

It has a basic interpreter, an onboard clock (unsurprisingly lacking in millennium compliency), onboard routines for communicating through what looks like a serial port interface, as well as a menu option for "cloning husky". This must be used to clone multiple Husky systems that will all be used for the same purpose, rather than re-entering the BASIC code for each unit.

The unit stores programmed entered into the basic interpreter in some kind of solid state memory which must be powered by the backup battery (since when you take the backup battery out, you lose the basic code).

In 1983, the Husky Hunter is launched. DVW changes its name to Husky Computers Limited and moves to the Courtaulds site in Coventry.

We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.