IBM 2790

The IBM 2790 Data Communications System was a family of devices intended for "in-plant data communications and production monitoring."

The 2790 consisted of the following components, all connected by a two-wire loop operating at 500 kbit/s:

• The IBM 2715 transmission controller, which controlled the other system components. The 2715 could be attached directly to a System/360 multiplexor channel, to an IBM 1800 Data Acquisition and Control System, an IBM System/7, or to a 270x communications controller for remote host attachment. The 2715 could support up to 32 KB of magnetic core memory with a 1.2 μs cycle time, an internal disk for microcode load, a 2740 printer/keyboard, and a real time clock.
• The IBM 2791 Area Station was a tabletop unit attached to the 2790 loop. The 2791 could read ten column identification badges and eighty column punched cards, and had a twelve key pad for direct entry of numeric data. The 2791 could attach up to thirty-two 2795/2796 data entry units, a 1053 printer, up to three 1035 remote badge readers, and an OEM device. The 2791 had nine user defined "transaction buttons".
• The IBM 2793 Area Station was similar, but lacked the ability to accept input data directly. It could attach up to thirty-two data entry units and a 1053 printer.
• The IBM 2795 and 2796 Data Entry Units "for reporting job and machine status and production information." Both had two ten-position switches and a ten column badge reader. The 2796 had an additional two switches and allowed for manual entry of up to four digits.