August 2022 - cctalk - classiccmp.org

by Dennis Boone

Friends, The process of migrating the cctalk and cctech mailing lists to a new host in Chicago is underway. This evening, I've moved the list mail handling to the new server, and this message will be the first live test. Assuming this works, you shouldn't have to change anything to post to the list. The green web pages, the old "pipermail" list archives, and web access to archives of new postings from this point still require a little work, which I hope to complete in the next day or two. I will eventually import the old pipermail archives into the new posting archive, but that may take a little longer. The new hosting is provided by the Chicago Classic Computing group. Many thanks to Jay West for hosting the lists for 20 years! /Dennis Boone

2 years, 3 months

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Re: MicroVAX CTI (DEC Professional) card

by Lee Gleason

> Message: 6 > Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2022 19:32:47 -0500 > From: Chris Zach <cz(a)alembic.crystel.com> > Subject: Re: MicroVAX CTI (DEC Professional) card > To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org > Message-ID: <448ec9e0-a5df-7dd2-65f4-6294e6ebec82(a)alembic.crystel.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed > > Well, auction is over, I didn't bid on it, and I hope someone here got it. > > That said, the more I look at it, and the more I look at a true MVII > card the more I wonder just what was missing on this card. A true MVII > has a pair of rather large custom ASICs in the center of the board and I > can't believe the 80186 (or whatever that chip is on the top center of > the board) could emulate it all. > > So it would be interesting to see what this thing was and what it did. > > I bought it. I know it's long odds that I can get it to do anything, especially without that daughter card, but, waddahell, it's an interesting DEC PRO collectible. I reckon I'll plug it into a PRO and see if it responds to attempted accesses. If the ROM contains PDP11 or VAX code, I'll disassemble it and see if there are any clues there. -- Lee K. Gleason N5ZMR Control-G Consultants lee.gleason(a)comcast.net

2 years, 9 months

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Bringing up a Sun 386i: Can I use a modern monitor

by Chris Zach

Continuing my exploration of my old stuff pile I'm starting to work on my Sun 386i systems. Old, no doubt but still there. First step would be finding a monitor for them. The video cards I have are the monochrome one, the CGI3 and a CGI5 board. For the color monitors the cable I have goes to the RGBSync and of course to the keyboard/mouse combination. Question: Is there an adapter that can turn the Sun's output to HDMI or VGA for a more modern monitor? C

2 years, 9 months

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Flipping an 8" diskette

by Liam Proven

Someone on Fesse Bouc just found a sealed box of SS/SD 8" floppies in their garage. Most FB types are too young to know 8" disks existed, of course. Someone suggested punching a notch in them and using both sides. Was that even possible on 8" disks? (TBH single-sided actually-floppy floppies are before my time and I never used 'em. When they were on low-end American 8-bit home computers, this impecunious young Brit couldn't afford floppy drives at all. By the time I could, 5.25" DS/DD was the cheapest drive and cheapest media.) -- Liam Proven ~ Profile: https://about.me/liamproven Email: lproven(a)cix.co.uk ~ gMail/gTalk/FB: lproven(a)gmail.com Twitter/LinkedIn: lproven ~ Skype: liamproven UK: (+44) 7939-087884 ~ Czech [+ WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal]: (+420) 702-829-053

2 years, 9 months

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Spoken For - PDP-8/a components - free to good home

by KV4CN

Thanks everyone for the interest. (Wish I had more.) The lot has been spoken for. If it all falls through, I'll re-post. Everyone, thanks again. Dave -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software. www.avg.com

2 years, 9 months

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PDP-8/a components - free to good home

by KV4CN

I have the following PDP-8/a components.I do not know their operating condition so they are being offered as is.I have had them for several years, but I do not have the time to see if I can get a system running.I would like to give them away as a lot and do not want to ship.I can send photos on request.I live in Winterville, North Carolina (eastern part of the state).Thanks, Dave _PDP-8/a chassis with the following boards__:_ (a) Hex Omnibus CPU M8315, (b) 8/A Internal Option MD317(?), (c) Option Board 1 M8316, (d) Data Ram DR-118A 8Kx12, and (e) Core Memory Stack H-219A. Chassis has the power supply.with G8018 regulator board. _Loose parts and boards:_ DEC Console Panel 00KC8-AA, 2 DEC console panels with limited function board, DEC H-219A, M8316 (has label that says may be defective), Dataram DR-118A, and M8316/M340566. -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software. www.avg.com

2 years, 9 months

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Re: Shop cleaning, few items that needs a new home

by Michael Glaser

I'm in Kent and I'm interested in the Tandy and Kaypro stuff. Looking for a Coco 3 but let me know what you have. Thanks, Michael Gee.

2 years, 9 months

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DEC H7868 Power Supplies

by Douglas Taylor

While cleaning up I found a box with 3 H7868 power supplies. Once upon a time I had a BA213 and BA215 Vax. One of them has a cable coming out the top of it and probably went to the BA213 box which had only one power supply. The other two are plain and likely are from a BA215 box. I assume they are not working and if you want one or all I will ship if you pay postage. I am located in Zip 20640, shipping out of the US seems not worth the trouble. Doug

2 years, 9 months

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Shop cleaning, few items that needs a new home

by Jerry Wright

Here is a few systems that need to go. Phase IV systems. comes in 3 Chassis Enclosures. lots of blinking lights and switches .these are a little odd, they have the video memory for the terminals on the computer itself.There are no disks, terminals or tape drivers. has not been turned on. Free to a good home. Dec Writer II very good condition, very little yellowing. Works 300.00 Dec Writer III also in very good condition with very little Yellowing Works 300.00 HP 85 in original box, some manuals and tapes. Has a rom drawer with basic IO rom16 Meg Memory drawer. 2 Tapes, Visicalc and Standard Pac ?? Original manuals for The 85 and Visicalc. Looks almost new with no fading. Box is Ok but wont handle shipping. Has not been turned on in years. 500.00 Dec Application Dec 400XP Tower PC server. This is a Desk side PC Server with Interactive Unix unlimited on it. Has 4 Dec SCSI drives. Tape Drive, Second SCSI cardand Satellite interface. Is missing the side Panel. Has not been run in a few years. comes with a spare drives and some boards. Intel 486 DX 50. 100.00 HP 9000 380 System. This was a donation from HP to a local College. Comes in 4 Desk side Chassis. 2 hold Large Hard drives. There is a SCSI Disk enclosure with drives. This was most likely the best they had in the day. Was holding what looked like a complete working HPUX system. Email, Gofer where all intact. . Condition is very good. Has not been turned on in a few years. Was backed up to 4mm tape at one point. 1000.00 Motorola Development system. 68k Was told it was a complete system. comes in 2 large boxes. Don't know much about this, does have Pods and a large Computer type interfaceHas not been turned on. 100.00 HP 7070E Tape drive. still loads a tape, but has not been tested further. Good conditionThis is a large floor standing tape drive with HPIB interface. 300.00 I also have a large Tandy/Radio Shack Collection that needs thinning. Most models. Alongwith 14 Kaypros Most models. These are located in Kent, Washington. No Shipping unless you want to arrange it. I canhaul it locally . - Jerryg-wright(a)att.net

2 years, 9 months

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Advice on Repairing a HP1630G Logic Analyser

by Rob Jarratt

I have a nice HP1630G logic analyser. It still works OK but has a number of issues that I would like to fix. First, I managed to break the power switch. It became stiff and wouldn't readily toggle the power. I think the shaft became bent. In pressing too hard, I broke off the button on the end of the shaft. Looking at it, I think the button may have been glued onto the end of the shaft, possibly in a previous repair. There are some sites that list the button as available so I am trying to source an original, but I think it could be just the button and not the shaft that goes with it. However, if that proves impractical or too expensive, I am wondering if it is possible to source a new switch, with a long shaft to reach the switch on the board, that would at least allow me to toggle power from the front panel? I am not sure what to search for though, any suggestions? I have several possible workarounds: 1) just leave the switch on permanently and "toggle" the power just by plugging into the mains 2) try to glue the button back on, possibly with a metal pin for strength, but I think there is a bend in the shaft that caused the action not to work well and so this may not work well 3) Raid a spare from a HP1630D that I also have. 4) try to make a new shaft and switch, possibly 3D printed, or just use a piece of wooden dowelling. Any comments on these approaches? The other problem I have is that I get terrible switch bounce from the front panel keyboard. I have removed the keyboard to see if I can get at the switches and see if cleaning them would help. However, the keys (made by Cherry) look like sealed units to me. Again, does anyone have any advice on how to improve the performance of these switches? I could again raid my HP1630D for a spare (which has a keyboard that isn't as bad), but would rather not have to do so. Finally, I get a bit of screen wobble on the display. I am going to check all the capacitors on the display board, but any other suggestions? Pictures of the broken switch and the keyboard are here: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgETuZFainX8gZNMqek10fyE3n1rlw?e=xd7RWU Regards Rob

2 years, 9 months

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TU58 troubleshooting

by Chris Zach

So I'm working on repairing a TU58 Dectape II drive. So far I have cleaned it up, replaced the rollers, put new bands in some TU58 carts, and have fixed the power supply so +5 and +12 are up and running. Turning on the unit with nothing in it results in a quick flash of light from the LED on the main board. Hooking it up to an 11/23+ and trying to boot off it gives me ERR 12 NON-EXISTENT CONTROLLER Drat. It's connected to the 11/23+ with a normal 10 pin ribbon cable with keys at both ends. So questions: Baud rates are wired in at 9600/9600 on both the unit and the CPU. 1) Is the quick flash on the inside LED normal when powered up 2) Does it require something more than a simple ribbon cable to connect to the CPU? 3) Should the unit do something else with a tape in and powered on? Thanks! Chris

2 years, 9 months

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"Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet

by P Gebhardt

Hello list, by coincidence, I came across this website: https://www.micropolis.com/ It seems to have been set up by a former employee of Micropolis with information about Micropolis products done until the late 90s. Cheers, Pierre ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.digitalheritage.de

2 years, 9 months

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HP-86 system available

by Stephen Pereira

Good afternoon folks, I have an HP-86 system that I am not using, and I would like to sell to someone who will put it to good use. The system is made up of: - HP-86B - HP-9121 Dual 3.5” floppy disk drive - HP-82900A Auxiliary Processor (CP/M System) with the proper boot disk - the new HP85Disk for virtual disk drives if you don’t want to use real floppies, or to use along with real floppies - HP-82929 Programmable ROM Module - An 87-EMS ROM, never installed - HP-82936A ROM Drawer, with a few HP-85 ROMs in it Sorry, but I will be keeping my CRT monitor. To be sure, I invested a pile of $$ into this over the years, but as I said, I’m just not using it any more, and I hate to see this good stuff going unused. I’d like to get $400 for the whole kit-and-kaboodle. I’d also like to work with someone who can pick it up, or we can meet half way in between. I’d really prefer not to go through all the expense and hassle of shipping. Please let me know if you’re interested and whatever questions you may have. smp - - - Stephen Pereira Bedford, NH 03110 KB1SXE

2 years, 9 months

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UK members: Mushroom Components

by Wouter de Waal

Hi all I have before obtained obsolete 8-bit chips from Paul at mushroom.co.uk. But now my emails are not answered and their phone also doesn't seem to work. Does anyone know what happened and whether they're still around, or whether someone else took over their stock? Thanks W

2 years, 9 months

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Re: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]

by Ali

>I seriously considered getting some custom >napkins printed up (bars >sometimes have personalized napkins; 5.25" is >available, although these >days, bars usually use smaller, just to keep from >making rings on the >tables), with just the outline of a 5.25" disk jacket >printed on them >(perimeter, write enable notch, index hole, and >oval access slot), and a >version of the story, IFF it could be confirmed on >the backFred,You should just do it and add a teeny tiny disclaimer at the bottom regarding the veracity of the story. It. Would make for a great gag gift! Or if you want to get real fancy have a qr code that can be scanned on each napkin for a site with more detailed discussion of the events.-Ali

2 years, 9 months

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Does anyone have MP/M II disks/images for the Altos ACS-8000?

by Chris Osborn

I just got my Altos ACS-8000 hard disk controller repaired yesterday and was able to connect the Gesswein MFM emulator and format it, run through the read/write tests, and copy some files onto it. Now I'd like to install MP/M II, but it seems there's no archive sites anywhere that have copies of MP/M II for the Altos with the 8500 board. I found a single zip file which has a smattering of some of the files that were on the two Altos MP/M II distribution disks, but doesn't have the OS tracks, and of course all the XIOS files are missing. I'm going to see if I can find another way to get MP/M II, such as working from the generic version and making my own XIOS (using the Altos listing in the MP/M II manual as reference), or seeing if the MP/M II for the Altos 5 series might be usable with minor modification. But it would be nice to get a copy of the original distribution disks. -- Follow me on twitter: @FozzTexx Check out my blog: http://insentricity.com RetroBattlestations.com

2 years, 9 months

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Re: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]

by Tom Gardner

The only person who ever promulgated the "Dr. Wang bar napkin" story was Jim Porter who was not in any way involved with the decision as to the size of the 5½ drive or media size and only began telling his tale many years after the decision. Both Massaro and Adkisson deny there was ever such a meeting in a bar with Dr. Wang. Some doubt Dr. Wang was ever in a bar with a vendor :-) My research suggests customers of Adkisson, e.g. Lanier, and not Wang Labs, asked for a smaller and less expensive drive, with media about the size of a cocktail napkin. Adkisson took this request to SA management. Wang was then their big customer for 8-inch drives. Massaro and Adkisson then did discuss this with Dr. Wang who did express a need for such a drive as a replacement; faster, more reliable and less expensive than the 8-track tape drive used by Wang Labs. It was also presented to Mohawk Data who was also interested. Shugart engineering then sized the drive based upon a survey of the size of 8 track tape drives and then sized the media as what is the largest that could reasonably fit within the drive envelope. The fact that the media size is about the size of some cocktail napkins is a coincidence. BTW as far as I can tell there is no standard size for cocktail napkins circa 1976 and the one sample I found from that era is smaller than the 5¼-inch medium envelope. The corruption of history is indeed tragic both here and at the Smithsonian - BTW, I did send their webmaster a request for correction Tom -----Original Message----- From: Fred Cisin [mailto:cisin@xenosoft.com] Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2022 3:37 PM To: dwight via cctalk Subject: [cctalk] Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet Adkisson and Masaro now deny the whole "bar napkin disk" story; In agreement that 8" was larger than desired, they asked Dr. Au Wang "What size should it be?" Wang picked up the bar napkin (the meeting was not in a conference room), and said, "This size". They took the napkin back to the lab and measured it. and the Smithsonian says that SA400 was 3.25". Yes, the loss of our history is just tragic. On Sat, 20 Aug 2022, dwight via cctalk wrote: > Maybe it is on a size reduction. > Dwight > > ________________________________ > From: geneb via cctalk < <mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org> cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> > Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2022 7:47 AM > To: Liam Proven via cctalk < <mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org> cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> > Cc: geneb < <mailto:geneb@deltasoft.com> geneb(a)deltasoft.com> > Subject: [cctalk] Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on > internet > > On Wed, 17 Aug 2022, Liam Proven via cctalk wrote: > >> On Tue, 16 Aug 2022 at 23:51, Fred Cisin via cctalk >> < <mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org> cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote: >>> >>> 1) because they need to keep reinforcing until the very last SA400 >>> is buried. >>> > > Fred, Don't forget the SA390 in every Disk II. ;) > >> I had to look up SA400. I'm too young. >> >> The Smithsonian has one. They say it's a 3¼ inch drive. >> >> <https://www.si.edu/object/microcomputer-peripheral-shugart-sa400-disk> https://www.si.edu/object/microcomputer-peripheral-shugart-sa400-disk >> -drive:nmah_334325 >> > > Now THAT is just tragic. > > g. > > -- > Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007 > <http://www.f15sim.com> http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind. > <http://www.diy-cockpits.org/coll> http://www.diy-cockpits.org/coll - Go Collimated or Go Home. > Some people collect things for a hobby. Geeks collect hobbies. > > ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment A Multi-Value > database for the masses, not the classes. > <http://scarlet.deltasoft.com> http://scarlet.deltasoft.com - Get it _today_!

2 years, 9 months

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PiDP-8/I Spacewar on Pi HDMI Display

by Mike Katz

Updated information: I have the Pi Console up and running a getty shell on the VT-220 (as 9600 baud). I start the Oscars OpenVG client with *./sw2 localhost 2222 *I have this same issue whether I am using an ssh shell or the VT-220 shell. ** The spacewars game comes up on the HDMI display and keys 1, 2, 3 & 4 work. None of the other keys work. Original Message: /I am trying to run spacewar (IF-4) on my PiDP-8/I with the video running on the PI HDMI monitor and the keyboard being my VT-220 attached via USB to RS-232 adapter.// // //I am able run OS/8 on the VT-220.// // //I am able to run spacewar running with the remote VC8E program on my Windows box (port 2222)// // //I installed openvg from github// // //I followed Oscar's directions in the read me file from here: https://groups.google.com/g/pidp-8/c/J6rXWg8btYY// // //I did not recompile the spacewars program to use the front panel. I want to use the keys on the VT-220 instead.// // //How do I get SW2 to run and use the keys from the VT-220?// // //I get OS/8 to boot with the console command in simh.// // //Thank you,// // // Mike// // // /

2 years, 9 months

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PiDP-8/I Spacewar on Pi HDMI Display

by Mike Katz

I am trying to run spacewar (IF-4) on my PiDP-8/I with the video running on the PI HDMI monitor and the keyboard being my VT-220 attached via USB to RS-232 adapter. I am able run OS/8 on the VT-220. I am able to run spacewar running with the remote VC8E program on my Windows box (port 2222) I installed openvg from github I followed Oscar's directions in the read me file from here: https://groups.google.com/g/pidp-8/c/J6rXWg8btYY I did not recompile the spacewars program to use the front panel. I want to use the keys on the VT-220 instead. How do I get SW2 to run and use the keys from the VT-220? I get OS/8 to boot with the console command in simh. Thank you, Mike

2 years, 9 months

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Wordperfect 5.1 workbook

by Van Snyder

I have a Wordperfect 5.1 workbook. It's yours in exchange for a PDF of a shipping label from 91214 (or free for l;ocal pickup). 9" x 9" x 1", 2lb 8oz. Van Snyder

2 years, 10 months

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(fwd) [cpunks] Google Program to Free Chips Boosts University Semiconductor Design

by Tomasz Rola

Howdy, I guess this might be of interest to some people here... ----- Forwarded message from jim bell <jdb10987(a)yahoo.com> ----- Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2022 06:12:59 +0000 (UTC) From: jim bell <jdb10987(a)yahoo.com> To: CypherPunks <cypherpunks(a)lists.cpunks.org> Subject: Google Program to Free Chips Boosts University Semiconductor Design https://www.hpcwire.com/2022/08/11/google-program-to-free-chips-boosts-univ… August 11, 2022 A Google-led program to design and manufacture chips for free is becoming popular among researchers and computer enthusiasts. The search giant’s open silicon program is providing the tools for anyone to design chips, which then get manufactured. Google foots the entire bill, from a chip’s conception to delivery of the final product in a user’s hand. Google’s Open MPW program includes an open-source design toolkit from a company called EFabless, which also manages the program. Enthusiasts and researchers have to submit their chip design, which then gets manufactured in the factories of SkyWater on the 130nm process. The submission deadline for the latest Open MPW program is September 12. Open MPW’s popularity can be measured by the number of projects using Efabless’ EDA tools. Chips from about 240 open-source silicon projects via Efabless’ tools will be manufactured in Skywater’s factories, Mike Wishart, CEO of Efabless. “The total projects posted on our site are like 570. That has gone extremely well. It’s diverse, from 25 countries,” Wishart said. Efabless had about 160 tapeouts in 2021, and had no tapeouts in 2020. Efabless provides a simple design EDA tool to make chips, which is mostly about dragging and dropping the core elements inside a chip. An open-source PDK (process design kit) prepares the chip for fabrication in factories. The Open MPW program added recent partners, including the U.S. Department of Defense, which last month poured $15 million into the project to get open-source chips made on SkyWater’s 90nm process. GlobalFoundries also joined the alliance and will also manufacture chips on the 180nm node. The manufacturing technology provided through the project is very old, but it is cost-effective. Intel, Apple and others make expensive chips on the more advanced processes such as 5nm, which uses cutting-edge technology and provides the fastest computing in devices. Open MPW is popular in academia and research, and for those experimenting or testing chips and need small batches, Wishart said. “Our incentive is to make it simple for more and more people and grow a community around those executing designs… [on] nodes that are more accessible to them and therefore lower costs,” Wishart said. Typically, chips can be expensive to manufacture, and factories are open to corporations. But Open MPW makes factories available to researchers and students. “There was an unmet need in academia, that was overwhelming and not appreciated because they didn’t know what they could get,” Wishart said. The open-source toolkits cover the full concept of chip development, from conceptualization to delivery of parts. Some universities may have deals with chip factories, but students at the undergraduate, master’s and PhD programs still have poor awareness of chip fabrication. ----- End forwarded message -----

2 years, 10 months

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PDP Straight-8 front panel

by Ryan de Laplante

I have a DEC PDP Straight-8 in very poor condition. The paint behind the panel glass has mostly flecked off, the glass is broken and it is missing some switch covers/toggles. The plexiglass covers were also destroyed during shipment. The seller very carefully built a wooden crate and pallet to protect the machine during transport, but United Cargo laid the whole wooden crate on its side!! >( Does anyone know of any front panel collector who has a Straight-8 front panel that they might be willing to sell? I’d love to restore this machine. I’ve been looking for local plexiglass manufacturers but none of them answer my email when I show pictures of the project. I guess they don’t need the business.

2 years, 10 months

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Re: DECnet to be dropped from Linux

by Dave Mitton

Okay, The issue I don’t understand, I guess a matter of not understanding Linux internals, is why does “the kernel” require explicit DECnet support? I built DECnet-DOS without any cooperation from Microsoft. Or PathWorks for Windows 95 was built on top of published APIs. Why does a modern OS need stuff built in? Dave. Sent from Mail for Windows

2 years, 10 months

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Unused Punched Cards

by Mike Norris

Hello Everyone, I have just come across around 900 blank punch cards, they are plastic about 5 thou in thickness. Would they be of interest to anyone on the list, they in the UK in Lancashire, but might be expensive to post as they are heavy (430 grams per 100)? Cost a few GBP for a beer and postage costs, if interested please contact off list mike_t_norris(a)hotmail.com. Regards Mike Norris

2 years, 10 months

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Re: Cell phone as a dial up modem.

by John Ball

I've done this several different ways in the past, depending on your take of "Cell phone". For the phone that is probably in your pocket right now I've used one of those bluetooth bridges that looks like a bluetooth handsfree device to the phone but on your side you get a 48/90v POTS RJ11 for a regular phone. You can attach a modem to them but some of those adapters do not emit a dial tone. These older adapters have major problems regarding audio quality and noise cancellation. I could not relaibly make it hold a connection above 300bps. Even 110bps had spurious corruption from time to time so barely enough for a teletype connection and over an acoustic coupler it was not a lot better by using one of those hipster handsets that plugged into the headphone jack on phones, when a headphone jack was still a thing......That feels weird to even say. I do have a data kit for motorola's line of bag and car phones but that requires the discontinued AMPS service. Same goes for the data kit for my Tandy rebranded Nokia portable telephone which has basically an audio breakout so you can attach an acoustic coupler. Radio Shack's catalog made this adapter seem WAY cooler than it really was but I guess if you were high-rollin' with a Tandy portable that was one way to dial into the office. On the other hand I've also done data calls over an MSAT phone. A Mitsubishi OmniQuest ST251 if you plug a terminal into the serial port responds to hayes AT commands and emulates a 1200bps modem but the cal was very, very expensive as it switches the radio specifically into a data-only mode. If we're talking satellite phones that fot in your pocket I've logged into Slashnet over a Globalstar GSP-1600 while camping which also appears as a Hayes modem but under Windows you get an extra-special modem definition driver that lets you engage speeds up to a blazing fast 9600bps. -John >Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2022 23:53:34 -0600 >From: Grant Taylor <cctalk(a)gtaylor.tnetconsulting.net> >Subject: [cctalk] Cell phone as a dial up modem. >To: cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> >Message-ID: > <9cdbf98f-21ff-77f9-2676-2f5e73370913(a)spamtrap.tnetconsulting.net> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed > >Does anyone know if it's possible, or -- better -- have experience using >a cell phone as a dial up modem? > >I'm wondering about doing something as an alternative to a traditional >POTS modem connected to a VoIP ATA. I'd think that treating the phone >as a traditional modem with venerable Hayes AT commands might be more >reliable than trying to do dial up connections across VoIP. > >It's been *YEARS* since I've tried to connect a modem to a serial port >on a PC, universal or otherwise. > >Does anyone have any experience with or thoughts about doing this? > >-- >Grant. . . . >unix || die

2 years, 10 months

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TRS 80

by Murray McCullough

45 years for the TRS-80. My! Where has the time gone? The “Trash-80” was one of the earliest micro-computers in my home. Radio Shack helped create the ‘PC’ industry, the consumer version anyways, fueling what is now our hobby. Happy computing. Murray 🙂

2 years, 10 months

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Re: question about terminals

by Bill Degnan

Replying to myself...Read manual...terminal does not talk to modems at 2400b, had to step down to 300b, worked. On Fri, Aug 12, 2022, 2:25 PM Bill Degnan <billdegnan(a)gmail.com> wrote: > I have an old terminal without a CTS line. If I hook up my laptop running > Teraterm 2400,7N1 to the terminal and use a null modem cable I can type > characters in the laptop and they appear on the terminal and if I type > characters in the terminal they appear on the laptop. > > If I attach an ESP82660 WIfi modem to the laptop running teraterm I can > connect, etc to use the WIFI - i.e. connect to a telnet service (ATDT > bbs.fozztexx.com or towel.blinkenlights.nl). > > If I attach the same ESP82660 to the terminal, the ESP transmits to the > terminal fine (to show the initial connection screen) but I when I type > characters (such as ATZ) they do not appear on the display and I thus > believe do not transmit, thus no echo back from the ESP. SO, there is > something in the config of the ESP that is not happy. I have the terminal > and laptop set for 2400,7N1. > > The pins of the terminal are > 1 - ground > 2 - transmitted data > 3. - receive data > 4 - rts > 7 signal ground > 8 data carrier detector > 11 reverse channel transmit data > 12 reverse channel receive data > 18 read only data > 20 data terminal ready. > > I am working on this, but any tips would be appreciated. Do I need Mark > or Space parity? > > Bill >

2 years, 10 months

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Re: Dec rl02 disk pack shelf design

by Alan Frisbie

I would also buy at least two, probably three. Alan Frisbie

2 years, 10 months

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Cell phone as a dial up modem.

by Grant Taylor

Does anyone know if it's possible, or -- better -- have experience using a cell phone as a dial up modem? I'm wondering about doing something as an alternative to a traditional POTS modem connected to a VoIP ATA. I'd think that treating the phone as a traditional modem with venerable Hayes AT commands might be more reliable than trying to do dial up connections across VoIP. It's been *YEARS* since I've tried to connect a modem to a serial port on a PC, universal or otherwise. Does anyone have any experience with or thoughts about doing this? -- Grant. . . . unix || die

2 years, 10 months

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Mac SE/30 + SCSI2SD: Disk errors and random crashes

by David Glover-Aoki

I have a recently recapped SE/30, and I have installed a SCSI2SD (v5.0a) inside it. I don't have a (working) CD drive, and the floppy drive is broken, so I configured SCSI device 3 to be a CD-ROM drive, and put the System 7.5.3 installer inside it, along with a copy of the patched "HD SC Setup" utility, so I can format the other SCSI devices, which are configured as 2GB hard disks. Booting from the "CD" works fine. Formatting the disks works fine. I cannot get the System 7.5.3 installer to complete. After copying a few files, it complains that an error occurred, and then aborts. Additionally, if I attempt to copy the contents of the "CD" to a hard disk, after copying a few files, I get an error that says a "disk error" occurred. It's not the same file every time, it copies a random number of files successfully before erroring. I've have also had a few random bomb errors, although these do not happen reliably and I haven't managed to come up with a way of causing them on demand. They may have stopped after I swapped the RAM, although that is speculation. Things that I have tried: * Playing with the "SCSI Host", "SCSI Selection Delay", "Enable Parity", "Respond to short SCSI selection pulses" settings on the SCSI2SD. No combination seems to make any noticeable difference. * Swapping out the RAM on the SE/30. I initially thought the RAM was bad, but I replaced it with a different set and the symptoms are exactly the same. * Removing the case back, in case something was overheating inside. * Replacing the microSD card with a different one. None of these have altered the symptoms at all, and I'm running out of ideas. Any suggestions would be very welcome. David

2 years, 10 months

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Dec rl02 disk pack shelf design

by devin davison

Hello, I have many rl02 disk packs for my pdp 11/34 and 11/05. I have just been stacking them upright, but that has not been the safest or the most space efficient. Were any kinds of shelves made for these disk packs, perhaps similar to 9 track hanging tape racks? Trying to make things look more organized too. Hoping someone here has one and can share a pic, perhaps it is a design i can duplicate and make with some woodworking tools. Thanks, Devin D.

2 years, 10 months

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VCFMW DEC and other gear

by Paul Anderson

If all goes well I will be driving up to WCFMW on Friday, Sep 9th, with a van loaded with DEC and PC items. If you are interested in any DEC gear, please contact me as early as possible so I can get it loaded. If you want to stop here on your way to or from VCFMW, please contact me ASAP to set up a day and time. I am located about 12 miles west of Champaign, IL ( I-57, I-74), which is about 2 1/2 or 3 hours south of WCFMW. If anyone is interested in DEC chips, I will be taking offers on several DEC boards (M7819, DZ11 and M8044, MSV11-DD come to mind- I have dozens of each) with the gold fingers cut off. I hate to do this, and you might hate it too, but I have a lot of stuff sitting here for years that need to go. I also have an assortment of several thousand unused ECL chips. Please contact me off list if you have any interest or questions. If you wish to talk, I will gladly give you my phone # off list. Thanks, Paul

2 years, 10 months

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DECnet to be dropped from Linux

by Liam Proven

https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-DECnet-2022-Removal https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220731190646.97039-1-stephen@networkplumber.… -- Liam Proven ~ Profile: https://about.me/liamproven Email: lproven(a)cix.co.uk ~ gMail/gTalk/FB: lproven(a)gmail.com Twitter/LinkedIn: lproven ~ Skype: liamproven UK: (+44) 7939-087884 ~ Czech [+ WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal]: (+420) 702-829-053

2 years, 10 months

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VT220 North of Boston

by Dave Mitton

I picked up a VT220 passing by some clean out a while ago. Green phosphor, powers up and passes self test. The keyboard has 3 broken function row keys, keycaps. Free to pickup in North Andover. Shipping would be heavy and awkward with the CRT. Dave. Sent from Mail for Windows

2 years, 10 months

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Merced hardware

by Larkin Nickle

Hey all, I’m looking for an Itanium Merced machine, such as an HP rx4610, HP i2000, SGI 750, etc. Please reach out if you have a machine you’d like to get rid of or have any leads! Thanks, Larkin

2 years, 10 months

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Need 8mm or DLT-II tape?

by Van Snyder

I have many 8mm tapes. A few are new. First comers get new ones. I have a few 8mm cleaning cassettes I have about a dozen DLT-II tapes. I have some Ultrium LTO fibre-channel SCSI drives that were removed from a tape-mounting robot several years ago. I never used them in my computers. The mounting bracket for one was modified to have an internal power supply -- which might be inadequate. I have two Fujifilm 200/400 GB Ultrium 2 LTO tapes. I have a 5.25" floppy drive. Any of these are yours for the price of shipping; local pickup is OK too. Van Snyder van.snyder(a)sbcglobal.net La Crescenta, CA

2 years, 10 months

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Fixing a TU58 Dectape II: Questions

by Chris Zach

Some quick questions on fixing up a TU58: 1) Can I plug it straight into a pdp11/23+ CPU with a 10 pin ribbon cable? 2) Can I hook the 10 pin ribbon cable on it into a normal 11/23 or 11/73 bulkhead to get RS232 for hooking up to a PDT11? 3) Can the PDT11 handle anything faster than 2400 baud on the extension ports? Can it do faster speeds in one direction? 4) Is there any possible use for this thing :-) CZ

2 years, 10 months

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Solid State Music SSM 2000 IC

by William Sudbrink

I know this is a long shot, but I just acquired an SSM SB1 S-100 board with no chips. Everything on the board is easy to source but the SSM2000 chip. Does anyone have one for sale or know where to get one? Thanks, Bill S. -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. www.avast.com

2 years, 10 months

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Slightly off topic --Places to go in Huntsville

by wrcooke＠wrcooke.net

Next week I will be in the Huntsville, Al, USA area for an entire day with no commitments. Does anyone have recommendations on how to spend my day? I have been to the space and rocket museum several times. Any computer museums or displays, especially of space-related equipment? Any good surplus stores? All suggestions welcome. Thanks, Will You don't understand anything until you learn it more than one way. Marvin Minsky

2 years, 10 months

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PDP 11/24 Unibus Termination and Grant Cards

by Rob Jarratt

The 11/24 System Technical Manual says that the terminator (M9302 or M9312) must be installed in the last slot (slot 9) of the backplane, and that all empty slots must have a grant card. What I am not clear on is what they mean by an "empty" slot. Specifically, if I have the CPU, the M7134 memory map and a memory board installed in slots 1-3 and then nothing else except the terminator in slot 9, does this mean I have to install grant cards in slots 4-8? My guess is that this isn't a requirement because the grant cards go in rows C and D while the terminator is rows A and B, but I am hoping someone can confirm this for me please? Thanks Rob

2 years, 10 months

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Elan/Syncrotech Memory Card Explorer Demo v3.21 and paging Glen Slick

by D. Resor

Syncrotech sent me the demo version of Elan Memory Card Explorer version 3.21 which is matched for use with the Elan P423 PCMCIA Card Reader/Writer and in the Windows XP environment. The demo version has 30 days use to try it in set-up mode, but only 5 "lives" in full function mode. To make it work again I may have to use a backed up version of my Registry, or re-install WinXP, mb drivers, etc. Previously with Ricoh's XP v1.01 incarnate memory block setting of (E8) E800-EBFF, the program would start-up and see the Linear Flash Card. Now with Elan's version 3.21 not only does that memory block not work but none of the other choices listed in Ricoh's manual which states: By default, MCE requires the exclusive use of a block of real mode memory at linear address d0000H to d3fffH. If MCERICOH - XP does not detect the flash memory card with the default memory block settings, this indicates that the default memory block is already in use. Try one of the following settings: (D0) D000-D3FF (default) (E0) E000-E3FF (D4) D400-D7FF (E4) E400-E7FF (D8) D800-DBFF (E8) E800-EBFF (DC) DC00-DFFF (EC) EC00-EFFF In the Elan MCE op guide which is from 1999 and doesn't completely cover up to v3.21 from 2005 it states: "wXX" XX=base memory address for card operations e.g. "wD8" will use D8000h as a base address. XX can be C0 to EF for most PCs. Default is D0. The 4K region from address chosen must be "free". Lastly in the txt file with the MCE v3.21 installation files it is stated: VERSION 3-13 * This function now works in the same way for all versions of Windows * This function should be called before any other (Except MCE_Customisations). It not only checks memory for use it registers the memory for exclusive use by our program. It also allows the library function to initialize ready for card memory accesses. * Failure to initialize successfully using this function will result in NT4 access violation messages during library function calls. * The MCE_CheckWindow function does 2 tasks -It registers the memory window with Windows. A handle to this memory window is saved in MCELIB for MCELIB use. -It tests the memory window allocated to check that it is unused. * Function MCE_ReleaseWindow() can be used to de-allocate the handle. (when multiple MCE_CheckWindow()s calls are made use MCE_ReleaseWindow() before the next MCE_CheckWindow()) * Function MCE_Restore() also deallocates this handle as part of the MCELIB closedown operations. Inputs: DWORD ----- Used to pass in the memory window address for the PCIC card controller to use. The value passed in will be used as the memory address in subsequent card operations. Pass in 00000000H for an automatically allocated memory window. The window it attempts to use is directly above the PC's system SDRAM. To maintain compatibility with earlier MCELIB versions the application software should pass in D0000H instead of 0H to this function call. Note that only 4000H increments should be used. Possible range from C0000H to EC000H or any free address above 100000H. A memory block of size 4000H is reserved with Windows and tested by the MCELIBfunction for suitability. Showing my absolute ignorance here, without a chart showing the blocks of memory I can try I'm lost. I have scoured Synchrotech's website, no answers there. I found the old Elan FAQ pages saved at the Wayback Machine but no answers there. Searching the "web" for memory address block settings in XP didn't seem to turn up what I was looking for either. Thanks for indulging me once again. Don Resor

2 years, 10 months

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Dysan 208-21 alignment disk - what is it for?

by Philip Pemberton

Hi there, Does anyone have the spec sheet for the Dysan 208-21 alignment disk, or know what drive it's intended to be used with? I've got the information sheet which comes with the disk, but it doesn't identify the tracks-per-inch or track count. It's a 5.25in double-sided disk; the info sheet says: FILE: 208-21 PAGE 001 Dysan 208-21 (Configuration #802030) Double Sided Alignment Diskette Track 0 - Full Revolution (both sides) Track 1 - Index Burst (both sides) Track 16 - Index, Azimuth and Catseye (both sides) Track 33 - Full Revolution (both sides) Track 34 - Index and Azimuth (both sides) Full Revolution - recording frequency is 125 kHz Index Burst - 50us in duration and occurs 200us after index. Recording frequency 125 kHz. Azimuth - Four bursts that depicts an azimuth of 12'. Each burst is 1 millisecond in duration with the first burst occurring 500us after index. The recording frequency is 125kHz. Catseye - recording frequency 62.5 kHz Sadly the part number doesn't appear on Accurite's old website (per archive.org), or the Dysan PDFs I've found on Bitsavers. About the only thing I've been able to figure out is that it's an Analog Alignment Disk. Thanks, -- Phil. classiccmp(a)philpem.me.uk https://www.philpem.me.uk/

2 years, 10 months

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Posts Blocked

by Ali

Hello All, Since the new hosting has taken over I am having a ton of issues posting to the list. Anyone else experiencing legit posts being blocked as spam? -Ali

2 years, 10 months

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Connecting a physical terminal via LAN to Serial Port

by Ali

I am looking for some advice and recommendations on how to best go about accomplishing the following: I have recently come into possession of an actual physical terminal that can be connected to a device via a standard RS232 (serial) port, so far so good. I have a number of devices that can be connected to for maintenance (e.g. FW updates, configuration, etc.) via a serial port. Currently I have been using an old laptop with a terminal program (Procomm Plus) whenever I want to connected to one of these devices. This involves crawling around connecting the serial cable, doing what needs to be done, crawling back disconnecting, rinse and repeat. I can connect the physical terminal to one device at a time and have a permanent connection to that one device, great for one device but not so useful. So I was thinking if it would be possible to do this over the LAN. I know about console servers where I could connect multiple serial devices to the server and then access each device over LAN via a telnet client on a modern system using an IP:port schema. This works great except I don't get to play with my shiny, new to me, authentic experience terminal device. So I am wondering if there is a box that provides a telnet CLIENT to a serial port device? I.E. a box smart enough that handles the telnet client, LAN functions, and terminal emulations internally and then provides a text based interface through a serial port that is compatible with my physical terminal? That way my physical terminal would be connected to the RS232/LAN bridge all the time and I could connected to not only the serial ports connected to the console server but other telnet accessible services as all the heavy lifting would be done on the bridge. I am ideally looking for a ready to go, low power device, I can hide away as opposed to setting up a PC of my own running some *nix flavor that I know can do this but is way over kill. Oh yeah and if it is super cheap even better. Thanks! -Ali

2 years, 10 months

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Re: BBS memorabilia (fwd)

by Fred Cisin

The greatest ever video about pre-WWW internet was "Hyperland". a 1991 BBC documentary by Douglas Adams and Ted Nelson, and also starring Tom Baker. A few years BEFORE WWW, it predicted the future of the internet. https://archive.org/details/DouglasAdams-Hyperland If you want subtitles/captions, 5 years ago, I created an .SRT (camptions file of it! https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4hCJm9ZEADCblVSVlBxdmZyREU/view?usp=drive… (400MB video with subtitles burned in) .SRT file: http://www.xenosoft.com/HyperlandCAPS_En_US_0_77.srt

2 years, 10 months

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BBS memorabilia

by Ryan de Laplante

Over the years I have been collecting BBS related memorabilia such as Night Owl shareware CDs, Boardwatch magazine, BBS magazine, books, manuals, original disks, etc. Does anyone have any BBS memorabilia they might be willing to sell to me? I’m particularly interested in PCBoard box/disks/manuals. I know the software can be downloaded from the Internet.. I’m interested in the original box set. I’m also interested in CRS Online pamphlets, receipts, catalogues, etc. Has anyone ever seen promotional videos showing Prodigy, Compuserv, Delphi, GENie, AOL? I've collected disks, but the systems are long gone so archived video is all we have to remember them by. When I was young, I remember seeing disks and pamphlets for these services in the box when upgrading modems. They had serious brand recognition. By the time the Internet was becoming available to the public, I remember being more interested in getting a Compuserv account lol. After getting our first Internet account in 1994, I was confused because I didn’t know where the “file areas”, “message areas” and “chat” were after being so used to BBS menus. Eventually I learned about FTP, USENET, and IRC. We even had a “yellow pages” paper book where you could look up topic specific FTP, USENET, and Gopher sites.

2 years, 10 months

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Searching for software for Tektronix 4970 Cluster Controller

by Alexander Huemer

Hi The Tektronix 4970 does something similar to an IBM 3174 or 3708. It hooks up terminals to an IBM mainframe, in this case Tektronix graphics terminals, see [1], p.36ff. Is anybody here in possession of the software that runs on it? -Alex [1] http://bitsavers.org/pdf/tektronix/tekniques/vol7/Tekniques_Vol_7_No_03.pdf

2 years, 10 months

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Cheap Lantronix Hardware

by Jonathan Chapman

All, Per the LAN-attached serial thread, here's another cheap Lantronix device: https://www.ebay.com/itm/123577635191 This is a LRS-2, which is basically a two-port LRS-1, one of their older models of serial bridges. The LRS-2 is nice not only for the two ports, but because it also has AUI and thinnet. No PSU, but it's a typical 12V 1A center positive supply. Thanks, Jonathan

2 years, 10 months

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How to reproduce the DEC cabinets' grey colour paint?

by P Gebhardt

Hello list, does anybody of you know colour codes or the mixture to obtain the grey paint that DEC used for their early H960 cabinet side panels as well as for their later cabinet from the 80s and 90s like the H9A10 or H9A15? Some of my cabinets have scratches and I would like to cosmetically fix this. I thought I remember some discussions about DEC paint some years ago but I couldn't find anything helpful in my archives except for discussions about colours for DEC's classic front panels. Any pointers are very much appreciated. Thanks, Pierre ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.digitalheritage.de

2 years, 10 months

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Old fashioned PCB layout images, red/blue

by William Sudbrink

Hi, What is the "correct" name for the style (technology?) of circuit board layout images where the top is blue, the bottom is red and overlaps are purple? Also, any silkscreen is black. I thought someone once told me that there was an automated tool (maybe in KiCad?) that would produce Gerbers from that type of image. Does anyone know of such a utility? Thanks, Bill S. -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

2 years, 10 months

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