Recently people repeatedly mentioned relay computers.
There is a very nice 8-bit relay computer implementation by Joe Allen. The
computer looks and feels like the microprocessor trainer boards of the 70s.
The CPU is implemented in 83 relays. Memory, front panel interface and
serial port are implemented in a MicroChip PIC and a few ICs. This is a
fully functional computer with a well thought out instruction set.
Here is a link to a YouTube video showing the relay computer in operation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1hJoalcK68
Here is the SourceForge project page: http://relaysbc.sourceforge.net/
Joe used to sell the bare PCBs with programmed MicroChip PIC on Tindie and
Ebay, but it seems he no longer has any PCBs left.
Here is the Tindie link:
https://www.tindie.com/products/jhallen/single-board-relay-computer/
Enjoy!
Tom
Hi all!
Me and my buddy are building an Apple I replica, for now successfully.
Recently we have tested the video signal :) However, we are having big
problems (as you can imagine) with finding Signetics 2519 chips. I know
many ordered them in bulk, so I would be thankful for any help (we have US
address) or information.
As for the other components, the 74160, 7450 and DS0025C are the blockers
at this moment. These we would probably find much easier (already did
actually, just looking to maybe get them from the same source).
Thanks in advance,
Igor
As above. Looking for a 14" SA-4008 for testing with the Ohio Scientific CD-23 disk system. We're at the point with it that we can get known good data off (we see FORTH source in it) but can't boot and get errors off some of the sectors/tracks. I'd like to be able to try and initialize it, but the SA-4008 I have contains useful information that we don't want to destroy!
Thanks,
Jonathan
One idea I've had for a number of years now is to use a PLC to simulate
a relay computer. Seems like it would be a fun project. While I have the
PLC, the time and motivation to do it is currently escaping me. The idea
came as I was looking at the Simon computer construction project from
one of the electronics magazines.
Marvin
I'm just starting to clean up a NeXT system that a friend has had in
storage for decades...
I assume the thing has a battery somewhere - I just hope it isn't Ni-Cad!
This is the original cube, monitor, keyboard (& mouse?), printer,
assorted cables, and a SCSI secondary hard drive box. So far the manuals
haven't shown up, but that is all online AFAICT.
My plan is to give them all a good cleaning, then open up and inspect
capacitors, look for batteries and any other perishable items, and then
do diode checks prior to considering powering up. The remembered
background story was a nearby lightning strike may have taken out the
(1200 baud?) external modem, so will be paying extra attention to the
serial ports! Sniff test may still be useful even after 20ish years.
Any suggestions on what else to watch for on this setup prior to first
power? I also will be using the Dim-Bulb setup once it seems safe to
turn on. Anyone seen a common problem in power supplies for these
components for example?
Planned destination is auction...
Thanks!
John :-#)#
Yes I find them useful also. But they are almost all archived on archive.org.. so I wondered how much value an actual paper copy would have. I thought Peoples Computer Company had a decent circulation (like in the tens of thousands) and could be expected to turn up from time to time. Have to pay more attention.Sent from my Galaxy
-------- Original message --------From: Bill Degnan via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> Date: 2024-07-16 3:38 p.m. (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> Cc: Bill Degnan <billdegnan(a)gmail.com> Subject: [cctalk] Re: Old vintage computing magazine/newsletters Personally I find them invaluable for research.BillOn Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 5:53 PM Brad H via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>wrote:> Just a 'survey' sort of question - how much value do you guys put in> vintage> copies of old newsletters, magazines, etc. I'm talking mid-1970s, like> People's Computer Company, etc. Someone has been selling them one at a> time> on ebay and they routinely go for $125+ each! Was PCC fairly low> circulation? I have no idea how rare these things are - if I should just> dive in to have my memento or wait. Looking at auction history it seems to> be the same group of 2 or 3 bidders going nuts over them.>>>> One newsletter I would love to find an original copy of is Micro-8.. but I> think the circulation on that was just a hundred or so, so probably> unlikely. It has some blurbs from Grant Runyan in there, who built my TVT> and Mark-8.>>>> But yeah, I just wondered if you guys think generally this stuff *should&> be> considered valuable - given most/all is archived online.>>>> Brad>>
Question going back to the estate planning subject...do auction houses tend to receive higher bids than ebay for vintage computer gear? Are they any better in terms of finding the right buyers?One day I might want to sell my Mark-8 and TVT, not immediately though. But more and more am thinking of getting out before I'm gotten out.BradSent from my Galaxy
Sellam,
Stay the FUCK off my private email. That crosses the line and you
know it.
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Re: [cctalk] Civility; Was Re: Re: LCM auction pre-notice
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2024 11:46:54 -0700
From: Sellam Abraham <sellam.ismail(a)gmail.com>
To: Doc Shipley <doc(a)vaxen.net>
On Mon, Jul 15, 2024 at 10:19 AM Doc Shipley via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org <mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org>> wrote:
On 7/15/24 12:12, Sellam Abraham via cctalk wrote:
> The only thing criminal here is Paul Allen's handling of LCM.
>
With all due respect, man, your noise:signal ratio is getting really
awful. Do you ever look at what you've typed and ask yourself if it's
*useful*?
The last I looked this mailing list was meant to be an exchange of
information and a source of support, not a Reddit clone.
Useful or not, it needs to be stated.
I stand by the comment.
Thanks for your feedback.
Sellam
On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 18:13 PM Joshua Rice <rice43(a)btinternet.com> wrote:
> I imagine it's quite difficult. Maybe not "functional Twiggy drive"
> difficult, but probably "unmolested 128k Macintosh" difficult.
>
> It of course depends on who you know, and who you ask. Undoubtedly
> there's a guy out there with a stack of them in a shed somewhere, but
> getting hold of him is a different matter entirely.
>
I think this person exists and is relatively easy to contact: it's Rob
Blessin of Black Hole Inc (https://next.blackholeinc.com/). If he doesn't
have a 68030 board, ask around on the NeXT forums at
https://www.nextcomputers.org/forums/ (I think these are also related to
Rob in some way).
In my experience the SMT capacitors pose a much greater threat to NeXT PCBs
than the battery: these are classic early 90s caps that must be assumed to
be leaking already. Replace them. Same goes for several of the through-hole
caps in the N4000-series mono displays (ELNA "Long Life" my foot --- you'll
find they come out moist and fishy-smelling). (Plus there are SMT caps in
the display's digital board too.)
As for the bright yellow Panasonic BR-2/3A lithium primary cell battery: I
issue a challenge to this community. I've never seen one leak. Nobody I've
asked has ever seen one leak. Rob Blessin who has handled thousands of NeXT
boards has never seen one leak. It's a bit maddening since batteries are
supposed to leak eventually and the Panasonics just seem like they...
don't. In fact, they often still hold a good voltage, and I'll confess
here: *I'm still running some of the 30-year-old originals in my NeXTs!*
The replacements I got from DigiKey a few years back are sitting in my
component stores gathering dust, just waiting.
The challenge: have *you* ever seen a leaky Panasonic BR-2/3A lithium
primary cell battery?
Surely their day will come someday --- we'll see them start to go. But for
now it sure feels like we're in the long, low bottom of a very big
bathtub-shaped curve.
--Tom
> Josh Rice
>
> On 16/07/2024 17:24, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:
> > how hard is it to track down a replacement NeXT cube motherboard?
> > Bill
> >
> > On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 11:38 AM John Robertson via cctalk <
> > cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >
> >> On 2024/07/16 6:28 a.m., Paul Koning wrote:
> >>>> On Jul 16, 2024, at 9:05 AM, John Robertson via cctalk<
> >> cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >>>> I'm just starting to clean up a NeXT system that a friend has had in
> >> storage for decades...
> >>>> I assume the thing has a battery somewhere - I just hope it isn't
> >> Ni-Cad!
> >>> At that age it might well be. So what? I think they are still
> >> available. Or you can replace it by a non-rechargeable battery. That's
> >> what I did with the ToD clock battery in my Pro; a lithium coin cell
> with a
> >> series diode to prevent "charging" is not an ideal solution but
> adequate,
> >> and it would be better if I used a Schottky diode rather than a plain Si
> >> rectifier diode I happened to have lying around.
> >>> paul
> >> Battery leakage was the issue - having dealt with a great many logic
> >> boards damaged or destroyed by leaking Ni-Cad batteries.
> >>
> >> I've since seen a photo of the inside of the NeXT and it looks like they
> >> used a plug in Lithium battery, so that risk is no longer of much
> >> concern to me.
> >>
> >> John :-#)#
> >>
>
Does anyone have access to compile-able files for IBM's Scientific
Subroutine Package? 360/370, 1130 -- anything will do. I have a
copy of 360A_CM-03X_SSP.tap and have even converted it away
from EBCDIC. I have not, however, properly de-blocked it yet and
figgered I'd ask if someone already has ready-to-go files. FORTRAN
would of course be the origin; any language will do, however.
RK
