January 2025 - cctalk - classiccmp.org

OT: not that classic but already old: Cubieboard2

by Holm Tiffe

Hi all, I've got 3 pcs. Cubieboard 2 SBC's with the Allwinner A20 SOC Chip on them. That's kind of a RaspberryPi SBC with an 2 Code Arm7hf on it. The boards are equipped with HDMI, USB, Ethernet (100Tx), SATA, SD Card slot and some 4G NAND Flash Cip on it. RAM is 1 Gbyte, CPU Clock is 996Mhz. Additionally I've bought some Base Boards for them, that's the DVK521 from Waveshare..contains the Baseboard, an Camera Module OV670, a 7" LCD with LVDS, a thermo sensor and other things.. Good HW in my eyes, but already outdated. I wnt to use the boards for some Home/house related stuff, PV, heating, Light control etc. and for that they should be more than enough. The Chips even have an graphics accelerator in the SOC. Now the Problem: as far as I know Allwinner has made some mistake using gnu/Linux stuff without any respecting the GPL. Because of that (if no other cause) most of the support Software on the net seems to be gone. There where some different Linux distributions for it, (Linaro, Cubieez etc) but most of the stuff isn't available anymore because of dead links. I've successfully build an modern Armbian image for them..but have endless trouble. The Xserver configutres an not existing Video Output, the LCD is unknown at all and if I manage to switch the X-server to the HDMI output using xrandr (only with tricks because it needs a session) the performance is like some old thick glue... Besides of that I had to fix an already for 8 years known Bug in the A20 Ethernet driver (it simpy has a more modern ethernet Unit as the A10 inside) that was'nt fixed at all. Armbian has only "community Support" fo those chips..which means that there is no support at all. If one asks for help the answer is more or less "find it yourself and provide a patch". I have an Linaro disk image that seems to be working, but there are some parts missing. The base distribution seems to be ubuntu 12.04 LTS (precise Pangolin) for armhf. I can't find a package repository anymore..(since that's long outdated). I've managed to install ssh by using an tarball of an ubuntu 12.04 armhf image for another board..and it works..but sshd is still missing. There are more modern disk images at https://mega.nz/folder/ZtwxCCJC#AIYHcTqz-ucjuzKnE9qD7A/folder/t0p2SBQD but mostly they don't even boot..possibly they using an newer/other uboot and uboot-envirnonment... Now the question: Is someone in the world still using those boards and has disk images/software for them? Again: I'ts not that much interesting that this is old linux, because I'll use that only inhouse in the lan, not browsing actual websites.. I'm a BSD guy and not know that much about Linux, especially such things as configurations for uboot etc. and there is none that I could ask for such things. Kind Regards, Holm -- Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583 info(a)tsht.de Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

2 months, 4 weeks

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Fanuc Tape Reader PECs 1980's - Connector Identification

by Martin Bishop

1980's Fanuc tape reader PECs are fitted with two families of connector I am unfamiliar with : one is used for power and the other for signal connections -further detail and pictures in the following VCF post No joy on Burndy website or at BitSavers - wisdom gratefully received https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/fanuc-pec-connectors-who-is-the-o… Martin

2 months, 4 weeks

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Fwd: SBC6128

by Doug Jackson

Hi Dave, I'll send this to the group, I suspect my email made it into your spam. Doug ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Doug Jackson <doug(a)doughq.com> Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2025, 6:05 am Subject: Re: SBC6128 To: <dave.g4ugm(a)gmail.com> Hi Dave, I was just researching the IOB6120 (I had an 8 at the end of the model.. sigh - memory is often faulty) WOW - I had no idea that existed. I also had no idea that the community picked up Bob's designs and ran with them so enthusiastically - I feel like I have been under a rock for quite a while. I would be very very happy to purchase your board + IOB that you have put together - If the enclosure is not ideal, I am very happy to update that - these little boards are awesome. Just let me know a Paypal address and shipping details. Kindest regards, Doug Jackson em: doug(a)doughq.com ph: 0414 986878 Follow my amateur radio adventures at vk1zdj.net On Tue, 14 Jan 2025 at 05:37, Doug Jackson <doug(a)doughq.com> wrote: > Hi Dave, > > Thanks so much for that. > > Yes, postage is a pain, but necessary. > > If you are not using it, then the partially built one makes sense > (assuming you can find the programable logic and CPU). > > Failing that, then I don't mind paying the 250 Pounds for the built board > as long as it's complete :-) As I said, I was devastated. > > Are you able to double check and send me some photos. > > For a shipping address, I am at: > > Doug Jackson > 5 Pinschof Place, > Gordn, ACT, 2906 > Australia > +61 414 986878 > > Kindest regards, > > Doug Jackson > > em: doug(a)doughq.com > ph: 0414 986878 > > Follow my amateur radio adventures at vk1zdj.net > >

2 months, 4 weeks

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New DRAM (SIMM) board works but gives a parity error, only on cold powerup

by Anders Gustafsson

Hi! I have been mostly lurking here, but I have been designing a DRAM board for the HP1000 A-Series, using a more modern 72-pin SIMM. The A400 can adress 32Mb of parity ram so I use 17 bits on a 64Mb SIMM. I have taken inspiration from the original HP12103X boards and tried to keep away from esoteric parts. The board prototype works now and passes all tests, except that it gives a partity error in one of the first addresses (ie 2,7,10 octal) when booted cold. If I then run a %T it works fine, and also if I reset by bringing PON low. I have tested with different SIMMs and the two different types I have tested both exhibit the same issue. The 64Mb one has Samsung KM41C16000C chips. As this is for hobby-use, it is not a big deal as the board works, otherwise, but it is annoying. If anyone here, and I expect there are several that have worked with DRAM chips, have any suggestions on this issue or the board in general? Schematic is here:www.dalton.ax/hp1000/Memory/HP1000RAM_SIMM_Buffers_20241130.pdf Yes. I have also written protocol decodes for the KingstWiz LA5032 32-bit LA to analyse the HP memory bus if anyone is interested. -- Med vänlig hälsning Anders Gustafsson, ingenjör

2 months, 4 weeks

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DECtalk for Digital UNIX

by Cameron Kaiser

Anyone out there collecting Digital UNIX or Tru64 stuff? I'm trying to find the Alpha version of DECtalk V4.2A that ran on Digital UNIX. The readme file is easy to find but not the actual package. If you know where it is or have a good guess, I'd be much obliged (and so will this AlphaPC 164LX running Tru64 5.1B). -- ------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ -- Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser(a)floodgap.com -- The surest test of discipline is its absence. -- Clara Barton --------------

3 months

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Not Try Algol 68 on Windows

by Lyndon Nerenberg (VE7TFX/VE6BBM)

Could we maybe change the subject headers here? Neither Fortran nor IBM terminal controllers has anything to do with Algol :-)

3 months

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Re: Try Algol 68 on Windows

by Paul McJones

This sounds like FLACC (Full Language Algol68 Checkout Compiler) by Chris Thomson and Colin Broughton: "You know, we only ever got 22 copies installed, and less than 5 of those in North America. Even though it ran on 370's under MVS, CMS and MTS, and was cheap and reliable. Talk about a marketing disaster. " [Chris Thomson, comp.lang.misc, November 27, 1988] https://www.softwarepreservation.org/projects/ALGOL/algol68impl/#FLACC > Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2025 07:02:08 -0800 > From: "Lyndon Nerenberg (VE7TFX/VE6BBM)" <lyndon(a)orthanc.ca <mailto:lyndon@orthanc.ca>> > Subject: [cctalk] Re: Try Algol 68 on Windows > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org <mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org>> > Message-ID: <58bac767a09d3a37(a)orthanc.ca <mailto:58bac767a09d3a37@orthanc.ca>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Mike Parr via cctalk writes: >> Hello all. >> Here is a link to something I wrote - brief intro to Algol 68's background, a >> nd how to run it on Windows - with a toy IDE as well. > > This triggers a fuzzy memory of an Algol 68 compiler running on > MTS at the U of Alberta, circa 1980. ISTR Chris Thompson at UofA > Computing Services had a hand in its development. > > Was this just a UofA thing? Did it escape to other MTS installations? > Did anyone use it to write substantial programs on MTS? Or was it > intended for Comp. Sci. teaching purposes? > > --lyndon

3 months

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Re: Try Algol 68 on Windows

by donald donaldwhittemore.com

Yes, but punch cards did not have to worry about magnets. 😊

3 months

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Re: FOCAL history

by Paul McJones

Note in his "FOCAL Notes and Background <http://www.softwarepreservation.net/projects/FOCAL/index#Merrill2024>”, Rick Merrill said: "Back in Maynard I took an editor, a floating point package and the specs for the JOHNNIAC Open Shop System (JOSS) and ideas from the Massachusetts General Hospital Utility Multi-Programming System (MUMPS) and wrote an interpreter that would do the user's job on the spot and interactively" > Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2025 10:33:46 +0100 > From: Hans-Ulrich Hölscher <vaxorcist(a)googlemail.com <mailto:vaxorcist@googlemail.com>> > Subject: [cctalk] Re: FOCAL history > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org <mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org>> > Cc: Mike Parr <mikeparr(a)live.com <mailto:mikeparr@live.com>> > Message-ID: > <CABG6mpaVHJWhECDiuxHZQcj+GwohHqqh9=HWJR0f2ooT+0PnPQ(a)mail.gmail.com <mailto:CABG6mpaVHJWhECDiuxHZQcj+GwohHqqh9=HWJR0f2ooT+0PnPQ@mail.gmail.com>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Sorry, no: > BASIC 1963 > FOCAL 1968 > > Hans-Ulrich Hölscher <vaxorcist(a)googlemail.com <mailto:vaxorcist@googlemail.com>> schrieb am Mo., 13. Jan. > 2025, 10:31: > >> Isn't FOCAL older than BASIC? >> >> Mike Parr via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org <mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org>> schrieb am Mo., 13. Jan. >> 2025, 10:03: >> >>> I wondered about any influences from BASIC?

3 months

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Re: Try Algol 68 on Windows (fwd)

by Lyndon Nerenberg (VE7TFX/VE6BBM)

[Oops. Forgot to cc the list the first time.]

3 months

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2025

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cctalk January 2025