May 2025 - cctalk - classiccmp.org

by Peter Ekstrom

Hello to the group, I have been banging my head against a PDP-11/23 where I have an RQDX3 I'm trying to get to work. Actually, I have two RQDX3's but only one at a time. It is configured to the factory CSR, 172150, and it has the latest microcode on it. When I run the XXDP ZRQCH0 formatter I get the following: RQDX3 Disk Formatter Utility UNIT IS Formattable Winchester (RDnn) or Floppy (RX33) Drives RSTRT ADR 145702 DR>STA CHANGE HW (L) ? Y # UNITS (D) ? 1 UNIT 0 Enter controller IP Address (O) 172150 ? What unit do you want to format [0-255] (D) 0 ? Would you like to revector a single LBN only [Y/N] (L) N ? Do you want to use the "AUTOFORMAT" Mode [Y/N] (L) Y ? N ZRQC SYS FTL ERR 00006 ON UNIT 00 TST 001 SUB 000 PC: 105742 Fatal Controller Error During Initialization. ZRQC SYS FTL ERR 00006 ON UNIT 00 TST 001 SUB 002 PC: 105742 Fatal Controller Error During Initialization. ZRQC EOP 1 2 TOTAL ERRS DR> I have been booting XXDP and also RT11 over an emulator TU58. And I have a BDV11 so it has an LTC. I did try downgrading the microcode on the RQDX3 to the previous version, 3. It was 4. But no luck. Am I missing something? This should work with an M8186 CPU board, right? Anyone have any ideas? I haven't yet, but I plan to pop one of these RQDX3s in my 11/23+ and see if it works there. -Peter

4 hours, 17 minutes

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Re: IBM 5155

by Phill Kennedy

Bill, Please update your email on QRZ.com to a working email address. Thanks Phill, a fellow ham.

2 days, 5 hours

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IBM 5155

by Bill Gunshannon

I just managed to score a 5155. Well, soon, it is waiting for me to pick it up at the University where I used to work. It looks to be in really good shape and has been in storage for probably two decades or more. A couple quick question for anyone familiar with this system. Is it likely there is one of those little batteries on it that would now be dead and need replacing before I try to use it? And, also, would this have a floppy controller on it that was capable of reading and writing disks from systems like the TRS-80 with an SD boot track? Inquiring minds want to know. :-) bill

2 days, 10 hours

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Comstar Computer Systems System 4 Intel 4004 based Industrial Computer

by Christian Liendo

Back in Nov of 2023 Ed Sharpe asked the following: “Was there ever a COMPUTER using a 4004 that you could really do something or did that finally arrive with the 8008” https://classiccmp.org/mailman3/hyperkitty/list/cctalk@classiccmp.org/messa… I hope to answer that question, or at least spark a discussion. For a number of years now I have been researching this computer called a Comstar System 4 which is based on the Intel 4004. The Comstar Corporation of Minneapolis was a developer of microcomputer control and automation systems and in 1972 released the System 4 microcomputer. Comstar built a general purpose capable computer that could be programmed to do a multitude of tasks but their market focus was industrial automation. Comstar was eventually bought by Warner & Swasey in 1974 to integrate their computers into the Warner & Swasey product line. Warner & Swasey was a huge manufacturer of industrial machines. So they bought Comstar to be their Computer division. In fact it was called " Warner & Swasey Comstar Microcomputer Electronic Products" Warner and Swasey also licensed the Micral N to do the same and we call the Micral N a computer. The Micral N was designed for process control, but we know of it as a computer. Now before anyone argues about if this is a computer or not, I will state the following. It was called a Microcomputer in the ACM titled "Development of a portable compiler for industrial microcomputer systems " It was called a Microcomputer in Electronics Magazine July 11th 1974 It was listed as a Microcomputer in "Auerbach Guide to Minicomputers" April 1976 & Winter 1976 - 1977 It was listed as a Microcomputer in Datamation Magazine Dec 1974 It was called a Microcomputer in "A MICROCOMPUTER BASED SUBSTATION CONTROL SYSTEM" The University of Oklahoma, Ph.D., 1975 Engineering, electronics and electrical Page 90 It was listed as a Microcomputer in the Intel MCS 4 User Manual Feb 1973 page 171 It was listed as a Microcomputer in Electronics Magazine Jan 1973, they promote the 4004 and 8008 and use the System 4 as an example. The reality is this existed, was 4004 based and there were discussions about it in the media at the time. Anyway I wanted to see if there was more interest in researching this computer. I listed a number of articles and references below that either discuss Comstar, The Warner Swasey Computer Division, the “System 4” or “Star 4” Computer. All the Manuals and schematics I was able to upload to archive.org https://archive.org/search?query=subject%3A%22Comstar+Computer+Systems%22 Computer History Museum's Archive of the Manual https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102686568 Pictures of the items I have collected so far https://imgur.com/a/Oyts3A9 The website "Internet Scripophily Museum of Computing" has a page on the history of The Warner & Swasey Company. It's a decent timeline of the company http://ismoc.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-warner-swasey-company.html "Development of a portable compiler for industrial microcomputer systems" by LEROY H. ANDERSON The Warner & Swasey Company, it discusses the system and has images on the unit. https://www.computer.org/csdl/pds/api/csdl/proceedings/download-article/12O… In the ACM's archives "Development of a portable compiler for industrial microcomputer systems" by LEROY H. ANDERSON The Warner & Swasey Company, it discusses the system and has images on the unit. https://www.computer.org/csdl/pds/api/csdl/proceedings/download-article/12O… Electronics Magazine July 11th 1974 Article: Industrial Automatic control proliferates, they are mentioned on page 84 & 85 https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Electronics/70s/74/Electronics-19… There is a mention about the compiler in the IEEE on Page 25 under Compiler Programmer https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=6368812 Computer Design Magazine Nov 1975 Page 129 they talk about the compiler. https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_ComputerDe_90611286/page/128/mode/2up The Intel MCS 4 User Manual Feb 1973 page 171 and in Electronics Magazine Jan 1973, they promote the 4004 and 8008 and use the System 4 as an example. http://www.bitsavers.org/components/intel/MCS4/MCS-4_UsersManual_Feb73.pdf https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Electronics/70s/73/Electronics-19… There are a number of sources that list the computer as a "microcomputer" and provide specs showing it being 4004 based. Datamation Magazine Page 97 & 101 http://www.bitsavers.org/magazines/Datamation/197412.pdf In "Auerbach Guide to Minicomputers" April 1976, the computer is mentioned on page 54 and page 70. http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/auerbach/Auerbach_Guide_to_Minicomputers_Apr76… In "Auerbach Guide to Minicomputers" Winter 1976 - 1977, the computer is mentioned on page 32 http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/auerbach/Auerbach_Guide_to_Minicomputers_1976-…

3 days, 14 hours

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Re: IBM 5155

by Ali

>Is it likely there is one of those little batteries on it that would>now be dead and need replacing before I try to use it?>Congrats and no. This is your std XT (5160) MB just shoved in a case with a handle and monitor.>And, also, would this have a floppy controller on it that was capable>of reading and writing disks from systems like the TRS-80 with an SD boot track?>If it works on an XT it will work on a 5155. If not then no.

3 days, 16 hours

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DEC MAD-11

by hupfadekroua

Hi All, In my collection I do have a blinkenlight front panel with a label MAD-11. Based on the adress and data switches the system should be of 18 Bits wide. I don‘t see any kind of references or links to docs while querying the internet. Does some of you have any information or hints available? A.

3 days, 23 hours

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Philips P3800 key lock swtch

by Tony Duell

Does anyone know anything about the key lock on the mains on/off switch of the P3800? I have one without a key. I can't identify the lock manufacturer (no markings on it at all) so I've not been able to get a blank to cut a replacement key. A friend who is a locksmith said she'd never seen anything like it. Any ideas who made the lock itself? Were all P3800 machines normally 'keyed alike' If so, a copy of an existing key (anyone have one?) would be a great help. Yes, I can trvially bypass the lock/switch mechanically or electrically. But I want to try to get this thing as original as possible. -tony

5 days, 9 hours

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Wanted: DEC ba23 or ba123 chassis

by lbmgmusic＠gmail.com

I am building up a micro vax and need an empty chassis. Given the number of dec boards on ebay, I assume (hopefully) that there are some empty chassis out there. Please PM if you know of an option. tnx jc

6 days, 12 hours

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Re: Finding a Honeywell 316?

by Adrian Stoness

digging through emails and just found this again strangely i have the h316 manuals from lynn lake found them in my house i bought in 2017 did some digging around to find the system but it got tossed out in 2016 apparently argg On Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 10:39 PM Paul Anderson <wackyvorlon(a)me.com> wrote: > My father worked in a mine in the '70s that was using a Honeywell 316 for > process control. I was thinking it might be neat to see if I could track > one down. What are they worth the days? How common are they? > > Sent from my iPad >

1 week

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Wanted: DEC ba23 or ba123 chassis

by lbmgmusic＠gmail.com

I am building up a micro vax and need an empty chassis. Given the number of dec boards on ebay, I assume (hopefully) that there are some empty chassis out there. Please PM if you know of an option. tnx jc

1 week

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