Hello all,
we now have a RM03 drive, but are missing all the cables and the RH11
backplane, though I have the cards.
Since the drive itself is a CDC 9762 I was wondering if I could ignore the
Massbus adapter in the drive cabinet and use the CDC as a "normal" SMD
drive (at least it uses the standard 60+26 pin cables).
There are no service manuals/schematics of the drive itself, so I can't
look there. And all I could find on the net were discussions of using the
Massbus adapter for normal SMD drives but in my case, I don't want Massbus
at all.
Christian
"So... my recommendation is to look over schematics for differences. I
think there are some."
I have some RM03's and a 9762, and this matches my understanding of these drives also, in other words one or more of the cards in the RM drive itself were modified, meaning that the MASSBUS interface doesn't connect to the drive over a standard SMD interface. These cards (in the drives) are not very large or complex, I'm guessing it should be possible to identify the differences. Also please don't discard the MASSBUS adapters - they're probably of interest to the community!
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
Would anyone like to rescue a vintage Pick minicomputer in Manitoba, Canada?
https://discuss.systems/@ahelwer/112836345012817998
«
A wide ask here so please boost: my grandfather is trying to get rid of
an old business computer, and I was wondering whether any vintage
computer people might want it. It was purchased for $50k from The
Ultimate Corporation in the early 80s. This ran the Pick operating
system, and my best guess is the hardware was originally manufactured by
GE or Honeywell. It's about the size of a half-rack and currently lives
in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. It has sat covered in plastic in a
chemical warehouse for the past 35 years. Where do people usually post
stuff like this other than here? Thanks!
»
--
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Last month, I got to speak at VCF SW on aspects about the history of
personal computers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpF6Ofrr6_0
(I botched a couple things, a link to corrections is in the Description)
I brought up the 1968 book "How to build a working digital
computer"(Alcosser). I was wondering about opinions here on that book -
was it at all influential at the time? Or is anyone aware of actually
building the system it describes?
And - any thoughts on "digital computer" vs analog? I'm aware of early
Heathkit analog computers. Is it fair to say quantum computing is sort of
a return back to analog computing?
I recently heard someone make a comment that we're near the end of the
"3.3V era" (maybe this was in the recent X16 talk, where some of the
challenges of the recent retro-remakes is exploring back to the 5V era and
how it's getting more difficult to find modern-make components that support
that).
Has no one explored a "tri-state" system? (discrete regions across 5V?)
- Steve
(v* voidstar tech, not to be confused with voidstar labs)
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>>
