I've skimmed the thread about making images of floppy disks. I want to
do the reverse.
But I had better explain. There are 2 subsets of computers here. The
larger subset -- all but one of the machines -- are classic computers.
These machines tend to hve real floppy drives and RS232 ports and not
much else.These machines I understand. I have service/technical
manuals. I have schematics. I can generally figure out how to program
them.
The other set contains one machine. A modern-ish (for me) PC laptop.
It has USB ports. It gets me on the internet (it is the only
internet-connected machine at the moment). It does not have floppy
drives [1]. I do have a USB-RS232 interface -- first thing I bought
for it. I have no proper manuals for it. I do not know how to program
it or interface it.
[1] I think I have a USB floppy drive somewhere, but it'll be a
'1.44Mbyte' [2] 3.5" thing. A type of drive conspiculously absent on
my classic machines.
[2] In quotes becuase it is, of course, nothing of the sort. Well, not
unless you believe a megabyte is 1000*1024 bytes.
Given that the floppy disk images are going to come on the latter
machine, what is the easiest way to get them onto real floppy disks
for my classics. I think it's reasonable to assume they'll be FM or
MFM encoded at the standard rates and that I will have drives capable
of handling the disk. FM of couse rules out using some PC disk
controllers.
I do of course have no objections to making stuff, but I'd rather not
start trying to interface a WD2793 to a Raspberry Pi if there's a
standard way to do things.
-tony
A couple of questions if anyone has experience of this machine :
1) There is a 5 pin DIN socket for connecting an external video
monitor. The signals seem to be TTL-level separate syncs at European
TV rates (15625Hz horizontal, 50Hz vertical) and separate (not
composite) 4-level analogue video.
I believe Philips sold a 12" monitor to connect there. What was the
model number? Is a service manual availabe?
Has anybody linked other monitors to that socket?
2) There is a 50 pin card edge for a SASI interface. I think the
Philips hard disk unit used the Xebec S1410 controller. I've
downloaded the user manual for that from bitsavers which at least
gives me the command set.
Does anyone have experience of a SASI-flash memory interface? Any
recomendations for things to look at? Or should I design my own, it
doesn't appear too hard?
FWIW to tie in to another thread, I like to keep my classic computers
original inside the box but am happy to link up non-standard
peripherals. So My P2000C will keep its 2 internal floppy drives and
CRT monitor. But I would have no problem with hanging an LCD monitor
off that video output socket.
-tony
I don't even remember signing up for the RetroAbout64K mailing list. I haven't seen any actual dicussion in my remembrance. But I do get once or twice a week an email about COCO Nation or some such. Sounds like a hot chocolate enthusiasts group seeking world domination. Anyway I've had COCOs going back. Or 1 that I scarfed from a friend for 20$ (back in 89 I think). I realize it has a 6809 and all, the successor to the venerable 6800. But what can you do with the things? Is there even a color output, despite the name. I can't remember. I only remember playing Dungeons of Daggorath or whatever. The guy I bought it from claimed he programmed a complex naval similation. Yeah whatever.
As to what can you do with it? A local company was running a homemade NC
drill using the (IIRC) Coco 2 with a pair of disk drives to drive the
thing. I bought it for kicks, but never used it.
To ask another similar question, I have a tektronix 2 axis controller
that uses paper tape. Changing the questions slightly, WHY would I use
such a thing? And ditto for an Intel software development system.
I have more than enough nostalgia items to keep me busy for the next
hundred years or so :).
> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2023 17:22:06 +0000 (UTC) From:
> skogkatt007(a)yahoo.com Subject: [cctalk] any COCO enthusiasts
> I don't even remember signing up for the RetroAbout64K mailing list.
> I haven't seen any actual dicussion in my remembrance. But I do get
> once or twice a week an email about COCO Nation or some such. Sounds
> like a hot chocolate enthusiasts group seeking world domination.
> Anyway I've had COCOs going back. Or 1 that I scarfed from a friend
> for 20$ (back in 89 I think). I realize it has a 6809 and all, the
> successor to the venerable 6800. But what can you do with the things?
> Is there even a color output, despite the name. I can't remember. I
> only remember playing Dungeons of Daggorath or whatever. The guy I
> bought it from claimed he programmed a complex naval similation. Yeah
> whatever.
So... Here we go.... :-)
For reference, TALOS is my pdp11/83 system from way back long ago. It's
running real hardware, RX02, RL02, a 330mb ESDI disk, TK70, and 4mb of
parity RAM.
Runs with 2,000 blocks of cache, read-ahead of 5, and purrs along pretty
nicely overall.
The next step is to get 4mb of PMI memory as the 1mb board I have *is*
faster than Q bus memory but there's not a lot I can do with DECnet and
TCP/IP in only 1mb.
But finally I can get to my system without an RS232 cable. And fix the
time offset. But progress!
(Now I need to back it up)
Thank you Johnny for writing this code.
Welcome to TALOS, an RSX-11M-PLUS system!
>hello 1,1
Password:
RSX-11M-PLUS V4.6 BL87 [1,54] System TALOS
23-JAN-2023 07:48 Logged on Terminal TT12: as SYS2
Good Morning
*****************************************************************
* *
* Welcome to RSX-11M-PLUS *
* *
* Version 4.6 Base level 87 *
* This is file LB:[1,2]LOGIN.TXT *
* *
*****************************************************************
Last interactive login on Monday, January 23, 2023 21:37:35 (TT1:)
>
Does anyone by chance have a schematic for the 3/110 main board? Its been
running great until recently where my framebuffer died. It boots right up
to where it polls the cgfour and then stalls. I was hoping to do some
troubleshooting.
Thanks,
Kurt
So... Here we go.... :-)
For reference, TALOS is my pdp11/83 system from way back long ago. It's
running real hardware, RX02, RL02, a 330mb ESDI disk, TK70, and 4mb of
parity RAM.
Runs with 2,000 blocks of cache, read-ahead of 5, and purrs along pretty
nicely overall.
The next step is to get 4mb of PMI memory as the 1mb board I have *is*
faster than Q bus memory but there's not a lot I can do with DECnet and
TCP/IP in only 1mb.
But finally I can get to my system without an RS232 cable. And fix the
time offset. But progress!
(Now I need to back it up)
Thank you Johnny for writing this code.
Welcome to TALOS, an RSX-11M-PLUS system!
>hello 1,1
Password:
RSX-11M-PLUS V4.6 BL87 [1,54] System TALOS
23-JAN-2023 07:48 Logged on Terminal TT12: as SYS2
Good Morning
*****************************************************************
* *
* Welcome to RSX-11M-PLUS *
* *
* Version 4.6 Base level 87 *
* This is file LB:[1,2]LOGIN.TXT *
* *
*****************************************************************
Last interactive login on Monday, January 23, 2023 21:37:35 (TT1:)
>
I’m now aware of the GreaseWeazle, but what I’ve not seen is if it allows standard access to the data on a floppy, or only provides a way to image the disk. With an USB attached 3.5” floppy the disk mounts on my Mac, and I can easily pull files off the disk. Does this work with the GreaseWeazle and a 5.25” floppy drive?
Zane
Hi,
Has anyone used an HPE StorageWorks DAT 40 USB Tape Drive on a Mac / PC /
Linux as a "standard" tape drive (i.e., I want to be able to "dd" from one,
not use some HP provided backup package). (I have no interest in writing
to tapes, BTW)
I just got such a drive today (#1), and hope to use it to read 10 to 20
year old DDS2 & DDS3 tapes in a "tapecopy" (semi-raw data to disk file)
manner.
(The DAT 40 is a DDS4 drive, which supports reading DDS2 and DDS3 ... newer
drives don't support DDS2, and I've never seen a DDS3 on USB.)
I found HP's cache of docs/drivers for the newer DAT 72 drive, and some
indications that the -40 and -72 are essentially similar (other than the
-72 being a DDS5 drive).
I'd prefer reading the tapes on a Mac, but if Linux/Win is needed, I'm
hoping I can use a virtual one :)
thanks!
----
1. I'd try it out today, but my main computer is packed up, waiting to move
to a temporary house, because we have to move out of our house due to
water-damage driven kitchen remodel : (
