I have a 5100 and 5106 both with a working tape unit.
But the tape unit in my 5110 is not working, and I believe it is the
read/write head. The REWIND command works, but the MARK command does not
(ERR 3).
I took the Tape Card from the 5110 and swapped it into the 5106, and the
5106 continued to work (and 5110 then had same result, ERR 3). This tells
me the issue isn't any electronics in the Tape Card electronics (such as
bad IC's).
Swapping the electronics card is easy. But I haven't yet tried taking the
read/write head from the 5106 and putting it into 5110's tape unit (they
both use all the same components) -- it's not that difficult, but I don't
really want to put a working 5106 at more risk of becoming non-working.
Hence, that's why I'm asking around first if anyone might happen to have
one of these NORTRONICS or a suitable substitute to try. For example, it
may be the same kind of read/write head used in some reel-to-reel systems
of that era (early/mid 1970s).
The various numbers on the read/write head are as follows:
NORTRONICS
PN 1608752
C584980
269
24256
I have measurements and photos of what I'm looking for at the bottom of
this link:
https://voidstar.blog/ibm-5100-internal-tape-and-5106/
The head is about a 15mm x 20mm, with a 26mm ground extension on one side
for mounting.
A few months ago I contacted Nortronics. They had some stock that was
close, but not this exact pin out (4-pins on one side, 6-pins on the other;
not sure which is read vs write). I think all the ones they had were
4-pin/4-pin.
I've also tried different brand tapes, DC6150 vs DC600A (which all of them
do work in the 5100, but not the 5110).
-Steve
Any Apple alumni (Al?) with documentation on AWACS registers? I'm trying to
figure out why the BeOS AWACS sound driver works on some Power Mac 6500s and
TAMs but not others (but works fine on 6400s and everything previously).
Yes, I'm aware that Be considered the 6500 "Unsupported but Compatible" and it
boots fine on my 6500/275 but is totally mute. An instrumented driver in debug
mode yielded little insight. The driver thinks it's initialized everything
correctly and reports no errors. I wonder if there's something about the SRS
sound enhancement that's different on later 6500s/TAMs.
--
------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser(a)floodgap.com
-- God made the integers; all else is the work of Man. -- Kronecker -----------
Hello,
Does anyone have a REASONABLY priced source for 6" x 14" anti-static bags
with zip lock tops? I've looked on eBay and Amazon with no luck. I have also
looked online and have only found heat sealable bags. I am not sure if it is
the sizing which the issue or what as other size bags seems to be easy to
find. TIA!
-Ali
I've been reporting on 9-track tape seal failures over at least the past 2 decades here.
I first noticed the problem in the very early 2000's, and thought it was just random onesy-twosy failures, possibly contributed to by ozone in LA region, but over the past 20 years the failures have progressed.
Sometime in the past couple weeks the last of my "soft" 9-track tape seals failed, because there is nothing but broken tape seals left hanging in the Wright-Line rack that had all my "new" aka 3M Blackwatch 703 tapes.
Very very few of the older (I think of them as IBM or 70's/80's style) "hard plastic" tape seals failed.
Tim N3QE
I've been looking for a video or image that shows what font the original
Datapoint 2200 used.
It's not shown in the manual. There is one vintage image with the office
lady and the DP2200 on the desk- but the font isn't very clear in that.
In any modern video about the DP2200, none of them seem to power it on --
which is certainly understandable. From what I've read, the power supply
of that system is prone to failure. Also, the system is hard-coded to load
from Tape 1 -- which means both the tape drive, and tape media, still needs
to be in good working order (which would be pretty rare after this time).
In "the" DP2200 book, it only briefly mentions that the original tape
software was developed "on an HP system" (without any elaboration that I
could tell on which HP system that was).
Nothing in the manual suggests the original DP2200 could "program itself"
(i.e. no built in machine code monitor -- those TTL chips had one strict
boot up sequence: load from tape 1). If there was a read error or no tape
available, I'm curious if any message showed on the CRT.
So, I was just wondering if there was any known pre-1973 Datapoint 2200's
that are still working? (and/or if any HD video of them powered on and
legible font can be seen) Or any other more current system that we know
for sure used the same font?
Thanks!
-Steve
Given all the troubles I have had with the H7140 in my PDP 11/24 I am
considering whether to replace it with modern equivalents, installed inside
the H7140 enclosure. I am a bit puzzled by the specs listed in the PDP 11/24
Maintenance Card, it suggests the PSU outputs +12V and -12V from the memory
inverter/memory regulator, but the specs for the cards don't mention 12V so
I don't know if I need 12V from the PSU. My memory board is an M8722-BC
(MS11-MB). I can't find a manual or printset for this memory, so I am not
sure what voltages it will need, although I suspect it only needs +5V, +15V
and -15V. Is that right?
I know I will also have to replace the fans, because the ones in the machine
are AC and need 35V.
Thanks
Rob
Hello all,
I am looking for a device that sits transparently in an RS-232 serial line and upon seeing a particular code go over the serial line ((or sequence of codes) will actual a relay (or a transistor). Something with two DB25s or DE9s and is configurable to what code will trigger the output? Some kind of box?
Does anyone know of such a thing? I guess it could be cobbled up with a microcontroller, but hoping to just get something "off the shelf."
Thank you
73 Eugene W2HX
Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@w2hx
I am downsizing. These have been in storage for quite some time.
I am about 25 miles N of Boston, MA and S of Nashua NH. These are both
extremely heavy so no interest in shipping.
Unfortunately I do not have any software for either system.
The I is fairly clean and the kb is effectively new-old-stock with the box.
Possibly unused. Powers on, green mono, single drive.
The III powers on but I can't get a cursor on video (there is a flash at
power cycle). It has seen more use than the I (yellowing, case screws
missing).
Photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/6vbMnVZsZEkrpFGc8
e-mail if interested rich.bramante+cctech(a)gmail.com.
Thank you.
Hi everyone,
I'm seeking to buy a Sun Microsystems monitor with a 13W3 interface.
Ideally somewhere around central Europe for pickup in person. But I'm happy to consider shipping options as well.
Background: I'm looking to complete a Sun Ultra 1 build that I've been collecting parts for 🙂
Best regards,
D.O.
Those who have an interest in vintage HP computing will most likely know of
the HP Computer Museum (www.hpmuseum.net). The HP Computer Museum is the
result of over 30 years of work by Jon Johnston who collected HP equipment
and documentation and systematically catalogued, photographed and commented
on almost all of the over 7,000 items in the collection.
After Jon's death in 2016, I kept the museum website going and worked on
restoring many of the more notable items in the collection to working order,
but the museum has largely been static for the last six years.
Jon's wish was that the collection would eventually find its way either to
HP or to one of the major computer museums, and I'm pleased to advise that
the Hewlett Packard Company Archives (HPCA) has agreed to take over the
entire collection and website.
With only a few exceptions, the museum's entire collection of HP hardware,
software and manuals has now been shipped from Melbourne, Australia, to
HPCA's archival company - Heritage Werks Inc, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The
equipment will be catalogued and preserved as a record of HP's early years
in computing, with the ability for HP offices to borrow equipment for
display purposes.
The HP Computer Museum website (www.hpmuseum.net <http://www.hpmuseum.net>
), which has long been a popular reference resource for enthusiasts and
industry on HP's computing history, will continue and be maintained by the
HPCA, through Heritage Werks, with the intent of ensuring ongoing access to
the wealth of information collected by Jon and many other HP enthusiasts
over the last 30 years.
Over the coming weeks and months, the website will be relocated to new
hosting platforms and the curatorship will transfer to Heritage Werks.
This will bring to a close my role in maintaining Jon's legacy in HP
computing. It's been a privilege to be responsible for the collection and
the website and to see the value they bring to the vintage computing
community.
David Collins
