- test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org - classiccmp.org

dfitoimd: decoding Intel M2FM floppy flux images (was Re: Intel 432 floppy flux images for decoding)

by spacewar＠gmail.com

Because the cwtool support for Intel M2FM floppy disk flux images isn't publicly available, I've written a crude Python 3 program for converting such images (in DFI format) to ImageDisk images, and put it on github: https://github.com/brouhaha/dfitoimd My ADPLL data separator has parameters to control the proportions of frequency adjustment and instantaneous phase adjustment that are done at each flux transition. I've experimented with the parameters quite a bit, but it's still not good enough to reliably recover all sectors >from the disk images that started this thread. The default parameters are currently 0.5% frequency adjustment and 10% instantaneous phase adjustment. I was actually fairly surprised that I didn't get better results with more frequency adjustment and less instantaneous phase adjustment. It's entirely possible that my algorithm isn't very good. The code can handle normal IBM 3740 single-density FM format as well, though there are other published programs that already do that. There's a start at code for IBM System/34 double-density MFM format also, but it hasn't been tested at all as I don't happen to have any suitable DFI images. The dfitoimd program is quite slow; on a typical Intel M2FM image with two revolutions per track and 25 MHz sampling, it takes 64 seconds on a 4.0 GHz AMD CPU. I'm pretty sure that rewriting it in C/C++/C# or the like would make it much faster, but I specifically chose Python as I find it easier to experiment with the algorithms.

9 years, 8 months

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Atlanta Open House tomorrow!!

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

I'm posting this on behalf of Cindy at Elecplus I can't post to cctalk when I am away from home. I am in Atlanta, and the owner of the warehouse hs agreed to let people come in tomorrow. Please can you post the following for me? First come first served, no shipping on the really cheap items. Model M 101/103 terminal keyboards $10 each, no cracked cases, may not have complete caps. Hundreds of keyboards for other terminals starting at $30 each, tested and complete. A full pallet of AEK 1 and 2 keyboards More expensive items include a Burroughs keyboard, complete and in good condition, a 1978 terminal in working condition, and the following terminals/keyboards, tested, no screen burn, keyboards are complete. DEC VT100 (no keyboards), 220, 320, 420.Wyse 50 and 60 with keyboards. Qume 62 and 101+ with keyboards.Link MC2 and 3 with keyboards. ADDS 4000 with keyboards. HP 700/22, 700/43, 700/60, 700/90, 700/92, 700/94, 700/96 with keyboards. LOTS of working vintage test equip. Some pics are here: <https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxqLDyoLYuCKbkEwdmlST2lKaUU> https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxqLDyoLYuCKbkEwdmlST2lKaUU Thank you! Cindy

9 years, 8 months

1
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HP 110 AC Adapter

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

and with the right hil interface card can be used with hp-150 also. Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org) In a message dated 8/10/2016 1:56:14 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, Thanks (and thanks also to Rik for his input). The appropriate adapter is reasonably cheap on eBay ($20 with shipping) so I have one on its way. I've wanted an HP 110 for awhile (but never went out of my way to get one) so this should be fun to play with. And the 9114 drive that came with it can also be used with my HP-75, so that'll be cool as well. Thanks for the tips! - Josh

9 years, 8 months

1
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HP 110 AC Adapter

by Martin.Hepperle＠MH-AeroTools.de

Josh, for testing you can also remove the battery and connect a 6V DC power supply to the computer. Under the battery cover there is also a picofuse which may be blown if someone was tinkering with the machine before. The HP 110 is interesting if you want to play with HP-IL - it has some BIOS routines to control the HP-IL. The other remarkable thing is that he has MS-DOS in ROM and all data on RAM disks m(which is rather limited, though). Ideally you would also want a 9114 3-1/2" floppy disk drive for it. If the computer works, you can rebuild the battery pack. The lead cells are still available e.g. under the name Hawker Enersys Cyclone 2V/2.5Ah. You can use 3 single cells (about 7$ each) and make them into a pack. Good luck Martin

9 years, 8 months

2
1
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the value of old test and repair equipment

by sales＠elecplus.com

I had to pass up a large qty of old test equip at the recycler last time because they wanted too much for it. For instance, an old HP signal generator would have cost me $25, with no way to test it, and no guarantees that it was complete or working. So my question is, does as-is old test and repair equip that won't be particularly cheap have interest to you guys? Cindy Croxton Electronics Plus 500 Pershing Ave. Kerrville, TX 78028 830-370-3239 cell sales at elecplus.com AOL IM elcpls

9 years, 8 months

10
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Photo album and video from VCF West

by jwsmail＠jwsss.com

https://goo.gl/photos/KdnDMBHeryMZqctV9 Youtube Channel playlist of videos. Some walking around Saturday morning before the show, Charles Anthony's exhibit. Also a fellow who dropped by after my buying a PDP 11/34 and was one of the engineers. I recorded an impromptu interview with him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtmVGeVhr7A&list=PL5NK70kdq3-JGwb_8GXFN5SqD… Sherman Foy and I had a great time attending and participating in the event this year. Thanks to the organizers, staff and volunteers that were there to put it on. Thanks Jim

9 years, 8 months

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VCFMW 11 Updates and Special Guest

by silent700＠gmail.com

Hello retro fans - we are approaching the one month point before the Eleventh Vintage Computer Festival Midwest and plans are quickly coming together. Here are a few announcements and updates to bring you up to speed: - We're happy to announce our very special guest speaker, former Commodore engineer, Bil Herd! Bil will deliver an entertaining 90-minute talk and Q&A on his time at Commodore and his many post-Commodore adventures in engineering that continue today. - We are going to be packed FULL! And that means full of great exhibits, including the ones listed here: http://vcfmw.org/ex.html. The main hall's tables are all accounted for but there will be some unassigned space in one of the side rooms for late-comers and impromptu displays. - VCFMW Auction - an experiment last year, now a feature! Quality entertainment and a fundraiser for the show, 4pm Saturday will see another auction of donated items at low starting bids. If you have items you wish to donate for auction, please get in touch with show organizers Friday night or early Saturday. Auctions items need not be classic computing related. No registration is required for the auction. - The Free Pile tradition continues! One corner of the "Grove" side room (http://vcfmw.org/HIEGV_FloorplanDetail.jpg) will be dedicated to the infamous Free Pile - leave your junk there but be prepared to take it home if it's still there Sunday afternoon! No printers, please! - Hotel rooms are still available at the $84/night convention rate; please follow the link at http://vcfmw.org or use the code "VCF" when calling the hotel; if you are unable to obtain the con rate, please let me know as I may have to ask the hotel to expand the reservation block. - We remind you that VCF Midwest is a community-funded show; we receive no funding from any other organization. If you appreciate what we do and you are able, please visit the donation links on our site at http://vcfmw.org. Please feel free to help us get the word out and re-post this message in your favorite vintage-related forum. Thank you for your interest and support and we'll see you in September! -j

9 years, 8 months

2
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SWTPC 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

I think for me what gets confusing is where the various pins are. ?I have to read and re-resd pinouts to figure out where stuff should be. ?I sometimes have a brain fart and get it backwards. ?Yesterday part of my problem with my Tektronix box was having the numbering of pins on the terminal's DB25 backwards. ?Once I had that figured out it was just a matter of looping certain pins and we were good. ?It just adds an extra layer of fiddling. I have a question though.. there have been a few times where I thought the 6800 crashed but may not have. ?In several cases.. I sent a large loader file across and noticed errors coming through.. so I'd stop the machine. ?This was after teraterm said it had sent everything through. ?Is it possible the serial port on my PC is still trying to send out garbage for a while, messing up my connection to the 6800 until it finishes? ?I kept moving cards around but eventually it seemed to start working after so many powerups and time had passed.. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Brent Hilpert <hilpert at cs.ubc.ca> Date: 2016-08-09 9:49 AM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 On 2016-Aug-09, at 6:47 AM, Ethan Dicks wrote: > On Fri, Aug 5, 2016 at 6:55 PM, Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote: >> On 08/05/2016 02:15 PM, Brad H wrote: >>> I have one more question for you guys -- I have a few CT-1024 >>> terminals and would really like this system to work with one of >>> those.? However, all of the CTs are quite delicate and are set I >>> think for 7, E, 2 @ 110 baud via soldered jumpers. >> >> Well, 110 bps is a bit on the slow side--great for teletypes, not so >> much for video terminals. > > And I am not aware of any USB serial adapters that do 110 bps.? If > anyone knows of any, post brand and model numbers. It didn't do 110, but I chanced across one USB/serial adapter that goes down to 75 bps. which fortuitously was just what I needed at the time for the model 28 teletype (with the appropriate gears) I was attempting to drive. The 75 wasn't readily accessible, I had to go to a low level in the unix config code and try sequential factors in the configuration for the rate, 75 being another factor of 2 down in the standard rate series 19,200 . . 9600 . . 1200 . . 300 . . 150 . .

9 years, 8 months

2
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CCS S-100 system avail in Minneapolis

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

I was contacted about a CCS S-100 system available for pickup in the Minneapolis area. Contact me privately. Includes CP/M software, etc. A full station wagon full of stuff/docs. I don't know the guy, just trying to help out. http://www.vintagecomputer.net/contact.cfm Bill

9 years, 8 months

2
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Video From VCF West

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Thanks muchly. ?Interesting.. his 6800 has the all black front panel but has the db25 holes in the back.. mine doesn't have the db25s. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: william degnan <billdegnan at gmail.com> Date: 2016-08-08 6:30 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Video From VCF West > > > > Very cool stuff!? Thanks so much to everyone providing videos. > I'm curious.. I had heard Michael Holley would be there with a bunch of SWTPC stuff.. did that happen? > Brad > > http://www.vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/SWTPc_Exhibit.jpg He is the guy on the right, at his exhibit. B

9 years, 8 months

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Video From VCF West

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Nice display - we have some processor frame and disc drive that we got this spring at SMECC so I have been saving off the messages on SWTPC during the last week or so. About the only experience with this is I saw one John Harrington had that ran the GE service shop.... so time to learn now! Ed# Very cool stuff! Thanks so much to everyone providing videos. > I'm curious.. I had heard Michael Holley would be there with a bunch of SWTPC stuff.. did that happen? > Brad > > http://www.vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/SWTPc_Exhibit.jpg He is the guy on the right, at his exhibit. B

9 years, 8 months

1
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OT: Creative reuse

by starbase89＠gmail.com

I know the content of this picture is probably way too new for this list, but I figured people on here might appreciate it. I work at Pepboys and I snapped this picture a few days ago. I love this person's reuse of something they apparently don't have a use for anymore. I'm sorry if this email offends anyone http://i63.tinypic.com/28ahk06.jpg Joe

9 years, 8 months

3
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Video From VCF West

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Very cool stuff! ?Thanks so much to everyone providing videos. I'm curious.. I had heard Michael Holley would be there with a bunch of SWTPC stuff.. did that happen? Brad Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Curious Marc <curiousmarc3 at gmail.com> Date: 2016-08-08 11:50 AM (GMT-08:00) To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Video From VCF West Here is my video with excerpts from the show: https://youtu.be/2bbsgfanbE0 Marc From: cctalk <cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org> on behalf of "jwsmail at jwsss.com" <jwsmail at jwsss.com> Reply-To: "cctalk at classiccmp.org" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Date: Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 10:41 AM To: "cctalk at classiccmp.org" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Video From VCF West On 8/7/2016 7:36 AM, jim stephens wrote: 6 videos from saturday, youtube playlist once more with the link https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5NK70kdq3-JGwb_8GXFN5SqDtbTKtLi7

9 years, 8 months

3
2
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VCFMW 11 Updates and Special Guest

by silent700＠gmail.com

Hello retro fans - we are approaching the one month point before the Eleventh Vintage Computer Festival Midwest and plans are quickly coming together. Here are a few announcements and updates to bring you up to speed: - We're happy to announce our very special guest speaker, former Commodore engineer, Bil Herd! Bil will deliver an entertaining 90-minute talk and Q&A on his time at Commodore and his many post-Commodore adventures in engineering that continue today. - We are going to be packed FULL! And that means full of great exhibits, including the ones listed here: http://vcfmw.org/ex.html. The main hall's tables are all accounted for but there will be some unassigned space in one of the side rooms for late-comers and impromptu displays. - VCFMW Auction - an experiment last year, now a feature! Quality entertainment and a fundraiser for the show, 4pm Saturday will see another auction of donated items at low starting bids. If you have items you wish to donate for auction, please get in touch with show organizers Friday night or early Saturday. Auctions items need not be classic computing related. No registration is required for the auction. - The Free Pile tradition continues! One corner of the "Grove" side room (http://vcfmw.org/HIEGV_FloorplanDetail.jpg) will be dedicated to the infamous Free Pile - leave your junk there but be prepared to take it home if it's still there Sunday afternoon! No printers, please! - Hotel rooms are still available at the $84/night convention rate; please follow the link at http://vcfmw.org or use the code "VCF" when calling the hotel; if you are unable to obtain the con rate, please let me know as I may have to ask the hotel to expand the reservation block. - We remind you that VCF Midwest is a community-funded show; we receive no funding from any other organization. If you appreciate what we do and you are able, please visit the donation links on our site at http://vcfmw.org. Please feel free to help us get the word out and re-post this message in your favorite vintage-related forum. Thank you for your interest and support and we'll see you in September! -j

9 years, 8 months

1
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OT: Creative reuse

by couryhouse＠aol.com

Valid use... ?when network cables ?loose the litthe anchor tab I get another of the never ending ?stack the old ones tie trees to stakes... hold crates together etc.. the uses are infinite... never recrimped a new connector on them.Somehow the stack refills....Ed# Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: Richard Cini <rich.cini at verizon.net> Date: 8/8/16 16:17 (GMT-07:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: OT: Creative reuse I guess your customer switched to WiFi? Sent from my iPhone > On Aug 8, 2016, at 7:10 PM, Joe Giliberti <starbase89 at gmail.com> wrote: > > I know the content of this picture is probably way too new for this list, > but I figured people on here might appreciate it. I work at Pepboys and I > snapped this picture a few days ago. I love this person's reuse of > something they apparently don't have a use for anymore. > > I'm sorry if this email offends anyone > > http://i63.tinypic.com/28ahk06.jpg > > Joe

9 years, 8 months

1
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Honeywell 440

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

the fact it is rebranded suggests an older product indeed.... with a new name tag so who owns this thing now!??? Ed# In a message dated 8/8/2016 2:50:47 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, billdegnan at gmail.com writes: On Mon, Aug 8, 2016 at 5:29 PM, Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org> wrote: > According to the Computers and Automation census, the first delivery of the > 440 T/S was Jul, 69. After the sale, it shows up in the census under > Honeywell > as the G440 T/S. It's a pretty rare machine. It dissappears in Mar '72 > with no > known installations. > > I did check the KeyData Computer Characteristics Review of 1969, but I did not see it there. I have Vol 9 #2, not sure when exactly in 1969 or thereabouts it was actually written or published. I just now checked the Auerbach Computer Characteristics Digest of 4/1969 and I *did* find the GE 440 CPU there. $7,000 monthly rental, purchase price of $311,000 In the same digest, the Honeywell model 440 is part of the H-400 system. It's an expensive I/O thing not a CPU. At the time the Honeywell 440 was their name for their "Optical Scanning Unit and Control" with the note: Not available for new orders. $2530/mo and $121,440 to buy. So, to find a Honeywell 440 nameplate prob means it was for something produced after 1969, at least according to my sources. Bill

9 years, 8 months

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Honeywell 440

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

Jim and Sherman (?), I checked and I don't have anything on the Honeywell 440 or anything like a re-branded Honeywell sold by GE. I think that the name "General Electric" printed on the back was due to the fact that they owned the Honeywell 440 and used it internally. It's not a GE PAC or anything like that. http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_front-panel_1.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_front-panel_2.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_front-panel-tag.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_rear-panel_General-El… http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_placard.jpg -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net

9 years, 8 months

2
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Honeywell 440

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

I would certainly buy that desk and panel and get it back to phoenix! who ever has it/ ended up with it please contact us off list. Being that we are in the home of GE computer in the Metro Phx arrea we strive to bring some of these things back for display... It was sad watching them hack up all the off lease systems that came back at apache street. I even saw some 210 225 etc etc stuff hacked apart.... In a message dated 8/8/2016 2:28:35 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, aek at bitsavers.org writes: According to the Computers and Automation census, the first delivery of the 440 T/S was Jul, 69. After the sale, it shows up in the census under Honeywell as the G440 T/S. It's a pretty rare machine. It dissappears in Mar '72 with no known installations. On 8/8/16 2:23 PM, Al Kossow wrote: > and Honeywell bought the GE computer operation in 1970. > I'd have to do more research to see if the 400-series was still > being produced after the purchase. > > On 8/8/16 2:18 PM, Al Kossow wrote: >> >> >> On 8/8/16 1:48 PM, william degnan wrote: >>> Jim and Sherman (?), >>> >>> I checked and I don't have anything on the Honeywell 440 or anything like a >>> re-branded Honeywell sold by GE. >> >> >> It is a GE 400-series control console >> you can see the maint panel on page 281 of >> >> bitsavers.org/pdf/ge/GE-4xx/CPB-320_GE425-435_RefMan_Dec63.pdf >> >> >> >

9 years, 8 months

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Honeywell 440

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

absolutely wrong. In a message dated 8/8/2016 1:48:56 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, billdegnan at gmail.com writes: "General Electric" printed on the back was due to the fact that they owned the Honeywell 440 and used it internally.

9 years, 8 months

1
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Honeywell 440

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

this is just like our ge 400 operators desk panel thingie! GE GE! In a message dated 8/8/2016 1:48:56 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, billdegnan at gmail.com writes: Jim and Sherman (?), I checked and I don't have anything on the Honeywell 440 or anything like a re-branded Honeywell sold by GE. I think that the name "General Electric" printed on the back was due to the fact that they owned the Honeywell 440 and used it internally. It's not a GE PAC or anything like that. http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_front-panel_1.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_front-panel_2.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_front-panel-tag.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_rear-panel_General-Ele ctric.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_placard.jpg -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net

9 years, 8 months

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VCF West - going?

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

I am heading to VCF West after a stop over in San Fran today...I am looking forward to meeting up with everyone. I will be there all day Friday as a set-up volunteer, Sat and Sunday morning. I was at the last VCF before it was called "West" ... it's been too long. Bill -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg>

9 years, 8 months

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Livingston PortMaster 2e

by brain＠jbrain.com

No questions, and nothing of interest, but a quick story of success. Not sure if PortMasters are on topic or not, but I picked a 20 port unit up at VCF-SE #2 in 2014 and it has sat on my shelf for 2 years as I tried to find a large block of time to get it working. Having never used a unit in the past, I somewhat dreaded the learning curve. Circumstances forced it to be moved, and I thought last night, instead of just putting it back, I'd try to get it going. Grabbed a null modem cable, gender changer, plugged into port 0, fired it up, started a term, and almost immediately got to a prompt! A quick dload of the PortMaster config guide, logging in as !root without a password, and I was in. Some of it was luck (the Port 0 was in console mode, and my term just happened to be at 9600 bps, 8N1), but having the docs easily accessible and not requiring a special Windows App or some other nonsense was half the battle. 20 minutes later, I had the unit configured to accept incoming direct connections from old equipment, with my userid set to no password with functionality to prompt for the server name upon login. That was awesome. On the other hand, after the 2e was up, I started investigating the AWAN 3883 Terminal Server I had lying here. Web sources and config guides kept pointing me to a Windows App to configure, and it looks to need adapters to connect to RS232 (not as big a deal, but still a irritant), so I put it in my pile to give away. Jim -- Jim Brain brain at jbrain.com www.jbrain.com

9 years, 8 months

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8 inch disks - help needed identifying format

by denise.devries＠flinders.edu.au

Thanks Rik and Eric for your information. BTW it was the HP Museum who directed me to this list. Denise

9 years, 8 months

2
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TRS-80 Trash Talk - Live Episode

by pete＠pski.net

We?re going to be recording a live episode of TRS-80 Trash Talk next Saturday, Aug 13th at 9pm EDT. If you?re into any of the machines from Tandy Radio Shack then stop by and join the fun. https://www.facebook.com/events/1044642265619305/

9 years, 8 months

2
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TRS-80 Trash Talk - Live Episode

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

I am up for some 100/102 talk! That unit is actually a big interest as not only are they vintage computers, but they fit in another of our displays, "The tools of the journalist" . As a matter of fact we are looking for another to go in the display in our university's journalism college we have offsite.. It does not need to work just look nice! There RS Computers were a great tool to remotely post stories... and the 100 fit in any carry on bag! let us know if there is a unit you can share! Ed Sharpe Archaist for SMECC _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org) In a message dated 8/7/2016 4:49:13 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, drlegendre at gmail.com writes: What sort of stuff do you tend to cover? My interest in Tandy / RS machines is mostly limited to the Model 100/102 machines, with which I have some familiarity. The Model 100 line are my "favorite" of the early pre-PC / DOS portables. The dang things are just so friendly and usable.. and what kind of modern laptop / netbook boasts a full-stroke keyboard and 30+ HR battery life? They have some seriously practical features, and the small screen & RAM space isn't really all that limited with the programming conventions and ethos of that era. On Sun, Aug 7, 2016 at 11:01 AM, Peter Cetinski <pete at pski.net> wrote: > We?re going to be recording a live episode of TRS-80 Trash Talk next > Saturday, Aug 13th at 9pm EDT. If you?re into any of the machines from > Tandy Radio Shack then stop by and join the fun. > > https://www.facebook.com/events/1044642265619305/ > >

9 years, 8 months

1
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SWTPC 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Okay so.. I decided to try the MP-C board out, just for kicks. ?No change. Then I decided to add one of the RAM boards.. the next one up in addresses. ?Got a little bit when I powered on. ?Added one of the old MPM boards.. one that has memory chips all piggybacked on one another. ?Now when I powered up, the system was sending four or five characters at a time, linefeed, four or five characters at a time, linefeed ad infinitum. ?I added the final MPM board.. zero. So.. I think we do have some ram problems.. most likely. ?I'm thinking it would be easiest to concentrate efforts on the socketed RAM boards.. test all the RAM out. ?I'm going to read up on addressing and try to understand a bit better what is going on. ?I'm thinking maybe I need to reconfigure the addressing on one of the boards to match whatever that overstuffed MPM board is set to. Until I get an oscilloscope.. fooling around is about all I can do here. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> Date: 2016-08-05 3:55 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 On 08/05/2016 02:15 PM, Brad H wrote: > I think I will have to figure out how to do that.? Additionally I > have one of those PC based oscilloscopes on the way.? I don't know > how to use them 100% but I'm about to learn I guess. :) > > I have one more question for you guys -- I have a few CT-1024 > terminals and would really like this system to work with one of > those.? However, all of the CTs are quite delicate and are set I > think for 7, E, 2 @ 110 baud via soldered jumpers.? I'm a bit > reluctant to try pulling them apart to get in there and fix that.? Is > there a way to change the parity, etc settings on the SWTPC to match > the terminal?? Is it necessary? Well, 110 bps is a bit on the slow side--great for teletypes, not so much for video terminals.?? But you'll have to change the hardwired jumpers--the UART used in the CT1024 is not software-programmable. If this were my unit, I"d probably solder some pins into the pad holes and then either use slide on jumpers or wirewrap to set the characteristics.? That way, when changing things around, you won't be stressing the PCB. Something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/10PCS-20CFemale-to-Female-1-Pin-Plug-Jumper-Cable-W… Search on "female jumper wires" --Chuck

9 years, 8 months

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3
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Old High-Noise-Immunity Logic for swap/trade

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

Hi, I have a small stack (~60) of assorted "High-Noise-Immunity Logic" (HNIL or HINIL) chips that I have no use for, and would like to trade for something I do have a use for. These run off like +16V; numbers are 3xxCJ (for xx=03, 21, etc); they were made by Teledyne (the line was later bought out by ITT, whose part numbers for these are ITT3xx; also, at some point passed through Telcom, whose part #'s for the series are TSC3xx). If anyone's interested, let me know, I can send you a list of what I've got. Noel

9 years, 8 months

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Yard sale goodies

by starbase89＠gmail.com

Greetings! Went to a sale this morning and ended up with some neato pieces of equipment. First are two Shugart 8 inch floppy drives ($1 each), a microprocessor training kit ($30) and finally a RCA COSMAC dual 8 inch disk drive ($5). One of the sellers told me to come back tomorrow because he's going to dig out a bunch of other 70s and early 80s equipment. https://postimg.org/image/gyjd3j16p/ I can find no reference to either the microprocessor trainer for the cosmic disk drive assembly online. Any information would be pretty cool to see. Thanks! Joe Giliberti

9 years, 8 months

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PDP-11 prices

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

So that most recent PDP-11/20 (well, technically, a /15) on eBay went for $2200: http://www.ebay.com/itm/191933305000 which was a lot less than the other one _but_ this was only one drawer, only one ME11 memory, no H960, no documentation, no software, no KT11-B, etc, etc. It looks like the high bidder was the under-bidder on the previous one. Noel

9 years, 8 months

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those unable to attend VCFhere is traffic '72 listen while watching videos..

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

For those unable to attend VCF here is a Traffic '72 live concert from Santa Monica to listen to while watching videos.. Ed# https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocjSc7v83pk

9 years, 8 months

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PDP-11 prices

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

do you collect microdata? we may have extra of their computer handbook. Ed# www/smecc.org In a message dated 8/7/2016 11:45:01 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, jwsmail at jwsss.com writes: On 8/7/2016 11:02 AM, Noel Chiappa wrote: > So that most recent PDP-11/20 (well, technically, a /15) on eBay went for > $2200: > > http://www.ebay.com/itm/191933305000 > > which was a lot less than the other one _but_ this was only one drawer, only > one ME11 memory, no H960, no documentation, no software, no KT11-B, etc, etc. > > It looks like the high bidder was the under-bidder on the previous one. > > Noel > > I had my pockets cleaned (and still cleaning) at the consignment tables by Pavel and Vince S so far an 11/34 and Microdata paper tape reader punch.

9 years, 8 months

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Video From VCF West

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

OK! thanks Charles! appreciate it! Thanks to all for the videos and photos ! Ed# In a message dated 8/7/2016 11:09:58 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, charles.unix.pro at gmail.com writes: I On Sun, Aug 7, 2016 at 10:48 AM, <COURYHOUSE at aol.com> wrote: > Folks! in the opening part of this movie Jim pans past a large white > front panel with leds and switches looks like form a Honeywell > series... > more details or a close up and ask the owner more about it please? > > It's part of Jim Stephens' collection, and was lent to me for VCF. It is a maintenance panel off a 6180 series machine, like the panels in your collection. The roller is missing. The text in the upper left reads "ADDRESS/SAMPLE TALLY CONDITIONS" I'll take some pictures and send you a link. -- Charles

9 years, 8 months

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PDP-11 prices

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

good to hear this assures me of the sanity of trading one of our 77 dx microphones for one and some other odd things In a message dated 8/7/2016 11:02:22 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, jnc at mercury.lcs.mit.edu writes: So that most recent PDP-11/20 (well, technically, a /15) on eBay went for $2200: http://www.ebay.com/itm/191933305000 which was a lot less than the other one _but_ this was only one drawer, only one ME11 memory, no H960, no documentation, no software, no KT11-B, etc, etc. It looks like the high bidder was the under-bidder on the previous one. Noel

9 years, 8 months

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Video From VCF West

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Folks! in the opening part of this movie Jim pans past a large white front panel with leds and switches looks like form a Honeywell series... more details or a close up and ask the owner more about it please? Looks like a good show but I do not travel a lot #ed# In a message dated 8/7/2016 10:41:21 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, jwsmail at jwsss.com writes: On 8/7/2016 7:36 AM, jim stephens wrote: > 6 videos from saturday, youtube playlist once more with the link https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5NK70kdq3-JGwb_8GXFN5SqDtbTKtLi7

9 years, 8 months

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New photorealistic PDP-15 panel simulation for SimH

by j_hoppe＠t-online.de

Hi, here are some updates to the virtual Java panels for SimH ("BlinkenBone project"): * New PDP-15. This rare 18 bit machine is a dream in White & Blue! Now we have PDP-11/20, 11/40, 11/70, PDP-8/I, PDP10/KI10 and PDP-15. * Merged with official SimH 4, timestamp 2016-06-16 * Bugfix for light patterns on the PDP-11/70 panel in "DATA PATH" knob position. Now the "running snake" idle pattern of IAS is shown correctly. * Added a 2.11 BSD UNIX installation for PDP-11/70 (yet another idle pattern!) There are precompiled distribution for Win32, Ubuntu x86 & x64, Raspberry Pi and Beaglebone. Just unzip and start. Downloads: https://github.com/j-hoppe/BlinkenBone/releases Web start page: http://www.retrocmp.com/projects/blinkenbone And direct to the PDP-15: http://www.retrocmp.com/projects/blinkenbone/simulated-panels/255-simulated… Enjoy, Joerg

9 years, 8 months

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VCF West - going?

by paul＠mcjones.org

Here are some photos from Saturday at VCF West: https://goo.gl/photos/GToKuQ33XwBenMJJA

9 years, 8 months

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6800 memory addressing

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

So I have the 6800 almost fully working, however I've hit one snag. ? I loaded some of the memory diags as a first test, from txt files posted online. ?The first couple worked ok, but the third kept hitting an error immediately on start. ? I thought little of it and was eager to try a bigger program. ?I tried Blackjack. ?However I noticed when it was loading.. instead of just the cursor remaining beside my L until loaded, it began dumping random stuff out. So that's when I went back to that RAM test. ?I noticed it has having the same issue with a certain range. ?I realized then that my single RAM board was only covering from (I think) A000 up to but not including C000.? So I used the jumpers on my DRC 16k boards to fill in the blanks, so to speak. ?But I'm stuck on the last one. ?The memory check now crashes at address 8000. ?Because my last MPM board was modified, I'm not sure how to get that particular range. ?I'm also wondering why I only get from A000 to C000 on my other MP-M board. ?The 16k boards can be set for wide ranges.. say 8000 through I think FFFF (can't look at the docs as SWTPC.COM went down tonight). ?I'm assuming the smaller RAM boards cover less? ?With three of the four installed, I can load a program via txt file without error but cannot run it.. if I hit G it just freezes there. ?So I'm not sure if I need to configure a ram board for $8000 up to $A000 or if I potentially have another problem. ?And because the MP-M boards are both modified.. I don't know what they are/were set up to do. Brad Sent from my Samsung device

9 years, 8 months

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TRS-80 Trash Talk - Live Episode

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

be sure to send a reminder right before too! sounds great! I never owned one in the old days but cure saw them around and we do have them at SMECC museum project in the collection. In a message dated 8/7/2016 9:01:17 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, pete at pski.net writes: https://www.facebook.com/events/1044642265619305/

9 years, 8 months

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ISO: HP 110 AC Adapter

by derschjo＠gmail.com

Hey all -- Picked up some lovely junk at the VCF consignment table today, amongst which was an HP 110 with carrying case, floppy drive, thinkjet, and manuals (including the service manual!). Not included was a means to power this thing up. Anyone have a power supply going spare? (Maybe even someone coming to VCF tomorrow? :) Thanks as always, Josh

9 years, 8 months

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Mall directory computers

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Been wondering about this for a while. Just one of those odd childhood memories. When I was a kid growing up in Oakville, Ontario, I remember Oakville Mall getting one of those very early mall directory computers. This would have been like, 1982-84, somewhere thereabouts. From what I remember, they had kind of CGA-sh graphics and a chiclet 'keyboard' you used to browse the directory. I'm wondering, were they just PCs, most likely? Or some kind of custom job?

9 years, 8 months

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SWTPC 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

I've definitely got an MP-B. What I'm thinking is I'll use one of the socketed 16k boards and go through the RAMs to make sure I have good. ?But I'm having trouble understanding how to set the jumpers to get the addressing to A000. ?I thought I had that by the guide for the ram on the swtpc site (it's a Digital Research board). ?The machine only gets animated when that weird piggybacked mpm board is plugged in. I suppose if there are bad RAMs on the DR board that'd do it though. Brad Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Chris Elmquist <chrise at pobox.com> Date: 2016-08-06 7:10 AM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 Simplifying the machine configuration can help too.? You should only need MP-A (CPU), MP-S (serial interface) and MP-M at $A000 if you have the SWTBUG ROM.? It only needs 128 bytes of RAM at $A000 so an unexpanded (4K) or partially populated MP-M would be sufficient. If you have MIKBUG, then you need MP-C instead of MP-S since MIKBUG does not know how to talk to MP-S. Removing all the other cards temporarily could eliminate conflicts due to addressing, failed components, etc. With this minimal configuration, you should be able to get SWTBUG's "$" prompt.? MIKBUG will prompt with "*". Also, check which backplane board you have.? Depending on vintage, you may have MP-B or MP-B2.? MP-B2 allowed the I/O block address (normally at $8000) to be changed.? If you have MP-B2 and someone has customized the machine, then there will be more to figure out regarding where the I/O is really located, what the monitor ROMs expect, etc. http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/MP_B/MP_B_Index.htm http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/MP_B2/MP_B2_index.htm Chris On Friday (08/05/2016 at 10:47PM -0700), Brent Hilpert wrote: > Do you have some RAM at $A000+ yet? > That's all that should matter as far as required RAM goes. > > Presuming this is the holley page you were referring to: > http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/HiTerm/Test6800_Index.html > he does mention RAM needed at A000 for the BUGs, as Chris and I have been saying. > > Without RAM there there's no stack for return addresses for subroutines executed in the BUGs, so execution could head off to wherever. > > > On 2016-Aug-05, at 10:23 PM, Brad H wrote: > > Okay so.. I decided to try the MP-C board out, just for kicks.? No change. > > Then I decided to add one of the RAM boards.. the next one up in addresses.? Got a little bit when I powered on.? Added one of the old MPM boards.. one that has memory chips all piggybacked on one another.? Now when I powered up, the system was sending four or five characters at a time, linefeed, four or five characters at a time, linefeed ad infinitum.? I added the final MPM board.. zero. > > So.. I think we do have some ram problems.. most likely.? I'm thinking it would be easiest to concentrate efforts on the socketed RAM boards.. test all the RAM out.? I'm going to read up on addressing and try to understand a bit better what is going on.? I'm thinking maybe I need to reconfigure the addressing on one of the boards to match whatever that overstuffed MPM board is set to. > > Until I get an oscilloscope.. fooling around is about all I can do here. > > > > Sent from my Samsung device > > > > -------- Original message -------- > > From: Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> > > Date: 2016-08-05? 3:55 PM? (GMT-08:00) > > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 > > > > On 08/05/2016 02:15 PM, Brad H wrote: > >> I think I will have to figure out how to do that.? Additionally I > >> have one of those PC based oscilloscopes on the way.? I don't know > >> how to use them 100% but I'm about to learn I guess. :) > >> > >> I have one more question for you guys -- I have a few CT-1024 > >> terminals and would really like this system to work with one of > >> those.? However, all of the CTs are quite delicate and are set I > >> think for 7, E, 2 @ 110 baud via soldered jumpers.? I'm a bit > >> reluctant to try pulling them apart to get in there and fix that.? Is > >> there a way to change the parity, etc settings on the SWTPC to match > >> the terminal?? Is it necessary? > > > > Well, 110 bps is a bit on the slow side--great for teletypes, not so > > much for video terminals.?? But you'll have to change the hardwired > > jumpers--the UART used in the CT1024 is not software-programmable. > > > > If this were my unit, I"d probably solder some pins into the pad holes > > and then either use slide on jumpers or wirewrap to set the > > characteristics.? That way, when changing things around, you won't be > > stressing the PCB. > > > > Something like this: > > > > http://www.ebay.com/itm/10PCS-20CFemale-to-Female-1-Pin-Plug-Jumper-Cable-W… > > > > Search on "female jumper wires" -- Chris Elmquist

9 years, 8 months

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Yard sale goodies

by glen.slick＠gmail.com

On Aug 6, 2016 2:12 PM, "Joe Giliberti" <starbase89 at gmail.com> wrote: > > Greetings! > Went to a sale this morning and ended up with some neato pieces of > equipment. First are two Shugart 8 inch floppy drives ($1 each), a > microprocessor training kit ($30) and finally a RCA COSMAC dual 8 inch disk > drive ($5). One of the sellers told me to come back tomorrow because he's > going to dig out a bunch of other 70s and early 80s equipment. > https://postimg.org/image/gyjd3j16p/ > I can find no reference to either the microprocessor trainer for the cosmic > disk drive assembly online. Any information would be pretty cool to see. > > Thanks! > Joe Giliberti Those ICS microprocessor trainers show up on eBay from time to time. Erik has a page about them here. http://www.vintage-computer.com/ics.shtml

9 years, 8 months

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VCF West - going?

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

surprised no one pulled off a live stream of this... In a message dated 8/6/2016 12:09:58 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, billdegnan at gmail.com writes: Bruce Damer speaking now...incredible exhibits very talented exhibitors. .. hard to say what's "best"...taking lots of photos Bill Degnan twitter: billdeg vintagecomputer.net On Aug 6, 2016 11:51 AM, "Fritz Mueller" <fritzm at fritzm.org> wrote: > I'm headed down from Oakland now (Sat) and will be there most of the > afternoon. Looking forward to seeing all the goodies and meeting some > folks!

9 years, 8 months

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TU56 Tape Heads

by michael.99.thompson＠gmail.com

During our PDP-12 debugging today we found that the left tape head has an open coil for data track 0. The left head was OK a little more than a year ago when we found the open coil in the right head. One TU56 head on my personal PDP-8/e also had an open coil when I got it. Our guess is the chemicals from the epoxy potting, possible flux residue, and poor soldering are causing the failures. Getting the epoxy potting out to repair the solder connection has proved impossible so far. Any source for three TU56 tape heads would be appreciated. We are also interested in ideas on how to get the epoxy potting out without destroying the head. -- Michael Thompson

9 years, 8 months

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Somewhat amusing Grauniad article on retrieving old digital material

by lproven＠gmail.com

Germaine Greer's archive: digging up digital treasure from the floppy disks Archivists trying to preserve material stored in obsolete formats face a mighty challenge in retrieving decades of work by the Australian writer and feminist https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/aug/05/germaine-greer-archive-digita… -- Liam Proven ? Profile: http://lproven.livejournal.com/profile Email: lproven at cix.co.uk ? GMail/G+/Twitter/Flickr/Facebook: lproven MSN: lproven at hotmail.com ? Skype/AIM/Yahoo/LinkedIn: liamproven Cell/Mobiles: +44 7939-087884 (UK) ? +420 702 829 053 (?R)

9 years, 8 months

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VCF West - going?

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Is anyone shooting video for those of us that can't go? ?I really enjoyed the videos of VCF East I found on Youtube. ?I'll likely never get to one of these things being up here in Canada.. still fun to check out virtually. Brad Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Curious Marc <curiousmarc3 at gmail.com> Date: 2016-08-05 3:03 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: VCF West - going? I'll be there with some of my HP equipment. On my way there soon. Marc Sent from my iPad > On Aug 5, 2016, at 10:08 AM, Ian Finder <ian.finder at gmail.com> wrote: > > I'll be there. Flying down from Seattle after work with an Amiga 4000 060 > and a GRiD in my carry-on. > I wanted to bring a Symbolics machine, but they happen to be quite heavy. ;) > > On Fri, Aug 5, 2016 at 10:01 AM, william degnan <billdegnan at gmail.com> > wrote: > >> I am here now, will be around all day helping set up.? I have not been to >> the CHM since the last VCF...The space for the event looks good, tables are >> out and waiting for exhibitors. >> >>> On Fri, Aug 5, 2016 at 12:07 PM, Josh Dersch <derschjo at gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> On Thu, Aug 4, 2016 at 12:25 PM, Ali <cctalk at ibm51xx.net> wrote: >>> >>>>> I am heading to VCF West after a stop over in San Fran today...I am >>>>> looking forward to meeting up with everyone.? I will be there all day >>>>> Friday as a set-up volunteer, Sat and Sunday morning.? I was at the >>>>> last VCF before it was called "West" ... it's been too long. >>>> >>>> I am going to be there both days and look forward to meeting people In >>>> Real Life (TM). So should the list members get special badges or >>> something >>>> so people can know who is who? Or *GASP* are we going to have to be >>>> personable and talk to each other! :D >>>> >>>> -Ali >>> I'll be there co-running the Living Computer Museum's exhibit.? Stop by >> and >>> say hi! >>> >>> - Josh >> >> >> >> -- >> @ BillDeg: >> Web: vintagecomputer.net >> Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> >> Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> >> Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm> > > > > -- >?? Ian Finder >?? (206) 395-MIPS >?? ian.finder at gmail.com

9 years, 9 months

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MicroVax II update

by dj.taylor4＠comcast.net

Progress on getting the MVII up and running: I ordered the SCSI2SD adapter and it has come in, the plan is to use it as the system disk on the MVII. The hobbyist VMS PAKS have arrived and I was able to download the VMS 7.3 iso, not sure what I can do with it since I think it must be burned to a 512 byte sector CD. I asked if the PAKS were good for older versions of VMS, like 5.5, and was told yes they were. We'll see about that. The Hobbyist VMS CD I had for VMS 7.2 was found and I was able to get the old Toshiba CD drive to work on the MV 4000 using a CQD 223A. How can I create an image of these CD's on the VAX 4000 that I could use in an emulator? I wasn't able to get the UC07 to see the CDROM because of a bad SCSI cable, I had hoped to format the SCSI2SD using the UC07. Is it possible to use the SCSI2SD on a microPDP-11 under RT-11? I ask because of the disk size limit under RT-11. Doug

9 years, 9 months

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IBM Diskette OEM Information manuals wanted

by spacewar＠gmail.com

Does anyone happen to have the IBM Diskette OEM Information manuals: GA21-9190 one-sided GA21-9257 two-sided I'm specifically NOT looking for the Diskette General Information Manual, GA21-9182, unless someone has an edition earlier than Fourth or later than Sixth. The OEM Information manuals were the definitive reference for the track formats for eight-inch diskettes. Generally equivalent information is available from a lot of later sources, including ECMA, ISO, and ANSI standards, and from vendor datasheets and application notes for floppy drives and floppy disk controller chips, though I've encountered a number of inaccuracies in vendor documentation. The ECMA standards are available online. I'm interested in the IBM OEM information manuals primarily for historical reasons, not because I'm missing any particular technical information. Thanks! Eric

9 years, 9 months

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How to get a Heathkit H8 to work with a serial terminal

by dkelvey＠hotmail.com

Hi Note that the combo card does not work reliably above 4800 baud. It feeds the serial through an optical isolator, even when doing RS232. It is really intended to do current loop at lower speeds. Dwight ________________________________ From: cctalk <cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org> on behalf of Bill Sudbrink <wh.sudbrink at verizon.net> Sent: Monday, August 1, 2016 6:01:21 PM To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts' Subject: RE: How to get a Heathkit H8 to work with a serial terminal Try in the SEBHC group: sebhc at googlegroups.com

9 years, 9 months

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[IBM1130] 029 keypunch available

by ball.of.john＠gmail.com

Make this yet another person as well in BC who would be jumping on it . I got almost no use for a card reader if I have no way to punch the cards. >Ditto. I'd be all over that if I wasn't in BC.

9 years, 9 months

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SWTPC 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Okay thanks. ?I gues where I'm getting confused is Michael Holley's guide to new 6800 users says because of the 6810 being cut you want RAM at $A000.. what you're suggesting sounds like the opposite? ?Maybe I'd better reread those instructions. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Brent Hilpert <hilpert at cs.ubc.ca> Date: 2016-08-05 10:52 AM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 On 2016-Aug-05, at 9:55 AM, Brad H wrote: > > 3) Ah, this may be part of my problem.? I don't quite understand memory > addressing yet.? The instructions said you needed RAM at A000 if the 6810 > chip was disabled (which it appears to be, the correct trace is cut).? My > machine has 4 RAM boards.? 2 are MPM, 2 are 16K DRC boards.? For whatever > reason, the DRC boards are config-ed to be first (0000-3FFF) and second > (4000-7FFF).?? Trying to strip the machine down and have as little RAM as I > could get away with, I just installed the single board at 0000-3FFF.? These > boards are (thank god) socketed, so I have some means of testing and > removing RAM.? The MP-M boards are not socketed, so I don't want to mess > with those until I have to.? I could config the second DRC board for the > $Exxx-$Fxxx and shove it in there. Don't take my word on the specific address, I should have just said you need some RAM in high mem. The 6810 was there to fulfill that need of RAM for the xxxBUG monitor. You might reenable it, or config a RAM board to cover that range (A000? to ?). But if you use a RAM board you have to config it so it doesn't extend up into (overlap) the ROM and IO address space. (I have a memory map for this on another machine not set up at this time). (For purposes of exercising the xxxBUG monitors you don't need memory down at $0000.)

9 years, 9 months

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SWTPC 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Yeah to be honest.. I'm not sure I'm the biggest serial terminal computer fan. ?I find them way harder to diagnose than computers with video cards. ?But, the SWTPC is an iconic system.. so I'll just keep muddling until I figure it out. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> Date: 2016-08-05 11:25 AM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: RE: SWTPC 6800 On Fri, 5 Aug 2016, Brad H wrote: > I then tried 7 N 1 (that's how my CT1024 terminal is set up).? This time I > got more consistent characters.? If I hit reset, there is also a response. If and when you get consistent characters, no matter how wrong, then it's time to look at the bit patterns of what you get V what you expect? (is anybody around who knows?) Since, obviously, if consistent, then it might be right except for one or more bits stuck on or stuck off. Yes, it is frustrating.

9 years, 9 months

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DEC Transistor assortment on Ebay

by wsudol＠freedom.com

Just spyed this on Ebay - a box of DEC Transistors for sale. Might be useful to have if you like to repair DEC boards. http://www.ebay.com/itm/DEC-DIGITAL-EQUIPMENT-CORPORATION-TRANSISTOR-ASSORT… Wayne

9 years, 9 months

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SWTPC 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Thought I would post this here in case it reaches eyes my forum posts don't. ?So I finally got my hands on a SWTPC 6800! ? This machine is chock full of boards.. 4 ram boards, the cpu card (with SWTBUG ROM), MP-S, MP-C serial cards, a floppy controller, some little custom board, a sound card.. etc. This presents some challenges obviously, since the machine has been altered from stock it could be tricky getting it running. Before I had it stripped down, I tried powering up as is (i pulled the older MP-C card and put MP-S in slot 1). ?This produced little except for a string of random characters that would repeat every time I hit reset, exactly the same number. I tried stripping it down to CPU card, MP-S, and the RAM board designated as '0'.. but all I get at the terminal end is a single random character on power up. ? I then thought I'd try my luck putting the CPU card in my working MSI system (taking out its card). ?Nope. ? Now, because my CPU card has been modified to accomodate SWTBUG and possibly something else, I'm not sure if it'll even work in a stripped down config. ?Not sure about the interplay between boards. Anyway.. if anyone has any thoughts to point me in the right direction I'd be most appreciative. ?Ultimately I'd like to get this beast working with my CT1024 terminals. Brad Sent from my Samsung device

9 years, 9 months

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Tektronix 6800 'Developer Computer'

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Hey guys, In addition to that 6800 SWTPC I got, I also picked up this 'board bucket' >from ebay: http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/unclefalter/library/Tektronix%206800%20Dev eloper%20Computer?sort=3 <http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/unclefalter/library/Tektronix%206800%20De veloper%20Computer?sort=3&page=1> &page=1 It's a 6800 system of sorts and has BASIC and 'DDE' ROMs. I've tried hooking it up to a terminal but no response. I think the system isn't fully running. This is a video I took: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YSUuF6xTAg Hard to see with the camera, but when you hit and hold reset the little display looks sort of normal. When you release, it's like some of the segments are half-on rather than fully on or off. I tried pulling RAM boards and such but no action yet. Step button on the CPU card doesn't do anything. If anyone has seen one of these or has any ideas on getting her working, I'd be most interested. I sent an email to Tektronix to inquire about it as there are part numbers and stuff on the boards. Hopefully they can answer questions. Brad

9 years, 9 months

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VCF books (Was: Is MS-DOS, PC DOS and DR-DOS vintage enough

by cctalk＠ibm51xx.net

I don't know about using eBay as things are all over the place. I have paid from $0.99 + s&h to $29.99 w/ free shipping (for something that is useful e.g. HMS for 5150 in unopened condition). My average seems to be $9.99 for more popular stuff and $4.99 for esoteric stuff (say GTO to the 7327 plotter). Every once in a while things sell for crazy prices (do you really need the TR to the cluster network for $90?). What sells high seems to be SW specially DOS 1.0 and IBM branded CP/M. Those are fetching >$500 these days. Just my two cents.... -Ali

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Is MS-DOS, PC DOS and DR-DOS vintage enough to count?

by lproven＠gmail.com

I'm experimenting with some old DOS versions, notably PC DOS, in VirtualBox. I have a PC-DOS 2000 system with DesqView and DesqView/X working fairly well -- no networking yet but I'm working on it. I am also trying to get a DR-DOS 8 VM up and running. DR-DOS 7.03 is no problem, but I've had no joy getting DR-DOS 8.1 to install to hard disk. It's reluctant to SYS a hard disk, and when it did, it mis-diagnosed it as FAT-12 and wouldn't boot. Using Norton DiskTools, I've managed to transfer the system files, but they display the message DR-DOS 8.1 ... and then it freezes. Can this late version, mainly used for utility floppies, actually boot >from HD & be used like a normal DOS? And although I've not tried it yet, the same question applies to PC DOS 7.1, the early-noughties version that can understand FAT32 and long filenames. -- Liam Proven ? Profile: http://lproven.livejournal.com/profile Email: lproven at cix.co.uk ? GMail/G+/Twitter/Flickr/Facebook: lproven MSN: lproven at hotmail.com ? Skype/AIM/Yahoo/LinkedIn: liamproven Cell/Mobiles: +44 7939-087884 (UK) ? +420 702 829 053 (?R)

9 years, 9 months

9
18
0 0

Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point'

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

I would call Win 95 a high point also. ?I lived near Toronto at the time and remember the unfurling of a huge Win 95 banner down one side. ?There were events everywhere. ?MS was really at their zenith. The excitement around that launch was like nothing since. ?I believe I got swept up and installed it immediately but shortly after removed it. ?Couldn't get used to the interface. ?Eventually for one reason or another I had to and did go back to it. ?Wasn't the greatest or most stable OS and was kind of a half breed at that, but man.. what I wouldn't give to feel the anticipation again, the difference between it and DOS. ?Nothing released on either PC or Mac has come close. Brad Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Cameron Kaiser <spectre at floodgap.com> Date: 2016-08-01 4:25 PM (GMT-08:00) To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point' > > <https://tech.slashdot.org/story/08/05/28/2214214/bill-gates-windows-95-was-…> > http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/introducing.gif I have a "Windows '95 = Macintosh '89" pin on my iMac G4, as seen here: http://www.theapplecollection.com/Collection/pin/PinsBadges.html -- ------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ -- ? Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser at floodgap.com -- Business is war. -- Jack Tramiel -------------------------------------------

9 years, 9 months

6
6
0 0

Keyboards etc.

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Definitely interested in any MDS/keypunch stuff. ?By no means am I done with the TVT.. just assembling all the vintage resistors and bits to get assembly going. ?I was hoping to have an MDS keyboard as is just to show people what the prototype came from. I would definitely be interested in an AC-30. ?Without question. ?Let me know! Brad Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Mike Stein <mhs.stein at gmail.com> Date: 2016-08-04 10:34 AM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Keyboards etc. ... Same here; I long for the good old days when they just asked where you were born... So, looks like you've pretty well finished your TV typewriters, so can I assume that you don't want/need any of the MDS etc. keyboard stuff we talked about long ago? Also, since you're into SWTPC stuff, would you be interested in an AC-30 to go between your CT-1024 and 6800 (assuming I can find it)? http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/AC30/AC30_Index.htm mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brad H" <vintagecomputer at bettercomputing.net> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2016 10:33 AM Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 > >??? > Thanks Jim! > Wish I could go but I'm up in BC and haven't renewed my passport in a couple of years. One of these days for sure though. > Brad > > > Sent from my Samsung device > > -------- Original message -------- > From: jim stephens <jwsmail at jwsss.com> > Date: 2016-08-03? 11:54 PM? (GMT-08:00) > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 > > > > On 8/3/2016 10:58 PM, Brad H wrote: >> >> Thought I would post this here in case it reaches eyes my forum posts don't. So I finally got my hands on a SWTPC 6800! >> This machine is chock full of boards.. 4 ram boards, the cpu card (with SWTBUG ROM), MP-S, MP-C serial cards, a floppy controller, some little custom board, a sound card.. etc. >> This presents some challenges obviously, since the machine has been altered from stock it could be tricky getting it running. >> Before I had it stripped down, I tried powering up as is (i pulled the older MP-C card and put MP-S in slot 1). This produced little except for a string of random characters that would repeat every time I hit reset, exactly the same number. >> I tried stripping it down to CPU card, MP-S, and the RAM board designated as '0'.. but all I get at the terminal end is a single random character on power up. >> I then thought I'd try my luck putting the CPU card in my working MSI system (taking out its card). Nope. >> Now, because my CPU card has been modified to accomodate SWTBUG and possibly something else, I'm not sure if it'll even work in a stripped down config. Not sure about the interplay between boards. >> Anyway.. if anyone has any thoughts to point me in the right direction I'd be most appreciative. Ultimately I'd like to get this beast working with my CT1024 terminals. >> Brad >> > I saw an SWTPC booth registered at VCF West, maybe you should drop by. > I'll look in and see what they have and maybe they can help too. > > Only SWTPC gizmo I have is one of their audio amplifiers somewhere in > the pile. Picked up at TRW Swap Meet. > Thanks > jim >

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

more vintage computer stuff

by sales＠elecplus.com

Sorry guys, but it seems there was a take all buyer from CA who took the entire lot. It is no longer available. Cindy Croxton Electronics Plus 500 Pershing Ave. Kerrville, TX 78028 830-370-3239 cell sales at elecplus.com AOL IM elcpls

9 years, 9 months

9
16
0 0

SWTPC 6800

by henk.gooijen＠hotmail.com

Sorry list, now trying top post ? somehow my typed tekst goes into a bit bucket. Back in the seventies (well, 1979-1980) I had a 6800-based modular system in a 19" rack, 3HE high. One Euro-card was the 6800 CPU, another Euro-card was 8k RAM ("famous" 2112?s IIRC), one Euro-card with 8 sockets for 2716 EPROMs. Plus a self-made cassette interface. I still remember buying two 2716 EPROMs for 313 Guilders! That was a lot of money for a poor student! Two years later I bought a generic floppy disk interface and 5.25? TEAC FD50 floppy drive (SS/SD) and wrote my own ?DOS?. Took 8 months, but I no longer needed the cassette interface. A small bookshop in Amsterdam (Computer Collectief) sold great books (at that time) for the real hobbyist. That way I got the TSC Editor, TSC Assembler, TSC Linker and TSC Debugger. And it all came with source listings, so I could hack away my own interface routines :-) With the TSC software I developed my first StarShip assembler code. It was some 10 to 14 files which you assembled to "relocatables". Subsequently you used the linker to create the "absolute" from the relocatables. Worked really well. Those were the days! I still have the 6800 system, Build-It-Yourself keyboard and monitor. I wonder whether the EPROMs would still have all bits OK, after 35 years. Fond memories, - Henk PS. I have a 6800 source listing of StarTrek, not sure that came from TSC! Van: Toby Thain<mailto:toby at telegraphics.com.au> Verzonden: donderdag 4 augustus 2016 17:11 Aan: cctalk at classiccmp.org<mailto:cctalk at classiccmp.org> Onderwerp: Re: SWTPC 6800 On 2016-08-04 8:19 AM, william degnan wrote: > ... > All of this is well documented online, Mike Holley has a step by step set > up on his site. A few years ago I retyped the entire code listing of TSC > BASIC which can be downloaded into bare bones SWTPC 6800 > Same one as this? http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/TSC_MicroBasic/TSC_MicroBasic.htm --Toby

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

SWTPC 6800

by henk.gooijen＠hotmail.com

Van: Henk Gooijen<mailto:henk.gooijen at hotmail.com> Verzonden: donderdag 4 augustus 2016 19:44 Aan: Toby Thain<mailto:toby at telegraphics.com.au> Onderwerp: RE: SWTPC 6800 Van: Toby Thain

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

SWTPC 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Thanks Jim! Wish I could go but I'm up in BC and haven't renewed my passport in a couple of years. ?One of these days for sure though. Brad Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: jim stephens <jwsmail at jwsss.com> Date: 2016-08-03 11:54 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 On 8/3/2016 10:58 PM, Brad H wrote: >????? > Thought I would post this here in case it reaches eyes my forum posts don't.? So I finally got my hands on a SWTPC 6800! > This machine is chock full of boards.. 4 ram boards, the cpu card (with SWTBUG ROM), MP-S, MP-C serial cards, a floppy controller, some little custom board, a sound card.. etc. > This presents some challenges obviously, since the machine has been altered from stock it could be tricky getting it running. > Before I had it stripped down, I tried powering up as is (i pulled the older MP-C card and put MP-S in slot 1).? This produced little except for a string of random characters that would repeat every time I hit reset, exactly the same number. > I tried stripping it down to CPU card, MP-S, and the RAM board designated as '0'.. but all I get at the terminal end is a single random character on power up. > I then thought I'd try my luck putting the CPU card in my working MSI system (taking out its card).? Nope. > Now, because my CPU card has been modified to accomodate SWTBUG and possibly something else, I'm not sure if it'll even work in a stripped down config.? Not sure about the interplay between boards. > Anyway.. if anyone has any thoughts to point me in the right direction I'd be most appreciative.? Ultimately I'd like to get this beast working with my CT1024 terminals. > Brad > I saw an SWTPC booth registered at VCF West, maybe you should drop by.? I'll look in and see what they have and maybe they can help too. Only SWTPC gizmo I have is one of their audio amplifiers somewhere in the pile.? Picked up at TRW Swap Meet. Thanks jim

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

FW: [IBM1130] 029 keypunch available

by dave.g4ugm＠gmail.com

Clare Owens <clare.owens at gmail.com> From: ibm1130 at googlegroups.com [mailto:ibm1130 at googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Clare Owens Sent: 04 August 2016 13:30 To: ibm1130 at googlegroups.com Subject: Re: [IBM1130] 029 keypunch available Sure, the more the merrier. Thanks, Clare On Thu, Aug 4, 2016 at 2:59 AM, Dave Wade <dave.g4ugm at gmail.com <mailto:dave.g4ugm at gmail.com> > wrote: Clare, Do you mind if I forward this to some other lists. I am sure there will be lots of interest. Dave From: ibm1130 at googlegroups.com <mailto:ibm1130 at googlegroups.com> [mailto:ibm1130 at googlegroups.com <mailto:ibm1130 at googlegroups.com> ] On Behalf Of Clare Owens Sent: 03 August 2016 20:55 To: ibm1130 at googlegroups.com <mailto:ibm1130 at googlegroups.com> Subject: [IBM1130] 029 keypunch available My son Bill just reminded me that I should write and ask whether anyone would be interested in an 029 keypunch, pickup only in Syracuse, NY. It is complete but the cables were disconnected in order to move it in pieces several years ago. There are many spare parts (from another 029 taken apart years ago) and it has the complete CE documentation. Free to someone who will give it a good home and take care of it. Clare Owens Apex, NC -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "IBM1130" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ibm1130+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com <mailto:ibm1130+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com> . For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

9 years, 9 months

3
2
0 0

RE: RX02 rx-01 heathkit 8 inch drive for H-11 ( lsi11 heath case drive diff?)

by couryhouse＠aol.com

OK will check when back at real computer? Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: Dave Wade <dave.g4ugm at gmail.com> Date: 8/4/16 07:35 (GMT-07:00) To: "'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: RE: RX02 rx-01 heathkit 8 inch drive for H-11 ( lsi11 heath case drive diff?) In the DEC area. Sorry in Spain at present and can't get to the Forums. Dave > -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of > COURYHOUSE at aol.com > Sent: 04 August 2016 08:27 > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: RX02 rx-01 heathkit 8 inch drive for H-11 ( lsi11 heath case drive > diff?) > > link? to??? area? or topic? Please? > > > In a message dated 8/4/2016 12:00:45 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, > dave.g4ugm at gmail.com writes: > > There? was some discussion on this on the VCFED forums. Might be worth? a > read. > > Dave > > > -----Original Message----- > > From:? cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of > > Richard? Cini > > Sent: 03 August 2016 11:51 > > To: General Discussion:? On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >? Subject: Re: RX02 rx-01 heathkit 8 inch drive for H-11 ( lsi11 heath > case > drive > > diff?) > > > > Are you referring to having the? H-27 drive from Heath? I don't know > > for > sure > > because I've never? seen H27 docs, but the disk capacity is the same > > as > the > > RX01 (256k)? and I think the interface was made deliberately > > incompatible, likely? at the behest of DEC. The version of RT-11 > > (called? HT-11) > supposedly > > used a different floppy device driver. > > > > Again, this is based solely on what I've read from various places and > > not direct experience (I have an H-11 with a SCSI controller; no > > floppy; and > it runs > > RT-11 no problem). > > > >? Rich > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > On Aug 3,? 2016, at 1:40 AM, COURYHOUSE at aol.com wrote: > > > > > > we have? a heath? h11? which is lsi 11?? aka pdp?? 11/03 > > > > > > the? drives? are not? rx o1? or? rx o2... but are they? and the > > > controller? comparable? with rx01? or? an rx02? > > > > > >? Thanks? Ed# at??? smecc > >

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

PDP-8 _Introduction_to_Programming_ & _Programming_Languages_(Scanned) Covers Needed

by anders＠abc80.net

>Does anyone have DEC's PDP-8 _Introduction_to_Programming_, Editions 3 >and/or 4 and/or the PDP-8 _Programming_Languages_ handbooks? > >If you're not willing to part with your copy, could you scan the front >covers of these handbooks and tell me which Edition(s) they are from? >I'm >especially looking for the front cover that had the "format generator >program" printed on it in the background. > >I'm also looking for DEC's PDP-8 _Programming_Languages_. If you are not >willing to part with them, could you scan the front cover and tell me >which >Edition(s) it/they are from? I have the second, fourth and fifth edition of "introduction to programming". The fourth and fifth edition looks the same. I'll send a scanned cover of fourth edition to Bob. I'm not willing to part with any of them. /Anders

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

SWTPC 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Yes thankfully the previous owner labelled everything. ?The cards seem to be in great physical shape, however the motherboard does have a bit of corrosion here and there. PSU checked out ok in preliminary testing. The CPU card appears to be set up for Flex.. the expected jumper is cut and it looks like the 6810 onboard is bypassed. If I read Michael Holley's guide right that just means I need my first RAM board configured as '0'.. but that was the case already.. not sure why that would ever not be the case. Baud rate seems to be set correctly.. at least by the hand written label next to the dip switches on both cards. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: william degnan <billdegnan at gmail.com> Date: 2016-08-04 5:19 AM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 On Aug 4, 2016 2:54 AM, "jim stephens" <jwsmail at jwsss.com> wrote: > > > > On 8/3/2016 10:58 PM, Brad H wrote: >> >>????? Thought I would post this here in case it reaches eyes my forum posts don't.? So I finally got my hands on a SWTPC 6800! >> This machine is chock full of boards.. 4 ram boards, the cpu card (with SWTBUG ROM), MP-S, MP-C serial cards, a floppy controller, some little custom board, a sound card.. etc. >> This presents some challenges obviously, since the machine has been altered from stock it could be tricky getting it running. >> Before I had it stripped down, I tried powering up as is (i pulled the older MP-C card and put MP-S in slot 1).? This produced little except for a string of random characters that would repeat every time I hit reset, exactly the same number. >> I tried stripping it down to CPU card, MP-S, and the RAM board designated as '0'.. but all I get at the terminal end is a single random character on power up. >> I then thought I'd try my luck putting the CPU card in my working MSI system (taking out its card).? Nope. >> Now, because my CPU card has been modified to accomodate SWTBUG and possibly something else, I'm not sure if it'll even work in a stripped down config.? Not sure about the interplay between boards. >> Anyway.. if anyone has any thoughts to point me in the right direction I'd be most appreciative.? Ultimately I'd like to get this beast working with my CT1024 terminals. >> Brad >> > I saw an SWTPC booth registered at VCF West, maybe you should drop by. I'll look in and see what they have and maybe they can help too. > > Only SWTPC gizmo I have is one of their audio amplifiers somewhere in the pile.? Picked up at TRW Swap Meet. > Thanks > jim You need to start with the power supply.?? Verify it's ok. Then work through each card's jumpers to see how they are set.? For example the MP-S has baud rate setting options, and the card can be used with a Teletype or RS232 terminal.? 1200 is max baud. If you're getting a consistent but garbled output to the screen did you confirm the baud rate you're using matches the MP-S jumpers? All of this is well documented online, Mike Holley has a step by step set up on his site.? A few years ago I retyped the entire code listing of TSC BASIC which can be downloaded into? bare bones SWTPC 6800

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

RX02 rx-01 heathkit 8 inch drive for H-11 ( lsi11 heath case drive diff?)

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

link to area? or topic? Please? In a message dated 8/4/2016 12:00:45 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, dave.g4ugm at gmail.com writes: There was some discussion on this on the VCFED forums. Might be worth a read. Dave > -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Richard > Cini > Sent: 03 August 2016 11:51 > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: RX02 rx-01 heathkit 8 inch drive for H-11 ( lsi11 heath case drive > diff?) > > Are you referring to having the H-27 drive from Heath? I don't know for sure > because I've never seen H27 docs, but the disk capacity is the same as the > RX01 (256k) and I think the interface was made deliberately incompatible, > likely at the behest of DEC. The version of RT-11 (called HT-11) supposedly > used a different floppy device driver. > > Again, this is based solely on what I've read from various places and not > direct experience (I have an H-11 with a SCSI controller; no floppy; and it runs > RT-11 no problem). > > Rich > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Aug 3, 2016, at 1:40 AM, COURYHOUSE at aol.com wrote: > > > > we have a heath h11 which is lsi 11 aka pdp 11/03 > > > > the drives are not rx o1 or rx o2... but are they and the > > controller comparable? with rx01 or an rx02? > > > > Thanks Ed# at smecc

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

VCF West tickets

by cctalk＠snarc.net

Pre-order ticket sales for VCF West end tomorrow at midnight ET. More available at the gate. https://t.co/kHKFAAn0TB

9 years, 9 months

10
19
0 0

Random stuff in Belgium

by jon＠jonworld.com

All, I was surfing our local website which is essentially "Belgian Craigslist" and found some vintage ads. I'm curious about this and too lazy to google on my own. It looks like these are Sony PCs with robot arms which can be controlled? http://www.2ememain.be/informatique-jeux-vid%C3%A9o/bureautique/286-et-plus… He's about 50-60km from me if someone wants/needs me to snag anything. If there is other stuff around here you're interested in, please let me know. -- -Jon +32 0 486 260 686

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

RX02 rx-01 heathkit 8 inch drive for H-11 ( lsi11 heath case drive diff?)

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

we have a heath h11 which is lsi 11 aka pdp 11/03 the drives are not rx o1 or rx o2... but are they and the controller comparable? with rx01 or an rx02? Thanks Ed# at smecc

9 years, 9 months

3
2
0 0

HP 2100A Restoration

by perlpowers＠gmail.com

Hi, I recently acquired a pair of HP 2100A minicomputers locally for very cheap. Don't think I could get much more local that a guy literally at the end of my street. He bought them at an auction over ten years ago, never powered them on, and left them in his garage since. They've likely never been powered up since they were last in regular use. The units seem to be complete, apart from missing a few I/O cards that are written onto the top of the power supply. I don't plan to power them up until I've taken them apart, cleaned all the dirt and debris from them, and inspected the power supply. With regards to the power supply, I'm thinking my best bet would be to do a power on with no cards in the system. Though I'm not sure if all the power rails would even come up without a load on it, since it sounds like it may do some power sequencing from what I've read. I was wondering if anyone has some experience with testing a similar power supply that hasn't been run in at least 10 years? I'm not sure if using a variac to slowly warm up the supply and the caps would be wise on one of these power supplies. I'm not sure how the switching supplies would handle the low voltage at the start. The only I/O card that was installed in both machines, besides a terminator board in only one of them, is a serial interface made by some company with the logo CMC. It uses a COM2502 UART which I was surprised to find a datasheet for, however I haven't found any information on the card itself. I have a photo of the card in the album linked below if anyone has any information on it. I know this email is getting a bit long, but with regards to the memory both machines have a ID(16K) driver board, and two core modules. However one machine has both core modules marked 02100-60052 on the bridge, and the other has one marked 02100-60052 and the other 02100-60054. Is there any difference between these modules? I'd assume by the 16K driver in both, that all of the core modules are 8KW modules. Would that just be a later revision or is one a different size? I've taken some photos of the machines and put them here: https://goo.gl/photos/z2tGBbNvekwrxS5L9 I'll be taking more after I make some space to start taking the units apart for cleaning and inspection. I've also included photos of the serial numbers and other badges on the backs if anyone knows of a resource to decode them. I'd very much appreciate any help or suggestions that people have. I really want to get at least one of these machines back into full working order to have some fun programming with. Thanks, Hayden K.

9 years, 9 months

12
22
0 0

Irix 5.3 drivers

by pete＠dunnington.plus.com

I realise this is a bit of a long shot, but does anyone have the driver CD "GIO Fast Ethernet 1.0 for Irix 5.3 and 2.0 for Irix 6.2", SGI part number 812-0576-001? This is the drivers for SGI's own Fast Ethernet card, not the Phobos/3Com ones. -- Pete Pete Turnbull

9 years, 9 months

3
3
0 0

8 inch disks - help needed identifying format

by denise.devries＠flinders.edu.au

I am trying to preserve data from a selection of 8inch disks and the only information I have is some printouts which I believe to be HP CAT reports. The first couple of lines are as follows NAME PRO TYPE REC/FILE BYTES/REC ADDRESS H8,0,1 148 ALT-A DATA 1 1188 0/1/0 Can anyone answer the following questions? Is this an HP CAT report? What does the H8,0,1 mean? Is it likely that there are 1188 bytes/rec? What does the address 0/1/0 resolve to? Any information would be most welcome Denise de Vries ________________________________

9 years, 9 months

3
2
0 0

RX02 rx-01 heathkit 8 inch drive for H-11 ( lsi11 heath case drive diff?)

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Rich - correct. That is the disc we have here. Just wondering in case We ever got a pdp-8 with disc interface or a standard unibus PDP 11 here at SMECC . We have an 11/20 but of course not much memory and no disc controller so it sits. Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org) In a message dated 8/3/2016 3:51:20 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, rich.cini at verizon.net writes: Are you referring to having the H-27 drive from Heath? I don't know for sure because I've never seen H27 docs, but the disk capacity is the same as the RX01 (256k) and I think the interface was made deliberately incompatible, likely at the behest of DEC. The version of RT-11 (called HT-11) supposedly used a different floppy device driver. Again, this is based solely on what I've read from various places and not direct experience (I have an H-11 with a SCSI controller; no floppy; and it runs RT-11 no problem). Rich Sent from my iPhone > On Aug 3, 2016, at 1:40 AM, COURYHOUSE at aol.com wrote: > > we have a heath h11 which is lsi 11 aka pdp 11/03 > > the drives are not rx o1 or rx o2... but are they and the controller > comparable? with rx01 or an rx02? > > Thanks Ed# at smecc

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Differences between the PDP-11/15 and PDP-11/20

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Paul Koning > It would have to be a Unibus bridge type device, i.e., it terminates > the Unibus from the CPU, and at the other end originates a Unibus with > mapped addresses on it. Oh, right you are - I hadn't worked that out. (Probably because my head is still full of KT24 stuff, which doesn't have two totally separated busses. :-) > That assumes the KT11-B does only memory mapping, not the other things > that other MMUs do (user vs. kernel mode, I/D space .. ). I don't think it can; those would require hooks into the CPU, and there are no signs of such, in the pictures. Noel

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

8 inch disks - help needed identifying format

by denise.devries＠flinders.edu.au

Thanks Rik I also should have asked what does 148 mean? NAME PRO TYPE REC/FILE BYTES/REC ADDRESS H8,0,1 148 ALT-A DATA 1 1188 0/1/0 Denise

9 years, 9 months

2
2
0 0

MicroVax II

by glen.slick＠gmail.com

On Aug 3, 2016 3:10 AM, "Peter Coghlan" <cctalk at beyondthepale.ie> wrote: > > > > > Also, the built in SCSI on a VAX 3100 doesn't support drives over 1GB. > > > > That's not quite correct. > Yeah, more details than I could be 100% accurate about off the top of my head and had the patience to type with one thumb. The only point was to mention that if some systems have issues with SCSI drives due to their capacity alone you can usually soft resize the drive smaller. No need to pay a premium for older SCSI drives of 1GB native capacity or smaller.

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Differences between the PDP-11/15 and PDP-11/20

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Steven Malikoff > I'm wondering if there are any more differences apart from the lack of > the two high address switches? According to the -11/15-20 processor manual (pg. 2), the differences between the two are i) the -15 has only one hardware interrupt level, not four (the latter is optional), and ii) power-fail restart is an option, not standard. > Presumably the /15 could not run one of those KT-11 paging units I'm not sure how the KT11-B works, but my _suspicion_ (going from the pictures of that one that sold on eBay) is that it's not part of the CPU, but a UNIBUS device, which maps part of the UNIBUS which the CPU _can_ see (i.e. in the 0-56KB range) up to higher addresses, where the 'extra' memory is configured. If that supposition is correct, it would work equally well on any -11 (without built-in memory mapping in the CPU). Noel

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Differences between the PDP-11/15 and PDP-11/20

by steven＠malikoff.com

A few months back you might recall the road trip I did to recover a Foxboro FOX-2, a rebadged PDP-11 that ran the furnace oxygenation plant at the BHP steel mill at Port Kembla here in Oz during the 1970s. I had thought the machine was an 11/20 with a custom FOX front panel that (apart from the Foxboro lime green colour trim) had only 16 address switches instead of the 18 found on that machine, and that there might be two more vacant switch locations on the front panel PCB to be found lurking underneath when it came time to disassembling. But having just seen the PDP-11/15 up on eBay, I now believe that is what the FOX-2 really is. This page (http://gunkies.org/wiki/PDP-11/20) reckons the /15 is just an OEM version of the /20 but I'm wondering if there are any more differences apart from the lack of the two high address switches? (Presumably the /15 could not run one of those KT-11 paging units as was seen on that recent eBay 11/20) Steve.

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

PDP-8 _Introduction_to_Programming_ & _Programming_Languages_(Scanned) Covers Needed

by bobvines00＠gmail.com

Does anyone have DEC's PDP-8 _Introduction_to_Programming_, Editions 3 and/or 4 and/or the PDP-8 _Programming_Languages_ handbooks? If you're not willing to part with your copy, could you scan the front covers of these handbooks and tell me which Edition(s) they are from? I'm especially looking for the front cover that had the "format generator program" printed on it in the background. I'm also looking for DEC's PDP-8 _Programming_Languages_. If you are not willing to part with them, could you scan the front cover and tell me which Edition(s) it/they are from? Thanks, Bob

9 years, 9 months

5
4
0 0

MicroVax II

by dj.taylor4＠comcast.net

I just got a MicroVax II in the BA123 world box chassis. I has a TK50, RX50, RXDQ2, but no DEQNA. I'd like to get it running an OS. The DU disks don't work, but I have a couple of Qbus SCSI controllers that might come in handy. Can you use those SD to SCSI convertors in this type of configuration? Anyone have experience with this? What OS's can I use with this hardware? NetBSD? Are versions of VMS available? How do you get an OS onto this system?

9 years, 9 months

14
27
0 0

HP 2100A Restoration

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

yes we used to at computer exchange inc... we had a bunch of blank I/o boards with the i/o special chips traces on the corner of board we would populate that portion then built out the rest..... rest of board was like a prototype board I scored a stack of them at a san jose computer junk show one time. we have voice synth that would plug into ho using natl. digitaker chip set built onto one of these i/o proto boards.... they were all gold plated etc.... which I still have some... we do have the first talker we built though ... if you score some of these boards most of the startup of the project is taken care of! ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org) In a message dated 8/2/2016 2:10:16 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, perlpowers at gmail.com writes: On another note, has anyone ever tried making their own I/O boards for any of the 2100 series computers? The closest I found was http://newton.freehostia.com/hp/ where he makes a paper tape emulator and disk interface. However both of those are designed to connect to an existing I/O board like the "microcircuit interface". I haven't seen anything yet on how to interface to the I/O bus, but then again there are thousands of pages of manuals still to browse through.

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

RX02 Debugging

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

yea these are nasty sounding drives when they load! ---Ed# Re: You'll hear a serious "clunk" when they load. In a message dated 8/2/2016 10:49:06 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, lbickley at bickleywest.com writes: On Tue, 02 Aug 2016 21:43:03 -0700 Kirk Davis <kirkbdavis at me.com> wrote: > Thanks for the suggestions. I?m in Sunnyvale, CA. > > I actually got the rx02 from another hobbyist that > used it with the 44 in 2008 so I suspect it is configured correctly. > The other drive doesn?t have a belt so I?m unable to test with it. > I?ve verified the cable direction. It?s a sweet 44 - super clean, > runs great and is like a tank. > > One of the problems is I don?t know normal behavior of the drive. The > motor is aways spinning for unit 0. When I try booting I don?t hear > the heads load or seek. I?m new to the 44 monitor commands & boot > process etc so I?m learning as I go. The motors always spin. The heads should engage whenever selected. You;ll hear a serious "clunk" when they load. If you're coming to the VCF this coming weekend, Bob Rosenblum and I will have a running RX02 attached to a PDP-8/M. You can hear all of it's "sounds" there. You'll also be able to play "Spacewar!" with our VC8/E and XY monitor, etc. BTW: Make sure you have the correct switch settings on the RX02 mainboard for your PDP-11... > I?m also making one of these to help isolate if it?s a > drive/cable/controller problem: > > http://www.torok.info/computing/pdp11/rx02/index.htm That looks like a cool project. Would like to see it when you've got it running!!! Lyle > > On Aug 2, 2016, at 3:24 PM, Paul Anderson <useddec at gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Hi KIrk, > > > > The H771 is a rock solid power supply. I never saw one go bad while > > in field service, but they are getting old. Checking the output > > voltage and ripple is not a bad idea. > > > > forgive me for asking, but where are you located? The RX02 had 4 > > different power hanesses for i20, 220, 50 hz and 60 hz. Also > > different belts amd pulleys. if any of this is wrong you cn see > > weird problems. A lot of RX02s and replacement drives were soul > > through brokers who never asked or were never told where the unit > > was going. if you aren'y useing 120/60 that would be my first > > thought. > > > > Is the problem the same when booting off either drive? Also check > > the switches and the resistors on the head cables. > > > > Good luck, Paul > > > Jerry Weiss wrote: > > > >If you haven?t already, check the cable seating, orientation and for > >bent pins. > > On the RX211 board J1 - TT is the location of the AC LO - Active > > Low signal. > > > > On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 4:06 PM, Kirk Davis <kirkbdavis at me.com> > > wrote: > >> I?m a noob using RX02?s but thought I?d run this past people that > >> may have debugged them in the past and see if they agree with what > >> I?m finding: > >> > >> I?m trying to get a RX02 + RX211 + 11/44 going. The RX02 appears > >> to power up OK (fan and motor spinning). I verified I have the DY > >> boot rom in the 44. Attempt booting from the console: > >> > >>>>> b dy > >> > >> S > >> 17777707 173436 > >> > >> Which halts in the DY boot rom. I look at the base RX211 register: > >> > >>>>> e 17777170 > >> 17777170 104040 > >> > >> From the manual this like the controller is present but the high > >> order bit is set indicating an error > >> > >> Looking at the status register; > >> > >>>>> e 17777172 > >> 17777172 000010 > >> > >> Bit 3 == RX AC LO - This bit is set by the interface to indicate a > >> power failure in the RX02 sub- system. > >> > >> So start looking at the RX02 power supply? > >> > >> > >> > -- 73 AF6WS Bickley Consulting West Inc. http://bickleywest.com "Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Is MS-DOS, PC DOS and DR-DOS vintage enough to count?

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Chuck Guzis > I routinely use Win98SE for my DOS tasks--it boots into DOS quite > nicely if you edit the MSDOS.SYS file to say BootGUI=0. That's considerably more elegant than the way I use, to get my 98SE boxes to boot into DOS to start with (which I prefer, in case I want to do anything that requires Windows not to be running, e.g. disk repairs); I just re-named 'WIN.COM' to 'LOSE.COM'. So I get an error message grumbling that it can't find WIN.COM, and then it falls into DOS. Of course, my way, I do get the ineffable pleasure of saying "LOSE" to start Windows, every time I boot the machines. Never gets old. Noel

9 years, 9 months

3
2
0 0

Transitional Technology SCSI controller

by glen.slick＠gmail.com

On Aug 2, 2016 4:39 PM, "Glen Slick" <glen.slick at gmail.com> wrote: > > On Aug 2, 2016 4:31 PM, "Douglas Taylor" <dj.taylor4 at comcast.net> wrote: > > > > I have an S-Box Q-bus SCSI controller made by Transitional Technology, it is missing two socketed chips; the PROM and what I think is a static RAM chip, both 28 pins. Does anyone have the HEX file of the PROM? Does anyone know what the RAM chip is? I curious to take a shot and see if this thing works. > > > > The board doesn't have jumpers, is it hardwired to some CSR? Thanks. > > > > Doug > > > > I have a TTi QTS-30 which is TMSCP tape only. No MSCP disk support. If there are no jumpers (I don't have it front of me to check at the moment) then it must be soft configurable through the 10-pin serial port interface. > > Post a picture of your board or send me one direct and I'll see if it looks the same as my board. If it is I can dump the EPROM firmware in mine for you. Maybe two EPROMs for 16-bit wide firmware. Responding to my own previous post. First, it is a TTi QTS-3, not QTS-30. The plain dual wide version without the S-Box handles is the QTS-1. Second, I can confirm that the CSR address is configured through the 10-pin serial port. Last, there is a single firmware EPROM. The other 28-pin socket is an 8KB SRAM. A Fujitsu 8464A on one of my boards and an Inmos IMS1630P on the other. Any standard 8KB SRAM of same or better speed (didn't check the speed grade) would likely be fine.

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Tek 4025 and 4017 Terminal option 31 kit to give away

by rlloken＠telus.net

I was rooting through the drawers in the shop looking for some torx screwdrivers and I found a Tek 4025 option 31 field upgrade kit part # 18-0124-00. This is complete in its original beat up box and useful only on a Tektronix 4025 or 4027 graphics terminal and there are none of those anywhere near here. Option 31 is a character set upgrade kit and has a printed circuit board, two character set ROMs, a DOS 5-1/4 floppy disk containing who know what, and a ribbon cable. And instructions. In the box, but unrelated, is an NIB key for a keyboard Tek part # 260-1924-00 and a used key cap (from a 4025?) labelled ERASE. Anybody want it for the postage? It should be fairly cheap to mail. -- Richard Loken VE6BSV, Systems Programmer - VMS : "...underneath those Athabasca University : tuques we wear, our Athabasca, Alberta Canada : heads are naked!" ** rlloken at telus.net ** : - Arthur Black

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Transitional Technology SCSI controller

by dj.taylor4＠comcast.net

I have an S-Box Q-bus SCSI controller made by Transitional Technology, it is missing two socketed chips; the PROM and what I think is a static RAM chip, both 28 pins. Does anyone have the HEX file of the PROM? Does anyone know what the RAM chip is? I curious to take a shot and see if this thing works. The board doesn't have jumpers, is it hardwired to some CSR? Thanks. Doug

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Midwest Scientific Instruments 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Thanks Chris.. yes I think you are correct. ?Here is a photo of it: http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/unclefalter/media/20160520_194139_zpswkjg… This is the CPU board. ?I'm wondering why it has four EPROMs, and what the two unmarked do. ?This is where I wish there were a manual.. or even a good pic of an untouched original board to compare. http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/unclefalter/media/20160520_194018_zps8odx… I'd just settle for being able to fool around in the monitor. ?But I think this monitor is called WEEBUG because it's very stripped down. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Chris Elmquist <chrise at pobox.com> Date: 2016-08-01 8:14 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>, Brad H <vintagecomputer at bettercomputing.net> Subject: Re: Midwest Scientific Instruments 6800 I have all kinds of SWTPC 6800 stuff here and I think I recognize your floppy controller as a PERCOM LFD-400 board.? These are somewhat unique because they are built around a sync USART (S2650) and use 10-hole hard-sector floppy media (just like Heath H17 and Northstar systems). Can you see any PERCOM logo on the floppy controller board? Are there two 2708 EPROM on that board? Chris On August 1, 2016 12:32:49 PM CDT, Brad H <vintagecomputer at bettercomputing.net> wrote: >Just thought I'd send out another shout out to anyone who might have >one of these or is familiar with them. ?I've had this a while but have >not really been able to use it, lacking a boot disk. ?It also doesn't >have the standard MSIBUG ROM. ?I'm hoping maybe someone out there knows >how I could procure the original ROMs and put this back to stock. >I made a video showing the current 'WEEBUG' ROM in case any are curious >or someone out there knows about it. >Thanks! >https://youtu.be/LY7yoAVxSrM > > > >Sent from my Samsung device -- Chris Elmquist

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Pictures per previous post

by dfields-cctalk＠dpf.cc

You can view my shared album on the web: Classic Computers Apparently I can do this easily through iCloud. The joy of modern computers. :) Cheers, Doug -- Sent from my iPhone

9 years, 9 months

9
11
0 0

HP 2100A Restoration

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Back in the day we were running and selling 2000 gear in the 80's never had a bad power supply. one fan died in our 2000 F/ access system and rather than tear it down to replace the fan.... just bolted a mother of a fan to the back of the processor over the space the dead fan was. Like the story of the shoemakers kids that never got new shoes as the shoemaker was busy helping everyone else.... this poor processor to this very day still has that fan on the back of the processor...... Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org) In a message dated 8/2/2016 9:42:19 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, glen.slick at gmail.com writes: On Mon, Aug 1, 2016 at 10:25 PM, Lyle Bickley <lbickley at bickleywest.com> wrote: > On Mon, 1 Aug 2016 22:11:17 -0700 > Bob Rosenbloom <bobalan at sbcglobal.net> wrote: > > --snip-- > >> There's a bunch of small electrolytic capacitors on the Inhibit >> Driver Load Card, A106, that needed to be reformed before my memory >> would work reliably. > >> They reformed themselves in one of my units. I had memory errors for >> an hour or so then they went away. On other units, I reformed the >> caps (took the board > >> out and slowly brought it up on a bench supply), and had no memory >> errors at first power up of the system. >> >> Bob > > I had exactly the same problem with the capacitors on a spare Inhibit > Driver Load Card. Most would not reform so I just replaced them with > modern caps. The board (and memory) worked perfectly after that. > > Lyle That is good information to know. I have a 2100A that I haven't touched in a while. It had memory issues that I never got around to trying to debug. Next time I work on it I'll look at the IDL card.

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

FTGH: RL01 pack

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

So I have an RL01 pack, and no RL01 drives. Free to someone who can make use of it. (Note: it's missing its protective bottom cover.) If you have something I can use, to send the other way, so much the better! ;-) Noel

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

LASERS! && Freemont Street LED array (was Re: Cray J932SE (was Re: Straight 8 up on Ebay just now))

by ethan＠757.org

> No, Brad was not the founder of NewTek. He did do early designs of the Toaster. > - John Derp! Checked, he built the first Video Toaster but not the company. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Carvey Thanks for the correction! -- Ethan O'Toole

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point'

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

hey! the start it up song sold me! it sure was a production eh? I installed it... I liked it.. 98 SE got better me got worse XP was outstanding I did fine with vista... 7 was better yet. skipped 8 bought never installed and used to up to 8.1 then used to up to 10 on one system. I am happy with 10 just a few things to get used to. upgraded the edit bays and office systems... all is well no urge to go backwards.... In the archive area we keep at least one... dos 6 3.1 95 98se xp vista 7 In a message dated 8/1/2016 5:35:59 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, vintagecomputer at bettercomputing.net writes: Er.. that was.. 'down one side of the CN tower'.. :) Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Brad H <vintagecomputer at bettercomputing.net> Date: 2016-08-01 5:29 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point' I would call Win 95 a high point also. I lived near Toronto at the time and remember the unfurling of a huge Win 95 banner down one side. There were events everywhere. MS was really at their zenith. The excitement around that launch was like nothing since. I believe I got swept up and installed it immediately but shortly after removed it. Couldn't get used to the interface. Eventually for one reason or another I had to and did go back to it. Wasn't the greatest or most stable OS and was kind of a half breed at that, but man.. what I wouldn't give to feel the anticipation again, the difference between it and DOS. Nothing released on either PC or Mac has come close. Brad Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Cameron Kaiser <spectre at floodgap.com> Date: 2016-08-01 4:25 PM (GMT-08:00) To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point' > > <https://tech.slashdot.org/story/08/05/28/2214214/bill-gates-windows-95-was-…> > http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/introducing.gif I have a "Windows '95 = Macintosh '89" pin on my iMac G4, as seen here: http://www.theapplecollection.com/Collection/pin/PinsBadges.html -- ------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ -- Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser at floodgap.com -- Business is war. -- Jack Tramiel -------------------------------------------

9 years, 9 months

5
5
0 0

Concurrent Computer Corporation

by pontus＠Update.UU.SE

Hi I'm trying to revive and old unix machine. A Concurrent Computer Corporation series 8000. This seems to be a later version of Masscomp MC5600/MC5700 which has a manual in bitsavers. The system runs RTU (which I assumes means Real Time Unix). My machine is in great condition and both SCSI disks (Seagate ST516) seems to work fine and I've made images. But the machine panics at boot: --- panic: Unauthorized use of RTU For further assistance, contact Concurrent's Customer Service Technical Support Group --- The NVRAM battery is long dead and upon entering the console I get a complaint regarding the TOD clock, but I see no way of setting it. I can boot into a "stand alone mode" but not single user. In the SAM I can poke arround the filesystem and use "date" to set a date, but the clock appears not to be running. Does anyone have experience with this type of machine, either CCC or masscomp and can offer assistance? It's a dual MIPS machine with 16MB of memory. /P

9 years, 9 months

4
5
0 0

Copyright act Section 108

by jwsmail＠jwsss.com

IANAL, and this is way off topic, but needs to be put out as there are a lot of ears here that depend on Bitsavers, and probably some of the other Museums. The Copyright office seems to be unhinged with an unrelated matter I won't post here (email me off list if you don't know about it), and is looking at things with a bad eye towards messing things up. This is the Section 108, which probably protects libraries and archives who have the need to allow copies of works made. Bitsavers has a slight off center of that charter in that they collect stuff in a different way than libraries do, but once collected it probably enjoys the protection of this part of the Copyright act. Almost everyone sounds like they are puzzled why it needs messing with, and probably does not. But we should be alert that collateral damage >from some idiotic revision doesn't include Bitsavers, Boatanchor, or countless others. Manx? Thanks Jim https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160729/23591535111/copyright-office-int…

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

In search of: Fairlight CMI series I or II

by ian.finder＠gmail.com

I know, I know... But I figured I'd try here anyway. Any condition is okay with me. Willing to pay market rates. Cheers, - Ian -- Ian Finder (206) 395-MIPS ian.finder at gmail.com

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point'

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Never did try OS/2. ?I had friends who were fanatics about it. ?There was a big push back then to go to it. ?When that failed they rallied to Linux. ?Really should set up a box here with it and try it out. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Jerry Kemp <other at oryx.us> Date: 2016-08-01 8:26 PM (GMT-08:00) To: General at classiccmp.org, "Discussion at classiccmp.org:On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point' Understood.?? That was OS/2 2.0 for me, after I had settled into OS/2 1.3 Unix took me longer to warm up to. Jerry On 08/ 1/16 07:29 PM, Brad H wrote: > > > I would call Win 95 a high point also. I lived near Toronto at the time and > remember the unfurling of a huge Win 95 banner down one side. There were events > everywhere. MS was really at their zenith. The excitement around that launch was > like nothing since. I believe I got swept up and installed it immediately but > shortly after removed it. Couldn't get used to the interface. Eventually for one > reason or another I had to and did go back to it. Wasn't the greatest or most > stable OS and was kind of a half breed at that, but man.. what I wouldn't give > to feel the anticipation again, the difference between it and DOS. Nothing > released on either PC or Mac has come close. > Brad >

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Midwest Scientific Instruments 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Just thought I'd send out another shout out to anyone who might have one of these or is familiar with them. ?I've had this a while but have not really been able to use it, lacking a boot disk. ?It also doesn't have the standard MSIBUG ROM. ?I'm hoping maybe someone out there knows how I could procure the original ROMs and put this back to stock. I made a video showing the current 'WEEBUG' ROM in case any are curious or someone out there knows about it. Thanks! https://youtu.be/LY7yoAVxSrM Sent from my Samsung device

9 years, 9 months

4
4
0 0

MicroVax II (Doug)

by grahamcreid＠gmail.com

The company I worked for in 1989 had three hand-me-down MicroVax II from the US parent. They were originally a PDP11/73 box, which had been converted. They ran VMS 5.5-2, all had DEQNA, with no problems that I remember. They were just networked, it wasn't a cluster. The DEQNA may have been *unsupported* on 5.5, but it seeded to work OK. I still have one system, and bits of the others. Failing ESDI drives put them to the back of the garage. I do have a replacement ESDI drive, and a Q-bus SCSI controller, so when i get time (ha!), I'll resurrect it. Regards, Graham

9 years, 9 months

5
11
0 0

Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point'

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Er.. that was.. 'down one side of the CN tower'.. :) Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Brad H <vintagecomputer at bettercomputing.net> Date: 2016-08-01 5:29 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point' ??? I would call Win 95 a high point also. ?I lived near Toronto at the time and remember the unfurling of a huge Win 95 banner down one side. ?There were events everywhere. ?MS was really at their zenith. The excitement around that launch was like nothing since. ?I believe I got swept up and installed it immediately but shortly after removed it. ?Couldn't get used to the interface. ?Eventually for one reason or another I had to and did go back to it. ?Wasn't the greatest or most stable OS and was kind of a half breed at that, but man.. what I wouldn't give to feel the anticipation again, the difference between it and DOS. ?Nothing released on either PC or Mac has come close. Brad Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Cameron Kaiser <spectre at floodgap.com> Date: 2016-08-01? 4:25 PM? (GMT-08:00) To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point' > > <https://tech.slashdot.org/story/08/05/28/2214214/bill-gates-windows-95-was-…> > http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/introducing.gif I have a "Windows '95 = Macintosh '89" pin on my iMac G4, as seen here: http://www.theapplecollection.com/Collection/pin/PinsBadges.html -- ------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ -- ? Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser at floodgap.com -- Business is war. -- Jack Tramiel -------------------------------------------

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Pictures per previous post

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Doug we have a next cube, neat next monitor and NEXT laser printer at SMECC museum but alas no manuals Please advise Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC ADDED NOTE need some great NEXT promo stuff to make the back drop for the display of this setup - - - -- - - - - -- - - In a message dated 8/1/2016 6:31:36 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, tmfdmike at gmail.com writes: Just to clarify did you 'rescue' these hoping to find good homes for them later - or to keep for yourself? If the former I would definitely be interested in the TI Explorer - and the RT. Mike On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 10:23 AM, Doug Fields <doug-cctalk at dpf.cc> wrote: > I took these things home with me: > > TI Explorer II > AT&T 3b2-1000-70 & BLIT monitor > Commodore 64 + disk drive > HP 85 (non-B, I think) > Bunch of NeXT manuals and PowerPC 601/603/604 manuals > > Cheers, > > Doug > >> On Aug 1, 2016, at 6:05 PM, Glen Slick <glen.slick at gmail.com> wrote: >> >> On Aug 1, 2016 2:57 PM, "Doug Fields" <doug-cctalk at dpf.cc> wrote: >>> >>> Apparently the list strips HTML out, which I didn't know. >>> >>> https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0ZGWZuqDGXYWQL < >> https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0ZGWZuqDGXYWQL> >>> >>> Try that? >>> >>> Cheers, >>> >>> Doug >> >> TI Explorer II - someone is probably interested in that one. >> > -- http://www.corestore.org 'No greater love hath a man than he lay down his life for his brother. Not for millions, not for glory, not for fame. For one person, in the dark, where no one will ever know or see.'

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

How to get a Heathkit H8 to work with a serial terminal

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

I posted this on vcfed and thought I'd ask here too. I have a working H8. ?It has the basics plus a 64k ram card and serial/cassette card. ?I have been looking and looking for info on what program to enter or rom change you have to make to get the machine to operate with a terminal. ?Surprisingly, I can't find any info on this at all. ?The H9 terminal guide describes general assembly and operation but does not say specifically how you use it in conjunction with an H8. Per others it sounds like you'd need to enter a program on the front panel to get the machine talking to the terminal. ?Or change ROMs. ?Does anyone have any info on how that all works? ?Can you actually redirect the front panel input/output to terminal? ? B Sent from my Samsung device

9 years, 9 months

2
1
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"non-polar" capacitor?

by radiotest＠juno.com

At 04:03 AM 8/1/2016, drlegendre wrote: >Non-polar caps are used in locations where they must pass AC. Conventional polarized aluminum and tantalum capacitors are also used in locations where they must pass AC, such as interstage coupling capacitors and bypass capacitors, not to mention electrolytics as power supply filter capacitors. Any capacitor that could not pass AC would not be a capacitor. There are two principal situations where non-polar electrolytics are used: 1) When there is no constant DC offset to the applied voltage - if the voltage applied to an electrolytic capacitor reverses the capacitor can be damaged. When there is no constant DC offset the second reason can come into play: 2) When a large value non-polarized electrolytic can, as previously noted, cost less than a large film, oil-filled, or other non-polar capacitor. Some of us still deal daily with analog circuitry at work. Dale H. Cook, Radio Contract Engineer, Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA http://plymouthcolony.net/starcityeng/index.html

9 years, 9 months

3
2
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Straight 8 up on Ebay just now

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

there is an 8i with similar crazy price but different user id.... hmmm.... beware? also a Rare Digital DEC H-500 Computer Lab, 1960s, Same Switches as PDP-8/I, Vintage for 700+ ( we have an extra one of these Computer Lab, if anyone here is interested) Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org) In a message dated 7/19/2016 12:07:02 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, jwsmail at jwsss.com writes: On 7/18/2016 10:23 PM, Sam O'nella wrote: > There may be some archives here or vcf with enough prices. Iirc i thought i remember one selling for something pretty high (8000/12000?) X years ago although i think like this it's a calculated price of doubling the last sale they saw. Although apple 1s seem to accomplish whatever that law is called :-) I think Straight 8's are nearly to the point that other systems which have published tracking inventories. There are very few, this one looks complete, or near complete. That said I'd figure though some of the higher prices such as the current PDP8/I and GT40 are setting for want of bids, they aren't that far from what you have to pay to get said systems on demand. This one may go for around the opportunistic price, and be lower, but $10 to $12k isn't going to be surprising.

9 years, 9 months

17
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Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point'

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Here's some shots of it. ?I forgot about the guy rappelling down the tower. ?Don't think anyone rappelled for Windows 10! http://motherboard.vice.com/read/this-guy-rappelled-down-the-cn-tower-for-t… Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Brad H <vintagecomputer at bettercomputing.net> Date: 2016-08-01 5:33 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point' ??? Er.. that was.. 'down one side of the CN tower'.. :) Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Brad H <vintagecomputer at bettercomputing.net> Date: 2016-08-01? 5:29 PM? (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point' ??? I would call Win 95 a high point also. ?I lived near Toronto at the time and remember the unfurling of a huge Win 95 banner down one side. ?There were events everywhere. ?MS was really at their zenith. The excitement around that launch was like nothing since. ?I believe I got swept up and installed it immediately but shortly after removed it. ?Couldn't get used to the interface. ?Eventually for one reason or another I had to and did go back to it. ?Wasn't the greatest or most stable OS and was kind of a half breed at that, but man.. what I wouldn't give to feel the anticipation again, the difference between it and DOS. ?Nothing released on either PC or Mac has come close. Brad Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Cameron Kaiser <spectre at floodgap.com> Date: 2016-08-01? 4:25 PM? (GMT-08:00) To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point' > > <https://tech.slashdot.org/story/08/05/28/2214214/bill-gates-windows-95-was-…> > http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/introducing.gif I have a "Windows '95 = Macintosh '89" pin on my iMac G4, as seen here: http://www.theapplecollection.com/Collection/pin/PinsBadges.html -- ------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ -- ? Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser at floodgap.com -- Business is war. -- Jack Tramiel -------------------------------------------

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Bill Gates: Windows 95 Was 'A High Point'

by other＠oryx.us

Shared secondarily as a discussion item, but presented as a detail from a discussion with another list member as a discussion detail I couldn't find at the moment. This data is not new and dates to 2008. <https://tech.slashdot.org/story/08/05/28/2214214/bill-gates-windows-95-was-…> <http://www.cbsnews.com/news/microsoft-chiefs-talk-past-look-to-future/> Jerry

9 years, 9 months

5
6
0 0

DEC Rack near Portland Oregon

by pete＠petelancashire.com

Has Orange/Purple decorative top in good shape. No sides, door etc. I don't have it but it will be up for sale, I think they are asking around $50. Let me know if anyone is interested and I can pass the info on -pete

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

AT&T 3b2, IBM RT, others

by dfields-cctalk＠dpf.cc

I'm here in Austin picking up that Multiflow and they have a bunch of other computers. The most intact looking is an AT&T 3b2-1000-70. There are also two rude looking IBM RTs plus an Evans and Sutherland Freedom 1000 with Sun Graphics tower, a Sparc Printer, lots of old Apple printers, and other stuff. I'm trying to put it all on Imgur but having problems since I never used it before so if you want pics email me your iMessage account and I can share it somehow that way. Cheers, Doug -- Sent from my iPhone

9 years, 9 months

3
3
0 0

Found some stuff at the scrapyard

by lyokoboy0＠gmail.com

Actually found a pretty nice hp machine with a bunch of peripherals. Thankfully it came with the keyboard. Also a external hard drive and floppy, as well as a tiny printer. HP 362 "controller" Hp thinkjet 2225A printer Hp 9153B - HD and floppy Also a IBM wheelwriter 3 with the parallel interface, as well as what im assuming is a s100 backplane. Pretty interesting. I have a couple of other Hp devices, a logic analizer, pattern generator, and volt meter, it will be interesting to see if i can get them talking with the computer. Computer works. boots into basic. Pretty complete setup for something at the scrapyard. https://www.slashflash.info/~devin/images/scrapyard_lot/ --Devin

9 years, 9 months

18
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Mall directory computers

by couryhouse＠aol.com

I remember company using varian... v series.. minI to drive display was prototype in az..... why varian? There were mivso in the 80s. And this was NOT early 80s Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: Brad H <vintagecomputer at bettercomputing.net> Date: 8/1/16 13:17 (GMT-07:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Mall directory computers ??? It wasn't those two.. I remember Harvard Graphics. ?It had a friendlier name than that.. Direct something? ?Darn. ?Gotta find it now. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: ethan at 757.org Date: 2016-08-01? 12:49 PM? (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Mall directory computers >You know.. come to think of it.. it might have been something like this >software I used to play with obsessively as a kid. ?My Dad had it for >our PC. ?I completely forgrt the name. ?It was a CGA graphics >proto-Powerpoint kind of deal. ?You could draw pictures, graphs etc.. >and it also had clip art. ?You could do fade ins and outs and other effects. >?I think we had it later on.. 85 or after. ?But the colors and way it >drew graphics was similar. ?And I think you could hotkey it to go to >specific 'slides'. ?The mall computer just had a series of buttons >alongside the screen from what I remember. ?Could have been rigged up to >replicate certain keys. ? Wish I could remember the program name.. There was GRASP / GRASPRT? You could author all sorts of stuff in it. There was presentation software called Harvard Graphics I think. -- Ethan O'Toole

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Mall directory computers

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

It wasn't those two.. I remember Harvard Graphics. ?It had a friendlier name than that.. Direct something? ?Darn. ?Gotta find it now. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: ethan at 757.org Date: 2016-08-01 12:49 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Mall directory computers >You know.. come to think of it.. it might have been something like this >software I used to play with obsessively as a kid. ?My Dad had it for >our PC. ?I completely forgrt the name. ?It was a CGA graphics >proto-Powerpoint kind of deal. ?You could draw pictures, graphs etc.. >and it also had clip art. ?You could do fade ins and outs and other effects. >?I think we had it later on.. 85 or after. ?But the colors and way it >drew graphics was similar. ?And I think you could hotkey it to go to >specific 'slides'. ?The mall computer just had a series of buttons >alongside the screen from what I remember. ?Could have been rigged up to >replicate certain keys. ? Wish I could remember the program name.. There was GRASP / GRASPRT? You could author all sorts of stuff in it. There was presentation software called Harvard Graphics I think. -- Ethan O'Toole

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Mall directory computers

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

You know.. come to think of it.. it might have been something like this software I used to play with obsessively as a kid. ?My Dad had it for our PC. ?I completely forgrt the name. ?It was a CGA graphics proto-Powerpoint kind of deal. ?You could draw pictures, graphs etc.. and it also had clip art. ?You could do fade ins and outs and other effects. ?I think we had it later on.. 85 or after. ?But the colors and way it drew graphics was similar. ?And I think you could hotkey it to go to specific 'slides'. ?The mall computer just had a series of buttons alongside the screen from what I remember. ?Could have been rigged up to replicate certain keys. ? Wish I could remember the program name.. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Brad H <vintagecomputer at bettercomputing.net> Date: 2016-08-01 12:08 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Mall directory computers ??? I've been searching the dim recesses of my mind trying to remember the one at Oakville. ?As I recalled the graphics output was quite slow.. it'd draw shapes individually and then fill in. ?And the color was not great. ?Must have been a CGA PC or some derivative. ?This would have been around 1982-1983. ?I just remember being fascinated as a kid pushing buttons and having stores and locations of things show up. ?For early 1980s it was a pretty cool idea vs the big directory board you had to look all over. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Ian Finder <ian.finder at gmail.com> Date: 2016-08-01? 11:22 AM? (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Mall directory computers you should certainly open it up and remove the battery. I would guess the add on shell is a power supply, video modulator of some kind, and possibly a hard drive controller. On Mon, Aug 1, 2016 at 3:06 AM, Kevin Parker <trash80 at internode.on.net> wrote: > I'm not exactly sure - it was one of those things that someone gave me and > I put it away - my policy is grab first and ask questions later so it > doesn't become landfill. > > I have tried to research this based on info from another reply but no joy. > > I might open it up and see if there are any clues inside. > > My understanding was that it was connected to a large flat panel monitor > and just used for displaying advertisements and specials etc. It has a > floppy disk "jammed" in the floppy drive which won't come out - not sure > why. > > > > Kevin Parker > > -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of > drlegendre . > Sent: Monday, 1 August 2016 09:41 > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts < > cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: Mall directory computers > > It's not +just+ an A500. What's the extra hardware piggybacked on the A500 > case? > > Looks to have a set of six RCA (F) type jacks on it. Is this for > connection of a touchscreen display? > > On Sun, Jul 31, 2016 at 2:43 AM, Kevin Parker <trash80 at internode.on.net> > wrote: > > > Thanks for the clarity and the extra info? - as I said I haven?t > > opened it or fired it up much less had a good look at it. > > > > > > > > Kevin Parker > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Ian > > Finder > > Sent: Sunday, 31 July 2016 17:28 > > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts < > > cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > Subject: Re: Mall directory computers > > > > That is certainly not a C= 64 as the title in your link suggests but > > rather an Amiga 500. > > > > These were quite popular for "video billboard" sort of purposes- I > > imagine they had it running SCALAMultimedia or a similar authoring > environment. > > > > My local high school district channel ran on a similar setup for many > > years. I recall seeing it stuck on the Amiga Workbench one day... > > > > On Sunday, July 31, 2016, Kevin Parker <trash80 at internode.on.net> wrote: > > > > > Just spotted this Brad clearing up email after a 4 week break. I > > > can't answer your question but it reminded me of something that > > > other list users may be able to help with or it might just be of > interest. > > > > > > Quite some time ago a friend of mine bought a travel agent in a > > > shopping mall, did a refit of the shop and then later went bust. > > > Fortunately before the refit and going bust he gave me his old shop > > > display which was run on a modified Commodore. > > > > > > I haven't opened it up or powered it up but if anyone knows what > > > this is I'd be grateful. I've posted some photos: > > > > > > > > > http://koken.advancedimaging.com.au/index.php?/albums/shop-mall-comm > > > od > > > ore-64/ > > > > > > > > > > > > Kevin Parker > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org <javascript:;>] > > > On Behalf Of Brad H > > > Sent: Thursday, 14 July 2016 12:25 > > > To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts' < > > > cctalk at classiccmp.org <javascript:;>> > > > Subject: Mall directory computers > > > > > > Been wondering about this for a while.?? Just one of those odd > childhood > > > memories. > > > > > > > > > > > > When I was a kid growing up in Oakville, Ontario, I remember > > > Oakville Mall getting one of those very early mall directory computers. > > > This would have been like, 1982-84, somewhere thereabouts.? From > > > what I remember, they had kind of CGA-sh graphics and a chiclet > 'keyboard' > > > you used to browse the directory.? I'm wondering, were they just > > > PCs, most likely?? Or some kind of custom job? > > > > > > > > > > -- > >??? Ian Finder > >??? (206) 395-MIPS > >??? ian.finder at gmail.com > > > > > > -- ?? Ian Finder ?? (206) 395-MIPS ?? ian.finder at gmail.com

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Midwest Scientific Instruments 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

I had thought of locating original MIKBUG roms but can't tell for sure if it would work. ?The system has four EROM sockets and they are all occupied.. first two by this WEEBUG thing. Finding SWTPC ROMs would be difficult. ?I am getting an original 6800 machine next week but I'm loathe to mess with it too much. >From what I've read MSI were one of the more popular ss50 systems. ?But yeah.. next to nothing out there about them. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: william degnan <billdegnan at gmail.com> Date: 2016-08-01 11:57 AM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Midwest Scientific Instruments 6800 COSAM sells new reproductions for SWTPc btw. On Mon, Aug 1, 2016 at 2:57 PM, william degnan <billdegnan at gmail.com> wrote: > > > On Mon, Aug 1, 2016 at 2:37 PM, Christian Liendo <cliendo at gmail.com> > wrote: > >> Shout right back! I have one but I haven't really played with it. >> >> On Mon, Aug 1, 2016 at 1:32 PM, Brad H >> <vintagecomputer at bettercomputing.net> wrote: >> > Just thought I'd send out another shout out to anyone who might have >> one of these or is familiar with them. >> > > > I would think you could put a SWTPc ROM board in there, right?? Just use > mikibug.? I thought the cards were interchangable, or am I not thinking of > the right thing? > > -- > @ BillDeg: > Web: vintagecomputer.net > Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> > Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> > Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm> > > > -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm>

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Mall directory computers

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

I've been searching the dim recesses of my mind trying to remember the one at Oakville. ?As I recalled the graphics output was quite slow.. it'd draw shapes individually and then fill in. ?And the color was not great. ?Must have been a CGA PC or some derivative. ?This would have been around 1982-1983. ?I just remember being fascinated as a kid pushing buttons and having stores and locations of things show up. ?For early 1980s it was a pretty cool idea vs the big directory board you had to look all over. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Ian Finder <ian.finder at gmail.com> Date: 2016-08-01 11:22 AM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Mall directory computers you should certainly open it up and remove the battery. I would guess the add on shell is a power supply, video modulator of some kind, and possibly a hard drive controller. On Mon, Aug 1, 2016 at 3:06 AM, Kevin Parker <trash80 at internode.on.net> wrote: > I'm not exactly sure - it was one of those things that someone gave me and > I put it away - my policy is grab first and ask questions later so it > doesn't become landfill. > > I have tried to research this based on info from another reply but no joy. > > I might open it up and see if there are any clues inside. > > My understanding was that it was connected to a large flat panel monitor > and just used for displaying advertisements and specials etc. It has a > floppy disk "jammed" in the floppy drive which won't come out - not sure > why. > > > > Kevin Parker > > -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of > drlegendre . > Sent: Monday, 1 August 2016 09:41 > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts < > cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: Mall directory computers > > It's not +just+ an A500. What's the extra hardware piggybacked on the A500 > case? > > Looks to have a set of six RCA (F) type jacks on it. Is this for > connection of a touchscreen display? > > On Sun, Jul 31, 2016 at 2:43 AM, Kevin Parker <trash80 at internode.on.net> > wrote: > > > Thanks for the clarity and the extra info? - as I said I haven?t > > opened it or fired it up much less had a good look at it. > > > > > > > > Kevin Parker > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Ian > > Finder > > Sent: Sunday, 31 July 2016 17:28 > > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts < > > cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > Subject: Re: Mall directory computers > > > > That is certainly not a C= 64 as the title in your link suggests but > > rather an Amiga 500. > > > > These were quite popular for "video billboard" sort of purposes- I > > imagine they had it running SCALAMultimedia or a similar authoring > environment. > > > > My local high school district channel ran on a similar setup for many > > years. I recall seeing it stuck on the Amiga Workbench one day... > > > > On Sunday, July 31, 2016, Kevin Parker <trash80 at internode.on.net> wrote: > > > > > Just spotted this Brad clearing up email after a 4 week break. I > > > can't answer your question but it reminded me of something that > > > other list users may be able to help with or it might just be of > interest. > > > > > > Quite some time ago a friend of mine bought a travel agent in a > > > shopping mall, did a refit of the shop and then later went bust. > > > Fortunately before the refit and going bust he gave me his old shop > > > display which was run on a modified Commodore. > > > > > > I haven't opened it up or powered it up but if anyone knows what > > > this is I'd be grateful. I've posted some photos: > > > > > > > > > http://koken.advancedimaging.com.au/index.php?/albums/shop-mall-comm > > > od > > > ore-64/ > > > > > > > > > > > > Kevin Parker > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org <javascript:;>] > > > On Behalf Of Brad H > > > Sent: Thursday, 14 July 2016 12:25 > > > To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts' < > > > cctalk at classiccmp.org <javascript:;>> > > > Subject: Mall directory computers > > > > > > Been wondering about this for a while.?? Just one of those odd > childhood > > > memories. > > > > > > > > > > > > When I was a kid growing up in Oakville, Ontario, I remember > > > Oakville Mall getting one of those very early mall directory computers. > > > This would have been like, 1982-84, somewhere thereabouts.? From > > > what I remember, they had kind of CGA-sh graphics and a chiclet > 'keyboard' > > > you used to browse the directory.? I'm wondering, were they just > > > PCs, most likely?? Or some kind of custom job? > > > > > > > > > > -- > >??? Ian Finder > >??? (206) 395-MIPS > >??? ian.finder at gmail.com > > > > > > -- ?? Ian Finder ?? (206) 395-MIPS ?? ian.finder at gmail.com

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

"non-polar" capacitor?

by brain＠jbrain.com

Since I acquired a Coco Orchestra 90 unit awhile back, and I am trying to find the source of some humming in my system when the Orch 90 unit is operational, I looked at the schematic: http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/coco/Documents/Manuals/Hardware/Orchest… (page 109 of the PDF) I understand the ROM, the resistor ladders, and the latches, but analog is not my strong suit. I made my way through the op-amp design, but I am stumped on one component (actually three)? C7,C9, and C10 They look like electrolytic polarized caps, but are NP (non polarized), with no '+' on the schematic. Can someone shed light on what these are and where you would find them (or if they can safely be replaced with another kind of capacitor)? I will admit I've never seen mention of these before now. Are they "bipolar"? http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/nichicon/UVP1H010MDD/UVP1H010MDD-N… Or, are they called something else now? Jim -- Jim Brain brain at jbrain.com www.jbrain.com

9 years, 9 months

4
4
0 0

more vintage computer stuff

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Mouse >> the modern 'active content' mania causes me to grind my teeth, too. > Oh, it doesn't make me grind my teeth. I just ignore it. Well... part of the problem is that some sites that _I_ find useful really depend of active content, and are completely unusable unless you use it. But, above and beyond that, my anger (not too extreme a word, I think) at active content is about more than me. There's a quotation from a novel I once read that made an impression on me; about how a professional marine civil engineer was ticked off at some shoddy work, saying that if offended him because people might think that the professionals in the field couldn't do any better; and they could, but not all of them did. Here it is: "I'm in the business of building things. And I am a specialist in the ways of protecting structures from the sea. I guess it would be personally offensive to me to have the public at large think my profession is so inept and unaware that we would build a few hundred million dollars' worth of high-rise living units on a fragile sandspit without knowing what will happen." (It's from "Condominium", a so-so book by John D. MacDonald. Fine - in fact, very good - for an airplane flight or the beach, but not serious literature.) But that's a big part of it, for me - the notion that as a field, we know full well how to do better - but instead, for complex reasons I don't want to get diverted into now, we have inflicted this abomination on all the innocent users, who are nowhere as well able to protect themselves as you and I are. Noel

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

DECmate, Rainbow, and Pro 350/380 parts

by useddec＠gmail.com

I just dug out what might be my last extra DECmate II CPU for a list member, and now have access to several Pro and Rainbow CPUs and other parts. If you have any interest, please contact me off list. Shipping from Illinois. Thanks, Paul

9 years, 9 months

3
4
0 0

Not a keyboard collector! but looking for a broken vT-100 keyboard

by j＠ckrubin.us

I have a couple of VT-52 keyboards that need repair and I'm looking for a _broken_ VT-100 keyboard to serve as a donor for switch bodies. Anybody have a junk keyboard with a few working keys lying around? Please contact me off list. Thanks, Jack j at ckrubin.us PS I'll be at VCF next week if that makes delivery any easier.

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

DECmate, Rainbow, and Pro 350/380 parts

by shadoooo＠gmail.com

Hello Paul, I have a Pro380, including box, PSU, motherboard, RX50 interface and RX50. Unfortunately no other interface, so any missing part could be interesting, specially HD / graphics / network. Please let me know if you find something. I tried to forward the sent emails from two different email accounts, I hope at least one of the two will come at destination. I double checked for answers in the last month, including in spam, but unfortunately no luck. It seems there's something wrong with email somewhere... Thanks Andrea

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

formatting and checking floppy disks for bad sectors

by lyokoboy0＠gmail.com

I have a heap of floppy disks on hand. Most with old junk on them. Some are going bad, and have bad spots in the middle of the disk. Is there a good utility for either windows or dos that can format a floppy and mark the bad parts of the floppy to not be used? If anything, such a utility can let me find what disks are having issues and i can pitch them before i run into the aggravation of finding there is an issue with a disk down the line. --Devin

9 years, 9 months

4
7
0 0

Concurrent Computer Corporation

by stark＠mit.edu

Is there a part number on the nvram? The chips Sun used with the enbedded battery were a standard part available from Mouser. Or is there a visible battery on the board anywhere?

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

KT-24 and/or -11/24 backplane info

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

>> I guess it will require getting ahold of a backplane, and seeing what >> I can find out with an ohm-meter. > It looks like I'll still have to do this at some point, to confirm my > theories about how the two busses are wired on the backplane > (separation of UB and EUB address lines, and cross-connection of the > data lines, for the EUB/SPC slots) I have checked an -11/24 backplane, and the wiring is indeed as I hypothesized (above). > Another mystery: The "PDP-11 UNIBUS Processor Handbook" (1985) says > (pg. 4-10) that in the 5.25" box, "only one MS11-P memory module can be > configured". Anyone know the cause/source of that restriction? > ... > I can't come up with any technical rationale for that limit? Am I > missing something? Or is it just DEC marketing, trying to limit how > powerful the machine can be? I would still be grateful for any insight from anyone about this. Noel

9 years, 9 months

1
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0 0

ExpandaCore 18 core memory

by axelsson＠acc.umu.se

Hi again... My recent adventures with the StorageTek tape unit is on hold since I got a whole new computer to play with... (and because the disk on my linux with SCSI card had gone bad). A NORD-1 by Norsk Data AS (or Norsk Dataelektronikk AS as the company was called in those days). It is a computer built from TTL chips, a whopping 2250 of them. I seems to be in great shape and I even have drawings of the most of the CPU. More about it here : http://www.ndwiki.org/wiki/NORD-1_Serial_47 ... with pictures. :-) The NORD-1 was designed in 1967, the first one was sold in 1969 and somewhere between 60 and 120 were produced until it was succeeded by the NORD-10. A few NORD-1 ended up in Cern. The power supplies all was within 0,05V from nominal, not bad for a 44 year old computer. And except from a few broken switches, a shorted capacitor (mechanical damage) and a few missing cards it is in "running condition". Well, liberally used definition, it sort of runs. I can set the address register and inspect the different registers. When put in continuous mode the program counter runs through and loops the memory. My guess so far is that there is a problem with reading and writing to the memory. The problem is that I have no documentation over the memory module except a drawing of the circuitry used to access it. ND bought several different models of core memory for it's early computers and just adapted the interface. So once again I turn to the cctech for help, does anybody have instructions about ExpandaCore 18 from by Cambridge Memories INC, Newton, Massachusetts (also known as CMI but probably not the CMI on bitsavers). So far the only thing I've found was a newsflash in a computer magazine about a sale of memories to another computer maker. My plan is to have this machine up and running within a year, in time for the 50 year anniversary of ND founding. :-) ... and this is a long shot, if anyone has a copy of ND-NEWS (ND-NYTT in Norwegian) I would like to have a scan of it. There might be an article in it about delivering this machine to the school that I got it from. Thanks in advance, G?ran

9 years, 9 months

2
3
0 0

help identify Unisys memory board

by pontus＠Update.UU.SE

Hi A rather large Unisys memory board came up for sale locally. The seller doesn't know much about it and I'm curious which machine it comes from. Here are some picture, fairly low resolution I'm afraid: http://www.pdp8.se/slask/unisys_mem/ Do you know what it might be? Thanks, Pontus.

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

DECmate, Rainbow, and Pro 350/380 parts

by shadoooo＠gmail.com

Hello Paul, hope you are fine now. I'm interested too to Pro380 boards, because I have a machine with almost no expansion. I'm trying to contact you since weeks, sent some emails but never received an acknowledgement. Maybe there are problems with spam-killers? Please check your email and let me know if you didn't receive anything. Thanks Andrea

9 years, 9 months

3
2
0 0

Nova 3 front panel

by henk.gooijen＠hotmail.com

Ahhh, thanks Ray. I still need to replace several bulbs of my NOVA3 console. Somebody knows of a source for 28V 40 mA ?grain? bulbs with wires? I could use some 10 ? and 20 as spare ? BTW, I read somewhere that the bulb to LED replacement is not as straight-forward as you may think. The small continuous current through the bulbs (to prevent thermal shock) is enough to make LEDs appear continuous on! - Henk. Van: Bruce Ray<mailto:Bruce at Wild-Hare.com> Verzonden: vrijdag 22 juli 2016 20:16 Aan: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts<mailto:cctalk at classiccmp.org> Onderwerp: Re: Nova 3 front panel DG generally used 28V, 0.040 Ma (nominal), fragile wire-lead incandescent bulbs for the Nova/SuperNova/Nova2/Nova3 front panels as well as the early Eclipses. The S/130 was DG's first LED-based front panel and was much-appreciated by Field Service. More followup off-list... Bruce On 7/21/2016 10:53 PM, jim stephens wrote: > Is there anyone with documents on the Nova 3 front panel, and what > drives it? It has some number of custom DG chips, which hopefully are > good if I want to try to fire it up to play, but am interested in that > on good authority there are 28v incandescent lamps. > > A friend has an Eclipse front panel with nearly identical bezel, which > has LED's and a number of differences in the logic (different connector > to the system, for instance). So it is probably all run on 5v. > > I have not had time to figure out the driver circuit for any of the > lamps to see what that may turn up, and wanted to know whether it was > 28v lamps before I buy 40 of them. (the thing has only 2 out of a lot > of lamps). > > Thanks > Jim

9 years, 9 months

4
5
0 0

Anybody have a need for some old HP drive sleds (A3647A)?

by teoz＠neo.rr.com

Was cleaning out some stuff and ran across some HP drive sleds I don?t need. HP Model A3647A made for 4.3GB HVD 3.5? SCA 7200 RPM drives. I have 4 of them and all the screws that were inside holding the drives. Any interest? --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

GVP Ram for Amiga Accelerators

by fast79ta＠yahoo.com

I've got an old amiga 2000, that I have stuffed a GVP G-Force 030 accelerator into. Does any one have, or know a source for the 1mb or 4mb 64pin GVP Simms? Thanks

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

20MB 8" Bernoilli transfer wanted

by cclist＠sydex.com

I've been asked to refer a customer to someone with a 20MB 8" Bernoulli setup. There are only 2 disks involved and absolutely nothing is known of the provenance. I can put you in contact and you can name your terms to do the work. Note that a sector-by-sector image of the disks might be useful as it's unknown if these are PC or Apple format. Contact me off-list if interested. US only, please. Thanks, Chuck

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Tandy 1000EX found at surplus dealer

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

TSIA, let me know if someone wants me to inquire about price. J

9 years, 9 months

1
0
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Looking for a particular 5.25" floppy drive - Epson SD521

by shadoooo＠gmail.com

Hello Adrian, if the head positioning motor works, but the drive simply doesn't read the data, maybe the problem is in some track misalignment or bad head signal amplification / A/D conversion. Don't know about these drives, but if the interface is pretty standard, you could try the correct operation of the positioning motor simply powering the drive setting the signal DIRECTION high or low, and giving pulses to the STEP signal. You can do it connecting simple wires between 5V and GND and the pins on the connector on the back. The positioning motor should move back and forth in steps. For the track-0 sensor simply use a multimeter / oscilloscope and check if the level changes when the head is in track-0 position. For the READ signal the thing is more difficult, because you need an oscilloscope to check the fast changing signals. You can check for good looking output signal, without spurious pulses or bad edges. Then you possibly have to check for correct timings, and this is even more difficult, but doable with the right equipment (powerful oscilloscope). Some drives have a small trimmer to slightly correct the spindle motor speed, whence the timing. Alignment can be corrected loosening slightly the blocking screws between the head carriage and the stepper motor moving it, or in some drive the screws holding the stepper to the chassis frame, and moving head carriage / stepper motor very slowly in both directions until the amplitude of the signal of the read head is at the maximum. Then lock again the screws. Years ago I had to repair four floppy drives for two DG One machines, as they were all failing, not reading nor formatting. Spindle rotated well, head moved correctly, but the drives couldn't read disks, and not even re-read its own data (formatting), hence something bad on read / write circuits. After various tests, the problem was on bad electrolytic capacitors on the spindle board. As the spindle motor started, it emitted high current pulses that caused ripple on the supply and also induced spurious pulses on the analog read signal. Result, the read data was badly interfered, and of course not correctly interpreted by the controller. I changed the capacitors, 3 over 4 drives worked. The last one required head alignment, but I didn't have any alignment disk. So I wrote three test disks with the 3 working drives, and tried to align the 4th to the best match. Then finally even the 4th worked! If you are in willing to try something, let me know. Andrea

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

WTB TRS-80 CoCo Orchestra 90 Cartridge

by nf6x＠nf6x.net

I'm looking for an Orchestra 90 cartridge for my CoCos. Does anybody have an extra for sale or trade? -- Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net> http://www.nf6x.net/

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

VT2xx simulation with SIMH

by aek＠bitsavers.org

Related to the RT-11 discussion, there is currently work going on to have a simulated VT240 in MAME working with RT-11 running in SIMH. http://forums.bannister.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=106655#Post1…

9 years, 9 months

4
3
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Looking for a particular 5.25" floppy drive - Epson SD521

by witchy＠binarydinosaurs.co.uk

Hi folks, This a long shot but worth an ask. Has anyone got a pair of Epson SD521 5.25" drives going spare? I have two in a Memotech FDX disk subsystem that appear to have gone south on me, and while I can swap out for any other DS/DD drive it'd be nice restore it using original spares. The SD521 is an odd beast since it doesn't have a slide or lever to engage the heads, it's all done on a push button. These ones are aware there's a disk inserted and will home the heads if manually pulled forwards, but seeking doesn't work. Maybe the track0 sensor? Cheers! -- Adrian/Witchy Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator Www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UK's biggest private home computer collection?

9 years, 9 months

1
1
0 0

[SPAM key] - Re: memory map for RT-11 v 5

by jhfinedp3k＠compsys.to

>On Sunday, July 24th, 2016 at 14::29:59 -0700, Don North wrote: > >On 7/24/2016 8:06 AM, william degnan wrote: > >> >On Jul 24, 2016 8:58 AM, "Jerome H. Fine" <jhfinedp3k at compsys.to> >> wrote: >> >>>> >On Wednesday, July 20th, 2016 at 18:02:44 - 0400, william degnan >>>> wrote: >>>> Is there a minimum memory requirement for RT-11 v5? I was >>>> discussing with >>> >>>> Ray Fantini about it today, unsure...anyone know if 16K will work >>>> (from >>>> 000000). >>>> >>>> Bill >>>> >>> You need to be more specific! Starting with V05.00 of RT-11 in 1983, >>> there were a total of 17 versions released up to V05.07 in 1998, >>> including >>> sub-versions V05.01B, V05.01C, and V05.04A to V05.04G of RT-11. >>> >>> Up until V05.05 of RT-11, RT11SJ.SYS required the least memory which >>> was replaced with RT11SB.SYS for V05.06 and V05.07 of RT-11. >>> >>> Attempts to boot from RT11SJ.SYS under V05.00 of RT-11 with 24K >>> bytes of memory were successful. Attempts to boot with 16K bytes of >>> memory were unsuccessful. An RK05 was used as the disk drive since >>> it is close to the smallest device driver. The answer to your question >>> about using 16K bytes of memory is NO for all versions of RT-11 >>> starting with >>> V05.00 or RT-11. >>> >>> Attempts to boot from RT11SJ.SYS under V04.00 of RT-11 with 24K >>> bytes of memory were successful. Attempts to boot with 16K bytes of >>> memory were also successful. An RK05 was used as the disk drive. The >>> error message "Insufficient memory" is displayed, but some useful work >>> might be done with just 16K bytes of memory. However, you did not >>> ask if useful work being done was one of the criteria? >>> >>> NOTE that I used the Ersatz-11 emulator to check the above details, >>> so there might be a difference with actual hardware. >>> >>> If you have any more questions, please ask. >>> >>> Jerome Fine >> >> Thanks for the details. I had been trying to boot rt-11 v5.3 on a >> 16k core >> 11/40 using RL11 (rl02) and it did not work. The system was unable to >> complete the initialization. CPU diagnostics passed, I could load BASIC >> papertape. RL11 working correctly. In this context I posted my >> question. >> >> After I posted my message here I loaded up simh and emulated an 11 with >> 32k. RT-11 v5.3 disk boots. When I re-built the system and reduced to >> 16k, I could not boot, bombed. >> >> One thing to remember is 16KW in a pdp11 is not the same thing that simh >> refers to when one sets the CPU to 16K. WWW do not all make this >> distinction clearly. I get it, just making this comment for future >> readers >> of this thread. >> >> Bill > > > RT-11 v5.03 single job monitor boots fine and runs in just 32KB (16KW) > of memory. > > You need to be more specific about how you specify the memory > configuration (words vs bytes). > > DEC routinely specified everything in KW (words) but most users and > tools use KB (bytes) nowadays. > > Note that to force RT11SJ (vs RT11FB) to boot on the below image I > booted first using FB > in a larger memory configuration, did a: > > COPY/BOOT DL1:RT11SJ.SYS DL1: > > to force it to boot using the SJ monitor the next time. NOTE that while the above command is REQUIRED to perform a hardware boot (from boot ROMs on real hardware or from within the SimH emulator. Starting at least with V04.00 of RT-11, a software boot (which uses DUP.SAV) is supported from within RT-11 from within any disk (with the files required to support being a System Disk) to boot any specific monitor file (in this example RT11SJ.SYS) using the RT-11 command: BOOT DL1:RT11SJ Thus even if there has been the RT-11 command to set up a boot block on a specific disk for a specific RT-11 monitor file, it is possible to override the boot block and use any qualified RT-11 monitor file via an RT-11 software boot (which uses DUP.SAV). It is also possible from within RT-11 to force the use of the Primary Boot Code (which is placed in block zero via the COPY/BOOT command) via the RT-11 command: BOOT/FOREIGN DL1: If the user includes a specific monitor in the command: BOOT/FOREIGN DL1:RT11FB then the specified monitor file is ignored and the boot code in block zero of DL1: (placed there via the COPY/BOOT command) is used instead along with the actual monitor file that had been specified during the COPY/BOOT command. > > Don > > > PDP-11 simulator V4.0-0 Beta git commit id: 4065f47f This portion of my reply contains many questions. If possible, answers to all of them would be appreciated, not just the first question. Is this the latest version of SimH? Also, is is possible to support a VT100 display. I have heard that telnet can be used, but I have never been able to do so. Since I always use the RT-11 SL: (Single Line Editor) device driver to support a command stack, it is essential to support a VT100 display, etc. in order to use the ARROW keys to move the cursor around. Is it possible to support VT100 escape sequences when SimH is being used? If so, how is that done in general and what specific programs are required along with the specific commands to implement? I would need to know how to do this from a 64-bit Windows 10 point of view since that is the only system that I will have available after the Windows 98SE system that I currently use to run RT-11 is no longer available. As a default, Ersatz-11 supports running via the Win32 variant under a 64-bit Windows 10 system. > > CPU 11/34, FPP, idle disabled, autoconfiguration enabled > 32KB > > NOTE: ctrl-E to exit to SIMH monitor > sim> boot rl1 > > RT-11SJ (S) V05.03 > > .sho all If I remember correctly, the above RT-11 command may be incorrect. I seem to remember that the following output is displayed as a result of the RT-11 command: SHOW CONFIGURATION unless, of course, the rest of the display was omitted and there was much more actually output. > > RT-11SJ (S) V05.03 > Booted from DL1:RT11SJ > > USR is set SWAP > EXIT is set SWAP > KMON is set NOIND > TT is set NOQUIET > ERROR is set ERROR > SL is set OFF > EDIT is set KED > KMON nesting depth is 3 > > PDP 11/34 Processor > 32KB of memory > FP11 Hardware Floating Point Unit > Extended Instruction Set (EIS) > Memory Management Unit > 60 Cycle System Clock Jerome Fine

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

memory map for RT-11 v 5

by jhfinedp3k＠compsys.to

I forgot to remove the "Spam Key" notice that my ISP puts into most of my e-mail when I replied the first time - I apologize!!! >On Sunday, July 24th, 2016 at 14::29:59 -0700, Don North wrote: > >On 7/24/2016 8:06 AM, william degnan wrote: > >> >On Jul 24, 2016 8:58 AM, "Jerome H. Fine" <jhfinedp3k at compsys.to> >> wrote: >> >>>> On Wednesday, July 20th, 2016 at 18:02:44 - 0400, william degnan >>>> wrote: >>>> Is there a minimum memory requirement for RT-11 v5? I was >>>> discussing with >>> >>>> Ray Fantini about it today, unsure...anyone know if 16K will work >>>> (from >>>> 000000). >>>> >>>> Bill >>>> >>> You need to be more specific! Starting with V05.00 of RT-11 in 1983, >>> there were a total of 17 versions released up to V05.07 in 1998, >>> including >>> sub-versions V05.01B, V05.01C, and V05.04A to V05.04G of RT-11. >>> >>> Up until V05.05 of RT-11, RT11SJ.SYS required the least memory which >>> was replaced with RT11SB.SYS for V05.06 and V05.07 of RT-11. >>> >>> Attempts to boot from RT11SJ.SYS under V05.00 of RT-11 with 24K >>> bytes of memory were successful. Attempts to boot with 16K bytes of >>> memory were unsuccessful. An RK05 was used as the disk drive since >>> it is close to the smallest device driver. The answer to your question >>> about using 16K bytes of memory is NO for all versions of RT-11 >>> starting with >>> V05.00 or RT-11. >>> >>> Attempts to boot from RT11SJ.SYS under V04.00 of RT-11 with 24K >>> bytes of memory were successful. Attempts to boot with 16K bytes of >>> memory were also successful. An RK05 was used as the disk drive. The >>> error message "Insufficient memory" is displayed, but some useful work >>> might be done with just 16K bytes of memory. However, you did not >>> ask if useful work being done was one of the criteria? >>> >>> NOTE that I used the Ersatz-11 emulator to check the above details, >>> so there might be a difference with actual hardware. >>> >>> If you have any more questions, please ask. >>> >>> Jerome Fine >> >> Thanks for the details. I had been trying to boot rt-11 v5.3 on a >> 16k core >> 11/40 using RL11 (rl02) and it did not work. The system was unable to >> complete the initialization. CPU diagnostics passed, I could load BASIC >> papertape. RL11 working correctly. In this context I posted my >> question. >> >> After I posted my message here I loaded up simh and emulated an 11 with >> 32k. RT-11 v5.3 disk boots. When I re-built the system and reduced to >> 16k, I could not boot, bombed. >> >> One thing to remember is 16KW in a pdp11 is not the same thing that simh >> refers to when one sets the CPU to 16K. WWW do not all make this >> distinction clearly. I get it, just making this comment for future >> readers >> of this thread. >> >> Bill > > RT-11 v5.03 single job monitor boots fine and runs in just 32KB (16KW) > of memory. > > You need to be more specific about how you specify the memory > configuration (words vs bytes). > > DEC routinely specified everything in KW (words) but most users and > tools use KB (bytes) nowadays. > > Note that to force RT11SJ (vs RT11FB) to boot on the below image I > booted first using FB > in a larger memory configuration, did a: > > COPY/BOOT DL1:RT11SJ.SYS DL1: > > to force it to boot using the SJ monitor the next time. > > Don NOTE that while the above command is REQUIRED to perform a hardware boot (from boot ROMs on real hardware or from within the SimH emulator. Starting at least with V04.00 of RT-11, a software boot (which uses DUP.SAV) is supported from within RT-11 from within any disk (with the files required to support being a System Disk) to boot any specific monitor file (in this example RT11SJ.SYS) using the RT-11 command: BOOT DL1:RT11SJ Thus even if there has been the RT-11 command to set up a boot block on a specific disk for a specific RT-11 monitor file, it is possible to override the boot block and use any qualified RT-11 monitor file via an RT-11 software boot (which uses DUP.SAV). It is also possible from within RT-11 to force the use of the Primary Boot Code (which is placed in block zero via the COPY/BOOT command) via the RT-11 command: BOOT/FOREIGN DL1: If the user includes a specific monitor in the command: BOOT/FOREIGN DL1:RT11FB then the specified monitor file is ignored and the boot code in block zero of DL1: (placed there via the COPY/BOOT command) is used instead along with the actual monitor file that had been specified during the COPY/BOOT command. > PDP-11 simulator V4.0-0 Beta git commit id: 4065f47f This portion of my reply contains many questions. If possible, answers to all of them would be appreciated, not just the first question. Is this the latest version of SimH? Also, is is possible to support a VT100 display. I have heard that telnet can be used, but I have never been able to do so. Since I always use the RT-11 SL: (Single Line Editor) device driver to support a command stack, it is essential to support a VT100 display, etc. in order to use the ARROW keys to move the cursor around. Is it possible to support VT100 escape sequences when SimH is being used? If so, how is that done in general and what specific programs are required along with the specific commands to implement? I would need to know how to do this from a 64-bit Windows 10 point of view since that is the only system that I will have available after the Windows 98SE system that I currently use to run RT-11 is no longer available. As a default, Ersatz-11 supports running via the Win32 variant under a 64-bit Windows 10 system. > CPU 11/34, FPP, idle disabled, autoconfiguration enabled > 32KB > > NOTE: ctrl-E to exit to SIMH monitor > sim> boot rl1 > > RT-11SJ (S) V05.03 > > .sho all If I remember correctly, the above RT-11 command may be incorrect. I seem to remember that the following output is displayed as a result of the RT-11 command: SHOW CONFIGURATION unless, of course, the rest of the display was omitted and there was much more actually output. > RT-11SJ (S) V05.03 > Booted from DL1:RT11SJ > > USR is set SWAP > EXIT is set SWAP > KMON is set NOIND > TT is set NOQUIET > ERROR is set ERROR > SL is set OFF > EDIT is set KED > KMON nesting depth is 3 > > PDP 11/34 Processor > 32KB of memory > FP11 Hardware Floating Point Unit > Extended Instruction Set (EIS) > Memory Management Unit > 60 Cycle System Clock Jerome Fine

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

more vintage computer stuff

by sales＠elecplus.com

Another fellow is slimming his warehouse. There are 4 pallets, and I have a spreadsheet. Every item has been tested, and there are comments, from "Works OK" to "loud noise and smells burnt". Primarily old Apple gear, but there are also 2 NIB Tandon TM848-E 8" floppy drives. If you want to see the spreadsheet and the pics, send me an email. Cindy Croxton Electronics Plus 500 Pershing Ave. Kerrville, TX 78028 830-370-3239 cell sales at elecplus.com AOL IM elcpls

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Intel 432 floppy flux images for decoding

by drb＠msu.edu

A collection of intel floppies containing software related to the 432 processor was identified and purchased by Nigel Williams. I made flux images of the diskettes some time ago, but have failed to assemble the attention span to decode most of them. Technical details: These are 8" diskettes, written in several different formats. There are FM and M2FM, and possibly MFM, floppies. The flux images were created using a DiscFerret board. Three flux image files were created from each diskette, at three sampling rates: 25, 50 and 100 MHz. (This is certainly overkill, but I wasn't sure what would end up working best.) Both sides were imaged, and the reader software was told to take two passes over each track. The FM diskettes are SSSD, with 128 byte sectors. (The FM ones are already mostly decoded.) For each floppy, a photo of the label, a text transcription of the label, and the three .dfi image files are available. The files are available here: http://www.kb8zqz.net/intelfloppies/ Documentation of the .dfi file format is here: http://www.discferret.com/wiki/DFI_image_format I'm available (drb at msu.edu) to try to answer questions about the imaging process. Nigel and I hope that this might lie close enough to someone's interests to attract some tuits. De

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

IBM 3511

by cctalk＠ibm51xx.net

Pictures or it didn'didn't happen ;) -Ali -------- Original message -------- From: William Donzelli <wdonzelli at gmail.com> Date: 6/9/2016 10:39 PM (GMT-05:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: IBM 3511 So today I picked up something I had never seen before - an IBM 3511. This is a large tower expansion chassis for the PS/2 line. It looks very straightforward - but can any of you PS/2 fans comment on this? Was it an unsuccessful product? Low demand item? -- Will

9 years, 9 months

5
15
0 0

memory map for RT-11 v 5

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

Is there a minimum memory requirement for RT-11 v5? I was discussing with Ray Fantini about it today, unsure...anyone know if 16K will work (from 000000). Bill -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm>

9 years, 9 months

7
10
0 0

Anyone have a spare PDP-11/84 serial console panel they could part with?

by glen.slick＠gmail.com

I just acquired a PDP-11/84 that didn't come with a console panel. That should have a 25-pin D-shell connector for the console serial port, a baud rate selection switch, and a forced dialog switch, with a single 20-pin connector for a ribbon cable that attaches to the KDJ11-B and MDM. The part number should be 54-16508-01 according to the manuals I have seen, although the only hits I find online have it transposed as 54-16058-01. If you have one available let me know offline in private email how much you would want for one. I'm located in the Seattle, WA area. -Glen

9 years, 9 months

2
2
0 0

Anyone have a spare PDP-11/84 serial console panel they could part with?

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

>> a baud rate selection switch > That turns out to be purely off-board (using a clock on the card, and > the 'external clock' option on the CPU (same as the 11/23+). Ooops, my mistake - I _thought_ it was the same as the -11/23+, but now that I look, it brings the baud rate selection lines out to the daughter card. Still, you can select the baud rate without the daughter card - like I said, I have run -11/84 CPU cards in a stock (Q/CD!) QBUS box. >> a single 20-pin connector for a ribbon cable that attaches to the >> KDJ11-B and MDM. > I'd have to check to see if there's anything critical in there for > controlling the power supplies. My guess would be no, since the only things on the serial card that come through that cable from the MDM board are the baud rate and force dialog, which come from the CPU card through the MDM card. (Why on earth DEC did that, instead of just having them come directly from the CPU card, I have no earthly idea. Anyone have a guess?) Noel

9 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Anyone have a spare PDP-11/84 serial console panel they could part with?

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Glen Slick glen.slick at gmail.com > a PDP-11/84 that didn't come with a console panel. You should be able to get it running without the DEC panel (I have certainly run M8190 cards in an 11/23 chassis, without the front panel); the serial connection is the same as the DLV11-J, etc, pinout here: http://gunkies.org/wiki/DEC_asynchronous_serial_line_pinout and most of the functionality of the panel (e.g. the force dialog switch) is repeated on the CPU board as jumpers/switches. > a baud rate selection switch That turns out to be purely off-board (using a clock on the card, and the 'external clock' option on the CPU (same as the 11/23+). > a single 20-pin connector for a ribbon cable that attaches to the > KDJ11-B and MDM. This is the only part I wonder about - I'd have to check to see if there's anything critical in there for controlling the power supplies. Noel

9 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Multiplan for the VT180

by useddec＠gmail.com

While looking for some other docs, I found a few new copies of Multiplan for the VT180, NOS. White folder, 2 books, sealed floppy. If you have any questions or interest, please contact me off list. Easy to mail from zip 61853. Paul

9 years, 9 months

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Reproduction micros

by swiftgriggs＠gmail.com

I'm probably dreaming, but is anyone aware of DIY efforts or business ventures aiming to reproduce a classic micro or "next-gen" classic micro? I have seen a lot of efforts, but only one quite like that (the Altair 680 project nails it). I'm just thinking that with 3D printers and FPGA hardware emulation it's probably not as hard as it once was. Here are some similar efforts I'm already aware of. Project BreadBox (dead) http://www.lemon64.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=47834&sid=ae3e721d8d800cbe5d6b… The truly kick ass MIST. A nice clone of several systems implemented in FPGA, but design wise, it's a shabby little metal box. I have one and I think it really rocks. I just wish there were more cases and accessories. http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=96 The Firebee ST clone project https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Coldfire_Project The C64 Joystick clone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C64_Direct-to-TV Commodore.net used to sell PeeCee C64 and Amiga look-a-like clones dead link: http://www.commodore.net The C-One. A FPGA board to emulate the C64, again no case. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-One The awesome Altair 680 kit that appears to be a very complete clone of the system. It comes with a case et al. http://www.altair680kit.com/ A bunch of PDP-X replicas in FPGAs with various degrees of usefulness http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/pdp_fpga.html These guys are trying to build a NEW Amiga with backward compatibility. Sounds like a wonderful project. They seem to be pretty far along with many prototype boards built. FPGA guts with a real 060' for CPU! They never seem to have made boards for sale, though, and there was no effort toward a complete system design (case, keyboards, etc...). The last noise they made seems to be in 2007. http://www.natami.net/ For consoles there are plenty of clones: http://segaretro.org/Unlicensed_Mega_Drive_clones https://www.amazon.com/Hyperkin-Retron-System-GENESIS-Nintendo-Entertainmen… Then there is the Cray1 remake http://www.chrisfenton.com/homebrew-cray-1a/ -Swift

9 years, 9 months

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GE Canada are hiring... A PDP-11 programmer

by lproven＠gmail.com

Yes, today. http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?37827-Greetings-from-GE-Canada!&s… -- Sent from my phone - please pardon brevity & typos.

9 years, 9 months

3
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APL-100

by turing＠shaw.ca

Hi: I just recently acquired a Cybernex APL-100 APL/ASCII terminal; it appears to be complete, but the only documentation that I have for it is a sales brochure. Is there anyone familiar with this? It was manufactured in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) in the late '70s - any technical information would be appreciated.

9 years, 9 months

4
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seeking DEC VAXmate software

by iamcamiel＠gmail.com

> Is the bulk of the computer in the monitor and the box it stands on "just" > an ISA expansion, PSU and hard disk? Yes, it's an optional expansion box. The idea behind the vaxmate was that instead of from a hard disk, it could run from a disk image on a VAX, so a local hard disk was optional. Camiel

9 years, 9 months

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Straight 8 up on Ebay just now

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

agreed. if it would have been 11/20 and a h960 would have been muccchhhh more reasonable.. what was there was totally amazing. Ed# In a message dated 7/24/2016 9:05:37 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, jnc at mercury.lcs.mit.edu writes: > From: Glen Slick > For the curious about the eBay market value of the PDP-11/20 today That one was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, though: not only a KA11 in absolutely pristine condition, but also an additional BA11 stuffed to the gills with memory; the most complete set of original documentation I have _ever_ seen with a computer that old; a complete H960 in perfect condition, with all the blank panels, the rear door, etc; trays and trays of original paper tape software, etc, etc. When you consider that that PDP-11/70 that went a while back for $10K - and -11/70's are a lot more common that -11/20's - I think this one was easily worth what it went for. I'm quite serious - I doubt we'll ever see another -11/20 in this good a shape, and this complete, for sale, at least, not in my remaining lifetime. Noel

9 years, 9 months

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Straight 8 up on Ebay just now

by glen.slick＠gmail.com

On Jul 19, 2016 12:24 PM, "Pontus Pihlgren" <pontus at update.uu.se> wrote: > > I can't find it, does anyone have a URL? > Straight PDP-8 http://www.ebay.com/itm/152171436497 PDP-11/20 http://www.ebay.com/itm/201624309371

9 years, 9 months

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Straight 8 up on Ebay just now

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Glen Slick > For the curious about the eBay market value of the PDP-11/20 today That one was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, though: not only a KA11 in absolutely pristine condition, but also an additional BA11 stuffed to the gills with memory; the most complete set of original documentation I have _ever_ seen with a computer that old; a complete H960 in perfect condition, with all the blank panels, the rear door, etc; trays and trays of original paper tape software, etc, etc. When you consider that that PDP-11/70 that went a while back for $10K - and -11/70's are a lot more common that -11/20's - I think this one was easily worth what it went for. I'm quite serious - I doubt we'll ever see another -11/20 in this good a shape, and this complete, for sale, at least, not in my remaining lifetime. Noel

9 years, 9 months

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Straight 8 up on Ebay just now

by couryhouse＠aol.com

Think it was add on box that went for the $$$$$! ---Ed# Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: Glen Slick <glen.slick at gmail.com> Date: 7/24/16 20:08 (GMT-07:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Straight 8 up on Ebay just now > > Straight PDP-8 > http://www.ebay.com/itm/152171436497 > > PDP-11/20 > http://www.ebay.com/itm/201624309371 For the curious about the eBay market value of the PDP-11/20 today, it just sold for $5,655.55

9 years, 9 months

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Signetics N8251 source?

by mattislind＠gmail.com

After successfully repairing the G231 module of the MM11-L set I continued with the next one. This one was not able to access addresses ending 0100 (binary). Luckily it was not the transistors arrays that were bad but the selector chip. A Signetics N8251 chip. I found a source on ebay at $4.95 each plus $13 shipping. A little bit to much for my taste (although I could make an offer) Anyone know of a cheaper source? I could use five or ten maybe. /Mattis

9 years, 9 months

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FTGH: DEC 54-17507 backplane; Sun type-4 keyboards

by mouse＠Rodents-Montreal.ORG

I've finally started digging through all my stuff in storage, at least in a small way. Two (or three) things I've found so far might be of interest here. (There will likely be more eventually, but it's anybody's guess when I'll find the round tuits to do more digging.) - One DEC 54-17507. Google makes me think this is the Qbus backplane from a BA123. It appears to be in good shape; while I am not set up to test it, it looks pretty much "too simple to break". It consists of the PCB, the Qbus connectors on one side, two 18-pin power connectors and one ten-pin connector with blue plastic shroud on the other side, and a piece of heavy sheet steel all this is bolted to. (And the bolts, of course. :-) Oh, all four resistor packs are installed. - Two Sun type-4 keyboards. (Whether the list is two or three things depends on whether you count these as one thing or two.) They are somewhat age-yellowed, and one of them has some stain spots. All the keys appear to work mechanically. I have a machine I can test these with, but I will have to first dig out a suitable cable; whether they are available now or later depends on whether you want to wait for me to find a cable to test them. These are in Ottawa (Canada's national capital, for those who don't know the name or who want disambiguation) and are anyone's for the claiming. In theory I can ship, but in practice I find I totally suck at getting stuff shipped (I have two things pending shipping right now, pending for long times), so you are much more likely to get something soon if you can pick it up or give me a local(ish) place I can drop it off, and if someone wants something shipped and someone else is prepared to pick it up, I'm taking the easy-for-me option. /~\ The ASCII Mouse \ / Ribbon Campaign X Against HTML mouse at rodents-montreal.org / \ Email! 7D C8 61 52 5D E7 2D 39 4E F1 31 3E E8 B3 27 4B

9 years, 9 months

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ISO Televideo 965 eprom images

by aek＠bitsavers.org

I was digging around in storage and found a 965 board that is missing its eproms. Does anyone have one handy that they could dump the proms from? It's kind of unusual in that it uses a 65816 cpu. Seems to be a midway design between the earlier 6502's and the later 68000's.

9 years, 9 months

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KT-24 and/or -11/24 backplane info

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> Guess I should document all this in the Computer History Wiki OK, done: http://gunkies.org/wiki/PDP-11/24 > those prints (KT-24, and -11/24 backplane) would still be useful. Big thanks for Al for putting the KT24 prints up - very good to have them. > I guess it will require getting ahold of a backplane, and seeing what I > can find out with an ohm-meter. It looks like I'll still have to do this at some point, to confirm my theories about how the two busses are wired on the backplane (separation of UB and EUB address lines, and cross-connection of the data lines, for the EUB/SPC slots), since we still don't have any backplane info. Another mystery: The "PDP-11 UNIBUS Processor Handbook" (1985) says (pg. 4-10) that in the 5.25" box, "only one MS11-P memory module can be configured". Anyone know the cause/source of that restriction? I don't think it can be the backplane; i) AFAIK, the 5.25" and 10.5" (for which no limitation is stated) boxes use the same backplane, and ii) the 5.25" box can take more of the smaller MS11-L cards (albeit, again, limited - to three). So I don't think it can be 'the backplane doesn't carry all 22 address lines to all EUB slots' (although I will check); and the CPU does drive all 22. My next thought was that it's some power supply current issue, but on checking, that board only uses +5V, and there's nothing about limiting the number of ordinary boards when an MS11-P is in use. (I have to check the power supply specs, and compare with the board power consumption specs, to make completely positive there's no issue there.) So I can't come up with any technical rationale for that limit? Am I missing something? Or is it just DEC marketing, trying to limit how powerful the machine can be? Noel

9 years, 9 months

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seeking DEC VAXmate software

by nw＠retrocomputingtasmania.com

I'm on the hunt for diskette images of DEC VAXmate software. From a post to comp.sys.dec there appears to be at least the following diskettes, but possibly more: VAXmate MS-DOS version 3.10 for VAXmate Oper Environ V1.1 VAXMATE S/A INSTALL V1.1 VT240 EMULATOR UPDATE For VAXmate Oper Environ V1.1 VAXMATE INFO. SYSTEM V1.1 FOR VAXMATE OPER ENVIRON V1.1 VAXMATE MS-WINDOWS V1.03 (three disks) If anyone has the diskettes or can point me somewhere to look, it would be appreciated. thanks. Other notes: If anyone is desperate to own a VAXmate I can provide contact details of someone who has a few. Here is my VAXmate running a generic MS-DOS 4.0, the screen is very dim, and a few other pictures (as it arrived, so before any cleaning - quote dusty inside): https://goo.gl/photos/cQkbekoLiWBCZoad9

9 years, 9 months

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HP 9845B Model 100 PSU - looking for transformer

by Martin.Hepperle＠dlr.de

Hi, I have got a 9845B which has a defective power supply unit - obviously a very common problem. After replacing the cracking epoxy capacitors I found that the mains transformer seems to have a broken input winding. Maybe someone tried to run it at 220V using the 110V input selector switch. What I am now looking for is a defective PSU with a good transformer, resp. just the transformer which may also have been used in other HP devices.. The transformer is located on the PSU mother board between the two large capacitors. It has the part number "9100-4037" and the date code "8-81" printed on it. It has two input windings and three output windings. Thus the output is a bit different (one additional winding compared to Tony Duells schematics). Maybe someone can help? Martin

9 years, 9 months

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Nova 3 front panel

by henk.gooijen＠hotmail.com

Van: jim stephens

9 years, 9 months

1
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MM11-L / G231 repair advice?

by mattislind＠gmail.com

So after replacing a microcode PROM on the PDP-11/05 control board and then concluding that the remaining problem relating to indexed addressing was caused by one single micro code line that got missing when typed in, desoldering the PROM, program two more bits (0xf to 0x5), the CPU is now working. Passing the D0OA diagnostics and the D0NB (except for the mov r0, (r0)+ tests) But during the journey the core memory died. I am used to things failing in my face. The M9301 board started of working. Then it developed some kind of amnesia, permanently forgetting what was once stored. When this was cured with yet another PROM, one, then a second DEC8881 driver on the M9301-YF gave up. But now it seems to work. So finally I am back to the core memory. Luckily I had a spare set so I could find at least what board that was failing. Card swapping gave that the G231 module was at fault. The failure mode is that it does read out the contents once. The second time it reads out all zeros. Write never works. Apparently it is the write / write back mechanism that is failing completely in the G231 module. Since it is in fact reading, the X / Y selection seems to work and most of the writing takes place on the G110 as far as I understand since it contains the Inhibit drivers. So what part of the G231 is specific for the write? I have a few other G110 / G231 modules with different types of failure modes so it would be really nice if someone with MM11-L know-how would step forward and share all the details on this board set. I will continue to browse the schematic and the user manual to try to find the failing component, but help is highly appreciated! /Mattis

9 years, 9 months

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Nova 3 front panel

by henk.gooijen＠hotmail.com

Van: jim stephens

9 years, 9 months

1
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heap of floppy disks

by lyokoboy0＠gmail.com

I picked up two crates jam packed full of floppys today. Bunch of random old utilities in there, borland turbo asm, turbo pascal, windows for workgroups etc. I found a set of disks with the DEC digital logo on them. 4-5 disks, says dos for the dec pc. Some utilitys too. Are these of any use to anyone, or is it just a stock dos install with a dec sticker on the disk? There are little heaps of disks on just about every surface around here, i will post back with a complete list of what is here to see if anyone is interested in what is here. I just want some of the software off of the disks, i don't necessarily want to keep the two full crates of disks around . There is also an original copy of doom on floppy that looks to be complete. --Devin

9 years, 9 months

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Multiflow Trace 14/300 close to being scrapped in Texas

by evan.linwood＠eastek.com.au

Hi Mark, it wasn't myself either. Apologies (and to Brian, James and Jon) I was watching & wanting to respond but got hit by a wall of things, then noticed that someone had bid on it. Very glad to see it was acquired, and that Chris could confirm.

9 years, 9 months

2
1
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Nova 3 front panel

by henk.gooijen＠hotmail.com

Van: jim stephens

9 years, 9 months

1
0
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Compucorop 122E - Manual

by draeger5＠hotmail.com

Hello, just came across this site. I recently got a Compucorp 122E, but without any manual. I would like to use this calculator for tests in programming - does anyone have a manual/pdf? Thanks, Matthias ps.: this mail is for the "list" - how can I have access to the list? How do I see a reply, in case there is one? Tel.0049-6741-1720 http://m-draeger.com/ Matthias Draeger Auf dem Haehnchen 32 56329 St. Goar/ Germany

9 years, 9 months

1
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Possibly rarest Apple 1 ever for auction

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Corey Cohen > It was not someone at the PCB manufacturer. They would not have had > access to the prom software. So, do you have a theory about where this came from? (There is absolutely zero snark here, this is a serious question. It's quite a puzzle, and an interesting one.) Maybe a collaboration between two people, one at Apple, one at the PCB house? 'Make two extra boards, and I'll trade you the PROMs for one of them.' Can't do it with just a person at the PCB house - as you point out, need the ROMs. But you'd think that if someone at Apple just pulled a board, that would be noticed (board count wrong). Noel

9 years, 9 months

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VT420 schematics

by lars＠nocrew.org

Hello, Does anyone have schematics for the DEC VT420 terminal? Thank you, Lars Brinkhoff

9 years, 9 months

1
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HP Computer Museum in the (local) News

by rdbrown0au＠gmail.com

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-22/vintage-computer-museum-revives-hp211… A keen mountaineer who died trekking in Tibet has left a rare computer collection behind as his legacy. Surrounded by bushland in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne is a wooden shed with barn doors. It closely resembles a shed in California where, in 1939, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard launched the company that would become HP. The much larger Australian shed is home to the HP Computer Museum, filled with ageing computers, printers and calculators, most of which are a dull light grey. ...

9 years, 9 months

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Possibly rarest Apple 1 ever for auction

by cctalk＠snarc.net

Possibly the rarest Apple 1 ever is up for auction. The seller is working through CharityBuzz, which will display the computer at VCF West next month. CB's auction site: http://apple1.charitybuzz.com/ MacRumors covered it: http://www.macrumors.com/2016/07/21/charitybuzz-auctioning-unique-celebrati…

9 years, 9 months

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8i front

by tdk.knight＠gmail.com

finaly got some pregress on this 8i from a feild restoration of mine.. now to sit down and do an order for the transistors and go talk to the local ewaste recycler on monday see if they can help me source some slider switches like one i found in the junk pile at the local hacker space last night looks very promising will need to get new rocker peics made to atach the 8i switches to but its looking promising if this works out there may be a suden suply of replacement switch assemblys avail... https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8752/27863539914_a92d0264c7_b.jpg baby steps baby steps

9 years, 9 months

1
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Nova 3 front panel

by jwsmail＠jwsss.com

Is there anyone with documents on the Nova 3 front panel, and what drives it? It has some number of custom DG chips, which hopefully are good if I want to try to fire it up to play, but am interested in that on good authority there are 28v incandescent lamps. A friend has an Eclipse front panel with nearly identical bezel, which has LED's and a number of differences in the logic (different connector to the system, for instance). So it is probably all run on 5v. I have not had time to figure out the driver circuit for any of the lamps to see what that may turn up, and wanted to know whether it was 28v lamps before I buy 40 of them. (the thing has only 2 out of a lot of lamps). Thanks Jim

9 years, 9 months

6
11
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Possibly rarest Apple 1 ever for auction

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Corey Cohen > This board is from the 1st PCB house that made the "byte shop" boards > but has the more expensive and reliable RN sockets. Maybe someone at the 1st PCB house made an extra board for themselves, and used better sockets (since it was for themselves)? Noel

9 years, 9 months

1
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Looking for HP 9810A keyboard springs

by iamcamiel＠gmail.com

Hi Guys, I've got an HP 9810A that has been stored in sub-optimal conditions by a previous owner; a lot of the keyboard springs have rusted away, so I'm looking for a replacement. These are about 15.5mm outer diameter, 0.35mm thick wire, about 10mm high when uncompressed, and have only about 1.5 turns of wire. Any pointers would be appreciated! Camiel.

9 years, 9 months

2
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How to open a SUN CDROM drive box?

by mattislind＠gmail.com

I am probably too stupid to not understand how to get into this box: http://i.imgur.com/7KXKP2l.jpg Before I break some parts of the old plastic I better ask... What is the procedure to open this up? The drive doesn't seem to work properly. Either I need to get it working somehow or replace it with a new (512 byte block capable) drive. /Mattis

9 years, 9 months

3
4
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WANTED: PDP-8 KE8E Extended arithmetic element

by anders＠abc80.net

>You used to be able to find a set with connector blocks for $200 to $300 >range on EBay. But I haven't seen any pop up for a couple of years now. > There are actually two individual board on eBay now, but the they are a bit expensive, ~$250 each. The freight change is about $200 to Sweden for each board (don't now if they combine chipping). I'll guess I have to pay for customs as well... >Keep an eye on machines. These options were found in the variants of E's >(F and M) and some A's. You might have to buy another machine in order to >get this option. > If I only could find one... >Remember that you are looking for what I would classify as a fairly rare >option on machines that are becoming rare now. There are not a lot of >these machines in service anymore. > >Good Luck! Thanks, I know that those things starts to get really rare. I could live with a broken set. /Anders

9 years, 9 months

1
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Reproduction micros

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Paul Koning >> I always felt that RISC meant 'making the basic cycle time as fast as >> possible by finding the longest path through the logic - i.e. the >> limiting factor on the cycle time - and removing it (thereby making the >> instruction set less rich); then repeat'. > "Making the cycle time as fast as possible" certainly applies, in > spades, to the 6600. The deeper you dig into its details, the more > impressed you will be by the many different ways in which it does things > faster than you would expect to be possible. My formulation for RISC had two parts, though: not just minizing the cycle time, but doing so by doing things that (as a side-effect) make the instruction set less capable. I'm not very familiar with the 6600 - does this part apply too? >> RISC only makes (system-wide) sense in an environment in which memory >> bandwidth is plentiful (so that having programs contain more, simpler >> instructions make sense) I should have pointed out that programs of that sort take not just more memory bandwidth, but more memory to hold them. In this day of massive memories, no biggie, but back in the core memory days, it was more of an issue. >> One of the books about Turing argues that the ACE can be seen as a RISC >> machine (it's not just that it's load-store; its overall architectural >> philosophy is all about maximizing instruction rates). I looked, and it's "Alan Turing's Automatic Computing Engine"; in Chapter 8, "Computer architecture and the ACE computers", by Robert Doran (which is not, for some reason, listed in the ToC). > I think a lot of machine designers, though not all, were seriously > interested in making them go fast. Again, RISC has two legs, not just making the machine fast, but making them fast by using techniques that, as a side-effect, make them inscrutable, and difficult to program. The concept was that they would not, in general, be programmed in assembler - precisely because they were so finicky. Remember, the 801 was a combined hardware/compiler project, in which complexity was moved from the hardware to the compiler; and early RISC machines has things like no interlocks between pipeline stages. So they really were not intended to be programmed in assembler - the compiler was critical. The ACE, on the surface, didn't follow this, as it had no compiler. However, at a higher level, Turing definitely followed the RISC philosophy of making the machine as fast as possible, by using techniques that made it very hard to program; instead of moving the complexity to the compiler, he moved it to the programmer - the latter not being a problem, if you're Alan Turing! :-) Noel

9 years, 9 months

10
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Multiflow Trace 14/300 close to being scrapped in Texas

by evan.linwood＠eastek.com.au

Hi All, I noticed that the Multiflow race 14/300 system listed on eBay didn't sell recently. I don't have any personal background with these machines but it seems they could be both significant and rare? It's been sitting on eBay but I wasn't sure if it had slipped between the cracks somehow? I've been in contact with the seller and he's said that he's still hoping to sell it, but that it has to be cleared soon (and would be scrapped). I don't live in the US, so it's not an easy one for me to work with. Is this of interest to anyone? Cheers Evan http://www.ebay.com/itm/112050410557

9 years, 9 months

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OT: Scanner discussion board(s)

by hollandia＠ccountry.net

I need to find a place to ask questions about scanners (scanner in the sense of an Epson Perfection 1260 flatbed scanner, not in the sense of radios). Several searches have yielded only radio-type scanner sites (or dead links). Does anyone here know of newsgroups or discussion boards for scanners? Thanks, Kurt

9 years, 9 months

3
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KT-24 and/or -11/24 backplane info

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

So I'm trying to work out how the PDP-11/24 memory works - in particular, how the memory slots in the backplane can also support SPC devices. Chapter 5 of the -11/24 Technical Manual does not help - irritatingly! It spends a lot of time talking about the CPU's memory mapping (well documented elsewhere), and little on these blasted busses! Alas, there seems to be no KT-24 prints online (although the tech manual makes reference to various pages in it); prints of the backplane would also be really useful, but again, don't seem to be in what is online. Does anyone have either one? Failing that, I guess it will require getting ahold of a backplane, and seeing what I can find out with an ohm-meter. In general, I am not absolutely positive about how the UNIBUS and the Extended UNIBUS manage to co-exist on the backplane (although I think I have worked it out - see below). The tech manual acts as if the KT-24 acts as an intermediary between the two... which is fine, except that how are the both carried on the backplane, separately, but at the same time? When there _is_ a KT-24 (the system can work without one - more below on this), how is the EUB (which is just the UNIBUS plus a couple of extra address lines) separated from the UB? The way the UNIBUS mapping registers work, the EUB address for any given cycle can vary from the UB address by an arbitrary amount, so lower address bits can't be shared between the two busses. (Because address bit X might have to simultaneously be '0' for one bus, and '1' for the other.) I.e. the two busses can't somehow mostly share the same pins, through some kludge... It appears likely that somehow the UNIBUS is on connectors C-F (i.e. where it normally is on SPC slots), and the EUB is on the A-B connectors (as in MUD slots) - and the two are not connected together. (Note that on the 11/24 backplane, 4 slots are marked "SPC/Mem", and two "SPC/MUD", which supports this theory; the 4 slots would have the EUB and the UB not connected together - as they would be in a normal MUD/SPC slot.) Looking at the CPU prints (which _are_ available), it appears to confirm this theory; the 22-bit EUB address bus is carried on the MUD/EUB address lines (connectors A/B), and the 18-bit UNIBUS addresses are carried on the SPC address pins (connector E). Dollars to donuts those pins are carried across slots 1-6, and not intereconnected vertically (I have yet to verify that, either with the backplane prints, or with an ohm-meter, but I would put a very large bet on it.) Oddly enough, the CPU uses the UNIBUS SPC data pins (connector C), instead of the MUD ones (connector A). The thing is that EUB memory boards (e.g. MM11-M - the relevant page of the MS11-P prints are missing from the online set, alas) pick up the MUD pins for data. So the backplane must connect together the SPC data pins and the MUD data pins. The system can apparently also work _without_ a KT-24! Which raises the question 'how do DMA devices get to the memory when there's no KT-24'? >From looking at the CPU prints, (pg. K11) it _looks_ like the UNIBUS is automagically mapped through to the EUB when there's no KT24 (there's a pin which is apparently pulled low by the KT-24); the low (256-8=248) KB of UNIBUS address space is mapped straight across to low address space on the EUB memory bus. With no KT24 in, a standard EUB memory can go in 2. Slot 2 is special, though; the KT24 needs not just the UNIBUS lines, and EUB address lines (to map from one to the other); it also has some special interconnects with the CPU, e.g. that 'UNIBUS adapter present' line. Guess I should document all this in the Computer History Wiki, but those prints (KT-24, and -11/24 backplane) would still be useful. Noel

9 years, 9 months

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KT-24 and/or -11/24 backplane info

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Tony Duell > If it's anything like the 11/44 ... the memory bus is carried on the A > and B connectors, the peripheral bus on the C,D,E,F connectors. I have yet to totally grok the -11/44, but the documentation indicates the slots for memory are memory only (i.e. EUB on the A/B connectors). Are you saying they are also SPC on the C/F connectors? (If so, ever tried plugging an SPC device into a 'memory' slot? :-) If so, that would make it very similar to the -11/24, then - although does it also have the thing where the data lines are connected from the EUB (connector A) to the SPC UNIBUS (connector C)? The CPU prints show data from the CPU going to connector A, unlike the -11/24, which sends data to C - although if the backplane has the EUB and SPC data busses connected, it would all be the same in the end. Noel

9 years, 9 months

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MS11-P FMPS missing page

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Al Kossow > It's there, I'll upload it now Great; thanks! Noel

9 years, 9 months

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MS11-P FMPS missing page

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

So the online set of MS11-P Field Maintainence prints is missing page 3 of the prints (data drivers page). Does anyone have an original hard-copy, and can supply a scan of the missing page? Thanks (in advance, and hopefully :-). Noel

9 years, 9 months

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LASERS!

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

While fascinating... it's not on topic. Lets wrap up this thread :) J

9 years, 9 months

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The emulator that needs 3GHz

by lproven＠gmail.com

*Accuracy takes power: one man?s 3GHz quest to build a perfect SNES emulator* *Emulators for playing older games are immensely popular online, with regular arguments breaking out over which emulator is best for which game. Today we present another point of view from a gentleman who has created the Super Nintendo emulator **bsnes**. He wants to share his thoughts on the most important part of the emulation experience: accuracy.* http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/08/accuracy-takes-power-one-mans-3ghz-qu… -- Sent from my phone - please pardon brevity & typos.

9 years, 9 months

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Flat panel display rot - "tunnel vision" in electroluminescent and other displays- bad seals.

by ian.finder＠gmail.com

I have a few GRiD compass systems and some are suffering from massively decreased contrast on the edges of the displays: [See the system on the left] https://www.instagram.com/p/BIGGzUzgat-/?taken-by=tr1nitr0n [Or this one:] http://www.ripstick.com/USCM/images/Grid_Compass_1101_Laptop_in_Box_002.jpg Meanwhile, other EL systems I have- like my HP integral PC- haven't succumbed to this. I have seen similar issues on amLCD displays in my Tadpole, Toshiba and other machines, so this is something we all may have to confront. ------- I was wondering if the folks here had theories? I'm thinking moisture (or air) might be leaking in from the edges of the glass panes, perhaps from a compromised seal- sorry for the silly picture but you can see the composition of the display here: https://www.instagram.com/p/6BXaLBtSzd/?taken-by=tr1nitr0n Does anyone know how one might prevent this from progressing- storage tips? Could it be reversed? Better yet, does anyone have ideas on how to rapidly dehydrate the display? Perhaps there is even a way to re-seal them. I think all two-glass-pane displays that don't have a vacuum may eventually succumb to this. Perhaps it is just oxidation and not moisture, but I'd love to hear any theories. Thanks, - Ian -- Ian Finder (206) 395-MIPS ian.finder at gmail.com

9 years, 9 months

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Getting rid of books and documentation

by spedraja＠ono.com

Hello everyone. My employer plans to close the data center where I have been working for several years usually. This involves the destruction or elimination of all kinds of manuals, books, documents and diverse equipment considering that this is deprecated. In general the hardware belongs to IBM for contractual reasons, but not so with the documentation I have mentioned. In my case I saved from destruction several old manuals and training courses that I will begin to scan in the coming months. But I can not take care of all available material. As an example there are enough red books related IBM OS / 2 and its environment. There are also several CICS 2.1 ... it is difficult to make an accurate count. I will try to make some more detailed photos as possible and post them somewhere so that anyone interested can review. Given my residence in the European Union, I think it would be easier to send these documents to interested persons who also reside in the EU, if necessary. On the other hand I must say that we store yet one IBM 3705 operative until few years ago. I don't know what plans have IBM for it. But that's another story. With kind regards Sergio

9 years, 9 months

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Who Loves IBM Tape?

by silent700＠gmail.com

A very nice IBM 3480 brochure ended up in my hands yesterday and I had to bump it to the top of the scan queue: https://archive.org/details/IBM3480MagneticTapeSubsystemBrochure Lots of nice shots of IBM data center tape equipment as well as a cool "history of tape at IBM" set of pages. I've never heard of 7340 Hypertape. -j

9 years, 9 months

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LASERS! && Freemont Street LED array (was Re: Cray J932SE (was Re: Straight 8 up on Ebay just now))

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Mouse > I'm wondering how practical it might be to take a laser and turn it > into a vector display on a handy blank wall Those have been around for decades - I recall seeing them used to draw things on the sides of building, _many_ moons ago. I'm assuming they bounce the beam off a mirror, and actuate the mirror, but I don't actually know how they worked. Noel

9 years, 9 months

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More PDP-11 front console scans

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

I recently got access to an orginal PDP-11/70 front console (the one in magenta and rose), and also an 'Industrial' -11/70 (blue and red). Scans of both of these front panels have been added to my PDP-11 stuff page: http://ana-3.lcs.mit.edu/~jnc/tech/pdp11/PDP-11_Stuff.html My A3 scanner won't _quite_ eat the whole thing in one gulp, but it did manage to 'see' all the printed stuff. The actual panel is very slightly larger, so there are some thin sections on either side missing from the scan, _but_ on that page there is a mechanical drawing that gives the dimensions of the whole thing. So the two together should enable a complete reproduction. Noel

9 years, 9 months

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DEC H-500 Computer Lab pins and docs (was Re: Straight 8 up on Ebay just ...

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

I wonder if any of the other digi labs leads are comparable? We have fabratek and a few other brands. We got a bit obsessed with trainer type gear for electronics and physics 'this what that got young people interested back when' display. if there are any list member with a small turret lathe that would be nice to make pins with. pretty labor intensive. Better would be small Brown and Sharpe screw machine would make buckets of them once you got the machine all set up to make the run. Or cnc machine ( I never ran one of those) --- or as mentioned casting some. I will look and see is we need any pins. Ed#. In a message dated 7/19/2016 11:30:10 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, v.slyngstad at frontier.com writes: From: Karl-Wilhelm Wacker: Tuesday, July 19, 2016 5:21 PM > This company does custom tapered pins in brass - > There are others out there I'm sure. > > I would find out what their minimum is and get a bulk order together. > > http://www.stanlok.com/Taper_Pin_Pages/an386.html > > A place I worked for in the past had www.mill-max.com do a custon part for > them, > in the 100's - I would talk to them about a part also. >From what I can gather from the websites you referred me to, the tapered part of the pin's dimensions are very close to the woner if fabratecnarrow end of a standard taper #4/0 in the 3/4" length? Have I done the math right on that? >From there it would seem to be a matter of getting a way to mount the wire, and optionally to shorten the overall length of the pin and wire attachment to .65" from .75". (Or maybe just slot the pin's fat end, solder in the wire, and call it good.) I also thought about using a taper reamer to create molds and perhaps casting with solder around the fluxed wire. (Casting brass or bronze seemed to require more heat than I could generate easily.) (For some reason that I've forgotten over the years, my eBay search for suitable pins looks for "42107" and "42279". Never gotten any results for it, though.) Vince

9 years, 9 months

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DEC H-500 Computer Lab pins and docs (was Re: Straight 8 up on Ebay just now)

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

On Tue, Jul 19, 2016 at 5:01 AM, <COURYHOUSE at aol.com> wrote: > also a Rare Digital DEC H-500 Computer Lab, 1960s, Same Switches as > PDP-8/I, Vintage for 700+ > > ( we have an extra one of these Computer Lab, if anyone here is > interested) Does anyone have a modern source of pins that fit the socket holes in the Computer Lab? ISTR there are a few of us here who have an H-500, but very few, or no, patch cables. I think Molex pins have been tried and rejected. Also, the 1969 Computer Lab Handbook is on bitsavers (in 'dec/handbooks'). I recall a 8.5"x11" book on the Computer Lab, newer layout, probably a 1970s publication date, possibly a teacher's guide. I was given one as a kid, but it vanished decades ago. Anyone remember this? Anyone have one for scanning? -ethan

9 years, 9 months

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Another pdp-8 auction at 25k

by barythrin＠gmail.com

http://m.ebay.com/itm/DEC-PDP8-I-MINICOMPUTER-PDP8-PDP-8-PDP-8-/201627112300 Did someone already post this other pdp-8 auction? Same semi-ridiculous starting price as other straight 8 but i honestly don't know enough about PDP to know what this is or if its not a straight version. ?Seems like a museum piece though although perhaps all of you PDP collectors have a similar setup :-)?

9 years, 9 months

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LASERS! && Freemont Street LED array (was Re: Cray J932SE (was Re: Straight 8 up on Ebay just now))

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Mouse > my impression is that they're only for pre-prepared displays, and only > some displays (notably those that don't involve the beam turning any > sharp corners My vague recollection is that they could do pretty sharp corners, but it's been decades. IIRC, they were multi-coloured. > Turning sharp corners is the hard part with mechanical deflectors like > mirrors, as it means very high acceleration of the mechanical parts. Probably the trick is to do what old voice-coil actuator drives did for multi-track seeks, which was to evenly accelerate up to maximum velocity, coast at that until you got close to the target track, and then evenly ramp down, so that the head assembly's radial velocity goes to 0 as you get to the target track. (If you're not moving enough tracks to do the whole thing, you only ramp up part-way, then ramp back down.) The RK05 drive did this with fancy analog circuits, but these days one would do it in software. I would assume one would do something similar with the mirror; evenly accelerate up to maximum slew rate, then back down at the end of the move, so that when one gets to the corner, the mirror is mostly stationary, and so not so much force is needed to sharply change directions. Of course, this might make the parts of the line where the mirror is moving slower brighter, but perhaps one could tweak the brightness to compensate. Noel

9 years, 9 months

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Seagate 50-pin SCSI drives

by sales＠elecplus.com

A reseller in GA is dumping some online inventory that they used to sell on ebay. Included are 23 SEAGATE ST32500N HARD DRIVE If interested, email to Mike Roetzer [mike at tbfcomputing.com] Not affiliated with the seller at all. Cindy Croxton

9 years, 9 months

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Straight 8 up on Ebay just now

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

I just put in pdp-8 in ebay search and saw it last nite -Ed# In a message dated 7/19/2016 12:24:15 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, pontus at Update.UU.SE writes: I can't find it, does anyone have a URL? /P On Mon, Jul 18, 2016 at 01:58:12PM -0700, jim stephens wrote: > 25,000, Alexandria, Va. > > Josh Dersch can have one for his home and for work. > > BTW, about the other nice system noted here, I was hoping the 11/20 would > stay off the radar and not go for a zillion bucks, so much for that idea. > At least I have the means to go to Tucson and get it if I'm nuts and go for > it. > > Thanks > Jim

9 years, 9 months

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Straight 8 up on Ebay just now

by jwsmail＠jwsss.com

25,000, Alexandria, Va. Josh Dersch can have one for his home and for work. BTW, about the other nice system noted here, I was hoping the 11/20 would stay off the radar and not go for a zillion bucks, so much for that idea. At least I have the means to go to Tucson and get it if I'm nuts and go for it. Thanks Jim

9 years, 9 months

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Rescue Fwd: Atari 1040ST (w/Hybrid Arts, Apple 7100AV (w/Digidesign) Utah

by jfoust＠threedee.com

A rescue available... contact Ric directly below. - John >From: Ric Chitwood <dancetech at comcast.net> >Subject: Atari 1040ST >Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2016 10:56:05 -0600 > >I have a fully functioning Atari 1040ST with monitor in the original boxes that I would like to donate. >It also has the Hybrid Arts Smpte Track hardware and software included. > >I also have a fully functioning Apple 7100AV computer with monitor and Digidesign sound card and software floppy discs. Are you interested in these computers or do you know of someone who is? > >Ric Chitwood >Pleasant Grove, Utah

9 years, 9 months

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Wiring Regulations. RE: Cray J932SE (was Re: Straight 8 up on Ebay just now)

by dave.g4ugm＠gmail.com

In the UK we have, for DOMESTIC premises something call "Part P" > -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Mouse > Sent: 19 July 2016 17:47 > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: Cray J932SE (was Re: Straight 8 up on Ebay just now) > > >> [...electrical wiring...] > > This very definitely is an area where, if you're not 100% comfortable > > with t$ > > Also, know your own limits. A depressing number of people think they're > more competent than they are. > > For example, I once had a neighbour who replaced an outlet in his kitchen. > Turned off the breaker, removed the old one, put in the new one, all very > nice. Turned the breaker for that circuit back on and popped the service > main breaker. > In the UK we used to have an inspection regime. You did the work, they would inspect. These days, for DOMESTIC premises we have something call "Part P" which limits what a householder can and cannot do. So you can generally do "like for like" replacements, add additional outlets where permitted and one or two other things. Originally all work in Kitchens was defined as "Special" and was notifiable, but this was modified so that is no longer the case. So as the above is a "like for like" replacement, I believe it is currently permitted in the UK. Of course in a Museum, or even a Scout Hut, provided it does not share a supply with residential premises then any one can do the Work so long as it is later inspected..... ... the problem with Part P is that it encourages a "tick box" approach and the Electrician who replaced my "Consumer Unit" (distribution panel) With a new one with multiple RCD's which tripped suggested it would be simpler to re-wire rather than fix the existing wiring. This sort of approach seems common. The actual fault was that I have a pair of linked smoke detectors, and one was connected via one RCD, the other via a different RCD. The connection between the two was sufficient to cause an imbalance. I replaced them with wireless linked smoke detectors and all works well.... > When I investigated, it turned out the new outlet still had the bridging piece > that shorts together the hots for the two outlets, and this was a kitchen > outlet and thus had separate circuits for each half (and, as is often the case, > they were on adjacent fingers in the breaker box and thus on different > phases). So, of course, the new outlet shorted the two hot phases together. > > He didn't have the experience to recognize that those shorting pieces exist, > to realize that having four conductors instead of three coming to the outlet - > or its being a kitchen outlet - likely means the two halves are on different > circuits and thus likely different phases, or the electrical understanding to put > those facts together. Which wouldn't've been a problem, except that he > thought he was fine - he didn't bring me in until the main service breaker > blew. (He did, fortunately, have enough sense for that to tickle his > "something I don't understand happened, call for help" reaction.) > > I've been doing electrical work since I was maybe ten or twelve, when I > helped my parents wire the house they were building. (My father inspected > my work first; then, this being de rigeur there-and-then, it was inspected by > a suitable authority. Only then was it energized.) I don't hesitate to do > routine house electrical work, maybe even installing 30A outlets (though I'd > make sure I looked up the appropriate gauge of wire, and probably then > used the next larger gauge). But I'd call in someone more experienced for > something well outside my own experience, like (say) dealing with 600/600 > service. > > I would say that, if you don't have a good deal of experience, find someone > who does to look over your work before you energize it. > Indeed, some jurisdictions require that for work done by unlicensed persons > - or at least used to, and I would assume some still do. Even if yours doesn't, > it strikes me as the smart thing to do. > > /~\ The ASCII Mouse > \ / Ribbon Campaign > X Against HTML mouse at rodents-montreal.org > / \ Email! 7D C8 61 52 5D E7 2D 39 4E F1 31 3E E8 B3 27 4B Dave G4UGM

9 years, 9 months

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Reproduction micros

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Paul Koning > The article, as usual, talks about a whole bunch of things that are > much older than the author seems to know. "The two most common things in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity." OK, so technically it's ignorance, not stupidity, but in my book it's stupid to not know when one's ignorant. > RISC, as a term, may come from IBM, but the concept goes back at least > as far as the CDC 6000 series. Hmm; perhaps. I always felt that RISC meant 'making the basic cycle time as fast as possible by finding the longest path through the logic - i.e. the limiting factor on the cycle time - and removing it (thereby making the instruction set less rich); then repeat'. (And there's also an aspect of moving complexity from the hardware to the compiler - i.e. optimizing system performance across the _entire_ system, not just across a limited subset like the hardware only). As I've previously discussed, RISC only makes (system-wide) sense in an environment in which memory bandwidth is plentiful (so that having programs contain more, simpler instructions make sense) - does that apply to the CDC machines? > Pipelining, to the CDC 7600. Didn't STRETCH have pipelining? Too busy/lazy to check... > And if you equate RISC to load/store with simple regular instruction > patterns, you can probably go all the way back to the earliest > computers Well, I'm not at all sure that load-store is a good indicator for RISC - note that that the PDP-10 is load-store... But anyway, moving on. One of the books about Turing argues that the ACE can be seen as a RISC machine (it's not just that it's load-store; its overall architectural philosophy is all about maximizing instruction rates). Noel

9 years, 9 months

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