test-drb May 1998

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

148 participants
673 discussions

Cassette formats (was: Prices to pay for old computers...)

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<At one time or another, I was struck by the similarity of the CoCo's <cassette format and the now-ancient Kansas City Standard. Were they <actually identical? Did RS implement the KCS for the CoCo, or was it <just something kinda similar? And if TRS-80-->CoCo and CoCo-->KCS, <does that mean that maybe IBM just adopted KCS instead of making up <their own format? (A shocking idea, I admit...) Unless the character rate was 300baud it wasn't true KCS. The only one I know for sure that was 300baud was the trs-80 L1 basic as L2 was faster data rate. They could have copied the data format or even the encoding but I'm fairly sure most were faster tha 300 baud used far less hardware (usually a output bit or two and an input bit) plus code to make it fly. I used to use a non redundant version of KCS that I did in software for 8085 and the like at 1200 baud, retaining the self clocking FM that KCS is. At one point I'd tried pushing and 4800baud FM worked rather well on a really good mono tape recorder, 10 KC is a resonable upper limit for good tape and heads even though most go to 12-17khz. As I could count on at least one edge per bit and if an edge did not occur for 2 bit times it's was an error (drop out or noise). Allison

26 years, 7 months

Prices to pay for old computers...

by desieh＠southcom.com.au

-----Original Message----- From: Kip Crosby <engine(a)chac.org> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Saturday, 23 May 1998 2:09 Subject: RE: Prices to pay for old computers... >At 16:31 5/22/98 +0100, you wrote: >>back on topic though, what cassette unit could be connected up to the >>original PC machines? Was it a custom IBM unit only (similar to the way >>the C64's only accept Commodore tape decks), or could anything be used >>if a cable was made up? > >There was a discussion on here a while back about whether IBM had ever made >cassette decks to attach to that port, and IIRC, the outcome was >inconclusive. If such a thing existed, certainly there were never many of >them. In general, the favorite commodity cassette recorder for the purpose >was one of the long Panasonics with the carrying handle. >__________________________________________ >Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org > http://www.chac.org/index.html >Computer History Association of California > > email: desieh(a)southcom.com.au desieh(a)bigfoot.com museum_curator(a)hotmail.com Apple Lisa Web Page: http://www.southcom.com.au/~desieh/index.htm yes a cable is needed on one end it has the plug for the IBM and on the other it has 2 connectors for the input and output on the cassette player....

26 years, 7 months

1.2Mb Teac Floppy Question

by healyzh＠ix.netcom.com

OK, the drive isn't a classic, but the computer it's going into definitly is. I finally got the CatWeasel Controller for the Amiga that I've been wanting. I'm putting it in a A2000 since that's the only thing I've got that can take a 5 1/4" floppy drive. I picked up a new Teac FD55BV-16-U floppy drive, and can't seem to get it to work with the controller. I think the problem is that I need to change the jumper settings. So I'm wondering if anyone has the jumper settings for one of these drives. As for the CatWeasel Controller, it's a controller that allows you to use normal PC floppy drives on an Amiga (they also make a PC version). It has the added benifit of being able to read numerous disk formats, which is why I got it. Once I get it figured out I'll write up a review for the list since I think it might be of serious intrest to every one here as a way to copy old floppies onto an archival CD-R or whatever media you want. Zane | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator | | healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast | | healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector | +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ | For Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | | see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ | | For the collecting of Classic Computers with info on them. | | see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/museum.html |

26 years, 7 months

Z80 disassembler for unix ?

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

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26 years, 7 months

Voltages on S/34 DC distribution panel

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

The plate at the very top of this assembly is +5V distribution. The smaller plate just below and left of it is the O/C Sense Plate. Pins on middle DC panel: +5 VDC Feature PS B +12VDC Feature PS A +12VDC Feature PS A (Or regulator) ditto -4VDC base -4vdc base +6vdc base -5vdc base ditto ditto +8.5 vdc base ditto +24VDC base ditto -24VDC base The bottom panel is the Feature Distribution Assembly Pins: +5VDC Feature PS C ditto +8.5VDC +12VDC -5VDC -12VDC +5VDC Feature PS D ditto There! This came from the IBM System/34 5340 System Unit Maintenance Manual. (SY31-0457-5) -------

26 years, 7 months

cat Xerox | Apple | Microsoft ?

by allisonp＠world.std.com

I'll make this the last rant on list... However I invite off list discussion. It's a matter of keeping the on list comments "classic". I don't hate unix, it does dissappoint me that with all the hoopla installation is not better explained. IE: installation for non unix weenies. There is little attempt to communicate in such a way that doesn't assume unix socialized as the norm. I did pick up Linux for Dummies to get Redhat that comes with it and it was at least more direct. <Believe me when I tell you (and I can only back this up with gut <instincts) that it doesn't matter. The world is changing, and if nothin <than by sheer force of will, Linux will prevail, or in the very least <crush the MS monopoly. I think it is not far fetched in the least to <imagine in five years that manufactures like Dell and Compaq and Gateway <will start selling Linux boxes, as long as the DOJ is reasonably They already do but by MS license they can put linix in it and still pay MS. Till that stops they will be dos boxen. <Well, I don't know what you're doing wrong but I've run a Linux box on a <486/33 with 8MB and it screamed. As for the apps not being available, <either give it time or bite the bullet and write them yourself and <contribute them to the linux collective. That's what its all about! I'm not in business to write schematic capture or PCB routing software. If I did I'd do it on the VAX before I would for a PC. <You've got to check out Applixware! All I say to this is "...yet!" Thi <may not all be true yet, but its happening. Linux is becoming easier fo <even the common turd to use. Like I said, give this time. Five years. I just recently got REDhat version to try in place of the former slackeware and it's easier to install but known solid dos apps still die in the middle and the few windows apps are unusable. The install was easier and it supported fewer devices. The docs were nearly current and I'm still trying to understand configuring IP networking. It's potential is there, the implimentation is still "you gotta be a unix head". I still find the idea of device drivers as part of the kernel requiring a compile to install some new device odious. Loadable drivers are done in many OSs. This last item is wy PCs with their nearly the same with millions of subtle versions either run well or just sorta. I run a PC to do work, I really don't like the cpu or programming it. If I'm going to write code it's for embedded hardware or 8048, 8751, z280, z8000 maybe pdp-11 or VAX. Allison

26 years, 7 months

Prices to pay for old computers...

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Sam Ismail <dastar(a)wco.com> wrote: > It's simple: > > DB-25 male: serial port > > DB-25 female: parallel port Except...on a peculiar ISA dual-port serial card that HP made for the early HP Vectras. One D?-9S like a PC/AT serial port, one DB-25S. To be fair, HP put a plastic tag out one side of the slot to remind you that this was a serial port. -Frank McConnell

26 years, 7 months

Cassette formats (was: Prices to pay for old computers...)

by yakowenk＠cs.unc.edu

On Fri, 22 May 1998, Tony Duell wrote: ] According to the specs in the TechRef, any standard audio cassette ] recorder would work. There's even a link to set the PC's output voltage ] to suit either microphone or aux (line level) inputs. ] ] The pinout of the PC cassette connector is the same as that on a TRS-80, ] and the same cable works. My guess is this is not a coincidence - IBM ] probably intended PC owners to go to the local Tandy/Radio Shack and buy a ] cassette recorder and cable. When you say TRS-80, does that by any chance include TRS-80 Color Computers? Did they also adopt the tape format, in addition to the connector pinout? At one time or another, I was struck by the similarity of the CoCo's cassette format and the now-ancient Kansas City Standard. Were they actually identical? Did RS implement the KCS for the CoCo, or was it just something kinda similar? And if TRS-80-->CoCo and CoCo-->KCS, does that mean that maybe IBM just adopted KCS instead of making up their own format? (A shocking idea, I admit...) This is not entirely a moot point, because I have a CoCo handy, and an old KCS tape that I got almost by accident. I've been tempted to just slap it in and see if the CoCo can read it, but from previous discussions on the life cycle of mag tapes, I gather I might get only one chance to read the data. I don't want to waste that one chance until I am sure I have something that can actually read KCS. Eventually, I suppose I'll just write my own loader and be done with it. But it would be awfully nice if it was already done for me. Cheers, Bill.

26 years, 7 months

Prices to pay for old computers...

by KFergason＠aol.com

Chinon made (makes?) a mechanism, but I wasn't aware it made an actual Commodore drive. Blue Chip, MSD, CompuThink (Pet days), hmm Fsomething, the Accelerator? All those ad's coming back. CMD, obviously. Any more? Kelly In a message dated 5/23/98 3:46:24 PM Central Daylight Time, cgregory(a)lrbcg.com writes: > There were several manufacturers who made drives for the Commodore line of > computers. I have two or three examples around here someplace. Chinon is a > name that comes to mind, but I know there were several more as well. > <snip> > >Apple ][. And as far as aftermarket goes, I can't think of even one drive > >that was made to work on any Commodore that wasn't manufactured by > >Commodore, but I myself have at least five examples of disk drives made > >for the Apple by random no name manufacturers. > > >

26 years, 7 months

Apple ][ stuff

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On May 22, 22:50, Sam Ismail wrote: > Apple ][: Integer BASIC in ROM; normally had "manual start" ROMs > (required the user to boot the machine by punching in an > address and the GO command in the monitor) > Apple ][+: AppleSoft BASIC in ROM; autostart ROMs > Apple //e: Lowercase, 64K, 80 columns The ][+ also has different refresh circuitry for the DRAMs, and doesn't need the configuration blocks found in ]['s. The //e has a more comprehensive keyboard than the ][+ and can generate all the ASCII characters from the keyboard. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

26 years, 7 months

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test-drb May 1998