-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Saturday, October 16, 1999 6:52 PM
Subject: Re: DEC boards unearthed
>> One of the other interesting items are a M7260/M7251 pair, one marked
>> "datapath", one marked "11/05 control". These are clearly the CPU for an
>> 11/05, but will they go into an 11/04 or short (not BA-11) 11/34 chassis
>> for testing?
>
>You need the 11/05 (or 11/10 -- they're the same) backplane and
>frontpanel for these. There was a 5.25" box versions and a 10.5" box
>version with _different_ backplanes. They won't work in an 11/04 or 11/34
>backplane, though
>
>
Actually the 11/05 and the 11/10 have two different backplanes (as I have
both) and the cards are fitted differently in each one. Keep your H214
memory and G231/G110 core drivers.. The 11/05 uses that for it's own memory.
The older 11/05 backplane did not use +15V either!
Which CPU boards do you have. It's easy to tell. Does one of them have a
rotary switch to set the baud rate?
To get an 11/05 running you need:
M7260
M7261
G231 X 2
G110 X 2
H214 X2
G727 (grant)
You don't need a console serial board (M7800) as that was built into the CPU
board.
You can tell the year of the PDP 11/05 CPU set by:
74 - if the back of the boards are green (solder masked)
72/73 - if there is no baud selection switch
72 (beta) - hand stamped date before June 72, and a different layout of the
M7261 (with loads of wires)
I have restored many PDP 11/05s for "collectors" - yes, at $875 a pop!
I have about 5-6 cpu sets, 1 is beta.
>>
>> Finally, we come to an RK11D board set... M7254 through M7257. What else
is
>> needed to make a working controller? A custom backplane? Paddle cards?
I
>
>Again you need the right backplane. Apart from that, not a lot -- the
>cabling is the standard BC11 Unibus cables (both for the Unibus and to
>link up the RK05 drives).
>
>> think I've got an RKV11 box attached to an 11/03 (I haven't pulled it out
of
>
>IIRC 3 of the 4 cards in that box are the same as the ones for the
>RK11-D. The bus control is different (I think).
>
>> the corner yet) If I'm missing too much of it, I can probably fix the
RK11C
>> that I got with my first RK05 drives. I've never used it and neither did
the
>
>Oh, RK11-Cs are fun to fix (for suitable values of 'fun'). I learnt about
>hard disk controllers, Unibus DMA cycles, etc while tracking down a dead
>chip in mine. Having the printset is _essential_, though!
>
>I have prints for the RK11-C and RK11-D, and the PDP11/05. I don't think
>I have the RKV11-D set anywhere, but it can't be that hard to figure out.
I have two sets of these and run 8 RK05s, again, restored many of these. You
need a RK11-D backplane. You can hand wire one (yes I know many who have)
for UNIBUS operation - PDP 11/05.
The best backplane I have is from someone who completely modified a PDP
11/05 (16K backplane).He took out the second core memory set and completely
hand wired the RK11-D on it. Yikes. It works and I still have the plane if
you are interested in the wire list to do that.
The PDP 11/05 needs AClow, DClow,5V, -15V.
The newer ones required +15V.
>
>-tony
>
Curious what are they going for? I'm still finding them for free to $100
a really nice corperate system complete might be worth more if you can haul
it in the associted racks.
Allison
<About a week ago I put a bid on a Micro PDP-11/23 on ebay. I was top
<bidder until the end. Of course the end was when I was asleep (3 AM)
<this morning (serves me right for sleeping). Got up and was very
<disappointed. Since the recent discussion about collectors vs.
<enthusiasts I thought I would share this with the group. As a new
<collector, I have been reading alot about sources and establishing
<networks but they are not in place yet so one of my main venues is ebay
<at this time. I plan to start contacting scrappers, universities, and
<friends in companies soon. But, alas, today a PDP-11/23 flew by.
Thanks for the KayPro history reminder. I have not forgotten the Web page
project and have just added your note to the file. I will get moving on it
as soon as the weather turns winter.
And please people, send me some scans of any and all KayPro graphics/photos
you might have. So far only one gentleman has sent anything. Let's not let
these fine machines be forgotten. (Okay, so maybe I should get a life,
huh?) Send your KayPro scans to me at tgycwr(a)yahoo.com best.
Thanks,
Jim Rossbach,
Visit the Web sites of Navy Vietnam Veterans at the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club,
http://tonkinyachts.cjb.net
>
>About a week ago I put a bid on a Micro PDP-11/23 on ebay. I was top
>bidder until the end.
Don't you hate it when that happens?
One thing that I myself forget at eBay is that you can state a maximum bid
and the machine will automagically bid for you in the stated increments
until the auction either ends or your maximum bid limit is reached.
I am writing this on a computer I got there last year at about half the
going price that way. As eBay has gotten popular it is getting harder to
just watch the auctions and bid yourself. In fact, I no longer shop there
anymore as I think the prices have gone postal.
Regards,
Jim Rossbach,
Visit the Web sites of Navy Vietnam Veterans at the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club,
http://tonkinyachts.cjb.net
If you're going to bid on e-bay, be prepared to get hurt.
It's the most unforgiving marketplace on earth. It is
regularly prowled by individuals with *extremely*
deep pockets.
Jeff
On Sun, 17 Oct 1999 10:47:38 -0400 Randy Kaplan <rkaplan(a)accsys-corp.com>
writes:
>Hello all -
>
>About a week ago I put a bid on a Micro PDP-11/23 on ebay. I was top
>bidder until the end. Of course the end was when I was asleep (3 AM)
>this morning (serves me right for sleeping). Got up and was very
>disappointed. Since the recent discussion about collectors vs.
>enthusiasts I thought I would share this with the group. As a new
>collector, I have been reading alot about sources and establishing
>networks but they are not in place yet so one of my main venues is
>ebay
>at this time. I plan to start contacting scrappers, universities, and
>friends in companies soon. But, alas, today a PDP-11/23 flew by.
>
>Randy Kaplan
>
___________________________________________________________________
Get the Internet just the way you want it.
Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month!
Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
While passing time on a snowy day when I didn't want to go outside yesterday, I saw the manual for a Commodore 64 while sifting through the rubble. I also found a VIC-20 manual while doing this sifting.
Would this be of interest to anyone?
Dick
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Sunday, October 17, 1999 10:13 AM
Subject: TImex SInclair 1000 Manual
While digging through a box of "stuff" I have, I found a Timex Sinclair 1000 manual in used but decent condition and apparently quite complete. Is this something best placed on eBay, or do you some of you guys have use for it?
Dick
Since everyone is on the subject of Kaypro here is some information that
I have compiled from articles I have read.. Kaypro BTW is my favorite
computer I have at least one of every model in my collection, excluding
a Kaypro Robie.. ALso have a Model 16 .. Perhaps someone could update
this list and ad to it.. The more information the better.. Hope this is
of some interest to everyone..
Phil...
Kaypro Computer and Non-Linear Systems
After Adam Osborne came out with the O-1, it was immediately set up as a
target. Every company started shooting at the magic price of $1800.
Among the people to set their sights at this figure was Alan Kay. Alan
had originally started a company which sold oscilloscopes called
Non-Linear Systems. He decided Osborne had the right idea, but needed a
little tweaking on the case. He envisioned a computer which would not
only be rugged enough to be carried around, but would be tough enough to
be carried out in the field by engineers. With this idea in mind, he
designed the Kaypro Computer.
The case was made of aluminum which allowed it to be extremely rugged,
but still save a little weight. These are sometimes nicknamed "Darth
Vader's lunch box." Needless to say, this case passed the test for
ruggedness. Except for the Robie and later DOS machines, all Kaypros
had the same case and varying shades of gray paint.
All the computers came bundled with software, originally the Perfect
Series, but later WordStar and
SuperCalc.
Kay originally sold his computers under the company name of Kaypro, but
it turned out this name had already been taken. He then sold the
computers under the Non-Linear name, but was able to keep the Kaypro
name on the computers. Somewhere along the way, he did manage to acquire
the rights to Kaypro Company, but it was late in the company's life.
The Kaypro II is the oldest computer Kaypro made. It has SSDD disks and
the screen is green and it has the standard 64 K of RAM.
After Kaypro left Chapter 11, they came out with several DOS
compatibles, but were no longer considered a force in the industry.
There were several unique units that came out including some extremely
compact units that were designed to be desktop computers but were light
enough to be carried from place to place.
Kaypro II
In the beginning there was the Kaypro II (aka II'83 later). It came
with 2 SS/DD full-height floppies, a 2.5 MHz Z-80, one serial port, and
bundled software from Perfect Software. Introduced late 82.
Kaypro 10
Next was the original Kaypro 10. It came with 1 DS/DD floppy drive, a 10
meg HD, a 4.0 MHz Z-80A, two serial ports, light pen port, rudimentary
graphics, a real time clock, and software from Perfect
Software and dBase II. Introduced mid-83.
Kaypro IV
Then there was a Kaypro IV (aka IV'83 later). It was a II, but with
DS/DD full-height floppy drives. Wordstar started being included in
addition to the Perfect Software suite. Introduced in mid-83. (Same goes
for the II'83, late versions included Wordstar also.)
1984 rolls around, and some changes made.
Kaypro 4
The 4 (aka 4'84) is introduced. It now has two DS/DD half-height floppy
drives, a Z-80A at 4.0 MHz, 2 serial ports, internal 300 baud modem, a
real-time clock, rudimentary graphics. Software is from Micropro
(Wordstar, Calcstar, etc.) Early 1984.
Kaypro 2
The 2 (aka 2'83) is introduced. It has two SS/DD half-height floppy
drives, a Z-80A at 4.0 MHz, 2 serial ports, rudimentary graphics.
Software is from Micropro. Slightly later in 84.
Kaypro 2X
The 2X is introduced. This is closer to an old IV, or a 2 with DS/DD
half-height drives. Again a Z-80A running at 4.0 MHz, 2 serial ports,
rudimentary graphics, software from Micropro.
Kaypro Robbie
Early 84. The Kaypro Robie is introduced. This is the first non-portable
machine, a black desktop. This has 2 2.6 Megabyte (not a typo) floppy
drives. Motherboard is basically the same as a 4, with the 300 baud
modem, rough graphics, etc. (late 84?)
1985 arrives. Kaypro upgrades most of the machines to the "Universal
ROM", so a boot disk for one can be used in another.
The 4'84 is renamed the 2X (sometimes known as 2X MTC). Old 2X, 2'84,
4'84 are all dropped.
Kaypro New 2
The "New 2" is introduced. This is basically an old 2X motherboard, but
with just one DS/DD floppy drive. It comes with just CP/M and Wordstar
for software. (early 85?)
Kaypro starts producing the II'83 again, with Perfect software as
opposed to Micropro software. (early 85).
Kaypro 4X
The Kaypro 4X is announced. It's a Robie but in the standard portable
case. I also have seen reference to the 12X, which was going to be a
Kaypro 10 but with a Robie floppy drive. (I've never actually
seen a 4X or a 12X. The store where I worked might have sold only one or
two Robies, so it wasn't a big seller.)
1986 or so arrives.
Kaypro 1
The Kaypro 1 (yes one) is introduced. It's equivalent to the old 2X,
with 2 DS/DD floppies, 4.0 MHz Z-80A, 2 serial ports, etc. The floppies
are vertical as opposed to horizontal. It comes with
CP/M and Perfect Writer for software.
At this point, Kaypro is producing just the 1, 2X MTC, 10 and Robie
basically. This continued until they got out of the CP/M machines.
There were also a few variations on some of these machines, such as the
4+88, which had a SWP (?) co-processor board with an 8088, 256K of
memory (which could be a ramdisk under CP/M), and could run some MS/Dos
software.
While digging through a box of "stuff" I have, I found a Timex Sinclair 1000 manual in used but decent condition and apparently quite complete. Is this something best placed on eBay, or do you some of you guys have use for it?
Dick
