test-drb November 1999

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

211 participants
749 discussions

LET'S (old topic)/and PDP-8I code/update

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: Christian Fandt <cfandt(a)netsync.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, November 25, 1999 8:13 PM Subject: Re: LET'S RESOLVE THIS ISSUE was (Re: Made a deal to get a Vax6000,2Fujitsu Supercomputers and TOPS10???) >Upon the date 06:11 PM 11/25/99 -0500, John B said something like: > >>>Some of us only see 1 or 2 interesting machines every year. And some of >>>us spend _months_ trying to track down an obscure option or manual for >>>our machines. And then we get people like this appearing... >>> >> >>You are not proactive ,.. sorry, that meant you actually have to financially >>commit to get more minis! > >So, all of us who want to be proactive and save interesting machines will >become high rollers first :-/ > no. just put out the money, time and space to house such units. We all know that is not cheap. Fortunatly, I am able to fill a void and make some $$ in the process. and I wasn't refering to you., I know you have done some trips. -------------------------------------------------------- now off that topic: I got the 8I finally to lead a tape properly.. First a quick memory tester: ; 22 = FIRST ADDRESS TO START WRITING PATTERN TO ; 23 = CURRENT ADDRESS BEING WRITTEN TO. START 10 7200 CLA ; CLEAR ACCUMULATOR 11 1022 TAD 22 12 3023 DCA 23 ; SET ADDRESS COUNTER MAIN 13 7064 LAS ; LOAD ACC WITH SR CONTENTS 14 3423 DCAI 23 ; STORE PATTERN IN MEMORY 15 1423 TADI 23 ; LOAD WRITTEN DATA. (SHOUDL CAUSE A PARITY ERROR HERE IS MEMORY BAD) 16 2023 ISZ 23 ; IF ADDRESS=0 , INC 23, SKIP NEXT INSTRUCTION TO START LOOP OVER 17 5013 JMP 13 ; GOTO MAIN 20 7200 CLA 21 5011 JMP 11 ; GOTO START (RESTART) 22 0024 ; FIRST ADDRESS TO START WRITING PATTERN TO. 23 0 ; TEMP VAR, CURRENT ADDRESS TO WRITE PATTEN TO. This routine will test all locations from 24->7777 Play with the SR and see if you can creat a pattern to cause the PDP-8 to crap out. IF it does you know which location the problem occured at by looking at the MA register. The 8I ran this well. I found out the problem was a bad solder joint on the paper tape reader causing too much gain on certain holes.. (thereby causing bad reads at high speed). I am going to put up a bunch of little programs on my webpage so folks can test devices without trying to get a paper tape up (will do TTY, and maybe basic INST test, and some more core tests) http://www.pdp8.com/ john > --Chris >-- -- >

25 years, 1 month

LET'S RESOLVE THIS ISSUE was (Re: Made a deal to get a Vax 6000,2 Fujitsu Supercomputers and TOPS10???)

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: Richard W. Schauer <rws(a)enteract.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, November 25, 1999 12:13 AM Subject: Re: Made a deal to get a Vax 6000,2 Fujitsu Supercomputers and TOPS10??? > was: > >On Wed, 24 Nov 1999, Dave McGuire wrote: > >> On Wed, 24 Nov 1999, John B wrote: >> >As for the systems, I will probably scrap the Vax6000 (for EBay souvenirs). >> > >> >I saw one of the Fujitsu boards last year.... nice... most of the chips had >> >heat sinks on them (ram board).. and they were huge.. Again too new and too >> >big to deal with.. I'll get what gold I can out of it. >> >> Grrrrrr. > >I agree with you, Dave- it seems that recently there's been a surge of >"this or that computer is junk, it's only worth scrap for metals content. >I'll enjoy scrapping this one" As I recall, indiscriminate bashing of any >particular computer is prohibited by this list's FAQ and Rules (and I'd >definitely say that calling a whole class of machines junk would be >bashing). > >When some of us go hunting in Dumpsters and scrapyards for measly old >micros, while working minis are being gleefully hauled to the shredder for >gold content, it kind of makes you wonder if it's all worth it. > >Richard > First, I have never brought any kind of mini/micro to a gold reclaimer... If I get a system I really don't want I either take the boards out and have the rest crushed or ask one of my scrapper friends to cut it up. "I'll get what gold I can out of it"... is an expression meaning I will try and get as many Ebay dollars out of the boards as I can to offset the purchase and shipping of the lot. We should resolve this issue... What is a collectable computer?? I think there are enough COCO-2s in collections to cover all of Toronto... should I still hoard and buy every unit I see? I realize this is a touchy issue so I will try to explain where I am coming from and I would appreciate opinions. I have taken a leave of absence for 1 year to restore and cycle through as many minis as I can for private collectors (kind of an *early retirement* if I get the right ones). I have quite a "wish list" and a "want list".. On average I usually have access to at least 40-50 minis/year. I usually send 40+ to the chopper. I can't possibly store so many units (especially when most collectors don't want them). I expect a few hundred over the next year >from auctions, scrappers, factories, and trade-ins.... I have gotten together with quite a few scrappers (through the ones I know) and other contacts to dig out as many possible sites that would have the kind of minis I am looking for. For the most part I will get stuck dealing with a lot of VAX 11/78Xs, IBMs, some Supercomputers (like the Fujitsu) and a lot of PDP-11s. None of these computers are rare in any way and are quite abundant among collectors. They are heavy, difficult to deal with and not profitable. The documentation and software are everywhere for these computers and *more* weight I have to deal with. I can't possibly keep every Vax, Fujitsu, IBM, PDP and most people in this group cannot deal with such large systems... So what do I do???? One idea is to pull the boards out and hope to dump them on EBay... [I am paying for this equipment]. That would help people fix their own minis if they needed the boards... There will be systems *worth* restoring (that's why I am doing this), IE: alot of PDPs 8s, transistor PDPs, and maybe some 18 bits,, I expect an IBM 360 along with at least one 1401... and a lot of spares , docs, and software. The fujitsu is *HUGE*... I doubt anyone here would want to even try and run it. Its worth more in parts than whole. It's not old (6 maybe 7 years).. so what does one do?? The boards are nice, they look great.. Collectors are looking for this kind of stuff to hang on their walls... can't possibly run it. and the Vax 6000. The last one didn't even fetch $300 on EBay. There are thousands of Vaxes and I am sure millions of RA81/90s (whatever) out there. No one wants the stuff [well, maybe the boards] I agree with you on one thing.. I will refrain from calling certain minis/micros *junk*.. but put yourself in my shoes.. If you had cabinets of minis/mainframes coming in every month and *very* limited time/space what would you do with them ? ... [and of course consider the fact that you *paid* for them]. I will at least mention them here for parts before I have them shredded. Basically, any mini I get that does not *like* paper tape will probably get chopped up for parts. P.S. I asked about 2 months ago if anyone wanted a free RH11 boards. I got no responses - none. What should I do with them? Upset my wife more by keeping them or toss them in the dump? Suggestions? >

25 years, 1 month

Oscilloscopes

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: Ethan Dicks <ethan_dicks(a)yahoo.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 11:19 PM Subject: Re: Oscilloscopes > > >--- Jeffrey l Kaneko <jeff.kaneko(a)juno.com> wrote: >> My sentiments exactly. >> I should *never* have sold my 465B. It was in pristine condition, >> and I sorely miss it today. I would seriously look for a *nice* >> 465. They're old, but there were alot of them made, and they're >> pretty reliable (well, I never had any trouble with mine, anyway). > >That ain't old... I've got a Tek 317 that I bought at auction about six >or seven years ago... it has an A.E.C. inventory sticker from 1968. The >sign at the auction cashier's window said, "All equipment is guaranteed >to be non-radioactive". Some reassurance. :-) I just won two Tek RM503s on EBay, one for my 8/S and one for the 8I. Talk about old.... I have never worked on scopes this old... Hope I can get them up and running to play spacewars soon. These were the original scopes used in the LAB-8.. and now I find out (contrary to quite a few things in the PDP-8 FAQ) they were also used as the oscilloscope on the 34D interface. How is your 8/e restoration going? john > >It didn't come with probes, but a friend of mine at the local university >found me a package of vintage probes, unopened, in a drawer. Probably been >there since they were new. > >-ethan > > >===== >Infinet has been sold. The domain is going away in February. >Please send all replies to > > erd(a)iname.com >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. >Yahoo! Shopping. >

25 years, 1 month

Grrrrrr

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: Enrico Badella <enrico.badella(a)softstar.it> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, November 25, 1999 4:06 AM Subject: Re: Grrrrrr > > >Mike Ford wrote: >> >> >> Grrrrrr. >> > >> >I agree with you, Dave- it seems that recently there's been a surge of >> >"this or that computer is junk, it's only worth scrap for metals content. >> >I'll enjoy scrapping this one" As I recall, indiscriminate bashing of any >> >> This is an iceberg kind of thing, 90%+ of old computers are going to the >> shredders, or just as bad sitting in some deteriorating environment. 90% of >> the rest is getting dismantled for parts, and only a tiny number are being >> kept "operational". > >Agree. > >However is seems that a lot of people just want to have them operational >in their house, garage etc. If this cannot happen just let the machine got >to the shredder. This is exactly what I was told by local hobbyists I >approached to find help in saving an IBM 4381 mainframe. > Exactly, reality kicks in. You can't run a big IBM in your home... sorry, not going to happen. People only want the minis they can run easily at home and something that does not disrupt the house as it is. Most collectors want: The first computer they ever touched (that's where I come in) An old transistor mini Maybe a PDP-8/11.... Most others aren't worth the cost of shipping. >Now I have found at my university floor space, power supply and internet >connection, but almost nobody seems interested in it. Only the LInux 370 >community gave some feedback. > >Have I 'invested' on the wrong thing to save? 8-( > >e. > >======================================================================== >Enrico Badella email: enrico.badella(a)softstar.it >Soft*Star srl eb(a)vax.cnuce.cnr.it >InterNetworking Specialists tel: +39-011-746092 >Via Camburzano 9 fax: +39-011-746487 >10143 Torino, Italy > > Wanted, for hobbyist use, any type of PDP and microVAX hardware,software, > manuals,schematics,etc. and DEC-10 docs or manuals >========================================================================== >

25 years, 1 month

Got a partial list of some of this load... (FUJITSU/VAX)

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

?? notes I am not sure if I got the number right. RA81 - 3 of them RA81 - 3 more RA82 - 6 TA81?? (tape) TU81/82? HSC50AA Vax 6000/610 63AMDYE SA600 HSC50 Omnigraphic Recorder (still more to come on this unit) (partial fujitsu - this is the smaller, older of the two): F6470A M770 N770 F1751E F6425GB4 F170051- (something) F6425GA?4 F675AC Does anyone know any of these Fujitsu part numbers? The fujitsu has: 2 - 2000LPM printers, 2 "coke machine" type 50 minimum capacity tape cartridge robots [thats what they described it as], and two CPUs. More peripherals... haven't gotten that far yet with their purchasing officer... I have found out they will be scrapping two VAX8000 series units (huge) along with the 750s, some micro vaxes [many] (oops, can't say that --- undesirables) and the other stuff in the next few months.

25 years, 1 month

Your message to ClassicCmp

by aek＠spies.com

"very shortly (as in the next week or two) there will be a public archive available with TOPS-10 distribution tape images, sources, build kits, etc. Total quantity of stuff (at the moment) is in the few hundred megabyte range, and will likely grow a bit by announcement time. Keep your ears peeled to alt.sys.pdp10 for details. There will be about 200-300 Megabytes of PDP-10 (TOPS-10 and TOPS-20) DECUS freeware, too." This is WONDERFUL news! Thanks, Tim!

25 years, 1 month

LET'S RESOLVE THIS ISSUE was (Re: Made a deal to get a Vax6000,2Fujitsu Supercomputers and TOPS10???)

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<a pile of other minis I have not seen yet. I do know I will be getting a <pile of ASR-33s... no idea why they held onto them. Good question but people occasionally want one. <If you have items you are seriously looking for please-mail me. I won't be <dragging everything to the shop. I would but, I don't want the price to go up 1000%. :) Seriously I'd like to find a 4k(or larger) core set for an 8E and an RX8 controller. However if there were a wish... I'd love to see a skip full of NT boxen crushed. I'd pay to see that. Allison

25 years, 1 month

Your message to ClassicCmp

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>"The PDP-6 in question is coming back to the History >Center by December 20 (this year) as part of a.donation by Compaq >which is clearing out a little-known warehouse TCM used for deep storage." > >Do you happen to know if any documentation or software was stored there? >There was just a discussion on alt.sys.pdp10 that it appears that all of >DEC's PDP-10 software archives disappeared, and I'm hoping they MAY have >ended up there, maybe other software as well (people were unable to locate >18 bit software, for example). I don't know about the History Center's software archives - I would imagine they've got loads of tapes and packs, but no equipment nor time to use them - but very shortly (as in the next week or two) there will be a public archive available with TOPS-10 distribution tape images, sources, build kits, etc. Total quantity of stuff (at the moment) is in the few hundred megabyte range, and will likely grow a bit by announcement time. Keep your ears peeled to alt.sys.pdp10 for details. There will be about 200-300 Megabytes of PDP-10 (TOPS-10 and TOPS-20) DECUS freeware, too. -- Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/ 7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917 Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927

25 years, 1 month

NCD 15r + monitor 15b

by yoda＠isr.ist.utl.pt

Hi. I just got my hands on an NCD mono X term model 15r and I'd like to know what are the sync frequencies of this monitor. Any information about this terminal is also extremely welcome! My idea: to hack an adapter to connect this monitor to a Xerox Daybreak workstation. Cheers, -- *** Rodrigo Martins de Matos Ventura <yoda(a)isr.ist.utl.pt> *** Web page: http://www.isr.ist.utl.pt/~yoda *** Teaching Assistant and MSc Student at ISR: *** Instituto de Sistemas e Robotica, Polo de Lisboa *** Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisboa, PORTUGAL *** PGP fingerprint = 0119 AD13 9EEE 264A 3F10 31D3 89B3 C6C4 60C6 4585

25 years, 1 month

RH11

by pat＠transarc.ibm.com

John B. mentioning having some RH11 board reminded me ... Does anyone have an RH11 *manual* they'd be willing to part with? I asked a similar question on the info-pdp11 list recently, but got no leads... Thanks, --Pat.

25 years, 1 month

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test-drb November 1999