test-drb August 1999

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

161 participants
565 discussions

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Aug 19, 12:10, Mike Ford wrote: > Subject: Digital kinda ethernet card? > I noticed my friends AlphaServer 2100 has the same card poking out the back > as one of the cards in my neatly sorted pile of old ethernet cards. The > card is ISA and the back looks as follows from bottom to top, RJ45, fat > LED, DB15 with a screw post on each end, fat LED. Is this a ethernet card? Almost certainly. The RJ45 will be 10baseT and the DA15 will be an AUI connector (sometimes called 10base5 because they'd often be connected by a drop cable to a thick wire transceiver, but in fact you could connect a 10base2 or 10baseT transceiver instead). There may be links to set which is the active port, though modern cards sometimes do that under software control, or autodetect a live link on the 10baseT when they power up. The AUI connector usually has a clip mechanism rather than screwposts, though. An ordinary miniature transceiver won't fit onto the screwposts. The only other cards you're likely to see that are similar, is a few old ISDN cards. They have an RJ45 for the S-bus (ISDN) connection, and one make did use DA15 for a serial port, but they always had one more modular jack (or 600-series jack) for a phone, too. They usually have a large (2-3" x 3-4") covered section with the telecomms section isolated inside it. Ethernet cards usually have a much smaller (1" square or so) monolithic voltage converter/isolator to generate the isolated 10V supply for the network driver. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

24 years, 11 months

About to acquire an IBM 5360...

by steverob＠hotoffice.com

On Thursday, August 19, 1999 1:11 PM, Joe [SMTP:rigdonj@intellistar.net] wrote: > Chris, > > Nope but I have a 5363 that needs a home! (currently in Florida). > > Joe > > > At 03:42 PM 8/19/99 -0500, you wrote: > >Hey, everyone. :-) > > > > I have an opprotunity to get an IBM 5360 (looks like a System/36 to > >me) with a 5224 printer (heavy beast!) and a 5291-2 monochrome display. > >Does anyone have any information on this, like how I can determine the > >amount of DASD in it, how much RAM, and what I can do with it? > > > > Thanks in advance, > > Chris > > > > Chris, There seem to be a BUNCH of variants of the 536X systems so it's hard to predict what's gonna be inside. I think mine is an early example because it will only support drives up to 60MB each. Currently, it has a 60MB and a 30MB drive installed. I think some of the later models had drives in the 1GB range but, I'm not positive of that. I have a complete set of user manuals but, they don't have much detail about the hardware. As a matter of fact, I couldn't even tell ya how much RAM mine has in it. My guess is somewhere around 512KB. But, that's just a guess. The system is dog slow but, is supposed to be pretty solid. I've also got one of those heavy ass printers. Built like a rock, works like a champ! Those systems generally ran COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC, RPG, or ASSEMBLY. Unfortunately, RPG is the only package currently installed on mine. Anyone know where I can get COBOL or FORTRAN for it? If you need help getting it going, let me know. I can't part with the DOCs but, I'll be glad to look up any info for you. BTW: A few months ago, someone was looking for "Ball Bat" ribbons. I've got a few extras and might be willing to part with a couple (make an offer). See Ya, Steve Robertson <steverob(a)hotoffice.com>

24 years, 11 months

imsal 2

by edick＠idcomm.com

What are the chances that a "collector," that being a personality type rather than just a person who saves old stuff, would go for one of these largely phony (except the front panel) IMSAI-2 as a collectible? I'd have trouble swallowing that anyone could be taken in to that extent. You won't have much trouble convincing me that there are lots of people out there who'd pay $1k for what is essentially a reproduction, no matter how authentic in places and inauthentic in others. The motto to which many people live is "appearance over substance" and that would certainly apply here. OTOH, it's hard to be discriminating where ALTAIR and IMSAI are concerned. I'm not even sure whether either of them produced a truly complete and functional board set. If a system is going to be viewed as authentic, then it has to be more than just housed in an authentic box. If it has a Tarbell FDC, then it's not an IMSAI in the true sense of the word. Now, if IMSAI didn't ever make an FDC, then there's room for debate. It's the same way with ALTAIR. If you want to claim you have an ALTAIR computer running in your basement then what's down there had best be ALTAIR stuff, not just an ALTAIR CPU in a Morrow box with a CCS FDC and a COMPUPRO serial board. If you have an Integrand box, I guess you can call your computer an Integrand no matter what's in it, since they only made the boxes, right? I think that's the mentality that drives the eBay prices up. If you have a VERY pretty Daimler Benz hood ornament, with Chevrolet wheels, a Ford engine, a BMW emblem on the rear bonnet of a Corvair, with a Corvette steering wheel, what do you call your car (not that those parts would play together) ? For the collector, it's VERY important that all the parts fit, not just essentially, but exactly. That means that if IMSAI made one (whatever that might be), your system isn't complete without it. If you restore your '57 Chevy with parts carefully sought out at the junkyards within a 1000 mile radius of your home, and with "real" parts and real lead in the body work, and original upholstery, etc, it's not the same as the one built from whatever after-market parts you could find. It may look good, but it isn't "real" is it? Dick -----Original Message----- From: Sellam Ismail <dastar(a)ncal.verio.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, August 19, 1999 12:01 PM Subject: Re: imsal 2 >On Thu, 19 Aug 1999, Jeffrey l Kaneko wrote: > >> Well, I've always thought that this guy who's building these has been >> spending *way* too much time on e-bay. I think he's counting on selling >> to the same idiots who pay $500 for a 'signature' Mac 128. > >And you know what? He probably will. > >> I dunno, your price breakdown sounds alright to me. Mebbe he figured >> that these are 'hand crafted' hence have some kinda snob appeal. > >If I had $995 to blow (like I just robbed a bank) I'd get one. > >> Ah yes, as I suspected, you're way too smart to be drawn into this >> 'Techno chic' marketing shtick. That's all it is: chic. This guy's >> just trying to 'make hay while the sun shines'. > >Hey, that's c{r}apitalism. > >> I'm convinced that the IMSAI-2 is a product designed and marketed >> expressly for the purpose of becomming a 'Hot Collectable'. I'm > >You got it. > >> confident in a couple of years you'll see E-Bay ads like this: >> >> RARE! IMSAI-2 Chassis, Complete! One of only 24 Made! L@@K! > >And you know what? It will be the first "RARE" label on an e-bay ad that >will be truthful. > >Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- >Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out. > > Coming this October 2-3: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0! > See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! > [Last web site update: 08/17/99] >

24 years, 11 months

About to acquire an IBM 5360...

by cureau＠centuryinter.net

Hey, everyone. :-) I have an opprotunity to get an IBM 5360 (looks like a System/36 to me) with a 5224 printer (heavy beast!) and a 5291-2 monochrome display. Does anyone have any information on this, like how I can determine the amount of DASD in it, how much RAM, and what I can do with it? Thanks in advance, Chris

24 years, 11 months

No good stuff. [was Re: imsai 2]

by max82＠surfree.com

>At 12:32 AM 8/19/99 -0400, Glen wrote: >less margin. The bottom line is it costs $20 to get _anything_ substantial >from a korean factory to your local computer haus. What I'm curious about is why these korean products must be "crap". It doesn't take much skill to make a case or to make and test a power supply. On the other hand, these crap cases are getting bought up like hot cakes because there's nothing better, and there's no reason to make them higher quality. That's modern c(r)apitalism for you...

24 years, 11 months

Bell & Howell Micromodule 85 : info wanted

by Philip.Belben＠pgen.com

Sorry to revive such an old thread, but I've only just caught up with list traffic since I went away... >> > > 4 5 8 C W R >> > > 3 6 9 D P D >> > > 2 7 A E L S >> > > 1 0 B F X B >> > > -------------- ------ >> > >> > Hmmmm... kinda neat if you're programming in Octal all the time... >> > then the layout gets almost, dare I use the word: 'ergonomic'.....? >> >> Aha! That makes perfect sense. Good eye. > > Well, it might if either the 4/3/2/1 and the 5/6/7/0 columns were in the > same order. ... but ... what's that 0 doing "after" the 7? In short, > I don't see it is vaguely appropriate for octal, either :) I don't much like 0 after 7, any more than I like 0 after 9 on a telephone dial (or keypad for that matter). But the layout above does give the digits 0 to 7 around a (non-circular) ring, so I think it would work for octal. I would have preferred either: C D E F 8 9 A B 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 which is a good octal and hex keypad, or: 7 8 9 F 4 5 6 E 1 2 3 D 0 A B C which incorporates the usual calculator pad. Anyone else have preferred layouts? Philip.

24 years, 11 months

imsai 2

by edick＠idcomm.com

The joke is on the one who tries to buy from a "real" elelctronics shop, where 1/4-watt resistors cost upwards of a buck . . . and the first item on the list costs $100 because that's their minimum. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Glenatacme(a)aol.com <Glenatacme(a)aol.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 10:38 PM Subject: Re: imsai 2 >In a message dated 08/18/1999 10:31:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time, >ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk writes: > >> > rating) including shipping, it's hard to get vendors to stock replacement >> > fans of any sort, let alone good and quiet ones. >> >> You don't get them from computer shops. You get them from _real_ >> electronics shops/supply companies. It just so happens that they also fit >> PC power supplies ;-). > >Tony, I resemble this implication! You have obviously never visited my >*computer shop* :>) > >Glen Goodwin >0/0

24 years, 11 months

Crepuscular? (was: field maintenance print sets)

by amclaren＠microsoft.com

Very off-topic, but why is it that hackers are almost NEVER morning people?? I have a vast array of first-hand observances which complement my own intuitive feeling, that buggerising around with computers is best done around midnight to 2am. The best tech-heads are always "non compis mentis" before midday. Why is that? One of the unsolved problems of Computing Science .... Cheers, Andrew /* Disclaimer: my own opinions, not the official policy of Microsoft Corporation */ -----Original Message----- From: James Willing [mailto:jimw@agora.rdrop.com] Sent: Saturday, August 14, 1999 1:20 AM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: Re: field maintenance print sets [ ... etc ... ] Gort! Remind me to never comment on threads before noon! (never fully awake before noon) B^} [ ... etc ... ]

24 years, 11 months

imsai 2

by edick＠idcomm.com

I've had plenty of PSU's fail, but the price is not as good an indicator of the probability as you might believe. I've got two machines of about the same age and content, yet one has had three PSU's over the 10 years it's been in use, while the other has the one it had when I got it. I realize that's unusual, but it can happen. The unfortunate fact, Tony, is that here in the U.S, because people are accustomed to paying <$25 for a case with power supply (250 Watts is the rating) including shipping, it's hard to get vendors to stock replacement fans of any sort, let alone good and quiet ones. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 2:51 PM Subject: Re: imsai 2 >> Well . . . let's see . . . fan = $40 in q1, power supply including fan = $33 > >In the UK, a decent (==ball bearings. Papst, Etri, somebody like that) >fan is under \pounds 20.00 in 1-off. PC PSUs are a little more, so it is >often worth replacing the fan. > >> in q1. . . cabinet, including power supply and fan = $22 in q1 . . . not > >Yes, but that's a PSU with a cheap fan that will fail in a few months. >When it does, doesn't it make sense to buy a better fan and replace just >the fan (which will then last many years) than put in another PSU that will >fail in another couple of months? > >-tony >

24 years, 11 months

imsai 2

by Glenatacme＠aol.com

In a message dated 08/18/1999 10:31:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk writes: > > rating) including shipping, it's hard to get vendors to stock replacement > > fans of any sort, let alone good and quiet ones. > > You don't get them from computer shops. You get them from _real_ > electronics shops/supply companies. It just so happens that they also fit > PC power supplies ;-). Tony, I resemble this implication! You have obviously never visited my *computer shop* :>) Glen Goodwin 0/0

24 years, 11 months

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test-drb August 1999