test-drb February 2000

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

162 participants
585 discussions

FW: Infotron IF/65 Development System II for 65XX microprocessors

by whdawson＠mlynk.com

Sorry about the title on the previous post. Darn spell checker gets a little carried away sometimes. How it got Inferno from Infotron is something only Gates and Co. can answer. -----Original Message----- From: Bill Dawson [mailto:whdawson@mlynk.com] Sent: Friday, February 11, 2000 10:16 PM To: Classiccmp@Classiccmp. Org Subject: Inferno IF/65 Development System II for 65XX microprocessors Hello group, Here I am again, looking for information on something that, more than likely, not a single person on this list will have any information whatsoever. At least this item isn't on eBay. The last thing on eBay that I asked for information on somehow managed to attract all sorts of interest and bids after I posted questions looking for some information on it (I had the opening and only bid for quite some time). My toes still hurt from that one. I should have known, since it had the letters D-E-C on it. BTW, who is pdp.org? OK, now that has been expressed, what I have here is an Infotron IF/65 Development System II. It appears to connect via RS-232 to a dumb terminal for its output of such things as address and data, and perhaps input of some parameters such as uP clock rate; baud rate is selectable from a thumbwheel. This system also appears to have the capability of single stepping the program contained in the device in the ZIF. It has a 28 pin ZIF socket for the targets EPROM/PROM/ROM. There is a standard ribbon cable that connects to a pod, and the pod has a braided ribbon cable that terminates at a 40 pin dip header, most likely to attach to the target in place of the uP. Trap conditions are selectable via four 0 to F thumbwheels, and conditions to be triggered on can be selected as memory data read, memory data written, and/or op-code. Any information would be greatly appreciated, a source of a manual or instructions for use would be fantastic. For those in this group that maybe can help and would like a photo sent as an email attachment, please post your request to the group, on thread, and I'll email the photo off-list. Or just go to http://www.wpic.com/whdawson/Pics/infotron.gif Which brings up another point. If all this verbiage is being collected for posterity, and a picture is worth a thousand words, would it be a good idea to have a photo archive indexed by thread also? I do realize that uncompressed pictures can take up a lot of disk space, and a size limit would have to be implemented. However, as I see the confusion and misunderstanding some of the time among ourselves, a picture would aid tremendously in avoiding this situation. Just imagine how much it will help the denizens of the future in coping with the many objects discussed herein. I understand there are many of you who are limited to text reception and transmittal, but what about the rest of us? With all the recent discussion about the time it takes to read and reply to this email if it is not properly formatted, etc. being such an issue when the list came back up (BTW, thanks Jay), I'm surprised no one brought up all the time it takes to describe things when a simple picture would suffice. Thanks, Bill whdawson(a)mlynk.com

24 years, 10 months

Dumpster stories!

by thomas.h.lindberg＠se.abb.com

A coule of years ago we had two very tragic dumpster stories in Sweden, three kids vere killed while reading magazines in covered newspaper/magazine dumpsters. The kids had seaked in through the narrow opening where we dump our old newspapers/magazines and sat there while the truck came to pick up the dumpster content. The dumpster was automatically emptied into a compacter at the truck and all taken to the fragmentation site where the kids wer found crushed. The dumpster openings are now just about the size of a mail box. Thomas

24 years, 10 months

Inferno IF/65 Development System II for 65XX microprocessors

by whdawson＠mlynk.com

Hello group, Here I am again, looking for information on something that, more than likely, not a single person on this list will have any information whatsoever. At least this item isn't on eBay. The last thing on eBay that I asked for information on somehow managed to attract all sorts of interest and bids after I posted questions looking for some information on it (I had the opening and only bid for quite some time). My toes still hurt from that one. I should have known, since it had the letters D-E-C on it. BTW, who is pdp.org? OK, now that has been expressed, what I have here is an Infotron IF/65 Development System II. It appears to connect via RS-232 to a dumb terminal for its output of such things as address and data, and perhaps input of some parameters such as uP clock rate; baud rate is selectable from a thumbwheel. This system also appears to have the capability of single stepping the program contained in the device in the ZIF. It has a 28 pin ZIF socket for the targets EPROM/PROM/ROM. There is a standard ribbon cable that connects to a pod, and the pod has a braided ribbon cable that terminates at a 40 pin dip header, most likely to attach to the target in place of the uP. Trap conditions are selectable via four 0 to F thumbwheels, and conditions to be triggered on can be selected as memory data read, memory data written, and/or op-code. Any information would be greatly appreciated, a source of a manual or instructions for use would be fantastic. For those in this group that maybe can help and would like a photo sent as an email attachment, please post your request to the group, on thread, and I'll email the photo off-list. Or just go to http://www.wpic.com/whdawson/Pics/infotron.gif Which brings up another point. If all this verbiage is being collected for posterity, and a picture is worth a thousand words, would it be a good idea to have a photo archive indexed by thread also? I do realize that uncompressed pictures can take up a lot of disk space, and a size limit would have to be implemented. However, as I see the confusion and misunderstanding some of the time among ourselves, a picture would aid tremendously in avoiding this situation. Just imagine how much it will help the denizens of the future in coping with the many objects discussed herein. I understand there are many of you who are limited to text reception and transmittal, but what about the rest of us? With all the recent discussion about the time it takes to read and reply to this email if it is not properly formatted, etc. being such an issue when the list came back up (BTW, thanks Jay), I'm surprised no one brought up all the time it takes to describe things when a simple picture would suffice. Thanks, Bill whdawson(a)mlynk.com

24 years, 10 months

US customs holding/rejecting computer material.

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

US customs has decided that people/companies in the US are avoiding tariffs by "importing computer components through Canada" ... even if they are over 30 years old. I (and others I know) in Canada have had quite a few problems (just over the last two months) shipping computer components and documentation to the US. My last eBay buyer spent quite a bit of time trying to convince US customs they were not trying to avoid tariffs... [these materials were well over 25 years old] I wanted every Canadian List member to know that if you indicate the contents of the package to contain computer parts/manuals then, no mater how old, these items could be held up in customs or rejected if you don't provide contact info to customs. (customs doesn't seem to have a clue that *old* computer parts fall outside their tariff issue). Since computer parts are "electronic boards/parts" and manuals/documentation can fall under "books" I recommend describing items as such. Shipping whole mini computers are another issue. Generally, make sure both phone numbers are on the parcel so US customs can contact the shipper/buyer immediately with their concerns. Good luck! john PDP-8 and other rare mini computers http://www.pdp8.com

24 years, 10 months

US customs holding/rejecting computer material.

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- Mike Ford <mikeford(a)socal.rr.com> wrote: > >The last few times I sent computer/related to Canada I marked the parcels > >"obsolete computer or printer parts-gift" and the value as a couple dollars. > >I normally send them UPS rather than USPS as I think much of the problem is > >with... > > UPS is notorious for charging abitrary and high broker fees, so ALL of my > Canadian customs demand using another carrier, preferably USPS. My first experience with this was a $120 item I bought for my Amiga from a small company in Vancouver. I get this call from so-and-so brokers who want $85 to process my paperwork. I was outraged. I told them in no uncertain terms that they would *never* extort that kind of blood money >from me for their "services" and to send the shipment back. I did receive my hardware a couple of weeks later by post with no duty and no problems. My employer at the time used to ship magtapes to Canadian customers via UPS with the proper customs paperwork attached. We never had any complaints, but we knew how to fill out the forms properly. The moral of the story is to *never* send items across the border UPS without any customs paperwork. The recipient will be saddled with the consequences. -ethan ===== Infinet has been sold. The domain is going away in February. Please send all replies to erd(a)iname.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com

24 years, 10 months

US customs holding/rejecting computer material.

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>US customs has decided As with all bureacracies, trying to make a blanket statement is difficult and usually wrong... > that people/companies in the US are avoiding tariffs >by "importing computer components through Canada" ... even if they are over >30 years old. Do you have a particular source for this information? I'm not saying that you're wrong, I'm saying that I want to learn more. If there's some specific directive number that'll be particularly valuable. >I (and others I know) in Canada have had quite a few problems (just over the >last two months) shipping computer components and documentation to the US. Oh, absolutely. I've had Canadian *government* customers with their media turned back at the border because the US government couldn't make head or tails of what it was. (These were 8" floppies and paper tapes, BTW.) That particular governmental agency now flies the media down in an employee's luggage. >I wanted every Canadian List member to know that if you indicate the >contents of the package to contain computer parts/manuals then, no mater how >old, these items could be held up in customs or rejected if you don't >provide contact info to customs. (customs doesn't seem to have a clue that >*old* computer parts fall outside their tariff issue). You're using the wrong language. If you claim to US customs that what you're doing falls outside their scope, you're only going to convince them that what you're dong is something that they should be concerned with. This isn't an attitude unique to US customs, it'll happen with most any customs service. In particular, to a customs officer "old" often means "potentially antique and valuable". And I've had Canadian customs officials explain to me several times that "zero value" is not possible. If it had no value, you wouldn't be trying to ship it. >Generally, make sure both phone numbers >are on the parcel so US customs can contact the shipper/buyer immediately >with their concerns. Absolutely. I despise customs brokers - and even more their charges - but sometimes having someone there to expedite things is worth the bucks. -- 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

24 years, 10 months

V chip (was: Going totally OT )

by mgregory＠vantageresearch.com

Here's a resource - not much technical detail, but explains how the system works better than I did: http://www.vchipeducation.org/index.html This gives some of the history of the idea: http://www.primenet.com/~acacia/soundview/Bio.html Apparently, the V-chips are only installed in Televisions, not VCRs, and some content (e.g. news, pay-per-view or cablesystem movies) is not necessarily rated. And the system uses the "Closed Captioning" signal to convey the program rating information. Cheers, Mark. -----Original Message----- From: Hans Franke <Hans.Franke(a)mch20.sbs.de> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Friday, February 11, 2000 2:48 PM Subject: Re: V chip (was: Going totally OT ) >> The V-chip is a device that will be installed by law in every VCR and TV >> manufactured in the U.S., which will allow parents to selectively block >> content that they find objectionable. So, for example, if I think it's o.k. >> for my child to see a little bit of romance and sex, I could set the "Sex" >> limit to 2 out of 5. If I wanted to block all violent programming, I could >> set the "Violence" limit to 0 out of 5. The device would detect the Sex and >> Violence levels of all incoming programming (I don't know who would rate >> the programs). If the program is over the limit that I've set, the device >> blocks the TV or VCR from showing the program. > >Let me get this straight - there is some software to be implemented >on TVs and VCRs to disable them on a contend related base ? Just >assuming that there will be some kind of add on signal (at this point >I'd like to get some technical information) suplying the level(s) >of whatever (what classes are named ?), who is responsible to >judge the content ? > >Also, are the TV stations also forced to supply the coding all the time ? >Maybe that's part of the US economic 'Wirtschaftswunder' - now TV stations >need not only on guy to handle the clap-o-mat, but a second to rate >the content all the time (asuming its not a preset thing like: Cartoon >Network = Violence 5, Sex 0 etc.). > >BTW: I know there is violence on US-TV - but sex ? > >Small content providers like local chanels may have some dificulties, >either to supply it at all, or supply it on a constant level - just >think about the 'open' chanels in big cities ... If the judgement is >done by the producer, someone of a 'nude acceping' show may have a >different feeling about the 'sex rating' then the next guy who airs >some TV church stuff. > >> Of course, given the number of people who can't even figure out how to >> program their VCRs, I suspect that the kids will be better at changing the >> limits than their parents - I presume that the system includes passwords or >> something to prevent unauthorized changing of the limits. > >You mean VCRs don't have to blink all the time ? > >Well, the thing is doomed from either side. > >Gruss >H. > >P.S.: is there any _reliable_ source for information on the web ? > >-- >Stimm gegen SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/de/ >Vote against SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/en/ >Votez contre le SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/fr/ >Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut >HRK >

24 years, 10 months

US customs holding/rejecting computer material.

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com <CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Friday, February 11, 2000 2:01 PM Subject: RE: US customs holding/rejecting computer material. >>US customs has decided > >As with all bureacracies, trying to make a blanket statement is difficult >and usually wrong... > >> that people/companies in the US are avoiding tariffs >>by "importing computer components through Canada" ... even if they are over >>30 years old. > >Do you have a particular source for this information? I'm not saying >that you're wrong, I'm saying that I want to learn more. If there's >some specific directive number that'll be particularly valuable. > My source 3 of my last few shipments have either been "rejected, held , or not arrived yet due to customs delays". I received an email from two others (one today) who said US customs felt they were trying to avoid US tarriffs and had to speak to customs for awhile to have the items released. I do not have a directive order other than I spoke to a broker friend of mine who said truckers are getting increasingly P'od with US customs because they are really slowing things up if they have any computer parts in the truck. >>I (and others I know) in Canada have had quite a few problems (just over the >>last two months) shipping computer components and documentation to the US. > >Oh, absolutely. I've had Canadian *government* customers with their >media turned back at the border because the US government couldn't make >head or tails of what it was. (These were 8" floppies and paper tapes, >BTW.) That particular governmental agency now flies the media down >in an employee's luggage. > Doesn't seem to be a problem with Canadian customs. Never had an item held up or rejected yet. >>I wanted every Canadian List member to know that if you indicate the >>contents of the package to contain computer parts/manuals then, no mater how >>old, these items could be held up in customs or rejected if you don't >>provide contact info to customs. (customs doesn't seem to have a clue that >>*old* computer parts fall outside their tariff issue). > >You're using the wrong language. If you claim to US customs that what >you're doing falls outside their scope, you're only going to convince >them that what you're dong is something that they should be concerned with. >This isn't an attitude unique to US customs, it'll happen with most >any customs service. > I don't say that *to* customs.. I am saying that about them. >In particular, to a customs officer "old" often means "potentially antique >and valuable". > >And I've had Canadian customs officials explain to me several times >that "zero value" is not possible. If it had no value, you wouldn't >be trying to ship it. > I never ship anything with a "zero" value, ever! In fact, the last shipment that was held up was valued at $400! And US customs felt the buyer was trying to avoid tarriffs by buying from Canadians. Morons. These particular DEC boards were manufactured in the states! >>Generally, make sure both phone numbers >>are on the parcel so US customs can contact the shipper/buyer immediately >>with their concerns. > >Absolutely. I despise customs brokers - and even more their charges - but >sometimes having someone there to expedite things is worth the bucks. > I have my own import/export number so I generally don't have to deal with them as long as my paperwork is correct. My problem is when I mail things to the US. Generally, when I send UPS I don't have a problem. US customs have slowed down shipments alot because some guy in BC tried to smuggle into the US a bunch of bomb material. BTW: Canadian Customs do believe old computer parts are *worthless*. I brought through two trucks filled to the top with old DEC stuff just last month. Value : $400. I opened the back of one... customs pointed a flashlight on an ASR-38.. said "God that's old".. and called the loads scrap. Over the past 15 years of imports I have never had any problem bringing in old minis... well, oher than Canadian customs wondering why someone would waste gas and time to cart the *junk* here. john PDP-8 and other rare mini computers http://www.pdp8.com >-- > 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 >

24 years, 10 months

Going totaly OT (was: Dumpster stories!)

by edick＠idcomm.com

V-chips are mandatory features built into new TV sets that allow parents to disable viewing of certain programs. These were designed before it was demnostrated that an child over 6 years of age was able to defeat them before their parents figured out how to use them. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Hans Franke <Hans.Franke(a)mch20.sbs.de> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Friday, February 11, 2000 1:28 PM Subject: Going totaly OT (was: Dumpster stories!) >> On Thu, Feb 10, 2000 at 06:35:26PM -0000, Eric Smith wrote: >> > I suppose people are going to think I'm a jerk for saying such a thing, >> > but IMNSHO the tragedy here isn't that the kids were killed, but that >> > they hadn't been taught not to do such things. > >> I agree... My parents covered all this stuff -- they told us not to dig inside >> snowbanks because a plow might come, we all wore seat belts way before there >> was a law (bicycle helmets too), our parents strictly enforced what we could >> and couldn't watch on TV so there was no need for V chips (I can't believe >> they're making us pay for censorship devices now just because some absentee >> parent religious freaks got upset), > >Please, what are V-Chips - I always associate the NEC CPU series with that. > >Gruss >H. > >-- >Stimm gegen SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/de/ >Vote against SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/en/ >Votez contre le SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/fr/ >Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut >HRK

24 years, 10 months

Running a TK50 "on the bench"

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>>A properly functioning TK50 should be able to load and eject tapes >>even if not plugged into a controller. >That's good to know. When powered up the green light on the left goes on >and the red button/light doesn't do anything. I took the bronze cover off >and the tape is attached to the leader grabber thingy but hasn't yet made a >wrap around the hub. Has leader been pulled out of the cartridge at all? If not, then you can just nudge the door-unlock solenoid (on the right side of the drive near the front) and pull the cartridge out. If the leader *has* been pulled out of the cartridge, trying to do this will leave you with a big mess. >push it again to leave it out and nothing seemed to happen. To be honest >though if it blinked for just a second i wouldn't have seen it. I'm going >to look carefully at the capstan roller to see if it is turnable. If it's not trying to move the tape at all, I don't think it's the capstan roller. One question that's vitally important right here: is this an important tape stuck in the drive, or a scratch tape? -- 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

24 years, 10 months

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test-drb February 2000