Vintage Computer Festival 4.0
September 30 through October 1, 2000
San Jose Convention Center
San Jose, California
http://www.vintage.org
Mark your calendar! The fourth annual Vintage Computer Festival is
scheduled for Saturday, September 30th though Sunday, October 1st at
the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, California.
The Vintage Computer Festival is a celebration of computers and their
history. The event features speakers, a vintage computer exhibition,
a vintage computer marketplace, and contests like The Nerd Trivia
Challenge. We showcase all different types of computers for all
differents kinds of platforms in all different shapes and sizes.
REGISTER EARLY AND SAVE!
Register by September 20th and pay only $25 per person! Your
registration includes complete event access, including speakers,
the exhibition and the marketplace. And just like last year, the
first 32 registrants will receive a VCF t-shirt! Act fast to secure
your early registration and a free VCF t-shirt.
We've made it easier than ever for you register online as we are
now accepting credit card payments. Visit the VCF website for
complete details!
VCF AND CAEX2000 TOGETHER IN ONE VENUE!
The VCF is proud to announce it is being held in conjunction with
California Extreme 2000, the world's premier classic arcade game
extravaganza! Hundreds of classic arcade and pinball games beeping,
buzzing and booming. The VCF and CAEX2000 share the same venue,
making it easy to attend both events. Even better, admission is
reduced for those who do come to both events (details at the door)!
For complete details on California Extreme 2000 see:
http://www.caextreme.org
SPEAKERS AND WORKSHOPS
Every year, the VCF assembles an amazing line-up of talks and
workshops. This gives attendees an opportunity to interact with
the people who laid the foundation for computing today, as well
as those who are helping to document and preserve it.
Our speaker roster so far includes:
Bill Godbout Bill was the King of S-100 for well over a decade,
providing kits, boards and complete systems for
the hobbyist and businesses worldwide. Godbout and
CompuPro products were a basic staple for computer
hobbyist's throughout the late-70s and 80s.
Jim Warren Jim was responsible for bringing about the West Coast
Computer Faire, the seminal computing event of the
70s and 80s. Jim will be waxing poetic about the
political activism that transmogrified into the
microcomputer revolution of the 70s. Jim will be
engaging in a roundtable discussion with fellow
revolutionary Larry Tesler.
Larry Tesler Larry has left his mark at two of the Silicon
Valley's most hallowed institutions: Xerox PARC and
Apple. But Larry's vision began well before he went
on to help create the foundations of modern day
computing. Larry will join Jim Warren in a roundtable
discsussion.
Paul Freiberger Sixteen years ago, Paul and Mike surveyed the Silicon
Mike Swaine Valley and then wrote about it. Their tome, _Fire in
the Valley_, has become a legend in its own right.
Paul and Mike will be sharing what they learned in
writing this biography of the center of the high tech
world. Bring your own copy to have it signed!
Christine Finn Christine is an archaeologist. So how did her
research lead her to vintage computing? Christine
is studying the Silicon Valley and the effects it
has had in bringing about a global transformation
in the way we live. Christine will tell us why
it happened in the Santa Clara valley of California.
Curt Vendel Curt is the founder of the Atari Historical Society.
On his website (http://www.atari-history.com/) he
documents the amazing ups and downs of one of
computing's most celebrated and innovative companies.
Curt will also be bringing along a great interactive
Atari exhibit.
Jim Willing Jim, our Official VCF Celebrity, is back to wow you
with more amazing words of wisdom, incantations of
innuendo and sentences of sarcasm. This year in two
separate talks he takes on the topics of computer
collecting and computer preservation: one is not
exclusive of the other!
Dwight Elvey Dwight has achieved the ultimate in computer
restoration. He acquired a relatively unknown mini-
computer from the early 70s, the Nicolet 1080,
resurrected it, wrote a cross-compiler for it, and
brought it back to life. This talk is perfect for
those wishing to take on their own restoration
projects but don't know where to start.
More speakers to be announced soon! Check the VCF website for the
latest updates:
http://www.vintage.org/2000/speakers.html
EXHIBIT YOUR VINTAGE COMPUTER
Vintage Computer Collectors: we want you! Exhibit your favorite
computer in the Vintage Computer Exhibition. Prizes will be
awarded in 12 different categories, as well as a Best of Show
prize which includes $50 cash!
For complete details on the VCF Exhibition, visit:
http://www.vintage.org/2000/exhibit.html
To see the exhibits from VCF 3.0 go to:
http://www.vintage.org/exhibit99.html
BUY/SELL/TRADE AT THE VINTAGE COMPUTER MARKETPLACE
Do you have some vintage computer items you'd like to sell? Whether
you rent a booth or sell on consignment, the Vintage Computer
Marketplace is the premier venue for selling old computers and
related items. If you would like to rent a booth or inquire about
consignment rates, please send e-mail to vendor(a)vintage.org for more
information or visit:
http://www.vintage.org/2000/vendor.html
CHECK OUT THE NEW SITE!
If you haven't visited the VCF website in a while, come on over and
have a look at the completely new design. You'll find it easier to
navigate and easier to find the information you're looking for.
We've got plenty of good stuff to read and hundreds of new links to
explore vintage computing on the web. We're constantly adding new
content. Stop on by for a visit!
TELL A FRIEND! TELL A NEIGHBOR! TELL A STRANGER!
We really hope to see you at VCF 4.0! And remember, tell everyone
you bump into about the Vintage Computer Festival!
Vintage Computer Festival 4.0
September 30th through October 1st, 2000
San Jose Convention Center
San Jose, California
http://www.vintage.org
"Richard Erlacher" <richard(a)idcomm.com> wrote:
> A plug in module for PALASM? What would give you that idea? I've seen only
> one place on a model 29 for anything to plug in, and that's the programming
> site. (there are several different ones)
Yes. There's a plug-in adapter called a LogicPak, and that can take a
PALASM Design Adapter, an H&L Design Adapter, or one of several
programming/test adapters. I've got some of these (PALASM and a
couple of p/t adapters) as well as manuals but haven't used them.
With the PALASM Design Adapter you can apparently send the programmer
your logic equations and have it generate the fuse map and test
vectors. Then I guess you plug in one of the p/t adapters to program
the actual device because the PALASM Design Adapter doesn't have a
socket on top. Like I said, I haven't actually used this, and barely
cracked the manuals -- it was gradually tossed by a previous employer
and at a price of $0 I figured it would make a useful [[E]P]ROM reader
and programmer.
Which is sort of what I've been doing with it lately -- writing a
Tcl/Expect script to control the 29A w/UniPak 2 and read data from
ROMs. It's not what I'd call baked yet (all it does is read a 27512),
but I'll post a note when it's a bit more complete.
-Frank McConnell
Eric wrote:
> I think that works. The older Mac 800K external drives, in
> the very slim beige case,
This is the one I've got....although I've got a fatter one that also came
with a Mac Plus that also doesn't have a passthru connector.
> in the chain, which means IIRC that you can't combine them
> with 5.25-inch
> drives, since the 5.25 inch drives must follow any 3.5-inch drives.
That's fine for now - I just want to get GS/OS running and all I can create
>from my Macs are 3.5" floppies anyway.
cheers!
a
From: Daniel T. Burrows <dburrows(a)netpath.net>
>My archive RSX11M+ system currently has 2) 9Gb and 1) 3 Gb drives on it.
>Along with the 1GB boot, a CDROM and a ZIP. RZ25's get swapped more
often
>than the ZIP gets used now however.
>
>It also has a quad density 9 track, TZ30, and a 4mm for tapes.
>The only DEC item in it are grant cards and a DELQA
>
>Dan
Well I happen to have a 11/73 that is all DEC and it has the one think I
like
and that is I can easily document it fully and duplicate it. If I need
SCSI
I have a CDM200 I can borrow from the VAX for CDrom use or whatever.
I happen to like RT11FB or XM so a rx33 plus three RD52(Quantum D540s)
on a RQDX3 is a roomy setup with RL02 and RX02. Come to think of it
one of the RD53s boots as RSTS.
If there were any PDP-11 config I'd love to do it's a micro Qbus box
with say 11/23 IDE and RX23/24 3.5" drives in a PC minitower or
smaller format.
Envision this (all dual width cards):
11/23 m8186 KDF-11A (11/23 Q22, I have one overclocked).
boot M8021 MRV11 (Eprom card with boot)
ram M8059(x4) MSV11LK (4x =1mb)
serial M8043 DLV11j 4port serial
One possible Disk system, all DEC
disk M7555 RQDX3
M9058 disk distribution
flop TEACFD55GFV RX33
HD RD52 RD52
OR hybrid DEC:
CMD200, RZ23, Cdrom
all in a H9281-AC(12 dual slots) which has a footprint
nearly as large as MINI AT sized card though much
thicker. ;-)
I also have a few M7142s, VK170 base Vt52 video on
a dial card so the system would use a mono CRT
and a keyboard like a real PC.
I should do it as I have all the bits and it would be
fair system perfomance wise. Not bad for 1984-87
technology!
Allison
Anyone have a pinout for the "magic cable" listed below.
It's the console cable for an IBM AS/400. It's just a DB25M-DB25F, but
has some magic wiring to make it work as a console.
I have a 3477 Terminal that should suit, and there is a 2612 in the AS.
Have a VTxxx if it can speak ascii, but I STILL need the pinout.
(I refuse to buy one from IBM on general principles - even assuming it
didn't cost 2 arms and 2 legs, I might need a sys pwd and have wasted my
time and money, don't mind the time, but the money is another thing
entirely.)
Have several Twinax terms and cables as well, however the AS doesn't
have anything in it that speaks twinax.
Part Number 46G0450 or 46G0479
Feature Code 9026 or 9027
I'd really like to get this AS/400 to work, it seems to boot, so I'm
assuming it ain't gonna ask for
the system password crap. Can't tell until/if I get a console working
on it.
Can some kind soul (Eric?) talk me through the process? Off list if you
prefer.....
Cheers
Geoff Roberts
Computer Systems Manager
Saint Mark's College
Port Pirie,
South Australia
geoffrob(a)stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au
netcafe(a)tell.net.au
ICQ: 1970476
From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com>
To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
>Hi, I've got several Unibus LP11 interfaces and I was wondering if
anyone
>was interested in trading a couple for M8207's (Q-bus version) of same?
I'd
>like to put a centronics printer port on my VAX and test out some code
in
>NetBSD for said port.
M8207?? For unibus or what?
LPV11 for Qbus is M8027 (lp05/la180) but with the right cable kit also
work with LP25/26/27, LN01 and a few others with data products I/F
It wouldn't be hard to use that with Centronics.
other choices are M7941 (DRV11 parallel line unit) or LAV11 printer
interface(M7949).
for most small vaxen the serial interfaced DEC printers was
the common choice. (La50, LA75, LA100, LA210, LA120, LA180, LN03).
Allison
Anyone out there know anything about IBM AS/400's?
Looking for some info on the following system.
This is the first AS/400 I've ever seen, so bear with me a little.
I'm not familiar with IBM stuff at all (pc's excepted) Digital Vaxen,
yes.
I picked up a Type 9402-2xx with 4 x Type 0662 1.05Gb SCSI Hard drives
and a 2Gb Tape drive for $30 at an auction in Adelaide last Friday.
Cool looking ~Microvax II sized box, solid metal, with a black plastic
5 piece shroud. (The back bulkhead cover is missing). A badge with the
IBM logo is on the front shroud, with AS/400 Advanced also in the badge.
Thing appears to boot, rattles away at drives, status display is live
etc, but have no idea what/where/how to connect anything to it. Have
numerous cables etc, and an IBM 3477 terminal I found in my back room.
Looking for advice on how/what to connect to it.
Not sure if this fits in the 10 year rule, though the AS/400 itself goes
way back, this machine appears more recent. Early/Mid 90's?
It appears to have at least 16mb of ram on a board inside. (2 x IBM 72
pin SIMMS). There is a DB25F on the back that appears to go to what I
take to be the main board, (which has part no 74G9701) that I assume is
a console port (do these have a console port?) the ram is on a board
with a part number of 74G9722 which I assume is a memory expansion board
of some description. I suspect it's running some version of OS/400
rather than SSP (I think that's the original O/S for these). This
appears to be a RISC machine based on the pic in the docs on the IBM
site, which show that it is a Version 3 AS/400. (Whatever that means.)
The following modules are fitted in the rear bulkhead. Searching for
module no's on the web found virtually nothing to my surprise.
2612 x 1 (A chance encounter in a newsgroup reveals this is an EIA
232/V.24 One-Line Adapter) I translate that as a serial port.
There is a blanking panel below it that would probably allow another to
be fitted there.
2609 x 2 I have some cables that mate to these, IBM P/N 21F9345
(9843),they terminate in a 'black box' with 2 x DB25M's minus pins 9, 14
and 16, marked P1 and P2 which I suspect are terminal ports. I have 4 x
P/N 22F0152 (9835) DB25F to DB25M, with pins 9-14, 16 and 19 missing,
these were hanging off the DB25M's on the 'black boxes'. I assume these
are to connect to a terminal, they certainly fit one of the ports on the
3477. One 22F0152 cable has an oddball DB25F in a plastic shell that
seems to be "wrapped around" the cable, it turns freely, it has 8 wires
that each jump one pin to another pin, and no connection
to the cable itself. Some kind of loopback connector? Spare part?
Inductive pickup? Who knows?
264A (Blank/space filler)
2641 (Blank/space filler)
2623 (some kind of interface, the 2 x 2609's fit into it)
None of these appear to be an ethernet connector, so I will have to hunt
up one of those too I guess.
Some 3180 "R2D2" Twinax based terms and cables came with it, however
there does not appear to be any kind of Twinax connector on the machine.
There were also some 'clone' type terms with it, but someone else got
them. I suspect these ran off the
IBM's web site has some docs etc available, but the physics of what and
how to connect terms etc are buried deep if they even exist there.
>From sticker on metal side of unit
(Under the black plastic cover)
Type 9402 S/N 10-1428A
Release Level V3ROM5
PTF Level C4179305
TSP (Y/N) : NO
Software License Type: NONE
On a small sticker on the back panel
Type 9402-2xx
S/N 10-1428A
MS9402101428A
Any help appreciated, replies off list if this is off topic most
welcome..
Thanks in advance,
Geoff Roberts
Computer Systems Manager
Saint Mark's College
Port Pirie,
South Australia
geoffrob(a)stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au
netcafe(a)tell.net.au
ICQ: 1970476
From: Geoff Roberts <geoffrob(a)stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Eric Smith" <eric(a)brouhaha.com>
>To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2000 3:31 PM
>Subject: Re: AS/400?
>
>> I believe that to be false. The IBMLink sales information for that
>> model says that it runs OS/400 V3R1 or V3R2, which only run on CISC
>models.
>> RISC models run V3R7 or V4Rx.
I though the AS400 is CISC to the max and the RISC solutions were
called RS6000.
Allison
>Allison's right, an M8027, LPV11 (Q-bus version of the LP11). I'm not
>interested in driving a printer with it, I want to talk to a Zip Drive.
As
>long as I can create a "Centronics" compatible interface (even with all
8
>data bits being output only) I have a chance of getting it to talk to
the
>zip drive. That would give me 100 MB of removable storage, on a PDP-11
that
>would be like heaven.
>
>--Chuck
Read up on parallel ports for PC first, the M8027 WILL NOT be sufficient.
Most
parallel ports ahve enough bidirectional lines and the 8bit data is
bidirectional
(only the old XT ports aren't).
Look into a m7941 (DRV11) parallel line unit sa that give you lots of
bits for
parallel IO. Another would be the M7950 DRV-11B general purpose DMA
interface (also a parallel IO). The latest one was the DRV-11J (M8049)
and that has enough lines to interface anything (32 in and 32 out).
The later boards could possibly even be enough to fake the IDE interface
directly. Even an old clunky 120mb WD2120 would seem large! Seriously
someone has done a Qbus IDE interface adn it's fairly trivial task.
Considering that CDroms, IDE ZIPs, Superdisks and even big hard
drives all can be found real cheap this has appeal. What makes it
mildly hard to do is PDP-11 (Q, U or any) All do a read before write
and IDE control registers don't like that. So you have to do like the DL
cards were the TX and RX registers are different addresses.
I might add that IDE is much faster than ZIP drives, I have a Parallel
port IDE disk and a Syquest 270 and both scream compared to
ZIP.
Allison
