Hello, all:
This weekend I posted the latest code release for the Altair32
Emulator. Right now, it's feature-complete except for the Altair Integrated
Debugger, a fully-integrated debugger based on the one used by Jim Battle in
his Sol emulator.
There are a few known issues with this release:
* Programatic access to the paper tape doesn't work properly for some
unknown reason. So, for example, using the toggle-in bootstrap loader to
load and run Altair BASIC 3.2 from tape doesn't work. Execution is never
transferred to BASIC. Loading BASIC in the form of a memory image still
works fine. Tape access has been sped-up by fully buffering the tape in a
buffer and reading from the buffer.
* Other BASIC versions, such as 8k (4.0) and Disk Extended BASIC,
don't work properly. They seem to crash the emulator after the "MEMORY
SIZE?" prompt. A quick trace of 8k BASIC shows some possibly strange IO port
usage.
* Emulated floppy access with the included disk images doesn't work
properly. I can boot the emulator to CP/M and are able to see the console
output but the CP/M BIOS doesn't seem to register console input. I've asked
for a copy of the CBIOS source that relates to the CP/M image (borrowed with
permission from the Sysun on-line computer museum) so that I can track this
one down. I suspect that it's a problem with the emulated status register
for the console serial port.
Enjoy!
Rich
==========================
Richard A. Cini, Jr.
Congress Financial Corporation
1133 Avenue of the Americas
30th Floor
New York, NY 10036
(212) 545-4402
(212) 840-6259 (facsimile)
You had already gotten a bunch of good responses, you noticed all
the foam was falling apart like in mine, I cleaned it all out so bits of
stuff wouldn't be floating around. I used some furniture foam where I needed
thick and soft weather stripping foam for areas like the air feed to the disk
pack. If you pull the fan to replace the foam check to see that the duck
bill which cools power supplies doesn't have dust blocking the end.
I also had to replace the nicad battery pack which retracts the heads when
power fails. If it isn't leaking you can see if it took a charge after
the drive has been running a while or try charging if you got a power
supply and then load test. You can also test by carefully pulling the
head forward with the drive powered off. It will suddenly yank it back when
you hit the switch (watch the fingers). Don't pull it far enough that it
starts to get to the head load ramp, it should pull back before that.
If you think you might have some dropped packs what I do is with cover off
watch the reflection of something at the edge of the disk where the head
loads. Blip the run switch to start the pack spinning and as it slows down
watch for the reflection to move. If so the edge is bent. I don't know how
much is safe, I have a couple I declared unsafe and a couple with just a
slight change which worked fine.
For packs that weren't stored in bags I clean them before using. I
use alchohol wipes then "air" can and a lens brush to remove all I can.
Look at various angles, the proper lighting angle makes the dust visible.
I then let sit in the drive for a while, spin it up then run a program
which quickly steps through all tracks. Frequently I get a little ping on
a track on the first pass or two but the moving head seems to knock the dust
bits off. If the head isn't moving it can sit pinging at a track which
doesn't seem like a good thing. If after two passes the disk isn't quiet
I try cleaning again or put it in the trouble stack. Check/clean heads
after this. Also keep the finger on the load button and hit it if things
sound too loud.
I also have some PM procedures on my site which a company wrote for
maintaining their drives. Search for RK05
http://www.pdp8.net/pdp8cgi/query_docs/query.pl
David Gesswein
http://www.pdp8.net/ -- Run an old computer with blinkenlights.
-------------Original Message--------------
Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 00:06:28 -0400
From: "Glen Goodwin" <acme_ent(a)bellsouth.net>
Subject: Re: Network protocols - RS232 Serial
Hey Mike:
> Anybody have a use for one or more Data Products Inc. NC16/250
NetCommanders (Not to be confused with Diamond's NetCommander ISDN
adapter)?
Yes.
> Need to talk to your 15 vintage RS232 systems in the garage from one
terminal?
Yes!
How much???
Glen
0/0
----------------
Hey Glen:
Will let ya know as soon as I've had a chance to look at them. Sorry to all for delays, kinda hectic here at the moment.
mike
> So far I've worked out how to generate all characters on the keytops
(letters,
> keywords and symbols) using CAPS SHIFT or SYMBOL SHIFT. I've also
discovered
> how to print the keywords listed above each key, by pressing both SHIFT
keys
> in order to enter the "E" input mode. But I'm lost as to how to print the
> keywords and characters listed below the keys. No combinations of SHIFT
keys
> seem to work out.
Go into Extended Mode (both shifts down at once to get the "E" cursor), then
press the command key you want while keeping Symbol Shift held down.
Good old Sinclair keyboards... the keyword entry thing worked ok on the
ZX80/ZX81 IMHO because they were such horrible "key"boards. Not so sure
about the Spectrum, there were just too many keywords to find, even if you
knew where to look it was still a pain to type in a listing from a magazine
:-) I recently got hold of one of the 128K Spectrum+ machines - the ones
with the QL-style keyboard. Firing up the 128K BASIC allows you to type in a
program character by character - I would have thought that would be an
improvement, but I find it to be just as nasty as the 48K BASIC's keyword
mechanism because the keyboard layout is non-standard. I ask you, putting
the " on it's own key :-)
-al
-------------Original Message-----------------
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 23:17:52 +0100 (BST)
From: ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell)
Subject: Re: Network protocols - RS232 Serial
> Sorry, typon on my part. Mine also says 'Digital Products Inc' on it.
> I've got a couple of different models here.
-----------------------------------------------------
Well, I guess Product*S* is appropriate after all... They did indeed make quite a few different combinations, as well as the PrintDirector and DeviceDirector Printer/Terminal port sharing units, but I don't see yours listed in any of my literature; musta been older or newer than mine. I do see an NC7 (4S/3P) and some of the MultiSpool Print Directors were S/P combos.
These are serial-only single-board babies, 16 RJ-45's along the back of the board, using standard DIP 256x1 RAMs. When you look at it, it sure doesn't look like $3000 worth... Now if they'd put some LED's on the front panel, say 4 per port, all blinking away merrily...
We used them in two applications: One was collecting data from a bunch of AIM65's (later replaced by PC's) monitoring stock thickness in a brass rolling mill and sending it to a central Cromemco (also later replaced by a PC), and the other was a bond trader who used them to broadcast news of a new issue to his clients over dedicated lines, so some of them have been modified to simultaneously broadcast 1 port to the other 15 ('cause ya couldn't have one client getting the news before another, even at 9600 baud; that's how hectic the bond business is).
mike
"Brian Knittel" <brian(a)quarterbyte.com> wrote:
> Does anyone know of any electronics / computer surplus
> and/or computer / electronics recycling companies
> in the greater Portsmouth - Norfolk - Virginia Beach -
> Suffolk - Chesapeake, Virginia area?
Try the US Navy.
http://www.drms.com/
DRMO Norfolk
http://www.drms.dla.mil/drmo/site/national/norfolk.pdf
--Doug
=========================================
Doug Coward
@ home in Poulsbo, WA
Analog Computer Online Museum and History Center
http://www.best.com/~dcoward/analog
=========================================
Iggy wrote:
> So now I've got a working Speccy, with a luxurious on/off switch and all.
> The keyboard is... interesting.
> So far I've worked out how to generate all characters on the keytops
(letters,
> keywords and symbols) using CAPS SHIFT or SYMBOL SHIFT. I've also
discovered
> how to print the keywords listed above each key, by pressing both SHIFT
keys
> in order to enter the "E" input mode. But I'm lost as to how to print the
> keywords and characters listed below the keys. No combinations of SHIFT
keys
> seem to work out.
Hold down the Caps Shift key.
Tap the Symbl Shift key.
Release the Caps Shift key. (Now you're in "E" mode)
Hold down the Symbl Shift key.
Press the key with the character or keyword you want to obtain.
It's a lot easier than it sounds ;>)
Glen
0/0
After a long dry spell of not finding anything, finally found some stuff. Got
an RS digital computer kit off ebay for only $3 and at the local thrift store
got a PS/2 model 30 286 with the original keys still in the lock. got a laser
128 complete in box that looks hardly used and a laser 128ex with a broken
key, but thankfully didnt get lost.
--
DB Young Team OS/2
old computers, hot rod pinto and more at:
www.nothingtodo.org
I just got a memory board for my HP IIIp. The board only has 2MB on it,
but there are 2 rows of empty 20-pin sockets that lead me to believe
I can add another 2MB for a total of 4MB.
I'd like to do that in the most cost-efficient way possible.
The board is marked "(C) 1991 Pacific Data Products" and "P/N 012186".
The soldered-in RAM is mostly marked "HY534256S-70", although three chips
are "HY534256S-80"(?)
Thanks in advance.
On Oct 21, 12:10, Mike Ford wrote:
> This fear of spam always amazes me.
[...]
> Just hit delete, or
> in the case of "real" spam drop the email into one of the antispam sites
> and let the software go after the sender.
It's not "fear" of spam, just simple irritation. I'm perfectly capable of
hitting a delete key and using antispam sites, but I don't see why I should
have to.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
