test-drb April 2001

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

251 participants
669 discussions

by brian.roth＠firstniagarabank.com

Get your bids in early on this one. Its a rare Adaptec PDP-8e. Back in the 60's DEC licensed their PDP8 architecture to Adaptec to make exact replica's of their now infamous design. Sales were sluggish so they decided to make SCSI interfaces instead. Truly one of a kind.... http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1232453120 Brian. Brian Roth Network Services First Niagara Bank (716) 625-7500 X2186 Brian.Roth(a)FirstNiagaraBank.com

24 years, 1 month

MicroVAX 3100 booting question...

by kfergaso＠swbell.net

Hi Iggy Drougge, you wrote on 4/29/01 3:56:00 PM: >Jeffrey S. Sharp skrev: > >Quoting Iggy Drougge <optimus(a)canit.se>: >> But of course I turn the programs off before flicking the switch! > >Well, you see, there is/are some program(s), called the "operating >system", that you aren't turning off. You turn it off by running >the shutdown procedure. > >Why would I turn off the OS? It's just running there and has no business >on my >disks. So, how do you get to "your disks" without going through the OS? Kelly

24 years, 1 month

Repair techniques ... I/O pins and power supplies

by mbbrutman＠chartermi.net

Tony, I have the PCjr Technical reference too and it covers the pinouts of the expansion bus, but not the 3rd party expansion unit itself. I have no documentation for that beast. It sounds like I should buy some soldering/desoldering equipment and start practicing. The broken pin is in the bottom row of the connector, so I don't have easy access to remove it in place. Were you suggesting that I only cut away part of the connector, leave the rest intact, and then replace the part that I cut away? That would certainly save a lot of work, since it is 30 pins across and this pin is second from the outside. Now the power supply is a trickier problem. The PCjr power supply has an external transformer, then another stage inside. The expansion unit looks to have the same setup, except I don't have the external transformer. Since it has the same connector as the standard PCjr power supply, I grabbed a spare PCjr power supply and used it. It's possible that the input voltage is wrong, thus causing the second stage inside the expansion unit to do the wrong thing. So here's the $64000 question - does a Rapport Drive II expansion chassis use the same power supply as the PCjr? If not, can anybody tell me what the true power supply behaves like? Back to assuming I've got the correct external transformer ... I checked all of the boards on the expansion chassis, and I didn't see any burn marks. Does that mean I have no shorts on the board ? ;-) I know what a short is, especially when it starts vaporizing wire, but how do I diagnose a short on something that looks pretty clean and isn't doing anything obvious? I need to find if that pick line is going active - that might be the key to my problems. I'm really thinking of putting an external supply on it, just to test to make sure that it really is the power supply that is acting up. If the rest of it works, then I can relax and take my sweet time with the power supply. (I'm a glutton for punishment. I've got 6 danged PCjrs in the house, all in some state of disrepair. I'd like a good working one. Next time I'm going to pay the premium for one in mint condition.) PCjr heads - check this out: http://pws.chartermi.net/~mbbrutman/PCjr My contribution to classic computers .... Thanks, Mike

24 years, 1 month

DEC CD-Rom Drive RRD40-DA Questions!!

by fernande＠internet1.net

I found this on Ebay. Is this really SCSI? I thought it ran off of a special board made just fot it.... the M7552? In fact is this one of the same drives that was given away on the list? I don't recall, who gave it away, but I recall him mentioning a cd being stuck in it, just like this one! http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1233983573 I would buy it, but am unsure of exactly what it is. Chad Fernandez Michigan, USA

24 years, 1 month

DEC CD-Rom Drive RRD40-DA Questions!!

by ndiablo＠diablonet.net

> I found this on Ebay. Is this really SCSI? I thought it ran off of a > special board made just fot it.... the M7552? > In fact is this one of the same drives that was given away on the list? > I don't recall, who gave it away, but I recall him mentioning a cd being > stuck in it, just like this one! > http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1233983573 > I would buy it, but am unsure of exactly what it is. > Chad Fernandez > Michigan, USA This is an external DEC 1X CD-ROM drive, SCSI, 512 byte sectors. It uses a really strange type of caddy that was probably never used anywhere else. It took me a little while to figure out how to load/unload these things :) It works nicely as a 512 byte sector CD-ROM for getting those older workstations running, but it is EXTREMELY slow. Technically, I think that inside this enclosure is an interface converter board that changes the proprietary CD-ROM interface to SCSI. Kind of reminiscent of those external TK50 cubes for the uVAX 2000 that contained boards to convert the special TK50->TQK50 interface to SCSI. --Sean Caron (root(a)diablonet.net) | http://www.diablonet.net

24 years, 1 month

PDP8a question

by brian.roth＠firstniagarabank.com

Are ther any docs online for the PDP8a, specifically the option boards switch settings? Brian. Brian Roth Network Services First Niagara Bank (716) 625-7500 X2186 Brian.Roth(a)FirstNiagaraBank.com

24 years, 1 month

Hmm...what the heck kind of cable is this????

by mmcfadden＠cmh.edu

We used to make all of our own cables and sometimes even build our own computer systems. We built several using a Heurikon system board, Fujitsu Eagle 400 MB drives, Kennedy tape drive, wyse terminals, Western Digital 5 1/4 disk drive, Printronix printer, Hyperchannel network boards and hubs and a Ramtek color monitor. Cabling was always a nightmare. Cable clamshell covers always got left off so we could visually inspect the connections. One hint never solder up 25 pin cable connections after having a beer. My eye hand coordination slips. Every device seemed to prefer its own "flavor" of connection. tie 6-8-20 together, crossover 2,3,4,5. Lots of our connections were straight through with the cross-overs in the connector or gender changer. We usually cut large holes in the wall, it was easier to plaster a hole than cut off and reconnect a cable end connector. Of course many just hung down from the ceiling. Our tech always carried a breakout box and several gender changers. We also had a little vacuum based vise to hold the connector while you soldered on it. Mike mmcfadden(a)cmh.edu

24 years, 1 month

Charley Lasner

by azog＠azog.org

It occurs to me that there are several PDP-8'ers here. Quite some time ago, at least 1992, I got involved with a group of people, and one of them was Charley Lasner. As far as reptutation went, he was the guru of -8s. He lived in NYC at the time, and I visited him for the weekend. Actually, it was the very same weekend that ST:TNG premired, because I was little disappointed that I missed it, but I figured hacking was more important! So, does anyone remember him or know how to reach him? azog at azog dot org "Fools! You have no possible idea of what power you toy with! Release the pig!"

24 years, 1 month

SWTPC, RCA VIP, Super Pet and Netronic Explorer

by dlw＠trailingedge.com

I picked up several systems from a fellow list member (thanks Kelly) and I'm looking for any links, info, etc. on them to help me get them all up and running again. I picked up 3 RCA Cosmac VIPs (to go with the one I already had, also from Kelly), 3 SWTPCs with different boards (I have to look through and find out what cards are there), a Netronics Explorer and on a sort of temporary permanent loan, a Super Pet. Oh, and a Sun IPC motherboard, at least we think that's what it was. Not sure which model. I'm working on cleaning them up, testing power and cataloguing them before beginning work on restoring the systems. Any info, help, links, whatever would be appreciated. More info to come soon for any who are interested. Thanks. ----- David Williams - Computer Packrat "When the mind is free of any thought or judgement, then and only then can we know things as they are." dlw(a)trailingedge.com http://www.trailingedge.com

24 years, 1 month

(Fwd) [swap] followup: NeXT

by jpero＠sympatico.ca

Reply to this owner not me! Wizard ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- To: <lem-swap(a)mail.maclaunch.com> (LEM Swap List) Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2001 07:44:32 -0700 Subject: [swap] followup: NeXT From: "raino" <raino(a)mac.com> LEM-Swap is for buying & selling Mac stuff. It is not a discussion list. -------------------- Hi all, I am gathering the memory offers on the NeXT hardware. If you have sent me a generic, "what do you want for..." email, please, if you could: make me an offer. I am comparing the offers made and will be making a decision Sunday or Monday. The RAM is for computers I am giving to kids who live in foster care situations, so you can be sure I will be going for best offers. RAM type needed: for ppc 6100, 7100, 8100, performa 520/550/575/580, quadra 630/640, centris 610/660 AV, 7200, 7300, 7600, powercomputing powerwave I have: 1. 3 very clean NeXT boxes (040 25 MhZ) 250 MD hard drive (needs to be reformated and OS loaded) 20 MB RAM 2. 4 MegaPixel NeXT Displays with monitor cable, very clean 3. 14 NeXT keyboards, clean 4. 3 NeXT mouses (will go with boxes if trade includes), clean 5. 3 NeXT 12x external CD DRIVES with cables, very clean 6. 3 NeXT laser printers (these are sharp looking!) with cables raino -- LEM-Swap is sponsored by LowEndMac.com and... 123Inkjets.com <http://lowendmac.com/ad/123inkjets.html> Back To The Future Trilogy, other movies available on VideoCD from CoolVCD <http://lowendmac.com/ad/coolvcd.html> Save on Mac software -- Shop Software Outlet.com <http://lowendmac.com/ad/software.outlet.html> - - - - - LEM-Swap list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/swap.html> Send list messages to: <mailto:lem-swap@mail.maclaunch.com> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:lem-swap-off@mail.maclaunch.com> For digest mode, email: <mailto:lem-swap-digest@mail.maclaunch.com> Subscription questions: <mailto:listmom@lowendmac.com> List archive: <http://mail.maclaunch.com/lists/> Using a Macintosh? Get free email and more at Applelinks! <http://www.applelinks.com>

24 years, 1 month

VaXLab & VaxStation II

by hsappleton＠sprintmail.com

Hi all I ran across these two items yesterday and is thinking about purchasing them (one or the other, not both). I have zero knowledge of the DEC systems, but the Vaxlab, I never heard of before. Can someone give me a little info on these especially the Vaxlab. I would like to know what was it used for and give me a link with some info. Also what price should I pay for this, not knowing if it works or not. The place I am buying it from is known for unrealistic prices, so I did not bother to ask until I know if I need it. Headley

24 years, 1 month

Shutting down cleanly ... sync; sync; sync;

by mbg＠world.std.com

In fact... I seem to remember that the Ultrix-11 installation manual specified this action during the installation process. No urban legend.. I remember doing it on a home -11... sync; sync; sync; halt Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry!zk3.dec.com | | Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg!world.std.com | | Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of '!' | | 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg KB1FCA | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

24 years, 1 month

Chaplin (was: Charley Lasner

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On April 30, jpero(a)sympatico.ca wrote: > The MCA faded away after '95. A very knowledgeable individual on this list (hi Sridhar!) mentioned to me once that modernized MCA (faster, 64-bit, etc) was seen in new machines much more recently than that. Sridhar? -Dave McGuire

24 years, 1 month

Newly acquired

by optimus＠canit.se

Finally the chip dropped! (Or whatever you say en anglais =) Or, IOW, my collection finally got somewhat interesting again. In the last weeks, I have found an ABC-800 (for free at the dump), yet to be tested since it needs to be supplied with power through the monitor. It seems as though it could be useful as a terminal, given its ROM and serial ports. Quite nice keyboard, too. Today, I was at the fleamarket and found a Japanese word processor with carrying case. It's a NEC Mini-5 thing. Could actually be useful, providing the LCD still works. Cost me 40 crowns. At an additional 40 SEK (a steal!), I found a boxed TI-99/4A. Came with documentation, PAL modulator, joysticks and "TI invaders". =) I really like the keyboard, but now I really need a male-male RF cable to plug it in. =/ I was also alotted an Apple portrait display. I really prefer my Sigma Pageviews though, they look much nicer. -- En ligne avec Thor 2.6a. We have the most thorough test guy in the world... I showed him this program and he asked, 'but Rob, what if time runs backward?'

24 years, 1 month

Hmm...what the heck kind of cable is this????

by blacklord＠telstra.com

----- Original Message ----- From: ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2001 3:57 am Subject: Re: Hmm...what the heck kind of cable is this???? > > There is no such thing as a simple cable to interconnect the two. > For many years I used a standard null modem cable to connect my PC's with my A1000 to transfer software between them, can't get much simpler than that. Lance ---------------- Powered by telstra.com

24 years, 1 month

Another DEC haul

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On April 29, Vance Dereksen wrote: > Since when is a Jetta a sports car? 8-) > > Peace... Sridhar, proud owner of a BMW 530i, modified. Hey Sridhar...next time you come down this way, you've gotta bring that car of yours! -Dave McGuire

24 years, 1 month

SWTPC, RCA VIP, Super Pet and Netronic Explorer

by kfergaso＠swbell.net

It was for David. I picked up the the stuff 9-10 years ago at a Texas A&M auction. the VIP's also. Hi Eric Chomko, you wrote on 4/29/01 6:04:54 PM: >And this was a recent aquisition? > >Eric > >David Williams wrote: > > > Please elaborate on the SWTPC systems. Just curious. > > I should have pics up soon. So far I've been looking things over. > As far as SWTPC stuff goes, I have three systems. Two are the > SWTPC 6800 boxen with reset and power buttons on the front. > The third is the same but the front panel doesn't have the same > SWTPC 6800 logo on it. It's just blank. There are several boards, > many I haven't IDed yet. So far I see 6800 CPU cards, some 8K > memory boards, some I/O cards, what looks like it might be a > prom burner, a disk controller (no drives though), a 16k memory > board and some more I haven't figured out yet. He has a bunch of > the manuals but has to locate them in his storage space first. I > plan on scanning them when I get them. That's the extent of what I > know so far about the SWTPC stuff. I'll post pics of the systems > and boards on my site soon. Have to dig up my digital camera first. > > ----- > David Williams - Computer Packrat > "When the mind is free of any thought or judgement, > then and only then can we know things as they are." > dlw(a)trailingedge.com > http://www.trailingedge.com > >

24 years, 1 month

Charley Lasner

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On April 29, Billy D'Augustine wrote: > It occurs to me that there are several PDP-8'ers here. Quite some time ago, > at least 1992, I got involved with a group of people, and one of them was > Charley Lasner. As far as reptutation went, he was the guru of -8s. He lived > in NYC at the time, and I visited him for the weekend. Actually, it was the > very same weekend that ST:TNG premired, because I was little disappointed > that I missed it, but I figured hacking was more important! > > So, does anyone remember him or know how to reach him? This hit the pdp8-lovers mailing list last year: >From: Robert Harper <rwh@c...> >Date: Tue Nov 7, 2000 10:35 pm >Subject: RE: [PDP8-Lovers] What Happened to Charles Lasner? > >I'm a long-time, close personal friend of Charlie's --- we've known each >other and worked together for nearly 30 years now, dating back to the early >days of the -8. I got concerned about him about a year ago, and tracked him >down through his brother. He's doing fine, spending much of his time on >Long Island with a new (at that time) female friend. His e-mail address >hasn't changed ( lasner@s...). I don't know why he's dropped out >of the PDP8-Lovers discussion. As far as I know he's alive and well and >happy, but probably preoccupied with a variety of projects and interests. -Dave McGuire

24 years, 1 month

Computer Renaissance

by jpero＠sympatico.ca

> Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 12:59:10 -0400 > To: jpero(a)sympatico.ca > From: Christian Fandt <cfandt(a)netsync.net> > Subject: Re: Nabu Computers Available... > Upon the date 10:15 PM 4/24/01 +0000, jpero(a)sympatico.ca said something like: > -- snip -- > >Overpriced! Found my 230MB MO 3.5" based on Olypmus mech in a APS > >case for 20 US in C.R. south of Rochester next to Jefferson rd. :-) > > Hi Wiz, Hi Fandt, Talked to my friend in USA and found that full name. it's horrible name to remember. :-) Computer Renaissance Computer Renaissance 376 Jefferson Rd - Across from Southtown Plaza Rochester, NY 14623 Phone: 716-424-2050 www.compren.com has address locator, jam your zip code there and it will cheerfully give you nearest C.R. stores. Many of the ASIS markers on used loose parts in bins and lot of used computers are functional, I find MCA cards and Mac parts as well as generic stuff. Prices is sorta ok but worth checking out. Cheers, Wizard

24 years, 1 month

Apple //c manuals?

by ken.keller＠sk.sympatico.ca

Does anyone know were I can find Manuals (preferably in text or html format) for an Apple //c online? I'm not looking to buy them, just to use them as a reference. Thanks, ~Gen~

24 years, 1 month

(fwd) FS: Tektronix 575 Transistor Curve Tracer (Surrey, UK) (fwd)

by jpl15＠panix.com

ATTENTION UK Classiccmpers: I found this lurking in a ham radio newsgroup. The last line of the message is what got my attention. Also, the 575 is a pretty nice piece of gear, especially if it can be rescued >from being sent (working) to the landfill. Subject: (fwd) FS: Tektronix 575 Transistor Curve Tracer (Surrey, UK) -- forwarded message -- From: john(a)nospam.demon.co.uk (John Washington) Newsgroups: comp.os.cpm,sci.electronics.equipment,rec.radio.amateur.misc Subject: FS: Tektronix 575 Transistor Curve Tracer (Surrey, UK) Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2001 16:02:53 +0100 (BST) Lines: 24 For sale: Tektronix 575 Transistor Curve Tracer. Wonderful machine, displays loads of curves for pretty much any transistor you care to test on it. Can even test two transistors at once, ideal for selecting matched pairs. Buyer collects or arranges shipping. Surrey, UK Email me at john at wash dot demon dot co dot uk. Would also be ideal as a boat anchor. Money? Yes, I'd like some, so get your accountant to figure out the new price (thousands), add inflation, and then take off a lot for depreciation, add even more for rare collectable status, and take off another few zillion 'cos I'm such a warm-hearted generous idiot. Or just make an offer. Any suggestions where else I might find a good home for this useful piece of gear? I'd be heart-broken to take it down the tip, but it occupies space I can ill afford. P.S. The spare CP/M computers are still available. -- John Washington -- -- end of forwarded message --

24 years, 1 month

hey, did the list die????

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

I seemed to have been in the black hole of getting mail from the list for a few days. Allison

24 years, 1 month

wanted: Old Storageworks drives in cannisters

by mrbill＠mrbill.net

I'm looking for 4-7 DEC Storageworks 2g or 4G drives in cannisters to put in an old BA350 (single ended fast scsi) shelf. Any suggestions? Bill -- Bill Bradford mrbill(a)mrbill.net Austin, TX

24 years, 1 month

Java Altair Emulator

by chronic＠nf.sympatico.ca

Hi, This may be slightly OT, but it concerns a classic comp so i'll post it anyways. I was wondering if anyone here had seen the Java Altair 8800 emulator at http://members.aol.com/~altair88b. About a year ago, when I only had net access at school, i was searching for Altair stuff and came up with it. Although I could not try it due to lack of time, it seemed like a huge improvment over Claus Giloi's Altair emu, with a terminal emulator and paper tape support (i think). I tried to access it the other day, but the page has been removed. Does anyone out there know what i'm talking about?? If anyone has, did it work? I was very suspicious at the time due to a lack of contact address, plus it just seemed too good to be true. If anyone has tried it, did the thing work??? And whatever happened to it??? -Lanny

24 years, 1 month

C128 web server

by spectre＠stockholm.ptloma.edu

This is not as big an achievement as it sounds since the machine in question has a SuperCPU accelerator in it, so it's not a *stock* system, but it's still quite impressive. It serves everything itself using a simple multithreaded webserver. http://c64.nvg.org/ (it's in Norway) -- ----------------------------- personal page: http://www.armory.com/~spectre/ -- Cameron Kaiser, Point Loma Nazarene University * ckaiser(a)stockholm.ptloma.edu -- The best things in life are sold out. --------------------------------------

24 years, 1 month

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test-drb April 2001