test-drb August 2001

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

295 participants
726 discussions

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> Douglas Quebbeman skrev: > > >> You still don't get it. Demos have no marketing relevance whatsoever. They're > >> done just for the fun of it, and the prestige. They don't fulfill any needs > >> and don't claim to do it. I don't even see why I'm trying to explain to > >> you, you don't even seem to read what I write. > > >No, I trying very hard to grok this. Is this in the United States? > > I don't know, but I haven't seen any USA demos. You'll have to ask someone > from the NTSC world. > > >What part of the country? It doesn't happen around here (Louisville, > >KY metro area), I'd have heard of it. Given the Internet, I suppose > >my world shouldn't be limited to a 150-mile radius, but in a way, it > >is. > > There are parties in all of Scandinavia each year, as well as Poland and > France. Don't know about the scene beyond there. Ok... what was throwing me for a loop here, was that you seemed surprised that I was unaware of them, but they turn out to be something we don't have around here, so my absence of familiarity shouldn't be such a surprise... Regards, -dq

23 years, 4 months

CBM 8032 SK (& electronics)

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Aug 23, 10:29, Adrian Vickers wrote: > >> >> I'd have to buy a 'scope, and they're not cheap... > >> > > >> >You can get _good_ second-hand 'scopes for less than a poor quality new=20 > >> >one. Stewarts of Reading often have Tektronix 'scopes for a few hundred=20 > >> >pounds (something like a 465 or a low-end 7000). > >> > >> Which would you recommend? I'd pay =A3200-=A3300 for something that's goi= > > > >Don't buy a new low-end 'scope (certainly not one of the Lucky Goldstar > >or whatever that Maplin sells (I think the 'Lucky' part of that brand > >name describes what you are if it works properly :-))). The Tekky 465 is > >a small-ish portable instrument. The 7000 is larger, but it takes plug-in > >modules, which means you can get (or could get) various special-purpose > >plug-ins. That's not too useful unless you have some special applications > >and _can get the right module_. > > I think simple, but reasonably useful for now at least; I may need fancy > stuff in the future, but I'd prefer a "beginners" instrument for now. I'll > go with the Tex 465 then, if I can get one, or I'll ask them which they > recommend on a similar level. Adrian, I have a Telequipment D54 scope (dual-beam, 20MHz) surplus to requirement at the moment. It's in good condition, and it's probably rather better than most modern low-end "20MHz" scopes (which tend not to have very good rise times at the top end of their supposed bandwidth). Was it you who mentioned something about difficulty tinning a soldering iron? I wondered if the bit was iron-plated -- they can be a pain to re-tin if they get corroded. I found the best thing for that is a small tin of tip cleaner/tinner; you can get it from RS (cat no 561-533, about ?4) or CPC (cat no SAM-19, ?3.05). -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

23 years, 4 months

TRS80 help needed

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Aug 23, 7:23, Pete Turnbull wrote: > On Aug 22, 17:24, Don Maslin wrote: > > Pete, were those the ones that also had a `touch latch' door on them? > > Some of the Otrona Attache's used such drives, but I had no idea that > > they were 40/80 switchable! Do you have any jumper information for > > them? > > They actually made two or three models, so yours may not be switchable. I > do have the jumper information somewhere, and I'll look for it this > evening. Mine is a Canon MDD220. Yes, it's a "touch-latch" door. It has three DIL switch packs: SW1, 4-way, beside the 34-way connector: SW1-1 on for DS1 SW1-2 on for DS2 SW1-3 on for DS3 SW1-4 on for DS4 (40/80-track switching) SW2, 7-way, near the front of the drive: SW2-1 InUse LED with Head Load SW2-2 InUse LED with Door Lock SW2-3 Door Lock with Drive Select SW2-4 Door Lock with InUse SW2-5 Door Lock with Head Load SW2-6 unused SW2-7 Head Load with DrvSel/DoorClosed SW3, 6-way, beside the 34-way connector: SW3-1 Independant Head Load SW3-2 Head Load with Drive Select SW3-3 Motor On with Drive Select SW3-4 Independant Motor On SW3-5 80/40-track (Drive Select 4) SW3-6 80/40-track switching via Drive Select SW3-5 = ON means that 40/80 mode is determined by the position of SW1-4, not by the select signal received from the host: SW3-5 ON, SW3-6 ON, SW1-4 OFF => 40=track mode, LED will be GREEN SW3-5 ON, SW3-6 ON, SW1-4 ON => 80=track mode, LED will be RED There are also 7 pads near the power connector, laid out like this: ___ | \ 7 1 | } 6 2 | } 5 3 | } 4 | } |___/ Normally, these are made 1-6, 2-5, 3-4. To use the 80/40-track switching, cut link 1-6. The MDD210 drive is similar but without switching (80-track only). The MDD6106 is also similar but without switching (I think 40-track only). -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

23 years, 4 months

humorous descriptions of ebay item

by healyzh＠aracnet.com

> When you click on a picture, it makes the big picture below it be the > one you clicked on. The big picture has a label. Alternatively, if you > sit on one picture with your pointer for a bit, it will show you the > title (at least it does with IE). With Netscape you click on the thumbnail and get the big pic, but no label. Zane

23 years, 4 months

Apple II software, system discs, blank disks? Help!!

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Aug 23, 9:47, Shaun Stephenson wrote: > I just aquired an Apple II but havent got any software. Does anyone have > any discs they could lend/copy for me (just thinking of old games, PD > stuff, whatever), or know of a good source? Also I need some system > discs desperately... again can anyone help me out on this? It depends on what model you have. I assume (from your email address) you're in the UK? If so, I'd guess you have either an Apple ][ Europlus, or perhaps an Apple //e. I can copy you a DOS 3.3 system master (if you have a Europlus, you'd need to have P5A and P6A PROMs in your Disk ][ card, for 16-sector disks). I might have a DOS 3.2 system master (13 sector) if you only have P5/P6 PROMs, but the A versions are more common. I also have quite a lot of games, a few utilities like Kermit, miniassembler, etc, and some digitised pictures. However, some of the games need Integer BASIC, so you'd need a language card to run those ones. I also have a few ProDOS 1.1.1 disks, but they only work on a //e. > Finally, does > anyone know a good source of 5 1/4" blank discs? Old driver disks for PCs, old magazine disks, etc. But make sure they're single or double density (48 tpi or 96tpi), NOT HD (High Density) disks. Either single or double sided is fine for an Apple ][. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

23 years, 4 months

humorous descriptions of ebay item

by healyzh＠aracnet.com

> Yes, there are a number errors in the picture labels. Why are you > seeing a different page? Aren't we both looking at this one? > > http://www.fibraplex.com/PDP8/ultimate_pdp.htm That's the page I'm looking at. > Or is your browser lacking in capability? In Netscape/Mac PPC 4.78 all the thumbnails are in one long row, no picture labels In Netscape/Linux x86 4.76 the thumbnails are in multiple rows so I don't have to scroll right to see them all, however, there are again not picture labels. I'm assuming you're using Internet Explorer, and that this is some incompatibility between the two browsers. Zane

23 years, 4 months

How do you take apart a Z-19 case?

by r_beaudry＠hotmail.com

Hello all, I recently saved a Zenith Z-19 terminal from the ravages of my local "recycling center" (i.e., dump). However, the power cord was cut off just after it exits from the back of the terminal (as if I do not already have enough to fix). It looks like there is a small panel that can be removed >from the bottom, giving me access to the power supply. I could probably replace the cord from there, but before I do, I want to take the case off to make sure there is no major damage inside. I removed the panel along the back that has the RS-232 connection and brightness knob on it. This seemed to free up the back of the top part of the case. It is getting hung up about halfway down each side. There appears to be a bracket attached to the bottom half of the case, and a pin that goes through the bracket from the top half of the case is hung up (are you confused yet?). Anyway, if anyone has done this before, please enlighten me as to taking this thing apart. Other than the power cord, and a little dirt and grime, the unit is in good shape. The CRT (what is visible from the outside) looks good, and the keyboard appears to work (no stuck keys or grinding noises when pressed, etc.). It has a cool circular metal "property of Raytheon" tag on it, and I'd like to get it running if possible. It would make a good terminal for some of my rack-mounted Multibus stuff... Thanks! Rich B.

23 years, 4 months

classiccmp Jobs?

by jss＠subatomix.com

It's time for me to look for a job. I've been unemployed (voluntarily, happily so) for a month, and re-establishment of a dependable cash flow is becoming a top priority. Since I'll be finishing college next May, it's also time to begin looking for my first post-college position. Can a programmer make a career out of classic computing? I'm not thinking of titles like eBay seller, parts reseller, museum lackey, or midnight-shift tape mounter either; I mean an honest programming job, having some non-drudgery thing to do with classic computing. I'm guessing the answer is "no", but I would still like to see it discussed. It is also on-topic! :-) Ample application of imagination is all right. I'm also highly interested in embedded programming. I had a taste of it at my previous job, and it was extremely enjoyable. O respected, veteran sages, how does one in my situation create a career in embedded programming? Please reply to this paragraph off-list. -- Jeffrey S. Sharp jss(a)subatomix.com

23 years, 4 months

TRS80 help needed

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Aug 22, 9:18, Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) wrote: > BASF also made a 2/3 height floppy (could get 3 into a double bay). It > was the first 5.25" drive smaller than "full height" that I saw. It also > was the first one that I saw that had a D.O.A. failure rate of more than > 50%. The door on it was not very obvious - you push on the door and then > let it pop open. I recommend pushing on that door with a very large > mallet. I remember those -- the RML380Z used them. Canon also made a 2/3 drive -- a 40/80 switchable, and a rather better device than the BASF. I've got one here, with some extra switches so it can emulate the peculiarities of an RX50. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

23 years, 4 months

Inquiry into Wang Computers

by LennyT＠aol.com

I have a question on Speed language on a Wang computer???? Len Turnbull

23 years, 4 months

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test-drb August 2001