test-drb March 2003

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

314 participants
633 discussions

DEC VS2000 and SCSI, was Re: DEC RD54 from Maxtor

by classiccmp＠crash.com

John Allain writes: . > Somebody should say here that it's pretty strange to have a > workstation that has all SCSI connectors on the outside and > an MFM disk on the inside. I did a mental doubletake on this > ("hey, this makes no sence") a short while ago. Since I haven't seen any other responses, I'll dive in... This is all speculation - I'd love to have someone with a line into DEC Engineering answer this properly. To put it another way, I may be completely off my rocker - reader beware! ;^) The VAXstation/MicroVAX 2000 was released in 1985 (cf. R.D. Davis' uVAX FAQ), which means development and planning may have started as early as 1983 - I'm just guessing here. In the early 80s large (> 20MB) ST-506 hard drives were still hugely expensive beasts. If you did find a native SCSI device, I imagine the costs would be much higher for the extra interface logic on the drive. Without native SCSI on the device, you needed a translator like the Adaptec ACB-4000 (SCSI/ST-506) or Emulex MT-02 (SCSI/QIC-02). The base VS2000 was a pretty small box - perhaps even ground- breaking for this timeframe, given it could run full 32-bit uVMS or Ultrix and had internal storage, unlike the Sun-2/50. Having to develop and wedge in a unique converter board may have been riskier than adapting a version of a board you were already producing/ designing for the other uVAX models like the RQDX3. Going back to that comparison to the Sun-2/50 may answer the question of why SCSI was acceptable for the tape interface. Since the tape drive was going to be external, there's plenty of room for that extra logic board. And it's only a tape drive, so if we can't get decent throughput out of our first (?) SCSI interface, well, who's going to notice when the tape drive is as slow as the TK50? ;^) After a few years of Apple, Sun, and others driving SCSI into the marketplace the whole picture changed and by the time the first pizza box workstations come out everything is SCSI. Anyway, that's my best shot at an explanation. Again, I'd love to hear from someone who was inside DEC (Megan?)... --Steve.

21 years, 9 months

Looking for data on the MAN2815 display and Nat'l Semi DS8867

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 5, 7:29, Ethan Dicks wrote: > I'm trying to assist in the reverse > engineering and can *not* find any data on the LED display itself, a > MAN2815, nor one of the chips that seems to be driving it, a National > DS8867. > Anybody heard of these parts? Yes :-) The MAN series used to be popular but I'm afraid I don't have any data. However, I do have a data sheet for the DS8867 -- it gets a page-and-a-bit in the 1980 Nat Semi Interface Data Book: DS8867 is an 18-pin DIP 8-segment constant-current driver, designed to be driven from MOS circuits operateing at 8V +/-10% minimum, and will supply 14mA typical current to an LED display. Output current is not sensitive to Vcc variations. Features: internal current control - no external resistors 100% efficient - no standby power operates in 3- and 4-cell battery systems inputs and outputs grouped for easy PC placement Absolute maximum ratings: Vcc 7V input voltage 10V output voltage 10V Operating conditions: Vcc min 3.3V max 6.0V ambient temperature min 0deg C max 70deg C logical '1' input typ 4.9V max 5.4V logical '0' input typ 0.1uA max 10uA logical '1' output min -8mA typ -14mA max -18mA logical '0' output typ -0.5uA max -10uA Pinout is straightforward, pins 1..8 are inputs 1..8, pin 9 is ground, pins 10..17 are outputs 8..1 (ie the outputs are almost opposite the inputs), pin 18 is Vcc. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 9 months

fair price for apple articles

by d_cymbal＠hotmail.com

I'm not up on what is considered a good deal for old Apple hardware, but I have a guy offering me the following and I'm wondering what I should be considering. I haven't personally seen the stuff yet so I don't have all the specifics, but he says it is all in good condition, running, yadda yadda "you won't be disappointed." 2 Apple II GS, a IIc (claimed to be new in box), a Mac Plus, couple monitors, external floppy and hard drives and "scads of software and manuals". Sorry I can't be more precise at the moment, but maybe if I could get some ballpark figures.... Thanks, dc

21 years, 9 months

DEC RD54 from Maxtor

by mbg＠TheWorld.com

>> Yes, going to SCSI would be nice, but you can't put one in >> your VAXstation 2000... > >Unless you use Wolfgang Moeller's modified ROMs - then I believe >that SCSI will work. (IIRC the modified VS/UV2K ROMs also >incoroporate the >1GB fix ... but it's been a long time since >I looked). I know the disk would fit, and I know it can talk SCSI, but I didn't know whether the SCSI cabling for the disk would fit inside the VS2000 box... That's all I meant. Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | email: mbg at world.std.com | | | | | "this space | (s/ at /@/) | | unavoidably left blank" | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (DEC '77-'98) | required." - mbg KB1FCA | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

21 years, 9 months

Looking for data on the MAN2815 display and Nat'l Semi DS8867

by erd_6502＠yahoo.com

Over in the Yahoo Group for the Cosmac Elf, a few of us have picked up these MSI/88 barcode "terminals" for a couple of bucks surplus. Mine arrived yesterday. They are interesting because they are hand-held 1802 devices with a serial port and either an LED or LCD text display (all of mine are the LED model). I'm trying to assist in the reverse engineering and can *not* find any data on the LED display itself, a MAN2815, nor one of the chips that seems to be driving it, a National DS8867. I have googled for an hour looking for them. No results. Anybody heard of these parts? -ethan

21 years, 9 months

Rack mount rails/slide for BA23

by dundas＠caltech.edu

I have an existing 11/73 in a BA23 mounted in an H9644 cabinet (I believe this is called "low boy"?), effectively a 19" rack/cabinet. I would like to mount another BA23 for a MicroVAX II in the same cabinet. I have the uVAX but no rails for it. Any suggestion where to find these? Or what acceptable alternatives might exist? Thanks, John --------------------------------------------------------- John A. Dundas III Director, Information Technology Services Infrastructure, Caltech Mail Code: 014-81, Pasadena, CA 91125-8100 Phone: 626.395.3392 FAX: 626.449.6973 <mailto:dundas@caltech.edu>

21 years, 9 months

Help Locating H8 Parts

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

Does anyone know a source for H8 parts? I need to replace several buttons on the keypad or the entire keypad card. thanks in advance.

21 years, 9 months

WTD: Psion Organiser II Commslink, EPROM pak, etc

by philpem＠dsl.pipex.com

Hi all, I'm trying to track down a Comms Link and some EPROM, NVSRAM or FLASH memory "Paks" for my Psion Organiser II (XP model with two-line LCD). If anyone here has got any or all of these items available for sale, please contact me using the email address philpem {at} dsl {dot} pipex {dot} com. Thanks. -- Phil. philpem(a)dsl.pipex.com http://www.philpem.dsl.pipex.com/ ----------------------------------------- This message sent by OakMailer, a free/donation-ware script provided by Oakbox Productions http://www.oakbox.com. Anti-spam notice, this message originated from IP Address: 194.238.52.177 -----------------------------------------

21 years, 9 months

Free DEC MINC-11 in NW England

by jss＠subatomix.com

Fred N. van Kempen wrote: > On Tue, 4 Mar 2003, John Honniball wrote: >> Ah, tail-lifts! How would we move the Big Iron without 'em? > Forklifts. I have also experienced one of those construction equipment pieces, with a big dirt-scoop that lifts up and down, lifting big VAX cabinets into a truck. Tilt in, lift up, tilt out. It worked well, but there was an experienced driver in the machine. -- Jeffrey Sharp

21 years, 9 months

Rack mount rails/slide for BA23

by jss＠subatomix.com

On Tuesday, March 4, 2003, John A. Dundas III wrote: > I would like to mount another BA23 for a MicroVAX II in the same cabinet. > I have the uVAX but no rails for it. > > Any suggestion where to find these? Or what acceptable alternatives might > exist? Scrapyards. The boards go bye-bye first, but the racks and mounting equipment tend to stay around for a while. I used to have two of what you're looking for, but I gave them to another list member. I'm sorry that I couldn't of more assistance. -- Jeffrey Sharp

21 years, 9 months

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test-drb March 2003