test-drb July 2003

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

279 participants
450 discussions

New finds: enough Torch stuff to sink a battleship

by julesrichardsonuk＠yahoo.co.uk

Hi Tony, > No idea... What (if any) chips are missing from your Stickleback, other > than the Ethernet chipset? I haven't had time to open the case today, but a glance the other day didn't show anything big around the VME bus interface; it looked to all be 16 pin chips and the like. I got an email from the guy today saying the following: [ Not a theory - I know that one is the original prototype. The VME interface [ didn't work on that PCB issue. I've an idea that it's got a prototype EPROM [ in it that doesn't require a key disk. IIRC on that box of Eproms I gave you [ there is a "Simon" eprom - that's a debug boot EPROM that doesn't use the [ key disk system Interesting. I noticed that Simon ROM and wondered what it did :-) > I thought that at least one of the monitors actually started by combining > the syncs to make composite sync (and thus you could feed composite sync > in on one of the pins). I will have to dig out the schematics... that could well be true - what I thought was a sync splitter board in that 725 turned out to just be some buffer circuitry; the output was still composite. How someone managed to blow the fuses for the RGB and sync lines I don't know... > The monitor I am thinking of is almost entirely a Sony chassis, with a > little Torch PCB at the input carrying the 8 pin DIN socket and > connectors to the monitor video board (flat in the bottom) and the speaker. that's what the 10" ones are like inside. I pulled the case the other day to see what the connections were but didn't need to go any further than the small PCB carrying the connector so I don't know what's lurking deeper within (yet) > I think that 'NC' pin is for the interrupt input from the touch switch. there's some bodged circuitry (cut tracks, extra capacitor and a desoldered resistor etc.) in the corner of the board near the video circuitry. Maybe that's something to do with the power-mechanism bypass (or might well be something else entirely) > Watch out -- if the NICd goes open-circuit, then the clock > chip might end up getting 12V.... nice! :-) [SASI controller] > One question? Is there a ROM or EPROM on this board connected to the 1MHz > bus side of things? The reason I ask is that there's some feature of the > BBC micro where you can get it to execute code from a ROM in one of the > 1MHz bus address spaces after a reset, if you hold one of the interrupt > lines low or something. I wonder if that's where it gets the hard disk > drivers from... No, not on the SASI board. There's a Torch ROM on the Xebec controller, but the machine was locking up with the Xebec board disconnected and just the SASI board in place. Unless the presence of the SASI board is enough for the machine to think the Xebec board's there too whether it is or not. No idea what would happen then... > The Torch _SCSI_ interface just has a normal sideways EPROM (SCSIFS) in > one of the Beeb mainboard sockets, BTW... Hmm. I need to open up cases again. I remember the 725 box having a "Unix host" ROM, standard Basic / OS / DFS, and the ECO Econet ROM. Will go digging tomorrow... cheers Jules ________________________________________________________________________ Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE Yahoo! Messenger http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/

21 years, 5 months

Reading PDP-8 paper tapes

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Jul 1, 11:43, Dwight K. Elvey wrote: > >From: "Peter Turnbull" <pete(a)dunnington.u-net.com> > > > >Does anyone -- preferably in the UK -- have a paper tape reader that > >could be hooked up to a modern machine (eg a laptop) to read the tapes > >in the museum, and which they'd be willing to lend? > I don't live close enough but it isn't too hard to > connect, even a parallel paper tape reader. I have > one that does folded paper tape that I connected to > my lap top's parallel printer port. > Dwight Indeed. Anything like that would be fine. Just please don't suggest a Teletype ASR33; I have one anyway. Besides, I'd not consider it very portable even though mine has casters. It's also slow, sprocket-fed, and being 20mA current loop and 110 baud, needs additional intefacing. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 5 months

Modifying a B&W TV for composite video input

by ian_primus＠yahoo.com

I have read a lot about the SWTPC TV Typewriter, and I am interested in how people modified a black and white TV for a video monitor. I have an old black and white set that I thought would be fun to modify for use as a video monitor. Now, granted, I don't really need another composite monitor, I have plenty of old Apple monitors that will do the same thing, I just thought it would be fun, since it would be a challenge to find where to input the signal and how to do it. I found the PDF of part of the SWTPC TV Typewriter manual on a web site, and it explains the process, although not in great detail, and references a circuit diagram of what needed to be added, but the diagram is nowhere to be found. Does anyone have any instructions or hints that they may be able to give me? Has anyone done this before? Any advice would be appreciated. Ian Primus ian_primus(a)yahoo.com

21 years, 5 months

Atari Transputer Workstation for sale

by julesrichardsonuk＠yahoo.co.uk

> I know a source for a complete ATW800 in the UK area if anyone is > interested. They are asking 250 UKP for it (Cambridge area). Let me > know, condition is untested. I wish I could go for it, but since I am > across the pond, it is just too costly :-( Darn, I was just reading about these about a week ago and thought they seemed like nice machines and I'd probably never see one. Plus I live in Cambridge (well, about ten miles away) :-) Can't justify the cost though unfortunately! cheers Jules ________________________________________________________________________ Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE Yahoo! Messenger http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/

21 years, 5 months

Acorn (Was Re: Reading PDP-8 paper tapes)

by Lee.Davison＠merlincommunications.com

> PS My main 'beeb' project before I transferred to VLSI CAD was > the Teletext adapter. I found the source code recently if anyone > wants it. I can't see Acorn giving me a hard time over > releasing it after all these years... Please ... 8^)= Lee. ________________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star Internet. The service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit: http://www.star.net.uk ________________________________________________________________________

21 years, 5 months

New finds: enough Torch stuff to sink a battleship

by julesrichardsonuk＠yahoo.co.uk

Rob, > Brackets on mine: yep, mine's the same. do you know the history of your machine? Just curious as we now know of two machines with the same case (apart from the lettering) and almost identical internals - just pondering whether both yours and my machine were prototypes and yours escaped the workshop somehow! (the guy I got my machines from says he knows for sure the Triple X system I have was a prototype, but not much is known about my other two systems apart from all three coming from the Torch workshop) > they do look a bit ropey... Check out the mounting for the UHF connector. On mine it's a mangled bit of aluminium with a cardboard insulator underneath... > > Mine appears to be complete - it has the modem (connects somewhere to the I take it your modem has the round old-style plug on it? I have two different sorts of spare modems (two of each) that came with this lot and even though I'm never going to use a modem I'd like to put the right type back in the machine. > ok, see earlier picture. it doesn't say atlas on it, so presume it's an > early one... Oh well. I've since found a Unix installation guide amongst the stuff I got which might be what you need. Depends what of the install floppies I have still have readable data on them I suppose! > It's got a Torch SASI board in it, so it says, with another interface board > underneath that I can't quite see, with the drives under that. likely the same Xebec board underneath that I have then. > You should be able to get to basic by holding "B" down on a hard boot (ctrl > + reset). My machine has the standard OS, a standard BBC Basic, a standard > DFS rom, and MCP 1.01 AT. thanks - I'll give that a try. > I've not powered it up yet .. I know it did work, but think last time I > tried (after moving house) it didn't boot. Will try again later, when got > a bit more time. mine makes that wonderful "jet engine warming up" noise and smells of warm dust when powered on :-) I found another doc today the suggests holding down caps-lock whilst powering on will do a manual boot so I'll try that tomorrow and see what happens. cheers Jules ________________________________________________________________________ Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE Yahoo! Messenger http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/

21 years, 5 months

DSM (digital standard MUMPS) + 9 track tape units

by luc＠e2t.be

If you are looking for a tape drive I might have some... I am just back from my old stuff warehouse, looking for this DSM tape... At the moment I did not find him - I am sure I have it somewhere but the place starts to look like a junkyard... I have to get rid of some old stuff I have in multiples.... Concerning tape drives: I think I saw there: 1 Kennedy 9300 tape unit (could not move, too heavy) 2 Kennedy 9000 tape units (45 inch/sec units 800/1600 bpi) 3 or more Kennedy 9600 units - autoloaders - I am not sure about the density they write plus all the service and maintenance manuals of this units and some alignment tools 2 Pertec autoloaders (I did not saw the manuals) 2 Digital TU10 units (this are real 800bpi dino's) - I am not sure about the controllers for this guy's (what kind of controller need they?) for this 9600 units I seem to have a PC controller too (a least one of them is connected to an IBM pc) As far as I know all units were working the day we put them out of order (somewhere in the early 90ies) (the TU10's might need some maintenance, I am not sure about them) I intend to keep a few units for myself (unless someone makes me an offer I can't refuse...) What's taking up a lot of place are all my decwriters... I have: 3 Decwriter I (output only) 5 Decwriter II consoles 4 Decwriter III consoles They might need some maintenance - I 'll check them and repair them if someone is interested... something more recent?) I found a few very complete looking Q bus systems with 9-track controller (will be Emulex or Dilog I think) They are realtive new (a least for a PDP11) - it are mentec cabinets with mentec processor (11/73) 4MB on board, SCSI disc controllers and a lot of I/O I am sure they all have DSM on their drives. (I never used an other Digital OS) There is an utility in DSM that lets you make new distribution tapes, so if they start I can make as many tapes as I want (if I can find a few tapes somewhere...) gr. Luc -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: cctech-admin(a)classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-admin@classiccmp.org]Namens Sergio Pedraja Cabo Verzonden: maandag 30 juni 2003 11:10 Aan: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org Onderwerp: RE: DSM (digital standard MUMPS) > > I don't know him, but many users of SIMH would agree to have one > > copy of DSM-11 available. Myself one of them, just by the way ;-) > > > > Other old PDP software is welcome too. > Likewise. I am fairly close to Luc, so I could go and get the tape, > read it into an image here, copy it so he has an extra copy, take them > back, and send out the image... Great, great, great, Fred :-) > That said... dang, I *still* need (access to) a working 9-track 800bpi > unit... anyone? In Holland, or within a day's drive from there? I can't help by now. I have one PERTEC and one SCSI tape unit pending to pick up. Thanks and Greetings Sergio

21 years, 5 months

Fry's Nightmares

by big_boy_toddy＠yahoo.com

I have been shopping at fry's for almost 10 years when I used to live in the Bay Area only 2 miles >from the Camino Real store, and also when visiting towns that have one near where I'm traveling. The purchasing experience at Fry's is really about a 8-9, if you don't need help. If however you do in a purchase or return, then the experience goes down to about a 2-3. It really is that simple. I go there, well educated on what I want, I don't have expectations of service (shameful that the world retail experience is pretty much like this, even Nordstroms is rather saddening these days) and I don't waste my time buying anything that has a reputation of bad quality. In other words, do your own research and extensive reading online before you go buy from Fry's. Oh, and if you get that far, you may as well check out www.pricewatch.com and other online street pricing systems, and buy online to save yourself the 30 minutes or more round trip drive and waiting in lines.

21 years, 5 months

Modifying a B&W TV for composite video input

by Robert_Feldman＠jdedwards.com

Alltronics (http://www.alltronics.com/computer_miscellaneous.htm) has a video-composite adaptor for $5: <quote> TTL TO COMPOSITE VIDEO ADAPTER Requires +12V (or +5V) and video, vertical drive, horizontal drive signals. Produces RS-170 type composite video output. Fully assembled with 74125 sync regenerator, 3 terminal regulator, 2N2222 transistor. Only 2" square. 92C024 $4.95 each </quote> It looks like the adaptor I used to have for my Osborne 1. Bob -----Original Message----- From: Hans Franke [mailto:Hans.Franke@mch20.sbs.de] Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 2:50 AM To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Modifying a B&W TV for composite video input > > I would think the easiest and cheapest way is to use a plain old RF > > modulator box that will put composite video on to channel 3 or 4. I've > > taken apart one or two and they seem to have little more than a few > > coils and small parts, a far cry from the rack mounted cable TV > > modulators I just picked up(ooohh... so many trimmer caps and > > coils...). I don't know a whole lot about it, but I'm slowly learning > > as my interest in fast scan ATV increases... The converter box I have > > goes with my TI-99, > Those little RF boxes don't really convert from composite to RF, they > just provide a switch and a connection to a TV antenna input. Communication error! While you where refering to the common (video game) switch boxes, John did mention modulators! they are usualy the same size (ok, the TI one is a true brick), but do what they are named, modulate the composite signal onto a TV carrier. The one I like most is the Amiga 520 (?). Gruss H. -- VCF Europa 5.0 am 01./02. Mai 2004 in Muenchen http://www.vcfe.org/

21 years, 5 months

Well, I was at Fry's in CA...

by Robert_Feldman＠jdedwards.com

I once bought a PC card modem in a $0.50 Dutch Auction, with $5.00 shipping, but the seller was up front about the modem costing $5.50 with s/h. -----Original Message----- From: TeoZ [mailto:teoz@neo.rr.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 10:57 AM To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Well, I was at Fry's in CA... <snip> I have found many retro computer bargains on ebay where a large percentage of the total purchase price was in shipping. <snip>

21 years, 5 months

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test-drb July 2003