test-drb December 2004

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

243 participants
530 discussions

IMLAC - what happened to assembler, emulator?

by wilsonr＠iinet.net.au

Hi all, I've been lurking here since a slashdot article on the 30th anniversary of Maze, the first lan/wan FPS, which was run on an IMLAC. I was very interested in this as I programmed an IMLAC - PDS-4, I guess - in 1977/8 at Sydney University (au) and have good memories of the machine. I saw hints on the list that an assembler was imminent and an emulator was under consideration. That was September 2002, and nothing since. I am really interested in an emulator - I have an emulation of the main processor running and got it loading 'paper tapes' from disk via the paper tape boot loader. I've used this to load code from hand assembled files to test the emulation and I would like to go a little further a little faster. Does anybody have information on the format of the data the papertape block-loader reads and loads? The block loader is the first thing the boot loader runs - it reads in the rest of the tape. Also, does anyone know of or has any software (source or binary) on papertape or any other form? I have no idea of the current ownership, if any, of the existing IMLAC software, and I could write an assembler, but it's so much more cool to run the IMLAC assembler! TIA, Ross

20 years, 7 months

Possible to speed up I/O subsystem of 5150?

by melamy＠earthlink.net

considering that the ATA-1 spec included 8 bit transfers from the harddrive, I don't understand why no IDE drives that supported ATA-1 would not work on a PC/XT (unless the DMA speed was the problem). -----Original Message----- From: Eric Smith <eric(a)brouhaha.com> Sent: Dec 9, 2004 1:52 PM To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Possible to speed up I/O subsystem of 5150? Fred wrote: > Yes, there ARE some 8 bit IDE controllers, > but not all IDE drives will work with them. To a first approximation, *NO* IDE drives will work with them. 8-bit support is not part of the official ATA specification. Even back when 8-bit IDE adapters were being sold, not many drives worked with them, and as soon as the adapters disappeared the drive makers that had bothered to support them stopped doing so. Eric

20 years, 7 months

Dilog DU130 manual or docs request

by aek＠spies.com

I think it acts like a TM11 with a Pertec tape interface. -- correct. DU132's simulated TS11s both are for pertec formatted interfaces. I thought I had manuals for the 130 and 132, but they haven't surfaced. Would be nice to get them scanned and archived on bitsavers.

20 years, 7 months

Dilog DU130 manual or docs request

by chd_1＠nktelco.net

I have a DU130 without any documentation. I think it acts like a TM11 with a Pertec tape interface. Anybody have any docs for this?

20 years, 7 months

More data on dead wall wart

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Fred Cisin" <cisin(a)xenosoft.com> > >> > One year, at the West Coast Computer Faire, we repaired >> > 5 TRS80 ones for other exhibitors ('spose the flaky power >> > at Brooks Hall might be responsible?). >> > We opened them by flinging them down onto a carpeted concrete floor. > >On Thu, 9 Dec 2004, Tom Jennings wrote: >> Shag, berber, or ...? > >It looked like cheap commercial grade indoor/outdoor. But you could >probably get full specs from Greyhoud Exposition Services - just >don't trust anything that they say - at the time, they also claimed >that it was anti-static. > >Fortunately, all 5 were just blown fuse, the common failure of those >warts. > Hi I've seen two types of failure for non-fuse warts. One is that the primary wire blows on the top of the primary winding but there is other visual damage. This is almost always fixed by simply jumpering a new piece of magnet wire ( should be the same guage to provide proper protection ). The other is that there has been some obvious over heating of the primary wire. These are always fatal. Dwight

20 years, 7 months

Possible to speed up I/O subsystem of 5150?

by aek＠spies.com

I thought they were somehow "ATA compliant". I assume you're talking about the interface between the drive and the controller, right? -- The issue is what data bus width is assumed during DMA transfers. 16 bits is 'normal'. Apparently, it was possible to do 8 bit DMA transfers on early drives. I've not looked at the interface for CF. Guess it's possible 8 bits is supported there as well.

20 years, 7 months

Possible to speed up I/O subsystem of 5150?

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Hans Franke" <Hans.Franke(a)siemens.com> > >Am 9 Dec 2004 11:46 meinte Eric Smith: >> Steve Thatcher wrote: >> > considering that the ATA-1 spec included 8 bit transfers from the >> > harddrive, I don't understand why no IDE drives that supported ATA-1 would >> > not work on a PC/XT (unless the DMA speed was the problem). > >> I wasn't aware that 8-bit was included in ATA-1; I don't have a copy of >> ATA-1 or ATA-2. Was the 8-bit support mandatory or optional? In any >> case, it was certainly gone by ATA-3. I very much doubt that any ATA >> drive manufactured in the last 15 years has 8-bit support. > >Well, original ATA was nothing more than a straight forward >adaption of the MFM controler - and that one was still good >for 8 Bit access. Also, there was never (at least in the beginning) >a formal Standard, so as usual everything was possible ... >just remember all the problems of Master/Slave combinations >from different vendors. > >Gruss >H. Hi As I recall, the commands were 8 bit compatable but the data wasn't since this was not to the controller but to the storage buffer. I believe that the newer drives are not even 8 bit compatable for the commands. Dwight

20 years, 7 months

Possible to speed up I/O subsystem of 5150?

by brad＠heeltoe.com

"Eric Smith" wrote: >Steve Thatcher wrote: >> considering that the ATA-1 spec included 8 bit transfers from the >> harddrive, I don't understand why no IDE drives that supported ATA-1 would >> not work on a PC/XT (unless the DMA speed was the problem). > >I wasn't aware that 8-bit was included in ATA-1; I don't have a copy of >ATA-1 or ATA-2. Was the 8-bit support mandatory or optional? In any >case, it was certainly gone by ATA-3. I very much doubt that any ATA >drive manufactured in the last 15 years has 8-bit support. I'm out of my depth here, but I am curious - all of the CF drives I use support 8 bit access. I thought they were somehow "ATA compliant". I assume you're talking about the interface between the drive and the controller, right? sorry if I'm lost - it happens :-) -brad

20 years, 7 months

DEC TZ885 mini-library (nearly OT :)

by witchy＠binarydinosaurs.co.uk

Folks, We've got 3 of these things in for repair and we're a bit stuffed without troubleshooting docs. The userguide is on the web but it's as useless as this - *holds up useless thing* - and we need the means of interpreting some of the hex codes they're chucking at us. Anyone got any other docs? TIA -- adrian/witchy Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UKs biggest home computer collection?

20 years, 7 months

Can anyone identify these drives

by williams.dan＠gmail.com

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1484&item=57358362… Any idea of the capacity of these and wether they are worth having ?. They came from a big vax site although they may not have been used with them. Thanks Dan

20 years, 7 months

Misc stuff (Canon TX50, Zenith, XEN-i) - South Croydon, UK

by julesrichardsonuk＠yahoo.co.uk

Chap has the following going spare for pickup in south Croydon if anyone wants: ________________________________________________________________________ * Canon TX 50 computer. 8088 or 8086 processor. Single 3.5 inch floppy disk drive. No hard disk. 15 cm screen. Designed as a point of sale terminal. Built in tally roll printer. LED on each key which can be switched under program control. Comes with MsDos 1.25 and a set of Bureau de Change software - even the currencies are now nostalgic. * Zenith 'Portable' computer - we called it a 'luggable'. ROM BIOS dated 07/14/1987. 8088 or 8086 processor. 20 M byte hard disk. In working order. Battery dead but mains adaptor OK. No modem or network adaptor. Floppy disk drive missing but Laplink installed and working. * 3 x Apricot XEN-i 386/45 computers - at least one of them would work if the hard disk drive was replaced. * Apricot-specific monitor for the above - with a female connector on its cable. * Communicate C-FAX-SRI Fax-only modem card for IBM PC He's got some other bits we're insterested in having for the museum, but these ones above are surplus to requirements! Shout if interested. cheers Jules

20 years, 7 months

Build an Enigma machine out of paper

by jcwren＠jcwren.com

I think Enigma machines meet the 10 year rule... <URL: http://mckoss.com/Crypto/Enigma.htm >

20 years, 7 months

Seeking pre-1996 Macvector and Omiga user manuals ($$$)

by vcf＠siconic.com

A new bounty. I'm looking for user manuals for pre-1996 versions of Macvector and Omiga. Has anyone ever heard of these products? -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

20 years, 7 months

IBM Executive electric typewriter (Cambridge UK)

by julesrichardsonuk＠yahoo.co.uk

Spotted for free on a local group; forerunner of the golf ball machines apparently, sounds to be around 30-40 years old. Thought I'd mention it here on the offchance anyone wanted to come and grab it before it gets skipped (it's not really the sort of thing Bletchley want, but maybe someone on this list has a thing for such items) Give me a yell if you want me to put you in touch with the chap. cheers Jules -- "We've had a lot of loonies around this place, but you're the first one who thought the sunrise was made out of stale beer. Now are you going to pick up your flute and leave, or shall I part your hair with this crowbar?"

20 years, 7 months

Retro blinkenlights panel available - UK

by shirker＠mooli.org.uk

Hi cctech'ers, I came across the following item which I have no need for, but it looks absolutely ideal for anyone who's building a recreated old computer or a new design from scratch, to use as status lights. See http://shirker.mooli.org.uk/pics/blinkenlights.jpg I think it's a panel from some experiment or other, way back when. The lampholders are all wired together, and yes, those are filament lamps. All of the lampholders are actually there - the couple which look like they aren't have just been pushed through the panel by something, but are there on the back. There is some type of concrete-like substance on the panel (I've cleaned most of it off the front, but it's still there on the back - cleans off OK with a mild solvent and a brush) which would need to be cleaned off it. Anyone who wants this, please contact me via private mail within 21 days or I'll have to scrap it. Please feel free to offer cash as I could really use it - however, if the best/only offer I get is "I'll pay postage/collect" then that's fine :) If not, then, best offer takes it. I also have a large number of books which came from the same place - I'll list these on here within a few days so stay tuned! Ed.

20 years, 7 months

Retro blinkenlights panel available - UK

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "John Lawson" <jpl15(a)panix.com> > > > >On Wed, 8 Dec 2004, Vintage Computer Festival wrote: > >> On Wed, 8 Dec 2004, Shirker wrote: >> >>> I came across the following item which I have no need for, but it looks >>> absolutely ideal for anyone who's building a recreated old computer or a >>> new design from scratch, to use as status lights. >>> >>> See http://shirker.mooli.org.uk/pics/blinkenlights.jpg >> >> It looks like part of a photographic developer of some sort. I reckon >> young Johnny Lawson could probably fill us in some more. > > > Well, it's a curved metal panel with an assembly of pretty much >bog-standard bayonet base miniature lamps on it.. one would have to go >to a bit of trouble to make a 'status display' out of it - after dealing >with the drivers, and (I am assuming) rewiring it for individual >addressing of each lamp. > > But as to what it's intended function was/is - I've certainly No Clue. > > Cheerz > >John Hi It looks like it might be used as part of a light curing system. You know, place the item on a rotating shaft and have 4 quadrants of these light. I once had a photo copies that had a bank of lamps like this but it was flat. An automatic machine might have a curved bank like this. Dwight

20 years, 7 months

VAX 11/725

by msokolov＠ivan.Harhan.ORG

Fred N. van Kempen <waltje(a)pdp11.nl> wrote: > I actually wrote a driver that did IP-over-DDMCP on the VAX end, Such a driver has existed in standard BSD since 4.2, except that it's for the DMC-11/DMR-11/DMV-11 (which do all DDCMP processing on board and can't be made to talk any other protocol to my knowledge) rather than for the DMF32 that this thread is presumably about. The DMF32 sync port supports DDCMP too, but it leaves more work to the host and supports HDLC as well. > with a modified IOS running at the other end, on a Cisco 2501. If you needed to connect the DMF32 sync port to a Cisco router, why didn't you implement Cisco HDLC on the VAX side instead? (As I've done in 2000 in 4.3BSD-Quasijarus0b on a DSV11.) I'm sure you know the frame format: <flag> <addr> 00 <Ethertype> packet <FCS-16> <flag> addr is 0F for unicast or 8F for multicast/broadcast*. It's the simplest and IMO the best framing format for IP over a sync line, I've used it on T1s (well, fractional T1 since DSV11 is limited to 256 kbps), and it comes from Cisco. *The only thing that I never understood is what the hell did Cisco mean by multicast or broadcast on a point-to-point link. I guess it dates from the days before people realised that a point-to-point link is not a network (no ARP, etc.) and does not need to burn up a net/subnet number, and people would map a net number (hopefully a /30 subnet) to each point-to-point link. Then .1 and .2 addrs would be assigned to the ends and I guess the 8F addr byte was generated on packets addressed to .3... My driver always puts 0F in the address field of transmitted packets and treats 0F and 8F as equivalent on reception; and I always configure the net interface as unnumbered (for my end use the same address as assigned to one of my real Ethernets, for the other end put in whatever addr the ISP gave me for their router; my driver does not require them to be numerically related as they would be with a /30 subnet). The approach of using a /30 subnet for a point-to-point link now has to be used only when you are forced to use an Ethernet as a point-to-point link without PPPoE, which is stupid but unfortunately used by some DSL providers. > This is why I usually grab all the sync modems I can lay my hands on; USR Courier V.Everything (external of course) supports sync mode on its DB25 port. The problem is with the other end of the call... I'm using such modem for my PPP connection, and while I would love to run sync PPP, I doubt that the ISP's POP will support it. MS

20 years, 7 months

Any former Philips/Magnavox VideoWriter users/owners/hackers?

by netsurfer_x1＠fastmailbox.net

Hi all! I was just wondering if we happen to have any former Philips/Magnavox VideoWriter users/owners/hackers in the house? David M. Vohs Digital Archaeologist & Computer Historian Computer Collection: "Triumph": Commodore 64, 1802, 1541, Indus GT, FDD-1, GeoRAM 512, MPS-801. "Leela": Original Apple Macintosh, Imagewriter II. "Delorean": TI-99/4A, TI Speech Synthesizer. "Spectrum": Tandy Color Computer III. "Monolith": Apple Macintosh Portable. "Boombox": Sharp PC-7000. "Butterfly": Tandy 200, PDD-2. "Shapeshifter": Epson QX-10, Comrex HDD, Titan graphics/MS-DOS board. "Scout": Otrona Attache. (prospective) "Pioneer": Apple LISA II (prospective) "Mercury": HP-85. (prospective) "Evolver": Commodore Amiga 2000 "TMA-1": Atari Portfolio, Memory Expander +

20 years, 7 months

pdp-11 boot rom id's? & vtserver on an 11/44

by brad＠heeltoe.com

Two pdp-11/44 questions: Does anyone have a 'big list' of pdp-11 boot rom id's? (should probably be in the same place as a repository - is that being set up?) Also, has anyone tried to use vtserver on an 11/44? I don't think it can be done because the console 8085 catches "^P" and pops back into the console monitor. I suppose the right thing is to plug in a serial cable use the tu-58 emulator. But I don't think I have tu-58 proms. My one and only boot prom id's as 054021. And I have no idea what that is. I suppose I could hack server to use a second serial port. Blech. I guess I should just use the 9-track tape drive the way Ken Olsen intended and stop fooling around :-) -brad

20 years, 7 months

IBM 5363 on eBay

by stanb＠dial.pipex.com

Hi, As above on UK eBay: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1247&item=57369629… Is this interesting enough to put a bid in? I know absolutely *nothing* about 'em... -- Cheers, Stan Barr stanb(a)dial.pipex.com The future was never like this!

20 years, 7 months

pdp-11 boot rom id's? & vtserver on an 11/44

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 7 2004, 23:02, quapla(a)xs4all.nl wrote: > This is a list from the M9312 manual, it is afaik the complete list. The flat text file on my website is about twice that size :-) And you've got some that aren't on that list, Ed, in your 11/70. > I have all except the 753A9. I have at least one of those. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

20 years, 7 months

Any former Philips/Magnavox VideoWriter users/owners/hackers?

by GOOI＠oce.nl

Still, I have got one. At least if you are referring to the Philips "VideoWriter", the Philips 'wordprocessor' with the smallish rectangular CRT and a 3.5" floppy drive next to it. I bought such a unit (with keyboard) for 50 Euro (approx. $65) to use the CRT in my StarShip, so my intentions were not so good for it :-) However, the vertical size of the CRT is a bit too high; its width is perfect. So in the end I can not use the CRT in my StarShip and have a VodeoWriter in the attick. Never considered selling it because the weight would increase the costs with a factor 2 ... If I ever intend to do something with it, I now know where to get the electrical diagrams, Jos :-) - Henk, PA8PDP. > Am dinsdag, 07.12.04, um 11:37 Uhr (Europe/Zurich) schrieb David Vohs: > > > Hi all! I was just wondering if we happen to have any former > > Philips/Magnavox VideoWriter users/owners/hackers in the house? > > David M. Vohs > > Digital Archaeologist & Computer Historian > > probably not, but I have schematics ( somewhere...) > > > Jos

20 years, 7 months

Norsk Data

by lists＠microvax.org

Hi, I was wondering if anybody knew of any Norsk Data emulators - specifically i'm interested in an ND-10 emulator. cheers! alex/melt

20 years, 7 months

Power supply dead?

by vcf＠siconic.com

I've got one of them TI Silent 700 Model 703 portable data terminals. The external power supply that comes with it is 20VAC. It's got three conductors on the connector. I can't get any voltage out of it. Is it dead? Or is it that it needs to sense a loop or something across all pins before it starts emitting juice? Not likely, I'm sure, but I thought I'd ask before I start tearing this apart to see if it has an internal fuse. Any ideas? Thanks! -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

20 years, 7 months

Shipping heavy equipment

by sethm＠loomcom.com

Well here's a fine mess I've gotten myself into... I need to ship a MicroVAX 3800 (BA213 case, about 110 pounds, give or take) to Pennsylvania. Granted, it's no 11/780, but it's certainly bigger than I've ever shipped before. Does anyone have any suggestions about the cheapest way to do this? (Hopefully one that will also ensure that the beast gets there in one piece, of course!) For reference, dimensions on a BA213 are approx. 14" by 20" by 26". -Seth

20 years, 7 months

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test-drb December 2004