On Mar 16 2005, 8:46, Pete Turnbull wrote:
> On Mar 15 2005, 23:01, Ethan Dicks wrote:
>
> > I have never used an RQDX3 except in a BA23 or BA123, but the
schemes
> > I've seen described in this thread to manufacture a direct
> RQDX3->hard
> > drive should all work.
> It's certainly easier and likely neater to use the real thing, if you
> have it. But if you want to "roll your" own, I already published my
> distribution board layout and the RQDXn pinout, and later today I'll
> put the M9058 RQDX distribution board layout and circuit, and the
> circuit diagram for the Write-Protect/Ready switch panel up as well.
OK, done.
http://www.dunnington.u-net.com/public/RQDX/
DU.COR patch for DU.MAC to use RQDX3 under RT-11 V5.01
DUX.TXT explanation of above
DistrOVL.ps component overlay for my RQDX distribution board
DistrPCB.ps PCB layout artwork for above
M9058_layout.ps component overlay for M9058 distr.board in BA123
M9058_schematic.ps schematic diagram for M9058
RQDXn_LEDs_switches.ps schematic of the WR.PROT + READY switches/LEDs
RQDXn_pinout.ps list of pins and signal descriptions for RQDXn
RX50_substitute.ps notes on using floppy drives other than RX50
The first two are flat-ASCII; all the files with ".ps" extensions are
PostScript. If you don't have a PostScript viewer (eg Ghostscript or
one of the Corel packages), you can send them straight to a PostScript
printer.
The ROM images for RQDX1, RQDX2, and RQDX3 are in
http://www.dunnington.u-net.com/public/DECROMs/
See the file "00ReadMe" for information, "ROMlist" for a table of
part-numbers/module-numbers/versions, and "Wanted!" for, well, "wanted"
:-)
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
On Mar 16 2005, 12:46, John A. Dundas III wrote:
> At 2:05 PM -0500 3/16/05, Ethan Dicks wrote:
> >You can literally pull the CPU and/or memory from a MicroVAX I/II
and
> >drop in a KDF11 or KDJ11 and required memory, and *bam* - a
> >MicroPDP...
>
> I've done the J-11 <--> uVaxII exchange with pretty good success.
> Having the Console Panel (in the back, CK-KA630-A) for the uVax seems
> to be a necessity; not needed for the J-11.
>
> I have not tried the F-11 in a generic BA23, though I would expect it
> to work. Will the J-11 correctly mate with the RUN/START/drive lock
> panel in the front? How is that best handled without an actual 11/23
> or 11/23+ front panel?
The DC_OK/RUN/START/HALT and drives LED/switch panel on the front is
the same for all the microVAX and microPDP-11 series in a BA23. Only
the badges get changed (they unclip). The DC OK and RUN LEDs, and the
HALT and RESTART switches, connect directly to the backplane, and the
drive switches/LEDs connect to the signal distribution board, which in
turn would be connected to the RQDXn by a 50-way ribbon cable.
The console panel on the back for the KDJ11-B and KDJ11-F is different
to the microVAX one, of course. It has a 2-digit display, a DB25M
instead of a DE9F, and only one rotary switch. Interestingly, it uses
the same connectors and cables, so maybe it would work. The important
bit would be the SLU cable, which is the 10-way ribbon. I expect
that's the same, though I've never tried it. You can set the console
baud rate, word size and parity with the DIP switches on the KDx11-B
itself.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
> Hi I own an Old Xerox 820 machine,
> Can anyone help to find documentation for it ?
> Also is there a way to download programs onto it using the
> serial/parallel port ?
Doesn't it have 8 inch diskette drives?
>From: "Ashley Carder" <wacarder at usit.net>
---snip---
>
>I'd be interested in hearing any horror stories relating to exploding
>capacitors and more info on the proper caution that needs to be
>exercised when messing with old power supplies.
>
>Ashley
>
>
Hi
When I used to work for Intel, we'd do incoming inspection
on powersupplies. We had a box called the coffin that
we'd power them up in. I'd never been at the test location
when one went off but there were enough dents in the
box from the inside to attest to the explosive forces.
Dwight
Awrighty...
1) I opened up a super-sized can of dammitallanyway, and found a used
Spectroline PR-320T for about $30 more; $130 shipped, give or take. I
*really* don't need that much of an eraser, but WTF - I guess I'm really
loaded for bear now. (the sucker'll do 42 eproms in 6-11 minutes... or so
the dox say) -- It's a $729 eraser new.
2) I read the HHC Basic eprom, it appears to have read good. Opening up the
.bin file in goatpad [ erm; notepad ] I found the 2-letter error prefixen,
the Microsoft Basic copyright thingy, and a reference to: NEIL K &
HENRY L ... I'm guessing these are the programmers; or at least the guys
who ported it over to the HHC.
3) So far, I have a list of people (4 currently) who want Basic chips... I
think this is fair[1]; and should cover my costs & whatnot: First Basic
chip: $8 - each additional Basic chip, $3 and US shipping of $3.50 (USPS
Priority). I'll throw in 4 extra empty[2] chips for free if you want 'em.
If you're not in the US, lemme know where ya live, and I'll quote ya the
difference in shipping... but with such a small package, I doubt it would
be much. (The last time I shipped something that small to Great Britain, it
was less than /pounds 5, IIRC.) Trades may well still be an option, but I'm
not willing to trade for an EPROM eraser anymore... ;-)
I'm throwing in the double-padded mailers, static bags, other whatnot, etc...
Anyway, lemme know what y'all think!
Laterz,
Roger "Merch" Merchberger
[1] If you don't think so, lemme know!
[2] Now that I'll be able to make 'em forget en masse...
--
Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- SysAdmin, Iceberg Computers
zmerch at 30below.com
Hi! I am a .signature virus. Copy me into your .signature to join in!
>From: "Ashley Carder" <wacarder at usit.net>
>
>
>> > On a related note...any special concerns on an initial powerup of a
>> > TU-56 that has not been turned on for possibly 5+ years....??
>>
>> Any solid DC supplies that match the requirements of the TC11/TU56
>> should be fine. The TU56 on my 8-e has a non-DEC supply and it seems to
>> work fine.
>
>Guy said:
>> Other than the usual caution about capacitors in power supplies....
>
>Since I am fairly new to the hardware end of this stuff and just started
>messing with it less about 8 or 9 months ago, can you give me
>a little primer on the caution of capacitors in power supplies?
>
>Ashley
Hi Ashley
There is an issue with dry tantalum capacitors blowing up.
As far as I know, there is nothing that can be done other than
hitting them with the power and replacing those that blow.
It helps to have a power supply that can handle a momentary
shorts or that is fused so it doesn't damage the supply.
Wet electrolytics have a problem in that they tend to degrade
over time. During normal running, they produce a small amount
of gas that is intended to diffuse through the seal. This
is a normal part of maintaining the capacitor. The problem
is that when you turn one on that has been sitting for a
few years, it can do one of two things.
One is that it will reform the capacitor but out gas fast
enough to burst the seal. This will cause total failure
after a short period of time because of evaporated electrolyte.
The next is that it will over heat and short. It will usually
burst the seal as well. Not much to do here other than replace.
One can reform old electrolytics that are still sealed by
bringing the voltage up slowly. Here is where many have different
opinions. Some say to use a variac and bring the voltage up
slowly over many hours to days. I don't like this method
but have used it successfully in the past. I prefer connecting
the capacitors ( removed from the curcuit ) to a limiting
source and allowing the voltage to float up as the capacitor
forms.
This is a good way to deal with capacitors that are screw
mounted. I use a limited source that will allow no more than
5 to 10 ma or 1/4w ( which ever is first depending on voltage
for larger capacitors ). Some computer grade capacitors are
very leaky when good and may require more than 10 ma but I
find few will recover with much more leakage.
One should also take care with switching supplies. Many supplies
will blow up if the input voltage is below the specified operating
range for any length of time. Some switchers will do
OK if there is no load and the input is low while some
will go crazy with no load. For switchers you really have to
form the capacitors by disconnecting and not using a variac.
Dwight
> So the moral of the story is to bring a long-dormant power
> supply up slowly, using a variac and loads, and to be vigilant
> for any signs of cap leakage, swelling, getting suddenly warm,
> or hissing sounds coming from one.
>
The trick here being that the "HUGE" cap's are NOT part of a powersupply per se [which is external to the unit], but rather are part of the internal electronics [motor control].
Hi all!
A friend of me got an intellec mds, with adaptors and two 8" FDDs, to be
given to a good home. We've even found a "system" labeled floppy in one
of the drives, but we've not attempted to switch on the machine. It
stood on the board for about 10 years, so at least a PSU check and a bit
of cleaning (for being unused for about 10 years it's however quite
clean...).
So basically, here's an intellec mds, untested, available in Bielefeld,
Germany, for free (excl. shipping costs). If anybody wants to get it,
please drop me an email.
MfG, JBG
--
Jan-Benedict Glaw jbglaw at lug-owl.de . +49-172-7608481 _ O _
"Eine Freie Meinung in einem Freien Kopf | Gegen Zensur | Gegen Krieg _ _ O
fuer einen Freien Staat voll Freier B?rger" | im Internet! | im Irak! O O O
ret = do_actions((curr | FREE_SPEECH) & ~(NEW_COPYRIGHT_LAW | DRM | TCPA));
I know that it's not a desktop.
I have seen VAX installations as big as a semi trailer, and then I've seen the desk sized ones.
So far I have limited my collection to "hobbyist" classics like my Altair and H8.
But a "business" machine like a VAX could be cute too.
Especially if it has a front panel with lots of lights and switches ?
I tried to find photos on the web, but no quick success.
Thanks,
-Rob
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Zane H. Healy
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 12:22 PM
To: 9000 VAX; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-TopicPosts
Subject: Re: I have a VAX 6400 that I don't want anymore
At 12:21 PM -0500 3/16/05, 9000 VAX wrote:
>On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 10:38:33 -0600, Kapteyn, Rob <kapteynr at cboe.com> wrote:
>> I am really close to this and I have storage space, but I don't
>>know exactly what the 6400 is.
>> I worked with an 11/780 in college, and that's too big for me to handle.
>> A desk sized VAX (like a microVAX) would be fun to play with.
>
>It is desk size, if you lay it down. It is narrow and tall, but the
>volume is similar to that of a desk.
Somehow I think he meant desktop sized :^) Unless of course he's
planning to get a pair of BA123's or BA23's and put piece of plywood
on top to use them as a desk :^)
Zane
--
--
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator |
| healyzh at aracnet.com (primary) | OpenVMS Enthusiast |
| | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| PDP-10 Emulation and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |
I have a PDP-11/23 and would like to add a hard disk. Would the RQDX3
be the way to go? What do I need besides the board itself and an MFM
drive? Obviously, I need some sort of cable to connect the two. Is
there anything else I need? Will RT-11 V5 support an MFM drive on an
RQDX3?
