test-drb March 2005

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

291 participants
840 discussions

by alhartman＠yahoo.com

Glen, I might have something somewhere, but I couldn't put my fingers on it right now.. I remember taking the source for the manuals and backing them up to Floppy in the late 80's. I don't remember if I wrote the manuals on the PC I was using, or the Imsai 8080 (8" Z-80 CPM), OR the MS-DOS Clone we used for awhile.. If it's on the PC or the Clone, I might have the files still. But, I think that Stewart kept the source to that manual on the IMSAI. Stewart is still in business, and he might still have the information. Have you tried going to www.zebrasystems.com ? I remember that the software consisted of a Binary Driver that did text to speech conversions. It was contained in REM statements at the beginning of the program, and I would pass the text to it for parsing by poking values into a memory area, which would then be sent to the Synthesiser for output after CALLing the routine. It's been a LONG time.. LOL! I didn't write the text to speech algorithim. Stewart did that. I just did the UI, and wrote the manual for it. I'm not sure I have the source for that seperate from a TS1000/ZX-81 Cassette. And I never kept one for myself. I still have a Speech Pak for the Coco (which we made for Spectrum Projects), with the software... But, I never kept one of the Timex Boards. Regards, Al > Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 17:06:39 -0500 > From: "Glen Goodwin" <acme at gbronline.com> > Subject: SC-01 Votrax > > Al -- do you have any documentation for the ZX81/TS1000 > version? I have both boards but no docs for the ZX81 > version. > > Regards -- > > Glen > 0/0 __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site! http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/

20 years, 3 months

Burroughs L7000 Magnetic System - What is it?

by dm561＠torfree.net

---------------Original Message: Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 17:21:05 -0800 (PST) From: steven stengel <tosteve at yahoo.com> Subject: Burroughs L7000 Magnetic System - What is it? Sheesh, I've been offered a Burroughs L7000, but I don't even know what it is. Any hints? http://members.cox.net/stengel/temp/L7000.jpg Steve. ----- Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 23:47:30 -0500 From: "James Fogg" <James at jdfogg.com> Subject: RE: Burroughs L7000 Magnetic System - What is it? Well, it looks like an A/C unit in a hotel ;-) ---------------Reply: It does indeed, but it is a somewhat misleading close-up picture of the nameplate. It's a relatively rare model of the L series accounting computer, desk size with a keyboard, dual tractor Selectric-type printer, fixed hard disk and integrated paper tape reader, capable of reading mag stripe ledger cards (hence the "magnetic"). Suggest you ask for a picture of the whole machine; see: http://www.sieler.com/L9000/original.html for excellent pictures of an L9000, identical but with solid state memory and dot-matrix printer (and a single tape drive on this particular one). Possible peripherals include PPT/EPC reader & punch, up to 4 digital cassette tape drives, external card reader, modem, etc. I believe it was the last model to use a fixed hard disk for program & working storage before they went solid state (L8000/9000). Programming was normally done in assembler on a mainframe, using punched card input and PPT output. With peripherals and the relevant software it was possible to program on the L itself; otherwise one could still program in machine language (again, with the necessary software/firmware). A real challenge if you don't have the firmware and utility tapes; threw out most of my manuals & tapes long ago, but might still have a golf & lunar lander game on cassette tape somewhere. BTW, looks like Bletchley has a restored L5000 in its collection, a very similar previous model; also, there used to be someone on this list with 2 L9000s. mike

20 years, 3 months

Difference between 2 PDP11 models

by ggs＠shiresoft.com

Hi, I'm trying to figure out what the difference between a PDP-11/55 and a PDP-11/t55 is (other than the obvious "t"). Anyone out there know? Thanks. -- TTFN - Guy

20 years, 3 months

RT11 sysgen and disk partitions

by mbg＠TheWorld.com

>> The Monitor you're using was Sysgen'd to load those drivers >> automatically. You could probably free up a little memory by doing a >> Sysgen that just includes the drivers you need. >Ok, makes sense. I suppose I have to find an original system master to >make my own sysgen. Though the boot disk I'm using now suits me fine for >my current purposes. Problem is that it is wrong. The monitor, at boot time, will fill in its tables for devices it finds (up to 40 devices). Except for the system device, which is loaded so that it can't be unloaded, these handlers are considered 'installed' if the I/O page addresses indicated as required in the handler exist. This does not mean that the handlers have been loaded. Handlers are not automatically loaded by RT-11. They can, however, be loaded using the startup command file. They can also be .FETCHed by properly written programs. Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL,ST| email: mbg at world.std.com | | Member of Technical Staff | megan at savaje.com | | SavaJe Technologies, Inc. | (s/ at /@/) | | 100 Apollo Drive | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Chelmsford, MA 01824 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (978) 256 6521 (DEC '77-'98) | required." - mbg KB1FCA | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

20 years, 3 months

OT Troubleshooting: Old computers with modern parts

by dvcorbin＠optonline.net

> The 4051,4052 and 4053 were very static sensitive. But it > is try that most were relatively insensitive. Still, if you > are hitting a part with a spark large enough to make > a sound, you are most likely doing some damage, even if > it doesn't show right away. Duiring the '70s and '80s I worked at a company that made many military and space grade components. A percentage were de-lidded at the end of each lot and sent to a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) to look for static damage, that had NOT effected functionallity. If any (above a very small threshold) was found, the ENTIRE lot was scrapped [although they really became samples, lab grade, etc...] It was AMAZING, the various craters and cracks that were caused by static that you could not see, feel, or hear.... Wish I still had some of the prints....

20 years, 3 months

Seeking Motorola S38FC012PIO2 ($$$ Bounty! $$$)

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "William Maddox" <wmaddox at pacbell.net> > >--- "Dwight K. Elvey" <dwight.elvey at amd.com> wrote: > >> Also, have you removed the chip and put some >> contact >> enhancer on it?? ( You know, some silicon grease ) >> Dwight > >I imagine that some DeOxit or similar would be >good, but silicon grease? I thought that was >for *thermal* conductivity only. > >--Bill Hi Bill Don't use heat sink grease. That has fillers to make it thermally conductive. Use the clear gel stuff. Dow Corning #4 works wonders and doesn't harm any of the electrical stuff. I actually use SilGlyde that I got at the automotive shop. It works quite well. Dwight

20 years, 3 months

Mag Tapes was RE: Got Videotrax card working

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 14 2005, 9:54, Paul Koning wrote: > >>>>> "Joe" == Joe R <rigdonj at cfl.rr.com> writes: > > Joe> At 11:14 PM 3/12/05 -0500, James Fogg wrote: > >> Over the years I've learned to never trust tape of any kind. > > Joe> That's been my experience. I've never been able to get a tape > Joe> backup that worked. That includes brand new ones, DATs and > Joe> everything else. I know tapes have been a mainstay in the > Joe> computer field but I've had nothing but trouble with them. > > My view is that there are PC class tapes and real tapes. Real tapes > include classic half inch reel, DLT, and presumably IBM' cartridges (I > haven't used those). I'll go along with that. I've had a few problems recovering data from 8mm and 4mm tapes -- in the latter case it's been the drives that were troublesome, rather than the media -- but not with DLTs or 1/2" magtape (except for very very old ones). I've never used QIC tapes, though some of my friends seem to think the bigger ones are OK. > It doesn't help when trade press reviewers don't take data integrity > seriously. Some years ago there was a review article about backup > software. The reviewers did some restore testing. Good of them to do > that. Some of the programs tested didn't reliably restore data, so > they were docked 30 points or so. > > That's amazing. The only correct answer would be to unconditionally > flunk such programs, because the value of a backup program that can't > restore reliably is obviously zero, not any higher value... I agree. If it won't restore, you'd be better off not bothering at all, and saving the money (and time). -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

20 years, 3 months

New transputer pictures - original B004 prototype and 1st TRAM pr ototype!

by RMeenaks＠OLF.COM

Hi, Someone just sent me pictures of the original B004 prototype and prototypes of the 1st transputer tram. He also sent the 1st production run of the tram as well. Apparently, he has tons of vintage transputer equipment waiting to archived. Happy Days are coming!!! First set of pics are of the prototype B004, complete with all mod wires! Note the old-style 124pin PGA package and the unmarked link adapter. Truly an original in all respects! The TRAM is, again, prototype #1. Again, you can see the hand-wired mods. There's also a picture the first of the production rev. of the TRAM (new pcb layout). Finally, a total rarity - the T424 datasheet. http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/tram0_1.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/b4prepro_1.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/b4prepro_0.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/t424prelim.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/tram0_2.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/b4prepro_2.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/b4prepro_3.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/tram1_1.jpg Cheers, Ram (c) 2005 OpenLink Financial Copyright in this message and any attachments remains with us. It is confidential and may be legally privileged. If this message is not intended for you it must not be read, copied or used by you or disclosed to anyone else. Please advise the sender immediately if you have received this message in error. Although this message and any attachments are believed to be free of any virus or other defect that might affect any computer system into which it is received and opened, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that it is virus free and no responsibility is accepted by Open Link Financial, Inc. for any loss or damage in any way arising from its use.

20 years, 3 months

MicroVAX II - TK50 problem

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 10 2005, 20:10, Adrian Graham wrote: > the uVAX II has a Q22/Q22 backplane so the positioning of the TQK50 is > important, as is the RQDX(2/3) disk controller which should be last on the > bus. No. It's only the RQDX1 that has the "must be last on the bus" problem, and only then if what's below it uses DMA and interrupts. RQDX2 and RQDX3 have no such limitation. You won't find an RQDX1 in a MicroVAX II because it is not compatible with the MicroVAX II processor. > The first 3 slots are CD types and are reserved for CPU/Memory, the > rest (I can't remember which size cab you've got) are serpentine so if > you've only got the CPU, 2 mem boards and the disk/tape controllers then the > TQK50 should be on top of the RQDX3. Well, as you mention the cabinet size, perhaps you realise this, but I'll spell it out: The backplane in a BA23 is three Q22-CD slots followed by serpentine slots; the BA123 is 4 slots of Q22-CD then serpentine. MicroVAX IIs came in both types. In either case, you must, of course, put the CPU and memory at the top, but there is nothing to prevent use of any remaining Q22-CD slot for anything else. Just remember only the left-hand side of a Q22-CD slot actually has Qbus signals on it (there are some quad boards that won't work in a Q22-Q22 slot; I can't think of any offhand that won't work in a Q22-CD slot but that doesn't mean there aren't any). The MicroVAX II Micronotes actually show such a configuration, with a processor, single memory card, a DEQNA, an RQDX2, and a DHV11 (with the DHV11 last, as usual). -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

20 years, 3 months

MicroVAX II - TK50 problem

by msokolov＠ivan.Harhan.ORG

willisjo at zianet.com wrote: > [ASCII art drawing of a BA23] > Is that a BA23? Yes. > (Apologies for the ASCII drawing) Why apologize? ASCII art is great! MS

20 years, 3 months

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test-drb March 2005