test-drb August 2005

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

227 participants
528 discussions

Varisystems, Compugraphic (William Maddox)

by infomagic＠localisp.com

Here's a little background on Varisystems. I'll try to dig up some more info on the hardware, but it will take some time (weeks...). I started working for Varisystems on August 9, 1979, just a few months before they moved from Hauppague, NY (Long Island) to Bohemia, NY (also Long Island). Varisystems was founded by Bob and Owen Shevlin. IIRC, Bob was the computer guy and Owen was the business guy (President). Varisystems did its own design, purchasing, manufacturing, QA, and software. Bob Shevlin had developed a proprietary bit-sliced CPU, made of discrete TTL logic. It had its own bootstrap loader, micro-code, and assembly language, for which Bob had written an assembler. He had also created his own character generator, and all software?tools were?created in numerous languages, naturally with all accented caracters available. Varisystems also developed exceptional editing and composition software to run on this home-made hardware. TheVarisystems units were able to drive the optical output machines from various manufacturers, including Mergenthaler, Bobst, and others. They had a good business going. At about the time I was hired, the Shevlin brothers were in the process of selling Varisystems to Jacuqes Bobst & Fils, a prestigious Swiss phototype company. Bobst's optical typesetters were of the highest quality and expensive, but their editing systems were far less capable. In the acquisition, Bobst got a lot of good front-end design and equipment, and the Shevlins got a lot of money. The rest of us got shafted - as the last of the projects were shipped off to Switzerland, we were all laid off. That was late in 1980, or early 1981. I had been?hired as a Tech Writer to develop the user manual for the "1200" editing terminal, the first standalone editing station they produced. The first version went out with the first production machines in October 79. A second, moreprofessional version, was issued the following spring. I also participated on the design team, providing input on "human factors" for various functions and software messages. The "1200" was intended to offload editing work/time from the expensive "production" machines that drove the output devices. Jobs were transferred via 8" floppies. The "1200" unit was well received in the industry. While I was there, Gavon Balharry (a consultant from Australia) developed the Arabic version of the editing software. It let you choose whether English or Arabic was the "primary" mode, and when you "inserted" text, you could insert either the primary or secondary language. The inserted language always followed its own rules. So if English was primary and you inserted Arabic, it inserted at that point from right to left, and if necessary word wrapped to the next line, also according to the language! All kashidas weredetermined on the fly and as the next character was typed, the kashidas would change to their appropriate next form. I worked closely with Gavon, doing QA testing as he cranked out new compiles... Quite amazing - I think he was truly the only Genius I have ever met. Anyway as I try to recall the hardware, I only remember 8-bit instructions, nothing 16-bit. In fact, the big microprocessor threat on the horizon was the Z80. I'll be cleaning out the garage later this summer, so I'll keep an eye open for any leftover assembly listings... Wish me luck! -John

19 years, 4 months

Selectric Typewriter conversions

by shakeandbake＠sbcglobal.net

hi tom i am so sorry that i dont know anything about computers so i dont know if i clicked on to the right site. please please help me. where can i find a memorywriter 620. i dont care if it is old just so that it works. thank you please email me at getaylor at aol.com jackie

19 years, 4 months

MemoryWriter 620

by shakeandbake＠sbcglobal.net

hi i am so sorry i dont know anything about computers so i dont know if i clicked on the right site. please please help me. i am looking for a 620 memorywriter. i dont care how old it is just so it works. i sure hope you can help me. thank you. please email me at getaylor18 at aol.com jackie

19 years, 4 months

Free : 1983 IBM Tape

by birs23＠zeelandnet.nl

Cleaning up a bit here and just came across an IBM reel tape that is free for p&p. Its a small reel tape and has the following info on the label : REF. NO. TFQE5 PROGRAM 5665-955 FEATURE 5068 REL/LEV 1.00 TAPE 6250 BPI TITLE UMVS12 VOL/VOL 2/2 REFER TO DOCUMENT 044130 MADE IN DENMARK P&P wont be too bad since it fits a bubble envelope so. Locate in the netherlands btw Stefan ------------------------------------------------------- http://www.oldcomputercollection.com

19 years, 4 months

HP 7440 User and Service Manual..

by lbickley＠bickleywest.com

I'm looking for a HP 7440A Plotter User (Operator) and Service Manual. If someone has a scanned copy, please let me know how to download it/them. If a scanned copy is not available - and someone has hard copy manuals and are willing to lend them to me - I'll be glad to pay for shipping both ways. With your permission, I'll also pass it by Al to put on bitsavers.org. Cheers, Lyle -- Lyle Bickley Bickley Consulting West Inc. Mountain View, CA http://bickleywest.com "Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"

19 years, 4 months

VCF Midwest update?

by news＠computercollector.com

Would love to hear from anyone who attended today -- how'd it go? ----------------------------------------- Evan Koblentz's personal homepage: http://www.snarc.net Also see: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midatlanticretro/ Where did PDAs come from? http://www.snarc.net/pda/pda-treatise.htm *** Tell your friends about the (free!) Computer Collector Newsletter - 770 readers and no spam / Publishes every Monday / Write for us! - Mainframes to videogames, hardware and software, we cover it all - W: http://news.computercollector.com E: news at computercollector.com

19 years, 4 months

classiccmp knowledgebase

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "John Foust" <jfoust at threedee.com> > >At 01:54 AM 8/1/2005, you wrote: >>Wouldn't it be easier to just issue two MODE commands to redirect COM1: to CON, then feed debug a script to write out binary files? > >Hey, that's why I think it would be a useful and interesting FAQ. >I thought the other guy's CTRL/Z preservation method was quite >cute, too. I'm intrigued by solutions that would require a >minimum of prep or magic tools on the sending PC. > >- John > > Hi The only time I did anything like this, I used LapLink. One copied a file from the com to a text file and then rename changed it to a *.com file that was the bootstrap loader for the rest of LapLink. The bootstrap file must have avoided anything with a ^z as part of the binary. Similar things can be done for most any setup, requiring no magic tools on the sending side. Code with ^Z's in them can be escaped such that the loader program can change these to the right binary value. The sending program could then be any generic 'copy to comm' program. Dwight

19 years, 4 months

Serial Configurations (was Devilish Altair SerialConfigurati onProblem)

by Richard.Cini＠wachovia.com

Dwight: The software loopback is tonight's project. I have the terminal software set for no flow control which should be OK for low baud and loopback testing. Actually, both the 8251 ACIA and the TMS6011 UAR/T have a reset sequence requiring software initialization (with the 8251 being more arcane than the 6011). With the Bit Streamer board, the baud rate is set by switches but the other line parameters are set in software. With the SSM board, the baud rate is set by a DIP jumper and the line parameters through software. More to come tomorrow... Rich -----Original Message----- From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Dwight K. Elvey Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 1:10 PM To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: RE: Serial Configurations (was Devilish Altair SerialConfigurationProblem) Hi Richard There is no software initialization for these serial chips unless the board has registers to do this. It is usually done with jumpers. I'm not familiar with the SSM boards but unless they got fancy, it should just be jumpers. Check the data sheet for the chip, any of the ones list should be the same. Can you first connect things as RS232 with a light box? You should then be able to make a simple loop back. At lower baud rates, you should be able to watch the lights flicker. A simple echo program should work here. Once there, you should be able to scan the loader program for the I/O operation and the status test used. Then configure your board to use that status bit. Dwight >From: "Richard A. Cini" <rcini at optonline.net> > >Allison: > > No success so far. I'm going to write a small test program >tomorrow to accept a character from the SSM and echo it back. I have the >two ports configured two different ways -- the first equivalent to a >Revision 1 SIO (active low) and the second equivalent to an 8251. It's >still a remote possibility that the board is bad, so I hope this will >flush it out. > > I'm still hopeful that someone on the list has a working SSM >2p-2s that they could report on how it's configured and how the cable is >wired. This has bothered me all day, which usually means it's a hardware >problem. > > >Rich > >-----Original Message----- >From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org >[mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Allison >Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 3:09 PM >To: cctalk at classiccmp.org >Subject: Re: Serial Configurations (was Devilish Altair Serial >ConfigurationProblem) > > >> >>Subject: Serial Configurations (was Devilish Altair Serial >ConfigurationProblem) >> From: "Richard A. Cini" <rcini at optonline.net> >> Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 12:35:05 -0400 >> To: "'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'" ><cctalk at classiccmp.org> >> >>All: >> >> The problems I'm having have to be related to status bits and >device >>initialization. The board is an SSM 2p+2s which is based on the TMS6011 > >>(which has lots of equivalent UARTs such as the COM2502, 2017, TR1402, >>AY3-1015). The SSM board is very flexible -- I can change status bit >>order and polarity to match almost any configuration need. Right now I >>have it strapped to match the Altair Revision 1 SIO board (ports 0/1, >>RxStat=bit0, TxStat=bit1, active high polarity). I've also tried TxStat > >>at bit7. > >That should work. > >> >> Does someone have sample working code for initialization, input >and >>output? I have a few datasheets but none of them give sample code >>sequences. I'm missing something here and I'd appreciate a push. > >OH, one more detail.. Most of the MITS software when loaded inits >based on the front pannel sense switches (IN FFh). The configuration >sets the board in use and bits. T he setting are in the MITS software >manuals. > >Allison > >

19 years, 4 months

Serial Configurations (was Devilish Altair Serial ConfigurationProblem)

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

Hi Richard There is no software initialization for these serial chips unless the board has registers to do this. It is usually done with jumpers. I'm not familiar with the SSM boards but unless they got fancy, it should just be jumpers. Check the data sheet for the chip, any of the ones list should be the same. Can you first connect things as RS232 with a light box? You should then be able to make a simple loop back. At lower baud rates, you should be able to watch the lights flicker. A simple echo program should work here. Once there, you should be able to scan the loader program for the I/O operation and the status test used. Then configure your board to use that status bit. Dwight >From: "Richard A. Cini" <rcini at optonline.net> > >Allison: > > No success so far. I'm going to write a small test program >tomorrow to accept a character from the SSM and echo it back. I have the >two ports configured two different ways -- the first equivalent to a >Revision 1 SIO (active low) and the second equivalent to an 8251. It's >still a remote possibility that the board is bad, so I hope this will >flush it out. > > I'm still hopeful that someone on the list has a working SSM >2p-2s that they could report on how it's configured and how the cable is >wired. This has bothered me all day, which usually means it's a hardware >problem. > > >Rich > >-----Original Message----- >From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org >[mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Allison >Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 3:09 PM >To: cctalk at classiccmp.org >Subject: Re: Serial Configurations (was Devilish Altair Serial >ConfigurationProblem) > > >> >>Subject: Serial Configurations (was Devilish Altair Serial >ConfigurationProblem) >> From: "Richard A. Cini" <rcini at optonline.net> >> Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 12:35:05 -0400 >> To: "'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'" ><cctalk at classiccmp.org> >> >>All: >> >> The problems I'm having have to be related to status bits and >device >>initialization. The board is an SSM 2p+2s which is based on the TMS6011 > >>(which has lots of equivalent UARTs such as the COM2502, 2017, TR1402, >>AY3-1015). The SSM board is very flexible -- I can change status bit >>order and polarity to match almost any configuration need. Right now I >>have it strapped to match the Altair Revision 1 SIO board (ports 0/1, >>RxStat=bit0, TxStat=bit1, active high polarity). I've also tried TxStat > >>at bit7. > >That should work. > >> >> Does someone have sample working code for initialization, input >and >>output? I have a few datasheets but none of them give sample code >>sequences. I'm missing something here and I'd appreciate a push. > >OH, one more detail.. Most of the MITS software when loaded inits >based on the front pannel sense switches (IN FFh). The configuration >sets the board in use and bits. T he setting are in the MITS software >manuals. > >Allison > >

19 years, 4 months

Apple Protoboard?

by aw288＠osfn.org

Is this a protoboard for an Apple 2? http://users.bestweb.net/~toober/images/Protoboard.jpg It seems to be called "Page P500-3". William Donzelli aw288 at osfn.org

19 years, 4 months

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test-drb August 2005