test-drb March 2007

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

239 participants
488 discussions

by RodSmallwood＠mail.ediconsulting.co.uk

DEC LK Keyboard series used coloured characters and symbols on keycaps Rod Smallwood -----Original Message----- From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Burton Sent: 04 March 2007 21:42 To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: Re: compucolor II on ebay Chris M <chrism3667 at yahoo.com> wrote: Ok, here's probably the zaniest question of the week. How many computers/terminals/or-what-have-you used happy colorful keytops? I really expect you all to work hard at a comprehensive list this time, or I'll get so mad I just might quit the list! LOL LOL LOL don't count on it!! Hmmm, I can only think of one. I'm not sure whether it was the BBC or the Archemedes, but i'm sure one of them had orange function keys (F1 to F12?). Regards, Andrew B aliensrcooluk at yahoo.co.uk

17 years, 1 month

spring cleaning: 8" floppies for rx/30 Transaction Data Systems

by frustum＠pacbell.net

I have found a couple boxes of 8" disks; many of the disks are labeled "backup" and are likely boring, but there were a few interesting ones: 065-060400-01 MPDTOS FE USE ONLY QF1 REV 7.00 (SET OF 2) (c) Data General Corporation 1982 and RS/30 STARTER DISKETTE REV. 6.0 FOR CS/10 MOD C1 DISKETTE #1 3-9-83 LICENSE MATERIAL - PROPERTY OF TRANSACTION DATA SYSTEMS, INC. (and other similar RX/30 disks with other labels) Interestingly, RS/30 is still be sold by Transaction Data Systems: http://www.rx30.com/ If anybody wants these, I'll mail them for the price of postage. Please reply off list.

17 years, 1 month

I am now Annoyed [Re: Old oscilloscope help: ideas sought]

by mouse＠Rodents.Montreal.QC.CA

Some of you may reacll that, back in July, I wrote about an oscilloscope whose power transformer failed in service. Well, today I was going through my tuit collection and found some round ones. I've now clipped the transformer free of the circuit and removed it. I then applied an ohmmeter to the transformer, now that it's free of the machine, which gave me good guesses at what winding is what. Then I got out the current-limiting light bulb rig and hooked the primary up (well, half the primary; it has a split primary, for 115/230 mains switching). Then I measured the primary voltage and the voltages on various interesting windings. Based on all of this, I think I have a good guess what's what: - Input mains: four wires, two windings, which are connected in parallel for 115V operation and series for 230V operation. - 5VAC filament winding for B+ rectifier tube. - ~800VAC CT (400-0-400) winding which is rectified for B+. (With 26V on the 115V-nominal mains primary, this measured 176V, or ~778V when running normally.) - Filament winding for one HV rectifier tube. - Filament winding for the other HV rectifier tube. - HV supply winding. - 6.3VAC CT winding to run the heaters for most tubes. (There are some 12V-heater tubes, but they all have centre-tapped heaters.) - There is one more wire unaccounted for. On opening the transformer case, I find it is a case ground. The HV supply winding appears to be fried. I didn't bother with all the filament windings (though I did measure the heater winding, which appeared to be intact); the B+ supply winding seemed intact, but the HV supply winding showed ~2V instead of the 200-300V I would expect with ~25V on the primary. So now I'm thinking of finding a half-dozen different transformers to run the six different pieces off of.... /~\ The ASCII der Mouse \ / Ribbon Campaign X Against HTML mouse at rodents.montreal.qc.ca / \ Email! 7D C8 61 52 5D E7 2D 39 4E F1 31 3E E8 B3 27 4B

17 years, 1 month

place your bets

by RodSmallwood＠mail.ediconsulting.co.uk

INTEL MDS -----Original Message----- From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Cameron Kaiser Sent: 03 March 2007 22:03 To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: place your bets > >>> For fun, how's about we create a list of units that had 8" > >>> drives. Off the top of my head: Commodore even did. -- --------------------------------- personal: http://www.armory.com/~spectre/ --- Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser at floodgap.com -- "I'd love to go out with you, but my personalities each need therapy." -----

17 years, 1 month

Copying DEC VAX set up disks rx50, help

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Copying DEC VAX set up disks rx50, help > From: g-wright at att.net > Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:08:17 +0000 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > > >-------------- Original message from "Ethan Dicks" <ethan.dicks at gmail.com>: -------------- > > >> On 3/3/07, g-wright at att.net wrote: >> > Hi, >> > >> > I have a stack of the original VAX Disks (console and >> > set up , 5 1/4 RX50 ) The ones in front of me are >> > for a 8200 series. I would like to copy them but can't >> > get image disk to work. Is this possible or do I have to >> > use a VAX.. >> >> You should not have to use a VAX. There's nothing strange about the >> low-level format for 8200 console disks (I have an 8200/8300 in my >> basement, FWIW). >> >> > I have RT11 on a micro PDP-11 with a RX50 >> > and I think my professional still works. But would really like to >> > get it on a better media for long term storage. >> >> Sure. >> >> > Image Disk reads it with out errors >> > 0/0: 300k DD 10 sectors of 512 bytes - G1:9 G2:17 >> > 0/1: Single sided >> > 0/0: Single Step >> > 800 sectors (800 data, 0 compressed, 0 unaval) >> > Read complete > > >Heres is where I believe I missed the problem. The disks are not full >using Anadisk on the floppy, data ends at cylinder 28 and is >blank to the end. Anadisk can scan the whole disk with out errors. >with 800 data and no compressed some thing is wrong. If I understand >Image disk correctly. >I moved to another Image Disk machine (I have 6 now) and its seems to >work fine. Although I believe the proof will be by trying them. The >new readings are (800 sectors, 472 data, 328 compressed, 0 Unavail) >and the Write works with out errors. The original IMD file size was >400k the new one is much smaller. I have writen these out on both >DD and HD media. both bulk erased first. > HD media will have an increased likelyhood of errors as its the wrong media for tha data rate. > > >> So far, so good... >> >> > Trying to write and it has errors from the get go. >> > 0/0: 300k 10 sectors of 512 bytes >> > :format error <0> overun >> > :write error <2> no sector >> > and on ............................. >> > >> > written on a PC with 1.2 HD drive >> > Tried on another 1.2 and on a 360k drive >> > all capable of SD . >> > >> > I tried both HD and DD disks . all bulk erased first. >> >> Hmm... Others on the list can chime in with their floppy expertise, >> but from the way you are describing what you've tried, it doesn't >> sound as if you have a clear picture of the media in front of you. > > >Boy did you read that one right Thank you Ethan .............. This did help >move me along. > >> >> RX50 disks are single-sided (as mentioned by imagedisk in your read >> example, above), 80-track, ten 512 byte-sectors per track for a total >> of 400Kbytes. Your 360K drive can _not_ write RX50 disks (among other >> issues, it's a 40-track drive). >> >> If you've verified that your 1.2MB drive works as a PC drive, then, >> presuming you have the right media, you shouldn't have any hardware >> issues writing RX50 images. Media is where I get a little fuzzy on >> the details. I've personally only ever written RX50 images to RX50 >> media. I've never tried to recycle PC floppies, so I'm not sure what >> the best choice is. I do seem to recall that what you want should >> *not* have hub reinforcement rings, as they can cause alignment >> problems in real RX50 drives. The Problem os If the 1.2mb drive works your're cooked as the format is not 1.2mb or even close. You would be testing for the worng thing. >> If you can score a Teac FD55GFR drive, it can be strapped up to be a >> _real_ RX33 or strapped to behave "normally" on a PC FC controller. >> The strapping has to do with motor on and select lines, not data, BTW. >> I mention the FD55GFR because it was the 5.25" drive DEC shipped >> after they moved on from the RX50, so you can be sure that you aren't >> having hardware compatibility issues (plus, it's all-around good, >> solid 5.25" drive). Either strapping the FD55GFR for 360rpm only and 250kbs data rate only or better yet use a FD55E. >I did try this and it is the controller that causes the problem. no to sure >why ??? > >I have been re-reading all of my disks with image disk and have found >that many of my original disks worked fine but the copies I made on the >original hardware had bad tracks. So now I'm re-writing everything and >trying it in the original machine if possible. The machine here that did not >work was my main machine for 22disk, anadisk and teledisk. But it has a >secondary controller (compaticard 4) with 4 more external drives. FYI: IF the original hardware has an RX50 drive.. thats your problem as they tended to have speed and alignment problems galore. when the RX50 drive is questionable (all are untill proven working!!!) I sub in a pair of FD55E or suitably (nonDEC jumpering) jumpered pair of FD55GFR with a hacked up cable and pull the RX50. Since I have a collection of Qbus VAXen and Qbus PDP-11s it's far easier to rely on the RQDX3 and RX33 drives as they do RX50 just fine and do not incur the RX50 relability issues. Also the RX50 is just plain LOUD. Allison >The most trouble free set up so far is a Adaptec AHA-1542cp SCSI >controller with floppy. I now have 4 PC's with this card and have not seen >any problems with single density or in this case odd formats. These are the >ISA version with a HD SCSI connector on the back. Some of the other >version of the card can't do Single density. > >> >> In your case, I'd run some read/write/verify tests with your 1.2MB >> drive and PC-compatible floppies and if they show any marginal >> problems, try cleaning the heads. You can clean the heads in any >> case, but it might be nice to have a "before" picture to compare >> post-cleaning performance. If you can locate some real RX50 media, >> try writing to those. They aren't "magical", but they are >> pre-formatted for 10 sectors-per-track (MS-DOS uses 9 sectors for 360K >> disks and 17 sectors for 1.2MB disks, if you didn't remember). As >> with the RX01s, most DEC equipment can *not* lay down the RX50 >> low-level format, the Rainbow being the most notable exception. A PC >> _can_ format an RX50, but you'll need some 3rd-party tool to do that - >> DOS can't by itself. >> >> I'm sure others will be able to chime in with various informed opinions. >> >> -ethan >> >> P.S. - just found this old doc on the state of RX50s and various >> versions of DOS and tools for DOS... >> http://www.classiccmp.org/rainbow/files/rx50faq.doc Dunno what OS you >> are using to write your disks, but perhaps some info in this FAQ will >> shed some light. > >I have a good friend that has almost every VAX and PDD machine made >so He is going to test these. > >After these disks get tested, I will post a follow-up. > >Thank, Jerry > >Jerry Wright >g-wright at att.net

17 years, 1 month

DEC Disks Available

by technobug＠comcast.net

> I was just at the local scrapper and had him put aside two RL02s, > an RA81, an Unibus crate ( I wasn't able to get the model), a dual > cassette box, and the red and orange trim pieces that go at the top > and between the units - everything was about to be sent to the > shredder. If there is any interest, let me know and I'll pass on > the info. I can do any checkout anyone wishes later in the week. Should have noted that the items are in Tucson, Baja Arizona. CRC

17 years, 1 month

QB Format?

by dm561＠torfree.net

Message: 33 Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 00:50:22 -0500 (EST) From: bpope at wordstock.com (Bryan Pope) Subject: Re: QB Format? To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Message-ID: <20070304055022.8D0C4162B4 at mail.wordstock.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii And thusly were the wise words spake by Curt @ Atari Museum > > I'm going through and archiving 3.5" disks onto my PC, I've run across a > box of disks marked: > > QB Format and I am unable to read them with some of the disk utils I > have, is anyone familiar with this format and know what system it > belongs too? I was thinking Amiga perhaps, but I haven't been able to > find any reference to Amiga and QB format. > QuarterBack? An Amiga backup program... Cheers, Bryan ------------------------------- Also used by PCs; might even still have a copy somewhere. mike

17 years, 1 month

place your bets

by marvin＠rain.org

> From: Allison <ajp166 at bellatlantic.net> > > From: Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> > >Are there ANY 30 year old computer companies that didn't? > >(not counting "consumer electronics" companies :) > > Apple! While there were add on 8" drives Apple started with 5.25. Ah yes, Lobo Drives made 8" drives available for the Apple computer. The three external drive units I have here all have 8" hard drives in the chassis as well.

17 years, 1 month

DEC Disks Available

by technobug＠comcast.net

I was just at the local scrapper and had him put aside two RL02s, an RA81, an Unibus crate ( I wasn't able to get the model), a dual cassette box, and the red and orange trim pieces that go at the top and between the units - everything was about to be sent to the shredder. If there is any interest, let me know and I'll pass on the info. I can do any checkout anyone wishes later in the week. CRC

17 years, 1 month

what are these for? NCR keyboards

by chrism3667＠yahoo.com

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item =200084143494&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love (and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list. http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/265

17 years, 1 month

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test-drb March 2007