> From: tony.eros at machm.org> Subject: Comdyna GP-6, Minivac 601 documentation> > Does anyone have documentation sets for either of these systems? I seem to recall a while back that someone had a full set of Minivac manuals that were going to be scanned, but I never heard anything more.> > Also, I recently picked up a GP-6 and am looking for a user's guide or other operations manuals.> > Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.> > -- Tony
Hi Tony
The GP-6 has basic docs on the web someplace. I have a GP-20
but the principles are the same. They have a fast and a slow setting
for the integrators. It also has a reset for these as well.
If you don't find the Comdyna stuff with a search, I can
look for you.
Dwight
_________________________________________________________________
Find a local pizza place, movie theater, and more?.then map the best route!
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&ss=yp.bars~yp.pizza~yp.movie%20theate…
Can anyone recommend a good source for Compactapes for a TK50? With all
this talk of TK50s & DLT tapes I'm reminded that I have a PDP 11/83 and
a MicroVAX 2000 that I'd like to write some OS tapes for, but lack
media... I see a few for sale here and there on eBay but I'm not sure I
want to go that route yet...
Thanks...
Josh
Hi
Thanks for the detailed information. Having found the full set of
docs in the box plus my what I remember from DEC, as I was there when
this kit was current. I had a general idea as to how it worked. As my
other hobby is amateur television (I build ATV repeaters) at least I was
able to understand what you said.
As to the VR241 I agree. A non working one would be a bit of a
challenge. I'm trying to think of another DEC RGB monitor from around
that time that might have been used. Do you know I can't actually
remember if the one I had at DEC had one monitor or two. My best guess
is I had one VR241 on my desk. I certainly used the Rainbow VT220 mode
to talk to the SWS VAX for email, printing etc. Yes that's right email
in 1983! DEC had a system called AllInOne or DECmail and IBM's system
was called PROFS.
There were standard DEC cables for the one/two monitor configuration.
However I can make up cables from a diagram if needed.
Thanks and Regards
Rod Smallwood
(Now seeking any DEC RGB monitor current between 1982 and 1990)
-----Original Message-----
From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Tony Duell
Sent: 15 August 2007 22:43
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: DEC Rainbow 100+ Plus
> So phaseII is to locate a VR241 which is the 13" RGB colour monitor
> that would have been used with the Rainbow when it was current
> equipment. The Rainbow is specified to work with both monitors
attached.
YEs, you can use both the mono and colour monitors on the 'bow, but you
need a special cable (and specialk programming?)
Let me explain.
The colour video card outputs _4_ video signals, which I call R, G, B,
Mono. The 'Mono' signal is mixed with the text video from the 'VT100'
circuit on the 'bow mainboard. This is the composite video signal that's
sent to the VR201 (yes, you can use a mono monitor with the graphics
card)
The standard colour monitor is a sync-on-green TV rate analogue colour
monitor. The standard cable connects it to R, Mono, B (to the R,G,B
inputs on the monito), the 'G' output of the colour card is not used.
This means you get green text from the mainboard circuit, and colour
graphics.
You can make a cable to connect a mono monitor to the 'mono' signal and
the colour monitor to the R,G,B signals. You then get the mainboard
video on the mono monitor only (along with grpahics, if you program the
CLUT correctly), and colour grpahics on the colour monitor.
I can send you details of the cabling if you want it
Be warend that the real VR241 is a horrbile thing. It's actually a
Hitachi chassis, complete with the well-known thick-film circuit in the
vertical deflection stage. The PSU is plain crazy, the chopper is driven
(indirectly) by a windign on the flyback (line output) transformer. So
for the PSU to run, the horizontal deflection circuit has to be working
properly. To get it started, there's an astable multivibrator o nthe PSU
board that is disabled shortly after power-up, but which gets the
chopper going for long nwnough that the delfection circuits can rattle
into life.
Debugging one of thise is 'fun' for suitable values of 'fun'. Just about
all the likely-bits-to-fail have to be working before it'll do anything
at all...
-tony
Just found a couple of pages on DIY racks:
http://rack.modzone.dk/Worklog_rack.htmhttp://foobar.wykehamist.com/index.php?id=5
I think that the wooden version (second) would look very nice as a
tabletop unit. I'd probably use "biscuits" for the corners unless I
wanted to impress folks with my woodworking skill, then I'd make the
box of Bolivian rosewood with dovetailed joints...
Cheers,
Chuck
Hi
I am part way there in that a kind list member has found a VR201 for
me.
However having gone through the box of items that came with the Rainbow.
Lo and behold
the colour/graphics card, its installation manual and its programming
manual are all there.
My aim for all of my DEC collection is to get the systems back to the
condition that they left the factory in.
As to software, anything that would have been available to run on the
system during its normal life, is a collection target.
An now for a quick off topic excursion. I bid for on EBay and got at a
very low price an HP DesignJet 750CPlus A0 plotter.
Somebody had broken inkjet rule number one. "Never never use refilled or
non HP cartridges" They refill them through the vent hole. This enlarges
it, air gets in and it leaks. The ink catchment reservoir overflows and
ink gets everywhere.
So I was presented with a plastic end shell full of low grade black ink.
Desperate measures were called for. I turned the pressure washer loose
on it. The results were amazing the ink went into solution and got
flushed away. Result one totally clean cover.
So, at your own risk, dirty plastic may respond to careful use of a
pressure washer.
So phaseII is to locate a VR241 which is the 13" RGB colour monitor that
would have been used with the Rainbow when it was current equipment. The
Rainbow is specified to work with both monitors attached.
Rod Smallwood
(The DEC Collector)
-----Original Message-----
From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Tony Duell
Sent: 13 August 2007 22:10
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: DEC Rainbow 100+ Plus
>
> Hi
> I am now the owner of a DEC Rainbow 100 Plus. (10mb Hard Drive and
> all)
> Its just like the one I had on my desk at DECPark circa 1981=20 The
> good news is its got loads of software with it.
> The bad news is the tube in the VR201 monitor is shot.
> The screen has mould between the tube and bonded on faceplate.
> No amount of standard adjustment will make it bright enough to read in
> normal lighting.
> So...
> I need:
> =20
> a) A replacement tube.
IIRC, the CRT is a pretty generic one, a 7 pin (modified B7G base) with
11.5V heater. I usepect (without trying it) that any 12" 90 degree
deflection CRT with those cheacteristics will work.
Last time I needed a CRT (to repair a somewhat odd terminal), I found
the easiest/cheapest way to get one was to buy a monochrome portable TV
and raid it for the CRT. But can you still buy monochrome protable TVs?
> =20
> or=20
> =20
> b) a Digital VR201-A , -B or -C =20
> or
> =20
> d) A colour graphics card for a DEC Rainbow. 100+
e) A normal TV-rate composite monitor and the right cabling. Basically,
you have to wire up an RJ11 socket to the right 4 pins on the DA15
connector for the keyboard, and take composite video (and ground) from
another 2 pins. By default the 'bow uses US rates, but I think you can
set it to 50Hz vetical on one of the setup menus, so it should be close
then to UK rates.
Let me know if you want to do this and I can dig out the pinouts, etc.
-tony
Hi Chris,
I was looking at your thread relating to the Data I/O Manual and understand
you have the manuals.
I picked a System19 unit up a couple of years ago and it came with the
Unipack & 001, 011 Adapters.
The manual I have only relates to the Adapter Codes & I have no info on the
Unipack Codes for Programming Chips.
Do you have a copy of the codes as Data I/O are no help at all.
Many thanks
Best regards
Brian
Does anyone have documentation sets for either of these systems? I seem to recall a while back that someone had a full set of Minivac manuals that were going to be scanned, but I never heard anything more.
Also, I recently picked up a GP-6 and am looking for a user's guide or other operations manuals.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
-- Tony
Sydex Floppy Driver I want to find a Sydex Floppy Driver Plase HELP Me!!a file of sydexfdd.sys5.1 / Windows (R) 2000 DDK provider of otherVersior thank you !
Does anyone have experience with connecting Model EZ135A SyQuest drives
(that read 135MB removeable cartridges) to PCs? I think they were
originally sold as external SCSI or parallel port devices. The bare drive
that I've got has an IDE type interface, but I'm told they don't identify
themselves properly on the IDE bus so that the PC BIOS doesn't recognise
them. (I'm trying to find a way to read some old archive disks).
>Message: 14
>From: "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com>
<snip>
>Reminds me of the old-time custom of making rack panels out of 1/4"
>masonite. I was thinking about 1/4" polycarbonate and a router (the
>machine tool, not the network gear).
<snip>
My favorite source for aluminum sheet for making brackets, supports, cases, etc., is a cookie baking sheet. They are a lot less expensive than buying metal sheet at a hardware store.
Bob
