On 21 Feb 2010, at 07:45, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote:
>
> Message: 26
> Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:46:08 +0000
> From: Nigel Bailey <nig.bailey at virgin.net>
> Subject: Re: BBC S.E. news classic computer feature
> To: cctech at classiccmp.org
> Message-ID: <4B7EDC70.7020407 at virgin.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Presumeably that's "Flossie"
> I watched the local BBC news, but we're in the Anglia region. Did you
> "youtube" the clip?
I think the BBC would not like me putting their copyright programmes up on U-tube.
I'm looking for a VT100 advanced video option board. Or, failing that, if anyone has a .100 spacing, 50 pin dual row female connector so I can makes one...
The circuit is really simple, it's just a plug-in board that gives the VT100 some extra RAM so it can display 24 lines of text in 132 column mode, and do some extra character attributes. I cooked up plans to build my own based on the schematics in the printset (and using some newer SRAMs), but when I actually pulled the logic board out of the terminal I realized that the header connector it plugs into is a stupid spacing - .1 instead of the usual .156.
-Ian
I have a SawStop Contractor's saw and am pleased with it, even though I have not had the need to test its stopping feature. I did see one demonstrated with a hot dog at a trade show, though. The maker of the electronics (National Semi, IIRC) was doing the demo.
The stop works by slamming a block of aluminum into the blade, so if it fires, you have to replace both the blade and the stop mechanism, which I consider a trivial cost compared to replacing one or more fingers! The electronics do have a POST, but you are right that there is no way to fully test the unit without destroying it. If you do not have a spare brake unit, there is a keyed over-ride.
I think some of the reasoning in having to replace the whole brake unit is that (1) the electronics are a small part of the unit so the added cost is minor, and (2) there is much less chance of someone incorrectly installing the unit. While I would be willing to use a unit re-assembled by Tony, there too many incompetents out there who I would not trust to even plug in the unit correctly, much less reassemble one from parts.
Bob
----- Original Message -----
Message: 6
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:19:53 +0000 (GMT)
From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell)
Subject: Re: Soldering (Was: Re: HP-IB, Amigo/cs80 ... )
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Message-ID: <m1Niurz-000J3xC at p850ug1>
Content-Type: text/plain
> This is a pretty cool design for table saws:
>
> http://www.sawstop.com/
>
> "We're passionate about preventing saw accidents.
> That=92s why SawStop=AE saws are equipped with a safety
> system to stop the blade within 5 milliseconds of
> detecting contact with skin."
I am not convinced. My main moan is that you have to replace the complete
safety device if it trips? Why? I am darn sure you could make something
as quick-acting that was resetable.
Due to this, if it trips in the middle of a job and you don't have a
spare one to hand, you are going to find some way to disable it. Which
means you have no protection, but subconciously you will think you do and
won't take as much care.
Also, since you have to replace all the driver electronics every time
(why not just the fuse wire?) how do you know it's going to work? If it
was resetable, you could test it every month or som wy touching the side
of a the blade with a soft metal rod. If it trips, fine, if not, you fix
it. Better than that it not work when you need it. ?Of ocurse even if
you're prepared to waste a safety module every month to do that test, it
doesn't tell you anything. You don;t know the new one you've fitted is
going to work.
-tony
Hi,
Speaking of tubes, television variety or otherwise, does anyone know
if there are any tube-based computers, large or small, still in
existence?
I saw parts of one a few years ago at the Computer History Museum in
Silicon Valley but none that have approached a 'working' unit or
sub-unit!
Murray--
I'm rather surprised this thread hasn't brought up what has to be the most
complete, working order, and fully programmable of the remaining tube
machines. There are a couple of interesting systems in the process of
restoration, but for my money, the best of the running examples is the
Science Museum's (London's) Ferranti Pegasus. Unlike the Collosus replica,
this is an actual relic, and recognizably a programmable computer in the
modern sense. The Colossus and most of the later small systems are
pegboard programmed and therefore cannot alter their instructions in
flight. That Ferranti is demo'd regularly (though I never seem to be around
on the right day). I'm sure everyone can do their own Googling, but it a
pretty complete setup. I keep a loving photo of it in my office cubicle.
Thanks,
Colin Eby
Technical Architect
NR Performance Engineering
CSC
Some of you know that I have been selling some CDC disk packs on Ebay
- ones I pulled out of CyberResources.
I have noticed lately that there are some others selling packs on Ebay
- and they are using the text from my auctions.
My packs are either from Cyber's replacement stock, or are clearly
marked as crashed - the ones on Ebay are not. Consider these other
packs from these sneaky vendors as VERY QUESTIONABLE.
My Ebay name is TOOBER. Currently I have no packs on auction.
--
Will
the was posted to a amiga ircchannel some time ago,
http://www.softpres.org/glossary:kryoflux
Looks interessing, if there will be better drivers and accessable info
for writing or chaning the code on it, drive situation cant be much worse
than what we have with the catweasel.
Regards
--
Jacob Dahl Pind | telefisk.org | fidonet 2:237/38.8
FYI: the Living Computer Museum presentation will be a joint one, including my colleague Rich Alderson. Rich has been an active member of the 36-bit community for many years. -- Ian
________________________________________
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Rob Jarratt [robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 11:27 AM
To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'
Subject: DEC Legacy Event, Windermere, UK, 17th-18th April
I am sending the message below on behalf of the organiser of this event, as
he has been unable to resubscribe to the list:
Greetings,
I hope you don't mind me sending you an update on the DEC Legacy Event the
weekend of 17th & 18th April this year.
There are lots of exciting talks and demonstrations now lined up and lots of
kit to use, with more to come in the weeks ahead.
Please feel free to visit the website http://declegacy.org.uk for updates
and come join us for an interesting and social weekend in the Lakes!
Regards, Mark.
Current highlights are:
Kevin Murrell will be talking about the work at the National Museum of
Computing and the Computer Conservation Society preserving and restoring DEC
hardware. There will also be a video-link back to the museum to demonstrate
some of their 'less portable' DEC equipment, including the Blacknest PDP/11
used for seismic monitoring and their VAX fault tolerant system. He's
bringing along some choice exhibits in their collection including a PDP/8,
DEC Mate III and DEC Professional running RT11.
Colin Butcher is keeping us up to date by presenting technical details of
the new OpenVMS 8.4 release (including Clustering over IP/DECnet over IP,
performance enhancements etc.) as well as facilitate a mini-bootcamp where
participants will get an opportunity to try their hand at installing VMS,
clustering VMS or any other topic which is of suitable interest.
Ian King from the Living Computer Museum is joining from the USA and is
giving a presentation on the restoration of the DEC machines in their
collection. These include a PDP-10 model 2065 running Tops-10, a TOAD-1
running TOPS-20 and a VAX-11/780-5 running OpenVMS 6.2.
Dave Goodwin will be making a presentation on his PhD "Digital Equipment,
its Rise and Fall" answering the research question whether the sale to
Compaq was necessary or could DEC have survived on its own with the
technology it had.
Stephen 'Hoff' Hoffman, founder of HoffmanLabs, OpenVMS coder, publisher and
regular presenter at OpenVMS-related events will be joining us for a
presentation by video-link.
Jim Austin, Professor of Neural Computing, University of York, will be
demonstrating something of interest from his museum of DEC related hardware.
Equipment that will be on show includes:
PDP/8, DECmate III, DEC Professional running RT11, MicroVAX II & Microvax
3100 M80, VAXstation 4000/90, VAXstation VLC, DEC 3000/600 AXP, DEC
AlphaServer 1000A, ALPHAbook 1 Laptop, HP ZX6000, HP RX2600 server... with
more to come!
I am sending the message below on behalf of the organiser of this event, as
he has been unable to resubscribe to the list:
Greetings,
I hope you don't mind me sending you an update on the DEC Legacy Event the
weekend of 17th & 18th April this year.
There are lots of exciting talks and demonstrations now lined up and lots of
kit to use, with more to come in the weeks ahead.
Please feel free to visit the website http://declegacy.org.uk for updates
and come join us for an interesting and social weekend in the Lakes!
Regards, Mark.
Current highlights are:
Kevin Murrell will be talking about the work at the National Museum of
Computing and the Computer Conservation Society preserving and restoring DEC
hardware. There will also be a video-link back to the museum to demonstrate
some of their 'less portable' DEC equipment, including the Blacknest PDP/11
used for seismic monitoring and their VAX fault tolerant system. He's
bringing along some choice exhibits in their collection including a PDP/8,
DEC Mate III and DEC Professional running RT11.
Colin Butcher is keeping us up to date by presenting technical details of
the new OpenVMS 8.4 release (including Clustering over IP/DECnet over IP,
performance enhancements etc.) as well as facilitate a mini-bootcamp where
participants will get an opportunity to try their hand at installing VMS,
clustering VMS or any other topic which is of suitable interest.
Ian King from the Living Computer Museum is joining from the USA and is
giving a presentation on the restoration of the DEC machines in their
collection. These include a PDP-10 model 2065 running Tops-10, a TOAD-1
running TOPS-20 and a VAX-11/780-5 running OpenVMS 6.2.
Dave Goodwin will be making a presentation on his PhD "Digital Equipment,
its Rise and Fall" answering the research question whether the sale to
Compaq was necessary or could DEC have survived on its own with the
technology it had.
Stephen 'Hoff' Hoffman, founder of HoffmanLabs, OpenVMS coder, publisher and
regular presenter at OpenVMS-related events will be joining us for a
presentation by video-link.
Jim Austin, Professor of Neural Computing, University of York, will be
demonstrating something of interest from his museum of DEC related hardware.
Equipment that will be on show includes:
PDP/8, DECmate III, DEC Professional running RT11, MicroVAX II & Microvax
3100 M80, VAXstation 4000/90, VAXstation VLC, DEC 3000/600 AXP, DEC
AlphaServer 1000A, ALPHAbook 1 Laptop, HP ZX6000, HP RX2600 server... with
more to come!
