test-drb June 2012

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

193 participants
237 discussions

TinyBASIC in HP2645A (was: Converting terminals into computers (was: Re: 1970s microprocessor magazine articles))

by ss＠allegro.com

Hi Klemens, Re: > We have working copies of these games: Keep on Drivin', Pong, Hacman > and Space Invaders run on our hp 2648 with a 8080 processor, and we > also have a version of Pong for hp 2644 with 8008 processor. Naturally > we saved them on our ftp-server. I never tried to load them via the > serial line, but would be interested to do that, because the cassettes > IIRC, we simply did the equivalent of "cat space.oct" or "cat pong.oct". (It was from MPE, so it was probably: FCOPY FROM=space.oct;to= ) I noticed in your README you mentioned overflowing the terminal at serial speeds ... that's solved by using enq/ack pacing, a strap you can enable on HP terminals (also called "flow control"). It's been awhile since I've used it, but I found a writeup here: http://docs2.attachmate.com/verastream/vhi/7.1/en/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.at… And, from Robelle's website at http://www.robelle.com/smugbook/network.html we see: ENQ/ACK is a proprietary method of flow control used on Classic MPE V systems and is still built-in to most HP terminals and enabled by default. The transmitter sends an ENQ (Enquiry, decimal 5, Control-E) every 80 characters (or so). When the receiver is ready for more data, it replies with an ACK (Acknowledge, decimal 6, Control-F). If there is no reply in 10 seconds, MPE V resumes printing printing (Term Type 10). If you disable ENQ/ACK on your terminal, you will see output interspersed with pauses. MPE/iX and HP-UX normally use XON/XOFF Flow Control instead of ENQ/ACK. So...you could have a little C program that loops: while data left > 0 if >= 80 bytes then write 80 bytes of data write an ENQ (decimal 5) read, waiting for an ACK (decimal 6) (preferably with a timeout of a second or two, in case ENQ/ACK isn't enabled on the terminal) else write remaining data Stan

12 years, 6 months

HP technical manuals for PCL5

by swtpc6800＠comcast.net

In 1993 or so I wrote some software to print images from my video frame grabber to a HP LaserJet printer. I ordered the HP technical manuals for PCL5; they were free with my LaserJet 4. The manuals weight 7 pounds and are available for the cost of shipping. If no one wants them they are off to the recycle bin. HP LaserJet 4 and 4M Printers User's Manual PostScript SIMM Technical Reference PCL 5 Comparison Guide Printer Job Language Technical Reference Manual PCL 5 Printer Language Technical Reference Manual (3.5 pounds) PCL 5 Printer Language Technical Quick Reference Guide Michael Holley

12 years, 6 months

Film Recorders (Agfa PCR II)

by Arno_1983＠gmx.de

Hello Folks, the recent talk about film recorders here made me think it might be time to mention one of my "wish list" items here again, just in case somebody happened across it recently. I know this is going to be a long shot but here is: I managed to secure an Agfa PCR II from University, but unfortunately it is missing the actual camera/optics/tubus assembly. The physical interface for it is a spare metal plate with two alignment holes and two thumbscrews on diagonally opposite corners, and a strange round 12-pin threaded connector for power and communication to the camera (shutter release, out-of-film signalling). There are several options available (the most common being 35mm and Type 120), but either people don't know what they are (which makes them difficult to find) or they know it (which renders them unaffordable, cf. http://www.mops-computer.de/plson01_.htm ) The standard one seems to be the 35mm cartridge film module, a modified Nikon N6000 a.k.a. F-601M camera. If these do appear in the market, they are sometimes converted back to standard, which involves removing a small controller PCB and rejoining some wire ends, cf. http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?topic_id=23&msg_id=001BtO . Please let me know if you have any leads on such an item. TIA, Arno Kletzander. -- Empfehlen Sie GMX DSL Ihren Freunden und Bekannten und wir belohnen Sie mit bis zu 50,- Euro! https://freundschaftswerbung.gmx.de

12 years, 6 months

Bits and pieces rescued from the remainings of the Computer Museum Aachen

by p.gebhardt＠ymail.com

Hi folks, I'd like to share with you my experiences, I made during March and April when most of the remaings of a big computer collection originally located in Aachen were thankfully mostly saved by the collectors in Germany. In March, there had been a brief discussion about remainings of the Computer Computer Aachen, Germany. As far as I understood, a couple of years ago, most of the collection could be saved thanks to the CHM and a donation of SAP, who made shipping from Germany to California possible from a financial point of view. The collection is since then known as the "SAP collection" and stored at the CHM.Bits and pieces, the CHM left behind in a warehouse in Dortmund, "re-appeared" in March. A very motivated person, who got informed about the vintage systems, tried then to locate and contact the renter of this warehouse via the landlord (which had to be located and contacted as well). It turned out that the content stored in this warehouse had to be cleared within 2 month, as the warehouse was going to be sold. This was a pure coincindence and destiny here was on the side of all those, who'd like to save ancient comouting systems from being scrapped, as that person actually tried to find collectors willing to save these remainings, as everything not saved would otherwise been scrapped. An post in a Robotron systems online forum (Vintage computer manufacturer from eastern Germany) had been placed with images of the parts. First come, first serve was the philosophy in order to give away for free the bits and pieces to collectors, whoever wanted to save these. I found the thread when I read about it here at classic-cmp, as another list member posted the information here and asked for information about and identification of the parts. So during the last three months, I went to this place more than once in order to try to save as much of complete parts as possible, I could, with the focus to get them back to working condition one day. During the first visit, other very nice collectors from eastern Germany were there as well. There was a very good atmosphere in trying to help each other to move heavy partsand cabinets around, to part with the bits in a fair way and to identify and estimate the conditions of these remainings. These are the days I like when you can meet new people who share this passion about vintage computing and save systems together from being scrapped. And that's how I have been knowing the collectors community in Germany so far. But for the first time, I also experienced different attitudes in this domain. With time, the discussions in that robotron thread where marked by rough tones of a person who stated that the remaings left behind by the CHM in that warehouse where "rejects" and therefore not worth or at least not interesting being picked up because of probably being incomplete and he treated the person who discovered the whole thing and opened the thread as unfair, as he felt the systems were already rewarded to others under doubtful circumstances. Another bad surprise, we had to face, was the behavior of a collector who was at the warehouse earlier than me and who took the opportunity to take with him two EAI 2000 analogue computers for somebody else, I originally was supposed to deliver to. The person in charge at the warehouse confound that guy with myself and asked him, if he was the one supposed to bring these machines to the person, who claimed interest in these. He said "yes" and took everything with him. Call it what you want, but that's seriously the first time, I face such nasty behaviour to put hands on vintage computers! I'd say that the real condition of a big lot of machines can only be identified properly, when being on site. That's exactly what I did. I stated interest in some parts of which I knew for sure that I could store them savely, in case their condition was satisfactory enough to resurect them to working condition one day. I also tried to save things which should belong together. Too bad, I was limited in space (the eternal problem). Otherwise I would have saved more. Anyway, the following could find a new home within "my walls". two Honeywell Bull Datanet systems (on Level 66 basis), can be hopefully transformed to normal mini-computer with approriate software Honeywell Bull reel tape drive with vacuum columns, complete (rebadged CDC tape unit, probably of type 669) Honeywell Bull terminal and printer Honeywell Bull disk drive (rebadged CDC BR3D4) with spare parts from another incomplete drive Control Data 604 Tape Transport Unit, all logic boards missing Control Data 854 Disk Drive, seems complete Control Data 841 Multiple Disk Drive, saved complete electronics and one complete disk unit with its hydraulic actuator, had no space for the entire cabinet :( Telefunken MDS-252 reel tape drive with vacuum columns, complete? (belonged to a TR-440 mainframe) Telefunken TR-4 console, complete? (rebadged IBM typewriter) Telefunken WSP-414 disk drive (rebadged CDS-drive) with concentrator-unit (complete) in order to connect up to eight drives to the TR-440 mainframe Telefunken LSS-150 power supply of a Facit paper tape unit DEC RP03, (ISS) with spare parts from another damaged and incomplete drive Pertec reel tape drive, complete NCR reel tape drive (rebadged CDC BW303 tape transport), one small PCB missing Logic boards from a CDC 608 tape unit (according to the person who organised the give-away, nobody ever showed interest in taking the complete unit) Unfortunately, I couldn't find documents online about all of these parts. So I'd kindly like to ask the list, if anybody has documents about the following ones, so that I could ask them in future, when I come to the point where I can start restoration of these: - CDC 604 and BW303 tape drives, 854 disk drive and 841 multiple disk drive - Honeywell Datanet (or Level 66 minis) documents and software - Telefunken schematics As you can see, I focused on peripherals, due to my particular interest in disk and reel tape drives. Maybe, a running Honeywell system can be obtained out of the stuff, I saved. Let's see how much can be resurrected of these in the years to come. Biggest problem regarding the disc drives will certainly be the missing disk packs and the probable re-calibration of the disk and tape units. The disk packs, I got from there, were all coroded to such an extend that they are most probably useless. The DEC RP03 drive came with two document binders containing schematics. Haven't seen them on bitsavers, yet, and will therefore scan them in near future. Kind regards, Pierre ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pierre's collection of classic computers : http://classic-computing.dyndns.org/

12 years, 6 months

Three Tons of Minicomputers

by pontus＠Update.UU.SE

Hi This is a shameless plug for something I and the Update Computer Club have been working on this spring and opened yesterday. The exhibition "Three Tons of Minicomputers" at Museum Gustavianum in Uppsala, Sweden. We have collected computers primarily used by the university at some point in time. Highlights include a Linc-8 and a DECSYSTEM-2060 with peripherals. Here are some pictures from the opening: http://www.update.uu.se/~jeppe/tmp/vernissage/ I strongly recommend anyone nearby Uppsala this summer to take a swing by Gustavianum. If you want a guided tour, let me know and we'll figure something out. It's only open for a few months, so don't wait to long. Regards, Pontus.

12 years, 6 months

relevant but OT: automatic document scanning

by jfoust＠threedee.com

At 09:26 PM 6/15/2012, steven stengel wrote: >I have used the Epson Workforce 645 - jammed a lot - I returned it. >I now use the Fujitsu Scansnap S1500 to scan BYTE and other magazines. >Works great, I love it - about $500 new. Great device. Yes, designed for extensive use. And they sell the consumables - cheap replacements for the pads and pick roller that might wear out after 50K or 100K scans. - John

12 years, 6 months

utterly free Machine Language for the Commie 64, 128,...

by rampaginggreenhulk＠yahoo.com

just send me your address. Jim Butterfield. Sent or tossed by Monday.

12 years, 6 months

looking for Apollo systems and parts, and to interface w/other Apollo groupies

by rampaginggreenhulk＠yahoo.com

There was a man in Kansas IIRC who had a bunch of Apollo stuff. I imagine it's long gone. If still available, please send me a private. I likely will be in that area w/i a month God willing. Never know what tomorrow will bring though. ?Come on Apollo gropies, I know you're out there. Let's be heard!

12 years, 6 months

Desiogns/Plans/Board Layouts for 6809 System

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Hi >From the N8VEM home brew computing project wiki front page: The three 6809 standalone computer boards available in the Eurocard (160 x 100 mm) format; the 6809/6802/6502 host processor, its 6809/6802/6502 IO?mezzanine, and the 6809/6802/6502 bus bridge.? A redesign of the 6809 host processor board has been completed and the new version supports 6502 and 6802 CPUs in addition to the 6809.? ? All Eurocard ECB?format PCBs are $20 plus shipping which is $2 per board in the US and typically $5 per board overseas. ? http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/page/4200908/FrontPage ? There are PCBs for the 6x0x host processor and associated boards still available.? There was quite a bit of active development on this system a few months ago. ? Thanks! Andrew Lynch ? ? --- On Wed, 6/20/12, Dave Wade <dave.g4ugm at gmail.com> wrote: > From: Dave Wade <dave.g4ugm at gmail.com> > Subject: Desiogns/Plans/Board Layouts for 6809 System > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 8:51 AM > Well we have had all the fun with 68K > designs, but I would really like > to build a 6809 system. Any one know of a source for boards > for a > simple system with say Serial Port and Parallel Port and > memory? >

12 years, 6 months

Desiogns/Plans/Board Layouts for 6809 System

by dave.g4ugm＠gmail.com

Well we have had all the fun with 68K designs, but I would really like to build a 6809 system. Any one know of a source for boards for a simple system with say Serial Port and Parallel Port and memory?

12 years, 6 months

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test-drb June 2012