July 2012 - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

by jonas＠otter.se

On Sat, 7 Jul 2012 20:21:13 +0100 (BST), ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) wrote: > One of my hobbies at school was disrupting lessons by asking nasty > qeustions _on the subject of the lesson_. Point being had they kicked me > out for doing that, my parents would have exploded with the school > Seriously. > > I once walked out a physics lesson and said I would only return when the > teacher had actually learnt some basic physics. That did not go down > well. But, you know, I am still waiting for a defintion of a (scientific) > measurement that does not involve comparison to a standard. > > I think the problem was more with the school than the teacher, they should have got a teacher who knew the subject. Sadly, there is the same problem here. A lot, if not most, of the primary and secondary school teachers-to-be here do not know even basic mathematics. The University here (the one which produces engineers and Ph Ds in engineering, physics and chemistry) added an extra year to the M Sc courses long ago, so as to allow the students to catch up with the maths and physics. Even in the early 1970s, the curriculum in the UK up to O-levels was at least a year ahead of that here in Sweden; I went to a school for a year in Yorkshire when I was 15 (5th form) and during that one year I had to catch up with half the 4th form maths and physics, in addition to doing the 5th form syllabus and taking O-levels. When I came back I learned no new maths, physics or chemistry for the 3 years at school here until I went to University. I should have stayed on in England. /Jonas

12 years, 11 months

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Film Recorders (Agfa PCR II)

by Arno_1983＠gmx.de

ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) wrote: > > > (...) it displys TV-rate video on an > > > internal CRT and photographs it. > > > > > > There's a colour fitler wheel (red, green, blue and a hole) so it cna > > > print a colour inamge in 3 goes. > > > > (...) > > AFAIK mine only does NTSC-rate video (OK, for the pedants, RS170 rate > video), there is certainly no itnernal framestore. (...) there's a disk > with 4 filters (one clear, maybe just a hole) and a stepper motor to > move them. There is some kind of control board, I seem to remember it's > microprocessor based,. maybe even an 8080. And not much more. I don;t > rememebr there being an internal NTSC or PAL colour decoder. So it must takes RGB component input (no decoder) and you have to feed it a "freeze frame" video signal, i.e. keep the image content static (no framestore) until the three exposures have been completed? > (...) As I mentioned, the optics is a standard, and not very > good (Soligor, I think) enlarger lese. It's essentially fixed focus > (well evetyhing is at a fixed distance, so that's OK), it's fitted to a > meatl tuve which slites into the camera body and is lcoked by a > setscrew. Presumably you can focus it if necessary when you repari the > unit. > > I also got what looks ot be a home-made bracket with it. 'Home made' > meaning not a Polaroid product, I suecpt it was made in the workshops of > the university I got this thing from. This fits in place of the Polaroid > camera. It looks like it would have held a35mm SLR + motordrive (...) OK, so making a camera adapter in a "normal" workshop is confirmed to be possible. Apart from interfacing the signals, it looks as if the most complicated part of it was somehow joining the camera body, the lens and the distance tube in a mechanically solid and light-tight fashion without messing up the distances between the components as you go. > Err, yes... I think if I was going to make this, I would start wit ha > dead electronic SLR, though. On the grounds it has interchagealbe lenses, > a motor to wind the film and solenoids to open/close the shutter. Then > remove the dead electroncis and make my own cotnrolelr. Whether I'd leave > the mirror in palce I don;t know, it might be easier to do so if the > sugger mwchanism depends on it for the corraect sequece. Seems like a very sane approach. I'll have to see what I can come up with, as I know for sure I don't have a broken SLR in my junk box... > Well, an enlarger lens is typically used to enlarge :-). What I mean is > that the distance from the front to whatever (paper in an enalrger) is > longer than the distance from the back to whatver (negative in an > enlrager). So if you put the CRT where the paper would be and the film > (in the cmaera body) where the negative should be, it'll work and > produce a reduced image of the CRT on the film. > > That sounds like waht yuu want. Ahh, I see. I had something backwards but now I can't see what it was... Thank you so far, Arno.

12 years, 11 months

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WTB DECserver telnet Terminal Server

by markbenson＠mac.com

As the subject suggests, I am looking for DECserver to go with a VT510 that will allow me to telnet to hosts without a full 'middle-computer'. If available also some ports to hang serial connections (MJ11 or d-series) to would be great too. -- Mark Benson http://markbenson.org/blog http://twitter.com/MDBenson

12 years, 11 months

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Poor Steve is dead, poor Steve Jobs is dead...

by john＠yoyodyne-propulsion.net

On Thu, Jul 5, 2012 at 7:47 AM, Mark Benson <md.benson at gmail.com> wrote: > A lot of people are already touting them as having designs on the TV and entertainment market. > Another Apple TV will go over like a Lead Zeppelin. (Then again, the Newton was a disaster so maybe they will get it right this time.) -- Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems: "The Future Begins Tomorrow" Visit us at: http://www.yoyodyne-propulsion.net -------- Doctor: You know when grownups tell you, "Everything's going to be fine" and you think they're probably lying to make you feel better? Amelia: Yeah. Doctor: Everything's going to be fine.

12 years, 11 months

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Today, in the bus to work...

by elson＠pico-systems.com

cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2012 21:07:39 +0100 (BST) > From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: Today, in the bus to work... > Message-ID: <m1Sm9Nx-000J4TC at p850ug1> > Content-Type: text/plain > > >> .. I overheard two teenage girls examining each other on tech history. >> >> Girl A : "The first PC was ....?" >> Girl B : "...the Macintosh !" >> Girl A, looking in her textbook : "Correct !" >> >> Sigh....... >> > > ARGH!!!! > > >> Of course "first PC" is open to debate, but a Mac ? >> > > Can anyone give a resonable justification fo that answer. I actualyl > can';t think of anythign the Mac was 'first' for. > The Mac was the first MASS_MARKETED computer to use a mouse to steer a pointer on the screen. Of course, the Xerox Alto was the prototype of that. As for first PC, how about the Bendix G-15? Vacuum tubes, drum memory, and it sure only ran one program at a time, sometimes for weeks! Or, IBM 1620. Then, there was the LINC, about 50 were built in 1965, 2 K 12-bit words of core memory, discrete transistors, and a dot-drawing screen for editing online. Reel-to-reel mag tapes to serve like disks. And then the Altair 8080 and SW Tech 6800 machines. Jon

12 years, 11 months

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HP1630D, IBM "M" keyboards, PRO 350 or 380

by useddec＠gmail.com

My sons are helping me clean out one of my 25 foot storage lockers. I knew there was a little computer in this one, but it looks like about 1/3 computer items. Today I found two HP1630D logic analyzers, one of which has 7 pods. 4 IBM "M" keyboards, maybe 5 or 6 caps missing. PRO 350 or 380 missing cover, has RX50. I'll try to look at it tomorrow. I do have other 350 and 380 units and parts. Feel free to contact me off list if you have any interest. Thanks, Paul

12 years, 11 months

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Lisa Experts: Lisa 1.8A power supply test?

by wheagy＠gmail.com

Can anyone recommend a quick (safe) way to test a Lisa 1.8 amp power supply outside of the Lisa chassis? It appears that something (maybe pin X) needs to be jumped to make some of the power supply function outside of the Lisa? The only pin I currently get a reading from is pin 20 (~5.62v) which appears correct. I'd like to test more of the supply, if possible, prior to powering up the Lisa. Pointers appreciated. http://imgur.com/idthc http://imgur.com/PcFF6 Thanks, Win

12 years, 11 months

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which (Northstar?) computer used the Fujitsu M2551A 360k floppy drive?

by rampaginggreenhulk＠yahoo.com

I have one

12 years, 11 months

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DEC Flat Panel

by elson＠pico-systems.com

Date: Sat, 07 Jul 2012 11:24:28 -0700 From: Eric Smith <eric at brouhaha.com> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: DEC Flat Panel circa 1987 Message-ID: <4FF87EDC.50201 at brouhaha.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Peter C. Wallace wrote: > > Sure its plasma? Planar specialised more in EL and that yellow looks > > like EL to me > > My recollection was that DEC used a plasma panel, but I could be wrong. > I agree that the color in the photo is consistent with EL. Wow, you could be right, I'd completely forgotten about Planar! Jon

12 years, 11 months

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Philips P800 progress...

by iamcamiel＠gmail.com

Hi Everyone, I'm making some good progress with the Philips P800 minicomputers. I'm anxious to get an operating system running on them, and lack of working disk drives (I haven't been able to get one of the X1215 cartridge disc drives going yet), has pushed me in a somewhat different direction. I found an image of an X1215 disk pack containing a DOS version 5 installation on Theo Engel's website. I have implemented a very basic X1215 emulator in an FPGA PCIe card. Together with a small piece of software, and a cable with the necessary level converters, the emulator presents the X1215 disk images to the disk controller in the P800. The software is responsible for loading the image into the FPGA's memory buffer one track at a time. This now works to the point where the initial part of the IPL works correctly. Four sectors are read from disk, after which the P800 displays a "MONITOR?" prompt. After typing "DOM", there is another flurry of disk activity, then nothing. No "** DOS 05 **" banner. I noticed that the disk emulator never asks for anything other than track 0, so there is probably an error in the implementation of the SEEK command. To be continued...

12 years, 11 months

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AlphaServer 4100

by md.benson＠gmail.com

Not sure if this is 'classic' enough but I figured there are a few people here who might know the system much better than me. I have a AlphaServer 4100 that reached me in slightly rough but internally clean looking condition, it's not been run in a few years. First time I powered it up it it seemed to run through the diagnostics fine on the LCD panel at the front and finished up sat at what I assume was the text that has been programmed into the panel from the SRM (it looked like a hostname or something similar). I didn't have a terminal on the machine at the time so the panel was all I had to go on. I had to leave it for a while so I switched it of and switched off the mains. The next time I fired it up it got some way through the diagnostics and stopped on a message related to testing CPU 3 (the last of 4 numbered 0-3) and seemed to stop. I left it while I grabbed a terminal figuring it needed diagnosing via the terminal read-out. I powered it down, attached the terminal and powered it up and... nothing. The LCD screen sits completely blank, the terminal doesn't display anything apart from dumping a few characters of junk when I power it off. I have tried the following: - Removed all PCI cards. - Reseated all the cabling to the PCI backplane and comm's (serial/parallel) board including the LCD display connector. - Reseated all the RAM and CPU boards - Removed all but 1 CPU and 2 RAM boards (in slots ME0L and MEM0H) - Added a second CPU in case it - Checked the control panel cabling to the LCD panel - swapped the installed CPUs around to test at least 3 in 1 and 2 CPU configs When powered on, the diagnostic LEDs on the power management board look like this (top to bottom) 0 = on - = off * = scan at 1 sec intervals 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 * * * * All CPU cards have the following LEDs displayed 0 - 0 0 As far as I can see 2 LEDs are lit on the PCI bridge card (in the main) chassis (DEC's design failure means you can't actually see these directly) 0 0 I have followed through as best I can the diagnostic procedures in the User's Manual and Service Manual and neither have yielded progress or any obvious sign of fault, aside from the fact that I can't *find* the LEDs that are supposed to indicate 'POWER_FAN_OK' and 'TEMP_OK' on the PCI bridge adapter. If they are there they aren't on but I've no idea a WHERE they are. All three main fans are operating and seem to be shifting plenty of air, as are the CPU fans on the installed CPU cards. Other things that should be mentioned are the PSUs emit a constant 'bubbling' humming noise, but the power management board seems to thing they are fine, I'm a bit skeptical. I also had one PSU blow an input filter cap inside the mains input socket which was a straightforward fix and was replaced. Basically, I don't know the machine well enough to know what it might be. Any help appreciated. -- Mark Benson http://DECtec.info Twitter: @DECtecInfo HECnet: STAR69::MARK Online Resource & Mailing List for DEC Enthusiasts.

12 years, 11 months

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looking for a complete Tek Prism 3002 or just keyboard

by rampaginggreenhulk＠yahoo.com

send me e-mail

12 years, 11 months

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Known failure modes for the DEC H7441 Power Supply?

by jaquinn2001＠gmail.com

I am continuing to make progress with the power supply modules for the PDP 11/04. The previous week involved testing and replacing a few of the electrolytic caps... a few pictures and some comment (although no great technical insights) at http://www.quicktrip.co.nz/jaqblog. Today I got a chance to test the modules. One of the H7441 +5V supplies works fine (http://www.quicktrip.co.nz/jaqblog/images/BLOG_PDP11_5V_2.jpg) ... the output is a little high at 5.5v but that could be my meter calibration. I haven't played with the adjustment pot yet until I can confirm that my meter is reading correctly. The other +5V supply doesn't run ( http://www.quicktrip.co.nz/jaqblog/images/BLOG_PDP11_5V_1.jpg)... goes up to just over 1v as the AC comes up and then settles back to 0.5v. The DC voltage after the rectifier and across the main input capacitor looks OK on the meter. I have the PDP11/34 technical drawings with the schematic for the H7441 so will work though it but to get a head start, are there any common failure modes for these supplies that I should check first? The H745 -15V (http://www.quicktrip.co.nz/jaqblog/images/BLOG_PDP11_-15V.jpg) supply works fine although the Power OK bulb on the back has failed. I will replace it with an LED + resistor like the H7441. And assuming I sort out the last H7441 are then any recommendations on powering up the backplane? It has the following boards installed plus grant continuity cards as appropriate: M7257 RK05 M7256 RK05 M7255 RK05 M7254 RK05 M7258 Printer M7856 RS232/SLU M7860 General Device Interface M7856 RS232/SLU M7847 Memory M7847 Memory M7859 Console Interface M7263 Processor M9301 Unibus Terminator M7850 Parity Board M9202 Unibus Connector I assume it is good practice to draw a map of all the board locations, then remove them all, power up the backplane and check the power... but what is the next step. My guess is that a minimum set of boards would be the following: M7847 Memory M7847 Memory M7859 Console Interface M7263 Processor M9301 Unibus Terminator M7850 Parity Board Any suggestions? Regards Andrew

12 years, 11 months

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cctalk Digest, Vol 107, Issue 22

by elson＠pico-systems.com

> Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2012 22:35:02 +0100 > From: Mark Wickens <mark at wickensonline.co.uk> > To: General Discussion: On-Topic Posts Only <cctech at classiccmp.org> > Subject: DEC Flat Panel circa 1987 > Message-ID: <4FF75A06.4000006 at wickensonline.co.uk> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > In the ; > > > Ken Olsen Thank You Employees > > > video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vDjbTuwLqA&feature=related > I noticed this: http://www.wickensonline.co.uk/images/flat-panel.jpg - > the talk around this image is DEC World 1987. > > Of this screen grab I know: VSXXX-GA mouse, LK201-AA keyboard. > Can anyone provide any more information please? > OK, that is almost certainly a Burroughs plasma panel, the orange color is a giveaway, also the date. The technology was partly pioneered by William Papian, who worked with Jay Forrester on coincident current core memory and then worked on gas display panels at Washington University in the 60's and 70's. One of the really unknown pioneers of the early computer days. As for a manufactured product from DEC, I don't recall such a model. Jon

12 years, 11 months

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DEC Flat Panel circa 1987

by stsauveur＠desktopint.com

That display is a DEC VRE01 (electroluminescent flat panel) on a VAXstation 3100 I have a new one - still in the box - I haven't tried it yet.. :-) Phil St.Sauveur -----Original Message----- From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Zane H. Healy Sent: Friday, July 06, 2012 8:18 PM To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: Re: DEC Flat Panel circa 1987 At 10:35 PM +0100 7/6/12, Mark Wickens wrote: >video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vDjbTuwLqA&feature=related >I noticed this: http://www.wickensonline.co.uk/images/flat-panel.jpg >- the talk around this image is DEC World 1987. > >Of this screen grab I know: VSXXX-GA mouse, LK201-AA keyboard. >Can anyone provide any more information please? Unfortunately I can't remember any details, I think I heard about it years ago. It looks a lot like the screen provided to the US Military sometime around 1992 as part of a 3rd party Sparc portable system though. Zane -- | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator | | healyzh at aracnet.com | OpenVMS Enthusiast | | | Photographer | +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ | My flickr Photostream | | http://www.flickr.com/photos/33848088 at N03/ |

12 years, 11 months

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DEC Flat Panel circa 1987

by mark＠wickensonline.co.uk

In the ; Ken Olsen Thank You Employees video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vDjbTuwLqA&feature=related I noticed this: http://www.wickensonline.co.uk/images/flat-panel.jpg - the talk around this image is DEC World 1987. Of this screen grab I know: VSXXX-GA mouse, LK201-AA keyboard. Can anyone provide any more information please? Regards, Mark. -- Mark Wickens http://wickensonline.co.uk http://declegacy.org.uk http://retrochallenge.org https://twitter.com/#!/@urbancamo

12 years, 11 months

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Apple's Smalltalk-80 on Mac - Re: Smalltalk history

by toby＠telegraphics.com.au

On 06/07/12 8:32 PM, Jecel Assumpcao Jr. wrote: > Toby Thain wrote: >> Jecel, >> >> Then you will be aware that Apple themselves made several releases of a >> mature Smalltalk-80 system for Macintosh. The project was led, at one >> time, by Harvey Alcabes. I still have his business card in that role, >> from when I met him at the Apple Developer Conference where HyperCard >> (then codenamed Silver Surfer) was revealed. > > I have the 400KB floppy disks of version 0.7 of that system. ... I think I have the floppies somewhere too :) > > Lots of technical details about this system are available in the "green > book" ("Smalltalk-80, Bits of History, Words of Advice" Yes I owned that book, and "The Language and its Implementation". I used the Apple system for a while. --Toby > edited by Glen > Krasner), which like many other classic Smalltalk books can be found for > free at > > http://stephane.ducasse.free.fr/FreeBooks.html > > -- Jecel > >

12 years, 11 months

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DECNIS Information

by iamcamiel＠gmail.com

Hi All, I was looking for information on the DECNIS 600 router, and found this hilarious review, no doubt generated by a highly intelligent computer algorithm ;-) " DEC - DECNIS 600 B1201-MN - DNSAF-MN - - Review by Christopher I was given DEC - DECNIS 600 B1201-MN - DNSAF-MN - item yesterday. It has worked exactly as advertised. Good unit. User friendly to the position that I did not want to look over any information to operate. Checked the distances with other items and feels to be very right. Beaming I made the buy. I would recommend highly this unit to you. " "User friendly to the position that I did not want to look over any information to operate" is what cracked me up. Cheers, Camiel.

12 years, 12 months

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Zenith Minisport

by rampaginggreenhulk＠yahoo.com

anyone have a pinout for the power connector. I don't know what I did in the past, I know at least one of my 2 work. I think I put juice on the battery terminals to get a rudimentary display. Heard a buzzing too ick.

12 years, 12 months

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Smalltalk history

by elson＠pico-systems.com

Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2012 13:31:36 -0700 (PDT) From: Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Smalltalk history (was: Jobs - what's he done for us lately?) Message-ID: <20120705132617.F34140 at shell.lmi.net> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII I don't have much of any details, but I can point you where to find out. My cousin, David Ungar, was involved in it, and in "Smalltalk on a Risc", while he was getting his PhD at berkeley. One time, when I visited him in Evans hall, they had a Lisa (with hard disk!, and twiggy drive (with the double set of access holes in the floppy to make it easier to put thumbprints on the media)). HAH! Small World! Long ago, Dave was a good friend of mine at Washington University, haven't seen him in a few years. I used to go out to Berkeley on experiments, and dropped in for a chat several times while he was at Sun in Mountain View. One time Dave took me down the hall and introduced me to John Ousterholt. I didn't really know who he was at the time, but I do now. Of course, everything they did there was WAY ahead of its time. Jon

12 years, 12 months

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Free for pickup AEG/Telefunken Terminal

by hp-fix＠xs4all.nl

I've a AEG/Telefunken M28-12W (1974) terminal, it's free but local pickup only. I'm located in the Netherlands.. -Rik

12 years, 12 months

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Lenovo Laptops

by jon＠jonworld.com

On Thu, Jul 5, 2012 at 12:20 PM, Alexandre Souza - Listas <pu1bzz.listas at gmail.com> wrote: >>> Want a sturdy computer? Buy an IBM machine. Ops, Lenovo :P >> >> Lenovo Thinkpad laptops sadly are sliding towards 'plastic crap' and >> away from the 'solid built IBM quality' end of the scale. I have 3 Lenovo laptops in my possession, a T61 (from a former employer) a T420 (on-loan from a current customer) and a G550. They have consumer-grade and commercial-grade lines, with the T-series being the commercial-grade. The T420 still seems of excellent quality, even when compared to the T60/T61-era machines, and the T43 (T60 precursor and last of the IBM-branded stuff.) It has been sad to see them go from metal (magnesium?) casing to plastic over the years, but IBM had already initiated that change, IIRC. Given the abuse I've put my T61 through (weekly commutes from IND to YUL, IND to MSP, etc.) it has my vote of being a solid laptop. I don't see the T420 (current Lenovo) straying too far from that mark. Both my "T" systems run Windows 7. The "G" system is running Windows 8 preview. The G550 is another story. It's a consumer-grade system with a 16:9 screen and 1366x768 resolution. It's body is solid enough, but I've managed to have my DVD-ROM drive bezel pop off and go MIA. I can use it for browsing the internet, but not much else.

12 years, 12 months

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IBM docs in Chicago are safe

by wdonzelli＠gmail.com

I have now confirmed that one of the mainframe guys has rescued the IBM docs. Thanks all for offers of help. You may eventually be called for duty again, as there is apparently a whole bunch of microfiche there than needs to be rescued as well. I do not know the details, nor the urgency. -- Will

12 years, 12 months

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Today, in the bus to work...

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

On Tue, Jul 3, 2012 at 4:19 PM, Zane H. Healy <healyzh at aracnet.com> wrote: > At 11:40 AM -0700 7/3/12, Chuck Guzis wrote: >> I figure it's just a matter of a short time before the view held >> among young-uns is that Steve Jobs invented the computer. > > But... But... He did! And Paul McCartney is rumoured to have been in a band before "Wings". -ethan

12 years, 12 months

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Free to a Good Home (was Re: Megahaul on July 4th)

by iamcamiel＠gmail.com

On Wed, Jul 4, 2012 at 8:52 PM, Camiel Vanderhoeven <iamcamiel at gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Guys, > > Today me and my brother (truck driving license, no interest in old > iron) had the biggest haul of DEC stuff I ever had (ex-collector > moving to a smaller apartment). I'm picking up a second load in a week > or two. Pictures at > http://www.flickr.com/photos/7816395 at N04/sets/72157630422540146/ I did a little first sorting today, and have the following to offer for free to a good home (pickup in Wageningen, the Netherlands only!!!) - Bunch (15 or so) of BA350xx disk cabinets; some with personality module, some without; some with disks, some without; some with skins, some without. See this picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7816395 at N04/7507055270/ - New-in-box US Robotics modem - Complete VMS 4.4 documentation set (orange wall) - Presumed complete VMS 7.1 documentation set (paperback) - Complete RSX-11M 4.2 documentation set (orange wall) Of the BA350's, I already have way too many. The manual sets are those I already have. Contact me off-list to arrange pickup. If these aren't gone before the end of the month, they'll end up at the scrapper's (frankly, I don't expect much interest in this). Camiel.

12 years, 12 months

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Raspberry Pi and America, was Re: ST-506/412 to IDE/ATA/SCSI/? adaptor

by md.benson＠gmail.com

The key point behind it is the price is well on the right side of the price threshold between 'I'd like one but it's a bit too much' (about 40-50 GBP in my case) and 'That's cheap and looks good, I'll have one' (about 25GBP in my case). That's an important factor and why demand is so high (a little too high at the moment). Also yep there's more cost for extras but they, as many pointed out, are requisite for any board you buy, so a more expensive board shoves the total price point up by the comparative amount. In this case cheap means 'less than most other equivalents' not 'it's only 35 bucks!!'. The third factor is that by the time I had mine all the files, tutorials, etc. I meeded to get it going inside 2 hours were on hand. Last time I bought a minature ARM dev board I paid a lit more and it went back in the box after a couple of days because I couldn't find the stuff I needed to get it going (it was a few years ago) Raspberry Pi has been the dismetric opposite. Satisfyingly inexpensive, easy to setup and use. Now mine is running 24/7 pretending to be a VAX. The whole lot including extras cost me less than 50 GBP. Mark me satisfied. -- Mark Benson http://markbenson.org/blog http://twitter.com/MDBenson

12 years, 12 months

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IBM (Sony) 6091 19 monitor

by rampaginggreenhulk＠yahoo.com

I figured I'd pay my last respects before these got chucked. Could be in better shape cosmetically (but, uh, everything about a monitor is cosmetic, no?), but they were working the last time I turned them on. I used to get big bucks for these bad boys. But their day has long come and gone :(. Damned LCDs!

12 years, 12 months

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IMSAI switch paddle replacements

by dgriffi＠cs.csubak.edu

Can someone point me to a source for replacement switch paddles for the IMSAI 8080? Todd Fischer of imsai.net tells me that he has red ones, but no blue ones left. -- David Griffith dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text. Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing? A: Top-posting. Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?

12 years, 12 months

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Modern computers with docs

by elson＠pico-systems.com

Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2012 11:07:27 -0500 From: Mark Tapley <mtapley at swri.edu> To: <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Modern computers with docs (was: Re: PM 6100/60, was: Powermac...) Message-ID: <p0624080bcc18c0b8657a(a)[129.162.151.118]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed At 19:48 -0500 7/1/12, ARD wrote (more or less): > >More seriously, can you name a present-day computer where the > >manufactuers do supply schematics, data on ASICs, and the like? > Ummm, you want the transistor-level prints on a Core 2 Duo CPU? 290 million transistors! Really, if put on paper, it ought to fill a large room. The last machines I ever saw where schematics were available to the end users were the VAX-11/780 and the uVAX-II. The 780 schematics were as thick as a phone book and 11 x 17" pages. The uVAX-II was a lot smaller, it was a hierarchical description, but gave a lot of insight on how the processor and interface chips were organized. Jon

12 years, 12 months

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RCA/COSMAC 1802 assemblers in the 70's

by hilpert＠cs.ubc.ca

Does anyone recall anything about the availability of (cross-) assemblers for 1802 development back in their day? Not that I need to find an original, I'm disassembling and 'reverse- sourcing' the firmware (~700 bytes) for some equipment from 1977 with an embedded 1802, and just idly assessing what the likelihood is that it was produced with a machine assembler vs. hand-assembled.

12 years, 12 months

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cctalk Digest, Vol 107, Issue 11

by elson＠pico-systems.com

Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2012 23:53:51 -0400 From: Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Modern computers with docs Message-ID: <CAALmimn-hHdHA8xCf4CLfdkkvwCjzptq-tnh4V4AbwK=TvPT-Q at mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 On Tue, Jul 3, 2012 at 10:33 PM, Jon Elson <elson at pico-systems.com> wrote: > > The last machines I ever saw where schematics were available to the > > end users were the VAX-11/780 and the uVAX-II. The 780 schematics > > were as thick as a phone book and 11 x 17" pages. The uVAX-II > > was a lot smaller, it was a hierarchical description, but gave a lot > > of insight on how the processor and interface chips were organized. > The 11/750 and 11/730 also had full schematics and assembly drawings on thick slabs of 11"x17" paper, accompanied by several 8.5"x11" tomes of technical descriptions. I think even DEC stopped providing that level of documentation in most cases after about 1983 or so. I remember plenty of detailed Qbus docs but I don't remember running across the uVAX-II printset. That would be interesting to review. I have a KA-630 print set, if anyone in interested. Probably it should be scanned and archived with bitsavers. It is 11x17, and about 3/8" thick. Jon

12 years, 12 months

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Powermac G5 won't start

by md.benson＠gmail.com

Hi, This is a generic fixit for PowerPC Macs but always worth a try: - Unplug the unit from the mains. - Remove the NVRAM battery - Leave to stand for *at least* 2-3 hours - Power up The issue is the NVRAM (referred to as PRAM on a Mac just to be contrary) becomes corrupt as the battery runs down. If the machine has been stood unused for a long time it may have this aforementioned amnesia. I have, however, heard a lot of sorry tales of PowerMac G5s suffering all manner of weird problems with PSUs, leaking liquid coolers and more. It's worth thoroughly checking the whole system over before proceeding. -- Mark Benson http://markbenson.org/blog http://twitter.com/MDBenson

12 years, 12 months

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Raspberry Pi and America,

by md.benson＠gmail.com

On 4 Jul 2012, at 09:37, Rob <robert at irrelevant.com> wrote: >> There is a chance, I reckon, that the RasPi may end up like the IBM >> PC. Quite respectably successful in its own right, but more important >> for the whole market sector it spawned of enhanced-but-compatible > > I think that's actually the point! Exactly. They aren't doing this for the profit, they are doing it for the drive into the community and to get people programming as a hobby. While yes I appreciate people have battered on about the documentation being part under NDA and that sucks for driver development, really that's not the part they are most interested in leveraging, they want a small device that people, kids especially, can doodle about with languages like C, Python etc on to get them enthused about creating software in a modern context in order to inspire a new generation to grow up with computer programming on the brain. The project is at an early stage, really largely still late development, but it's got the important thing - large amounts of traction with the community and a friendly introductory price tag. -- Mark Benson http://markbenson.org/blog http://twitter.com/MDBenson

12 years, 12 months

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2 X 12 micro backplane 54-13211, 1979

by useddec＠gmail.com

Does anyone know what this is or what it was used in? Thanks, Paul

12 years, 12 months

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IMSAI switch paddle replacements

by elson＠pico-systems.com

Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2012 14:19:58 -0700 (PDT) From: David Griffith <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu> To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: IMSAI switch paddle replacements Message-ID: <alpine.DEB.2.00.1207031419440.9191 at sleipnir.cs.csubak.edu> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; format=flowed; charset=US-ASCII Can someone point me to a source for replacement switch paddles for the IMSAI 8080? Todd Fischer of imsai.net tells me that he has red ones, but no blue ones left. In this day of 3-d printers, maybe you can find somebody to print some. You ought to be able to get the ABS filament in blue. Jon

12 years, 12 months

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Strange Core Memory Behavior in a PDP-8/L

by elson＠pico-systems.com

Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2012 20:11:01 -0400 From: Michael Thompson <michael.99.thompson at gmail.com> To: cctech <cctech at classiccmp.org> Subject: Strange Core Memory Behavior in a PDP-8/L Message-ID: <CAH1BU=9z5sOj5rw0dzb1hPe4PTrMvYpjiOv2dPRnrXJ-5CuqwA at mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 The RICM is still wrestling with the core in the PDP-8. After replacing some diodes on the core stack we have all addresses working. We observed an interesting core memory behavior during our debugging last Saturday. We started the memory alignment procedure by looking at the STROBE FIELD 0 signal and the amplifier output on pin E1 of the sense amplifier. The STROBE signal was very late compared to Figure 5-6 in the 8/L Maintenance Manual. We ran a short JMP loop and adjusted the relationship with the trimpot on the M360 delay module. When we halted the processor and tried a examine core we only got just zeros. We adjusted the M360 delay back where it was and single step worked again. We found that the strobe-to-one-bit relationship was almost 100ns earlier when in single-step than it was with the processor running. We checked the whole timing path from MEM START at pin N2 of the M113 in slot C03, through all of the gates, delays, and flip-flops, and found no timing difference between single-step and running. Right now it looks like there is a 100ns delay difference between the READ(1) signal that turns on the current in the core and the bit signal showing up on the E1 pin of the sense amplifier when in the single-step and running. Is this normal behavior? The first thing that comes to mind is one-shot recovery time. I might guess that some component has degraded, and the one-shot has a different delay when it has been recently triggered vs. when it has sat for a while. (I'm assuming a classic 8, with discrete transistors, not a later machine built with ICs.) Most specifically, there probably is a transistor that resets the capacitor at the end of the one-shot cycle, and if that transistor is weak, it may not get the cap fully discharged before the next memory cycle starts. Most core memories had circuits to adjust drive current based on core plane temperature, maybe some adjusted timings as well. Also, check for dead decoupling capacitors, these could allow noise when running to alter timings. Jon

12 years, 12 months

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NEC Spinwriter 5525 available

by iamvirtual＠gmail.com

[I hope this is on-topic; I believe the machine is at least 20 years old] I have a NEC Spinwriter 5525 printer that is available for the cost of shipping (free if you pick it up). The printer is a wide carriage and appears to have a RS232 serial interface. I do not know if the printer works or not. The machine is located in Langdon Alberta Canada (postal code is T0J 1X1) which is approximately 10 minutes east of Calgary. The machine is rather heavy. I estimate 50 pounds or more. If there is no interest, the machine is headed to the e-waste recycling. I can send pictures upon request. Contact by e mail: i a m v i rt ihatespam u al @ @ @ g ma il . c om <-- remove spaces and ihatespam Thanks! --barry

12 years, 12 months

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sizeof(weird_things) was Re: SPI and I2...

by mtapley＠swri.edu

At 21:58 -0500 7/2/12, Cameron wrote: >Fortunately they only made this assumption a few places, but figuring out >what broke was maddeningly fiddly. ...and for the record, the resulting (I assume) TenFourFox rocks! http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox/ There are multiple websites I use daily that load faster and better on TenFourFox than on Safari on my PowerBookG4; the (on-topic) iMac G3 is a no-contest win for it. Cameron, thank you! Anyone else surfing the web with a PowerPC Mac, I commend the above site to your attention. (no relation, just satisfied user). -- - Mark 210-379-4635 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Large Asteroids headed toward planets inhabited by beings that don't have technology adequate to stop them: Think of it as Evolution in Fast-Forward.

12 years, 12 months

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Chicago help requested (tick tick tick)

by wdonzelli＠gmail.com

> So, if there is someone out there that could pick these items up > (Woodridge, IL - a southwest suburb), I would appreciate it. Time may > be short. Please let me know offlist. I just received a note saying this must be done today or tomorrow, as the family departs on Wednesday! -- Will

12 years, 12 months

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Teletype/Dataspeed Model 40

by silent700＠gmail.com

You never do know what you'll find on Craigslist. This time my bad terminal habit gained another 200lbs of trouble with the acquisition of two very interesting Teletype Model 40 CRT terminals, attractively badged as the Bell System Dataspeed 40. The accompanying printer came with them, as well as two very thick volumes of the Shop Manual for these machines (which may be the same as what is already on Bitsavers - I will check.) A very clean KSR33 Teletype was thrown in to round out the deal. Here are the initial pics (shop manuals are stuck somewhere in the car, will add them soon:) https://picasaweb.google.com/102190732096693814506/TeletypePickup Not much info out there on these terms. In fact, given the number of labeled cards inside them, I'm not even sure they're strictly terminals. I have read about local storage options, cluster controllers and other peripherals which suggest that TT or Bell may have tried to sell them as an office computing solution as well as terminals. All I know is they are extremely heavy, probably thanks to the massive PSUs in the bases. The CRTs slide off the two stalks in the base, which contain the power and signal connectors. The keyboards detach from the front of the base as well. Very modular, novel design - and essential if one was to have any hope of lifting these things. The "printer" is only a shell. I thought at first it may have been harvested for parts (I was told they came from the estate of a deceased IL Bell repair instructor) but given the connections inside the enclosure, I am wondering if it was designed to accept a standard Teletype mech. Of course, any knowledge out there that can be added here is appreciated. (No I haven't powered them on yet...) -j -- silent700.blogspot.com Retrocomputing and collecting in the Chicago area: http://chiclassiccomp.org

12 years, 12 months

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Chicago help requested (update)

by wdonzelli＠gmail.com

At this point, one of the mainframe list guys has offered to pick up the stuff, but I am waiting for confirmation. -- Will

12 years, 12 months

1
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Z80 CLK DRV

by lehmann＠ans-netz.de

Hi, I'm doing a circuit diagram of a SA1100 Disc Controller built with a Z80 CPU. On the controller, I have two blue devices lables "Z80 CLK DRV" on the board, and HPI-1014-782 on the device itself. the "-782" is the date of production most likely. I have no idea about the pinout of those devices nor do I know where to finde datasheets to make a component for my CAD software. Heare you'll find a picture of such devices I mean (different board, but same devices) http://www.picfront.org/d/8Ik2 Any hints of what this is, how the pinout is, and where I can find a functional description of this device would be welcomed. Greetings, Oliver

12 years, 12 months

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Working with accounts

by cctech-bounces＠classiccmp.org

We have an excellent opportunity for an apprentice applicant to join a rapidly expanding company. An at home Key Account Manager Position (Ref: 92552-205/6HR) is a great opportunity for stay at home parents or anyone who wants to work in the comfort of their own home. This is a genuine offer and not to be confused with scams! The successful candidate must have the ability to handle calls efficiently whilst maintaining the highest levels of customer service and being courteous. Applicants must have an excellent telephone manner, have a friendly approach, excellent communication skills and be computer literate. You must have the ability to type and talk at the same time to customers, as you will be taking customer details over the phone and inputting data onto company database. Requirements: computer with Internet access, valid email address, good typing skills. If you fit the above description and meet the requirements, please apply to this ad stating your location. You will be processing orders from your computer. How much you earn is up to you. The average is in the region of US$600- US$750.00 per week, depending on whether you work full or part time. If you would like more information, please contact us stating where you are located and our job reference number - 92552-205/6HR. Please only SERIOUS applicants. Our contacts: Josue at careerin-finance.com Thank You!

12 years, 12 months

3
2
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Data General Power Supply?

by jon＠jonworld.com

Folks, I have happened upon a fairly nice-sized Data General Power Supply board. It's about 8" square with 2 x 120-pin plug connector the length of the board. It says "650W AC autoranging power supply, (C) 1996 Data General 107003838_02/04" and has a very tiny printed label with a part number and serial number. The part number I've made out as 665643739, although the printing is so tiny it could be?885643739. My wife says 005043739. Google turns up nothing. I actually have two. These are essentially NOS parts and seem unused/clean. Here's a photo:?http://i.imgur.com/ZyYYq.jpg Is there any interest in these? What are they? -- -Jon Jonathan Katz, Indianapolis, IN.

12 years, 12 months

2
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Chicago help requested

by wdonzelli＠gmail.com

I am looking for some help in the Chicago area. Very recently, an IBM mainframe old-timer passed away. He has some old manuals and so forth that the family would like to save, but they understandably are too busy. Of note is a 16 mm film concerning the release of OS/360, which was to go to CHM. So, if there is someone out there that could pick these items up (Woodridge, IL - a southwest suburb), I would appreciate it. Time may be short. Please let me know offlist. -- Will

12 years, 12 months

1
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AlphaServer 4100 RCM

by markbenson＠mac.com

Does anyone know what the spec and polarity is of the 12V PSU port for the AlphaServer 4100 Remote Console. I'd like to be able to use it when the machine is offline. -- Mark Benson http://markbenson.org/blog http://twitter.com/MDBenson

12 years, 12 months

1
0
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Z80 CLK DRV

by elson＠pico-systems.com

Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2012 21:42:31 +0100 (BST) From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Z80 CLK DRV Message-ID: <m1SlQyb-000J4jC at p850ug1> Content-Type: text/plain I cna't help wit hthe pinout, but I can guess the function. IIRC the clock input of the S80 is not actually TTL compatible, it needs to be pulled up to the 5V line.My guess is that thes are clock driver cirucits for this signal, they take a TTL level singal in and give out the genuine 5V signal for the Z80 clock input. I used to do a lot of Z80 designs, most with classic Zilog Z80s, but also some later ones with Harris CMOS Z80 clones for battery-powered applications. I don't recall a lot of difficulty with the clock generation, I used classic 74xx chips. Generally I started with a faster xtal oscillator and divided down with something like a 74HC161, so maybe that was all that was needed to get the right clock swing. Jon

12 years, 12 months

1
0
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Philips P2701E Terminal - Configuration

by wolfgang＠eichberger.org

Hi all, does anyone have a hint how to configure a Philips P2701E serial text terminal. I found zero Information in the net.... Are these some kind of rebadged equipment? Regards, Wolfgang

12 years, 12 months

4
4
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Break-ins

by ggs＠shiresoft.com

Got a bit of a scare this week. I have most of my equipment stored and I received a call indicating that the lock on one of my units was missing. The management put a "temporary" lock on the unit until I could get down and survey what was going on (and put a new lock on it). I went down this morning and there in front of the door to my unit was my lock that had been cut off (I suspect with bolt cutters). Fortunately, there doesn't appear to be any mischief (other than having to replace the lock). I suspect that someone was confused (and probably lost the key to their lock) and opened my unit. When they saw what was in it they moved on. The reason that I suspect this was that nothing was disturbed and there are several obvious items near the front that would've probably gone missing if theft was the motivation. I put a new high security lock in place of the old padlock and will probably replace my other padlocks with high security locks to prevent this sort of thing in the future. TTFN - Guy

13 years

13
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H745 Power Supply Repair

by jaquinn2001＠gmail.com

Continuing to make progress on the 11/04. The H7441 supplies are still to be tested. The 24000uf input capacitor is faulty on one and while waiting on the replacement I also noticed one of the 1200uf capacitors in the output CLC filter was leaking. Now waiting for parts to replace both CLC filter capacitors (560uf and 1200uf) in each supply before I power them up. Moved on to the H745. The two output capacitors test file but the big 31000uf electrolytic after the rectifier is faulty and needs replacement. Any suggested on a replacement other than same spec... it seems a bit highly spec'ed for what this module is doing. Regards Andrew

13 years

1
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test-drb July 2012