test-drb August 2012

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

215 participants
247 discussions

by mloewen＠cpumagic.scol.pa.us

http://sturgeon.css.psu.edu/~mloewen/Oldtech/VCF-East2012/ Mike Loewen mloewen at cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://sturgeon.css.psu.edu/~mloewen/Oldtech/

11 years, 11 months

any interest in an IBM Displaywriter

by rampaginggreenhulk＠yahoo.com

I payed 100$, and had to pick it up in Queens/Nassau. I'll take 50$ plus shipping, from 08758. It works, but there is noticeable screen burn even when off. I have some disks, and the 8" drive cabinet.

11 years, 11 months

Wait! There's more including MS-DOS 1.25!!!! was Sanyo MBC-550 (Yuck!) software available

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

I'm still digging. I found more 550 stuff. I think this is everything that came with the 550. Here's a chance for you 550 owner's to get the whole set at one shot! Original DS-DOS box and invoice. Original Sanyo Easywriter ver 1.3 disk Original Sanyo disk box with 550 dos ver 2.11 and BASIC 1.25, two original Sanyo disk for InfoStar (set B disk 2 and 3 of 4; disks 1 and 4 are below), original Sanyo disk for DOS 1.25 and BASIC ver 1.1 Original Sanyo disk box with all three original disk of set A, WordStar and CalcStar and a backup copy of DS-DOS. Two card board dummy disks used to protect the floppy drives duing shipment. Joe > >A few weeks ago we were talking about the Sanyo 550 series and someone mentioned one of the alternates operating systems that supported 80 track drives in the 550. I said that was DS-DOS by Michtron. > > Today I found an old Sanyo disk package with four disks for the 550. One of them is DS DOS 2.11, one is InfoStar, one is MailMerge/SpellStar and the other is a disk of misc utilities. The first three are original disks. In additon, the InfoStar, MailMerge/SpellStar are Sanyo labeled disks that came with the 550. If anyone wants them, trade me something I can use and they're all your's. > > Joe

12 years

CP/M clones & compatible OSes

by lproven＠gmail.com

On 25 August 2012 15:29, Jules Richardson <jules.richardson99 at gmail.com> wrote: > On 08/23/2012 04:02 PM, Tony Duell wrote: > >> Does a non-CP/M box count? The Tatung Einstein? It runs soemthing called >> XtalDOS which is very CP/M-like (I think most of the calls are the same). > > I think that was true of Torch CP/N too, wasn't it? Which makes me wonder > how common "almost CP/M" variants were... That's a really interesting question, actually, I would say. [Does a bit of Googling] There were, it seems, various Torch Z80 addons for the BBC Micro. The only one I saw or used was a Disk Pack: http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk/docs/Torch/Torch_Z80DiscPack.pdf There was a time, when I was about 13 or 14, when I thought that this was about *the* most powerful and desirable computer setup I'd ever seen or heard of. ;?) What I had not appreciated until now was that Torch's version of CP/M was a special one, which ran from ROM. That is apparently why they called it CPN instead. There was also a standalone 2nd processor, no disk drives: http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk/8bit_Upgrades/Torch_Z802ndproc.html There's a user manual for a CPN system here: http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk/docs/Torch/Torch_ZDPUG.pdf It contains a little non-technical info: ? the TORCH CPN operating system, (a 16K ROM containing a CP/M compatible "look alike") ? ? INTRODUCTION The TORCH CPN operating system which is a CP/M "look alike" has much more flexibility than conventional CP/M. It has more "built in" commands and is easier to use. The most significant advantage of the TORCH CPN operating system, is that it is stored in ROM (Read Only Memory) rather than on disc. This means that on "power up" the TORCH disc pack and BBC micro are automatically ready to accept instructions typed in at the keyboard. ? Another CP/M compatible OS I was aware of was Pro-DOS for the MGT SAM Coup?: http://www.samcoupe-pro-dos.co.uk/whatisprodos.html ? What is Pro-DOS? Pro-DOS could be thought of as a Disk Operating System (DOS), However, it is more than this, it is a full Operating System that Provides compatibility with CP/M 2.2. In simple terms this means that a whole world of software that was designed to run under CP/M 2.2. will now run on the SAM Coup?. Pro-DOS uses the same Disk format as the Amstrad PCW 8256 and, as a result, it can read disks from this machine direct, this also Means that there is a vast range of software already available from sources such as Public Domain libraries. ? I hadn't realised it was by virus writer Chris "The Black Baron" Pile, who was imprisoned for writing Queeg, SMEG and Pathogen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Pile_(programmer) It is an admitted reverse-engineered effort as you can find from this interesting review, complete with an account of nostalgia-destroying 8-bit compatibility problems: http://www.samcoupe-pro-dos.co.uk/pdreview.html As for the Tatung, I've found very little info on XTal DOS, apart from something calling it " a compatible but beefed-up version of CP/M called Xtal DOS." http://www.tuicool.com/articles/myEBvq Anyone got more? Any more CP/M-compatible Z80 OSs? -- Liam Proven ? Profile: http://lproven.livejournal.com/profile Email: lproven at cix.co.uk ? GMail/G+/Twitter/Flickr/Facebook: lproven MSN: lproven at hotmail.com ? Skype/AIM/Yahoo/LinkedIn: liamproven Tel: +44 20-8685-0498 ? Cell: +44 7939-087884

12 years

Seeking information on some Qbus disk/tape controllers: Dilog DQ37, Emulex QT131 and UC07

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

Hi, All, I was going through a box of "interesting" cards last night and I came across three cards that I'm looking forward to using: o Dialog DQ37 - an S-box-handle Qbus SCSI controller o Emulex QT131 - a Qbus Pertec tape controller? o Emulex UC07 - a Qbus SCSI controller I found the UC07 manual on Bitsavers, so I'm good there for setup and configuration, but I was curious if anyone knows about different firmware revisions I should be aware of or seek to put on the card (I've owned plenty of Emulex communications controllers, and done plenty of firmware swaps on those, and since they put firmware (ROM chip) upgrade instructions in the manual, it makes me practically expect to have to do something to it). I could not find more than a couple of comments about the QT131, but I'm reasonably certain whatever jumper settings are on there are a) the defaults, and b) just fine. If anyone here has any experience with the QT131 or even better, a manual, that would be appreciated. As for the Dilog DQ37, I can find nothing except 3rd-party resellers offering to sell me one if I click the "give me a quote" button. The ones I have (2) appear to have the single-ended SCSI portion of the board populated and have a large bare patch that, from the component values on the silkscreen, seems to me to be for High Voltage Differential. No biggie. I don't have any HVD drives anyway. I don't own any S-box hardware, so "just plug it in an see what it looks like" is not the preferred method - I'd like to know more before I go further. I'm especially wondering if this is a TMSCP-only controller or if it will do MSCP and/or TMSCP, and if there are any firmware variations I should know about. So... anyone here know about these cards or where to find docs (besides the UC07 docs on Bitsavers)? Thanks, -ethan

12 years, 1 month

IBM 5151 green phosphor monitors for sale

by sellam＠vintagetech.com

I have a limited number of IBM 5151 monitors for sale. This is the classic green screen monitor that shipped with the basic IBM PC 5150. Condition is adequate. They are dirty but I will clean them up before shipping out. Will test for basic functionality. No burn-in or other problems, but no warranty either. The price is $30 each plus shipping. First come, first served. Please contact me directly via e-mail. Thanks! -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

12 years, 1 month

Gooey TU58 rollers

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Gooey TU58 rollers > From: "Ethan Dicks" <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> > Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:39:20 -0500 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >On 8/27/07, B M <iamvirtual at gmail.com> wrote: >> I am trying to get a Vax-11/750 machine up and running. It looks like the TU58 drive >> is suffering from the 'gooey roller syndrome'. > >Unsurprising. > >> I see that people have successfully used 1/2 inch (ID) Tygon tubing to replace the >> goo. Is there any specific type of Tygon tubing (eg. R3603, R2000, etc.) that is used? > >I don't know the particular variety I used in mine - I just went to >the Lowe's down the street and bought a foot of 1/2" ID tubing - >whatever they had on the shelf. I was unaware of a large amount of >varieties of tubing, so I just used what they had in stock, and it >worked perfectly. > >-ethan I started that many years ago like 1995ish. I spec'd Tygon (brnad name) as that was available to me. Most any generic Vinyl tubing works so long as it fits tight and has enough wall thickness. After about 10 years it tends to get hard, the fix is obvious. Allison

12 years, 1 month

Wanted: Research Inc. Teleray terminals

by legalize＠xmission.com

I'm looking for more information on the Teleray series of terminals >from Research, Inc. (Note: Teleray is the name of the terminal line, not the name of the company! Although later they referred to themselves as the "Teleray Division" of Research, Inc.) In particular I'm looking for manuals and other documentation. If you have a Teleray terminal and you're looking to get rid of it, I would be interested in purchasing it from you. I know of the following models: Year Model 1971 Teleray 3300 1975 Teleray 3900 1976 Teleray 3811 <1977? Teleray 3541 <1977? Teleray 3741 1977 Teleray 3841 1977 Teleray 4041 1978 Teleray 1061 1979 Teleray 10 1979 Teleray 11 1979 Teleray 12 1980 Teleray 14 <1981? Teleray 100 1982 Teleray 16 1985 Teleray 20-7305 <1990? Teleray 30 Thanks! -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 version available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

12 years, 2 months

Diagnosing and Reparing Commodore 64s

by ark72axow＠msn.com

Hello everyone, I was hoping for some definite direction in my endless quest to fix my C64. I don't have a lot of free time to work on this. So it is ongoing in many ways. Plus I am cautious about doing things that I know little about. Which can be good especially when you get people that give you conflicting advice. I do find a lot of helpful people on IRC, but you have to sort out what they are all telling you. I won't want to go and start buying all sorts of stuff and equipment without knowing why or then finding that I should have bought Y, when I bought X. I know a little. Bits and pieces here and there, but nothing that will give me confidence to just dive in. This is my quest to learn how to repair my C64: I started with my original C64 which I bought in 1987. I had left it in a garage for two years and then tried to use it and it didn't work. First I was told that I should clean my C64 with regular dish detergent and a hair dryer. I was told that this would solve many problems. Sounds unsafe, but I guess I will try it. Then I was told that I should buy another C64 since it isn't worth repairing them, since they are so plentifully available and cheap. So now I have many non-working ones. Then I need to replace chips that are bad, so I need to know how to solder and de-solder. Which kind of device to get ? There are different wattages and if you do it wrong then you burn up your boards (as a friend of mine did with more soldering experience did). Do I get a combination desolder sucker ? Or a little squeeze one ? Or a push and suck stick ? Do I get a soldering station ? A braider ? Too many different choices and combinations. I prefer something that will work and not damage my boards, and for desoldering, something that won't give me repetitive stress injury. Then I'm told to get a diagnostic cartridge for C64, which works well expect when the PLA chip is bad and there you can't see video. Then I should get a diagnostic harness, which works better, but again you need video. Then I find a Diagnose 64 cartridge which tells you which chips are bad very simply with LED lights, but they are hard to find. I'm borrowing one right now from a friend and figuring out how to use now. Then I'm told to get a multimeter, how do I use ? Which one to get ? I get one, then I'm told there is a better that could have been gotten for a little more money. Then I'm told to get a logic probe. Which one ? Again, how to use ? Then I'm told a logic probe is not as good as an oscilloscope. Which one ? How to use ? Then I'm told that I don't need an oscilloscope. Then I'm told to go to Ray Carlsen's site and that will have everything I need. http://personalpages.tds.net/~rcarlsen/cbm.html. Which is very nice, but I'm a beginner and I don't need just a bunch of schematics and reference material. I need step by step method which explains which tools, techniques etc. that I need to do. Then I'm told that going to the Rob Clarke and Bil Herd workshop would give me everything that I need to know. It is good information, but not hands on. Jeff B

12 years, 2 months

Serial Connection for UVax II with H8571-B

by tpresence＠hotmail.com

Hey guys and gals, I have tried and failed to get a successful connection between my uvax II and a pc rs-232 serial port. The H8751-B didn't seem to work, so I pulled it off and wired my own MMJ-DB9 connector. I have tested the MMJ cable, and it works flawlessly. For my connectors I have followed "The Cable" documentation at http://www.mcmanis.com/chuck/computers/vaxen/panels.htm (chucks house of vax), under "The MicroVAX II" section but it hasn't helped. I have tested the MMJ-DB9 connection from my uvax III consoles and from the microvax 3100 and it works fine, so I think the PC side is working correctly. The MMJ-DB9 on the pc side is DB-9 Pin Color Purpose 1 Pin 4 & 6 2 Yellow Transmit 3 Black Receive 4 Pin 1 & 6 5 Red Signal GND 6 Pin 1 & 4 7 N/A 8 N/A 9 N/A When I toned out the H8571-B connector and this is what it toned out to (using a straight MMJ cable out of the connector: H8571-B Pinout DB-9 Pin Color Purpose 1 N/A 2 Black Transmit (Tx+) 3 Yellow Receive (Rx+) 4 White DSR 5 N/A 6 Blue DTR 7 Red Transmit Ground (Tx-) 8 Pin 8 9 Pin 9 Any idea what pinouts I should use for the H8671-B -> PC connector cable should be? This situation is driving me nuts. Kevin

12 years, 3 months

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test-drb August 2012