test-drb September 2013

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

168 participants
203 discussions

by LYNCHAJ＠YAHOO.COM

Hi! Good news! I ordered a batch of the N8 PCBs. The N8 is a group project design from the N8VEM home brew computing project. I received some questions about the N8 so I am sending this bit of background on the project. The N8 project is on the N8VEM wiki and mailing list. I had previously offered the PCBs there and here on VCF directly to builders. However now I am also putting them up on VCGM to help get the word out a little better. The N8 is intended to be a "home brew" style computer in the style of early 1980's all-in-one home computers with a usable set of features such as color graphics, audio, an assortment of mass storage options, a variety of ports, etc. Although a bus expansion is supported no additional boards are required. The N8 is designed so builders can assemble it themselves using common tools such as basic soldering iron, VOM, etc. It is a simple two-layer board construction using all commonly available plated-through-hole (DIP and PLCC) components without requiring any SMT skills, programmable logic devices, etc. A quick summary of the N8 features: Processor & memory: Z8S180 CPU (Z80 compatible, 33MHz max), with 1MB SRAM and 512K Flash boot ROM (in-circuit reprogrammable) Primary Interface: Color video (TMS9918A), Sound generator (AY-3-8910), and PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports Mass storage: IDE drives (including CF adapter) port, Floppy drives port (1.44MB 3.5"), and SD socket Expansion I/O: Two Serial ports, Parallel Printer port, Two MSX compatible Joystick ports, RTC w/NVRAM (configuration data), RS-485 networking port Various diagnostic LEDs, "front panel" status indicators, buttons, with optional debugging hex display and keyboard (DSKY) A builder has also designed an enclosure for the N8 http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/file/52623834/N8%20Case%20Construction.zip Photos of prototype enclosure http://groups.google.com/group/n8vem/browse_thread/thread/e7cf446f1e33760c# There is an MSX BIOS ROM image (in development) here http://groups.google.com/group/n8vem/browse_thread/thread/c880ea6aa13ccff7 There is a Z-System ROM image (in development) here http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder?m=RomWBW The PCBs should be here in mid to late Jun 2012. http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder?m=N8-final Click to view PLOTS of PCB https://www.freedfm.com/freedfm/0011697403232210/results/plots.htm The N8 PCBs will be the usual $20 per PCB with $2 shipping in the US and $5 elsewhere. I am offering the PCB only. No assembled units as this is for home brew computers. Most of the chips are available through Jameco, Digikey, etc. Some of the specialty chips like the AY-3-8910 and TMS9918 would have to come from eBay, UTSOURCE, Unicorn Electronics, etc unless you have those on hand. I don't know what the final assembly cost would be and it would depend a lot on how you build it. Styles differ dramatically and depending on your supply of parts could vary widely. Several builders have working units on the N8VEM mailing list so I suppose you could ask them or look up costs on the parts list/BOM from the wiki. Since it is an all-in-one design rather than multiple boards there are a *lot* of parts stuffed into the 60 square inches of PCB. However there is only one PCB. There is some efficiency gained by stuffing everything into a single board rather than spreading out over several boards on an ECB backplane. The N8 is a bit like the P112 SBC except it is all DIP/PLCC (PTH PCB assembly, no required SMT) and has richer IO options like video and sound. It is larger though so it is a bit of a trade-off. Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch PS if you want to see detailed close up photos of the N8 prototype in its enclosure then download the large ZIP file above on the N8 Case Construction. Great photos of the system (credit to Dan)

11 years, 2 months

9.1GB worm media

by sales＠elecplus.com

Awhile back, someone was looking for 9.1GB media for worm drives. Big Data Supply has some new, Plasmon and Sony. Not affiliated with the seller; please contact Brian Musil directly. brian at bigdatasupplyinc.com or 800-905-7329 Cindy Croxton _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4142 / Virus Database: 3604/6700 - Release Date: 09/26/13

11 years, 2 months

AIX for PS/2?

by kelly＠catcorner.org

> OK, I'll give up. However, that screenshot which someone had from > "virtual PC" was interesting. Maybe I'll ferret that guy out. That's tenox (Antoni Sawicki) www.tenox.net

11 years, 2 months

S-100 6502 CPU V2 PCBs have arrived!

by LYNCHAJ＠YAHOO.COM

Hi! This is a courtesy "heads up". I have six (6) of the S-100 6502 CPU V2 PCBs remaining and they are going fast. Please contact me soon if you would like one. http://www.s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pages/6502%20Board/6502%20CPU%20B oard.htm http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder&param=S-100%206502%20 CPU%20board%20V1 The PCBs will be $20 each as per the usual arrangement. Shipping in the US is $3 for a single PCB and $2 for each additional PCB. Shipping internationally is $10 for a single PCB and $3 for each additional PCB. This is for the bare basics USPS first class postage with no tracking or insurance. The builder assumes all risk of delivery as per usual arrangement. Please send a PayPal to LYNCHAJ at YAHOO.COM and I will send your board(s) right away! Please contact me if you have any questions. Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch

11 years, 2 months

pdm 800 westhead associates

by tdk.knight＠gmail.com

http://imageshack.us/a/img689/2433/5dvi.jpg anyone familiar with this system? i may have the bakcups on floppy for the machean these manuals are for on 8in cpm with hmi software i may big may

11 years, 2 months

Tektronix 4206 Emulation

by kylevowen＠gmail.com

What options do I have these days of Tektronix terminal emulation that supports color graphics, like the 4206? xterm's Tektronix support is only for the 4014. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks, Kyle

11 years, 2 months

Fixed Mac128K board (was Re: Repairing Mac128K board - memory problems)

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

On Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 10:16 PM, Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> wrote: > On Fri, Sep 13, 2013 at 12:17 PM, Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> wrote: >> Hi, All, >> >> A list member recently sent me a broken Mac128 logic board... In anticipation of pulling and replacing 1/3 the DRAMs on this board, I tried the trick of a dry-fit piggyback with known good chips on the locations marked as bad. I can report 100% success. I stuck 6 new chips on the 6 bad chips and got past the Sad Mac. In the light of the several reports I found on support forums, all I can imagine is that if these people replaced their bad RAM chips, either they misread the conversion table and replaced the wrong chips, they damaged the chips or the mainboard traces during the repair process, or they just have a bunch of cold, dry solder joints. Present state: machine gives "bong" when turning on (it always did), usual screep wipe happens, then the "[?]" disk icon flashes. I have one 400K drive, an OA-D34V-22, and (for now), Rev A ROMs. This combination does not work. It tries to read disk, ejects it, then asks for another one. I already have the -B ROM images and just need to burn a pair of 27256s since that's an easier path than locating a working, original revision OA-D34V drive mech. On the OA-D34V-22 I do have, it did require removing petrified grease from the old eject mechanism. I have some white lithium grease I'm contemplating using unless there is some magic grease the job requires. So the repair is nearly complete. Bad trace/repair damage found/fixed, bad RAMs identified and tested, and a couple items to complete to finish the job. -ethan

11 years, 2 months

S-100 6502 CPU V2 PCBs have arrived!

by LYNCHAJ＠YAHOO.COM

Hi! These PCBs are almost gone and there are only two left. I am keeping one for myself so if you want to get one please do it soon. Due to the uncommon nature of the 6502 CPU on the S-100 bus these PCBs are unusual and only get ordered maybe once every year or two. http://www.s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pages/6502%20Board/6502%20CPU%20B oard.htm http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder&param=S-100%206502%20 CPU%20board%20V1 The PCBs will be $20 each as per the usual arrangement. Shipping in the US is $3 for a single PCB and $2 for each additional PCB. Shipping internationally is $10 for a single PCB and $3 for each additional PCB. This is for the bare basics USPS first class postage with no tracking or insurance. The builder assumes all risk of delivery as per usual arrangement. Please send a PayPal to LYNCHAJ at YAHOO.COM and I will send your board(s) right away! Please contact me if you have any questions. Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch

11 years, 2 months

Does anyone have any information about this CIT-467 terminal?

by me＠GarrettMeiers.com

I have a C.Itoh CIT-467 Terminal. I've been able to find almost nothing about it on the Intrawebz. Was hoping someone might recognize it, or could point me in the right direction about finding a manual for it, or knowing what it's capabilities are (besides it obviously being a serial terminal). I've not even turned it on yet, wanting to find some more information about it first. I don't have a termcap entry for it, or anything close to it, on a few Linux systems I've checked. Any help would be appreciated! https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rlb1j1jcqqwffrf/t-O8t_8_L4 T ?hanks, ? Garrett Meiers www.linkedin.com/in/theunixguy

11 years, 2 months

Hardware parsing of BASIC?

by derschjo＠gmail.com

So Iwas taking a closer look at the HP 1351A "Graphics Generator" I have. It's currently in operable condition, except that it won't draw text (apparently there's something wrong with the character generator, the :TX commands do nothing at all). I was surprised to discover that the 1351 (c. 1981) doesn't containa microprocessor or microcontroller of any kind -- all parsing of the command language it supports is done in hardware (TTL). (The service manual contains this gem: "The 1351A only accepts commands listed in this manual and in the Operating and Programming manual. Any others, especially those mentioned above will 'lock up' the 1351A such that it will have to be re-initialized...") At any rate, this reminded me of something that I'm prettysure I read here on cctalk years back, but I can't seem to find any reference toit anywhere; there was a computer designed at some university that ran an interpreted language (I'm pretty sure it was BASIC), on the metal-- that is, much like the 1351A and its vector description language, this machine's hardware parsed BASIC program text and executed it directly, rather than implementing some machine language. Does this ring any bells, or am I insane? (It's quite possible that both of these things are true...) - Josh

11 years, 2 months

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test-drb September 2013