>Ethan Dicks ethan.dicks at gmail.com
>Fri Jan 3 18:03:10 CST 2014
>On Fri, Jan 3, 2014 at 5:57 PM, Charles <charlesmorris800 at centurytel.net> wrote:
>> Anyway I was thinking of just bending over and paying the $57.50. Until I
>> got to "standard 9-13 day shipping $15.00" and it goes up from there.
>
>Postage rates really went up a year ago. I was shipping things 12-13
>months ago, then *bam* double-digit increases.
>
>> Perhaps I can locate some surplus multiple twisted pair cable and carefully
>> solder the ends to a header connector. There are 13(?) twisted pair
>> differential signals and the rest are no-connects or grounds. As Henk
>> pointed out, some of the trouble may be the 6' of unshielded ribbon cable
>> (which is also smaller gauge than the twisted pairs)...
>
>6 feet?!? I must have read 6 inches (or I had a dust spec on my
>screen ;-) That's a lot of unshielded cable to push those
>differential signals side-by-side through. My RL8A had 4 to 6
>*inches* of flat cable going into the RL8A, then the BC80J to the
>drive.
>
>Most folks who collect DEC equipment have a few of the 40-pin shielded
>cables. They were used with so many devices. If you don't have one
>spare, those shouldn't be expensive to find and try out.
>
>-ethan
I attempted to order the BC80M from Pinnacle Micro. After several days
of "your order has been received" I got an email canceling the order
without explanation. The online chat was never answered. Finally after
several emails I found out they didn't have the cable in stock (and
they claim their inventory is only updated periodically). So much for
Pinnacle, I don't plan to order from them again any time soon.
Meanwhile, I explained to Continental Computers that my need for the
BC80J-20 was hobby/"vintage" and that I couldn't afford $145. They
offered to sell it to me for $75, still steep but more reasonable. So
I bought it. Put the shipping on my Fedex account.
Plugged it in, hooked up the RL02's... same failure is still there :(
(Fault lamp flashes when BOOT is toggled and the heads start to move,
then the drive goes back to Ready status). Time to start downloading
diagnostics via the console port!
Hello all,
I'd like to reset the root password of hp/ux running a HP 9000/300 system.
I know the procedure for a pa-risc based system running 10.20 or 11, but not for a 68xxx based system.
Are there any hints?
Andreas
Gru?
Andreas Holz
I have a couple of Intel 8080A based MDS systems available. You can see them at:
http://fsironworks.com/images/MDS.jpghttp://fsironworks.com/images/MDS.1.jpghttp://fsironworks.com/images/MDS.2.jpg
One MDS (the open one) has an 8080A processor card, four memory cards,
a front panel controller, a floppy channel card and a floppy interface
card. The other MDS has no cards, and no panel either. There are two
dual 8 inch floppy units.
The front panel is pretty decent, but the paint on the cabinets shows
typical wear and such.
I have not tested these, and I have no floppies or docs for it.
Interested? Please send me an email - maybe make an offer.
--
Will, in 10512
>There's recent and current thread over on VCF from a guy who wants a PDP-12
(and unfortunately isn't >in a spot where it's practical to buy this one on
eBay)
>Hey, here's the thread in case anybody here has another PDP-12 to
sell/trade to him:
>
>http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?40932-DEC-PDP-12-Min
icomputer
Yeah, that's me. Pardon the rant. I come from the world of generosity so I'm
a touch rough when people tell me this hobby revolves around mass wealth and
you can't do anything without it.
-John
> Message: 9
> Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2013 12:46:27 +0100
> From: anders at abc80.net
> To: cctech at classiccmp.org
> Subject: [Fwd: Restoration of a PDP-8a]
>
> Hi,
>
> I have started restoration of a PDP-8a model 8A420-CN. I doesn't have any
> schematics for this machine and I have searched internet for sources
> without any luck. The sets on
> http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/dec/pdp8/pdp8a does not include my
> version.
>
> My machine came with 16K*12bits core memory, 20 slot backplane and only
> the "Limited function board" frontpanel (don't now if this machine ever
> had the "Programmer's console").
>
> This is how my "Power distribution board" looks like:
> http://www.abc80.net/docs/pdp8/pdp8a/DSC_2118.JPG
>
> Some questions:
> 1. Is there anybody that could help me with schematics on this machine?
> Scans are preferred, but I can pay for paper prints. I'm especially
> looking for a diagram that matches the "power distribution board" that I
> got.
>
> 2. If I plug in the machine with only the regulator boards (2xG8018) and
> the limited function board in it, should the lights and fans come to life?
>
> 3. I suspect that my model shouldn't have "Power distribution board
> control", G8019 since my "Power distribution board" misses the connector
> for this board. Can that be correct?
>
> Any help is appreciated. PPD-8a is new to me, but I have some knowledge in
> the PDP-8 architecture since I restored a PDP-8/L that was in really bad
> shape.
>
> /Anders
>
What chassis is your -8A in -- is it the BA8-C as listed in
EK-0PDP8-SP-001 - PDP-8 Family Configuration Guide, April 1978 at
http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/dec/pdp8/omnibus/EK-0PDP8-SP-001_PDP…
The exploded view of the BA8-C is on page 41 of 217 of the MP00415 -
8A Family (Semi) Field Maintenance Print Set, April 1981 found at the
same source. Pages 50-56 show the "Power Distribution Board." The
Limited Function Board is page 57. The "Power Distribution Board
Control" is shown on pages 58-61. The 20-slot Omnibus is there too.
Can you list your modules/boards/etc. for us? You may have to pick
through the different drawing/schematic sets to find your individual
components.
The PDP-8 Family Configuration Guide will give much information about
your system and proper placement of modules. Page 2-10 (Worksheet,
8A420, 8A425) discusses your machine's layout. It says: "The BA8-C
power supply consists of two G8018 regulators; one provides 25 A at +
5 Vdc, 2 A at + 1 5 Vdc, and 2 A at -15 Vdc for the top 10 slots,
while the other provides the same current for the bottom 10 slots."
Figure 2-1 "PDP-8/A Computer Designations" breaks down the 8A420 as:
4 = CPU is the KK8-A
2 = CHASSIS is the 20 slot BA8-C
0 = CORE memory
The PDP-8 Family Configuration Guide doesn't explain the "CN" suffix,
but that looks similar to the suffixes listed in some of the
Engineering Drawings/Field Maintenance Print Sets for "Unit
Variations." There is a "CN" Variation of the 8A425 listed in the 8A
Family (Semi) Field Maintenance Print Set, but I haven't found a
description of it. ... I just found some of it. The 8A425 Parts
List on pages 24-25 lists the parts used in that version of the
semiconductor-memory 8A42x system. The parts that aren't obviously
semiconductor-memory-related may apply to your system too.
The pictures of your system show only the Limited Function Board, but
I _think_ that all -8As used the same Front Panels/Consoles, whether
they were the Limited or Programmer's versions. Perhaps you could
pick one up somewhere. I've got two or three Programmer's Consoles,
but all have one or more problems. The one on my 8A400 has a bad gate
on one of its quad-[I forget]-gate ICs, but I haven't replaced it yet.
Bob
On 2014-01-15 21:13, Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org> wrote:
> On 1/15/14 7:37 PM, Glen Slick wrote:
>> >Does this apply to the RQDX3 disk format?
>> >
>> >Disk format for secondary storage system
>> >US 4434487 A
>> >https://www.google.com/patents/US4434487
It sortof do. This is a description of how the disk logically appears in
an MSCP subsystem. RQDX controllers are MSCP. I can't see that it holds
enough low level detail to actually be used as a source to figure out
how each block on an RD53 will look like. (But I have only read through
it cursory.)
> Did the RQDX3 come out of Colorado Springs?
I don't think so.
> From the dates, it looks more like something for
> the RA8x/RA6x
This actually applies to MSCP, so it is used on both RQDX controllers,
as well as SDI and others.
> The stuff at the end would be BAD144 data, or did
> they stop using that when they switched to MSCP?
BAD144 predates MSCP, and MSCP do not use BAD144. With BAD144, the bad
blocks of a media are visible to the system, and needs to be dealt with
by the OS itself. With MSCP bad blocks do not exist. They are hidden
(replaced) by the disk controller in combination with the disk itself,
so that the OS never sees any bad blocks.
(But the actually operation of mapping out a bad block might require
handling by the OS, depending on the controller.)
Johnny
------------------------------
>
> Message: 12
> Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2014 10:24:57 +0000
> From: anders at abc80.net
> To: "General Discussion\: On-Topic Posts Only" <cctech at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Re: Restoration of a PDP-8a
> Message-ID:
> <20140114102457.Horde.jcUVy0nXMOJSjET97Z2yBA7 at blue.abc80.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; DelSp=Yes
>
> Hi,
>
> Slowly my restoration project continues. I have repaired the power
> supply and I actually found and bought a programmers console. I also
> got a DKC8-A in etch revision D. I have now all the boards needed for
> getting this machine running.
>
> Is the two cables between KC8 and DKC8 just two strait 40 pin cables?
>
> I have a question about memory configuration. I have two core stacks
> from different suppliers. One from DEC and one from Dataram corp. The
> later one is impossible to find any information on. The DEC stack is a
> MM8-AB 16k module but the address field configuration looks strange.
> If I interpreted the manual correct it's configured as a 8k module
> using field 4-5.
>
> Picture of the jumpers on the actual board:
> http://www.abc80.net/docs/pdp8/pdp8a/DSC_2258.JPG
>
> Pictures on the complete board on both sides.
> http://www.abc80.net/docs/pdp8/pdp8a/DSC_2252.JPG
> http://www.abc80.net/docs/pdp8/pdp8a/DSC_2253.JPG
>
> The board is known good and does not origin from this particular machine.
>
> Does anybody know why this looks like this?
>
> /Anders
>
The PDP-8/A Operator's handbook at
http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/dec/pdp8/pdp8a/EK-8A001-OP…,
page 3-30 states that two BC08R cables are used. The Digital Cables
Handbook at http://www.pdp8online.com/bklatt/cables.html describe the
BC08R on pages 30 & 31. Page 31 shows the pinout.
About the Dataram module: Does any of the info at
http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/dataram/ help? Also,
there is a Dataram company (http://www.dataram.com/) still in business
providing computer memory products (since 1967). Have you tried to
contact them? You might get lucky, especially if they like the idea
of one of their "early" products still in operation after 30+ years.
The MM8-AA & MM8-AB Engineering Specification at
http://www.pdp8online.com/pdp8cgi/query_docs/tifftopdf.pl/pdp8prints/mm8aa.…
shows that your jumpers are in locations 1-3 & 3-4. It then states
that those two jumpers, in combination, will configure the module for
memory locations 32K-48K, which it then states are "presently not
available." But it was written in 1975. However, the 1978 KT8-A
Memory Management Control (EK-KT08A-UG-001 at
http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/dec/pdp8/pdp8a/EK-KT08A-UG…)
allows an -8/A to use up to 128K of any -8/A memory type. Perhaps the
previous user of the MM8-AB module had the KT8-A module to allow the
use of more than 32K?
Bob
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Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 20:24:00 +0100
From: Holm Tiffe <holm at freibergnet.de>
To: cctlak at classiccmp.org
Subject: Longshine LCS-6610F REV C FDC, Jumpersettings needed
Reply-To: holm at freibergnet.de
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Hi all,
the Suject already tells what Im looking for.
I have an XT Floppy Controller for an 8 Bit Slot that his it's own Bios
Chip.
There is a description on TH99, but this is a different Version, the
Jumpers are located totally different.
The Label on the PCB of my Controller is "LCS-6610F REV:C".
Has someone a Manual with the correct Jumper settings?
Kind Regards,
Holm
--
Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe,
Freiberger Stra?e 42, 09600 Obersch?na, USt-Id: DE253710583
www.tsht.de, info at tsht.de, Fax +49 3731 74200, Mobil: 0172 8790 741
> Message: 21
> Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 06:37:59 -0500
> From: Bob Vines <bobvines00 at gmail.com>
> To: cctech at classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: Restoration of a PDP-8a
> Message-ID:
> <CAPDUT-=Vd2iYTC=u97rjnr5O=Hk1wv+Ltpf9uKphABWNzdOi7g at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 12
>> Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2014 10:24:57 +0000
>> From: anders at abc80.net
>> To: "General Discussion\: On-Topic Posts Only" <cctech at classiccmp.org>
>> Subject: Re: Restoration of a PDP-8a
>> Message-ID:
>> <20140114102457.Horde.jcUVy0nXMOJSjET97Z2yBA7 at blue.abc80.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; DelSp=Yes
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Slowly my restoration project continues. I have repaired the power
>> supply and I actually found and bought a programmers console. I also
>> got a DKC8-A in etch revision D. I have now all the boards needed for
>> getting this machine running.
>>
>> Is the two cables between KC8 and DKC8 just two strait 40 pin cables?
>>
>> I have a question about memory configuration. I have two core stacks
>> from different suppliers. One from DEC and one from Dataram corp. The
>> later one is impossible to find any information on. The DEC stack is a
>> MM8-AB 16k module but the address field configuration looks strange.
>> If I interpreted the manual correct it's configured as a 8k module
>> using field 4-5.
>>
>> Picture of the jumpers on the actual board:
>> http://www.abc80.net/docs/pdp8/pdp8a/DSC_2258.JPG
>>
>> Pictures on the complete board on both sides.
>> http://www.abc80.net/docs/pdp8/pdp8a/DSC_2252.JPG
>> http://www.abc80.net/docs/pdp8/pdp8a/DSC_2253.JPG
>>
>> The board is known good and does not origin from this particular machine.
>>
>> Does anybody know why this looks like this?
>>
>> /Anders
>>
>
> The PDP-8/A Operator's handbook at
> http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/dec/pdp8/pdp8a/EK-8A001-OP…,
> page 3-30 states that two BC08R cables are used. The Digital Cables
> Handbook at http://www.pdp8online.com/bklatt/cables.html describe the
> BC08R on pages 30 & 31. Page 31 shows the pinout.
Great, I have missed that one.
>
> About the Dataram module: Does any of the info at
> http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/dataram/ help? Also,
> there is a Dataram company (http://www.dataram.com/) still in business
> providing computer memory products (since 1967). Have you tried to
> contact them? You might get lucky, especially if they like the idea
> of one of their "early" products still in operation after 30+ years.
>
I'll try to contact them. I have already tried bitsavers.org
> The MM8-AA & MM8-AB Engineering Specification at
> http://www.pdp8online.com/pdp8cgi/query_docs/tifftopdf.pl/pdp8prints/mm8aa.…
> shows that your jumpers are in locations 1-3 & 3-4. It then states
> that those two jumpers, in combination, will configure the module for
> memory locations 32K-48K, which it then states are "presently not
> available." But it was written in 1975. However, the 1978 KT8-A
> Memory Management Control (EK-KT08A-UG-001 at
> http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/dec/pdp8/pdp8a/EK-KT08A-UG…)
> allows an -8/A to use up to 128K of any -8/A memory type. Perhaps the
> previous user of the MM8-AB module had the KT8-A module to allow the
> use of more than 32K?
Ok. Thanks. That explains it I think.
/Anders
