test-drb September 2014

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

188 participants
251 discussions

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Sean Caron > "Computer Engineering: A DEC view of hardware systems design" by Bell > et al. offers a really nice look at the historical origins of all the > various PDP lines. A 'must buy' for all DEC enthusiasts, IMO. > Another very interesting Bell et al. text that I enjoy is "Computer > Structures: Principles and Examples" though it is (very) much less > DEC-centric. There are two editions (at least - I have a '71 and an '82), and they cover very different machines. E.g. the '71 has Whirlwind, the 7094, STRETCH, etc, which the '82 doesn't. And of course the '82 has a whole bunch of later machines which the '71 doesn't have - AMD29xx, various micros, Cray, VAX, etc, etc. Noel

9 years, 9 months

Altair 8800 restore details - Model B grounding scheme?

by drlegendre＠gmail.com

Back home now, the trip up north was great.. it got a bit cold, particularly out on the lake, but great never the less! The generally-available 8800 kit manual is for the original (perhaps 'A') version, which contains grounding scheme notes for the 'A' type power supply. My machine has a 'B' type PSU, and as such, may have some differences. Is anyone aware of any differences between the A and B type grounding schemes? Can anyone provide any documentation for the same? Also - I was able to come up with some 1/8" braid to create the several ground straps - but I can't find any 1/4" braid as spec'd in the manual. But again, the manual is for the 'A' series and the 1/4" braid is used on the negative end of the many (8?) electrolytics used on the A type PSU board. I'm not even sure if such a scheme is used on the B type board.. and my board bears no sign that such a scheme were ever implemented. But obviously, the board +must+ be very solidly grounded, so.. how was it done in the day? As ever, thanks for all of your input! The project is coming together nicely..

9 years, 9 months

ebay items

by aswood＠t-online.de

Hello all, currently I do have the following ebay items listed: PDP8i Core Memory http://www.ebay.de/itm/251648438687 A rack http://www.ebay.de/itm/251648481914 A RX01 in an external box http://www.ebay.de/itm/251649540800 A GDR computer http://www.ebay.de/itm/251648469587 A Transputer based grafics board http://www.ebay.de/itm/251648455151 A MAI Basic Four portable http://www.ebay.de/itm/251648459316 An external DEC RC25 drive http://www.ebay.de/itm/251648476096 A DEC RA81 fixed disk drive http://www.ebay.de/itm/251645866239 And a PDP 11/44 once hooked to the RA81 above http://www.ebay.de/itm/251645853793 The results will go into my thatched roof project Andreas

9 years, 9 months

"Smartcom II" package available

by earl＠baugh.org

From: "Ali" <cctalk at fahimi.net> Subject: RE: "Smartcom II" package available Message-ID: <037e01cfd372$28183000$78489000$@net> Earl, That is pretty cool. Did the NEC system run an 8" based MS-DOS? Or was it a different variety of DOS (or straight CP/M)? I have heard rumors of MS-DOS natively available on 8" disks but I have never seen one. If it is MS-DOS how compatible is it with MS-DOS versions of the same vintage? Thanks. It seems to be a pretty "standard" MS-DOS from Microsoft. I don't have the original disks, so I can't say for 100% sure that it came on 8" but I wouldn't think it would work properly if it hadn't come that way. It "seems" to be pretty darn near the same MS-DOS that I remember. I've not, however, got my setup in place yet to get info from a 5.25 to an 8 so I can test out other programs on it to see where it has issues. I saw a great presentation from Malcom during VCF East 9.1, and have slowly started trying to pick up the pieces that he listed for his disk imaging system. I'll be sure to report here when I have that done and can get some SW onto more disks... (if anybody wants to send me a disk with something they'd like to know if it works, I'll more than willing to give it a go... and send the disk back when done...) Earl p.s. I need to find a sturdy table to put it on... it's on the floor right now... because of that old maxim : You can't fall off the floor. :-)

9 years, 9 months

Looking for Sage IV software

by billdeg＠buzz1.com

> Looking for Sage IV software I have the following disks specifically labeled "Sage IV [something] in my inventory of Sage software. Here is what is hand-written on a few disks that may be of interest: Sage IV Util FallBck p-sys IV BIOS Clones Sage IV P-sys System: Wy-50 OS Distribution for 2 disk system Sage IV 80/80 Opd I have a Sage II, the rest of my Sage software appears to be for the II but it's not all marked specifically. My docs are Sage II. I will image and upload to my web site if anyone wants something, but regardless I will image all of the disks soon, I am about to make a big 5 1/4" disk archive update. If poss. send inquires through vintagecomputer.org/contact.cfm, but I do check this list almost daily too. Bill

9 years, 9 months

Need name for Velcro-like connecting mechanism

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> If I knew the trade name, I'm sure I could buy some - but I don't know > what it's called. Anyone out there know? I am advised that the stuff I am looking for is 3M "Dual Lock" (if anyone else wanted to know :-). Noel

9 years, 9 months

Need name for Velcro-like connecting mechanism

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

I have a Sigma BA11N LSI-11 box which is missing a front panel; I need to build a replacement so that the airflow works properly. Building the panel isn't a problem - what is, is getting the device that keeps it on, which I need to source - only I don't know the name. It's a plastic thing that's sort of like Velcro, but it consists of numerous small stalks (about 1mm high, and slightly less than that in diameter), with little spheres (slightly more than 1mm in diameter) on the ends of the stalks. If I knew the trade name, I'm sure I could buy some - but I don't know what it's called. Anyone out there know? Thanks! (Of course, if anyone has a spare Sigma front panel, that would be even better, but the odds of that... :-) Noel

9 years, 9 months

Gordon Bell wins S. Cray Award

by stephane.tsacas＠gmail.com

Gordon Bell, 'Father of the Minicomputer,' Named Recipient of 2014 IEEE Computer Society Seymour Cray Computer Engineering Award http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gordon-bell-father-of-the-minicompu… -- Stephane

9 years, 9 months

OT: Need Weller soldering pencil / iron for WTCP station (TC-201)

by drlegendre＠gmail.com

A younger fellow, new friend of mine, is trying to get into the electronics hobby - and he needs a decent tempco soldering outfit. I gifted him with a Weller WTCP type base - the older style, with the iron holder built in to the top of the base. But I didn't have a spare TC-201 type pencil, or "irons" you might say, to work with the base. If anyone has a spare, working pencil for this base, please email me off-list. Send details and asking price.. and if you have a spare tip or two, etc, go ahead and let me know. He's short on funds and I'd like to help him get-going with a decent set. And while I'm never one to "blame the tool", the main bench iron is no place to skimp.. cheap irons +can+ make good joints when needed, but not in the hands of a novice - in my experience. I don't want to hobble him with one of those $5.99 Willy Wong specials.

9 years, 9 months

Crating / Shipping assistance (near Toronto)

by derschjo＠gmail.com

Hi all -- About a year back I made a deal to acquire a pair of workstations located near Toronto, ON with the plans to drop by at some point to pick them up (my family lives in Michigan, so a road trip was expected at some point...). Unfortunately, these plans have all fizzled out and I really don't want to leave the guy who is very kindly holding onto these waiting for too much longer. He's not excited about dealing with crating / shipping these himself (hence the road trip plans, etc.) Is there anyone in the area who might be willing to help me out in the somewhat near future, to pick the machines up and drop them off at a nearby shipper so I can get them back to Seattle? (Any shipper recommendations in the Toronto area? Looking for someone who can do a decent job crating these up...) This is a pair of Xerox 6085s, including monitor, keyboard and some software. It should fit into the back of an SUV, or be crammed into a sedan if you're clever about it. Drop me a line offlist if you're willing to help me out. Thanks, Josh

9 years, 9 months

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test-drb September 2014