test-drb December 2015

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

191 participants
268 discussions

by bqt＠softjar.se

Well, about two weeks since my last announcement, but I figured I should do another one. I've cut a new release of TCP/IP for RSX, and I encourage everyone to update to this latest release. A short list of changes since my last release: Documentation: . I've worked some on the documentation, and filled out some parts that were previously TBD. TCP: . Performance improvements. In general, I've improved file transfer performance by about 20% by tuning when TCP ACK messages as well as window updates are sent. On links where packets are dropped from time to time, the performance improvements can be significantly higher. . Bugfix. Retry counter were incorrectly reset under some circumstances. . Bugfix. TCP did not resend an ACK if the same data was received twice. . Bugfix. TCP sockets could erronously be left in a closed state with no task. However, looking at the socket, it looked like a task was associated. FTP: . Size calculation for stream type files in RSX mode was done incorrectly. Applications: . I've included a precompiled version of PCL.TSK As usual, the distribution is available from: ftp://mim.update.uu.se/bqtcp.dsk ftp://mim.update.uu.se/bqtcp.tap ftp://ftp.update.uu.se/pub/pdp11/rsx/tcpip/tcpip.dsk The documentation is also available through ftp on Mim, or also at http://mim.update.uu.se/tcpipdoc Johnny -- Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

8 years, 2 months

Oddball floppies for trade - 8", HS (outer edge), weird cutout

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

I have two "flippy organizers" (that's around 20 floppies each) full of these oddball floppies. Picture at https://www.flickr.com/photos/131070638 at N02/22020178558/in/dateposted/ They are 8", hard sectored, and the sectors are on the outer edge rather than the hub, and there is an odd cutout on one edge that goes inside the drive. I know I don't have a machine that uses these, so they are available for trade. J

8 years, 2 months

Substituting DSHD for DSDD disks (or DS2D if you prefer)

by echristopherson＠gmail.com

I know Chuck Guzis has written about this, but I don't see that he's done so publicly in the last few years, so I thought I'd ask here about his and others' views on the perennial question of whether (some) 3.5" DSHD disks can be reliably used in DSDD-only drives. The oft-repeated claim is that writing can appear to work just fine, but that even a few months later read errors will occur. On <http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/guzis.html> Chuck was quoted as (actually, correct me if I'm wrong -- it's a little hard to be sure this was Chuck's words) as saying "Usually, they're just fine, with the error rate approximately the same, whether or not 2D or HD media was used." Just before that, he said "I think that the overall quality of DSHD 3.5" media isn't what it used to be, so that might contribute to the general impression that 3.5" HD diskettes used as 2D aren't reliable. I have problems enough finding reliable 3.5" DSHD floppies used as such." Chuck et al., what's your feeling now, both on the overall reliability of HD disks in DD drives, and on whether it depends on how recently the disks were produced? Elsewhere on the page (I don't recall now if it was Herb or Chuck that said it) it was conjectured that HD disks that have never been formatted as HD, -OR- disks that have gone through a good degaussing, will have better luck retaining data. What does everyone think about this? And would an electromagnetic library security system (the kind that's like a tube through which checked-out materials are put; often with a caution not to put tapes or floppies through it) be a suitable degausser? -- Eric Christopherson

8 years, 2 months

IDE knowledge anyone?

by lehmann＠ans-netz.de

Hi, I've built a Harddisk-Controller-Emulator for my system which accesses a IDE (PATA) harddisk with an ATMega in PIO mode. It works like a charm except for one WD harddisk. The harddisk itself works fine with MS-DOS 6.22 and FreeBSD but refuses to work with my ATMega. On reading or writing a sector, right after the command is issued, the error bit is set in the status register, and the error register indicates an ABRT. # ABRT: # indicates the requested command has been aborted due to a # drive status error (such as not ready or write fault) or because # the command is invalid. Right after power up and after the disk got ready, I issue the IDENTIFY command and read the data back which works perfectly. After that I read sector 0 and this fails. I use LBA since the harddisk states that is supportes LBA. Nevertheless I also tried accessing the harddisk with CHS mode and got the same error. I tested other harddisks which support either CHS+LBA or CHS only. All of them work perfectly. What happens after powerup to read block 0 of the disk in LBA mode: - Setup AVR ports and so on - wait until RDY gets high - wait until BSY gets low - issue a Drive/Head register Command with value 0 - wait until BSY gets low - issue a Command Register Command with value 0xEC (identify device) - *read data* - process and print out data - wait until BSY gets low - issue a Sector Count register Command with value 0 - issue a Sector Number register Command with value 0 - issue a Cylinder Low register Command with value 0 - issue a Cylinder High register Command with value 0 - issue a Drive/Head register Command with 0 + 0xE0 (LBA, Drive 0) - issue a Command Register Command with value 0x20 (Read Sector) - *read data* *read data*: - wait until BSY gets low - check ERR bit in the Status register <- set on cmd 0x20 here - wait until DRQ gets high - issue a Data register Command with no data - put /RD on low - read 512 bytes of data - put /RD on high - check ERR bit in the Status register Issuing a Command works always like setting /CS0, /CS1, /DA0, /DA1, /DA2 to low, and then set the needed signals to high so the desired command is indicated. When data has to be transfered with this command, the lower 8 bits are put then onto the port, /WR is set to low afterwards, 3 nop() are done and /WR is set back to high. Does anyone see an error what could make the drive behave like I said? - ATA IDENTIFY works, and the drives data can be read - after a read or write sector command is issued, the status register directly goes 0xd0 (busy) and with the 2nd fetch 0x59 (not busy, drq set, err set) Regards, Oliver

8 years, 2 months

Kaypro Motherboard Add-On Question

by brain＠jbrain.com

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USED-KAYPRO-4-COMPUTER-MOTHERBOARD-/331730690952? The non soldermask boad on top of the main unit intrigues me. Does anyone know what it is? Jim -- Jim Brain brain at jbrain.com www.jbrain.com

8 years, 2 months

10 forgotten wonders of 1980s homes

by trash80＠internode.on.net

May be of interest to some list members - appeared, of all places, in the property section of a local newspaper - the Commodore 64 gets a good mention but I suspect list members might remember (or reminisce) over the other 9 too or as well. http://www.domain.com.au/news/10-forgotten-wonders-of-1980s-homes-20151217-g lpoof/ ++++++++++ Kevin Parker ++++++++++

8 years, 3 months

Remember the old "Choose your own adventure books" By D & D! ! !

by tulsamike3434＠gmail.com

Has any of you took one of them old choose your own adventurer books and coded it into a text RPG in basic? if so how well did it work as soon as I get all my Commodore 64 setup on CHRISTmas day that is the first thing that I am going to start working on. The one I am doing is *" THE DRAGON OF DOOM "* I have been brushing up on my coding skills with old books like BASIC COMPUTER GAMES AND SUCH... So wirh me luck and if any of you have done this brfotr please let me know how it ernt? The only Major things I have forgotten are... 1. Clear the screen for the next page! 2, doing the page jumps like in the book it will say if your want top enter turn to page 356 ot if you want to keep walking turn to page 17 that is the code I have forgoten But I am sure you all will be able to help me make this game the best it can be. I wish I fould add hiypointd and damage points find gold but I guess when I get to that Ill ask only after I dearch th net for awncers. thanks yall GOD BLESS AND MERRY CHRISTmas! '

8 years, 3 months

New Commodore 64 is Finally Here--For Real! PC MAG Snip

by tulsamike3434＠gmail.com

Would you buy the new Commodore 64 ? ? ? >From PC-World " The new Commodore 64 <http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_C64.aspx> is, like the old 64, an entire system inside a (rather thick) keyboard. The old Commodore 64 <http://www.pcworld.com/article/195094/ccs64_turns_your_pc_into_a_commodore_…> originally cost $595 and featured an MOS Technology 6510 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Technology_6510> microprocessor, an impressive 64KB of RAM, and VIC-II <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Technology_VIC-II> graphics that supported a screen resolution of 320 by 200 pixels. The new system, which also starts at $595, is a little more modern: it's got a Dual Core 525 Atom processor, an Nvidia Ion2 graphics chipset, 2GB of RAM (upgradeable to 4GB), a 160GB hard drive, and built-in Wi-Fi. On the left side of the keyboard there's a slot or tray-load DVD (upgradeable to Blu-ray), and on the right side there's a multi-format card reader, along with a USB 2.0 port. The rear features four additional USB 2.0 ports; mouse and keyboard PS/2 ports; DVI, VGA, and HDMI ports; Ethernet; and support for 6-channel HD audio. It runs Linux, but you can install Windows if you like. Pretty cool for a computer that looks like it's from the 80's. Of course, if you just want the look--and you want to throw your own stuff inside--you can also order the "Barebones" package on the new Commodore 64 Website. The Barebones package costs $250 and gets you the case, chassis, keyboard, and multi-format card reader with USB 2.0 port. On the other hand, if you'd like to go all out, there's also an $895 "Ultimate" package that includes a Blu-ray drive and a 1TB hard drive. The new Commodore 64 begins shipping at the end of this month, but you can order yours now <http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_C64Select.aspx>--go get your BASIC <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_BASIC> on! " I myself am going to buy one just for a collector sake. The new Commodore phone seemes to be selling like hotcakes from the research I have done on it. There is also a switch in the back to boot the original C-64 I think It will be a fun computer to 0wn. What are your thoughts I will be wait a year or so because 545.00 is a bit much for me to spend on it but anyway Like I said what are your thoughts on it Ill post a youtube link below with the newC-64 review... Video Link here -------> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Lo9Q0RiX0

8 years, 3 months

Targeting Computers in X wing fighters.

by rodsmallwood52＠btinternet.com

Hi Went to Starwars last night. Oh boy did they get it right this time!! Look and feel of the original 1977 version. Really good new actors. In a way it was like a retelling of history but in a completly new way. The bombing runs up the trench used the same sighting system as thirty odd years ago. Added to that several scenes were filmed at the former US Airbase at Greenham Common. Its a mile from where I live and I passed within 50yards of where the filming took place on my way to the cinema. The bunkers are in a natural hollow in the ground and surrounded by triple fences with watch towers. In the film you can see the typical camoflarge netting in the back ground. - Nothing to do with the film. They were trying to hide the set from passing aircraft. They managed to keep it a secret until one day a guy was passing in his microlight and spotted the MF (or at least most of it) parked by the old cruise missile bunkers.. He was not a fan but his son was. He calls his son up on his mobile and says: You know that spaceship you got for Christmas years ago. Well there's a big one at Greenham Common. The answer is not repeatable here but he ended by saying I'm on my way to your landing strip - pick me up. It was true and it made the local paper before Lucasfilm could do anything about it. This Abrams guy really understood what people wanted. Considering how unwell Carrie Fisher is she gave a really good performance. She gets my special "The show must go on" award. Disney must be so pleased and if I know them they will keep the faith. Rod

8 years, 3 months

Castlevaina for the Commodore 64

by tulsamike3434＠gmail.com

I have a mint copy with all the passwords if you need a copy of the passwords let me know I am going to have to type them in because they are printed on DARK brown paper with black text you cant scan it I tried so let me know if any of ya need them... Also it surprisingly has pretty good graphics for the first version of Castlevaina or I think it is...

8 years, 3 months

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test-drb December 2015