So the DSD-440 I got at VCF is completely unresponsive. All of the LEDs are on and never go out, which is bizarre - they are supposed to go out in 1/10 of a second after power on.
I tried disconnecting everything but power to the card, and it still lights all LEDs. No jumpers that I could find are in the wrong spot, but many are seemingly undocumented ( I looked in both the 1981 user manual and 1984 service manual on Bitsavers).
The drive just spins and does nothing else. Altering the switches on the control board do nothing to change the state of the LEDs.
I measured voltages at the power supply, and they seem to be within spec according to the manual.
Are there any other things I can try before I start digging into things on a component level?
> From: jnc at mercury.lcs.mit.edu
> Subject: Value of 7-track TU10
>
> So what do people think the (monetary) value of a 7-track TU10 master drive
> is? I have no idea what these older vacuum-column drives are worth - don't
> recall ever seeing on for sale. This one is in good condition, and has all its
> Flip Chips. The 7-track is a plus in some ways (rarer), and negative in
> others (can't read old 9-track tapes, which are probably more common than
> 7-track).
>
> Noel
Noel,
The TU10 would be a great addition to the PDP-9 at the RICM.
The RICM is a 501(c)(3) entity so you get a tax deduction for a donation.
I just wanted to say a huge thanks to Jason and crew for putting on an
incredible event last weekend. Last year was fantastic, and this year the
bar was raised again in every area.
To my eye, attendance was up this year yet again.
There was plenty of rich toasty mini goodness, including a Prime 5300 and a
Vax 6000 - and a bevy of pdp8 and pdp11 displays.
The touch screen 11/70? Front panel connected to emulation was awesome!
Someone was displaying some of Rod's front panels. incredible work Rod!
The auction had far more goodies this year, including plenty of "big iron"
that I'm sure is getting new blood into the hobby.
The speakers also took things up a notch, I can't wait to see the roster for
next year.
I was pretty focused on Dennis's Prime the whole show, so I didn't get to
really go around to every exhibit. I'm sure I missed some quality displays.
I saw new people actively getting into the hobby, and I noticed quite a few
listmembers and irc #classiccmp peeps that had never been to vcfmw before
showed up this year.
The larger space (and other amenities) over the previous venue were fully
used. We may need even more space next year.
It was an incredible show, of course I will be there next year, and hats off
to Jason for all the hard work he put in to making it a success.
Best,
J
> From: Paul Anderson
> A 9 can be converted to a 7 with a head change and I thing a board
> change or removal.
Yeah, the M768 module contains configurable diode arrays to control certain
operational delays, which are different between the two - one can either
change out the M768, or modify the existing one by adding/removing jumpers.
> I recall having a TU10 7 track here somewhere.
If it turns up, maybe someone with a 9-track drive could convert it to
7-track.
Noel
> From: William Degnan
> I found the doc somewhere months ago sorry I can't remember where. I
> will upload to my site if I get a free moment and it's still on my
> computer.
Thanks; that would be great. I already did find online the TU10 Maintenance
Manual (EK-TU10-MM-007), the TU10M Master System Manual (DEC-00-TU10M-D), and
the TU10 Engineering Drawings, so we're pretty well set for these drives, but
it would be good to have DEC-00-TU10S-DC too.
> $2000 if clean.
Wow. I saw a pair of H960's, a pair of CDC 92185 tape drives, 3 Fuji
MiniEagles and an 11/23 go for $1.5K on eBait recently:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161928600660
Now, those are streaming drives, not vacuum column, but still - why is the
TU10 worth so much more?
> Master unit double that price.
I find this even harder to understand. The only difference between the two is
that the Master has 7 dual Flip Chips (M640, M891, M7673, M7672, M892, M895,
M7671) and 3 single Flip Chips (M100, M896, M958) that the Slave doesn't have.
(The backplane is, as far as I can tell, wired for both - the wire list given
in the prints is for the master, and I don't see a second Slave-only
wire-list. Yes, perhaps some early Slave drives had a Slave-only backplane,
but that's just a guess. If someone who has a Slave drive can check their
backplane to see if slots 6-15 are wired, that would be very useful to know.)
Yes, the full set of 10 Flips Chips would be hard to find, but I have a hard
time seeing them being worth $200 each...
Noel
So what do people think the (monetary) value of a 7-track TU10 master drive
is? I have no idea what these older vacuum-column drives are worth - don't
recall ever seeing on for sale. This one is in good condition, and has all its
Flip Chips. The 7-track is a plus in some ways (rarer), and negative in
others (can't read old 9-track tapes, which are probably more common than
7-track).
Noel
Hi list,
VCF Berlin[0] is coming soon! We'll have a day open only for
participants and other collectors on Saturday, 1st of October. On
Sunday, 2nd and Monday, 3rd of October we'll be open to the general
public (3rd of October is a holiday in Germany). Entry is free on all
days. Apart from exhibitions there will be lectures, soldering
workshops, a chiptune party and many other things. Come and visit us!
Sorry this reminder is so late, I was hoping for the English version of
the website to get updated, which hasn't happened yet. Please refer to a
translation[1] of the German version for more information instead.
Although all but one talk will be given in German, most of the
exhibitors can speak English, so VCFB is worth a visit even if you don't
speak any German. In case you need somewhere to stay, we can probably
find a place for you.
Hope to see you at VCFB!
Best, Anke
[0] http://vcfb.de/2016/index.html.en
[1] https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http://vcfb.de/2016/index.html
> From: Doug Ingraham
> Put it up on EBAY with an unrealistic reserve ... What controller do
> you have for it?
None. I don't own either the drive, or a controller for it.
Noel
> From: William Degnan
>> a 7-track TU10 master
> What is the model number of the TU10?
The serial number plate just says "TU10"; and it's not in its original DEC
rack, so any label/plate there is no longer available. But the front door
says "TU10 7 CHANNEL", and the head shows 7 tracks (since someone might have
changed the head, and not been able to replace the door).
> The presence of the TU10M label along with a separate TU10 label plate
> means the tape has the the master transport unit installed.
I prefer to actually check the Flip Chips, since one ought to do that anyway
to make sure they are all there (hence my previous description of it as a
"TU10 master drive ... [which] has all its Flip Chips"). (There's a list here:
http://gunkies.org/wiki/TU10
including locations, if anyone ever needs it.)
> Hopefully this will compare with the unit you're interested in and
> assist with your assessment.
I am perfectly capable of assessing the technical situation from the technical
documentation (which is available), and have already done so.
What I really need is some idea of its value (I haven't a clue). I am aware
that its exact configuration and condition will affect the value, but I
thought "a 7-track TU10 master drive .. in good condition, [with] all its Flip
Chips" would be enough to get to the ball-park.
> See DEC-00-TU10S-DC
I had previously looked online for that, but was unable to find a copy. Can
you point me at one? Thanks.
> more diffs 7 vs, 9 track
AFAICT, the only significant difference is the head; the Flip Chip suite is
the same for both, since the per-channel boards are all 9-track, and simply
leave the last two bits disconnected when used with a 7-track head (see e.g.
drawing # TU10-0-09, note "9 Track Only").
Of course, the drive has to be able to say (to the controller) whether it's a
7-track or 9-track. Drawing # TU10-0-07 shows (center) an incoming signal on
pin AJ1 of the M514 board (slot 21) called "7 CH", that signal is intended to
ground the input, so there's a jumper to ground on the backplane to indicate
7/9 (A21C2, per the MM, Appendix A.5).
Noel
> From: William Degnan
>> the (monetary) value of a 7-track TU10 master drive
^^^^^^
> Is there a thread with more details?
No.
> I assume this is a master drive
See above.
> the cards installed indicate whether it came from a pdp 8/9/10/11.
AFAIK, all PDP-10 TU10's are Slaves. TU10's used on an -11 need a Master and
Slaves, I don't know if the ones for an -8 are the same. The TU10 prints
don't seem to indicate that there is more than one type of Slaveax, and
similarly for the Masters - there is just the one type of each.
This one is from an -11, though.
> How is the power supply?
No idea. And no idea about the condition of the motors, compressor, etc, etc,
etc. Like I said, this one "is in good condition", from a purely external
inspection.
Noel
