test-drb April 2017

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

169 participants
185 discussions

by trash80＠internode.on.net

I've been trying to put together a list of file extensions (and a one liner about that file extension) used by TRS-80's (including all the XZ-80 machines, CoCo's, the 8" machines, pocket computers, the 100's. MC-10's etc). Google has been my friend but has only turned up a few answers. I was wondering if anyone has seen something more comprehensive or even has something more comprehensive. Thank you!! Kevin Parker P: 0418 815 527

7 years

Univac I memory tank

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Dwight Kelvey > I need on of those. I think it belongs in a museum, actually. Provided they can make it work, of course! :-) I wonder how many working delay line main memories are left in the world? Noel PS: Sorry about the previous mostly-duplicate message; I hit the 'interrupt' key and it did the wrong thing.

7 years, 1 month

KDJ11-B PDP 11/73 getting stuck in Exit standalone mode diag #56

by Mark＠Misty.com

Hi, I picked up an empty 4x8 Q-bus chassis at VCF-East this year. It's labelled "USDC CSS-823 Processor System" on the outside. It's not a DEC backplane, but the chassis is light aluminum, smaller and in some ways nicer than my pile of BA23s. It includes a switching power supply, LTC and q-bus termination, and I confirmed it's wired for Q22. I was hoping to transplant an 11/83 into it, since it will fit more comfortably in my work area. It has lit DCON/RUN/LTC/HALT buttons on the front pane. The etching on the backplane says something like "MDB Systems, Inc. East Orange, CA 92665" Unfortunately, I discovered slots are all wired Q22/Q22, no top ABCD (Q22/CD) PMI slots like a BA23. So, not good for an 11/83 CPU wired for PMI on slots C-D. So, I was hoping I could get my KDJ11-B (quad-wide 11/73) running in it. Upon power up or reset I get "Testing in progress. Please wait" on the serial console, and the LEDs get stuck on test 56. CTRL-C doesn't do anything yet, and my only options seem to be to hit reset, or if I hit the run/stop toggle, I can reset to the ODT prompt. This is with either just the KDJ11-B in the top slot, or with the addition of a suitably configured MSV11-QA in the next slot. If I turn off the LTC on the front panel, I get the expected Error 61 M8190 clock error, PC and register values, and options to re-run once or loop on test, so I know the LTC is working. I confirmed the KDJ11-B works fine in a BA23, getting past test 56. I also tried an 11/53 CPU here in the ABAB backplane and that gets past the self tests into dialog mode, but I really would like to get the KDJ11-B working in this chassis. I do see that a couple traces to the KDJ11-B C-D slots besides the Grant Continuity connections. I assume since the KDJ11-B has those Grant Continuity connections on slots C-D, it can run in a qbus/qbus Q22/Q22 quad Q-bus slot. I noticed the FP "RUN" lamp never comes on (and is not burned out), but maybe that's normal -- monitoring something on the bus that doesn't happen during power on self test. Does anyone here have suggestions about next steps in diagnosing this? https://archive.org/stream/bitsavers_decpdp1111aintNov86_5833755/EK-1184A-M… ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.10.18 Exit Standalone Mode (Test 56) In the 22-bit mode, the exit standalone mode is checked by using the guaranteed timeout address of 17 760 000 to verify that the timeout logic works without hanging up the CPU. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Mark G. Thomas (Mark at Misty.com), KC3DRE

7 years, 1 month

Info Needed: DATARAM DR-111 PDP-11 Unibus 16KW Core Memory

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Steven Malikoff > I've scanned the full version of this manual that comprises the > installation guide, description, system specifications, theory of > operation, timing chart, full schematic and manifest. Oh, wow! You get the Documentation Preservation Gold Star! A needed, and useful, manual. Thanks very much for doing this. Noel

7 years, 1 month

Info Needed: DATARAM DR-111 PDP-11 Unibus 16KW Core Memory

by steven＠malikoff.com

Systems Glitch said > Looking for any information and/or documentation on DATARAM DR-111 (assembly > 61101) 16Kx16 core memory boards for the Unibus. I've got four in unknown > condition, one with a clearly destroyed 8T37. > I have a large format scanner with ADF and can digitize print sets if necessary. > Thanks, > Jonathan For anyone else that may be interested, I've scanned the full version of this manual that comprises the installation guide, description, system specifications, theory of operation, timing chart, full schematic and manifest. I believe there is a DR-111 document floating around that is the installation guide only, hence the reason for this new scan. You can find it at http://web.aanet.com.au/~malikoff/pdp11/DATARAM_DR-111_core_memory_board.pdf It's about 6Mb. I have a stack of other docs to be done from my road trip to recover the FOX 2/10 last year, including the PDP-11/15 print set. Steve.

7 years, 1 month

Old manuals (Univac, IBM, Burroughs, Teletype)

by dave＠babcock-family.org

Hello Todd, I am a volunteer at the Computer History Museum. I led the museum's full restoration of an IBM 1620 several years ago (http://s3data.computerhistory.org/core/core-2001-03.pdf). I am currently leading a new effort, the /IBM 1620 Jr./, to create an operational, hands-on exhibit using a real IBM 1620 front panel driven by a Raspberry Pi. As part of that effort, I'm writing a new, cycle-level simulator. The existing simulators, like SimH, are instruction-level and cannot drive the front panel. The simulator work could greatly benefit from the IBM 1620 & 1622 manuals and system diagrams that you have. I'd be happy to pay for any shipping costs. When this project is complete, the manuals will be donated to the museum to add to their collection of IBM 1620 documents. Thanks, Dave Babcock

7 years, 1 month

Microcomputer and misc for sale

by lyokoboy0＠gmail.com

Looking to make some space so i can work on some of the bigger gear i have sitting around here. All this stuff was stored in a climate controlled environment. I pick up interesting things whenever i can, be it at the scrapyard, flea markets, etc, that is where most of this came from. I worked in a computer shop for a while, a lot came from customers too, You would be supersized what people would drag in.Fix it up... interest fades, and then it starts looking like a museum. 3-4 commodore 64's. many 1541 disk drives, documentation, software. Datassete in tattered box. trs 80 coco - bent corner, works Vic20 1525 graphics plotter / printer. apple IIc - works - keyboard sticks sometimes commodore 64 1702 monitor zenith portable / luggable, complete, second drive sticks/ jams. Boots to dos. Boxed copy of ms dos 6.22 upgrade boxed borland C++ boxed masm like new in box tandy 1400 FD computer. excellent shape. Will not power on >from wall jack, tapped into the 6v battery lead and it works fine, some kind of power jack issue. charging jack works intermittantly. Atari portfolio commmodore amiga 500 with keyboard. Never bothered with it. Has scsi controller, no hard drive. Ordered a floppy to boot it to workbench, it did so. God knows where that floppy is now though... Hp 9000 desktop with related peripherals. boots to hp basic. External enclosure, hard drive and floppy drive External enclosure, dual floppy drive. keyboard Tiny inkjet printer (all the above gear is uses HPIB connection. Plan was to get this all wired into my logic analyzer and other bench instruments, never bothered) This list may be updated in the next week or so as i find more, feel free to ask questions or inquire on pricing. Not looking to strike it rich, but not just giving it away either. Im shifting my focus to mainly DEC and SGI gear. I love picking up the microcomputer stuff, but i just do not need that many machines. I have a nice commodore 64, that should be enough for now. That all being said, if anyone has a vax 780 for sale in florida..... --Devin

7 years, 1 month

KDJ11-B PDP 11/73 getting stuck in Exit standalone mode diag #56

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Glen Slick > the Q22/Q22 backplane is not good for an 11/83 CPU ... M8190 boards and > both have PMI signals on the CD half of the CPU board. So I seem to recall hearing tales of PMI cards emitting smoke when plugged into a Q/Q/ backplane. That doesn't seem to have happened here: >> I confirmed the KDJ11-B works fine in a BA23, getting past test 56. So I wondered if his off-brand backplane didn't have +12V or -12V wired up - whatever it is that causes the damage. So I compared a list of PMI pins with a QBUS pinout, trying to see if it was the +12V or 12V that would be the problem. However, I don't see any PMI pins that conflict? (Well, some of them are ground, or +5V, but will that harm bus driver TTL?) Here's my list of PMI pins: CB1 PSSEL CD1 PUBMEM CE1 PBCYC CF1 PUBSYS CH1 PHBPAR CJ1 PSBFUL CK1 PLBPAR CM1 PRDSTB CP1 PBLKM CR1 PBSY CV1 PUBTMO DB1 PWTSTB DC1 PBYT DD1 PMAPE Anyone have any idea which pin(s) is the issue, when plugging a PMI card into a Q/Q slot? Noel

7 years, 1 month

Bernie Appel, ‘Mr. RadioShack, ’ Dies ushered in TRS 80

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Bernie Appel, ?Mr. RadioShack,? Dies http://www.twice.com/news/people/bernie-appel-mr-radioshack-dies-85/64710 Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org)

7 years, 1 month

Need help with a rescue need Chico / Paradise, California (can someone pick-up and hold?)

by ian.finder＠gmail.com

If anyone would be willing to rescue and hold a small-ish (large desktop) machine near there for later pickup by me this summer, it would be much appreciated. I can pay you a small fee either in beer or American currency. Please let me know if you're willing to help coordinate a rescue. -- Ian Finder (206) 395-MIPS ian.finder at gmail.com

7 years, 1 month

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test-drb April 2017