test-drb November 2020

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

114 participants
70 discussions

[TUHS] Seeking wisdom from Unix Greybeards

by lm＠mcvoy.com

man 1 tput is what I use. On Wed, Nov 25, 2020 at 10:14:55AM -0700, Grant Taylor via TUHS wrote: > Hi, > > As I find myself starting yet another project that that wants to use ANSI > control sequences for colorization of text, I find myself -- yet again -- > wondering if there is a better way to generate the output from the code in a > way that respects TERMinal capabilites. > > Is there a better / different control sequence that I can ~> should use for > colorizing / stylizing output that will account for the differences in > capabilities between a VT100 and XTerm? > > Can I wrap things that I output so that I don't send color control sequences > to a TERMinal that doesn't support them? > > > > -- > Grant. . . . > unix || die > -- --- Larry McVoy lm at mcvoy.com http://www.mcvoy.com/lm

3 years, 4 months

Fortran IV V2.5 for RT-11

by mattislind＠gmail.com

I found a three RX01 disk set for a Fortran IV system V2.5 for RT-11. I dumped the contents and it is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12VXh4wk3Zo_fSGRtLPHwrJg6ui3pwVd-/view?usp=…

3 years, 4 months

DEC PDP-8/E wanted

by ccth6600＠gmail.com

I know it is the year 2020 but nevertheless what are my chances of finding a complete and repairable DEC PDP-8/E or as a second choice a PDP-8/I ? Is there any hope or should I be just content with my SIMH based PiDP-8/I? Thanks Tom Hunter

3 years, 4 months

LCD screen repair

by trash80＠internode.on.net

Hi folks - be grateful for a little advice please. Some time I rescued an Apple Power Mac G4 (it's a beautiful machine, not that I'm a big Mac person, and I can't believe someone was going to toss it) - powers up OK but looks like it just needs a new battery as its not holding date and time. Anyway the other day I was cleaning up in my collection facility and dropped the monitor - I wasn't quick enough to save it from hitting a metal object just under the bench and as chance would have it of course this happened screen side. Its put a gouge in the surface of the screen - link to photos below. http://koken.advancedimaging.com.au/index.php?/albums/apple-screen/ Now I believe it is possibly repairable but the are many kits and methods out the all claiming some success. I figure I'm only going to get one shot at this so would appreciate any advice from anyone who may have effected such a repair before. Thank you. Kevin Parker <https://t.sidekickopen76.com/s1t/o/5/f18dQhb0S7n28cFFdQW752kH81jkhdLW1_k-L- 1qZM43W3s0v_y2M0f8BF4c2NfHml5Hf6Bq4h603?si=8000000004908274&pi=2139d449-dcd9 -4daf-91a4-c2defc817fd5>

3 years, 4 months

FS: Tek scope, HP LA, and Electronic components!

by mechanic_2＠charter.net

Hello all, I have probably developed cancer. I can't get in for treatment. I have enough lumps in my body that it probably wouldn't make a difference. So more than likely I am dying. I am asking for everyone's help. I am selling off all of my processions and simplifying my life before I die. I don't want to see this stuff end up in the landfill. Please help out a dying old man? I have a Tektronix 465B Scope with four probes for sale. A HP 16700A LA with 5 16555D LA cards and all of the cables. There is a 16701B Expansion box and the interconnect cable. There is an external SCSI drive box with a CD rom and a ST318417N drive in it. There are a bunch of micro probes for the LA. A monitor, keyboard, mouse, manuals, and CDs. I also have a very large collection of electronic components in over 40 storage cabinets. There are also a lot of books on electronics. I am asking $250 plus the shipping on the scope. This shipping won't be cheap. $500 plus shipping for the LA. Again shipping will be very expensive. It will take five boxes to ship the LA. I will deliver the scope and/or LA to any where in the lower 48 for the cost of shipping. $500 for the components, cabinets, and books. Shipping is not possible. So it it have to be local pick up. Bring a truck and trailer. PP F&F, Cashiers Check, or Postal Money Order. Please contact me off list. GOD Bless and Thanks, rich! Happy Thanksgiving!

3 years, 4 months

DEC PDP-8/E wanted

by couryhouse＠aol.com

Go for a 8m or f? same omnibus and easer to lift as only onevnibuss panel!? - On Friday, November 20, 2020 John H. Reinhardt via cctalk <johnhreinhardt at thereinhardts.org; cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: On 11/20/2020 8:01 AM, Tom Hunter via cctalk wrote: > I know it is the year 2020 but nevertheless what are my chances of finding > a complete and repairable DEC PDP-8/E or as a second choice a PDP-8/I ? > > Is there any hope or should I be just content with my SIMH based PiDP-8/I? > > Thanks > Tom Hunter Funny you should mention... There is a guy in Endicott, NY with a PDP-8/E possibly looking for a new home.? Posted a couple days ago on the VCF DEC Forum <http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?77602-DEC-de-accession-value-esti…> > Circumstances require selling off some or all the DECs [ will still have some DGs to play with ]. > One can often get a general idea of value based on prior open market (like eBay) sales but not > enough comparables out there, so would like to get a ball-park idea. > > Prefer to see them stay within VCF but because of the amount previously invested I'm not able to "give it away" > at hobby prices as I would like in an ideal world. Everything is good shape and complete, but not booted up since dry long term storage. May sell some or all of it but will try here before eBay. Here's a quick overview, informed and straightforward feedback much appreciated. > > > Complete PDP-8/E, 8k core, full flip chip/board set (have list), good condition, long dry storage. > > Complete PDP-11/05, 8k core, full flip chip/board set (have list) good condition, long dry storage. > > DECScope VT-52, good condition nothing missing or damaged from long term storage. > > RX-01 dual floppy drive, good condition nothing missing or damaged, from long storage. > > thanks for your help. > Roger in NY Be aware people are telling him his system is probably worth about $1000.? I have seen other 8's go for more on Ebay but I don't recall which model. -- John H. Reinhardt

3 years, 4 months

DEC PDP-8/E wanted

by mosst＠SDF.ORG

On Nov 22, 2020, at 04:01 PM, Chris Hanson via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: > >Does anyone know of anyone building them for sale? I dont need a real >PDP-8 in my life with all my other hardware (more Q-bus PDP-11, on the >other hand) but Id love having *a* PDP-8, especially one that doesnt >require enormous amounts of power. Hi Chris, There's a few options in this regard, in increasing degrees of "realness" (and cost!) depending on how you define it. 1) The PiDP-8 by Oscar Vermeulen - Raspberry Pi based 8/i replica running SIMH in a miniaturised case. https://obsolescence.wixsite.com/obsolescence/pidp-8 2) The SBC6120 - Originally by Spare Time Gizmos, but now re-released by the RetroBrew Computers community. This is a 6120 based PDP-8/e replica, with optional front panel. (the panel doesn't appear to be made "officially" anymore, as the design files are missing, but a Russian company appears to have copied it. (I have the Russian version but have yet to assemble it.) https://www.retrobrewcomputers.org/doku.php?id=boards:sbc:sbc6120-rbc-editi… http://www.sparetimegizmos.com/Hardware/SBC6120-2.htm https://chipkin.ru/product/pechatnye-platy-dec-pdp-8-e/ 3) The LD12 / LD20 by Franklin Prosser and David E. Winkel - This is a TTL based clone of a PDP-8/i, originally devised as part of an exercise in the book "The Art of Digital Design An Introduction to Top Down Design" in the early 80s. A few people on vcfed.org have built their own based on these designs, and daver2 has made a run of PCBs (wirewrapped!) http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?74125 4) Vince Slyngstad of so-much-stuff.com has scanned many PDP-8 boards and re-created them in Eagle CAD software. I know he's been working on re-creating the 8/e CPU recently but AFAIK it's not finished yet. There are however many OMNIBUS peripheral cards, and a board that combines 32KW of battery backed RAM with a boot ROM. Roland Huisman has also re-created the RX8E floppy controller, and has made an RX02 emulator to go with it, so if you lack an RX01/2 drive you can still have something to boot off. Kyle Owen has also created a neat bit of software that allows you to use a spare serial port and a *NIX system to simulate an RK05. So with all this, it should in theory be possible to build your own 8/e class system soon enough if you can find all the parts for it. http://so-much-stuff.com/pdp8/cad/boards.php https://github.com/Roland-Huisman https://github.com/drovak/os8diskserver Regards, -Tom mosst at sdf.org SDF Public Access UNIX System - https://sdf.org

3 years, 4 months

WIN 1.0

by c.murray.mccullough＠gmail.com

A milestone in 'classic' computing happened Nov. 20, 1985 with the release of Windows 1.0: A GUI sitting on MS-DOS. Text-based input on it's way out! Happy computing all. Murray ? <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

3 years, 5 months

[TekScopes] FS: Tek scope, HP LA, and Electronic components!

by mechanic_2＠charter.net

Hello all, I forgot to put in that I live in Reedsburg, WI 53959 which is near the WI Dells. Sorry about that! GOD Bless and Thanks, rich! On 11/21/2020 4:29 AM, Richard R. Pope wrote: > Hello all, > I have probably developed cancer. I can't get in for treatment. I > have enough lumps in my body that it probably wouldn't make a > difference. So more than likely I am dying. I am asking for everyone's > help. I am selling off all of my processions and simplifying my life > before I die. I don't want to see this stuff end up in the landfill. > Please help out a dying old man? > I have a Tektronix 465B Scope with four probes for sale. A HP > 16700A LA with 5 16555D LA cards and all of the cables. There is a > 16701B Expansion box and the interconnect cable. There is an external > SCSI drive box with a CD rom and a ST318417N drive in it. There are a > bunch of micro probes for the LA. A monitor, keyboard, mouse, manuals, > and CDs. I also have a very large collection of electronic components > in over 40 storage cabinets. There are also a lot of books on > electronics. > I am asking $250 plus the shipping on the scope. This shipping > won't be cheap. $500 plus shipping for the LA. Again shipping will be > very expensive. It will take five boxes to ship the LA. I will deliver > the scope and/or LA to any where in the lower 48 for the cost of > shipping. $500 for the components, cabinets, and books. Shipping is > not possible. So it it have to be local pick up. Bring a truck and > trailer. > PP F&F, Cashiers Check, or Postal Money Order. Please contact me > off list. > GOD Bless and Thanks, > rich! > Happy Thanksgiving! > > > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- > Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. > You automatically follow any topics you start or reply to. > View/Reply Online (#173490): https://groups.io/g/TekScopes/message/173490 > Unfollow This Topic: https://groups.io/unft/78408890/89555 > Group Owner: TekScopes+owner at groups.io > Unsubscribe: > https://groups.io/g/TekScopes/leave/1125693/1414938750/xyzzy > [mechanic_2 at charter.net] > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- > > >

3 years, 5 months

Osborne 1 keyboard repair - success!

by ccth6600＠gmail.com

I have managed to completely disassemble the bad Osborne 1 keyboard - remove all key mechanisms (body, plunger, main spring and actuator spring), remove the 3 layer membrane from the aluminium backing board and separate all three membrane layers (bottom, spacer and top) - all without damaging or losing any bits. I then carefully cleaned off all adhesive and other sticky gunk from all layers using various solvents including water, isopropyl alcohol and white spirit. The silver tracks remained undamaged as confirmed with a multimeter. I then carefully reassembled the 3 layers, inserted and super-glued the keyboard mechanisms in batches, testing after each batch. I did not use any glue to reattach the 3 membrane layers so they are held together only by the keyboard mechanisms with their prongs protruding through the layers into the aluminium backing plate to which the prongs are super-glued. I sealed the edges around the membrane using Kapton tape to provide protection from dust etc. The tape also attaches the membrane edges to the aluminium backing plate. All keys except the "Alpha Lock" key work perfectly. It appears that I have damaged the address line 7 on the bottom membrane. I can live without "Alpha Lock" so I did not pull everything apart again to fix this un-important key. The conclusion is that membrane keyboards can be fixed if your life depends on it. It is absolutely uneconomic though. I worked about 30 - 40 hours on the keyboard alone. Working Osborne 1s sell for between US$100 and US$300 on Ebay. Regards Tom Hunter

3 years, 5 months

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test-drb November 2020