test-drb

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

101090 discussions

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

Ok, apparently my PC knowledge is dated ;) I've been working on rebuilding my Hercules setup (vm/360 with CMS and MVS/JES2). This is currently a token ring setup with a 3179 terminal going to a 3174 establishment controller. The 3174 connects to an IBM 8228 MAU. Also connected to the MAU is a token ring card in a PC running Linux/Hercules. I'm changing it to a FreeBSD PC that dualboots with FreeBSD (for hercules) and DRDOS (for PUTR which I'll use a 5.25 floppy for, and for running PromLink to attach to my Data I/O, and several other classiccmp related items that require DOS). Long story short, it will be a more "general purpose (classiccmp)" PC. I'm getting rid of the token ring card in the PC (FreeBSD dropped Olicom support, the only token ring card previously supported). So the PC running hercules will connect to an IBM 8271 ethernet switch, which connects to an IBM 2210-24M token ring/ethernet router. That will connect to the MAU and back to the 3174 and 3179. Much to my chagrin, I've become aware when I started rebuilding that PC last night with a modern mainboard that most mainboards these days that have a FDC connector (many don't even have one) which only supports ONE floppy drive. I really need to have both 5.25 and 3.5 floppy drives, and they need to be recognized by DOS (which rules out any cards that have special drivers). I can't find a PCI floppy controller, and even if I could I'm worried DRDOS won't recognize it. So, the only idea I can think of is would it be possible to put a small switch on the front panel that allows me to switch between 3.5 floppy and 5.25 floppy? I realize I'd have to reboot and change BIOS settings each time, but at least I would have to derack the PC and open the case and move cables. Any ideas if that is feasible or anyone have some other ideas? Jay

15 years, 6 months

Help resurrect my Xerox Alto

by nick.allen＠comcast.net

I thought a video might be easier for you all to see the issue I am having with restoring my Xerox Alto. The issue I am having is the Diablo Disk drive does not power on fully (I am measuring +15 and -15V on the drive, but +5V is only measuring at around 2.5V. The lamps on the front of the drive do not light-up, and the LOAD/RUN button does nothing, hence the door lock does not unlock. Here is a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx80CvjuvyE I have visually inspected all PCB boards and components, nothing seem to be damaged. Also, the power supplies seem to be outputting power properly (as seen via the RED voltage LEDS in the Alto card cage. Any recommendations on how to troubleshoot the disk drive further?

15 years, 6 months

Evolution of the Apple Mouse

by swtpc6800＠comcast.net

I still have an early Logitech mouse that was used with the FutureNet schematic capture program for the original IBM PC (5150). It had a special graphics card that would do ?high resolution? graphics on the IBM PC monochrome monitor This Logitech mouse was released in 1983. Here is an early advertisement. http://books.google.com/books?id=ti8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA21 Here are some photos of my mouse. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Logitech_Logimouse_Front_1983.jpg Michael Holley

15 years, 6 months

S-100 68K CPU board

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Hi! I've received permission from the author of "68000 Microcomputer Systems Designing and Troubleshooting" to include the S-100 68K CPU board as part of the N8VEM home brew computing project for educational purposes. This is a classic text found in many computer science and engineering courses in the 1980's and 1990's. It is possible some here recall the book >from their own college and/or professional experiences. http://www.amazon.com/68000-Microcomputer-Systems-Designing-Troubleshooting/ dp/0138113998/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway <http://www.amazon.com/68000-Microcomputer-Systems-Designing-Troubleshooting /dp/0138113998/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285587152&sr=8-1> &ie=UTF8&qid=1285587152&sr=8-1 As part of that effort, I am capturing the schematic and PCB layout from the book as closely as possible. The intent is to replicate the authors' original board. There is a draft schematic and PCB layout on the N8VEM wiki here: http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/browse/#view=ViewFolder <http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/browse/#view=ViewFolder&param=S-100%252068K%25 20CPU> &param=S-100%252068K%2520CPU If anyone is interested in helping with this project please contact me. In particular, I am looking for volunteers to review the schematic and compare it against the schematic and PCB layout in the book. Due to the complexity of this board quality assurance is extremely important. Actually if anyone has one of these boards or experience with them I would be very interested in hearing from you. The plan is to make a limited run of manufactured prototype PCBs to do an initial build and test of the board. If you are an experienced builder and interested in participating in the initial build and test please contact me. The corrections/updates from the prototype board will be incorporated into a board to be made available for all the N8VEM builders as part of the S-100 project. Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch

15 years, 6 months

Don’t cross the LHC stream! (PDP-11)

by stephane.tsacas＠gmail.com

This video is nice : http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/09/21/dont-cross-the-lh… and this is an unusual comment : http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/09/21/dont-cross-the-lh… -- Stephane http://updatedoften.blogspot.com

15 years, 6 months

Help Needed in KC (MO)

by jthecman＠netscape.net

Hello I will in Kansas City Mo on October 22 to load up some tape drives, CPU, large printers, and other items located there in a warehouse. If anyone can spare some time (even 30 minutes) to come by and help load the UHAUL rental truck on Saturday the 23rd it really needed. I hope to start loading the smaller items on Friday after I fly in and pick up the 26' box tuck. All the large and heavy stuff will be loaded on Saturday. If you help load email me and I will get the address of the warehouse and a contact phone number. Thanks in advance, John Keys

15 years, 6 months

Joining cctalk

by robert.jarratt＠ntlworld.com

I have a friend who has tried on several occasions to join this list. Can someone tell me how long it is now taking to process new membership requests? Thanks Rob

15 years, 6 months

FFS large set of Orcad manuals, training materials

by rdawson16＠hotmail.com

I have the Capture and Layout course all the product doc, libraries and footprints bookset, about a foot and a half of manuals. Probably will fit in 2-3 of those anything fits it ships boxes. Randy

15 years, 6 months

Wood Thread Trick

by bob＠theadamsons.co.uk

>> hole before drilling the full size hole", or "don't tighten any of >> the > > Use a centre punch. Or a Slocombe drill. And drill a pilot hole. And > rememebr the drill tip angles are different for different materials. > And remember that most ordinary twist drills aren't meant for enlarging existing holes because their centre isn't then supported, and unless everything is held rigidly (and often not even then) will tend to produce some sort of curve of constant width other than the desired circle.

15 years, 6 months

Any interest in Research Machines PCs?

by binarydinosaurs＠gmail.com

Folks, Today I discovered I had more RM Nimbus machines than I actually need, as well as a few Acorn Archimedes. Any interest? The RMs are mostly PC-1 which is a pretty well specced 80186-based machine but there's also an AX/2, VX/2 and a microchannel M-series. Not strictly home based machines so I guess I should pass them onto someone! Cheers, -- adrian/witchy Owner of Binary Dinosaurs, the UK's biggest home? computer collection? www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk

15 years, 6 months

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