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101090 discussions

Fujitsi 2444AC 9-track tape drive/PDP-11

by w2hx＠w2hx.com

Hello friends, I recently acquired a NIB 9-track for use in my (someday to be operational) PDP-11/23+ or PDP-11/73 (I've lost track of the details). I got it on ebay for $150 but the shipping from CA to NY was not insubstantial :). The ebay ad showed a well-used unit but when it arrived it was clearly new in box! Nice when that happens :) Some pix: http://w2hx.com/x/VintageComp/Fujitsu-2444AC/ It is VERY heavy! Took me and my 17 year old (and a lot of sweat and swearing) to get it up to the attic where my burgeoning little vintage computing lab is shaping up. I should mention, I'd like this tape drive to be able to work in either the various DEC OS's available (RT-11/RSX/others?) and also Unix/BSD which I plan (hope) to get up and running. Now for some questions. 1. I've been told the QT13 is a very good card to interface here. I've been looking for a while on ebay without luck. I do see a QT14 on ebay right now at a good price, but I am not familiar with the "S" card business and what that means for use in a PDP-11 backplane. 2. Anyone have a QT13 for sale? Or based on my dec and unix interests, is there a better/recommended card? 3. Anyone have the 50 pin cables/connectors available? If not I feel confident I could make these up. But I thought I'd ask in case someone has a set getting in their way 4. Anyone ever make a pertec to USB project? Might be interesting to get access to old tapes on more modern computers? Thanks all! 73 Eugene W2HX

7 years, 3 months

Service for converting CD-ROMs into ISO files?

by pdp11＠saccade.com

Hi, I have a stack of a few dozen CD-ROM disks with various files (old software, backup files, photos). I'm willing to pay a reasonable rate to have somebody read each of these in, convert them to .ISO files or some other reasonable format, and either make them downloadable or put them on a thumb drive. Does anybody know of such a service? I can find lots of services for converting audio CD's into MP3 files, but nothing that specifically handles data CD-ROMs. Any leads most appreciated. Please reply directly, as I don't often check this list. Thanks, jp

7 years, 3 months

Hayes Transet Manual and Software

by silent700＠gmail.com

One of my few remaining Holy Grail items, I got a Hayes Transet 1000 this week. My three-part Hayes stack is now complete. I've scanned the manual and quick-ref card. The scan is not up to the quality of my usual work, as I tried a new technique using a DSLR instead of a scanner so I wouldn't have to take the manual apart. The results are good enough to read, but that's about it. I'll re-do it again someday with the proper tools. Here's the link: http://chiclassiccomp.org/docs/index.php?dir=%2Fcomputing/Hayes I have two manuals for the config software (alas only the Mac version of the software itself), which I'll try to do soon. I'll image the Mac disk as well. If anyone has the PC version of the software, I'd love it have it. -j

7 years, 3 months

Looking for Silent 700 printhead

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

I have two Silent 700 terminals (model 745) that I bought quite a few years ago (nonworking). Couldn't find a schematic. Last week I just happened to search for one - and found a complete service manual with theory of operation and full schematics! So I got them on the workbench. The more worn one wouldn't print anything on the paper but was otherwise working. I found that the nylon printhead pressure adjustment wheel had split and fallen off the solenoid shaft into the case, along with the pressure spring. Then it would print, but I promptly discovered that the printhead has several "dots" missing in a pattern that could not be accounted for by the driver circuitry. I confirmed it by swapping the printhead from the other one, and now it prints perfectly. So at least I have one working now :) The second one in half-duplex mode will only beep (Ctrl-G), CR and LF in half-duplex mode, so I know the keyboard is alive and there is power. But it otherwise won't move the carriage forwards (including space), or print any characters at all. Before I go to the trouble of diagnosis and repair, does anyone have a good printhead, or know where I can find one? No point in fixing it if the characters won't be printing properly when I'm done... thanks Charles

7 years, 3 months

Old CE manuals

by cctalk＠emailtoilet.com

Still cleaning out for Nevada move. http://www.myimagecollection.com/cemanuals/ Last 2 are interesting. 2075 Processing Unit and some Russian machine EC4001. Number sounds familiar from my eBay sojourns. Available for cost of Media Mail shipping. These buggers are heavy. As last time, all or nothing. Donald

7 years, 3 months

RS2030 MIPS workstation

by pete＠dunnington.plus.com

Anyone know much about early MIPS workstations? I'm trying to get a MIPS RS2030 to boot, without much luck so far. It goes through the selftest but stops with the internal LED display at "5" accompanied by a continuous beep. Known problems: - The Dallas DS1287 battery is flat; I can hack a 3V lithium onto that. I assume it should still work to some extent even if the contents are lost? - The RAM is highly suspect. I think it needs a minimum of 8MB to start up. It has a good complement of SIPPs, but some of them are definitely non-original and are actually 30-pin SIMMs that somebody has done a rubbish job of soldering short stiff wires onto. So I'd like to know what the RAM spec really is, whether I need to reprogram the Dallas chip (and if so what goes where), and what the diagnostic numbers on the internal LED mean. Anyone? -- Pete Pete Turnbull

7 years, 3 months

I need some education (PDP)

by sales＠elecplus.com

So I called my buddy of 20+ years. Got old PDP junk left? Like what kinda junk? PDP 8 or 11? Hmm, got PDP 8 boards and BA11 boxes. PDP11 makes no sense, it is a series, 11/70 or what? I know NOTHING about this stuff. I told him slide in boxes with flippy switches. He laughed and said he will send me over a list of all the OLD DEC stuff left in the warehouse. Shipping will be from Calif. Pickup avail, or shipping, for rack stuff. Cindy Croxton Electronics Plus 1613 Water Street Kerrville, TX 78028 830-370-3239 cell sales at elecplus.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

7 years, 3 months

found in the shelf - Case study of control data corporation 1958-1967 by Steven Arnold Estrin B.S.B

by couryhouse＠aol.com

Found in the shelf in smecc library - Case study of control data corporation 1958-1967 by Steven Arnold Estrin B.S.B ?a master's? thesis -? anyone know? him or this? Ed# at SMECC

7 years, 3 months

Decrepit old HDD

by sales＠elecplus.com

I have the opportunity to purchase some old 50-pin SCSI, ESDI, MFM, RLL etc. drives. There is no way to test them, and there are no refunds. There are no dents or obvious signs of damage, but that means noting. Is there any way to resurrect these if they are dead/defective? Any interest? Cindy Croxton Electronics Plus 1613 Water Street Kerrville, TX 78028 830-370-3239 cell sales at elecplus.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

7 years, 3 months

Dallas drive

by sales＠elecplus.com

I plan to go to Dallas next week for a quick run. Things I know are there: IBM XT and AT computers with kbds, no monitors. (3 pallets last I checked) CASES of NIB 360K internal floppy drives (not diskettes) for the original IBM PC Some hdd for the original PCs, new and used Defective IBM monitors (flybacks are no longer made) Parts for 5140 computers, some NIB (no kbds) Original DEC things that have orange flippy switches-WARNING! Smells like dead rats and rat poop. Nasty condition! Looks something like this https://obsolescence.wixsite.com/obsolescence/pidp-11 Lots of NIB off brand old computers, PCs, like Apex by Compaq Most of the stuff is PC or laptop related Let me know what u want and what u want to pay, I will bring it home and ship. Car will only hold so much. Cindy Croxton Electronics Plus 1613 Water Street Kerrville, TX 78028 830-370-3239 cell sales at elecplus.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

7 years, 3 months

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