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101090 discussions

Keys - Non-Ace was RE: ACE Key codes (xx2247 etc.)

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Dennis Boone >> it says "Chicago Lock Co" and "GRB 2" > Aha. > Cut 215 on Ilco S1041T. You were able to deduce that from the "GRB 2"? Is that authoritative? If so, I'd like to add it to the 11/05-10 page on the Computer History Wiki. Also, I have an original XX2065 (Data General) which I have no use for; if anyone has an XX2247 they'd like to trade for it (new is fine too), please let me know. Noel

9 years, 7 months

Data General Nova Star Trek

by erik＠baigar.de

Hi Jim, regarding reading the StarTrek paper tapes I spent some time on the weekend to rework my SPT11A manual reader - I got this from an eBay auction and it was an accessory for some military receiver (probalby to read in some codes). It had a fimrwaere which refused to communicate with a simple terminal program, so I reverse en- gineered the hardware and replaced the original ROM it by an own firmware which simply sends the contents read from PPT to the PC via its RS232C... http://www.baigar.de/vintage/SPT11A-mod-Internal.jpg So I'd offer sending this to you as an item on loan to read in your tapes and you return it afterwards? I tested it with some data and it works well (just slowly pull the paper tape through the reader and use e.g. putty to log the binary serial output). After turning on the reader there is a short welcome message to verify the serial connection (9600,8N1). The only question is, whether you can handle the EU style power supply shown in the picture... http://www.baigar.de/vintage/SPT11A-mod.jpg I ordered USB->RS232C converters and if you have some more time, I'd attach one of them to the reader not only doing conversion but also supplying the converter with power from the PC. Addidionally you should send me your physical address via PM so I can prepare for shipping... Best regards from Germany, Erik. On Mon, 18 Apr 2016, jim s wrote: > > > On 4/18/2016 12:19 AM, Erik Baigar wrote: >> >> >> Hi Jim, Dear Sherman, >> >> thanks for the update. I wish you the very best for digitizing the >> tape. I can offer reading it using a Facit N4000 (speed can be configured >> down to 50cps, i.e. around 10cm/s). I also have got a manual reader >> which unfortunately is broken: I would have to generate a new 80C51 >> chip with the right firmware (not a big issue, but not possible over >> night). I can offer fixing this and lending it out to you in >> two or three weeks... >> > I'd be glad to help with shipping on that and would use it. I don't have any > fanfold samples to send to you for testing, but would be glad to have a hand > version to feed this thru. >> I'd be really interested in getting hands on a copy to run on my >> Rolm computers. Are you sure, that there is only a singel tape? > There are 47 individual tapes in the set. All from 1/4" of fan fold width to > about 1 1/2" of fanfold width. > > I will put up my photographs and videos later today and reply again with that > information on my blog. >> As mentioned I have got one tape of a two-tape binary distribution >> of the StarTrek. >> >> Best Regards from Germany, >> >> Erik. >> >> >> >> On Sun, 17 Apr 2016, jim s wrote: >> >>> Here is an update on the tape. It is a box of 47 tapes. We got a >>> volunteer from Charles Anthony to do a video reader for it. >>> >>> I have a video I can share of that tape if that is of interest. I was >>> hoping that it was going to be a basic source tape distribution, but on >>> looking at it, that doesn't fit with what I can read by eye on the tape I >>> read, so I bet it is a bunch of binaries. >>> >>> The tape is fanfold and will need a very careful handling to read it so we >>> will proceed carefully. It is pristine now, doesn't look like it was ever >>> read. >>> >>> I will let you know if we need help, but am going to look for a hand >>> optical reader somewhere for loan or build and attack it that way. >>> >>> It has writing on the box that leads me to think it is from a user group >>> for DG of some sort if that helps you identify the source of it. >>> >>> thanks >>> Jim >>> >>> >>> On 4/16/2016 3:04 AM, Erik Baigar wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi Jim, >>>> >>>> just out of curiosity: Did you have got a look at the DG Star >>>> Trek? Is there a chance to get a copy of the tape? >>>> >>>> If you need assistance in reading the tape, just drop me >>>> a note... >>>> >>>> Best regards from Germany, >>>> >>>> Erik. >>>> >>>> >>>> On Fri, 8 Apr 2016, Erik Baigar wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hi Jim, >>>>> >>>>> short version: Yes, I can confirm existence of such a software and >>>>> I'd be highly interested in a copy. Of course I can >>>>> offer digitizing it ;-) >>>>> >>>>> longer version: I am preserving various Rolm (later Loral) 16 bit >>>>> machines which are hardened, military machines widely comaptible >>>>> to the DG hardware (1602 compatible to Nova and MSE14/Micro is the >>>>> hardened Eclipse). If interested, have a look at my logbook... >>>>> >>>>> http://www.baigar.de/TornadoComputerUnit/TimeLine.html#HDDsim >>>>> >>>>> ...datecodes 10/20/2014 to 12/15/2014 and 2/3/2015 to 2/28/2015. >>>>> Together with two friends (both maintaining a 1602B and native >>>>> DG hardware) we built a harddisc simulator to run advanced >>>>> software (e.g. RDOS). During my efforts I rescued some paper tapes >>>>> from Rolm (diagnostics)... >>>>> >>>>> http://www.baigar.de/TornadoComputerUnit/EB-RolmTapes.jpg >>>>> >>>>> ...and among these serious, mighty tapes was one labeled >>>>> "Star Trek 1/2". I digitized it, but without the second part >>>>> it is of nut much use, so I am sure that such a game existed >>>>> for DG hardware. From the first tape I can tell, that it is >>>>> not just the BASIC listing, but native machine code and there >>>>> is a copyright message dating 1969-1973 ;-) >>>>> >>>>>> The tape pile is fanfold about 10" across in a DG box specially made >>>>>> for such use. >>>>> >>>>> On some occasions I had trouble reading the 30+ years old >>>>> oiled black tapes due to some holes on the folds being >>>>> obscured at the from debris of the ageing paper... >>>>> >>>>> The very best from Germany, >>>>> >>>>> Erik. >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> >> >

9 years, 7 months

Keys - Non-Ace was RE: ACE Key codes (xx2247 etc.)

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Dennis Boone > Haven't managed to id the 11/05 key yet. I have an original (which was used to make a ton of replicas for people a while back); it says "Chicago Lock Co" and "GRB 2". No idea what the latter means. The copies were made with Hillman Y11 and FR4 blanks (both work, but one has to be trimmed a bit, length-wise). Noel

9 years, 7 months

Finding classic computers in the UK

by aaron＠aaronsplace.co.uk

Hi all, Can anyone offer any advice on where to find classic computing equipment in the UK? I've been keeping an looking for a terminal such as vt220 for quite a while now on eBay without much luck. Maybe I just don't know the right people? Thanks, Aaron

9 years, 7 months

Have VAX 82x0/83x0 console floppies been archived?

by derschjo＠gmail.com

I also picked up a VAX 8350 today (it was a productive afternoon). It came with a box of maybe 40 RX50 floppies for console and various diagnostics. A cursory Internet search didn't reveal whether these have been archived already. If they haven't already been archived somewhere, I'll take care of archiving them later this week... Thanks, Josh

9 years, 7 months

4.2BSD TU58 distribution tape for VAX-11/750?

by derschjo＠gmail.com

Hey all -- I'm researching what I need to have on hand to get 4.2BSD installed running on my 11/750. I'm pretty close to having mass storage working, I have a SCSI TMSCP tape controller that should do the job in conjunction with a SCSI 9-track drive, and the VAX itself seems to be happy. What I don't have is a copy of the TU58 cassette that would have been provided with the 4.2BSD distribution (at least, according to the installation documents). This contains utilities for formatting the disk and copying the root filesystem (from a *real* tape drive) to the root partition, so they're pretty essential for bringing a machine up >from scratch. If I had a SCSI *disk* controller, I could cheat and do the installation on SIMH (which avoids using the TU58 by cheating in a different way) and DD the whole thing over, but I'm not so blessed. I can't seem to track down a copy of this TU58 on the 'net -- anyone have one squirreled away somewhere, or know where I should be looking? Thanks, Josh

9 years, 7 months

Vt 103 / lsi 11/23 marketed as a desktop late 1980

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

Prior to the DEC Rainbow, Chrislin Industries was marketing the 11/23 with vt103 as a desktop computer. This is a 3rd party vendor. Maybe they were on to something... Bill Degnan twitter: billdeg vintagecomputer.net

9 years, 7 months

COSMAC Elf switch panel using PCBs

by spacewar＠gmail.com

I built a new Elf switch panel, but this time I used two printed circuit boards for the switches and the bezel. The bezel PCB has white soldermask with black silkscreen. The next revision will have black soldermask with white silkscreen, and the legend font, weight, and positioning changed to more closely match the original Elf photo in Popular Electronics. https://www.flickr.com/photos/22368471 at N04/sets/72157667455777465 The 20-pin header has the same pinout as Bob Armstrong used for the Spare Time Gizmos Elf 2000, but I don't presently have an Elf 2000 to test it with. For now the main intent is to use the panel for a new version of my FPGA Elf. I'm not sure whether I got the wiring of the LOAD switch correct; the Elf 2000 documentation refers to normally closed and normally open contacts of that switch, but for a toggle switch that doesn't make any sense to me. If anyone can tell me which pins of the Elf 2000 connector are grounded when the load switch is active vs inactive, that would be appreciated. The 20-pin header should have been right angle; since I only had a vertical header on-hand, the ribbon cable had to be plugged in before the switches were soldered in place, and the switches are not flush with the switch PCB. The toggle switches and push-button switch are C&K 7101SDV3BE and 8125SDV3BE, respectively, which have 0.42 inch actuator, 0.28 inch threaded bushing with keyway, vertical PCB mount with V-bracket, gold contacts, chrome actuator finish, and nickel bushing finish. These particular C&K switch variants are not very common, so I'll probably use different ones in the future, without the V-bracket. I don't yet have enough of the red and white toggle caps, which are C&K 896803000 and 896801000, respectively. The red button for the push-button switch is C&K 801803000.

9 years, 7 months

Tadpole Sparcbook Hard Drive

by ben＠bensinclair.com

This is a long shot, but does anyone have a Tadpole Sparcbook 3TX hard drive? Their existence may be just a myth. -- Ben Sinclair ben at bensinclair.com

9 years, 7 months

FA: 5.25" floppy mailers

by cclist＠sydex.com

I just came across two unopened boxes (500 each) of 6"x0" 5.25" floppy disk mailers. Anyone want them? You can have them for shipping, FOB 97405. --Chuck

9 years, 7 months

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