On 16 Sep 98 at 0:14, Tony Duell wrote:
> One interesting 'feature' of the 800K Mac drive (and I suspect the 400K
> drive is similar) is that there's a pin on the connector (pin 9, I think)
> which will trigger the eject mechanism if clamped to ground. It's not
> used on the Mac AFAIK. Maybe it was used on the Lisa.
I suspect that the feature is used by the Apple II family. External
3.5" drives for the II have an eject switch.
Phil
**************************************************************
Phil Beesley -- Computer Officer -- Distributed Systems Suppport
University of Leicester
Tel (0)116 252-2231
E-Mail pb14(a)le.ac.uk
On 16 Sep 98 at 1:42, Tony Duell wrote:
> How about a list of useful things for classic computer collectors, even
> for those who don't want to get involved with repair. I'd start with the
> following... Feel free to add things
>
> A transformer to convert your local mains into the 'other' standard. I.e.
> a 110V step-down transformer for the UK, a 220V step-up transformer for
> the states.
>
> A composite monochrome monitor, capable of working with UK and US TV
> standards (almost all will do that).
>
> An analogue RGB colour monitor, TV scan rates
The analogue RGB monitor is an essential but getting one that runs at
TV scan rates is getting difficult. I was lucky enough to find a
Microvitec badged NEC Multisync (digital and analog inputs) that
seems to display almost anything. However it's now more than ten
years old and starting to display its age. These types of display are
snapped up by the Amiga enthusiasts so what are the alternatives?
Does anyone know the signal requirements for the "new" desktop flat
screen displays?
Phil
**************************************************************
Phil Beesley -- Computer Officer -- Distributed Systems Suppport
University of Leicester
Tel (0)116 252-2231
E-Mail pb14(a)le.ac.uk
Phil Clayton <handyman(a)sprintmail.com> writes:
> I have several old 360K floppy drives removed from old XT's
> is it possible to use these in my CP/M machines..?
> Are they compatable, and has anyone used these drives in the old
> CP/M's.?
Kaypro: yes
Osborne: I dunno
I'm thinking that the O1 has funny disk drives that need power
somewhere on the ribbon cable. But it's been a while since I had
one open to check, and am posting in the spirit of getting someone
else to jump in and correct me.
-Frank McConnell
Uncle Roger said:
>I came across a couple of small systems ...
> that are the size of a small shoebox ...
> Unfortunately, the ones I got are 286 and 386sx machines ...
> I would
> love to find such a box with something more current ...
http://www.mod.com/html/desktop_products.html
The only thing that might possibly link this to being on-topic is that
this is Ken Olsen's new company.
Roger Ivie
ivie(a)cc.usu.edu
Most flat screen displays use analog SVGA signals. They're trying to
elminiate SVGA, and have pure digital signals, which is how it should
be for a TFT screen. When this happens, you'll have a harder time
using it with old machines. Eventually, CRTs may be relegated to
second place (kinda like dot matrix printers).
>> for those who don't want to get involved with repair. I'd start with
the
>> following... Feel free to add things
>>
>> A transformer to convert your local mains into the 'other' standard.
I.e.
>> a 110V step-down transformer for the UK, a 220V step-up transformer
for
>> the states.
>>
>> A composite monochrome monitor, capable of working with UK and US TV
>> standards (almost all will do that).
>>
>> An analogue RGB colour monitor, TV scan rates
>
>The analogue RGB monitor is an essential but getting one that runs at
>TV scan rates is getting difficult. I was lucky enough to find a
>Microvitec badged NEC Multisync (digital and analog inputs) that
>seems to display almost anything. However it's now more than ten
>years old and starting to display its age. These types of display are
>snapped up by the Amiga enthusiasts so what are the alternatives?
>Does anyone know the signal requirements for the "new" desktop flat
>screen displays?
>
>Phil
>
>
>
>**************************************************************
>Phil Beesley -- Computer Officer -- Distributed Systems Suppport
>University of Leicester
>
>Tel (0)116 252-2231
>E-Mail pb14(a)le.ac.uk
>
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No, this is an internal PSU.
>
>>Hans Franke just gave me a Commodore 128 D, the 220 volt version.
>>Could someone please tell me a) how to convert the PSU (no switch)
>>or b) how to hook up a normal PC PSU.
>
>Is this by any chance the same power supply used by the C-128, A-500,
>A-600, A-1200? I know that for these systems the best powersupply is
the
>one that came with the A500 as it has the highest wattage.
>
> Zane
>| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
>| healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
>| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
>+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
>| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
>| and Zane's Computer Museum. |
>| http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ |
>
______________________________________________________
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One RGB monitor that I have is a Magnavox Professional. It has composite
input, RGB input, and another input that I don't have the cable for. I
like it because it also is capable of displaying Monochrome (green) display
in either CGA/RGB, Composite, or Monochrome mode. I think the third
connector is to connect it to a Hercules card, but I don't have the cable
(not the same as RGB cable.
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
----------
> From: Phil Beesley <PB14(a)leicester.ac.uk>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Classic Computer Essentials (was C128D)
> Date: Wednesday, September 16, 1998 8:10 AM
>
> On 16 Sep 98 at 1:42, Tony Duell wrote:
>
> > How about a list of useful things for classic computer collectors, even
> > for those who don't want to get involved with repair. I'd start with
the
> > following... Feel free to add things
> >
> > A transformer to convert your local mains into the 'other' standard.
I.e.
> > a 110V step-down transformer for the UK, a 220V step-up transformer for
> > the states.
> >
> > A composite monochrome monitor, capable of working with UK and US TV
> > standards (almost all will do that).
> >
> > An analogue RGB colour monitor, TV scan rates
>
> The analogue RGB monitor is an essential but getting one that runs at
> TV scan rates is getting difficult. I was lucky enough to find a
> Microvitec badged NEC Multisync (digital and analog inputs) that
> seems to display almost anything. However it's now more than ten
> years old and starting to display its age. These types of display are
> snapped up by the Amiga enthusiasts so what are the alternatives?
> Does anyone know the signal requirements for the "new" desktop flat
> screen displays?
>
> Phil
>
>
>
> **************************************************************
> Phil Beesley -- Computer Officer -- Distributed Systems Suppport
> University of Leicester
>
> Tel (0)116 252-2231
> E-Mail pb14(a)le.ac.uk
You don't have the schematics for this anywhere? The PSU is separate
and it looks like I could plug in a PC power supply if I knew pinout.
As for useful things, I would also suggest an older model printer,
a 5.25" drive, and, if possible, an 8" drive. Then, I would say a
VOM is obligatory either way.
>
>This is rapidly becoming a FAQ here - how to convert between 110V and
>220V mains.
>
>By far the easiest and safest way is to use a step-up transformer. It
>doesn't need to be an isolating transformer - an autotransformer is
fine.
>You feed 110V in and get 220V out. Since 240V -> 110V transformers are
>fairly common in the UK, I would guess you can get the reverse in the
States.
>
>If you can't find a suitable transformer, then there's a sort-of kludge
>that works, but you need to take a little care when wiring it up.
>
>Get a mains transformer with _2_ 115V (or thereabouts) primary
windings.
>Such transformers are fairly common, since by connecting the primaries
in
>parallel you can use them in the States, and by connecting them is
series
>(230V) you can use them in Europe. It doesn't matter what the
secondaries
>are, as you're not going to use them.
>
>Connect the windings in series, like you would for 230V mains. Connect
>the output across the 2 windings. Connect the 115V mains across one of
>them. In effect you're using the primaries as an autotransformer.
>
>The power rating of the transformer that you use should be about twice
>that of the computer you want to run. That gives a reasonable safety
margin.
>
>Another way, which should be safe, but which for some odd reason is
>against the US electrical code is to connect the 220V unit to a 220V US
>outlet - the sort of thing you plug an air conditioner or whatever
into.
>
>It may be possible to modify the PSU. If it uses an iron-core 50Hz/60Hz
>transformer, then look to see if there are 2 primaries wired in series
>for 220V mains. Connect them in parallel for 110V mains - taking care
to
>get the relative polarity correct. I'll not give any more details,
>because it really depends on the PSU design what you should do.
>
>For a switcher, the input circuit is often a bridge rectifier for 230V
>mains. If you can convert this to a voltage doubler, and if there's no
>line-frequency transformer for a start-up supply, then it should work.
>
>A lot of switchers have 2 smoothing capacitors in series - look for 2
>large capacitors of about 470uF at 200V. Connecting the centre-tap of
>these to one side of the mains (after the switch/fuse/filter) will do
it.
>Often there's a link on the PCB (marked 'link for 115V' or something
like
>that) for this purpose. Again, knowing how PSUs work is a great help
here.
>
>But I'd recomend the step-up transformer in your case. It avoids
>modification, and it's safe.
>
>How about a list of useful things for classic computer collectors, even
>for those who don't want to get involved with repair. I'd start with
the
>following... Feel free to add things
>
>A transformer to convert your local mains into the 'other' standard.
I.e.
>a 110V step-down transformer for the UK, a 220V step-up transformer for
>the states.
>
>A composite monochrome monitor, capable of working with UK and US TV
>standards (almost all will do that).
>
>An analogue RGB colour monitor, TV scan rates
>
>A dumb terminal (or a PC + terminal emulator program)
>
>One of those RS232 quicktesters with red/green LEDs. (I use mine more
>than my Tektronix datacomms analyser)
>
>An assortment of cables. In particular IEC mains leads (like PC mains
>leads), RS232 cables (straight and null-modem), video cables (RCA -
RCA,
>BNC, PL259, etc)
>
>-tony
>
>
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All,
spotted this on the comp.sys.dec.micro newsgroup. Please reply to
him, not me. I love my Rainbow but don't know anything about his :-) Also,
you probably should check out ftp.update.uu.se in the /pub/rainbow
directory to see whether there's anything there that might suit your
Rainbow software needs better. Or check it out to see what a wonderful
variety of reasons there is to get a Rainbow!
- Mark
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Path:
Supernews70!SupernewsNP!Supernews73!supernews.com!howland.erols.net!feed1.news.r
cn.net!rcn!news-xfer.netaxs.com!feed.centuryinter.net!not-for-mail
From: aljohnson(a)centuryinter.net
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec,comp.sys.dec.micro
Subject: FS: Misc DEC Software for DEC rainbow and Hardware
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 98 04:52:05 GMT
Organization: CENTURYinter.net
Lines: 9
Message-ID: <N.091598.235205.05(a)ppp093.av.centuryinter.net>
NNTP-Posting-Host: ppp093.av.centuryinter.net
X-Newsreader: Quarterdeck Message Center [2.00]
Xref: Supernews70 comp.sys.dec:67074 comp.sys.dec.micro:9067
I have misc software including wordprocessing, multiplan, operating stuff for
dec rainbows and similar machines. Have several rainbow machines and some
cables. Parting out all of it CHEAP. Software a buck a box, Hardware a buck
a part. Most but not all software is still in plastic. Got to get rid of
it.
Please email with any question.
Allen
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
--- Eric Smith wrote:
Marion.Bates(a)Dartmouth.EDU (Marion Bates) wrote:
> As far as I know, it is the same in almost all respects, right down =
> to the model number. But, the Lisa version supports the Lisa's =
> auto-eject feature when shutting down from the front button, =
> whereas the Mac version does not.
No, they are in fact identical, and have auto-eject. The eject when the
white "power" button on the Lisa is pressed is done by software; the button
doesn't really have anything to do with the power supply.
Eric
--- end of quote ---
I asked David Craig about this, and here's what he had to say:
"Concerning your recent question about the differences between the Mac
and Lisa 400k drives as pertaining to auto eject at machine shutdown, my
understanding is the Lisa drive has extra circuitry to detect when its
power is turned off and it then auto ejects the floppy. The Mac drive
does not have this extra circuitry and therefore does not auto eject a
floppy by itself. The Mac floppy ejection is controlled by the system
software.
See Sun's Lisa repair manual which talks about this feature.
FWIW, the Lisa drive being smarter does not suprise me since the Lisa
hardware philosophy was to have specific components handle specific
tasks. That's why the Lisa twiggy drives were smart and did stuff like
formatting whereas the Mac handles everything about the disk. The
Lisa's keyboard was also smart and had its own chip to control it --
COPS, control oriented processing system."
-- MB
