- test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org - classiccmp.org

RSTS/E has just had its 50th Birthday...

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Paul Koning > RSTS/E of course has a bunch of new stuff in it to deal with mapping, > but the bulk of the code carries over from RSTS-11. I was assuming that the basic intermal environment was sufficiently different that not a lot of the OS-level code could carry over, but I guess not. DId you actually work on RSTS-11 internals (I don't know your exact dates at DEC), or did you just read the source? And speaking of which, are any RSTS-11 sources still extant? I found the RSTS directory on BitSavers, but it seems to have only manuals. Noel

5 years, 5 months

3
2
0 0

Early 3M Computer Tape Type Numbers

by t.gardner＠computer.org

I'm trying to figure out what were the earliest Type numbers for 3M ?-inch reel-to-reel computer tape As best I can find, 3M began marketing a Type 777 computer tape about 1967. The Type 700 appears to be somewhat later. But 3M sold computer tape directly to at least government customers (e.g. NSA, Social Security) in the 1950s. The also notably OEMed tape to IBM who rebranded it under an IBM label until the late 1960s at which point with the help of Sony IBM began manufacturing its own computer tape. Anyone have any idea of the Type number for 3M computer tapes earlier than Type 777? There might be a place for some of these older Types at the CHM if anyone knows of any still in existence. Tom PS: There is a lot of information on 3M audio tape Type numbers as at http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/3mtape/aorprod-cust.pdf but computer tape seems to be an orphan

5 years, 5 months

3
9
0 0

FW: RSTS/E has just had its 50th Birthday...

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

Please copy cctalk/cctech on any responses to Peter. J From: Peter Dick <peter at balvine.com> Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2020 4:34 PM To: jwest at classiccmp.org Subject: RSTS/E has just had its 50th Birthday... Hi. I stumbled on your wonderful PDP11.ORG website. As I expect you know, RSTS was ?born? on 11th June 1970 as shown when you print DATE$(1%) with Star Date format selected. This means RSTS/E, the Greatest Operating System ever, has just turned 50 years old. We would like to mark this historic moment by collecting a total of 50 memories from those of us who used RSTS/E at some time, obviously the earlier the better. Or if you are still running old Basic Plus code, then the later the better! I will then collate these memories and email them out to everyone who takes part. What memories? It doesn?t matter. Funny / technical / life changing / surprise / show how times have changed / whatever ? Length? It doesn?t matter. Your name will be included but not your email address unless you specifically want it included. Please email contributions to 50years at silverware.co.uk <mailto:50years at silverware.co.uk> Bye/P Peter Dick, ex Chairman DECUS UK RSTS SIG.

5 years, 5 months

3
2
0 0

A tool many of you may make find useful!

by dave.dunfield＠gmail.com

> The file is empty. Not much I go do except stop trying and advise people to ignore all this. I've just downloaded the file from my site, and it is NOT empty and does work. I did notice a small bug, if you specify names not in it's database it doesn't tell you, and produces no output. I have corrected it. Dave -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Personal site: http://dunfield.maknonsolutions.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Need HP 9114B PROM 09114-15521 Contents

by cruff＠ruffspot.net

FYI: I've received the PROM image, no need for anyone else to go to the trouble to extract it.

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Need HP 9114B PROM 09114-15521 Contents

by cruff＠ruffspot.net

The PROM in my 9114B committed suicide this morning, letting the magic smoke out. It was marked with part number 09114-15521, does anyone happen to have dumped the contents so I can program a new one? Thanks.

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Hp 21mx loader rom set

by grant＠klyball.com

Thanks JayI'm am not trying to use DS/1000 just trying to get the 7974 loader going.Grant -------- Original message --------Grant wrote....------------------------Hi all, i am looking for a loader rom set for my 21mx and does not seem tobe around at the usual places, I am hoping to find a leed.Here is what i am in need of.12992L consisting of12992-8001191740-8007091740-8007191740-80072there is a set of 91740 on bit savers but with a suffix of 67-69 ?------------------------Pretty sure I have a binary copy of all known 12992's, the ones I use I justburn out to a set of blanks. The 7974 loader rom uses the boot loaderextension firmware for DS/1000. Are you actually running ds/1000?? I haven'tseen anyone get that up and running.I'll see if I can dig up the bin (or an already burned chipset).J

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

VAX /785 docs

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

This eBait item: https://www.ebay.com/itm/202989416368 has a number of VAX-11/785 manuals, including /785 Hardware User's Guide. A bit outside my scope, but /785 docs are very rare (Bitsvers only has prints) so a VAX person should grab this and then scan them. Noel

5 years, 5 months

5
5
0 0

Accuracy of IBM Instructional Logic Diagrams

by cube1＠charter.net

As part of my project to create a Field Programmable Gate Array implementation (FPGA) of the IBM 1410 Data Processing System based on Automated Logic Diagrams (ALDs), I decided to look at using the Instructional Logic Diagrams (ILDs) to guide my testing, rather than using the ALDs directly. The ILDs are written completely in ?positive logic?. Going in, I sort of expected a pretty imperfect match ? that the ILDs would not have all the signals, and be somewhat superficial in their treatment of the logic. For the IBM 1410, the circuits were: AND, OR, Inverter, Indicator (Lamp), Single Shot, Latch (Reset/Set), Trigger (Flip Flop) To my surprise I found that the ILDs are *VERY* accurate, and a great testing guide, providing a second view of the logic ? a kind of redundancy check against my entry of ALD data into my system. They are good enough that they have given me considerable confidence that I can use them to help ?fill in the blanks? related to the handful of ALD pages I am missing, and also for some of the IBM 1414 peripheral controllers for which I do not have ALDs. In 1962 IBM published an article in the IEEE Transactions ?Information Processing ? from Engineering Drawing to Manufacture? by R. K. Grim that describes how the data the ended up generated ALDs was entered and the ALDs produced, but it does not mention where the ILDs come from. They are definitely artwork ? not machine generated per se. The article did not address ILDs. I have corresponded with IBM to see if they might have, in their archives, the data from these 1960s era engineering systems, but it seems that they do not (or have lost the pointers to them.) It seems that the SMS automation was first done using an IBM 709, then they later added IBM 7090 and IBM 1401 systems (which of course could not have been there for the original design of the IBM 7090 and 1401, which used the SMS system), using tape files. The article also describes future plans to use a 1301 disk drive attached to an IBM 1410 for remote (tele-processing) access (which was supported by the IBM 1410-PR155 operating system. The accuracy of the ILDs is such that I expect that they evolved along with the design of the machine and entry of the data used for the ALDs. I?d expect that doing it after the fact, from the ALDs, would be quite error prone ? besides the one difference I have found is in the signal names, which do not always exactly match those used in the ALDs, but are close enough that the intent is obvious. But I don?t know the timing: which came first ? the ILDs or the ALDs, or did they perhaps begin together in some form and co-evolve? In summary, it seems to me that one could do a pretty decent positive logic implementation of IBM machines of that era using these ILDs. This was a real eye-opener. If there are any old-time IBMers that read this, I'd love to hear any enlightening information or stories about this process. JRJ

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

On: raising the semantic level of a program

by sieler＠allegro.com

A friend kindly searched and found an interesting paper from 1973, Programming by semantic refinement <https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/390014.808298> JB Morris - ACM SIGPLAN Notices, 1973 - dl.acm.org. https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/390014.808298 While an interesting paper, it's going the opposite direction (essentially, going from an English language description down to a final programming language). But, using the L1 (highest level language), L2, ..., Ln (lowest level language) concept, I can phrase my concept better ... so ... Most programmers write at, say, the level of L3. They might write something like: mem [foo].head = something My "raising the semantic level" would be: #define HEAD(x). mem [x].head ... HEAD (foo) = something With a fair set of macros like that (HEAD, TAIL, etc), the program is now effectively written in a "new" language, L2 (a higher level language than L1). Being written in L2, the resulting code is more readable to everyone, partially because they aren't continually seeing the implementation of how ".head" / "mem" work/interact. In effect, the programmer has added a feature (linked list handling, perhaps) to L3 ... for that particular program, seemingly extending/raising the level of the language. It's that concept that I thought I saw sometime in the early 1970s :) thanks, Stan

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Restarting Old Amiga's

by healyzh＠avanthar.com

I have the urge to get my Amiga?s back up and running. I?m still trying to find my main Amiga A3000, but have found my A500 and my A600. The problem is, I don?t remember the last time I powered these on. It?s been a long time since I?ve had time. In the case of the A3000, I think it?s been about 17 years. My Atari TT030 has been even longer. :-( Any advice about powering them up? Of course another fun challenge will be to figure out where on earth all my Amiga floppies are. Zane

5 years, 5 months

7
21
0 0

IDE Hard Drive Question

by w2hx＠w2hx.com

Hi friends, Sorry for the long email that follows: I am working with an old military PC model SAIC V2LC. The PC is a 486 and is from around 1992 give or take a couple of years. Probably 1995 latest. The computer has one 3.5" floppy and a removable IDE hard drive in a removable carrier. It also seems to have a SCSI controller, but I would have to see what that is all about as the BIOS does not show anything about that so it may require a driver that I may be unlikely to find. Some pictures: https://w2hx.com/x/SAIC%20V2LC/1.JPG https://w2hx.com/x/SAIC%20V2LC/7.JPG https://w2hx.com/x/SAIC%20V2LC/9.JPG https://w2hx.com/x/SAIC%20V2LC/10.JPG IDE HD and carrier, the hard drive in the carrier is a Conner CFS540A: https://w2hx.com/x/SAIC%20V2LC/20200124_094111.jpg https://w2hx.com/x/SAIC%20V2LC/20200124_094131.jpg https://w2hx.com/x/SAIC%20V2LC/20200124_094115.jpg https://w2hx.com/x/SAIC%20V2LC/20200124_094118.jpg https://w2hx.com/x/SAIC%20V2LC/20200124_094105.jpg I purchased this SD-IDE converter to replace the failing (failed) hard drive. I got a 40 pin converter because I saw that the conner CFS540A uses 40 pins. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G29TZPS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00… I received the converter and went to remove the hard drive from the carrier and saw something surprising. It appears that 4 wires from the computer are connected not to the 40 pin IDE connector, but directly to the hard drive in the center piece (is this the motor? Voice coil? I don't know). https://w2hx.com/x/SAIC%20V2LC/0625201552.jpg https://w2hx.com/x/SAIC%20V2LC/0625201605.jpg Does ANYONE have any idea what these 4 wires are connected to and why? And anyone give any odds about whether these 4 wires will prevent this IDE-SD converter from working? Any and all suggestions/advice welcome. 73 Eugene W2HX

5 years, 5 months

6
6
0 0

A tool many of you may make find useful!

by dave.dunfield＠gmail.com

>this tool is really similar to "rdfind", which compares file sizes and >content, independently from file name, and is able to create a list of >correspondence, delete duplicate files, and create symbolic links to the >single instance. >This can work on large amounts of files, even on complex directory tree. Sounds good, don't know that I saw that one (tend not to look too hard as I enjoy creating stuff, and what I do is usually smaller, easier to use - at least for me - and more reliable). Didn't want to go into a lot of detail as this isn't exactly classic computer related.. although I expect a lot of classic collectors are like me and have use for it. Couple things I implemented in DFF which I don't know of in other tools: It uses an "index" file - first attempt just used the output of windows: DIR/S but I found it got big and unworkable fast, and changed from one version of windows to another. DFF creates its own which is small and consistent, having only the DIR names, and file sizes + names. This is normally a temp file, but you can Keep it, just Build it without processing, and process it later. You can also have DFF append to it so you can deal with as complex dir structure as you like, by /BAing it in various places. It can deal with files in arbitrary directory trees on multiple drives quite easily. You can also have it place and END marker in the file, which means that anything you append will be treated differently. Anything before the END marker is scanned and reported as you expect. After the END marker, files are considered as possible duplicates, but not checked and reported separately. And since the "index" file is a text file, you can add to it, change it and retrieve it's content very easily - you don't need special programs provided by the tool maker to do unusual things. Same is true for it's output. You can also have it list: - All files (dups have a dup instance number see below) - Only duplicate files - Only single files - Under each directory, you can get it to list where all the duplicates are (full path) This combined with the END marker makes some fairly powerful things possible. (Show me any files occurring here which are not also occurring there). Each instance of duplication is assigned a unique "duplicate instance" number which is shown next to all files which are part of that "duplicate instance". I thought about an automatic "delete duplicates" feature but didn't implement it as I am organizing a lot of data, much is duplicated, it's final resting place may not be one of the original locations and I want control over how the final archive is organized. Dave -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Personal site: http://dunfield.maknonsolutions.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

A tool many of you may make find useful!

by shadoooo＠gmail.com

Hello, this tool is really similar to "rdfind", which compares file sizes and content, independently from file name, and is able to create a list of correspondence, delete duplicate files, and create symbolic links to the single instance. This can work on large amounts of files, even on complex directory tree. Andrea

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

A tool many of you may make find useful!

by dave.dunfield＠gmail.com

Sorry, can't respond easily because I read the list on the web, can't deal with the flood of email from it, and can't respond via the web interface. >I'm not clear on what "duplicate" really means. Perhaps you can clarify >things for me. > >Duplicate in name and/or size? >Duplicate in content? > >There are lots of duplicate file finders for Windows and some of them >are quite sophisticated, being able to compare the content of files with >different encodings and provide "almost the same" type of information. Duplicate means exact duplicate size and contect, name does not matter. (I copied lots of stuff around, sometimes renaming it and want to find all the dups). Yeah, lots of nifty tools, but I needed one where I could easily control what it looks and and process it's results (text files). Also had to deal with VERY large sets of data (terabytes) and do it all in a fairly reasonable time. So I just wrote one. I'm a bit unusual that way - tend to write stuff that does exactly what I need instead of trying to use something that sort of comes close but often also does a lot I don't want. >Downloading http://dunfield.maknonsolutions.com/dos/sw/ddw2020.zip >gets flagged by Windows Defender on Windows 10 Pro (1909) >as "Worm:Win32/Spybot". Not for me, it's something I compiled from my own source myself, is packed with UPX - maybe Windows Def doesn't like that but it raises no alarms on the Win7 Pro system I'm testing on. Have no control of Windows Defender .. just one of many reasons I don't use Windows much. Not the first time good clean code of my own has triggered false alarms. FWIW, I just downloaded DDW2020.ZIP from the site, and it exactly matches my original one. Contents also exactly match my original files, here is a DIR listing: Directory of R:\DDW2020 2020-06-24 09:08 PM 3,255 DDW2020.TXT 2020-06-24 09:08 PM 23,584 DFF.EXE 2020-06-24 09:08 PM 23,584 EDT.EXE 2020-06-24 09:08 PM 31,907 EDT.TXT 2020-06-24 09:08 PM 6,688 FDF.EXE 2020-06-24 09:08 PM 9,760 VLT.EXE 6 File(s) 98,778 bytes Note, Windows did warn me that this file is not commonly downloaded and wanted to "discard" it, but I used "Keep" - no defender or antivirus alarms triggered. Dave PS: Noticed and fixed the spelling of "Download" - may need to reload to see due to browser cache. -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Personal site: http://dunfield.maknonsolutions.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5 years, 5 months

3
2
0 0

Future of cctalk/cctech

by aek＠bitsavers.org

With Jay retiring, what are the hosting plans for these mailing lists?

5 years, 5 months

39
65
0 0

Tri-Data Cartrifile parts/interfaces/tapes?

by derschjo＠gmail.com

Hi all -- I picked up a Tri-Data Cartrifile 4096 at VCF West last year and since I'm suddenly going to have more time on my hands, I thought it'd be fun to see if I can get it running again. The Cartrifile is a tape drive that uses cartridges containing continuous-loop 1/4" tape in various lengths, much like 8-track tape though in slightly different packaging and with a fixed head. 10ips, 600bpi. (There's a brochure on Bitsavers at http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/tridata/Tri-Data_4096_Brochure_Feb69.pdf) The unit I have has a PDP-8 compatible interface, though I only have the cabling and rear-bulkhead for posibus systems. (My 8/I is currently negibus, so some work will need to be done there.) It's in pretty decent shape and I think I should be able to get it to work again. I also have a stack of cartridges and it remains to be seen how they hold up. If they're anything like 8-track tapes, the EOT marker will probably fall off and the tape ends will need to be reconnected as well :). At minimum I hope to be able to recover the data off the tapes I have. Curious if anyone out there has one of these, has any spare parts, or interface parts (there was at one point an Omnibus interface available, and having the negibus interface would be extremely handy.) Thanks as always, Josh

5 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Zaiaz 933 Clipper board

by plamenspam＠afterpeople.com

Hello, Recently acquired such board and would like to ask if someone has any documentation or/and software for it. Regards, Plamen

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

A tool many of you may make find useful!

by jfoust＠threedee.com

At 10:41 AM 6/25/2020, Dave Dunfield via cctalk wrote: >I originally wrote it for my own use, but it has proven SO useful that I took >a little time to clean it up and post it at my personal site.: Downloading http://dunfield.maknonsolutions.com/dos/sw/ddw2020.zip gets flagged by Windows Defender on Windows 10 Pro (1909) as "Worm:Win32/Spybot". - John

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

A tool many of you may make find useful!

by dave.dunfield＠gmail.com

Hi, Don't know if anyone is interested, but I'd guess that a lot of you like me have collected a big pile of digital "stuff" over the years, and also if like me, it may have gotten away from you a bit with a lot of duplication etc. Having some spare time, I've been organizing my collected documentation, software, drivers and other files. As part of this process I wrote "Duplicate File Finder", a WIn32/64 tool which can look at a VERY large file collection (can even be across many drives etc.) and produce a nice summary of what is duplicated and where all the duplicates are. I originally wrote it for my own use, but it has proven SO useful that I took a little time to clean it up and post it at my personal site.: http://dunfield.maknonsolutions.com If this sounds useful, have a look and grab the program. Hopefully it will be as useful to you as it has to me. Dave -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Personal site: http://dunfield.maknonsolutions.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

The Old Calculator Museum - Oregon

by peter＠vanpeborgh.eu

Guys, I seem to have lost contact with Rick Bensene of that museum for the last 10 days. Can anyone tell me if he is ok? Many thanks, peter

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

PDP-11 tape question

by cclist＠sydex.com

I've been processing some PDP-11 9 track (800 NRZI) tapes and run across something that I don't recognize. Every file on the tape consists of a number of 512 byte blocks (okay, that's normal) but at the head of each file, there's a short block of 14 bytes. Usually, a short record like this is discarded as "noise" on many mainframe tape systems, but here it's consistently present. Here's what one of the records looks like: 15 34 fe 51 fe 76 01 01 00 00 01 80 10 00 Doesn't seem like a file name in RAD50 format, so I'm puzzled. Inquiring minds want to know... Thanks, Chuck

5 years, 5 months

7
10
0 0

Changing the number of file headers on an RSX volume

by cz＠alembic.crystel.com

So I'm working on this RSX11M+ system here and while working I ran myself out of file headers. Using the HOME /MXF command I was able to increase the number of headers, but only up to 4090. or so. Trying to go to 4100 gave me an error saying there were not enough system blocks or something. Currently I have 830 headers, but that's not enough in the long term. The volume has 541,944 blocks total, with 150655 in use. This is a system I generated on a smaller disk, then copied to the pdp11, then backed up with BRU MU0:=DU0: then restored to a larger blank disk. I guess the question is can I extend the number of blocks without having to re-init the system disk? I suppose I could flatten it by taking the system down to single user (shutdown, then p to start with the volume dismounted, mount the volume /for, then BRU mu0:=du0:), then format the volume with a really big assed MXF value, then restoring the tape, but would that flatten the volume info? Or do I need to just man up, put a second ESDI drive on this monster, copy the files to the second drive then format the first (big) volume right, copy the files with PIP, and do a VMR again to write the boot block? Or is there a better way to backup and restore the volume without doing an image backup using /for? Been a long time since I've done this stuff. Thanks! C

5 years, 5 months

2
2
0 0

PDP8 KV graphics PCB design

by roelof_klaas＠yahoo.com

I found somewhat fascinating pictures in a PDP8 small computer handbook. It is a KV graphics system. According to the book it was used to design new computer circuit boards. So I got very curious to that KV system. I found a maintenance manual about the system. It even had a joystick! I wonder if any of that PCB software has been rescued? Regards, Roland https://ibb.co/WVKCfMz https://ibb.co/TvYpP2v https://ibb.co/6mSZkdh

5 years, 5 months

4
3
0 0

IBM vacuum tubes

by decguy＠songdog.eskimo.com

While going through my assortment of old vacuum tubes looking for audio treasures, I found a handful of IBM branded ones. Mostly 5965, but there's one 5963 mixed in. These are dual triodes with the same pinout as common small-signal audio tubes such as 12AX7/7025/ECC83, but characteristics closer to 12AT7 or 12AU7. My RCA Receiving Tube Manual says they're designed to withstand being held in cutoff for long periods of time, and mentions digital applications. Anyone know what kind of IBM machine these would have been used in?

5 years, 5 months

8
18
0 0

Malfunctioning VT240 - help please

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

On 6/21/20 10:41 AM, Jon Elson wrote: > On 06/20/2020 09:41 PM, Charles wrote: >> On 6/20/20 8:31 PM, Jon Elson wrote: >>> >>>> I confirmed the bad one by removing the piggyback and the failure >>>> returned. Now I need to desolder the bad one without ruining the >>>> board. I may just cut the leads off close to the bad chip, and >>>> solder the replacement to the stumps. (Normally I remove the legs >>>> and install a machine-pin DIP socket). Or just solder the piggyback >>>> and leave it there... thoughts? >>>> >>> Cut the leads close to the body.? Apply a soldering iron to each >>> lead, and pull the lead out with tweezers, >>> simultaneously heating and pulling.? This is very gentle to the >>> board, just doing one at a time.? Then, you can vacuum out the holes >>> and install a new chip or socket. >>> >>> I've done this many times, and never wrecked a board. >>> >>> Jon >>> >> That's how I do it... the vacuuming is the problem. Someday I need to >> get a good vacuum desoldering station. Right now I just have a >> spring-loaded solder sucker (which I can do a pretty decent job with >> on most boards). But this high-density layout (2 traces between DIP >> pads) I'm a bit wary of. >> > Just be gentle, and you should be able to do it.? Also, in some cases, > you might heat from the opposite side from the solder sucker.? That > way, you can keep the soldering iron on the pad until you have > triggered the sucker.? But, yes, the hollow soldering iron with > powered vacuum is amazing the first time you try it.? I got one at an > auction years ago, it is much better than the regular iron and > plunger-sucker. > > Jon The small company I first worked for had a Pace unit. I remember not being impressed with it - frequent clogs, pads lifting, and not getting all the solder out, no matter how we set things. Still beat solder-wick though! I got it done, but pin 16 (which connects directly to the internal-layer ground plane) was a bear. From the feel of it and the heat required, the draftsman didn't bother to make pad reliefs. Anyway it's now socketed, so of course it will never fail again! I also made a small jumper on a 15-pin D-sub to connect Monitor Present L to ground, so that annoying "Monitor Error 9" message stops ;) On to the next project!

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Imsai and others in Montgomery, AL

by sales＠elecplus.com

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/960320167759670/ Guy is cleaning out his shed because he is moving. Not affiliated with seller, etc. 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

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

LK201 emulation

by paulkoning＠comcast.net

Gentlepeople, I've been having problems with broken LK201s, so as a workaround I created an adapter that connects to a standard PC USB keyboard and makes it look like an LK201. It's based on an Arduino (specifically, Adafruit Trinket M0, an amazingly tiny yet powerful small microprocessor). It's working at this point, though it needs a few small software tweaks to make it complete. I'm going to turn my breadboard into something slightly more polished. Question to the list: is this something that would be of interest to others? If yes, I can make the design available. Perhaps the PCB layout and parts list. I don't think I want to get into building units for others, though. paul

5 years, 5 months

15
28
0 0

New subscribers?

by ccth6600＠gmail.com

Are new subscribers to cctalk still accepted? My subscription request was left unanswered. With all the talk about the future of this list I wonder if I came too late. Thanks Tom Hunter

5 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Malfunctioning VT240 - help please

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

> On 06/11/2020 02:29 AM, Mattis Lind via cctalk wrote: > >/If that would be the case I think the system would fail />/quite soon rather than on test 5. A guess is that this is />/a memory problem. / That was a good guess, everyone ;) I got some new 4116's and piggybacked (dry, no solder) two of them atop my suspects at E3 & E4. Didn't fix it. Of course :/ In the meantime I've acquired a nice HP 1630G logic analyzer complete with pods and cables. Setting it up was going to take quite a while since I'm not familiar with this model. So I decided to try a simple brute-force approach before the analyzer. I piggybacked another 4116 onto each soldered-in 4116, one at a time. Actually easy to do since with the leads properly formed, I didn't even have to solder it in place, just turn off the power and move it to the next chip. On the 16th, the last one of course, the terminal booted normally and works again. :) I confirmed the bad one by removing the piggyback and the failure returned. Now I need to desolder the bad one without ruining the board. I may just cut the leads off close to the bad chip, and solder the replacement to the stumps. (Normally I remove the legs and install a machine-pin DIP socket). Or just solder the piggyback and leave it there... thoughts?

5 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Ancient transistor ?computer board (Peter Van Peborgh)

by peter＠vanpeborgh.eu

Guys, I now know it is an early CDC board. IT had C*NT*OLDATA on the reverse - how I missed that must be attributed to old age. (Thanks Doug) Here are shots of the back: https://photos.app.goo.gl/UPozyBB3zp7XYcP79 Any idea what the row of hole opposite the contacts were? Testing points? But then why holes and not short pillars? Some are labelled on both sides. Continuing in hope, peter

5 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Future of cctalk/cctech

by boris＠summitclinic.com

Agree that current mailing list format is best as simple, low bandwidth and can always post links to images or other large files. I still use Eudora as my email client and have text only emails. Seems to perplex a lot of people I deal with when I can't read their emails, but it seems somewhat wastefull to use 1-2 Mb to send a message that only needs 200 bytes at most (once one strips off all zero-information fluff from the email). Run my own mailserver as well so can email myself massive attachments when email is only way of getting data off a remote machine. Images take up a lot of space and are best dealt with via links. I've run my own webserver/ftpserver since 1999 and find that's the easiest way of sharing large files with people. While it's nice having high resolution photos like those that Samsung phones creat, they're in the 3-5 Mb size range. If I need to put a lot of photos on a web page, I'll use the free Photo Studio program (written by John Hawkins) which creates a web page with a series of thumbnails with full image available by clicking on thumbnail and can set size of thumbnail image. Rather old, but works fine for simple web pages where all one wants to do is serve up a set of images. Remember 15 years ago that online documentation was sparse but have found most DEC manuals are online and C64 stuff a lot easier to find than it used to be. Being rather paranoid, I've downloaded manuals for all machines I have and keep a duplicate copy of everything. Not sure how many people are on cctalk/cctech, but keeping everything text only would be best way of minimizing bandwidth for whoever hosts it, Boris Gimbarzevsky >On Fri, Jun 19, 2020 at 3:31 PM Maciej W. Rozycki via cctalk < >cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: > > > Sure, there's always `uuencode' when you do need to post that non-text > > piece (which I guess will keep the eyes of Luddites away from it too). > > > >Or an http, https, ftp, or gopher url to somewhere else hosting the image. > >Pat

5 years, 5 months

6
5
0 0

Someone's confused

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

Love the title on this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/184317705963 eBait auction: "16K Sense Inhibit Board .. VAX 6000, VAX-11/730". Yeah, core on a VAX! And such a deal, a mere US$400! Noel

5 years, 5 months

16
23
0 0

Fixing an RK8E ....

by bob＠jfcl.com

It appears that my RK8E has a problem - it fails the diskless control test with .R DHRKAE.DG SR= 0000 COMMAND REGISTER ERROR PC:1160 GD:0000 CM:0001 DHRKAE FAILED PC:6726 AC:0000 MQ:7777 FL:0000 WAITING Ok, maybe a bad bit in the command register so I'll check it out. But then it dawns on me - how do you work on this thing? It's three boards connected with "over the top" connectors - you can't use a module extender on it. Worse, the M7105 Major Registers board is the middle one of the stack! Is there some secret to working on this thing? Has anybody fixed one? Any suggestions? I hadn't thought about it before, but the KK8E CPU would have the same problem. Fingers crossed that one never dies... Bob

5 years, 5 months

5
5
0 0

Hercules SDLC/BSC interfacing project - want 3174-x1R

by mattislind＠gmail.com

Hello! I have been working on interfacing the Hercules emulator with various real terminals for some time. First project was an Alfaskop terminal cluster which I connected using a small STM32 controller handling BSC. Next is an Informer 213, portable 3178/3174 compatible terminal. It it using SDLC. A friend has a 3178 and 3279 which would interesting to work with. A 3174-51R/-61R/-81R/-91R would be very suitable for this. It would be very nice to test my BSC and SDLC code with the real IBM stuff. I have put my project here: https://github.com/MattisLind/alfaskop_emu/tree/master/Utils <https://github.com/MattisLind/alfaskop_emu/tree/master/Utils> Still very much Work In Progress. If anyone has a type 1 3174 that does BSC and SDLC so I could test my stuff I would be very interested. No need for fancy features like TCP/IP and/or token ring. I of course pay shipping. But can throw in various DEC QBUS stuff as a trade. /Mattis

5 years, 5 months

2
2
0 0

CSPI SC-3XL and SC-4XL documentation?

by cmhanson＠eschatologist.net

I've just come into a couple of CSPI VME cards, an SC-3XL and an SC-4XL (both with attached memory), and I was wondering if anyone has documentation. They're based on the Intel i860 and intended for VME-based array processors. -- Chris

5 years, 5 months

1
1
0 0

New drive for my 11/83....

by cz＠alembic.crystel.com

Picked up a CDC 94166 ESDI disk on Ebay last week, arrived and sure enough it works. No errors either, so I can now give my 30+ year old Fujitsu 2322 a rest and load up rsx11m+ instead of 11/m 4.2 After formatting it on the MTI controller (MQD13) I set the first partition to 30mb and loaded up my RT11 5.7 backup from the TK50 onto it with no issues. Productive. If I can find my DEQNA and an AUI to wireless adapter I could get this thing up on the net.....

5 years, 5 months

1
1
0 0

Future of cctalk/cctech

by couryhouse＠aol.com

Use modern email program that sees expanded char. Sets and graphics.... it is a brand new world !??? I love old hardware to look at but if communicating? I like? the ability to see graphical? things...? and I think tell majority of people like? images of things......?? Ed# On Wednesday, June 17, 2020 Fred Cisin via cctalk <cisin at xenosoft.com; cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: On Wed, 17 Jun 2020, ED SHARPE @ AOHell.com via cctalk wrote: > These 2 have my vote as well.... > I do not know, anyone using a text only mail reader anymore! > >> The one thing I would change here is removal of the restriction on attachments. >> Well, two things.. Getting rid of the cctalk/cctech split as well. I read this list on PINE, on a shell account at my ISP. In this group, I doubt that I am the only one. Can we restrict to TEXT emails? -- Grumpy Ol' Fred? ? ??? ??? cisin at xenosoft.com

5 years, 5 months

12
13
0 0

PLATO V Terminal

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Paul Koning > airfight and any number of other multi-user games -- a thing made > popular by PLATO and possibly originated there. What was the date on that? Multi-player MazeWar on the Imlacs/ITS at MIT was running before 1976 (I played it about then), but I don't recall exactly when it first ran (before my time). Noel

5 years, 5 months

3
4
0 0

E-Mail Formats RE: Future of cctalk/cctech

by dave.g4ugm＠gmail.com

> -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk <cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org> On Behalf Of Peter Coghlan > via cctalk > Sent: 18 June 2020 08:22 > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: RE: Future of cctalk/cctech > > ED SHARPE wrote: > > Use modern email program that sees expanded char. Sets and > > graphics.... it is a brand new world ! I love old hardware to look > > at but if communicating I like the ability to see graphical > > things... and I think tell majority of people like images of > > things...... Ed# > > > Just beware. Some environments, especially old EBCDIC ones put different currency symbols on the same code points So:- I wrote this as one dollar => $1.00 This as one pound => $1 And this as one euro => ?1 Lastly one cent => ?1 I expect you all get that as sent except for perhaps the Euro which didn't exist when Peters VAX was built.... ... but on an old UK EBCDIC mainframe Dollar becomes Pound and Cent becomes dollar. This was a real pain as a UK user of Bitnet. Dave > Let me get this straight. If I stop using VMS MAIL for this list and use one of > these new fangled things instead, I too will be able to make high quality > postings to the list, just like this one??? > > Regards, > Peter Coghlan > > > > > On Wednesday, June 17, 2020 Fred Cisin via cctalk <cisin at xenosoft.com; > cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: > > On Wed, 17 Jun 2020, ED SHARPE @ AOHell.com via cctalk wrote: > > > These 2 have my vote as well.... > > > I do not know, anyone using a text only mail reader anymore! > > > > > >> The one thing I would change here is removal of the restriction on > attachments. > > >> Well, two things.. Getting rid of the cctalk/cctech split as well. > > > > I read this list on PINE, on a shell account at my ISP. > > > > In this group, I doubt that I am the only one. > > > > > > Can we restrict to TEXT emails? > > > > -- > > Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at xenosoft.com > >

5 years, 5 months

12
39
0 0

Farewell Etaoin Shrdlu

by lproven＠gmail.com

https://archive.org/details/FarewellEtaoinShrdlu 28min documentary on the last ever edition of the NY Times to be printed using hot metal -- before they switched to what are now a quite choice assortment of late-'70s minicomputers. I think I spotted a PDP, a Data General and some IBM device, but I am no expert in this era. As a veteran reader of Fredric Brown, especially "the Enchanted Linotype", I have been using ETAOIN SHRDLU to win at Hangman for many years... but I'd never seen one working before. It all still seems like magic to me. I've worked in the magazine industry so I should know more about this stuff, but I never worked at the repro end of things... -- Liam Proven ? Profile: https://about.me/liamproven Email: lproven at cix.co.uk ? gMail/gTalk/gHangouts: lproven at gmail.com Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn/Flickr: lproven ? Skype: liamproven UK: +44 7939-087884 ? ?R (+ WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal): +420 702 829 053

5 years, 5 months

8
8
0 0

: Unknown Intel blinkenlight panel circa 1973

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Camiel Vanderhoeven > I know Intel made the in-4011 for the PDP-11, but I never saw a picture > of it. Was it UNIBUS memory, or what? It doesn't seem to be in that table of early Intel products. BTW, speaking of Intel PDP-11 memory, I have this: http://gunkies.org/wiki/File:IN-1611.jpg QBUS Intel memory board; hven't tried to get it running, though. Noel

5 years, 5 months

3
2
0 0

Future of classiccmp

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

Al wrote: >With Jay retiring, what are the hosting plans for these mailing lists? Well at least for me, there's more to it than that ? I retired from general work on 4/30/20. My consulting firm is going to be kept open on paper for a few years at least but I doubt I will be transacting much business through it. I guess if someone comes by with a short project that I find interesting, I may do it through that company but mostly it's staying open to handle a few germane expenses. All staff and offices are gone and regular payrolls ended 4/30. That leaves the hosting company for me to determine scope/future. Since that company (as long as you are proactive with admin tasks) takes virtually zero work and allows me to have a grossly oversized but paid for full-on high availability virtualization architecture, I was going to keep it going during retirement with just a few very low maintenance customers that cover the costs. I basically can then host any personal/hobby related sites for myself and friends at literally zero cost. In this company I do have one business partner, and that relationship has become quite difficult lately. So much so, that I'm ready to just turn it off and walk away. I'm sorry, but I have reached the point in my life where that stress outweighs the benefits. This infrastructure is of course where I've hosted not only the classiccmp mailing list, but a fair chunk of other classic computing related websites and services at zero cost to their respective owners. Throw in to the mix that for whatever reason - while I have dutifully taken care of this list and a lot of other related websites for probably 15+ years or more - I honestly don't feel that I am doing a good job of it's care & feeding lately. I think it's time for fresh eyes and attitudes to carry it forward. I hope no one begrudges me for after decades finally saying "it's time". I have enjoyed being of service. First and foremost, there is no worry about future hosting plans for above content. I'm not going to just turn it off one day - the grizzled veterans here that know me well know that I would not let that happen. There is no sense of immediate urgency nor any possibility of data just disappearing. That being said, I do wish to move steadily forward with those plans. Second, I do not wish to pass this off to someone who "has a server in their basement" or has spare space on a vps. While I appreciate these offers and the desire to help, I'm not sure you have full knowledge of what all is here. Putting it on a "PC in your basement" is not the environment this stuff requires. At the very least, asymmetric bandwidth (what most people have in their homes) is a non-starter. Sneaking it on to your company infrastructure isn't good either, as there is almost always a builtin "need to move this stuff soon" disruption in store. I've already been working with folks in this community to figure out what to offload, where, how, etc. That work will continue, and I suspect that each separate migration will go off transparently with little or no outward signs of change. Also, I am definitely not leaving the hobby; I just look forward to participating as an end-user instead of host. Just as a heads up at the same time I am looking to thin my herd; not because I've lost interest but because I want to gain focus. That means most likely that I will be moving out a lot of choice DEC, Data General, Heathkit, and related items. I will post separately on that topic, but at the least I am going to keep/focus on HP and a couple others. Will post more info once I have it ? Best, J

5 years, 5 months

3
3
0 0

Origin of 3-D printing (again)

by sieler＠allegro.com

Hi, Back in 2017, I posted something about seeing a possible first-ever reference to the idea of 3-D printing in a 1951 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction magazine. I stumbled over an even earlier one tonight... The September, 1941, issue of Astounding Science Fiction magazine has a story called "Elsewhere" by Caleb Saunders (a pseudonym of Robert A. Heinlein). On page 118 we see: [They used] a single general type of machine to manufacture almost anything. They fed into it a plan which Igor called, for want of a better term, the blueprints. It was, in fact, a careful scale model of the device to be manufactured; the machine retooled itself and produced the artifact. A three-dimensional pantograph, Igor called the machine, vaguely and inaccurately. One of them was, at that moment, molding the bodies of fighting planes out. of plastic, all in one piece and in one operation. Stan

5 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

PLATO V Terminal

by ccth6600＠gmail.com

I have been "hunting" for a PLATO V terminal for some time. It was made by Regency - Carroll. If there is such a terminal gathering dust in a shed or garage and the owner would like to find a good home for it then please let me know. I have successfully restored a Control Data Corp IST-3 terminal and 721 Viking terminal and have the skills, equipment and passion to restore the terminal to its former beauty and functionality. Tom Hunter

5 years, 5 months

3
4
0 0

Future of cctalk/cctech

by couryhouse＠aol.com

These 2 have my vote as well.... I do not know, anyone using a text only mail reader anymore! > The one thing I would change here is removal of the restriction on attachments. > > Well, two things.. Getting rid of the cctalk/cctech split as well. On Wednesday, June 17, 2020 Rob Jarratt via cctalk <rob at jarratt.me.uk; robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com; cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: > -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk <cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org> On Behalf Of Al Kossow via > cctalk > Sent: 17 June 2020 13:55 > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: Future of cctalk/cctech > > > > > I wonder what you don't like about "groups.io" Its pretty much a pure mailing > list? > > Like all of the webby time-wasters, they don't have easy to mirror zipped > archives, because they want to to spend time hovering around clicking on their > sites. > > > http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/ > > > The one thing I would change here is removal of the restriction on attachments. > > Well, two things.. Getting rid of the cctalk/cctech split as well. I would agree with both of those too. Rob

5 years, 5 months

17
18
0 0

Amiga Vendors?

by healyzh＠avanthar.com

I found AmigaKit.com in the UK, are there any Amiga vendors left in the US? I need to order some parts, and not only do I not remember who I used to use in the US, I assume they?re gone. Zane

5 years, 5 months

15
26
0 0

Ancient transistor ?computer board (Peter Van Peborgh)

by peter＠vanpeborgh.eu

Sorry guys about the unusable tera-URLs. To reiterate, I have acquired this board and have trouble assigning it to a particular computer manufacturer and type: Try this for the photos: https://tinyurl.com/ydxnzh9g and https://tinyurl.com/yb6z3utv Smells of (early) 1960s transistorized. No helpful marking apart from * "GATE JJ01" on SIDE A. (components). * "C NT OL DATA" on side B (solder traces). Big transistors are Motorola "180376008". Also, any ideas what the "246 636 B" boxes are, they have four legs? Can any of you of mature years suggest anything? Many thanks, ( praise be to TinyURL), peter

5 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Future of cctalk/cctech

by couryhouse＠aol.com

These 2 have my vote as well.... I do not know, anyone using a text only mail reader anymore! > The one thing I would change here is removal of the restriction on attachments. > > Well, two things.. Getting rid of the cctalk/cctech split as well. On Wednesday, June 17, 2020 Rob Jarratt via cctalk <rob at jarratt.me.uk; robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com; cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: > -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk <cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org> On Behalf Of Al Kossow via > cctalk > Sent: 17 June 2020 13:55 > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: Future of cctalk/cctech > > > > > I wonder what you don't like about "groups.io" Its pretty much a pure mailing > list? > > Like all of the webby time-wasters, they don't have easy to mirror zipped > archives, because they want to to spend time hovering around clicking on their > sites. > > > http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/ > > > The one thing I would change here is removal of the restriction on attachments. > > Well, two things.. Getting rid of the cctalk/cctech split as well. I would agree with both of those too. Rob

5 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Was: PDP-8/A transformer hum Is: VXT-2000 stuff.

by joezatarski＠gmail.com

> > > > On 6/9/2020 11:51 AM, Glen Slick via cctalk wrote: >> On Tue, Jun 9, 2020 at 9:04 AM Bill Gunshannon via cctalk >> <cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: >> >> For the VXT-2000 with an H7109-B the rated voltage and current values >> are printed right on the power supply label: >> >> +5.1V, 7.81A >> +12.1V, 0.62A >> -12.1V, 0.46A >> -9V, 0.2A >> >> Fixed width character pinout diagram: >> >> +=================+ >> -9V | Yellow | Orange | +12.1V >> +--------+--------+ >> ??? | White | Black | Gnd >> +--------+--------+ >> +5.1V | Red | Blue | -12.1V >> +--------+--------+ >> +5.1V | Red | Black | Gnd >> +--------+--------+ >> Gnd | Black | Black | Gnd >> +=================+ >> >> The mystery is the White wire. The power supply label only lists 4 >> output voltages. The White wire appears to be routed to the Ethernet >> daughter board. The measured voltage appears that it might be floating >> slightly negative, somewhere around -1.5V when the Ethernet daughter >> board is installed and around -5V when it is removed. Maybe it is a >> high impedance earth ground connection? It appears to be connected to >> the shield of the Ethernet BNC, which measures around 1M-Ohm to the >> chassis ground when the power supply is disconnected from the main >> board, and around 0.75M-Ohm when the power supply is connected. >> > As long as we are talking VXT-2000, I have this on file, figure it would > be useful for future googling of the list if > this were here as well.? May be a repeat of info from an earlier post, > or maybe elsewhere. > > I didn't save the source of the info, but looks like someone named Matt > Millman did it. > > The setup is as follows: HP Envy laptop running MOP boot daemon, > connected to Lantronix LTX-C twisted pair > ethernet to AUI converter (not the same as a twisted pair MAU). This is > then connected to a cabletron coax > MAU with a 10BASE5 vampire tap. The coax runs over to another MAU, which > is connected via an AUI cable to > my VXT2000. I didn't think of it, but it would have been nice to have a > real DEC MAU on the VXT2000, I've > got several DEC h4000's I could have used. > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5T2GlAN2N4 > > http://tech.mattmillman.com/projects/10base5/ The first link is mine actually. (Hi, I'm Joe from Joe's Vax Repair and More). I have a VXT-2000 and have had it setup and booting on a few occasions. I also happened into some 10BASE5 equipment a few years back and the VXT2000 was one of the only AUI devices I had at the time. I'm not Matt Millman, but I did reference that site to find the existence of the Lantronix LTX-C and similar devices. Now that I have more AUI gear, I plan to put different gear on the 3-node AUI segment (cisco 2511 router, media converter to 10BASE2, VAXStation 3200) and move the other 10Mb equipment to a 10BASE2 segment. The whole mess will be joined to the main network via T1 on a Kentrox CSU/DSU on the 2511. You can boot the VXT2000 using MOP or BOOTP and TFTP actually. MOP was the first thing I managed to get working, but BOOTP and TFTP worked equally well once I had it set up correctly. Unfortunately my bootptab file is on a roommate's MicroVAX II... Anyway, see the links section here for the software: https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/DEC_VXT2000 There's also theoretically OpenBSD and NetBSD support for the VXT2000, but in my experience the netboot stuff is pretty broken on VAX for whatever reason. There's at least one bug for the SGEC ethernet chip driver, and I could only get older versions of the network boot mop file to load. Of course, the older versions wouldn't support the newer kernel format, which apparently changed at some point. Or maybe I'm just doing something wrong. If the machine in question gets repaired, feel free to contact me with any questions. If you're familiar with netbooting VAX systems, it's not too hard to figure out though. I'll add that the note about the 9V supply being isolated sounds reasonable. It could be used as the supply for the built-in 10BASE2 MAU on some units. I can't confirm as my unit has 10BASET instead which has no requirement for an isolated supply.

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Schematic for DEC H7441 (not the H744!)

by bob＠jfcl.com

Is there a schematic for the H7441 regulator anywhere? There are several out there for the H744 but, although they are plug compatible, the H7441 is totally different. The H744 uses an LM723, but in the 7441 DEC appears to have rolled their own regulator using a bunch discrete parts and opamps. Bob

5 years, 5 months

2
2
0 0

Future of cctalk/cctech

by couryhouse＠aol.com

We use groups,io for the tom swift discussion group real handy to post photos, files and etc.. On Wednesday, June 17, 2020 Chris Hanson via cctalk <cmhanson at eschatologist.net; cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: On Jun 17, 2020, at 1:50 AM, Tor Arntsen via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: > >>>> There is also groups.io, and it has some very nice features compared to > > Please please, no groups of any kinds. They're all horrible to use. Do you mean "web forum" where you say "groups?" > A > genuine mailing list like this is infinitively easier to keep track of > and read at leisure. Can't stand groups.io. I've found the groups.io <http://groups.io/> mailing list mode to be perfectly reasonable for a number of groups I'm a part of. And it has a forum-like front end for people who insist on doing everything through a web page. ? -- Chris

5 years, 5 months

4
3
0 0

Ancient transistor ?computer board

by peter＠vanpeborgh.eu

Guys, I have acquired this board and have trouble assigning it to a particular computer manufacturer and type: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/byRPH3wCR2aqxGX9U8BZfFTT_XtF7QCKSyVXoNmGIk UheiJ5BWqxYaCWdEshppLGYkOqUD7fl9XNeVzO_tDRKVOtbC3Js7T-pOvNUHs9MY9A36fc7dU6ro 1i7hx9Uhcfc6ukEGIdC5Ac6aTQhEFFoeWBxiI6Z24hZdvq1r6vRb4o-Lj778Wbo15hwxu0JxMuxE tcopNv0FG0_g6nUv0Eofalqu4TmgPfUWVCd4Y4LdA0pnhDRMYF5c2ASzS00TsyukCVrUyr298tjo vztVzUGEPHNL1beVCriuQIBLITaEMX3N8EBDuxpfav0vHFuyy9yfAgUI4uJB9qT6aFGEk2KplIVt yNWZf9phTdj-jLtqns9WvdA9Ur2klrk4uPzMyWg6SKTKRlpMrvbJuMnqZodzxPFPvWCG5--kVVBD KRAXW8xOTOPyxXx0xrcPifO49ni2SFYIkZgTb9d4gzvJaM8ugEb-jqHlc7uqHz5glwe4PfoN838w zMozr43veZSNHRTm9IMfON-w7xvbVufJpa_MzhuaTlKf9pvVcRIuxfhG4pMeVq7K6phhHpsKPfG5 h4BRgDSimCE8mToI35IWS3Ty8j01-6bibKH_kB-t35aIdkv7JIC-YZ1sDoguSdyk8h1xbM2d9i_U LFQYVC0oCHESgEGdqzGO3ntgwmV4khjgaQkcp2Bk-TuC7Nwrl57JI=w654-h871-no?authuser= 0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HvltevPwIvyJF0qiAJR6wCAkI4lHfFGL2Gos5uoT4a qEJNFBAwJ3m6XX8E6k0m515EYgZJMaCwFGXiGiTCkxDeT396EjsbkukK3_XYqNDjfU8o3Pbtdq8z vm_q7MXShANXVFUL2wjXEbAhvBug1h42tZnxpDaxTCeNIHjqF2bgs6J_S3wCjmx538E4AuHCHxrr CqIr8yvL7AGlZXCWe8u05YNNZbIrUCYHbTtxh15hc0SwfRPzQ2U2v-pPxHs7-rx5mPpwxovbp24a CdwLBf5RRvvEZWZgyDGKG8xdF-al4kQdZMgxrVVXFMse3ee_J-QaYgALUxckGeWp2QxM4wolrd8Q Y1PqaMaTgbws5WSrOeBBBZrhmrUeL4TzZAlCA4-FqtRpoPIA339y9JRixB8Q6LlUeNsWzlqGqkvC JSCHlh_hpCXgwemhOtF4B1CLvNGs-PSZjTsnj_KOeSgeINz5Sc6TCrHmnxCcIY6D42aKMJRHZ9I9 7Z02FLsKwN6IKLxjifZvrkmEX4L8qXLbd8cuF0uf1PMjwC9WNC1_QpOmMiJOrBloG9pdrHRGvmfR RPQE7c6_HxVklEpIbxqkLmQVkKF-oM8VYS3A11tvslxiZUcvQcEhuEYhPLoqTD8PDikYhxKyVLhq S0DC-bIVBDDLeqiegQelHFjhptKwgs-0Q5mMrxvE6rdsd6-ipEf5Q=w654-h871-no?authuser= 0 Smells of (early) 1960s transistorized. No helpful marking apart from * "GATE JJ01" on SIDE A. (components). * "C NT OL DATA" on side B (solder traces). Big transistors are Motorola "180376008". Also, any ideas what the "246 636 B" boxes are, they have four legs? Can any of you of mature years suggest anything? Many thanks, peter || | | | | | | | | Peter Van Peborgh 62 St Mary's Rise Writhlington Radstock Somerset BA3 3PD UK 01761 439 234 "Our times are in God's wise and loving hands" || | | | | | | | |

5 years, 5 months

8
9
0 0

IBM vacuum tubes

by paul＠mcjones.org

Not exactly on subject, but problems designing the IBM 604 Electronic Calculating Punch due to the use of existing vacuum tube designs is discussed in section 2.4 of: Charles J. Bashe, Lyle R. Johnson, John H. Palmer, and Emerson W. Pugh IBM?s Early Computers The MIT Press, 1986 The book says Ralph Palmer set up a vacuum tube laboratory with the ability to manufacture small quantities of tubes. This helped them get credibility when they went to a vacuum tube manufacturer with a request for a design change to achieve the needed reliability for digital applications.

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Duplicate messages

by julf＠julf.com

Hi! Anyone else getting duplicate messages from this list? I get 2 copies of most (but not all) messages, with the second copy often arriving significantly later. Julf

5 years, 5 months

6
6
0 0

Unknown Intel blinkenlight panel circa 1973

by Rice43＠btinternet.com

Hi all. I recently bought a mystery blinkenlight panel. Closer inspection reveals it was manufactured by Intel in the early 70?s (1973), and some people on the book of faces suggested it was part of a ?device multiplexer?(?) I?m 95% confident it?s not strictly a ?computer? blinkenlight panel, but rather an attached device, but that still hasn?t helped me narrow down what exactly it was from. I?ve not seen any early Intel stuff as rack-mount, so i?m wondering if it was a prototype, or maybe a piece of internal/non-commercial hardware for Intel's own use. I?m hoping someone here might be able to shed some light on this mystery. Pictures: https://imgur.com/gallery/lD74oSy <https://imgur.com/gallery/lD74oSy> Thanks in advance. Josh Rice

5 years, 5 months

10
16
0 0

TU58 dump tool on Linux?

by mattislind＠gmail.com

Is there anyone that has already built a tool to dump TU58-tapes on a Linux machine? I have the drive of course. There is PUTR. But it is DOS only and is written in assembler so it cannot be ported easily. The other option is running RT11 on a PDP-11, but then there is the hassle of getting the dumps off the RT11 file system. It is probably not too difficult to use relevant parts of the various TU58 Unix implementations out there to do something quickly, but if someone has already done it, it would be great to not reinvent the wheel. I have approximately 80 11/730 and 11/750 console and diag tapes that need reading. /Mattis

5 years, 5 months

7
10
0 0

IBM 3174 screen controllers UK

by dave.g4ugm＠gmail.com

Folks, I think I now have too many 3174 controllers. I have 1 x Rack Mount - Token Ring Card + MFM Disk Emulator 1 x Large Tabletop - Token Card 1 x Large Tabletop - Ethernet Card <=> I am keeping this. 1 x Small Tabletop - Token Ring card but won't run TCPIP code. If anyone wants one of these I am happy to ship at cost but they are 220/240v and heavy so shipping to USA may be a problem. I have a selection of floppy drives that can be fitted but I recommend using a Gotek with FlashFloppy firmware. I also have the following spares:- 1. working PSU for rack mount 2. non-working PSU for the rackmount systems but I am sure it can be fixed 3. spare motherboard for rackmount 4. spare token ring card (if I can find it) 5. (I may have memory modules but can't remember where I put them 6. I think I have a 3299 multiplexor some where Feel free to e-mail off-list with questions. Dave Wade G4UGM & EA7KAE

5 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Future of cctalk/cctech

by evanlinwood＠hotmail.com

> With Jay retiring, what are the hosting plans for these mailing lists? Hi Al, I didn't know about Jay retiring or what that means for the list - i.e. does it need to find new infrastructure, new administraton/management, or both? I'm a relatively background person in the vintage computing scheme of things but I do have an involvement in the data centre / hosting area & so if no better options were to come forward would be very happy to pitch in somehow.

5 years, 6 months

2
2
0 0

Apple 1

by dj.taylor4＠comcast.net

I got a notice from ebay that an Apple 1 is up for sale: $1.5M plus $1 shipping, yikes! ebay item number: 174195921349 Doug

5 years, 6 months

13
19
0 0

OT: Vacuum tubes/Valves/VEDs today

by cclist＠sydex.com

A good article in ED today: https://www.electronicdesign.com/communiqu/article/21133402/tubes-luckily-t… --Chuck

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

VHDL / IBM SMS Data gathering and HDL Synthesis Update

by cube1＠charter.net

Don't know if anybody much cares, but: The HDL synthesis aspect of the SMS data gathering / HDL synthesis application is coming along. I can now handle: - Oscillators (using a counter divider) - Delay lines (using a shift register, so limited to a reasonable number of FPGA clock clock cycles, so, say 200 ns is not unreasonable (20 bit shift register at 100 MHz). - Recognition and consolidation of individual signals into a "bus" when generating groups corresponding to a group of individual ALD sheets. (The individual ALD sheets use the individual signal names as they appear on the sheet). A simple database table associates a given individual signal with a bus, and identifies the bit in the bus that corresponds to the individual signal. So, I have not generated the IBM 1410 main oscillator, its main logic clock and its I Ring - used to control instruction decode. I have synthesized the logic clock into an FPGA and run it (with a slowed down 1410 oscillator so I could see what was going on.) Also, a word about VHDL - and the Xilinx Vivado. While GHDL is useful, I have found that Vivado is not slow at editing and *simulation*. Silly me - I got in the habit of synthesizing stuff before I tested it under simulation - partly because I didn't know any better at first. Vivado's waveform viewer has some advantages (and disadvantages) compared to what is available for GHDL. I have also started exploring a piece of "intellectual property" I can use - MicroBlaze - to allow my generated system to talk to my PC, via TCP, for things like lights and switches. (Kind of like how the Amdahl machines used to use first DG Novas, and later little UNIX systems for their consoles, giving them access to the internals of the machine.) I knew MicroBlaze existed, but now I have actually played with it a bit -- still learning. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroBlaze

5 years, 6 months

2
2
0 0

Malfunctioning VT240 - help please

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

OK. the keyboard is working properly as far as I can tell, data is going in and out, and I even swapped it for the keyboard on my VT220 and the same symptoms persisted. I just verified all four ROMs on the T11, and the ROM for the 8085, against the images I found on the MAME site. So far so good. One interesting finding - two of the lines (DAL3 and DAL1) on the T11 do change states several times, but once the self-test has crashed, they stay high with almost one volt of "wiggle". All the other data/address lines are either high, low or switching between a good 1 and 0. There are several places that the bus connects, including the ROMs, 1-bit dynamic RAMs and various octal latches & bidirectional buffers. I connected a 10 ma VOM between each line and ground (to make sure a low-resistance path (such as in the 'LS245 at E55) wasn't forcing it high somehow. All of the DAL15-0 lines requires more than 1.9 ma to bring it to ground (well, 50 mv burden at 250 mv full scale, anyway). That leaves the unlikely possibility that one of the octal TTL devices, or ROMs. has developed a weird internal pathway that only interferes with DAL3 & 1 on some bit patterns, but not all the time. Seems like a zebra rather than a horse. The only part that drives multiple low-order DAL lines at once besides the E19-22 ROMs is the E55 LS245. The T11 spec sheet says that a good logic 0 (<0.4 volt) should be possible with up to 3.2 ma sink... So I suspect the T11 has a couple of bad output pull-down transistors on those lines. Anyone got a spare T11 chip I can buy or borrow? Or send you mine to plug into your board and see if it fails the same way? :) thanks.

5 years, 6 months

8
16
0 0

: Unknown Intel blinkenlight panel circa 1973

by couryhouse＠aol.com

Add on? solid state memory unit? some semi companies made tjem. For add to Dec and dg?? Dunno. A guess ....?? ed smecc On Sunday, June 14, 2020 Joshua Rice via cctalk <Rice43 at btinternet.com; cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: Hi all. I recently bought a mystery blinkenlight panel. Closer inspection reveals it was manufactured by Intel in the early 70?s (1973), and some people on the book of faces suggested it was part of a ?device multiplexer?(?) I?m 95% confident it?s not strictly a ?computer? blinkenlight panel, but rather an attached device, but that still hasn?t helped me narrow down what exactly it was from. I?ve not seen any early Intel stuff as rack-mount, so i?m wondering if it was a prototype, or maybe a piece of internal/non-commercial hardware for Intel's own use. I?m hoping someone here might be able to shed some light on this mystery. Pictures: https://imgur.com/gallery/lD74oSy <https://imgur.com/gallery/lD74oSy> Thanks in advance. Josh Rice

5 years, 6 months

10
16
0 0

Thinking of selling my PDP's

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

I am getting closer to retirement (although not close enough) and I'm considering selling off my PDP stuff, especially if I downsize and move. Everything's working, but I just no longer DO anything with either system... the adventure was acquiring all the pieces, fixing them and learning the software :) Anyhow I have an 8/A with cloned Programmer's Panel (Vince Slyngstad and I made it around 2006) and limited function panel, 32K RAM board (also have core), Philipp Hachtmann's USB interface board, RX01 floppy, two RL02's, and a high-speed (optical) reel-to-reel paper tape reader. OS/8 is up and running. Several spare RL02 packs. It's all in a tall DEC rack with an H-(something) power control box. The ASR-33 is not included, I'm keeping that. Also an 11/23+ (11/03 chassis) in a corporate cabinet with two RL02's, a 16-line serial interface, VT-220 terminal. Also an RQDX3 which is connected to a loose 3.5" TEAC floppy drive. Have RT-11XM, RT-11SJ and TSX-Plus 6.50 (all 16 timesharing ports are working too). So, I am wondering if there's any market for them (preferably as complete systems). Shipping would be difficult due to the size/weight (I'm in rural south central Missouri). I'm not looking to give them away, or to part out, but would entertain reasonable package deals rather than deal with the "LQQK! RARE!!" bull on ebay. I can send pics to interested parties. Let me know, thanks! Charles

5 years, 6 months

3
2
0 0

Is Power7 a bit too recent?

by dlr＠bungi.com

I have a bunch of Power7 720's I would like to get running, and I'm have a tough time tracking down any VIOS newer than 2.1. Does someone here have some 2.2.6 or later CD's they would like to sell me? Thanks! --

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

PDP-8/A transformer hum

by derschjo＠gmail.com

Hi all -- I'm working on a PDP-8/A I picked up at VCF West last summer. After a lot of cleaning and some power supply repair it's showing signs of life (CPU seems to be at least minimally functional, core memory is going to need some debugging.) The transformer in the power supply is humming quite loudly, however, and I'm curious if this is normal for the 8/A (or is typical for an 8/A of this vintage). I'm used to the supplies in various other DEC machines not being exactly silent but this is a rather severe 60Hz buzz that you can clearly hear over the fans when the machine is in operation. Thanks, Josh

5 years, 6 months

15
21
0 0

Looking for Cobalt Qube cases

by laurens＠daemon.be

Hello, I'm looking for Cobalt Qube cases, preferably in North America. I would prefer non working Qubes as I don't want to deprive anyone of working ones. Doesn't matter whether it's a 1, 2 or 3. I'm looking to repurpose the cases. Thanks!

5 years, 6 months

2
4
0 0

DS10 Alpha question = Sata Drive card?

by bobsmithofd＠gmail.com

Can anyone recommend a SATA card that will work with a DS10 Alpha, and which OS supports that card? thanks bob

5 years, 6 months

3
4
0 0

TU58 dump tool on Linux? (Mattis Lind)

by john＠ziaspace.com

> Is there anyone that has already built a tool to dump TU58-tapes on a Linux > machine? I have the drive of course. > > There is PUTR. But it is DOS only and is written in assembler so it cannot > be ported easily. The other option is running RT11 on a PDP-11, but then > there is the hassle of getting the dumps off the RT11 file system. > > > It is probably not too difficult to use relevant parts of the various TU58 > Unix implementations out there to do something quickly, but if someone has > already done it, it would be great to not reinvent the wheel. > > I have approximately 80 11/730 and 11/750 console and diag tapes that > need reading. Just a thought - if the TU58 connects via serial, then what about running SIMH and giving it a serial device which is connected to the TU58? That could fix both problems - how to talk to the device, and how to deal with the data on the tapes. John

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

Compusad Compulogical Tutor User Manual Wanted

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

I am looking for a PDF or actual copy of this manual: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_904547 Thanks Bill Degnan

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

Microsoft open sources GWBASIC

by commodorejohn＠gmail.com

Liam Proven wrote: > I don't know. There is a huge amount of tradition and culture in > computing now, and as a result, few people seem to have informed, > relatively unbiased opinions. There hasn't been much real diversity in > decades. > > 25 or 30y ago, people discussed the merits of Smalltalk or Prolog or > Forth; now most people have never seen or heard of them, and it's just > which curly-bracket language you favour, or does your preferred > language run in a VM or is it compiled to a native binary. Agreed. While I'm much more favorably disposed towards C than you are, the increasing homogeneity of almost all modern languages is discouraging and, I think, detrimental to the field as a whole. Forth and Smalltalk alike were eye-openers when I discovered them (and Smalltalk in particular was a breath of fresh air, after I'd spent years failing to ever really grok OOP with the likes of C++ and Java,) because both presented genuinely *different* and beautifully consistent ways to think about structuring and specifying a computer program. These days, though, outside of deliberately jokey ultra-esoteric languages, it's pretty much just a bunch of domain-specific Java/Javascript knockoffs from horizon to horizon. > I am just surprised that this (to me) rather inelegant design survived > and got to market, given what you've said about the same company's > ruthless drive for cost-cutting removed one PCB trace even though it > killed floppy-disk performance, or wouldn't use an extra ROM chip > because it was too expensive. > > It seems inconsistent. It's marketing - consistency there is a non-consideration, if not actively striven against. The whole saga with CP/M on CBM was a boondoggle - the CP/M cart existed because business customers wanted a CP/M add-in to run their spreadsheets and their whatnot, but it didn't end up being a good fit for reasons already stated (slow CPU, slow disk, 40-column only.) The 128 improved on those points, but not nearly enough to become competitive with the advancements CP/M machines had made in that time, and in the process wasted precious man-hours and drove up the cost and complexity of the unit - and all the while CP/M had been losing ground to MS-DOS in the business market for years! But marketing promised it, so it had to happen... :/

5 years, 6 months

21
41
0 0

Amiga Joke of the Century

by healyzh＠avanthar.com

Tuesday night I was reading up to see what it might take to revive either of my Amiga 1200?s. As it happens, both appear to have fairly common failure modes. In reading up on the dead video, I learned that it?s often on the Composite Out, but not the monitor. I bought these two systems around ?97/98. I plugged the one with the dead video into the Monitor I?m using, and proceeded to use it for about an hour and a half. It works great with the Gotek floppy emulator. On a whim, earlier today, when I placed the order with AmigaKit for A3000 batteries, I included the hardware needed to put a IDE-to-CF interface in both the A600 & an A1200, PLUS, a second Gotek. :-) It looks like I?m going to need them. :-) Zane

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

Ever seen a Cromemco Cyclops in the wild?

by boris＠summitclinic.com

Funny how wetware memory works. I have that issue of Popular Electronics somewhere in my collection and would have seen the article as I would read it cover to cover after it arrived in mail. While looking at the issue again, remembered reading next article on PLL's so probably read the Cyclops article, decided that $25 was way too much for one chip and never bothered. However, I do have a lot of old RAM chips so might give it a try some day. What I do recall about that era that a 1024 bit SRAM cost about $10 in Canada. (That was in days when we made a profit selling beer for $0.25 at TGIF). Boris Gimbarzevsky >I think a Stanford AI lab has one in a display case. Any others out there? > >It was supposedly "commercial" but I don't even remember ever seeing >an ad for the Cyclops from Cromemco and I had a really good stash of >Cromemco literature and hardware. > >I do remember the BYTE article where you pop the top off of a DRAM >chip to make a Camera but that was 1983-ish, nearly a decade after >the Cromemco Cyclops was supposedly "commercial". In the discussions >I had in the 80's none of us seemed to know about the Cromemco >Cyclops having preceded it. > >Tim N3QE

5 years, 6 months

3
4
0 0

Ever seen a Cromemco Cyclops in the wild?

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

Bill, thanks in particular for the reference to the August 1976 Cromemco catalog. I definitely remember the Dazzler graphics on the cover but somehow had lost memory of the camera on the second to last page. Tim

5 years, 6 months

2
1
0 0

DEC Alphaserver 4100 CPU fans

by rlloken＠telus.net

So gentlemen, my Alphaserver 4100 shut itself down with a sad announcement about a dead CPU fan. I have a parts mule which has donated a CPU fan a couple years ago and I can take the second and last CPU fan from there but then I have no more fans. Can the CPU fan be obtained? Can they be rebuilt? The 4100 has a series of fans between the 3 power supply slots and the main backplane which I found could not be easily obtained so I tore them all apart and replaced the bearings with good results but I suspect that the lttle CPU fans will not respond so well to attempts at repair. -- Richard Loken VE6BSV : "...underneath those tuques we wear, Athabasca, Alberta Canada : our heads are naked!" ** rlloken at telus.net ** : - Arthur Black

5 years, 6 months

3
2
0 0

Ever seen a Cromemco Cyclops in the wild?

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

I think a Stanford AI lab has one in a display case. Any others out there? It was supposedly "commercial" but I don't even remember ever seeing an ad for the Cyclops from Cromemco and I had a really good stash of Cromemco literature and hardware. I do remember the BYTE article where you pop the top off of a DRAM chip to make a Camera but that was 1983-ish, nearly a decade after the Cromemco Cyclops was supposedly "commercial". In the discussions I had in the 80's none of us seemed to know about the Cromemco Cyclops having preceded it. Tim N3QE

5 years, 6 months

4
3
0 0

Kennett Classic Open / Looking for a Linux/scripting programmer $$

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

The Kennett Classic Gallery of Computing history and shop has re-opened per State of PA and County of Chester guidelines. I am looking for volunteers to help with moving some large DEC racks into the basement area, we decided to expand exhibits to one more room to make space for the bigger iron, printers, VAX systems, etc. We are installing new exhibits this month and any help would be appreciated. I am also looking for a Linux scripting poss. Python programmer for a paid project through my web programming business (degnanco.com) if anyone here is interested in a project. Contact me privately. Kennett Classic 126 S Union St. Kennett Square, PA 19348 484 732 7041 kennettclassic.com -Bill Degnan-

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

Old communications software

by sales＠elecplus.com

If any of you are looking for new in box Lantastic or Hayes Smartcom software, I have some for sale. https://elecshopper.com/Communications-Software-c47411005 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

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

WTB: 64K S-100 board, Hard Sectored 5.25" floppies

by ethan＠757.org

Looking for a CompuPro RAM 16 or something similar that will work in an IMSAI 8080. Also looking for a few hard sectored (10 sector) 5.25" floppies Reply off list! Thanks! - Ethan O'Toole

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

VAXstation 3100 power supply

by peter.hicks＠poggs.co.uk

Hello I have a couple of VAXstation 3100s - a M38 which boots but has no output on the console port, and another model which has corrosion on the motherboard and a PSU which doesn't power up correctly. The voltage on all of the M38 PSU's pins is OK except for pin 7 (brown) which is +3.5v to +5.25v DC and is floating at about 0.6v with reference to ground. I suspect this is why the console port doesn't work (and the LEDs on the read suggest a RAM problem so I can't tell which chip is faulty), so I've set about troubleshooting. Does anyone have any suggestions above and beyond replacing capacitors? Peter -- OpenTrainTimes Ltd. registered in?England and Wales, company no.? 09504022. Registered office: 13a?Davenant Road, Upper Holloway,?London N19 3NW

5 years, 6 months

2
2
0 0

Malfunctioning VT240 - help please

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

Until a few minutes ago, my VT240 was operating normally, but now it's unresponsive (fails during power-on self test). Normal behavior was: display a checkerboard, then two different intensity all-white bands growing slowly up from the bottom of the screen, then a beep and the expected "VT240 Monitor Error 9" (because I'm using an old B&W composite monitor instead of the DEC VR201 with special cable). Thereafter, normal operation. Now, it briefly displays the checkerboard (and all four keyboard lights turn on, then off); then the Lock and Wait lights come on and nothing else happens. Blank screen. Power-OK light on the back is illuminated and 5.19 volts measured on the board. Haven't checked +12 (or the internally derived keyboard +5) yet. Another possibly useful observation: I can press the Setup (or any other) key about four times and hear a keyclick sound each time. But then it stops playing the click sound if I keep pressing keys. This suggests that the interrupt on the CPU (a T11) is not being responded to. The technical manual is very detailed but does not describe the specifics of the POST, which could be useful in locating the failed circuit (or firmware). Can anyone with experience in debugging these terminals lend a hand? Should I even be looking at the main board, or the keyboard which also has an 8051 CPU?? thanks.

5 years, 6 months

2
1
0 0

Alfaskop terminals and SPL programming language.

by kurtwig11＠gmail.com

S?g ovanst?ende - har du n?gra fr?gor kontakta mig - jag gjorde kompilatorn f?r SPL. Mvh Kurt Svensson

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

Seiko Epson Robotics Controller Boards

by jon＠jonworld.com

Hi everyone! My wife found some interesting VME-looking boards for sale on a surplus auction website. This is what we scored. Is there any interest for these here? 1x Main CPU SKP-220-3 4x Sub CPU SKP-221-3 (2 look good, one has a battery that exploded all over it, one labelled bad CMOS but had a bent pin.) 3x Servo SKP-222-3 1x IO Board SKP-184-2 I have no card cage, no documentation, and no way to test these. Some are labelled that they tested good in 2008. I'll happily supply pictures for those interested, but they're essentially 2U VME boards with MC68000 chips and the main CPU has an MC68HC000 CPU. They seem to fetch a fair sum on eBay, but just because they're listed at these prices doesn't mean that they actually sell at that price: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-Epson-Accu-Sembler-Robot-Control-Sub-CPU-B… -- -Jon +44 7792 149029

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

BYTE Magazines

by trash80＠internode.on.net

I know the response to this might be quite subjective and depends on your particular interests. Do BYTE magazines have any collectability (maybe even from a historical perspective or something else)? I have to make some decisions about space (the perennial problem for a collector of course) and I have quite a few of these taking up a few shelves. Thank you. Kevin Parker

5 years, 6 months

14
21
0 0

Compaq Proliant parts

by julf＠julf.com

Anyone in need of a Proliant 6000 / 7000 CPU board (unused), and hotswap hard disk cartridges? https://imgur.com/a/3h9VBmH Julf

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

BYTE Magazines

by cctalk＠emailtoilet.com

Computer Museum of America might be interested. They have a Byte wall. http://www.myimagecollection.com/webpics/cmoabyte.jpg Contact Lonnie Mimms lonnie at mimms.com to see if he has any interest. Donald

5 years, 6 months

4
3
0 0

Microsoft open sources GWBASIC

by rich.cini＠verizon.net

You know, reading about this made me dig out the info I had on the Character Oriented Windows ("COW") library. I was reading some of the docs and it occurred to me that it operated much like Windows (probably Windows 1), but what I couldn't find were any "sample" programs or tools to build a program based on the COW library. Does anyone have/know of a sample program that used the library? Was there an SDK for it or was it used only for Microsoft's products? Just looking for something new/interesting to learn about. Thanks! Rich ?On 5/22/20, 11:35 AM, "cctalk on behalf of Chuck Guzis via cctalk" <cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org on behalf of cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: A quick look at the code indicates to me that the Intel translator CONV86 may well have done the translation in "strict" mode. Of course, there were other translators, but some of the stuff rings a bell. For example, the 8080 instruction INX B gets translated to SAHF INC BX LAHF all done because the 8080 16-bit instruction does not affect the zero and carry flags, but the 8086 instruction INC, does. So there's very likely a large amount (my experience was at least >30%) of cruft in the code. --Chuck

5 years, 6 months

4
8
0 0

BYTE Magazines

by rshepprd＠gmail.com

That photo is the perfect opportunity to mention the wonderful cover art by Robert Tinney. Richard Sent from Mail for Windows 10

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

intellec MDS80 on eBay

by couryhouse＠aol.com

I assume this are not the standard Intel floppy drives???? On Sunday, May 31, 2020 Jan-Benedict Glaw via cctech <jbglaw at lug-owl.de; cctech at classiccmp.org> wrote: Hi! I just wanted to drop an email that there's a MDS 80 on eBay: ??? https://www.ebay.de/itm/333612000595 (Please note: The seller, Michael, is a friend of mine, and a former coworker.) Thanks, ? Jan-Benedict --

5 years, 6 months

3
4
0 0

The X-Cap-Files

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

Today I was working on a new-to-me VT240 which hadn't been powered up in a long time (possibly 10 years). Hooked it up to an old 9" B&W CCTV monitor and everything was running fine for 20 minutes or so - when suddenly an astonishing amount of acrid whitish-gray smoke started pouring from the vents =8^ O So I yanked the power cord out and took the case off. Sure enough, one if not both of the 0.1 uF X-caps on the line filter had cracked open and my nose confirmed that was the source of the stench. Fortunately there is no damage to the PC board or surrounding components - even the caps don't look toasted, just split. Good thing I was sitting right there when they failed and could turn the power off immediately. I've read here and elsewhere about the spectacular failure modes of these caps, sometimes flames, but this is the first time I ever experienced it first hand. Maybe it's time for a look inside my VT220? ;) -Charles

5 years, 6 months

2
1
0 0

AlphaMicro CPU Chip

by wmachacek1＠comcast.net

Hi, I've recently come across a CPU chip marked "AlphaMicro" . It has a date stamp of 8531 and appears to be of the 386 variety (1 5/8 x 1 5/8). It doesn't appear to be from Alpha MicroSystems. Anyone know who may be the maker of this chip? I can send a picture for those who'd like to see what it looks like.

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

intellec MDS80 on eBay

by jbglaw＠lug-owl.de

Hi! I just wanted to drop an email that there's a MDS 80 on eBay: https://www.ebay.de/itm/333612000595 (Please note: The seller, Michael, is a friend of mine, and a former coworker.) Thanks, Jan-Benedict --

5 years, 6 months

2
2
0 0

ESDI terminator values

by cz＠alembic.crystel.com

Working on restoring this 11/83, I would like to replace the Fujitsu 2284E drive with a slightly larger capacity CDC/Imprimis WREN VI 94246-383 ESDI. I think I have the jumper configurations, however the problem is the disk does not have a terminator pack. Does anyone know what kind of resistor pack was used for the CDC drives? It's probably something very basic and easy to find at Digikey but what? Thanks! Chris (working away here)

5 years, 6 months

2
1
0 0

Anyone know what an AM000076 (Dip 18) is?

by ian.finder＠gmail.com

Title says all, Backing up all the programmable parts in the Apollo DN100 and the CPU board has a few of these ceramic DIPs with the same Apollo P/N labels as the Am27S29 and similar programmable parts. Thanks

5 years, 6 months

3
3
0 0

DtCYBER and/or CYBIS Resources

by Kevin＠rawfeddogs.net

Classic Computer Fans, I tried out the CYBIS release: http://www.Control-Data.info/CybisRelease.html on the DtCYBER emulator when it first came out. I've since forgotten most of what I'd learned. Recently I fired CYBIS back up and started relearning. Does anyone know if any user mailing lists for the DtCYBER emulator and/or the CYBIS release? At the moment I'm trying to find a Linux friendly terminal type that works with NOS's FSE. -- Kevin http://www.RawFedDogs.net http://www.Lassie.xyz http://www.WacoAgilityGroup.org Bruceville, TX What's the definition of a legacy system? One that works! Errare humanum est, ignoscere caninum.

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

Microsoft open sources GWBASIC

by cisin＠xenosoft.com

On Fri, 22 May 2020, Boris Gimbarzevsky wrote: > Thanks for posting the timeline of various Basic interpreters. I wasn't > aware that Gates/Allen also wrote Basic for C64. Microsoft did a BASIC for the Commodore PET. I wasn't aware that they did the C64. > Did download the 8080 Basic source code out of interest, but in early > 1980's had very little to do with IBM PC. PC was 8088, NOT 8080. BUT, an original 8080 source code can be run through some algorithmic translation to automagically patch it into something that is close enough to 8088. All of my knowledge of the following is third hand, and probably mostly WRONG. If you are lucky, maybe some of the folk here who actually KNOW this stuff will step in and give the right information. Sequence is only approximate. Well, we can start by considering the 4004. 1971. It was not the "FIRST" microprocessor, although the later chips based on it dominated the market. 4 bit data bus. It was designed to be able to make a whole range of Busicom calculators that could be essentially the same hardware, and changing ROM, or moving a jumper from cheapest model to most expensive model would void the warranty. Then came the 8008, with EIGHT bit data bus, and 14 bit address bus (16K of RAM) Then came the 8080, with 8 bit data bus and 16 bit address bus (64K of RAM) That brought about a giant surge in hobbyists trying to build computers, including the MITS Altair, etc. It is important to note that each Intel chip consisted of "minor" modifications to the previous one. That made it easier to modify a design or software from one to the next one. Minor patches tended to be all that was needed. THAT is important. 'course it means that some aspects are really weird due to being patched on top of patched, on top of patched, instead of redesigned. MEANWHILE, other companies started trying to get into the game. Motorola came out with the 6800, which was pretty cool. But, they were taking a long time to get around to the next ones, so a group of engineers left and started MOS Technology, and came out with the 6500. Motorola's lawyers were not amused. So, the engineers redesigned an all new, "non-infringing" one called the 6502. Motorola eventually got around to trying to design "the best 8 bit microprocessor", and came out with the 6809. They had designed from scratch, to try to make it the best, so it had so much different, that previous machines could not be easily modified for it, and had to be redesigned for it, and software needed to be re-written, not just patched. They had difficulty finding any takers, in spite of obvious design superiority, because most manufaturers were already established with other chips. BUT, Radio Shack built a machine called "the Radio Shack Color Computer" around a Motorola application note. Radio shack didn't want it competing with their other products, and didn't see any reason to include capabilities, so they had horrible constraints, such as chiclet keyboard, unexpandable RF video, cartridge slot instead of expansion bus, etc. A lot of the early machines were intel 8080, which had 8 bit data bus and 16 bit address bus, which meant maximum of 64K of RAM, although it was not very hard to cheat for 128K. Gary Kildall needed an OS for managing his source code on 8 inch disks that he added to his computer. He wrote "Control Program and Monitor", which later became "Control Program for Microcomputers" ("CP/M"). He tried to get Intel to market it, but they didn't think that there would ever be enough market to sell an operating system for a microcomputer. So, he started "Intergalactic Digital Research" Later, when the hobbyists grew up and lost their sense of humor, "Thinker Toys" became "Morrow designs". (they had been having some trademark issues) "Kentucky Fried Computer" became "Northstar" (they had been having some trademark issues) and "Intergalactic Digital Research" bcame "Digital Research Incorporated" Then Zilog came out with the Z80, which had major enhancements. BUT, code using those enhancements would not run on an 8080, so CP/M remained 8080, and many/most? programmers stuck with 8080 for marketable code. Intel came out with the 8085, which had DIFFERENT [incompatible] enhancements, so many/most? continued to stick with 8080 code. I think that the Radio Shack model 100 is 8085. A hobbyist named Steve Wozniak wanted to build a Z80 computer. But it was going to cost too much. At Wescon (trade show), he got a fantastic deal on some 6502 chips. Not what he had been wanting, but he could make it work, and he could afford them! He hooked up with Steve Jobs, who had some marketing ideas. They sold a bunch of "blue boxes", kited some checks, sold Jobs' VW bus and Woz's calculator, and put together a batch of kits. ($666.66; they later said that they had not realized the theological implications of the price) And, hence, we got "Apple Computer". Later, Apple Music (Beatles) talked to them about the name. Apple Music agreed to not get into computers, and Apple Computers agreed to not get into music. Hmmm. Atari and Commodore both ended up also using the 6502. Motorola Then Intel decided to build a "16 bit processor". The 8086 has a 16 bit data bus and a 20 bit address bus, for a maximum of 1M or RAM When the IBM PC wasbeing planned, there was a lot of difference in cost between 8 bit and 16 bit support chips. The 8088 was ALMOST the same as an 8086, but with an 8 bit data bus, which significantly reduced costs! From an engineering perspective, the 8088 is an 8 bit version of the 16 bit 8086. >From a MARKETING perspective, it's 16 bit, or maybe 32 bit, or maybe 64 bit, etc. If a 4 bit machine has a 128 bit Smell-o-vision port, marketing will call the machine "128 bit" The IBM PC was an 8088. IBM went to Microsoft to get BASIC for it. Bill gates put on a suit and met with them. The "Pirates Of The Valley" story of Microsoft cold-calling IBM to sell an operating system PINS THE NEEDLE ON THE BOGUSIMETER. The author of that fiction needs a hot soldering iron shoved 8 inches up his nose. Microsoft was happy to oblige on BASIC. One of the IBM engineers had an Apple2 with a Microsoft "Softcard" (Z80) to run CP/M. So, IBM asked Microsoft to also supply "the CP/M". Bill Gates explained that that was Digital Research. So, IBM went to Digital Research in Pacific grove to get "the CP/M". There was some "culture clash". IBM showed up in blue suits. There is an unconfirmed report that somebody at DR thought that it was a drug raid. I have looked out that upstairs window, and can imagine it. The IBM suits encountered barefoot workers in shorts and not all wearing shirts (both sexes?) female workers without bras. cats and a dog. plants. Surfboards and bicycles in every room. Gary Kildall wasn't even THERE! He had gone to fly his plane up to Oakland to visit Bill Godbout. Official story is that that was an essential errand to deliver some documentation (and no lower employee could have put some shoes on and driven up?). His wife was there, and he had told her, "They're just coming to sign a license agreement. Let them wait in the living room with the rest of the customers." IBM was not amused. IBM went back to Microsoft. I heard that Bill Gates told his people that anybody without a suit should stay home for the day. IBM said that they wante Microsoft to provide the OS. Bill Gates said, "we do BASIC. We don't do operating systems." IBM said that they intended to get the BASIC and the OS from ONE source. Bill Gates said, "Let me tell you about our new OS department!" Then Bill Gates went down the street to Seattle Computer Products and bought 86-DOS/QDOS ("Quick and Dirty OS"), including hardware to run it on, and the contract of Tim Paterson who wrote it. Microsoft had a new OS department. Motorola STARTED work on "The best 16 bit processor". Rather than patching something earlier, and being stuck with legacy oddities, they designed from scratch. So, it took longer. Motorola eventually came out with the 68000, which was the best 16 bit processor. (or 32 bit or 64 bit if you are in marketing) The Apple3 was a major financial setback. Much more money, for very little more. Apple started on a total redesign. It is rumored that for the Lisa, they explicitly avoided anybody with prior experience to avoid repeating previous bad ideas. 'course hiring brilliant folk straight out of college meant that nobody had the prior experience to know the consequences of building a machine for which software could NOT just be patched from previous versions. The Lisa was magnificant! and in a price range (>$20K?) where sales were to overpaid exectuvies wanting to impress other overpaid executives. It actually came close to putting Apple on the rocks. And, it was an ALL-NEW (and improved) machine. Old software couldn't just be patched, it had to be re-written. The brilliant recovery plan was to take the Lisa design and cut every corner that could be cut, to make a machine that could be sold for $500. Once they did, they found that they could still get away with selling it for $2K. it was mandated that the resulting machine would come with four significant pieces of software. By the time it was ready, those had become Mac-Write, Mac-Paint, Mac-Write, and Mac-Paint. But that was enough. The marketing people were smart enough to change the grumbling about building a computer for ignorant masses into "a computer for the rest of US" Later, Commodore (Amiga) and Atari (ST) used the 68000. There are some amazing stories (that i don't know) about that "technology swap" Intel came out with the 80286, 16 bit data bus with 24 bit address bus. with fewer limitations. But still a few significant ones, such as how to switch in and out of "protected mode". "It's like having to turn your engine off to switch gears on the freeway". Bill Gates called the 80286, "Brain dead." In "real mode", which would be limited to 20 bits of address, it is easy to cheat and enable A20, which permits 64K past the 1M boundary. THAT is required for Windoze 3.10 Then came the 80386, which could sorta be called a 32 bit processor. And the 80386-SX, which analogous to the 8088, was a 16 bit version of the 32 bit 30386, permitting building a software compatible machine using cheap 80286 support chips. 80486, which is kinda like a 80386 plus 80387 math chip, and the 80486SX, with is 80486 without the math processor. and Pentium. Intel had been finding out the hard way that it was difficult to maintain trademark of a number (Oldsmobile "442" notwithstanding) Other manufacturers would make a 80386 like chip and call it a 486, or an 80486 like chip and call it a 586, etc. So, they had a naming session. And the other entries were even worse than "Pentium". I'm surprised that that didn't backfire horribly! Consider: In about 1965, Honeywell bought Pentax from Asahi. Honeywell could totally legitimately have come out with a processor (joint venture with AMD/Cyrix/etc.?) and called it the "Pentaxium". Intel wouldn't even be able to object. Yeah, there have been more since then, but new stuff isn't interesting for another ten or twenty years. OR MORE for some of the boring current stuff. -- Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at xenosoft.com > As was working with PDP-11's at that time, really disliked 8080 instruction > set and got a C64 instead which was considerably cheaper than IBM PC and much > easier to write assembly code for. C64 basic is fairly ugly but bought a > 6502 assembler and just used Basic to display stuff on screen and call my > work was done in assembly language code. Had no trouble sampling switch data > at 1 KHz using my "toy" computer. A couple of guys from UBC Physiology > decided to build a programmable stimulator based on C64 which they were > trying to sell for $2K, considerably less than the ~$10 K that the dedicated > device that was commonly used then. Even though their timing specifications > matched the expensive device, a lot of researchers back then didn't want a > "toy" to be part of their lab setup so sales were few. > > Recently found a movie Pirates of Silicon Valley which had some of early > Microsoft history and, if depictions of individuals are true to reality, > explains why I far preferred Mac in comparison to ugly early windows. It > also helped that 68000 was a very easy processor to migrate to after 8 years > doing assembler/FORTRAN programming on a PDP-11. Couldn't believe it when I > had a full 512 Kb of RAM to play in.

5 years, 6 months

23
72
0 0

history is hard

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Jon Elson > As far as I know, there was no VM/360. There WAS VM/370, which was out > in the early 1970's CP/67, which was a semi-product, and ran only on 360/67's, was basically the same functionality as VM/370. (I get the impression that the code was descended from CP/67, but I can't absolutely confirm that - although see Varian, below.) It was used by many customers who had purchased 360/67's. The 370/67's instruction set didn't need to be tweaked at all to run a virtualization (although it had added hardware to do virtual memory, which CP/67 needed); the '360 Principles of Operation' was defined in such a way that it could be virtualized. (Unlike, say, the PDP-11, where a RESET instruction in User mode is a NOP, and does not trap). All that's needed is the virtual memory hardware, because otherwise the real addresses of the underlying machine have to be exposed to the virtual machines. CP/67 was preceded by two earlier iterations: CP/40, which ran on a special 360/40 which has been hacked to have paging hardware added; it was likewise almost identical to CP/67 (a hacked version of CP/40, with the memory management of the 370/67 substituted for the special 360/40's, was booted on a 360/67). An older system, M44, which was similar in functionality (although not a perfect virtualization of the underlying machine), it ran on a modified 7044. One version of CP/67 provided a /370 virtual machine; it was used extensively by the MVS development team. CP/67 was also brought up on /370 hardware. Full details in "VM and the VM Community: Past, Present and Future", by Melinda Varian. Noel

5 years, 6 months

7
7
0 0

is nexgen cpu and motherboard scarce or rare item? Ed#

by couryhouse＠aol.com

is nexgen cpu and motherboard scarce or rare item? Ed#

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

intellec MDS80 on eBay

by couryhouse＠aol.com

Still looking for the matching? paper tape reader and punch.? For one of these...Ed# On Sunday, May 31, 2020 Jan-Benedict Glaw via cctech <jbglaw at lug-owl.de; cctech at classiccmp.org> wrote: Hi! I just wanted to drop an email that there's a MDS 80 on eBay: ??? https://www.ebay.de/itm/333612000595 (Please note: The seller, Michael, is a friend of mine, and a former coworker.) Thanks, ? Jan-Benedict --

5 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

test-drb