Some days I feel like ?Doc Brown?, wondering where I parked the DeLorean.
?
YES ... connecting your HP 9000 to your private LAN would be useful.
ThinNet = 10-Base-2 = 10 MB Ethernet over RG-58/U 50 ohm coaxial cable.
The Series 360 workstation should also have an AUI port (15-pin D-subminiature with locking mechanism option).
?
I would recommend an AUI transceiver to 10-Base-T media converter (UTP with 8-pin modular jack). Black Box, Unicom, and other brands are available.
https://www.omnitron-systems.com/flexpoint-10-aui-media-converter.php
You did not mention the Operating System (OS) that you have installed on this HP 9000 series 360. HP-UX was the standard OS offering 30 years ago, when I went thru HP?s one month of classroom training on HP9000 hardware, networking, & HP-UX.
https://www.hpmuseum.net/exhibit.php?class=1&cat=40
You will need the Ethernet network driver installed for your OS, and standard TCP/IP tools (telnet, ssh, ftp, nfs, etc.).
greg
chicago
====
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2020 10:19:40 -0800
From: Roger Addy <roger.addy at charter.net>
To: cctech at classiccmp.org
Subject: HP 9000 Series 360 Thin LAN
Hi All,
I am using an HP 9000 Series 360 with a "Thin LAN" coax card to run a
piece of equipment. The LAN connection is not currently being used.? I'm
wondering if it's possible to connect it to a modern ethernet network??
If so, what could I do with it? I found an adapter on Amazon. I would
like to be able to transfer files and possibly print.? The file systems
are not compatible except for maybe ASCII files.? Anyone have any
thoughts?? Even if I could transfer files into another HP 9000 system it
would be beneficial.
Thank you,
Roger A.
Thanks a million, Mike, for scanning and posting this.
I purchased this fix for my Altair way back when for $15, and it?s been one of those things that I?ve never been able to find online.
I never purchased the Parasitic Engineering power supply fix, but I have found it online. The Parasitic Engineering clock fix has eluded me until now.
BTW, IIRC, the PE clock fix worked excellently and I never had any clock related issues after installing it. The S-100 bus, the weak power supply, not enough slots, all those wires on the bus, all gave me plenty of headaches, but the clock fix worked great!
smp
- - -
Stephen Pereira
Bedford, NH 03110
KB1SXE
> On Feb 22, 2020, at 1:00 PM, cctech-request at classiccmp.org wrote:
>
> Message: 15
> Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2020 21:25:45 -0600
> From: Mike Douglas <deramp5113 at yahoo.com>
> To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: Parasitic Engineering Altair Clock Fix Kit...
> Message-ID: <8F336A6C-BACB-44E7-B3D4-DFAA00D1E26F at yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> I scanned my Parasitic clock mod documents and put them at the link below.
>
> https://deramp.com/downloads/altair/hardware/altair_8800_computer/Parasitic…
>
> Mike
>
> Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2020 17:26:26 -0800 (PST)
> From: Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com>
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
> <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Re: Parasitic Engineering Altair Clock Fix Kit...
> Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.64.2002201714270.19282 at shell.lmi.net>
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
> Howard Fullmer created a "beefier" power supply for the Altair. Ed
> Roberts said that people selling aftermarket peripherals were "parasites",
> so Howard named his company "Parasitic Engineering".
>
> He later produced the "Shuffleboard" (daughterboard) set for TRS80 that
> changed the memory map to be CP/M compatible, and an adapter
> (daughterboard) to change the exp-ansion interface to support 8" single
> density. (4th West Coast Computer Faire 1979)
>
> He and George Morrow put out early proposals for standardizing S100.
>
> Later, he was chief engineer for Morrow.
>
> He is no longer at the same addresses in north Berkeley and Albany.
> I heard a rumor that he had died, but I have been unable to find more
> information. George Morrow, who would know, is also dead.
>
> --
> Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at xenosoft.com
It appears that he died on 4/25/96 at age 48. His last address was in Hayward.
-W
Hi,
Does anyone happen to have the instructions for this kit? I would really
appreciate a scan if you do.
Also looking for a 1975ish GE Porta-Color television (borrow, rent or buy)
for VCF East.
Thanks,
Bill Sudbrink
Heard of death today of Larry Tesler, pioneer worker at Xerox Parc. He
advanced the era of human-computer interaction. He 'created' copy-
and-paste and cut-and-paste which made everyday computing in DOS-age easier
before GUI-age made mouse-driven commands easier on computer users. Early
pioneers are leaving us and I state their drive to innovate to advance
computer-use easier is being lost.
Happy computing all.
Murray ?
Seems like with any system affected by Dallas rtc leaks it's make sense to
refab some clone boards we could move our surviving parts to. Is anyone
already doing this? It's sad to see the fewer working Amigas and others
dying.
Please make sure your messages to CCTalk have a Subject: line, otherwise
they end up being 'un-clickable' in the archive, like this:
http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2020-February/date.html
It's possible to hand-edit the URL's to see them, but it's a PITA!
Noel
Looking for a DECMATE (VT-278 model) RX278 Floppy Drive Interface Connector
cable, part number is RC26N-2L It's a 37 male-25 pin male cable.
Here is photo I took of one (not mine)
https://www.vintagecomputer.net/digital/DECmate/DECMATE_VT278_PortsDriveCab…
I have the pinouts for the 37-pin end but not the 25-pin end. If no one
has a cable I can do a continuity test of the cable next time I have access
one, but it's not easily available.
I am located near Philadelphia.
Thanks
Bill
Does anyone have an -11/24 in a BA11-A 10-1/2" mounting box? If so, I'd love
some images of the internals, if possible!
I ask because the BA11-A doesn't use the usual MATE-N-LOC connector for
sending power to the CPU; instead it has bus bars, and in the -11/44 (the
usual denizen of this box), the KD11-Z CPU backplane has a Flexprint cable
which bolts to those, to carry the power.
The thing is that the -11/24 backplane uses the usual MATE-N-LOC connectors;
to run an -11/24 in that box (the manuals says that's the standard 10-1/2 box
for it) the prints show a special adapter plate: that's what I'd like to
get images of.
If anyone has a spare adapter plate, that would be even better; I'd love to
buy/trade it, if so. (I'm interested in running an -11/24 in the BA11-A since
in a BA11-L 5-1/4" box, the limited +5VB severely limits the amount of memory
one can have.)
Noel
would anyone happen to have a 12016A SCSI card? If so and you want to sell or trade for some other HP hardware, let me know.
Thanks
Jesse at cypress-tech.com
UniBone emulates now the M9312 bootstrap ROM card.
Each of the 5 ROMs can be loaded with MACRO11 listings files from
http://www.ak6dn.com/PDP-11/M9312/
The tricky bootvector redirection logic is also implemented.
The address to execute after power-on is given as symbolic MACRO11 label.
For demonstration the script "m9312+xxdp_dl0.sh" is given,
which boots into 11/34 console emulator, or auto-boots XXDP from RL02.
kind regards,
Joerg
Jerry Weiss <jsw at ieee.org> wrote:
> On 2/12/20 11:28 AM, Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:
>
> > > That fourth card (M7268) is apparently a connector card for the Q-Bus
> > > and drive bus.
> >
> > Yes, but actually there are 6 cards: the M7269 is a dual card which goes
> > into the QBUS backplane, and the M993-YA which goes into the first RK05,
> > to convert from the two flat cables which come from the M7268.
> >
> > > From: Al Kossow
> >
> > > Also, it is only 18 bits.
> >
> > Actually, only 16-bit DMA addresses, I'm pretty sure.
> >
> > Noel
>
> That's what is documented in Micronote #5. There is a comment in the
> 15-Dec-1994 DECUServe Journal that says it can be modified for 18 bits
> from Alan Frisbie.
Yes, it can, and it works well. I ran RSX-11M from RK05s on my 11/73 system.
I even managed to find the article I wrote, on a 1986 backup of an RSX-11
disk, now loaded on SIMH on my Alpha/VMS system. I have already sent a
copy of the RUNOFF file (and resulting text file) to Dave McGuire, who
tracked me down, and will do so for anyone else who would like it.
I also have the RKV11-D manual and print set, but they are buried in one of
the many boxes in my shop, so it might take a while to find them. If you
need them, let me know and I'll dig them out and scan them.
Alan "Packrat" Frisbie
Hi,
Does anyone here have a CDC 9270 (SMD HDD) status/control panel that I
could borrow to check whether the drive that I have thinks that it is OK?
alan
Two things:
1. Does anyone here have documentation for Fujitsu's M2372 SMD disk?
M2382 is on bitsavers, but there are some differences between it and the
M2372.
2. I removed the drive from the Sun Storage Pedestal chassis, so I could
see what status LEDs are turning on when I power it up. STS0 is solid
and STS3 is flashing. Is this some transitory state as the drive is
coming up or is this a fault indication? It has stayed in that state for
at least 10 min, so I presume it is a fault.
If I am reading the M2382 manual correctly and is is applicable to the
M2372, the fault "indicates the condition to Power Ready is not correct
or the drive detect the unexpected MPU interruption".
alan
Hello All,Recently I tried making some custom SCSI cable. In the past I have successfully made my own 50pin SCSI and Floppy cables with out much issue. However, I am finding it almost impossible to crimp the HD68 connectors on the cable. I have even tried a vise grip and I still couldn't get it to crimp all the way down. Anybody with some advice? Is there a trick I am missing? TiA.
A little while back I posted here because I needed help with analysing the
failure of the PSU from my VAXmate. Since then I have had some comments on
the reverse engineered schematic which I have now improved and which is
here:
https://rjarratt.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/h7270-control-pulse-width-modul
ator.png
Following advice from a list member, I have been looking at the 555 and the
PWM that control the switching transistor, using a bench power supply to
power the PWM directly (across pins 5 and 7). When I do this, I find that
Vref from the PWM, which should be 5V to power the 555, does not reach 5V. I
have tried removing the 555 from the circuit, and when I do this Vref goes
to the nominal 5V, once Vcc to the PWM is above 16V. However, if I put the
555 back in, then Vref only goes to 2V. I have socketed the 555 and tried
with two other brand new 555 chips, the result is the same.
It seems that just adding a 555 kills the Vref output of the PWM. It can't
be anything else in the circuit because everything else is still in circuit
when the 555 has been removed. Could the PWM be faulty? Perhaps it can't
provide enough current to bring Vref up to 5V once the 555 is in the
circuit?
Any suggestions gratefully received.
Regards
Rob
I've got a couple of Teac FD-54B's that appear to have problems with their
index sensors. Does anyone have any docs for these? The internet seems to
barely know they exist vs the FD-55, which has info everywhere. I'm thrown
off a bit by the 3 wire phototransistor (vs the common 2 wire ones) they
they use, and I haven't quite disassembled it enough to figure out a part #
for that.
Also, if anyone has a pair of spare black FD-55B, that'd be useful too.
Patrick Finnegan
Classic heavy duty HP Designjet 755CM C3198B? in search of a new home as
it's now one stop short of the e-waste people.
It's large? (handles a 36in roll) and has the usual DesignJet stand.???
I can even include some NOS ink cartridges.
It would need a horizontal belt as they deteriorate even without use but
otherwise in good shape; it was fully functional when I removed it from
service.
I'm not trying to sell it, I just hate to trash it.
Not easily shippable, it's located in the Santa Cruz area - I could
deliver it here in the bay area if someone wants it.
Steve
On this, the 74th anniversary of the unveiling of
the ENIAC, I've decided to post a couple of things
I've been working on. The first is the 3D model
of the ENIAC mentioned before. It's designed
using brlcad, from the Ballistics Research Lab.
It just seemed too appropriate to model it using
the tool devleoped where it lived. The
thingiverse link is:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4164825
The second thing is a draft of a chapter from a
book I'm in the very early stages of. It
describes the basic circuit designs used in the
ENIAC with SPICE simulations of them. The layout
and formatting are based on the old Army Technical
Manuals of the time.
http://cs.drexel.edu/~bls96/eniac/ch1.pdf
Enjoy,
BLS
P.S. Apologies if you got this multiple times; I've
posted it to a few lists I'm on.
Anyone here have a set of Sun external SMD cables (530-1079 and 530-1080) that they can loan or want to sell?
I ordered from a set from MemoryX at the beginning of Jan. They haven?t arrived and MemoryX isn?t answering my e-mail asking what?s up.
alan
Ok offer me offlist for our extra transistor unused? in box sealed in original cellophan6...
Have extra ge. G11a. First GE landmark transistor for counter and computer cicurits
Germanium Whisker Transistors
?
Robert Hall returned to General Electric Research Laboratories Schenectady just as Bell announced its point-contact transistor.??Hall had just graduated PhD from Caltech and had previously worked at the laboratories on a range of projects including the Harper North Wartime radar diode project. Dr Albert Hull was Assistant Director of the Laboratory. He was known for his collegial management style with a relaxed approach to the research agenda of his staff members. Hall recalls that Hull came in with the reprint of the Physical Review letters that announced the transistor [Bardeen 1948] and said ?Robert here?s an interesting development from Bell Laboratories. It looks like something pretty new and exciting. Would you like to look into it and see if there?s anything interesting there.? [Choi 2004]
General Electric had all the knowhow it needed to duplicate the Bell design quickly. North?s diode programme had diodes that could handle 100 volts back voltage which was state of the art at that time. (Purdue University produced the high back voltage germanium for the Bell point contact transistor.) North?s diode programme and related research ensured it had a manufacturing understanding of the key technologies:
High back voltage poly-crystalline germanium;
Doping;
Point contact design;
Welding or forming; and
Assembly and encapsulation.
Its first designs were crude with two pins for the collector and emitter with the base connection through the case in the manner of the Bell Type A. No socket was available and users were recommended to use a 5 pin subminiature tube socket using positions 2 and 3 for the collector and emitter and to create a base connection by inserting phosphor-bronze strips in positions 1 and 4 and bending them so they contacted the transistor case.
The transistors were known as germanium triodes or germanium whisker transistors. Two types were produced evolving from prototype coding through the familiar ?G? designation in use for its point-contact diodes and finally adopting RMA registration:
?
?
Prototype
G Series
RMA
Amplifier/oscillator
SX-4A
G11
2N30
Switching
Z2
G11A
2N31
Date
Up to 1951
1950 on
1952 on
?
The prototype numbers appear in early data sheets and in a General Electric price list dated June 1st?1951 in which the new SX-4A and Z2 transistors were priced at a massive $29 each.
The two transistors had the same mechanical and electrical characteristics but the switching transistor was tested for ?trigger action? or negative resistance. [General Electric 1950 courtesy Jack Ward]
>From 1952 the transistors had 3 pins with the base connection being soldered to the outside of the transistor?s case.
See data sheet ECG-3B.
Early General Electric G11 and G11A point-contact transistors.[Courtesy Jack Ward]
Production General Electric G11 point-contact transistor [Courtesy?Jan de Groot]
Any recent or other recommendations on shipping to Europe? Specifically
to Italy?
I have the packing arranged.? Item being shipped is an ASR33. budget
right now is a bit beyond what the buyer has, but I have gotten the unit
for him, and we need to figure how to get it there.
weight will be 75 to 100#.? Shipping from Los Angeles.? Doesn't
necessarily have to go express shipping, as long as the ride isn't too bad.
So far not a lot of options, but Fedex freight has been checked out.?
Just not sure of any other freight forwarders to use.
thanks.
Jim
> On Feb 13, 2020, at 7:35 PM, Timothe Litt <litt at ieee.org> wrote:
>
> ...
> Someone wrote a DECtape driver for VAX - I think Stan R., though it wasn't supported. DECtape controllers are odd devices - the TD10 is reasonably smart, but the others put realtime constraints on the drivers that could be hard to meet. Anyhow, by the time the VAX came out, TU58 and Floppies were cheaper and denser media.
TU58, denser perhaps, but vastly less reliable and utterly despised by pretty much everyone at DEC. Also very much slower.
I heard that the VMS DECtape driver was by Andy Goldstein. The report also mentioned that it supposedly did "overlapped seek", just as the TOPS-10 driver does, but unlike PDP-11 DECtape drivers. I never saw a system that actually had one, unfortunately.
paul
I have two Kaypro 2 computers, some disks and some documents that I?d like to sell.
$250 OBO takes the entire lot..
One of the computers worked the last time I set it up and tried it - a few years ago.
The other one had some problem with the disk drives and did not boot, IIRC.
If anyone is interested, they are available for local pickup or reasonable drive to a meeting point. I?m in Bedford, NH, just west of Manchester, NH.
smp
- - -
Stephen Pereira
Bedford, NH 03110
KB1SXE
Would anyone know whether there is a backplane wire list diagram anywhere for the RKV11-D Qbus RK05 controller
like the one on eBay a few days ago?
I didn't get that one but I have a pair of NOS H803 4x dual-height socket blocks kicking around that I guess
could be wire wrapped into a replica RKV11 backplane as a rainy day project, not that I have the special
module that replaced one of the Unibus boards but I'll keep looking. Info on this controller seems pretty
scarce apart from the description in one of the handbooks.
Thanks for any help,
Steve.
> From: Jay Jaeger
> Yeah, info does seem to be scarce. Not even in my LEVAX fiche set.
My fiche set has the Technical Manual, and also (in the wirelist
section) the wirelist.
Not sure how to get it to you, though. I stuck it in my industrial-grade
scanner at its highest resolution; no go. I suppose I could take photos
of it displayed on my fiche reader?
Or is there some device I can buy which is less than a zillion dollars which
can scan fiche? There are a number of things in my set (e.g. the BA11-N Tech
Manual) which aren't online, and would be useful to have.
> That fourth card (M7268) is apparently a connector card for the Q-Bus
> and drive bus.
Yes, but actually there are 6 cards: the M7269 is a dual card which goes
into the QBUS backplane, and the M993-YA which goes into the first RK05,
to convert from the two flat cables which come from the M7268.
> From: Al Kossow
> Also, it is only 18 bits.
Actually, only 16-bit DMA addresses, I'm pretty sure.
Noel
Interesting daughter board on the 4FDC in this ebay lot:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lot-of-2-Cromemco-S-100-Boards-Z80-ZPU-CPU-
4FDC-Floppy-Disk-Controller/202903187221?hash=item2f3df8ef15:g:kGQAAOSwhKZeQ
z9C
(sorry if you have to paste the URL back together)
I thought maybe it was the JVB FDCX4 but after looking at some pictures,
it clearly is not. Looks like it just adds a data separator to the 1771?
Anybody
have one of these?
Bill S.
I have two Kaypro 2 computers, some disks and some documents that I?d like to sell.
$250 OBO takes the entire lot..
One of the computers worked the last time I set it up and tried it - a few years ago.
The other one had some problem with the disk drives and did not boot, IIRC.
If anyone is interested, they are available for local pickup or reasonable drive to a meeting point. I?m in Bedford, NH, just west of Manchester, NH.
smp
- - -
Stephen Pereira
Bedford, NH 03110
KB1SXE
As seen on PDP-8 Lovers list:
> From: "Jones, Douglas W" <douglas-w-jones at uiowa.edu>
> To: PDP8-Lovers <PDP8-Lovers at dbit.com>
> Subject: [PDP8-Lovers] Book on punched cards
>
> A new book has come out that I helped create:
> Print Punch
> published by CentreCentre, London
> 40 pounds sterling for the special edition (print run, 100 books)
> 30 pounds sterling for the regular edition (print run, 700 books)
>
> Here is the publisher's book list:
> -- https://centrecentre.co.uk/collections/frontpage
>
> The book includes 178 images of punched cards from my collection, mostly featuring corporate logos or business forms from around the world. The expensive special edition differs from the regular edition only in: A different color of cover, the addition of a big fat rubber band, and the inclusion of an actual punched card from my stock of spare cards.
>
> The IBM archives also provided lots of content and there are some essays by others. It's a nice coffee table book, and a good way for me to make the content of my punched card collection more widely available.
>
> It definitely counts as an art book, not a technical reference, but still, it seems at least tangentially relevant here.
>
> Doug Jones
> jones at cs.uiowa.edu
>
> PS: They paid me, if you can call it that, with a few copies of the regular edition. I don't expect any royalty checks as a result of the astounding sales bump this e-mail will certainly produce as people rush to buy a useless but pretty book.
>
> PPS: Yes, if you really want to, you may forward this e-mail anywhere you want. Don't bother asking my permission.
I'm trying to non-destructively open up a MicroVAX 2000.
I've removed the bottom "dressing" section (which holds some of the I/O
connectors)? but the next step isn't obvious. None of the manuals I have
cover dismantling and the net doesn't have an IPB or similar available.
Other people have managed to get inside (I can see their results) so I
must be missing something obvious ...
Thanks.
Antonio
--
Antonio Carlini
antonio at acarlini.com
(resending as this appears to have gotten eaten last time...)
Hi all --
As the subject line says I've got an IBM Type 31 Alphabetical Duplicating
Keypunch sitting in my basement, in the Seattle area.
It's in well-loved but decent physical condition and appears to be
completely original. I have not powered it on (still has the original
selenium rectifiers in it, for one thing) but mechanically it seems fine.
No rust or obviously damaged parts, but it's clearly gotten a decent amount
of use since the 1930s.
It's really cool but it's not really something I'm interested in keeping --
if any of you are interested or know someone who is interested, please feel
free to make an offer. Due to the size and fragility of the item I don't
want to ship this thing.
Pictures are available here:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aqb36sqnCIfMo9BhHMhAok3F4cAInQ?e=EhXDPP
Thanks!
Josh
On 02/11/20 18:00, cctech-request at classiccmp.org wrote:
> Send cctech mailing list submissions to
> cctech at classiccmp.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctech
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> cctech-request at classiccmp.org
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> cctech-owner at classiccmp.org
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of cctech digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. looking for: fairchild model 8200 manual (Adrian Stoness)
> 2. Opening a MicroVAX 2000 (Antonio Carlini)
> 3. RD53 failure modes (Carlos E Murillo-Sanchez)
> 4. PC3XC manual? (Paul Koning)
> 5. Re: Old IBM magnetic media (cctalk at emailtoilet.com)
> 6. Looking for info - Computer Extension systems WE-VM8E8 board
> (Bob Smith)
> 7. Re: RD53 failure modes (Fred Cisin)
> 8. IBM Type 31 Alphabetical Duplicating Keypunch available,
> Seattle area (Josh Dersch)
> 9. Re: IBM Type 31 Alphabetical Duplicating Keypunch available,
> Seattle area (William Donzelli)
> 10. Re: IBM Type 31 Alphabetical Duplicating Keypunch available,
> Seattle area (Tony Aiuto)
> 11. Re: IBM Type 31 Alphabetical Duplicating Keypunch available,
> Seattle area (Lyle Bickley)
> 12. Making use of Panda dist TOPS20 (David Griffith)
> 13. Re: Making use of Panda dist TOPS20 (Ethan Dicks)
> 14. Re: Opening a MicroVAX 2000 (Josh Dersch)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2020 18:50:25 -0600
> From: Adrian Stoness<tdk.knight at gmail.com>
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
> <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: looking for: fairchild model 8200 manual
> Message-ID:
> <CAA3rs201WpX8iERnhTYv1EKksaR8-UTTHAPeTE6S1FieNY6N7Q at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> trying to find a manual for a fairchild universal counter timer model 8200
> circa 1968?
>
> got one i found like to see if i can get it working for the rack.
>
> can only find this sales catilog from 68
> https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2FTNM_In…
>
> https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdrive.google.com%2Fopen%3Fid%3…
>
> https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdrive.google.com%2Fopen%3Fid%3…
>
> hasnt been powered up since prolly 1986 has a tag on it about channel B not
> working.
> was found in a rack sitting out in 40below temps prolly been sitting there
> for 20-30yrs in a storage shed the guts are realy clean on it so proly has
> potential to get working again.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2020 11:17:03 +0000
> From: Antonio Carlini<a.carlini at ntlworld.com>
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic Posts"<cctech at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Opening a MicroVAX 2000
> Message-ID:<7d2cf42b-03c1-b514-d8aa-b85c0af83695 at ntlworld.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>
> I'm trying to non-destructively open up a MicroVAX 2000.
>
>
> I've removed the bottom "dressing" section (which holds some of the I/O
> connectors)? but the next step isn't obvious. None of the manuals I have
> cover dismantling and the net doesn't have an IPB or similar available.
> Other people have managed to get inside (I can see their results) so I
> must be missing something obvious ...
>
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> Antonio
>
>
Antonio,
From memory, the 2000 case covers are really tight and may need a bit
of leverage to remove, assuming all the screws have been removed. Very
close fitting rfi shields + several years of light corrosion etc...
Regards,
Chris
Sir,
I have a great interest in collecting vintage media. I am also desperate to
get hold of 2321 artifacts. Please talk to me as soon as you can.
Many thanks, Peter VP
Hello,
definitely you should be able to fix it.
This kind of problem is caused by the missing thickness of the rubber
stoppers of the positioner, which became goo in the years.
You have two ways to solve this problem.
First of all, remove the disk top cover plate in clean room, locate the
positioner and note that is full of black goo. Remove it at best with
isopropyl alcohol, sticks, paper, whatever, but be SURE not to spurt /
touch on the disk surface.
After this:
- method 1, easier: locate two screws at the sides of the positioner coil
which hold on position left and right stoppers.
You should loosen the left one (head on the center of the disk) and move
just slightly to the right, then tight the screw again.
As you must repeat some times to find the right position, my advice is to
have a PSU connected to the disk, and try before really tightening the
screw if it is enough / too much / good.
In this way you compensate for the thickness of the missing rubber stopper,
but the head will receive some more shocks at start and during operations.
-method 2: you will replace the missing rubber with a new one. You should
find a piece of rubber sheet, thickness around 1mm. You cut a small chunk
and somehow glue it to the stoppers again.
Of course you need to clean it very well before, otherwise glue will not
adhere.
Let me know if you manage to fix it.
Andrea
I'm trying to wrap my head around getting Mark Crispin's Panda
Distribution of TOPS20 set up such that I can actually make use of a
TOPS20 environment. I keep finding lots of manuals through Google
searches, but I'm missing a few critical things. Things that are evading
me are as follows:
1) How do I get networking set up, preferably such that it'll work on a
host that's given a DHCP address that could vary? I'd like to be able to
ssh to a specific port and then be connected to a terminal on the emulated
machine.
2) How do I set or alter a regular user's disk quota?
--
David Griffith
dave at 661.org
A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?
I had an old IRA 7340 Hypertape cartridge. It is at the Computer Museum of
America. I still have a cartridge but don't know from where.
I just got some replacement strips for a 2321 Data Cell.
My Pro has a PC3XC 4-line serial interface, and I know I once had a manual for it because the driver code I wrote mentions it. But I can't find it -- it may have been lost or it may have been a DEC document I did not take with me.
Is there a PC3XC-BA programming manual anywhere?
paul
I have 3 of these omnibus boards, all fully populated with 8K 12 bit
words of 2102 static ram.
What I don't have is the documentation that describes the way the
jumpers need to be set up for each 8K field.
The set up seems to involves what looks like a 3 parallel 8 pin
sockets that look like one and a half 16 pin DIP socket.
Any hints or pointers toward docs would be greatly appreciated
THanks
bob
Just received my latest eBay purchase. 5 3850 MSS cartridges.
3 of them had no tape inside. Just wondering why. Data destruction?
Inquisitive previous owner?
1 of them has an opaque yellow shell instead of the smoked clear plastic.
Possible CE cart? Has magic marker printing on it BAD MSS TAG
I thought it took 2 of these carts to restore a 3330 disk. One of these
carts has a label on it with 'Data Management Conference October 19-21, 1982
San Jose, California. Me thinks the cart was given out as a souvenir.
I was also wondering what old mainframe magnetic media cost back in the day.
2311, 2314, 3330 packs. 2314 Data Cell and a 3850 MSS cartridge. And a 7340
tape cassette.
I was on a business call to Yellow Cab in Chicago in the early 70's. We
entered through the garage and there was a pile of 2311 packs there. They
had just installed a 2314 system and the 2311 packs were being thrown out. I
asked if I could have an old pack. I chose a yellow 3M pack. Still have it.
:)
Hello!
I have a Naked Mini system that was used as the controller in a Linotype phototypesetting machine. From what I've been told, the Naked Mini CPU board is Nova compatible. I would like to use the CPU board in my own system, but I don't have enough information to do so. I haven't been able to find any documentation online that describes the backplane interface.
I could reverse engineer the backplane using one of the RAM boards as reference, but if the information already exists it would save me a tremendous amount of time.
Here is a gallery of the controller cage: https://imgur.com/a/LNkQisq
Thanks.
On Sun, Jan 19, 2020 at 11:30:31PM +0000, Kevin Parker via cctalk wrote:
> A we're all aware members on this list often dabble with other
> technologies. In my very aggressive cleanup of my hobby space I came
> across a number of U-Matic Video Tapes. If anyone is into this older
> video technology and would like these 8 tapes please contact me off
> list. (They are physically located in the south west of Victoria,
> Australia)
I'm interested in the technology, but I'm on the wrong side of the world to
add these to my collection. I have a few U-Matic tapes, but haven't found a
player yet.
To make this slightly less off topic, three of the U-Matic tapes I have are
in an SRA Computer Training Library boxed set containing:
MVS Concepts and Facilities - Mini-Course 2 - Introduction to Job
Processing
MVS Concepts and Facilities - Mini-Course 5 - MVS System Programs
MVS: JCL Coding - Mini-Course 11 - Requesting Space for DASD Data Sets
I found them in my current employer's document library years ago. Any
player(s) we had were long gone, so I've never seen them.
--
Kevin
http://www.RawFedDogs.nethttp://www.Lassie.xyzhttp://www.WacoAgilityGroup.org
Bruceville, TX
What's the definition of a legacy system? One that works!
Errare humanum est, ignoscere caninum.
Hi Dan,
I sent the same message to the Bay Area Classic list and CCTALK. Folks from
the Bay Area got photos. Don't know what happened to CCTALK...
Lyle
--
On Wed, 29 Jan 2020 13:51:06 -0500
Dan Veeneman <dan at decodesystems.com> wrote:
> Hi Lyle,
>
> At least on the message I received from the list there were no attached
> photographs.
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Dan
>
>
> On 1/28/2020 7:02 PM, Lyle Bickley via cctalk wrote:
> > I was browsing around in the back of Anchor Electronics a couple of days
> > ago and came across some clean (but dusty) vintage HP test gear - and
> > several very cool large variable resistors. I've attached some pictures of
> > both.
> >
> > BTW: Those of us in Silicon Valley are fans of Anchor - because they carry
> > lots of IC's, parts, connectors, etc. Their catalog can be downloaded here:
> > https://anchor-electronics.com/
> >
> > If you're interested in the HP test gear or large variable resistors
> > contact Alicia - for parts, contact any staff member.
> >
> > Note: I receive NO financial benefit from this email and my only
> > relationship with Anchor is as a long time customer. Phone: (408)727-3693
> >
> > Best,
> > Lyle
--
73 NM6Y
Bickley Consulting West Inc.
https://bickleywest.com
"Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"
Hi Pontus,
> This thread makes me very happy.
>
> I have a KS10 that I'm working on (quite slowly). The PSU is checked out
> and working. Then console seems to work, I can deposit/examine to CRAM
> and RAM.
>
> Next step will be to load micro code and I've been mentally preparing to
> tackle an RH11 emulator for the Unibone.
>
> I'll buy one from Joerg as soon as the second batch is ready and me and
> my KS10 will happily be guinea pigs.
>
> And if I can, I'll help with development.
I now have UniBones ready to ship.
More on PM,
kind regards,
Joerg
I was browsing around in the back of Anchor Electronics a couple of days ago
and came across some clean (but dusty) vintage HP test gear - and several very
cool large variable resistors. I've attached some pictures of both.
BTW: Those of us in Silicon Valley are fans of Anchor - because they carry
lots of IC's, parts, connectors, etc. Their catalog can be downloaded here:
https://anchor-electronics.com/
If you're interested in the HP test gear or large variable resistors contact
Alicia - for parts, contact any staff member.
Note: I receive NO financial benefit from this email and my only relationship
with Anchor is as a long time customer. Phone: (408)727-3693
Best,
Lyle
--
73 NM6Y
Bickley Consulting West Inc.
https://bickleywest.com
"Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"
Hello IBM BSC Experts!
I am trying to figure out the CRC algorithm used by IBM BSC. I have tried a
lot of different settings in crcreveng but not getting a match.
I am pretty convinced that the CRC-16 used by IBM was
16 15 2
x + x + x + 1
This would give the polynomial 8005.
Anyone against this statement?
But what was the initial value?
I have two actual messages from equipment employing IBM BSC:
32016CD90240404070032688
and
32016CD90240C84050030D28
>From this document (
http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/ibm/datacomm/GA27-3004-2_General_Inf…
)
I get that the CRC calculation is reset on SOH (01h) or STX (02h) and
accumulates until and including the ETX (03h). (excluding any SYN (32h)
characters).
I have tried crcreveng back and forth and I am not getting the CRC bytes
right.
I think I have tried most things, different bit order, different initial
values. But nothing.
I also tried the mode in crcreveng where it searches for matches but it
always says "no models found". Maybe I am doing something wrong when using
crcreveng?
Any clues? Surely there are someone out there that has been around for some
time and knows this, right?
On the topic of crc reveng I tried to verify how it works by using some
kind of known value: This article
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/23638939/crc-16-ibm-reverse-lookup-in-c
has a specific example where a certain data in (75h) with initial value
90f1h gives output 6390h. I tried to get crc reveng to do the same, but
failed. There has to be some option I simply do not understand. I tried
most combinations.
/Mattis
I have dug out an old SCSI hard drive from 1997 that may
have some interesting stuff, most especially the source
code for the SGI Iris flight sim demo. I have a Linux
system with an Adaptec 2940 (aic7880) that has two
connectors on it. It SEEMS from some probing that the
50-pin IDC connector on the top of the board is
single-ended SCSI (it seems to have mostly grounds on one
row of pins). Same for the drive, which is a Quantum
ProDrive LPS. The drive spins up and does some seeking
right after power-on, so it sounds like it is
working. But, I can't seem to find that the drive is being
recognized by the aic7xxx driver.
So, looking at /proc/scsi/aic7xxx/## I see the device
addresses all show just the negotiation settings,
and /proc/scsi/scsi just shows my SATA devices but not the
real SCSI ones.
I have the right cable to plug my old HP scanner into the
mounting plate Honda connector, and it shows up
fine. I could try getting a Honda to IDC-50 cable, but I
thought the IDC50 connector on the board edge OUGHT to
work.
Does anybody have any suggestions on what to try?
Thanks,
Jon
So I've decided to try and build up a KE11-A Extended Arithmetic Element. I
have most of the boards (although I*m missing a M234 Register dual-width
board, if anyone has one).
The main thing I'm missing at this point is a backplane. I do have a BB11
(which came out of an old piece of data acquisition gear, or something like
that) which I can wire up, but before I start on that I figured I'd ask and
see if anyone has one they would be willing to part with. (Hah-hah!)
If not, if someone does have one, even if you want to hang onto it, I'd really
appreciate good photos of the pin side of the backplane, so I have a more
detailed idea (than just the prints) on how the wiring goes.
And speaking of the prints, although there are a scanned set online, they are
pretty low-res, and some parts (e.g. the wire list, which was typical line
printer output) are hard to read as a result. So a new scan would be really,
really appreciated.
Thanks (I hope)!
Noel
I was idly browsing some old electronics magazines on archive.org and saw this
Tektronix testing system from 1972 that clearly has an 11/20 and TU-56. Just curious
as to what the piece of gear is sandwiched between the two. It sort of looks like a
paper tape reader, but for the two white buttons or whatever they are at the lower right
and the white bit at top right.
It seems to be in a DEC bezel(?) It doesn't seem to match the bespoke Tek gear at right
which looks quite different. I'm guessing it really is just a paper tape reader.
http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/4173/Tektronix_S-3260_automated_test_s…
Thanks in advance.
Steve
I found myself cleaning up the shop recently, and came across some vintage circuit boards I had stashed away 20 years ago. I?m curious if anyone can shed some light on what systems they originally went to. Here?s a link to the album?more info below.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/amRmm5P8375js4o1A <https://photos.app.goo.gl/amRmm5P8375js4o1A>
#1 Marked Aeronutronic Address Buffer D700909. Socketed transistors and test points along leading edge with ID tab visible when installed.
#2 No name or brand marking, sides have cast aluminum rails and a clever locking mechanism. Transistors are 2N-167 in clips.
#3 Marked 'Power Supply 1534 8253' 5-1-70, single-sided with edge connector.
#4 Large card 11?x10?, Burroughs logo. Date stamp of Jun 1972. Not sure if someone has robbed some of the ICs or if this was optional population.
#5 Small 3x4 card, single-sided but every hole has an unusual pressed-in and flow-soldered barrel. Relays are marked Blue Bead 26.5V. Looks early Japanese. 4 corner brackets have threads swaged-in for mounting.
Thanks,
Cory
9:10 PM jwest
and now the image of the classiccmp mailing list server should be back to where it was the day of the failure.
As per above, no data lost except a handfull asking if the server was up.
Greetings all,
I have a contact that has unearth a massive cache of Scientific Data Systems modules like the one pictured here in the Houston area: <https://i.imgur.com/m0l5IiB.jpg>
If anyone has a need for these modules or can identify based on that photo which SDS mainframe let me know and I'll put you in touch with the owner.
Best,
Ryan
I?m a collector in the Chicago area. Whereabouts are you located? I can rope up a car to grab some stuff.
Got any pictures of the piles?
Sent from my iPhone
Hi list,
is anyone aware of a LIF filesystem implementation for Linux? I'm aware
of lifutils, but i'm looking for filesystem integration either via fuse
or via in-kernel module. Haven't found anything on the internet.
Thanks
Sven
i read / viewes a video on ormattinf a floppy with trk 0 bad
i attempted to download the suggested utility
bt it returned " filenot foiud:
if there is sich a util, can you sedn me the file?
it is annoying to have a kiooyt go bad te next tie it is used. sometimes in
minutes.
i am generaly working wit oder stuss on ss retirement.
Hi all. I know I could scope this out, but just wondering if anyone has the pinout for the
VTech Laser 3000 / Dick Smith CAT (in Australia) composite video pinout.
It?s not in the technical manual that I have, and can?t find it online.
Thanks,
Chris
NetBSD still has code for various interesting^W older network
protocols such as ARCNET, Token Ring, FDDI, HIPPI, and Strip.
The code is quite old and the drivers are not MP safe, so its being
proposed that the code be dropped, with the understanding that if
anyone wanted to step forward to update any of the drivers that would
also be fine.
Just in case anyone has the right kit and some itchy coding fingers :-p
https://mail-index.netbsd.org/tech-net/2020/01/date1.html
David
I'm in the process of "cleansing" before putting our house on the market in the near future. I've been eBaying lots of things over the last couple of years (thanks to all here who have been good customers!) and have more to sell, but also lots of "stuff" with little or no market value that could be useful to people who build/repair/tinker with the old machines that we value.
If there is anyone in the greater Chicago area (or anywhere else) who'd like to drive over and take away anything from a carton to a carload of old stuff, from docs to chips, please let me know. No inventory list, no shipping - just a walk-through and carry out.
In another two weeks (end of January), I'll be trashing most of it.
Reply to me directly (off list) if you want to come by.
Jack
Hi,
Would anyone still have a copy of latest pdp11 MicroPower/Pascal?
I'm trying to have a retro programming contest / party at my house and
want to feature Pascal along with Macro-11 and maybe c on a real 11/23
with RL02s under TSX. Hoping to hang like ten users at once on the
'ol girl and make 'em really feel the speed. I might let up a little
and run the contest on my 11/73 with scsi if it's too terrible :)
Anyway, looked around the net for hours and can't find a copy of
MicroPower/Pascal, so if anyone can help, I'd be grateful.
Found TSX-Plus, though! Big Thanks again to Lyle and whomever's
running the classiccmp site these days!
--jake
All,
next thing to go from my pile is a set of Stylewriters.
2 ea. StyleWriter (1st generation)
2 ea. Color StyleWriter 1500
1 power supply for Stylewriter (condition very iffy)
1 power supply for Color StyleWriter 1500 (condition believed to be good)
1 spare circuit board (Stylewriter I believe, not certain)
3 spare ink cartridges (StyleWriter).
Caveats:
All printers believed to be operational when last stored. Some paper guides missing. I think I can plug in the CSW 1500?s and check power - on, at least. I *may* be able to plug in the SW?s and check power on, but I worry about that power supply (see below). I have not done any of the above, nor tried to plug a computer in to any of them, anytime this millennium.
At least one ink cartridge I think has a short which breaks printers. All ink cartridges are likely bricks by now, having been stored (climate-controlled, but ?. ) for ~2 decades, so I?m pretty reluctant to try printing with any of them.
The StyleWriter power supply was worked on by someone rather ham-fisted (CoughMeCough) and is somewhat the worse for wear - structural parts rattling around inside, etc. (Is there a good name for those things? *Way* too big to be a wall-wart - wall-growth? wall-turret? wall-obstacle?)
All "Free to a Good Home", shipping from Texas, USA (Zip 78254) and I?ll split shipping costs with you (as before, I want space and I don?t want to add these to landfill). Partial orders filled in the order they come in.
I have checked with Operator Headgap and tried to check with the Mac rescue place in Denver, not interested in the first place and no response in the second.
Respond to (preferably) mtapley(at)swri.edu<http://swri.edu>, or phone below. I?ll be travelling the next couple of days, but will try to get back to you ASAP.
- Mark
210-522-6025 office
210-379-4635 cell
At 10:46 AM 1/13/2020, you wrote:
>If there is anyone in the greater Chicago area (or anywhere else) who'd like to drive over and take away anything from a carton to a carload of old stuff, from docs to chips, please let me know. No inventory list, no shipping - just a walk-through and carry out.
OK no inventory list, but how about pictures of piles?
And "greater Chicago" is a very large area. Where are you in slightly
more specific terms?
- John
I have sent the vendor of this item questions on ebay what you asked.
It includes the keyboard x 2, mice x 2, CPU and monitor as well as those manuals. My offer was going to be ?350 = ?408
Vendor does not know which Solaris it is. So perhaps not familiar with Unix? It might be he inherited from a family member.
Bit of a toy - only meant for a university project of mine which I did on a Sparcstation 2 to show my kids that Xbox was not the beginning of time with computers! LOL
Thanks.
Salik.
-----Original Message-----
From: Stefan Skoglund <stefan.skoglund at agj.net>
Sent: 13 January 2020 03:59
To: Salik Rafiq <salikmrafiq at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Hello All - new member in the UK
s?n 2020-01-12 klockan 21:12 +0000 skrev Salik Rafiq:
> I have seen this one on eBay.
>
> https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sparcstation-5/192930718968?hash=item2ceb91
> 24f8:g:VZ0AAOSwYbpc7EhK
>
> What do you think about the price. It seems to be booting and running
> with Solaris.
>
> Salik.
>
Is it a plain SS5 (those two SS10s was upgraded a fair/very bit) ?
Compared with them (the two SS10 in Germany) this one is slower, but it is in the UK and probably close to you and it isn't heavy so the whole system and the kbd will fit inside a bag so it's a nice but somewhat expensive amusement/reason (and a bit better than that) to sit on the train a few hours.
It is SCA-2 equipped so it is a fair bit easier getting disks for it.
Pitty, i wonder if the machine (SS5) has the builtin flex disk and the cd-rom ?
The seller didn't include photo of the right side and no word about the CPU (or photos of the inside) but it boots !
Is the IDPROM replaced ??? The battery in the original one is probably toast so but less of a problem.
Still that 5 is from 1995 or so and the SS10s 1993 or so but the CPUs (the machines in germany) is a little bit newer but 500 pound vs 400 euro ???
If i went and bough one of the machines in germany - the difference is so large that if i took 150 pound or so to pay for fuel, driving to them to pick up them and then home - that would even up (i'm about 9 hour by car from them.)
How is the SS5 equipped (if it is a machine with internal floppy and
cdrom) and with the fact that it is SCA-2 and it boots, well then it looks better.
Stefan N S
The PSU in my VAXmate failed recently and I think I have found a problem
with one of the windings on the transformer not ringing when I test it with
a ringing tester. The technical description of the VAXmate says that one
winding is operated in flyback mode and I wonder if that has any bearing on
the ringing test. Also, one of the pins appears not to be connected to
anything else, so possibly a broken (melted?) wire.
Can anyone help with the following questions:
Does the fact that one winding is operated in flyback mode have any bearing
on the ringing test?
Can a transformer fail with a bad smell with no outward sign of damage?
Can this transformer be replaced (see picture in blog)? - I suspect not
unless I find a donor PSU.
Where should I look for a possible cause of the transformer to fail (if
indeed it has failed?).
I have posted more details here:
https://robs-old-computers.com/2020/01/12/possible-cause-of-vaxmate-h7270-ps
u-failure/
Thanks
Rob
I?m restoring a SWTPC 6800 that includes the Percom LFD-400 floppy controller. This controller goes on the SS-50 bus instead of the SS-30 bus where the SWTPC controllers installed. The standard Percom MiniDOS PROM is installed, and the other two PROM sockets have a third party extension called ?Minidisk+?. This was made by a company called Cer-Comp. These PROMs are instead of Percom?s own ?MiniDOS PlusX (MPX) PROM.
I?ve got the system working, and I can use Minidisk+ to save and load files, but I know I?m missing some nuances of command parameters. I don?t have any sort of documentation for Minidisk+, so before I go figure it out by disassembling the PROMs, does anyone have any sort of documentation for Minidisk+ by Cer-Comp for the Percom LFD-400 floppy disk controller?
Also, I?d like to burn the MPX PROM as an option. Does anyone have the MPX PROM or the source code for MiniDOS PlusX?
Mike
Hello,
I've got a vintage Hyundai Super LT-3 80286 laptop, I just fixed the
problem with CMOS battery but I'm unable to find any information about HDD
settings.
When I go to BIOS, there are 2 possible disk positions but I don't know
which one to use and what settings I should choose.
I'd like to ask you to let me know how to set this up. You also wrote in
you post that you're goint to experiment with the switches which are right
below the left bottom corner. If you got any news regarding these, I would
appreciate it.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Regards,
Peter Veprek
Hi all --
Got one of these:
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/amcodyne/7110/Arapahoe_7110_Brochure_Nov84.pdf
sans power supply and packs. I'm guessing that these packs were specific
to this drive and not any sort of standard, and that tracking one down is
going to require quite a bit of luck. Figured I'd start here :). Also
looking for technical info (pinouts for the power connector would be a good
start...)
Thanks as always,
Josh
I have a Pro-380 with an H7862-C power supply. Recently the power supply input filter (where the cord plugs in) shorted out, causing melted filter guts to leak out of the case and put a big smoke cloud in the room.
Fortunately I have a spare, but it's an H7862 (not -C). I'm planning to replace the failed input filter, but in the meantime: does anyone know what the difference is between the two versions? Is it just a design tweak, or does the -C have different specs (like higher current ratings)? The replacement came out of a Pro-350 component set.
paul
Al,
I have the original Motorola paper version of AN1123. I?m happily to scan
it for you.
I have a pretty complete set from an139 into the 1100s if there are others
you need.
Regards,
Stan Ruppert
So in the continuing quest of fixing my second RL02 I replaced the heads
and found the drive was slow and would generate about 80 block errors on
a pack where my reference RL02 drive would never generate more than 10.
After doing a positional radial check (fine) and a head alignment check
(head 0 and 1 were way off from each other and head 0 was on a crest of
the stepper motor (the part where you are between steps, highly
unstable). Adjusting that so head 0 and 1 were in a valley on the
stepper motor (inherently stable) the drive was much quicker but still
would generate about 80 errors. Odd.
So on a lark I swapped the head amplifier module from the good drive to
the suspect drive. Bingo, 10 errors. So the issue is in the head
amplifier, maybe the voltage was too low.
Next step was to check the read signal amplitude: Because I have a
reference drive I decided to check the signal voltage at track 0 on the
reference drive, then move the same pack to the problem drive and
verify. On the reference drive track 0 has a signal value of a smidge
below 1.5 volts on head 1. On my suspect drive the signal value was 1v.
Adjusted it up to 1.5 volts and errors went down to 9. Not bad. Went up
to 1.6 volts and errors went down to 6.
Hm.
So a question: Is it a problem to adjust the read amplitude up, and if
so how far can you go. The manual says 2.25, is there a benefit of
running up that high? More important, does adjusting the read amplitude
also change the write current through the heads? That could result in a
pack that may be readable, but will be a mess when written to.
What would be nice would be to have a blue amplitude reference pack, but
I don't have one of those. Also I haven't tried any other packs in the
suspect drive, but maybe I should adjust the amplitude in my reference
drive as well.
Thoughts?
C
(All readings done with a tektronix scope. I haven't checked the
calibration in awhile, but it should be reasonably in sync)
All,
Another thing that surfaced recently on my pile is a manila envelope containing a big photocopied stack of papers, with a title page saying:
?
Interfacing the Commodore PET
by Bill Durham, David Paul, and jim Wilman
University of Arkansas.
?
It?s got about 45 pages of text, interspersed with block diagrams showing chip in/out signals and snippets of BASIC code, then a repeat of all that, then a copy of the 6502 instruction set and copies of multiple data sheets for various integrated circuits.
Thought I identified an interested party on the list, but no response to PM, so offering it to all. Free to a Good Home, usual terms, first response unless I hear from Al K. before I ship in which case he gets it instead.
- Mark
210-522-6025 office
210-379-4635 cell
All,
next thing in my disposal pile.
3-ring binder, containing a repro copy of the subject line and a 5.25? floppy labelled ?Apple II DOS 3.3 System Master For Apple II, II+, and IIe?.
computer is given away a while back, should have sent this with it. I bought it in 2006 and won?t use it. I think all reproductions, not originals. FTGH.
- Mark
210-522-6025 office
210-379-4635 cell
I'm having some trouble getting Frotz 2.50 ported to TOPS20. Version 2.32
with dumb interface compiles fine under KCC. With 2.50, there are several
preprocessor lines that include parentheses. For instance:
#if UINT_MAX == (1UL<<32)-1UL
typedef unsigned int uint32;
#else
typedef unsigned long uint32;
#endif
What's a better way of accomplishing this?
--
David Griffith
dave at 661.org
A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?
With his express permission, I'm forwarding a mail from a public list.
I am interested in Gene's comments about the design of SCSI, but I
don't know enough electronics to judge.
I thought others here might.
I have trimmed the mail a little to the relevant parts.
--
Liam Proven - Profile: https://about.me/liamproven
Email: lproven at cix.co.uk - Google Mail/Hangouts/Plus: lproven at gmail.com
Twitter/Facebook/Flickr: lproven - Skype/LinkedIn: liamproven
UK: +44 7939-087884 - ?R (+ WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal): +420 702 829 053
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Gene Heskett <gheskett at shentel.net>
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2020 at 17:29
Subject: Re: External Disk Intrusion
To: <ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com>
On Wednesday 08 January 2020 09:01:35 Liam Proven wrote:
[...]
> The thing is that actual SCSI cabling faults are very hard to
> diagnose. We used to have internet jokes about them and the need for
> sacrificial goats or chickens, but of particular colours for different
> cable types, pentagram drawn in blood, holy candles, etc.
>
And all that pickityness can be laid at the feet of a bean counter
between the interface card designer, who specified a $2.00 schotkey
diode for buss isolation, which had a maximum voltage drop across it of
perhaps .1 volts, and changed to have an 8 cent Si diode with .666 volts
drop across it, thereby lowering the logic one voltage by .45 volts.
Since the logic one at the logic chips inputs had to be at lease 2.2
volts, and the nearest set of termination resistors gave 3.0 volts when
this buss isolation diode was replaced with a short, but with the cheap
Si diode in there gave a logic one voltage closer to 2.4 most of the
circuits noise margin was used up and considering that same bean counter
crossed out the 5% terminators in favor of 20% tolerance, the result was
predictable.
The situation was much better when active terminations came into use, but
by that time the scsi buss's reputation was doomed.
But back in the day of the bottom 190 market tv stations were generating
their on air gfx needs with a bank of Amiga computers, every scsi card
that came in the door, if the engineer was worth his paycheck, that
diode was replaced the first time the Amiga it was in, crashed. End of
problem except for one Trump Card, where in traceing that card, I found
the termpacks had been soldered in bass ackwards. It was easier to cut
and jumper the supplies traces than to unsolder the packs and turn them
around. So I did that in addition to swapping out the infamous diode.
We, in a middle 160's market, were the first to put our news on the air,
out as a webpage, which led to legal problems because CBS fussed about
their copyrights, so we had to filter any web content that came from
CBS, but that didn't last long after their bean counters discovered
there was money to be made. That was all driven by ARexx and delivered
by dialup from that Amiga in those Jurrasic (in web time) days.
Who am I to criticise the makers of that stuff? I have an 8th grade
diploma, but I am also a CET. Look that up if you care.
Cheers, Gene Heskett
--
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)
If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.
- Louis D. Brandeis
Genes Web page <http://geneslinuxbox.net:6309/gene>
--
ubuntu-users mailing list
ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
Mike -
Cer-Comp
5566 Ricochet Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89110
(702) 452-0632
William E. Vergona wrote firmware on those two (2), 2708 ROMs.
He later (1980s) worked with Tandy (Coco-3) Color Computer products.
==
?68 Journal, May 1980 (Back to Future, 40 years later)
MiniDisk+ DOS , Pages 11 - 13
http://www.swtpcemu.com/swtpc/68MJArchive/V02N05_May1980.pdf
Have you contacted Bob Applegate (Corsham Tech)?
https://www.corshamtech.com/ss-50-faqs/
He might be aware of source from his SS-50 clients and contacts.
Bob reopened his business (Corsham) three weeks ago, for a period of time.
I did not see him at VCF Midwest, due to his health issues.
https://www.corshamtech.com/back-in-business-for-now/
Greg
Chicago
==
From: Mike Douglas <deramp5113 at yahoo.com>
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Subject: SWTPC 6800 and Percom Floppy Controller
I?m restoring a SWTPC 6800 that includes the Percom LFD-400 floppy controller. This controller goes on the SS-50 bus instead of the SS-30 bus where the SWTPC controllers installed. The standard Percom MiniDOS PROM is installed, and the other two PROM sockets have a third party extension called ?Minidisk+?. This was made by a company called Cer-Comp. These PROMs are instead of Percom?s own ?MiniDOS PlusX (MPX) PROM.
I?ve got the system working, and I can use Minidisk+ to save and load files, but I know I?m missing some nuances of command parameters. I don?t have any sort of documentation for Minidisk+, so before I go figure it out by disassembling the PROMs, does anyone have any sort of documentation for Minidisk+ by Cer-Comp for the Percom LFD-400 floppy disk controller?
Also, I?d like to burn the MPX PROM as an option. Does anyone have the MPX PROM or the source code for MiniDOS PlusX?
Mike
On Fri, 2020-01-03 at 12:00 -0600, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote:
> On 1/2/2020 1:35 PM, Cameron Kaiser via cctalk wrote:
> > > > Anyone done anything with Netware *for PowerPC*? Allegedly
> > > > there was
> > > > some attempt at Apple to put it on what later became the
> > > > Network Servers
> > > > (the codename was apparently "Wormhole").
> > > I know the people who were working in it (based on Portable
> > > NetWare)
> > > AFAIK it never shipped.
> > Was this based on the Cygnus PowerPC port, or was it Apple-
> > specific?
> >
> Sun did a power? PC? port I think paid for by IBM, which would have
> run
> on both the open Apple servers that briefly existed, and on IBM PPC
> systems.
>
> A lot of odd PPC work happened in a group a friend worked for in
> Austin
> TX, but not sure if they did Netware work there.? There was a lot of
> OS2
> work there as well, but that's off track a bit more.
>
> thanks
> Jim
I was lead tech at a small computer company in Asheville, NC. in those
days. I ran OS/2 from version 2 in the early 90's to Ecomstation in
the early 2000's.
Does Talingent Pink sound familiar? OS/2 was ported to powerPC, and so
was Netware iirc. The field was quite busy with hopeful Microsoft
killers. OS/2 was to be morphed into a cross-platform o/s, to wean
folks from dos/x86..... Then PPC kills the x86 and we all get a decent
os. That was the plan anyway. I never saw OS2 for PPC or Netware for
OS/2, thought I know both to have shipped.
Jeff
Hi all,
I snagged one of these Nixie-like displays (from a calculator I assume) and
I'd like to light it up. Does anyone know where I might find the datasheet
for it? Google hasn't turned up anything.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/264110638970
Any help is appreciated!
--
Anders Nelson
+1 (517) 775-6129
www.erogear.com
Bitsavers has a schematic of the ANSI interface version of the Priam
3450/7050 eight-inch hard drives, but does anyone happen to have the
schematics of the "normal" version (Priam interface, as opposed to SMD or
ANSI)?
Hello all, a new member here.
I?m in the UK where I?ve lived for 17 years now. Before that I lived in
Canada.
I got my computer bug as a kid playing with VIC20, TRS-80, APPLE ][ and a
mainframe. Presently I work as a .Net programmer mainly doing ASP.Net. Most
of the old hardware I had stopped working for one reason or another and was
binned ? my Dad didn?t like clutter. So I?m surrounded by laptops and a
couple of older machines which used to run the network in the office.
I?ve started looking around for some vintage machines that I used at Uni.
Sparcstation, NeXT Cube are the ones I used the most.
One machine that I would very much like to have is a SUN Sparcstation as
I?ve some old projects that I did at university which I?d like to carry on
working on (also to show my kids what I did at Uni) If anyone on here is in
the UK and has a Sparcstation 1,2,4,5 I?d be interested. If it has the ??
drive than I?d be interested in that too. SunOS would be OK as that?s what I
used. I am tempted in a NeXT but my project used X11 and a library called
InterViews which I think will only work on X. Maybe someone can clarify
that.
Anyway, enjoying reading the posts and happy to have found you.
Salik.
I just listed one of my TU55s on eBay
I have a second one available in a rack with a TC01 avalilable for pickup in Fremont, CA
that I'm accepting offers on.
I'll be in Chicago for a week soon for a work event. Limited time for
myself but I'll have some time Sunday to maybe Uber around. Any suggestions
or cool spots for a computer collector to hit?
I see a museum of broadcast communications is close to where I'll be which
may be neat. Not sure if there are any used stores that might have vintage
computers but always willing to try.