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

by jonas＠otter.se

On Fri Oct 1 16:39:32 CDT 2010, Tony Duell (ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk) submitted the following words of wisdom: >> >> Ok, can't resist. I'm just so happy to have this machine! >> >> Mark >> >> http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5153811&l=e3d7fbce9f&id=734972117 >> http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5153808&l=e4aaef5843&id=734972117 > > What is it with classic computer people and cats :-) > > -tony Have you played the card game called "Chez Geek"? If you have, and you didn't know it before, you would have learned that cats are an essential companion to any geek who is really serious about his or her geekhood. /Jonas

15 years, 10 months

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Latest eBay seller BS

by aek＠bitsavers.org

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230532269086 I don't know how he does this, but the auction starting price went up $10 as soon as I started watching the auction. It has happened TWICE now on relists of the same item.

15 years, 10 months

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Dealing with heat

by wdonzelli＠gmail.com

> I just sold 30# of aluminum heatsink approx 8" wide x 4" high x 5' long for > $40.00. 9 other identical pieces were scrapped out for about $15.00 each. My > understanding is that they were in the $100.00 + catagory when new. And that sounds like it was for stock extrusions. If you add all sorts of machining so the heatsink actually touches the processor, you can add a bunch more on to the price. Fans are cheap and effective. And the last place *anyone* wants to go is liquid cooling. -- Will

15 years, 10 months

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They don't make them like they used to

by brianlanning＠gmail.com

:-) http://cgi.ebay.com/Synertek-1978-SYM-Model-1-vintage-computer-ktm-2-/11059…

15 years, 10 months

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Need Help Finding Docs

by jthecman＠netscape.net

Hello Does anyone have any information on a VTEK Braille Display Processor computer? I have one but can not find anything of help using google, bing, or yahoo to search. The one I have is a model BDP-ACT II. Any help would be great. Thanks JK

15 years, 10 months

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FS: Assembler Language Programming, Systems/360 and 370

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

More old stuff I don't need but you might :) Large paperback textbook, "Assembler Language Programming Systems/360 and 370" by Sharon K. Tuggle, 1975, 511 pages. $5 plus actual Media Mail shipping. thanks Charles

15 years, 10 months

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WTD: Copy of CD from "Programming Psion Computers"

by classiccmp＠philpem.me.uk

Hi guys, Does anyone happen to have a copy of "Programming Psion Computers" by Leigh Edwards (published by EMCC Software) sitting on the bookshelf? I've just bought a copy, complete with CD.... but the good ol' Royal Mail have managed to snap the CD clean in two. An ISO image or CD-R copy would be most useful... The publisher has gone bust, and I haven't managed to find any trace of the author either :( Thanks, -- Phil. classiccmp at philpem.me.uk http://www.philpem.me.uk/

15 years, 10 months

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WTD: Copy of CD from "Programming Psion Computers"

by philpem＠philpem.me.uk

Hi guys, Does anyone happen to have a copy of "Programming Psion Computers" by Leigh Edwards (published by EMCC Software) sitting on the bookshelf? I've just bought a copy, complete with CD.... but the good ol' Royal Mail have managed to snap the CD clean in two. An ISO image or CD-R copy would be most useful... The publisher has gone bust, and I haven't managed to find any trace of the author either :( Thanks, -- Phil. philpem at philpem.me.uk http://www.philpem.me.uk/

15 years, 10 months

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Amish Software?

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

Found in the junkbox: An unused 5.25" floppy from Amish Software "Bonus Disk: Amish Bundling includes Amish Launch and Amish Desk Utilities for Windows" (1991). Another with Creative Labs' "Game Blaster Demo & Intelligent Organ" (1989). Price - Almost free (for postage) ;) thanks Charles

15 years, 11 months

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Dumping an Intel D8749?

by derschjo＠mail.msu.edu

Short story: Anyone have the ability to dump an Intel D8749 microcontroller's internal EEPROM for me? Long story: I picked up a neat-o keen display unit. (See http://yahozna.dyndns.org/scratch/avtron/IMG_0477.JPG for a picture) It uses two *huge* Panaplex displays (Babcock SP-431's) showing 4 7-segment digits (with 2" digit height) each. It's made by Avtron, an industrial automation hardware company -- I got in touch with their support department and they helped me identify the display (it's a "K885 Extrabrite display" designed to be used with their K885 "Speed / Draw" systems). Alas, they can't provide any interface specifications (which is about what I expected), so all I know is that it uses some sort of two-pin serial interface (with connectors labeled "High" and "Low") I was thinking that if I could get a dump of the microcontroller ROM, I might be able to either (a) decipher the protocol enough to allow another microcontroller/PC to control the display, or (b) decipher the hardware enough to figure out how to write a replacement EEPROM for the onboard microcontroller... I think this thing would make a *really* cool clock... - Josh

15 years, 11 months

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Missed an auction... most annoying...

by wh.sudbrink＠verizon.net

In case anyone on the list won this ebay auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360303684042&ssPageName=… and doesn't know what that little thin rectangular board with the caps, resistors and coax on it is, it is an original Software Tech Music System board. The docs and software for it are on Jim Battle's Sol website. Not much to it electronically, but I really wanted an original. Rats!

15 years, 11 months

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$6000 for an Altair 8800b with drives, terminals and DEC printer

by christian_liendo＠yahoo.com

I just posted a link about this to my blog. http://8bitaficionado.com/?p=378 The direct sale is here http://cgi.ebay.com/ALTAIR-8800B-MITS-COMPUTER-W-DISK-DRIVE-COMPLETE-8800-/… I guess if I could burn $6000.00 I would get it.

15 years, 11 months

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Adaptec AIC-010 / AIC-100 ECC scheme

by classiccmp＠philpem.me.uk

Hi guys, I've managed to get my grubby paws on a Seagate ST22R RLL controller, and a matching ST-277R-1 hard drive (half-height 5.25in, 60MB ish). As part of my "pre-installation research", I Googled the part number of the one apparently-non-Seagate-custom part on the ST22R -- an Adaptec AIC-010 RLL controller. Turns out the datasheet for this part is on Bitsavers too. The datasheet provides a decent overview of the on-disc format (specifically: it's a tweaked variant of the IBM floppy disc low-level format, sitting on top of (2,7)RLL). What it doesn't really cover is the 32-bit error-correction code and its polynomial. There is a slightly oblique reference to Fire codes, there are two polynomials (forward and reverse), and data is loaded in shift-register style. Does anyone know what sort of error-correction codes were used on the AIC-010 and AIC-100 controller chips, or the polynomials used? Thanks, -- Phil. classiccmp at philpem.me.uk http://www.philpem.me.uk/

15 years, 11 months

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Another 935 shot...

by mdavidson1963＠gmail.com

On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 10:37 PM, Zane H. Healy <healyzh at aracnet.com> wrote: > At 9:44 PM -0700 9/30/10, Mark Davidson wrote: >> >> Ok, can't resist. ?I'm just so happy to have this machine! > > I don't blame you, I'm not into HP systems, but that's a seriously cool > sounding system. ?I'd love to try MPE. I have a special spot in my heart for HP3000 systems. MPE is a seriously cool OS, and I attended UTC, home of the HP3000 mailing list. My mother also worked at the university for 20+ years. I grew up spending summers on the campus, in the library and in their computer center, using their 3000 (and their 1000). Mark

15 years, 11 months

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Apple II Killer App

by mardy＠voysys.com

So now that I know that my recently restored Apple II is going to turn into dust in the not too distant future, how can It best be demonstrated to illustrate why it was so awesome back in '78? For example, with an Altair, you can either load Billy's Micro Soft Basic or play "Fool on the Hill" through your AM radio. But what application do you run on an Apple II that epitomizes Steve and The Woz's gift to man kind? -Mardy

15 years, 11 months

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OT: Worth exhibiting at Maker Faire?

by evan＠snarc.net

Hi all -- My club (MARCH) is scheduled to exhibit at the inaugural Maker Faire NYC. I'm starting to have second thoughts because we don't "make" anything, we just make old things work again. Who here has been to a Maker Faire event, and if so, would a vintage computers exhibit be well received by the audience?

15 years, 11 months

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Evolution of the Apple Mouse

by marvin＠west.net

> Try pricing a big-ass hunk of extruded heatsink some day. > > -- > Will I'm sure this somehow relates to the Apple Mouse, but it will need to be explained to me so I can understand. I just sold 30# of aluminum heatsink approx 8" wide x 4" high x 5' long for $40.00. 9 other identical pieces were scrapped out for about $15.00 each. My understanding is that they were in the $100.00 + catagory when new. Marvin

15 years, 11 months

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SPSS for Windows

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

I'm cleaning out the closet and found my V6.1 SPSS for Windows (24 Jan 1995) on eight 3.5" floppy disks "Graduate Pack for student home use only", purchased in 1996. Anyone want it for $5 plus postage from zip 65775?

15 years, 11 months

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Ok, gotta show this...

by mdavidson1963＠gmail.com

My latest acquisition (thank you, Stan!). An HP 3000/935 with several drives (all working). Photo links below. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5152529&l=4dfb3c29ff&id=734972117 http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5152533&l=3e032379a3&id=734972117 I'm so thrilled! Mark

15 years, 11 months

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Sharp IS501 OPIC

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

I havea shaft encoder here in a classic (well, it's over 10 years old :-)) printer. And it seems to have failed in that I am getting no signal at all on either output line (they should be quadrature signals, of couse). They test as floating.. I've taken in apart (of course, what have I got to lose...) and the PCB cotnains a Sharp IS501 OPIC device along with a couple of resistors conencted to it, a supply decoupling capacitor and a limiting resistor for the IR LED. THe latter seems to be working (dropping about 1.5V). but no outputs. The IS501 is a 6 pin stagered-DIP transparent package. The 6 pins are +5V, gorund, the 2 outputs and the 2 (sensitivity?) resistors. So not much I can so other than replace the chip. A qucik web search turns up nothing useful (and no data sheets). Anyone ever come across anything like this before, knows a substitute, etc? -tony

15 years, 11 months

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HP 9816, and more, available in Eugene, Oregon

by tosteve＠yahoo.com

Dallas Hemphill has: 2 HP-9816 systems 2 HP-9121 disk drives 2 keyboards 2 6-pen plotters 1 2225A printer cables, operating system, software, and lots of manuals, from about 1983. contact Dallas if interested: dallashemphill at hotmail.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I apologize if you received more than one email - Yahoo "Classic" does this. --------------------------------------------------------------------------

15 years, 11 months

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The lazarus 64

by christian_liendo＠yahoo.com

This is a bit off topic, but no so much. Here a guy designs his own 8 bit retro system and has somewhat documented the thing http://www.lucidscience.com/pro-lazarus-64%20prototype-1.aspx For all you hardware junkies, you will like this.

15 years, 11 months

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FS: 80186 chips

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

While reorganizing my parts cabinet, I came across three unused AMD '186 CPUs from the early 1980's, still in original antistatic plastic box. One 80L186-16, one 80C186-25, and the small one is also an 80C186-25. http://s1181.photobucket.com/albums/x426/DrCharlesMorris/?action=view&curre… $10 shipped in US; $10 plus actual postage internationally. thanks Charles

15 years, 11 months

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68K ISA project

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Following up on this thread from last July: I found the 1989 mc magazine article on the 68K ISA coprocessor board. I have the article and have gone through it. Instead of an PC/XT ISA coprocessor, I've decided to pursue an S-100 68K CPU board based on the one in the "68000 Microcomputer Systems: Designing and Troubleshooting". Thanks! Andrew Lynch > -----Original Message----- > From: Andrew Lynch [mailto:lynchaj at yahoo.com] > Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2010 5:49 PM > To: 'cctalk at classiccmp.org' > Subject: 68K ISA project > > Hi! Just out of curiosity does anyone know of any home brew ISA bus 68K > boards? > > I've seen numerous home brew 68K projects of varying styles but none meant > to plug into the PC/AT ISA bus. I tried Google but nothing obvious turned > up. Ideas/URLs appreciated. > > Thanks and have a nice day! > > Andrew Lynch > > PS, something like this but with more detail > > http://john.ccac.rwth-aachen.de:8000/as/pcpar.html

15 years, 11 months

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Slightly-OT: Anyone want a couple of boards from an AT&T MERLIN?

by jplist2008＠kiwigeek.com

While refreshing my memory of the bits and pieces of sundry I picked up with an IBM System/34 several years ago I rediscovered a pair of boards in-box that are marked AT&T MERLIN. They appear completely unused, bubble-wrapped in apparent original packaging. I don't know anything about the system, so if you want me to be able to identify _which_ boards they are, you'll need to give me some hints :) Shipping costs only, from 50441. - JP

15 years, 11 months

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Advice for scanning docs

by snhirsch＠gmail.com

All, I'm trying to scan some documentation on "IBM PC" sized 3-hole paper. For some reason the scanner is prone to pulling multiple sheets through when doing the reverse sides. Doesn't seem to have this issue when doing the facing side. I haven't seen this with US letter size paper, either. Wondering if anyone has any tips for avoiding this? The scanner is a Umax Astra 2400S w/ Umax sheet feeder. Steve --

15 years, 11 months

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Multimeter recomendations

by trag＠io.com

> Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:15:35 -0700 (PDT) > From: Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> > Somehow, the absolute basics of even working with threaded fasteners have > fallen from the educational system, and people are re-inventing basic > normal techniques. > > > When is the demo on how to suck eggs? My experience is that most folks don't know what one means when one uses an expression about sucking eggs. I thought everyone knew the, "Don't teach your grandmother..." expression, but apparently familiarity with it is kind of rare. At least around here. Jeff Walther

15 years, 11 months

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IBM 3179 terminal(s) wanted

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

Ok, as NICE as a pair of 3278 or 3279's would look in my herc setup - those aren't likely to be reasonably found. So I was looking for one or two 3179 terms to act as CMS or TSO user terminals. Anyone have some in working condition that they'd like to trade off? J

15 years, 11 months

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seeking enter keycap for IBM Model 11C electric typewriter

by nigel.d.williams＠gmail.com

http://library.rider.edu/special_collections/typewriters/ibm1.jpg I am currently minding one of these on its journey to a local museum, but it is missing the enter/return key cap [*], if anyone has a spare please I would be willing to pay postage. The console I have was once used with the local Elliott Brothers Elliott 503 computer. thanks. [*] large square key cap seen at the right hand side of the keyboard.

15 years, 11 months

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Floppy Drive Advice

by tim＠tim-mann.org

> > I think the problem is that many modern motherboards don't have the pins > of the second drive select and MotorOn signal wired up. Whether the > signals exist on accessible pins of an I/O chip I don't know (if they do, > it may be possible to add jumper wires, but some people are afraid of > soldering to motherboards). > Quite likely they don't. The first time I ran into a motherboard like this, I was fortunate enough that the manufacturer provided a schematic online. I looked at it and at the data sheet for the SuperIO chip that the motherboard uses, and I found out that that SuperIO chip does not have enough pins to run two floppy drives and also drive all the fans and other stuff on that motherboard. IIRC, the SuperIO is configurable and does have the option of bringing the signals for the second floppy drive out to pins, but if you did that, some other functions that the motherboard needs more could not be brought out to pins. --Tim

15 years, 11 months

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Floppy Drive Advice

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

Ok, apparently my PC knowledge is dated ;) I've been working on rebuilding my Hercules setup (vm/360 with CMS and MVS/JES2). This is currently a token ring setup with a 3179 terminal going to a 3174 establishment controller. The 3174 connects to an IBM 8228 MAU. Also connected to the MAU is a token ring card in a PC running Linux/Hercules. I'm changing it to a FreeBSD PC that dualboots with FreeBSD (for hercules) and DRDOS (for PUTR which I'll use a 5.25 floppy for, and for running PromLink to attach to my Data I/O, and several other classiccmp related items that require DOS). Long story short, it will be a more "general purpose (classiccmp)" PC. I'm getting rid of the token ring card in the PC (FreeBSD dropped Olicom support, the only token ring card previously supported). So the PC running hercules will connect to an IBM 8271 ethernet switch, which connects to an IBM 2210-24M token ring/ethernet router. That will connect to the MAU and back to the 3174 and 3179. Much to my chagrin, I've become aware when I started rebuilding that PC last night with a modern mainboard that most mainboards these days that have a FDC connector (many don't even have one) which only supports ONE floppy drive. I really need to have both 5.25 and 3.5 floppy drives, and they need to be recognized by DOS (which rules out any cards that have special drivers). I can't find a PCI floppy controller, and even if I could I'm worried DRDOS won't recognize it. So, the only idea I can think of is would it be possible to put a small switch on the front panel that allows me to switch between 3.5 floppy and 5.25 floppy? I realize I'd have to reboot and change BIOS settings each time, but at least I would have to derack the PC and open the case and move cables. Any ideas if that is feasible or anyone have some other ideas? Jay

15 years, 11 months

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Help resurrect my Xerox Alto

by nick.allen＠comcast.net

I thought a video might be easier for you all to see the issue I am having with restoring my Xerox Alto. The issue I am having is the Diablo Disk drive does not power on fully (I am measuring +15 and -15V on the drive, but +5V is only measuring at around 2.5V. The lamps on the front of the drive do not light-up, and the LOAD/RUN button does nothing, hence the door lock does not unlock. Here is a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx80CvjuvyE I have visually inspected all PCB boards and components, nothing seem to be damaged. Also, the power supplies seem to be outputting power properly (as seen via the RED voltage LEDS in the Alto card cage. Any recommendations on how to troubleshoot the disk drive further?

15 years, 11 months

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Evolution of the Apple Mouse

by swtpc6800＠comcast.net

I still have an early Logitech mouse that was used with the FutureNet schematic capture program for the original IBM PC (5150). It had a special graphics card that would do ?high resolution? graphics on the IBM PC monochrome monitor This Logitech mouse was released in 1983. Here is an early advertisement. http://books.google.com/books?id=ti8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA21 Here are some photos of my mouse. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Logitech_Logimouse_Front_1983.jpg Michael Holley

15 years, 11 months

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S-100 68K CPU board

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Hi! I've received permission from the author of "68000 Microcomputer Systems Designing and Troubleshooting" to include the S-100 68K CPU board as part of the N8VEM home brew computing project for educational purposes. This is a classic text found in many computer science and engineering courses in the 1980's and 1990's. It is possible some here recall the book >from their own college and/or professional experiences. http://www.amazon.com/68000-Microcomputer-Systems-Designing-Troubleshooting/ dp/0138113998/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway <http://www.amazon.com/68000-Microcomputer-Systems-Designing-Troubleshooting /dp/0138113998/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285587152&sr=8-1> &ie=UTF8&qid=1285587152&sr=8-1 As part of that effort, I am capturing the schematic and PCB layout from the book as closely as possible. The intent is to replicate the authors' original board. There is a draft schematic and PCB layout on the N8VEM wiki here: http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/browse/#view=ViewFolder <http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/browse/#view=ViewFolder&param=S-100%252068K%25 20CPU> &param=S-100%252068K%2520CPU If anyone is interested in helping with this project please contact me. In particular, I am looking for volunteers to review the schematic and compare it against the schematic and PCB layout in the book. Due to the complexity of this board quality assurance is extremely important. Actually if anyone has one of these boards or experience with them I would be very interested in hearing from you. The plan is to make a limited run of manufactured prototype PCBs to do an initial build and test of the board. If you are an experienced builder and interested in participating in the initial build and test please contact me. The corrections/updates from the prototype board will be incorporated into a board to be made available for all the N8VEM builders as part of the S-100 project. Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch

15 years, 11 months

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Don’t cross the LHC stream! (PDP-11)

by stephane.tsacas＠gmail.com

This video is nice : http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/09/21/dont-cross-the-lh… and this is an unusual comment : http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/09/21/dont-cross-the-lh… -- Stephane http://updatedoften.blogspot.com

15 years, 11 months

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Help Needed in KC (MO)

by jthecman＠netscape.net

Hello I will in Kansas City Mo on October 22 to load up some tape drives, CPU, large printers, and other items located there in a warehouse. If anyone can spare some time (even 30 minutes) to come by and help load the UHAUL rental truck on Saturday the 23rd it really needed. I hope to start loading the smaller items on Friday after I fly in and pick up the 26' box tuck. All the large and heavy stuff will be loaded on Saturday. If you help load email me and I will get the address of the warehouse and a contact phone number. Thanks in advance, John Keys

15 years, 11 months

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Joining cctalk

by robert.jarratt＠ntlworld.com

I have a friend who has tried on several occasions to join this list. Can someone tell me how long it is now taking to process new membership requests? Thanks Rob

15 years, 11 months

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FFS large set of Orcad manuals, training materials

by rdawson16＠hotmail.com

I have the Capture and Layout course all the product doc, libraries and footprints bookset, about a foot and a half of manuals. Probably will fit in 2-3 of those anything fits it ships boxes. Randy

15 years, 11 months

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Wood Thread Trick

by bob＠theadamsons.co.uk

>> hole before drilling the full size hole", or "don't tighten any of >> the > > Use a centre punch. Or a Slocombe drill. And drill a pilot hole. And > rememebr the drill tip angles are different for different materials. > And remember that most ordinary twist drills aren't meant for enlarging existing holes because their centre isn't then supported, and unless everything is held rigidly (and often not even then) will tend to produce some sort of curve of constant width other than the desired circle.

15 years, 11 months

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Any interest in Research Machines PCs?

by binarydinosaurs＠gmail.com

Folks, Today I discovered I had more RM Nimbus machines than I actually need, as well as a few Acorn Archimedes. Any interest? The RMs are mostly PC-1 which is a pretty well specced 80186-based machine but there's also an AX/2, VX/2 and a microchannel M-series. Not strictly home based machines so I guess I should pass them onto someone! Cheers, -- adrian/witchy Owner of Binary Dinosaurs, the UK's biggest home? computer collection? www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk

15 years, 11 months

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OT: wireless access solutions

by brianlanning＠gmail.com

It appears as though my wireless router hub thingy has died. I need a new one. But here's the thing. I wan't to setup a smoothwall machine using some old hardware I have around. And since I'll have this, I don't need (or want) the router feature that's seems to be supplied with all these consumer grade wireless access points. What I really want is a wireless access point that simply puts everyone on the wired network, if that's possible. Ideally, I'd like to handle DHCP through the smoothwall box, although I'm willing to do static IP on the wireless devices if i need to. Worst case, I guess I could just continue the way I always have, having the wireless access point handle DHCP for the wireless devices and turning off the firewall features so that everything passes through. Of course, maybe I want that extra layer of security since WEP is so bad. But I know there's new wireless security standards tor replace WEP. Can I get away with just a wireless network board in the smoothwall machine and use that as the access point? I suspect range would suffer. As you can tell, I'm not up on any of this. I know enough to assemble a network that works. But network design and security isn't my thing. brian

15 years, 11 months

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Wood thread trick

by wdonzelli＠gmail.com

It is amazing how many people MISSED THE DAMN POINT. The original posted "trick" involves a situation where there are *no* threads left in the wood. By backing the screw out with a little pressure, eventually the wood will give at the point where the original threads were, due to how the fibers of the wood remain (not crushed, but cut). All this happens at a scale pretty much too small for the unaided eye. MInd you, the new wood screw will hold, but not well, because there just is not much good fiber left. This trick does not really work with metal - no fibers, obviously. This is *not* the same "everyone knows it" trick about backing out a screw to find the thread. -- Will

15 years, 11 months

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Switch cleaning

by rwadamson＠hotmail.com

I'm restoring a couple of RK05s which I haven't used for a few years. The rocker switches have lost their springiness and the contacts are a bit hit and miss. I don't really fancy trying any disassembly as I think this is likely to be fatal. Any recommendations for the best approach and materials (available in UK)? Thanks Bob

15 years, 11 months

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Wood thread trick

by jfoust＠threedee.com

At 12:31 PM 9/24/2010, William Donzelli wrote: >It is amazing how many people MISSED THE DAMN POINT. So the trick is how to make a wood screw hold just long enough to make it look like everything is OK, so you can sell the item? :-) - John

15 years, 11 months

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OT: wireless access solutions

by jfoust＠threedee.com

At 01:10 PM 9/24/2010, Brian Lanning wrote: >It appears as though my wireless router hub thingy has died. I need a >new one. But here's the thing. I wan't to setup a smoothwall machine >using some old hardware I have around. And since I'll have this, I >don't need (or want) the router feature that's seems to be supplied >with all these consumer grade wireless access points. There are consumer devices that only act as access points, such as the Netgear WG602. It accepts DHCP from another device and lets wireless devices connect to your existing network. I've heard of some who take router-and-AP devices, assign them to your desired subnet and on a static IP outside of the range assigned by your actual router, turn off DHCP serving, and don't connect anything to the WAN port, just patch it to the LAN side, (using a cross-over if it wasn't auto-sensing.) http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1080 http://www.dslreports.com/faq/11233 So yes, you could use a $35 WGR614 from Walmaret instead. - John

15 years, 11 months

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Multimeter recommendations

by mtapley＠swri.edu

At 19:25 -0500 9/22/10, ard wrote: >It's coming to the point where I am going to have to make my own portable >DMM to get one that I like... DMM designed by ARD? I'd buy one. I'd even buy a kit. I'd still keep my old Archerkit, though, for nostalgia. -- - Mark 210-379-4635 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Large Asteroids headed toward planets inhabited by beings that don't have technology adequate to stop them: Think of it as Evolution in Fast-Forward.

15 years, 11 months

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disk platter advertising

by dgriffi＠cs.csubak.edu

I found a fun little "business card" in the form of a 5.25" disk platter with a business name silk-screened on it. See http://661.org/images/disk-ad.jpg -- David Griffith dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu 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?

15 years, 11 months

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[insert subject here]Stuff in the frig ? (was RE: Multimeter recomendations)

by hp-fix＠xs4all.nl

This is the 84th entry in this thread, and it hasn't been on topic for at least half that. Can the next contributor please change the subject line? > > Do I? I've got projects that I've been working on for at least 10 > years :-) > > Yes, you do! > I've got stuff in the back of my refrigerator much older than that. Ahh.. evolution experiments, does it walk and talk yet ?? > I've got projects that I've NOT been working on for almost half a > century :-) Woow, I don't have those.. I'm married ;-)

15 years, 11 months

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DIP packages & the 555

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

My favorite use for the 555 that I ever saw, was in a homebrew paper tape reader in Byte or PE in the mid-70's. The timing function wasn't used at all; only the Schmitt trigger function used. Default 555 Schmitt trigger action is at 1/3Vcc and 2/3Vcc; just brilliant! Tim.

15 years, 11 months

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BSD 2.11 install tape needed

by quapla＠xs4all.nl

Hi, I was planning to convert all my RSX-11 & RT-11 RL02 disks to SIMH container files. And for that purpose I was planning to use 11/73, which did have BSD2.11 on it. 'Did' indeed, as the disk has gone to heaven. So' my question is if there is a kind soul who can provide me with a (copy) of the install tape. Postage and such can be paid for. Thanks, Ed -- Dit is een HTML vrije email / This is an HTML free email.

15 years, 11 months

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Multimeter recomendations

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

Personally I enjoy a big Simpson 260-dash-whatever. The Triplett 630 is in the same league. Both have been in production (in one variant or another) since before WWII. The RCA Senior Voltohmysts I love for their fashion sense but unless I need VTVM class input impedances, I'd prefer the Simpson or Triplett. In terms of used Flukes, I highly recommend any used 77-series unit. You can critique the designs because of what you saw as failings of your Fluke 85, but believe me, the LCD display on any Fluke LCD DMM will be far more durable than the faceplate on my Simpson 260 or Triplett 630. At the very low end, in the $3 to $5 range there are "disposable" DMM's available at discount stores here in the US. They are not a joy to use but they do mostly work. Tim.

15 years, 11 months

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Turbo Pascal floppies

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

I have a set of six 5.25" floppies containing "Borland Turbo Pascal for Windows 1.5". Please contact me off-list if interested. thanks Charles

15 years, 11 months

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How to prevent yellowing of equipment on display

by mardy＠voysys.com

I know that there has been a tremendous amount of talk about removing yellowing from vintage equipment, but going forward, does anyone have any suggestions for helping prevent yellowing of equipment on display, short of keeping them in a dark cave? I have a couple of Apple II's that are in excellent condition with minimal yellowing and would like to put them on display without having to worry about damage to the plastic. -Mardy

15 years, 11 months

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Stupid egg tricks was Re: Multimeter recomendations

by db＠db.net

On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 11:53:45AM -0500, John Foust wrote: > At 11:09 AM 9/22/2010, Dave McGuire wrote: > > Umm, yeah, I suppose, but...for what purpose? Eggsperimentation? > > > Decorations? Magic tricks? Cascarones? Easter eggs. And not the software kind. > > - John - Diane -- - db at FreeBSD.org db at db.net http://www.db.net/~db

15 years, 11 months

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Multimeter recomendations

by wbblair3＠yahoo.com

> > When is the demo on how to suck eggs? > > Too dangerous due to risk of choking, lacerations from > broken shells, salmonella etc. etc. And if you're in a combat zone, perhaps you'd get a Purple Heart. True story as related in Reader's Digest Humor in Uniform section: An Army cook in Vietnam got an egg shell fragment in his eye while making scrambled eggs. The albumin stuck it to his eyeball so he had to see the unit medic to get it removed. Some time later, he was notified that he was receiving a Purple Heart. The reason cited was "shell fragment in eye." Apparently, someone was just glancing through through the undoubtedly numerous medical treatment records to discern who to present the medals to and found his record with its deceptive entry.

15 years, 11 months

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Maker Faire

by evan＠snarc.net

MARCH's booth for Maker Faire this weekend will be indoors at the main venue (New York Hall of Science). Our maker # is 3641 if any cctalkers are looking for us. I'm told we will be inside a modern computer lab. Saturday night we'll be eating/drinking; all are welcome to join us.

15 years, 11 months

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DiscFerret -- PCBs have arrived

by classiccmp＠philpem.me.uk

... Well, actually, they arrived at the beginning of last week and I didn't finish checking them against the netlist until today. My excuse is that my notes are all on Cougar (my laptop), which is currently refusing to boot without segfaulting in the kernel. Rather than deal with ASUS support, I replaced it -- the replacement (an MSI U230 named Ryoko) is far better behaved :) Scanned images: Top: http://www.discferret.com/images/discferret-pcb-top.jpg Bottom: http://www.discferret.com/images/discferret-pcb-bot.jpg They seem to have come out OK. The solder mask is a little discoloured around some of the thinner tracks, but that's a cosmetic issue. It still resists solder, thus it's OK :) For the pathologically curious: Substrate -- FR4 fiberglass, 1.6mm Track layers -- two copper, 1oz Layer stacking -- BOTTOM COPPER, FR4, TOP COPPER, TOP OVERLAY Surface finish -- looks like lead-free HASL or roller-tin. It's certainly not immersion tin or silver, the pads have roller marks on them. It turns out I hammed the entry of the order, and managed to order two sets of three boards, leaving me with six PCBs in total, and an additional 130 Euro bill. Ick. I'm still short of some parts (notably: the USB ESD suppressor chip, some pin headers, 7-pin SIL resistor packs and 10nF 0603 decoupling capacitors). A trip to the Farnell trade counter is being meticulously planned, as long as I can get someone to hang around the house and wait for my Rapid order to arrive (mouse microswitches... Logitech should be shot for using those nasty Omron things). Thanks, -- Phil. classiccmp at philpem.me.uk http://www.philpem.me.uk/

15 years, 11 months

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Diablo 30 disks and failure

by mark.kahrs＠gmail.com

When I was maintaining Alto Is, I put a warning sign on the machines that stated "Avoid VD --- Venereal Disks! If your disk doesn't load, do NOT try another machine"... For the most part the drives were OK, but if they did fail, then the contagion could be spread. I certainly had my share of disk crashes. There's a reason the Alto file system had the scavanger and was designed to be recovered...

15 years, 11 months

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microcornucipia magazine issues

by elazzerini＠interfree.it

15 years, 11 months

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WTD: Clarion/JPI TopSpeed C (for Psion SIBO SDK)

by classiccmp＠philpem.me.uk

Hi guys, Pushing the boundaries of the Ten Year Rule here, but I think the "coolness factor" might apply here, so please don't get the pitchforks and flaming torches out just yet... :) I just got back from the Barnsley Hamfest, with a new toy in tow: a Psion Workabout MX, 2MB version, with IrDA, TTL, RS232 and LIF ports, a 256K flash SSD and a 1MB SRAM SSD. Batteries were -- predictably -- shot, but on installing a fresh pair of AAs, it booted to SIBO. Seems the SSDs are blank, and aside from a few small screen scratches the machine is in pretty good nick. Thing is, I'd like to see it do something useful. This dictates that I write some code for it... I've managed to find a copy of the old Psion Sibo SDK and some PDF documentation on an FTP site, but this doesn't include the C compiler required to compile the code: TopSpeed C. As near as I can tell, this was a 16-bit 8086 C compiler which generated code under (and for) MS-DOS type platforms. The Psion documentation references Topspeed Compiler v3.10 and Environment v3.10.002, but I suspect other versions may also work. Psion suggest it was released by Clarion, but every other reference I can find suggests it was sold be a company called "JPI". Does anyone happen to have a spare copy of Topspeed C kicking around? Thanks, -- Phil. classiccmp at philpem.me.uk http://www.philpem.me.uk/

15 years, 11 months

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GNT 3601 tape punch docs?

by chrise＠pobox.com

Probably a stretch but wondering if anyone has any info (manual, pinouts, service documentation) for a GNT model 3601 8-bit (1") paper tape punch. It was probably better known in the CNC / automated machining world than in computing but my hope is to resurrect it as a backup punch for copying tapes I use with my ASR-33 and thereby save wear on the -33's punch. The unit has serial and parallel interfaces on DB25 connectors but I do not have any pinout information for those. The serial one I can probably figure out. Unfortunately, the unit is a little more sick than "works OK" seemed to imply from the eBay seller. It has what I believe to be a power supply problem because as soon as you try to punch all eight holes with the front panel test button, the power LED dims and the punch jams, apparently from lack of umph to complete the mission. It could also be jamming to start with and that causes the power drop I suppose. In any case, looking for any docs before I open it up and start digging around. I have written to GNT without a reply so far. Chris -- Chris Elmquist mailto:chrise at pobox.com

15 years, 11 months

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Well I went ahead a did it... The Multics/Honeywell panel is now on eBay

by nick.allen＠comcast.net

I had to do it, please understand =) I am just grateful I was able to share it with everyone at the Midwest Vintage Computer Festival. I live in a 2 bedroom condo with my family of 5, and the Alto already takes up plenty of the living room. Plus with my main initiative being repairing the Alto, I will need some finances to fund the project. Jim, I know you expressed much interest in the panel, if it fails to sell at the starting bid I will ensure we work out a swap as previously talked about =) If anyone is interested in the auction link, here it is: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270638335277

15 years, 11 months

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PARC turns 40: mice, money, and the new interwebs • The Register

by woyciesjes＠sbcglobal.net

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/20/parc_40th_anniversary/ -- --- Dave Woyciesjes --- ICQ# 905818 --- AIM - woyciesjes --- CompTIA A+ Certified IT Tech - http://certification.comptia.org/ --- HDI Certified Support Center Analyst - http://www.ThinkHDI.com/ Registered Linux user number 464583 "Computers have lots of memory but no imagination." "The problem with troubleshooting is that trouble shoots back." - from some guy in the internet.

15 years, 11 months

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Photos from VCF MW including the Alto II XM

by billdeg＠degnanco.com

Link to photos from the VCF MW http://vintagecomputer.net/vcfmw-ECCC_2010/ http://vintagecomputer.net/vcfmw-ECCC_2010/Xerox_Alto-II-XM/ Bill Degnan

15 years, 11 months

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Terminals...

by bqt＠softjar.se

Richard <legalize at xmission.com> wrote: > In article <AANLkTikXa9qgOFhFazHp-MguLeJXzbO7L5AXxbJGZSRU at mail.gmail.com>, Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> writes: >> > I haven't seen a VT525 in the wild, but now I know what to do to show >> > it off if I do get one (but now I'm also wondering what it would take >> > to get what you have working on a Tektronix 4105 since I have a couple >> > of those). > > It shouldn't take much with a proper termcap/terminfo entry for the > 4105. If you need escape codes, consult the 4105 programmer's > reference on bitsavers: > <http://bitsavers.org/pdf/tektronix/410x/070-4526-01_4105_PgmrRef_Sep83.pdf> Whoa! I know you mean well, Richard, but you are making huge assumptions here, which are very wrong. First of all, you assume that termcap can actually do this stuff, which it cannot. Termcap have no clue about user defined fonts. Termcap is rather limited in some ways. There are plenty of things I can do with a terminal that cannot be done properly within termcap. But even adding the word "termcap" here, is making a big assumption about my software. In fact, my software is not using termcap, so adding information to the termcap database would not help at all. Even assuming this is a Unix system is making a mistake. It is, in fact not. And, when all that is said and done, do you really think that the tektronix terminals aren't already in the termcap database? In fact, they are... (as are just about any terminal you ever never heard of) And to make a long story short - the software I'm talking about is my Z-machine implementation, written in MACRO-11 for RSX, RT-11 and RSTS/E. It can (should) handle all V1 to V8 games, but it do not handle sound, nor full graphic games. All the rest should be fine, and it should work with most any terminal, although some fancy stuff is not possible with simple terminals. If anyone wants to take it for a test drive, just telnet mim.update.uu.se, log in as guest/guest, and when you have logged in, type ZEM <game>, or ZEM /LI (to list which games there are). And this is a publicly available RSX system. Johnny

15 years, 11 months

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quantum link video

by rachael＠telefisk.org

havent seen this one posted here a video of a quantium link session , september 1989. http://blip.tv/file/4138357 -- Jacob Dahl Pind | telefisk.org | fidonet 2:237/38.8

15 years, 11 months

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ST-277R drive and controller

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

I have an old Seagate ST-277R (62 MB) drive with ST21/22 controller. It is recognized by MSDOS and Win98 in an AMD K6/300 system and can read and write files. I'm running Defrag on it now. Someone on the list had expressed interest but I don't have your email any more - if you still want it (cheap!) please contact me offlist. thanks Charles

15 years, 11 months

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They have an Amiga now with AROS, was Re: The Commodore 64 is back..

by alhartman＠yahoo.com

AROS isn't anywhere near done enough to sell as part of a commercial product. I think there are a few garage type companies selling AROS compatible systems with AROS pre-loaded, but they intend only to sell to folks who know what they're buying. I.E.: An unfinished alpha-state OS. This makes me think this whole thing is doomed to failure if it's real at all. Mainly because nobody involved has any business sense.

15 years, 11 months

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How to prevent yellowing of equipment on display

by ragooman＠gmail.com

Well, if you ever find the plans, you can go back to '93 and make sure that they remail available. Hmmm. It seems that you haven't done so, and therefore never will. :-( there still might be one in a parallel universe :)

15 years, 11 months

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Apple II Killer App

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

In the time-wasting sense: The Integer Basic games that came on cassette and had an Apple I heritage, ESPECIALLY Apple Trek but to a lesser extent Breakout and Pong too Beagle Bag, or Applesoft Basic and any Beagle Bros catalog, or just a Peeks and Pokes chart. Lemonade Sabotage None are killer apps But all are excellent fun Tim.

15 years, 11 months

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6502 simulated at transistor level - right in your browser (JavaScript)

by eric＠brouhaha.com

http://www.visual6502.org/JSSim/ <http://www.visual6502.org/JSSim/index.html>

15 years, 11 months

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Flux caps (was:How to prevent yellowing of equipment on display)

by dm561＠torfree.net

> Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:32:25 -0700 > From: "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com> > Subject: Re: How to prevent yellowing of equipment on display > On 20 Sep 2010 at 16:03, Dan Roganti wrote: > >> I'm still looking for the plans to that super-electromagnet stargate >> traveling time machine that was online about '93 - if it's in your >> archive. > > Not mine, but I heard that they'd dropped it because of > unavailability of flux capacitors and ZPMs. > > --Chuck --------------- Flux capacitors are no problem: http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/9fc6/ Alas, temporarily out of stock, so you might have to DIY: http://www.instructables.com/id/Flux-Capacitor/ mike

15 years, 11 months

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Mouse and Keyboard Cable for DECstation 5000/240

by robert.jarratt＠ntlworld.com

I am looking for the special cable that connects mouse and keyboard to a DECstation 5000-240. Unfortunately I don't even know a part number. Can anyone tell me what part number to look for? Better still, anyone have one going spare? Regards Rob

15 years, 11 months

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Almost free: various DEC, HP, Fluke, Wyse items, for pickup Rockville, MD, USA

by js＠cimmeri.com

Items located in Rockville, MD, 20850. Almost free: $2 (two) dollars per item, local pickup only at this time, no photos. Special offer intended especially for anyone having a hard time due to economy. I'm needing to make space fast and clear out items without hassle of ebay, ads, photos, etc.. 1.California Computer Systems S-100 chassis, with 12-slot passive terminated backplane, power supply, fan, filter. The chassis functions perfectly, has been thoroughly cleaned, and the PSU caps have been reformed. Cosmetically, the chassis is decent: has dings, scratches, some minor bends in sheet metal. 2. Fluke 8520A/AS-1 rackmount digital multimeter with GPIB. Perfect cosmetic and functional condition. 3. Digital BA23 floor pedestal enclosure, complete with front + rear covers. Very decent shape. No yellowing (painted). 4. Digital LA100 Letterprinter w/ ribbons. Tested working. Mild yellowing of plastic but not disagreeable. 5. Digital LA75 Plus Companion Printer (LA75S-A2) w/ parallel + MMJ. Professionally refurbished and assumed working (but untested). Clean and nice cosmetic shape. No yellowing. 6. Wyse 60 terminal with keyboard and spare analog board. Terminal unit is in excellent shape all around, as is spare analog board. Keyboard works but 3 of the keycaps broke when it slid off my desk. No yellowing. 7. HP PA-RISC Model 712/60 computer with floppy, hard drive, new keyboard and new mouse. Currently loaded with the NEXT operating system. I have the original hard disk with HPUX on it. You can have one OR the other. Computer is in perfect cosmetic and working condition. My handle on ebay is MdntTrain if anyone wishes to verify my character and reputation. Email me if interested in any or all. I will select who the items go to. Thank you, John Singleton js at cimmeri.com

15 years, 11 months

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Tektronix inkjet printer (ancient stuff)

by mark.kahrs＠gmail.com

I had this idea once and so I gutted a Tektronix inkjet printer --- what I have is a set of driver boards and the inkjets. This is part number 070-8072-00 and others. If you'd like them, all I ask is that you pay postage / shipping.

15 years, 11 months

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Sighted on CL: Sun SparcStations FS (Oregon)

by cclist＠sydex.com

Don't know if this interests anyone, but I spotted this in the local Craigslist: http://eugene.craigslist.org/sys/1963898368.html On the same day's postings, I note that the UofO is surplusing an LSI ADM-31 terminal for $50. --Chuck

15 years, 11 months

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Terminals...

by bqt＠softjar.se

cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > On 9/17/10, Johnny Billquist <bqt at softjar.se> wrote: >> > So, in the end, implementing the ANSI color codes was the only >> > reasonable way to get colored output on the VT525, and it is nice to >> > have... I like playing Beyond Zork with color and primitive graphics on >> > my PDP11... :-) > > Ooh! Now you have my attention. Long ago, I grabbed the ITF > Z-machine source code and got it working under VMS 4.x (it was trivial > once I had a working curses library), so I was able to run an number > of v3 games on our 11/750, but now that there are many more Z-machine > choices, I haven't gone back to fiddle with newer game file types. :-) I suspect you'd also have to work on whatever Z-machine implementation you use to actually make it use both ANSI color control, and also user defined fonts. And then, of course, you need a font. > I haven't seen a VT525 in the wild, but now I know what to do to show > it off if I do get one (but now I'm also wondering what it would take > to get what you have working on a Tektronix 4105 since I have a couple > of those). I don't think you want to go down that path. :-) I did say "primitive" graphics. Beyond Zork uses font 3 to play with some crude graphics. Basically mapping, and some bar charts and nice framing. And, of course, it uses color if possible. But if you are interested, I can send you my Z-machine font definitions for the VT200, VT200, VT400 and VT500 terminals, so you don't have to define those yourself. As for playing, if you just have a VT525, it's easy to test, by just logging in to Mim.Update.UU.SE, and play any Infocom game on that machine. My Z-machine for the PDP-11 do handle the font and color stuff for the VT terminals (of course). :-) Johnny

15 years, 11 months

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Terminals...

by bqt＠softjar.se

Sridhar Ayengar <ploopster at gmail.com> wrote: > Richard wrote: >> > In article<744DB5469BEB4131832EC66D4BA961F6 at dell8300>, >> > "Teo Zenios"<teoz at neo.rr.com> writes: >> > >>> >> How well would a VT525 work with a MicroVAX 3100 series model 80? >> > >> > <http://vt100.net/vt_history> says the VT525 is a color multi-session >> > terminal. So that's a fairly decent model for the 500 series. >> > >> > Judging from the programmer's manual, you can select from a palette of >> > 16 colors. >> > <http://www.vt100.net/docs/vt520-rm/ek-vt520-rm.pdf> > > Unfortunately, it uses the later ANSI color stuff rather than the > control codes used previously with the VT340/VT241. Sorry, I've been out of town some, and have not had time to make comments for a while. As for the previous stuff on modem signals and so on, I was caught in a small lie, yes. Properly, it isn't right to hook to DTEs together with a crossed cable. But I'm willing to cheat on that one. I'll let the rest of the RS-232 stuff rest unless we really want to revive that thread... As for the VT525, yes, it is correct that it's just a base unit with no screen or keyboard. It has a normal VGA connector for any VGA screen on the back, along with two MMJ connectors and two DB-25 connectors (unless my memory fails me). As for colors, well... The VT241 and VT340 have no way at all to select colors for text. You can, however, select that different attributes, such as bold and so on, instead be rendered in other colors. And the VT525 can do that as well. So it is as compatible with the older terminals as much as is possible. But, people might say, I have seen output in different colors on the VT340... Yes, you can do output in all colors on those older terminals. The problem is, you need to switch to REGIS to do that. Ie, you do that when playing around in graphic mode, which the VT525 don't have, so there is no way it could do this in a way that would be compatible with the older color VT terminals, with less than implementing the full REGIS stuff. So, in the end, implementing the ANSI color codes was the only reasonable way to get colored output on the VT525, and it is nice to have... I like playing Beyond Zork with color and primitive graphics on my PDP11... :-) Johnny

15 years, 11 months

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VCFMW5.0: Success!

by silent700＠gmail.com

Old computers. A running network. Friends. Dinner. Community. New innovations in old gear. Aching backs. A lot of laughs. A little bit of capacitor smoke in the air. Alas, another VCF has passed - but what a time it was! While the seeds of plans for next year sprout, our first priority is to collect documents of this event. If you took pictures or video and have them hosted somewhere, and would like them up on the vcfmw page, please send me a link and I'll post it ASAP. You'll find them here: http://vcfmw.org I feel I can speak on behalf of the other vcfmw organizers and the Chicago-area retrocomputing community at large when I issue a big THANK YOU to all who attended, whether it was from our own backyard or >from out across the plains. You are what made the show work - without your enthusiasm, knowledge and spirit we'd have been a lonely bunch in the basement. There are a few shirts remaining, if anyone wants one for posterity. I will count them up and post a list soon. I do know we're sold out of "XL" and have a number of "L" left, along with a few M and XXL. There are mostly black ones with a few blue (which proved more popular than expected.) The front design is here (the back is just the URL:) http://picasaweb.google.com/Silent700/VCFMW50OfficialGraphics#5512512730455… Again, thanks to all who attended, helped out and made it an awesome night. It's events like this that keep the hobby alive and strong. -j --

15 years, 11 months

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SGI IRIS 3130 Joins the Collection

by legalize＠xmission.com

<http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/sgi-iris-3130-joins-the-c…> Finally! I got a member of the IRIS 680x0 product line and its a nice one. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

15 years, 11 months

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Unknown MicroVAX 2000 Board

by robert.jarratt＠ntlworld.com

I recently acquired a couple of MicroVAX 2000s. One of them has this board in it: http://cid-fc758a5a91b91301.office.live.com/self.aspx/Public/MV2000Board-1.j pg I don't know what this board is but it connects by two ribbon cables to connectors on the main board. Can anyone tell me what it is? Also one of the machines has faulty memory. I have removed the memory option and I am trying to identify it, but the marking says "2/4 MB MEMORY OPTION". Anyone know how to tell which one it is? Thanks Rob

15 years, 11 months

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RD54 Whine

by robert.jarratt＠ntlworld.com

I have just acquired a MicroVAX 2000 which I found to contain an RD54. If I try booting the machine from the disk you hear a whine, when the whine stops you can hear the heads move, then when the heads stop moving you hear the whine again. Is this a terminally sick disk? Thanks Rob

15 years, 11 months

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FS: manuals (photocopies)

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

In cleaning my house I have discovered a complete and unused photocopy of the Teletype 33 service manual (Bulletin 310B Vol. 1 & 2) and 33 parts list (Bulletin 1184B). It weighs 9 lbs boxed. Also a new photocopy of the DEC PDP-8/L "Maintenance Manual Vol. 1 Oct. 1968". Chapters 1-5 plus readable schematics (8.5x11"). Shipping wt. 2 lbs. First reasonable offer gets one or both... shipping is inexpensive by Media Mail, from zip 65775. thanks Charles

15 years, 11 months

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VCF Midwest: something to wet your appetite!

by nick.allen＠comcast.net

NEVER BEFORE SEEN BY THE PUBLIC: a Frankenstein Microcomputer!!! http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lkddKjPsPFU/TJOJIwCimrI/AAAAAAAABgY/6a0rGCjfs08/s640/… http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lkddKjPsPFU/TJOJGTKcIEI/AAAAAAAABgQ/FGZDkx1BC5I/s720/…

15 years, 11 months

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Paging: Dave McGuire

by chd＠chdickman.com

I haven't heard from you in a while. Send me an address that I can contact you at. Regards, Chuck Dickman chd at chdickman.com

15 years, 11 months

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VCF Midwest: T-16hrs.

by silent700＠gmail.com

I am at the hotel and about to start inspecting the show area. Soon we shall commence storming the Heron Point Building with never-before witnessed piles of ccmp and related ephemera. Everything that could have been done has been done, and that which should have been done and was not must wait for next year. We accept this and proceed. Twitterized folks can get updates by following @vcfmidwest. A uStream broadcast will begin sometime tomorrow morning, depending on factors of technology, polar alignment, sunspots and when I get up. View it here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/chiclassiccomp Onward to non-fail and glory! Bring on the junk! -- S.7k chiclassiccomp.org

15 years, 11 months

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Chips as jewelry

by mark.kahrs＠gmail.com

Argggh! Went with the spousal unit to a local arts fair and what did one vendor sell? Right, "obsolete" chips. I immediately spotted a LSI-11 chip set. And what about the EPROM bracelet? Some gold NASA stuff as well. Sad, very sad.

15 years, 11 months

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Diablo 30 disks and failure

by mtapley＠swri.edu

At 12:00 -0500 9/17/10, Bill M. wrote: >The Perq was the result of a visit (sabbatical?) at Xerox PARC >by one of the principals of Three Rivers Computer, much like >the way Lilith originated from Wirth's experiences there.... --Bill Ah, hah! Do I correctly surmise that the correct pronunciation of "Perq" is /park/ = [pahrk] (cf dictionary.com "park") and not /p3rk/ = [purk] (cf dictionary.com, "perk") ? -- - Mark 210-379-4635 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Large Asteroids headed toward planets inhabited by beings that don't have technology adequate to stop them: Think of it as Evolution in Fast-Forward.

15 years, 11 months

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odd SCSI drives + parts at friend's shop.

by jws＠jwsss.com

I spotted some 3 1/2" form factor drives that I think may be SCSI drives of the narrow "SCA" persuasion. I noted them mainly because they have a small looking black plastic connector similar to a centronics connector, with what appears to be a central male bar with contacts on it. It rang a bell about the discussion about such connectors in some Sparcbook laptops. Though the form factor is totally useless, it would be interesting if the bus was the same, and one could fab up a cable out of a dead sparcbook to such a drive. Just thinking. I have to grab the drives tomorrow and see what they are. No idea at all about whether they work, but they have been around for a long time. Also I have a line on a huge amount of recent junk, and am listing it on epay. It is way too new (except for technically some 2001 dual xeon dell serverboards). contact me off line for some quantum high capacity tape drives if interested. There are 17 to be had, and a deal on them. Jim

15 years, 11 months

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MicroVAX 2000 ROM placement question

by fjkraan＠xs4all.nl

For ROM image collectors or otherwise, at http://electrickery.xs4all.nl/tmp/vs2k8850ROMS.zip are images (both electrical and optical) of an all DEC8850 ROM set from a VAXstation 2000. Fred Jan

15 years, 11 months

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does anybody recognize this panel?

by henk.gooijen＠hotmail.com

Hi all, I wanted to sell a big blinkenlight panel, because I realized I will never find the time for again another project ... Auction number 170539265245 shows a few pictures (auction is ended). I would like to add more info before re-listing the front panel. thanks, - Henk.

15 years, 11 months

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Bell & Howell II+

by mloewen＠cpumagic.scol.pa.us

Does anyone have a good feel for the current market value of a Bell & Howell II+? Model is A2S1016B, serial #A2S3-000985 with disk drive, paddles, manuals, cassette player, cassettes and floppies. Unknown working condition. Installed boards are ROM Card, Disk II Interface, plus a Sup "R" Mod II. This isn't mine, but the owner contacted me asking what it might be worth. I haven't paid any attention to Ebay prices on these, but it looks like a generic Apple II+ might fetch $150 or more. Mike Loewen mloewen at cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://sturgeon.css.psu.edu/~mloewen/Oldtech/

15 years, 11 months

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Help resurrect my Xerox Alto

by tim＠tim-mann.org

Probably not too useful a remark, but I remember from years ago when we had some Xerox Altos at the Stanford computer science department that the disk drives were very prone to head crashes. We were instructed to never attempt to remove the disk pack under penalty of flogging (or some less colorful words). So, I hope once Nick gets the voltage problem fixed, he's not disappointed to find out that disk doesn't work anyway. :-/

15 years, 11 months

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MicroVAX 2000 ROM placement question

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

Hi, All, I've been trying to dust off a MicroVAX 2000 for VCFmw, and so far, all I've accomplished is literally getting the dust off. This unit was one I tried to install the SCSI-enabled patched boot ROMs in some time back. I _thought_ I had arranged the original ROMs in the same pattern, but it's possible with all the swapping, I got some mixed up. I have checked (and re-downloaded) all the ROMs I have - one factory set (23-092E7-00 through 23-095E7-00) and one patched set. Cross-checking with the Technical Reference manual (EK-VTTAA-TM-001) from Bitsavers, I have verified that all ROMs have reasonable contents in the first few bytes (there are three signature bytes, among other things). No matter which set I have installed, I cannot get the console to respond with the self-test info. Does anyone have a photograph of a KA410 board where the labels on the ROMs can be read? Alternately, does anyone have any docs with part numbers? I'm reasonably certain that the underlying hardware is functional and that I just need to re-install the ROMs correctly. Yes, I could try the lucky-dip method, but one of the ROMs is rather difficult to pull (owing to the memory interface connectors), and I'd rather not break a pin off while sequencing through a dozen chip swaps. I'd like to _know_ what goes where before I proceed (especially if I am wrong and I _do_ have a hardware fault). I don't have any video cables handy, but in case it does come down to testing with a tube vs a console terminal, I have a four-plane video interface in addition to the mono frame buffer all KA410s come with. I had just thought that it would be easy enough to use a BCC08 console cable and go from there (it's worked before). Thanks for any tips or pointers, -ethan P.S. - I've been delving into the guts of the machine deeply enough that I'm musing about what it would take to make a 16MB memory board that didn't respond in the lower 2MB (to work with the on-board memory). Static would be easy to interface, but the KA410 _does_ generate and pass along refresh signals, so something with 30-pin or 72-pin SIMMs shouldn't be that hard to whip up. I'm only considering it because my largest memory board is 4MB, and the current prices for an MS400-CA (12MB DEC board) are more than I'm personally willing to pay - I'll do without first (which is what I'm already doing ;-) P.P.S - this would probably all be moot if I had a SCSI-based MicroVAX slab of some sort, but I just haven't been in the right place at the right time. Perhaps some DEC gear will make an appearance at the VCF...

15 years, 11 months

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Any design "gotchas" with the Xicor X2864 EEPROM?

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

Hi, All, I'm going through a box of older ICs and ran across a few X2864s. I know they are 64Kbit JEDEC EEPROMs, but what I don't know is if there are any odd issues with them. I found a datasheet that's mostly in Japanese - I do happen to read some Japanese, but I'm far from fluent. I'm mostly curious about in-circuit programming. I know a lot of newer hobby-type projects use different families of EEPROMs and that some devices can only program certain ones. What I don't know is how that relates to something as old as the X2864. I can probably program these in a standalone device programmer and potentially have to build a pin-swabber socket for a 2364 (or even 2332 for a PET), but I'd like to know if I'm opening a can of worms before I begin. Thanks for any warnings of pitfalls ahead. -ethan

15 years, 11 months

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Mass spectrometers etc

by jonas＠otter.se

On , 15 Sep 2010 20:30:26 +0100 (BST), ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) wrote: >Subject: Re: Mass spectrometers etc >To: cctalk at classiccmp.org >Message-ID: <m1Ovxgb-000J4BC at p850ug1> >Content-Type: text/plain > >> You need to find a diffussion pump. These will get you down to > The French guy used a rotary vane pump and a molecular pump, which you could probably make yourself at home (he did). The rotary vane pump shouldn't give you any problems, and for the molecular pump you only need an old motor capable of 24000 rpm without breaking up, and some careful machining :-) A spot of high vacuum grease, a few seals etc and you are all set. The finished set up isn't particularly large either. No oil in the molecular pump either... /Jonas >Indeed I do (My father spoet most of his working days on high vacuum >systems., I think I'd head ofa 'diff pump' before I even went to school... > >OIl, from choice. Mercury vapour, even inside a vacuum system (and some >will, alas, end up in the backing rotary pump) is not something I >particualrly keen on.... > >There is the minor problem of 'where the heck do I set up a vacuum >system, along with all the other things I am working on' :-) > >-tony >

15 years, 11 months

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Classic computing on the rise !

by jdr_use＠bluewin.ch

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10951040 show how old computers are used toteach programming.

15 years, 11 months

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HP 9825 refurbishing

by dfnr2＠yahoo.com

Hello all, I bought one of the HP 9825's that Marvin recently posted here about (via VCM auction). It's a 9825T and seems to work perfectly, along with an HPIB interface I bought off Ebay. Of course the case needs cleaning and there is a penny-sized chip from the corner of the bezel, so I've got the whole thing disassembled, and am now in the process of rebuilding the chipped bezel corner with JB-weld. Next step is to repaint the case, then replace the at-risk PSU caps, refurbish the tape drive, clean the keyboard, etc. The unit is beautifully engineered, by the way. Some questions for the group: 1) Does anyone have a suggestion for the best paint to match the original color? If I can find a close match, I'll just tape over the legends on the bezel, and paint around them. If I can't get a good match, I still may do the same thing, or I'll just paint the whole thing, and then print out some decals on a color printer to match the original legends. Or, if anyone here has a better suggestion, I'd love to hear. Any suggestion for type of paint? I found a can of Rustoleum brand almond-color satin finish enamel spray-paint. Is that a good choice, other than wrong color? I also just bought an HP 87 on Ebay as well, so I'm hoping that whatever I learn here, I can apply to refurbishing the 87 as well. 2) While the unit is completely disassembled, are there any hacks, mods, upgrades, etc. that I may want to know about before I put everything back together? 3) I would like to use this in my home lab, so I was hoping to find a way to store programs without using the tape drive or a disc drive. Is anyone there moving data between the 9825 and a PC? Can some of the utilities on hp9845.net be used to interface with the 9825 as well? This would be icing on the cake, since it would be shame to let such a nice machine go unused. However, I do have the Prologix GPIB interface with PyVISA/Scipy/Numpy, Thanks for any input, Dave

15 years, 11 months

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converting RGBHV to RGBS -- anyone have 74HCT86's?

by keithvz＠verizon.net

I've got a chinese converter(from ebay, recommended by a few here) that will take 15khz RGB video with composite sync and spit out VGA at ~32khz so a regular monitor can be used to display the signal. http://cgi.ebay.com/RGBS-CGA-EGA-YUV-VGA-converter-1-output-arcade-game-/25… The seller claims (and spec sheet does indeed look this way) that the RGBHV input must be 30khz+, but the RGBS input supports down to 14.5khz. I'm attempting to use this with my amiga, which sends out separate H and V SYNC signals but at 15.7khz. I found this schematic http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/vga2rgbs.html The simple VGA to RGB+CSYNC adapter TTL (which appears the same as the "Separate Sync to Composite Sync Adapter") I intend to build this, and see if this does the trick for me. This sound like a reasonable plan? Anyone happen to have a few 74HCT86's lying around? I can order them online but because they are under $0.50 a piece, and I'll likely have to pay a minimum order size fee plus S&H. Seems a waste for a dollar's worth of items. Thanks Keith in Pittsburgh, PA, USA

15 years, 11 months

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Mass spectrometers etc

by jonas＠otter.se

On Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:02:09 +0100 (BST), ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) wrote: > >Oh, I have one, but it's only a little 1cm radius one, designed mainly >for detecting the helium peak when looking for leaks. What I don't have is >a suitable vacuum pump (yet...) > You might be interested in this site (sorry it's a Web site with pictures and so on, some of it will probably be readable using Lynx, and it's in French to boot, I'm sure it would interest you however): http://paillard.claude.free.fr/ He makes his own triode valves (or tubes, for those of us who speak the other language known as English ;-) ) and in order to do that he has designed and built among other things his own high vacuum pumps. I'm sure you would be able to make one like his. /Jonas

15 years, 11 months

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