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

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

Hey PA-RISC aficionados. Was there in fact a production PA-RISC machine whose CPU was implemented with standard TTL chips? If so, which one, and does anyone have one that they'd like to trade away? -Dave -- Dave McGuire Port Charlotte, FL

17 years, 2 months

6
8
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Pertec tape drive in CA

by drbob＠pacbell.net

Hello, Could you possibly tell me a little more about the Pertec tape drive...Model #. etc. A photo would be very helpful. I maintain old equipment. Thanks Bob Burrell

17 years, 2 months

1
0
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San Antonio pickup

by mtapley＠swri.edu

Collectors - Sorry to pester everyone with this again, but my friend John Gold thinks he was contacted several weeks back by someone interested in picking up his collection during a visit in June. I think the potential collector was asking about what size trailer would be needed to contain the collection. John has lost that contact information of , so if it was someone on this list, please re-contact him. He can be reached at: jhgold (at) stic.net I still have a rough list of the things in the collection; let me know if you need more information about it. I don't have a personal connection, though I have been to his house and seen parts of the collection (and I'm pretty impressed). -- - 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.

17 years, 2 months

1
0
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UNIX V7

by doc＠vaxen.net

Zane H. Healy wrote: > > There are things I like about AIX, but I have a hard time considering it to > be UNIX, and *I DO NOT LIKE* IBM's attitude towards support of tape drives. First rule of administering AIX: This Is Not UNIX. Deal with it. Doc

17 years, 2 months

5
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[OT] Virtualization (WAS: UNIX V7)

by bqt＠softjar.se

Pontus Pihlgren <pontus at Update.UU.SE> wrote: > (Sorry for keeping this OT discussion continue, but one of my questions > are vaguely on topic) This will definitely go back to on-topic... :-) >> > These people think it's efficient to run a copy of Windows 2003 on a >> > server (which needs a couple of gig of RAM to work well) and then run >> > multiple VMs on that containing copies of Windows 2003 or other >> > flavours of Windows. They think virtualisation is new and clever and >> > it doesn't occur to them that not only is this wasteful of resources, >> > but it's a nightmare to keep all those copies patched and current. >> > > > I'm curious, what OS:es and software did virtualisation before > VMware/XEN/Virtualbox and the like ? The most famous would be OS/VM, I guess. IBM did that already in the 70s (or was it even the 60s?). There are an OS for the PDP-8 (put on the net by me, on ftp.update years ago actually) called MULTOS-8, which creates a number of virtual PDP-8s. Each normally boots and runs OS/8. > Also, why is it wasteful of resources? There is always overhead involved. > And finaly, why would keeping virtual installations up to date be any > harder than non-virtual? Harder to keep track of all the virtual machines you (might) have? Johnny -- Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

17 years, 2 months

3
2
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[OT] Virtualization (WAS: UNIX V7)

by bqt＠softjar.se

bfranchuk at jetnet.ab.ca" <bfranchuk at jetnet.ab.ca> wrote: > Johnny Billquist wrote: > >> > There are an OS for the PDP-8 (put on the net by me, on ftp.update years >> > ago actually) called MULTOS-8, which creates a number of virtual PDP-8s. >> > Each normally boots and runs OS/8. > > Click !! Dam the link is broken! Oh! Sorry. That was just me assuming that everyone should know about our ftp archive. I guess not, since so many other places seldom mention it, even though you have lots of really nice and important stuff lying around there. A full url for MULTOS-8 is: ftp://ftp.update.uu.se/pub/pdp8/multos8 My main interest and concerns are on the RSX area, but I'm also responsible for the PDP-8 stuff. I just haven't had time to do much about it for years... Johnny -- Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

17 years, 2 months

1
0
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UNIX on PDP-11s

by bqt＠softjar.se

Eric Smith <eric at brouhaha.com> wrote: > Johnny Billquist wrote: > I didn't include any of the tape controllers because they do TMSCP, not > MSCP. It's possible that I'm being overly pedantic. True. About pendantic, I don't know... TMSCP and MSCP are very similar, but there are few differences as well. The device drivers usually share the port code part, and just have a different "upper" end. >> > And the RQZX1, which talks both SCSI and floppy. > I've never seen one. Someone once told me that they didn't do MSCP > which caused me to lose interest. But if they do, I should keep an eye > out for one. The usual resellers seem to think they're made out of > solid Rhodium. I have one. They talk MSCP and TMSCP. They have SCSI and a floppy interface to connect disks. It's a quad card, so bigger than most other SCSI controllers out there for Q-bus, but it's nice. Johnny -- Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

17 years, 2 months

1
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TEACO Floppy drive Tester - any info available online ?

by ragooman＠comcast.net

I picked up this TEACO CD 2-3 floppy drive tester for only $5 at the recent hamfest here in Pittsburgh and like to get it working again. I did a search and found some old postings on here from 10+yrs ago, but without any leads to any info for this tester. I hope somebody might have a clue about this tester and some leads on finding a manual. http://tinyurl.com/l9o5gn thanks =Dan -- [ = http://www2.applegate.org/~ragooman/ ]

17 years, 2 months

4
8
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Transistor Substitution

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Transistor Substitution > From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) > Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:53:39 +0100 (BST) > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > >> >> >> Okay: I admit it, I am sometimes pig-ignorant about basic hardware >> questions. :/ >> >> I have a couple of DEC machines which I need to replace a few components >> on, and also stock up spares of others. With the transistors and diodes, >> however, I often can't find a direct replacement - and don't know how to >> figure out what a modern substitute is. >> >> For a 2N3009, for example, I can find basic information and a datasheet >> online easily enough - but as for choosing a functional, available >> substitute for it, I'm honestly not even sure where to begin. >> >> Is there a basic resource for determining modern equivalents for older >> transistors and diodes? Can someone helpfully provide me with a clue >> here? :) > >It depends on what the transistor is being used for.. In general >transsitors used in the logic (particulalry low-speed ones, for things >like lamp drivers) and transsitors used in linear PSUs are fairly easy to >substitute. Transsitors used for high energy pulse work (SMPSU choppers, >horizontal output transsitors in monitors) are a lot more critical, and >the data sheet may bot help. > >Basically, you need to get the following right : > >Tpye/polarity (NPN or PNP etc) > >VOltage ratings high enough to stand voltages in the circuit (if the >ratings of the substitute exceed those of the original, you should be OK) > >Current ratings (particularly Ic, collector current). Again, if your >substitute is better than the original it should be OK > >Gain (hfe and all its varients) is not too critical in most classic >computer applications, particularly for switich transiustors which are >driven hard into saturation. But try not to use a transistor of too low >a gain. > >Max frequency (Ft, etc) is something you should look at in logic >transistors, particularly in higher speed circuits, clock oscillators, etc. > >But my experience is if you pick something of the same polarity and >similar characteristics, it'll work in most classic computer circuits >(except for SMPSUs and horizontal output stages). Probaly 99% of >small-signal transistors can be replaced y 2N3904 (NPN) and 2N3906 (PNP) :-) > >Diodes are evem more generic. Most switching diodes can be replaced with >1N4148 :-). For PSU rectiifers in linear PSUs (again, SMPSUs are another >story), choose something with sufficient votlage rating (PIV -- peak >inverse votlage) (2*sqrt(2)*output voltage should be safe, say 3 times the >output voltage or more) and sufficient current rating (If, forward current). >When there are similar diodes of different PIV ratings, I normally buy >the highest. It's not much more expensive, and I'm on the side of safety. > >-tony Way too much information.. What he needs to know is what can he buy now that should work to replace a 2n3009? Answer: the 2N2222A (metal can not the plastic PN2222) has the same or close enough FT, Ic and breakdown voltages. It would be my first choice if I could not purchase/salvage the exact part. Also the 2n2222A is available and usually cheap. I buy them usually in for groups of 25 for about $0.08US each. DEC used a lot of 2n2907, 2n2905. 2n2219, 2n3553 and 2n2222A equivilents under different marking schemes. These parts are still very common. To assure the substitution it would help to know how that 2n3009 was used but from working on a lot of DEC gear the 2n2222 is a good bet. The only case where they type transistor is a bit fussy is some of the faster flip chip cards (logic) and SMPS. FYI: Older DEC machines like straight-8 and friends used a lot fo the ceramic epoxy parts similar to the 2n3638 and 2n3563. Those are ceramic headers with a block of epoxy covering the die and are prone to popping the epoxy and the symptom works when cold or mechanically intermittent. Allison

17 years, 2 months

10
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UNIX V7

by john_finigan＠yahoo.com

Liam Proven wrote: >These people think it's efficient to run a copy of Windows 2003 on a >server (which needs a couple of gig of RAM to work well) and then run >multiple VMs on that containing copies of Windows 2003 or other >flavours of Windows. They think virtualisation is new and clever and >it doesn't occur to them that not only is this wasteful of resources, >but it's a nightmare to keep all those copies patched and current. >They think that encapsulating SCSI over TCP/IP is an efficient way to >connect servers to disk farms. I'm generally on board with what Liam said, in spirit at least. But I do look at these two issues differently: They are both "outboard" fixes to long-standing problems with NT and they make life easier in the trenches. iSCSI makes up (in a clumsy way) for a lack of a "first class citizen" network file protocol in NT. Since you can't run SQL Server over something like NFS, it is about the only way to get it on a networked storage device. And if you want some of the nice "storage virtualization" features like volume snaps and clones, you pretty much want network storage. Virtualization may waste resources, but CPU and RAM are the cheapeast part of the stack now. What you get is easy recovery of whole system images, plus the ability run a bunch of legacy setups that ran on dedicated machines 5 years ago on one new box. That actually saves resources. I guess what I am saying is, I'll take some slightly hacky ways to improve life with an OS that I can't easily avoid, over the alternative of just having to use said suboptimal OS with no extra help.

17 years, 2 months

6
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UNIX on PDP-11s

by bqt＠softjar.se

Eric Smith <eric at brouhaha.com> wrote: >Johnny Billquist wrote: >> > The only MSCP controller DEC did for Unibus was to SDI (tha UDA50). > Three others come to mind: Boy, you are a tough crowd. :-) > RUX50 (M7522) interface to RX50 floppy I knew about that one, but forgot it. :-) > KLESI-UA (M8739) interface to RC25 disk (or can be configured for TMSCP > with TU81) Hmm. I have a couple of those. Didn't know they could drive RX25s though. Use them for TU81s... > RRD50-U (M7490-YA) interface to RRD50 CD-ROM Cool. I had missed that one. You also missed one: TUK50 (M7547) interface to TK50 for Unibus. >> > The only MSCP to MFM controller DEC did was for Q-bus (the RQDX series). > Though DEC did have other Q-bus MSCP interfaces for devices other than > the RX50 and RDxx, such as: > > KLESI-QA (M7740) interface to RC25 disk (or can be configured for TMSCP > with TU81) > KDA50 (M7165) SDI interface > KFQSA (M7769) DSSI interface Yeah, there are others as well. TQK50 and TQK70 for instance. And the RQZX1, which talks both SCSI and floppy. There are probably others. DEC did a lot more for Q-bus, and more recent... Johnny -- Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

17 years, 2 months

2
1
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Interesting IBM 5150... or something

by marvin＠west.net

> From: Warren Wolfe <lists at databasics.us> > Oh, for Pete's sake, a Tempest terminal, right when we're talking about > classified info. Just so you know, this one is compromised by the > insecure monitor (I think - it should be MUCH bigger, and not plastic, > if Tempest approved) and the non-Tempest keyboard. "Tank-like" is a > very concise description. The Tempest 5150 (or whatever the Tempest designation was for the IBM XT) that I have looks like a regular B&W monitor. When I took off the cover, the shielding became apparent :). It has been quite a few years since I looked at it, but I believe the Tempest IBM XT I have is complete including Tempest keyboard and monitor.

17 years, 2 months

1
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IBM 029 progress

by technobug＠comcast.net

On Jhu, 11 Jun 2009 10:48:58 -1000, Warren Wolfe <lists at databasics.us> wrote: > Tony Duell wrote: >>> I rememebr seeing a 2.7kF (yes, kilofarad) capactior in a >>> catalogue, but >>> I think it's now been discontinued... I've never seen anythlng >>> larger. >>> > > Good Lord.... How big was that thing? And, what voltage? 5000 F, 2.7V, 60 x 60 x 165 mm See <http://www.nesscap.com/data_nesscap/spec_sheets/Spec%2009.pdf> CRC

17 years, 2 months

1
0
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Stuff in Portland, Oregon

by useddec＠gmail.com

I have several microVax CPU boards and memory here. I might have a few extra RK05's when I get everything moved back in. Paul On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 4:55 PM, Robert Jarratt <robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com>wrote: > I am interested in MicroVAX II CPU and memory boards. I am in the UK and > would need to have them shipped. Would you be prepared to consider that? > Any > idea what it might all come to cost me? > > Thanks > > Rob > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk- > > bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Zane H. Healy > > Sent: 09 June 2009 15:46 > > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > > Subject: RE: Stuff in Portland, Oregon > > > > Strange, it shouldn't have bounced. The only time it should do that > > is when my mailbox fills up (typically people sending to many > > photo's). > > > > I have spare MicroVAX II board sets (not sure how many), but no spare > > chassis's. Except for my VAXstation II/RC, all the chassis's are > > classified as spares for the PDP-11's or II/RC. > > > > Something I should have mentioned is that I might be interested in > > trading computer gear for the right Medium or Large Format > > photography equipment. > > > > Zane > > > > > > > > > > At 10:30 AM -0400 6/9/09, Dan Gahlinger wrote: > > >your email address bounced. > > >you wouldn't happen to have a microvax 2 in there would ya? > > > > > >Dan. > > > > > >> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 20:26:40 -0700 > > >> To: classiccmp at classiccmp.org > > >> From: healyzh at aracnet.com > > >> Subject: Stuff in Portland, Oregon > > >> > > >> Is anyone interested in stuff located in the vicinity of Portland, > > >> Oregon? I'm not sure what all it would included. It might even > > >> depend on the persons interests. > > >> > > >> The stuff needs to be out of storage by this weekend, a lot has > > >> already been moved into the garage of our new house, and the rest > > >> will hopefully be moved between now and Sunday. Some free, some > > not > > >> so free. I'm looking to downsize and tighten the focus my > > collection > > >> since realistically I don't mess with the stuff much any more. > > Some > > >> items such as spares for my PDP-11's I'm not really interested in > > >> getting rid of. Though for the right price I could be talked out > > of > > >> most things. > > >> > > >> My focus has shifted primarily to DEC PDP-11, VAX, and Alpha as > > well > > >> as C-64. Though I'm hoping to get an Apple ][ of some sort up and > > >> running as well as a couple others now that I have the space. > > >> > > >> Zane > > >> > > >> > > >> -- > > >> | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator | > > >> | healyzh at aracnet.com (primary) | OpenVMS Enthusiast | > > >> | MONK::HEALYZH (DECnet) | Classic Computer Collector | > > >> +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ > > >> | Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | > > >> | PDP-10 Emulation and Zane's Computer Museum. | > > >> | http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ | > > > > > >_________________________________________________________________ > > >Attention all humans. We are your photos. Free us. > > >http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9666046 > > > > > > -- > > | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator | > > | healyzh at aracnet.com (primary) | OpenVMS Enthusiast | > > | MONK::HEALYZH (DECnet) | Classic Computer Collector | > > +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ > > | Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | > > | PDP-10 Emulation and Zane's Computer Museum. | > > | http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ | > >

17 years, 2 months

1
0
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Interesting IBM 5150... or something

by brianlanning＠gmail.com

I've never heard of this. Looks even more tank-like than the 5150. Look at the backplane where the cables go in. http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-IBM-Tempest-Computer-for-Classified-work_W0QQit…

17 years, 2 months

7
8
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UNIX V7

by bqt＠softjar.se

"Zane H. Healy" <healyzh at aracnet.com> wrote: > What really irritates me is that Apple has disabled the -xrm flag for xterm > on Mac OS X. I need that flag for xterm's that talk to VMS sessions. As a > result *ALL* of my xterm's on Mac OS X have the key bindings modified. What's wrong with -name ? Johnny -- Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

17 years, 2 months

1
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the arrogance of youth [was RE: UNIX V7]

by rick＠rickmurphy.net

At 07:57 PM 6/11/2009, Rich Alderson wrote: >Simply because you don't hear about an OS in _Linux Journal_ does not >mean that it's dead, or even ailing. <python> But I'm not dead yet! </python> Thanks, Rich. I know one of the people at XKL, and he's having a ball, working on what has been declared a corpse here. Dead? Not even close. -Rick

17 years, 2 months

1
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DEC DSSI board? Maybe?

by tpeters＠mixcom.com

What is it? I have an unidentified board, approx 3.75 inches by 4, or about 94mm x 104mm. It says on the silkscreen, "DSSI DAUGHTER CARD" and "50-21836-01 B1" There's about 4 chips on it, and some SMD caps & resistors and a big honkin' diode. The main chip has something like 200 pins, on all four sides of the chip, soldered to the component side of the board, and sporting a tower-style heat sink apparently cemented to the top of the chip. There's also 3 each 10-pin SIP resistors next to each other, like termination r's. And three each 2-pin jumpers marked "4 2 1" - addressing, obviously. All three are in place = 7. The two main connectors are a black D-shaped one that makes me thing of SCSI SCA, with 50 pins. The other is a blue Berg-style, I'm guessing for an IDC connector on the end of a ribbon cable. The pins that are marked on the board say "1" and "49" so I'm going to say 50 pins as well, with locking ears you close to seat the cable and lock it in place. It was in a Digital Equipment Corp shipping box, one that looks to be the right width for the board but probably twice as long as it needed to be. It was in a static bag- the original, from the looks of it. The grainy photograph on the box doesn't match the board. It's in perfect shape. On the box someone has scrawled "Single DSSI controller for 4000's" Worth anything to anyone? ----- 465. [Philosophy] ". . . a boss who is forced to part a man's hair with a wrench has failed at some point." Heinlein: Podkayne, quoting her mother, _Podkayne of Mars_ --... ...-- -.. . -. ----. --.- --.- -... tpeters at nospam.mixcom.com (remove "nospam") N9QQB (amateur radio) "HEY YOU" (loud shouting) WEB: http://www.mixweb.com/tpeters 43? 7' 17.2" N by 88? 6' 28.9" W, Elevation 815', Grid Square EN53wc WAN/LAN/Telcom Analyst, Tech Writer, MCP, CCNA, Registered Linux User 385531

17 years, 2 months

2
1
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Who's dead? (was RE: UNIX V7)

by IanK＠vulcan.com

WHO died? Let's see, what operating systems have I used in the past year? VMS RT-11 CP/M Tops-10 Tops-20 RSX-11 OS-8 MVS too many versions of Unix to count (including v6, which did NOT include a screen editor!) several 'tiny OS' products MSDOS ...and several versions of Windows, including Win95, W2K, WinXP, WinCE and that Vista 'thing' Your definition of "from way back" seems somewhat limited... by the way, did you realize that VMS is still a supported OS, more than thirty years after its introduction? Further, your reluctance to use non-screen-oriented editors is, shall we say, 'bad juju' in this community. While I certainly prefer a screen editor such as vi (and not such as EMACS), I can easily do ed or TECO as needed, because I MUST in order to work with truly vintage systems. -- Ian ________________________________________ From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Kirn Gill [segin2005 at gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 2:10 PM To: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: Re: UNIX V7 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 John Floren wrote: > On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 12:54 PM, Ethan Dicks<ethan.dicks at gmail.com> > wrote: >> On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 3:31 PM, Kirn Gill<segin2005 at gmail.com> >> wrote: >>> I need a screen editor. > > ed /is/ the standard editor > > When all else fails It might seem odd, but I don't know how to use 'ed'. I kinda know 'ex' due to the fact 'vi' is 'ex' turned from a line editor to a screen editor. Most of what I know about computers from way back is mostly limited to UNIX (and that's only because UNIX didn't die like the other OSes.) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iEYEARECAAYFAkouz7kACgkQF9H43UytGibXwACeKbEwHdRFbJWR2GEQTLhT6sai CNEAn3lCmbG1dAaI0H+XvdP6eDeSSYIa =JS57 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

17 years, 2 months

15
24
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UNIX V7

by feldman.r＠comcast.net

>Message: 23 >Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:50:43 -0700 (PDT) >From: "Zane H. Healy" < healyzh at aracnet.com > >Subject: Re: UNIX V7 <snip> >> >> I shall not mention the hospital, but during my residency I was appalled >> to discover the fetal monitors running *original* NT (this was in the days >> of NT 4 + umpteen service packs and W2K just around the corner). >This was six years ago, and XP was in full swing at the time. ?It was made >worse becuase I remembered reading the license agreement for the version >they were using, and it included a statement that said it shouldn't be used >for this sort of task. The restriction (not for use in nuclear reactors, mission-critical programs, etc.) was for Java, IIRC, not Windows itself. >Zane

17 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

anyone read dealers of lightning?

by keithvz＠verizon.net

Has anyone read Dealers of Lightning: Xerox PARC and the Dawn of the Computer Age ? http://www.amazon.com/Dealers-Lightning-Xerox-PARC-Computer/dp/0887309895 I swear the more and more I read about the history of computers, the more I keep coming back to Xerox PARC. The 70's must have been a pretty exciting time to be there. Anyone have any back stories or have read the book? I've got it on order, but I've read some scathing reviews about how the author got it wrong. I know some of the scathing reviews might be by people who weren't described in a favorable light in the book --- but I've seen plenty of technical stories get screwed up. Also any comments on Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System would be helpful. Thanks Keith

17 years, 2 months

18
30
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The Yorktown

by christian_liendo＠yahoo.com

http://gcn.com/articles/1998/08/31/smart-ship-inquiry-a-go.aspx Can this end now? --- On Wed, 6/10/09, Dave McGuire <mcguire at neurotica.com> wrote: > From: Dave McGuire <mcguire at neurotica.com> > Subject: Re: Windows for critical infrastructure (was Re: UNIX V7) > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 5:43 PM > On Jun 10, 2009, at 5:36 PM, William > Donzelli wrote: > >> The US Navy at one point was switching from Unix > to Windows.? They had major > >> problems with this on the USS Yorktown, and had to > tow it back to port.? I > >> don't know whether they've completed the switch. > > > > That wiki entry seems a little biased, doesn't it? > > ? If "showing a failure of Windows" means "biased", > yes. > > > ALL ships in the US Navy have an incredible amount of > redundancy, and > > there are always ways to go two or three technology > generations back > > to get things back up in running. The idea that > somehow this network > > was such a single point of failure to the point that > the ship was dead > > in the water just STINKS of being urban legend. > > ? I saw it on CNN when it happened. > > > Did something fail? > > Sure - this was a test bed, and these things are > supposed to fail. And > > when they fail, the engineers scour over the results > and do not get > > into emergency mode. It already seems like the whole > towing claim is > > dubious at best. A > > ? Sorry, it happened.? Unless the whole thing was > a hoax, complete with pictures. > > ? ? ? ???-Dave > > --Dave McGuire > Port Charlotte, FL > >

17 years, 2 months

6
9
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Oddest mismatch in hardware for a given purpose...

by derschjo＠mail.msu.edu

I have in my grubby little hands an Elektronika MK-85 calculator, which externally is a spot-on clone of the Casio FX-700P BASIC programmable calculator. Functionally, it's identical as well, with a few enhancements (pixel-addressable graphics, a Cyrillic character-set, etc) Internally though, they're 100% different -- the processor in the MK-85 is a Russian PDP-11 knockoff. It's not a power-efficient CPU by any means, so to ensure decent battery life the CPU speed is severely limited. Not sure exactly what speed it runs at (anyone out there know?) but the result is by far the slowest calculator I've ever used. Computing the sine of an angle in degrees using the built-in "SIN" function takes anywhere between 2 and 7 seconds by my stopwatch. So the MK-85 takes an otherwise-elegant and useful 16-bit CPU, attaches it to a mere 2K of RAM and 8K of ROM and runs at an insanely low clock speed in order to allow the battery life to be more than a few minutes... I just have to wonder why they decided to go with a PDP-11 clone over, say, a Z80 clone... :). (The BASIC implementation is also incredibly buggy, mostly due to poor argument checking... see http://www.pisi.com.pl/piotr433/mk85mc1e.htm for a cool example of exploiting a bug in INPUT to do machine-language coding, in a way only a contortionist could love...) I just find this machine fascinating, for a number of reasons. A handheld PDP-11! (Sort of.) Anyone else know of examples of odd-duck machines like this, where the hardware is probably not the best choice for the application? (But it's cool anyway?) - Josh

17 years, 2 months

7
13
0 0

UNIX on PDP-11s

by bqt＠softjar.se

ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) wrote: >>>> Hmm, MSCP on my PDP-11/24. 8-) >>> Yes, with a high-speed RD52 for authenticity ;-) >> Not possible. The only MSCP controller DEC did for Unibus was to SDI >> (tha UDA50). The only MSCP to MFM controller DEC did was for Q-bus (the >> RQDX series). > > What happens if you put a DW11B (Unius - Qbus interface) in the Unibus > machine and connect the Qbus side of that to an RQDXm? Obviously it can > only support 18 it DMA, but it does support that. > > I know for a fact that you can use an RLV11 on a Unibus machine that way, > I did it on an 11/45 with no problems. Yeah, that could possibly work. As long as you accept the 18-bit DMA address limitation. I think the UDA50 and the KDA50/RQDX all look similar enough at the port level that it could work fine. Johnny -- Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

17 years, 2 months

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PDP 11/73 on the Internet

by bqt＠softjar.se

Sridhar Ayengar <ploopster at gmail.com> wrote: > Dave McGuire wrote: >>> >> It's damnably slow, but at least it works. >> > >> > Yep. The scary thing is...an OS like RSX-11 or RSTS/E is quite zippy >> > on a machine like that. > > Hmmm. Porting (or writing a work-alike of) RSX-11 for a newer > architecture (suck as PC -- for the low cost) comes to mind. Not a big problem as such. You could probably almost reuse much of the existing code. The big problem would be that you'd need to write all the applications as well. The paradisgms of RSX comes nowhere near Unix, so almost no existing programs will be very usable under RSX. Johnny -- Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

17 years, 2 months

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Nearly there with IBM 029 KeyPunch

by roger.holmes＠microspot.co.uk

> From: "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com> > > Silly question, Roger... > > What is the AC line voltage at the keypunch? At the time that punch > was made "nominal" nameplate voltage was about 117VAC. It's crept up > a bit over the years to 120VAC (I just measured the voltage at an > outlet here and it's 126VAC). > > --Chuck The 029's power supply has been strapped for 230v operation. The actual supply is usually around 245 volts, though I have seen it as high as 253 and the specification is 216 to 253. The keypunch also has an option for strapping to 208 volts as well as the original straps for 115v. Roger Holmes

17 years, 2 months

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Manual for a Wameco WMC QM-1A

by christian_liendo＠yahoo.com

Anyone have a PDF of the QM-1A Manual?

17 years, 2 months

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Who's dead? (was RE: UNIX V7)

by jfoust＠threedee.com

At 07:52 AM 6/10/2009, Dave McGuire wrote: > Does anyone remember PC-VMS from Wendin? Better yet, does anyone >have a copy? And another, oddly from yesterday: http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.vms/browse_thread/thread/7b241214552… And a claimed author of it: http://www.linkedin.com/in/stevejonesinwashington - John

17 years, 2 months

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UNIX V7

by john_finigan＠yahoo.com

> Here is a challenge to the whole list membership. Lots of folks here > are well embedded into the industry, so I think this is a good sample. > Try to think of as many new customers (not upgrades) for the following > OSes (again, keeping the old names): AOS/VS, MCP, TOPS-10, TOPS-20, > OS/2200, VM, MVS, VSE, OS/400, Multics, PrimOS. Lets keep this to year > 2009. I bet we can not even get to twenty. For what it's worth, here's two recent articles about what Unisys is up to with the MCP / OS2200 machines: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/26/unisys_mainframe_upgrades http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/08/unisys_clearpath_kickers Apparently a mix of emulation on the low end and "real" chips on the high end. What I find fascinating is that Unisys sells a laptop (lx170) for MCP devs which runs the emulator on top of Windows (seems like the lowest-end emulated MCP servers are Dells running Windows too). I have no idea who buys this stuff though. I'm under 30, so I don't remember the early 80s. It seems like Burroughs had some pretty good technology up to that point. What happened to them that didn't happen to IBM? John Finigan

17 years, 2 months

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NEC uPD7220/GDC Design Manual

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Hi! Does anyone have the NEC uPD7220/GDC Design Manual? I am looking for one as part of research on building a home brew NEC 7220 video board. On a related but different subject if anyone is interested, I just got the N8VEM VDU board working (SY6545 based) and there are photos in the N8VEM wiki. http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/browse/#view=ViewFolder&param=VDU Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch

17 years, 2 months

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PDP 11/73 on the Internet

by derschjo＠mail.msu.edu

Hey All -- So, instead of debugging my 11/40 last night I decided to get my 11/73 running again since all it needed was to be put back together :). Installed 2.11BSD on it from TK50 tape, and it was only slightly faster than the last time I installed it -- at 19.2kbps using vtserver :). At any rate, it's online, so to speak, so if you feel like playing around, just telnet to yahozna.dyndns.org. (login: guest, password Guest1!) Be kind, it's not the speediest thing out there. I figure it's rather unlikely it'll be hacked into, and if it is, worst case I can restore the drive from the image I made of it... Is there a repository of source/binaries for stuff people have (back) ported to 2.11BSD? I'm thinking of seeing if I can squeeze an older version of Apache on it if I ever find the time... - Josh (Specs, just in case anyone cares: 11/73 CPU, 2mb RAM, TK50 tape, DEQNA ethernet, TS11 -> M4 9 track (currently non functional) Emulex U07 SCSI -> SCSI->IDE bridge -> IBM Microdrive (4gb))

17 years, 2 months

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Remembering the true* first portable computer • The Register

by woyciesjes＠sbcglobal.net

And on the last page, they give credit to CHM for letting them "drool over the machinery": http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/05/tob_minuteman_1/ -- --- Dave Woyciesjes --- ICQ# 905818 --- AIM - woyciesjes --- CompTIA A+ Certified IT Tech - http://certification.comptia.org/ --- HDI Certified Support Center Analyst - http://www.ThinkHDI.com/ "From there to here, From here to there, Funny things are everywhere." --- Dr. Seuss

17 years, 2 months

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Transistor Substitution

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Transistor Substitution > From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) > Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:11:44 +0100 (BST) > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > >> >> I have a couple of DEC machines which I need to replace a few components >> >> on, and also stock up spares of others. With the transistors and diodes, >> >> however, I often can't find a direct replacement - and don't know how to >> >> figure out what a modern substitute is. >> >> >> >> For a 2N3009, for example, I can find basic information and a datasheet >> >> online easily enough - but as for choosing a functional, available >> >> substitute for it, I'm honestly not even sure where to begin. > >[...] > >> Way too much information.. What he needs to know is what can he buy now that >> should work to replace a 2n3009? > >There is a saying in England : > >'Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, you feed >him for life'. Yes Teach a man to fish... Often the problem has greater scope. Recently I when through a similar situation.. problem was the psrson could solder and somewhat read a schematic.. Terms like breakdown voltage, Ic, Beta and Ft were completely lost as he had no context other than what building a lot of kits taught him. So sometimes the scope is not only teaching fishing, but what a fish is and why one wants to catch one. >I try to use that principle when posting here. I try to show how solve >similar problems in the future. None of us will be around for ever [1] >and I think it's important the information, methods, 'tricks', etc get >passed on I was trying to be light but maybe a ;-) may have helped. >[1] It would only take one careless mistake when repairing an SMPSU... > >As the bit of the original message I've left above semems to suggest, the >2N3309 is an example, and the OP possibly needs to substitute other >transistors as well. There are many substitutes possible, likely dozens or more. I picked one that is generally easy to find in many places. The other case was without context I ahd to pick a robust solution rather than one that oen that might work. An example is for simple logic a 2n3904 or the plastic pn2222 should do fine but if it drives a relay or lamp the added current capability if the 2n2222 is a better choice or maybe 2n2219. >> The only case where they type transistor is a bit fussy is some of the faster >> flip chip cards (logic) and SMPS. > >Maybe in DEC equipment... But I can assure you that the HP9100 is >'touchy'. It's not particularly high-speed, it's certainly not an SMPSU, >but you will have 'fun' working out what transistors to use. There were some applications that DEC used transistors that wanted faster transistors, core drivers and head drivers being those that easily come to mind.. Others it was sufficient to insure it was SI or Ge and the proper PNP or NPN. If the design had any vestage of ECL or other non-saturating logic then a lot of parameters become important. Then it is more difficult. SMPSUs are an animal and yes the wrong part there can cause pain or at best end up in a troubleshooting endless loop. Some old logic from the days before silicon devices can be fussy as they use MADT and other generational germainium devices and yes those do not substitute well without a carefull examination as to how they are applied. The gates and flipflops from the TX2 are a good example of early fast logic using germainium transistors. For context fast in early transistor computer designs is anything over a few megahertz (like greater than 1mhz!). Allison >-tony

17 years, 2 months

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Looking for IMI 5018 MFM drive

by snhirsch＠gmail.com

Title says it. Need to replace the drive mechanism in one of my Corvus flat-cable drives. Firmware expects 6-heads and 306 cylinders and gets boggled by anything larger, unfortunately. Could also probably work with Seagate ST419 or Rodime RO203, which are the only other drives I've found with the same geometry. Steve --

17 years, 2 months

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Oddest mismatch in hardware for a given purpose...

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

Josh writes: ? the processor in the MK-85 ? is a Russian PDP-11 knockoff. It's not a power-efficient CPU by any ? means, The joke in the cold war era was this: A Russian scientist shows up at a international conference with his amazing whiz-bang wrist computer. It has word processing, E-mail, advanced calculations, etc., all built-in. Every attendee comes by and Expresses complete amazement. At the end of the day when it's time to pack up, the Russian scientist asks "could someone help Me with my suitcase?" One, two, three others come to help him but are barely able to move The suitcase. They ask "what do you have in here that could be so heavy?" The answer: "It's the power supply for my wrist computer". Tim.

17 years, 2 months

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Help with MS11-M and /24 or /44

by dundas＠caltech.edu

Does anyone have a pair of (working) MS11-M memory modules (any size, both the same) in a PDP-11/24 or /44? [I believe those were the only models to support that memory.] If so, could I talk to you offline about how they interleave? Background: I'm working on a memory simulator for SIMH (PDP-11). I have it working with most parity memory models and the ECC models as well. [The MS11-M uses 7-bit ECC.] I have the MS11-M successfully simulated in a non-interleaved manner now. I'm struggling with getting interleaving to work correctly with the diagnostics. What I'd like to do is give someone a short fragment of code to execute on their machine and let me know the results. This would help me finish the simulation. Yes, I have carefully examined the documents Manx turns up, but that information is not sufficient for my needs. Alternatively, if someone had the listings for either XXDP diagnostics ZMSDD0 or ZMSPC0, that would also likely solve the problems I'm encountering. As a teaser, here's SIMH simulating a /44 with 2 MS11-M (128kW) modules, non-interleaved: .R ZMSDD0 ZMSDD0.BIN CZMSDD - MS11L/M MEMORY DIAGNOSTIC 11/44 CACHE AVAILABLE FS COMMAND MODE COMMAND:99 COMMANDS AVAILABLE: 0 = EXIT 1 = READ CSR 2 = LOAD CSR 3 = EXAMINE MEMORY 4 = MODIFY MEMORY 5 = SELECT BANK & PATTERN 6 = TYPE CONFIG MAP 7 = SOB-A-LONG TEST 8 = ERROR SUMMARY 9= REFRESH TEST 10= SET FILL COUNT 11= ENTER KAMIKAZE MODE 12= EXIT KAMIKAZE MODE 13= TURN CACHE OFF 14= TURN CACHE ON 15= TEST SELECTED BANKS 16= TEST ALL BANKS 17= ENABLE TRACE 18= DISABLE TRACE COMMAND:11 ENTERING KAMIKAZE MODE COMMAND: LEAVING FS MODE 256K OF MS11-M 256K WORDS OF MEMORY TOTAL MEMORY CONFIGURATION MAP 16K WORD BANKS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 012345670123456701234567012345670123456701234567012345670123 ERRORS CPU MAP 1111111111111111 INTRLV ---------------- MEMTYPE MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM CSR 0000000011111111 PROTECT PP I END PASS # 1 END PASS # 2 Thanks, John

17 years, 2 months

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Nearly there with IBM 029 KeyPunch

by roger.holmes＠microspot.co.uk

The theory said to change the resonant frequency of my keypunch's ferro-resonant power regulator from 60Hz to 50Hz I should up the 15uF capacitor to 21.6 uF. Well I tried 21.5, and the voltage went up by ONE volt. Hmm, scratch head, at least it went in the right direction. Search around for AC capacitors and find one in a defunct large electric lawnmower. Its 30uF, I think about replacing the 15 with it but if an extra 6.5uF only gained one volt, and I need 6 then it seemed reasonable to combine it and try 45 uF. That gives me 46volts, only 2 volts short. I throw in the 6.5uF too and I get 47 volts. I try the punch and it works much better. Not 100%, but that could well be down to other problems. For one thing, the alpha shift key does not latch, I need to hold it down. There are keys for numeric and alpha. If it was not meant to latch, why would they have a numeric key? Its so many years since I used an 029 (at university as my first job was at a paper tape using establishment) that I can't remember for sure. Anyway, thats sounds like an easy problem to find in relay logic, though these wire relays are difficult to see if they are active or not. Maybe I'll add LEDs (and resistors of course). Another problem is 1 to 7 print fine, but not 8 and 9. The alphabet print only their numeric component, 1 to 7 and again not 8 or 9. I tried using it in interpret mode, it fired like a machine gun but the card did not move, but the time I worked out how to stop it there was the smell of overheating solenoids. I don't think I damaged anything, just a bit hot. Thanks for all your help.

17 years, 2 months

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Kinda OT: Apollo 11 - The Owners' Workshop Manual • The Register

by woyciesjes＠sbcglobal.net

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/10/apollo_owners_manual/ ...and... http://www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=… -- --- Dave Woyciesjes --- ICQ# 905818 --- AIM - woyciesjes --- CompTIA A+ Certified IT Tech - http://certification.comptia.org/ --- HDI Certified Support Center Analyst - http://www.ThinkHDI.com/ "From there to here, From here to there, Funny things are everywhere." --- Dr. Seuss

17 years, 2 months

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Transistor Substitution

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

Allison writes: > Answer: the 2N2222A (metal can not the plastic PN2222) has the same or close > enough FT, Ic and breakdown voltages. It would be my first choice if I could > not purchase/salvage the exact part. Also the 2n2222A is available and usually > cheap. I buy them usually in for groups of 25 for about $0.08US each. Ethan asks: ? What is different about the metal can and the plastic case part? Mostly lead spacing and cosmetics. Metal can pinouts are in a semicircle, the TO92 is a straight line layout. If the original was a metal can soldered down flat to the PCB, chances are the plastic transistor will be showing some leg if used as a replacement. Metal cans can be heat sinked better than a plastic part obviously, and for peripheral or line drivers heat dissipation may be important. For a while in the 60's and 70's, the metal can parts had superior hermetic seals that were important in some space and mil-spec applications, but since then the plastic packages have been entirely perfected. Tim.

17 years, 2 months

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IRC channel?

by jzg22＠drexel.edu

We have an IRC channel (of sorts): Network: Freenode (irc.freenode.net) Channel: #classiccmp -- Jonathan Gevaryahu jgevaryahu(@t)hotmail(d0t)com jzg22(@t)drexel(d0t)edu

17 years, 2 months

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Atari 800xl Super Video 2.1 mod (and other video mods)

by redodd＠comcast.net

Subject: Re: Atari 800xl Super Video 2.1 mod (and other video mods) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <725511F2-87D0-46E5-B99E-7C8EEDA9458C at xlisper.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes On Jun 9, 2009, at 10:21 PM, David Betz wrote: > I recently acquired an Atari 800xl and would like to apply the Super > Video 2.1 mod to get better video but have been unable to locate the > description of how to do it anywhere on the web. I've done a google > search and found many links to it but they all led to dead ends. Can > someone point me to the article describing this mod? >Okay, I finally managed to find the Super Video 2.1 instructions but >now find that they seem to be in addition to the Super Video 2.0 mods >rather than a newer version of them. I also find that some people >recommend against making them but instead suggest some simpler mods to >improve the 800xl video. Has anyone here had any experience with >trying to improve the video output of the 800xl? What do you >recommend? I'd like to at least enable the S-video output. David, I've done the Super Video 2.0 & 2.1 mods about 5 times now and it always works perfectly. My brother has a 52" Samsung LCD and the picture is unbelievable! The S-video output is perfect. We had an Atari party and everyone wanted to know why the picture was so flawless. I have no experience with the other mods, but I highly recommend the 2.0 & 2.1 mods. Here's a link. http://www.wolfpup.net/atarimods/supervid.html Good luck and have fun. Ralph

17 years, 2 months

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DEC computer hardware for sale

by william.berkeley＠yahoo.com.sg

for a list of dec, sun and other legacy computer hardware, pls visit: http://decsurplus.wordpress.com/ New Email names for you! Get the Email name you've always wanted on the new @ymail and @rocketmail. Hurry before someone else does! http://mail.promotions.yahoo.com/newdomains/sg/

17 years, 2 months

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Remembering the true* first portable computer The Register

by zmerch-cctalk＠30below.com

Rumor has it that William Donzelli may have mentioned these words: > > DYSEAC was running in 1954. It was mounted in an Army truck. Not quite a > > Osborne, but it was the first time a modern, digital computer was > > specifically designed for mobility. > >Do not be surprised if the crypto guys had something before that. But >they ain't talking... Prolly due to security clearances... Despite the fact that dollars to doughnuts it could prolly be hacked in about 12 seconds flat nowadays, there's still things I can be jailed for life (or worse... but I doubt it would come to that ;-) under the charge of treason if I disclosed in public, AFAIK. In class where I learned about these items I'm not telling you about, we weren't allowed to take any form of physical notes - things had to be committed to memory (mammalian only, not electronic. ;-). Last time I checked (with military personnel with correct security clearance) it was still classified, but that was at least a decade ago. Not to worry - of what I speak is on topic - it was my first taste of papertape after all... and that's all I'll say. ;-) Now back to drinking Tequila & looking for the black helicopters on the horizon... "Merch" -- Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- SysAdmin, Iceberg Computers _??_ zmerch at 30below.com (?||?) If at first you don't succeed, nuclear warhead _)(_ disarmament should *not* be your first career choice.

17 years, 2 months

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Atari 800xl Super Video 2.1 mod

by dbetz＠xlisper.com

I recently acquired an Atari 800xl and would like to apply the Super Video 2.1 mod to get better video but have been unable to locate the description of how to do it anywhere on the web. I've done a google search and found many links to it but they all led to dead ends. Can someone point me to the article describing this mod? Thanks, David Betz

17 years, 2 months

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(Resending) Re: Further 11/40 unibus questions...

by derschjo＠mail.msu.edu

Resending this, as it seems to have not made it to the list for whatever reason. (Sorry if this ends up in people's mailboxes twice...) Tony Duell wrote: >>> Then I'd look at all the Unibus signals both with the terminator out >>> (they will still be terminated by the resistors at at the CPU end -- >>> IIRC on an 11/40 these are on the Unibus jumper between the CPU and >>> first expansion backplane) and with it fitted. I would guess >>> something is changing state, let's find out what. >>> >> I will start looking at this tonight (assuming I have the time >> tonight :)). Thanks. >> > > OK, let us know how you get on :-) > > -tony > Ok, finally stopped being distracted by other shiny objects for long enough to do some more fiddling with the 11/40. And of course, instead of hooking up the logic analyzer, I decided to play around with the Console SLU/LTC board. Because I evidently don't follow suggestions well. But this has a good ending, sort of. Maybe. So the SLU was unresponsive no matter what I did. Tried it at 9600 baud, no go. Dialed it down to 300, no dice. Checked the continuity of the dip switches, of which there are approximately 500. No problems there. Checked, and double-checked the wiring on the serial cable I built. No go. Stole the cable from my 8/e... still no good. So I moved it out of the 9th slot on the processor backplane and into the first slot on Unibus backplane. (And put a grant card in the 9th slot...) And hey, it works. Toggled in a short "echo" program and what I type on the terminal keyboard is echoed back, at a blistering 300 baud. So... clearly there's something wrong with the SPC slot on the processor backplane. A couple more questions: 1) Is the NPG grant on the unibus slot on the processor backplane (slot 9) supposed to be connected to the NPG grants on the Unibus expansion? That is -- right now if I set my DMM to continuity mode and put one probe on CA1 on the first slot of the unibus expansion, and the other on CB1 on the last slot of the unibus expansion, since all NPG grant jumpers are in place, the DMM shows the circuit as closed. This is as I'd expect. However, if I move the probe from CA1 on the first slot of the expansion to CA1 on slot 9 of the processor backplane, the circuit is then open. I'm guessing this is not correct. (There is currently an NPG jumper installed on slot 9.) 2) Where is the +15V to the processor backplane supposed to be connected? (I suspect this may be the reason the SLU won't function in slot 9...). Right now it's plugged into pin CV1 on slot 9 (if I'm reading the Unibus pin chart right :)) but the docs I have found say this should be ACLO_L... Thanks as always... Josh

17 years, 2 months

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IRC channel?

by segin2005＠gmail.com

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Do we have an IRC channel? I'd really like to know. The mailing list seems like a clumsy medium at times. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iEYEARECAAYFAkou4vEACgkQF9H43UytGiZd2ACgv0bdGz7m1riZqHd4pNgJPHWX pCsAnR8C+DoKfHFoZWiTSqxeGEJDQmva =Ye1R -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

17 years, 2 months

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Bricklin's new book

by evan＠snarc.net

I plan to read this soon: "Bricklin on Technology" -- http://www.bricklin.com/bontech/

17 years, 2 months

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Help with identifying digital transistor circuit cards.

by ragooman＠comcast.net

I was at the recent hamfest here in Pittsburgh and was lucky enough to pickup for free some old digital transistor circuit cards. There wasn't any identifying logos are names on any of them. I'm hoping someone here might have a clue as to what system these are from. Below are links to the photos of each circuit card. http://tinyurl.com/kuuxoq http://tinyurl.com/m94cpq http://tinyurl.com/nj6mza http://tinyurl.com/ld6gy9 http://tinyurl.com/me53ly thanks, =Dan -- [ = http://www2.applegate.org/~ragooman/ ]

17 years, 2 months

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Transistor Substitution

by ohh＠panix.com

Okay: I admit it, I am sometimes pig-ignorant about basic hardware questions. :/ I have a couple of DEC machines which I need to replace a few components on, and also stock up spares of others. With the transistors and diodes, however, I often can't find a direct replacement - and don't know how to figure out what a modern substitute is. For a 2N3009, for example, I can find basic information and a datasheet online easily enough - but as for choosing a functional, available substitute for it, I'm honestly not even sure where to begin. Is there a basic resource for determining modern equivalents for older transistors and diodes? Can someone helpfully provide me with a clue here? :) Thanks! -O.-

17 years, 2 months

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Stuff in Portland, Oregon

by healyzh＠aracnet.com

Is anyone interested in stuff located in the vicinity of Portland, Oregon? I'm not sure what all it would included. It might even depend on the persons interests. The stuff needs to be out of storage by this weekend, a lot has already been moved into the garage of our new house, and the rest will hopefully be moved between now and Sunday. Some free, some not so free. I'm looking to downsize and tighten the focus my collection since realistically I don't mess with the stuff much any more. Some items such as spares for my PDP-11's I'm not really interested in getting rid of. Though for the right price I could be talked out of most things. My focus has shifted primarily to DEC PDP-11, VAX, and Alpha as well as C-64. Though I'm hoping to get an Apple ][ of some sort up and running as well as a couple others now that I have the space. Zane -- | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator | | healyzh at aracnet.com (primary) | OpenVMS Enthusiast | | MONK::HEALYZH (DECnet) | Classic Computer Collector | +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ | Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | | PDP-10 Emulation and Zane's Computer Museum. | | http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |

17 years, 2 months

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loading disk image on PDP-11

by iamvirtual＠gmail.com

Dennis Boone drb at msu.edu wrote: > > "I was thinking of using vtserver to transfer the image over a serial > > line, but the 'copy' program is not compatible with my PDP-11/05 (it > > uses the 'mul' and 'div' instructions which is not available on my > > PDP-11/10)." > > I haven't exhaustively searched for such instructions, but a sample > multiplication found in the C source didn't turn into a mul > instruction. You sure this is the cause? > > De Looking at the source for vtserver v2.3, the srt0.s file contains the 'mul' instructions. The copy program is aware of the I&D space. It appears the primary purpose of vtserver is to allow the installation/copy of early Unix versions onto RK05's. The source to vtserver appears to be implemented using the early unix version, so it is not really what I need since I cannot modify it to work on my PDP-11/10. The initial vtboot portion of vtserver does work properly on my PDP-11/10. I am able to have the 'copy' program transferred over to the /10 but the processor halts soon after execution begins. The source for vtboot does look like it should work on most machines. I updated the code slightly to make it position independent. I am thinking I will need to write something that will allow me to transfer the disk image over a serial port. I just don't want to re-invent the wheel ;-) My needs are to take a disk image on a host machine and get it transferred over to a PDP-11 via a serial port to be scribbled onto a RK05 disk. Does anyone know of another tool that can do this? I am aware of the TU58 emulator, but that only helps getting something into memory on the PDP-11, but does not help in getting the data onto the RK05. Thank you so much for the information to date! I really appreciate the pointers and discussion. --barrym

17 years, 2 months

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govliq: SGI 4D/280GTXB, IBM 9395, 3 RL02, VAX-6000/310, PDP-11/84, PDP-11 kennedy 9400 (Jacksonville, FL)

by legalize＠xmission.com

Large bundle of stuff. The SGI machine looks in great cosmetic condition. RL02s look a little beat up, VAX and PDP-11/84 look in good cosmetic shape. <http://www.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=2439594&convertTo=USD> The lot description says Textile Scrap, Misc. so I would enquire directly with the contact phone first before bidding. Roughly two weeks left to bid on it, though. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/book/download/index.html> Legalize Adulthood! <http://blogs.xmission.com/legalize/>

17 years, 2 months

2
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bizarre capacitance

by dgriffi＠cs.csubak.edu

Anyone here use an Extech multimeter? This thing seems to get confused with certain capacitors. In particular, a new 10uF electrolytic register randomly from 1 to 8 nF whereas a 1-year-old 1uF electrolytic registers fine. -- 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?

17 years, 2 months

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Remembering the true* first portable computer ? The Register

by mross666＠hotmail.com

Why would the crypto guys want anything portable way back then? Common sense says it's easier to send the data to the computer than the computer to the data! Mike http://www.corestore.org _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290

17 years, 2 months

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Further 11/40 unibus questions...

by bqt＠softjar.se

Paul Anderson <useddec at gmail.com> wrote: > I always used a M930 in the 11/40 and older machines, and the M9300 in the > 11/34 and newer machines. I have no way to check on the differences > now. now. Also, there may be a trick using MOS in an 11/40. I can't remember that there should be any functional difference between a M930 and a M9300. The later is just an improved design. As for the original posters problems. When you get a stuck machine when the terminator is in, but a somewhat more functional machine when the bus terminator is out, you have a problem on the bus. Most likely a bus grant or NPR grant. A third possibility is a problem in the CPU with the logic related to these signals. I'd go over the bus grants once more. Check that they *really* are the right way, since it's so easy to put them in the wrong way, and there is basically no visible clue to which way they should go. Look at some other card to get help. They will also have connections on the same places the BG cards have, except they will likely run them up to the priority plug. If you have some Unibus memory, they are nice, since they have the BG lines wired straight through, just like the BG cards. I would have started by removing *all* cards from the Unibus (with the exception of some memory), and make sure all bus grants and NPRs were in, the terminator was in place and that all power supplies were delivering the right voltage. Also check that all cards in the CPU box are in place, and are firmly seated. Johnny -- Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

17 years, 2 months

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loading disk image on PDP-11

by iamvirtual＠gmail.com

I am finally ready to load a disk image onto a RK05 disk for my PDP-11/10. I have RK05 disk images for RSTS-11 (my goal). What is the easiest way to load the disk image onto a RK05 cartridge? I was thinking of using vtserver to transfer the image over a serial line, but the 'copy' program is not compatible with my PDP-11/05 (it uses the 'mul' and 'div' instructions which is not available on my PDP-11/10). Here is what I have available: PDP-11/10 with 32kw core memory serial connection (max 2400 baud) RK05 (non-bootable cartridge but does load properly) external dual TU58 DecTapeII drive Many thanks for any information. I am really looking for a nudge in the right direction. ;-) --barrym

17 years, 2 months

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Thanks to Henk G for Cipher 100X parts

by jws＠jwsss.com

Henk has sent a care package from the Netherlands to LA, Ca with the most useful 10 kilo's of parts from a 100X he was scrapping out. Just wanted to relay thanks to him for a really long distance scrounge via the group. I just reorganized the stash with one of the most serviceable of my drives, so it will be interesting to compare the parts with my drive revision when they get here. I prioritized the selection to take the parts with the most likely to degrade first, then the motion control and read/write boards, then a variety of other sensors and power supply boards. The entire drive would have been prohibitive to ship. Anyone else had to distill a large unit and what were the priorities or choices made to scrounge? Did they pay off yet (have you ever raided your stash and actually fixed one of your units or someone else's?) Jim

17 years, 2 months

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S-100 home brew project

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Hi! Is anyone interested in an S-100 home brew project? I am thinking build a system using the principles in the Libes and Bursky books. A group project where everyone builds the boards on prototyping boards as we go. For example, an 8080A or Z80 CPU board, a SRAM/ROM board, a serial board, etc. Keep the boards relatively simple and low chip count -- nothing exotic. Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch

17 years, 2 months

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DTC-510B controller

by r.bazzano＠ulm.it

Hello. I'm trying to replace a Xebec S1410A SASI controller with a Data Technology Corp. DTC-510B or DTC-510A, for a old homebrew computer (http://www.z80ne.com) The problem is that, even if the controllers should be "almost" compatible, the DTC-510A/B doesn't work (while the Xebec works fine). I'm not able to find any manual about it, only some dipswitch settings. Perhaps has someone a user manual for DTC-510B (and DTC-510A) so that I can compare commands, configurations, etc. with Xebec S1410A? Thank you very much. Roberto Bazzano

17 years, 2 months

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Classic mac fun (and some questions)

by trag＠io.com

> Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 21:47:05 -0500 > From: Brian Lanning <brianlanning at gmail.com> > On Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 9:41 PM, Cameron Kaiser<spectre at floodgap.com> > wrote: >>> > Quadra 700 > I could easily be wrong. It might be 4 4s instead of 4 1s. The Q700 has 4 MB soldered to the logic board and four 30-pin SIMM sockets. So the minimum RAM is 4 MB unless someone has been stealing chips off of the thing. With four SIMMs installed, it should have at least 8 MB, although if 256KB SIMMs were supported it could be as low as 5 MB. I don't remember if they were. It supports up to 16 MB SIMMs, so the maximum RAM possible is 68 MB. Its big brother, the Quadra 900, supports up to 256 MB of RAM with sixteen 30-pin SIMM sockets. Pretty good for a computer from 1991. Jeff Walther

17 years, 2 months

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Calculator repair fun

by charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net

This is a perfect example of why I never throw anything away... a couple of months ago I found a nice Craig (Bowmar) 8-digit calculator at an antique mall for $3. No charger, so of course it didn't work. Finally got around to disassembling it - the six AA nicads had leaked grossly but fortunately did little damage to the board above it. Powered it up from a bench supply and promptly discovered that one segment of one digit wouldn't light... not much good in a calculator since 8 and 9 looked the same :( But - I looked in my "LED drawer" and there was a little PCB with eight MAN-3A displays mounted on it. I remember buying that out of my pocket money at Radio Shack (couldn't have been Poly Paks because it works) when I was about 12. And that was thirty-five years ago... It was the same overall size as the one-piece (bare LEDs with bonding wires beneath a glued-on red lens) display PCB that was in there. And a battery and resistor showed that it had the same common-cathode matrix, and even the same number of connections! I unsoldered the old display and double-checked that the one digit's segment was indeed bad - put in the new display, powered back up and it worked 100% :) I even had two three-packs of AA nicads bought at Marden's (an odd-lots store in Maine) several years ago because they were on sale... so I installed them in the base, screwed everything back together, the calculator is now working perfectly! So that's why I never throw anything away. Who'd have thought that an LED display stick I bought over 30 years ago would find a home in an early 70's calculator... in 2009. Of course now I have yet another vintage four-function calculator I don't need, but it still feels good to fix something that would otherwise have ended up in the trash.

17 years, 2 months

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Altos 686

by spedraja＠ono.com

Hello. I have one Altos 686 with Xenix 3.2 in working state. I should like to install on it one C compiler and eventually the Ryan-McFarland Cobol for this platform if available. I remember something about IMD image disks available in some place in the Internet but I don't remember where. All help is welcome Kind Regards Sergio

17 years, 2 months

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SRP aids unit testing

by legalize＠xmission.com

I've been retrofitting tests onto legacy code at work as I make some changes to it. (So what's new?) The code has classes that are not really following the singlre responsibility principle. The other day I extracted a class to separate out a responsibility. Once I did that, I could more easily fit tests for that single responsibility onto the newly extracted class. When a class does too many things, its really hard to write tests for it, because you have to configure the universe in order to setup the initial conditions for the test. With a single responsibility the amount of setup is much less and the setup is directly relevant to the test you're trying to write. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/book/download/index.html> Legalize Adulthood! <http://blogs.xmission.com/legalize/>

17 years, 2 months

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cctalkDigest, June 4, 2009, History of the Microcomputer

by c.murray.mccullough＠gmail.com

>From June 4, 2009, cctalkDigest, Vol. 70, Issue 12, Message 27: "Question on, A Historical Research Guide to the Microcomputer, 2nd Edition." Thanks Christian for mentioning my book. It's a Canadian perspective on what is essentially an American invention though a Canadian played an important role in the birth of the microcomputer! The highly electronized tool, albeit one >from bygone days, we use on a daily basis - I use the Coleco ADAM, has a fascinating history. Murray McCullough

17 years, 2 months

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Mounting one Xenix Altos 686 disk img under Linux or Unix virtual system

by spedraja＠ono.com

Hello. As a continuation of the Altos 686 previous messages, I should like to know if someone could have one Linux or Unix system (or virtual appliance that which could be used under one simulator) with the kernel support for SysV and Xenix filesystems active. The objective would be to mount one raw image of the Altos 686 Xenix diskettes and access its contents. Regards Sergio

17 years, 2 months

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Classic mac fun (and some questions)

by brianlanning＠gmail.com

So I got around to hooking some things up and seeing what works. I have a quadra 700 with system 7.6 on it. I also had a 7 bay scsi enclosure lying around, a couple scsi hard drives, and a slot loading dvd drive. My goal here is first to get the quadra on the network so I can share files with it. Also, I'd like to be able to read CDs or DVDs from the quadra. Once one of those is successful, I plan to use ADT to transfer a prodos or apple 3.3 dos disk image to an apple 2gs over a serial cable, then create a bootable floppy for my 2e. :-P lol. It's looking like a fun project. I should note that I have zero floppy disks for the mac or apple 2e/2gs. So this is sort of a fun boot-strapping project to see if I can get there from here. Much to my surprise, the quadra 700 detected the two scsi hard drives and dvd drive. The quadra already had some scsi utilities and each of the drives show up. One of them has a mount button, but it refuses to mount a CD in the DVD drive. No surprise there I guess. Any idea how I can get the machine to mount a CD or DVD? I might have a termination problem. I have this black centronics thingy with the apple logo on it. It sort of looks like a terminator, but you can plug another centronics cable into the back of it, so I'm doubting it's a terminator. Networking doesn't seem to work. I get a light on the hub, but it doesn't seem interested in letting me get to the network. The machine has Timbuktu installed, but the open menu option is ghosted out. The info menu option works, but nothing is listed on the networking tab. I found this link: http://www.atpm.com/network/files/file_sharing.htm The menu options they talk about are missing. I have some applescript menu options somewhere else that talk about turning on file sharing, but they don't work either. I'm thinking I might need to reinstall the system software at some point. Any tips on how I can get this machine on the network? I suspect the floppy drive is bad. I put a new HD floppy in the drive. It detects it as a 1.4meg floppy disk, but formatting doesn't work. It claims the disk is bad. I have another drive in the IIfx that I might try swapping in to see if I can get the floppy drive working. I copied a dos file to the floppy as a test to see if I could get the mac to read it. No luck. It wants to format the disk. Any ideas on how I can be able to share floppies between the PC and mac? I know the mac drives are a little odd. fun stuff.

17 years, 2 months

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"Cheap" Kaypro II, Baltimore, Maryland

by tosteve＠yahoo.com

Deborah Becker has a Kaypro II, contact her (not me) if interested! She would like a few dollars, make an offer. Printer and books included. Location is actually Catonsville 21228 Her email is: comemy69 at aol.com

17 years, 2 months

1
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PDP 11/73 on the Internet

by dm561＠torfree.net

Date: Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:57:23 -0700 From: "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com> Subject: Re: PDP 11/73 on the Internet >Try doing your program development on a keypunch, with a 407 for 80- >80 listing. >Get off my lawn... >Chuck ------ You were lucky! We had to punch the cards with a Wright Line one-character-at-a-time manual punch and read our "listings" off the top of the cards... ;-) I gave up on my lawn long ago... m

17 years, 2 months

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More vintage hardware still alive and kickin'

by dm561＠torfree.net

---------------Original Message: From: "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com> Subject: Re: More vintage hardware still alive and kickin' To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <4A2A780F.19281.1ADC248A at cclist.sydex.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII >On 6 Jun 2009 at 20:47, Andrew Burton wrote: >> I'm just curious... how many cards would a machine like that sort >> through in a day, or a week? That counter has 6 digits and it sorted >> ~90 cards in less than 10 seconds. >Well, an 083 will feed about 1000 cards/minute and a good operator >can keep it running all day. How many cards could be sorted, >depends, of course, on the number of colums being sorted (one pass >per column, plus fumble and jam time... >--Chuck ------------Reply: Oh yeah! A jam would really cut into your production, especially if the sense switches didn't shut it down quickly or at all; the cards would crumple and pile up pretty quickly. And of course since you were handling stacks of 4000+ cards sooner or later you inevitably dropped one, sending them literally sailing around the room; digging them out from under all the other machines really made your day... Fond memories of my days as a junior operator... m

17 years, 2 months

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loading disk image on PDP-11

by iamvirtual＠gmail.com

> Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 22:13:45 -0600 > Subject: loading disk image on PDP-11 > From: iamvirtual at gmail.com > To: cctech at classiccmp.org > > I am finally ready to load a disk image onto a RK05 disk for my > PDP-11/10. I have RK05 disk images for RSTS-11 (my goal). > > What is the easiest way to load the disk image onto a RK05 cartridge? > > I was thinking of using vtserver to transfer the image over a serial > line, but the 'copy' program is not compatible with my PDP-11/05 (it > uses the 'mul' and 'div' instructions which is not available on my > PDP-11/10). > > Here is what I have available: > PDP-11/10 with 32kw core memory > serial connection (max 2400 baud) > RK05 (non-bootable cartridge but does load properly) > external dual TU58 DecTapeII drive > > Many thanks for any information. I am really looking for a nudge in > the right direction. ;-) > > --barrym Henk Gooijen henk.gooijen at hotmail.com wrote: > >Have a peek at http://www.fpns.net/willy/pdp11/tu58-emu.htm > >- Henk How would one go about installing a RSTS-11 disk image onto the RK05 using the TU-58 (assuming there is a bootstrap!) ? Thanks. --barrym

17 years, 2 months

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Fwd: [alt.folklore.computer] Workstation Computervision CDS 3000-20

by legalize＠xmission.com

This message has been forwarded from Usenet. To reply to the original author, use the email address from the forwarded message. Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 09:58:10 -0700 (PDT) Groups: alt.folklore.computer From: rainer at terpe.de Org: http://groups.google.com Subject: Workstation Computervision CDS 3000-20 Id: <1c674f21-02d6-4b7a-b81e-26a45e73e2b2 at l32g2000vba.googlegroups.c om> ======== I do not have time enough and I do not have space enough. Therefor I really want to offer my very old workstation Computervision CDS 3000-20. The workstation is made of 2 seperate devices, one device contains mainboard with CPU board, memory board and interface boards, the other device contains hard disk drive and magnetic tape drive. There is also a huge CRT and keyboard. Inside the workstation there is a SUN 2 working. This offer includes various magnetic tapes and some documintation also. I'm not able to say a lot about technical condition because I haven't switched on the workstation for some years. The installation effort is quite high. If someone is interested or is knowing someone who could be interested, please answer to me. I really do not want to scrap this machine. Kind regards, Rainer

17 years, 2 months

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1964 Antique MODEM Live Demo

by vp＠drexel.edu

Jim Battle <frustum at pacbell.net> wrote: > Golan Klinger wrote: > > Disclaimer: I wouldn't normally post this sort of thing but I'm > > confident it will be of interest to more than a few on this list. > > > > "1964 Antique MODEM Live Demo" > > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9dpXHnJXaE> > > Something weird there -- at 6:20 or so, he has a URL on the screen. It > looks to me like "http://ww.wikipedia.org". And it connects. But it is > "ww" not "www". There is no reason for him to go and fake it, but it > bugs me nevertheless. Maybe the missing "w" was mangled by line noise. In this session, echoing is done by the remote system (that is why we don't see the passwords), so it is possible that he typed the "w", but the echo had a parity error and was dropped by the terminal emulator. Remember these modems do not do any error correction, so any line noise results in mangled characters. Nevertheless, line noise usu results in strings of mangled characters, but 300 baud may be slow enough that only one was damaged. BTW 300 baud? Isn't 1964 a bit early for 300 baud? **vp

17 years, 2 months

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For pickup: VAX-11/750 and RK07

by pat＠computer-refuge.org

I've got a VAX-11/750 and DEC RK07 that I picked up from a friend a few months ago, which I need to divest myself of. Both have some issues; I'm not sure what the issue is with the RK07 (though I do have the service manual for the drive), and the 11/750 has some sort of issue with its console. I haven't touched either one, this is what the previous owner has told me. They're available free for pickup, or I can deliver them within about an hour's drive of here for some gas money. The machines are in West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA. If they aren't gone by Sunday, June 14th, they'll go on ebay. Pat -- Purdue University Research Computing --- http://www.rcac.purdue.edu/ The Computer Refuge --- http://computer-refuge.org

17 years, 2 months

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TI Silent 700 model 733 manual

by hamren＠sdu.se

> If I remember correctly, someone was looking for a TI 733 manual. That was me, a few weeks ago. > I found one today while sorting some boxes. Which manual did you find? I am looking for a service/repair manual. I already have "Model 733 ASR/KSR Operating Instructions, 959227-9701, Rev C" revised October 1974. > This is the large TI terminal, not the portable one. Mine is the large one with casette drives, pictured here: http://www.sdu.se/computer-automation-museum/pub/gallery/ti--silent-733-asr… Thanks in advance /Lars Hamr?n

17 years, 2 months

10
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Master of Orion (was: PDP 11/73 on the Internet)

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

On Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 12:09 AM, Zane H. Healy<healyzh at aracnet.com> wrote: > At 2:36 PM -0400 6/6/09, Ethan Dicks wrote: >> >> I happen to enjoy playing corny-looking games, but I happen to own >> original copies and was playing them when they were the latest thing. >> I still have Master of Orion I close at hand, plus a few others. > > Take a look at the Mac version if you can find it. That might be a little bit obscure, but I'll look for it. I never did much Mac gaming, mostly Risk and NetTrek (and the occasional Infocom game). > ?I forget just how large > of a screen it supports, but it's most of a 1024x1280 display (not all). Nice. > ?Same with Warlords II, while on DOS you're limited to 640x480 for both. Yeah. I remember playing a lot of DOS games, and they held their own until 800x600 became the norm. Thanks for the tip. -ethan

17 years, 2 months

1
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Rescue Fwd: pld IBM P/S2 model 30 computer

by jfoust＠threedee.com

If interested, respond to Sue below. >From: "Sue Brenner" <suelaughs at cox.net> >To: <jfoust at threedee.com> >Subject: pld IBM P/S2 model 30 computer >Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 09:09:21 -0700 > >Greetings, > >I have an old IBM P/S2 Model 30 in excellent working order I trying to find a home for. >The monitor is the 8512 IBM color monitor. > >I live in the Phoenix area in Arizona. > >The exact model and serial number are: >Model : 8530-021 >Serial: 72-1134784 > >It is all the original issue except I added a Paradise VGA 16-bit internal card along the way. > >If you could put it to good use or know someone who would, I would be glad to arrange to get it to you. > >Jonathan Brenner ><mailto:gthalo at aol.com>gthalo at aol.com ><mailto:gthalo at cox.net>gthalo at cox.net > >

17 years, 2 months

1
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free to a good home (York, UK)

by pete＠dunnington.plus.com

I've been tidying up again. Always a bad idea, and now I can't find shelf space for the following. All are free to collect from York, or I could post them if you pay P&P: HP JetDirect card, J2552-60001, 10Mb/s with BNC (10base 2), RJ45 (10baseT) and 8-pin mini-DIN (LocalTalk) connectors. Worked fine last time it was in a printer, but hasn't been tested in "quite a while". NEC Multspin CD-ROM drive. Takes a caddy (which I can supply), and may support 512-byte sectors -- ISTR using this to boot SGIs in the distant past. Worked last time I used it but that was years ago. Matrox G45 dual head VGA AGP card (G45FMDHA32DB). I used to use this for photo editing. IIRC it has 32MB on board. Sinclair Spectrum Centronics printer interface, made by Computers For All. Untested, but worked last time I used it. Lear Siegler ADM 5 Dumb Terminal Video Display Unit Users Reference Manual, March 1981. Looks almost new. Cromemco manuals: -- D+7A Input/Output Module Instruction Manual -- 16FDC Floppy Disk Controller Instruction Manual (I have two of those 16FDC manuals, for some reason) US Robotics Sportster 14400 Fax Modem, with PSU. V32bis + V42bis. Plessey Peripheral Systems PM-DDV11/B and PM-DDA11/B Disc Drives Manual for 5 Megabyte 1500 RPM Front Loader. Pair of spare heads for an RL01 drive. Used, taken from a working drive that was cannibalised. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

17 years, 2 months

1
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UNIX on PDP-11s

by bqt＠softjar.se

Pete Turnbull <pete at dunnington.plus.com> wrote: > On 04/06/2009 19:43, Dave McGuire wrote: >> Wasn't the MSCP driver backported from 2.11BSD to something earlier? >> Hmm, come to think of it, I think that was 2.9BSD, not V7. >> >> Hmm, MSCP on my PDP-11/24. 8-) > > Yes, with a high-speed RD52 for authenticity ;-) Not possible. The only MSCP controller DEC did for Unibus was to SDI (tha UDA50). The only MSCP to MFM controller DEC did was for Q-bus (the RQDX series). 3rd party manufacturers also made MSCP controller for Unibus to SCSI. Might be that something more also exist, but I doubt very much you could find one to MFM. Johnny -- Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

17 years, 2 months

3
2
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Classic mac fun (and some questions)

by zmerch-cctalk＠30below.com

Rumor has it that Brian Lanning may have mentioned these words: >Does anyone make a scsi floppy drive that I could put in my external >enclosure? Do these even exist? What about zip/jaz/syquest drives? The only ones I know of were used in DEC machines, it was a standard floppy drive mounted into a "bridge board" which endowed the lowly floppy with "Super SCSI Powers!" ;-) They're tough to find (well, maybe not _around here_) and I do not know if they supported booting from them; but they do exist. In times past, I owned SCSI Zip drives, one each internal & external. Not sure if I even still have them; but they certainly exist and might be easy (if not cheap) to acquire thru ePay. I had kept the internal one for one of my CoCos "just in case" I acquired a SCSI card for it, but now that I have IDE, I'm torn whether to set it up with an available IDE zip drive I have, setup an IDE Castlewood Orb for that purpose, or inform my wife that I "Really Need[TM]" an upgrade for a my Nikon D70, so I could use my 1G compact flash cards currently allocated to that task for the CoCo. Hope this helps, Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- Roger "Merch" Merchberger | Anarchy doesn't scale well. -- Me zmerch at 30below.com. | SysAdmin, Iceberg Computers

17 years, 2 months

3
2
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Radio Shack Science Fair manuals

by hall99＠windstream.net

Hi: I ran across your posting for Radio Shack Manual for a 28-249 200 in One Electronic Project Lab. I have the Lab and an 11 year old grandson, but no manual. Can you help me locate one? R Hall Nebraska

17 years, 2 months

1
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IBM 029 progress

by charlesleecourtney＠yahoo.com

> I think MAI here in the US used to buy up old IBM card > gear, refurb, > then lease it out again. At University (UT-Arlington) we had scores of former IBM 026 keypunches from MAI that were refreshed, painted blue (from IBM 026 battleship grey), and (I think) refitted with 029 character set. Lee Courtney --- On Sat, 6/6/09, Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote: > From: Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> > Subject: Re: IBM 029 progress > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Date: Saturday, June 6, 2009, 3:01 PM > On 6 Jun 2009 at 22:45, Roger Holmes > wrote: > > > Anyway a 9mm twist drill pushed up the > > empty auger hole and twisted and wiggled and a backlog > of old chads > > and strangely black cloth came out and now it punches > cleanly, or at > > least it does when the relay logic feels like it. > > Sounds great, Roger.? That black cloth may just be old > shredded > ribbon from the print mechanism. > > I think MAI here in the US used to buy up old IBM card > gear, refurb, > then lease it out again. > > --CHuck > >

17 years, 2 months

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More vintage hardware still alive and kickin'

by aliensrcooluk＠yahoo.co.uk

Pretty cool video. It's just a shame there weren't any closeups of the punched cards. I'm just curious... how many cards would a machine like that sort through in a day, or a week? That counter has 6 digits and it sorted ~90 cards in less than 10 seconds. Regards, Andrew B aliensrcooluk at yahoo.co.uk --- On Thu, 4/6/09, Mike Ross <mross666 at hotmail.com> wrote: From: Mike Ross <mross666 at hotmail.com> Subject: More vintage hardware still alive and kickin' To: "cctech cctech" <cctech at classiccmp.org> Date: Thursday, 4 June, 2009, 4:41 PM Enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RCgIrZiC6c Mike http://www.corestore.org _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009

17 years, 2 months

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wire wrap machine pins

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

---------------------------------------- > From: lynchaj at yahoo.com <http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctalk> > > Hi! Does anyone know where to get those rows of individual machine pins for > wire wrapping? [snip] > > Andrew Lynch > Hi It seems I just saw those in the Jameco catalog. Dwight -----REPLY----- Thanks Dwight and Chuck! I found what I was looking for (wire wrap SIP sockets) in the Jameco catalog for a fairly reasonable price. They also have terminal pins but not the machine pin variety. Digikey has those, as Chuck pointed out, but the price seems unreasonable. $35 for a small bag of socket pin terminals? Wow! Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch

17 years, 2 months

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Inappropriate remarks (Was Fwd: Mystery object... )

by dm561＠torfree.net

Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:02:52 -1000 From: Warren Wolfe <lists at databasics.us> Subject: Re: Inappropriate remarks (Was Fwd: Mystery object... ) M H Stein wrote: > Boy, tough crowd! > > So, do you guys go around to funerals in your spare time wearing funny hats and > telling the bereaved mother that her son's untimely death is insignificant compared > to the starving kids in Africa, and besides, he would have died some day anyway? > And when someone suggests that's a bit inappropriate you deck 'em? > Aw, you've been spying on me. No fair. > Inability to empathize is often the result of a brain injury; had any bad bumps > on the head lately? > And, this is you demonstrating tact and appropriate behavior, Lumpy? Warren -----------Reply: Well, the original "humorous" comments didn't bother me much, but I did find it puzzling and disturbing to subsequently read that unless we ourselves had lost someone it is *offensive* and we have no business asking for a little consideration for those who did, that while the twin tower and Katrina victims (Americans, incidentally) deserve our respect the 200+ folks lost on the way >from Brazil to France apparently don't, and that since everybody dies one day anyway what's the fuss about. That does seem to demonstrate a lack of empathy, which is generally considered as a possible mental aberration, so I was just looking for a plausible explanation that would allow *me* to empathize with the folks expressing the above views, assuming they weren't just trolling. If the folks in question really did suffer from head injuries, then they do have my sympathy and I apologize. A fascinating and disturbing glimpse into different perspectives... m

17 years, 2 months

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1964 Antique MODEM Live Demo

by gklinger＠gmail.com

Disclaimer: I wouldn't normally post this sort of thing but I'm confident it will be of interest to more than a few on this list. "1964 Antique MODEM Live Demo" <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9dpXHnJXaE> -- Golan Klinger <gklinger at gmail.com> Dark is the suede that mows like a harvest.

17 years, 2 months

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N8VEM S-100 prototyping board PCBs available!

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Hi! The N8VEM S-100 prototyping board PCBs are available. I tested one out and it seems to work fine. It fits in the S-100 connector on the N8VEM S-100 backplane just right and the pads line up with the pins as you would expect. I assembled the components and the proper voltages appear in the correct places. They seem really nice and I am very happy with how these turned out. Pads for +5V, +12V, and -12V regulators with filter capacitors are on the PCBs. You can optionally install them or change them around as you see fit. The PCBs are $25 each plus $2 shipping in the US and $5 shipping overseas. Please contact me off list if interested in some. I posted some photos in the N8VEM wiki S100 folder if you would like to see them. http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/browse/#view=ViewFolder&param=S100 I am really looking forward to building some S-100 home brew computer stuff with these boards. This is going to be a lot of fun! Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch

17 years, 2 months

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Inappropriate remarks (Was Fwd: Mystery object... )

by dm561＠torfree.net

-------------Original Message: Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 02:13:57 -0400 From: John Floren <slawmaster at gmail.com> Subject: Re: Inappropriate remarks (Was Fwd: Mystery object... ) Thank you. I'm more offended by the self-righteous response than by the original comments. "On a long enough time line, everyone's survival rate drops to zero." John On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 2:05 AM, Joe Giliberti <starbase89 at gmail.com> wrote: > If you know someone who was lost, thats understandable, but the remarks > weren't really that bad. If someone on CC lost someone to it, let them > complain if they wish. There's no reason for you to be offended if you > didn't loose someone. 220 people out of the 7 billion on the planet is a > raindrop in the ocean. > -----------Reply: Boy, tough crowd! So, do you guys go around to funerals in your spare time wearing funny hats and telling the bereaved mother that her son's untimely death is insignificant compared to the starving kids in Africa, and besides, he would have died some day anyway? And when someone suggests that's a bit inappropriate you deck 'em? Inability to empathize is often the result of a brain injury; had any bad bumps on the head lately? m

17 years, 2 months

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vintage hardware still alive and kickin' -- another successful launch from vandenberg afb

by ragooman＠comcast.net

Another successful launch from Vandenberg AFB. Vintage hardware is still alive and kickin' ! My buddy there tells me the contract for the TIPS facility has been renewed at USAF Western Missile & Space center With many more launches to come. http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/105054/delta-ii-launc… "TIPS consists of two systems of the CDC Cyber 840 computers, 21 systems of the SEL 32/55 and 32/75A computers, and various peripheral and supporting equipment on 2 acres of floor space." http://www2.applegate.org/~ragooman/computers_mini_gallery_tips.html I wonder what other vintage hardware is still in operation -- museum collections don't count :) =Dan -- [ = http://www2.applegate.org/~ragooman/ ]

17 years, 2 months

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QIC cartridge tape compatibility

by ian_primus＠yahoo.com

I have an older UNIX system with an internal Archive Viper 150mb SCSI QIC tape drive. In the drive was a DC600A tape cartridge. What's the difference between DC600A cartridges and the DC6150 cartridges I remember seeing years ago? I've tried reading this tape, but it doesn't appear to contain readable data - but then again, it may not have ever been intended for this drive. -Ian

17 years, 2 months

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Repairing an HP3421A (Signature Analysis)

by vp＠drexel.edu

I am trying to repair an HP3421A data acquisition and control unit that fails its power on tests. In the service manual it refers to a number of "Signature Analysis" tests that essentially mean that the unit runs some diagnostic routine and you go and collect "signatures" from various test points. Unfortunately I do not have a device to compute these signatures. Does anybody know how to calculate them using a logic analyzer (I have a Bitscope and an HP 1630D), or something similar? Thanks **vp

17 years, 2 months

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Classic mac fun (and some questions)

by christian_liendo＠yahoo.com

nope... you need whatroute http://www.whatroute.net/ --- On Fri, 6/5/09, Brian Lanning <brianlanning at gmail.com> wrote: > From: Brian Lanning <brianlanning at gmail.com> > Subject: Re: Classic mac fun (and some questions) > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Date: Friday, June 5, 2009, 1:15 PM > On Fri, Jun 5, 2009 at 12:11 PM, > Cameron Kaiser<spectre at floodgap.com> > wrote: > >> > You should see (the Q700 has built-in > Ethernet IIRC) something like > >> > LocalTalk and the built-in Ethernet. Select > Ethernet in MacTCP, and click > >> > More... if you want to adjust things like > subnet mask and so on. > >> > If you are using an ENet card in one of the > NuBus slots, make sure you > >> > have a driver for it. I would just use the > built-in ENet; AAUI connectors > >> > are dirt-cheap and common as, well, dirt. > >> > >> I have the AAUI connector. I'm thinking it's > working since I get a > >> light on the hub. ?I was able to switch it from > appletalk to tcp/ip > >> and set it to dhcp, but it looks like it didn't > even try to ask for an > >> ip address. > > > > I've never used MacTCP for DHCP. Assign it a static > address first and > > see how far you get. > > > ok.? I'm lost without a command line.? Is there a > version of ping in > there somewhere?? What about samba/windows shares or > maybe ftp? > > brian >

17 years, 2 months

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receptacles (was IBM 029 Keypunch has arrived)

by roger.holmes＠microspot.co.uk

Thanks for the info, "receptacles" got hundred of items, though few seem to be on plates UK style and none in boxes like a UK 'metal clad' socket, but I can cut suitable holes in a few project boxes so not really a problem. There was a splash proof socket in a box but I don't really want a flip up cover on a permanent installation. Thank again. On 26 May 2009, at 04:52, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > > Message: 9 > Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 14:59:21 -0400 > From: tiggerlasv at aim.com > Subject: IBM 029 Keypunch has arrived > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Message-ID: <8CBAB820C803DA9-1424-14FD at WEBMAIL-MZ08.sysops.aol.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed > > > On Mon May 25, Roger Holmes wrote: > >> I have searched though eBay for normal US wall sockets and to >> my surprise cannot find them. I've tried all sorts of search terms > but >> obviously have not hit the right combination, unless there is some > law >> which prohibits them being sold retail or something like that. > > > Not too many folks out here refer to them as sockets anymore; > that term is typically reserved for light bulbs, though there is some > variation, > based on age, and geographical location. > > Generally, people call them "outlets", but the NEMA terminology is > "receptacle". > > Do an e-bay search on: +receptacle 20A 20 Amp (include the + > sign) > > check-mark "include titles and descriptions" . . . and then sort by > price+shipping lowest first. > > That should help you find what you're looking for. . . > > >

17 years, 2 months

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DEC vt52 question: rom dumps

by jgevaryahu＠comcast.net

Does anyone have a DEC VT52 (or any of the VT5x series really) and the means to read out the 8 firmware PROMS on the rom/uart board, and/or the character ROM? The MESS team is trying to get ahold of this data for preservation/emulation. The PROM chips (according to the schematic on bitsavers: http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/terminal/vt52/MP00035_VT52schem.pdf) are 82s129 or pinout compatible with 82s129 (or maybe the open collector 82s126 version?). According to the maintenance manual (also on bitsavers: http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/terminal/vt52/EK-VT52-MM-002_maint_Jul78.p… page titled A-02) there are three different 'prom sets' of this firmware for the vt52 (and since the prom sets can be upgraded, I'm guessing they're socketed). Also, the MESS team is looking for a dump of the character generator rom; there are two versions of this rom, and the chip is an early non-jedec pinout ?mask? rom; the pinout is listed on the schematic on page 43. (It happens to have a nearly identical pinout to the MCM6830A ?eprom? used on the early heathkit et4000 non-a units) Thanks everyone for your time, and have a good day! -- Jonathan Gevaryahu AKA Lord Nightmare jgevaryahu at comcast.net jgevaryahu at hotmail.com

17 years, 2 months

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Classic mac fun (and some questions)

by christian_liendo＠yahoo.com

I don't have this anymore other wise I would send it to you but if you can find a copy of FWB Hard Disk Tool Kit.. It will help you mount pretty much anything. It will handle the CD-ROM problem.. FWB is no longer is business but the software is the best. You wont be able to mount DVDs on 7.6.. I think I was up to 9.2 before I got a DVD drive.. I do recommend getting an Apple CD ROM because if you want to upgrade the OS from a CD you will need a bootable CD ROM drive and those are the best.

17 years, 2 months

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Looking for a Wameco CPU card for a QM-1A

by christian_liendo＠yahoo.com

I got my hands on a nice Wameco QM-1A board Here is a pic: http://lh6.ggpht.com/_gUrHnv1nh-4/ShtCKBhWr6I/AAAAAAAAAh4/K-86gLf7Nl4/s720/… I am looking for a CPU card for this. If someone has one that they don't want and is reasonable please let me know. Please contact me off-list. Thanks

17 years, 2 months

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8" Floppies

by les＠hildenbrandt.com

> > >They're double-sided disks. Not too uncommon. If you want to see some >really strange 8" floppy disks, I have a box of Memorex disks that are >hard-sectored and have the sector/index hole near the outer edge of the >disk, rather than near the rim. > I had a drive that used those disks. I think it was the first 8" drive I had, and was never able to use it. It was a memorex drive as I recall.

17 years, 2 months

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UNIX on PDP-11s

by bqt＠softjar.se

Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> wrote: > On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 11:42 AM, John Floren <slawmaster at gmail.com> wrote: >> > Interesting, I didn't know a /23 could run V7--all I know for sure is >> > that it works on /45s and /70s. Do you know any other machines it runs >> > on? I'd like to try installing on my 11/73 (KDJ11-A) if possible. > > I think it would come down to disk drivers. If the kernel will run on > an 11/70, there's no difference I can think of off the top of my head > why it wouldn't run on a KDJ-11, unless there's something about the > 22-bit Unibus mapping on the 11/70 vs no mapping on the Qbus. Yikes! No, I would not expect it to work well at all. The first, and most obvious problem is the bus. The Unibus is an 18-bit address bus, while the q-bus is 22-bits. So, an 11/70 have a Unibus map which is involved in all DMA from the Unibus. The q-bus don't have anything like that. This obviously affects all device drivers doing DMA. And then we have the obvious problem that the most likely disks used on V7 would have been massbus disks, which you have no correspondance to on a q-bus. But even with disks of a similar nature, such an RL, there are still differences between the controllers, so that you can't just run the version from a unibus on a q-bus machine without a little modification. I don't know how much features V7 uses, but there are plenty of things in the 11/70 which the KDJ11 don't do. Stack limits are different. The MMU is different (although I don't think anyone uses the 11/70-specific features). Now V7 is old enough to not make much use of the hardware, which still makes it easier to get it running on different machines (no split I/D space, no supervisor mode stuff). So, as always, it is possible, but you can't just drop the software in, and expect it to run. > Disks, though... a 11/73 is likely to have an MSCP disk controller, > but the 11/70 has quite a number of supported disk controllers. True. > I'd look at the 7th Ed. sources and the install process to see what > 7th Ed. is expecting to load onto. You need to rewrite things. There is no way you can get something written for the Unibus, and large memory, work on a q-bus without rewriting some stuff. Johnny -- Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

17 years, 2 months

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Question re: 8" drive form-factor

by snhirsch＠gmail.com

Here's a strange one: I recently acquired two Shugart 851 drives from another cctech-er. They were in nice shape and operate fine. The weird part is their form-factor. I have 8 or 10 other 8" drives in my collection, both half-height and full-height, including two other 851 Shugarts. All of these are 8.5" wide, with faceplate and frame being exactly the same size. These two "new" Shugart units are _9.5"_ wide at the faceplate and require a clearance of about 9-1/8" for the frame. Can anyone explain this odd sizing? Were they perhaps manufactured against an earlier standard? Color me puzzled... Steve --

17 years, 2 months

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More vintage hardware still alive and kickin'

by mross666＠hotmail.com

Enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RCgIrZiC6c Mike http://www.corestore.org _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009

17 years, 2 months

2
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IBM AS400 inquiry

by rescue＠hawkmountain.net

A friend of mine just obtained an AS400. It is a "9406-170 System S104V7NM Subsystem QCTL". I know nothing of AS400s. He did say it boots. So, what specs are this ? What does it run (OS ?, Apps ?), and what can be done with it (he was originally going to use it as an end table !!! until he found it actually booted). -- Curt

17 years, 2 months

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