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

by ian_primus＠yahoo.com

I have a CMD CQD-203/T (same board as the CQD-200, only with the S handle for the BA213) in my MicroVax 3900. This is a SCSI tape controller. Is there any way to upgrade/convert this board into the /MT (disk/tape) version of the board? Is it just a simple EPROM replacement, or something more complicated/impossible? In it's stock form, can this board work with a CDROM drive at all, or do I need the M or MT version for that? Thanks! -Ian

18 years, 2 months

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Anyone had experience with this supplier of floppies?

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

Jim Leonard writes: > I was looking for a source of new diskettes and found Athana here: > http://athana.com/html/diskette.html > > Anyone had experience with their product? I don't want to use these > only to be wiping goo off of the inside of my floppy drives five years > later... I bought and recommended their 8" floppies and compatible RL02 packs in the late 80's through mid-Lasnerian-90's. At the time I was going through sizeable lots (500, 1000 at a shot.) Worked fine back then... but it's been a long time! Tim.

18 years, 3 months

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Anyone had experience with this supplier of floppies?

by trixter＠oldskool.org

I was looking for a source of new diskettes and found Athana here: http://athana.com/html/diskette.html Anyone had experience with their product? I don't want to use these only to be wiping goo off of the inside of my floppy drives five years later... -- Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org) http://www.oldskool.org/ Help our electronic games project: http://www.mobygames.com/ Or check out some trippy MindCandy at http://www.mindcandydvd.com/ A child borne of the home computer wars: http://trixter.wordpress.com/

18 years, 3 months

2
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powering up older machines - is it safe?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: powering up older machines - is it safe? > From: "John F. Kuenzig" <jfk at kuenzigbooks.com> > Date: Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:21:02 -0400 > To: cctech at classiccmp.org > >Hi all - I'm new to the list, been lurking for a while. By way of >introduction, back in the 80s I was a bonified software developer (wrote >a mag tape locking device for an early version of UNIX back when there >wasn't such a thing, did work in telecom test equipment and speech >recognition for years) but these days I'm in the old/rare book business, >technical books and all. I like old hardware, though don't have the >storage space for much. When I was in high school I took apart a Friden >computyper in my parents basement just to see what was in it. Still >have the "core memory" board around here somewhere. I've tried to >salvage manuals for old computers, component manufacturer technical >books, and an IMSAI or two over the years. Still have 20 boxes of old >components (everything from transistors, caps, resistors, etc to tubes) >in the garage I've accumulated over the years when I'm buying old books >from hobbyists - buried deep enough I don't even remember what's in them. > >Anyway, a friend asked me to try and sell a DEC Robin for him (he tells >me it's a DEC VT180 with a separate drive unit that he tells me was only >available to DEC employees), and my question is this: ;) have a few of them around. > >Is it safe to try and plug this machine in and try to power it up? I've >seen various discussions about old capacitors dying, etc but I'm not >sure if this machine is old enough to worry about. My plan was to try >and power it up (my consignor also gave me some software with it, not >sure if it's related or not yet), and see if it still ran ok, take some >photos for the group (if anyone wants to see it) and my own records, and >then try to sell it. It appears to be in good shape, in the original >boxes, "monitor" in one box w/keyboard (looks to be a VT180), and a disc >drive unit in the other. My consignor said it ran the last time he had >it out many years ago. I've always enjoyed and preferred photographs of >old machines with their startup screen displayed rather than a dark >screen. Seems like they have more life with a live screen. Generally yes in my exerience. The PS is a ASTEC switcher in the drive and DEC in the tube/system case. Customer could buy the second drive though when it was being sold it was very expensive. >Any pointers appreciated (on or off list) - what to do or check in what >order would be great. Its been a long time since I blew up directional >capacitors in lab...so long I don't even remember what they're called. >Thanks in advance!<grin> Generally every one I'd found powered up or was dead. The latter was "it was dead when I got it" from the person before me and likely dead >from the person before that. Watch the VT100 monitor board. There is a cap that should be a higher voltage part that fails in time taking parts. It's repairable if croaked but people panic when they see chared board. Allison Framingham,MA exdigit. >-- >Sincerely, > >John Kuenzig, Bookseller > >Kuenzig Books >PO Box 452, Topsfield, MA 01983 >978-887-4053 9am-7pm Eastern Standard Time >866-512-3053 tollfree 9am-7pm EST >orders at kuenzigbooks.com (orders or inquiries) > >Important Books in Science, Technology and Speculative Fiction > >Secure ordering at http://www.kuenzigbooks.com >Save time, money and earn other exclusive benefits. > >Members of: >ABAA http://www.abaa.org >MARIAB http://www.mariab.org >ESA http://www.ephemerasociety.org > >Buying 18th-21st century books, manuscripts, ephemera, >scientific instruments, artifacts, and related material

18 years, 3 months

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Can you ID this early pen-based portable?

by tosteve＠yahoo.com

Please identify this computer for me if you can: http://members.cox.net/oldcomputerads/appraiser1.jpg Thanks- Steve.

18 years, 3 months

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SuperBrain QD

by les＠frii.com

Subject: SuperBrain QD past millennium." Some of my systems are shown at www.8bit-matrix.net <http://www.8bit-matrix.net/> . If you would like then do not hesitate to have a look at you them there. Superbrains and the related Intertube had terrible switching power supplies. I would be very suspicious of the 5 volt line. As an aside, the shop I worked in at the time had a picture of a superbrain power supply on the wall, with the caption "component in question is easily located by the charred area". Les Hildenbrandt

18 years, 3 months

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SuperBrain QD

by JSievers＠NADINE-Software.com

Hi, this my first message here on the list and so I may say "Hello, It is nice to be able to join so uncomplicated to this list and to be able to exchange itself with you over the miraculous computers of the past millennium." Some of my systems are shown at www.8bit-matrix.net <http://www.8bit-matrix.net/> . If you would like then do not hesitate to have a look at you them there. But now my actual problem. I have a SuperBrain in my collection which has an electronically problem. So I need the schematics for repair. I found some on the net but these are really unreadable because they are scanned in very low resolution an quality. When I have gotten the system the keyboard decoder chip (KR3600-XXX) was death. After I have installed a replacement the SB becomes running. After few minutes this chip was broken again and the screen driver was possibly gone with it. I have some experience and equipment to figure out electronically problems for repair. But without a readable schematics it would cost to much time. So I'm full of hope that someone here supports me to getting back this system to a proper and running state. By the way, is there a replacement (self-made GAL-XXX eg.) or source to get one original KR3600-XXX chip? Regards Juergen

18 years, 3 months

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HP 9000 Pascal 3.2 : HFS on HP9133L

by jobs＠gmx.de

I was just browsing the web for some advice about HP Pascal 3.25. You were mentioning it while looking for HFS initialisation. Were you successful?. I have Pascal 3.2 or BASIC 6.4. Both support HFS. Did you find PASCAL 3.25 ??? Greetings. Jo ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dr. Joachim B?hrmann-Schulz Hardyweg 8 14055 Berlin jobs at gmx.de

18 years, 3 months

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last-minute TI-990 available

by aek＠bitsavers.org

> This is not relevant to this particular rescue, but I know nothing > about these systems and am curious. What type of OS and app software > do machines like this run? 990's are 16 bit computers heavily influenced by the architecture of the pdp-11. The main difference is the working registers were kept in memory, allowing very fast context switches, at the expense of register access performance. Later machines cached the register sets. There was a small single-user floppy disk based os (for the 990/4 based on the TMS9900), but the main OS was DX-10, which was replaced by DNOS on the 990/12 series. Their primary use was in small buisiness, they had COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC, and things like rje, data base and forms management packages, and networking. It seems they were widely used in inventory and parts management systems. The history of the 990 says the system was originally developed as part of a hotel management system. dave pitt's site (as well as bitsavers) are good sources of information http://www.cozx.com/~dpitts/ti990.html

18 years, 3 months

4
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Transformer repairs

by dr.emiel＠xs4all.nl

Ade, I think you mean the small transformer with 6 wires attached, this transformer has 2 * 9VAC outputs and one AC-line input (230 or 110V depends on region) This transformer is the supply for the regulator IC's in the PSU the regulators are places on two small PCB's, on the large PCB there is a rectifier (Greatz) witch you have to check. If thats alright you have a reasonable change the PSU works after replacing the transformer with a similar type 2 * 9VAC 3 to 5VA. Rik -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] Namens Ade Vickers Verzonden: woensdag 28 mei 2008 18:38 Aan: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts' Onderwerp: Transformer repairs I was messing around with my SX-64 (which is on ePay as a working unit) yesterday, having located some software & a joystick for it. I was going to take a few photos of the new bits, etc.; for adding to the listing. Then: *sharp snap/crack noise*, lights go out. Aaaargh! OK, first things first: There was no burning smell, and no (visible) magic smoke released. The fuse wire in the glass fuse has been vapourised; the mains fuse survived. I replaced the fuse, which has not since blown, but the PSU is deader than a dead thing that's been dead for a week. Some careful poking around with the multimeter (before the multimeter went bang - ffs, I must have an anti-midas touch this week), then the oscilliscope, reveals that a secondary transformer on the PSU has failed. I presume it went dead short, then burnt itself + the fuse out simultaneously; hence the reason the replacement fuse hasn't blown. So, what I need to do now is replace the transformer, or get it repaired somehow (ideally before Sunday, when the ePay auction runs out - or, to definitely know it is unfixable in that timescale & thus cancel the auction). What I DO have, which might make a repair feasible, is a second SX-64; the only difference is, this one has a US (117v) PSU. Obviously, the primary transformer windings are going to be different, but is it possible/likely that the secondary transformer will be the same? Going by the part nos. I'm not terribly hopeful: UK Part no: TDK 68-0409 B8326A US Part No: TDK 68-0407 B8309A A quick google on any of those numbers reveals nothing... I don't have the means to create 117v 60hz power, so I can't test that way - and even if I could, it turns out that the US PSU has taken a wallop at some point, breaking the circuit board. :( Hey ho... any help gratefully received. TIA! Best Regards, Ade. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.24.1/1469 - Release Date: 27/05/2008 13:25

18 years, 3 months

13
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Introduction

by roger.holmes＠microspot.co.uk

On 30 May, 2008, at 18:00, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > > Message: 9 > Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 17:11:02 +0200 > From: Oliver Lehmann <lehmann at ans-netz.de> > Subject: Introduction > To: Classic Computers Mailing List <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Welcome Oliver. > The system runs a Z8001 with 3 MMUs and Z80-peripherial ICs (PIO, > SIO...) > It also has 2 SIOs for 4 terminal connections, and one PIO to > connect the > WDC. The system also has two furhter PIO chips to establish a > connection > to the 8Bit system. The system runs with up to 4MB of DRAM but it > might > run with more RAM with self-made RAM modules. Three MMUs seems a bit weird. I last programmed a Z8001 in 1979 so maybe things have changed between then and when your machine was built. If I remember correctly, the Z8010 MMU mapped 64 of the 128 segments, you could have one MMU and address 64 chunks of up to 64k in the 16MB address range. With two MMUs you could access all 128 chunks. Are the MMUs set up for different processes, or are they divided into instruction and data accesses or some other way? The system I worked on would have eventually had 12 Z8001s each with one MMU and 128K of local RAM plus the CPU were grouped into modules of three and had about 3MB of RAM in the module and each module could also access the other 3 module's RAM, but with more wait states. Each Z8001 was responsible for managing a wide microprogrammed bit slice processor for doing heavy mathematics, though the details might still be secret even though the project was cancelled in the mid eighties, several years after I left the company. I got involved quite early, the first draft of the Z8001 instruction set manual which I was given included a memory to memory transfer instruction, but that was dropped before they issued the first sample chips about a year later. A bit of a blow as we had started writing a Coral 66 compiler for it by then. When I retire I might get around to getting myself a Z8001 system if there's any still around by then. I am kept busy at work programming Apple Macs and at home restoring a 1962 mainframe computer (ICT 1301) and restoring/maintaining my old cars (2 Daimlers, 2 Rovers, a Land Rover, a Jaguar and a BMW). I think you would have to be lucky to get your C code to use exactly the same registers as the original object code. Are you sure it was originally C or could it have been assembly code?

18 years, 3 months

6
13
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OS/2 problems

by teoz＠neo.rr.com

Anybody happen to have disks for OS/2 2.1? I tried installing it today on my PS/2 65SX and disk #8 is bad. not sure if anything past that is good or not. Also I tried installing OS/2 1.1EE onto the same machine but fdisk could not find any drives. Since that machine is SCSI does OS/2 expect ESDI drives? TZ

18 years, 3 months

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WOPR sells on eBay

by sellam＠vintagetech.com

This is actually a replica of the original WOPR that was commissioned for an AT&T commercial a couple years back. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220237845125 -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

18 years, 3 months

15
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Removing panels from a DEC rack, and MicroVax current draw...

by ian_primus＠yahoo.com

Well, just when I had thought that I'd had DEC racks figured out, I tried to disassemble this one. Now, every other DEC rack I've worked on, you just have to lift up (sometimes pretty hard) on the side panels, and they pop off. Not this one. This is a MicroVax 3900, that I have decided, likely against my better judgement, to install in my second floor computer room. Before it goes in there, I need to give it a good cleaning, and I'm going to bring it up in pieces. So far, I've gotten the RA90's out, removed the top, back and front, and now I'm trying to remove the BA213 from the rack. And, in order to do this, I need to take off the little latch/metal tab that holds the front door shut. It's held on with two screws, that can't be reached unless I remove that side panel. Upon closer inspection, I see that these side panels are somewhat different than the ones I'm used to. They are made of plastic! Yes, while they have the same white-edged, black side appearance, they are made of a thick, bombproof plastic rather than the usual metal. They won't lift off, I've put a fair amount of force on them, and they just won't pop off. I can't see any kind of retaining screw or tab, and I'm at a loss. Accoding to the back of the top panel, this is a Model 655QF-AZ, series H9644. Any ideas? Another thing I wonder about, is just how much juice will this sucker need? I have two RA90's, and the MicroVax 3900 system (BA213 chassis), with one RA70 in it, and a decent population of cards. The power distribution unit that came with the cabinet sports a 30A power connector, but I know that I should be able to run this off a regular 15A circuit. Question being, can I run anything else off that circuit too? -Ian

18 years, 3 months

1
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Sick Atari STE wisdom sought

by gordonjcp＠gjcp.net

I've got an Atari 1040STE, which was previously working (well, after I blanket-resoldered the PSU - always a notorious spot for dry joints). After leaving it for a while, I came back to find it had locked up with the desktop showing, but not responding to keys or mouse. On rebooting I get a blank white screen - locked, but just blank - and the floppy drive doesn't spin up. Nor do I get keyclicks when I press the keys. What could I look at first? With the ST come up with the keyboard unplugged, or will it just sit there in silence? Gordon

18 years, 3 months

1
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OS/2 problems

by Gary＠realtimecomp.com

> -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] > On Behalf Of Chuck Guzis > Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 10:15 AM > Subject: Re: OS/2 problems > What I don't have is the network version of OS/2 2.x. Does anyone > have that one? > > Cheers, > Chuck Chuck, I'm sure I have it, I have a ton of OS/2 stuff, but I'm just packing up for a move. Ping me again after the 10 or so, and I'll get it to you. Gary

18 years, 3 months

1
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Beehive B103 terminals available near Kansas City, MO

by tosteve＠yahoo.com

Please contact the person below, I am just relaying this information: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nrpsbx01 at comcast.net I have a couple of Beehive B103 terminals that were made for InfoRex corp that I would like to find homes for. They are not currently working properly, although they were working prior to being stored. The CRTs display characters, but it is random and flashing. Probably just need a thorough cleaning. I'm offering them for no charge other than packing and shipping .... although I found that packaging and shipping costs are significant. The ideal situation would be if someone could pick them up. I'm in the Kansas City MO area. Interested parties may contact me at nrpsbx01 at comcast.net.

18 years, 3 months

1
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Micron XCeed Color Card for Mac SE/30 near Seattle WA

by michaelgreen42＠comcast.net

I've got what I believe to be a complete Micron Xceed setup for a Mac SE/30. I know these are extremely rare and thought I would pass it by you guys to see if I get any offers. I'd really rather avoid the eBay cesspool, so seeing what the highest offer I can get would be. -----Original Message----- From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of cctech-request at classiccmp.org Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 10:03 AM To: cctech at classiccmp.org Subject: cctech Digest, Vol 58, Issue 2 Send cctech mailing list submissions to cctech at classiccmp.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctech or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to cctech-request at classiccmp.org You can reach the person managing the list at cctech-owner at classiccmp.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of cctech digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: PET 2001-8 progress... (Josh Dersch) 2. RE: Introduction (dwight elvey) 3. Re: DEC Brochures - already scanned? (Al Kossow) 4. RE: Tandy (Radio Shack) 6000 rescue (Geoff Reed) 5. Re: Introduction (Oliver Lehmann) 6. C <-> ASM translation problem (Oliver Lehmann) 7. Wang the Perverted (schwepes at moog.netaxs.com) 8. RE: Transformer repairs (Ade Vickers) 9. Thanks! RE:XT Diagnostic ROM and POSTcard (Andrew Lynch) 10. Re: Thanks! RE:XT Diagnostic ROM and POSTcard (Jim Leonard) 11. RE: Introduction (dwight elvey) 12. Re: Wang the Perverted (Jim Battle) 13. Re: Wang the Perverted (Roy J. Tellason) 14. Synertek KTM-3/80 -- 2 questions (Peter) 15. RE: Transformer repairs (dwight elvey) 16. Old style DEC 5-1/4" "pop panel" needed (will trade for 10 1/2") (Bob Armstrong) 17. RE: Thanks! REXT Diagnostic ROM and POSTcard (Andrew Lynch) 18. video game cartridges (David Griffith) 19. Re: video game cartridges (Chris M) 20. Re: video game cartridges (Mr Ian Primus) 21. Re: video game cartridges (Mr Ian Primus) 22. Re: video game cartridges (David Griffith) 23. Good Composite->VGA converters for classic computers (& video games...) (Josh Dersch) 24. Big Board I: micro cornucopia & user disk (Enrico Lazzerini) 25. Come Work at Bell Labs! (Jason T) 26. OS/2 problems (Teo Zenios) 27. Re: OS/2 problems (Teo Zenios) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 21:52:01 -0700 From: Josh Dersch <derschjo at msu.edu> Subject: Re: PET 2001-8 progress... To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <4840D971.1030807 at msu.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Dave Dunfield wrote: >> Got out my ancient oscilloscope and did a bit of probing and got a >> little more info: >> >> On power up, the CPU reset line is held low for ~1 sec, then goes high. >> At this point if I look at the address/data lines, I can see a very >> brief burst of activity and then nothing at all (it's during this >> activity that a few characters on screen change). After this activity, >> all address lines are high. IRQ & NMI lines are high. CPU is being >> clocked throughout all of this, clock rate seems to be correct. >> > > Assuming that it is clocked and has been reset correctly, there are > generally only two reasons that a CPU stops running (fetching opcodes): > > 1) It is being held in a hardware wait state. > > Check the state of the RDY line on the 6502 and if it > is asserted, backtrace through the circuit to find out why. > RDY is being held high, which I believe is correct (my understanding >from reading 6502 specs indicates this is held low to halt the CPU...) > 2) It executes an instruction which causes it to stop > > Usually a HALT instructionor of some sort or other, there are sometimes > undocumented opcodes which cause this behaviour as well - A bit of > net searching should turn up details on the undocumented opcodes. > > There are generally two reasons why a processor would execute an opcode > to shut itself off: > > 1) On purpose > > Usually while waiting for an interrupt - given that you PET hasn't > even cleared it's screen, I doubt this is the case. > > 2) By executing "random" code > > Can be caused by: > - Bad ROM - actual code gets corrupted > - Bad RAM - stack failure results in "return" to random address > - Bad bus buffers - hardware failure resulting in corruption in the > address or data buses. > - Bad decode logic - no device or multiple memory devices being > selected when only one should be. > > I've seen a least two 2001's with bad ROM chips. And a number of PETs > with bad RAM - I'd suspect one of these two. > On a whim, I ran the machine without any of the ROMs installed and I get identical behavior to what I was already seeing (brief CPU activity, then nothing). I suspect the CPU is just reading garbage and something's broken between the CPU & RAM. The CPU's probably halting on a bogus instruction... I'm going to do some investigation in that area. Thanks for the suggestions... Josh > If you have a storage scope, you should be able to trigger on the > SYNC signal at the CPU and catch the last few opcode fetches - walking > the data and address bus signals and writing them down will reveal > the last opcode executed and the address from which it was executed. > > Alas, I don't. My 'scope's an ancient Tektronix 561A. Works great, but it's pretty simple. (And maybe a bit underpowered for this particular task...) > Look at the opcode that was executed to see what exactly caused the > CPU to stop. > > Try this a couple of times and see if the CPU is always stopping in > the same place. Scope the select lines and note *which* ROM was > selected for the last opcode fetch, or in the case of a "wild" access, > which ROM was selected last before it stopped. > > If the address where that opcode was fetched in within the ROM, get > the PET rom binaries and see if it's "supposed" to be there - a bit > of disassembly around that address should tell you if the code is > real code, or some random bit of data that the processor wandered > off into. If you can read the PET ROMs (I made an adapter to stuff > them into my homebuild EPROM programmer) you can compare against the > binaries to check the entire ROM content - The PET roms are not standard > pinouts - but you can make an adapter to put a normal ROM in the > socket - IIRC I needed a TTL chip to provide an extra select - I've > got photos on my site of a PET that I had to repair this way. > > If the address is NOT within the ROM, trigger on the ROM select and > see what the last opcode executed from ROM was - if it was RTS or > RTI I would strongly suspect a RAM problem. It might also be a jump > indirect (same suspicion). As above, look at the code contained at > this address and see it if "makes sense" as a valid place to be > executing. > > > With a decent scope you can get several fetches on the screen, and > therefore determine the opcode/address for the last few instructions > executed - If you can't get any of that to make sense, try single- > shot trigger and capture the first few instructons executed - see if > they make sense and match the ROM. > > With a bit of poking around you should be able to determine what the > processor is doing at the time it went insane - hopefully at some point > the "ah-ha" light will go on. > > Regards, > Dave > > -- > dave06a (at) Dave Dunfield > dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com > com Collector of vintage computing equipment: > http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/index.html > > > ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 21:01:27 -0700 From: dwight elvey <dkelvey at hotmail.com> Subject: RE: Introduction To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <BAY138-W40430C54E60BC3EB282BEFA3B90 at phx.gbl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" > From: roger.holmes at microspot.co.uk > Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 21:09:13 +0100 > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: Introduction > > > On 30 May, 2008, at 18:00, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > >> >> Message: 9 >> Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 17:11:02 +0200 >> From: Oliver Lehmann >> Subject: Introduction >> To: Classic Computers Mailing List > > Welcome Oliver. > > >> The system runs a Z8001 with 3 MMUs and Z80-peripherial ICs (PIO, >> SIO...) >> It also has 2 SIOs for 4 terminal connections, and one PIO to >> connect the >> WDC. The system also has two furhter PIO chips to establish a >> connection >> to the 8Bit system. The system runs with up to 4MB of DRAM but it >> might >> run with more RAM with self-made RAM modules. > > ---snip--- > > When I retire I might get around to getting myself a Z8001 system if > there's any still around by then. I am kept busy at work programming > Apple Macs and at home restoring a 1962 mainframe computer (ICT 1301) > and restoring/maintaining my old cars (2 Daimlers, 2 Rovers, a Land > Rover, a Jaguar and a BMW). > Hi One can still get a Olivetti M20 but mose I've seen come up on the Italian eBay. These don't have a MMU but instead use a ROM to decode segements. It is limited to 512K of RAM. It does have one segement where the data and instruction are mapped to two different physical memories, giving a total of 128K within one segement. The M20 can run the version of CP/M that DRI came up with. It has a C compilers as well asn an assembler. It can also have a hard disk connected but the original controllers are hard to find. It is software compatable with the WD1000 controller. I use a TRS80 controller and a ST251 drive. I did need to modify the code to deal with stepping differences between the original olivetti drive and the ST251. I just use the auto stepping. Dwight _________________________________________________________________ Give to a good cause with every e-mail. Join the im Initiative from Microsoft. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Join/Default.aspx?souce=EML_WL_ GoodCause ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 22:44:26 -0700 From: Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org> Subject: Re: DEC Brochures - already scanned? To: classiccmp at classiccmp.org Message-ID: <4840E5BA.1040005 at bitsavers.org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > Wow, that must have been a brutal scanning job. Paper cutter and a sheet feeder. Biggest challenge was dealing with thin paper. I've switched to a different brand of scanner that can handle it better now to deal with the data books. ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 23:34:33 -0700 From: "Geoff Reed" <geoffr at zipcon.net> Subject: RE: Tandy (Radio Shack) 6000 rescue To: "'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <078801c8c2e8$63aea410$6a01a8c0 at liberator> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" I still miss my tandy 6000 I had several years ago... very nice box as long as you had spare HDD's for the external storage unit. ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 08:41:27 +0200 From: Oliver Lehmann <lehmann at ans-netz.de> Subject: Re: Introduction To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Message-ID: <20080531084127.dfbaf4a6.lehmann at ans-netz.de> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII dwight elvey wrote: > It is software compatable with the WD1000 controller. I use > a TRS80 controller and a ST251 drive. I did need to modify > the code to deal with stepping differences between the original > olivetti drive and the ST251. I just use the auto stepping. > Dwight Can you tell me a bit more about this? I can connect MFM drives to my WDC too but I've problems with ST251-1 while ST251-0 are working. I think that the -1 is probably somewhat different then the -0 but I'm not sure where to look at in the WDC firmware (source is 86K) for what to change... http://pofo.de/P8000/misc/sources/EAW/Firmware/Firmware_-_MON16-WDC/WDC/wdc. firm.s I can switch something in the firmware from 40MHz to 41,4MHz but neither this helps nor do I know what this means.... -- Oliver Lehmann http://www.pofo.de/ http://wishlist.ans-netz.de/ ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 13:00:15 +0200 From: Oliver Lehmann <lehmann at ans-netz.de> Subject: C <-> ASM translation problem To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Message-ID: <20080531130015.2f61d66d.lehmann at ans-netz.de> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Hi, As I promissed here comes my first question ;) While writing several C files for the WEGA/ZEUS kernel out of the disassembled objects (with unresolved symbols marked as external) I came across a piece of code I can't get to reproduce when compiling C. The original object contains: 0006de: 35a2 0004 ldl rr2,rr10(#$0004) 0006e2: 9424 ldl rr4,rr2 0006e4: 0704 7f00 and r4,#$7f00 0006e8: 5d04 8000 0004 ldl $8000+$0x4,rr4 I tried to reproduce it: ipc.ip_addr.l = *(unsigned long)(uap->addr.l)&0x7F00FFFF; Which generates: 0008 35a2 0004 59 ldl rr2,rr10(#4) 000c 0702 7f00 60 and r2,#32512 0010 5d02 8000* 61 ldl _ipc+4,rr2 0014 0004* which looks for me functional the same... I also tried: ipc.ip_addr.l = *(unsigned long *)(uap->addr.l)&0x7F00FFFF; Which generates: 0010 35a2 0004 60 ldl rr2,rr10(#4) 0014 1424 61 ldl rr4, at rr2 0016 0704 7f00 62 and r4,#32512 001a 5d04 8000* 63 ldl _ipc+4,rr4 Which looks "better" but isn't the same as the original because the adress of rr2 gets loaded into rr4 first, not rr2 itself. I'm a bit lost because I tried several different */&-pointer stuff to get this as it is in the original object without success. the elements ip_addr and addr are both of type saddr_t which is declare as follows: typedef union { caddr_t l; struct { unsigned left; unsigned right; } half; } saddr_t; /* segmented address with parts */ rr4 itself gets later overwritten in both codes - my code and the original object - it is not reserved for an internal C-variable. Maybe someone from you can help me here? -- Oliver Lehmann http://www.pofo.de/ http://wishlist.ans-netz.de/ ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 07:49:45 -0400 (EDT) From: schwepes at moog.netaxs.com Subject: Wang the Perverted To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.58.0805310740230.15648 at moog.netaxs.com> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII My name is Bob and this is my first post. What caused me to join this discussion group was a wang computer that came into my possession that had two 5 1/4 diskette drives, one internal and the other external. It seemed to require its own peculiar start up disk and I suspect it would have to be a formatted 160 or 180 kbit job. Finding out information on this thing only seemed to lead to dead ends. I cannot get greater specifics as I stored the thing in an inconvenient place when I took it off the workbench. respectfully bob schwier ------------------------------ Message: 8 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 14:12:56 +0100 From: "Ade Vickers" <javickers at solutionengineers.com> Subject: RE: Transformer repairs To: "'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <045701c8c320$0ae50490$0b01a8c0 at solutionengineers.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1250" Tony Duell wrote: > > OK, let's talk failures ;) If you've got any links which give a > > sensible description of how a switcher works, I'd be most grateful. > > I don;'t know of any useful on-line info. There's a pretty > poor article in this month's Elektor magazine (which might > give you some idea), and there's a reasonable description in > the _second edition_ of The Art of Electronics (a book which > you ought to have anyway...) I have the AofE 2nd edn (I think it's 2nd edn, anyway), I'll take a look. Cheers, Ade. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.24.2 - Release Date: 28/05/2008 00:00 ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 09:18:31 -0400 From: "Andrew Lynch" <lynchaj at yahoo.com> Subject: Thanks! RE:XT Diagnostic ROM and POSTcard To: <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <000001c8c320$d2ac34d0$a903a8c0 at andrewdesktop> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi All, I just wanted to say "Thank you" to everyone who helped me fix this classic IBM XT motherboard with the Diagnostic ROM image and the settings for the AWARD POSTcard. Long story short, I replaced a 74LS245 and a faulty DRAM chip and now the board boots fine. Of course half the fun is finding what actually works, what doesn't, what appears to be broken but actually works, what is broken but appears to be working, etc. You know the drill, I am sure. Fixing an old broken 16 bit VGA card which works in an 8 bit ISA slot helped a lot. As did the old style PC/XT style floppy drive controller... So anyway, it's fixed and I booted MS-DOS 5.0 and the Advanced IBM Diagnostics from a 5.25" floppy disk drive. So I think we are there. THANKS! Andrew Lynch PS, BTW the XT Diagnostic ROM image seems to work best when burned into a 2764 EPROM. I tried various other types of EPROM but the 2764 seems to work best. I think IBM did some weird remapping of their custom Mask BIOS ROM... ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 09:44:56 -0500 From: Jim Leonard <trixter at oldskool.org> Subject: Re: Thanks! RE:XT Diagnostic ROM and POSTcard To: General at mail.mobygames.com, "Discussion at mail.mobygames.com":On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <48416468.5090300 at oldskool.org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Andrew Lynch wrote: > Long story short, I replaced a 74LS245 and a faulty DRAM chip and now the > board boots fine. The DRAM I could probably figure out myself, but how did you determine the 74LS245 was at fault? (I, too, have a 5150 that won't boot) -- Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org) http://www.oldskool.org/ Help our electronic games project: http://www.mobygames.com/ Or check out some trippy MindCandy at http://www.mindcandydvd.com/ A child borne of the home computer wars: http://trixter.wordpress.com/ ------------------------------ Message: 11 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 07:45:00 -0700 From: dwight elvey <dkelvey at hotmail.com> Subject: RE: Introduction To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <BAY138-W24D5E879AF7B158451474FA3B90 at phx.gbl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Hi My German isn't that good. If the step rate is the problem, I did see a couple routines that were creating steps. One was RAMP. Setting the controllers step rate is always done on just one port. I forget which. All you should really need to do is find all the out's to that port and set the step to the auto rate. For my code, it was only in two places. Dwight > From: lehmann at ans-netz.de > > dwight elvey wrote: > >> It is software compatable with the WD1000 controller. I use >> a TRS80 controller and a ST251 drive. I did need to modify >> the code to deal with stepping differences between the original >> olivetti drive and the ST251. I just use the auto stepping. >> Dwight > > Can you tell me a bit more about this? I can connect MFM drives to my WDC > too but I've problems with ST251-1 while ST251-0 are working. I think > that the -1 is probably somewhat different then the -0 but I'm not sure > where to look at in the WDC firmware (source is 86K) for what to > change... > http://pofo.de/P8000/misc/sources/EAW/Firmware/Firmware_-_MON16-WDC/WDC/wdc. firm.s > > I can switch something in the firmware from 40MHz to 41,4MHz but neither > this helps nor do I know what this means.... > > -- > Oliver Lehmann > http://www.pofo.de/ > http://wishlist.ans-netz.de/ _________________________________________________________________ Give to a good cause with every e-mail. Join the im Initiative from Microsoft. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Join/Default.aspx?souce=EML_WL_ GoodCause ------------------------------ Message: 12 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 09:57:15 -0500 From: Jim Battle <frustum at pacbell.net> Subject: Re: Wang the Perverted To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <4841674B.6090709 at pacbell.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed schwepes at moog.netaxs.com wrote: > My name is Bob and this is my first post. > What caused me to join this discussion group was a wang computer that > came into my possession that had two 5 1/4 diskette drives, one > internal and the other external. > It seemed to require its own peculiar start up disk and I suspect it > would have to be a formatted 160 or 180 kbit job. > Finding out information on this thing only seemed to lead to dead ends. > I cannot get greater specifics as I stored the thing in an inconvenient > place when I took it off the workbench. > respectfully > bob schwier > > > Bob, Wang made many different computers of the course of three decades. Can you say which one you are talking about? Or some information that might help narrow it down? ------------------------------ Message: 13 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 11:17:47 -0400 From: "Roy J. Tellason" <rtellason at verizon.net> Subject: Re: Wang the Perverted To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <200805311117.47464.rtellason at verizon.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 On Saturday 31 May 2008 10:57, Jim Battle wrote: > schwepes at moog.netaxs.com wrote: > > My name is Bob and this is my first post. > > What caused me to join this discussion group was a wang computer that > > came into my possession that had two 5 1/4 diskette drives, one > > internal and the other external. > > It seemed to require its own peculiar start up disk and I suspect it > > would have to be a formatted 160 or 180 kbit job. > > Finding out information on this thing only seemed to lead to dead ends. > > I cannot get greater specifics as I stored the thing in an inconvenient > > place when I took it off the workbench. > > respectfully > > bob schwier > > Bob, > > Wang made many different computers of the course of three decades. Can > you say which one you are talking about? Or some information that might > help narrow it down? Those disk formats sound like their "PC" with single-sided drives, 8 or 9 sectors / track offhand... -- Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and ablest -- form of life in this section of space, a critter that can be killed but can't be tamed. --Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters" - Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James M Dakin ------------------------------ Message: 14 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 17:32:36 +0200 From: "Peter" <peter.lofstedt at bahnhof.se> Subject: Synertek KTM-3/80 -- 2 questions To: <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <000001c8c333$8dbecfa0$0300a8c0 at HemPC> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hello I have an KTM-3 with power module, thermo printer and floppy drive. How can I come in touch with people that are interested in this classic hardware? Kind Regards Peter Lofstedt Home +46 243 60655 Cell +46 70 6368475 Peter.lofstedt at ericsson.com ------------------------------ Message: 15 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 09:15:45 -0700 From: dwight elvey <dkelvey at hotmail.com> Subject: RE: Transformer repairs To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <BAY138-W24BE1707FABC9FD2B0BBBBA3B90 at phx.gbl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" > From: dkelvey at hotmail.com > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 20:47:47 -0700 > Subject: RE: Transformer repairs > > > > > >> From: javickers at solutionengineers.com > ---snip some --- >> >> My apologies - I previously stated that all T's were fed from the same AC >> input, but that's wrong. Mea culpa, my memory is rapidly fading, and I was >> going from memory... >> >> You can probably follow things from the schematic better than I can from the >> circuit board, however: >> >> The T3 transformer is fed via Q1 from one side of C7. I'm guessing that Q1 >> is what's generating the pulses? > > Hi Ade > No, Q1 is on the secondary side of T3, not the primary. IC1 generates > the pulse that go through T3 and cause Q1 to turn on for the short pulses. > I'll try to walk you through how this particular supply works. > > ---snip-- some more >> >> Can remove T1 from the board & conduct an isolated test? If I connect a 9v >> battery (with a lightbulb in series, say) across the primary, would I expect >> to see a pulse of some kind come out of the secondary if it is working >> properly? > > It is unlikely that you'd see anything more than a small spike on a scope > The T1 seems to have about a 100:1 ratio or more. Oops! should have said 10:1 or more. Dwight > > Let me try to describe how this supply works. This should help you fix it. > > First, T2 provides power to IC1. IC1 monitors the 12 volts out through > R14, VR2 and R12 network. If it is more than 12 volts, IC1 will sorten > the pulse on time to T3. If the voltage is too low it will increase the pulse > width. > The other components around IC1 provide time constants for the pulse > frequency and filter of response time of the regulation. IC1 also has > a current monitor that looks at R11. If the voltage across R11 is too > high it will turn on a circuit to stop the pulses to T3. > Now, lets look at the high voltage side. As Tony has stated, you can't see > much on a scope because of the fact that everything is following the ac input. > Where you'd want to connect the ground would blow a fuse, unless you > ran differential or as I suggested, use an isolation transformer. > First the input AC goes through the filter network of L1 and some capacitors. > It then goes through a full wave rectifier, causing a DC voltage to be developed > on C7. You should measure this voltage with an ungrounded meter. You should > see about 300volts across C7. If not, something is open in the input circuits. > If, as you say, you see pulses on T3's primary side, it must be in the bridge > rectifier is open. The voltages measured relative to ground have little meaning. > T3's secondary is connected to the emitter and base of Q1. The pulse > will cause Q1 to turn on for a short time. Since this is a short pulse,T1's > secondary will see a voltage spike as well. > This will forward bias the leg of D6 from the transformer to L2, charging > C14. When the pulse is gone on T3's output, Q1 turns off. This turns > the top leg of D6 off. > Because some energy is now stored in L2, the bottom leg of D6 will > now conduct, further charging C14. It is this voltage that feeds back to > IC1 to change the pulse width going to T3 and on to Q1. > This completes the 12 volt part of the supply. > The 5 volt output is completely supplied from the 12 volt line. If there is > no 12 volts, there is no 5 volts. > The 12 volts powers IC2 that sets the regulation of the 5 volt output. > It is directly connected to the transistors that switch the DC from the > 12 volt line to the 5 volt. > IC2 turns on Q4 and Q3 for a short amount of time. This causes > current to flow in L5 and charge C21. When IC2 turns off Q4 and Q3, > L5 will still have some stored energy, causing D7 bto conduct, further > charging C21. > IC2 monitors the voltage and adjust the pulse width to keep the > output at 5V, in the same way as IC1 did. > Besides testing the voltage across C7, as I suggested earlier ( being > very careful not to electricute one self, you might also unsolder Q1 and > see if it is shorted. > This supply is also unique in that the 5 volt part runs from the 12 volt > side. It would be possible to connect a 12 volt bench supply to the > 12 volt output leads ( with the mains not connected ) and see if the > 5 volt output works OK. > That is all I have for now. > Dwight > > _________________________________________________________________ > Change the world with e-mail. Join the im Initiative from Microsoft. > http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Join/Default.aspx?source=EML_WL_ChangeWorld _________________________________________________________________ Give to a good cause with every e-mail. Join the im Initiative from Microsoft. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Join/Default.aspx?souce=EML_WL_ GoodCause ------------------------------ Message: 16 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 11:13:21 -0700 From: "Bob Armstrong" <bob at jfcl.com> Subject: Old style DEC 5-1/4" "pop panel" needed (will trade for 10 1/2") To: "'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <004101c8c34a$0290a810$07b1f830$@com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I need a DEC, old style, "pop panel" blank rack panel that's 5 1/4" high. I'd be happy to trade for a 10 1/2" pop panel if that helps anybody (heck, I'll trade for two - I've got several of the 10 1/2 panels). Thanks, Bob Armstrong ------------------------------ Message: 17 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 15:49:11 -0400 From: "Andrew Lynch" <lynchaj at yahoo.com> Subject: RE: Thanks! REXT Diagnostic ROM and POSTcard To: <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <008b01c8c357$65d30b40$a903a8c0 at andrewdesktop> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Andrew Lynch wrote: > Long story short, I replaced a 74LS245 and a faulty DRAM chip and now the > board boots fine. The DRAM I could probably figure out myself, but how did you determine the 74LS245 was at fault? (I, too, have a 5150 that won't boot) -- Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org <http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctalk> ) http://www.oldskool.org/ Help our electronic games project: http://www.mobygames.com/ Or check out some trippy MindCandy at http://www.mindcandydvd.com/ A child borne of the home computer wars: http://trixter.wordpress.com/ -----REPLY----- Hi, The old fashioned way; I used an oscilloscope to compare the inputs and outputs of the bus transceiver. One of the buffers was dead and all of the outputs on one side looked "funny" so I desoldered it and replaced it with a new one. Of course, the IBM PC/XT motherboards have few sockets so desoldering and replacing the chip was awful. I tried to nicely desolder it but ended up destroying the chip and cutting it out. One thing I really like about VG, NorthStar, Kaypro, and Heath is almost their entire motherboards are socketed. Yes, I know direct soldered chips are technically more reliable but they are a PITA to replace when they do fail. Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch ------------------------------ Message: 18 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 13:13:41 -0700 (PDT) From: David Griffith <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu> Subject: video game cartridges To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.55.0805311312100.3718 at helios.cs.csubak.edu> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII I know that some of you here have an interest in vintage video games. How many of you would be interested in getting together a pool to make new Atari 2600 and Vectrex cartridge cases? -- 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? ------------------------------ Message: 19 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 13:28:16 -0700 (PDT) From: Chris M <chrism3667 at yahoo.com> Subject: Re: video game cartridges To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <913257.48853.qm at web65511.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 how would you intend to do this? You'll need someone to machine a die, and subsequently someone to do the injection molding. It's not rocket science (although I've never done it). But I'm not volunteering... Dies are very expensive by the way. --- David Griffith <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu> wrote: > > I know that some of you here have an interest in > vintage video games. How > many of you would be interested in getting together > a pool to make new > Atari 2600 and Vectrex cartridge cases? > > -- > 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? > ------------------------------ Message: 20 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 13:36:53 -0700 (PDT) From: Mr Ian Primus <ian_primus at yahoo.com> Subject: Re: video game cartridges To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <601034.32883.qm at web52702.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii --- On Sat, 5/31/08, David Griffith <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu> wrote: > I know that some of you here have an interest in vintage > video games. How > many of you would be interested in getting together a pool > to make new > Atari 2600 and Vectrex cartridge cases? I've made up many Atari 2600 cartridges, and I've never had a hard time finding used carts to recycle for the casing. There are enough Pac-Man, ET, and Space Invaders cartridges out there for decades of homemade carts. Besides, even if you had new cart cases made up, you'd still need the boards >from used carts anyway. Unless, of course, someone makes those again too. Vectrex, on the other hand, is a different beast. Not a lot of Vectrex carts out there. Now, if you make up cases for those - I'll buy some - provided that someone sends me a Vectrex, that is... <grin> -Ian ------------------------------ Message: 21 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 13:37:25 -0700 (PDT) From: Mr Ian Primus <ian_primus at yahoo.com> Subject: Re: video game cartridges To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <861748.41180.qm at web52711.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii --- On Sat, 5/31/08, David Griffith <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu> wrote: > I know that some of you here have an interest in vintage > video games. How > many of you would be interested in getting together a pool > to make new > Atari 2600 and Vectrex cartridge cases? I've made up many Atari 2600 cartridges, and I've never had a hard time finding used carts to recycle for the casing. There are enough Pac-Man, ET, and Space Invaders cartridges out there for decades of homemade carts. Besides, even if you had new cart cases made up, you'd still need the boards >from used carts anyway. Unless, of course, someone makes those again too. Vectrex, on the other hand, is a different beast. Not a lot of Vectrex carts out there. Now, if you make up cases for those - I'll buy some - provided that someone sends me a Vectrex, that is... <grin> -Ian ------------------------------ Message: 22 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 13:43:30 -0700 (PDT) From: David Griffith <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu> Subject: Re: video game cartridges To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.55.0805311339590.3718 at helios.cs.csubak.edu> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII On Sat, 31 May 2008, Mr Ian Primus wrote: > --- On Sat, 5/31/08, David Griffith <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu> wrote: > > > I know that some of you here have an interest in vintage video games. > > How many of you would be interested in getting together a pool to make > > new Atari 2600 and Vectrex cartridge cases? > > I've made up many Atari 2600 cartridges, and I've never had a hard time > finding used carts to recycle for the casing. There are enough Pac-Man, > ET, and Space Invaders cartridges out there for decades of homemade > carts. Besides, even if you had new cart cases made up, you'd still need > the boards from used carts anyway. Unless, of course, someone makes > those again too. Atariage.com sells various types of PCBs for the 2600, 5200, 8-bit, and Coleco > Vectrex, on the other hand, is a different beast. Not a lot of Vectrex > carts out there. Now, if you make up cases for those - I'll buy some - > provided that someone sends me a Vectrex, that is... <grin> The Vectrex consoles themselves aren't that hard to find. -- 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? ------------------------------ Message: 23 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 14:01:46 -0700 From: Josh Dersch <derschjo at msu.edu> Subject: Good Composite->VGA converters for classic computers (& video games...) To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <4841BCBA.1070109 at msu.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Anyone out there use a composite->VGA upscaler for their classic computing and/or gaming needs? I've been looking to shave a bit of space off my workbench and just use a single SVGA monitor instead of that and an old composite monitor. I picked up one of these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XXZQWQ and while it works great for certain systems (the C64 and NES, for example) it gets really confused by the composite signal coming from other systems (like the Apple II and Sega Genesis) and is unusable with them. Anyone have any recommendations? Thanks, Josh ------------------------------ Message: 24 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 23:07:53 +0200 From: "Enrico Lazzerini" <elazzerini at interfree.it> Subject: Big Board I: micro cornucopia & user disk To: <cctech at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <4818CE87016296C3 at jack.mail.tiscali.sys> (added by postmaster at tiscali.it) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi at all, i'm looking for all articles and software for the big board I. ( <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_Big_Board> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_Big_Board) There was a magazine called Micro Cornucopia ( <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Cornucopia> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Cornucopia) Some issues are scannered here below: <http://www.aceware.iinet.net.au/acms/BooksByManufacturerList.asp?lngManufac turerId=980&strManufacturerDescription=Micro+Cornucopia> http://www.aceware.iinet.net.au/acms/BooksByManufacturerList.asp?lngManufact urerId=980&strManufacturerDescription=Micro+Cornucopia The issues i'm looking for are from the 1st to the 22th. There was also an DRI Archive of the Big Board user disk. I'm looking from the #1 to the #20. They contain sw utilities bios lists and all about this OLD SBC. I thanks to all would be help to rebuild all info around this board. Enrico - Pisa - Italy ------------------------------ Message: 25 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 20:04:48 -0500 From: "Jason T" <silent700 at gmail.com> Subject: Come Work at Bell Labs! To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <51ea77730805311804p2f484f8ax68e70637697458ce at mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Some great shots of old terminals and other mysteries of the Labs here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHBHEWyZ1Xw What are the terminals Greg Chesson is using around the 2:30 mark? ------------------------------ Message: 26 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 23:09:30 -0400 From: "Teo Zenios" <teoz at neo.rr.com> Subject: OS/2 problems To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <002e01c8c394$e91c20d0$c600a8c0 at game> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Anybody happen to have disks for OS/2 2.1? I tried installing it today on my PS/2 65SX and disk #8 is bad. not sure if anything past that is good or not. Also I tried installing OS/2 1.1EE onto the same machine but fdisk could not find any drives. Since that machine is SCSI does OS/2 expect ESDI drives? TZ ------------------------------ Message: 27 Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 23:55:59 -0400 From: "Teo Zenios" <teoz at neo.rr.com> Subject: Re: OS/2 problems To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <004601c8c39b$69c9a8f0$c600a8c0 at game> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=response ----- Original Message ----- From: "Zane H. Healy" <healyzh at aracnet.com> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2008 11:38 PM Subject: Re: OS/2 problems > At 11:09 PM -0400 5/31/08, Teo Zenios wrote: >>Anybody happen to have disks for OS/2 2.1? I tried installing it today on >>my PS/2 65SX and disk #8 is bad. not sure if anything past that is good or >>not. >> >>Also I tried installing OS/2 1.1EE onto the same machine but fdisk could >>not find any drives. Since that machine is SCSI does OS/2 expect ESDI >>drives? > > More likely MFM or IDE, I've never run 1.1EE, however, I ran 1.3 on an IDE > drive. Which is older, OS/2 1.1EE or the PS/2 65SX? > 1.1EE is a year or two older then the 65SX. Just seems odd DOS FDISK had no issues finding and formatting the drive but 1.1EE kept giving me errors. End of cctech Digest, Vol 58, Issue 2 *************************************

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

OS/2 problems

by cclist＠sydex.com

Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 23:09:30 -0400 From: "Teo Zenios" > Anybody happen to have disks for OS/2 2.1? I tried installing it today on > my PS/2 65SX and disk #8 is bad. not sure if anything past that is good or > not. I've got 'em. 3.5" only, though, so if you need 5.25" versions, you're on your own. I also have some CSD updates for it. Email me with an email that will accept large attachments and I'll get what you need to you. o I tried installing OS/2 1.1EE onto the same machine but fdisk could > not find any drives. Since that machine is SCSI does OS/2 expect ESDI > drives? If you've got MFM, IDE or ESDI, it's all the same to OS/2 (the basic port-level interface is close enough to be inter-operable for OS/2). You can even use SCSI, as long as there's an INT 13 BIOS extension installed to access it, but you have to add the driver for the SCSI controller to your boot diskettes (I've got a 386 running OS/2 2.1 with a DTC 3280 SCSI board). I also have the developer's kit for OS/2 2.x, which, with the CSDs comes to a lot of diskettes, not to mention the pile of documentation. Also MASM and MSC for OS/2. What I don't have is the network version of OS/2 2.x. Does anyone have that one? Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Looking for PDP 11/40 Docs for M7856, 7891, or M9312

by billdeg＠degnanco.com

Looking for PDP 11/40 Docs for M7856, 7891, or M9312 CARD SLOT POSITIONs empty 1 -- (IF PRESENT WOULD BE USED FOR A 7239) empty 2 -- (IF PRESENT WOULD BE USED FOR A 7298) 7232 3 A-F (U WORD) 7231 4 A-F (DATA PATHS) 7233 5 A-F (IR DECODE) 7235 6 A-F (STATUS) 7236 7 A-F (TIMING) 7236 8 A-F (MEMORY MANAGER) 672A 9 D (GRANT CONT.) UNIBUS 9 A-B (RIGHT SIDE OF UNIBUS) UNIBUS 10 A-B (LEFT SIDE OF UNIBUS) M7856 10 F-C (RS232 WITH 19.2 OPTION?) G7273 11 C-D 7891 12 A-F (64k MEMORY) M9312 13 A-B (ROM CARD) 672A 13 D (GRANT CONT.) In short I have an upgraded to 64K system, the memory holds, I am attempting to interface with a terminal and need to confirm baud rate switch settings, etc. The docs on the 11/40 I have are limited to an original 8K core system. thanks. Bill

18 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

Big Board I: micro cornucopia & user disk

by rtellason＠verizon.net

On Friday 30 May 2008 17:08, Enrico Lazzerini wrote: > Hi at all, > > i'm looking for all articles and software for the big board I. > > ( <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_Big_Board> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_Big_Board) I'm familiar with the Bigboard, it was essentially the same as the Xerox 820 (_not_ the 820-II!). > There was a magazine called Micro Cornucopia > > ( <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Cornucopia> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Cornucopia) I had a pretty complete set of those, but they're not currently accessible to me. > Some issues are scannered here below: > > <http://www.aceware.iinet.net.au/acms/BooksByManufacturerList.asp?lngManufa >c turerId=980&strManufacturerDescription=Micro+Cornucopia> > http://www.aceware.iinet.net.au/acms/BooksByManufacturerList.asp?lngManufac >t urerId=980&strManufacturerDescription=Micro+Cornucopia Cool. I will look at those links later... > The issues i'm looking for are from the 1st to the 22th. Sorry I can't help with that at the present time. -- Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and ablest -- form of life in this section of space, ?a critter that can be killed but can't be tamed. ?--Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters" - Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James M Dakin

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

PET 2001-8 progress...

by derschjo＠msu.edu

So I've got my "hacked-up" PET powering up after redoing a bit of wiring on the power supply. I replaced a couple of obviously bad 74LS157's in the video generator section (legs were corroded and some had fallen off/cracked) and reflowed a couple of suspicious looking joints. The machine now powers up, the display is bright and crisp but I just get garbage characters on the display. Using my logic probe I've verified that the CPU is running, voltages appear nominal (4.9V at the CPU & RAM). The CPU seems to be running something, in that about 1-2 seconds after power up a few characters on the screen will change (not where you'd expect the COMMODORE BASIC banner to be printed, but always in the same places). Typing on the keyboard produces no effect. I've reduced the board to 4K of 2114s and tried swapping around the 2114s used for the display, but the only effect this has is to change the pattern of garbage characters displayed (interestingly (at least to me) each RAM chip produces a different pattern, which is reproducible). If I run without any video RAM installed, I just get a checkerboard pattern onscreen, which would make sense since character FF is the checkerboard tile. Unfortunately I have no idea if any of the 2114s I have are good or not, though I'd wager that they can't ALL be bad. I don't have any other machines that use them and I don't have any spares. Any suggestions on logical places to start looking from here? Thanks, Josh

18 years, 3 months

3
5
0 0

Come Work at Bell Labs!

by silent700＠gmail.com

Some great shots of old terminals and other mysteries of the Labs here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHBHEWyZ1Xw What are the terminals Greg Chesson is using around the 2:30 mark?

18 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

Transformer repairs

by cclist＠sydex.com

> Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 11:41:15 -0400 (EDT) > From: der Mouse > It is probably possible to build a current limiter that provides > immediate visual feedback. I challenge you, or anyone for that matter, > to come up with such a design that is as cheap, easy, simple, and > foolproof as an incandescent bulb. (Well, not cheap once the ban hits, > which is the problem.) How's this? Grab a glass jar, fill with water and a salt of your choice, say, bicarbonate of soda, drop two electrodes into it (stainless steel or carbon is good; aluminum will tend to polarize after awhile and form a leaky rectifier). Apply current and watch for bubbles and/or steam. Vary resistance by varying the distance between electrodes. Or use a dill pickle instead if you like glowing pyrotechnics. We will always have appliances with heating elements floating around that can be pressed into use, particularly where higher-power loads are concerned. What I don't like about incandescents used as a load-limiter is the very low cold resistance. I'd much rather have a "soft" start--but then carbon-filament incandescents haven't been easy to find for the last 80 years or so. Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 3 months

4
3
0 0

Big Board I: micro cornucopia & user disk

by elazzerini＠interfree.it

Hi at all, i'm looking for all articles and software for the big board I. ( <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_Big_Board> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_Big_Board) There was a magazine called Micro Cornucopia ( <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Cornucopia> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Cornucopia) Some issues are scannered here below: <http://www.aceware.iinet.net.au/acms/BooksByManufacturerList.asp?lngManufac turerId=980&strManufacturerDescription=Micro+Cornucopia> http://www.aceware.iinet.net.au/acms/BooksByManufacturerList.asp?lngManufact urerId=980&strManufacturerDescription=Micro+Cornucopia The issues i'm looking for are from the 1st to the 22th. There was also an DRI Archive of the Big Board user disk. I'm looking from the #1 to the #20. They contain sw utilities bios lists and all about this OLD SBC. I thanks to all would be help to rebuild all info around this board. Enrico - Pisa - Italy

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

video game cartridges

by dgriffi＠cs.csubak.edu

I know that some of you here have an interest in vintage video games. How many of you would be interested in getting together a pool to make new Atari 2600 and Vectrex cartridge cases? -- 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?

18 years, 3 months

3
4
0 0

Thanks! REXT Diagnostic ROM and POSTcard

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Andrew Lynch wrote: > Long story short, I replaced a 74LS245 and a faulty DRAM chip and now the > board boots fine. The DRAM I could probably figure out myself, but how did you determine the 74LS245 was at fault? (I, too, have a 5150 that won't boot) -- Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org <http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctalk> ) http://www.oldskool.org/ Help our electronic games project: http://www.mobygames.com/ Or check out some trippy MindCandy at http://www.mindcandydvd.com/ A child borne of the home computer wars: http://trixter.wordpress.com/ -----REPLY----- Hi, The old fashioned way; I used an oscilloscope to compare the inputs and outputs of the bus transceiver. One of the buffers was dead and all of the outputs on one side looked "funny" so I desoldered it and replaced it with a new one. Of course, the IBM PC/XT motherboards have few sockets so desoldering and replacing the chip was awful. I tried to nicely desolder it but ended up destroying the chip and cutting it out. One thing I really like about VG, NorthStar, Kaypro, and Heath is almost their entire motherboards are socketed. Yes, I know direct soldered chips are technically more reliable but they are a PITA to replace when they do fail. Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Old style DEC 5-1/4" "pop panel" needed (will trade for 10 1/2")

by bob＠jfcl.com

I need a DEC, old style, "pop panel" blank rack panel that's 5 1/4" high. I'd be happy to trade for a 10 1/2" pop panel if that helps anybody (heck, I'll trade for two - I've got several of the 10 1/2 panels). Thanks, Bob Armstrong

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Synertek KTM-3/80 -- 2 questions

by peter.lofstedt＠bahnhof.se

Hello I have an KTM-3 with power module, thermo printer and floppy drive. How can I come in touch with people that are interested in this classic hardware? Kind Regards Peter Lofstedt Home +46 243 60655 Cell +46 70 6368475 Peter.lofstedt at ericsson.com

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Thanks! RE:XT Diagnostic ROM and POSTcard

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Hi All, I just wanted to say "Thank you" to everyone who helped me fix this classic IBM XT motherboard with the Diagnostic ROM image and the settings for the AWARD POSTcard. Long story short, I replaced a 74LS245 and a faulty DRAM chip and now the board boots fine. Of course half the fun is finding what actually works, what doesn't, what appears to be broken but actually works, what is broken but appears to be working, etc. You know the drill, I am sure. Fixing an old broken 16 bit VGA card which works in an 8 bit ISA slot helped a lot. As did the old style PC/XT style floppy drive controller... So anyway, it's fixed and I booted MS-DOS 5.0 and the Advanced IBM Diagnostics from a 5.25" floppy disk drive. So I think we are there. THANKS! Andrew Lynch PS, BTW the XT Diagnostic ROM image seems to work best when burned into a 2764 EPROM. I tried various other types of EPROM but the 2764 seems to work best. I think IBM did some weird remapping of their custom Mask BIOS ROM...

18 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

DEC Brochures - already scanned?

by aek＠bitsavers.org

> Wow, that must have been a brutal scanning job. Paper cutter and a sheet feeder. Biggest challenge was dealing with thin paper. I've switched to a different brand of scanner that can handle it better now to deal with the data books.

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

DEC Brochures - already scanned?

by silent700＠gmail.com

Last night I picked up some DEC equipment, and with it came two brochures and a book. The book I will probably list on ebay eventually, but the brochures I would like to scan and contribute to Bitsavers and/or anyone who collects such things and is willing to host the .pdf files. But before going to the trouble of scanning them, can anyone tell me if it has already been done? One is for the VT52/DECScope, and the other is for the 11/70, both with many lovely photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chiclassiccomp/2537619814 http://www.flickr.com/photos/chiclassiccomp/2536801495/in/photostream/ The book is the "dos/batch handbook" and appears to be from 1974. It is truly massive, like city phone book-sized. I've never seen a DEC manual this large. I won't be scanning this one ;) -- j

18 years, 3 months

2
2
0 0

buying an oscilloscope

by gerhard.kreuzer＠liftoff.at

Hi first of all, I have one, you can get it, please let me know. Its a 100MHz, two channel scope with second timebase for magnifications, but?its analog not digital. For slow signals usually present in classical hardware, thats no problem. And you also could look at www.testequipmentcollection.com[1] I bought my 'new' one there. (350Mhz, Hybrid scope, 2 channels + 16 digital logic analyzer). I also collecting classic computers, take a look at www.tuko.at[2] --> Computermuseum. With best regards Gerhard Links: ------ [1] http://www.testequipmentcollection.com [2] http://www.tuko.at

18 years, 3 months

7
8
0 0

DEC Brochures - already scanned?

by aek＠bitsavers.org

http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp11/dos-batch/DosBatchHandbook_v9_Apr74

18 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

"Vintage Systems" Engineer job at Vulcan

by RichA＠vulcan.com

Jim Battle <frustum at pacbell.net> wrote on Wed Apr 30 10:42:01 CDT 2008: > Sellam Ismail wrote: >> Well, here it is, an invitation to apply to your dream job :) >> >> Server Engineer (Vintage Systems) > Who are these people, and what are they doing? Their website explains it all succinctly: Well, in point of fact, there is a website that explains what we are doing in a great deal of detail. Maybe it's not as much fun to know that. http://www.pdpplanet.org/ I signed up for the cctalk mailing list on 29 April, in order to post the job offering among a community that might actually match up with the job requirements. The "Welcome" message was not sent back for 30 days. In any case, those interested in working on a large, and growing, collection of vintage systems should go take a look at the Vulcan jobs website: http://jobs.vulcan.com/default.cfm?szCategory=JobProfile&szOrderID=1541& szJobCategory=15 We're still interviewing. Thanks, Rich Rich Alderson RichA at vulcan.com Server Engineer, PDPplanet Project (206) 342-2239 Vulcan, Inc., 505 5th Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 465-2916 cell

18 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

Electronics Today International (ETI) "System 68" firmware

by Nick.Jarmany＠quixant.co.uk

Does anyone out there remember the "System 68" project that ran as a series in the UK magazine Electronics Today International (ETI) during 1977? I built this when I was young, but unfortunately all my early hobby stuff got slung out when my parents moved house. I have managed to re-create most of my "lost" issues of the magazine, including the ones covering System 68, which was a simple M6800 based system with a memory mapped VDU. Now, here's the question - does anyone out there remember this project and, if so, would anyone happen to have a listing of the monitor firmware? I believe the firmware for this system was derived from the Motorola MIKBUG monitor, modified to suit the different hardware. I want to re-building this system, but so far have been unable to locate the necessary firmware. Hoping that there is a someone out there that might be able to help out! Thanks Nick

18 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

Available: Sharp ZQ-5200 Organizer

by alfred.galea＠onvol.net

Hello Dave, I think it's a long shot, but do you still have the Sharp zq 5200? More specifically, I am looking for the owner's/operations manual for it and have had no luck with surfing, not even on the Sharp Electronics site. Maybe you could point me towards a more fruitful source if it is no longer with you. Kindest regards from sunny Malta Alfred

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

CDC / Honeywell system remains, Baltimore, MD

by tothwolf＠concentric.net

18 years, 3 months

5
8
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Introduction

by lehmann＠ans-netz.de

Hi everybody, after I tried over months to subscribe to both lists I'm now finally subscribed to cctalk at least. I don't know if it's usual or not to write an introduction but I'll just do so by keeping more an eye on the computer system I own. If you don't care just skip this mail ;) As my From header states my name is Oliver, I live in germany and right now I'm 27 years old. That should be enough to my person - now let me tell you a bit more about the computer system I own ;) EAW P8000 This system was built between 1987 and the breakdown of the former GDR - the eastern part of germany - 1990. The system itself is split up into two "towers" connected together. The first tower called "P8000 Computer" contains a 8Bit system (Z80) and a 16Bit system (Z8001).The 2nd case - the "P8000 Winchester" - contains a Winchester Disc Controller which runs with a Z80 CPU and is connected to the 16Bit part of the "P8000 Computer". Up to three MFM drives (all with the same geometry while the geometry itself can be configured) can be connected to the WDC. The 8Bit part is built on a single board, has 64KB SRAM, 2 SIOs to connect up to 4 terminals to it, one PIO to connect a EPROM programmer, and one PIO to establish a connection to the 16Bit part. It has 2 5.25" floppy drives with an external connector to connect two further 5.25" or 8" floppy drives. The systemmonitor is loaded from two 2732 EPROMs. The system originally supported three operating systems while two survived the time being. I own UDOS which is a Z80-RIO clone and OS/M which is a CP/M clone. There also was an OS called IS/M which was an ISIS clone. The more interesting (at least for me) part is the 16Bit part. The 16Bit part is built on a single board too (6layer) while the DRAM are single board which can be hooked up onto the mainboard. The system runs a Z8001 with 3 MMUs and Z80-peripherial ICs (PIO, SIO...) It also has 2 SIOs for 4 terminal connections, and one PIO to connect the WDC. The system also has two furhter PIO chips to establish a connection to the 8Bit system. The system runs with up to 4MB of DRAM but it might run with more RAM with self-made RAM modules. There exists also a RTC for the system and an extension to connect an 80286CPU + 1MBRAM to the 16BIT port to run a x86 OS on it while stearing it from the OS running on the 16Bit system. The Operating-System running on the 16Bit part is WEGA - a ZiLOG ZEUS clone. To boot WEGA at first the 8Bit system has to be booted up with UDOS (the Z80-RIO clone) to load a communication software which handles the communication over the 8Bit-PIO. After this is done the system switches over to the 16Bit system and the system monitor there gets loaded. The WEGA-Kernel (most parts are still original ZEUS objects) itself has the corresponding part for the 8<->16Bit communication interface in it. This was done to get access to the floppy drives, the EPROM programmer and the 4 8Bit-terminal connections which are all connected to the Z80 on the 8Bit-system. To access for example a floppy, the WEGA-kernel has to send the request using the PIO connection to the 8Bit system which handles it and sends the results back to the WEGA-kernel on the 16 Bit system. Same goes with the WDC which is connected through another PIO directly to the 16Bit system - command codes are sent to the Z80 on the WDC which handles the codes and sends the results back to the 16Bit system. Not that fast but it works good. Pictures and so one are all collected on my homepage http://pofo.de/P8000/ while most (if not to say all) of original documents are written in german... So - what do I do with the system? I use it for learn more about hardware processes itself, assembler and to get a deeper UNIX knowledge which is easier to start with there then with todays UNIX systems. Las project was to get TCP/IP working and I successed by usingg K5JB to get FTP and ping to work via SLIP. Because the speed was damn slow (and not just because of the baud rate), I came to the conclusion that a better performance could be achieved by implementing TCP/IP in the kernelspace instead of having it run in the userspace. So my goal is now to get the kernel sources right now to make the neccessary changes to get TCP/IP running in the kernel. As you might think now this is not so easy as it sounds. The sources for some objects of the kernel survied over the time, but many are missing. I'm now sitting here since a month disassembling the original kernel object and writing the disassembled code back in C. I've started this by having lets say nearly-to-zero ASM knowldege and I'm making good progress. Only some objects are left. From time to time the C files are not compiling to exactly the same object which is in the kernel. Some times other temporary registers are used for operations and so on. I'm trying to get 100% the same object to be 100% sure I have the same code the object was built with. The compiler on that system should be the same but of course I can't guarantee for sure. So - I'll probably ask some ASM<->C questions on cctech when I'm subscribed successfully (or I'll write and read the answers in the archive) hoping that there are still people alive being able to help me ;) Until know I had to find out that none was able to help me when I asked my ASM-C questions so I had to help me always by my own (which costs sometimes a great deal of time.... *sigh*). So far - greetings, Oliver -- Oliver Lehmann http://www.pofo.de/ http://wishlist.ans-netz.de/

18 years, 3 months

4
3
0 0

Big Board I: micro cornucopia & user disk

by elazzerini＠interfree.it

Hi at all, i'm looking for all articles and software for the big board I. ( <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_Big_Board> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_Big_Board) There was a magazine called Micro Cornucopia ( <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Cornucopia> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Cornucopia) Some issues are scannered here below: <http://www.aceware.iinet.net.au/acms/BooksByManufacturerList.asp?lngManufac turerId=980&strManufacturerDescription=Micro+Cornucopia> http://www.aceware.iinet.net.au/acms/BooksByManufacturerList.asp?lngManufact urerId=980&strManufacturerDescription=Micro+Cornucopia The issues i'm looking for are from the 1st to the 22th. There was also an DRI Archive of the Big Board user disk. I'm looking from the #1 to the #20. They contain sw utilities bios lists and all about this OLD SBC. I thanks to all would be help to rebuild all info around this board. Enrico - Pisa - Italy

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

BYTE Magazines Available

by sbolton＠bfree.on.ca

Here at the Personal Computer Museum in Brantford, Ontario, Canada (www.pcmuseum.ca) we've managed to build up around 80 extra BYTE magazines that I have no use for. They are all duplicate and I don't want to recycle them if someone out there can make use of them. They are not SUPER old ones but a variety and I would be willing to take photos of the spines for anyone interested. The magazines are free.....you can arrange pickup if you are nearby....I *can* ship them, but of course, it would be fairly costly but I am willing. Let me know please!

18 years, 3 months

2
1
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WOPR sells on eBay

by sellam＠vintagetech.com

Gene Buckle said: > The "original" WOPR used a Vic-20 as the display. This one doesn't > appear to have that. :) Actually, the display was a "flourescent matrix" driven by a custom controller in an Apple ][. Some information about this is available on Todd Fischer's IMSAI website: http://www.imsai.net/movies/wargames.htm Search for "flourescent" to find the relevant bits, though the whole page has interesting history about the technology used in the movie from one of the guys who worked it. -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

18 years, 3 months

3
4
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last-minute TI-990 available

by drb＠msu.edu

Dear all, Quite a few of you were interested in the TI-990, so I'll post an update here. I have a taker for the system. I'll keep your emails around in case that falls through. For general interest, I picked up the system last night. The tall rack includes two CPUs, one older and one newer build, and a Fujitsu Eagle drive. The two removable pack drives are Century Data units. There are about 10 disk packs for these drives. The prints and service manual for them is included, as is a 990 overview manual. There's also the 911 terminal shown in the photo, as well as a wide carriage dot matrix printer which was not. There is a box of miscellaneous cables which may or not actually match anything. Unfortunately, the equipment was stored in an open barn for about two years, one of the Century drives was dropped several feet, the heads were not locked on any of the drives before moving them, the Century drives were moved with their packs installed, and the spare packs all have condensation on the insides of the "cake pan" lids. Otoh, the insides of the electronics are actually reasonably clean, and it should be possible to revive most of it. I suspect with some care it's probably possible to recondition the disk packs, clean the pack wells in the drives, etc. The heads were actually still in the retracted position on both of the Century drives, which is hopeful. I was actually contacted about this machine two years ago. The caller said his employer (apparently a Ford garage, I've since learned) was just taking it out of service, and was looking for information on who might be interested, what it might be worth, etc. I gave him a few pointers and asked that he let me know if he couldn't find a taker. I only wish he'd been willing to let me take it then. De

18 years, 3 months

2
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last-minute TI-990 available

by aek＠bitsavers.org

> Otoh, the insides of the electronics are actually reasonably clean, and > it should be possible to revive most of it. When you start working on them, let me know and I'll send a drive exerciser. I have lots of TI spares from a former FE. Most of the service docs have been scanned.

18 years, 3 months

1
0
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Tek 7904 scope at McGill in Montreal

by joachim.thiemann＠gmail.com

Hello all, with all the talk of "classic" scopes: if anyone wants it and is in the neighborhood, a Tek 7904 scope was put out to pasture on our floor here at McGill, so I dragged it into my office. I can't keep it here for too long so if there's no interest, I'll put it out again. It's got one 7A19 Amp, a 7D11 Digital delay, and a 7B53N Dual Time Base; the fourth slot is empty (but covered). It appears to at least somewhat work: power, lights, traces, etc. It was last calibrated in 82 according to a sticker. Joe.

18 years, 3 months

3
2
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Wanted: pair of P133 cpus for a SP5100-2

by tothwolf＠concentric.net

Looking for a matched stepping pair of P133s to rebuild an old project machine I never finished. I'll also need to find a couple of passive heatsinks and retaining clips for socket 5/7 as well. The heatsink and single cpu currently in it appear to be epoxy bonded. The system itself is a Dell PowerEdge SP5100-2 that currently has a single P100 cpu. It's an unusual server in the way it's constructed that has tons of EISA slots and uses a backplane type layout. I rescued it about 4-5 years ago from the scrapper and it came with a 4 EISA dual channel SCSI cards in it. I don't really have anything to budget for this thing (which is why it's been sitting under the desk unfinished for 4-5 years) but I'll gladly cover the postage or trade a MMJ adapter or cable if someone has some extra stuff laying around that I'm looking for. (Mylex/BusLogic/Bustek SCSI cards or programming docs would also be extremely helpful.) The system uses a 430NX chipset which will support up to a P133 and 512MB of FPM memory (if memory serves). I'll eventually be looking for a set of 8ea 64MB 60ns 72 pin FPM Parity SIMMs (with tin plated contacts, not gold) for it as well. I've got some EISA OSS drivers I'd like to test/debug so it's about time to finally get the silly thing going. It's currently missing all 4 of the 3.5" hard drive mounting sleds/trays and I don't have any of the special rails to mount a cdrom drive or anything in the 3 empty 5.25" bays so if anyone might have a lead on these parts or even just know the part numbers for these things it would be most helpful. Failing that, I guess there's always lucite and velcro :) [I just realized I last looked into doing something with this system in 2004: http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2004-June/043856.html It's definitely time to get it going...] -Toth

18 years, 3 months

1
0
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Fuse PROM programming algorithms

by s.fontana＠waldys.gruppofabbri.com

Could anyone help me in finding the programming algorithms for MMI 6301-1J ? It seems impossible to find any document about this. Thank you very much S.Fontana Ufficio Tecnico Elettronico Gruppo Fabbri (Svizzera) SA Divisione macchine Waldys Via Ai Molini, 4 CH-6933 Muzzano (TI) SWITZERLAND Tel. +41 (0)91 960 1414 Tel. +41 (0)91 960 2772 < <mailto:s.fontana at waldys.gruppofabbri.com> mailto:s.fontana at waldys.gruppofabbri.com> < <http://www.gruppofabbri.com/> http://www.gruppofabbri.com/>

18 years, 3 months

2
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Announcing formation of VCF steering committee: Call for Members

by sellam＠vintagetech.com

At the prodding of a small group of dedicated VCF fans and friends, I've decided to form a VCF "Steering Committee" to henceforth assist in producing all VCF events, in particular the main west coast event. Here are the roles that are currently open: Speaker Booker/Manager (filled: Jack Rubin) Handles the overall coordination of the speakers; researches and identifies potentional speakers for regional events; interfaces with the speakers to ascertain their equipment needs; plans the speaker schedule. Exhibitor Booker/Manager Handles the coordination of the exhibitors; designs the exhibit area layout; answers exhibitor inquiries; interfaces with the exhibitors to ascertain their space and power requirements. Additional roles (local to event): Designs the power distribution system in the physical exhibit layout; helps exhibitors setup ensuring each exhibitor has the required space and services; remains in the exhibit area during most of the event to cater to any exhibitor needs as well as to help watch over the exhibits. The additional roles can and most likely will be separated out to a sub-manager local to the event locale who will coordinate and report to the Exhibitor Booker/Manager. Vendor Booker/Manager (filled: Jack Rubin) Handles the coordination of the vendors and designs the marketplace space; interfaces with the vendors to ascertain their equipment requirements (i.e. table rentals); answers vendor questions; designs the marketplace space layout. Additional roles (local to event): Assists vendor setup (shows vendors to their space and ensures they have requested equipment and services); remains available to the vendors during most of the event to cater to any needs; collects any fees due. As with the Exhibit Booker/Manager, the additional roles can and most likely will be separated out to a sub-manager local to the event. Workshop Booker/Manager Researches and contracts designers of vintage computer projects to help create Build-It-Yourself workshops suitable for the VCF; assists with workshop attendee bookings, including answering questions and coordinating with the workshop designer/instructor. Marketing Director Liason to media; creates and disseminates press releases; creates and posts advertising for events; general public relations. This is an obviously important role. Art/Design/Theme Director I used to be creative, but these days I'm subject to sudden bursts of random brilliance punctuated by aeons of arid and infertile thought processes. Too many distractions, I reckon. Anyway, I need someone to design the look and feel of any given VCF event, including logos, t-shirt designs, slogans, event programs and signage, promotional brochures, etc. Someone good with an illustration application and some spare time. Sponsorship Shark This role entails securing sponsorship in the form of money from companies for name placement, or collateral materials (books, posters, etc.) to give away at VCF events. Special Events - Nerd Trivia Challenge Researcher/Manager Special Events - RetroCode Challenge Manager I like to have fun side events at the VCF. It's hard to fit them in, what with all the other chores to handle. This role will be assigned on an event by event basis to design and implement special side attractions at specific VCF events. Web Maestro Every organization needs one: so too, the VCF. This is mostly managing the superficial VCF website elements through the custom management system (I still handle all the coding and development), i.e. creating new events; editing user submissions; creating photo galleries of past events; managing mailing lists; etc. Special Projects Liason This role is special. It requires a strategist, thinker and doer, all combined into one. It is someone who will help me promote and pursue special VCF projects. I have all sorts of crazy ideas for neat things to do surrounding the VCF but a seemingly diminishing amount of time with which to pursue them. I need a creative person with lots of energy to put these various projects into motion, which could range from building fun retro things (Commodore 64 Supercomputer for example), to designing new VCF events and experiences, to coordinating development of standards, practices and services that benefit the vintage computing community (FutureKeep, Binary Athenaeum, a Prize for Excellence in the Pursuit of Vintage Computing, etc.) You know who you are. Contact me. Jack Rubin is also going to fill the role of supervisor of each sub-manager, and I will of course be the VCF Overlord and general ass-kicker. The role will mostly be for glory and possible profit-sharing if certain minimum revenue thresholds are met on any given event. I've been experimenting with "franchising" the VCF over the past several years, with regional events being handed off to autonomous individuals or organizations, such as Hans Franke (VCF Europa) and Mid-Atlantic Retro-Computing Hobbyists (VCF East). The regional coordinators are responsible for financing their local events, while I still ultimately am responsible for financing of the main VCF event in the Silicon Valley. Even though this is a primarily voluntary role, I need people who will be dedicated and, when it comes to crunch time (i.e. 6-8 weeks prior to any given event), will be able to reserve anywhere from 4-6 hours per week on their assigned role. In other words, a serious disposition is mandatory. Please e-mail me directly if you would like to apply for a particular role. The VCF has a solid foundation of a decade of events all around the (Western) world. With the participation of a dedicated team of like-minded nerds, the next ten years will prove to be more wide-ranging and more exciting than the first. Thanks! -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

18 years, 3 months

1
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last-minute TI-990 available

by aek＠bitsavers.org

If you save any of the hardware, try to save the top cpu chassis. It looks pretty late model.

18 years, 3 months

2
1
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CompuGraphic Flyer

by marvin＠west.net

Someone about a year ago was talking about a relative working for CompuGraphic and was looking for information. In cleaning up today, I found the flyer again that I said I would send, but forgot who it was (Rich Cini???) Whoever it was, let me know and give me your mailing address and I'll put it in the mail.

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

MCT-EPROM

by cclist＠sydex.com

> Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 20:15:51 -0400 > From: "Andrew Lynch" > Do you still have the manual for the MCT-EPROM / Sunshine programmer? > If so, would you mind scanning a copy and maybe I'll ask Al to post it > at Bitsavers.org. JDR is part of the history of microcomputers and > practically everyone got something of theirs from JDR at some time or > another. JDR is practically an institution in electronics/vintage > computers. I remember ordering parts from them when I was in high > school to fix my Dad's lab computers -- IBM PCs running AutoCAD. Thanks > in advance! I've still got it, but it's pretty worthless. Basically it's a "stick the card in an empty slot, connect the cable, run the software and do what it says". No circuit diagrams, specifications, nothing, just a regurgitation of the program messages. Very typical of the "Taiwanese Awful" documentation of the time. At least the English is pretty good. JDR was no different--I've got two manuals for floppy disk controllers (PC/XT type, not AT). But for the "MCT" labeling on the title page, there's no difference between the JDR one and the vanilla brand-less Taiwanese one. Wasn't the early XT-cloning effort in Taiwan sponsored by the Taiwan government? Almost none of the clone boards had any sort of branding and the BIOSes all seemed to be the same. The manuals all look the same--bad printing in a simple paper cover. Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

MCT-EPROM

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

MCT-EPROM Chuck Guzis cclist <mailto:cctalk%40classiccmp.org?Subject=MCT-EPROM&In-Reply-To=200805281421.m 4SEKpPX022701%40dewey.classiccmp.org> at sydex.com Wed May 28 12:01:20 CDT 2008 * Previous message: Transformer repairs <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/258706.html> * Next message: IBM XT diagnostic ROM <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/258708.html> * Messages sorted by: [ date ] <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/date.html#258707> [ thread ] <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/thread.html#258707> [ <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/subject.html#258707> subject ] [ author ] <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/author.html#258707> _____ > Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 21:20:10 -0400 > From: "Andrew Lynch" > I have an old EPROM programmer for the PC. It uses an 8 bit ISA card > labeled "MCT-EPROM". JDR used to sell these in the 1980's for 24 & 28 > pin > Whenever I start the MOD-EPROM software it says it cannot find the > controller board. It is looking for a device a 0x2A0 but apparently > can't find it. The software does NOT allow the IO address to be > changed and there are no configuration jumpers on the controller board. > The ISA controller board installed in 486sx (25 MHz) but the software > could not find it. I tried with a P3 (450 MHz) and got the same > result. I've got one of these--actually a no-name, but the same Taiwanese unit. At one time, I think these were also sold under the "Sunshine" name. You could get them with different "heads"--anywhere from a single ZIF socket to 8 or so; maybe even 16. I have the 4-socket version. You've answered your own query. This board is strictly 5150/5160/XT clone territory. IIRC, even a PC AT doesn't work--at least with the software that I have (I haven't tried JDR's). I believe that this is due to many CPU-based timing loops. I remember patching the code to detect the board so it would run in a 386/20, only to have it fail to program EPROMs, whereupon I gave up and stuck it back in the XT, there to stay until the present. This forms the basis of my suspicion that CPU loops are used exclusively for timing--not a really bad idea back when the world was filled with 8088 systems. Certainly, it wasn't alone in this respect. Get that 5160 going and you should be fine. I suspect though, that you're faced with a chicken-and-egg situtation--you need to get the EPROM burner going so you can get the 5160 running. Source code for the programming software should make things easier to modify for faster machines, but I suspect that it's unobtainium. Disassembling is another option, but not one that I'm interested in, as I have a parallel-port driven programmer that can still handle the older EPROMs just fine. Cheers, Chuck _____ * Previous message: Transformer repairs <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/258706.html> * Next message: IBM XT diagnostic ROM <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/258708.html> * Messages sorted by: [ date ] <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/date.html#258707> [ thread ] <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/thread.html#258707> [ <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/subject.html#258707> subject ] [ author ] <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/author.html#258707> _____ More information <http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctalk> about the cctalk mailing list _____ -----REPLY----- Hi Chuck, It is sort of a "chicken and egg" scenario. I have a MCT-EPROM burner I'd like to use but I agree it needs an XT clone. My XT clone is broken but fortunately I have a different EPROM burner so if I can fix the XT I should be good for the MCT-EPROM as well. Do you still have the manual for the MCT-EPROM / Sunshine programmer? If so, would you mind scanning a copy and maybe I'll ask Al to post it at Bitsavers.org. JDR is part of the history of microcomputers and practically everyone got something of theirs from JDR at some time or another. JDR is practically an institution in electronics/vintage computers. I remember ordering parts from them when I was in high school to fix my Dad's lab computers -- IBM PCs running AutoCAD. Thanks in advance! Andrew Lynch

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

IBM XT diagnostic ROM

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

IBM XT diagnostic ROM Jim Leonard trixter at oldskool.org <mailto:cctalk%40classiccmp.org?Subject=IBM%20XT%20diagnostic%20ROM&In-Reply -To=20080528131358.V82915%40shell.lmi.net> Wed May 28 15:49:36 CDT 2008 * Previous message: IBM XT diagnostic ROM * Next message: IBM XT diagnostic ROM * Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] ________________________________ Fred Cisin wrote: > What you have found is called a Power On Self Test card, or "POST card". > > During the cold start process, the computer sends numbers at various > stages to a port. By putting in a card that decodes the port and displays > those numbers, you can see which stages of the start up process succeeded. > > It will only work if the computer is making it at least partway through > the cold start boot process, and will certainly not tell you anything if > the CPU is dead, no matter what some brain-dead moron might say. (Well, > OK, some also have a few LEDs to tell you if the power supply is live, > etc.) It was my understanding that only AT-class machines (by age, not necessarily by architecture type) wrote to that port. I've never seen a PC or XT (or clone thereof) motherboard/BIOS write to that port. -- Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org <http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctalk> ) http://www.oldskool.org/ Help our electronic games project: http://www.mobygames.com/ Or check out some trippy MindCandy at http://www.mindcandydvd.com/ A child borne of the home computer wars: http://trixter.wordpress.com/ ________________________________ * Previous message: IBM XT diagnostic ROM * Next message: IBM XT diagnostic ROM * Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] ________________________________ More information about the cctalk mailing list <http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctalk> ------REPLY------ Hi, The IBM XT does send POST codes to port $60 during start up. The AT and later send more detailed codes to port $80 which almost all POST card devices support. http://bioscentral.com/postcodes/ibmbios.htm You can make your own POST card type device. I have two already but one is a dedicated AT style and the other is an AWARD SOFTWARE POSTcard Rev 1.3. Unfortunately, I do not have the manuals necessary to change the onboard configuration switches to convert it from AT only to support XT style POST codes. http://members.tripod.com/~BBright/information/postcard.htm Thanks to all who replied and for any help in repairing this classic IBM XT motherboard. Andrew Lynch ________________________________

18 years, 3 months

1
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Atari 1050 diskette drive repair

by snhirsch＠gmail.com

Anyone have experience with these? I have a defective unit (purchased on eBay - sad story) that tries to bash the drive head to death against the Track 0 stop when turned on. I picked up the service manual and schematics and was able to verify that the Track 0 sensor was working and that that NTRACK00 (pin 34) on the 2793 FDC chip is pulled high at that point. It looks like the head-step pulses are generated in software by the onboard 6507 CPU. The four phases appear on PB2-5 of a 6532 IO interface and are presumably getting cycled in the correct sequence since the head moves quite smoothly until it hits the physical stop. I've already verified supply voltages and inspected the board closely for burn marks, broken traces, etc. and reseated all the socketed ICs. The unit is fitted with the 'US Doubler' enhancement, about which I know very little. Would appreciate any tips on troubleshooting. Steve --

18 years, 3 months

4
7
0 0

last-minute TI-990 available

by drb＠msu.edu

I was just told there's a TI-990 mini available in the Lansing, MI area. It's going to the scrapper if not claimed in the next day or two. Included are a CPU in a tall single rack, two floor-standing removable-pack disk drives (probably 80MB), a stack of disk packs, and "fairly complete" documentation. I have only seen photos, and never worked with these systems, so don't know much more. http://www.somethingthatdoesntsuck.com/misccrapo/Images/ti990/ I'm trying to buy the machine a few more days before the scrapper, but I wouldn't count on that. I may be able to store the machine in a rental cube for a limited period. I will try to save the disk packs and doco regardless of whether the machine gets saved. I don't believe they want money for the system, though I didn't have a specific discussion. If you're interested, get in touch with me off-list at the above e-mail address. De

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

IBM XT diagnostic ROM

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Hi, Has anyone have or know where to get an IBM XT (5160) diagnostic ROM? I am trying to revive an original IBM XT motherboard which is nonresponsive and gives no error codes (beep or POST). I am not even sure such a ROM exists but it would be a 27C256 style EPROM that plugs into an IBM XT motherboard to help fault isolate an almost completely dead unit. The motherboard CPU seems to be working based on a quick exam with the oscilloscope. However, the motherboard's initialization / boot process is not making it to start up the video display before it hangs or crashes. Obviously, something is broken but I haven't isolated exactly what yet. If anyone can help, I would much appreciate it. Thank you in advance. Andrew Lynch

18 years, 3 months

6
8
0 0

OT: Low-power real-audio player

by cclist＠sydex.com

> Message: 28 > Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 08:24:28 -0400 > From: Dan Roganti > How about this, it's already been done, Internet Tabletop Radio > There others like this but not all of them support RA > http://linuxdevices.com/articles/AT7588734311.html > Acoustic Energy says its WiFi radio will support stations broadcasting > *Real Audio*, *WMV*, and *MP3* streams, I saw that one, but it would take a bit of hacking to get it to what I need (i.e., I don't need speakers and prefer a 10/100 baseT connection rather than WiFi--and I want to be able to change my selections via local network (e.g. telnet) as the unit would be located a considerable distance from my listening location. And the $300 price tag is a bit of a stopper also. Still, I really like a lot of the boxes on the linuxdevices site--too bad that the really good ones never made it past the prototype stage. Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Transformer repairs

by javickers＠solutionengineers.com

I was messing around with my SX-64 (which is on ePay as a working unit) yesterday, having located some software & a joystick for it. I was going to take a few photos of the new bits, etc.; for adding to the listing. Then: *sharp snap/crack noise*, lights go out. Aaaargh! OK, first things first: There was no burning smell, and no (visible) magic smoke released. The fuse wire in the glass fuse has been vapourised; the mains fuse survived. I replaced the fuse, which has not since blown, but the PSU is deader than a dead thing that's been dead for a week. Some careful poking around with the multimeter (before the multimeter went bang - ffs, I must have an anti-midas touch this week), then the oscilliscope, reveals that a secondary transformer on the PSU has failed. I presume it went dead short, then burnt itself + the fuse out simultaneously; hence the reason the replacement fuse hasn't blown. So, what I need to do now is replace the transformer, or get it repaired somehow (ideally before Sunday, when the ePay auction runs out - or, to definitely know it is unfixable in that timescale & thus cancel the auction). What I DO have, which might make a repair feasible, is a second SX-64; the only difference is, this one has a US (117v) PSU. Obviously, the primary transformer windings are going to be different, but is it possible/likely that the secondary transformer will be the same? Going by the part nos. I'm not terribly hopeful: UK Part no: TDK 68-0409 B8326A US Part No: TDK 68-0407 B8309A A quick google on any of those numbers reveals nothing... I don't have the means to create 117v 60hz power, so I can't test that way - and even if I could, it turns out that the US PSU has taken a wallop at some point, breaking the circuit board. :( Hey ho... any help gratefully received. TIA! Best Regards, Ade. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.24.1/1469 - Release Date: 27/05/2008 13:25

18 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

IBM XT diagnostic ROM

by cclist＠sydex.com

> Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 09:10:58 +0200 > From: "Rik" > I have one, it's not IBM but third-party. We used it to test XT's, I'll > make you a image. It is 64k but I'll check if it's readable. And I > should have the manual some where, but it's a very simple user > interface. And it's does test the hardware. I don't know if mine is the same as Rik's, but I do have the Landmark "Professional PC Diagnostics" kit that comes with ROMs for both the XT and AT. I'll be happy to send an image along if you think it would help. Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

MCT-EPROM

by cclist＠sydex.com

> Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 21:20:10 -0400 > From: "Andrew Lynch" > I have an old EPROM programmer for the PC. It uses an 8 bit ISA card > labeled "MCT-EPROM". JDR used to sell these in the 1980's for 24 & 28 > pin > Whenever I start the MOD-EPROM software it says it cannot find the > controller board. It is looking for a device a 0x2A0 but apparently > can't find it. The software does NOT allow the IO address to be > changed and there are no configuration jumpers on the controller board. > The ISA controller board installed in 486sx (25 MHz) but the software > could not find it. I tried with a P3 (450 MHz) and got the same > result. I've got one of these--actually a no-name, but the same Taiwanese unit. At one time, I think these were also sold under the "Sunshine" name. You could get them with different "heads"--anywhere from a single ZIF socket to 8 or so; maybe even 16. I have the 4-socket version. You've answered your own query. This board is strictly 5150/5160/XT clone territory. IIRC, even a PC AT doesn't work--at least with the software that I have (I haven't tried JDR's). I believe that this is due to many CPU-based timing loops. I remember patching the code to detect the board so it would run in a 386/20, only to have it fail to program EPROMs, whereupon I gave up and stuck it back in the XT, there to stay until the present. This forms the basis of my suspicion that CPU loops are used exclusively for timing--not a really bad idea back when the world was filled with 8088 systems. Certainly, it wasn't alone in this respect. Get that 5160 going and you should be fine. I suspect though, that you're faced with a chicken-and-egg situtation--you need to get the EPROM burner going so you can get the 5160 running. Source code for the programming software should make things easier to modify for faster machines, but I suspect that it's unobtainium. Disassembling is another option, but not one that I'm interested in, as I have a parallel-port driven programmer that can still handle the older EPROMs just fine. Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

SN7523N datasheet

by adrian＠adrianwise.co.uk

Does anyone have a datasheet for a Texas SN7523N? I have a datasheet for a Signetics SN7523 (dual core sense amp), and was expecting that the TI part would be equivalent, but it seems to behave differently. I'm trying to figure out if I have a bad part or my assumption that they're equivalent parts is mistaken. Adrian

18 years, 3 months

5
5
0 0

MCT-EPROM

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Hi, I have an old EPROM programmer for the PC. It uses an 8 bit ISA card labeled "MCT-EPROM". JDR used to sell these in the 1980's for 24 & 28 pin EPROM programming. It is a fairly simple device but it doesn't appear to be working. JDR still has the software on their FTP site for the programmer, I think. I believe it uses the "MOD-EPROM" software from the "MOD_EPRO.ZIP" file. It appears there are several pieces of software on the JDR site which support this programmer Whenever I start the MOD-EPROM software it says it cannot find the controller board. It is looking for a device a 0x2A0 but apparently can't find it. The software does NOT allow the IO address to be changed and there are no configuration jumpers on the controller board. The ISA controller board installed in 486sx (25 MHz) but the software could not find it. I tried with a P3 (450 MHz) and got the same result. Does anyone have one of these EPROM programmers and can lend me a hand? I need to confirm some things in order to determine if this part is working or not. It may be I am using the wrong software or too fast of a computer. Thanks in advance for any help. Andrew Lynch

18 years, 3 months

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Commodore Equipment wanted

by starmaster＠gmail.com

Not as high tech as others, but I still love the Commodore's. C64's, PET's SX-64's (drool!) and their associated hardware, books and software. If anyone is looking for a good home, please let me know. I'm in Colorado, just south of Denver. Thank you.

18 years, 3 months

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Looking for old DDJ Mac articles

by rcini＠optonline.net

All: I?m looking for the two following Dr. Dobb?s articles on the Mac: ::Jan 1985 "Fatten Your Mac" by Thomas Lafleur and Susan Raab ::Sep 1985 ?SCSI Your Mac, in MAC Toolbox? by John Bass relating to adding a home-brewed SCSI interface to the Mac 128/512. I have one of the DDJ article compilation CDs (Volume 11) but it only starts at 1988. I would be grateful if someone with access to these issues could make scans of them or point me to an on-line copy. Googling this morning didn?t produce much other than TeX indices. Thanks! Rich -- Rich Cini Collector of Classic Computers Build Master and lead engineer, Altair32 Emulator http://www.altair32.com http://www.classiccmp.org/cini

18 years, 3 months

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OT: Low-poer real-audio player

by cclist＠sydex.com

> Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 14:22:28 -0500 > From: Jim Leonard > You only need about 133MHz for what you're doing. Some ideas: > > - Use a 133Mhz PC > - Use a laptop (better power management than a 1999-era desktop PC) Thanks. I thought of both, but still too power-hungry. How about something that runs off of a wall wart? My DSL modem with ARM7 CPU runs Linux and supports ethernet--it just don't have a sound chip. I don't need video a CD-ROM, hard disk or floppy; just network access with the ability to flash from the network. Even one of the VIA C3 boards is more than I need. Any other ideas? Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 3 months

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Vintage computer films

by cclist＠sydex.com

The cctalk server seems to have swallowed up postings after 22 May, so I'll post this one again: There are some very cool videos at: http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2008/05/a-brief-history.html The first film looks to be late 60's and is from Barclay's Bank. I can identify S/360 and CDC 6000 gear easily; but not some of the other stuff (ICL?). The last film clip from a Britcom features an "intelligent" luggable named Bourenmouth, What machine was it before it received its paint job? Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 3 months

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NIC 7104 (Arpanet Protocol Handbook)

by spedraja＠gmail.com

Hello. I should like to obtain one copy of the NIC 7104 (Arpanet Protocol Handbook). It was published many years ago by SRI but actually is completely dissapeared. Could someones help, please ? Thanks and Greetings Sergio

18 years, 3 months

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AWARD SOFTWARE POSTcard

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Hi, I am trying to revive an original IBM XT motherboard using an AWARD POSTcard. Unfortunately, I do not have the manual for the POSTcard. Does anyone have one or can help with the switch settings? The XT uses IO port 60h for the POST code whereas the AT uses port 80h. I know the POSTcard works since it gives proper codes on AT class machines (486 and newer) Thanks in advance for any help! Andrew Lynch

18 years, 3 months

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Anyone seen Jay? (fwd) 4d2fb

by korpela＠ssl.berkeley.edu

> Doesn't this post indicate your success? (ducking) So I would have thought. Apparently you can post after attempting to join the list, but until approved by Jay, you don't receive any messages from it. I'm reading this from the list archive. :(

18 years, 3 months

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RT-11 V4 & V5 manuals online?

by aek＠bitsavers.org

> Have they all been scanned and are on line? V4 with the basic and fortran volumes are now online at bitsavers.

18 years, 3 months

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Large Asst. of STD Bus components available

by snhirsch＠gmail.com

I have inventoried my collection of STD Bus boards, docs and enclosures. There's a lot of stuff there, complete with documentation for almost 99% of it. About 1/3 of the boards are still sealed in the original bags. I really, really want to move this as an entire lot. If anyone is interested, please e-mail privately and I'll send you a list. Steve --

18 years, 3 months

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Wanted: Junk computer cases, Houston

by tothwolf＠concentric.net

[I originally sent this on the 23rd but it seems to have disappeared into the void while the list was down. Hopefully there won't be a duplicate show up later.] I'm looking for 7 or so junk computer cases in or around the Houston area. A little over 10 years ago I installed a number of high end (for the time) machines for a local company. I went back in 2001 or 2002 and decommissioned them after Tropical Storm Allison when the projects they were hosting were shut down. The machines been sitting in a corner of the equipment room ever since. I've been told I can now remove them if I want them, but there is a catch. Asset management wants "something" to show them as removed from inventory. They don't much care what they get because anything over 3-5 years old (according to inventory sheets) gets sent to the metal scrapper. So...I'm looking for 7 or so junk computer cases. The systems I had in place there were large full-sized deskside chassis, but something like mini-tower PC cases should do. It would be best if they were completely empty no-name junk cases as I really don't like sending anything to the metal scrappers (I still use a number of well made heavy duty AT cases for my personal machines). I kinda wish I hadn't gotten rid of all my own junk PC cases 5-7 years ago but I'm sure there has to be someone in or around the Houston area with some junker cases still sitting around. I could probably also use some anti-static bags too as I have a bunch of spare parts in a cabinet there that are sitting in bins. I can't take the bins but the spare boards and drives will go with the old systems. Replies should probably be off-list. Even though the machines I'm attempting to save from the scrapper would be on-topic by now, they aren't DEC, Sun, etc and would probably be boring to many list members. Also, please maintain a subject line I can easily spot as I'm often flooded with spam.

18 years, 3 months

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Anyone seen Jay?

by korpela＠ssl.berkeley.edu

Or know how to get a message to him? I've been trying to rejoin the mailing list since February.

18 years, 3 months

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Atari 1050 diskette drive repair

by redodd＠comcast.net

> Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 07:56:27 -0400 (EDT) > From: Steven Hirsch <snhirsch at gmail.com> > Subject: Atari 1050 diskette drive repair > To: Classic Computers Mailing List <cctech at classiccmp.org> > Message-ID: <alpine.DEB.1.00.0805220747180.6891 at duo> > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; format=flowed; charset=US-ASCII > > Anyone have experience with these? I have a defective unit (purchased on > eBay - sad story) that tries to bash the drive head to death against the > Track 0 stop when turned on. I picked up the service manual and > schematics and was able to verify that the Track 0 sensor was working and > that that NTRACK00 (pin 34) on the 2793 FDC chip is pulled high at that > point. > It looks like the head-step pulses are generated in software by the > onboard 6507 CPU. The four phases appear on PB2-5 of a 6532 IO interface > and are presumably getting cycled in the correct sequence since the head > moves quite smoothly until it hits the physical stop. > I've already verified supply voltages and inspected the board closely for > burn marks, broken traces, etc. and reseated all the socketed ICs. > The unit is fitted with the 'US Doubler' enhancement, about which I know > very little. > Would appreciate any tips on troubleshooting. > > Steve Steve, The only problem that I've had with 1050's is that the felt pressure pad that replaces the top head will fall off. I don't remember the exact symptoms because it's been a few years. Take a look, it couldn't hurt. Ralph

18 years, 3 months

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HP 82931A Blue Print Thermal Paper

by Claire.Fisk＠labarge.com

I am in need of this thermal Paper,I woek for Labarge Inc. and have an HP 85 used for a tests system. If you still have the paper E-Mail me at cfisk at labarge.com. _______________________________________________________ This message may contain information that is privileged and confidential to LaBarge, Inc. It is for use only by the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not copy, use or deliver this message to anyone. In such event, you should destroy the message and kindly notify the sender by reply e-mail.

18 years, 3 months

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Wanted: DEC VT-180 "Robin" Corvus interface + software

by dm561＠torfree.net

--------Original Message: Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 07:46:59 -0400 (EDT) From: Steven Hirsch <snhirsch at gmail.com> Subject: Re: Wanted: DEC VT-180 "Robin" Corvus interface + software On Tue, 20 May 2008, Richard wrote: > > I have a VT-180, but I have no idea what a "Corvus interface" is, so > I'll ask the obvious question. What is it? Corvus made a family of external hard drives using a common bus interface (quasi-network, actually). There was an interface board produced for the DEC VT-180 that, along with the driver software, permitted it to use files on attached drives. I have never seen one, but presume it's a small internal add-on (possibly piggy-back style) circuit board or a little external box. It would be labeled 'Corvus' or 'Corvus Systems, Inc.' Steve -- ----------Reply: I have an external Corvus drive enclosure (the small MFM version, not the 8" IMI 7700) that I used to house an external HD for another system, but I still have the original interface board if anyone's interested. I think it was an Omninet drive; the only connection to the outside world AFAIR is a 3-pin header plug. m

18 years, 3 months

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Venner Electronics Modules

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

Alexis writes: > I've got here some electronic modules made by Venner Electronics LTD, > Kingston By-Pass, New Malden, Surrey. One is a Transistor Decade Unit > type TS.10/5 and the other just has Type TS 11/HF on it, where 11/HF is > scratched into the metal label. > Opening one reveals a number of Mullard OC44 Ge transistors. > What on earth are they for? I can imagine they're for some sort of > digital machine or even a whole computer, but I can't find any > information about them or the company. Venner Electronics made lab equipment in the 60's and maybe early 70's. What I've seen are digital voltmeters, frequency and period counters, etc. The decade counter modules you have seem most applicable to frequency counter and timing applications but I think they were used as part of the A/D scheme for some of the digital voltmeters too. HP, Berkley Nucleonics, Ortec, and other companies used in their equipment, and sold to other companies as well, decade counter modules etc. >from the 50's onward. I presume "Transistor Decade Unit" was to differentiate it from the "Tube Decade Unit"s that I am very familiar with. If sold to the nuclear instrumentation industry they are usually called "scalers" instead of "counters". Some have direct readout of 0-9 lamps on the side, some have nixie sockets, others simply divide by ten and provide outputs but don't have displays in themselves. Tim.

18 years, 3 months

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Collecting development kits (was: iUP201)

by jcoman＠valcom.com

Do you still have that Motorola M68HC705KICS K-Series ICS/Programmer? Found post at http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2006-January/212076.html Joel Coman Supervisor, TEST Dept. VALCOM, INC. 5614 Hollins Rd Roanoke, Va. 24019 Ph: (540) 563-2000 Ext. 241 Fax: (540) 362-9800

18 years, 3 months

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In search of MM57109 by National Semi

by ragooman＠comcast.net

Would anyone have any of the MM57109 numerical processor chips ? I had no luck finding this at any of the parts suppliers. This was made about '78 =Dan -- [ Pittsburgh --- http://www2.applegate.org/~ragooman/ ]

18 years, 3 months

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test

by jack.rubin＠ameritech.net

can you hear me?

18 years, 3 months

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3B2 progress

by Saquinn624＠aol.com

About a year ago I was given a 3B2 1000/70 by Josh Dersch that I've finally gotten UNIX booted on (in a fashon). I've been spoiled by modern variants of UNIX that include the disklabel program in the miniroot, and it seems that 3B2 System V doesn't. The FAQs seem to address either installing on a MFM drive (V3 (500+) 3B2s are SCSI based), or bringing up a drive in parallel with a valid install (the original drive died), or installing on an AT&T sourced drive that's already been labeled (not an option). (A) Does anybody have the "3B2 Computer Maintenance Utilities" or "IDtools" floppy image floating around, or is this the one that I have with filledt and dgmon on it? (B) is the SCSI-FMT tape the equivalent of IRIX's standalone fx for setting up completely blank disks? (the one I'm using is an ex-Sun Seagate). (C) backplane slots: my machine is an interesting hybrid: it's a 3B2-1000/80 backplane with a 3B2-1000/70 system board. I'm trying to figure out if I have Pbus (looks like these are just an extention of the system bus), B?Bus (some buffered permutation of the above?), or something else entirely, since this machine came to me with a PE card (multiprocessor board). How much of the wiring is backplane-dependant, and how much is system board dependant? Anyone have spare bits for one of these? I wouldn't mind a network card, or more I/O (serial or serial/parallel). One further warning: if you use a SCSI cable scavanged from a dead HP 9000 Nova class (or the HP 3000 equivalent), be forewarned that on the end that connects to the backplane the IDC connector is installed backwards (as opposed to the ends that connect to the disks). I blindly assumed that SCSI was SCSI and d idn't think to check until it didn't work. ************** Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4& ?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)

18 years, 3 months

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X11R7.1 nuisances (it does have bearing on classic comps)

by Saquinn624＠aol.com

Several months ago I upgraded my PC system to Debian 4.0 for several reasons, including being able to use X11R7.1 which was supposed to be a most excellent upgrade. I have had nothing but trouble attempting to run it as an X server for my classic-ish machines. IRIX 6.5.30/Origin200 gives random X-server crashes (when I try Xnest it crashes both Xnest and the parent X), and there is likewise wierdness when I try to use it to connect to my VAX 4000/200 running VMS v7.3 and DECwindows/Motif 1.2.6 (in Xnest windows will migrate outside of the designated server (to the :0 server), and running on it's own screen with XDM the server will often reset before I get the DECwindows "desktop", dropping me back at the XDM login screen). Anyone seen these types of problems before? It seems as though X11R7.1 just "doesn't work" remotely with R6.X and R5.x clients reliably (haven't tried it with my Suns or HP boxes). I currently was given a "new" machine (as in not classic), P4/2.8 with an nVidia 5200 (which might be the problem source) that I'm running. I've been considering whether this would be fixed in X11R7.2 or whether I should try to do a parallel install of X11R6.4 or if I should try it with a Rage128 card in place of the nVidia. ************** Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4&?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)

18 years, 3 months

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Free: SGI Pipeline newsletters

by silent700＠gmail.com

Dupes from a recent SGI motherlode I picked up. Take one, some or all, just pay shipping from 60074: May/June 94 Jan/Feb 95 Mar/Apr 96 May/Jun 96 Sep/Oct 96 Nov/Dec 96 Jul/Aug 97 Sep/Oct 97 Nov/Dec 97 Sep/Oct 98 -- j

18 years, 3 months

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iob6120 construction

by dgriffi＠cs.csubak.edu

Is there someone here who has 1) sucessfully built an IOB6120 board for the SBC6120 and 2) would like to do it again? I have an IOB6120 kit that I'd like to finish, but after doing one of the harder surface-mount parts, I realize that I don't have the skills or tools to finish with the really hard parts. Is there someone who'd be interested in building my kit for me in exchange for goods or money? -- 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?

18 years, 3 months

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more stuff from the garage

by Saquinn624＠aol.com

Any interest in a Tatung Super COMPstation-20S SPARCstation 20 clone? Currently has 2xSM71 and 208MB and TGX graphics. If anyone has a hot yen for a HP9000 G70 (dual-processors with max RAM (768MB), I've had HP-UX 11i running on it), I might be easily persuaded. It's an unracked ex-rack model, so the front bezel is loose but present. Includes console cable and redundant power supply units. Also, it's sounding like the guy I was going to send my Origin200 (base model, 1x180MHz and 200-somthing MB RAM, no skins) to might be no longer interested, so that one could be available. Also have a set of purple SGI Indigo2 feet and a Xyplex Network 9000 terminal server (~20 ports, TS720 with Flash boot), and an almost-new-in-box (removed for testing) Litronic Argus 2102 SCSI PCMCIA reader. On the flip side, if anyone's getting rid of any little Alpha boards/systems that take an EV56 or better or 3B2 stuff I'd be interested provided it isn't the expensive stuff. ************** Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4&?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)

18 years, 3 months

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Victor 9000 PC dos needed (2.11.xx)

by g-wright＠att.net

I have a working Victor (9000) PC here with a HD. But for reasons unknown , it does not having any normal DOS files other than what it takes to run the machine. It does have Wordstar and procom but no format or any other external files. I want to back up the Hard drive and make a bootable floppy. This system, I would guess, use special Version of Dos. I saw a thread here last year on these, did anyone get a boot disk going. I believe mine might also have memory problems. did they have test programs for these . Thanks, Jerry

18 years, 3 months

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Thurlby LA160 Logic analyser

by bwanyama＠icipe.org

Hi Out there! Anybody got the software for comtrol of the Thurlby LA160 logic analyser? Please Please send me a copy. Wanyama, B.O.K. Nairobi, Kenya bwanyama at icipe.org

18 years, 3 months

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Wanted: DEC VT-180 "Robin" Corvus interface + software

by snhirsch＠gmail.com

All, Interested in finding the above item. I know they exist, but I have never encountered them in the wild. Have a nice VT-180 system waiting to go on the network and party like it's 1979 :-). I have an extensive collection of Corvus software, hardware and documentation and can offer interesting pieces in trade. Please contact me privately if you can help or know anyone who can. Steve --

18 years, 3 months

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Wanted: Atari 800 Corvus interface + software

by snhirsch＠gmail.com

All, I'm interested in getting my hands on the subject hardware and software. I have some very rare and interesting Corvus items to offer in trade. Not into Corvus? I also have an extensive collection of Apple 2 software and hardware. If you can help, or know who can, please contact me privately. TIA, Steve --

18 years, 3 months

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What's about Mike Umbricht h316 web page ?

by spedraja＠gmail.com

The subject of the message is explicit, I think. Someone knows if it's active or accesible yet ? Greetings Sergio

18 years, 3 months

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Osbourne OCC1 problem

by javickers＠solutionengineers.com

Hi folks, I just dug my old Osborne OCC1 (1st model, in the beige vacuum-formed ABS case), only to find all is not well. Actually, "finding" all is not well is a bit of a white lie - I already knew it was in trouble, from when I last tried to boot it about 2 years ago... Unfortunately, the intervening 2 years have failed to fix the problem, which is that the video seems to have no horizontal hold. It took a few goes, but eventually it booted from a CP/M disk; with scrambled video. The links below are to a picture & two versions of the same video (16 seconds of special-effects laden trickery...): PIC: The startup screen in scrambled fashion: http://www.solutionengineer.com/ozzie/occ1_prb.jpg VID: Booting to CP/M: MOV format (4mb): http://www.solutionengineer.com/ozzie/occ1_prb.mov MPEG2 format (9mb): http://www.solutionengineer.com/ozzie/occ1_prb.mpg Please excuse the camera wobble on the movie... The constant high-pitch whine is, I think, the image stabiliser in my camera working away. Now.... If I pull the termination block off the External Video connector, the screen goes out (as one would expect); push it back on & the screen comes back on with the display as steady as a rock -- unfortunately, it's crashed the computer... From this, I deduce that it must be something in the mainboard electronics that's failed (a cap, maybe?), rather than something in the monitor unit. Any ideas where to start looking? I have an oscilloscope (albeit I've forgotten how to use it, and am not 100% sure where the probes are), and a multimeter... beyond that, not a lot. I've tried cleaning the contacts to the monitor, and around the Ext Vid. termination block; and I've wiggled the three cable connectors to the mainboard a few times to clean them up. I've also popped each of the three socketed chips in & out a couple of time to clean the legs up. Finally, I soldered the contrast knob back together - one of the legs had broken. Basically, everything works except for the shaky video. Sometimes you see a whole page full of 1s, or 0s; essentially, it's all a bit random. Bad connection somewhere, perhaps, or maybe a failing chip? Cheers! Ade. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.16/1431 - Release Date: 13/05/2008 19:55

18 years, 3 months

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Capacitor values for original PET power supply?

by dm561＠torfree.net

----------Original Message: Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 10:28:11 -0600 From: Richard <legalize at xmission.com> Subject: Re: Capacitor values for original PET power supply? In article <20080520111556.GD1028 at usap.gov>, Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at usap.gov> writes: > The memory board looks interesting - any idea what was meant to go > in the cartridge slots? I wonder if it isn't a memory board scavenged out of some other piece of hardware and simply hacked to appear as more memory in the PET? -- ----------Reply: I think if that were the case, the interface to the PET expansion connector would be a lot messier than what looks like a straight-across ribbon cable with just a transition board to connect to the old-style edge connector, so it does look like it's specifically for the PET, presumably with optional different transition boards for the different PET connectors. An interesting board indeed; what could those slots be for? I don't think C64 carts would work very well in a PET... m

18 years, 3 months

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Possible rescue - Cambridge, UK, early next week

by mross666＠hotmail.com

That part of the Corestore collection which remains in the UK is finally moving! Most will be put in a shipping container and taken to the USA, some will be remaining in the UK at a different location. But there may not be room for everything, so some items may need rescuing. The first item on the list for probable disposal is the Convex C220 supercomputer... I rescued it myself around 12 years ago, it's been untouched since then: http://www.corestore.org/convex.htm Complete, with manuals and software. If I'm honest I'm probably not going to have time or, especially, space for it, so first offer of a good home takes it. If no offers are received, it may sadly end up scrapped. If the will is there but time is a problem it can probably remain in Cambridge for a couple of weeks. RSVP by email, ASAP. Thanks! Mike http://www.corestore.org _________________________________________________________________ Keep your kids safer online with Windows Live Family Safety. http://www.windowslive.com/family_safety/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Re…

18 years, 3 months

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Altos III terminal and more available, free stuff in Renton, WA

by Saquinn624＠aol.com

If anyone's interested I have an Altos-III terminal with keyboard (slightly yellowed) and manual available. There's a fault in the PSU and it isn't bringing up the logic board power properly, and so far I haven't gotten around to messing with it. Free pickup as-is, Renton, WA. If you have something to trade you'd probably be able to persuade me to make fixing it a priority. Also I have a Diablo 620 daisy-wheel printer with multiple print wheels, spare ribbons, and manual. works, best offer accepted. Also in the free pile: HP AdvanceStack "Switching Hub" for 10BaseT (it's a hub, not a switch). Includes management module Cartridge for Canon LBP-SX printer engine (LaserJet II/many LaserWriter IIs), also a used-working fuser assembly for the SX engine Sun Type-4 keyboards (no cables) SBUS parallel cards CG6's a XENIX-compatible Pentium-233 machine (used to run XENIX at a dental office) a Sun Aurora-II chassis and PSU - put a fast 1/2 height CD-ROM in your SPARCstation! Xyplex MAXserver terminal server cards and baa-daa-bum a Xyplex X-25 bridge card! Infuriate yourself or buy for your closest enemies! Can even supply a MX3k or MX5k chassis for the above 2 things if you want. Sun 3/200 boardset (CPU and RAM, 24 or 32MB worth). Needs chassis and a PROM chip. Sun 501-1153 VME -> IPI-2 Sun VME "SCSI-II" (not that SCSI-II, it's SCSI-I) card in either a X/X60 carrier (no external port) or a carrier with an external DD50 SCSI-port. Sun Xylogics-450 Multibus SMD controller in a Sun VTM adaptor. Can be removed >from the VTM as well. AT-101 keyboards, many of them. Possibly a RS/6000 3CT as well. It has GXT150M graphics, sound. ************** Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4& ?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)

18 years, 3 months

1
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buying an oscilloscope

by dgriffi＠cs.csubak.edu

Does anyone here have any pointers on getting a decent used oscilloscope? The intended use is for fiddling with classic computers and assorted homebrewed projects (like synthesizers and geiger counters) -- 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?

18 years, 3 months

3
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PAGING: der Mouse

by chd_1＠nktelco.net

The email address that I have for you doesn't seem to be working. Please contact me directly if you would. -chuck

18 years, 3 months

1
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Possible rescue - Cambridge, UK, early next week

by dgriffi＠cs.csubak.edu

On Wed, 21 May 2008, Robert Jarratt wrote: > Have you tried contacting the BCS Computer Conservation Society? I have > forwarded your email to them just in case. I forget if it's been mentioned here, but Slashdot had a story a few days ago about how Bletchley Park was having money troubles and is danger of closing... -- 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?

18 years, 3 months

2
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cctalk Digest, Vol 57, Issue 40

by dm561＠torfree.net

-----------Original Message: Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 12:42:58 +0000 From: Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at usap.gov> Subject: Re: Capacitor values for original PET power supply? <snip> Between subroutines past $9800, and some tables referenced earlier, and a complete lack of a reasonable end of the code, I'd say that's only the half of it. It was common to stuff code in 2K or 4K chunks between $9000 and $BFFF... the hex files, though, seem to only describe 2K chunks. Are your ROMs all 2K and some haven't been copied yet? -ethan -----------------------Reply: Looks like there are only three, but it might be interesting to know what the other labels say (and confirm the EPROM sizes). Computhink also made other add-ons, including a disk drive IIRC, so those PCB slots are probably for things like the disk interface, etc. You might be able to track down someone through old archives who has (had) the manual for it. m m

18 years, 3 months

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Possible rescue - Cambridge, UK, early next week

by aek＠bitsavers.org

> Complete, with manuals and software If you do end up scrapping it, could you at least save the docs and software?

18 years, 3 months

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Emulation vs. "the real thing"

by cclist＠sydex.com

> Message: 18 > Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 17:57:26 -0400 > From: Allison > ;) Like Blackfin or PIC. Yup. Nothing like downloading your code into a little 6-pin cockroach of a PIC only to find it totally unresponsive. Maybe there's a job description for "electronic psychic". "I've channeled your PIC and it says you forgot to set up the TRISIO register, you stupid idiot." :) Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 3 months

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test-drb