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

by Will＠Swaggie.net

Back in the early 80s, i worked as an assembler programmer for Reuters in London. I was involved with maintenance and development of software on two platforms - one was the PDP11, but the other was a much more obscure machine and i can't remember the name of the manufacturer. The machines in question worked together as a pair - we referred to them as "SGS", which stood for "Second Generation Slave". I believe they were designed as a front end for the IBM 360, but Reuters used them as, i guess, minicomputers. These machines were the heart of Reuters' oldest live stock and share price reporting system - and subscribers were able to check prices via a PDP8 in their office which was connected to the SGS pair. One of the pair was what you'd call a database server nowadays and the other did the comms stuff. As far as i remember, each machine was the size of three racks next to each other (which is probably what they were). The data was stored on a drum in one machine, and the other machine had a card reader and a teletype terminal. They both had paper tape readers. They were 16-bit machines and had a row of lights and toggle switches at the top of one rack, with a switch to change between memory location and data, plus an "enter/run" button. The data machine was booted by toggling in a paper tape reader bootstrap and then loading the drum reader bootstrap from paper tape, then booting the OS, which was stored on the drum. The comms machine also had a three stage boot process - toggle in paper tape bootstrap, read card reader bootstrap off paper tape, then read the OS from a stack of cards. I can't remember how we got the OS onto the drum now - but i do remember we did a lot of "patching" in memory, through the front panel, for debugging etc. These machines ran IBM 360 machine code and we did the development in 360 assembly language on an IBM 370, which was later upgraded to a 4340. Recently i've been trying to remember the name of the manufacturer of these machines, but i just haven't got a clue - although i'm sure i'd recognise it if i saw it. I've looked through computer history sites on the web, hoping i'd come across the manufacturer's name and recognise it, but i never have. So if anyone knows, or can give me any clues, i'd be grateful. I'm not subscribed to this list, so i'd be very grateful if anyone replying could Cc me. Thanks Will Kemp

18 years, 8 months

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Rescue opp in Boston

by evan＠snarc.net

Just passing this one along for whoever's interested. >>> Xerox 820 II with 8" floppy disks, CP/M operating system, Select Word processing, and a 630 Daisy wheel printer. It was bought in 1982 and we have all the manuals. It has not been turned on since we "retired" it in 1989 or so, but it was working at that point. JoAnne Yates jyates at MIT.EDU

18 years, 8 months

1
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ST506 and/or ST412 hard disk drives

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Hi, I am restoring a Vector Graphic computer and would like to add a hard disk drive. The controller only supports two kinds of hard disk drives, the ST506 and ST412. The HD controller is hard coded to support these DRIVES not just a compatible interface and relies on a special signal present only in these actual drives. If anyone has one or more of these hard disk drives they would like to sell me, please contact me or reply here. Thanks! Andrew Lynch

18 years, 8 months

3
3
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Sun 3/60 - how to boot this thing?

by trasz＠FreeBSD.org

I just got a Sun 3/60, 8MB RAM, no disk. I have several questions: 1. Were these used with an external disk? There is some room inside the machine, but there are also several strange looking capacitors there. 2. With diag switch set to "norm", there is nothing (no output) on the serial console; the machine just blinks one of the LEDs. With diag switch set to "diag", the following appears: Boot PROM Selftest PROM Checksum Test Context Reg Test Segment Map Wr/Rd Test Segment Map Address Test Page Map Test Memory Path Data Test NXM Bus Error Test Interrupt Test TOD Clock Interrupt Test MMU Access Bit Test MMU Access/Modify Bit Test MMU Invalid Page Test MMU Protected Page Test Parity Test Memory Size = 0x00000008 Megabytes Selftest passed. Type a character within 10 seconds to enter Menu Tests... (e for echo mode) Is that a sign of EEPROM problem? Failed battery? -- If you cut off my head, what would I say? Me and my head, or me and my body?

18 years, 8 months

7
7
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Part for IBM 5110

by eastofthesun2＠gmail.com

Henk, I was researching my Corcom F2280 on the internet and came across your 2004 message: --------------------------------------- Who can help me with an EMI filter from an IBM 5110 ? Mine has an internal non-repairable short circuit. This EMI filter is a CORCOM type F2280 and is located in the mains entry box underneath the screen tube. Any one ? Thanks Henk --------------------------------------- I have one, if you're still interested. Bob

18 years, 8 months

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Test - Don't Reply

by bpettit＠ix.netcom.com

Testing to see if send problem resolved.

18 years, 8 months

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ASCII Art

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

> I rarely see ASCII art these days. There was a retro ASCII Art > newsletter that was published every few months which had some ASCII art > in it, but sadly the people behind it have decided to stop making it. > Only 5 issues exist, and at present I only have issue 5 I feel there are 2 subtly-different forms of ASCII-Art. The first is essantally 2-colour, and uses characters of the right shape to form the image. The second uses characters of different average densitys to form a sort-of greyscale image. The former is used (and I still regularly use it) for things like schematic diagrams. I think I've worked out ASCII-Art versions of the symbols for all common components, and I've drawn up quite complex scheamtics that way. The second, which seems to be a lot rarer, is the sort of thing used for that picture of the cat, I guess. -tony

18 years, 8 months

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Framegrabber MMAC and WinTV questions

by Arno_1983＠gmx.de

Stroller <classiccmp.org at stellar.eclipse.co.uk> wrote: > > The board has a PCI edge connector, a BT848 video decoder ... > > I do not believe these are uncommon. > > Note especially the first link: > http://www.google.com/search?q=BT848 Err, yes...I actually had noticed before, and meanwhile got it to work using the generic Bt8x8 driver from btwincap.sourceforge.net. I had just hoped that somebody might point me to the original driver for that card. The btwincap thingie implements lots of stuff (like program lists, tuner and audio crossbar control by I2C or I/O lines...) that this simple device doesn't need. -- Arno Kletzander Der GMX SmartSurfer hilft bis zu 70% Ihrer Onlinekosten zu sparen! Ideal f?r Modem und ISDN: http://www.gmx.net/de/go/smartsurfer

18 years, 8 months

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how to connect a DECprinter I (LA180) ?

by henk.gooijen＠hotmail.com

The seasonal holidays give me time to play around a bit ... I wanted to connect my DECprinter I (that's an LA180) but I could not find any documentation here at home, neither on the web! Can somebody who knows or has an LA180 connected tell me how it is hooked to a serial line? Or point me to an LA180 user's manual on the web? >From my guess, the BERG header is "standard" as on M7800 DL11's or M7856 DL11-W, SLU's (with the appropriate lugs either RS-232 or 20 mA current loop), but I would rather be assured than destroying a very nice printer! thanks, Henk

18 years, 8 months

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new find: NS BLC80/10

by compoobah＠valleyimplants.com

I was dismantling some old stuff that I got as a lot and came across this beastie. It's a National Semiconductor Microcomputer Systems BLC 80/10. Clone of an Intel iSBC 80/10. Single board 8080A computer with sockets for PROMs and 1K of RAM onboard, several parallel ports, one serial port, and Multibus interface for expansion. As used in this case, it was standalone with only the power pins on the Multibus connected (and the I/O at the top). As the only Multibus backplane I have is an IRIS 3000 series (double-deep), it's available.

18 years, 8 months

6
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Mail formatting

by cclist＠sydex.com

> From: Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> > > Worse, on many systems the answer differs depending what point you > > measure at. On most Unix variants, for example, it's 0x0a when > > measured in files or in C strings, but 0x0d 0x0a when measured on > > hardware serial lines. > > in which case, what characters would > fprintf(PRN, "%s" , "X\n" ); > actually send to the printer? Unix was the first ASCII-using OS that I saw that used a print control character "\n" as a logical separator. Prior to that, I'd seen decimal 31 (US) used. The benefit of using the ASCII separator characters (US RS GS FS) is that one can stucture a file or files hierarchically (i.e. units in records in groups in files). A shame that our current modern systems don't take advantage of this. Even CDC SCOPE or NOS allowed for file/record-level hierarchies. Up to 15 levels of records were allowed, IIRC. So you could skip to the next level 4 record within a file, bypassing all intervening level 0, 1, 2 and 3 records in the process. A shame that was never carried into our "modern" systems. Does anyone know why SUB (0x1A, 26) was used to denote an EOF in CP/M and, to some extent, DOS text files? IIRC, there is at least one programming language that treats newline as a quotable character. Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 8 months

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(Fwd) CDC Grid Display Subsystem

by cclist＠sydex.com

This from Billy Petit: ------- Forwarded message follows ------- Unless I have badly confused names, the GRID system was a very unusual Control Data experiement. It was a 160-A made from CDC's Interbrid logic chips. It used a 12 bit X and Y axis vector display. The instruction set was the standard 160-A but with some extra commands supporting the display. It was initialized with Function Ready commands, then did vector transfers directly from the processor memory. The memory was 12K core of 12 bits. This was a very small run system, somewhere around 20 to 30 systems total built. They were made at the Roseville plant. The GRIDsystemwas droppeda little afterCDC bought out the imaging group from Itek and formed the Digigraphics Division. (The market wasn't big enough to support two competing product lines.) The 274 console was the second generation system from this new group. The first was a huge console used on 3000 systems. It was used on large CAD systems. They were made at the Burlington, Mass. plant. I installed four of them at Lockheed in Marietta when they won the C-5 contract, circa 1966-67. Maybe another 10 systems total, were made. The second generation Digigraphics system used a new controller built >from 6000 logic modules. It was a 16 bit controller and used on the 1700 systems. There was a limited version that shipped with the System 18. I'd love to see the GRID manual posted to bitsavers. If you will loan it to Al or me, we will scan it and return to you. I may still have some schemantics for it in the garage, but I haven't seen them since 1976 so I maybe imagining their existence. I have recently talked to one of the designers of the GRID, but my contact addresses for him don't work. I still can't post emails directly to the cclist, so can I get one of you to put up this follow up message? Thanks, Billy

18 years, 8 months

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Free for Shipping, PSpice & P-CAD Security Devices

by trag＠io.com

I am throwing stuff out and found these two dongles. The first is a little 2" X 2" dongle which says "Plug into serial port" on one end and has a female DB25 port, with a pass through on the other end. It says PSpice MicroSIM Corporation, Electrical Circuit Simulator, ID #66097". The other is a long module labeled "P-CAD Software Security Device, 104-0019-01, Serial No. 15871, 047-0124-00. This module is about 12" long and has a lid which hinges upwards and contains ten slots for small modules. One module is installed and it is labeled "PC-CAPS, Serial No. 7125, 104-0120-01". This long module also has a pass-through and appears to require a 9VDC power supply. I have no use for these and only a vague idea of how I would make use of them. So if anyone wants them for the cost of shipping let me know by email. I am in Austin, TX near Spicewood Springs and Mopac. If I don't make arrangements with anyone by Sunday, they're going in the trash. Jeff Walther

18 years, 8 months

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Source code to MMD1 and MMD2

by eniveld＠gmail.com

I wrote the machine code for the MMD1 and MMD2 and was wondering if anyone would find it valuable? I also created an experimental model for E&L that never shipped where I converted the CPU over to a 6502. Any takers? It's all on printed paper, so I don't know what the best way to get it on line is. --David

18 years, 8 months

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ASCII Art (was Re: how to connect a DECprinter I (LA180) ?)

by dm561＠torfree.net

Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2007 01:52:14 +0000 (GMT) From: Andrew Burton <aliensrcooluk at yahoo.co.uk> Subject: ASCII Art (was Re: how to connect a DECprinter I (LA180) ?) >Last time I searched for "ASCII Art" on the net I found a couple of pictures of naked women amongst those of Spock and Kirk. I >didn't see any of Snoopy though :( >I rarely see ASCII art these days. There was a retro ASCII Art newsletter that was published every few months which had some >ASCII art in it, but sadly the people behind it have decided to stop making it. Only 5 issues exist, and at present I only have issue 5. >Happy Holidays, >Andrew B >aliensrcooluk at yahoo.co.uk --------- Lots of ASCII art here (a couple dozen Snoopys in the DECUS section): http://textfiles.group.lt/art/ Anybody know of a simple program to print these on a laser or inkjet? mike

18 years, 8 months

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Looking for California Computer Systems Z-80 CPU Card

by mardy＠voysys.com

Hi All, I'm looking to get my hands on a California Computer Systems Model 2810 Z-80 CPU card. This is an S-100 bus card. Anybody out there have one they want to sell? I'm also looking for a readable schematic for this card. Thanks, -Mardy

18 years, 8 months

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ASCII Art (was Re: how to connect a DECprinter I (LA180) ?)

by iamvirtual＠gmail.com

If you look for the PBM tools, there is a PBM to ASCII output format. Using the tools, any picture could be converted to the ASCII art. Enjoy! --barrym

18 years, 8 months

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ASCII Art

by djg＠pdp8.net

Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at usap.gov> wrote: >I have a dim memory that someone who is now, or was once, a >member of this list had some ASCII art on a PDP-8 page. I have some. This is a tape of IBM lineprinter art ftp://ftp.pdp8.net/ascii_art If you enter snoopy on the search you will find several versions All really the same simple picture wrapped in different languages http://www.pdp8online.com/htdig/search.shtml Also more on this one http://www.pdp8online.com/pdp8cgi/os8_html?act=dir;fn=images/os8/dial%2Ddec… That reminds me, I have a box of teletype art also for 5 level machines I need to read the paper tapes in.

18 years, 8 months

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HD 5.25 floppy disk drives emulating legacy DSQD floppy disk drives

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Hi a quick follow up to my question to the list earlier. I found that on the TEAC FD-55GFR more closely emulates the TM100-4M signals if the "E2" jumper is ON. It changes the logic of the /INDEX and /READ DATA signals to be compatible with older PC and XT floppy drive controllers which do not give the drive adequate time to fully settle. Apparently the older TM100-4M drives don't seem to care much about it but the Vector Graphic FDC is expecting to get those signals whether regardless of seek status. If anyone has any additional thoughts on the matter, please post. I am still trying to figure this out for the Panasonic JU-475-1 drive. Is anyone familiar with it so that it's /INDEX and /READ DATA are compatible with PC and XT FDCs? Thanks! Andrew Lynch Hi, Sorry for the long post. I have done a lot of things to make this work but am still stuck on this problem. As some of you know, I and some others have been busily working on restoring some Vector Graphic machines. One goal is to replace the Tandon TM100-4M 100tpi drives with more commonly available High Density 96tpi floppy drives. I realize the disks between the two types of drives are incompatible and I plan to retain both types of drives for compatibility with other Vector Graphic machines. However, the 100tpi drives are difficult to obtain and I would like to limit their use to preserve their remaining lifespans. I would like to transition my regular usage disks to the HD 96tpi drives to utilitize commonly available and inexpensive HD floppy drive mechanisms. I believe it is possible to make an HD drive emulate a legacy DSQD drive -- at least I am sure it can be done on the PC. The late Don Maslin was apparently able to use 720K (DSQD) 5.25" floppy drives on his Vector Graphic system (see link below). I would like to do a similar thing but using the HD drives in DSQD emulation mode. http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/1998-January/093114.html I have a couple of HD floppy disk drives such as the Panasonic JU-475 and TEAC FD-55GFR. I have jumpered and modified both drives so that the spindle motor turns at 300 RPM which I have verified using a fluorescent lamp and tach wheel. I have set the jumpers or directly wired to ground Pin 2 to force Double Density mode. I have covered Pin 2 on the interface with tape so that it does not interfere with the FDC on my Vector Graphic machine and vice versa. According to the schematic of my Vector Graphic integrated FD/HD controller (FDC) neither pin 2 (density select) nor pin 34 (/ready) are used. After many tests and inspections, I have verified both HD drives do work in 720K DSQD emulation mode on my floppy test bench PC. They are configured as 3.5" 80 track drives. The motor spins at 300 RPM and they are both able to format and verify with scandisk under MS-DOS using good quality 5.25" disks. The problem comes in when I attach either HD drive to the Vector Graphic FDC. Whenever it tries to format under CP/M, the VG is able to write out all 154 tracks (I have verified it is writing the tracks by inspecting the disks using my Catweasel) but the VG cannot verify the tracks correctly and fails the format. Everytime it tries to format a disk, it ends with "PERMANENT DISK ERROR" messages. Using different CP/M utilities to write to the HD drives results in similar errors such as VG BACKUP, a disk copy utility, and CPYFSTU, another CP/M disk copy utility. I do not know for certain whether the disks are have errors when written or the drive is having problems reading the track. I know the disks are good as I can format them on the VG using the TM100-4M drive without issue. When I verified the tracks are written using the Catweasel and the same disk and drive I noticed several read errors and bad sectors which implies the tracks were written with errors. Does anyone know why these HD floppy drives are incompatible with the Vector Graphic FDC? Is there something I am missing or some setting which would make them compatible? The HD drives work just fine at DSQD drives on the floppy test bench PC so I am fairly sure the drives themselves are OK. The VG FDC works fine with the TM100-4M drives so I think they work OK. The problem is only when I attach the HD drives to the VG FDC. Would anyone please give me some insight on this problem? Thank you in advance for any help. Andrew Lynch

18 years, 8 months

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Laser Turbo XT turbo mode switch? (Sellam Ismail)

by alhartman＠yahoo.com

Sellam, According to the manual I have, the keys are as following: [Ctrl] 8 = 8mhz Turbo [Ctrl] 5 = 4.77 XT Speed If you run across an extra P.S., let me know. I have one here I can't power up without one. Al Phila, PA

18 years, 8 months

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how to connect a DECprinter I (LA180) ?

by tiggerlasv＠aim.com

The LA180 cable (at least for use with an LPV11) is a BC11S-25. That is a round cable with a 40-pin BERG on each end. I couldn't tell you if all the pins are used or not, or if the connections are pin-for-pin. The LA180 engineering print set is available at?? http://vt100.net/manx although it is in two parts, in multi-page TIFF format, takes up 20 MB, and takes FOREVER to load in Windows.?? Would be nice if someone converted it to PDF format.?? ;-) Tim ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AIM(R) Mail ! - http://webmail.aim.com

18 years, 8 months

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How to connect a DECprinter 1 (LA180)

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

> The LA-120 (DECwriter/printer III) is serial, as is the LA-36, and > a bunch of other LA-xxx printers. I think the LA-180 might be > unique in its naming series to be parallel. The LA100 is also serial (that's a strange printer with a solenoid to move the printhead up and down by half the dot pitch, giving NLQ output). The LA324 (much later) is paralell and serial, the serial port being an MMJ connector (and the parallel port is a 36 pin Microribbon, wired as a Centronics connector). -tony

18 years, 8 months

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How to connect a DECprinter 1 (LA180)

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

> > =20 > The seasonal holidays give me time to play around a bit ... > I wanted to connect my DECprinter I (that's an LA180) but > I could not find any documentation here at home, neither > on the web! Can somebody who knows or has an LA180 > connected tell me how it is hooked to a serial line? It's not!. The interface is a TTL-level parallel one, somewhat similar to Centronics, but IIRC some of the control lines are inverted, etc. IIRC, it connects to an LP11 or LPV11 card. The cable is straight-through wired, I think, but you probalby flip one of the connectors over, as is usual with DEC cabling. > Or point me to an LA180 user's manual on the web? > =20 > >From my guess, the BERG header is "standard" as on M7800 > DL11's or M7856 DL11-W, SLU's (with the appropriate lugs > either RS-232 or 20 mA current loop), but I would rather be > assured than destroying a very nice printer! I suspect applying RS232 levesl to the connector will cook a few ICs. I do have the printset somewhere, so it would be repairable... -tony

18 years, 8 months

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how to connect a DECprinter I (LA180) ?

by RodSmallwood＠mail.ediconsulting.co.uk

Hi If my memory is not totally shot. The basic model was the LA180-PA. It had a Centronics interface and I think all that was required was a cable to go from the Berg to a 36way Plug. The various boards in LSI's PDP's may well have been parallel (Centronics type) interfaces and could have been pin-to-pin matches requiring only a flat ribbon cable to the LA-180. RS232 and EIA (20mA) interfaces were on their own boards and plugged into the Berg. Rod Smallwood DEC Terminals Product Line 1975 - 1979 -----Original Message----- From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Henk Gooijen Sent: 28 December 2007 22:00 To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: RE: how to connect a DECprinter I (LA180) ? [Sent again, to get it readable. What can I do to correct this?] Sorry, I just don't understand why the quoted text is so messed up. It all looks fine before I click the "Send" button. This time, I changed the encoding from UTF-8 to Western Europe (Windows) ... I better not put my answers interspersed. If somebody knows how to get this stupid quoting corrected: help! The manual is called "LP11/LS11/LA11 line printer user's manual", but the etch on the M7258 only says "LS11 interface". The round cable is not a flat cable, but has separate wires. At least, that is how it looks to me. The diameter is approx 0.5". I will shoot a picture of that cable too. I will "announce" the LA180 page when it is finished ... and hunt down that cat :-) If somebody has that text file,I would love to print it! You got me up the attick for the third time Ethan :-) If you hold the M7258 with the fingers at the right side and look at the component side of the module, the BERG header is at the top left side. The single height module is directly above the M7258, like this ASCII art: ----------------------------------------------------- | ############### ---- \\ | | \ \| M5973 | | component side view | / /| | // | BERG (to M7258) | | ############### ---- ----------------------------------------------------- xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <--- flat cable ----------------------------------------------------- | ############### ---- | M7258 | === === The module is original DIGITAL, it is in the etch, M5973. It's in the Field Guide: "M5973 LLD11 U TTL to differential transceiver". There are only 3 fingers connected at the end, for power supply. The way it is, this M5973 must have been installed in position B of the slot, where the M7258 goes into an SPC (position C-F). The manual indeed is for the major part concerning the LP01/02/04/05. Wished I could have played with DEC stuff in those days! Cool havingyour own pdp8 at 16!! Henk (wondering how this will appear on the list!)

18 years, 8 months

1
0
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Laser Turbo XT turbo mode switch?

by sellam＠vintagetech.com

I have a Laser Turbo XT that I'm trying to resuscitate to 100%. I have it almost all working, but I'd be durned if I can't figure out how to get it into turbo mode. Right now it's blazing along at 1.4Mhz if the Landmark speed test is to be believed. There are no hardware switches so I can only assume there is some sort of utility program that needs to be run? If so, I don't have it :( Any hints? Thanks! Happy New Year! -- 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, 8 months

2
1
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Laser Turbo XT turbo mode switch?

by tiggerlasv＠aim.com

If I remember right (it's been many years), turbo switching was actually performed from the keyboard. Try hitting CONTROL ALT +? to enter turbo mode. (Use the + sign on the 10-key) If that doesn't work, try various control combinations, including sequences ending with Page Up / Page Down. Tim ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AIM(R) Mail ! - http://webmail.aim.com

18 years, 8 months

1
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PDP-8 SPACEWAR!

by aek＠bitsavers.org

> The clock video on the VC8 page is much more dynamic. I used some unix > font tools and a little bit of python to make bitmap images of the > numerical characters. I don't know right offhand where to find them, but you should dig around and find the glyphs for the "Dali Clock". These morph from one digit to the next.

18 years, 8 months

1
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PDP-8 SPACEWAR!

by chd_1＠nktelco.net

Over a year ago I asked for some help on getting a PDP-8/e EAE functional. There was an immediate response and I got a later version M8330 that was EAE compatible. Thanks to those who helped. In the spring I got a version of SPACEWAR to work. I also played with a clock for the point plot display. I made some videos, but didn't do anything with them at the time. I was not satisfied with the quality. Nonetheless, today I added them to my web pages. http://www.chd.dyndns.org/pdp8/VC8/ http://www.chd.dyndns.org/pdp8/spacewar/ The clock video on the VC8 page is much more dynamic. I used some unix font tools and a little bit of python to make bitmap images of the numerical characters. These were then converted to PAL8 source. The hands are drawn using the Bresenham algorithm. Since it is the close to the new year, I want to thank everyone for the knowledge that I have gained from listening here. When we don't stumble over our own narrow mindedness and biases we are a pretty knowledgeable bunch. Thanks again to all... -chuck PS: I tried the videos using firefox and internet explorer in windows and firefox in linux. I am curious if there are problem, but please don't turn this into some kind of off topic discussion.

18 years, 8 months

1
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Data I/O software

by doc＠mdrconsult.com

A friend has a Data I/O 2900 and has lost the disks to it. He says he found Disk 1 of v5.7 and Disk 2 of v5.8, and Disk 3 of both sets is missing. Anybody able to help out with disk images? Doc

18 years, 8 months

3
3
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CDC Grid Display Subsystem

by cclist＠sydex.com

From: Richard <legalize at xmission.com> > I just got the Hardware Reference Manual on ebay for the CDC Grid > Display Subsystem (Publication No. PD82134500 September, 1969, PD-1-0). > This doesn't appear to be on bitsavers; I'm not sure but I haven't > stumbled across it in the pdf/cdc folder. The manual is a photocopy of an > original and will be scanned for bitsavers. > > GRID stands for Graphical Interactive Display, making "Grid Display > Subsystem" contain a redundant "Display" when expanded. This looks like > an interesting system with a builtin console and enclosure containing all > the graphics processing hardware. Sounds like a one-off by or for the NCAR crew; given the date, the standard CDC product would have been something like the IGS 274--a large display console with light pen, but with the controller in a separate large 3000-series type (i.e. green glass and "barred" front) cabinet. Certainly hooked up to the 6600's that NCAR owned at the time. Did you check the pubs catalog in the CDC section on bitsavers? It's pretty complete, even listing QSEs. Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 8 months

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Framegrabber MMAC and WinTV questions

by Arno_1983＠gmx.de

Hello listmembers! Apart from the usual Season's Greetings to all of you, I've got some questions again. Sometime this year, I scored some kind of video digitizer/framegrabber card out of an old PC. These days I managed to analyze the harddisk that came with it for drivers, but didn't find any. The board has a PCI edge connector, a BT848 video decoder (datecode from '96, so marginally on-topic), two crystals, a bunch of passives, and an s-video socket plus two RCA sockets accessible from the outside. Manufacturer is "MultiMedia Access Corporation" according to the etch, a sticker holds the part number "91-00109-01 Rev. C" and a serial number. www.MMAC.com now redirects to the site of ViewCast and the oldest stuff I was able to find there and in the waybackmachine are drivers for a series of cards called "Osprey". Anybody got some hints for what I've got there and where to find drivers/software for it? Additionally, can somebody please enlighten me as to the pinout of that weird 7-pin Mini-DIN video input connector on the WinTV PCI series cards? I know that the outer four pins will accept a standard s-video cable, but I don't have the adaptor plug needed for composite input and would like to cobble up a replacement. Thanks in Advance, and my best wishes for a successful year 2008. Yours sincerely, Arno Kletzander. -- Arno Kletzander Stud. Hilfskraft Informatik Sammlung Erlangen www.iser.uni-erlangen.de Ist Ihr Browser Vista-kompatibel? Jetzt die neuesten Browser-Versionen downloaden: http://www.gmx.net/de/go/browser

18 years, 8 months

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Sun 3/60 - how to boot this thing?

by compoobah＠valleyimplants.com

On Dec 28, 2007, at 8:11 AM, Jules wrote: > I could see that happening for a 'hobby' machine snagged from a > dumpster if > all the person had was the CPU unit. It'd be reasonably easy to hook > some form > of graphical display to the machine, but more tricky to emulate a > missing Sun > keyboard. Yep. Would have shipped with a Type-3, but you can do a cable adaptor >from a Type-4 or Type-5. Remember that these need ECL displays and not analog. I believe that after a while the serial console will pop out with a ">", but there are no intermediate messages such as you get with a SPARC. Haven't had one of these for a couple years, but I remember getting the console prompt on serial when I had one I have a DD-50 single drive enclosure and a surfeit of DD-50 -> HD-50 (SCSI-II type) cables, as well as some Type-4 keyboards in my garage. I haven't gotten the original message yet, so I'm not sure where you are - I'm in the Western Washington (state) area. The 3/60 is eminently hackable - look at the Sun-3 Zoo for ideas. People have wired in internal 1/3 ht drives (there are solder pads for a 50-pin header on the SCSI bus) and done many other things. I run my 3/110 diskless from the network (served from an IPX, but Suns are so standard that you should be able to use Linux or xBSD). 4.1.1_U1 is the release of SunOS to get, and it's floating around out there.

18 years, 8 months

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Old computers

by phil.whitehouse＠osmosoft.com

Hi there, I work with Andrew Back, and he's recently forwarded us a copy of your email about the old computers you're about to throw away. We'd very much like to give them a loving home - specifically the CMB Pet and BBC Micro computers. Are they still up for grabs? If you could please let me know availability and location, I'll sort out a courier or something similar. Many thanks for this opportunity! Cheers, Phil

18 years, 8 months

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Slightly OT: TQFP mounting

by cclist＠sydex.com

If you feel this subject is too far off-topic, please respond privately. OTOH, it just might help some who are trying to repair some of the old gear that uses SMT. At any rate, I've got some 68-pin TQFP packages that I need to mount on a PCB. I've searched the web and become throughly confused over recommendations. I'd like to stay away from using a hot-air rework iron as I don't think I have enough skill to use it without causing some damage to the PCB or component. I'd like to use my temperature-controlled Weller soldering station as the heat source. I'll also be using Sn- Pb solder rather than lead-free. Two approaches that I've seen for conventional soldering iron mounting involve what I'll call "flood and suck" that involves covering all of the leads on one side of the QFP on the PCB with solder and then using a solder "sucker" (such as a Soldapullt) to remove the excess. The other approach uses solder wick (solder removal braid), laying the braid over the QFP leads and PCB and heating and applying solder *through* the braid to the leads. I'm fairly confident that I could do either, but who's had real success with either method? Thanks, Chuck

18 years, 8 months

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CDC Grid Display Subsystem

by legalize＠xmission.com

I just got the Hardware Reference Manual on ebay for the CDC Grid Display Subsystem (Publication No. PD82134500 September, 1969, PD-1-0). This doesn't appear to be on bitsavers; I'm not sure but I haven't stumbled across it in the pdf/cdc folder. The manual is a photocopy of an original and will be scanned for bitsavers. GRID stands for Graphical Interactive Display, making "Grid Display Subsystem" contain a redundant "Display" when expanded. This looks like an interesting system with a builtin console and enclosure containing all the graphics processing hardware. Has anyone used one? Anyone got any photos? The manual just has diagrams. Included with the manual was: - a short whitepaper on the "GRID Operating System (GOS)", marked "Robert Gammill 9/11/70", 13 pgs. - "GRID* USER MANUAL", John Walker, David Robertson, Robert Gammill, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80302, December 1971, 36 pgs. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/book/download/index.html> Legalize Adulthood! <http://blogs.xmission.com/legalize/>

18 years, 8 months

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Homebrew Drum Computer (magnetic heads)

by ballsandy＠msn.com

Fred Cisin wrote: > On Fri, 14 Dec 2007, Roy J. Tellason wrote: >> This whole idea strikes me as just plain crazy... >> But! For some reason the above reminded me of something that I was >> considering early on, probably early 1970s or so. Instead of a drum just >> use a loop of tape. You can start with an old reel-to-reel deck, ignoring > > Howzbout an 8-track? > > Unfortunately, the kids today don't even remember them, so wouldn't fully > appreciate the absurdity. >Ben alias woodelf wrote: >Was not the stringy floppy a medium like that? First off, I would like to add that I am only 17 but to answer the question, yes, the stringy floppy was to a degree just like the 8-track drive people made. Actually, I have here instructions on how to modify a regular 8-track deck to work with a regular TRS-80 model I. _________________________________________________________________ Introducing the City @ Live! Take a tour! http://getyourliveid.ca/?icid=LIVEIDENCA006

18 years, 8 months

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Slightly OT: TQFP mounting

by aek＠bitsavers.org

I've never done it with either method. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQXhny3R7lk --- That is EXACTLY the technique I used! Note the flux application beforehand and putting the flat of the soldering iron towards the body of the chip, with solder going in towards the board over surface of the iron.

18 years, 8 months

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looking for Chad Martin

by vax9000＠gmail.com

Hello people, I am looking for Chad Martin to talk about his computer in my hand. If you know his current email address please let me know off-line. His previous one (name @ fli...) stopped working. Best, vax9000

18 years, 8 months

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How uncommon are DEC racks these days

by ballsandy＠msn.com

>Whereabouts are you? I'm in Regina, Saskatchewan and in my basement I have >a VAXstation 4000/100, Sun Sparcstation 20 and Sun UltraSparc 1/170E, all >running, plus a VAXstation 3100 and a VAX 4000/100 (neither running but both >should be in working order). > >Jim I live in Kamloops BC so I am two provinces over. :( The closest thing I found DEC related in this town was a random EIA distribution panel for a rack and that was in the trash. >I posted just a few days ago about two dec racks (corp cabs) going out to >the trash that day. They are still out there, but the dumpster arrived today >so they will be gone tomorrow. > >Also going out the door and into the dumpster tomorrow, a "wide" corp cab. >This is the more modern beige rack, but this one is wider than usual (I >think vax's were commonly in this type of cabinet). There is the normal 19" >wide rackspace, but on this one there an extension on the side about 1/3 of >a cabinet wide used for cable management. It formerly housed an 11/44, TS05, >RX02, and RA81. If someone wants them speak up now.... > >Jay Ack! even if you were close to me it's too late now. :( _________________________________________________________________ Read what Santa`s been up to! For all the latest, visit asksantaclaus.spaces.live.com! http://asksantaclaus.spaces.live.com/

18 years, 8 months

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digital camera capabilities

by James＠jdfogg.com

> As an expert in this area, my opinion is that silicon sensors have a long > ways to catch up to film. Both CCD and CMOS sensors lack in resolution > and the spatial sampling artifacts Der Mouse mentioned are only part of > the problem. Another part of the problem is archiving the images. Decay of film/paper photography is well known and incredibly slow(esp. B&W). Digital bitrot is much faster and not well known. Just ask anyone who's lost a hard disk drive full of digital baby pictures. I've also seen a lot of discussion about CD-ROM and DVD-ROM lifespan and it's not good either.

18 years, 8 months

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How uncommon are DEC racks these days

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: How uncommon are DEC racks these days > From: john ball <ballsandy at msn.com> > Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:44:43 -0200 > To: <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > >I have had my fun with Unix boxes but I think it's time to try something a little older and more complex. >I first thought about looking for an older IBM mainframe like the system/36 but my chances of finding one were pretty much slim to none so I then thought about the computers that DIGITAL made. Yes it would be fantastic to own something like a PDP-12 rack (how often do you see a bright green computer these days?) but knowing how my luck is almost never with me I would have to settle with something smaller. That returns me to my chances of finding a PDP. I live in Western Canada and so far it has been hard enough just finding a SPARCstation 1+ so I assume that something like a PDP will be even harder. How common are DEC's these days and where are they usually found and how much do they usually go for if any price at all? PDP-12s are rare. there were very few made and fewer available. Estimates are around a dozen around. More likely candidates and PDP-10 (later models), PDP-11s. >It would be a rather nice (but late) christmas present to myself. You can find PDP-11s easily enough, PDP-8 of the omnibus era are easy to find earlier 8s are much fewer. In the PDP10 realm the later '10s (system 20s) are still findable though there were not all that many made in that family. So the likely candidates in order of most frequently found/bought to least. You can buy or find these fairly cheap ======================================= microVAX (all sorts and easily found) PDP-11 (qbus) very common PDP-11 Unibus PDP-8[E,F,M,a] omnibus VAX 750 and 730s Good luck! ============ VAX (78x series, ) PDP-8 earlier [L, I, and straight] PDP10 (system 20 later models) Everything else is scarce to rare or only a few left on earth. What differentiates them is production volumes. Some the volumes were very small like a PDP-6 where there were something less than 10 made. Allison >_________________________________________________________________ >Read what Santa`s been up to! For all the latest, visit asksantaclaus.spaces.live.com! >http://asksantaclaus.spaces.live.com/=

18 years, 8 months

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6 Kaypro "8" computers + parts, etc.

by FJGJR1＠aol.com

Are you interested in purchasing working Kaypro "8"'s [not II, 2, IV, 4] and parts / items for them? They are much more powerful than the early standard Kaypros and I have found none on my many web searches, although they were very popular upgrades / modifications in the 1980's. I am posting a lot of information on _www.vintage-computer.com_ (http://www.vintage-computer.com/) , now that I can finally access it. There were about 5 previous posts by me "GADFRAN" but I was not able to do anything else on the site except post. I will also check back on this website also periodically. We are downsizing in retirement and sometime in the Spring of 2008, April or May, we will get our next dumpster. They are on the list to be disposed of ,unless it is worthwhile disposing of them in another acceptable way. Naturally,I will try eBay with a local go between. They served my wife and I very well in the 1980's and early 1990's in our many professional, volunteer and hobbies. I can send you a detailed list with even s/n, model numbers, digital pictures, etc. Briefly: all 6 working Kaypro "8"'s were modified by me from Kaypro 4's using Microcornucopia directions and parts. I kept them running with whatever that was needed including: 2 CRT's + boards 4 main boards 4 power supplies 2 keyboards numerous chips including Z80's - A and B, etc. numerous Teac and Tandon drives Technical manuals original software etc. Thanks! Frank **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

18 years, 8 months

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11-44 panels needed

by g-wright＠att.net

-------------- Original message from "Jay West" <jwest at classiccmp.org>: -------------- > I posted just a few days ago about two dec racks (corp cabs) going out to > the trash that day. They are still out there, but the dumpster arrived today > so they will be gone tomorrow. > > Also going out the door and into the dumpster tomorrow, a "wide" corp cab. > This is the more modern beige rack, but this one is wider than usual (I > think vax's were commonly in this type of cabinet). There is the normal 19" > wide rackspace, but on this one there an extension on the side about 1/3 of > a cabinet wide used for cable management. It formerly housed an 11/44, TS05, > RX02, and RA81. If someone wants them speak up now.... > > Jay > > If no one wants the whole thing ??? I'm still looking for the top and 1 side panel for my 11-44 system Has the flip up rails for the 11-44. So the main top panel is removeable. - Jerry Jerry Wright JLC inc g-wright at att.net

18 years, 8 months

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Anybody need some Z80 chips?

by dm561＠torfree.net

I've got a pile of Z80 ICs here that I don't need; anybody want some? Z80 CPU Z80 DART Z80 SIO Z80 CTC Some A & B versions, Mostek, SGS & Zilog, various date codes. Also some SMC CRT9007s; plastic & ceramic, some with heat sinks. mike

18 years, 8 months

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vt220 & TV950 source?

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

Insurance company is paying to clean some of my "affected" gear. However, they want me to get a price on just replacing the vt220 & televideo 950 instead of getting those two cleaned & ozoned. I found one dealer selling refurb vt220 w/LK201 for $248USD. Anyone else have a preferred source where I can buy either of the above? Jay West

18 years, 8 months

1
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How uncommon are DEC racks these days

by ballsandy＠msn.com

I have had my fun with Unix boxes but I think it's time to try something a little older and more complex. I first thought about looking for an older IBM mainframe like the system/36 but my chances of finding one were pretty much slim to none so I then thought about the computers that DIGITAL made. Yes it would be fantastic to own something like a PDP-12 rack (how often do you see a bright green computer these days?) but knowing how my luck is almost never with me I would have to settle with something smaller. That returns me to my chances of finding a PDP. I live in Western Canada and so far it has been hard enough just finding a SPARCstation 1+ so I assume that something like a PDP will be even harder. How common are DEC's these days and where are they usually found and how much do they usually go for if any price at all? It would be a rather nice (but late) christmas present to myself. _________________________________________________________________ Read what Santa`s been up to! For all the latest, visit asksantaclaus.spaces.live.com! http://asksantaclaus.spaces.live.com/

18 years, 8 months

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Cromemco 64FDC manual, needed

by g-wright＠att.net

I have been looking for a readable copy of the schematic for this card. It seems that the Harte Technology copy is all that's out there. The schematic is real poor quality Anyone have one they have scanned ???? Thanks, Jerry Jerry Wright g-wright at att.net

18 years, 8 months

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Delay lines in TV sets

by tsw-cc＠johana.com

While the subject of delay lines has been hashed out here for a while, most of the delay lines used in TV sets are probably not too reasonable for data storage. In particular those used in NTSC sets are to balance the delays in the chroma circuits (those that are on the 3.579 sub carrier) with the luma signal (which isn't processed). Since the chroma goes thru additional circuits, the other signal needs to be delayed (not very long) to maintain the registration. In PAL sets, I believe that the same idea is used. The difference is that in PAL sets a different subcarrier frequency is used, and the demodulation products are different for every other line (they swap In-phase, and Quadrature). SECAM is a bit different, as they do NOT use in-phase and quadrature (simultaneous) demodulation of the color difference signals, but alternate them line by line (The 'S' in SECAM). This necessitates a one line delay to keep around the other color difference signal to display on the line. More complexity in the receiver with all that switching and "storing", and while it has lower color resolution is more immune to phase differences which plague signal chains in I & Q (NTSC/PAL) systems. PAL systems on the other hand with the swapping of I & Q every other line (the 'A' in PAL) usually nulls out the differences. If you decide to make up a delay line to hold CPU data, try a prototype using shift registers. They are a bit easier to make up, and often the chips are available. The problem is that they come in weird (at times) sizes (132, 80, and the like). I'll leave it to the reader to determine the usability of odd sizes and their original use. -- Sorry, No signature at the moment. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

18 years, 8 months

4
3
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Homebrew Drum Computer (magnetic heads)

by mtapley＠swri.edu

...don't you also need to *write* at the same speed? I'll bet there's something in the design of the audio cassette heads that makes it hard to do that. I'm pretty firmly in the camp of (at least initially) abusing technology by changing as few parameters as possible. That'd mean try the experiment with a (or 8, but since it's a serial computer .... ) head mounted over a drum (or disc) that pulls tape past it at the design speed for that head, 1 7/8 ips (?) for a cassette tape head. That also implies the max. data rate will be something like the max. bandwidth of the tape recorder, maybe 10 kHz. (Hey! Stereo recorders will give you 2 bits parallel, at close to 18 kHz....) Once you get it running at that clock rate and get the distributed.net client compiled and running ( :-) ), then work on speeding it up. I'd say the kewl factor on that machine will so blow away anything I've ever done that you need not also have a MHz advantage... Good luck! At 9:43 -0600 12/14/07, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > > Very interesting project. Won't standard tape heads only work reliably if >> the magnetic material's passing by at quite a narrow range of speeds, >> though? Google suggests that's 1 7/8" per second, which isn't very fast at >> all - a drum that can do a few tens of RPM seems possible, but 6000?? > >I don't think it makes a difference. The higher the speed, the larger the >voltage from the flux transition, but that shouldn't be a problem (within >reason). The head gap and medium speed dictates the "resolution" of the >system. You can think of it as being like trying to write with different >sizes of pen nib. > >Look at reel-to-reel audio recorders - they may run at a variety of speeds, >giving a tradeoff between audio quality and recording time. You can use a >higher flux density with a larger head gap (and a correspondingly larger >drive signal), but you need to haul the tape through faster to maintain the >bandwidth. > >On playback, you get the problem that higher frequencies produce a higher >voltage, hence the need for equalisation (not unlike the RIAA curve for >magnetic record pickups). > >In this case you probably just want to detect the presence or absence (or >possibly polarity) of a pulse. Equalisation won't be a worry. -- - Mark, 210-379-4635 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Large Asteroids headed toward planets inhabited by beings that don't have technology adequate to stop them: Think of it as Evolution in Fast-Forward.

18 years, 8 months

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Cromemco 64FDC manual, needed

by Watzman＠neo.rr.com

I am probably the original source of that manual, and actually the manual is quite good .... except for the schematic. That probably reflects how the schematic in the manual actually was. I have two other files that contain the schematics for the 64FDC in a better quality format. One is a 24MB multi-page TIFF file (not too many readers can read multi-page TIFF files), the other is an adobe acrobat pdf file produced from the TIFF file which is a 6-page pdf file and it's only 720k in size. The 24MB TIFF file was scanned from an original at 600 dpi, and the pdf file, not withstanding that it's only 5% as large, seems to have retained the quality of the tif file. Barry Watzman Message: 3 Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 04:31:27 +0000 From: g-wright at att.net Subject: Cromemco 64FDC manual, needed To: cctalk at classiccmp.org (cc_talk) Message-ID: <122620070431.15702.4771D91E000F3A4900003D5622193100029B0A02D29B9B0EBF9B0809 079D99D309 at att.net> Content-Type: text/plain I have been looking for a readable copy of the schematic for this card. It seems that the Harte Technology copy is all that's out there. The schematic is real poor quality Anyone have one they have scanned ???? Thanks, Jerry Jerry Wright g-wright at att.net

18 years, 8 months

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What is a Heathkit H120?

by Watzman＠neo.rr.com

The H-120 was a generic designation for the "all-in-one" version of the Heathkit / Zenith Data Systems Z-100 series of personal computers (actual units had a slightly different model number depending on their configuration). It was a dual processor system, 8085 and 8088, could run both CP/M and MS-DOS (but it was not PC compatible at the hardware level). It had a large motherboard that included a 5-slot S-100 expansion backplane at the rear. The system was available both in kit form and assembled, the assembled models carried Zenith Data Systems rather than Heathkit labels but were identical. The kit was mostly pre-assembled, only the floppy disk controller and video monitor deflection boards were actually build by the buyer, otherwise the kit was just a final assembly task of factory assembled & tested boards. The system had a floppy disk controller that could support both 8" and 5" drives simultaneously (I think four 8" and three 5" drives). A hard drive controller was also offered that could support two MFM hard drives. Video came from a dedicated video board that was, for it's time, quite sophisticated (the PC had nothing better until the EGA cards came out). It was pure bit-mapped color graphics, 640x225 resolution. There was a major revision of the motherboard after about 2 years of production, the early models had a 5MHz 8088 and 3 banks of 64k each (192k total) memory, the later models COULD (but did not always) have an 8MHz 8088 and the memory banks could be 256MB chips per bank (768MB total) rather than 64k per bank. Models with the late motherboard (85-2806) could be upgraded to the faster CPU or larger memory if desired by changing some parts. The early motherboard (85-2653) could not be easily upgraded (plans for upgrading the early motherboard do exist, but it is a MASSIVE undertaking in terms of the number of changes, cuts and jumpers required. It takes a real masochist to undertake it). Barry Watzman [One of the architects of the Z-100 and the computer Product Line Director for both Heathkit and Zenith Data Systems from 1979-1983].

18 years, 8 months

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Cromemco 64FDC manual, needed

by dm561＠torfree.net

Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 04:31:27 +0000 From: g-wright at att.net Subject: Cromemco 64FDC manual, needed >Content-Type: text/plain >I have been looking for a readable copy of the schematic for this card. >It seems that the Harte Technology copy is all that's out there. The >schematic is real poor quality >Anyone have one they have scanned ???? >Thanks, Jerry >Jerry Wright >g-wright at att.net ----------------- Marcus also has an excellent collection of Cromemco manuals at: http://maben.homeip.net/static/S100/cromemco/cards/index.html but it looks like his is the same scan as Howard's. They're good scans; it's the original that's bad. I'll look around to see if I've got a different revision of the manual which might be better. There were also a number of revisions and mods, depending on which CPU it was used with. Just curious: why do you need it? mike

18 years, 8 months

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looking for a 16 volts dc walwart or equivalent

by chrism3667＠yahoo.com

a laptop p/s would be ideal. Anyone offhand know which lt's used 16 volts? Many thanks. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

18 years, 8 months

4
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Vintage Computer Marketplace Down ??

by fsmith＠ladylinux.com

On Wednesday 26 December 2007 01:00:34 pm cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: Hi, It was not so much a complaint on my part but rather a observation. I run and own several web hosting companies so I know the difficulties involved. :-) I get mail from this list in digest form so there is some lag in getting notifies. > Someone has already confirmed that it was a planned outtage. Just to make > sure you don't miss this message I have CC'ed it to you. > > Sellam confessed to not doing a good job at communicating the planned > outtage, but it should be back up again soon once all the data is > transferred to new servers :) -- Kindest Regards, Francesca Smith "No Problems Only Solutions" Lady Linux Internet Services Baltimore, Maryland 21217

18 years, 8 months

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Vintage Computer Marketplace Down ??

by fsmith＠ladylinux.com

Hi, I think its been over a week now as far as I can see. Just wondering if this is just me not being able to get to this site. Has it gone away ?? http://www.vintagecomputermarketplace.com/ -- Kindest Regards, Francesca Smith "No Problems Only Solutions" Lady Linux Internet Services Baltimore, Maryland 21217

18 years, 8 months

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FREE: CDC CMD948

by tponsford＠rnsmte.com

Hi All One of the good things, or bad things, about being the "antique computer guy" at our local auctions is that I'm a frequent recipient of all things old, obsolete, or just unwanted. Someone mistakingly bought a lot item he did not want so rather than trashing it, he gave to me. I felt it was unique enough that maybe some of the brethren on ccomp might want it. It's a Control Data CMD 9448-96 "phoenix" modular (removable/fixed) disk drive in unknown condition. It reminds me of a RL01/02 disk. It looks to have everything there but until I find a manual, I know little about it. It is supposed to have a capacity around 80MB, has a 14" platter and is real heavy; 120+ lbs, so shipping is probably out of the question. If anyone wants it. It's yours for the taking as long as you come get it. I'm in SE Arizona outside of Tucson (near tombstone) and I do make trips to Phoenix or El Paso from time to time! I'll keep it around in my storage shed for a while at least! Cheers Tom Ponsford

18 years, 8 months

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Curiosity on eBay UK: "antique" Video Conferencing System

by classiccmp.org＠stellar.eclipse.co.uk

Item number: 270198584951 <http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270198584951> A Google returns this 1993 article in which the product is mentioned: Just before Christmas, BT launched its VC7000 conference unit (made by Tandberg in Norway). This is a low-cost digital videophone, with a 25-centimetre colour cathode-ray tube screen which is switchable between 64 and 128 kbit/s working. It costs ?7500. BT puts the cost of an hour's video call at 128 kbit/s to the US at ?168, but Mercury promises to undercut this by nearly ?40. Call cost can be halved by switching the phone to work at 64 kbit/s, but most serious users prefer to pay more to get the better pictures and clearer sound available from 128 kbit/s working. The British telecommunications giant GPT is also selling 64-128 kbit/s systems, with screens measuring up to 70 centimetres, for around ?40 000.

18 years, 8 months

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5.25 drive with sector output

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

> The next question is, do the older drives have a filter on > them such that they would not output the index along with > the sector pulse? The normal way to separate index form secotr pulses was to have a non-retriggerable monostable that was triggered from the index sensor and which had a period a little less than the time between sector holes. It was triggered at the end of each hole. Normally it timed out after each sector hole, but was still set when the index hole came after the last sectore hole. The output of said monostabel sent the output of the index hole sesnor to either the 'sector' line or the 'index' line. What do you mean by 'older drives'? AFAIK no half-height 5.25" drive has such a feature. > The drive I'm planning on using is an old Qume drive with > a IBM lable on the front. It is a QUMETRAK 142. It is IIRC that's the drive used in the PortablePC and PCjr. In which case I'll have the schematics for it. Hang on... The index sensor on that drive goes into a schmitt trigger circuit using U16 f and U16c ('LS14). The output of that goes to U10c ('38) and thence tiooe the interface connector. TP7 is the index testpoint. There's no monostable, or filtering, or anytthing like that on this drive. Some drives, particularly 3.5" ones, have an adjustable monostable in the index circuit which lets you delay the index pulse. It's adjusted when the drive is aloighed to give the correct timing between the index pulse and the data ffrom the ehad -- twiddlign the pot is easier than moving the index sensor. Such a circuit could msess up what you're trying to do, but this IBM drive doesn't have anything like that. > good to work on because it is all descrete parts and > TTL ( some analog IC's as well ). Still, if they have a > filter on the index, I should be able to modify it. > I only see one pot in that area of the board and I suspect > that it is for the pulse witdh of the index. I can find 2 pots on the schrmatic. R56 (connected ot U1, an LM2917), sets the spidnle motor speed. R63, connectrd to U2 (MC3740) is the common read-data balance adjustment. -tony

18 years, 8 months

4
7
0 0

Yet another VT-100 emulator

by dm561＠torfree.net

Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2007 01:20:15 -0000 From: "Ensor" <classiccmp at memory-alpha.org.uk> Subject: Re: Yet another VT-100 emulator <snip> >But like everyone else, you've missed the point. The OP was originally >asking about standard IBM cards, not about VESA "standard" cards which are a >different kettly of fish.... >TTFN - Pete. ------------ Actually, I think *you*'re missing the point of this whole thread, which is the feasibility of 132 column mode in Dave's VT-100 emulator; FYI I'll quote the OP: ... "Does anyone know if any of the more modern (ie: VGA) cards support enhanced 132 column text modes? - And is the video addressing basically the same except for 132 words of memory per line instead of 80? And where to find more information? If it could be reliably determined that support was there, and it is compatible with my text windowing code, it would not be difficult to add support for it." ... m

18 years, 8 months

4
3
0 0

What is a Heathkit H120?

by legalize＠xmission.com

Supposedly its a computer, but I can't seem to find anything on the net about it. old-computers.com in particular let me down. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/book/download/index.html> Legalize Adulthood! <http://blogs.xmission.com/legalize/>

18 years, 8 months

4
7
0 0

Clearout, final offers [UK]

by classiccmp＠memory-alpha.org.uk

One last try, this stuff is going to start getting junked at the end of this week unless someone pipes up: --Monitors-- SGI 19" Colour Monitor (white in colour, unknown model #) Philips MDA/Hercules Monitor --Terminals-- Televideo 950 (*2, spares or repair) Wyse 30 Zenith Z89 (spares or repair) --Computers-- Power Macintosh (Dunno model # offhand) BBC Micro (*2) CBM PET (at least 3, plus floppy drive units) Tandon PAC-286 (c/w kbd, monitor, printer) --Printers-- HP LaserJet+ IBM ProPrinter XL24 (unknown condition) --Other-- Philips CDD-462 External CD-ROM drive Odd stand alone NCR tape drive unit Telexbox III (possibly *2) BT Modem rack (contains some 10 14k modem cards) Philips BSB Satellite Receiver (*3) Tatung BSB Satellite Receiver Panasonic Analogue Satellite Receiver "Micro Decision" magazines from 1989/90 There's a reasonable amount of other stuff which I haven't been able to get at to catalogue yet which will also be on offer. Please contact me directly at "ensor" at the domain name this message came >from for more details or if you're interested in any of this stuff as I'll be quitting the list over the next couple of days. TTFN - Pete.

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Yet another VT-100 emulator

by classiccmp＠memory-alpha.org.uk

>> But like everyone else, you've missed the point.... > That must be why didn't add VESA 132-column mode to his VT100 >emuatlor.... Which is something which came along sometime AFTER the original question was posed, moron....

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Yet another VT-100 emulator

by dm561＠torfree.net

---------Original Message: Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:37:08 -0000 From: "Ensor" <classiccmp at memory-alpha.org.uk> Subject: Re: Yet another VT-100 emulator Hi, >>> Not likely - as far as I know there are no standard PC text >>>video modes that give 132 columns. >> >> Long ago I had a 132char driver for the Hercules/TTL mono video >>card. I was based on the 720x348 mono graphics mode. > > As far as I know there are no **STANDARD** PC text video modes >that give 132 columns. Precisely, just what is so difficult about that statement for people on this list to understand!!?? The bottom line is that the **ONLY** ***STANDARD*** text modes supported by EGA and VGA adapters are 40 and 80 column. END OF ARGUMENT. PERIOD. Whilst it is perfectly true that most/all "SuperVGA" cards support one or more 132 column text modes, these modes - along with their mode numbers - are unique to each manufacturer and indeed often differ between chipsets >from the same manufacturer! Great if you want to tie your software to working with only a single brand of chipset/graphics card (which I doubt is what the OP wants), but otherwise utterly useless.... <snip> The OP needs modes which work on ALL adapters, not non-standard modes which work on a small number of Mickey Mouse cards which noone uses.... TTFN - Pete. ---------Reply: VESA will be disappointed to hear that their VBE standard which does define four 132-column modes (109 - 10C) is not a "standard" at all (insofar as anything in this field can be considered "standard.") http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VESA_BIOS_Extensions I'd say a Mickey Mouse card is one that does *not* implement the VESA extensions, and I think there's more than just one brand that *does*... But if you think we should all be restricted to EGA and VGA modes (who actually has an EGA or VGA card and/or monitor?) then who am I to argue; I personally find 132 columns useful at times. mike

18 years, 8 months

12
19
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5.25 drive with sector output

by cclist＠sydex.com

From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk > The normal way to separate index form secotr pulses was to have a > non-retriggerable monostable that was triggered from the index sensor and > which had a period a little less than the time between sector holes. It > was triggered at the end of each hole. Normally it timed out after each > sector hole, but was still set when the index hole came after the last > sectore hole. The output of said monostabel sent the output of the index > hole sesnor to either the 'sector' line or the 'index' line. The period of the monostable is pretty flexible--anything longer than half the time between sectors and less than the time between sectors will work. If you're "back of the envelope-ing" it, you might shoot for 75% of the time between sectors. This would allow a pot-less design, as the component tolerances would be well within the "slop" allowed in timing. > Some drives, particularly 3.5" ones, have an adjustable monostable in the > index circuit which lets you delay the index pulse. It's adjusted when the > drive is aloighed to give the correct timing between the index pulse and > the data ffrom the ehad -- twiddlign the pot is easier than moving the > index sensor. Such a circuit could msess up what you're trying to do, but > this IBM drive doesn't have anything like that. Most newer 3.5" drives subsume the "ready" circuit into a monolithic hunk of silicon with the rest of the drive control. Index output pulses are blocked until the period between indexes satisfies some internal "ready" standard. Also, 3.5" drives can have *very* wide index pulses when compared to 5.25" and 8" drives. Of course, any 5.25" drive with this logic (and it's very common) will view a hard-sector disk as not being anywhere near the correct speed, so will not only not come ready, but will block *all* index pulses going out. This feature has a curious implication if you decide to replace an older drive without the "block index until ready" logic with a newer drive with that logic. Many controllers (such as the WD1770) or software will count up a few sectors after select or motor on before commencing an operation. The result is that everything still works, but the latency after selecting a drive increases significantly. Note that once the drive been selected and come ready, this is not an issue. For what it's worth, Chuck

18 years, 8 months

2
2
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Merry Newtonsday!

by dm561＠torfree.net

Message: 5 Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:58:17 +0000 From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk Subject: Merry Newtonsday! >Merry Christmas, Newtonsday, Yule, Winter Solstice, or whatever you celebrate >to all members of this list and their families. ---------------- And also from me, best wishes to all for a warm and happy holiday with friends and family, and a 2008 filled with successful cc restorations, one- of-a-kind finds, and/or whatever brings you pleasure and joy. mike

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Vintage Marketplace IS down (on purpose)...

by lbickley＠bickleywest.com

I was just email chatting with Sellam - here's the "scoop" on Vintage Marketplace: "Yep, a planned outage. ?We're moving everything over to a new server and new software. ?It'll take a while. ?I guess I should've done a better job of communicating this ;)" Cheers, Lyle -- Lyle Bickley Bickley Consulting West Inc. Mountain View, CA http://bickleywest.com "Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

CrayLink cabling prohibited on Origin 2000 deskside

by compoobah＠valleyimplants.com

On Dec 24, 2007, at 1:39 AM, Richard wrote: > Origin2000 and Onyx2 Deskside and Rackmount Installation Instructions > Document Number 108-0155-002 > 12/96 > pg. 6-36 > > "Caution: You cannot install CrayLink interconnect cabling on a > standalone deskside system because of power grounding > requirements. The power differential between two interconnected > modules should not exceed 500 millivolts; otherwise severe damage > can result to boards and other components inside the chassis. The > power distribution unit (PDU) inside the rack provides a common > ground source for the modules. In addition, the groundstraps are > installed on multirack configurations to help provide common > grounding across the racks as described in Section 6.16" > > That seems about as blunt as you can get. I'm not sure about that- you can CrayLink to Origin 200s together, the only requirement being the common ground (plug them into sockets with the same ground, run a thick ground between the chassis, or (as I have) stack them one on another if they don't have the skins). If you can do it with an Origin 200, then you can do it with a Origin 2000, since the hardware is very similar. You might need to get creative with the grounding, though, and make sure it's done well (perhaps two grounding straps of ~12AWG connected to different locations). Perhaps SGI did not design the ground point into the O2k deskside as they did in the O200, but we're a creative bunch here.

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

2N2/256-BSCP

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Re : 2N2/256-BSCP > From: Dave McGuire <mcguire at neurotica.com> > Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2007 11:08:01 -0500 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic Posts Only" <cctech at classiccmp.org> > >On Dec 24, 2007, at 3:56 AM, ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: >>>> Given that there's a limit on the number of transistors, I don't >>>> see what >>>> advantage using SOT23s would give you. >>> >>> It'd be easier to assemble. >> >> Only if you don't spend hours looking for the transistors that flew off >> the end of your tweezers :-). > > Oh, SOT23s are easy to deal with. 01005-size components are the ones >that just disappear without a trace. > >> My point is that while SOT23s didn't exist 40 years ago, there is no >> real >> reason to prohibit them in a project like this. Limit the number of >> transistors, sure. Insist on an architecture that could be built 40 >> years >> ago, sure. But should the use of a storage 'scope to debug the thing be >> prohibited too, on the grounds that hobbyists 40 yrars ago were lucky >> to >> have _any_ 'scope? Do you prohibit writing simulators for the >> transistorised machine, on the grounds that 40 years ago hobbyists >> wouldn't have had anything to run them on? > > I'd have to agree. Actually the Accutron watch used a very small tansistor to excite the tuning fork the package was a three legged item of .095" diameter and 0.130 long with the 3 leads exiting the end. I've had 4 of them in my parts collection for over 35 years looking for a small project. Small existed back then. Keep in mind the Apollo Guidence computer is over 40 years old and that was 3input nor gates! Transistor computers were near their end 40 years ago with ICs making inroads. So comments on predominently transistor computers really have to point to prior to around 1968ish and thats within a week of 40 years ago. The interesting transistor machines are in the time frame of TX1 through PDP-8 roughly 1957 to 1967 (someon can fine tune those days). Anywho the dividing line is around 1963 and prior for germainium transistors (grown and diffused junctions types) and after then for silicon devices with superior characteristics. Allison > > -Dave > >-- >Dave McGuire >Port Charlotte, FL

18 years, 8 months

1
0
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Merry Newtonsday!

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

Merry Christmas, Newtonsday, Yule, Winter Solstice, or whatever you celebrate to all members of this list and their families. I wonder if anyone will get any classic computer related presents :-). We can always hope... I'll probably spend tomorrow doing what I've been doing for the last few months. Namely slowly restoring an HP9836 (and HP9826, they're very closely related). I am currently having problems posting to the list. Mail from my home box bounces (something about the time not being compliant with the approriate RFC). I can post from an internet cafe, but obviously not easily over the holiday period. I know I've changed nothing my end, I guess it's an 'upgrade' somewhere else... -tony

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

2N2/256-BSCP

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

> > Given that there's a limit on the number of transistors, I don't > > see what > > advantage using SOT23s would give you. > > It'd be easier to assemble. Only if you don't spend hours looking for the transistors that flew off the end of your tweezers :-). My point is that while SOT23s didn't exist 40 years ago, there is no real reason to prohibit them in a project like this. Limit the number of transistors, sure. Insist on an architecture that could be built 40 years ago, sure. But should the use of a storage 'scope to debug the thing be prohibited too, on the grounds that hobbyists 40 yrars ago were lucky to have _any_ 'scope? Do you prohibit writing simulators for the transistorised machine, on the grounds that 40 years ago hobbyists wouldn't have had anything to run them on? -tony

18 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

Zilog S8000

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

> Yeah, you and me both! I had two of them in 1989 or so, a Model =20 > 21 and a Model (I think) 41. I sold the former and ran the latter =20 > for quite a while. It was a really, really nice machine! ZEUS =20 > (Zilog Enhanced UNIX System) performed well and seemed nicely done =20 > overall. You're convicning me to get mine out and get it running again.... I have a model 30 (I think). It's built in 4 slices. The bottom 2 are just RS23 distribution panels, then next slice contains an SMD winchester and a QIC tape drtive, the top slice contains the cardcage. I remembr looking at the boards and seeing the Z8001 + suppoert devices, and Z80s on some of the otehr boards (not too suprising). -tony

18 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

Unknown NEC IC's

by thrashbarg＠kaput.homeunix.org

Hi, I've desoldered some IC's off a board from an NEC workstation and there are two which I can't find any information on. Does anyone know what they are or perhaps have a datasheet? They are: D65030C022 (48 pin DIP) B6103C012 (40 pin DIP) They could be proprietary custom LSI IC's, I don't know. Also the CRT controller from the boards is a 64-pin DIP Hitachi HD63484 which will be saved for a neat project. I'm thinking of using a 6809 with UniFLEX, or even a 68000 with Minix, and perhaps making some sort of GUI for it... A long way off but I can dream :) Thanks, Alexis.

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

FREE CDC CMD9448 drive

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

> On Friday 21 December 2007 18:33, Tony Duell wrote: > > I do have the service manual for this drive. The thing I rememebr is th= > at > > you don't fiddle with the mechanics without reading it first, and even > > then tread carefully. There are all sorts of special tools you may need. > > That manual have "double sized" pages? That's what the one I have is lik= > e, I=20 > guess 11x17 or somesuch. No, it's normal A4-sih pages. Maybe fold-out schemcatis, but I don't think so. >From memory, my manaul doesn't say CDC on it, but it's clearly the same drive, I have a real CDC drive, and everything I've compared is identical. -tony

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

OT sockets for Nixies

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

> No, you still need the anode resistor. That's a > current limiting resistor. It's purpose is to prevent Rememebr that most glow discharges have a negative resistance. They will 'run away' if you don't include the limiting reisstor until the current gets so high that the tube explodes (literally!). > Remember, you don't need any fancy power IC's or DC-DC > converters - you can just rectify line voltage (an > isolation transformer is good if you do this...) and I would never recoemnd running an experimental circuit straight from the mains without isolation. Another useful trick (if your PSU already incorporates a normal mains transdormer) is to connect a small mains transformer of the same nominal voltage 'backwards' to the secodnary of the PSU transformer. That is, if you have a mains-9V trasnformer in the PSU anyway, get a small 9V mains transformer and connect the 9V winding (originally the secondary) to the secondary of the pSU transformer. You now have an isolated supply of about mains voltage, from what was originally the primary of that little transformer. -tony

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

CrayLink cabling prohibited on Origin 2000 deskside

by legalize＠xmission.com

OK, I found it: Origin2000 and Onyx2 Deskside and Rackmount Installation Instructions Document Number 108-0155-002 12/96 pg. 6-36 "Caution: You cannot install CrayLink interconnect cabling on a standalone deskside system because of power grounding requirements. The power differential between two interconnected modules should not exceed 500 millivolts; otherwise severe damage can result to boards and other components inside the chassis. The power distribution unit (PDU) inside the rack provides a common ground source for the modules. In addition, the groundstraps are installed on multirack configurations to help provide common grounding across the racks as described in Section 6.16" That seems about as blunt as you can get. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/book/download/index.html> Legalize Adulthood! <http://blogs.xmission.com/legalize/>

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

More bits for free [UK]

by classiccmp＠memory-alpha.org.uk

Hi, >> Philips CDD-462 External CD-ROM drive - boxed with manuals, >>software, 2 interface cards but no cable. > > Eeek. I never throught I'd see anyone else with one of those... I did wonder whether it was the same unit you mentioned recently when I dug it out. >....The service manial (yes I have it!), doesn't list some components >in the parts list, I think you're supposed to deduce what audio player >is much the same and get the bits for that! Is that normal for Philips? The only Philips service manual I currently have is the one for my old Philips BSB receivers, and that one is pretty darn complete. > Anyway, the cable is, I am pretty sure, straioght-through (DA15-P to >DA15-S).... That's what I figured, only reason I never made one up is that I never got around to playing with the unit. One of those things I was going to get around to "one day".... ;-) TTFN - Pete.

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Diodes [was: The 2N2/256-BSCP [was: Homebrew Drum Computer]]

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Diodes [was: The 2N2/256-BSCP [was: Homebrew Drum Computer]] > From: Tom Watson <tsw-cc at johana.com> > Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2007 15:02:01 -0800 (PST) > To: cctech at classiccmp.org > >In a previous message, Allison <ajp166 at bellatlantic.net> said: > > >> Shotkey diodes are common. Aka 1n5711. Widely used in Rf and microwave. >> They are low capacitance fast switching with low threshold. >> >> Allison > >A couple of things here. There are TWO different things: >1) Yes, there are Schottky diodes as you have mentioned. They have very low >forward voltage drop and are the basis for a faster TTL series (74Sxxx/74LSxxx, >and probably others). Another attribute is that they switch fast. These are >very available. >2) The other type of diode is a Shockley (like the "co-inventor of >transistor"). These are 4 layer devices and behave similar to a neon bulb only >at a lower voltage, and without the glow. They have a high "trigger" voltage, >and a lower "sustaining" voltage that keeps the current flowing (look at how a >neon bulb "NE-2" works). I don't remember much more than that, but my high >school science teacher wanted to make up a storage array using them. This was >in the 60's, and we didn't have DRAM them, so it looked "interesting". I >suppose you could simulate them with a connected PNP/NPN transistor pair (as >mentioned here), or use a higher voltage to trigger and use an SCR (another 4 >layer device) and not connect the trigger lead. These went out of style long >ago I understand. In looking things up, I ran across this: >http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_7/3.html >which explains things in great detail. Mixed them up. You can simulate that using two transistors. I've done that mant times as it's easier to have a few 2n3904/06s handy rahter than some part thats not unobtainium. The transistor equivilent is more flexible. Allison > >-- >Sorry, >No signature at the moment. > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ >Looking for last minute shopping deals? >Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Diodes [was: The 2N2/256-BSCP [was: Homebrew Drum Computer]]

by tsw-cc＠johana.com

In a previous message, Allison <ajp166 at bellatlantic.net> said: > Shotkey diodes are common. Aka 1n5711. Widely used in Rf and microwave. > They are low capacitance fast switching with low threshold. > > Allison A couple of things here. There are TWO different things: 1) Yes, there are Schottky diodes as you have mentioned. They have very low forward voltage drop and are the basis for a faster TTL series (74Sxxx/74LSxxx, and probably others). Another attribute is that they switch fast. These are very available. 2) The other type of diode is a Shockley (like the "co-inventor of transistor"). These are 4 layer devices and behave similar to a neon bulb only at a lower voltage, and without the glow. They have a high "trigger" voltage, and a lower "sustaining" voltage that keeps the current flowing (look at how a neon bulb "NE-2" works). I don't remember much more than that, but my high school science teacher wanted to make up a storage array using them. This was in the 60's, and we didn't have DRAM them, so it looked "interesting". I suppose you could simulate them with a connected PNP/NPN transistor pair (as mentioned here), or use a higher voltage to trigger and use an SCR (another 4 layer device) and not connect the trigger lead. These went out of style long ago I understand. In looking things up, I ran across this: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_7/3.html which explains things in great detail. -- Sorry, No signature at the moment. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

18 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

VCM offline?

by evan＠snarc.net

Rumor sez the VCM is getting a software upgrade... -----Original Message----- From: "Michael B. Brutman" <mbbrutman-cctalk at brutman.com> Subj: VCM offline? Date: Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:08 pm Size: 212 bytes To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Sorry about that last message .. bad clicking on my part. I'm having trouble getting to Sellam's marketplace site (http://vintagecomputermarketplace.com/) - was there an announcement that I missed? Mike

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

The 2N2/256-BSCP [was: Homebrew Drum Computer]

by cclist＠sydex.com

On 23 Dec 2007 at 12:00, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > Shotkey diodes are common. Aka 1n5711. Widely used in Rf and microwave. > They are low capacitance fast switching with low threshold. Not Schottky diodes, but *Shockley* diodes, a close relative of a diac. Genuine ones, circa late 1950's are very hard to find: http://semiconductormuseum.com/PhotoGallery/PhotoGallery_Shockley4E30. htm Schematic symbol looks like the number "4" with leads coming out of the top and bottom. Here's an application using some in an audio power amplifier: http://electronicdesign.com/Articles/Index.cfm?AD=1&ArticleID=3979 Sometimes also called a "transistor diode" and once intended to replace the 3-terminal transistor. Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

OT sockets for Nixies

by tpeters＠mixcom.com

This is off-topic in terms of the industry involved, but not too far off in the time period this stuff dates from. I've got some very nice, rather large Burroughs nixies- 7971 types. They're 4.8" high, "British flag" display which looks to be 2.5" high inside the glass. They have 15 segments each-- 14 in the alphanumeric display part of the tube and one sort-of cursor, an underline character with the ends bent downwards. I hear one can dismember D-shell connectors to get some sockets to solder to a pc board to connect to these. But my problem is driving them. Anyone know a good way to drive these, four or six of them in an array? I need 170 volts, 21ma all cathodes, between 4.0 and 6.0ma any individual cathode. I was thinking of a pic at each tube, sort-of a character generator that would take an ascii code and drive the right segments. Some sort of escape code would let you send 16 bits to be interpreted literally, i.e. turn on the literal segments corresponding to the bits set, for more fanciful displays. -T ----- 994. I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. -- Thomas Edison --... ...-- -.. . -. ----. --.- --.- -... tpeters at nospam.mixcom.com (remove "nospam") N9QQB (amateur radio) "HEY YOU" (loud shouting) WEB: http://www.mixweb.com/tpeters 43? 7' 17.2" N by 88? 6' 28.9" W, Elevation 815', Grid Square EN53wc WAN/LAN/Telcom Analyst, Tech Writer, MCP, CCNA, Registered Linux User 385531

18 years, 8 months

10
20
0 0

VCM offline?

by mbbrutman-cctalk＠brutman.com

Sorry about that last message .. bad clicking on my part. I'm having trouble getting to Sellam's marketplace site (http://vintagecomputermarketplace.com/) - was there an announcement that I missed? Mike

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

VCM offline?

by mbbrutman-cctalk＠brutman.com

Is anybody else having problems getting to

18 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Zilog system 8000

by frustum＠pacbell.net

A friend and former coworker, Terence Tanaka, emailed me yesterday saying: "I used to work at Zilog and have some tapes, printout and eproms for the System 8000. I don't want to keep it but hate throwing it away. If it can find a good home, I'm willing to ship it." If you are interested, please contact me, not the list, and I'll forward your email address to Terence. In case more than one person wants it, please include a description of how this might use this. Preference goes to someone willing to publicly archive the information, secondarily to someone who has a system that could use these items, tertiarily :-) to a pack rat who will keep it intact and in good condition until they finally come to realize that they didn't need it and will pass it on to the next guy. Eventually it will get in the hands of someone with the time to archive it. PS, the System 8000, as you might expect, was based on the Z8000. PPS: reply to me, not the list!

18 years, 8 months

4
4
0 0

AMD9016E speed grades ?

by jos.mar＠bluewin.ch

Does anyone know what a speedgrade an amd9016e DRAM chip is ? Google gives one million resellers and no datasheets. Suggestions as to why replacing said am9016epc with a mcm4116bp20 does not work, are also welcome. Jos

18 years, 8 months

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Probably OT - eBay object - what the devil is it?

by mike＠brickfieldspark.org

Looks like a test head although all the ones I ever worked on had a large hole in the centre for probes. It does have printed on it "Testhead side" bit of a give away. Mike > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:33:34 -0800 (PST) > From: Mr Ian Primus <ian_primus at yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: Probably OT - eBay object - what the devil is it? > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> >> >> What on Earth is this? >> >> 110206772756 > Wow. That is unusual. Never seen anything like that > before. It's pretty though. Would probably make a nice > clock... > > -Ian >

18 years, 8 months

1
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5.25 drive with sector output

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: 5.25 drive with sector output > From: dwight elvey <dkelvey at hotmail.com> > Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 09:43:43 -0800 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > >Hi > Were there any 5.25 drive made with sector pulse output? >I'm working on a controller for my Polymorphic. I have not >software to run the board so I'm decoding the Z80 code >that runs in its firmware. Yes, every one made. Sector pulse is the same ass index on 5.25" drives. aqn example controller that uses that is the NorthStart MDS. > I see that one of the signals from the drive is the sector >signal. I know that the SA801 could be configured for >32/16/8 sectors and produce a sector output signal. Still requires hard sector media. > In any case, the code seems to be looking for the sector >signal at one point. > The next question is, do the older drives have a filter on >them such that they would not output the index along with >the sector pulse? No.. But some of the old 8" had the index on the inner radius and the hard sector holes at the outer radius making for two seperate signals. Allison > The drive I'm planning on using is an old Qume drive with >a IBM lable on the front. It is a QUMETRAK 142. It is >good to work on because it is all descrete parts and >TTL ( some analog IC's as well ). Still, if they have a >filter on the index, I should be able to modify it. > I only see one pot in that area of the board and I suspect >that it is for the pulse witdh of the index. > If there is no filter, I should be able to make an external >sector separator. >Dwight > >_________________________________________________________________ >i?m is proud to present Cause Effect, a series about real people making a difference. >http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/MTV/?source=text_Cause_Effect

18 years, 8 months

1
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Yet another VT-100 emulator

by tsw-cc＠johana.com

On Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:26:24 -0200 "Alexandre Souza" said: > > I think this project is excellent and a kick-ass way to use spare old > > hardware lying around (which is more likely to have a working 25-pin > > serial port than any modern machine). I love this project. > Although there are cheap CF cards today, it would be a hit if it could > be ROMable and put in place of BIOS chip :o) If you can still find them, ancient XT motherboards ought to be just right for this type of service. Just get an old video board (will it work with a CGA board?) and a serial I/O card and plug in the "extra" bios chips for the emulator. Of course, several options could be added: 1) Support for a character based printer (both serial and parallel) 2) Some sort of scrolling (got to use that 640k of memory somehow!) 3) Color support (if you got a CGA card, use it!). 4) Provisions for 40 column mode (so you can use the RS-170 output to a TV set) 5) Add a network card for a telnet client (probably a bother since there are so many network cards) The best part is that when you turn the machine on, you get instant terminal. None of this silly operating system stuff. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

18 years, 8 months

5
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5.25 drive with sector output

by cclist＠sydex.com

> From: dwight elvey <dkelvey at hotmail.com> > Were there any 5.25 drive made with sector pulse output? > I'm working on a controller for my Polymorphic. I have not > software to run the board so I'm decoding the Z80 code > that runs in its firmware. I can ever recall having seen one, although that's not saying that there never have been any. It would be easy enough to make a "index/sector" detector by using a one-shot whose period is set to more than half, but less than the time between sectors. Since the index is placed about midway between two sector pulses, you'd generate an INDEX if you received a pulse and the one-shot hadn't yet reset. Sector outputs would simply be the output of the one-shot, perhaps run though another one-shot or ANDed with the original to provide a pulse of determinsitic length. --------------------- Which brings me to a related topic that might interest some... I'm now beta-testing my "hard-sector synthesizer". It's all coded into a 8-pin PIC 12F629. It operates as follows: 1) For those not necessarily caring about hard sector diskettes, it can function as a READY/ generator--after 3 successive index pulses, the PIC generates a DRIVE READY/. Missing a pulse after that within a 262msec window causes READY/ to be deasserted and the cycle to repeat. Works for both 300 and 360 RPM drives. 2) For those interested in hard-sector generation, the PIC will synthesize index signals for 300 RPM 10 and 16 sector diskettes (selectable by grounding a pin on the PIC) and 32 sector 360 RPM diskettes. The choice between 300 and 360 RPM is made automatically by the PIC based on the drive spindle speed. 3) If a hard-sectored diskette is inserted in the drive, the PIC simply passes the index pulses along. 3) Index pulses are normalized to 1 msec width. Many 3.5" drives and several later 5.25" drives output very long index pulses that need to be pruned back. 4) Calculation of the position of sector pulses is based on the time of the previous disk revolution to about 0.15 percent (I can improve on that if needed). Since the computation is performed for every disk revolution, drift should not be a significant problem. The whole thing is self-contained; no external crystals, buffers, etc. are required; only a +5 supply and a pullup (470-2.2K would probably be fine) on the INDEX/ line coming from the drive. You could probably stick the PIC in an 8-pin socket and "dead bug" it into your system if you wanted to be crude. The PIC can sink 25ma per output. Here's the catch: I'll send out object (and source, if requested), but I'm not going to send out PICs or program them for requestors. I expect that there will be a couple of software updates and I don't want to deal with the hassle of updating everyone's PIC. PIC programmers can be constructed or purchased very inexpensively and there are several free programmer packages out there. PICs themselves are dirt-cheap. I'm not going to post the code to a web site until I'm happy with it-- otherwise, I fear that intermediate versions (i.e. buggy) will start ciculating and I'll never hear the end of things. Drop me a private email if you're interested. Best regards, Chuck

18 years, 8 months

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5.25 drive with sector output

by aek＠bitsavers.org

A quick scan of the Qume 242 maint manual from bitsavers shows there is no separate sector signal. The Shugart 455/465 manual talks about a combined index/sector signal. Looking at the northstar controller, they just refer to the incoming signal as 'hole' and decode it in the controller.

18 years, 8 months

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OT sockets for Nixies

by dkelvey＠hotmail.com

> From: tpeters at mixcom.com > > Please send schematic, thanks. Who makes the MC34063? Something I could get > at DigiKey or Mouser? > I did some reading last year and I read something about driving Nixies with > DC, is that what's usually done, rather than AC? > Yes, they use DC, not AC. You could use just rectifying 120 AC. That will give you just about 170Volts DC after filtering. I suspect that the voltage could be the same tolerance as the AC lines. I'd recommend using an isolation transformer. Some come with taps to raise or lower the voltage about 10% as well. It just has to be enough to fire. I doubt it needs to be to exact. Dwight _________________________________________________________________ Don't get caught with egg on your face. Play Chicktionary! http://club.live.com/chicktionary.aspx?icid=chick_wlhmtextlink1_dec

18 years, 8 months

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The 2N2/256-BSCP [was: Homebrew Drum Computer]

by cclist＠sydex.com

From: Dave McGuire <mcguire at neurotica.com> > > On Dec 21, 2007, at 2:07 AM, dwight elvey wrote: > > As a cheaper alternative to a tunnel diode, do a search for > > a Lambda Diode. I used one of these circuits once to make an > > oscillator that ran at over 100MHz. > > Oh my, there IS an almost-equivalent-to-a-tunnel-diode circuit! That > looks really, really neat...I will have to play with that! I don't know if Lambda diodes would meet the 1965 test. Gunn diodes (another possibility) might, however--invented in 1963. Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 8 months

2
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The 2N2/256-BSCP [was: Homebrew Drum Computer]

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: The 2N2/256-BSCP [was: Homebrew Drum Computer] > From: "Roy J. Tellason" <rtellason at verizon.net> > Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:00:25 -0500 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >On Thursday 20 December 2007 19:05, Chuck Guzis wrote: >> > From: Dave McGuire <mcguire at neurotica.com> >> > >> > I'd love to find a huge stash of a few thousand new-old-stock tunnel >> > diodes. :-( >> >> You'll kindly observe that I had the good taste not to also mention >> Shockley diodes, which, to the best of my knowledge, are really >> unobtainium. > >Are those what were also referred to at one point as 4-layer diodes? If so, >it's possible to simulate them with a complementary pair of transistors and >not all that many other parts. Shotkey diodes are common. Aka 1n5711. Widely used in Rf and microwave. They are low capacitance fast switching with low threshold. Allison >> American Microsemiconductor still offers a selection of tunnel (Esaki) >> diodes, for as cheap as $9 the each. >> >> http://store.americanmicrosemiconductor.com/diodes-tunnel-diodes.html > >Hmm. :-) > >> I suspect a clue to the high prices is the "JAN" labeling on some of >> the parts (i.e. military and aerospace application). > >Could be. > >> I have a copy of the GE tunnel diode handbook around here somewhere >> (as well as about a dozen or so NOS diodes in my hellbox) that shows >> all manner of logic circuits constructed with the little beasts. > >I'll have one here: > >http://www.classiccmp.org/rtellason/books/GE_TDM.pdf > >as soon as the upload completes (which will take a little while even with my >DSL connection). It's a 100-page PDF file. > >There _will_ be a "tech books" page supporting the stuff there at some point, >when I can get it done. I'm still in the process of plowing through several >thousand files of "stuff" that I've accumulated over the past few years, >editing some stuff, tossing out some duplicates, and trying to organize >what I'm keeping to be accessible through my local HTML tree. Once I get >that mostly done I'll pull a tech books page together out of it. > >> I've never even breadboarded any of them, but the power requirements >> look very modest. > >I picked up a couple of them once on Canal Street in NYC, but that was a long >time ago. > >-- >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, 8 months

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Slightly OT: TQFP mounting

by aek＠bitsavers.org

Two approaches that I've seen for conventional soldering iron mounting involve what I'll call "flood and suck" that involves covering all of the leads on one side of the QFP on the PCB with solder and then using a solder "sucker" (such as a Soldapullt) to remove the excess. The other approach uses solder wick (solder removal braid), laying the braid over the QFP leads and PCB and heating and applying solder *through* the braid to the leads. -- I've used "flood and wick" successfully applying liquid flux before the "flood". I suspect soldering through braid accomplishes the same thing.

18 years, 8 months

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Probably OT - eBay object - what the devil is it?

by jplist2007＠kiwigeek.com

What on Earth is this? 110206772756 I'm guessing its OT because of the SMD devices in the centre ring, but it is weird enough I'm willing to risk Jay's wrath to find out what it is. Thanks all; - JP

18 years, 8 months

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small misc. parts available...

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

MSD let their main line sewer backup, 10 feet downhill on the street from my house. So... all my upstreet neighbors sewage wound up in my basement. The servepro people are here removing everything from my basement (any of you that have seen my basement know what THAT is like)... and starting their cleaning process. Not much of the collection has been affected... the notable items that were sitting in 5 inches of raw waste were a HP 2100S cpu, Microdata Reflex disc drive, HP D series box, RL01 drive, a couple 7900A drives... I think that's the major items affected. Not sure how they plan to disinfect the wire wrap backplane on the 2100, may be a loss :\ Anyways... the reason I'm posting this... Since the cleaners are bringing in a dumpster to remove unsalvageable stuff, they kindly agreed to take away stuff that has been taking space here that I was going to get rid of... like DEC corp cabs, some lowboy some full height, one stuffed with RA81's (all dead), etc. I am going to have these carted off. I will post to the list specific items as they go out the back door (to sit for a day before the dumpster truck comes). I will not save whole racks, but if there is any specific rack hardware or bits that someone wants me to strip off, I will do so. Right now - Out went a mid-height dec corp cab that used to house an 11/44. It used to have an RA81? drive in it, so it's one of those extra deep corp cabs. Does anyone need those hex sided metal posts that stick like 7 inches out from the rack, or that large bracket at the bottom where you hook up those round (power sequencing?) cables (4 pin, screw on). More as it becomes available... Jay

18 years, 8 months

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a place for OT

by rtellason＠verizon.net

I just want to mention again that there's a place where some of you guys could take what's OT here and chat it up if you like, a yahoo group I started for things that don't quite fit anywhere else: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/roys-tech-chat/ Feel free to stop on by if you like. -- 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, 8 months

1
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Obscure PC operating systems and apps [was Re: got this old peecee...]

by lproven＠gmail.com

On 06/12/2007, Roy J. Tellason <rtellason at verizon.net> wrote: > On Thursday 06 December 2007 12:53, Chuck Guzis wrote: > > On 6 Dec 2007 at 1:52, Roy J. Tellason wrote: > > > I'd originally planned to put OS/2 in this box. Now I'm lots less > > > enthused about that OS than I was at one time, so I dunno what I'm gonna > > > do with it. Thoughts on this? Depends what you want to do, or be able to do, with it, obviously! Do you want a GUI OS? Do you want Internet access? Do you want productivity apps? It's a bit low-spec for a modern Linux distro. You could try some low-end distros, like DamnSmallLinux, Puppy, or VectorLinux. I've also heard good comments of SaxenOS & Crux on low-end PCs, but I've not tried them myself yet. It would run NetBSD pretty nicely, but then, the same is probably true of some toasters. One that might suit it quite well would be Minix 3. Never played with that yet myself. It might run BeOS, especially with a 5x86 chip in there. BeOS Max is a good, freely-available BeOS distro. Mainly intended for Pentium-class systems, though. FreeDOS or DR-DOS plus OpenGEM would run very well; indeed, it's quite high-spec for that. For a more modern, but commercial, DOS GUI, there's Geos, AKA GeoWorks, now known as Breadbox Ensemble. Again, it costs, but you can assemble a fairly complete little system from various free demos and things that have been put out there. http://www.breadbox.com/ (I think others have suggested something akin to Concurrent DOS. IMS' Real32 was the last supported descendant of that, I think, but it's primarily a multiuser thing so not of great interest on a standalone box - it just looks like MS-DOS.) Or just plain old DOS, together with DesqView, or, if you want something cool and exotic, DesqView/X. That might be both fun and quite productive couple with some of the last-generation, high-end DOS apps, like MS Word 5.5 (available free >from MS and so downloadable, as they gave it away rather than issue Y2K patches for Word for DOS.) I'd like to try WordPerfect 6.0 for DOS, which had a full GUI, but I've been looking for a copy for years with no joy. It was unusably slow at the time, but on a more recent PC like a fast 486, it should fly along. There was also a full-GUI graphical spreadsheet version of one of the major spreadsheets, but I don't remember details now. I think it might have been Borland Quattro or QuattroPro 5 or so for DOS. If you can get a supported TCP/IP stack running on DOS, there *are* some DOS web browsers, such as Arachne and Lineo's WebSpyder. I'm not sure about email programs, though. Bung in a SCSI card and a couple of old SCSI disks, make it into a NetWare server? There was a freely-available 2-user version of Netware 4.1, and that can be patched up to date with free service packs, making it fully W2K compliant and so on. If you want to try a modern, networking-enabled OS/2, there's Serenity's eComStation. Expensive, though. There's a free demo live CD, but it's not installable. If you fancy something unusual, which IME doesn't work well in VMs on modern PCs, you could try the DEC-like TSX-32, which is sort of aesthetically appropriate - it's a sort of PDP-like OS for the PC. http://www.sandh.com/tsx32.htm Also on a DEC theme, there's FreeVMS, but I don't think they have any downloads yet. http://www.freevms.org/ Somewhere lost in a cupboard I have an ancient 386 notebook PC, whose 80MB hard disk has DOS (DR-DOS 7 with QEMM) coupled to a choice of about 4 GUIs, a range of productivity apps, and also dual-boots with Pygmy Linux giving me TCP/IP through a parallel port Ethernet adaptor and thus very basic Web access with Links. All this in 80MB and it's about one-third full. I think it has WordPerfect 5.1, Word 5.5, a spreadsheet of some kind, plus a selection of DesqView, OpenGEM, ViewMAX and GeoWorks Ensemble. It was a real nostalgia-fest putting it together. It has the Microsoft free DOS network stack, too, with TCP/IP, but it can't actually talk to any modern Windows machine. Just don't ask me to get it to print... -- Liam Proven ? Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/liamproven Email: lproven at cix.co.uk ? GMail/GoogleTalk/Orkut: lproven at gmail.com Tel: +44 20-8685-0498 ? Cell: +44 7939-087884 ? Fax: + 44 870-9151419 AOL/AIM/iChat: liamproven at aol.com ? MSN/Messenger: lproven at hotmail.com Yahoo: liamproven at yahoo.co.uk ? Skype: liamproven ? ICQ: 73187508

18 years, 8 months

13
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Yet another VT-100 emulator

by cclist＠sydex.com

> From: "Dave Dunfield" <dave06a at dunfield.com> > As far as I know there are no **STANDARD** PC text video modes that give > 132 columns. What was *standard* for the time of these cards? Herc graphics certainly weren't "standard" when they came out. I've not checked, but I have a couple of Everex MicroEnhancer EGA boards with a boatload of additional modes--and one of those might well be a 132- character one. (If anyone is really curious, I can check). > Yes, at 720 dots, you can do a 5 point wide font for 132 columns on a > Herc., but I don't have Hercules (or any MDA) cards in any of the system > that I actually use on a regular basis (POLL: How many here are using Herc > cards in systems they would want to use as a VT100) - I'm also not sure I > could achieve all of the attributes (Can you blink graphics on a Herc? - I > suppose you could do it in software, but the only MDA machines I have here > are XT class which would make for "interesting effects" :-) I think I also > mentioned that I wasn't quite ready to do a bitmapped version of the > terminal yet. I agree that it would be nice to do eventually, as I could > support double-width/height characters as well... Ever worked with a Hercules Graphics Plus? It can blink, as well as support 12-bit character width and software fonts--all in text mode. There was a also mode setting to use 8-dot wide, rather than 9-dot wide characters. Double-width was certainly possible in test mode. Perhaps a scheme to use the extended character set to display 132 characters could be worked out, but I hated the 132 character display on most terminals, even the 14-inch ones as being too grainy and hard to read for my weak eyes. Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 8 months

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The 2N2/256-BSCP [was: Homebrew Drum Computer]

by cclist＠sydex.com

> From: Dave McGuire <mcguire at neurotica.com> > I'd love to find a huge stash of a few thousand new-old-stock tunnel > diodes. :-( You'll kindly observe that I had the good taste not to also mention Shockley diodes, which, to the best of my knowledge, are really unobtainium. American Microsemiconductor still offers a selection of tunnel (Esaki) diodes, for as cheap as $9 the each. http://store.americanmicrosemiconductor.com/diodes-tunnel-diodes.html I suspect a clue to the high prices is the "JAN" labeling on some of the parts (i.e. military and aerospace application). I have a copy of the GE tunnel diode handbook around here somewhere (as well as about a dozen or so NOS diodes in my hellbox) that shows all manner of logic circuits constructed with the little beasts. I've never even breadboarded any of them, but the power requirements look very modest. OTOH, I've never seen a book detailing logic circuits with Shockley diodes, though I imagine it's certainly possible. Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 8 months

4
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