I will comment... make anything talk to a tty.
The designer is wonderful. Keep him encouraged.
I like to see people actually doing something !
We are implementing thee boards in some of our in house displays at the
SMECC museum
and several offsite journalism displays incorporating teletype
machines..
Eric implemented several features we suggested that we needed for our
mission.
Glad to see the designer getting some credit.
ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org)
In a message dated 5/29/2016 5:32:57 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
cisin at xenosoft.com writes:
On Sun, 29 May 2016, wulfman wrote:
> I figured some of you might have had an interest. Excuse me if i was
wrong.
WITH a sentence or so of commentary.
An email with NO content other than a URL and an impersonal signature,
but no personal description, and with a subject line of the URL looks
more like a malware offer than a mention of interesting content.
We need SOMETHING to indicate that it is from YOU, rather than from
crypto-locker. (and not just "Click on this!")
Do you trust Thunderbird to reliably block those kinds of emails?
Hey folks,
I recently picked up an AT&T 5620 terminal, the WE32K version of the
Blit, and I've been tracking down software to run on my 3B2.
It looks like there are two separate packages which provide the
'layers' windowing system:
1. A package named "AT&T Windowing Utilities", on one floppy disk.
2. A package named "DMD Core Utilities 2.0", on a set of three floppy
disks.
The DMD Core Utilities set comes with a lot of demos and source code.
It installs 'layers' as /usr/dmd/bin/layers.
The one-disk AT&T Windowing Utilities has no demos, and installs
'layers' as /usr/bin/layers.
Can anyone elaborate on the difference between these two? Are
they both appropriate to use with the 5620, and should I favor
the DMD Core Utilities over the AT&T Windowing Utilities? Or
are they both needed?
Confused and lacking documentation,
-Seth
--
Seth Morabito
seth at loomcom.com
I have been fiddling with a TU58-EX device, dual TU58 drives in a small box.
The capstans is replaced. I used silicone tubing which I glued on and then
sanded down a bit. PVC tubing in a size that would fit seems to be
unavailable in Sweden.
The two capstans were a little bit different in diameter at first. Drive
one closer to 17 mm but drive zero around 16.5mm. Drive zero read 5 of 8
tapes (two more tapes had belt breakage). One tape gave "Invalid Directory"
in RT11 the two other gave "Error reading directory". On drive one just one
tape was readable.
So the decision was to get closer to the nominal 5/8" (which I read was the
OD in a post by Tony Duell). With both drives at 16mm drive zero still read
the same amount of tapes and drive one read the same tapes plus one more
which was not readable on drive zero.
Highly annoying. So I decided to read more on the TU58. The spec says that
the bit time is 41.2 us. When I measure I get reading of between 42 and 44
us. (Yes I should have measured before trimming the capstans). So now the
tape is too slow. Although the OD is slightly above the nominal.
Is silicone tubing too soft?
Having been working on a project to recover a tape from a Zilog S8000
machine together with AJ (http://mightyframe.blogspot.se/) I just thought
that it might be possible to read the TU58 and HP DC100 tapes with some
other hardware doing post processing in a regular Linux box.
Would it be possible to use a Floppy Tape (QIC-117) tape drive to read
them? It appears that the tapes are not identical in size. A DC1000 is 0.25
" while the DC100 is 0.15". The capstan position would also differ. Are
there other physical differences that I am not aware off?
Since the TU58 drive is not able to format a tape it could be useful to
also write a new tape with TU58 format. But I guess that there are
difference in coercivity between different tapes.
I have read that Rik Bos successfully converted HP85 drives to take DC1000
tapes by modifying the capstan and changing the write current.
Before I go ahead buying some old Colorado T1000 drive dirt cheap I just
like to ask if this project is doomed because of whatever reason.
/Mattis
Just wondering if anyone can help us to identify a rather large IBM
processor assembly. It weighs around 60 pounds.
The frame has a P/N of 34F5089. The frame houses 9 modules, 6 of which are
installed. The module we removed for inspection has a P/N of 34F0615.
Photos available here -> http://avitech.com.au/?p=561
Thanks,
Malcolm.
At 10:30 AM 5/29/2016, Dwight wrote:
>Power to a load tester is not the same as power in a system.
That is why I never use a load tester. I built a system with a set of adaptors that lets me measure voltage and current, and check for ripple and noise with an oscilloscope, for each output of a power supply while it is supplying the target system.
Dale H. Cook, Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA
Osborne 1 / Kaypro 4-84 / Kaypro 1 / Amstrad PPC-640
http://plymouthcolony.net/starcity/radios/index.html
All ?
I pulled my old PC/AT off the shelf to see if I could get Windows 1 running on it (since I just located the Windows 1.04 SDK which I have running in Bochs). It worked when shelved years ago, but it unfortunately suffered some case damage from a leaky battery. No damage to the mobo or cards thankfully. I replaced the battery with a 4-AA pack.
Basically, the PC won?t come out of reset. I tested the power supply with a load tester specifically for PC power supplies and it reports power_good and all voltages look good on a meter. So far, so good. I dug out my ISA POST diagnostics card which also has a PG tester in it. This reports no_PG but I do see the reset pulse on the bus. Not sure why one would report OK and one not.
I have a spare generic power supply (which also tests good using the same tester) and produces the same result. I have no cards installed but I tried it with floppy/hard drives both connected or not connected.
I traced the PG signal from the power supply through the 82284 clock driver/ready interface chip and the PG is definitely there (transitioning L->H on power-on) and RESET is transitioning H->L.
Any recommendations on where to go from here? Does anyone have an extra PC/AT motherboard they would be willing to part with?
As an aside, would this have been a typical development machine? AT was introduced in August 1984 and Windows 1.04 was released in 1987 so I?m guessing probably.
Thanks!
Rich
--
Rich Cini
http://www.classiccmp.org/cinihttp://www.classiccmp.org/altair32
Since I'm an igmo about most machines before the mid-eighties (and still
fuzzy even on most of those), I'm curious about all these older machines
with front panel buttons and switches. What all did they do? You could
actually program them using the front panel right? Some of them
bootstrapped this way, too? What kind of "language" was used for that
(ie.. what were the basic mechanics)? Did the buttons ever change color?
Were you considered a badass if you had switch flipping all memorized down
to an art? Were they mainly multi-position toggle switches or on/off
buttons?
They just seem to be a lot more important on older mainframes and minis.
Also, what was the main reason for the blinkenlights? Was it to show
system load or specific system states?
Just curious. I'm learning a ton from reading these threads on older
machines, but there is so much I don't know.
-Swift
> From: drlegendre
> Gawd, what a lovely piece of work that man hath wrought!
I love the term he invented for it: "dis-integrated circuit"! :-)
Good FAQ page here:
http://www.monster6502.com/
My favourite entry:
"Q: Are you nuts?
A: Probably."
Clearly a person after our own hearts! :-)
Noel
I do not have the pen for the Stylistic. Its 386, I have booted a BSD / Xwindow environment on it, works.
The Toshiba is a thru hole board with a prototyping area. Includes c compiler, assembler and the CMX RTOS on 3 1/4 floppies, power supplies, cables, from Softaid.
Randy
That is incredibly awesome. ?Since childhood I've always wanted to either be a computer processor or see data flow. ?Closest i came was a visual memory editor i wrote using circles and vga (0-255) to represent the bytes. ?At least i could watch the computer keep track of time and found the keyboard buffer in dos.?
Back on topic, what a great and educational creation by Eric.
<div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org> </div><div>Date:05/27/2016 10:15 PM (GMT-06:00) </div><div>To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> </div><div>Subject: Monster 6502 </div><div>
</div>Here is a video of it running at Maker Faire
http://makezine.com/2016/05/27/this-functioning-monster-6502-is-a-larger-th…
Where Windows generally fails in my experience is in the idot proofing / automation mechanisms. I can really only comment on Windows 7 as it's what we use in production on our client boxes.
Granted this is a different environment where all machines have access to the internet and thus Windows updates / aplication updates.
Group Policy is something I struggle with regularly. Automatically feeding Group Policy updates to clients is not always straightforward, especially when you need to push application updates to fix important security or functionality bugs. Yes, you can gpupdate /force, but that's only seems to work about 50% of the time and requires user intervention on an admin account.
I've seen issues with the Print Spooler randomly crashing from a partially install printer through group policy. Some kind of event happens similar to a power outage at some point and the printer only partially installed. According to Windows and the group policy management utilities the printers were successfully installed, but all of the driver utilities didn't quite make it causing the Spooler to freak out. When something like this happens event log is almost useless because it just tells you the prinint spooler crashed from an uknown error.
Windows update seems to regularly stop working when a malformed update package is downloaded. You would think it could just checksum it and delete the package rather than failing to install it a few hundred times before a user complains that their workstation won't stop installing upates. I even had a case where a failed update created new registry keys every time it tried to install and after a few months of not being able to do so the machine slowed to be unusable.?
Roaming profiles is an absolute mess, and folder redirection Works decently as long as you disable offline files on all of the clients. Otherwise windows will just randomly decide that it can't connect to the server and only show the users their offline files.
?Windows deployment services on the other hand Works absolutely great and is perfect to put fresh installs on the machines that died from various other issues with windows and / or malware.
This is starting to somewhat turn into a rant, and in all honesty for most things Windows does a pretty good job. Pretty much all the issues I outlined would only affect people using Windows as a workstation OS. Embedded applications generally don't have updates or network connectivity, and thus are probably fine.
That being said my *nix machines have never given me an issue that wasn't easily fixed since they were put in place. I almost forget about them sometimes.
Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
-------- Original message --------
From: Rod Smallwood <rodsmallwood52 at btinternet.com>
Date: 5/27/2016 5:37 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Subject: Re: Windows use in medical spaces (Re: vintage computers in active
use)
On 27/05/2016 22:04, Ali wrote:
>??
>> It makes me wonder how many patients have had to wait on care or didn't
>> get proper care because of an IT screwup related to Windows. I have to
>> say just _seeing_ Windows on machines in the ER made me livid. I found
>> it breathtaking they were that caviler about getting people checked in,
>> keeping records straight, etc... I guess I shouldn't have visited the
>> sausage factory, so to speak...
>>
>> Then again, folks in hospitals probably should be more concerned with
>> patients than with their IT tools. Ugh. Still. Windows? I'd have felt
>> better about paper forms. At least they don't blue screen.
>
> I would say very few. You have to remember critical systems are not running
> a general windows system i.e. people are not surfing the web on them and
> installing the latest games recommended by friends from facebook. Windows on
> its own is very stable. I.E. if you take a clean install of windows SW on
> recommended HW and just use the built in apps and never go on the internet
> it will run without any issues. Medical HW makers are basically using
> recommended HW, building one application on top of the OS, and test the hell
> out of it. Since they limit the HW, SW, and modality of use it runs stable.
>
> Almost all (maybe 80%) of your medical HW is probably running some flavor of
> windows.
>
> Pyxis/Omnicell: Windows CE
> Sonosite: Windows 2K or XP
> EMRs: Windows XP or 7 (usually virtualized through Citrix).
>
> Heck DOS is still around too!
>
> The more specialized equipment (fluoro machines, MRI/CT, etc.) usually have
> their own OS although I am seeing C-Arms w/ windows back bones now a days as
> well. As the focus is going toward cost saving more and more generalized
> HW/SW is being used. After all why re-invent everything for each device when
> you can use windows to run the HW, network, input, etc. and just have the
> medical device (e.g. ultrasound probe) act like a peripheral with its own
> drivers.
>
> Where windows causes an issue for the hospital is in the general business
> areas (HR, accounting, administration, etc.).
>
> -Ali
>
Please can we have some specific instances of? Windows causing problems.
Not unqualified people at home or students but real production
environments with qualified support on hand.
I used every version of windows from 1 to 10.? yes XP and millennium too
I wrote time and mission critical food distribution related software for
the ten years before I retired in vb and then vb.net (oo)? I would have
seen just about every possible bug in windows and in developing
applications under it.
Lets hear what others experienced.
Rod
I learned BASIC around that age. I used the Usborne book, which has been
made available as a PDF file by the publisher:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxv0SsvibDMTUXdYTnRaTy1LLVE/view
Op 27 mei 2016 8:12 p.m. schreef "Electronics Plus" <sales at elecplus.com>:
http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Handbook-Encyclopedia-Computer-Language/dp/09327
60333/ for the basics of BASIC
http://www.amazon.com/BASIC-Computer-Games-Microcomputer-David/dp/0894800523
/ for games he can program in BASIC
>from there go to
http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Adventure-Games-Your-Computer/dp/0345318838/
and http://www.amazon.com/More-Basic-Computer-Games-David/dp/0894801376/
One designed for elementary school kids that does not use BASIC is
https://www.amazon.com/Coding-Kids-Dummies-Camille-McCue-ebook/dp/B00MFPZASK
which works on a Mac or PC.
There is nothing like making your first program work to make a youngster
feel like a god!
Cindy
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Ali
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2016 12:29 PM
To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'
Subject: Need Rec: Book to teach about computers and BASIC at an eight year
old level
So somewhat OT - I've setup an 8 year old w/ an IBM PC XT w/ CGA. To say he
is less than impressed is understating things :). However, I am determined
that he will learn basic computer terminology, architecture, history (i.e.
how we got here) and at least get his feet wet with programming by learning
BASIC this summer.
Apparently teaching is not my strong suite - while I can talk about a larger
number of the above topics, especially at his level, organizing them in a
way to make sense is the problem. I was wondering if anyone could recommend
a good book that gets the basic stuff out of the way (what is the CPU,
memory, storage, etc. what are different the parts called, etc.) and maybe
another one that teaches an intro to BASIC written for a very young reader?
It would be nice if the book is in the PD or at least available as a PDF
that way he can read it on his Kindle. However, I am not averse to buying a
physical new (or used book) either.
Thanks.
-Ali
Hello,
the EPROMs are labeled 07595-18045 and 07595-18046.
Can anyone do a dump for me? It's really urgent. Our local hackerspace
wants to get rid of it, if there is no chance to get the Firmware again.
greetings,
Martin
> From: Ethan O'Toole
> Might not be a bad idea to make a wiki page somewhere and ... source
> generic replacements. This way vendor/part# of modern replacements can
> be had for old belt drive floppys and computer tape drives?
> I think the audio cassette deck enthusiasts do something like this
Excellent idea. The data can be put on the Computer History wiki; I've been
putting a lot of PDP-11 info up there. Let me know if you have data to post,
and can't get access.
> From: Paul Koning
> It clearly is not all that accurate. In a discussion of "old" systems,
> it mentions a system with "reported age 52 years" but it "runs on
> windows server 2008 and is programmed in Java". ... A number of other
> examples are similar. For example, a "56 year old" IRS system that
> actually runs on an IBM z series machine from 2010.
Perhaps this is just sloppy writing, and they really 'the application is 52
years old, but it has been translated into Java'? And the latter one could
easily be System/360 code from 56 years ago, running on a z series.
Noel
I don't know if anyone else has been working this, but at least I have been
following up occasionally with the Omen Technologies owner. Current status
(as of yesterday), she is selling the domain name and looking for "big
bucks", which I suspect "omen.com" will probably fetch. She wants that done
first, to make sure that the domain passes hands completely unencumbered
with regards to any other Omen Tech stuff (IP, licenses, etc.). Once that
happens, then she'll look to work on the machine holding the docs/software
that were public facing (it also houses personal/private info that needs to
remain so).
That machine has hardware issues and many passwords are not known. However,
it won't be touched until the domain sells. After that. work will begin.
Just thought some folks might want to know status..
Best,
J
I always get emails from people wanting to know where to get rid of old
vintage computers. I don't think I've ever gotten an email from someone
wanting to buy one. But.
Just got an email from someone that wants to buy a VAX 8650, 8600, or 6340.
Given that the email address is from "Northrop Grumman" I'm guessing it
could be a commercial purchase.
If someone has a good condition working VAX that is one of those three
models and wants to part with it, email me off-list and I'll pass along the
contact info and you can work a deal with them.
Best,
J
> Of course, rather than expose him to 8088 assembler, I?d recommend
> you run right out and grab a used TRS-80 Color Computer - cheap,
> and 6809 assembly is very very nice - no segment registers.
> The downside of *that* is that if he ever decides to use the ?Sign Extend?
> instruction, you?ll have to have a talk with him about the birds, the bees,
> and where little subroutines come from :-).
I suspect you'll need some 'support' when you come to unconditional
relative branches too :-)
-tony
Folks,
I've been contacted by someone wanting to recreate these monitors and is
wanting to buy mine but I can't sell it since it's the only one I've got and
apropos of nothing shipping a glass tube across the pond without expensive
packing/dismantling isn't really an option. He claims mine is the only one
he's seen in 5 years of searching, are they really that rare?
This is mine, matching its MBC-555 PC nicely:
http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/Sanyo_MBC555.jpg
Speaking to him tonight he really only wants to borrow one for taking a
casting of the front bezel so has anyone over there got one to lend/rent to
him? I think he's in CA but will check if necessary.
Cheers!
--
Adrian/Witchy
Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator
Www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UK's biggest private home computer
collection?
> From: Guy Sotomayor Jr
> There was a political fight within IBM and the Unix center of
> competency moved .. All of the Series/1 Unix materials were destroyed
> at that point
I wonder if any of the engineers who worked on it kept a copy at home (as
engineers will often do)?
Noel
Hi
Our order for front panel blanks has now arrived. We have enough
to make ten of each of
PDP-8/e (A)
PDP-8/e(B)
PDP-8/f
PDP-8/i *
PDP-8/L *
PDP-8/m
* New - uses a 465mm x 150 mm panel
I'm expecting production of PDP-8/e (A) and PDP-8/e(B) to start on
Tuesday 31-MAY-2016 at one layer per day (allowing for drying time) plus
set up and packing. The first panels should start coming off the line on
or about 8-JUN-2016.
PDP-8/f and PDP-8/m should start about the 13-JUN-2016 finishing about
22-JUN-2016
Followed by PDP-8/i
Followed by PDP-8/L
Followed by PDP-II/XX
Price remains unchanged at USD150.00 per panel plus USD20 shipping.
Payment to PayPal rodsmallwood52 at btinternet.com
There's only ten of each type so one of each type per customer please
Back orders ship first then in order received sequence.
_*Just a quick note about production techniques. *_
The printing is done by hand on a printing table. Its a big heavy cast
iron tray about a foot deep and five feet square. It stands about three
feet high There are hundreds of small holes in the bottom to allow a
vacuum to hold down whats being printed. On top of the table is an
arrangement of bars and slides to allow one or more silk screen frames
to brought down on a work piece held down by the vacuum.
Next to the table is the drying rack. It looks like half a giant
rolodex. You put your wet work between the pages.They are made of open
mesh panels to allow air to circulate.
You start by marking the position of the blank panel on the bottom of
the table. Then the first screen is positioned over the work and
horizontal movement locked. You can still move the frame vertically.
Position your work between the marked guides on the bottom of the table.
Bring down the frame and drag the ink across the screen. Put the wet
printed blank in the drying frame and repeat for each panel in the batch.
Wait 24 hours and setup your next fame for the next layer(color) Take
first panel out of drying rack print and replace.
Repeat for each board in the batch until done. Cycle time per batch
about eight days elapsed.
Rod (Panelman) Smallwood
> As far as I can tell, if I suddenly need a specific SLT module, the
> odds of finding that specific module at any given time on eBay is
> essentially zero.
Stuff with standard SLT shows up on Ebay quite often. Not every day,
but one could build up a decent pile of SLT cards in time to harvest
from.
> Some SLT modules are far more common than others. I don't know how
> many different SLT modules are used in the 360/30, nor what percentage
> of the SLT modules in that machine are common ones.
For the standard (slower) families of SLT, their are only a few types
of modules - I might guess only 15 or 20 types in something like model
30. They would likely all be 361xxx parts.
Anyway, if one confines an S/360 restoration project to sources
limited to Ebay and Digikey, one will have a bad time. Look around.
IBM made a huge amount of this stuff, and a reasonable amount still
survives.
--
Will
On 7 May 2010, at 08:25, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote:
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 06 May 2010 16:06:37 -0700
> From: Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org>
> Subject: Re: Servant .953
> To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
> Message-ID: <4BE34B7D.6060902 at bitsavers.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> On 5/6/10 2:23 PM, Fred Cisin wrote:
>>> Al Kossow wrote:
>>>> I am interviewing Andy Hertzfeld tomorrow, and had hoped to talk about
>>>> Servant, but I can't find a copy of it around anywhere tonight.
>
> A huge thank you to Nigel Williams who forwarded a working copy of .951 five
> minutes before Bill and Andy arrived. We spent an hour talking about MacPaint
> and Quickdraw (Apple has finally given CHM approval to make the sources available)
> then another hour on Alice, Dali Clock, Servant, Hypercard, and Magic Cap.
Could you please clarify, the QuickDraw source is available for what purpose? Could developers modify it any include it in heir commercial 64 bit Intel applications for instance?
Is the source Pascal, Assembler, C or something else?
Roger Holmes,
Director of Microspot who has a Carbon application which compiles with over 10,000 warnings about deprecated QuickDraw calls.
Here's my top 3 weirdest devices I've ever sent email through, just for fun:
1. The AlphaSmart "Dana" which was a strange laptop-like device which ran
PalmOS. The email client was Eudora for PalmOS.
2. Sony eVilla BeIA appliance using some kind of (crappy) built-in mail
application.
3. Sharp Wizard handheld organizer over a serial TTY connected to a 386/SX
with optional math co-processor installed so it could run ... Xenix.
Logged in via simple built-in vt100 terminal app on the wizard at 2400
BPS to the Unix box. Used 'elm' to send the mail.
That Sharp Wizard was a helluva organizer for it's time. The main feature
was that it takes AAA batteries and thus I was actually able to afford to
run the thing in college by getting rechargables. It had a nice keyboard
and the display was readable in the sunlight, too. No backlight, though.
-Swift
Self explanatory- asking other computer collectors here to see if anyone
has experience.
Will there be any trouble bringing them across?
They look weird and big, but they have no real commercial value and are
just going to my personal computer collection.
Anything I need? I think both were manufactured in the US.
Thanks-
- Ian
--
Ian Finder
(206) 395-MIPS
ian.finder at gmail.com
> From: Jon Elson
>> I interned at IBM Bermuda, and they had a 360/20 as their main service
>> bureau machine; it had (IIRC) ... a 4301 printer.
> I'm guessing, maybe, that would be a 1403 printer?
Ah, right you are! The old grey cells are, well, old! ;-)
Those printers had an amazingly long life! They were first introduced in 1959
with the 1401 computer, and, like I said, the brand spanking new System 3
they got in ca. 1976 came with one! I wonder when IBM stopped producing
them?
Noel
> From: Swift Griggs
> I'm curious about all these older machines with front panel buttons and
> switches. What all did they do?
In addition to reading/writing memory locations, and basic machine control
(boot, start, stop, continue, single-step, etc), some machines had additional
functionality, but what it was (if any) varied widely from machine to machine.
E.g. the KA10, the first model of the PDP-10, had a front panel which also
allowed you to (among other things):
- execute the contents of the data switches as an instruction
- either stop the CPU, or execute an interrupt (switch selected),
when the address in the address switches was used for (switch
selected):
-- instruction fetch
-- data fetch
-- data write
- repeat the previous key-press indefinitely (at a selectable speed)
The latter one could be used for all sorts of things. I once watched someone
halt the machine, put it in single-step mode, hit 'continue', and then
'repeat': by turning the 'repeat speed' knob up and down it was possible to
cause the CPU to run at varying speeds, down to 1 instruction/second! I
imagine that key could have also been used to clear memory by putting 0 in
the address and data switches, hitting 'deposit' and then 'deposit next', and
then 'repeat' (with the repetition rate turned to the max).
You'd have to read the processor manual for each machine to know exactly what
it could do from the front panel. E.g. some of the PDP-11's (/04, /34, /45 and
/70, IIRC) had a mode where you could single-step the microcode. I recall
using this on our /45 to debug it when the RETURN instruction broke... :-)
Noel
This one is a little sketchy; location is Mont Vernon, NH. Situation is a
lady's husband passed away and shes going through all his DEC stuff. She
would like to sell it, but has no idea what it is all worth. I do not have a
list that is really useful, so someone would need to contact her, go onsite,
and see what all is there and make an offer.
Below are just tidbits from several emails we exchanged. If you're
interested and local to that area and willing to take on a "project
recovery", drop me a line off-list. Please do not respond if you just want
to cherry pick one or two items unless you're fully prepared to at least
help her find a home for the parts you don't want.
Best,
J
I have a pdp 11 in the basement and lots of old mouldy
documentation......and who knows what else? I'm trying to clean it all out.
also have an LA36, and who knows what else. My husband died in January and
I've a whole house to readjust to.
I can get you the model, etc. soon. I live in Mont Vernon, NH.
Thanks for answerig...nice to know someone cares about the old stuff.
I scoped out the basement for the pdp-11 and here's what I've come up with
so far:
26 tape cylinders
12 RL02
1 Decscope
1 rx01
1 decdatasystem box
1 unknown grey metal box
1 Decwriter II
5 RT-11 oranger binders
several LS11 System Service Manuals
other binders, etc.
I would like to sell this, but have no idea as to value, and would also like
to find someone who wants them...so what do you think someone would pay for
this?
Also found a copy of a RSTS auto license plate with a note to (XXXX -
husbands name) from Simon Szeto "for someone who also loves RSTS"
ahhh...the good old days. Were you a part of them?
I've found more documentation, old badges, bumper stickers, etc.
> From: William Degnan
> Here is the layout starting from slot 9/11 of the expansion cabinet
Just slot numbers by themselves aren't much use, because if there are any
non-UNIBUS backplanes (e.g. custom backplanes for core memory, for an RH11 -
which has its own custom backplane, you can't use a regular SPC/MUD 'UNIBUS'
backplane to hold it), we need to know what those are, and where.
Note that many boards can only go in a specific slot in a custom backplane,
and vice verse - some slots in such backplanes will only hold a specific kind
of card.
Taking the RH11-AB as an example: it comes with a 9-slot custom backplane. Hex
RH11 boards M7294 and M7295 go in slots 3 and 2, respectively (and nowhere
else, and nothing else can go in those slots). UNIBUS A in is in slot 1,
connectors A/B; UNIBUS A out is in slot 9, connectors A/B. UNIBUS B in is in
slot 8, connectors A/B; UNIBUS A out is in slot 7, connectors A/B.
The RH11 backplane has some slots which are not needed/used by the RH11; those
are wired as SPC slots; slots 7, 8 and 9, connectors C-F (the A-B connectors
in these slots are UNIBUS, per above), are SPC slots. That means that they
need _at least_ a G727 single-width card (the little square grant continuity
cards which jumper BG4-7) in them if there is no other device plugged in. If
the NPG wire-wrap jumper on the backplane for that slot has been removed,
you'd have to use a G7273 dual-width jumper card, to jumper NPG also.
So, looking at your list; first, a comment about naming:
9/11: M9202 (1-2)
11: M7297 (3-4)
11: 7296 (5-6)
This looks like slot 1 of an RH11 backplane. Standard practise it to use
letters for the vertical, and numbers for the horizontal, for positive
identification. So standard nomenclature would be to say that the M9202 is in
connectors A/B, the M7297 in C/D, and the M7296 in E/F.
(Individual pins are named xYZn, where 'x' is the slot, 1-N [where N is
typically 4 or 9]; 'Y' is the connector, A-F; 'Y' is the pin, A-V using the
'DEC alphabet'; and 'n' is the side, 1-2. The NPG jumper is CA1-CB1 in all
SPC/MUD slots, i.e. 1CA1-1CB1 in slot 1.)
The stuff starting in slot '21' looks like a DB11 UNIBUS repeater, but I have
no idea how large a backplane that is, and what the various slots/connectors
in it are used for. It's almost certainly custom wired.
It looks like slot 31 starts another backplane. Given the cards that are
plugged in (LP11, DL11, etc), it's probably a 'UNIBUS' backplane (i.e. SPC or
MUD slots).
Noel
> From: Bill Degnan
> I have an M9300 bus terminator which I read is the same as a M930 with
> the NPR logic (so you don't also need an NPR terminator in slot 3/4).
Err, the M9300 would go in the same place as a M930, i.e. the UNIBUS in/out
dual connector group, usually at the top (A/B connectors) of a slot in a
backplane, in either the first or last slot _of the entire UNIBUS_.
> I am thinking I can replace the M930 and G7273 in the last slot of my
> backplane with a W2-open M9300.
As a UNIBUS in/out dual-width device, the M9300 does not have separate 'grant
in' and 'grant out' pins - just _one_ pin for the grant; the pin will
function as 'in' _or_ 'out', depending on whether the card in question (of
whatever type) is placed in the first or last slot of the UNIBUS.
The dual-width G7273 goes in the middle connectors (C/D) of an SPC/MUD slot,
to jumper both bus grants (BG4-BG7) and also NPG, all of which have both an
'in' and an 'out' pin in SPC/MUD slots (look at the G7273, you'll see 5 pairs
of pins jumpered together - 1 set on one side, NPG; 4 sets on the other,
BR4-BR7). So an M9300 cannot replace a G7273: it's intended for use in an
entirely different kind of connector group.
You might want to read the UNIBUS description in one of the earlier versions
of the "PDP-11 Peripherals Handbook", which explains how the grants work:
basically, they are daisy-chained through every device, so if a UNIBUS
SPC/MUD backplane (which can hold a UNIBUS device in every slot) has a slot
which does not contain a device, you have to put something with grant jumpers
in instead.
Whether the jumper need to be BG4-BG7 _only_ (the little small grant jumper
cards), or a G7273 (which _also_ jumpers NPG) depends on whether _that
particular slot_ has had its NPG jumper (wirewrap on the backplane) pulled,
or not - most backplanes come with jumpers on NPG on all slots, and you have
to remove the jumper if a device uses DMA. (In the early days, most did not,
which is why that was the default.)
> There are jumpers on this card. W1, W2, W. I did not find any specific
> examples online of scenarios for the jumpers
> ...
> I think I get why one would remove the W2 jumper but if W1 is removed
> (open) instead can someone give me an example scenario for when you'd
> want to use this card "for beginning of non processor bus termination".
> Can someone give me an example of when you'd do this?
The device the M9300 was invented for was probably the RH11-AB, which is
where one most often finds them. The RH11 is an UNIBUS device which is a
MASSBUS controller; the RH11-AB has connectors for _two_ UNIBI (so one
RH11-AB can be 'in' two PDP-11's at the same time; i.e. all the devices
connected to that controller can be accessed from either machine).
If it's only connected to a single CPU, though, what does one do with the
second UNIBUS? That's where the M9300 comes in. It simulated the NPG-granting
section of a CPU, and when jumpered to do that, it goes at the _start_ of a
UNIBUS - e.g. the second UNIBUS in the RH11-AB. (Leave all the jumpers in,
and it functions like an M930, and can go at either end).
You can find a description of its use in the RH11-AB, as well as a
description of how the M9300 works, in the "RH11-AB Option Description"
document (available online), starting on page 4-32.
I can't conceive of any use for one in most PDP-11's, though (outside an
RH11-AB, of course).
Noel
I just revisited the Wikipedia page for the BBC Micro Tube [1].
Apparently with a 32bit NS320 processor it was possible to run some
variant of UNIX? Does anyone know anything about this? I'd be very
interested in experimenting with it, if it is true.
Thanks,
Aaron
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tube_(BBC_Micro)
Hi
My main system a VAX 4000 Model 500 with a KA680 CPU has just
started halting at test 51 on power up.
Does any body know where I can lay my hands on a spare KA680?
Rod
> From: Jon Elson
> the /20 was intended for very specific uses in 360 shops, and maybe as
> an entry-level "foot in the door" to move totally tab card shops into
> the 360 family. The only /20s I ever saw were used as offline spool
> printers and card readers in large 360 shops.
I interned at IBM Bermuda, and they had a 360/20 as their main service bureau
machine; it had (IIRC) a card reader/punch, 4 tape drives, and a 4301
printer. When I got there, they had just gotten in a System 3 (two
single-platter hard drives, a 4301 printer, and I'm not sure what else) to
replace it.
Noel
paths.
>
> Do you mean the 360/20? On the topic, were the 20 and 40 the only members
> of System 360 to use TROS?
>
> I remember picking up the programming manual for a Model 20 and realizing
> that I'd essentially have to re-learn programming. 16 bit registers, stripped-
> down instruction set, no I/O channels, "substitute"
> instructions for regular 360 fare.
>
> A really strange thing was that the 1130 came out *after* the 360/20.
>
I am not sure why IBM produced an in-compatible machine so soon after 360 was announced, but it was sold in a completely different way to a new and emerging market.
It was billed as the cheapest computer IBM had ever offered. The announcement letter here:-
https://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/1130/1130_initial.html
is dated almost exactly one month before DEC announced the PDP-8 and I am sure targets the same markets DEC did. You just wonder if IBM had spies in DEC, or more likely they both spotted a marketing opportunity. It is also interesting to note a "typical" configuration was priced at almost twice that of the PDP-8.. (assuming Wikipedia is right)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDP-8
I don't have any links but I know in the UK IBM1130's were used on ships by the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences but I can't find any reference to that on-line. I was told that they had great trouble getting the IBM engineers who worked on it that a suite was not suitable dress for a small research vessel.
Dave
G4UGM
> --Chuck
>
>
Dave
G4UGM
I have an M9300 bus terminator which I read is the same as a M930 with the
NPR logic (so you don't also need an NPR terminator in slot 3/4). I don't
want to blow anything up, but I am thinking I can replace the M930 and
G7273 in the last slot of my backplane with a W2-open M9300.
I have discovered past threads in CCTECH about this card, comes up every so
often. There are jumpers on this card. W1, W2, W. I did not find any
specific examples online of scenarios for the jumpers so I have a question
of confirmation to my understanding:
I think I get why one would remove the W2 jumper but if W1 is removed
(open) instead can someone give me an example scenario for when you'd want
to use this card "for beginning of non processor bus termination". Can
someone give me an example of when you'd do this? Something to do with
expansion cabinets?
b
--
A fellow has made up a nice adapter to read and write Commodore disks on
a PC via USB using a 1541 drive.
The thing that jumped out at me is that this is a 5 1/4" drive that
reads and writes via USB. Anyone want to comment on whether the
floppies it accesses would be useful other than on the C64?
Could one do say 360K floppies via this hardware for other than the
Commodore? At least part of the work is done to do more than just
archival like Catweasel, et. al. do, in that it can also write.
XU1541-interface-connect-your-C-drive-to-PC-enclosed-version-NEW/
http://www.ebay.com/itm/322092922596
Thanks
Jim
Hi all --
I'm working on restoring a VAX-11/730 at the museum and things have been going pretty well thus far. I've been bootstrapping the console and diagnostics from simulated TU58 (images from: https://github.com/NF6X/VAX-11-730-Console-v57). All of the TU58-based diagnostics are passing.
I'm attempting to bring up an Emulex UC17 SCSI controller for mass storage and I'm having trouble with it. I thought I'd check with you guys to see if any of you have seen this issue or have any idea where I might be obviously going wrong before I start digging deeper into this.
The current issue is that I can't get the UC17's built in diagnostic/utility (referred to as the 'FRD' in the manual) to run. I am following all of the steps to the letter (see the manual here http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/www.bitsavers.org/pdf/emulex/UC1751001-C…, pages 71-79 (section 4.5.7)) and I'm getting the right values back when examining the SA register during the process, but executing "S 80" halts after a second or so with:
?08 PC=00000298
Which is an odd way for it to halt, 08 means "No user WCS" according to the 11/730 user's guide.
Here's the full conversation, just in case:
>>> I
>>> D/L/P F26800 80000000
>>> D/L/P F26804 80000001
>>> D/W/P FFF46A 3003
>>> E/W/P FFF46A
P 00FFF46A 0100
>>> D/W/P FFF46A 4401
>>> E/W/P FFF46A
P 00FFF46A 0400
>>> S 80
?08 PC=00000298
I've confirmed that the issue isn't with the card, I can run the FRD without issue on it, in an 11/44 we have here.
I've done my best to ensure that everything is sane on the UNIBUS; my understanding from the 11/730 manuals is that by default none of the SPC slots have the NPG wire-wrap fitted and that any empty SPC slots need to have an NPG grant card installed. (This makes sense given how difficult the backplane is to access, it requires pulling the power supply out first.) Just to make sure, I have double-checked that the NPG wirewrap jumper is not present on Slot 10, where the UC17 is installed. At the moment the grant chain should be unbroken as far as I can tell, here is the current configuration:
TOP
Slot 1 - Empty (normally RB730 option)
Slot 2- Empty (normally FPA option)
Slot 3- M8390 (DAP)
Slot 4- M8391 (MCT)
Slot 5- M8394 (WCS)
Slot 6- M8750 (1mb memory)
Slot 7- M8750 (1mb memory)
Slot 8- M8750 (1mb memory)
Slot 9- M8750 (1mb memory)
Slot 10- Emulex UC17
Slot 11- DMF32-AA
Slot 12- M9302 terminator | G7273 grant
BOTTOM
Thanks as always for the help.
- Josh
On 24 May 2016 4:45 pm, "Ethan Dicks" <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On Tue, May 24, 2016 at 11:36 AM, william degnan <billdegnan at gmail.com>
wrote:
> > On Tue, May 24, 2016 at 11:17 AM, js at cimmeri.com <js at cimmeri.com> wrote:
> >> B, what was the issue with the core, that you fixed it so fast?
> >
> > I guessed that the G114 was bad based on a hunch.
> >
> > I had a spare.
>
> Q. How do you know the guy on the side of the highway with a flat tire
> is a DEC Field Service Engineer?
>
> A. He's swapping out all the tires to see which one is flat.
>
> (or from net.jokes in 1981...
> https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/net.jokes/GQ2B6HZIY_4 )
>
> The way I heard it was:
> How do you tell if a man with a flat tire is a DEC Field Service Rep?
> Look in the trunk; if he's from DEC F.S. he'll have three spares with
little
> red tags on them and no jack.
My favourite at the time was:
Q: How does DEC Field Circus deal with a flat tyre?
A: Swap the wheels one by one until the issue is resolved.
Q: How does DEC Field Circus deal with a flat battery?
A: Swap the wheels one by one until the issue is resolved.
:)
> >
> > Hey, this is useful.
> > Thanks for doing it!
>
> Yep!
> Already investigating. IMD gave me some trouble, had to resort to
> dosbox. Source for PED (Programmer's Editor) version G? I've never
> seen source. I have version F as a :PROG file. I'm guessing that Planc
> version C may compile it.. this will stretch my emulator. Haven't yet
> figured out how to handle that PED2.DMK file, so I don't know what it
> contains - executable?
>
>
>
PED2.DMK and DISK8.IMD is the same disk, but different ways of reading it
off the disk. I used both the standard PC-floppy and then also the
catweasel card. I tried the catweasel for some floppies that I had reading
trouble with.
I am really interested in hearing more about your emulator!
/Mattis
On Tue, May 24, 2016 at 11:36 AM, william degnan <billdegnan at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, May 24, 2016 at 11:17 AM, js at cimmeri.com <js at cimmeri.com> wrote:
>> B, what was the issue with the core, that you fixed it so fast?
>
> I guessed that the G114 was bad based on a hunch.
>
> I had a spare.
Q. How do you know the guy on the side of the highway with a flat tire
is a DEC Field Service Engineer?
A. He's swapping out all the tires to see which one is flat.
(or from net.jokes in 1981...
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/net.jokes/GQ2B6HZIY_4 )
The way I heard it was:
How do you tell if a man with a flat tire is a DEC Field Service Rep?
Look in the trunk; if he's from DEC F.S. he'll have three spares with little
red tags on them and no jack.
-ethan
> From: Bill Degnan
> I removed the core backplanes and returned the DD11-C to the orig
> config next to the CPU. I re-inserted cards as-was. I am not getting
> comms from the M7856.
Ugh. Not good. Does it respond on the UNIBUS? (I.e. if you try to read
the registers from the front panel?)
> I may have shorted the card.
If you somehow plugged it into one of the core backplanes, good chance, alas.
They have either -15V or +20V (I think the latter, for the MM11-U) running
around on various pins.
(Oh, BTW, you probably already know this, but just in case not: those
backplanes take specific boards in specific slots; check the manuals/prints
for the correct slots.)
Do you have a spare M7856 you can swap in to make sure the machine is
otherwise functional? If not, let me know, I have a bunch of spare M7800's,
I can send you one (known, tested good).
Noel
> Why have cool looking replica systems. Edible ones would be so much
> better.
> http://phys.org/news/2016-05-d-candy-maker-billed-world-york.html
This is a bit off-topic, but I can't resist a correction to provide some
credit where due. Although billed as such, this is far from being the
"first 3D printer for candy". One (of many) counter-examples can be found
at http://candyfab.org (from 2006).
~~
Mark Moulding
> From: Bill Degnan
> Card slot 2 of the backplane was "de-jumpered" and requires a NPR card.
> The RL02 needs to be in a slot that would otherwise need an NPR card, as I
> understand things.
Correct. (Although technically it's an RL11 controller card, the RL02 is the
drive; but there are other controller cards for the RL02 for other buses,
e.g. the RLV11 for the QBUS.)
>> those would be MM11-U backplanes, right?
> Here is a closeup.
I'm away from my machine at the moment, so I don't know if that's what an
MM11-U says; I'll check tomorrow.
> System came to me as thus, after the CPU, the 3011-cf backplane had the
> following:
This below all looks OK.
> UNIBUS 10 A-B (LEFT SIDE OF UNIBUS)
Yeah, that's 'UNIBUS in'.
> M7856 10 F-C (RS232 WITH 19.2 OPTION?)
And the console board in the bottom part of that slot, good.
> G7273 11 C-D
An NPG/BG jumper card (but that doesn't mean the NPG jumper is removed
>from that slot, mind - you have to check the wiring to be positive).
You could put the RL11 card in this slot (with the jumper removed).
> 7891 12 A-F (64k MEMORY)
Yup, sounds good.
> M9312 13 A-B (ROM CARD)
> 672A 13 D (GRANT CONT.)
Yeah, nothing in the SPC part of that slot, and the 9312 in the 'UNIBUS
out' part, so it must be acting as a terminator.
> I am going to switch to another backplane and start over.
To be honest, I'd stick with that one, actually! You have some data to
indicate that it is OK (the machine worked as you got it).
> From: Mattis Lind
> Isn't it just a a DD11-C backplane with power-wring entering from the
> back, rather than through small circuit boards?
I think the one with the power coming in through paddle-boards is the DD11-A.
The DD11-C has 2 MUD slots in the center, not the SPC slots of earlier
backplanes. (Not sure what the DD11-B is.)
> But all this still doesn't now explain the problem that you cannot
> access (or send characters to) the serial port.
I got the impression from what he said (that the boot ROM seemed to run OK)
that the registers on the console serial board are accessible from the bus OK.
If they aren't, the potential causes are quite different from those which
would cause the different symptoms of 'card responds, but no characters come
out', so we need to nail down which it is before further debugging.
Oh, another idea for debugging this: if it's 'registers OK, no characters',
try an EIA debugging unit (one of those things with a DB25 male and female,
and a bunch of LEDs, that would probably help a lot).
> If I were you I would try to get back to the state where it worked,
> shortening the Unibus to just include the 4-slot back plane and the CPU
> backplane and also remove the RL11 for now. Then install the RL11 in
> slot 11 when everything is working.
Exactly what I would do! :-)
Noel
If anyone has any Force manuals squirreled away, I'd like to figure out
how to configure one of their 8meg memory boards. Started playing with
some VME boards that I had collected over the years, including a huge
pile of stuff from Integrated Solutions. Depressing that I had forgotten
how much of this stuff I have.
> From: Bill Degnan
> So I decided to insert two 32K core memory backplanes
32KW, those would be MM11-U backplanes, right?
> My plan is to replace the solid-state RAM card with core, and this will
> free up a slot on the 4-slot backplane for a terminator.
Terminators all only go in the last slot of the last backplane anyway (either
that, or a UNIBUS 'out' cable), so adding extra backplanes shouldn't give you
"a slot .. for a terminator".
Also, Paul's point is a good one: the hex memory cards need so-called 'MUD
slots' (hex), not SPC slots (quad), and only (IIRC) the DD11-C/D have MUD
slots. (Those came in with the 11/04-34, IIRC).
> the serial card seems to have stopped working. It appears that the
> console program is being loaded and runs from the M9312 but nothing is
> appearing on the terminal. I cannot send an "A" to the terminal, the
> most basic test I can think of.
Hmm. You can read/write the console registers from the console, though, it
sounds like? My guess would be that if your serial port is EIA, somehow
you're missing -15V or something on the DD11 in its new location. Study the
-11/35-40 system manual to learn about which 'bricks' supply which voltages
to which system units.
And while you're at it, check that you have the right 'bricks' for the MM11-U.
The -11/35-40 system manual has lots of text on how to support the MM11-U.
> Can you only use the core backplanes for core memory (assume yes), or
> are they capable of holding other types of cards temporarily?
AFAICR, the MM11-U backplane does _not_ have an SPC slot in it. IIRC, the
16KW MM11-U board set is a quad controller board, and 3 hex boards (core, X-Y
and something else). So two sets (the backplane holds two) would be 8, so one
empty slot - which IIRC is blank. Check the MM11-U manual, it's available.
> I have one slot that needs the npg, it's in place.
??? _Every_ SPC/MUD slot which does not have a DMA device in it _must_ have
the jumper on the backplane (or the _double_ width UNIBUS grant card, whose
number escapes my memory, which contains a NPG jumper). Not sure if that
was the import of what you wrote there.
Noel
On May 22, 2016 1:22 PM, "Mark Darvill" <mark.darvill at mac.com> wrote:
>
> The core memory/CPU backplane is a special case and doesn?t need grant
cards.
>
> If you have linked up to the expansion Unibus then you need to check you
have the NPG jumper in row C, Pins A1 and B1 in each slot. If these do not
have wire wrap then you will either need to wire wrap them or insert a G727
into the backplane slot. Without these the units will hang on attempting to
use a card that requires DMA access.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Mark
>
Thanks Mark..yes I have one slot that needs the npg, it's in place.
I have not had a chance to test with grant cards removed hope that does the
trick
Still unpacking after a house move 18 months ago... I have found just over
a dozen volumes of Inside Macintosh.
Since programing is not my thing, and I am not into the Macintosh, I don't
really need them. Does anyone want them? Tbey are free, but would have to
be collected from me in SE London (near Bromley, easy to get to from the M25).
I can make a list of titles if there is any interest.
-tony
Sorry, I didn?t ask on this one. It looked like a well used/loved machine with some wear and customizations to the front panel
Jerry
> On May 22, 2016, at 9:51 AM, Bill Sudbrink <wh.sudbrink at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Jerry Weiss wrote:
>> I saw one Altair 8800
>
> I haven't seen an Altair at a hamfest in this century.
> Out of curiosity, what was the seller asking?
>
> Bill S.
>
>
Background - I have a PDP 11/40 that came to me with a CPU backplane and a
general purpose 4 slot peripheral backplane. The CPU backplane came to me
connected to the 4 slot via a std 11/40 M981. In the 4-slot I have I have
a working 64K solid-state RAM card, M7856 serial card, M9312
bootstrap/console card, and an RL02 drive controller. I can access RAM
>from the console, run the console program (monitor program) off the M9312
through the serial card. I can't boot yet off the RL02 and I am thinking
this is due to a termination issue, not sure yet. I decided I need more
backplane to go any farther.
So I decided to insert two 32K core memory backplanes in between the
original two backplanes that came with the system. My plan is to replace
the solid-state RAM card with core, and this will free up a slot on the
4-slot backplane for a terminator. Am I correct in my logic?
I have connected the "new" backplanes using M920's. Imagine the original
system with a core backplane wedged in the middle. Power seems fine, DC LO
AC LO fine.
Right now there is nothing in the core backplanes, First I want to verify
that I have them arrayed correctly and that I can still communicate with
the (now) 4th backplane in the back. I can run "chase the lights" from the
console but the serial card seems to have stopped working. It appears that
the console program is being loaded and runs from the M9312 but nothing is
appearing on the terminal. I cannot send an "A" to the terminal, the most
basic test I can think of.
Could be the the M7856 card decided to die on me just now, or something
else is wrong. Does anyone have a PDP 11 /05/10/35/40 and have
experimented about what you can and can't do with backplanes?
I know that there are a lot of variables here, so I'd like to start with
the basics
Basic Question #1
Do I need grant cards in *every* empty slot of the core backplane,
including the end slots with the M920's?
Basic Question #2
Can you only use the core backplanes for core memory (assume yes), or are
they capable of holding other types of cards temporarily? (yes/no/maybe)
I am researching the system config on my own, but I thought if anyone had
any advice I'd love to hear it, make troubleshooting a little easier.
I have read up on the subject:
http://retrocmp.com/how-tos/setup-a-pdp-11-unibus-backplanehttps://trmm.net/PDP-11
I see this is not a simple little thing. Working to find more GC cards now.
Thanks
b
--
@ BillDeg:
Web: vintagecomputer.net
Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg>
Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg>
Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm>
I am hoping to install Windows NT 3.1 on my Jensen. Unfortunately I am
getting an error code relating to VGA. The tech docs I have make no mention
of this code, anyone know what it means:
VGA ?? 06 0020
Regards
Rob
Anyone spot anything list related at hamvention? I'm around trying to find anything cool. Particularly sun and ibm stuff.
Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
I picked up one of those power systems, the other was gone before I got to it. The only things I can add are an amiga and tons of cisco network gear.
Not a whole lot this year I suppose.
Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
-------- Original message --------
From: Brian Marstella <brian at marstella.net>
Date: 5/22/2016 12:09 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Subject: Re: Hamvention
After Alex mentioned it, I'd thought about driving up if anyone saw
anything of interest, but sounds like there isn't a great deal to pick from
for older computers. I really can't justify the drive anyway, this year...
Brian KI4GTD
On Sat, May 21, 2016 at 11:48 PM, Jerry Weiss <jsw at ieee.org> wrote:
> I saw one Altair 8800 and one TRS-80 III out in the swap fest.? Some more
> recent power (5?) series, but that?s about it.
>
> Jerry WB9MRI
>
>
> > On May 20, 2016, at 1:18 PM, Alex McWhirter <alexmcwhirter at triadic.us>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Anyone spot anything list related at hamvention? I'm around trying to
> find anything cool. Particularly sun and ibm stuff.
> >
> > Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
>
>
I need to make some paper tapes of the diagnostics for my PDP-8/e. I
built an RS232/current loop interface and have it working I think
Did anyone else notice that the standard cable to connect the M8655
to a tty uses shielded twisted pair cable, but doesn't have the signal
pairs in the twisted pairs? This same cable is used with the DL11 too.
-chuck
Congratulations, Pete. I'd like to put some day my hands in one of these
but work and distance (Spain) make it complicated. Perhaps in some years
>from now.
Kind Regards
Sergio
Thanks Kip!
I did manage to get it going. Turned out the switches for baud rate are not labelled accurately. It has a monitor called Weebug.. no idea how to operate it. :) ?Hoping it's similar to SWTBUG, MIKBUG etc.
Brad
Sent from my Samsung device
-------- Original message --------
From: Kip Koon <computerdoc at sc.rr.com>
Date: 2016-05-21 4:29 AM (GMT-08:00)
To: "'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Subject: RE: MSI 6800
Hi Brad,
I found these two links.? I hope they help.
< http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=732>
< http://www.hinkles.us/chuckbo/MSI-6800/index.htm>
Take care my friend.
Kip Koon
computerdoc at sc.rr.comhttp://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Kip_Koon
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Brad H
> Sent: Friday, May 20, 2016 10:31 AM
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> Subject: MSI 6800
>
>
>
> Hi there,
> I have acquired an MSI 6800 (SS50) computer and am trying to figure out how to get it going.? I am reaching out everywhere hoping to
> find someone with knowledge of these as I have searched around extensively and cannot find a manual.
> With a null modem cable connected to a PC I can get a response from the computer by typing things or resetting it, but the output is
> garbled.? I know the baud rate but at present have no way to determine the other settings like bit, parity, etc.
> Any help/advice would be appreciated!
> Brad
> Sent from my Samsung device
> I would hope whoever gets it is prepared to exchange information. There is no
> software with my machine, of course.
Pete,
Congrats! Once you pick up the system feel free to contact me about getting copies of the limited software I have for the MINC at this time. They are great systems to experiment with.
Mark Matlock
>
> In case anyone is worried I am keeping 2 MINCs myself. One is an RL01-based
> one that I have pulled the CPU, RAM and Bootstrap cards from and hung it off
> a DW11-B (Unibus-Qbus interface) on a PDP11/45 (yes, that does work!). I've not
> got the 11/45 running after the house move, but it is all there and sorting it out
> is just a matter of time The other MINC is a MINC-23 (PDP11/23 CPU board),
> with an RX02. I am also keeping at least one of every MINC module I have
> ever owned, including MNCAG (analogue preamplifier) and MNCTP
> (thermocouple interface).
Tony,
Using a DW11-B to connect the MINC to a PDP-11/45 sounds fantastic! What a neat idea! I have all the MINC modules except the MNCTP thermocouple interface and the MNCAM analog mux. With the modified BDV11 I've been able to boot 11/03, 11/23 and 11/73 CPUs. I run either RT-11 and RSX11M by changing MicroSD cards on the UC07 / SCSI2SD drives (configured as 4 150 MB drives). I understand some MINC-23s ran RSX and would love to find any drivers for RSX and the MINC modules.
Mark Matlock
I tried the Dell on my Rainbow, but unfortunately it did not work. Looks like I would need the scan doubler that was mentioned.
Regards
Rob
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Rob Jarratt
> Sent: 17 May 2016 07:31
> To: Ian Finder <ian.finder at gmail.com>; General Discussion: On-Topic and
> Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: RE: Best LCDs for retrocomputing - Was: Re: New *square* 1:1
> 26.5"LCD monitor 1920x1920
>
> I?ll let you know in a few days when I get back home.
>
> Regards
>
> Rob
>
> Sent from my Windows 10 phone
>
> From: Ian Finder
> Sent: 16 May 2016 23:48
> To: Jarratt RMA; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> Subject: Re: Best LCDs for retrocomputing - Was: Re: New *square* 1:1
> 26.5"LCD monitor 1920x1920
>
> Addendum-
>
> This thread (http://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=44692) seems
> to indicate the 2007FP CAN do 15hkz on the VGA / RGB input... so maybe
> you're all good. Anyone here want to test?
>
> On Mon, May 16, 2016 at 3:46 PM, Ian Finder <ian.finder at gmail.com> wrote:
> This post: http://www.vcfed.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-16744.html
> Seems to indicate that the Rainbow is a 15khz sync signal, more akin to
> normal interlaced video- which I called out in my other post as being the
> one type of signal that doesn't always work for these displays.
>
> You may find success using a GBS-8220 scan-doubler, (ebay, c. $28
> USD), perhaps with a sync-strainer circuit to feed the SoG signal to the Scan
> Doubler as composite sync, if it doesn't work directly with the 2007FP.
>
> Curious to hear what you figure out.
>
>
>
> On Mon, May 16, 2016 at 3:25 PM, Jarratt RMA
> <robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > On 16 May 2016 at 22:52 Adrian Graham
> ><witchy at binarydinosaurs.co.uk>
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> > On 16/05/2016 20:13, "Ian Finder" <ian.finder at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I dunno if it's relevant or not, but my go-to LCD for retro
> >stuff is the
> > > Dell 2007FP-
> > > There was a panel lottery, some are TN, some IPS. Both are solid.
> > >
> > > They are 4:3, 1600x1200 native.
> > >
> > > They have DVI, VGA, Composite and S-Video inputs, and very
> >stellar
> > > scalers.
> >
> > In fact there was one available for ukp35 so it's now mine. I
> >remember these
> > monitors from a few years ago at a customer that specialised in
> >video for
> > aeroplanes, I used one not quite daily but remember being irked at
> >the time
> > that it was several button presses needed to get from VGA to DVI
> >input,
> > hahaha.
> >
>
>
> He had another one at that price (the last one apparently), so I have bagged
> that one. I tried my Viewsonic, which does SoG, on my Rainbow at the
> weekend, but that didn't work, perhaps this will. Even if it doesn't it will still
> be a good second monitor for my everyday PC.
>
> Regards
>
> Rob
>
>
>
> --
> Ian Finder
> (206) 395-MIPS
> ian.finder at gmail.com
>
>
>
> --
> Ian Finder
> (206) 395-MIPS
> ian.finder at gmail.com
Hi there,
I have acquired an MSI 6800 (SS50) computer and am trying to figure out how to get it going. ?I am reaching out everywhere hoping to find someone with knowledge of these as I have searched around extensively and cannot find a manual.
With a null modem cable connected to a PC I can get a response from the computer by typing things or resetting it, but the output is garbled. ?I know the baud rate but at present have no way to determine the other settings like bit, parity, etc.
Any help/advice would be appreciated!
Brad
Sent from my Samsung device
Well, the Subject: line gives the result of by decision. I have decided (after
much thought, it was not easy!) to give the surplus MINC to Pete. I wish I had
more spare MINCs so I could give each of you one.
Perhaps the only consolation is that there may well be other machines up for
grabs as I continue to sort out.
Pete, we need to agree a time for collection.
Thanks to everyone who responded.
-tony
I dunno if it's relevant or not, but my go-to LCD for retro stuff is the
Dell 2007FP-
There was a panel lottery, some are TN, some IPS. Both are solid.
They are 4:3, 1600x1200 native.
They have DVI, VGA, Composite and S-Video inputs, and very stellar scalers.
They sync to SoG, and have no trouble with oddball resolutions like
1152x8-whatever.
My SGI stuff can drive it at native resolution. As an added bonus, you can
disable scaling if you want black bars and native resolution.
These are readily available for ~$35, and I have at least 6.
- Ian
On Mon, May 16, 2016 at 12:07 PM, Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
> On 05/16/2016 11:49 AM, Ethan Dicks wrote:
>
> > I have been keeping my eye out for older panels. I have some 12"
> > 4:3 and a few 17" 4:3 and I think one 19" 4:3. Never run across
> > anything larger. I don't think there were too many 4:3 LCD
> > televisions sold larger than 19"... some, perhaps, but not many. The
> > world switched to 16:9 about the time prices started falling on > 19"
> > panels.
> >
> > I have a couple of arcade cabinets I'd love to switch to LCD. No
> > luck yet except with a 16:9 that would fill the cabinet space but
> > give me a black bars and a smaller playfield size than the CRT.
>
>
> I use a NEC 21.3" 4:3 monitor--they can be had for cheap.
>
> NEC sells a few refurb very inexpensive 4:3 19" monitors that accept SOG:
>
> http://www.necdisplay.com/category/desktop-monitors?Refurbished=1
>
> --Chuck
>
--
Ian Finder
(206) 395-MIPS
ian.finder at gmail.com
Sorry about being late: Raymond Tomlinson, email inventor, sadly
passed on to the 'cyberworld' in March of this year. In this Age of
the Internet, we're communicating with his invention and sharing our
hobby throughoutthe world. Imagine 100 yrs. ago how we would have done
this!
Happy computing.
Murray :)
.
Swift's thread on the "ones that got away" got me thinking about another
source of guilt/regret common to the classic computer collector:
Systems we've neglected or failed to boot recently.
I've had a re-jig of my storage, and whilst it was great to uncover gems
that I'd forgotten I even had, it also brought some regrets for the systems
I've neglected - lots of them not booted in 10 years or more.
Because they were easily accessible I pulled out my Colour Classic and G4
Cube (is the latter on-topic through the "10 year rule" or are we sticking
to pre-millenials?):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2c70f4flucjo3f6/IMG_7576.jpg?dl=0
Quick check-over and they both booted just fine!
The systems I'm feeling really guilty over neglecting are:
SGI Crimson VGX (skins perfect but needs some TLC before power-on)
Micro PDP 11/83 (same)
Maxed-out Acorn A3000 (my home-brew external SCSI Podule needs finishing)
And I have a vast box of Sinclair Specturm games on tape that would
probably take the rest of the year to load if I fired up my +2 and played
them sequentially!
-Austin.
Hi
I'd like to load RSTS/e on my 11/83. I have TK50's available so I
guess the question is how do I get or create an install
TK50 tape with RSTS/e on it
Rod
I got out my Tektronix DAS 9129 logic analyzer mainframe, which uses a
red/green/yellow beam penetration CRT. It uses raster scan, whereas
my other device with a beam penetration CRT, the HP 1338A (also
red/green/yellow) is a vector (X-Y) display.
I'm pleased to find that the 9129 passes self-test and the display
works. Unfortunately I do not have any logic analyzer acquisition or
pattern generator modules for it, so other than admiring the pretty
display, it's only useful as a boat anchor.
Does anyone have information about (or a copy of) the Pascal
Development Co. Pascal/8002 Universal Program Development Package,
that ran on the Tektronix 8002 development system? The only thing I've
found is a blurb in Computerworld 1979-08-13 p. 56.
Alternatively, I'm very interested in any other compiler that ran on
the 8002 and produced p-code or bytecode, or any such compiler running
on ANY machine which Tektronix may have used for product development.
They might well have done cross-development from a mini or mainframe,
but I'm guessing that they probably used their own 8002 system.
Context: the Tektronix DAS 9100 logic analyzer is Z80 based, and
contains many ROMs, mostly 8KB MK36000 series masked ROMs and MCM68764
EPROMs, but only one ROM appears to contain much actual Z80 code. That
8K ROM is labeled "INTERP" and contains a bytecode interpreter.
Apparently all the other ROMs are full of bytecode. The bytecode does
not match the UCSD p-code nor the ETHZ P4 p-code. I've started
disassembling it, but haven't yet learned too much.
Hi there,
I recently acquired a Midwest Scientific Instruments 6800 computer. Been
meaning to set it up but was working on restoring a couple of SWTPC
terminals first.
It has a SI-1 serial board in it and what looks like a second serial board
absent manufacturer markings. The SI-1 has configurable baud rate, but I do
not know what the other settings should be (ie. 7 or 8 bit, how many stop
bits, etc.). I'm working with a PC terminal for now, and the MSI does react
to keys being pressed, but it just produces jibberish. I have the baud rate
at 1200 and have tried 7 bits, 1 stop bit, Even parity, odd parity, 2 stop
bits, 8 bits, etc.. but no avail.
Wondering if there's a manual extant out there or anyone with really good
memory on how to get these things communicating.
Thanks!!
Brad
I've stack-ranked all the classic items that I, to my everlasting shame,
let go of at some point and now I feel like it was a mistake:
1. Amiga 2500. I ditched it thinking I'd pick up a 3000 then never did.
Ugh. It was free. They were using at some radio station where I helped
them fix their PCs but then decided I wanted their Amiga (stashed in a
closet) to subsidize my fee.
2. SGI Indigo R4400 with pristine KB + mouse, Maxxed RAM, and Elan. Ugh.
/me bangs head against wall
3. Mac IIci with 060' accelerator. I put the accelerator in and paid $$$
for it. Darn it. That was a cool system.
4. Sun Voyager. These go for a fortune now on Ebay. I *gave* mine away.
Not this one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sun_Voyager
This one: http://tinyurl.com/lhzjfks
5. NeXTStation Color Turbo. I got tired of the proprietary-everything and
the space it was taking to keep it working and pristine. Still. I wish I
hadn't sold it.
6. Mac Quadra 660AV. This was a pizzabox M68k classic mac with a video
frame capture (a crappy one but still...) capability. I notice you can't
really even buy classic macs on ebay anymore. There used to be scads of
them. Damn... does that mean I'm old now?
7. SGI Origin 200 dual R12k 270Mhz. It's the top model Origin 200 and it
had good skins etc... If I had it today it'd be running in my garage with
the rest of the zoo. I had to ditch some gear to move way back when, and
this box was a casualty.
8. Sharp Wizard OZ-8000 organizer. This thing rocked. I'd probably be
tempted to *use* it. I got a lot of mileage out of it "back in the day". It
ran on a Z80 and took AAA batteries (yes!). Plus I had (and maybe I still
do) a DB9 serial interface for it. You could use it as a vt220 terminal,
IIRC.
9. Atari Lynx. I had all the cool games. Like a fool I sold mine for some
quick money in college to help fund a silly trip with some chick who is
long gone long ago. Ugh. I'd rather have the Lynx back...
10. TRS-80 model 100. I didn't really like it that much, but nowadays it'd
look cool in my collection and I have more nostalgic love for the
trasheighty. Plus it takes AA batteries (I love that!).
-Swift
At 04:57 PM 5/19/2016, Austin Pass wrote:
>Systems we've neglected or failed to boot recently.
My Amstrad PPC-640 gets booted a couple-few times a year when I need a native MS-DOS machine with a real serial port for work on some vintage broadcast hardware.
I need to dig out the three CP/M machines (Osborne 1, Kaypro 4-84, Kaypro 1) and see if they will play, as they have not been booted in about a decade.
Dale H. Cook, Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA
Osborne 1 / Kaypro 4-84 / Kaypro 1 / Amstrad PPC-640
http://plymouthcolony.net/starcity/radios/index.html
Hi folks,
I picked up a rather nasty Tek 4051 and gave it a good cleaning.
It has an issue with the power supply. Before I dive in properly myself, I
thought I'd just ask:
Has anyone seen a behavior where-
1) With the main logic board attached, the power supply makes a loud buzz /
hum.
the +12 rail reads approx. 9v and the 15v rail is 13.5 or so. All
lights turn on as the cpu is obviously not running.
2) With the main logic board detached from the power supply (no load at all
on those rails?) I get a healthier 14.8 on the 15v rail and approx. 12 on
12. No hum / buzz.
I believe the supply is linear.
I suspect bad caps and a bad diode, but wanted to check here.
also in testing 2), one of the weird resistor network film packages on the
deflection board got really hot and made a smell. I hope it still works-
will certainly not be testing with the main board unplugged again.
Flood gun seems to be working.
- Ian
--
Ian Finder
(206) 395-MIPS
ian.finder at gmail.com
> From: Ed Groenenberg
> After hooking up the PMK05 to the unibus, the machine was powered up
> with the memory card, and the 'NPG' led was on.
Oh, that's truly wierd. Most memory cards don't even connect to any of the
bus request/grant lines - they often have short loopbacks from each 'grant
in' pin to 'grant out' - not sure about NPG because canonically, that is
jumpered through on the backplane.
A couple of things to check: First, does that memory even have traces
connected to the NPR/NPG-in/NPG-out pins? Second, does a different, known
working card, provoke any problems in that slot? (E.g. your serial interface
card?) I'm wondering if the problem is the slot, not the card.
Noel
Has anyone ever found a way to beat HP at their game of putting
ridiculously low-quality proprietary batteries on their RAID controllers?
I had no end to trouble with HSZ batteries dying back in the day. Nowadays
I still have an old MSA1000 with similar looking batteries. The part
numbers are 401026-001 (right) & 401027-001 (left).
Has anyone ever seen some kind of caddy or carrier that can replace these
? They are very oddball in shape. They clip onto the boards with plastic
friction shields. However, there is greater clearance on the MSA1000
controller board than is needed for these batteries. Since it's 4.8v I'd
love to replace this with qty=4 1.2v NIMH AA or AAA batteries. They'd
probably last longer anyway.
There is nothing magical or special about these battery packs, correct? If
I find something mechanically workable and with matching voltage can I not
use that as a replacement? I really don't care if I have to solder it on.
The folks who sell replacements for these online tend to not say if they
are new, used, tested, etc... I don't trust them enough to send them
$40-$120 for the replacement.
-Swift
Tony,
Too bad your MINC is so far from me. I would love to have the spare parts and RL01s to assist in my MINC restoration.
I would like to collaborate with who ever gets your MINC. Some other kind souls on this list have helped me with copies
of the Lab Subroutine Package software and Scientific Subroutine Package software for MINC.
I have my MINC-23 running with a 11/23 CPU and an Emulex UC07 / SCSI2SD so I can transfer RT-11 software from various
internet web sites to a microSD card and run from it. I had to upgrade my BDV-11 with new EPROMs to boot a DU device
(Thanks to Malcom McLeod for the EPROM images!)
I have used both RSX11M (not plus as it is an 18 bit system) and RT-11 on different SD cards and it runs both fine.
I currently have the A/D, Digital Output, and Digital Input modules all working with Macro-11 code I wrote but am having trouble getting the MINC clock to work as it appears to have a different CSR format than the LPS-11 or KWV-11C. A user's guide for it would be greatly appreciated. The MINC-11 engineering drawings have been scanned and are certainly helpful.
Also, anyone trying to connect to the DB9 terminal blocks for the DLV-11J should be aware that the pin out is NOT the common DB9
RS232 pin out. It takes a special DB9 to DB25 cable DEC provided or some wiring experimentation with an RS232 breakout box. The engineering drawings do document the connections however.
Best regards,
Mark Matlock
> From: tony duell <ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
> To: "cctalk at classiccmp.org" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Surplus DEC MINC
> Message-ID:
> <A8192EF71C5C4946A240D25EDC8F9448027F4B3F at EXMBX15.thus.corp>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> I have a DEC MINC that I don't _really_ need and wonder if anyone is
> interested.
>
> It's the hard disk model. A half-height rack containing a pair of RL01s
> and a power controller with the MINC CPU box bolted on top. It
> contains the normal cards :
> PDP11/03 CPU
> M8044 memory (30kW IIRC)
> DLV11-J (4 RS232 ports)
> IBV11 (IEEE-488 interface)
> RLV11
> Some parallel printer interface (LPV11?)
> BDV11 (Bootstrap/terminator)
>
> And 7 MINC modules :
> MNCAA (ADC)
> MNCAD (DAC)
> 2 off MNCDI (16 bit digital input)
> 2 off MNCDO (16 bit digital output)
> MNCKW (clock generator)
>
> Bad points :
>
> It is untested, assume it needs repair (but the boards, etc are intact)
> I would recomend doing electrical safety tests before applying mains!
>
> No connector blocks for the MINC modules
>
> No disk packs (but I might be able to find some)
>
> No terminal or cable (but not hard to sort something out)
>
> It could do wth cleaning (if you spin up the drives they will almost
> certainly headcrash). But no smoking near it ever.
>
> It MUST BE COLLECTED from me (SE London, near Bromley, not too far
> from M25). There is no way I can ship it. I will help dismantle it into
> units and load it into your car/van (I think it will all go in an estate
> car).
>
> Good point
>
> It's free. I do not want any money for it.
>
> I want it to go to somebody who will make use of it (either restore it, put it
> on display, or use it for spare parts for PDP11s), not somebody who wants
> to raid the gold from the edge connectors.
>
> -tony
Hi,
I was given an Altos 486 Series 1000, and albeit its name sounds
promising, it's not the classic Z80 based Altos 486, but a modern UNIX
machine with i486 processor (non-PC architecture) from around 1992.
Problem: no tapes, no hard disk (was removed as it contained sensitive
data). Has someone by any chance have images of the OS (don't know whether
they are on QIC tapes or on 5.25" floppies) ? OS should be some AT&T UNIX
called Altos System V.
Christian
Hi all,
Bought a VT420 off eBay last night which should be arriving sometime
this week. Unfortunately it doesn't come with a keyboard. Is there
anyone near Nottingham (UK) willing to sell an DEC LK401 keyboard for a
fair price?
Thanks,
Aaron
I have a DEC MINC that I don't _really_ need and wonder if anyone is
interested.
It's the hard disk model. A half-height rack containing a pair of RL01s
and a power controller with the MINC CPU box bolted on top. It
contains the normal cards :
PDP11/03 CPU
M8044 memory (30kW IIRC)
DLV11-J (4 RS232 ports)
IBV11 (IEEE-488 interface)
RLV11
Some parallel printer interface (LPV11?)
BDV11 (Bootstrap/terminator)
And 7 MINC modules :
MNCAA (ADC)
MNCAD (DAC)
2 off MNCDI (16 bit digital input)
2 off MNCDO (16 bit digital output)
MNCKW (clock generator)
Bad points :
It is untested, assume it needs repair (but the boards, etc are intact)
I would recomend doing electrical safety tests before applying mains!
No connector blocks for the MINC modules
No disk packs (but I might be able to find some)
No terminal or cable (but not hard to sort something out)
It could do wth cleaning (if you spin up the drives they will almost
certainly headcrash). But no smoking near it ever.
It MUST BE COLLECTED from me (SE London, near Bromley, not too far
>from M25). There is no way I can ship it. I will help dismantle it into
units and load it into your car/van (I think it will all go in an estate
car).
Good point
It's free. I do not want any money for it.
I want it to go to somebody who will make use of it (either restore it, put it
on display, or use it for spare parts for PDP11s), not somebody who wants
to raid the gold from the edge connectors.
-tony
Does anyone have a EIZO FlexScan EV2730QFX-BK monitor? I currently own an
NEC MultiSync 17" LCD that does sync-on-green and works with my SGIs and
other older systems. However, I'd love something bigger. The problem is
that when I use widescreen monitors on systems which cannot display
widescreen resolutions, everything is pretty distorted.
My guess is that, since this is a newer monitor, it's not going to support
sync-on-green. I'd still be tempted to get one, simply because I've grown
to dislike widescreen for productivity uses (they are great for
entertainment). However, at over $1k, it'd definitely have to support my
retro gear to make it worth it. Now that I look, it says it only supports
displayport and dual-link DVI. That means I'd need a scan converter to use
it with older gear. Ugh. Well, anyone go down this road already?
-Swift
Some links to this beastie:
http://www.eizo.com/products/flexscan/ev2730q/http://www.amazon.com/FlexScan-EV2730QFX-Monitor-1920x1920-EV2730QFX-BK/dp/…http://www.colorhq.com/Eizo-FlexScan-EV2730Q-26-5-LCD-Monitor-p/ev2730qfx-b…
>
>
> I would love to see a specialized vintage bazaar where you can find what
> you
> want at a reasonable price from trusted sources but the reality is that
> will
> never happen in e-commerce. For better and worse eBay has spoiled us and
> created certain expectation. The only way we could ever have a decent
> vintage exchange would be to have a swap meet which is of course its own
> logical nightmare (not to mention the massive over head costs).
>
>
>
I would probably be interested. since I am going on 70 I have come to
realize that I need to part with some of my collection.
However in the above paragraph I think there is a great suggestion.
Host a virtual swap meet.
Interested people could have a table to fill. Set a time limit, like a week
for the sale. I think a weekend is too short for virtual people. Let the
vendors do the pricing and selling. Collect a fee for the table to cover
the overhead. Social media could spread the URL of the sale. People could
check in at their leisure.
Like any other swap meet we would soon know who sells high, who sells
bargains (and you have to get there earlier in the week), who is not
reliable, etc.. Some sort of moderated feedback system would be a good
idea.
I think a time limit like a swap meet a good idea. It allows for
transactions to be completed and not overwhelm the seller. Everyone will
have to calculate their own shipping, just like we do now. Shipping weight
with the description would be handy. And the vendor should set clear
shipping rules for his table
This method would keep the host out of the transaction and eliminate the
need for a shopping cart. The Host could hold one every 3 months to cover
expenses. We would soon know if it is a viable idea. And this route
shouldn't cost as much.
Vendors could sell one collectable to those of us that used to provide
parts and would have multiple tables full. I think there should be a limit
to how much fits on a table (or in a table space) just for control of
bandwidth and give a way for the host to cover expenses.
Just brainstorming here... I used to love selling at Ham and Computer swap
meets.
The internet allows for virtual communities. Why can't it allow for a
virtual swap meet.
Paxton
--
Paxton Hoag
Astoria, OR
USA
Once in the day I thought Inmos and their transputer family was quite
interesting. I had an idea of doing som sort of project. But of course
there were no real time to be found to do anything (not sure if this has
changed today).
While browsing for something else I found someone at Ebay in Germany
selling T400 in 68 pin PLCC.
http://www.ebay.de/itm/131355196522
Are there tools (Occam etc) around to do anything with these today?
/Mattis
Mark,
corrosion problems are very common on the HP-41. To discuss the HP-41
calculator, repairs, accessories most of the community knowledge may be
found in the discussion forums at
http://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-6266.html
and more documentation also at
http://www.hp41.org/Intro.cfm
Have fun and many happy BEEPs
Martin
> Message: 14
> Date: Sat, 14 May 2016 22:34:48 -0700
> From: "Mark J. Blair" <nf6x at nf6x.net>
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
> <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: HP41C Peripherals and Accessories?
> Message-ID: <BED43321-97E6-4589-A172-48BEF22199D5 at nf6x.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> I just became the happy new owner of a nice old HP 41C calculator with a
> matching barcode wand. I haven't powered it up yet, as there's lots of
battery
> compartment corrosion. I'm looking into getting one of the replacement
flex
> circuit assemblies that have been made for it. I was quite curious about
the 41C
> when I saw them in magazines, but I had never touched one before. My first
HP
> calculator was a 28S, and I finally upgraded to a 48GX a couple of years
ago. I
> think this 41C will be a fun addition to my collection once I get the
battery
> compartment fixed up and get it running.
>
> If anybody has any interesting HP 41C peripherals or accessories available
for
> trade, let's talk! eBay and I don't talk any more, so I need to find my
new toys
> the old fashioned way.
>
> --
> Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
> http://www.nf6x.net/
I am clearing out stuff that I will probably never get around to restoring.
All complete and in good cosmetic condition except as noted.
Assume that they all need repairs.
HP 9810A with options 001, 003, 004 and Mathematics and Printer Alpha ROMs - small chunk broken off corner of front top cover
HP 9820A with option 001 and Mathematics ROM
Another HP 9820A with option 001 - very small chip broken off corner of front top cover
I also have a spare card cage with backplane and four boards.
Open to offers.. Local pickup only, from Brisbane Australia.
Chris
Hi Cory,
For the past several months, from abebooks I have been collecting every analog computer book I could find. I have:
Basics of Analog Computers, T. D. Truit and A. E. Rogers
High Speed Analog Computers, Rajkio Tomovic and Walter Karplus
Electronic Analog Computer Primer, James E Stice and Bernet S. Swanson
Introduction to Analog Computer Programming, Dale I. Rummer
Analog Computation, Albert S. Jackson
Electronic Analog Computers, Granino A. Korn, Theresa M. Korn
Analog and digital Computer Methods in Engineering Analysis, James Smith, M. L. James, J. C. Wolford
>From scouring the web, I picked up several PDFs:
Heathkit EC-1 operation manual
Basic Analog Computer techniques, Stewart and Atkinson
Construction article Practical Electronics 1978
The History of Analog Computing, Kent Lundberg
I am planning to build a machine. I have purchase 20 or so Analog Devices multipliers, and have the rest of the stuff already here and coming together. I will probably do this in the form of an analog synth, Eurorack style modules, but welcome your ideas. I have all the schematic capture and PCB tools to apply to this effort also.
I welcome some collaboration on this, and I have free for shipping High Speed Analog computers and Analog Electronic Computer Primer for the first volunteer, as in my haste I bought duplicates of these two books.
Randy Dawson
KF7CJW
________________________________________
From: COURYHOUSE--- via Sbms <sbms at lists.altadena.net>
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2016 10:37 PM
To: glenn.d at ca.rr.com; sbms at ham-radio.com
Cc: 50mhzandup at lists.altadena.net; sccc at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Sbms] MW stuff for Sale
noticed the syston donner gear... I am looking for a syston donner analog
computer and parts and books...
drop me a line off list if anyone has one.
thanks Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC _www.smecc.org_
(http://www.smecc.org)
In a message dated 5/16/2016 6:37:11 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,
glenn.d at ca.rr.com writes:
Everything is in good working order I just have not had time to use this
test gear with work and family commitments.
HP 8620A Sweep Oscillator 2 to 16ghz. I used it mostly as a frequency
source
for tuning 5 and 10 ghz filters.
It does not have all the plastic inserts for the frequency display. I used
a
counter as the slide rule type display was not that good.
$250
I have a second HP 8620 with all the display inserts and an extra module
for
below 2 GHz $350
Systron Donner Model 751 Spectrum Analyzer $300 useable to 10GHz
PCom 24GHz dish, about 24 inches, This is one the "LandMine Module" snapped
onto the back. $50.
I will be on 10 and 24 for the summer contests.
Dave N6TEB DM03ww (Downey)
N6teb at arrl.net
_______________________________________________
Sbms mailing list
Sbms at lists.altadena.nethttps://lists.altadena.net/mailman/listinfo/sbms
_______________________________________________
Sbms mailing list
Sbms at lists.altadena.nethttps://lists.altadena.net/mailman/listinfo/sbms
Does anyone on here do much with old Apple gear?
Anyone have a PowerBook Duo 280 or 280c?
I'm looking for a Disk Tools disk image for System 7.1.1 for my 280c. Seems the Disk Tools disks were pretty heavily customized to squeeze everything required onto a single 1.44MB floppy. There are few images of Disk Tools disks for several different Mac families floating around the web, but I can't seem to find one for the Duo 280c. Any help is much appreciated!!
Thanks in advance!
-Ben
I don't normally look at 5150's on eBay, but this one popped up in one of the ad tiles, and it caught my eye because I've never seen one that wasn't the standard beige.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IBM-5150-Personal-Computer-WORKING-plus-acc…
At first glance, it doesn't appear to be hand painted. Anyone on here know about such things? Were other colors available?
Thanks!
-Ben
Hi all --
A year or so ago I picked up a VAXStation 3520 (a dual-processor machine),
which I eventually upgraded to a 3540 (quad processor). Then I heard rumor
it was possible to get it up to 6 processors, a configuration that was
never produced or supported by DEC. I can confirm that 6 processors do
work properly. As do 8 processors, for that matter...
I believe that if I remove the graphics option, I can get it up to 10
processors, at which point I'm out of MBUS slots, thus hitting the maximum
possible. I just kinda want to see it work. I'm still looking for
something "useful" to do with 10 processors on VMS; it's a shame there was
never a distributed.net client for VAX VMS :).
I'm having trouble tracking down one more L2001 processor board. Anyone
have one lying around they'd like to donate to a very stupid cause?
Thanks,
Josh
(here's the output from the VAX 3580's startup with 8 processors:
KA60 V1.2
F..E..D..C..B..A..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1..0
5 01010004 L2003 4 ? V1.3
1 SSC 00000001
2 DZ 00031200 ?
3 NI 19210770 ?
4 SCSI 00000901
5 SYS 00000001
Tests completed.
00-E1,P1
03-E1,P1
08-E1,P1
0B-E1,P1
0C-E1,P1
0F-E1,P1
10-E1,P1
13-E1,P1
00
CPU00 >>>
Hi all --
Got me an early MIPS workstation, an RC2030. I'm trying to track down a
keyboard and mouse for it. The keyboard connector uses an 8-pin DIN
connector. Anyone have any leads? (Or know what the pinouts and
protocol might be?)
Thanks,
Josh
> From Ed Groenenberg
> - insert both CPU cards, KY11-LB card & bootstrap card, 5 full grant
> cards, DL11-W and bus terminator card.
> ...
> - cntrl + boot shows register dump at printer.
> ...
> All looks ok
I'm surprised the bootstrap ran OK with no memory at all in the machine. I
vaguely STR that I had a machine that would not work like that, but maybe I'm
wrong. (DEC bootstaps tend to do things like set the NXM vector, in low
memory, so they can size memory; and when it gets the NXM (since there is no
memory) from trying to touch the NXM vector, and tries to push the old PS and
PC to service _that_, and gets _another_ NXM, that 'double bus fault' often
causes many -11 processors to do a cheap suit)
> power down machine, add memory (M7981, 128KW)
What's an M7981? Did you mean an M7891 MS11-L?
> - power up machine -> run light is on, does not get cleared by
> cntrl + halt.
This is where a UA11 would really help. I had similar issues with an -11/04,
and the UA11 was a huge help in figuring out what's going on. One glance and
you can see if a bus line is wedged, or something.
> - power down & replace memory with grand card -> run light is off.
Well, that's good sign - the memory card didn't fry anything, at least...
> - tried a 2nd memory card (M8722, 128KW)
Ooops. The MS11-M needs +/-12V, which is _not_ standard in most
machines/backplanes). The EUB in the 11/24 and 11/44 (which this card is
intended for) does have it. The really bad part is that those same pins
usually carry +/-15V in most MUD backplanes. So hopefully you didn't fry it.
It does have standard UNIBUS as well as EUB, but there's a jumper, IIRC.
> So what could be the problem here? The bus works without the memory
Two possibilities off the top of my head. i) The first memory card is bad (or
configured incorrectly), or.. ii) The M7891 uses +/-15V as well as +5V? So
maybe one of the other voltages is not so good? But you said the console
worked, and I think that uses other voltages (at least, in EIA mode - not
sure about 20mA, I never touch the stuff).
Noel
I know this is a long shot, but these have been on my list for a while.
I am located in Seattle but am not opposed to arranging freight or local
pick-up.
Would like to purchase but would also consider trades.
Thanks,
- Ian
--
Ian Finder
(206) 395-MIPS
ian.finder at gmail.com
I got tired of it being a royal pain in the ass to get fancy text
(defined as anything other than the Eagle CAD built-in vector font) on
the silkscreen of my boards. I wrote a Python 3 program (requiring
cairocffi) to generate an Eagle CAD library file containing "devices"
and "packages" of rasterized text, for use on silkscreen (or any other
layer you choose).
https://github.com/brouhaha/eagletext
Requires Python 3, cairocffi
Only tested on Fedora 23 x86_64 with Python 3.4.3, cairocffi 0.6, cffi
1.4.2, cairo 1.14.2
It will probably work on other reasonably recent Linux distributions.
I haven't the slightest idea how to get it working on Windows or
MacOS, though if cairocffi is available it may work.
I also can't tell you, even on Linux, what arguments you can use with
the "--font" option, other than that it has to be something the cairo
library understands.
Hi
I have some time scheduled to work on the PDP-12 at Update. It's
uncertain if the machine works at the moment, it has had some
intermittent problems, but if it does or we can get it working I would
like to get Space Wars running on the thing.
I have found source for a few versions for PDP-8 with LAB-8/e and for PDP-12:
http://www.chdickman.com/pdp8/spacewar/http://www.rcsri.org/collection/pdp-12/
I'm not sure if any of the PDP-8 versions will run without porting and
I'm not even sure which assembler to use for the PDP-12 versions.
So, I'm hoping someone reading this has somewhat fresh memory of what is
needed to build and run space wars on a PDP-12.
Perhaps someone even has an assembled version.
We have LAP6-DIAL and means to transfer files to the PDP-12 over the
serial interface.
/P
I am considering getting a multi-vendor marketplace setup. Right now I am
looking for interested people who want to sell a few (or a lot) of vintage
computer items and peripherals, like keyboards. The focus would be on
vintage, although if you have some current things, those would be allowed
too. I want to enable people from all over the world to list their items and
collect payment without all the hassles of setting up an ecommerce site, and
without the huge fees of eBay. Each seller would set their own shipping
rates and countries they will ship to. Payments would go to the seller. The
startup cost for this is about $1600, which I can pay, but in return for
setting everything up and arranging the hosting, etc,. I would ask a small
percentage (maybe 5%) to help defray the costs.
This is the package I am looking at
<http://www.ixxocart.com/ixxo-multi-vendor>
http://www.ixxocart.com/ixxo-multi-vendor.
Please let me know your thoughts.
The objective is to have one central place where people all over the world
can offer others their surplus gear. This is NOT designed to be a
marketplace for current items.
Cindy Croxton
Electronics Plus
500 Pershing Ave.
Kerrville, TX 78028
830-370-3239 cell
sales at elecplus.com
AOL IM elcpls
AEK recently uploaded this to Bitsavers (thanks Al!):
http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/bits/Softech/Macintosh_UCSD_Pascal.zip
It was a surprise to re-learn of the port of UCSD p-System done for
compact Macintosh. The diskettes were labelled:
Softech Microsystems
MacAdvantage UCSD Pascal
UCSD Pascal 1 : V010.1B <-- diskette 1
UCSD Pascal 2 : V009.1B <-- diskette 2
It is not quite like the usual ports where the p-System ran
stand-alone with its unique look-and-feel; this Macintosh port uses
the System/Finder to host Applications that appear to mirror the
functionality of the integrated programs from the p-System, so the
editor is Editor, Pascal compiler is Compiler and so on. however, the
Editor has Bill Duvall from Consulair Corporation in the About box.
Bill/Consulair would later release the Lightspeed Pascal / C compilers
(that were eventually sold to Symantec).
This port dates from late 1984, and is running with System 1.1 and Finder 1.1g
The p-System interpreter is sitting in the Pascal Folder along with a
"Pascal Runtime", I guess similar to the usual p-System BIOS.
Some screenshots here running via the vMac emulator:
https://goo.gl/photos/UFPSru2aeTohQiLQ6
There are several posts on usenet about these early p-Systems ports,
and some commentary about the Duvall Editor:
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/fa.info-mac/JYqRwMNV1Y8/iMYwCb_I3XYJhttps://groups.google.com/d/msg/fa.info-mac/lMjtNcbIkBw/oUwObvvddIwJhttps://groups.google.com/d/msg/fa.info-mac/meJU-ITiDa0/U2dqBWKUK7wJ
Does anyone here know if the front panel key for an E-series 21MX
machine (2109E/2113E) will fit a 2117F machine?
Mike Loewen mloewen at cpumagic.scol.pa.us
Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/