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

by karlm＠blitzen.canberra.edu.au

Hi, I have what could be called a classic machine, a Sun-1 (With a Sun-2 upgrade 68010 board) Now I have 1/2 and 1/4 inch tape drives 2 hard drives loads of tapes/manuals and a SunOS 3.2 boot tape set. This machine was only recently taken out of service after it spend some years converting old 1/2" tapes into a more permanent format. The HDD's are unfortunatly dying and I've only had it booted once, and it booted SunOS 3.2. The problem is the old machine refuses to boot of it's tape drive (an archive QIC-11 drive) typing: > b ar() simply gets ar: 96A0 Error Retensing... ar: 90C8 Error > Network booting is possible, but Sun never released the specs to the "nd" network protocol and I don't have access to another SunOS box to try and work out how ndbootd works. I'd love to get this machine working and up on the net. Any help would be appreciated Karl ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Karl Maftoum Computer Engineering student at the University of Canberra, Australia Email: k.maftoum(a)student.canberra.edu.au

28 years

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Sirius sound

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text Size: 532 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19980726/7d4e8344/at…

28 years

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other things besides floppies...

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< I just got an Amstrad ppc 640, and am starting to realise how much I rea < wish this thing had a hard disk - even a little one. Is there ANY sort < hard disk solution that will plug into a 720k 3.5inch floppy controller < < Ideally it would come out the other end in IDE, and I could put one of t < little 1.8 inch 20 meg IDE drives in the thing. Speed is not a huge con < since this is a 4.77mhz XT class machine. If it has ISA bus either JADE, JAMCO or JDR I forget which, sells an ISA-8 bit to standard IDE adaptor. What makes it nice is it has bios support on it. Acculogic made one too at lone time. Allison

28 years

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Apple ][ file conversion

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

All direct cable connection software is capable of using the parallel port to transfer files. >No. If however you tie the SERIAL port of your apple to the serial port of >your pc, that will work. Centronics is an 8 bit parallel interface normally >used for printers. Null modems and such are serial - 1 bit at a time. >The two are not compatible without significant electronics between them. >-- >Jim Strickland >jim(a)calico.litterbox.com >----------------------------------------------------------------------- >Vote Meadocrat! Bill and Opus in 2000 - Who ELSE is there? >----------------------------------------------------------------------- > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

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Rescued: Heath H89

by jeff.kaneko＠ifrsys.com

At 01:47 AM 7/24/98 -0500, you wrote: >> >> I almost forgot to post about this. I recently acquired a complete >> Heathkit H89 system, with dual floppies and a small printer (OkiData >> Microline 82, serial), all in excellent condition. >> >> I got with it a bunch of manuals and floppies, among them CP/M boot >> diskettes. As I recall, this is a Z80-based system, yes? Is it possible to > >It's roughly the same thing as a Zenith Z90. I have the manual here (it >claims to be a user manual, but it contains schematics, PCB layouts, >theory of operation, etc). It's a Z80-based machine with 48K or 64K RAM, >3 serial ports as standard (+ the one for the built-in Z19 terminal), and >a variety of disk controllers. Keep in mind, these things were in vogue back in the days when the *users* actually *expected* to get the schematics! My how times have changed . . . >> use a hard drive on it? > >I believe there was a hard disk for it. I don't have one, and don't have >any info on it. > >I believe you could use the following disk units : > >Z17 (hard sector 5.25") >Z37 (soft sector 5.25") >Z47 (8") >Z67 (hard disk). The Z-67 is a rare item indeed. I missed one in 1988. That's the last time I ever saw one offered for sale (and it was *just the interface*). I don't know anybody running one of these . . . My Z-89 dosen't run anymore. Too many years of disuse, I guess. Jeff > > > >-tony >

28 years

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Apple ][ file conversion

by kroma＠worldnet.att.net

>All direct cable connection software is capable of using the parallel >port to transfer files. On a PC maybe, but nothing is available for a Apple //. -- Kirk

28 years

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Linux World Domination!

by dastar＠ncal.verio.com

Linux world domination continues! Oracle just announced it will be making versions of its products for Linux. Informix is already shipping Linux versions of their database products too! Yeeee ha! Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ever onward. September 26 & 27...Vintage Computer Festival 2 See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details! [Last web page update: 07/21/98]

28 years

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PL/I References

by mallison＠konnections.com

Hi All: I'm hoping someone might have spare copies of DR PL/I-86 (CPM86) documents (Reference Manual & Programmer's Manual). I have some good IBM docs but I need platform specific. I don't think I need any 3rd part PL/I manuals yet, but if anyone has some and would like to email the list to me, I'll certainly browse with intent to buy. I'm willing to pay a reasonable proce plus shipping, of course, for any books. I'm also looking for original PL/I programs for microcomputer platforms if anyone has some collecting dust. Thanks, Mike Allison

28 years

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a whatsits: Grid 1535 EXP

by russmiller＠jps.net

I picked up a Grid wall adapter model 39008, 17VDC 1.25A center +, available for shipping cost if anybody needs it.(Sacramento CA area) I don't know what it fits. Russ At 09:55 AM 7/25/98 -0400, you wrote: >At 11:16 PM 7/23/98 -0500, Doug Yowza wrote: > >>Wow, it sounds like somebody just lost their GRiD-virginity. John H. took >>my 1535EXP, so I have to go from memory. It's a 386DX-33 (in a PGA, so > >Yes, I actually flew across the country, broke into his house, grabbed the >mag-alloy 1535 out of his hands, repeatedly beat him over the head with it, >and took off. Doug, you're lucky to be alive after all that. :) Maybe >that's why I'm having problems with the sucker! > >>you can upgrade it via Cyrix/TI/etc) with up to 8MB RAM (low-profile >>SIPs). I think it wants 16-18V DC, center neg. The empty hole will >>accomidate eithe battery or a power supply with an AC plug. > >Yep, that sounds about right. It uses the same power brick my GRiDPad 1912 >uses. BTW, if anyone needs a keyboard adapter cable for their GRiDPad, let >me know. I have 5 extras. > >>The connector on the bottom of the machine plugs into a docking tray, >>which John H. also took and I think was trying to sell last time I >>checked. (John, are you there?) > >I'd rather trade it to someone who can really use it. Even if it works, I >don't really have a use for it, and the 1535 w/8mb is a very usable machine >even without the tray. > >GRiD 1535 BIOS Date: 1989, slightly under the 10 year mark, but these are >such extrordinary machines! > >- >- john higginbotham ____________________________ >- webmaster www.pntprinting.com - >- limbo limbo.netpath.net - > > >

28 years

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Apple ][ file conversion

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

So, can I access the actual data with a non-CP/M comm program? >It will read Apple CP/M disks, which are in the same format as >regular Apple disks. Its just the layout of the data on the sectors > that is different. Because I was, and currently am, using Netscape which I have access to on Saturdays and Tuesdays. BTW, I will be going away for a while. I'm almost too embarassed to ask this, but what is the listserv adress to unsubscribe? >You seemed to have done a good job with this reply. Keep it up. > > >Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com >------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >Ever onward. > > September 26 & 27...Vintage Computer Festival 2 > See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details! > [Last web page update: 07/21/98] > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

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other things besides floppies...

by jim＠calico.litterbox.com

I just got an Amstrad ppc 640, and am starting to realise how much I really wish this thing had a hard disk - even a little one. Is there ANY sort of hard disk solution that will plug into a 720k 3.5inch floppy controller? Ideally it would come out the other end in IDE, and I could put one of those little 1.8 inch 20 meg IDE drives in the thing. Speed is not a huge concern, since this is a 4.77mhz XT class machine. Also, if anyone has a wrecked ppc 512 or 640 that has a good back case section- the bottom part of the main body that the handle is screwed to (and the handle) I'd be very interested in buying it. Mine appears to have gotten squooshed in shipping and had the handle torn off, and I'm lothe to trust epoxied plastic to hold a 14+ pound computer. -- Jim Strickland jim(a)calico.litterbox.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Vote Meadocrat! Bill and Opus in 2000 - Who ELSE is there? -----------------------------------------------------------------------

28 years

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Boards for grabs, update

by william＠ans.net

Well, it is apparent that lots of people would like those HP150 boards I have. So... How about the interested people submitting bids for the things? Make the bids as silly and insulting as you want, just remember, buyer pays shipping (probably three bucks)! William Donzelli william(a)ans.net

28 years

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Moog (on topic, too...)

by jpl15＠netcom.com

Weelll, I can't lurk on this one. Zane, is your record from Norlin Company? If so, it is the (quite rare) demo record that Norlin put out when they bought Moog music >from Bob (Moog). I have archived several of these demos, Moog and ARP and Oberhiem. Be careful if you play it, they weren't on the best vinyl. Zane and Bruce: The Moog Modular Synths were just that... a collection of modules of various kinds that one ordered to assemble a complete system... kinda like DEC stuff. There were standard configs available, but you could add-on, mix-match, whatever. The particular instrument I am priveleged to share my studio with is a Model 55 IIIC+ , and was owned by the late Paul Beaver, who used it to make most of the strange sound effects for a small, obscure movie in the late 70s called "Star Wars" or something like that. More detail on them can be found by doing a websearch on "musical instruments, electronic, Moog"... or one can got to www.synthfool.com for a good set of links. ObCLASSICCMP: One of my intentions for at least one of my PDP11 systems is to interface it to my Moog, and obtain an old copy of Csound or the like.. to recreate an exact environment from the 'childhood' of electronic music. My collection and studio: www.lightsound.org. The site needs updating, but you can see the specs for several classic synththesizers. Cheers John ps: Kennedy 9300 parts / svc manual wanted... Enquire Within.

28 years

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Cleaning circuits

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

A few questions about clean(ing) circuits: a)Can dust cause any damage to a PCB? Can it short anything? b)What do you recommend for cleaning out PCBs if there's lot of it, or spiderwebs, mold whatever? c)Does distilled water cause rust? d)Can distilled water be used to clean circuits? e)As I understand, tap/spring/rain/etc. water is full of minerals and that's why it's conductive as well as rust-causing f)A while ago, I picked up a bunch of 5.25" diskettes, which I hardly allowed to dry before I put them into the plastic box. Now I looked inside, and mold is spreading from the Microsoft Assembler diskettes onto the Apple II ones. What is safe to use to clean the mold (it's reeely disgusting!)? ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

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S-100 bus termination

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< The first S-100 computers did not come with any termination but they < soon found that the long bus lines were causing ringing and false < triggering in the circuits. Ringing is caused when a signal reaches the < of an unterminated (open) line such as a data buss.* The signal reverse < polarity and travels back in the direction that it came from just like a < echo. When it reaches another end, it changes polarity and direction aga < Now you have two positive pulses and one negative pulse where there is o < supposed to be one pulse! Consider the number of times that each line < branched off to a card socket and you can understand that now there wher < dozen or more echos on every line and they were all at different times. < It's no wonder that the systems where so difficult to make work with al < the noise on the buss. This is true. All signals on the bus and off it obey Transmission line theory. IT's also the one of the reasons why the T-connector for thin eithernet must be on the back of the machine and not a 3ft jumper away. One of the design rules that ALtair bused the worst and IMSAI seemed to have a clue on was what are clalled stubs. What this translates to is anything going onto and off of the backplane(bus) MUST be buffered as close to the edge connector as possible. < board. I believe that the later S-100 systems like the N* Horizon came w < termination built into the MB. The ringing problem in the early Altair No it didn't and doesn't need it. They approached it a bit different by making one end of the bus a permanently resident IO section with seria, parallel and heartbeat interrupt. Their choice of drivers and recievers helped some too. Obeying stub theory was another step taken. It is good enough that even at 8mhz z80 it works. < was made worse by use of the long wires that ran from the MB to the fron < panel. Better designs eliminated a lot the sources of the ringing. FW that was the horror I saw when I built my altair back when. As an RF/analog engineer I could see that making my day pure hell. It proved to be true. The solution was a small board that plugged in and buffered all the signals to and from the front pannel. < this is EXACTLY the reason that you still have to terminate SCSI busses < disk drive cabling. There is still an ongoing debate in the SCSI communi < about the nessecity/benefits of active vs passive termination. SCSI is an open collector bus so you need both termination (any) and it must pull up unused lines or it don't work. This is also true for DEC Omnibus, Unibus and Qbusses. One of the long standing problems with bus terminations is that they absorb power. This required stiffer drivers at the source and since stiffer drivers matched the bus impedence even worse it tended to make problem grow rather than solve it. it also consumes power contributing heat to the box. S100 bus was one of those we made it that way but, no one ever would have engineered it that way. All of the engineered buses are terminated in some way or designed to perform without the need for it. Allison

28 years

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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

>Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 00:23:07 +0100 (BST) So, can a standard XT controller be used for 8" drives? > >For reading 8" disks, of course. My PC/XT on the desk here has 2 each of >360K 5.25" drives, 720K 3.5" drives and 1.1Mbyte 8" drives (double sided, >double density, 77 track). Pity the controller I've got has problems with >single-density operation. I really must fix that sometime, but it's not >urgent, as my PERQ has a much nicer floppy system... For once, I used the correct terminology :) Compared to SCSI, all IDE controllers and most non-IDE/SCSI MFM drives require very little configuration. That's what I meant. >What? ST506 drives (I assume that's what you mean - MFM is an encoding >system, not a controller interface) have drive select jumpers at least. >And often other ones. > >And the original IBM XT hard disk controller (later version only?) has a >set of jumpers to select the drive type. I believe you can solder a DIP >switch in place of them if you want. > So does this mean 1.2MB floppies use a lower bps than 360K disks? Which controllers were these? I ought to watch out. >I've seen some controllers that can't correctly handle the 300kbps data >rate (produced by putting a 360K disk in a 1.2Mbyte drive turning at >360rpm). Of course the so-called manuals don't mention this anywhere, but >it was obvious from a logic analyser on the Write Data pin during >formatting that it was actually using 250kbps. > Where can the connectors be gotten cheaply? I've seen them for a couple of bucks each. I really ought to perform some maintenance. Is there anything I need to know, or can I just snap those connectors on and trim the cable? >That problem is trivial to solve if you can crimp IDC connectors. Why do >people persist in refusing to modify PC parts - even cables? > >-tony > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

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Epson QX-10, CP/M

by cgregory＠lrbcg.com

-----Original Message----- From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> To: Cgregory <Cgregory> Date: Friday, July 24, 1998 5:56 PM Subject: Re: Epson QX-10, CP/M <snip> I have a complete (I think) set of manuals for the QX-10, so I will offer to be a source for looking up material and/or copying parts/pages. >> I'm obviously a neophyte at CP/M and wrestling at this time with a Dec RB >> which is even more confusing cause it also runs MSDOS. > >The Rainbow is a unique case because of its dual processors. > In addition I have QX-10's big brother, the QX-16 which is also a dual processor machine. Kind of neat being able to boot into either MSDOS or C/PM. Cliff Gregory cgregory(a)lrbcg.com

28 years

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Apple ][ file conversion

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

>Yes with any current printer just like a PC, though the connector may >be different. What I mean is, can I transfer files to a PC via the Centronics interface? Can I 'print' a file in wordstar with the other end of the cable plugged into a null modem? >Sure! Will an apple //c read CP/M disks? How? I can't use an editor because it would take me forever to cut and paste the lines between them. You don't realize how limiting the situation really is. The library never intended this to be used for e-mail. Right now I'm using Netscape 4 on a T1 connection at a place where I volunteer. >Max, get an editor. Either that or don't use LYNX for mail, try elm >or pine. > >Allison > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

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IBM Power supplies FS (5140?)

by tomowad＠earthlink.net

>If >you look on the back of the power supply itself you will see IBM's >declaration that it should be only used with model 5140 (in several >languages!). Yes, there it is. "CAUTION! Indoor use only. To be used only with IBM MOdel 5140." It never occured to me there would actually be some valuable information in the disclaimer! Tom -- Sysop of Caesarville Online Client software at: <http://home.earthlink.net/~tomowad/>

28 years

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<10 yr question here - 1.8" form factor HDD?

by peacock＠simconv.com

< 3/4 of an inch to small to even fit a 2.5" drive. I vaguely recall < seeing something about 1.8" drives? Am I hallucinating here or does suc < a creature exist? Even smaller...HP made a 1.3" disk drive, Hawkeye ???, I think it was either 20MB or 40MB capacity. The components were so small you needed watchmaker tools to take the drive apart. Jack Peacock

28 years

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Apple Prototype Keyboard

by tomowad＠earthlink.net

I just acquired two Apple prototype keyboards. The keyboard is very small with no frame and only 58 keys. They hvae stereo-type connectors on them, as oppose to ADB, and I have an adapter box to hook them up to a Mac Plus (and they do work, btw). According to my "AppleDesign" book, they are "Cassie" keyboards, co-designed by Mannock and Esslinger for the SnowWhite Project. Does anyone have any further information on these keyboards? And how do things like this get outside of Apple? I'm under the impression Apple doesn't exactly give this kind of stuff away. On the back the keyboards read: [logo]apple apq Development Engineering PROTOTYPE S/n# Model# 1012 (the other says "1032") Does Apple start numbering at '1' or '1000'? The keyboard, btw, is obviously a prototype. The whole thing seems quite flimsy and the keys are all angled slightly differently. Tom -- Sysop of Caesarville Online Client software at: <http://home.earthlink.net/~tomowad/>

28 years

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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

It's mostly a problem if there isn't documentation at the place where the machine is. I've never run into a machine that is really beyond my experience (my experience so far is PCs and BASIC-based home micros), but if I ever had to deal with a PDP, I'd have to spend a lot of time asking questions here and otherwise. Not that I foresee it. PDP will eventually vanish from industrial applications, just because they will all eventually be damaged by floods, fires, etc. And companies go bankrupt, too. I doubt that by the time I am 50 I will run a reasonable risk of seeing a PDP. Also, I don't know how to _program_ a PC. I know a bit of BASIC (who doesn't?), enough to write a simple text editor or something. I'm learning C but am stuck with pointers. I'm going to take C++ at school starting in the fall. I've tried assembly, and do notice that it's more straightforward than higher-level languages (I.E. there are no ambiguous concepts like in C, it's all called what it really is), but am not much good with things mathematical. Maybe I'll learn. >How is this a problem? You learned how to run a PC, programming a >PDP-8 is at least an order of magnitude simpler. How many instructions? I believe the Pentium has on the order of 80, not sure. >Seriously, the instruction set and archetecture is so simple it's >downright inviting. They weren't networked at all? I mean, there weren't instances of connecting two machines with cables? >The old machines didn't have to be huge, complex or networked. >Allison ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

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FW: FREE VAX to good home

by kyrrin＠jps.net

Found on Usenet. If anyone wants an 11/750, this looks like a good grab. It's in Tulsa, OK. -=-=- <snip> -=-=- On 25 Jul 98 14:48:09 CDT, in comp.sys.dec you wrote: >>From: jps(a)lor.jrent.com (Jim Strother) >>Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec >>Subject: Free VAX to good home >>Message-ID: <1998Jul25.144809@lor> >>Date: 25 Jul 98 14:48:09 CDT >>Organization: Lors Gateway >>Lines: 11 >>NNTP-Posting-Host: 208.145.236.90 >>X-Trace: 25 Jul 1998 19:38:51 GMT, 208.145.236.90 >>Path: blushng.jps.net!news.eli.net!diablo.quiknet.com!csn!nntp-xfer-2.csn.net!news.psd.k12.co.us!newsfeed.frii.net!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!newsfeed.internetmci.com!206.154.138.15!news.busprod.com!lor!jps >> >>I have the following free to a good home. >> >>Vax 11/750 >>expansion cabinet >>2 ra81 disk drives >>1 tu78 9 track tape drive >> >>All you have to do is come get or send someone after it. I am located in >>Tulsa, OK. >> >>Jim Strother -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave (Fido 1:343/272) http://table.jps.net/~kyrrin -- also kyrrin [A-t] Jps {D=o=t} Net Spam is bad. Spam is theft of service. Spam wastes resources. Don't spam, period. I am a WASHINGTON STATE resident. Spam charged $500.00 per incident per Chapter 19 RCW.

28 years

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FW: More stuff for sale

by kyrrin＠jps.net

At 14:09 25-07-98 -0400, you wrote: >He Bruce, > >What do you figure, does he have a real address? the venix manuals would >be nice if he exists. Ahhh, criminys... sorry, Allison (and the rest of the list). I didn't check to see if he had a real E-mail address. I would try posting a query to the comp.sys.dec.micro. Chances are the person will see it. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272) (Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin(a)jps.net) "Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."

28 years

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<10 yr question here - 1.8" form factor HDD?

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< are there hard drives for laptops that are smaller than the 2.5" < drives? I have a laptop that takes an IDE hdd, but the space is about Yes, 1.8" < 3/4 of an inch to small to even fit a 2.5" drive. I vaguely recall < seeing something about 1.8" drives? Am I hallucinating here or does suc < a creature exist? there are hard drive PCMCIA cards the sixe of credit card and something like 1/4" thick. I vaguely remember storage in the 100-200 mb range. Allison

28 years

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S-100 bus termination

by ddameron＠earthlink.net

At 07:26 PM 7/24/98 -0500, you wrote: >I was digging through some S-100 cards and came upon a Godbout active >terminator. Do all S-100 buses require external termination, or did more >have it built into the mobo? Specifically, do I need to stick this card >into my IMSAI? > I don't remember many ads besides Godbout about active terminators. What seemed more important was shielding - running ground traces between the signal lines, at least for all the ads for "shielded" motherboards. Maybe a few of the lines would be helped by terminations. It was these where 1k pullup resistors wouls be put on cards. 8 cards with 1k resistors would be 125 Ohms, distributed. Terminations of longer ribbon cables seemed more important. I remember early floppy drives with a dip resistor pack (220/330 Ohms?) that you put on the last or only drive. Whatever happened to this? A few years ago I bought a 1.44 floppy drive and asked about terminations (Did it require or have them? Controlled by a jumper?) The tech support people looked at me like I was >from Mars. Doesn't scsi use terminators? Try your S-100 both ways, and see if it helps or hurts. -Dave

28 years

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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by mbg＠world.std.com

>It's mostly a problem if there isn't documentation at the place where >the machine is. I've never run into a machine that is really beyond my >experience (my experience so far is PCs and BASIC-based home micros), >but if I ever had to deal with a PDP, I'd have to spend a lot of time >asking questions here and otherwise. Not that I foresee it. PDP will >eventually vanish from industrial applications, just because they will >all eventually be damaged by floods, fires, etc. And companies go >bankrupt, too. I doubt that by the time I am 50 I will run a reasonable >risk of seeing a PDP. Also, I don't know how to _program_ a PC. I know a If people like Allison, Tim.Shoppa, John.Wilson, myself and others have our way, they won't disappear... I have some 16+ -11s of various types at home (check the home_systems page off my web page) >bit of BASIC (who doesn't?), enough to write a simple text editor or >something. I'm learning C but am stuck with pointers. I'm going to take >C++ at school starting in the fall. I've tried assembly, and do notice >that it's more straightforward than higher-level languages (I.E. there >are no ambiguous concepts like in C, it's all called what it really is), >but am not much good with things mathematical. Maybe I'll learn. With older assemblers, it was pretty straightforward. Nowever, with RISC machines which have pipelines and 'hints' and branch delays, etc. assembly is a little more difficult. Plus, where the -11 has an instruction set where you can MOV from memory to memory, memory to register, register to memory and register to register, the RISC machines generally forego memory to memory and, like the -8 before them, require you to move things through a register first... >How many instructions [on the -8]? I believe the Pentium has on the >order of 80, not sure. The -8 had 8 general purpose instructions, but it also had things called operate microinstructions, in groups, which did multiple things depending on which bits of the instruction were set. So, for example, you could clear the AC (CLA) and in a separate instruction OR the contents of the switch register with the AC (OSR), or you could combine the two operations into one instructions (since there were members of the same microinstruction group). There were also the instructions for the various devices, but they were pretty much similar in actions, but with different device numbers encoded in them. Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry zk3.dec.com | | Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg world.std.com | | Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of ' ' | | 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

28 years

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IBM Power supplies FS (5140?)

by mbg＠world.std.com

I would also be interested in the 5140 power supply... maybe a couple of spares... Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry zk3.dec.com | | Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg world.std.com | | Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of ' ' | | 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

28 years

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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< I meant, which controllers can't correctly read 360K floppies? None that I know of... it's the 1.2mb and 1.44 cases that can be problematic(and system dependent). Allison

28 years

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S-100 bus termination

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< I was digging through some S-100 cards and came upon a Godbout active < terminator. Do all S-100 buses require external termination, or did mor No but some would ring so bad that was a solution. In most cases it was a help. < have it built into the mobo? MOBO, mobo, nogo. AH, motherboard! No they are called backplanes dear. <Specifically, do I need to stick this card into my IMSAI? If it works as is reliably, maybe not. Some z80 boards really needed it. Allison --KAA15878.901377905/europe.std.com--

28 years

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ID cute HP terminal

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net> wrote (after John Rollins): > >Picked up a nice little HP Series 100 Model 120 45600A and a few hundred > You were lucky! Most people got stuck with a chicklet keyboard on those. > You still see ads occasionally for people looking for standard keyboards. "Chicklet" keyboard? What I've seen are two sizes of keyboard: one not much wider than the terminal housing that has the QWERTY key cluster with some function keys at the top and some compressed and doubled-up keys, and one wide keyboard with the numeric keypad off to the right. The narrow keyboard is a bit of a pain to work with because of the compromises made w/r/t key placement (e.g. the return key is relatively small), but it's usable and has full-travel keys just like the wide one. -Frank McConnell

28 years

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S-100 bus termination

by jimw＠agora.rdrop.com

At 07:26 PM 7/24/98 -0500, you wrote: >I was digging through some S-100 cards and came upon a Godbout active >terminator. Do all S-100 buses require external termination, or did more >have it built into the mobo? Originally, the Altair (S-100) bus did not define a need for termination of any kind. It was not until things on the bus started to speed up (using DMA and such) that anyone apparently thought about it. A number of companies started to put out terminator cards (active and passive) that just plugged in, and later some manufacturers (Gotbout being a notable example) began to incorporate (active) termination into their backplane boards. >Specifically, do I need to stick this card into my IMSAI? Can't hurt. I will say however, I do seem to recall seeing a board or two that would not run on a terminated bus, but that has been so long that I don't evem recall what it was. A note tho: if it is an active terminator, check the regulator voltages and filter caps on the board with no other boards in the machine. A bad terminator can introduce many more problems that it will solve. -jim --- jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174

28 years

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Apple ][ file conversion

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Jul 24, 15:50, Max Eskin wrote: > Subject: Re: Apple ][ file conversion > Can I make use of the Centronics interface? Not really. > What type of 'serial car' do you recommend? Can I use my Apple // > w/serial port but w/o CP/M? I was economising on letter 'd's :-) You can use any serial card in a ][ or the serial port on the //, with Kermit. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

28 years

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Back

by jim＠calico.litterbox.com

I'm back, having had a good sulk over whatever it was I left over - darned if I remember. :) I'm still doing apple2GSs, but I've expanded my collection of old machines to include an apple2e - enhanced (ordered the roms from Alltech), and just today an Amstrad ppc 640 portable, something I've wanted ever since they were on clearance at Underwear Computers (mostly a Commodore dealer at the time) for 200 bucks. The handle's broken off, but the computer functions, and runs all the dos software I've thrown at it so far. So hello again to the list. It's good to be back. -- Jim Strickland jim(a)calico.litterbox.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Vote Meadocrat! Bill and Opus in 2000 - Who ELSE is there? -----------------------------------------------------------------------

28 years

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Apple ][ file conversion

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< What I mean is, can I transfer files to a PC via the Centronics < interface? Can I 'print' a file in wordstar with the other end of the < cable plugged into a null modem? No/yes. No you can't as there is no software for that and I believe the apple parallel was definatly outgoing only. Work great for printing and that was what I thought you referred to. the apple][ had the problem of all disks are foreign if they weren't created on an apple regardless of the OS used. Allison

28 years

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Boards for grabs

by fmc＠reanimators.org

"Max Eskin" <maxeskin(a)hotmail.com> wrote: > What kind of boards? Was it single-board or backplane or what? > Also, what are the key differences between Hp and PC? Why not start with the key similarities, it's a shorter list. They both had 8088s and ran MS-DOS. OK, there you go. The original HP150 looks like a 9" CRT in a box, with a keyboard attached via coiled cord that goes to the back. Typically there would be an HP-IB disc drive of some sort (probably with a 91xx model number) around, most likely using 3.5" stiffies because HP was an early adopter of the Sony 90mm medium, but even without that the 150 can be used as a terminal (it mostly looks like an HP2623A monochrome graphics terminal). If you look at the back, you'll see two DB25S connectors that are serial ports, an HP-IB connector, a modular phone jack for the keyboard cable, a power switch, a battery holder, and a couple of covered slots for expansion. You might also see a thermal printer mounted in the top. OK, now let's go for some of the differences. The HP150 is not at all compatible with the IBM PC at the hardware or ROM BIOS level. The base system runs the 8088 at 8MHz, which was "faster" than the IBM's 4.77MHz, but on the other hand most applications don't access the display memory directly as on the PC -- instead they either call ROM services directly or behaved as though the console was the aforementioned 2623A terminal, which was being emulated by in-ROM code run by the 8088. So some of that extra speed was used up already. The HP150 is also called the HP Touchscreen, because it has a touch-sensitive screen, implemented as an array of IR emitters and receivers mounted across the screen from each other. You touch something on the screen, and the application gets (if it had asked for same) an escape sequence from the "terminal" indicating what region you touched. I'm thinking that the touchscreen resolution is something like 40x14 (about half the 80x27 character display resolution) but might be wrong on that. Touchscreen trivia: after a while the holes that the IR beams need to pass through get clogged up with dust, and the machine will fail its power-on self test with code F000 (I think, it's been a long time). HP came up with a fix: a little clear plastic shield that sits across the holes in the bottom bezel. Some sharp cookie at HP wrote a couple of TSRs for the 150 that emulated parts of the IBM PC ROM BIOS for video and INT 14H communications, and with these you could get a lot of PC applications to run -- for example, with those I was able to get WordPerfect 4.1 to run and even print to an attached LaserJet. Tony has a later version of the HP150, called either the 150C or the Touchscreen II. It has a 12" display, the touchscreen is optional (not too surprising, it turned out to be not real desirable because people didn't like reaching up to the screen all the time -- they'd rather rest their arms on the desk and use the keyboard and/or I guess a mouse), and better yet the touchscreen IR stuff is hidden behind smooth IR-transparent plastic that doesn't collect dust so well. All in all it arrived just before the users where I worked let it be known that they'd really rather have IBM compatibles so they could at least exchange floppies with people in remote offices. Good thing HP brought out the Vectra about that time, else we might have had to do another maintenance contract with Big Blue or something. -Frank McConnell PS- Hey Max! Trim quoted text!

28 years

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FW: More stuff for sale

by kyrrin＠jps.net

This guy's still got a stack of QBus boards and other stuff. Get with him directly if you're interested. Attachment follows. -=-=- <snip> -=-=- On Thu, 23 Jul 1998 20:40:34 -0700, in comp.sys.dec.micro you wrote: >>From: "SpaceKommander" <plectron(a)waypast.mars> >>Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec.micro >>Subject: More stuff for sale >>Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 20:40:34 -0700 >>Organization: Cottage Software Inc. & Internet Connection >>Lines: 43 >>Message-ID: <901376896.563602(a)linux2.cottagesoft.com> >>NNTP-Posting-Host: 205.240.70.8 >>X-Trace: 901377147 KNIMWA/AC4608CDF0C usenet53.supernews.com >>X-Complaints-To: newsabuse(a)supernews.com >>X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1 >>X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 >>Cache-Post-Path: linux2.cottagesoft.com!unknown(a)31.ict-max.cottagesoft.com >>Path: blushng.jps.net!news.eli.net!news.burgoyne.com!news.eecs.umich.edu!nntprelay.mathworks.com!Supernews60!supernews.com!Supernews69!not-for-mail >> >>Stuff for sale - email me. >>Still have the TK50, cable & controller. >>Full set of VENIX manuals and boxes (5 volumes) >>DECmate word processing options (1 vol) and basics(1 vol) >> >>boards: >> >>2 X G114 >>2 X G235 >>1 X H207 >>2 X H217 >>1 X M225 >>1 X M3104 >>4 X M7168 >>2 X M7169 >>1 X M7231 >>1 X M7233 >>1 X M7234 >>1 X M7235 >>1 X M7236 >>1 X M7238 >>2 X M7555 >>2 X M7606 >>2 X M7607 >>2 X M7608 >>1 X M8012 >>1 X M8027 >>1 X M8186 >>2 X M8637 >>1 X M8639 >>4 X M9047 >>2 X clearpoint Q-RAM 11B with 76 256K chips per board packed in as tight as >>you could put them. >> >>Can't remember which of the above is RQDX3, but they are gone. >> >>Bye, >> >>Tom >> >> >> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave (Fido 1:343/272) http://table.jps.net/~kyrrin -- also kyrrin [A-t] Jps {D=o=t} Net Spam is bad. Spam is theft of service. Spam wastes resources. Don't spam, period. I am a WASHINGTON STATE resident. Spam charged $500.00 per incident per Chapter 19 RCW.

28 years

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Boards for grabs

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

At 12:01 PM 7/24/98 -0400, you wrote: >I have a bunch of boards that I would like to move to a good home, >otherwise I will scrap them out. _ANY_ offers over shipping costs will be >considered. > >Set of boards for an HP150 system! I am not sure what the processor >is Are you kidding! It's an 8088! It runs at 5 MHz MOL just like a PC. Some 150 even had the optional 8087. The 150 was one of those ALMOST IBM PC compatibles. I have at least eight or nine of them and they're all working. Most of them are looking for homes. Hint, hint! (lots of HP house numbers, but I do see an 8041A and 9914A, neither of >which are the main processors). I have a motherboard with an jack for an >RJ45 keyboard, HPIB connector, and two RS232 ports. I also have a board >with lots of 4164 DRAMs, another with RAMs and ROMs, another mystery >board, and a module that says 3278 interface (HP #45641A). The 45641 is an optional 3278 Emulation board. It costs $1200 in the '88 HP catalog. If no one wants the boards, I'll take them for the cost of shipping. Joe > >William Donzelli >william(a)ans.net > > > >

28 years

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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

>< So does this mean 1.2MB floppies use a lower bps than 360K disks? >< Which controllers were these? I ought to watch out. > >no. All of them. I meant, which controllers can't correctly read 360K floppies? > >Allison > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

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Attn: Obsolete Computer Collectors

by Joshu2415＠aol.com

Attention Collectors: I have a NEC MultiSpeed HD laptop. If you are interested, just email. Thanks For Your Time, Matt -- Joshu2415(a)aol.com

28 years

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S-100 bus termination

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< > terminator. Do all S-100 buses require external termination, or did m < Only the motherboards that didn't have active termination require a < terminator. In my experience, that's a fair number of mobo's out there My experience with 4 or 5 crates I have and many I've built up. If it runs well or the bus looks clean to the O'scope skip it. Some busses it's helps but still look terrible (altair with the original backplanes). My Northstar Horizon never needed one and it's currently running at 8mhz. The VectorMX box I have with Compupro backplane needed the terminators installed for 10mhz. The CCS I'm using with discus hard disk and 8" floppy doesn't require it at 4mhz or 6mhz. One thing that seems to be true, the longer the backplane the more likely it will ring and need termination. All Altairs seem to and IMSAIs seem to benefit if the cpu is z80 4mhz. The quietest unterminated or terminated backplane I own is an oddball 6 slot I have that is 4 layer technology with ground and power are on the middle two layers. I've found a few badly designed cpu cards and memory cards that were terrible in that they would introduce noise onto an otherwise quiet bus! Allison

28 years

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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< So, can a standard XT controller be used for 8" drives? No/yes but, it is one that is documented and modifyable. So happens I was with NEC Microelectrnics when they introduced the 765 chip so I sorta have an advantage when it come to floppy interfacing. < For once, I used the correct terminology :) Compared to SCSI, all < IDE controllers and most non-IDE/SCSI MFM drives require very little < configuration. That's what I meant. False truism. They are about the same just differnt. IDE with the limitation of two drives really does limit the variable parameters. MFM with up to 4 drives and two schemes for addressing have to have more. SCSI you have a device address, powerup mode and a few others like termination to select from. < So does this mean 1.2MB floppies use a lower bps than 360K disks? < Which controllers were these? I ought to watch out. no. All of them. Allison

28 years

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IBM Power supplies FS (5140?)

by cgregory＠lrbcg.com

I can confirm that is indeed the part number for a 5140 power supply. If you look on the back of the power supply itself you will see IBM's declaration that it should be only used with model 5140 (in several languages!). I wouldn't mind having a spare myself. I'll contact you directly. Cliff Gregory cgregory(a)lrbcg.com -----Original Message----- From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> To: Cgregory <Cgregory> Date: Friday, July 24, 1998 10:41 PM Subject: IBM Power supplies FS (5140?) > >Hi guys, > I just picked up a bunch of IBM power supplies at auction. The >auctioneer says they're for the 5140, but I don't know how you could tell. > > They're all appear to be brand new and are in the original boxes. The >box is labeled "P/N 2684220", the Power supply "P/N 2684292". Output is >15v, 2.7A. > >Anybody know what they're for? And if anybody wants one, the price is $5 >shipped, each. > >Tom Owad > >-- >Sysop of Caesarville Online >Client software at: <http://home.earthlink.net/~tomowad/> > >

28 years

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IBM Power supplies FS (5140?)

by mbg＠world.std.com

> I just picked up a bunch of IBM power supplies at auction. The >auctioneer says they're for the 5140, but I don't know how you could >tell. The 5140 is the IBM PC Convertible Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry zk3.dec.com | | Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg world.std.com | | Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of ' ' | | 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

28 years

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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Jul 25, 8:08, Pete Turnbull wrote: > Some of those HD drives can be switched between 300/360 > rpm by the signal on pin 1 of the interface, .... ...but he meant pin 2 :-) -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

28 years

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semi-off topic: how to put a 5-1/4" or 8" in those newfangled PII easy-bake oven boxes

by chris＠microgear.net

> < That's an immense exaggeration. P-II boxes a) Have no jumpers, as a > < rule b) can support a 5.25" fdd if you can plug one in. > > Why the "if you can plug one in"? Will plug and puke really work? What > do you do if it doesn't? What slot does the 8" controller from the XT > plug into on the PCI only board? > not to butt in here, but this is what i do for a "real job" so here goes... if the cable has the card-edge plug on it (or you have an adapter) the pII bioses still support 5.25" floppy, it's not plug & play, you have to tell the bios it has it AFAIK. Most drive cables still have the card-edge connector on the slot for the B: drive, too. And I have only seen one all-PCI board, most retain at least 3 isa slots because of modems and the like, so the 8" controller, if need be, would go there (I presume, never dealt with one on a PC) It's just that nothing of consequence to your average pentium II user is on anything with less capacity than a CD (with the advent of Windows 98, even the boot floppy for the first system install has become obsolete, and we can all thank Bill Gates and his fat programs for that) anymore, so you rarely see the old 5 1/4"s in those systems. But it *could* be done, and without much difficulty. Chris

28 years

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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Jul 24, 18:02, Max Eskin wrote: > So, can a standard XT controller be used for 8" drives? You need a little adapter to shuffle the signals from the 34-pin connector to a 50-pin connector, but usually that's all. The data rate for an 8" DD (MFM) disk is the same as for a 3.5" HD (also MFM) disk. If you want to use 8" SD (FM) disks, you may need to add a jumper to the controller, as not all XT controllers can handle single-density. > So does this mean 1.2MB floppies use a lower bps than 360K disks? > Which controllers were these? I ought to watch out. Other way round. The 360K disks (better called 40-track double-sided) normally run at 300 rpm and (for MFM/double density) use a data rate of 250 bps. Before HD disks, 80-track disks were made the same way. Most HD drives, though, switch to 360 rpm and use a data rate of 300 bps (or 600 bps in HD mode). Some of those HD drives can be switched between 300/360 rpm by the signal on pin 1 of the interface, which is used for DD/HD selection. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

28 years

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S-100 bus termination

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

Doug, Since I got my Altair, I've been boning up on the s-100 stuff. I got an active terminator board with my Altair so that's one thing that I paid particular attention too. Here's what I found out. The first S-100 computers did not come with any termination but they soon found that the long bus lines were causing ringing and false triggering in the circuits. Ringing is caused when a signal reaches the end of an unterminated (open) line such as a data buss.* The signal reverses polarity and travels back in the direction that it came from just like an echo. When it reaches another end, it changes polarity and direction again. Now you have two positive pulses and one negative pulse where there is only supposed to be one pulse! Consider the number of times that each line branched off to a card socket and you can understand that now there where a dozen or more echos on every line and they were all at different times. It's no wonder that the systems where so difficult to make work with all the noise on the buss. The first solution was to use passive termination to try and eliminate the noise but it had limited success. This method used resistor divider networks that connected to the 0 and 5 volt power with the junctions connected to the signal lines. They had to keep the resistances high to minimize power supply loading and to prevent clamping the line so well that no signal could get through. This method wasn't entirely effective due to the combination of high clamping impedence (resistance) and unterminated branchs (sockets). The next solution was to use active termination. This method uses what amounts to small individual power supplies on each line to hold the line voltage at a level between 0 and the maximum siganl level (5 volts). This method offered a lower clamping impedence AND less power supply loading and was better able to prevent the ringing. The active terminator baords were a very popular accessory and a lot of people where making and selling them. In fact, I have an article from one of the first Byte magazines about how to make your own active terminator board. I believe that the later S-100 systems like the N* Horizon came with termination built into the MB. The ringing problem in the early Altairs was made worse by use of the long wires that ran from the MB to the front panel. Better designs eliminated a lot the sources of the ringing. FWIW this is EXACTLY the reason that you still have to terminate SCSI busses and disk drive cabling. There is still an ongoing debate in the SCSI community about the nessecity/benefits of active vs passive termination. * OK OK! Just for you purists, ringing is caused ANYTIME a signal makes a transistion from one impedence to another. The bigger the change, the bigger the reflected signal. That's why when ****power**** or signal distortion counts, you have to try and match all the impedences in the signal path. That means that your signal source such as an antenna, the signal destination such as your TV set and the interconnecting cableing all have to have the same impedence or you have to use a matching transformer to match the impedences. Go look at the back of your televison, you'll usually see a matching transformer and 300 Ohm and 75 Ohm inputs. The two inputs are there so that you can use the one that matches the impedence of the lead that brings the signal into your home. Most TV antennas have a 300 Ohm Impedence. The round coaxial cable has an impedence of 75 Ohms. If you are using it then there should also be a small matching transformer on your antenna. Joe At 07:26 PM 7/24/98 -0500, you wrote: >I was digging through some S-100 cards and came upon a Godbout active >terminator. Do all S-100 buses require external termination, or did more >have it built into the mobo? Specifically, do I need to stick this card >into my IMSAI? > >-- Doug > >

28 years

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FW: Getting rid of 11/84

by kyrrin＠jps.net

Heads up in Midland, Michigan! (or vicinity). This fellow is looking for a "recycler" to get rid of an 11/84. This sounds to me like (1), a prime opportunity for any of our rescue folk in the midwest, and (2), a prime opportunity to educate the fellow getting rid of it that a recycler is not the only answer. Please contact him directly if you can help. Thanks! Attachment follows. -=-=- <snip> -=-=- On Fri, 24 Jul 1998 20:04:52 GMT, in alt.sys.pdp11 you wrote: >>From: yellow_fiero(a)my-dejanews.com >>Newsgroups: alt.sys.pdp11 >>Subject: Getting rid of a PDP-11 follow-up >>Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 20:04:52 GMT >>Organization: Deja News - The Leader in Internet Discussion >>Lines: 26 >>Message-ID: <6papd5$kfh$1(a)nnrp1.dejanews.com> >>NNTP-Posting-Host: 208.154.221.12 >>X-Article-Creation-Date: Fri Jul 24 20:04:52 1998 GMT >>X-Http-User-Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows 95) >>X-Http-Proxy: 1.0 CORPNT45 >>Path: blushng.jps.net!news.eli.net!news-out.internetmci.com!newsfeed.internetmci.com!204.238.120.130!news-feeds.jump.net!nntp2.dejanews.com!nnrp1.dejanews.com!not-for-mail >> >>Sorry about the confusion, the PDP-11/84 is located in Midland, MI USA. We >>have the CPU, two RL02 disk drives, a TK50R tape, and RA81, and roughly 72 of >>each kind of process interface I/O points (analog input, analog output, >>digital input, digital output) with boards made by a company called Computec >>(later called Interautomation - located in Canada). Our DEC runs seven 500 >>gallon mixers, and has done so since the 70s. >> >>I have also found a very old PDP-11 that runs our rs-232 interface. I don't >>have a model number on it, but interestingly enough, I took the top cover off >>and it has wire-wrapped boards!!! I was surprised that it was still running >>our process, but it is! The only stampings on it are the following: >> >>M11 >>BA11E >>S-1285 >> >>located on the back panel. What could this be? >> >>Anyway, I'm still looking for a recycler. I have a complete list of all >>components and model numbers if anyone finds it necessary. Thanks for your >>responses, and I will post this note also. >> >>Robert Most. >> >>-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- >>http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave (Fido 1:343/272) http://table.jps.net/~kyrrin -- also kyrrin [A-t] Jps {D=o=t} Net Spam is bad. Spam is theft of service. Spam wastes resources. Don't spam, period. I am a WASHINGTON STATE resident. Spam charged $500.00 per incident per Chapter 19 RCW.

28 years

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FW: WANTED: PDP-11 or PDP-8

by mbg＠world.std.com

>> Can anyone give Seth a good push in the right direction? If so, >> give him a buzz. >I posted this on Usenet specifically so everyone here on 'classiccmp' >could stop being sick of my "I want a PDP!" whining ;) > >Oh well, I'll take what publicity I can get, eh? Heck, you're not the only one who wants an -8... Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry zk3.dec.com | | Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg world.std.com | | Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of ' ' | | 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

28 years

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S-100 bus termination

by peacock＠simconv.com

>I was digging through some S-100 cards and came upon a Godbout active >terminator. Do all S-100 buses require external termination, or did more >have it built into the mobo? Specifically, do I need to stick this card >into my IMSAI? > It depends on what kind of motherboard you have. Typically, the terminator was at the end opposite where the front panel or CPU card plugged in. Early S-100 motherboards ran at only 2 Mhz (8080 CPU) or 2.5 Mhz (early Z-80) so termination wasn't quite so important. Later, when speeds were pushed past 4Mhz the terminator became crucial to reliability. Look at the back end of your motherboard, if you don't see an array of resistors, about 90 or so, then put the Godbout board in the very last slot, and your CPU card as close as possible to the front slot, right behind the front panel. I used one when I went to 4Mhz on the original 22 slot IMSAI motherboard, it does help. After the IMSAI MB wore out I switched to Thinkertoys and Godbout (later called Compupro) motherboards, they had the terminator built in. Jack Peacock

28 years

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ID cute HP terminal

by rexstout＠uswest.net

Picked up a nice little HP Series 100 Model 120 45600A and a few hundred other numbers on the bottom... Anyways, it's a very interesting model. Works fine, has two DB-25 ports(modem and printer, both serial?) and an HP-IB port, and uses two small batteries that look like N size or close to that. And a cute keyboard, lotso keys but very small. Anyways... Does anyone know anything about it? I couldn't find anything on HP's web site, and nothing showed up immediatley on web searches. What kind of terminal is it? Are the ports normal RS-232? What does the HP-IB port do, and how do I access it? So many questions... Too bad there was no manual. But then what do you expect for $5? At least I got a keyboard... -------------------------------------------------------------- | http://members.tripod.com/~jrollins/index.html - Computers | | http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/1681/ - Star Trek | | Orham(a)qth.net list admin KD7BCY | --------------------------------------------------------------

28 years

3
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ST506 & RD54

by peacock＠simconv.com

An RD54 is an oem version of the Maxtor 2190 disk drive. You might have better luck looking for specs on that drive. AFAIK it is identical to the RD54 except for the label DEC puts on it. Jack Peacock -----Original Message----- From: emanuel stiebler [mailto:emu@ecubics.com] Sent: Friday, July 24, 1998 10:00 AM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: ST506 & RD54 Hi all, Where on the net, i could find the ST506 specification, or something like a RD54 OEM-Manual ? thanks, emanuel

28 years

2
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ID cute HP terminal

by fmc＠reanimators.org

John Rollins <rexstout(a)uswest.net> wrote: > Picked up a nice little HP Series 100 Model 120 45600A and a few hundred It's sort of a successor to the 125 and predecessor to the 150. It's an HP2382 "Shadow" terminal housing with a CP/M computer (I think a Z80 but I can't recall for sure) inside. The HP-IB port would be used to connect to an external disc drive, just like on a 150 and using pretty much the same 91xx disc drives. I think I remember using one with a 9121D? -- the one with two single-sided stiffies. I can't recall whether it will play terminal without CP/M. I do remember that in order to get it to play block-mode capable terminal (so it could be used with View aka V/3000 aka VPLUS/3000) it needed to boot CP/M and run a program, and vaguely recall that it could be a not-block-mode-capable terminal without that program (and maybe without loading CP/M). One other thing I recall about it is that it had a precursor to PAM (Personal Application Manager -- a primitive shell/application launcher that later turned up on the 150, 110, some HP9000s, and the Vectra) that was autostarted by CP/M immediately following boot. It used function keys to start the applications, so you could only have seven or eight defined for it to start. The RS232 ports are probably DB25S connectors and I think they look like DTE -- similar pinout to an IBM PC async card with a DB25P. -Frank McConnell

28 years

1
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PETs to Rescue in Alberta!

by foxnhare＠goldrush.com

Here is a message that I received today, I forward it to all you fellow Commodore enthusiasts, if you are interested in some nice PET stuff (keep me in mind for PET books and software, will ya?) > Subject: PET disposal > Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 11:05:38 -0600 > From: Sjoerd Schaafsma <rocklake(a)telusplanet.net> > Reply-To: rocklake(a)agt.net >Organization: University of Lethbridge > To: foxnhare(a)goldrush.com > > HI Larry, > > I'm in Lethbridge Alberta, and would like to dispose of a few PETs, > 4032, 8032, and disk drives, I just can't bring myself to junk 'em. > Know of any interested parties? > > -- -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Larry Anderson - Sysop of Silicon Realms BBS (300-2400bd) (209) 754-1363 Visit my Commodore 8-Bit web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/commodore.html -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

28 years

1
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CLASSICCMP digest 484

by foxnhare＠goldrush.com

> From: "Sie Raybould" <sie(a)systemfile.demon.co.uk> > Subject: WTB: Jupiter Ace > > Anyone got a Jupiter Ace they'd be prepared to part with ? > > Sie I just was reading in a book about a sinclair ROM replacement for FORTH that sounds alot like the Jupiter Ace's features. Multi-task up to four programs, etc. It was referred to the "FORTH in ROM by David Husband". Hope that helps any. -- -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Larry Anderson - Sysop of Silicon Realms BBS (300-2400bd) (209) 754-1363 Visit my Commodore 8-Bit web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/commodore.html -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

28 years

1
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IBM Power supplies FS (5140?)

by tomowad＠earthlink.net

Hi guys, I just picked up a bunch of IBM power supplies at auction. The auctioneer says they're for the 5140, but I don't know how you could tell. They're all appear to be brand new and are in the original boxes. The box is labeled "P/N 2684220", the Power supply "P/N 2684292". Output is 15v, 2.7A. Anybody know what they're for? And if anybody wants one, the price is $5 shipped, each. Tom Owad -- Sysop of Caesarville Online Client software at: <http://home.earthlink.net/~tomowad/>

28 years

1
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CBM Diagnostic cart.

by rcini＠email.msn.com

I just got a funny cartridge for the early Commodore PC-10 and PC-20 series computers. There 2 connectors, one plugs into the modem port and the other into the printer port. Then power up the machine and a 2 digit alpha/numeric HEX LED displays the problem. Commodore #380025-01. Anyone have any info on this? Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> - ClubWin/CW6 - MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking - Preserver of "classic" computers <<<< ========== reply separator ========== >>>>>

28 years

2
1
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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< Of course, this is a bit of a problem for people like me, who are too < young for an IMSAI, never mind a PDP8 How is this a problem? You learned how to run a PC, programming a PDP-8 is at least an order of magnitude simpler. Seriously, the instruction set and archetecture is so simple it's downright inviting. The DG Novas are pretty straight forward too. The old machines didn't have to be huge, complex or networked. They only had to work. Allison

28 years

1
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Apple ][ file conversion

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< Can I make use of the Centronics interface? Yes with any current printer just like a PC, though the connector may be different. <What type of 'serial car' do you recommend? Toyota, I've had good luck. Oh sorry, serial card, what ever you have or can get. Jamco still sells apple][ cards and stuff. < Can I use my Apple //c w/serial port but w/o CP/M? Sure! < >Apple ][ disks don't use standard FM or MFM encoding, so Macs and PCs < can't < >read them. If you can find a serial car for the Apple, the easiest wa < >would be to get a copy of Kermit-65 (for DOS 3.3 files) and/or Kermit8 < >(for CP/M) and transfer the files over a serial link -- that's what I or MDM, or one of a dozen others for each OS. < >Kermit-65 comes with instructions on how to get it into an Apple that < >doesn't already have any kind of file transfer software, and IIRC < Kermit80 < >has some similar instructions. You can get Kermit by anonymous ftp < from < >ftp.columbia.edu, or http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/, or from any of < >several mirror sites. Kermit is well known and supported by most PC transfer programs. Max, get an editor. Either that or don't use LYNX for mail, try elm or pine. Allison

28 years

1
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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< I assume you mean the apps. CP/M and DOS are fairly similar Similar yes, processors are very different. Z80 code will not run on a PC (without an emulator) and PC software is useless to cp/m z80. < Why do you need an 8" controller? The same floppy controller can be < used for both 5.25" and 3.5". There never were any jumpers for any Why is the sky blue. If I need to read a 8" of course. < In fact, I am not familiar with any real difference between PCI and < ISA controllers. I have never had any floppy problems. The reason Huge differce. also the Floppy controller is on the MB for most current generation P-II PCs. < edge connectors, unlike 3.5" which use BERG strips (is that what < they're called?). This is the biggest problem one is likely to have. Trivial problem. the cables have both. The real problem is when the software goes to work or out to lunch. Allison

28 years

1
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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 02:47 PM 7/24/98 GMT, you wrote: >>>From: Bill Kent <billakent(a)hotmail.com> >>>My name is Bill Kent and I am working on a story for a major online >>>publication. The focus is on users who use what others might consider >>>"obsolete" technology. I would like to speak to a few users who use >>>oder PCs (386 and below) for productivity apps. I'm talking about in >>>business, education, or home. If you use them as servers or something >>>else, that's super, I'd like to hear about it. I'm not interested in >>>hobbyists who just enjoying hacking the machines. If it requires a >>>soldering iron, it's too complex for this article. Well, let's see. I use a Radio Shack model 100 (like many people) for taking notes/writing away from home. Once I get my Starlet fixed, I'll be doing the same with that (CP/M laptop, with Wordstar in ROM). I also have an Outbound notebook (mac clone laptop ca. 1990) that I and my girlfriend use. She (Rachel Grilley, <auntierae(a)california.com>) also uses older macs in her classroom to teach her first graders reading, math, science, etc. They range from plusses to IIci's. My voicemail system is currently running on a 286/512K/40mb system, but is about to be upgraded Real Soon Now to a shoebox-sized 386sx system I picked up recently at a surplus place. (Same VM card/software, just different computer -- actually can run on an 8088 even.) I have an Atari Portfolio (8088, DOS, size of a video tape) that I carry around for taking notes. I also use my Atari ST's and Falcons for music sequencing/recording. (Well, not as much as I like, but once I win the lottery...) I can also put you in touch with a lot of people who are using their ST's a lot. And lastly, my main machine is a 486 laptop, but I have written a DOS-based application to manage the San Francisco Free List (see <http://www.sinasohn.com/freelist/> for more info) including maintaining the database of events, building daily and monthly web pages, and generating weekly event listings. Eventually, I'll probably move that onto a different DOS-based laptop so others can assist in maintaining the events database. Anyway, feel free to drop me a note about any of the above (or anyhthing else, for that matter). --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

28 years

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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

Of course, this is a bit of a problem for people like me, who are too young for an IMSAI, never mind a PDP8 >I've used - and repaired - a lot of embedded control systems using >machines like the PDP11, PDP8, Data General Nova, etc. These machines >work as well today as they did 25 years ago when they were made, they >still do the same job running the same software. There is simply no >reason to replace a reliable, documented solution with a modern >undocumented one. > It's not quite the same. All PC components are third-party and thus there is no guarantee it will work quite right. Are the well-documented IBM PC, XT, and AT machines better in this sense? Since you have the manuals, you could probably build your own MDA card! >Contrast that to the modern PC. If it fails, you swap boards until it >works again, never really knowing that you've found the fault. And you >don't know that the new video card (say) won't behave slightly >differently to the old one. Seen it happen far to often to want to depend >on such a machine. > >Problem is, I'm an electronic engineer. So I tend to use computers - >including old ones - to help with that work. And I'm not afraid of taking >a soldering iron to them. > >Case in point. 10 minutes ago I needed to examine the contents of a ROM >chip - an obscure old ROM chip - from a word processing system I'm >repairing. I've got a special card in an old IBM XT that'll do that. Not >hardware hacking per se, though - just a homemade tool to help with my work. > >> >>I'd like to hear stories about how this technology can be applied to a >> >>job and does it well. The general slant of the article is to be >> >>positive, but if anyone has any good stories about failures which >> >>occurred because you can't do EVERYTHING with older technology. > >That is _very_ uncommon. A lot of old machines are in embedded control >systems, which have been running the same program since they were made. >They don't stop running it properly just because a new machine has come >on the market... > >And anyway, CPU speed is often needed (for mainstream applications) only >to support the user interface. I personally have formatted and printed a >200 page manual using TeX/LaTeX on a 386 PC. A 286 would probably have >done it just as well. TeX may not be user friendly for the new user, but >it certainly is friendly to the experienced user who wants a text >formatter that doesn't get in the way. > > >> >> >> >>mailto:billakent@hotmail.com > >-tony > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

2
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Boards for grabs

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

What kind of boards? Was it single-board or backplane or what? Also, what are the key differences between Hp and PC? >>I have a bunch of boards that I would like to move to a good home, >>otherwise I will scrap them out. _ANY_ offers over shipping costs will be >>considered. >> >>Set of boards for an HP150 system! I am not sure what the processor >>is > > Are you kidding! It's an 8088! It runs at 5 MHz MOL just like a PC. >Some 150 even had the optional 8087. The 150 was one of those ALMOST IBM >PC compatibles. I have at least eight or nine of them and they're all >working. Most of them are looking for homes. Hint, hint! > >(lots of HP house numbers, but I do see an 8041A and 9914A, neither of >>which are the main processors). I have a motherboard with an jack for an >>RJ45 keyboard, HPIB connector, and two RS232 ports. I also have a board >>with lots of 4164 DRAMs, another with RAMs and ROMs, another mystery >>board, and a module that says 3278 interface (HP #45641A). > > The 45641 is an optional 3278 Emulation board. It costs $1200 in the '88 >HP catalog. > > If no one wants the boards, I'll take them for the cost of shipping. > > Joe >> >>William Donzelli >>william(a)ans.net >> >> >> >> > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

1
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ST506 & RD54

by mbg＠world.std.com

RD54 specs... Typical formatted capacity 159mb unformatted capacity 191mb drive height full average access time 38.3ms maximum transfer rate 625kb/s power consumption 24w amperes drawn @ 5vdc 1.29 amperes drawn @ 12vdc 1.34 number of rw heads 15 number of cylinders 1224 positioner type dedicated servo Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry zk3.dec.com | | Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg world.std.com | | Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of ' ' | | 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

28 years

1
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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

I assume you mean the apps. CP/M and DOS are fairly similar >While I do some of it on PC, more over time there are things I can do >faster and easier on the s100 crate or even the Kaypro. > I don't know >I do, did you misread? > Why do you need an 8" controller? The same floppy controller can be used for both 5.25" and 3.5". There never were any jumpers for any MFM drives, nor have I seen much for IDE drives. This has nothing to do with PCI or PnP. Just set the correct type in the BIOS and that's it >Why the "if you can plug one in"? Will plug and puke really work? What >do you do if it doesn't? What slot does the 8" controller from the XT >plug into on the PCI only board? In fact, I am not familiar with any real difference between PCI and ISA controllers. I have never had any floppy problems. The reason why I said 'if you can plug one in' is because the 5.25" drives use edge connectors, unlike 3.5" which use BERG strips (is that what they're called?). This is the biggest problem one is likely to have. > >Keeping in mind I was referring to systems in place and working as they >have for more years that M$ existed. Any bugs and the like have long >since been worked out or are at least well known. For someone makeing >steel parts or whatnot the OS, CPU and all that jazz really doesn't >matter when his task is to punch holes in 500 pieces a day. > >Allison > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

2
1
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Rescued: Heath H89

by kyrrin＠jps.net

I almost forgot to post about this. I recently acquired a complete Heathkit H89 system, with dual floppies and a small printer (OkiData Microline 82, serial), all in excellent condition. I got with it a bunch of manuals and floppies, among them CP/M boot diskettes. As I recall, this is a Z80-based system, yes? Is it possible to use a hard drive on it? Thanks in advance. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272) (Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin(a)jps.net) "Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."

28 years

3
3
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Apple ][ file conversion

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

Can I make use of the Centronics interface? What type of 'serial car' do you recommend? Can I use my Apple //c w/serial port but w/o CP/M? >Apple ][ disks don't use standard FM or MFM encoding, so Macs and PCs can't >read them. If you can find a serial car for the Apple, the easiest way >would be to get a copy of Kermit-65 (for DOS 3.3 files) and/or Kermit80 >(for CP/M) and transfer the files over a serial link -- that's what I do. > >Kermit-65 comes with instructions on how to get it into an Apple that >doesn't already have any kind of file transfer software, and IIRC Kermit80 >has some similar instructions. You can get Kermit by anonymous ftp from >ftp.columbia.edu, or http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/, or from any of >several mirror sites. > > >-- > >Pete Peter Turnbull > Dept. of Computer Science > University of York > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

1
0
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Apple ][ file conversion

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Jul 24, 13:57, Max Eskin wrote: > Subject: Apple ][ file conversion > Several months ago, I was given an A][+, with a z80 card and a bunch > of program, as well as data, disks. It has a printer interface card. > What is the easiest way to transfer the data on these disks (CP/M 3.3 > various programs, mainly Wordstar 2.x) onto a PC or mac? Is there a > PC program that will read Apple CP/M disks? I couldn't easily do it > with a Mac since these are 5.25" disks. Apple ][ disks don't use standard FM or MFM encoding, so Macs and PCs can't read them. If you can find a serial car for the Apple, the easiest way would be to get a copy of Kermit-65 (for DOS 3.3 files) and/or Kermit80 (for CP/M) and transfer the files over a serial link -- that's what I do. Kermit-65 comes with instructions on how to get it into an Apple that doesn't already have any kind of file transfer software, and IIRC Kermit80 has some similar instructions. You can get Kermit by anonymous ftp from ftp.columbia.edu, or http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/, or from any of several mirror sites. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

28 years

1
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Apple ][ file conversion

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

Several months ago, I was given an A][+, with a z80 card and a bunch of program, as well as data, disks. It has a printer interface card. What is the easiest way to transfer the data on these disks (CP/M 3.3 various programs, mainly Wordstar 2.x) onto a PC or mac? Is there a PC program that will read Apple CP/M disks? I couldn't easily do it with a Mac since these are 5.25" disks. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

2
1
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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< In general, I hope everyone that prides themselves of running < Electric Pencil on their Altairs is doing it for practical purposes, < and not because they just want to show off that they won't use < a PC. While I do some of it on PC, more over time there are things I can do faster and easier on the s100 crate or even the Kaypro. < A server for what? You must have an Interlnk client if you are using < Intersrvr, unless you hacked the protocol... < > < >I do use an old 386sx/25 as a headless server using MSdos6.22 intersvr < >and interlnk software and a parallel port data cable(LapLink). I do, did you misread? < I would bet that _most_ hackers do it for commercial/industrial < reasons. FOr everyone who built their own z80, hundreds came off the < assembly line. And hundreds more were modified. Very few were built from the ground up but, many were built from an intermediate state. IE: buy a s100 z80 cpu >from company A, ram from B, floppy controller from n, floppy from S and a box from a supplier of nothing but boxes... that constitues a built z80 system circa 1980ish. < >documented at best. < That's an immense exaggeration. P-II boxes a) Have no jumpers, as a < rule b) can support a 5.25" fdd if you can plug one in. Why the "if you can plug one in"? Will plug and puke really work? What do you do if it doesn't? What slot does the 8" controller from the XT plug into on the PCI only board? < >size. There are many PDP-8s (1970s tech), PDP-11s (late 70s into the < >80s tech) and Data General Novas still in service as control systems < >where they do the same thing everyday as the have for the last 20+ < years. < < I agree with that. It's impressive how many people think Windows NT < is a safer option than UNIXoids though NT is only 1/3 as old... Keeping in mind I was referring to systems in place and working as they have for more years that M$ existed. Any bugs and the like have long since been worked out or are at least well known. For someone makeing steel parts or whatnot the OS, CPU and all that jazz really doesn't matter when his task is to punch holes in 500 pieces a day. Allison

28 years

1
0
0 0

Rescued: Heath H89

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< From: Wayne Cox <wcox(a)mis.usaeroteam.com> ^^^^^^^^^^ Wayne, you fly? < > It's roughly the same thing as a Zenith Z90. I have the manual here (i < < If that's the one I'm thinking of, they started out as VT52 terminal < clones, sold by Heath/Zenith. The on-board personal computer was an < afterthought, I think. Former employer had a bunch. You may be able to < tap directly into the terminal portion if you have need for a plain old < VT52. yes it started as H19 terminal, the terminal board is separate from the H8x/Z9x computer board. It makes a good VT52/ansi terminal. I know I bought one back in the summer of '79 (H19 hit that is). Still have it and it still works. Allison

28 years

1
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Boards for grabs

by william＠ans.net

I have a bunch of boards that I would like to move to a good home, otherwise I will scrap them out. _ANY_ offers over shipping costs will be considered. Set of boards for an HP150 system! I am not sure what the processor is (lots of HP house numbers, but I do see an 8041A and 9914A, neither of which are the main processors). I have a motherboard with an jack for an RJ45 keyboard, HPIB connector, and two RS232 ports. I also have a board with lots of 4164 DRAMs, another with RAMs and ROMs, another mystery board, and a module that says 3278 interface (HP #45641A). William Donzelli william(a)ans.net

28 years

2
1
0 0

ST506 & RD54

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< Where on the net, i could find the ST506 specification, or something lik < RD54 OEM-Manual ? RD54 is a MAXTOR 2190, so try them. RD53 is micropolus 1325 rd52 is Quantum D540 RD32 is seagate ST251 rd31 is seagate st225 rd51 is seagate st412 rd50 is sugart/seagate st506 Allison

28 years

1
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New apple additions.

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

since i requested today off, i hit the thrift stores since i havent been able to recently. i found a complete TI professional but left it as i presume it's just an xt clone. found a //c drive in the box, but at $10, i left it. i did get: copy 2+ version 9 complete quark catalyst with disks prodos inside and out w/ disk beagle graphics +disk something called talk is cheap ver 3.1 w/ disk beagle bros pronto dos/disk bb triple dump /disk a book called the dostalk scrapbook which explains apple dos 3.3 epson printer interface for apple //c apple //c tech ref. also got a nice pc tower case for $2 after i exclaimed it was blank and nothing inside. lol. there were a few more apple manuals and some beagle brothers software called timeout-something or other, but i left that. might go back again. david

28 years

1
0
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Epson QX-10, CP/M

by manney＠lrbcg.com

I have a customer (Yes, Virginia, I have two customers) who has an Epson QX-10 running CP/M. His (external) hard disk is reporting bad sectors; he wishes to switch to an ST-506/412 Vertex 185, which I think is 20 MB. I would like to test the Vertex 185 under Spinrite (MS-DOS) and expand the bad track table, if Spinrite discovers more problems. I have questions -- Will the bad track information carry over under CP/M, and will its format utility see the MS-DOS info? Otherwise, should we just make a list and enter it? Is there a low-level format utility in CP/M? Is it necessary, as under MS-DOS? What is the QX-10 controller card going to think of a different hard drive? Will it try to run the new drive as a 10 MB? Thanks, manney(a)lrbcg.com

28 years

4
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FW: Writer wants to quote users

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

What do you use now? >Like the Kaypro 4/84 (ca 1984) that I use to run my billings on. In general, I hope everyone that prides themselves of running Electric Pencil on their Altairs is doing it for practical purposes, and not because they just want to show off that they won't use a PC. > >I have a PDP-11/73 for development and continuation support use. Also >very handy for getting from Digital Equipment Corp designed and >propritary media to other more common use media. > A server for what? You must have an Interlnk client if you are using Intersrvr, unless you hacked the protocol... > >I do use an old 386sx/25 as a headless server using MSdos6.22 intersvr >and interlnk software and a parallel port data cable(LapLink). I would bet that _most_ hackers do it for commercial/industrial reasons. FOr everyone who built their own z80, hundreds came off the assembly line. > >All people that modify "hack" machines are not all hobbiests. As a >professional I need for various reasons to read disks created years >ago sometimes really old like the 8" media from the late 70s early 80s. >I have old machines to do this but a handy one is an XT clone using a >modified floppy controller with and old 8" drive. You cannot buy that >capability now but, companies have archives that are sometimes very old >that may need to be accessed. > >Even your common P-II box is hard pressed to read older 5.25" format >floppies! At a minimum you would have to find an apporiate drive and >then by trial and error figure the jumpers out as new machines a scantily >documented at best. That's an immense exaggeration. P-II boxes a) Have no jumpers, as a rule b) can support a 5.25" fdd if you can plug one in. What other difference can there be? >In computers old technology and new are often only different in speed or >size. There are many PDP-8s (1970s tech), PDP-11s (late 70s into the >80s tech) and Data General Novas still in service as control systems >where they do the same thing everyday as the have for the last 20+ years. I agree with that. It's impressive how many people think Windows NT is a safer option than UNIXoids though NT is only 1/3 as old... > Mature stable systems we know how to use. > > >Allison > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

1
0
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Off-topic informational anti-spam anecdotal

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

What is the official meaning of the symbol #? >BTW, in the UK # is _never_ called "pound". "Hash" is the most usual >name, followed by "gate" and "hatch". "Pound" means a script L with a >couple of horizontal bars through it :-) > How is 'recall' done? Where is the number stored? As for the keypad configurations, I'm sure it all goes back to competing calculator models. >That's what I was afraid of. Although a neater hack still would be a >modified dial that did 11 pulses for * and 12 for #. Mechanically >possible, but I wouldn't want to try and modify the old dial. > >There is a blanked-off hole in most type 746 phones that can accommodate >1 or 2 buttons, and I was thinking of putting # and * there, but this is >more usually used for a "recall" button. > >Incidentally, does anyone know why "timed break" recall buttons are >replacing local earth ones? And how long is the break? > >> While a pulse-to-DTMF converter is a neat hack (and these sort of >> converters were installed in some step-by-step exchanges in the US, at >> least there were in my local exchange when we were step-by-step, but come >> to think of it I don't know why, unless they were converting my pulse >> dialed digits to DTMF so that some other adjunct piece of equipment such >> as a Dialed Number Recorder could know what digits I was dialing, for >> purposes of surveillance ;) it'd be easier to just buy a cheap DTMF phone. > >Sam, you should be ashamed of yourself. The object of the exercise was >not to get a DTMF phone, but to get one with a _rotary dial_. I already >have a DTMF phone, and I am interested in thes project _purely_ for hack >value. > >Slightly less far off topic, does anyone know the reason for the >divergence in layout between phone keypads and computer ones, i.e. > >123 789 >456 vs. 456 ? >789 123 > 0 0 > >Which came first? > >Philip. > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

5
7
0 0

FW: Writer wants to quote users

by kyrrin＠jps.net

Well, folks, here's an opportunity to let it be known that doing a decent job doesn't always require the latest P-II! This fellow's looking for quotes from folks who use 'legacy' equipment in production environments. Unfortunately, he's not interested in hardware hack type stories. I kind of dislike his statement of 'if it takes a soldering iron, it's too complex for this article,' but hey, who knows? Enjoy. Attachment follows. -=-=- <snip> -=-=- On Fri, 24 Jul 1998 16:34:44 +0800, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc you wrote: >>From: Bill Kent <billakent(a)hotmail.com> >>Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc >>Subject: Writer wants to quote users >>Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 16:34:44 +0800 >>Organization: None to speak of >>Lines: 20 >>Message-ID: <35B84722.2B9BEDA0(a)hotmail.com> >>Reply-To: billakent(a)hotmail.com >>NNTP-Posting-Host: spoff76.pacific.net.sg >>Mime-Version: 1.0 >>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii >>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >>X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.04 [en] (Win95; I) >>Path: blushng.jps.net!news.eli.net!diablo.quiknet.com!csn!nntp-xfer-2.csn.net!pulsar.dimensional.com!dimensional.com!priori!netnews.com!news.maxwell.syr.edu!news.he.net!newsserver.pacific.net.sg!not-for-mail >> >>Good Day, >> >>My name is Bill Kent and I am working on a story for a major online >>publication. The focus is on users who use what others might consider >>"obsolete" technology. I would like to speak to a few users who use >>oder PCs (386 and below) for productivity apps. I'm talking about in >>business, education, or home. If you use them as servers or something >>else, that's super, I'd like to hear about it. I'm not interested in >>hobbyists who just enjoying hacking the machines. If it requires a >>soldering iron, it's too complex for this article. >> >>I'd like to hear stories about how this technology can be applied to a >>job and does it well. The general slant of the article is to be >>positive, but if anyone has any good stories about failures which >>occurred because you can't do EVERYTHING with older technology. >> >>mailto:billakent@hotmail.com >> >>Thank you. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave (Fido 1:343/272) http://table.jps.net/~kyrrin -- also kyrrin [A-t] Jps {D=o=t} Net Spam is bad. Spam is theft of service. Spam wastes resources. Don't spam, period. I am a WASHINGTON STATE resident. Spam charged $500.00 per incident per Chapter 19 RCW.

28 years

2
1
0 0

Off-topic informational anti-spam anecdotal

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

>> BTW, in the UK # is _never_ called "pound". "Hash" is the most usual > BT tend to call it 'square'. Confused me the first time I heard it. I've not met that, although I have, come to think of it, met "Octothorpe" (I think it was in "Understanding Telephone Electronics"). Ironically, the New Scientist article about digital exchanges (1981?) that called it "hatch" printed it as a square... (FWIW, "-thorpe" is often found as a placename element in the Danelaw - parts of England officially occupied by Vikings before the Norman conquest - and it means village, equivalent to German "Dorf".) > Cutting the extra 2 slots in the cam would be quite easy with a dividing > head (no, I'm not offering to do it, right :-)). The problem is finding > an arrangement of 12 holes in the dial plate that (a) allows you to dial > all of them and (b) maintains the required pause between letting go of the > dial and sending the first pulse (this is part of the spec). You're in danger of making the same mistake as Sam. Remember the pulses only go to my counter chip, not to the exchange, so the pause after letting go of the dial is not essential. That said, it is useful if your finger is shaking as you dial... My idea was to have a moveable finger stop like on some smaller dials. This would normally sit quite close to the 1 position, leaving room for * and # after the zero, but when you dialled against it it would be pushed to its conventional rest position. Philip. PS I'm off on holiday for a week. I won't (intentionally) set the list to Postpone, but I probably won't read all the messages...

28 years

2
1
0 0

ST506 & RD54

by emu＠ecubics.com

Hi all, Where on the net, i could find the ST506 specification, or something like a RD54 OEM-Manual ? thanks, emanuel

28 years

1
0
0 0

FW: WANTED: PDP-11 or PDP-8

by kyrrin＠jps.net

Can anyone give Seth a good push in the right direction? If so, give him a buzz. SPECIAL NOTE: John, if you're looking to clear out space in the form of your PDP-11/34, this could be a great opportunity. Attachment follows. -=-=- <snip> -=-=- On 24 Jul 1998 02:51:10 EDT, in comp.sys.dec you wrote: >>From: "Seth J. Morabito" <sethjm(a)ricochet.net> >>Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec,comp.sys.dec.micro >>Subject: WANTED: PDP-11 or PDP-8 >>Date: 24 Jul 1998 02:51:10 EDT >>Organization: Loom Communications >>Lines: 18 >>Message-ID: <35B82E1E.E7E6755C(a)ricochet.net> >>Reply-To: sethm(a)loomcom.com >>NNTP-Posting-Host: motherbrain.squeep.com >>Mime-Version: 1.0 >>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii >>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >>X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.05 [en] (X11; U; Linux 2.0.35 i586) >>Path: blushng.jps.net!news.eli.net!news.inconnect.com!xmission!news.uoregon.edu!hammer.uoregon.edu!newshub.northeast.verio.net!newspeer.monmouth.com!newsfeed.concentric.net!global-news-master >>Xref: blushng.jps.net comp.sys.dec:2231 comp.sys.dec.micro:262 >> >>Hello folks, >> >>I would dearly love to find a pdp-11 (preferably with some sort of >>secondary storage, including RX01,RX02,RK05,RL02, or RD53) or, much more >>preferably, a pdp-8 (original 8, 8i, or 8e), somewhere convenient to >>the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Software and manuals are, >>of course, always welcome! >> >>Surely, someone must be getting ready to de-commission a system which >>has served its purpose and is no longer needed? I would love to take >>it off your hands! I preserve and restore old systems, both for the >>memories and for the enjoyment of it. DEC has always been my favorite, >>for sentimental reasons. And I can't bear the thought of any of that >>classic equipment going to scrap. >> >>Thank you, >> >>-Seth Morabito -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave (Fido 1:343/272) http://table.jps.net/~kyrrin -- also kyrrin [A-t] Jps {D=o=t} Net Spam is bad. Spam is theft of service. Spam wastes resources. Don't spam, period. I am a WASHINGTON STATE resident. Spam charged $500.00 per incident per Chapter 19 RCW.

28 years

2
1
0 0

Systems coming up for sale!

by Anthony.Dellett＠Staples.com

Well, I figured since my glomming on to one of these systems is pretty much guaranteed, I'd let the rest of you know about them. My father is one of the managers of the FAA Data Center in Seattle, WA. He is excessing 12 Data General MV/15000 systems. As far as I can tell, the systems include: 3 Disk Units 1 RtR 9 Track Tape Unit 1 MPU Unit 1 Console Unit Mind you, this is a lot of steel to move (I'm prolly going to have a moving company bring me mine) not to mention store (I'm going to be moving my entire collection to some cheap office space here in Lawrence, MA). For those of you who dont know what the excess process is, this is the way I understand it. 1. Government agency decides they dont need something anymore (done) 2. Agency begins porting any applications on system (a month to go) 3. Agency offers system to all other government agencies 4. If all other agencies refuse system, system goes to public sale. According to my father, these systems will be going for a ridiculous price (like $200-$300, I'm getting mine fer free :) but the buyer needs to arrange shipping. Mind you, the data centers are all over the US, not just in Seattle so it is possible that one will be closer geographically to you. I'll post another message to the list when the systems are closer to public sale. Tony Dellett

28 years

1
0
0 0

FW: Writer wants to quote users

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< >>From: Bill Kent <billakent(a)hotmail.com> < >>My name is Bill Kent and I am working on a story for a major online < >>publication. The focus is on users who use what others might conside < >>"obsolete" technology. I would like to speak to a few users who use < >>oder PCs (386 and below) for productivity apps. I'm talking about i What about non-PC technology? There are whole families of machines that are not based on Intel cpus and Microsoft software. Like the Kaypro 4/84 (ca 1984) that I use to run my billings on. The NS* Horzion Z80 machine I built in 1978 to support z80 family development and continuation support. That system is my primary for documenting work done as well. I have a PDP-11/73 for development and continuation support use. Also very handy for getting from Digital Equipment Corp designed and propritary media to other more common use media. DEC VAX hardware is also widely sought as they despite age and relative speed are still workhorses for multiuser/multitasking applications. Most of the more popular VAX systems that are over 10 years old are PC sized but can support a lot of users. I do use an old 386sx/25 as a headless server using MSdos6.22 intersvr and interlnk software and a parallel port data cable(LapLink). < >>else, that's super, I'd like to hear about it. I'm not interested in < >>hobbyists who just enjoying hacking the machines. If it requires a < >>soldering iron, it's too complex for this article. All people that modify "hack" machines are not all hobbiests. As a professional I need for various reasons to read disks created years ago sometimes really old like the 8" media from the late 70s early 80s. I have old machines to do this but a handy one is an XT clone using a modified floppy controller with and old 8" drive. You cannot buy that capability now but, companies have archives that are sometimes very old that may need to be accessed. Even your common P-II box is hard pressed to read older 5.25" format floppies! At a minimum you would have to find an apporiate drive and then by trial and error figure the jumpers out as new machines a scantily documented at best. < >>I'd like to hear stories about how this technology can be applied to < >>job and does it well. The general slant of the article is to be In computers old technology and new are often only different in speed or size. There are many PDP-8s (1970s tech), PDP-11s (late 70s into the 80s tech) and Data General Novas still in service as control systems where they do the same thing everyday as the have for the last 20+ years. This doesn't include the tens of thousands of Z80, 6502, 6800 microprocessors in control boxes and other service since the parts were introduced in the late 70s! I'll introduce you to an idea new to some. I prefer to use older systems that are well documented and I can fully utilize. It's saves me time to not debug some new box or software. Simply said: Mature stable systems we know how to use. Allison

28 years

1
0
0 0

Info wanted-- IBM 3274

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 98-07-24 07:59:41 EDT, you write: I guess the 3274 could be called a computer here. it will process information and if it can do something, it will take care of simple local tasks itself rather than bothering the mainframe with things the 3274 could do itself. << The 3274 is called a "terminal controller". It is not per se a computer, although I think it may have had microprocessors and things in it. The floppy drives were for saving and loading configuration data (along the lines of Port 1 a 3278, port 2 is a 3299 with 8 3278s hung off it, port 3 is a printer etc...) It multiplexes terminals and things to an IBM mainframe channel. While the 3278 and its relatives use the IBM SNA protocol over 93 ohm co-ax, the 3274 can AFAIK connect over an ordinary serial line. In which case all you need to do is write drivers for whatever machine you choose as the host... >>

28 years

2
1
0 0

Mac Portable SW

by tomowad＠earthlink.net

> Those $#%&$*^% 800 k disks. There are ways, but I have yet to successfully >download and transfer anything to my Mac+ . The earlier Mac FAQ straight out >said it couldn't be done. Likely the easiest way is to find some one to do >it >on his Superdrive to a formatted 800 disk. Or you could just buy a Mac IIsi or similiar for around $50 and do it yourself. >The easiest way to do it would be to find someone with a Mac that's in your >area. BTW I'm not sure you can create the floppies on a PPC Mac, it might >take a 68k Mac. I had problems with this about a year ago, but I can't >remember if I was creating Mac, Apple IIgs, or Lisa floppies. The PPC >Mac's do not seem to handle the floppy drive as well as the 68k based ones, >I've noticed this with standard Macintosh and PC 1.44Mb floppies. I haven't had any trouble making 800k disks on my PM 6100. I did have trouble making a System 0.9 disk on 400k, though (not sure if that's the PM or the Mac Plus I was trying to run it on, though). Sincerely, Tom Owad -- Sysop of Caesarville Online Client software at: <http://home.earthlink.net/~tomowad/>

28 years

1
0
0 0

Info wanted-- IBM 3274

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

Joe wrote: > I bought one with a pile of stuff. What is it? I can do little more than repeat the message I sent on the subject a few months ago: John R. Keys Jr. Wrote: > Well today made up for a slow week, got the following items: [...] > IBM 3274-31C with 8" diskettes sofeware I'm sure you'll have fun with all your finds, but this is the one that caught my eye. Last week (?) someone was asking questions along the lines of what the heck does one do with an IBM 3278? The answer is, plug it into this. Neither is much use without the other! I suggest the two of you get together over this... The 3274 is called a "terminal controller". It is not per se a computer, although I think it may have had microprocessors and things in it. The floppy drives were for saving and loading configuration data (along the lines of Port 1 a 3278, port 2 is a 3299 with 8 3278s hung off it, port 3 is a printer etc...) It multiplexes terminals and things to an IBM mainframe channel. While the 3278 and its relatives use the IBM SNA protocol over 93 ohm co-ax, the 3274 can AFAIK connect over an ordinary serial line. In which case all you need to do is write drivers for whatever machine you choose as the host... Happy hacking! Philip.

28 years

1
0
0 0

Mac Portable SW

by rcini＠email.msn.com

More on my Mac Portable... Well, I've found out that the Mac Portable doesn't like the System 6 installer disks that I have, so I downloaded the System 6.0.8 files from Apple. They are in the ".sea.bin" format. What's the best way to get these images to 800k Mac disks from the PC? Also, I need a new 40mb drive, the Conner CP-3045 (aka, the HD40SC). Anyone have one and is willing to part with it? Thanks. Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> - ClubWin/CW6 - MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking - Preserver of "classic" computers <<<< ========== reply separator ========== >>>>>

28 years

4
3
0 0

MicroVAXen up for grabs!

by kyrrin＠jps.net

Well, dang it... I'd hoped to have the RA82 subsystem working before I offered this beastie up, but... I have other projects. Lots of them. Situation: MicroVAX II in a DEC four-foot rack cabinet, two BA23 boxes interconnected with the usual bus expansion cards/cables. Has 8 megs RAM, RQDX3, an RX50 floppy and a TK50 tape drive. Also has a KDA50 SDI controller hitched to an RA82, and an RD53 70 meg HD hitched to the RQDX3. And it has a DHV11 8-line serial MUX. The RA82 passes all its internal tests. The SDI controller passes all its internal tests. HOWEVER -- the RA82 drive cannot be seen by the SDI controller. Not in diags, not through the OS. Zilch. I've replaced cables, tried all three possible floating CSR addresses, changed both SDI boards, and futzed with the drive until I'm blue in the face. Nada. It is my belief that the RA82's interface circuitry is misbehaving, internal tests notwithstanding. I lack another SDI drive to verify things one way or another. So, here's the way its coming down. This beastie is up for grabs as of now. If nothing else, the rack cabinet and cards would probably be useful to someone. I will continue to work with the RA82, and it will go with the system, but I'm not going to put a whole ton of effort into it unless someone on the list comes up with a bright idea. I'm located in Kent, WA, southeast of Seattle. Please E-mail me if you're interested and we'll arrange for pickup. NOTE: Unless the recipient is willing to pay for crating and shipping -- and it will take a pallet and lift-gate truck to transport safely -- this is going to be local pickup only. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272) (Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin(a)jps.net) "Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."

28 years

1
0
0 0

a whatsits: Grid 1535 EXP

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

I found a strange looking computer today. It's a Grid 1535 EXP computer and it has a extra pod that clamped on the computer. The pod contains a HP-IB port. There an empty slot to the left of the HP-IB port, what's it for? There's also an empty hole roughly 1 x 2 inches next to the power connector on the laptop. Is that where the battery is supposed to go? I also got a extra battery pack that also clamps to the outside fo the computer. Does any know the specs on this computer? It has a co-axial power connector. What voltage and polarity power does it require? What's the story with the HP-IB port and how do you access it? Joe

28 years

2
1
0 0

Info wanted-- IBM 3274

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

I bought one with a pile of stuff. What is it? Joe

28 years

1
0
0 0

Epson QX-10, CP/M

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< I would like to test the Vertex 185 under Spinrite (MS-DOS) and expand t < bad track table, if Spinrite discovers more problems. You could but,... < Will the bad track information carry over under CP/M, and will its forma < utility see the MS-DOS info? Otherwise, should we just make a list and e < it? Depending on the controller used likely no for the Bad block info and NO for the format. < Is there a low-level format utility in CP/M? Is it necessary, as under < MS-DOS? Maybe, it's generally machine/controller specific. Necessary yes. General purpose no. REason for that is like floppy controllers hard disk controler of the era varied from system to system. < What is the QX-10 controller card going to think of a different hard dri < Will it try to run the new drive as a 10 MB? it depends what the controller passes back to the bios and if the bios can even be reconfigured. FYI: CP/M2 disks over 8mb must be partitioned to multiple 8mb (or less) logical drives. The file system can only address 65536 128byte logical sectors and up to 16 logical drives. Allison

28 years

1
0
0 0

Another find - Multitech FM-30 Accoustic Coupler.

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

I think it's dead. I plugged it in, turned it on, and the Power light comes on, about 1/2 second later. regardless of what it's plugged into or not, the Carrier light comes high. I have an old style phone, I dialed out rack (I think the modems will go down to 300 baud...) waited for the 1st ring and shoved it in the coupler. No dice. What is one supposed to do with these? -------

28 years

6
9
0 0

Operation of old modems

by yakowenk＠cs.unc.edu

I just picked up an old BellSouth 212A modem, and don't know how to make it go. It has a handful of pushbuttons on the front (AL ST RL DL HS TLK), and doesn't respond to the Hayes command set. Am I supposed to dial the phone myself, and then tell the modem to wake up when I hear the carrier, like with the old acoustic modems? Any ideas on what those abbreviations are? I'm guessing HS = "high speed", probably meaning 1200 baud. :-) And TLK must be "talk". The others have me stumped. Maybe AL is "analog loopback"?) Hints would be appreciated. Thanks, Bill.

28 years

3
2
0 0

Another find - Multitech FM-30 Accoustic Coupler.

by fmc＠reanimators.org

"Daniel A. Seagraves" <DSEAGRAV(a)toad.xkl.com> wrote: > What is one supposed to do with these? Way back when, the drill went like this: (a) dial remote modem's number on phone (as though placing a voice call) (b) listen for remote modem to answer and whistle answer carrier at you (c) put phone's handpiece in acoustic coupler (d) acoustic coupler should notice answer carrier and begin whistling its originate carrier (e) start typing I'm thinking that (d) might take longer these days; I don't know how long it takes these newfangled modems to get around to sending a tone that is recognizable as a Bell 103 answer carrier. It used to be immediate because that's what the modems on the other end tended to try first. -Frank McConnell

28 years

1
0
0 0

Compaq//safety issues

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

You will LART me for sure because of this question. Is it possible to use the neutral side of a socket for ground? What, in fact, is the difference? (dopeslaps start flying in) >The best way is probably to use a proper isolating transformer. In other >words have neither side of the 110V going to the PC connected to earth. > >A cheater adapter is also fine, provided you connect the 'pigtail' to a good >local earth point. Note that the fixing screw of the outlet (and hence >the mounting box/conduit) may not be earthed. Should be, but I'd not put >my life on it. > >> So, why have I never felt anything touching a PC case? I've done it >> many times, I've touched insides many times, and I've never felt so >> much as a tingle. Would I be able to use a VOM to find this voltage? > >Depends on a lot of things - how well earthed _you_ are (if there's no >way a current can flow through you, then you'll not feel anything). The >values of the capacitors used - low enough, and the current will also be >too low to feel. In practice, this should be the case, but having seen some >cheap PC power supplies I'd not trust them. Oh, and how sensitive you are >to the current. > >In theory, if you connect one side of a high-impedance AC voltmeter to a >local earth point (or, indeed, the neutral side of the socket), and the >other side to the PC chassis without an earth connection, you should be >able to measure 55V. > > >-tony > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

2
1
0 0

Mac 512 video mods

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text Size: 1832 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19980723/9e31dca7/at…

28 years

1
0
0 0

Another find - Multitech FM-30 Accoustic Coupler.

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

I have what seems to be a similar problem on my Practical Periph. 2400 direct-connect modem. It can dial, but refuses to pick up the carrier. Maybe a bad transistor somewhere... it this the only switch it has? >[Voice/data switch?] >Nope. >But it has a full/half duplex switch... >------- > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

2
1
0 0

Andrew Davie in Newsweek

by dastar＠ncal.verio.com

Check out what I just found in the July 27 edition of Newsweek, Cyberscope, page 11: Russian Additions The Museum of Soviet Calculators on the Web (MOSCOW for short, at www.comcen.com.au/~adavie) will thrill collectors and amuse the rest of us. "The weird stuff about Soviet machines is what I love," says its curator, Andrew Davie, 33, a programmer from Australia who owns 15 of the 60 devices pictured at his site. Example: unlike American caluclators that form all numbers from 0 to 9 using just seven little parts, some Russian ones use nine. Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ever onward. September 26 & 27...Vintage Computer Festival 2 See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details! [Last web page update: 07/21/98]

28 years

1
0
0 0

VLB Ethernet card

by peacock＠simconv.com

>I'm not sure if this would qualify as classic or not, but I have a little VLB 486 machine that needs a 32-bit Ethernet BNC NIC. Hmm, IIRC VLB hasn't been around for 10 years, but I am curious to know if anyone made a VLB network card, I don't recall ever seeing one. I have some 486's running miscellaneous NT chores that could use a boost on network I/O. Along those lines, and closer to that 10 year limit, has anyone ever tried to overclock the Cyrix 486DLC or Dr2 replacement CPUs for 386DX's? Or for that matter, the Cyrix 586 CPUs that fit in 486 sockets? As in running a 586-120 at a base 40Mhz, upping it to 160Mhz? Jack Peacock

28 years

2
1
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