test-drb

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

101090 discussions

by Arno_1983＠gmx.de

Sridhar Ayengar <ploopster at gmail.com> wrote: > woodelf wrote: > > Dave McGuire wrote: > > > > > If one is wearing a tie whilst working on big computers, one > > > probably deserves it! > > Did not IBM tech's have to wear one? > > Yes. Usually with a tie-clip holding it against the shirt. > > Peace... Sridhar And the clip specified to be "non-conductive" in the safety precautions preface of the CE manuals, as I remember from those of our 4331. BTW (@Sridhar and to bring this back to the subject topic): I got that VSII to boot a NetBSD installation kernel by using a SPARCclassic with NetBSD as MOP server so it kind of works now, but it's of course not as nice as having a MOP daemon run on one of my windoze machines that I keep around anyway. (We already had that argument back when I looked for a RARP server to netboot my Suns, IIRC.) Then again, next thing I'd need is an NFS server for windoze which has some idea of representing unix-style links in a VFAT system, which tgpnfs does not. The netboot only worked after I removed the GPX framebuffer boards. Otherwise, the machine would again try all of the POST countdown after I typed "b xqa0" at the chevron prompt and get stuck at "A", not sending out its MOP request. Another nit in the boot code...why not "remember" to use the serial console and skip the framebuffer test if it was activated by a "Break" during the boot process? Its RD53 seems to have bigger problems than just a sticky bumper, I got it to rev up once and immediately tried to start a NetBSD install on it, but was rewarded with lots of "soft errors". I'll have a friend of mine try to low-level it on his VS2000. Ifff that takes care of the problem, where would I get an additional frontpanel insert for it (the pushbutton thing)? TIA, so long, Arno -- Ist Ihr Browser Vista-kompatibel? Jetzt die neuesten Browser-Versionen downloaden: http://www.gmx.net/de/go/browser

18 years, 6 months

trs-80 trade? (wanted)

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

I have a TRS-80 model I monitor, disk drives, and expansion unit... but no cpu/keyboard. I am looking for the keyboard, cable to expansion unit, and power adapter. Willing to trade DEC/HP/DG stuff for above :) Jay West

18 years, 6 months

That poor system/36

by ballsandy＠msn.com

>> -I have passed notes written in hex to a friend in class ("what are you doing at lunch?") > >In what representation? Unicode, ASCII, EBCDIC, Baudot, Rotate-and- >tilt? I did a few in regular ASCII and two or three in EBCDIC but those three I screwed up and didn't translate right. I also wrote profanity on a test paper in ASCII knowing my Photoshop teacher would not know what it was. _________________________________________________________________ Are you ready for Windows Live Messenger Beta 8.5 ? Get the latest for free today! http://entertainment.sympatico.msn.ca/WindowsLiveMessenger

18 years, 6 months

Question about PDP-8 thing on eBay

by v.slyngstad＠verizon.net

I was looking through my eBay search mail (which has been wonky since way before the recent "upgrades"), and encountered this thing: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170155699367 which claims to be a "processor control module" for a PDP-8. The pictures show that it is clearly a 12-bit something or other, which gives some credence to the theory that it is PDP-8 related. I thought I knew a fair bit about things PDP-8, but I have no idea what this could be, unless it is some kind of front panel replacement for an Omnibus machine. Anyone know what the heck it is, and if it is really a PDP-8 thing? Vince (I'm assuming the "Gemini E" is some kind of machine controller, likely based on an 8/A or the like.)

18 years, 6 months

What to download for a PDP-8 (was Re: That poor system/36)

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

On 10/15/07, woodelf <bfranchuk at jetnet.ab.ca> wrote: > Tony Duell wrote: > > > Check. I have a PDP8/e on my desk. > I thought a PDP-8 was desk sized. PDP-8s come in many sizes - the Straight-8 was "desk-sized" in that it was available with a built-in desk. The -8/a is about the size of a microwave oven (1/2 the size of a PDP-8/e), but was also available built _into_ a desk) the CPU was in front of your knees, with room to mount two RX01/RX02 units or an RL01/RL02 where the drawers would normally go. DECmates are the size of large desktop PCs or smaller (like the DM III)... various sizes and weights, all 12-bits, 4Kwords to 32Kwords (to 128Kwords in rare cases)... > That reminds me to find > a smaller case for SBC6120 so it can fit on a desk. > I have stuffed in a old wooden box. At one point, I had one mounted in an external floppy case for an Amiga... http://penguincentral.com/retrocomputing/sbc6120/ > As a newbie with just setting up the PDP-8 and OS/8 what is the > best way to get started? I can download stuff from bitsavers > but what to download. Besides the OS, there's a few collections of BASIC programs running around - several games and a few of the typical utility-type programs. If you want to write programs, you'll need the right programs for that - PAL assembler, FORTRAN-II, FORTRAN-IV (slow on an SBC-6120 since it doesn't have the optional-for-a-PDP-8/a FPP12 math co-processor), BASIC, etc. BASIC.SV should be on most OS/8 distros you find out there. The FORTRAN stuff might take a little hunting and gathering. DECUS used to have a large PDP-8 collection, but I don't know that swaths of it are available anywhere. -ethan

18 years, 6 months

ebay search reports?

by legalize＠xmission.com

Has anyone else noticed that the ebay email notification of search results has gone wacky in the past week or so? I'm getting repeat results in all my search emails (i.e. the same search reports the same items each day) and the search emails are being delivered less than daily. They are tooting their horn about having "improved" things lately and it feels like they are having some fallout. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/book/download/index.html> Legalize Adulthood! <http://blogs.xmission.com/legalize/>

18 years, 6 months

DoveBid: IBM 3180 Display Stations, ending 10/17/07, Guttenberg, NJ

by glen.slick＠gmail.com

No idea if these are interesting to anyone on the list. About 16 of these, currently at $10 each, no reserve, ending 10/17/07 morning in Guttenberg, NJ. http://www.dovebid.com/assets/display.asp?ItemID=cpt69125 IBM 3180-2 15" Green Monochrome Display Station. Includes Keyboard, Logic and Power Cable. Display P/N: 2446813, Logic P/N: 2446964. Keyboard P/N: 1389262.

18 years, 6 months

vintage Wang keybaord (word processor?)

by chrism3667＠yahoo.com

now that's vintage - 290170169824 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. http://mobile.yahoo.com/go?refer=1GNXIC

18 years, 6 months

looking for the HP Vectra ('286) and Televideo Telecat

by wupdike＠hotmail.com

Whatever could be your interest in a Televideo Telecat 286?? I have one and it is complete. I was in a business that sold these units to doctor's offices for preparation and electronic submission of medical claims via modem. When I say complete, I mean everything: 2-floppy drives, hard drive, expanded (or extended??) memory board, monitor, keyboard, Basic and User manuals in original slip cases (pristine condition,) as well as the original system and diagnostic diskettes. It was in good working order when I unplugged it some years ago. I also have a complete set of Borland Quattro Pro V4.0, with all the distributed materials. This, of course, runs on the Telecat just fine. Somewhere I have other vintage software as well. Don't know if you are interested in any of this stuff. Let me know. Warren Updike Towson, MD 410-821-8246

18 years, 6 months

Amdahl Mainframe - The great trip

by pcoghlan+cctech＠vms.eurokom.ie

> >Any ex-Amdahl administrators out there? > Hi Rob, Many years ago, I looked after an Amdahl 5870 briefly before it was downsized to an IBM 4381. It was rather bigger and I suspect older and slower than what you have. It was a 370 machine - maybe yours is a 390? It was powered by a 400Hz motor-generator set (that was always referred to as "the MG set" and never as a rotary converter) in the next building. A reassuring 400Hz whirr could just be heard from the power supplies in the computer room over the racket of the air conditioners and it was instantly noticable if it stopped, generally just before the shouting started! The 3270 console was built into a desk and as far as I recall had some extra features not normally found on the usual sort of IBM console. I don't remember many details but I think there was a console processor that ran some variant of unix, possibly related to UTS and this could be used to set up performance monitoring screens that could be switched in and out instead of the operator console screen. It was also possible to do things to the i/o channels from the console such as change the mapping between logical and physical channels. I probably won't be much help to you getting your machine set up but I have come across one or two ex-Amdahl guys elsewhere on the net and I may be able to put you in touch if necessary. Regards, Peter.

18 years, 6 months

Troubleshooting with a Frequency Counter

by marvin＠west.net

I was just thinking about troubleshooting, and am curious if anyone has used a frequency counter for troubleshooting? It seems like it would be another way to find out if there are clock or data signals besides using a scope. And reasonable frequency counters shouldn't cost more than $50.00 or so including shipping.

18 years, 6 months

That poor system/36

by ballsandy＠msn.com

Thanks for breaking the good news colin. :D I really hope it goes to a nice home it would be a shame to neglect that big of a system. Hmmm, asides from our two Canadian tire sores (they have something, there are Twinax terminals everywhere!) I really can't think of any place in town that would have an IBM mainframe of any kind. I can see modern servers and lots of them but the closest place I can think of that would hide an IBM would be the lower mainland....or the Okanagan valley. _________________________________________________________________ Have fun while connecting on Messenger! Click here to learn more. http://entertainment.sympatico.msn.ca/WindowsLiveMessenger

18 years, 6 months

Vector Graphic

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

Hi, I am trying to gauge whether there is sufficient interest in the Vector Graphic to support a mailing list. Please reply or email me if you'd be interested in joining. The mailing list would be a LISTSERV on a university domain (.EDU) *NOT* a Yahoo! Group. Thanks! Andrew Lynch

18 years, 6 months

Indigo 2 - "NESTED EXCEPTION" at boot.

by compoobah＠valleyimplants.com

> Edward writes > Manual says something about "dissonant piano chord" - how is it > supposed > to sound like? One thing I've verified that without graphics card > the chord sounds the same. It's an arpeggio of some sort, perhaps with a 7th. Haven't worked it out. Getting the boot-tune means that much of the computer is working properly. Try pulling the graphics and reseating the memory and processor module & memory and see what pops out on TTY0. It could be bad graphics (had that happen once in an Indigo), in which case there is a surfeit of XL/Express graphics boards around (I have an Extreme that I haven't used for years). Do you know what the hardware is? Another possibility is that someone tried to upgrade the processor module beyond what the boot PROM could support. Most of the time the machine will 'let it slide', but some cause issues (especially if it's a R10k on a R4k board). If you don't know for certain than describe: "module with a big aluminum heat sink and a small portion of board exposed that has several SMD memory chips on it" can localize it to one of 2 processor modules (R4400 in either 200MHz/2MB cache or R4400/250 with 2MB). Also give the IP number of the main board (it's near the riser for the GIO/EISA cards), and the model number on the back (CMNB007-something).

18 years, 6 months

Emailing: Universal Floppy reader, was Re Extracting CDOS and CP-M) files

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

> Really don't understand all the talks about catweasels secrets, etc. > Just make few boards for the classiccomp group, and be done with the > subject ;-) I suppose--every once in awhile, I run into a very odd format that's not compatible with any of the commodity controllers and am forced to use a Catweasel on it. But 99% of what I see is plain old soft- sectored media, readable on most WD17xx or NEC 765 controllers. Cheers, Chuck -----REPLY----- There has been lots of talk about these universal floppy controller devices and I for one would LOVE to see one done but so far nobody has made one work. The closest thing I have seen is either the external floppy drive and compaticard combination or the parallel port Backpack external floppy drive >from Microsolutions. If anyone actually makes the universal floppy reader, please put me down to buy one as well. However, IMO, the best solution for the universal floppy drive is an old PC with a Catweasel and a 3.5", 5.25", and/or 8" floppy drive. Then just write the software for it. Really, writing software for the Catweasel is really simple and it is 100% open source. The documentation is all available publicly, its supported in Linux, MS-DOS, and/or Windows, the owner/manufacturer is as accomodating as one could possibly hope for (Jens Schoenfeld). There is a developer list and lots of enthusiastic users. The hardware is cheap and readily available. Count me as diehard Catweasel fan! The Catweasel in an old PC is as close to the perfect universal floppy drive reader as far as I can see. What else is needed? More and better software and that is about all. There are Catweasel software available for practically every format imaginable. Most if not all of the soft sector formats are covered by the Tim Mann CW2DMK software. There are reader for many formats such as specialty disks as the Amiga, Atari, Macintosh, Commodore, Nintendo, Apple II, etc. There is software for many of the hard sector formats as well (NorthStar, PTDOS, Data General, and Heath, at least. Vector Graphic is in work). Thanks and best of luck with your project. Really, if anyone does complete a universal floppy reader which is even close to as good as the Catweasel, I will be in line to buy it. Andrew Lynch

18 years, 6 months

VAXen at home

by RodSmallwood＠mail.ediconsulting.co.uk

>From a UK point of view 'motor' as in motor-generator would be taken to some form of internal combustion engine. I have heard lots of references to 'motor-generators' but never an 'engine-generator'. Devices used for AC to DC, DC to AC and voltage conversion using a electric motor coupled to a generator would be referred to as 'rotary convertors'. Rod Smallwood -----Original Message----- From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Tony Duell Sent: 18 October 2007 01:18 To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: VAXen at home > It may be European vs US usage, but in the US "motor" almost always > means electric motor in this and other contexts. So what you That tends to be UK usage too. The thing under the bonnet (OK, hood) of a car is called an 'engine' over here. 'Motor' for that would be very uncommon. To me, a 'motor generator' is just that. An electric motor driving an electric generator, to be used to convert voltage/frequency, etc. A 'rotary converter' (or 'Dynamotor; if oyu go back far enough) is a simialr thing with common field windings/frame/etc rather than 2 separate electrical machines with the shafts coupled. > call a "motor-generator" would be here just plain called a "generator" A 'generator' over here is either just the mechanical-to-electircal energy converter or , as you said, a heat engine coupled to such a machine. Certainly if you hired a 'generator' (as somebody suggested we should do for a VCF-type event), you'd expect to get something with the engine included. I don't know how common these other term are across the Pond, but an 'alternator' is an AC-output geneterator, a 'Dynamo' (short for 'Dynamo-electric machine' is a generator, normally DC output, with a wound field, and a 'Magneto' (short for 'Magneto-electric machine' is a genatore with a permanent magnet field. Which means the common bicycle dynamo (as it's normally called over here' is in fact a magneto.... -tony

18 years, 6 months

That poor System/36

by compoobah＠valleyimplants.com

> I really want something bigger and something that just screams "I'm > dimming your lights!". A crimson running off a serial terminal does > not seem to cut it for me. IBM is a different mindset at the mini/mainframe levels than UNIX-type systems, and hobbyists suffer from the fact that IBM does not court the hobbyist market. Notice that I did not say it was a worse mindset, just different, nor did I imply that any company must bend over backwards for the hobbyist. IBM minis are optimized for database, accounting and semi-mainframe type tasks, too, and there are many pitfalls and booby traps in place to prevent horrible and unscrupulous people from buying them secondhand without giving IBM their cut, at least on the AS/400 level. You might want to look at one of the heftier VAXen or Alphas running VMS- different from UNIX and bulletproof, but still from within the same "interactive terminal" mindset. The OpenVMS Hobbyist program and the availability of free/low cost documentation and help is a big plus there, too. A VAX 7000 or AlphaServer 4k series will dim the lights on a branch circuit, definitely, and if that doesn't cut it you can plug in a couple of LaserJet IIISIs. Note that dim lights = low voltage = bad news for extended operation of SMPSUs, though :). Be patient: RealityEngines happen.

18 years, 6 months

That poor system/36

by ballsandy＠msn.com

>My 8809 came from a tire store. I is probably just spare parts now, >because it is covered with brake grinding debris. Oh that can't be healthy to the drive. hmm, I wonder if the will ever replace those systems soon? They have been in use for almost two decades now however inventory work does not mean graphics so they might stick with whatever they have until it finally gives the ghost. _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with free Messenger emoticons. Get them today! http://www.freemessengeremoticons.ca/?icid=EMENCA122

18 years, 6 months

4004 and IC history / was Re: Vintage computer photogallery

by RodSmallwood＠mail.ediconsulting.co.uk

I'm sure I saw a development system at DEC for the 4004 running on a PDP-8 circa 1975. Rod Smallwood -----Original Message----- From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Roy J. Tellason Sent: 13 October 2007 19:41 To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: 4004 and IC history / was Re: Vintage computer photogallery On Saturday 13 October 2007 05:13, Brent Hilpert wrote: > Can't remember where I read it, but it seemed plausible for the time > the > 4004 was being developed (1970), also that it was compounded by > management's perceptions that the 4004 was a little business on the > side and not willing to invest much in it, memory chips still being the focus. > On the other hand, I wonder what packages the original Busicom designs > utilised - that Intel would otherwise have been obligated to produce - > one would expect, or typically, they would be larger. (The 4040 would > go to a larger package, of course.) Having heard of the 4004 of course, I know basically nothing about it. Except that it's the part that was supposed to have started all this... And the 4040? I've only seen mention of it now and then. (Snip) > Perhaps not speed as an issue but you were wired into the small family > of chips that understood the highly specific machine/bus cycle, at > least until the 4008/9 came along that broke out the address/data busses. 4008/9? First I've heard of these at all. Can you give any sort of a general overview of what those parts were all about? I remember very little about the 8008, it having appeared in that Radio-Electronics article way back when. I do remember, even after the 8080 article in Popular Electronics came out, not thinking very much of microprocessors for quite a while. They seemed limited, it appeared that you had to really go through a lot to fit your thinking and way of doing things to what they could handle, and it took me quite a while before I got to the point where I got a really good grip on the tradeoffs involved, like low package count, etc. :-) -- Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and ablest -- form of life in this section of space, ?a critter that can be killed but can't be tamed. ?--Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters" - Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James M Dakin

18 years, 6 months

Web Rings

by marvin＠west.net

It seems that there are a number of websites and listservers for classic computers. Have any of you who run such sites looked at forming a WebRing? It would certainly be easier to have an up-to-date webring resource than having to wade through Google search results. I, for one, would enjoy being able to go to one site to find sites that contain information I'm looking for!

18 years, 6 months

DOS lives (was: Taken: AT 286 motherboard with mathco)

by dm561＠torfree.net

-------------Original Message(s): Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:11:33 -0700 From: "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com> Subject: Re: Taken: AT 286 motherboard with mathco On 17 Oct 2007 at 9:30, Jim Leonard wrote: > Ethan Dicks wrote: > > I do *not* miss the days of DOS. > > I do, since it was simpler and easier to gain complete access to the > hardware. You can still do so in other operating systems, but DOS+Debug > remains one of my favorite environments to poke around in. Ditto here. Not much of a problem running DOS 7.x for FAT-32 with DOSLFN to give long filename support. With a faster disk, an otherwise unusuable (under WinXP) system can turn in very decent performance. And using a 32-bit DPMI server to run 32-bit command- line applications can turn in very good results indeed--while not putting a wall between the hardware and your applications. A lot of Linux has even been getting bloated enough to adversely affect performanc on many P1 systems, particularly when one of the graphics desktops is involved. Cheers, Chuck -------------Reply: Count me in! Dos7.x on a modern system is sweet; fast, stable as a rock and lots of time-tested *useful* utilities out there as well to make it even better. Hook it up to your network and who could ask for more; now if only there were drivers for some of the newer peripherals... Thanks, BillG! <ducks>. m

18 years, 6 months

yet another logic family?

by rtellason＠verizon.net

I've just encountered some datasheets for parts that I've never heard of before -- 74ABTxxx parts. The lack of a "C" in there would seem to indicate TTL of some sort but looking at the datasheet the power supply current would seem to indicate CMOS of some sort, it's in the uA range. Anybody ever encountered these before? What can you tell me about them if so? I note that packaging seems to be _only_ surface-mount styles. -- Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and ablest -- form of life in this section of space, ?a critter that can be killed but can't be tamed. ?--Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters" - Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James M Dakin

18 years, 6 months

Emailing: Universal Floppy reader, was Re Extracting CDOS and CP-M) files

by lynchaj＠yahoo.com

18 years, 6 months

MAI cable -anybody want it?

by dm561＠torfree.net

>Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:21:16 -0700 >From: Marvin Johnston <marvin at west.net> >Subject: VCF on November 4,5 <Snip> >The rational is that I frequently find cables and don't know if they are worth >saving or just scraping out, and I think others would benefit as well. Ugh - scraping out... sounds most unpleasant and not very rational at that... Speaking of cables, I've got one here from a previous life marked MAI Tape. 50-pin 3-row AMP DB??-type male connectors with 34 pins used (11,12,11). Anybody have a use for it before it gets 'scraped'? m

18 years, 6 months

That poor system/36

by ballsandy＠msn.com

18 years, 6 months

Jump to page:

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

test-drb