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101090 discussions

Computers with ports coming out the front?

by cb＠mythtech.net

>I am trying to identify various computers that have had their ports >situated in the front of the chassis as opposed to the back. > >The Atari 800 would be one example (game ports in the front). Are there >any other examples anyone can think of, especially where peripheral (disk, >printer) or perhaps network ports are concerned? Didn't the IBM PCjr have two aux sockets on the front for game cartridges and I thought there was a printer interface that could use those sockets, and a floppy drive interface as well (could be wrong). And of course Mac's up to the Mac Plus have the keyboard port in the front, as well as I have seen some old PC clones like that (but I suspect that isn't exactly what you are looking for). -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

23 years, 3 months

The ACE is recovering :-)

by philpem＠dsl.pipex.com

Hi all, I've finally found the glitch in my Jupiter Ace. When the power supply was momentarily reversed (and applied to the I/O port), the CPU (a NEC D780C) and one of the RAMs (NatSemi MM2114) packed up. After replacing the CPU with a spare (OK, I pinched it out of a Toshiba HX-10 MSX), I've managed to perform a bit of testing. With the CPU out, everything looked good. When I powered up and probed all the data and I/O lines, D7 was locked to 0V and D6 was sitting at around 2.5V. Obviously, something was overloading the Z80's data bus, causing it to overheat significantly. After removing the RAM (and nearly pulling up four pads), the Z80 seems to be running fine. RFSH is pulsing, as are M1 and CLK. The data and address lines look OK on my scope, too. So, it looks like the Z80 bit the dust when the PSU touched the I/O port, then it proceeded to dump 9V into D6 and D7. After that, it let out the magic smoke. Thankfully both ROMs (TMS2532s - TI's clone of the 2732) seem to be OK. The only "interesting" thing is that the current draw is around 500mA with everything except one of the RAMs and the CPU fitted. With the CPU (a Sharp LH0080A) fitted, the current consumption rises to approx. 620mA. Can someone with a working Ace please check the current consumption of their unit for me? Later. -- Phil. philpem(a)dsl.pipex.com http://www.philpem.dsl.pipex.com/

23 years, 3 months

Mac SE/30 monitor

by drido＠optushome.com.au

>perhaps a bit uncommon question, but does anyone in (preferrably middle) >Europe have a 9" crt tube for Mac SE/30? I suppose it's the same as in >SE, the box definitely looks the same. I've broken mine by accident, and >really would like to use this box ;) The CRT from an SE would work. Mono CRTs such as these are usually interchangable (at least the ones that I have changed), but if you use one >from a different (ie, not a Mac SE or SE/30) you'll probable have to change to yoke which may be more than you want a do (though on a mono display alignment is pretty easy). My first Mac was a Plus that has been dropped, I replaced the CRT with an Amber one removed from a luggable XT. It was the same size, mounting and pinout. The yoke from the original CRT fit okay.

23 years, 3 months

OT: Detachable Penis (was Re: 1977 Apple II for sale.)

by cb＠mythtech.net

>> > He had to talk the guy down in price but he got it and went home >> > and put it back on, relieved he didn't have to sit down to pee anymore. >> >> "... for a dollar ninety-nine!" > >You must be thinking of a different song. He talked him down from $22 to >$17. Seymore Crelbourn bought Audry 2 "for a dollar ninety-nine" -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

23 years, 3 months

Computer Audio Tape Formats

by dwightk.elvey＠amd.com

>From: pete(a)dunnington.u-net.com > >On Dec 17, 20:11, John Lawson wrote: >> Sheeesh!!! No excuse for posting before checking references.... >> >> Another Senior Moment > >We're all having them tonight, it seems :-) > While I can get a senior discount at restaurants, that doesn't mean I'm having a senior moment. Does it? Dwight

23 years, 4 months

Computers with ports coming out the front?

by cb＠mythtech.net

> I submit for your consideration, the "Gyro Mouse"... having gyros on >the two axes - the object being you hold it in mid-air and wave it around >to move the cursor, etc. (It was wired, BTW) > > I saw one years ago, had to have it, and soon found out it's obvious >design flaw... you try keeping your arm and hand and mouse off the desk >for hours at a time.... I don't think the Gyro Mouse was ever meant as a normal mouse replacement. I think it was meant for doing presentations, where you would most likely not have a surface to run the mouse over as you would be standing in the front of some group, and could do nothing more than wave your hand. In that context, the design was fantastic... but yeah, I think it would have been a PITA to use in place of a normal mouse. >PS: People who use mice have clean desks, and Y'll know what *that* is a >sign of. Gimme a nice trackball, any day.... I use a mouse (two of them, one for my Mac, one for my PC), also have two keyboards... but I hardly have a clean desk... I have just barely enough room to move the mice on a pad (at current, I have my soda cup sitting on the corner of the pad as it was the only clear spot on my desk). I just turn the mouse tracking speed WAY up, so that I can cover the screen with just a slight flick of the wrist. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

23 years, 4 months

Computers with ports coming out the front?

by Robert_Feldman＠jdedwards.com

I've always thought that the proper place for ports on a _desk-top_ system is on the side: easy to get to the ports and you don't have the cable connectors sticking out the back, where they add to the depth, which can be a problem on a narrow countertop. When I built my first IBM-PC clone (in a nice cherry-stained wooden case), I turned the motherboard 90 degrees CW so the ports were on the right. I also made brackets from cookie-sheet aluminum to mount the disk drives and power supply over the (now) front of the motherboard, resulting in a nice, shallow case. Bob -----Original Message----- From: Sellam Ismail [mailto:foo@siconic.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 5:45 AM To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Computers with ports coming out the front? On Tue, 17 Dec 2002, Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) wrote: > On a machine that doesn't sustain much floppy activity, > (or uses external drives), if you face the disk drives towards the back, > then the ports on your PC are out front where God intended. Indeed, a friend of mine who owns a business that makes rackmount systems made a special model for a customer where they pretty much did this. They put the mounting flange on the back of the box, making it the front, and added cut-outs for the disk drives. Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org * Old computing resources for business and academia at www.VintageTech.com *

23 years, 4 months

Computers with ports coming out the front?

by Robert_Feldman＠jdedwards.com

There was an article on scratch-building models in a recent Model Railroad Craftsman magazine that said that, no matter how big your work bench, sooner or later, you'll end up with about two square feet of usable, clear workspace. BTW, I use an arcade model track ball that was a prototype for a museum exhibit installation 10 years ago (and thus on topic). I've only needed to oil the bearings once, about 6 months ago. Never had to clean it. Try that with a mouse! Bob -----Original Message----- From: chris [mailto:cb@mythtech.net] Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 1:39 PM To: Classic Computer Subject: RE: Computers with ports coming out the front? <snip> >PS: People who use mice have clean desks, and Y'll know what *that* is a >sign of. Gimme a nice trackball, any day.... I use a mouse (two of them, one for my Mac, one for my PC), also have two keyboards... but I hardly have a clean desk... I have just barely enough room to move the mice on a pad (at current, I have my soda cup sitting on the corner of the pad as it was the only clear spot on my desk). I just turn the mouse tracking speed WAY up, so that I can cover the screen with just a slight flick of the wrist. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net

23 years, 4 months

working 11/70s available for $$$, one w/PEP-70 & hypercache

by uban＠ubanproductions.com

Hello, I just scored a PEP-70/Hypercache pair from a guy on eBay and in my conversations with him, I've learned that he has a couple of working 11/70s, one with conventional MOS memory and the other with a PEP-70/Hypercache pair. He is a dealer and I have no association with him other than my eBay purchase. He seems like a nice enough fellow and these things are not getting any easier to find. So, for those who are inclined to spend money on their hobby computers instead of on PCs, here is the info. DaveM(a)systechaz.com 602-437-0100 Happy Holidays! --tom

23 years, 4 months

AMD2901CDC chip available

by ken＠seefried.com

From: Ethan Dicks <erd_6502(a)yahoo.com> > > In particular, I recognize > the 2910 as appearing on the Tandon SASI<->ST506 board in the Commodore > D9060 and D9090 drives. ISTR it's much like the 2901 but wider than 4 > bits - kind of an integrated building block for those designers who are > more concerned with real estate than extracting every last feature the > 2901 has to offer, i.e., a compact short-cut. Nope, 2910 is a microprogram address sequencer for the 2901 series. There are, however, a number of "2901 with more bits" chips, however. The IDT IDT49402/IDT49410A is the equivalent of 4 2901 slices (16-bits) + the apropos microprogram sequencer logic. Cypress had the CY7C9101, which was similar. WSI had the WS59032, which consisted of 8 2901 equivalents. Innovasic has the IA59032, which is an ASIC reimplimentation of the WSI chip and is still availible. Ken

23 years, 4 months

Old TI analog sound chip; info? [THANKS]

by root＠parse.com

Thanks to all who replied, it was the 76477 chip I was thinking of, and thanks for the links to the PDF files! Appreciate it! Cheers, -RK -- Looking for Digital Equipment Corp. PDP-1 through PDP-15 minicomputers! Robert Krten, PARSE Software Devices +1 613 599 8316. Realtime Systems Architecture, Consulting and Training at www.parse.com

23 years, 4 months

OT: NCR 6299 Raid subsystems

by pat＠purdueriots.com

I've got a bunch of NCR (Symbios) Class 6299 Model 1100 raid subsystems, and they have a DA-15 console port, for which I can't find any pinout information. Does anyone have a pinout available or information on these? I've tried googling everything I could think of, but no luck. I know the information is in their 'Site Preparation Guide', which Purdue had, but got lost. Also, NCR doesn't seem to carry documentation for these on their website. Thanks for any information. Pat -- Purdue Universtiy ITAP/RCS Information Technology at Purdue Research Computing and Storage http://www-rcd.cc.purdue.edu

23 years, 4 months

connecting 33 to PDP-8

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 17, 21:40, Charles wrote: > I have a PDP-8/I and a Model 33 but there are no connectors at > all. The serial interface card (? M709) is there and if I run > clipleads to the appropriate pins on its backplane socket with a > series resistor to +12v it works, both keyboard and printer. > > What pieces am I missing? The above discussion is beyond my > current understanding of DEC interconnect hardware. Should there > be a card that plugs into the backplane somewhere, that has a > pigtail hanging from it, or what? If so, what part number should I > be searching for? There possibly should, but I don't know much about the details of an 8/I. Are there wires running from those pins to another slot? An 8/E is Omnibus, and the serial signals don't appear anywhere on the backplane, so the only access is via the Berg connector on the (quad height) interface card. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

23 years, 4 months

Computer Audio Tape Formats

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 17, 15:58, Sellam Ismail wrote: > On Wed, 18 Dec 2002 pete(a)dunnington.u-net.com wrote: > > > I think the Commodore PET uses modified CUTS. It records each block > > twice, which is why it's relatively slow, but also pretty robust. > > If it records each block twice, and one block is bad, which of the two do > you trust? > > (Or is there a checksum involved too?) The one with the good checksum, I expect. There is a check of some sort, but I don't know the details. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

23 years, 4 months

Valuable MicroVAX-II (?)

by healyzh＠aracnet.com

> >>I'd expect that for one with a SCSI Qbus module, but this system seems > >>rather vanilla, except for the multiple RD54s. > >> > >>Who'd a thunk it? As has been pointed out, someone is most likely after the 3 RD54's. The thing to remember is that there are still systems being used commercially, or by the Government that use these drives. The cost of qualifying different hardware to move to SCSI far outweighs the cost of obtaining RD54's. > >Anyone have any ideas as to why most BA123s are missing the door that > >covers the operator's panel? Is it just easily broken and lost? > > > > > I think they were shipped broken. You had to be very careful using > that door, or the pegs (hinges) would break off. Since all the intresting > buttons were under the door, it needed to be opened fairly frequently. I had one that was intact. The top peg that holds it in place and makes up the hinge is now broken. I'm still ticked off at my Mother over that one. I had the panel off, and she knocked it over on a hardwood floor. The result, the peg broke off. :^( That was a few years ago, I've still got the peg, and one of these years I'll try and patch it. Zane

23 years, 4 months

OT: Detachable Penis (was Re: 1977 Apple II for sale.)

by cb＠mythtech.net

>> Seymore Crelbourn bought Audry 2 "for a dollar ninety-nine" > >Thank Dog google knows what to do with misspelled search terms. It's >"Seymour Krelborn bought Audrey 2" Yeah, I figured when I was writing it that I was spelling his name wrong... what I didn't expect was that he got Audry 2 for 4 cents cheaper than I said... he bought it from the old Chinese man for a dollar ninety-five (that fact dawned on me later as I had the song stuck in my head). -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

23 years, 4 months

connecting 33 to PDP-8

by Qstieee＠aol.com

This document talks about the jumper options on the KL8E: <A HREF="http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/pdp8/hard8e/kl8e.html">http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/pdp8/hard8e/kl8e.html</A> There is also good information and a knowledgeable contact at: <A HREF="http://www.pdp8.net">http://www.pdp8.net</A>

23 years, 4 months

connecting 33 to PDP-8

by charlesmorris＠direcway.com

On Tue, 17 Dec 2002 16:11:32 -0600, you wrote: >> The -8/E has an M8650 (KL8E) which I've been using with RS232. However, >> I have 40-way Berg connectors, and the proper AMP flat 8-way Mate-N-Lok >> connector shells for the 20mA loop, and the male and female pins... > >Sounds like you have the basics covered. Don't forget the short jumper >wire at the Berg end that directs the TTL output of the KL8E shift >register to the 20mA output circuit. It's a different loop than the >one you should have right now on your EIA cable. I have a PDP-8/I and a Model 33 but there are no connectors at all. The serial interface card (? M709) is there and if I run clipleads to the appropriate pins on its backplane socket with a series resistor to +12v it works, both keyboard and printer. What pieces am I missing? The above discussion is beyond my current understanding of DEC interconnect hardware. Should there be a card that plugs into the backplane somewhere, that has a pigtail hanging from it, or what? If so, what part number should I be searching for? thanks Charles

23 years, 4 months

Detachable Penis (was Re: 1977 Apple II for sale.)

by Fred.van.Kempen＠microwalt.nl

And yes, we do have the MP3 of that available.. :) --f > -----Original Message----- > From: Sellam Ismail [mailto:foo@siconic.com] > Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 11:40 AM > To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org > Subject: OT: Detachable Penis (was Re: 1977 Apple II for sale.) > > > On Tue, 17 Dec 2002, Cameron Kaiser wrote: > > > > He had to talk the guy down in price but he got it and went home > > > and put it back on, relieved he didn't have to sit down > to pee anymore. > > > > "... for a dollar ninety-nine!" > > You must be thinking of a different song. He talked him down > from $22 to > $17. > > Lyrics here: > > http://www.lyricsfreak.com/k/king-missile/16758.htm > > :) > > Sellam Ismail Vintage > Computer Festival > -------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------------- > International Man of Intrigue and Danger > http://www.vintage.org > > * Old computing resources for business and academia at www.VintageTech.com *

23 years, 4 months

Fw: New home for DEC 3000 model 300LX [Norway]

by rschaefe＠gcfn.org

A little far for me to drive... Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: "Arne Bergseth" <Arne.Bergseth(a)dnv.com> Newsgroups: comp.os.vms Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 3:13 PM Subject: New home for DEC 3000 model 300LX > DEC 3000 model 300 available for VMS hobbyist. > Workstation with Alpha 21064 processor, 64 MB memory and 1.05 GB disk, > has been taken out of use and need a new home. > I already have more than I can accomodate. > The machine is located in Norway, the system box can possibly be shipped > by mail if you are willing to cover the postage. > If you also want the VRC21-HA monitor you will have to come get it in > Sandvika in Norway. > > Regards, > Arne Bergseth >

23 years, 4 months

Computer Audio Tape Formats

by dwightk.elvey＠amd.com

>From: pete(a)dunnington.u-net.com > >On Dec 18, 0:37, pete@mindy wrote: > >> "101100" at 1200, you'll see it's actually a Manchester code: >> >> __ _____ __ __ _____ >> | |__| |__| |__| |_____| | >> >> --1-- --0-- --1-- --1-- --0-- --0-- > >Oops, I take that back :-) Although the Sorcerer manuals describe it as a >Manchester encoder/decoder, what it puts on the tape is FSK. I just >checked the schematic and circuit description. > >Dwight hasn't exactly described Manchester encoding either, though. > Manchester encoding puts the clock transition in the *centre* of each >cell, and the polarity of the transition determines whether it's a 0 or a >1. There's a phase shift at the cell boundary if necessary. His diagram >*could* be Manchester encoding if you shift the 0s and 1s slightly to the >left, except for the last bit. It should be (maybe 'd' for "down" and 'u' >for "up" makes it more obvious): > > ___ _ ___ _ ___ > |___| |_| |_| |___| > > -0- -1- -1- -0- -0- -1- > d u u d d u > >It's too late at night here, for any more of this :-) Hi Pete Yes, you are correct. The difference in the Poly format was between RZ vers NRZ. I think Manchester only refers to the clocking, as you described. Dwight > >-- >Pete Peter Turnbull > Network Manager > University of York >

23 years, 4 months

Need a home for some HP gear - UK.

by tim.myers＠protasis.co.uk

I need to find a home for 2 HP Laboratory Automation Systems. They realy need to be moved before the end of the year (or I need a firm commitment to remove them very early in the new year), or they're going to have to go in the skip, much as this pains me. The systems are HP3350 Laboratory Automation Systems, each consists of: HP-1000 F Series Computer, HP 12990B Memory Extender HP 12979B 1/O Extender HP 7970E Tape Drive 2xHP 7925 Disk Drives Each system is housed in 2 19" racks. I also have 1xHP2608A printer, 3xHP2393A terminals, and an HP-1000 A700 machine (also in a 19" rack), lots of documentation, and tapes. You'll have to collect them, or pay my costs for hiring a van and a mate to deliver (within a reasonable distance) them to you (which I'm happy to do over the Christmas Period), and they'll need to go on the ground floor, unless you have a lift. I'm not making any charge for these systems. Collection from Ellesmere Port, Wirral. If you need pictures etc., I can mail then to you. You can call me on 07980 859 383 to discuss if required. I've not much time at the moment, so I can't monitor the list, so please email me at tim.myers(a)protasisREMOVEME.co.uk if you're interested. I'd hate for these to go in the skip, but I have to clear the place theyr'e in, and have no storage of my own. I'm also Ebaying my PDP-11/73s complete with VT-320s. Tim.

23 years, 4 months

Computer Audio Tape Formats

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 17, 20:11, John Lawson wrote: > Sheeesh!!! No excuse for posting before checking references.... > > Another Senior Moment We're all having them tonight, it seems :-) -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

23 years, 4 months

Computer Audio Tape Formats

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 18, 0:37, pete@mindy wrote: > "101100" at 1200, you'll see it's actually a Manchester code: > > __ _____ __ __ _____ > | |__| |__| |__| |_____| | > > --1-- --0-- --1-- --1-- --0-- --0-- Oops, I take that back :-) Although the Sorcerer manuals describe it as a Manchester encoder/decoder, what it puts on the tape is FSK. I just checked the schematic and circuit description. Dwight hasn't exactly described Manchester encoding either, though. Manchester encoding puts the clock transition in the *centre* of each cell, and the polarity of the transition determines whether it's a 0 or a 1. There's a phase shift at the cell boundary if necessary. His diagram *could* be Manchester encoding if you shift the 0s and 1s slightly to the left, except for the last bit. It should be (maybe 'd' for "down" and 'u' for "up" makes it more obvious): ___ _ ___ _ ___ |___| |_| |_| |___| -0- -1- -1- -0- -0- -1- d u u d d u It's too late at night here, for any more of this :-) -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

23 years, 4 months

Computers with ports coming out the front?

by vassilip＠dsl.cis.upenn.edu

I am amazed that Tony didn't mention this, but the BBC micro had a number of expansion connectors under the keyboard facing towards the front of the machine. To access these ports, you had to lift the whole machine and plug IDC terminated ribbon cables. As I recall, you had the 1MHz expansion bus, the printer port, the Tube (2nd processor bus) and a disk interface connector. You also had a power output connector allowing you to power external devices (e.g. external floppies). The HP Integral PC also had two connectors on the front. These were HIL connectors for low-speed input devices (keyboard, mouse, digitizing tablet, etc). **vp

23 years, 4 months

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