test-drb

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

101090 discussions

by Lists＠joules.org

Due to a move to a smaller house, I am having to consider letting go of some of my toys :( The following is available, free to a good home: 2 Sun 386i (boxes only, no HDD dead or dying NVRAM) 2 x PDP11 rackmount CPUs 2 BBC Bs Other stuff may be available as I move and find out how little space I have in my computer room. -- Regards Pete "Time flies like an arrow and fruit flies like a banana"

23 years, 10 months

E&S things

by pat＠purdueriots.com

First, a question. I've got a pair of E&S digitizer tablets, twiddle boxes, and keyboards. The tablets are supposedly RS-232 and use an 8pin minidin. Is that the same type as Macs and Sun IPCs use? If not, does anyone know a pinout? The twiddle boxes and keyboards use 'RJ45' 8-pin modular connectors. Does anyone have the pinout for those, and know if they're just RS-232 or ...? I have a single box that will take a few peripherals plugged into it (kb, mouse, digitizer, twiddle box, other things I don't have), and connect to the E&S PS/390 I'm guessing. Anyone have a pinout for the 'uplink' connector on that? I think the connector is a DB25F, so it might just be plain RS-232 (which is my hope). Next: I've got some stuff I got that I have no use for. First offer for $10 + box + shipping gets each item. (Covers what I paid for them) Item 1: E&S PS/390 'scope' monitor cables. 9-track 10" magtape that is the VAX host software for interfacing with the PS-390s. A pair of 5.25" floppy disks that are copies of the software that runs on the PS-390s. If you're intersted, I can see what the label exactly reads Item 2: Manual: PS 390 Advanced Programming (marked AP) Manual: PS 390 Reference Material (RM) Manual: PS 390 Graphics Tutorial (GT) Manual: PS 390 Introduction and Support (IS) Manual: PS 390 Tools and Techniques (TT) All the manuals are in binders and are thick and heavy. Thanks -- Pat

23 years, 10 months

E&S things

by mythtech＠mac.com

>The tablets are supposedly RS-232 and use an 8pin minidin. Is that the >same type as Macs and Sun IPCs use? The Mac Plus and beyond use an 8 pin miniDin for serial. Also, the AV quadras, and many of the PowerMacs use a 9 pin miniDin (same pinout as the 8 pin, but with an extra 9th pin added that IIRC, just carries voltage for powering "GeoPort" devices). The 9 pin version is backwards compatible with 8 pin cables/devices. The Mac pinout is pretty well documented, and a quick search on Google should turn up a number of hits (if you have a problem finding a pinout, let me know, I have it here somewhere). -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

23 years, 10 months

Any Prime collectors out there?

by csmith＠amdocs.com

> -----Original Message----- > From: Ethan Dicks [mailto:erd_6502@yahoo.com] > A buddy of mine gave me this external Exabyte drive in a Prime SCSI [snip] > If this sounds familiar to anyone, speak up. It's amazingly heavy, > even with the drive/drive-cage removed. I suspect the PSU is > linear and that there's 3kg of iron laminate in the back! Well, my Prime (still in new england right now) is supposed to have one of these. Doug Q. might be able to tell you something about it ;) Chris Christopher Smith, Perl Developer Amdocs - Champaign, IL "Confutatis maledictus, flammis acribus addictus, voca me cum benedictis. Oro supplex et acclinis, cor contritunt quasi cinis, gere curarn mei finis." -Requiem

23 years, 10 months

Any Prime collectors out there?

by erd_6502＠yahoo.com

A buddy of mine gave me this external Exabyte drive in a Prime SCSI cabinet - it's about twice as long as you'd expect, but about the same crossection as anyone's external dual-height 5.25" enclosure. Inside, two screws hold a unit in place that pops out - some kind of Prime quick-change connector arrangement - a 50-pin SCSI connector and a strange bakelite power connector that have huge locator pins for when you slide the drive home. If this sounds familiar to anyone, speak up. It's amazingly heavy, even with the drive/drive-cage removed. I suspect the PSU is linear and that there's 3kg of iron laminate in the back! -ethan __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com

23 years, 10 months

[CCTECH] VT525 questions?

by jimw＠agora.rdrop.com

Greetings; Just picked up a handful of VT525 terminals, and have a couple of questions. (can't find a darn hardware manual online for this thing) 1) What is the front opening 'cartridge slot' for? 2) anyone have any DEC LK461 keyboards available? Thanks; -jim --- jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw _______________________________________________ cctech mailing list cctech(a)classiccmp.org http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctech

23 years, 10 months

HP 9826 and 9836 BASIC manuals available in UK

by celigne＠celigne.freeserve.co.uk

I've stumbled across two ring binders containing the following manuals: 09826-90010, "BASIC Programming Techniques for the HP 9826 and 9836 Computers", February 1982 09826-90055, "BASIC Language Reference for the HP 9826 and 9836 Computers", February 1982 They are no use to me, so they can be yours for the cost of postage. Excluding the binders, they weigh less than 2.5kg. Any swaps for terminal documentation would be most welcome. - Paul

23 years, 10 months

FS: Mac OS & Docs in shrinkwrap

by doc＠mdrconsult.com

I found this at the thrift store today & grabbed it, but I figure one of the serious Mac collectors will get more enjoyment from it than I would. So, I'll see if there's any interest here before putting it out on eBay. Can you say "Ultr@R@RE!!"? If you're interested, make me an offer off-list. Since it's sealed, I can't tell much about it. It is 2 spiral-bound books in a sleeve, with 2-4 3.5" floppies inside the sleeve front and back. The front of the sleeve is forest green with white foreground. "Macintosh" is printed up the right edge. The Apple logo appears at top left, and below that is: Includes: Getting Started With Your Macintosh Macintosh Reference System Software Disks The reverse side is white background w/ black print, with three overlapping screenshots (B&W) of the Mac desktop. In print: Macintosh System Software The disks in this package contain the latest version of the Macintosh System Software. For more information about installing and protecting the information on these disks, see the setup instructions in the #1 book and the *Macintosh Reference*. [ * * = in italics] The books in this package cover information common t all models of Macintosh computers. *Getting Started With Your Macintosh* is a tutorial,intended for new Macintosh users, that describes how to do basic Macintosh tasks. The *Macintosh Reference* is a comprehensive hardware and system software reference book; it is designed to help all users locate "how to" information quickly and easily. ________________ | | | | | _______|_______ | | | --------| | [Screenshots w/no "Finder" icon or | _______|______ clock at top right] | | | -------| | | | | | -------------- "914-0520-A" is printed in the lower-right corner. Doc

23 years, 10 months

WTD: Microprocessor trainers/SBCs

by philpem＠dsl.pipex.com

Hi, I've been bitten by the collecting bug - I've got three "vintage" computers and now I want more... Sooo... Anyone got any single-board computers/microprocessor trainers they can bear to part with? I'm aiming for the following SBCs in particular, but I'm interested in anything that's either single board or fairly small (interconnected Eurocards? Think "Acorn" then think "System 1"). And now for the wants list: Synertek SYM-1 or SY-VIM-1 MOS KIM-1 Rockwell AIM65 (with or without printer, with or without case) Compukit UK101 Anyone with any of these machines fancy parting with them? Thanks. -- Phil. philpem(a)dsl.pipex.com http://www.philpem.dsl.pipex.com/

23 years, 10 months

WTD: Datasheets for old Sierra modem ICs

by philpem＠dsl.pipex.com

Hi, I've just finished pulling an old Sierra Semiconductor FSK modem chipset off an old modem board and I've hit a brick wall - I can't get any datasheets. Sierra (now known as PMC-Sierra) don't have the datasheets, their disti (Memec) don't have them... The only site/company that does have them is FreeTradeZone (www.freetradezone.com), but I don't fancy paying $10,000 per year for maybe two or three datasheets a year. BTW, the ICs are: SC11011 SC11026 SC22201 Anyone got datasheets for these things lying around? Finally, anyone know how to straighten pins on a QFP packaged IC without breaking them? I've got a Motorola DSP (QFP100 package) but I managed to bend some of the pins when I desoldered it... Thanks. -- Phil. philpem(a)dsl.pipex.com http://www.philpem.dsl.pipex.com/

23 years, 10 months

I hate Radio Shack

by acme_ent＠bellsouth.net

> From: Bill Bradford <mrbill(a)mrbill.net> > Exactly what I've been looking for.. but can anyone recommend similar > companies in the US, with similar stuff for sale? Check the MCM catalog under "Reference and Education." They sell a wide variety of educational single-purpose kits, and two or three of the "zillion-in-one" variety. Caution: they aren't cheap. Nothing MCM sells anymore is cheap, with the exception of semiconductors. Glen 0/0

23 years, 10 months

[OT] measuring DC wall wart

by mythtech＠mac.com

>What reasons for using water dimmers and how big they're like? I think the reason was simply lack of a better design at the time.

23 years, 10 months

[OT] measuring DC wall wart

by mythtech＠mac.com

>It works better if you use AC, since then you don't get (permanent) >electrolysis of the solution. If you want a safe demonstration, use a few >volts AC from a double-wound transformer. Since I only needed it to work for a few minutes to show the concept, I knew I could get away with the MUCH safer DC current (at least much safer in the eyes of the collage and their liability insurance. It's easy to convince someone they won't be electrocuted by playing with water and a 9 volt battery... not as easy to convince them of that with anything that plugs into a wall). And to get it to work again really only involved pulling the metal plates out of the jar, rubbing them clean, and then replacing the water with a fresh batch of tap water and salt. So it did well for its purpose, and the teacher was happy that he could keep it and "reset" it to show other classes. >Although, as I am sure you know, these 'water dimmers' were used (in my >lifetime, just) for full-sized theatre lights, running directly off the >mains. Topping them up when live was dangerous. As was finding the darn >things nearly boiling during a play. Yup... we were studying different dimmer technologies that have been around. The one I wanted to make, but couldn't get to work right (probably not enough power, and I wasn't about to start messing with the levels needed), was "carbon nail" dimmers, for lack of the correct term that I can't think of right now (and all my theater books are in my parent's basement, so I can't look them up). These were pretty much the direct design predecessor to slightly more modern resistance dimmers. The concept was a whole bunch of nails were driven into a wheel, and they all hit a center wheel where the power wire was attached. Based on which nail the circuit was completed thru, the power had to go thru more and more of the only slightly conductive metal, so the lights got brighter and dimmer as you rolled the wheel and changed which nail was the contact point. Apparently, they were rather dangerous, as the nails all had some carbon powder on them, and it would flake off and release as a dust as they were used. The nails also had a tendency to go bad while in use, and you had to pull out the old one, and hammer in a new one. That could cause much shorting (usually thru the person wielding the hammer), and tended to cause the fine carbon powder to flash. Can't say I have any personal experience with them, so the above "dangers" are purely what I remember reading in the books. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

23 years, 10 months

Fwd: Hercules InColor Card needed

by jhellige＠earthlink.net

Here's something I just got...maybe someone here can help him out. Jeff >Status: U >Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 19:42:00 -0400 >From: "Eric Einem" <hopeful(a)einem.us> >To: <jhellige(a)earthlink.net> >Subject: Hercules InColor Card needed > >Dear Jeff Hellinge, > >Hercules InColor Card needed. > >I am in need of five Hercules InColor EGA Cards (P/N GB222). I am >willing to pay $100 each for one or more. > >Do you have any of these adaptors you could sell? > >Thanks, > >Eric Einem >CSTS, Inc >hopeful(a)einem.us >714-961-2787 ext. 208 -- Home of the TRS-80 Model 2000 FAQ File http://www.cchaven.com http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lakes/6757

23 years, 10 months

I hate Radio Shack

by mythtech＠mac.com

>Wait a week? The professional electronics suppliers over >here offer next-day service as a matter of routine. If >you pay extra, they'll guarantee to deliver by 9am. > >Do U.S. suppliers not offer that? I know I can get that with MCM Electronics, but usually next day is really next next day (for some reason whenever I try to do next day, they screw it up and it doesn't ship until the next day, making it 2 day delivery). My only problems with dealing with other sources than Rat Shack, is when I need one or two cheap items. Sure, RS charges more for the item, but when I am talking about $2 parts, the shipping alone will cost more than the higher rate RS is charging. The other issue is some mail order warehouses have minimum order prices. So again, when you only need $4 worth of parts, but they have a minimum of $25 orders, RS starts to look better and better. (I can drive 5 minutes to the Mall, ignore the sales drones, pay $6 for $4 worth of items, and get my project done today... or I can mail order the parts, pay $25 for $35 worth of stuff where I only NEED $4 of it right now, plus $7 on shipping, and wait a week, or $25 on shipping and get it "next day", and finish my project in two days to a week). Needless to say, Rat Shack still gets a chunk of my business... although I do try to pool projects so I can make the $25 minimum order, and then just use ground shipping and wait a week. But there are times when that just isn't reasonable to fit my deadlines. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

23 years, 10 months

[CCTECH] WTD: Microprocessor trainers/SBCs

by philpem＠dsl.pipex.com

23 years, 10 months

Replacement tube for IBM 026 Printing Card Punch

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Sellam Ismail <foo(a)siconic.com> wrote: > What is the "comb. keyboard"? Combination? At any rate, maybe I can move > tube #8 into the #6 position and play around with it in that configuration > and see what happens. I'm thinking that 026 and 029 keypunches could be had with several types of keyboards. "Numeric" would only have numeric keys, because if numbers are all you want to punch then giving the operator the ability to easily punch letters and figures opens up all sorts of possibility for error. "Combination" would have a full keyboard that could be used to punch letters and figures as well as numbers. The 029 could be had with two different character sets as well, one commercial and one scientific. The differences were only in the keycap legends and what was printed on top of the card though; the same key positions produced the same punches on both. -Frank McConnell

23 years, 10 months

Replacement tube for IBM 026 Printing Card Punch

by foo＠siconic.com

So I'm off to look for a 25L6 tube for my IBM 026. John Lawson says that the tube is a 25L6 because all the other tubes in the rack are 25L6 types and he believes they are hammer drivers. Not to doubt the venerable Mr. Lawson, since he did used to service these, but I just want to make sure this is in fact the right tube type that goes into the socket that is currently empty. See photo here: http://www.vintage.org/gallery.php?title=IBM%20026%20Printing%20Card%20Card… I'd hate to plug in the wrong tube and then witness volumnious amounts of smoke billow from within the machine. Can someone verify that the 25L6 is indeed the correct tube for the empty socket? Thanks! 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, 10 months

50 & 68 pin SCSI-2

by bob_lafleur＠technologist.com

I've got 50-pin SCSI-2 connectors inside my MicroVAX 3100. Is there a way to use 68-pin devices? The RZ26L and RZ28's in it are 50-pin, but I have some RZ29's that are 68-pin and I'm wondering if there is in adapter? I suspect not, but just asking. If I'm not mistaken, it is possible to "go the other way" and use 50-pin devices on a 68-pin cable with an adapter that terminates that "extra" lines, correct? - Bob

23 years, 10 months

Diagnosing a non-working Mac Performa 476?

by csmith＠amdocs.com

> -----Original Message----- > From: Brian Chase [mailto:vaxzilla@jarai.org] > When I power up the system, with monitor attached, the > internal cooling > fan spins up, the hard drive spins up (and sounds normal), and the > machine chimes what I seem to recall as being the regular > start up sound > for this era of Mac. However, the display remains dark. If > I power off > the Mac, leaving the monitor on, the monitor makes a light > static/crackle noise; it's the sort of sound I normally > associate with a > monitor that's lost the video input signal. I've played with the > brightness and contrast controls without any success. Would you believe that the whole thing may be working? ;) First thing to do would be re-initialize the "parameter RAM." Hit command-alt-p-r on power up. (I have seen corrupted PR cause this kind of problem.) There are also a couple of things that you can (very safely) reset with other hot-keys. You'll have to look them up, though. You might check to see if there's any flash or what not on the monitor when the computer comes on. If the monitor has a power-save mode, and starts up that way, does it turn on at all? ... but now that I read the next paragraph :) > If I switch the other monitor, the behavior is the same. If I switch > from the orginal motherboard to the one I purchased on eBay, the > behavior is the same. It's possible both monitors are bad and/or both Very strange. What's common between the two boards? Do you have, or can you get, a known-good monitor? Are you using the same RAM in both boards? That could be suspect. If you've been plugging the drives back into the board, don't. Take everything out -- including un-used cables -- except what's absolutely necessary. Try again that way. > motherboards are bad. I don't have a multimeter to verify that the > voltages coming out of the PS are correct. Nor do I know This is also a problem. Just a stab in the dark, try blowing the board out. I've seen some strange dust-bunny related problems with macs. :) Make sure there's no way the board can short itself out to ground somewhere... ... and get a multimeter. > that the hard > drive is functional--but I'd assume that nothing needs to be > loaded from > the HD in order to get the display to come up. Nope, but again, take it out, and the floppy, and whatever else (boards, etc) you can. Bad hardware makes computers do funny things. > I'm a bit puzzled, and wondering if anyone here with insight on these > Macs and their displays can give me any additional pointers. Err -- you could also get an adaptor to plug a vga monitor in, and use a monitor you know works, to eliminate that possibility. Chris Christopher Smith, Perl Developer Amdocs - Champaign, IL /usr/bin/perl -e ' print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n"); '

23 years, 10 months

Mac SE/30 (was Re: [CCTECH] New Finds This Week)

by mythtech＠mac.com

>I have one (got the ethernet off of a IIsi that was $5 at the >Uni Surplus depot) I haven't considered NetBSD, though. I _do_ >have a couple of sets of 30-pin 16MB SIMMs - 128MB in an SE/30 >would be fine. :-) Might not be possible. The SE/30 has 8 30 pin slots, and is rated to use a max of 4 MB chips. That gives it a max RAM of 32 MB. But I haven't tried putting more in one, and there are a few Macs out there that will use larger chips, or more RAM than they are rated for, but most will not (they either don't see the larger chips, or they won't access more RAM). -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

23 years, 10 months

Mac SE/30 (was Re: [CCTECH] New Finds This Week)

by mythtech＠mac.com

>> The SE/30 has 8 30 pin slots, and is rated to use a max of 4 MB chips. >> That gives it a max RAM of 32 MB. > >The important word is "rated". No... Apple never rated the SE/30 >for 16MB SIMMs, but various sources claim they work. Humm... good to know. Maybe I'll give it a try some time. >I have had that experience trying to use 64MB 72-pin SIMMs. The reason >it doesn't work is complicated but logical. Is is *possible* to >make a 64MB SIMM work in, say, a 660av, but most of the ones that >happened to have been manufactured have an incompatible refresh scheme. Well, RAM issues aside, some Macs just simply won't look at total memory higher than they are rated for. For example, the LC II supports 4 MB simms, and you can install 2 of them. Added to the 4 MB on the logic board, you have a total of 12 MB installed... but it will only "see" 10 MB of it (this I have tried first hand). And IIRC, I have read that the PM 6400/6500 will support 128 MB chips, but even if you install 2 of them, they will only "see" 128 MB total (I haven't tried despite having a 6500, mine just has 2 64's in it maxing it out). There are other PowerMacs that are supposed to be the same way. But then, there are the ones that it does seem to work with. Like the 7200 that is spec'd for 64 MBs max (total of 256 MB installed), but in fact can use 128 MB chips, and will see the full 512 MB of space. And then there are ones like the PowerBook 1400 that have mixed reports. Some people report being able to go above 64 MB, others say you can't. My guess is both are true, and probably has to do with a board revision. (another that I haven't tried despite having the system) I just tossed the info about the SE/30 out there because I didn't want you to go in blind assuming it would work, and then go nuts trying to figure out why it didn't (if in fact it didn't, but like you have pointed out, there are reports that it will). -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

23 years, 10 months

74S409 (was Re: Anyone have a data sheet on the MC3242?)

by Lee.Davison＠merlincommunications.com

[Driving DRAM] The number of populated banks affected the values of the resistors. You should have split the resistance between banks. Lee. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- This email is intended only for the above named addressee(s). The information contained in this email may contain information which is confidential. The views expressed in this email are personal to the sender and do not in any way reflect the views of the company. If you have received this email and you are not a named addressee please delete it from your system and contact Merlin Communications International IT Department on +44 20 7344 5888. ________________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star Internet. The service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit: http://www.star.net.uk ________________________________________________________________________

23 years, 10 months

China bans toxic American computer junk

by tothwolf＠concentric.net

Didn't see anyone else mention this story, though it isn't exactly front-page news... China bans toxic American computer junk: http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,725756,00.html Maybe this will help save just a few systems... -Toth

23 years, 10 months

China bans toxic American computer junk

by rigdonj＠cfl.rr.com

At 04:57 AM 6/8/02 -0500, you wrote: >On Fri, 7 Jun 2002, Joe wrote: >> At 05:42 PM 6/7/02 -0500, you wrote: >> >> > Didn't see anyone else mention this story, though it isn't exactly >> > front-page news... >> > >> > China bans toxic American computer junk: >> > http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,725756,00.html >> > >> > Maybe this will help save just a few systems... >> >> Yes, but I fear we'll soon be swimming in computer scrap. The amount >> of scrap that we've been exporting is tremendous. > >I guess US companies will have to start dealing with scrap in better ways >now. Of course, it does also mean we might have a better chance to grab >the better parts and systems before they are scrapped. It also seems that >it would be more profitable for companies to sell (or even give away) such >old systems to folks that will give them a home (possibly with a signed >agreement transferring the responsibility for recycling to the new owner) >rather than deal with the scrapping and recycling of it. > >If China's ban works, the better metals will also quit finding their way >out of the US. Better metals!?!?! You MUST be kidding! The metal in 99% computers is about one level above slag. There might be some decent metal in some OLD computers but for every old computer (with or without decent metal) there will be 500 modern (ie made of plastic and tin foil) PCs. I foresee a big boost in the amount of recycled plastic that will be available. The recyclers that I know are currently piling up the steel since it costs more to haul it to a recycling center than it's worth. Most of the *old* systems were made with high grade >aluminum and steel. It appears those are some of the materials (as well as >lots and lots of plastics and lead...) that are piling up in places like >China. The only metals that seem to be of immediate value to the scrappers >are gold, silver, and to a limited degree, copper. And aluminium if it's clean and in decent size pieces. However modern PCs have just about zero metal in them and virtually no gold silver or copper. I realize that some edge connectors have gold and there is copper on the circuit boards but the amounts are miniscule and certainly not worth the labor and chemicals to extract it. But seriously, I was talking to Gary and he said that he's thinking of starting a computer recycling center. I'm thinking that that might not be a bad idea for some of us that are interested in old systems. Since the US will no longer be able to dump the stuff overseas, there should be a big demand for people/places that will accept computers and recycle them. In addition, we would have our pick of anything interesting. Joe > >-Toth > >

23 years, 10 months

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