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

DEC H960 stabiliser feet. Have some questions.

by steven＠malikoff.com

Excellent, that's a great start. Vince - thanks for the measurements, I will redraw a better 3-view using those. Not sure about how the extra bolt goes though. Ethan - thanks for confirming the different leg pad to frame pad. Noel - that is extremely useful info on the pads, I've now found them at http://www.vlier.com/product_index/leveling/sel_05_lstar.html# Paul - yes I noticed some systems had different legs, for instance this one https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2435/3878202215_372c46fccb_b.jpg and any p/n info you have from better sources would be welcome. The part number I found for the legs (H-952-BA) came from the Fall 1978 Digital Sales Catalog, page 129 which has the same p/n for both Standard and Short cabinets. I'll cogitate over a revised drawing and get back to the list. Thanks again, Steve.

8 years, 5 months

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Tek 40xx computer users

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

I regret we haven't been able to resusciate my 4051 yet.? Still kills power to the main board. I didn't know there were games for the 40xx machines.? I didn't think they could with the limitations of the screen design, although I kinda thought the display would work well for, say, an adventure game. B Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Randy Dawson via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Date: 2018-01-06 10:01 PM (GMT-08:00) To: Randy Dawson <rdawson16 at hotmail.com>, "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Tek 40xx computer users This was for Mike Hass, he was not in the email chain, and I do not have his address. But it' s a general shout out to the other Tek 40xx users out there... Randy ________________________________ From: cctalk <cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org> on behalf of Randy Dawson via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Sent: Saturday, January 6, 2018 9:54 PM To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: Re: Tek 40xx computer users Hi Gary, Well its been a year. Some news from here: Micheal Cranford finished his MAXIPACK and FASTGRAPHICS PACK, and the results are awesome. 50-100% increase in the graphics speed, and he put all the demos and games on the MAXIPACK. I 3D printed the plastic case for the PACKs and they look good. I would like to see if we can work together, to clone the ROMs out of the packs you have, or see if you are willing to sell duplicates you have. I really need a communications PACK, my 4051 did not have the comm port.? I have no way to transfer data in and out, I was going to attempt it over GPIB, bit I did not get very far. What is new from your end? I think we are trying to organize a 405x users group, I am talking with a few other guys. Cheers, Randy ________________________________ From: cctalk <cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org> on behalf of Mike Haas <dogaschesswarrior at gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2016 8:10 AM To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: Re: Tek 40xx computer users Congrats on your new Tek.??? My 4051 pile came from came indirectly from Gary Spence, who had inhouse involvement with the model. (can't locate his bio at the moment)? Here's what I got... somewhere: 4051, 2x 4907 Dual 8" floppys, and the "System Test Fixture" front panel, a box of DC300 tapes "GAS 6800"? - a Homebrew 4051? (maybe a prototype?? 4051? ???) and? these paks: RS232 I/O compak dual port memorypack UNIBURN EPROM burner pack VIDEOFRAME digitizer GPIB Enhancement rompack RS232 Printer Interface Parallel Interface Rompack Switch Data Communications Interface 8k Rom pack Addressable Data Tracking backpack IC Analyzer Editor Pack Filemanager Pack Binary Program Loader Pack Signal Processor Pack Service Pack Pack extender board a few empty packs and several wired edges On Sun, Oct 23, 2016 at 10:15 PM, Randy Dawson <rdawson16 at hotmail.com> wrote: > I bought the Tek 4051 on ebay today; Jason brought it to my house and it > works perfectly, with about a half hour of programming instruction my 12 > old daughter was plotting a cat face. > > > https://www.facebook.com/Thelma.Franco/videos/10154277153852670/ Log In or Sign Up to View<https://www.facebook.com/Thelma.Franco/videos/10154277153852670/> www.facebook.com See posts, photos and more on Facebook. Log In or Sign Up to View<https://www.facebook.com/Thelma.Franco/videos/10154277153852670/> Log In or Sign Up to View<https://www.facebook.com/Thelma.Franco/videos/10154277153852670/> www.facebook.com See posts, photos and more on Facebook. www.facebook.com<http://www.facebook.com> [https://www.facebook.com/images/fb_icon_325x325.png]<http://www.facebook.com/> Facebook - Log In or Sign Up<http://www.facebook.com/> www.facebook.com Create an account or log into Facebook. Connect with friends, family and other people you know. Share photos and videos, send messages and get updates. See posts, photos and more on Facebook. > > > I would like to get in touch with other users of this first personal > computer, and find additional resources. > > > Do you know where I can find an archive of BASIC programs for this? > > > Has anybody built plug in cards in the back, mine came with a realtime > clock and a "file manager", I do not know what that one does. > > > I have some Tek scopes with IEE-488, and I will see if I can get the IEEE > interface working. > > > There was a DC300 tape in the machine: > > > biorithm > > craps > > blackjack > > artillery > > tanks > > weatherwar > > > The belt is broken in the tape, I have ordered some new DC300's and will > transplant the tape. > > > Any resources will be welcome! > > > Randy > > > > >

8 years, 5 months

1
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Spare parts for VT1xx available.

by mattislind＠gmail.com

I was given three VT100 and one VT131 in not great condition. The biggest problem is that the keyboards are missing approximately 25% of the keys in average. For example all SETUP keys and NO SCROLL keys are missing. God know why. It makes little point for me try to find keytops for these four keyboards. Besides they are not actually matching the terminals except for one of them. Apparently the VT131 keyboard is slightly different from the VT100. Then two of the VT100 has a different first ROM chip and also an extra char gen chip (23-108E2 and 23-198E2). Seems to be some kind of European/ Swedish/Scandinavian chargen and keyboard layout. The keyboards I received has US layout. I checked two PSUs, one monitor board, and one basic video (logic board) which seem to work OK. One keyboard tested and is working electrically. The cases are from OK to in quite ugly shape and the CRTs are from minimal screen burn to quite some screen burn (due to long time with inverse video). Is there interest in a full terminal? Parts? Keytops? I will probably keep one or two flyback transformers to keep the ones I have going. I am in Sweden. /Mattis

8 years, 5 months

2
1
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Spectre & Meltdown

by seefriek＠gmail.com

From: Murray McCullough <c.murray.mccullough at gmail.com> > >This may be off-topic but these latest uprocessor exploits has raised >a question: Are the 'old/classic' uprocessors using x86 technology in >the same boat? > The exploit effects the speculative execution facility, so no it's not "all P6 forward": nothing 32-bit or PAE, nothing just OOO, etc. The current word I have (from my risk management folks, who got it from Intel) is the oldest chips verified to be affected are the Xeon 3400 (server) and 2nd Gen Core (desktop) processors. So, probably nothing later than 2009 or so. KJ

8 years, 5 months

2
1
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Info on Grid Systems 2260 Convertible Laptop/Tablet

by mtnbike2＠aol.com

Hey Alex, I was trolling the internet and came across you post from 2015!! I have a GRiD 2260 in like new condition with all the attachments, software and carrying case. Are you interested? Thanks, Dan Smith dansmithmaryland at aol.com 410-841-4827

8 years, 5 months

1
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DEC tape drives and cards

by shadoooo＠gmail.com

Hello, I have some doubt about DEC tape units and related interfaces. What I know about (right or wrong, please correct): - TU80 is a Pertec drive, it needs M7454 (unibus, TS11 driver) which is a modified Dilog DU132. No option for QBUS. - TS05 is a Pertec drive, it needs TSV05 (qbus, TSV05 driver) which is a modified Emulex ???) - TU81 plus is LESI or Pertec, you need KLESI (unibus / qbus, TMSCP driver). Now the questions: I have both a TU80 and TU81plus, and both Unibus and Qbus machines, but no interfaces. I would like to connect at least TU80 to unibus, and TU81 to qbus, but for backup reasons it would be better to have both drives on both busses. What are the DEC or third party card which would fit better on my drives, and/or which would offer better driver compatibility with various OSs (via switchable configuration). I'm not sure about interface compatibility (Pertec interfaces could be swapped), and driver compatibility (what is better for RT11, what for BSD, what for VMS). I would accept also some offer to my email, if somebody has something interesting to sell (better if in EU). Thanks Andrea

8 years, 5 months

2
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Spectre & Meltdown

by c.murray.mccullough＠gmail.com

This may be off-topic but these latest uprocessor exploits has raised a question: Are the 'old/classic' uprocessors using x86 technology in the same boat? The very earliest ones, i.e., 1970s and early 80's. probably not. How many are actually in use and/or on the Net? Happy computing! Murray :)

8 years, 5 months

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OT - Starting IT Training

by computerdoc＠sc.rr.com

Hi My Friends, Just a quick message to let everybody know that I am starting IT Training Monday, January 8, 2018 to get the certifications I need. When finished I plan to have my A+, N+ and S+ certifications. For those unfamiliar with these certifications, this is paper work proving I have the knowledge to perform the tasks of a Computer, Network and Server Technician in that order. These enable me to get the great jobs in IT that I am looking for. That is my plan. Please keep me in your prayers. This will be a lot of work, reading, labs etcetera. In December 2018, I ought to be getting a great Christmas present! :D I will be checking my email when I can. Take care my friends.

8 years, 5 months

3
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Able ENABLE (was: Boot RXS)

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

>> From: Jim Stephens >> I had a meeting with Ken Omohundro on 12/7 and will be having dinner >> with him again soon. I'll ask him about it. I know he doesn't have any >> records left, but I could take him your notes and see what he recalls. > Thanks very much for that offer; we do think we know more or less how it > works So, I have completed what I think is a pretty thorough article on the CHWiki about the ENABLE: http://gunkies.org/wiki/Able_ENABLE It contains _everything_ I was able to glean from the still-extant documentation, etc, which I have access to. There is enough detail there to add support for it to SIMH/Ersatz-11 (hint, hint :-). > there are two areas in which he might be able to help. > The first is some very low-level details of how it worked, in terms of > the UNIBUS interaction ... I _surmise_ that it was something like it > watches NPR/SACK for a DMA cycle .. then waits for BBSY to cycle, at > which point it knows it's a DMA cycle Having refreshed my memory of how DMA cycles worked, I suspect it just watched SACK and BBSY (since technically a UNIBUS device can do DMA cycles after grabbing the bus with BRn), so no need to watch NPR. > The second is some details of how some of the optional stuff for using > existing memory, non-DMA devices, etc worked. ... I'll have to go > re-read the documentation Having looked again, I don't think there's any mystery; probably I just hadn't carefully read it before. One question I do have, though: why the limit (per the documentation) to 128KB of old memory? If I'm correcly understanding how the MemDap works (it apparently makes the address space of the 'secondary' UNIBUS appear on top of the EUB memory, on the EUB) it should be able to handle up to 248KB? (The top 8KB is the I/O space on the secondary UNIBUS, which, if devices on the secondary UNIBUS are to be supported, must be visible to the CPU through the ENABLE.) > It would also be interesting to know why he just didn't use a 3-bus > design .. I suspect that the answer is that they way they did it, they > could use a stock MUD backplane ... and only one over-the-back [UNIBUS] > connector into the ENABLE [there probably wasn't room for a second]. This too. >> I hope to get a biography and history of his companies including Able, >> and figure somewhere to get it stored. > The Computer History wiki would seem an ideal place for this sort of > content? Reaction? Noel

8 years, 5 months

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SGI Onyx 2 going begging (in South Africa, AFAICT)

by lproven＠gmail.com

This should be public, so visible even if you don't have a FB login. https://www.facebook.com/jserwach/posts/1804323786269276 -- Liam Proven ? Profile: https://about.me/liamproven Email: lproven at cix.co.uk ? Google Mail/Hangouts/Plus: lproven at gmail.com Twitter/Facebook/Flickr: lproven ? Skype/LinkedIn: liamproven UK: +44 7939-087884 ? ?R (+ WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal): +420 702 829 053

8 years, 5 months

1
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ZX Spectrum Z80 Keeps Resetting

by robert.jarratt＠ntlworld.com

For some time now I have had a couple of ZX Spectrum machines. Neither works, each has a different problem. Today I got one of them out for another look. The problem with it is that it seems to constantly reset itself, you see the copyright screen briefly and then it disappears (the TV screen shows the usual "snow" when there is no signal). It just cycles round doing this. I put a logic analyser on it as well as a scope. The CPU Reset pin looks fine, it goes high and stays high. The logic analyser shows that it is happily reading code from the ROM during the boot sequence and it will suddenly start fetching instructions from address 0 again, this appears to be somewhat random. I don't have a lot of experience with logic analysers, and I have found that some pod/probe combinations cause the machine not to work at all, so the logic analyser is not, unfortunately, above suspicion. However the behaviour I see appears consistent with what the logic analyser is telling me. My thoughts are that this must either be a bad Z80 CPU or a bad ROM. Neither is socketed and I am reluctant to desolder ICs unless I really have to as there is always a risk of damage to the board. Has anyone seen a similar problem before? Could this indeed be the CPU or the ROM, or could there be a different cause? Regards Rob

8 years, 5 months

8
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40 pin Berg cable connector recommendations for PDP-11 projects?

by fritzm＠fritzm.org

Hello PDP-11 crowd: I?m thinking of starting a project that will interface to a DR11-C, which has the usual 40-pin Berg ribbon cable connectors. I thought I?d ping the collected wisdom here to see if other folks had already sourced an available modern cable connector for this that they particularly like? cheers, ?FritzM.

8 years, 5 months

4
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QSIC update and request

by dab＠froghouse.org

Even though I've been quiet, I have been making slow progress on the QSIC in the background.? For those who've forgotten what the QSIC project is about, here's the description: http://pdp10.froghouse.org/qsic/html/overview.html We've been working away on getting communications with the SD card working and that's basically there now.? It initializes and reads and writes blocks.? I've also connected it through an async FIFO to the minimal RK11 controller I had working before and that's mostly working.? That is, it can read and write blocks under control from the QBUS PDP-11 as if it were a real RK11/RK05.? What more could you ask for? Well, I could ask for a lot more really but that's pretty good.? There's a lot of RK11 functionality that I haven't implemented yet and all sorts of configuration options we need to get in there.? Also, there's a bug where it sometimes scrambles data so it's not quite ready to boot and run a real OS yet but it's getting awfully close. Here's a picture to my test setup: http://pdp10.froghouse.org/qsic/qsic-setup.jpg And a picture of a test of some spray-on glass frosting used as a light diffuser on the indicator panel.? In this picture you can also see the new LEDs I found that are a much better color match to the old incandescent bulbs than the LEDs I picked for my first attempt. http://pdp10.froghouse.org/qsic/frosting.jpg Now for the request.? I've decided that I'd like to put a soft-processor in the FPGA to handle a bunch of things (configuration duties and the USB protocol being two of the big ones).? My preference would be for this soft-processor to be a PDP-11.? Surely there's hack value in using a PDP-11 as the I/O processor for a PDP-11 but there are practical advantages to this as well.? For one, we're already familiar with it and have a suite of development tools.? Also, I can re-arrange the I/O devices I intend to give to this soft-11 and put them directly on the QBUS instead and do initial development there. I'd rather not get diverted by yet another substantial development project so I'm looking for a decent little FPGA implementation of a PDP-11 that I could just pick up use for this purpose.? Something that's already debugged.? I'm thinking closer to an 11/04 than an 11/70 and likely just running out of block RAM on the FPGA. Thanks for any pointers to such an implementation and thanks to everyone who's given support and assistance as Noel and I have poked along on this project. Dave

8 years, 5 months

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DEC H960 stabiliser feet. Have some questions.

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Ethan Dicks > The rod is also smaller by quite a bit, but I don't have one in front > of me to measure. The two feet are quite different. The smaller one on the extender is 5/16"-18 (i.e. UNC Coarse thread); the larger one under the cabinet is 1/2"-13. Replacements can easily be had from Vlier: Vlier part numbers are FSE302S (for the extender feet), and FSE306S (for the main feet). We really ought to do a group bulk build of the extension castings; if we get a reasonable size order together, they shouldn't be that expensive. Ditto for the special bolt needed to hold them to the H960. Noel

8 years, 5 months

2
1
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Sellam's Manual, Book, Magazine and General Documentation Sales Thread

by sellam.ismail＠gmail.com

Greetings from the piles! I've created a new thread on the VCFed forums for listing manuals, books, magazines and general computer related documentation. The thread is here: http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?61380-Sellam-s-Manual-Book-Magazi… Thanks! Sellam

8 years, 5 months

1
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DEC H960 stabiliser feet. Have some questions.

by steven＠malikoff.com

I'm in need of some feet for my H960s and am intending to make a few pairs, so I thought I might as well try and make them look close to the originals. I have a few ideas on construction, for instance 3mm steel plate laser-cut and folded jigsaw fashion then welded, or even simpler a basic welded steel bar with a 3D printed leg cap for asthetics. I've been unsucessful in finding any closeup photos or drawings of these things so have used a diagram >from one of the 11/70 manuals which is the best I have so far. Thankfully they drew it in isometric so it was easly to overdraw in CAD and project it to this: http://web.aanet.com.au/~malikoff/pdp11/DEC_H960_stabiliser_foot_left_A-H95… I have some questions- Does the (optional?) sheetmetal kickplate play any role in securing these legs to the frame? Are the two front screws are only there to hold them on and there is some internal box section that goes into the front of the channel on the rack to take the weight? Is the outer side tapered? It looks straight. If the foot a one piece casting (presumably) or fabricated in some way? Is the foot pad thread in the centre of the front of the leg, and is it the same thread and pad as the H960? Finally I would really appreciate if someone could run a digital caliper over one, and fill in my required measurements A through Q in the above drawing. And if you have a radius guage that would really be great. As usual, thanks for any help or advice. Steve.

8 years, 5 months

3
2
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ID some core memory

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

Just curious...can anyone id the system that used these two types of core memory? I am thinking the first is a hand-made custom core, but the 2nd is definitely from a commercial system. Looks kind of IBM-ish but it's nothing I can ID. It's not an IBM 1401 I don't think. http://vintagecomputer.net/core-memory/ Thanks Bill

8 years, 5 months

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New DEC and other items for sale from Sellam's collection

by sellam.ismail＠gmail.com

Hello Folks, a most glorious and blessed new year to you all. I have created a new DEC sales thread on the VCFed forums and populated it with a batch of newly listed DEC cards: http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?61371-Sellam-s-DEC-Hardware-Softw… I've also reduced the price of this nice PDP 11/03 basic system to $140: http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?57667-LLNL-LSI-11-Homebrew-system… I've also listed a few more items, an APL and standard bare keyboard, and a homebrew front panel board: http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?58709-New-Items-For-Sale-Check-th… As a reminder, I also started a S-100 thread for S-100 related sales: http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?61192-Sellam-s-S-100-Hardware-Sof… Inquiries directly to me via e-mail get the fastest response. Thanks! Sellam

8 years, 5 months

1
0
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QSIC update and request

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Toby Thain > If the documentation is good enough, people in the community will be > able to provide the software. You mean, host drivers? Yeah, that documentation will be pretty trivial: 'there's this extra register, just like the one in the RLV12; the top 6 bits of the DMA memory address go in there - the bottom two bits are mirrored into the two extended memory bits in the CSR'. For the 'extended' RP11, not much more than that. If you mean the 'software' for additional controllers - that would be a _lot_ harder (plus to which it's an entirely different tool-chain, yadda-yadda). 'Use the source, Luke!', I'm probably afraid... Noel

8 years, 5 months

3
5
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Help diagnosing boot issue SWTPC 6800

by mail.nickallen＠gmail.com

Hey everyone, Happy New Years!? I am thankful for an active community that enjoys helping each other learn, and today I am coming with an ask for help. I have a SWTPC 6800 and ADM3A terminal, I can get it to boot, and when it boots it will continue to boot for several hours.? But getting it to successfully boot takes upwards of 100 power OFF and ON cycles.? The other 99 times, I get a continuous stream of random ASCII characters (see video link below).? It's my first time seeing this type of issue that happens intermittently, and wondering if anyone has any insights in what might be causing this.? I suspect its a faulty IC on the Processor board that resets or controls the OS reset, will need to deep dive and diagnose, but thought I would ask for some direction first. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci4vhPn-3PE Thanks in advance! -Nick

8 years, 5 months

2
6
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SM EVM A131-10 advice

by sofubicollectibles＠gmail.com

Hi, I'm brand new to vintage computing and would love any advice. I'm thinking of putting together a SM EVM A131-10 and would appreciate any advice/knowledge on the unit.?

8 years, 5 months

3
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Dumping my first EPROM

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Just posting this here in case it reaches eyes not in other forums I'm on. I decided to embark on a project that involves burning a 2708 EPROM. I've never messed with EPROMs before, so I decided to practice. What I have is a Microworks 2708 'burner' that came with a SWTPC 6800 machine I have. I figured I'd start by learning how to read 2708s. I only had one 2708 lying around to use. It was installed on a homebrew 'Dynamicro' board (also known as Jon Titus' MMD-1). It's strange because the MMD-1 doesn't use 2708s. This board also had a bunch of ICs on it that are not what the MMD-1 design calls for. So I thought this'd be an interesting EPROM to read anyway, since it might yield a hint as to what the builder was doing with this board, or if they were just using it to store random ICs. Anyway, I fired up the 6800 with the chip in the ZIF socket of the Microworks board and read the contents into memory. I then punched it back out to my PC terminal as S records. That's as far as I got. I'm wondering now how to actually dig into the contents a bit for clues as to what it is. I've seen posts in the past from people who were able to find strings, etc that sort of help as clues. Does anyone know how I'd go further here? Really curious what was on this one. Thanks! Brad

8 years, 5 months

3
3
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Computing from 1976

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Paul Koning > The only asynchronous computer I can think of is the Dutch ARRA 1 Isn't the KA10 basically asynchronous? (I know, it has a clock, but I'm not sure how much it is used for.) The thing is I recall reading (where, I don't now remember) that the CPU is organized with 'go' pulses leading from one block of circuity to another, and it uses delay lines to time out the passage of these pulses, so if you wanted the CPU to be as fast as possible, you went around to each delay line and tweaked them down until things started to fail, and then backed off a bit. Other CPUs of that era might be the same. There's an amusing description of the Multics CPU here: http://www.multicians.org/mga.html#6180 "The 6180 processor was among the last of the great non-microcoded engines. Entirely asynchronous, its hundred-odd boards would send out requests, earmark the results for somebody else, swipe somebody else's signals or data, and backstab each other in all sorts of amusing ways which occasionally failed (the 'op not complete' timer would go off and cause a fault). Unlike the PDP-10, there was no hint of an organized synchronization strategy: various 'it's ready now', 'ok, go', 'take a cycle' pulses merely surged through the vast backpanel ANDed with appropriate state and goosed the next guy down." Noel

8 years, 5 months

6
9
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QSIC update and request

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Mark J. Blair > I wonder if it might also be useful in any of the QBUS MicroVAXen? Hardwarewise, it should be fine. Softwarewise... well... The issue is that we're currently only planning to emulate the RK11 and RP11, because we're not up for the hassle involved in emulating more recent controllers. (That's not an issue for the systems we want to run.) We looked at the RP04, and _full_ emulation even of that one is a significant amount of work. (I stress the 'full' because a partial, simple emulation might not be too bad, but since we have no idea what various OS's will expect to be there, it's not clear how much use such a partial emulation would be.) However, that presents a problem. There are no 22-bit versions of either (in fact, there's no QBUS RP11 at all; and the QBUS RK11 is restricted to Q16, for reasons that surpass me). 22-bit operation is needed to make them really useable as mass storage under Unix, for swapping (because all file system access is buffered through low memory, purely file system use would be OK without Q22 support) - at least on -11's with more than 256KB of memory. (Probably DEC OS's too, but I know nothing of them.) So, in addition to the dead-stock emulations of the two, we will also support slightly 'adjusted' versions of the controllers, to have an 'address extension' register (in exactly the same way the RLV12 has an extra register over the RLV11). (And we're also going to have an adjusted version of the RP11, which extends the size of the disk, using unused bits/values in the disk address registers, to allow up to 1TB on an 'RP11-D', as we're calling it. Hey, if you're going to change the controller _at all_... But I digress.) Anyway, you can see where this is going. For people who can tweak their drivers, no biggie. The changes aren't major - a line or two. For people who want to run stock software... I don't know enough about how the QBUS VAX systems use their disks. Will uVAX OS's run with only an RKV11-D for mass storage? Somehow I doubt it.. I assume on the later ones (the ones with the private memory bus so they can have more than 4MB of memory) there's some sort of QBUS map, to map from the QBUS' 22-bit address space, to the full memory. But does the hardware and software expect to use the entire 22-bit address space, or are they prepared to limit it (e.g. for working with an RKV11-D), or what? I suppose we could add the RLV12 to the list of things we emulate; that's not _that_ complicated a controller. The problem is that RL's aren't that big (10MB), and that gets to be an issue with later OS's. And even then VAX OS's might not run off an RLV12 - I just don't know. Getting around this is all, of course, a SMOP (Small Matter of Programming), since a new FPGA load, with support for more emulations, can be installed on an existing QSIC at any time. Now, whether Dave would be interested in supporting later devices, or whether someone else could be convinced to emulate something more modern ... who knows? Noel

8 years, 5 months

3
2
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Boot RXS

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: John Welch > SAV -- SOFTWARE CONFIGURED FOR ENABLE HARDWARE WHICH DOES NOT RESPOND. > HALTED. > Does anyone have any hints on how I can guess what I need to add? Well, Able made a thing called an 'Able ENABLE' which allowed use of more than 256KB of physical memory on any UNIBUS -11 with memory mapping hardware which wasn't an -11/70-44-24. That's probably what it's talking about. We had one on our -11/45 at MIT, BITD. So I have the programming spec for it, back-created from the source code for that machine. And Clem Cole was nice enough to follow up on an old message in an email list archive, and dig up some documentation and scan it in. I was planning on doing a page for it on the Computer History wiki, haven't got a round tuit yet, though. They are, AFAIK, complete unobtainium in physical form; I've been looking for years, never seen one. If someone wanted to upgrade SIMH to support it, we do know enough to do that. Noel

8 years, 5 months

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Boot RXS

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: John Welch >>> SAV -- SOFTWARE CONFIGURED FOR ENABLE HARDWARE WHICH DOES NOT RESPOND. > I can boot RSX from a different device (or RT-11, or unix maybe) and > then mount this RL02 pack and go exploring through its contents. Is > there a possibility that I may find what is missing that way? Sorry, I'm confused by this? The message (above) seems to indicate there's _hardware_ missing. How is looking through the disk contents going to help with that? Or is your point that you might be able to find a version of the system which does not use that hardware? Perhaps; there's no way to know without looking. Noel

8 years, 5 months

2
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repairing a dead PDP-11/35

by henk.gooijen＠hotmail.com

Best wishes for 2018! I have been busy trying to repair my dead 11/35. The system was working, but there was one screw loose that mounts the system units in the BA11 box ... that screw created a short circuit :-( After powering the 11/35, ENA/HALT on HALT, and toggling the LOAD ADRS switch, all DATA lamps go on, and after that the machine is totally non-responsive. I installed the KM11 replica from Guy Sotomayor (at last, after 7 years, I have soldered one of the kits that I had since 2011-2012!). With the KM11, I can step the microcode right from power up. When I toggle LOAD ADRS I see that the SWITCH signal (via the 7474 flipflop) is set, but when the microcode checks *which* toggle was activated it decides that none was activated. I measured the signals that play a role here, and all looks fine. Now, what gets me puzzled. If I toggle the LOAD ADRS switch *and hold it pressed down*, then, when I step the microcode, the branch that handles the LOAD ADRS switch actually does get executed, and the ADDRESS lamps on the console show the switch register settings. Anybody for clues how to proceed? If you are interested, I made a write up of my testing in (way) more detail: www.pdp-11.nl/pdp11-35/repair/repair35page.html<http://www.pdp-11.nl/pdp11-35/repair/repair35page.html> Thanks for any advice, Henk

8 years, 5 months

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Boot RXS

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Jim Stephens > I had a meeting with Ken Omohundro on 12/7 and will be having dinner > with him again soon. I'll ask him about it. I know he doesn't have any > records left, but I could take him your notes and see what he recalls. Thanks very much for that offer; we do think we know more or less how it works (software-wise we always knew, since I wrote the code for it on the MIT system, and that, and some other code to run it, still survive; the hardware details had faded from my memory, but the documentation that Clem Cole found cleared the high-level details of that up, mostly); however, there are two areas in which he might be able to help. The first is some very low-level details of how it worked, in terms of the UNIBUS interaction; we can surmise, from the way it's installed, how it more or less has to work (details below), but it would be nice to have it confirmed. The second is some details of how some of the optional stuff for using existing memory, non-DMA devices, etc worked. (I honestly forget the details of what I couldn't work out there; I'll have to go study it again.) The first is that unlike my initial recollections, both the CPU and DMA devices are on a single UNIBUS segment which feeds into the ENABLE. There are two different 18->22 maps in the ENABLE, one for CPU cycles, one for DMA (the latter perfectly emulates the UNIBUS map on the -11/70 and /44). So, more or less by definition, it has to be able to distinguish CPU bus cycles from DMA device bus cycles on the incoming UNIBUS segment. But how, exactly? I can _theorize_ how it did it, but this is a topic not covered in the still-extant documentation. I _surmise_ that it was something like it watches NPR/SACK for a DMA cycle (it won't see the NPG, of course), then waits for BBSY to cycle, at which point it knows it's a DMA cycle; if not, the current cycle must be from the CPU. He may or may not remember the details, but if he can, that would be great. (For software emulation, we don't need to know this, but it would be good, for completeness' sake, to know. Also, I have a fantasy that the UNIBUS version of the QSIC will also include ENABLE-type functionality, and although we could probably work it out on our own, it would be good to have the benefit of anything he can recall - any not-so-obvious gotcha's, etc.) It would also be interesting to know why he just didn't use a 3-bus design: i) UNIBUS in from the CPU, ii) UNIBUS in from DMA devices, and iii) EUB to the memory. I suspect that the answer is that they way they did it, they could use a stock MUD backplane (being used in EUB mode), and only one over-the-back connector into the ENABLE. On the second, I'll have to go re-read the documentation, and get back. (Although now that I think about it, I may have just figured out, not only the question, but also the answer.) > I hope to get a biography and history of his companies including Able, > and figure somewhere to get it stored. The Computer History wiki would seem an ideal place for this sort of content? (Depending on how long the bio is; but the company info would _definitely_ be very much on target for there.) Noel

8 years, 5 months

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FFA: Amstrad Joyce (USA)

by cclist＠sydex.com

There probably aren't that many 120V versions of the Amstrad Joyce Word processor, but I've got one here. I replaced the 3" CF floppy drive with a 720K 3.5" drive and modified some boot disks. The system now supports 3.5" double-sided media and is fully populated with 512K of DRAM and runs CP/M 3.0. Unit with keyboard only, free to good home; sorry but I don't have the printer. I need to get this thing out of the way; if it goes unclaimed by January 15, off it goes to NextStep recycling. --Chuck

8 years, 5 months

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RepaIr stepper motor of an 8 inch drive ?

by jos.dreesen＠greenmail.ch

Did anyone ever succeed in repairing a stepper motor Currently restoring a datapoint floppy drive that has been stored in a disastrous environment. The head stepper has a loose wire, currently I cannot even see how to open the stepper motor. It is a Warner Electric SM-024-0045-AS Cannot see any marking as to who the druive supplier is, it might have been Datapoint themselves. Jos

8 years, 5 months

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Semi OT: rocky 518HV

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

Anyone have one of these single board embedded computers in use? I have one that is unresponsive and I believe I need to replace the Dallas battery chip, similar to other computers like the SunSparc 10 that does nothing without a working NVRAM battery chip installed. Any opinions/experience with this card out there? I have already ordered a new battery but while I wait I'd like to throw this one out there. Its from the later 90's not yet "vintage" so that's why the header semi OT. http://www.voxtechnologies.com/SBCs/pdf/icp/rocky-518hv-ver4-0.pdf Bill

8 years, 5 months

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Foxboro drum indicator panel

by steven＠malikoff.com

Seeing Noel's blinkenlights project and list of panels, for interest's sake here is a picture and decription of the Foxboro drum indicator panel from one of the hardware manuals. http://web.aanet.com.au/~malikoff/foxboro/FOXBORO_Drum_indicator_panel_1.jpg http://web.aanet.com.au/~malikoff/foxboro/FOXBORO_Drum_indicator_panel_2.jpg There was no trace of any panel nor drum when I recovered the Foxboro 2/10 (PDP-11/15) but I did find the print set for the above panel (schematics only, no panel hardware details), and a set of RC11 modules (6 flip chips) wrapped with an error list printout. I'm not even sure if there was a drum fitted, as none of the notes I found for the actual installation mention it. There was no other drive in the rack when I got there, so I'm baffled as to what device the cards went to. Steve.

8 years, 5 months

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QSIC update and request

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: David Bridgham > I could ask for a lot more really but that's pretty good. IMO we're 'over the hump' on the prototype phase of the project. The complete QBUS interface (including DMA and interrupts) are done, and very thoroughly tested, and now we have the SD interface up and running too. Once we get all this running reliably, IMO the remaining work (configuration, simulating the RP11, etc) will be relatively simple and straightforward. Then we get to the next major lump - turning out the production unit. > Here's a picture to my test setup: Looking at that brings up another piece of progress to report; that paper version of the indicator panel inlay is just about obsolete; we have produced blank inlays (the correct shape to fit into the bezel, but with just the back black layer with all the holes), and the next move is to produce ones with the white captions silk-screened on the front, just like the originals: http://ana-3.lcs.mit.edu/~jnc/tech/DECIndicatorPanels.html So 'very soon' we should have a complete working indicator panel! A lot slower, overall, than we had hoped, but we're getting there! Noel

8 years, 5 months

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Help diagnosing boot issue SWTPC 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

I had that happening on mine.. came down to a bad RAM board. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Nick Allen via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Date: 2018-01-01 10:32 AM (GMT-08:00) To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Help diagnosing boot issue SWTPC 6800 Hey everyone, Happy New Years!? I am thankful for an active community that enjoys helping each other learn, and today I am coming with an ask for help. I have a SWTPC 6800 and ADM3A terminal, I can get it to boot, and when it boots it will continue to boot for several hours.? But getting it to successfully boot takes upwards of 100 power OFF and ON cycles.? The other 99 times, I get a continuous stream of random ASCII characters (see video link below).? It's my first time seeing this type of issue that happens intermittently, and wondering if anyone has any insights in what might be causing this.? I suspect its a faulty IC on the Processor board that resets or controls the OS reset, will need to deep dive and diagnose, but thought I would ask for some direction first. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci4vhPn-3PE Thanks in advance! -Nick

8 years, 5 months

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Computing from 1976

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Peter Corlett > since we have computers with multiple gigabytes of RAM, it makes little > sense to restrain one's use of them to a fraction of the capabilities, > except as an intellectual exercise. For data, sure. (It's amazing how big even images can become, as the resolution is increased. And that's not even video!) For code, however, there are very good reasons to think that 'more is _NOT_ better'. More code means more complexity, and that has a host of Really Bad consequences: harder to understand, more likely to have bugs, etc, etc. It also often means that unless you have the Latest and Greatest hardware, the machine is simply too slow to run the latest bloatware. The machine I'm typing this on has a 1.4GHz single-core CPU, and _most_ things run on it just fine - but going to many Web sites is now painful, since the 'obligatory' HTTPS (another hot button, one I'll refrain from hitting right now, to keep the length of this down) makes even simple Web operations slow. Noel

8 years, 5 months

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DEC quad board rack

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

So, I've been making wooden racks to hold a lot of my DEC boards, and I've finally come up with a nice design for one, which holds quad boards: http://ana-3.lcs.mit.edu/~jnc/tech/jpg/QuadRack.jpg which holds them vertically. It's much better than the dual rack next to it, which holds them horizontally, which has the issue that the distance between the sides needs to be absolutely perfect, otherwise the boards tend to drop out of their slots. With the boards held vertically, it's much less sensitive. If anyone's interested in building one, I can whip up a drawing. (Note that the slots are offset slightly to the left because one needs different clearances for the solder and component sides.) The one shown uses 3 pieces of 1"x8"x6' (not sure what that translates to in that new-fangled French stuff :-). It would be tricky to make without a radial-arm saw, though - although I suppose a router with a small bit could be used, albeit tedious. Noel

8 years, 5 months

5
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DEC quad board rack

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Michael Zahorik > a dozen or so spare boards for my PDP8E. I was wondering about how to > store them. Some guys recommend some poly bags, others say it is > important to protect against humidity. ... have you had any failures > while in storage? Well, i) most of my boards had been in uncertain storage for a long time before they got to me, and I've only tested a fraction of them, so if I tried one now, and it had an issue, I wouldn't know when (i.e. under which storage regime) it happened - some have shown failures, but I think they all happened before they got to me; ii) some of the failures we see (e.g. PROM's losing their programming) are known to happen via various time-related processes, not storage condition; and iii) I'm not a hardware person, but even then, you'd want someone with expertise in failures, which is not common. But, having said that, these are my 'common-sense' rules for storage: i) bags aren't critical (especially for older stuff, which is generally bipolar, not CMOS, and therefore not very sensitive to static), ii) high humidity is not good, as you can get corrosion on chip leads (I've seen a few where the leads were so corroded they came off)- but very low humidity can be an issue, if you have CMOS, as it's more static-friendly (as Dave Bridgham found out the hard way in his lab); iii) large-amplitude temperature cycles are not good, as thermally-induced contraction and expansion probably aren't good; and avoiding very high, and very low temperatures (even if constant) is probably better for long-term health. Noel

8 years, 5 months

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Boot RXS

by jcwelch＠hal-pc.org

Hello, With the wonderful help of many you here I have revived a PDP11/04, connected it to an RL02, and using PDP11GUI I have successfully imaged a number of RL02 packs.? I found a copy of an RQ device that boots.? I can attach my images and explore the contents with PIP so I believe the transfer was good. One of the packs was a system disk so I tried to boot it like this: ?? PDP-11 simulator V3.8-2 (JH stdio telnet) ?? sim> set cpu 11/93, 4M ?? Disabling CR ?? Disabling RK ?? Disabling HK ?? Disabling TM ?? sim> set cpu idle ?? sim> set rl0 rl02 ?? sim> attach rl0 RSX11-bu.rl02 ?? sim> b rl0 ?? SAV -- SOFTWARE CONFIGURED FOR ENABLE HARDWARE WHICH DOES NOT RESPOND.? HALTED. ?? HALT instruction, PC: 126272 (BR 126270) ?? sim> Does anyone have any hints on how I can guess what I need to add? The original machine was and 11/34 (maybe a 11/34a) and had a multi-line serial port setup.? All thoughts appreciated. Sincerely, John Welch :qw

8 years, 5 months

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Computing from 1976

by gerhard.kreuzer＠liftoff.at

Hi, I was working 1976 as a volunteer at a research center near Vienna in Austria writing FORTRAN programs on a PDP8a. We also have a PDP8/e there. Now I am collecting DEC stuff. Happy new year !!!!!!!!!!!! Gerhard -----Urspr?ngliche Nachricht----- Von: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] Im Auftrag von cctalk-request at classiccmp.org Gesendet: Sonntag, 31. Dezember 2017 19:00 An: cctalk at classiccmp.org Betreff: cctalk Digest, Vol 39, Issue 30 Send cctalk mailing list submissions to cctalk at classiccmp.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctalk or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to cctalk-request at classiccmp.org You can reach the person managing the list at cctalk-owner at classiccmp.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of cctalk digest..."

8 years, 5 months

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Message 4 on Computing from 1976

by c.murray.mccullough＠gmail.com

"Message: 4 Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2017 10:35:18 +1100 From: Nigel Williams <nw at retrocomputingtasmania.com> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Computing from 1976 Message-ID: <CACCFpdyNiS2tCog38CbrHm2BuTAY=wh4PAJRZ0-Gz0z=0=9t4A at mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" On Sun, Dec 31, 2017 at 9:57 AM, william degnan via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: >> what magazine? https://books.google.com.au/books?id=7wAAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA82 note. Popular Science Dec-1976 *** Thanks Nigel. I apologize to all for not putting this magazine name in my original note. I've been thinking this New Year's eve about the world of classic computing: How far has personal computing actually advanced? Not talking about computing on the Net or such. Just plain computing! Or is there such a thing the last day of 2017? Happy computing for 2018. Murray :)

8 years, 5 months

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Attaching SIMH devices without halting simulation?

by nf6x＠nf6x.net

I've been experimenting with the SIMH VAX simulators a lot lately. The only way I know of to mount a tape, disk pack, CD-ROM, etc. after boot time is to halt the simulation with ^e to get to the SIMH command prompt, ATTACH the desired image, and then resume the simulation with CONTINUE. Is there any way to attach/detach media images in SIMH without halting the simulation? I've tried putting the system console on a telnet port so it doesn't occupy SIMH's controlling terminal, and I found that it's still necessary to halt the simulation to get back to the SIMH command prompt. -- Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net> http://www.nf6x.net/

8 years, 5 months

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Non-Yahoo MTS Mailing Lists

by lyndon＠orthanc.ca

Are any of you aware of an MTS mailing list that lives outside of the execrable Yahoo groups environment? And if not, is there any interest in starting one? Meanwhile, if there are any MTS hacks on the list, I have a question: When running *SAV or *SVW, what are the labels the system is expecting for the FSnnnn tapes? I tried the obvious - FS2001 for the FS2001 tape prompted for - but no luck there. Then again, maybe I'm not labeling the tapes properly. This is under Hercules. hetinit -d fs2001.aws FS2001 MTS doesn't cut it. I also tried running *lbh against that tape (to give it the same label), but no luck there, either. The MTS operator's guide doesn't have anything to say about daily/weekly backups, other than the cryptic notes on the *SAV and *SVW files, and I can't find anything else as I dig through the rest of the online system docs. $HELP ? --lyndon

8 years, 5 months

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VAX/VMS & IBM 360 manuals from mid 1980s

by sieler＠allegro.com

Hi, A friend, probably in Ohio, tells me his father has 3 boxes (about 150 pounds) of manuals for VAX/VMS and IBM 360 from the mid 1980s. If anyone's interested in following up, email me and I'll send you the contact info. thanks, and Happy New Year! Stan Sieler

8 years, 5 months

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Slightly Meta: Travel tips for people traveling internationally with vintage equipment?

by mbbrutman＠brutman.com

I'm actively working on show planning for VCF PNW and I'm noticing that we have a few international travelers planning to attend and exhibit their machines/projects. I'd like to put together a FAQ for the logistics of traveling with vintage equipment across the US border. If you have ideas please let me know. For example: Should I plan on providing letters in advance stating that a person is a registered exhibitor at our show, including details like the show location, dates, times, and contact information in case there is a question about why somebody is carrying strange looking equipment into the US? Is there any sort of paperwork or customs form needed even if nothing is being sold or left in the US? Any other gotchas to look for? Thanks, Mike

8 years, 5 months

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RT-11 idle light pattern

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Paul Koning > RSTS-11 V4, which had a major reliability problem ... As part of trying > to keep the customer placated, DEC supplied full OS sources, 5 > dectapes. ... We printed them ... I still have copies of those files. Is that version available online? If not, maybe an OCR project? (Although I know other versions of RSTS-11 are available, so maybe it's not rare enough to make the tedium of OCR worth it. That has been used on a number of systems; notably CTSS, but also the IMP code and the Apollo Guidance Computer, that I know of. I'm currently looking into getting an early version of MERT, and that may also come down to OCR - if we're lucky!) > Stranger still is the "fancy" lights in RSTS ... "Fancy" because it > produces a rotating pattern not just in the data lights which is easy, > but also in the address lights. It runs in supervisor mode Ah; it must busy loop at loops spread across the address space? Clever! (Perhaps using the mapping hardware so that it doesn't use too much _actual_ memory.) Is the source available? Noel

8 years, 5 months

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Standalone X/Y/ZMODEM for non-PC x86

by rich.cini＠verizon.net

All ? ??????????????? I?m looking for some x86 source code for what I?ll call a standalone version of an X/Y/ZModem (or any combination thereof) for use with a non-IBM/PC x86 machine. Many versions exist on Simtel and other archives but they are executable programs rather than source. ??????????????? The reason for the odd request is that the system that it will be used on is a Seattle Gazelle replica I built based on the one in the VCFE inventory, and the constraints are hardware/OS imposed. None of the I/O ports are at PC-compatible addresses and it has no INT-callable system BIOS. The system does run both MS-DOS 1.25 and 2.0 but the standard character I/O devices other than CON: (LPT and AUX) are mapped to parallel ports on one of the boards. COM1 and COM2 devices don?t exist. ??????????????? Ideally it should just take two command line parameters ? the file name and whether it?s a transmit/upload or receive/download transaction. I know that the protocol is fairly simple but I was looking to adapt something rather than starting from scratch. I found an implementation of XMODEM in Microsoft BASIC, but it relies on opening the COM1 device to work. I am looking into writing direct hardware access using PEEK/POKE, but I?m not there on it yet. ??????????????? If anyone has something usable in their archives, please let me know. Thanks, and Happy New Year to all! Rich -- Rich Cini http://www.classiccmp.org/cini http://www.classiccmp.org/altair32

8 years, 5 months

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Computing from 1976

by c.murray.mccullough＠gmail.com

I was perusing my old computer magazine collection the other day and came across an article entitled: ?Fast-Growing new hobby, Real Computers you assemble yourself?, Dec. 1976. It was about MITS, Sphere, IMSAI and SWT. 4K memory was $500. Yikes! Even more here in Canada. Now this is true Classic Computing. Have a Happy New Year everyone. May the computing gods shine down on us all in 2018. Happy computing. Murray :)

8 years, 5 months

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Computing from 1976

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

so if you bought the altair and put it away you could sort of sell it for the same amount of money-worth today. In a message dated 12/30/2017 5:10:22 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, cctalk at classiccmp.org writes: It was thus said that the Great Fred Cisin via cctalk once stated: > On Sat, 30 Dec 2017, Murray McCullough via cctalk wrote: > >I was perusing my old computer magazine collection the other day and > >came across an article entitled: ?Fast-Growing new hobby, Real > >Computers you assemble yourself?, Dec. 1976. It was about MITS, > >Sphere, IMSAI and SWT. 4K memory was $500. Yikes! Even more here in > >Canada. Now this is true Classic Computing. Have a Happy New Year > >everyone. May the computing gods shine down on us all in 2018. > >Happy computing. Murray :) > > OK, a little arithmetic exercise for you. > (a 16C is nice for this, but hardly necessary) Sounds like fun. > "Moore's Law", which was a prediction, not a "LAW", has often been > mis-stated as predicting a doubling of speed/capacity every 18 months. > > 1) Figure out how many 18 month invtervals since then, and what 4k > "should' have morphed into by now. 1) 28 doublings since 1975. (2017-1975) * 12 ---------------- 18 4K should (had we truly doubed everything every 18 months) now be 1T (terrabyte): 2^12 = 4K 2^(12+28) 2^40 ~ 1T > 2) What did Gordon Moore actually say in 1965? That the number of transistors in an integrated circuit double every 18 months. > 3) How much is $500 of 1976 money worth now? It depends upon how you calculate it. I'm using this page [1] for the calculation, and I get: Current data is only available till 2016. In 2016, the relative price worth of $500.00 from 1976 is: $2,110.00 using the Consumer Price Index $1,680.00 using the GDP deflator $2,400.00 using the value of consumer bundle $2,000.00 using the unskilled wage $2,450.00 using the Production Worker Compensation $3,340.00 using the nominal GDP per capita $4,960.00 using the relative share of GDP > 4) Consider how long it took to use a text editor to make a grocery > shopping list in 1976. How long does it take today? I would think the same amount of time. Typing is typing. > Does having the grocery list consist of pictures instead of words, with > audio commentary, and maybe Smell-O-Vision (coming soon), improve the > quality of life? For me, not really. > How much does it help to be able to contact your > refrigeratior and query its knowledge of its contents? It could be helpful, but with the current state of IoT, I would not want to have that ability. > (Keep in mind, that although hardware expanded exponentially, according to > Moore's Law, Software follows a corollary of Boyle's Law, and expands to > fill the available space and use all of the available resources - how much > can "modern" software do in 4K?, and how much is needed to boot the > computer and run a "modern" text editor?) EMACS is lean and mean compared to some of the "text editors" coming out today, based upon Javascript frameworks. It's scary. > 5) What percentage of computer users still build from kits, or from > scratch? I would say significantly less than 1%. Say, 5% of 1%? That's probably in the right ballpark. > 6) What has replaced magazines for keeping in touch with the current > state of computers? The world wide web, although I do miss the Byte magazine of the 70s and 80s. Not so much the 90s. -spc (Yeah, I realize these were probably rhetorical in nature ... ) [1] http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare/

8 years, 5 months

2
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Computing from 1976

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Thanks for the heads up on this S-100 site! PdP-11 on a s-100 bus even.. Ed# In a message dated 12/30/2017 5:01:26 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, cctalk at classiccmp.org writes: A good site for what was in the 1975-1980 era. http://www.s100computers.com/index.html

8 years, 5 months

1
0
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Restoring MTS *FS distribution tapes onto a UNIX system

by lyndon＠orthanc.ca

The answer to my previous question lives in the source code. The D6.0A MTS distribution doesn't have the source on disk, so the files need to be extracted from the *FS tapes. On an MTS system, that's a pain in the ass. Given the DRIVER file from the distribution, has anyone tried extracting the 6.0A distribution tapes into UNIX file hierarchy, based on the hinted component/sub names? I'm thinking just the raw files - I don't care that they're EBCDIC at this point, so no content conversion required. --lyndon

8 years, 5 months

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