First of all, I got my DNS straightened out, which is good.
Second, FedEx tried to deliver a COD package to me today but I
wasn't home. Did someone from the list send me something?
--
Eric Dittman
dittman(a)dittman.net
Check out the DEC Enthusiasts Club at http://www.dittman.net/
Thats how my old address was destroyed. Likely this one too in time.
Does little good to have a valid address if the address has to be dumped
due to
being a spam trap.
Allison
-----Original Message-----
From: Pete Turnbull <pete(a)dunnington.u-net.com>
To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Date: Monday, October 22, 2001 9:12 PM
Subject: Re: List Maintenance
>On Oct 22, 12:39, Sellam Ismail wrote:
>
>> But for people using the archives for research it would be nice to be
>able
>> to e-mail the original poster (unless the address obscuring we're
talking
>> about will not completely remove the e-mail address from the message).
>
>I agree; it's been useful to me on a number of occasions, both when I've
>searched for something and when someone else has found me through the
list.
> I wouldn't want my address removed, just altered enough so automatic
>spambots won't get my address too often.
>
>OTOH, it's possible that my additional spam collection has come from
Usenet
>trawling rather than list archives, I suppose.
>
>--
>Pete Peter Turnbull
> Network Manager
> University of York
I don't know of any dedicated electronics/cpmputer surpluse tores in that
area. However, I suggest to you that if you ever run across any CHKD
(Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters) Thrift stores to go there.
Why, you ask? Very simple, I've been there on many occasions and see lots of
computers (most are PC) but I had to pass on an Atari 520ST and (just
yesterday!) had to pass on an Amiga 2000 (the whole setup cost less than
$30!) just bacuse I live on ship, and have no room for this stuff.
____________________________________________________________
David Vohs, Digital Archaeologist & Computer Historian.
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/netsurfer_x1/
Computer Collection:
"Triumph": Commodore 64C, 1802, 1541, FSD-1, GeoRAM 512, MPS-801.
"Leela": Macintosh 128 (Plus upgrade), Nova SCSI HDD, Imagewriter II.
"Delorean": TI-99/4A, TI Speech Synthesizer.
"Monolith": Apple Macintosh Portable.
"Spectrum": Tandy Color Computer 3, Disto 512K RAM board.
"Boombox": Sharp PC-7000.
"Butterfly": Tandy Model 200, PDD, CCR-82.
"Shapeshifter": Epson QX-10, Titan graphics & MS-DOS board, Comrex HDD.
"Scout": Otrona Attache.
____________________________________________________________
>From: "Brian Knittel" <brian(a)quarterbyte.com>
>Reply-To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
>To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
>Subject: electronics/computer surplus in Virginia?
>Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2001 17:32:15 -0700
>
>Does anyone know of any electronics / computer surplus
>and/or computer / electronics recycling companies
>in the greater Portsmouth - Norfolk - Virginia Beach -
>Suffolk - Chesapeake, Virginia area?
>
>Thanks,
>Brian
>
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>_| _| _| Brian Knittel / Quarterbyte Systems, Inc.
>_| _| _| Tel: 1-510-559-7930 Fax: 1-510-525-6889
>_| _| _| Email: brian(a)quarterbyte.com
>_| _| _| http://www.quarterbyte.com
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
On Oct 22, 12:39, Sellam Ismail wrote:
> But for people using the archives for research it would be nice to be
able
> to e-mail the original poster (unless the address obscuring we're talking
> about will not completely remove the e-mail address from the message).
I agree; it's been useful to me on a number of occasions, both when I've
searched for something and when someone else has found me through the list.
I wouldn't want my address removed, just altered enough so automatic
spambots won't get my address too often.
OTOH, it's possible that my additional spam collection has come from Usenet
trawling rather than list archives, I suppose.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
So I find this nice little program called "Toot", which "toots" Spectrum
snapshots into the earphone socket of said machine.
What happens when I plug the machine in? A hideous smell, that's what. Now I'm
back at square one. No working Speccy. All I get is a black screen. When fine-
tuning the receiver, the border is sometimes visible.
Is there something irreplacable, like the ULA, which has broken, or is it the
CPU (I've got plenty of those) or just some discrete component?
--
En ligne avec Thor 2.6a.
"I believe OS/2 is destined to be the most important operating system, and
possibly program, of all time..."
Bill Gates 1988
Hi all...
Have been trying to find these for ages now but may be worth a re-ask!
I have an old SGI Indigo Personal Iris minus keyboard and mouse. Does
anyone have one of these spare they would be willing to sell? Its a
specific Personal Iris set of hardware that was changed for the later
machines - the mouse is plugged into the side of the keyboard, then the
keyboard to the back of the machine, pass thru fashion. I have tried
keyboards from later machines but they arent recognised on boot up.
If anyone can help me out I would be extremely grateful.
Cheers!
Shaun
Does anyone here have a GRiDCASE 3 (or similar) or a Lexmark Lexbook MB10
that they want to get rid of. If so, hit me up off the list, and let's make
a deal!
____________________________________________________________
David Vohs, Digital Archaeologist & Computer Historian.
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/netsurfer_x1/
Computer Collection:
"Triumph": Commodore 64C, 1802, 1541, FSD-1, GeoRAM 512, MPS-801.
"Leela": Macintosh 128 (Plus upgrade), Nova SCSI HDD, Imagewriter II.
"Delorean": TI-99/4A, TI Speech Synthesizer.
"Monolith": Apple Macintosh Portable.
"Spectrum": Tandy Color Computer 3, Disto 512K RAM board.
"Boombox": Sharp PC-7000.
"Butterfly": Tandy Model 200, PDD, CCR-82.
"Shapeshifter": Epson QX-10, Titan graphics & MS-DOS board, Comrex HDD.
"Scout": Otrona Attache.
____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
> This is correct, the primary problem lies w/ teachers spewing GIGO,
> good teachers is percious few.
Too true... my brother-in-law was doing a C++ course earlier this year and
sent me one of his assignments to have a look at. Imagine my horror when I
looked at the bit of code his teacher had given him to work from and the
first 5 lines were "#include <whatever.cpp>" ...
There have been an alarming number of interviews where I've asked a graddie
(who's supposedly been studying Java for a year) what the significance of
java.lang.Object was, only to be greeted by incomprehension. What do they
teach these people? At least they've moved towards Java now, 5 years ago I
used to ask graddies who "knew C++" what a pointer was and get answers like
"it's that arrow thing on the screen that you move around with the mouse".
And Tony Blair wants to make us a nation of IT excellence :-) Hmmm.
-al
There were a few 3rd parties that made hard drives for the
PCjr, both MFM and SCSI versions.
The SCSI ones are really interesting to me - there was a
Future Domain TMC850Jr controller that PC Enterprises sold
that attached on the side, and a card sold as part of an
upgrade package by RIM that went in the internal modem slot.
Unfortunately, I have neither - and I'd love to have one. I
imagine that the SCSI solutions can be faked into using a
SCSI Zip drive, which would be awesome ..
Jr heads ... here is my contribution to the web:
http://mail.magnaspeed.net/~mbbrutman/PCjr/pcjr.html
I have the tech ref, the service book, and other goodies. I
also wrote a cartridge & system ROM dumping program - might
be handy if anybody ever decides to start copying the old
cartridges. (Email me for source & .EXE)
Mike
On Oct 21, 20:52, Tony Duell wrote:
> > On Thursday I took possession of a DEC Lab 11/40 system.
> Nice!. I've seen one once. AFAIK, it is (almost?) all standard DEC parts
> -- an 11/40 CPU, VT11 graphics display, LPS11 lab I/O, RK05 + RK11-D
> drives, etc.
Yes, I can't see anything in it that's not original DEC -- except a couple
of RK05 packs that turned up later, which are Scotch-branded rather than
DEC.
> Well, DL11 cards are simple enough to repair. If it is the RS232 chips,
> they're just 1488s and 1489s, so no real problem to get replacements.
Agreed -- I have umpteen sets of them. And I've previously upgraded -YAs
to RS232, so no problem there either.
The machine usedf to be used with an LA120, but I had to leave that behind
as I simply have no room :-(
> Yes, VT11 board set. [...] I have prints if you are missing them.
I've found the manuals but not the print sets.
> It's the same ribbon cable (BC11) as is used for Unibus, but it certainly
> doesn't carry unibus singals here. It's a raw data interface to the
drives.
Yeah, I knew that, though I wan't clear in what I wrote. I just meant it's
the same type of cable -- so if it *is* damaged, it can be replaced
relatively easily.
> > and check the PSUs before I do anything else. I'm no Unibus or RK05
> > expert; most of my -11s are Q-bus. What else should I look for before
I go
> > too far?
>
> Read the printsets. Read them again. Then, as ever, check the power
> [...]
Thanks! That's exactly the detailed practical advice I was hoping for :-)
A quick look at the RK05s shows the foam ring on the blower is
disintegrating. I imagine this needs replaced with some similar
high-density foam before I put any packs in there. Any other places I need
to look?
I seem to have all the relevant maintenance manuals and engineering
drawings print sets, plus several extra photocopies and some updates.
I also have several copies of The Software Despatch for RT-11, and the
original Site Maintenance Manual for the machine, with the original
shipping notes, Field Service logs, etc.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
> Hi, Eric. Mmm... Where this could be applicable ?
> One DEC PDP ? One Microvax ? One PC with Scsi
> board ?
It is a SCSI drive, so anything with a SCSI interface and
drivers.
--
Eric Dittman
dittman(a)dittman.net
Check out the DEC Enthusiasts Club at http://www.dittman.net/
Hello, all:
This weekend I posted the latest code release for the Altair32
Emulator. Right now, it's feature-complete except for the Altair Integrated
Debugger, a fully-integrated debugger based on the one used by Jim Battle in
his Sol emulator.
There are a few known issues with this release:
* Programatic access to the paper tape doesn't work properly for some
unknown reason. So, for example, using the toggle-in bootstrap loader to
load and run Altair BASIC 3.2 from tape doesn't work. Execution is never
transferred to BASIC. Loading BASIC in the form of a memory image still
works fine. Tape access has been sped-up by fully buffering the tape in a
buffer and reading from the buffer.
* Other BASIC versions, such as 8k (4.0) and Disk Extended BASIC,
don't work properly. They seem to crash the emulator after the "MEMORY
SIZE?" prompt. A quick trace of 8k BASIC shows some possibly strange IO port
usage.
* Emulated floppy access with the included disk images doesn't work
properly. I can boot the emulator to CP/M and are able to see the console
output but the CP/M BIOS doesn't seem to register console input. I've asked
for a copy of the CBIOS source that relates to the CP/M image (borrowed with
permission from the Sysun on-line computer museum) so that I can track this
one down. I suspect that it's a problem with the emulated status register
for the console serial port.
Enjoy!
Rich
==========================
Richard A. Cini, Jr.
Congress Financial Corporation
1133 Avenue of the Americas
30th Floor
New York, NY 10036
(212) 545-4402
(212) 840-6259 (facsimile)
You had already gotten a bunch of good responses, you noticed all
the foam was falling apart like in mine, I cleaned it all out so bits of
stuff wouldn't be floating around. I used some furniture foam where I needed
thick and soft weather stripping foam for areas like the air feed to the disk
pack. If you pull the fan to replace the foam check to see that the duck
bill which cools power supplies doesn't have dust blocking the end.
I also had to replace the nicad battery pack which retracts the heads when
power fails. If it isn't leaking you can see if it took a charge after
the drive has been running a while or try charging if you got a power
supply and then load test. You can also test by carefully pulling the
head forward with the drive powered off. It will suddenly yank it back when
you hit the switch (watch the fingers). Don't pull it far enough that it
starts to get to the head load ramp, it should pull back before that.
If you think you might have some dropped packs what I do is with cover off
watch the reflection of something at the edge of the disk where the head
loads. Blip the run switch to start the pack spinning and as it slows down
watch for the reflection to move. If so the edge is bent. I don't know how
much is safe, I have a couple I declared unsafe and a couple with just a
slight change which worked fine.
For packs that weren't stored in bags I clean them before using. I
use alchohol wipes then "air" can and a lens brush to remove all I can.
Look at various angles, the proper lighting angle makes the dust visible.
I then let sit in the drive for a while, spin it up then run a program
which quickly steps through all tracks. Frequently I get a little ping on
a track on the first pass or two but the moving head seems to knock the dust
bits off. If the head isn't moving it can sit pinging at a track which
doesn't seem like a good thing. If after two passes the disk isn't quiet
I try cleaning again or put it in the trouble stack. Check/clean heads
after this. Also keep the finger on the load button and hit it if things
sound too loud.
I also have some PM procedures on my site which a company wrote for
maintaining their drives. Search for RK05
http://www.pdp8.net/pdp8cgi/query_docs/query.pl
David Gesswein
http://www.pdp8.net/ -- Run an old computer with blinkenlights.
-------------Original Message--------------
Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 00:06:28 -0400
From: "Glen Goodwin" <acme_ent(a)bellsouth.net>
Subject: Re: Network protocols - RS232 Serial
Hey Mike:
> Anybody have a use for one or more Data Products Inc. NC16/250
NetCommanders (Not to be confused with Diamond's NetCommander ISDN
adapter)?
Yes.
> Need to talk to your 15 vintage RS232 systems in the garage from one
terminal?
Yes!
How much???
Glen
0/0
----------------
Hey Glen:
Will let ya know as soon as I've had a chance to look at them. Sorry to all for delays, kinda hectic here at the moment.
mike
> So far I've worked out how to generate all characters on the keytops
(letters,
> keywords and symbols) using CAPS SHIFT or SYMBOL SHIFT. I've also
discovered
> how to print the keywords listed above each key, by pressing both SHIFT
keys
> in order to enter the "E" input mode. But I'm lost as to how to print the
> keywords and characters listed below the keys. No combinations of SHIFT
keys
> seem to work out.
Go into Extended Mode (both shifts down at once to get the "E" cursor), then
press the command key you want while keeping Symbol Shift held down.
Good old Sinclair keyboards... the keyword entry thing worked ok on the
ZX80/ZX81 IMHO because they were such horrible "key"boards. Not so sure
about the Spectrum, there were just too many keywords to find, even if you
knew where to look it was still a pain to type in a listing from a magazine
:-) I recently got hold of one of the 128K Spectrum+ machines - the ones
with the QL-style keyboard. Firing up the 128K BASIC allows you to type in a
program character by character - I would have thought that would be an
improvement, but I find it to be just as nasty as the 48K BASIC's keyword
mechanism because the keyboard layout is non-standard. I ask you, putting
the " on it's own key :-)
-al
-------------Original Message-----------------
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 23:17:52 +0100 (BST)
From: ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell)
Subject: Re: Network protocols - RS232 Serial
> Sorry, typon on my part. Mine also says 'Digital Products Inc' on it.
> I've got a couple of different models here.
-----------------------------------------------------
Well, I guess Product*S* is appropriate after all... They did indeed make quite a few different combinations, as well as the PrintDirector and DeviceDirector Printer/Terminal port sharing units, but I don't see yours listed in any of my literature; musta been older or newer than mine. I do see an NC7 (4S/3P) and some of the MultiSpool Print Directors were S/P combos.
These are serial-only single-board babies, 16 RJ-45's along the back of the board, using standard DIP 256x1 RAMs. When you look at it, it sure doesn't look like $3000 worth... Now if they'd put some LED's on the front panel, say 4 per port, all blinking away merrily...
We used them in two applications: One was collecting data from a bunch of AIM65's (later replaced by PC's) monitoring stock thickness in a brass rolling mill and sending it to a central Cromemco (also later replaced by a PC), and the other was a bond trader who used them to broadcast news of a new issue to his clients over dedicated lines, so some of them have been modified to simultaneously broadcast 1 port to the other 15 ('cause ya couldn't have one client getting the news before another, even at 9600 baud; that's how hectic the bond business is).
mike
"Brian Knittel" <brian(a)quarterbyte.com> wrote:
> Does anyone know of any electronics / computer surplus
> and/or computer / electronics recycling companies
> in the greater Portsmouth - Norfolk - Virginia Beach -
> Suffolk - Chesapeake, Virginia area?
Try the US Navy.
http://www.drms.com/
DRMO Norfolk
http://www.drms.dla.mil/drmo/site/national/norfolk.pdf
--Doug
=========================================
Doug Coward
@ home in Poulsbo, WA
Analog Computer Online Museum and History Center
http://www.best.com/~dcoward/analog
=========================================
Iggy wrote:
> So now I've got a working Speccy, with a luxurious on/off switch and all.
> The keyboard is... interesting.
> So far I've worked out how to generate all characters on the keytops
(letters,
> keywords and symbols) using CAPS SHIFT or SYMBOL SHIFT. I've also
discovered
> how to print the keywords listed above each key, by pressing both SHIFT
keys
> in order to enter the "E" input mode. But I'm lost as to how to print the
> keywords and characters listed below the keys. No combinations of SHIFT
keys
> seem to work out.
Hold down the Caps Shift key.
Tap the Symbl Shift key.
Release the Caps Shift key. (Now you're in "E" mode)
Hold down the Symbl Shift key.
Press the key with the character or keyword you want to obtain.
It's a lot easier than it sounds ;>)
Glen
0/0
After a long dry spell of not finding anything, finally found some stuff. Got
an RS digital computer kit off ebay for only $3 and at the local thrift store
got a PS/2 model 30 286 with the original keys still in the lock. got a laser
128 complete in box that looks hardly used and a laser 128ex with a broken
key, but thankfully didnt get lost.
--
DB Young Team OS/2
old computers, hot rod pinto and more at:
www.nothingtodo.org
I just got a memory board for my HP IIIp. The board only has 2MB on it,
but there are 2 rows of empty 20-pin sockets that lead me to believe
I can add another 2MB for a total of 4MB.
I'd like to do that in the most cost-efficient way possible.
The board is marked "(C) 1991 Pacific Data Products" and "P/N 012186".
The soldered-in RAM is mostly marked "HY534256S-70", although three chips
are "HY534256S-80"(?)
Thanks in advance.
On Oct 21, 12:10, Mike Ford wrote:
> This fear of spam always amazes me.
[...]
> Just hit delete, or
> in the case of "real" spam drop the email into one of the antispam sites
> and let the software go after the sender.
It's not "fear" of spam, just simple irritation. I'm perfectly capable of
hitting a delete key and using antispam sites, but I don't see why I should
have to.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
I found a keyboard-less Spectrum at the salvation army, and I got it at only
15 SEK. Great price, that's about one GBP.
So I proceeded to mix and match a working Spectrum out of one and the one I
already own.
The keyboard ribbons on my old one were really beat up, so I took the matrix
(and ribbons) off the one without a keyboard and transplanted it into the old
one, which turned out to work this time. It was probably just a disagreement
with an AC-DC adaptor or the tuner in the TV.
So now I've got a working Speccy, with a luxurious on/off switch and all.
The keyboard is... interesting.
So far I've worked out how to generate all characters on the keytops (letters,
keywords and symbols) using CAPS SHIFT or SYMBOL SHIFT. I've also discovered
how to print the keywords listed above each key, by pressing both SHIFT keys
in order to enter the "E" input mode. But I'm lost as to how to print the
keywords and characters listed below the keys. No combinations of SHIFT keys
seem to work out.
--
En ligne avec Thor 2.6a.
Iggy tipsar: Vill du l?sa en PDF-fil, men saknar l?sare, skicka den till
pdf2txt(a)adobe.com, du f?r den tillbaka som ren ASCII till din epostadress.
On Oct 21, 9:41, Bob Shannon wrote:
> Ah, you have a VT-11!
>
> Very collectable!
Not to say "spacewar-capable" :-) Providing I can find some PDP-11 code
-- I don't fancy recoding it, given only the PDP-1 assembly listing.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
Yep. The only restriction on Linus's final blessed tarball is a MMU. ELKS
(and several other embedded/handheld ports) don't. ELKS will run on MMU
less 'Intel' systems. I had it going on an overclocked V20 for a while.
Jim
On Monday, October 22, 2001 3:13 PM, Tony Duell [SMTP:ard@p850ug1.demon.co.uk]
wrote:
> > > Given enough RAM (640K?), is there any good reason why ELKS couldn't be
> > > ported to the PCjr?
> > >
> > > No, I am not volunteering to try it....
> > >
> > > -tony
> >
> >
> > I believe that all versions of Linux require a 32+ bit processor to run.
>
> I thought the whole point of ELKS was that it didn't need the MMU of the
> 386+ (it's that, rather than the 32 bit operations, that is the real
> reason that full linux won't run on a 286 or below, I think).
>
> One problem with running ELKS (or Minix) on the PCjr is the keyboard.
> It's very software-intensive -- the IR datastream goes to the NMI pin on
> the CPU (and maybe to an input port, I would have to check the techref).
> It's up to the CPU to work out the timing of the pulses and decode it.
> This could be 'interesting' if running a multitasking OS :-)...
>
> -tony
Mike,
I had to abandon the former world.std.com account as I was getting
between
55-60 UCE/SPAM a day. After a while even wholesale deletes take too
long.
Whats this address your babbleling about as this address is getting on
average
3-5 UCE/SPAM a day. This bugs me as I've taken pains to keep it out of
circulation.
Allison
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Ford <mikeford(a)socal.rr.com>
To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Date: Sunday, October 21, 2001 4:20 PM
Subject: Re: List Maintenance
>>Some time ago, there was a discussion about address munging. I've
noticed
>>recently (ie the last few months) a large increase in spam arriving
here,
>>possibly correlated to my postings to the list. It not a really big
deal,
>>but I wondered if it's possible to anti-spamify my email address in
list
>>postings?
>
>This fear of spam always amazes me. I sign up at every idiot contest
site I
>find on the web (I won $3 of gas from Havoline), and I never get more
than
>half a dozen spam emails a day out of a hundred or so real emails on
>important topics like replaceing the cord vs connector. Just hit delete,
or
>in the case of "real" spam drop the email into one of the antispam sites
>and let the software go after the sender.
>
>
I have two Genrad Futuredata 2300 systems and accompanying software and
am hunting for other owners. Specifically, I am looking for a 2716 or
2732 EPROM burner that these units supported. This was a small box with
a ZIF socket that conected to a Microkit board on the Futuredata S100
bus.
I have software for these machines and can exchange for leads on an
EPROM box.
-
Craig Landrum
CTO
Mindwrap, Inc.
home: clandrum(a)monumental.com
work: craigl(a)mindwrap.com
540-675-3015 x 229
Gang,
Sorry for the offtopic post, but I need y'alls expertise...
I've got a wirewrap SBC that I'm working on (6502-based system). I've got
my wirewrapping skills down pretty well and that part is not a problem.
For the power and ground connections for each chip, a friend suggested I
should solder 16-gauge wire from a tie point or the power connector
straight to each chip and/or its bypass cap. The only 16-gauge wire I have
is stranded, and it's a mess to work with -- too large to work with easily
and the strands mean it won't really bend and stay on the tie point or pin.
Can someone who's done this successfully tell me how I should do this?
Thanks!
Gordon
Does anyone have any recommendations on software (preferably free) for
archiving old DOS floppies? What I'd like to do is to be able to make disk
images of all (okay, maybe just 'many') of the old DOS floppies I have so
that if they disks get trashed or the bits fall off I can remake 'em. I'm
assuming I'd probably be making these archives from a Windoze box although
DOS or even FreeBSD or Linux is a possibility.
Thanks in advance.
GZ
> I just went to a local computer show today. I was happy to find that a
> few vendors had components available from disassembled computers or
> whatever. I picked up a 3com 3C905-TX PCI ethernet card, an ATI Mach64
> video card, and a very nice Sound Blaster 16, all used of course. The
> Mach64 had "Monitor" written in marker on the slot cover. Do office
> people really need to remind themselves where to plug the monitor in? I
> have also seen a 3.5" floppy drives marked "hard drive a:" and the 5.25"
> floppy, marked, "floppy drive b:". What's the deal?
Yes... they really are that dumb... at least the ones that I have to
support here are. I regularly have to mark cables and drives, or they
screw things up. It seems to most staff here, if it doesn't fit, force
it... so the fact that most cables only fit in one place doesn't stop
them (I have found VGA monitors plugged into MALE 9 pin serial ports...
yes, it can be done... lots and lots of force, but it can be done!).
Of course, sometimes labeling everything can backfire... thanks to my
efforts to make my offices idiot proof (make something idiot proof, and
they'll build a bigger idiot)... my boss now thinks EVERYTHING can be
made that way... he routinely complains that he needs written directions
on how to fix problems with the WIndows NT network... so in case
something unexpected goes wrong while I am out of the office, they can
fix it. He doesn't grasp the difference between looking for a port marked
"Mouse" and diagnosing Win NT problems.
So yes, office people CAN be that dumb.
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
Those of you I've been communicating with, my email is having
problems due to my new ISP (GTE/Verizon) having messed up my
DNS entries and not having any weekend DNS support (that sure
surprised me!). If you need to contact me and mail to my
usual email fails, try dittman(a)directlink.net.
Thanks.
--
Eric Dittman
dittman(a)dittman.net
Check out the DEC Enthusiasts Club at http://www.dittman.net/
Picked one of these up today, didn't know what it was so figured it had to
be good. Looks like that was a good bet. If anyone has carts, power supply,
or joysticks for this that they'd like to sell, please contact me. If anyone
want to place an offer for it, please send them to ebay(a)gowebway.com. I will
be placing this item on ebay once I am certain it works. I will let you know
when I list it if you send me an email. Thanks for any info.
The day I could get one complete from the UK I'll can't believe it.
Good luck and Greetings
Sergio Pedraja
Santander
Spain
-----Mensaje original-----
De: Kevin Murrell <kevin(a)xpuppy.freeserve.co.uk>
Para: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Fecha: domingo, 21 de octubre de 2001 17:05
Asunto: RE: DEC Lab 11/40
>Good news about another 11 rescued in the UK!
>
>Quick point about the cables to the RK05s - they look the same as the
unibus
>cables, but DO NOT plug into the bus!
>
>If we can help with some more RK05 packs and a copy of RT-11 let me know.
>
>Kevin Murrell
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: owner-classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
>> [mailto:owner-classiccmp@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Pete Turnbull
>> Sent: 21 October 2001 12:29
>> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
>> Subject: DEC Lab 11/40
>>
>>
>> On Thursday I took possession of a DEC Lab 11/40 system. I've
>> not had time
>> to clean it up and check it out yet, but it was reputedly working
>> when last
>> used (well, I suppose it would have been, wouldn't it?).
>>
>> Actually, that's not quite true, as I'm told someone plugged a terminal
in
>> the wrong way, apparently blew something up, and got no output -- I hope
>> they mean something simple like the RS232 line drivers have gone.
>>
>> The system consists of two racks about 4' high. One contains the 11/40
in
>> a 12U box, with a power controller below and an LPS11 above. The other
>> contains a pair of RK05 drives and power controller. There's a GT11
>> display on the top of the 11/40 rack, and a TS03 magtape unit on
>> the other.
>> The system came with stacks of documentation but only one RK05
>> pack. I've
>> not had time to make a thorough inventory of the docs yet, but
>> they seem to
>> include most of the processor/memory/interface engineering drawings and
>> maintenance manuals, and something like four complete or almost complete
>> sets of RT-11 manuals, for various vintages from 2.0 to 4.0. Also a pile
>> of printed MAINDEC listings (no microfiche, sadly. Anybody got any
>> microfiche they want to pass on?)
>>
>> I've not had time to do anything yet, apart from check the boards in the
>> 11/40 (pretty standard, with EIS but not FIS, no stack limit register or
>> MMU, no KM11, but it does have the KW11-L programmable LTC). It has a
>> DL11-A (20mA interface for console) and a DL11-something (RS232), 2 x
16KW
>> core sets in one backplane, a DUP11-A synchronous interface (what
>> can I use
>> this for?), a TMB11 tape controller, and an RK11-D controller for the
>> drives. The last backplane in the box contains cards not listed in the
>> Field Guide (neither are the memory cards in this machine, so I'll send
>> Megan an update) but I think they're for the GT11: M7014-YA, A320, and
>> M7013, all hex-height.
>>
>> I've had a very cursory look over the machine, and the only
>> things I notice
>> that want some attention before I think about powering it up are a
section
>> of frayed insulation on the power loom to the BA-11 box, a lot of dust
>> everywhere (how surprising!), and some kinks in the unibus cable that
>> connects to the RK05s. I plan to vacuum out the dust, ix the insulation,
>> and check the PSUs before I do anything else. I'm no Unibus or RK05
>> expert; most of my -11s are Q-bus. What else should I look for
>> before I go
>> too far?
>>
>> I mentioned I only got one disk pack -- it's an original RT-11
>> distribution
>> and I don't want to risk that in an unknown drive. Anyway, I know for a
>> fact it's been dropped (the owner told me). I have since acquired 4 more
>> packs, three of which came from the same machine originally. Anything I
>> should look out for before trying them? I thought it might be wise to
>> check the RK05 heads and perhaps clena them with IPA before I do anything
>> else.
>>
>> --
>> Pete Peter Turnbull
>> Network Manager
>> University of York
>>
>
>
Probably off-topic due to (lack of) age, but... I have inherited a
PowerWare Prestige 6000 UPS. Anyone have any experience of these? It
doesn't seem to like my mains supply. It trips the 16A (240V supply)
breaker as soon as I turn it on, whether I have two, one, or no battery
packs connected, and with or without any load. I've followed the
procedures in the manual. It's rated for 19A at 240V, so I'm going to try
a larger breaker; I'm told it always did have a large switch-on surge. Any
other clues?
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
Iggy wrote:
> I'm doing a Tony here, but...
> Is replacing the connector/cable on a modern monitor so difficult that it
> can't be accomplished without sending it away?
In many cases, including the situation Russ is referring to, it's a matter
of a manufacturers warranty. If I do *anything* to the monitor, and two
weeks later the tube dies, the customer has no warranty rights.
It's in the customer's best interest for us to send the monitor back to the
maker for repair.
Glen
0/0
Those of you I've been communicating with, my email is having
problems due to my new ISP (GTE/Verizon) having messed up my
DNS entries and not having any weekend DNS support (that sure
surprised me!). If you need to contact me and mail to my
usual email fails, try dittman(a)directlink.net.
Thanks.
--
Eric Dittman
dittman(a)dittman.net
Check out the DEC Enthusiasts Club at http://www.dittman.net/
"Wayne M. Smith" <wmsmith(a)earthlink.net> wrote:
> Also, if neither CRT has been on for a week, how much charge
> likely remains?
Quite possibly a substantial charge... to verify this, perform a case
study: convince a clueless office PeeCee "expert", or some random
Micro$oft-brained IT manager, to wet their fingers and touch the right
places. Figuring out a suitable explanation to make this agreeable to
them shouldn't be too difficult - after all, the unit is safely
unplugged from the mains socket, right? ;-) This will also demonstrate
the correlation between failures of evolution and modern hiring
practices.
RDD
--
Copyright (C) 2001 R. D. Davis The difference between humans & other animals:
All Rights Reserved an unnatural belief that we're above Nature &
rdd(a)rddavis.net 410-744-4900 her other creatures, using dogma to justify such
http://www.rddavis.net beliefs and to justify much human cruelty.
Just wondering you any of you guys know other in the KC Missouri/Kansas
area interested in starting an informal classic computer group/club?
Within a convenient radius is Omaha, NE, Des Moines, IA, and Topeka KS
as well. As the usual sources of older equipment seems to be drying up,
maybe those of us with an educated eye can network a bit more
efficiently around here.
Spread the word and have those parties e-mail me.
Gary Hildebrand WA7KKP
St. Joseph, MO
Speaking of which, I'm planning to replace a CRT this
weekend and naturally don't want to get a big shock. I've
read that one way to discharge a CRT is to use a well
insultated screw driver with an alligator clip/wire on the
shaft of the driver comnnected to ground, and then insert
the end of the driver under the suction cup where the anode
meets the tube. Any thoughts on this approach?
Don't connect to ground, connect directly to the
wires that rest on the coating on the back of the
tube. This will ensure that you discharge the tube.
Also, if neither CRT has been on for a week, how
much charge likely remains?
Up to all of it. Also be aware that a tube that has
been disconnected for any length of time may
self charge due to electrolyte stresses. Not
enough to harm you but enough to make you
drop the tube in surprise.
Lee.
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At swap today I picked up a neat little package made by AT&T/NCR in the
early '90s. The package is 9.75W x 9D x 1.25H and looks rather like a
book. The front carries only a push switch and an LED, while the rear
has DB25F Parallel, RJ? and DB25F EIA, RJ? AUX, HDE15 VIDEO, and RJ? and
OS/2 KEYBOARD connectors plus a concentric power input connector.
There is an Intel 80C32 microcontroller, various static RAM chips, and a
specialized NCR/ADDS SMD chip that pointed to X-Station information via
Google.
Anyone ever run across one of these critters and have any information on
it?
Also picked up a dual port SGX full length network card using DA15M
connectors. I was intrigued by it carrying an NEC V50 PLCC chip. First
I had seen.
- don
Hi,
I don't know if it has been mentioned here already, sorry for the
dupe if it has been.
The members of the Dutch computer collectors mailing list CVML are
having a computer swap meeting for the third time this year. The
focus will be on trading, where the members will bring machines they
don't want anymore (and of course a few to show off with :) ).
The list members mostly collect 8 bit micros from the 80's.
Last time the meeting was a great success for me, I arrived there
with a van filled with computers, and I left with only one :)
The meeting will be held on october the 27th in the TwinType building
at the Valkenierslaan 47 in Breda from 10.00 to 20.00 hours.
There is a (Dutch language) web site at
http://www.xs4all.nl/~rimmer/cvml/
For more information you can mail ton.brands(a)xs4all.nl
Grtz,
Kees.
--
kees.stravers(a)iae.nl
http://home.iae.nl/users/pb0aia/http://www.vaxarchive.org
Net-Tamer V 1.08.1 - Registered
>> expect a regular office person (and in some cases, even a regular IT
>> person) to be able to do it.
>
>Office person, sure. But an IT person who couldn't solder a connector
>gets no respect from me at all....
I don't disagree, but unfortuantly, Windows Crap OS and sleep thru
"certifications" have bread countless morons that are now employed as IT
managers.
My company did a survey a number of years ago... college students,
Computer majors and professors only... The LACK of knowledge, or simply
WRONG knowledge coming out of these people was frightening, frightening
to the core that these people were going to graduate and get jobs running
the IT infrastructure of the US corportations.
The only good thing that came of it, it finally convinced my boss that a
college education didn't mean jack... which got me a raise (being a
college drop out myself)
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
> Hello. I have a lot of TK50 tapes just received. They appear to contain VMS
> 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4
> basic distribution, plus the mandatory updates. There is some copies of VMS
> Fortran, VMS C 3.0,
> and Oracle for VMS. And the backups contains references to Word Perfect
> documents, then I suppose
> the Disk Backup Images (there is some of them) could contains a complete
> system installed.
>
> The question is that I don't have actually one TK5o to read them. I have one
> Microvax 3100 and one
> MIcrovax 2000, and I'd like to purchase or obtain one tape unit for every of
> this machines. If I understand
> it ok, the VS2000 needs one model, and the other DEC (or Scsi) machines the
> other TK50 model.
>
> Well.... What's about this ? There is somebody that knows about some tape
> device (or both) for trade ?
I have a TZ30 drive (internal). The TZ30 is a 5.25" half-height drive and
can read TK50 tapes.
--
Eric Dittman
dittman(a)dittman.net
Check out the DEC Enthusiasts Club at http://www.dittman.net/
Our sawmill uses an HP-1000 for process control; it has an infrared paper
tape reader and an ASR 33 Teletype. And they all work. But I'd like to
replace the teletype with a PC. Does anyone know how to make a PC emulate an
ASR 33??
Thanks
Hey Mike:
> Anybody have a use for one or more Data Products Inc. NC16/250
NetCommanders (Not to be confused with Diamond's NetCommander ISDN
adapter)?
Yes.
> Need to talk to your 15 vintage RS232 systems in the garage from one
terminal?
Yes!
How much???
Glen
0/0
>I'm doing a Tony here, but...
>Is replacing the connector/cable on a modern monitor so difficult that it
>can't be accomplished without sending it away?
I have replaced many monitor connectors (all VGA HD15s). They aren't
usually TOO hard to do. The hardest part I have run into is usually
getting the old one open. If I am doing a total replacement, it isn't an
issue, as I can just cut it off... but usually, for broken pins, I try to
extract the bad ones, and insert new ones... in which case I will dremmel
open the old casing, and replace the pin. Molded pins can be tough, but a
hot needle will usually melt away enough of the plastic to slip them out.
Then a dab of hot glue on the back side holds the new pin in place.
Certainly in my book, easier, cheaper and faster then sending the monitor
out to be repaired... but I know what I am working on... I would never
expect a regular office person (and in some cases, even a regular IT
person) to be able to do it.
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
I just came across two dec memory boards L0115-AH and L0115-00, also labeled
16MB. Does anyone know which model VAX they came from? Some web searches
seem to point to VAX 8800. They might be available for $5-$10 each.
Mike
mmcfadden(a)cmh.edu
> I don't see how. I have some documents (I think written by Ward
>Christiansen) about how XModem and YModem work and it seemed fairly
>straightforward to implement the protocol. XModem isn't exactly that
>difficult of a protocol to support 8-)
Hey, since there is a discussion of protocol's going on... does anyone
have the specs needed to write an implimentation of the I-modem protocol?
(that's I as in "Eye" or "Myself").
I know it was created by John Friel (at least, that is what I learned
when researching the protocol). But I can't find any real specs on it.
The only other thing I know about it is Procomm Plus version 1.1B
supports it. I need it to download data files off one of my systems here,
and I want to write a nicer download front end for it. Right now I have
to do it manually thru Procomm... not that it is a big deal for me, but I
want to be able to let some of the other office staff here take care of
the job, and for them, using Procomm and sending ASCII commands isn't a
good idea (they will screw something up... they have in the past, and
they will again in the future).
If I can get the specs on the protocol, I can write a program with a nice
GUI to handle the logging in, and selecting data, and downloading it...
not to mention, then I can do it on the Mac, which means some of these
people can do it right from their desk.
I'm hoping some of you wizards out there might have the info I need. (I
have exhausted Google among other search engines looking for it)
Thanks
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
> > Admittedly, the fits I had with it weren't due to the protocol, and
> > you're right, it did seem more robust... there were apparantly some
> > variations in how the X/Y/Zmodem protocols got implemented...
>
> I don't see how. I have some documents (I think written by Ward
> Christiansen) about how XModem and YModem work and it seemed fairly
> straightforward to implement the protocol. XModem isn't exactly that
> difficult of a protocol to support 8-)
Ah, you assume that every programmer who has the cajones to release
their code publicly has the competence level that Ward & Randy
(or you & I) have...
> > QModem may have been it, I was using a version under OS/2 1.0...
>
> The QModem program I used ran under MS-DOS. I've found that I really
> dislike the Windows versions of such programs because Windows makes working
> with modems a real pain (about as painful as using a modem under Unix and
> that's quite a task!).
As I recall it, QMODEM was the clone of Flugelman's program, and what
I was using was a clone of the clone. Remember, this was in the 80s,
and while programming, I was living the Hotel California lifestyle...
Only in the 80s...
-dq
> It was thus said that the Great Douglas Quebbeman once stated:
Dang! How can I live this down?
> > I was never a big Kermit fan. It came at the very end of the days
> > when it would have been of most use to me (76-81). As a nearly
> > charter member of Ward & Randy's BBS, I adopted Ward Christiansen's
> > XMODEM protocol, and used MODEM/MODEM86 during those years.
>
> Kermit was a life saver when I was at college; it could always get stuff
> through when X/Y/ZModem wouldn't work at all.
Admittedly, the fits I had with it weren't due to the protocol, and
you're right, it did seem more robust... there were apparantly some
variations in how the X/Y/Zmodem protocols got implemented...
> > PROCOMM most closely resembled Andrew's program, so that became my
> > standard terminal emulator under DOS, and later Windows.
>
> I preferred Qmodem but later switched to Procomm because of the better
> terminal emulation.
QModem may have been it, I was using a version under OS/2 1.0...
-dq
On Oct 19, 15:40, Iggy Drougge wrote:
> Russ Blakeman skrev:
> I'm doing a Tony here, but...
> Is replacing the connector/cable on a modern monitor so difficult that it
> can't be accomplished without sending it away?
Those HDD15 connectors are a bit fiddly, and in a commercial environment it
makes sense to have an "approved" repair done if the equipment is very new,
as it has implicatons for the warranty. Also, some cheaper monitor cables
use twisted pairs instead of coax (yuk!) and if you cut off the moulded
plug, it can be a pain to sort out which wire is which.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York