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

by chomko＠greenbelt.com

Pulled off alt.foklore.computers: Interdata History - From: Will Jennings <XDS_Sigma7(a)hotmail.com> Fri Jun 9 14:42:19 2000 <quote on> Subject: Interdata, Perkin-Elmer, et al. OK, a brief history of Interdata, etc.; Interdata was founded in about 1967 in Oceanport, NJ, and the majority of the funding was put up by the local jockey club because they wanted to grow Oceanport into a more high-tech area. This would later cause them some problems, i.e. I heard a story about how AT&T was going to buy a large quantity of Interdata machines, then looked into the background of the company, saw that the Oceanport Jockey Club was the main stockholder, and cancelled the deal. Afterwards, they redistributed the stock so that say John Doe was a stockholder, and he just *happened* to belong to the jockey club (told to me by a former Interdata employee). Anyway, the Interdata machines use the IBM S/360 instruction set, and most programs written in S/360 assembler will run unmodified on an Interdata, provided that they don't use floating point (S/360 floating point is ODD!), and are not dependent on a certain IBM device being present, i.e. a program that had routines specifically for use with a 7320 in it would not work. The assembler is even called CAL (Common Assembly Language) whereas the S/360 assembler is called BAL (Basic Assembly Language). Interdata also used the weird IBm terms, i.e. SELCH, MUX, IPL, MTM, etc. In fact, on the later machines, the racks are even IBM blue. I could talk about all the Interdata models but I don't want to flood the list, so I'll keep it to their most significant model, the 7/32. The 7/32 was the world's first 32-bit minicomputer, introduced in 1973. The 7/32 is also significant in that it has a cycle of either 750 or 1000ns, depending on the core, and it can have up to one megabyte of memory. Not to mention the fact that it has a full display panel, which is even more impressive with the hexidecimal option. Anyway, Perkin-Elmer bought Interdata in about 1975, and continued to market and develop the products but with the P-E name on them. The first machine that P-E sold without it being a rebadged Interdata was the 3220 (1978), which looks a lot like the 30xx series of machines from IBM. The 3200 series machines are backward compatible with the two Interdata 32 bit machines, the 7/32 and 8/32. In 1979, P-E released the 3210, which is twice as fast as a VAX 11/780, and it fits in a normal size rack instead of a massive unwieldy thing. In 1985, P-E spun off the computer division as Concurrent Computer Corporation, who is still in business (http://www.ccur.com). Concurrent also bought Masscomp in about 1989 or so, and still makes machines based around Masscomp's RTU operating system. All of the Interdata/P- E/Concurrent hardware is specifically designed for real-time applications, and as such, is less well-known then companies like DEC who made general-purpose machines. If anyone is interested, I'll make an Interdate/P-E/Concurrent web page. I personally own 2 Interdata 7/32's, 2 P-E 3203's, a P-E 3205, and 3 P-E 3210's. I wouldn't mind more either... or a Masscomp.. heh Will J (From: Will Jennings <XDS_Sigma7(a)hotmail.com>) <quote off>

25 years, 2 months

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SC/MP Elektor Emulator

by Robert_Feldman＠jdedwards.com

http://www.elektor-electronics.co.uk/ -----Original Message----- From: Sipke de Wal [mailto:sipke@wxs.nl] Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2001 4:14 PM To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org Subject: Re: SC/MP Elektor Emulator <snip> By the way ....... I know the url of the dutch Elektor site: http://www.elektuur.nl (but don't know if they have versions of their site for other languages ) <snip>

25 years, 2 months

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Kim / Commie keypads

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

It's in the RSU catalog. It's on the wall in nashua as part of a chassis box. I don't claim any genius but, it still amazes me that I can find something so trivial with zero effort. IF ALL ELSE FAILS TRY THE DIGIKEY OR NEWARK CATALOGS. Sure they are pricy but they do have it. Keypads are still used widely for many applications, where is the difficulty? Allison ------Original Message------ From: "Richard Erlacher" <edick(a)idcomm.com> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org Sent: April 17, 2001 3:37:49 AM GMT Subject: Re: Kim / Commie keypads Well, talking to the folks at Radio Shack, visiting a store, and searching through their catalog (with the aid of the fellow at the store) didn't yield any keypad kits. The part number you posted doesn't fit a Radio Shack part number format according to the guy at RS. That's why I asked for the part number, because, though they have thousands of stores with many employees, they have, collectively, only two grey cells to rub together when it comes to finding something. That's as much as I'm going to do, since (a) I dislike going to Radio Shack (b) I don't have a KIM-1, nor am I likely to get one, and (3) I doubt that Radio Shack will EVER have a keypad that will even with extensive modification be suitable for this application, or, for that matter, anything else of any value, except by the wildest stroke of luck. Dick ----- Original Message ----- From: "ajp166" <ajp166(a)bellatlantic.net> To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Sent: Monday, April 16, 2001 5:13 PM Subject: Re: Kim / Commie keypads > From: Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com> > > > > >This RS pad must have a catalog number, though, Allison. Since you've > seen it, > >perhaps you could provide the catalog number, as the RS meatheads > wouldn't know > >what a keypad kit was if you asked them. > > > Well while picking up a barrel connector I noticed the Nashua store had > it on > the wall. I think 270-015 is the catalog number. Sheesh, if I do that > might > as well sent it to me for installation and labeling. Is it possible to > read a catalog > these days or has the "go ask the web, thin I don't have to work" > mentality > taken over? > > Allison > >

25 years, 2 months

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Kim / Commie keypads

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

I didn't miss the point. Rather I choose to ignore the whining and moaning about something that is not rocket science. Given that basic box ( the key pad is removeable!) and a pair of shears I'd be running. Then again I'd be able to find a better match because I'd look rather than grousing about it. Sheesh! Allison ------Original Message------ From: "Richard Erlacher" <edick(a)idcomm.com> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org Sent: April 17, 2001 2:54:34 PM GMT Subject: Re: Kim / Commie keypads You've missed the point, Allison ... There are dimensional requirements that have to be met if the keypad is to fit as a replacement for the KIM-1 keypad. It must physically fit, and it must have the same scanning matrix. Now, I haven't seen the chassis box to which you refer, but I'd bet that RS doesn't sell the keypad by itself, nor do I believe that the keypad is dimensionally suitable. If one is interested in an external keypad, there are LOTS of options, and there's certainly no need to consider the sort of rubbish sold at RS. Dick ----- Original Message ----- From: "ajp me" <ajp166(a)bellatlantic.net> To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2001 6:48 AM Subject: Re: Kim / Commie keypads > It's in the RSU catalog. > It's on the wall in nashua as part of a chassis box. > > I don't claim any genius but, it still amazes me that I can find something so trivial with zero effort. IF ALL ELSE FAILS TRY THE DIGIKEY OR NEWARK CATALOGS. Sure they are pricy but they do have it. Keypads are still used widely for many applications, > where is the difficulty? > > Allison > > > ------Original Message------ > From: "Richard Erlacher" <edick(a)idcomm.com> > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Sent: April 17, 2001 3:37:49 AM GMT > Subject: Re: Kim / Commie keypads > > > Well, talking to the folks at Radio Shack, visiting a store, and searching > through their catalog (with the aid of the fellow at the store) didn't yield any > keypad kits. The part number you posted doesn't fit a Radio Shack part number > format according to the guy at RS. That's why I asked for the part number, > because, though they have thousands of stores with many employees, they have, > collectively, only two grey cells to rub together when it comes to finding > something. That's as much as I'm going to do, since (a) I dislike going to > Radio Shack (b) I don't have a KIM-1, nor am I likely to get one, and (3) I > doubt that Radio Shack will EVER have a keypad that will even with extensive > modification be suitable for this application, or, for that matter, anything > else of any value, except by the wildest stroke of luck. > > Dick > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "ajp166" <ajp166(a)bellatlantic.net> > To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> > Sent: Monday, April 16, 2001 5:13 PM > Subject: Re: Kim / Commie keypads > > > > From: Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com> > > > > > > > >This RS pad must have a catalog number, though, Allison. Since you've > > seen it, > > >perhaps you could provide the catalog number, as the RS meatheads > > wouldn't know > > >what a keypad kit was if you asked them. > > > > > > Well while picking up a barrel connector I noticed the Nashua store had > > it on > > the wall. I think 270-015 is the catalog number. Sheesh, if I do that > > might > > as well sent it to me for installation and labeling. Is it possible to > > read a catalog > > these days or has the "go ask the web, thin I don't have to work" > > mentality > > taken over? > > > > Allison > > > > > > >

25 years, 2 months

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DEC support on Compaq

by rhblake＠bigfoot.com

This might interest some of you with DEC equipment, found by someone else on Compaq's site: http://www4.support.compaq.com/support/

25 years, 2 months

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Dr. Dobb's from the '80's --- taken., Thanks.

by nerdware＠laidbak.com

Thanks for the replies. First one in got 'em. I have some other old stuff to clear out as I make room for the audio studio here in the basement....if it doesn't sell, I'll throw it up here. Have a bunch of Byte's going way back, plus several Kilobauds and some other stuff. Paul Braun WD9GCO Cygnus Productions nerdware_nospam(a)laidbak.com "A computer without a Microsoft operating system is like a dog without a bunch of bricks tied to its head."

25 years, 2 months

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Micropolis drives (was: Micro-Expander disks

by fmc＠reanimators.org

"Fred Cisin (XenoSoft)" <cisin(a)xenosoft.com> wrote: > The early Micropoli that I'm familiar with do not look anything like a > Tandon. They are designed to operate horizontally, but will work on their > sides. The disk goes in through a slot, and then the entire mechanical > carriage is pushed down by pressing down on a small panel in/below the > middle of the slot. Pressing the same panel again permits the carriage > assembly to pop back up and partialy eject the diskette. The "Type I" was > 48tpi SS?, and the "Type II" was 100TPI. This drive is definitely different: it's more like the entire mechanical carriage is pushed down when the door is opened, and rises when the door is closed. Given the date I wonder whether it's a redesign to look like the drives on the IBM PC. Oh, and I was wrong about one thing: there is an optical emittor/sensor and a bit that interrupts it, but it's not directly attached to the door, and it interrupts when the door is open. > How about connecting it in place of a 720K (even on a PC configured for > 720K 3.5") and seeing whether the disks that it formats will interchange > with a Tandon TM100-4, Teac 55F, or Shugart/Matsushita/etc 465? There's a thought. I think I have a Morrow Micro Decision that's been fitted with a 96TPI 5.25" drive (along with a 720K 3.5" and two 48TPI 5.25" drives), I should try to dig that (and its software) out and see if I can exchange media between them. -Frank McConnell

25 years, 2 months

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Tektronix 4105 terminal

by chomko＠greenbelt.com

It has a whole mess of EPROMs on the backside of the monitor part. I didn't look close enough to see what type of CPU it has. Anyone know anything about it? Eric

25 years, 2 months

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PDP-8/i: SOLD!

by aw288＠osfn.org

The PDP-8/i has been spoken for. Thanks to all that asked. William Donzelli aw288(a)osfn.org

25 years, 2 months

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Still looking for a couple of answers to questions for the Heath H-27 floppy controller

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

OK... so I got this H-27 that locks up the Qbus when it is in the grant chain and works ok (except for interrupts) when it is past the end of the granted devices (one or more blank Qbus slots in-between). I've pulled and tested each and every TTL chip, but can't use the auto chip tester on the Nat'l Semi parts. My questions are this: What are the three jumpers for? (E-1 through E-3, between U11 and U12, and U7 and U8) What bus drivers/receivers directly interact with the interrupt grant chain? If I'm lucky, it's U11 and U7 - I have plenty of 8136 chips. What can I substitute for DS8837 and DS8839 chips, if one of them is at fault? __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.yahoo.com/

25 years, 2 months

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Various manuals FS

by djg＠drs-esg.com

I was browsing through a local used book store and found some stuff other may want. These are the listed prices, shipping additional. I have not purchased them but can and ship them off if interest. In general if you have the equipment you get priority or wanting multiple, offering PDP-8 stuff, or offering more than list. Email me not list if interested. Heathkit Hero Jr Robot Model RT-1 1984 Technical Manual $2.95 Assembly Manual $2.95 Digital Technical Journal Aug 1985 VAX 8600 $3.50 Update notice TOPS-10 operating system commands manual Feb 84 (only update not entire manual) $5.50 IBM replaced maintenance parts returnable 1952 (parts list with prices for various equipment). Somewhat worn $7.50 And the following Control Data (CDC) manuals. All are in reasonable physical shape but heavily marked up. I'll be impressed if you have one of these. 3300 Traning Manual second edition 1968 Vol I $3.50 Vol II $5.50 Disk storage equipment traning manual 1969 (853 and 854 drive) $4.50 Visual displays traning manual 1967 (210,211,212,250,280) $3.50 915 page reader a programmed text 1967 Vol I $3.50 Vol II $5.50 3300 Data processor machine language coding form $2.50 Logic circuits experiments 1969 $3.50 Active networks experiments revised 1968 $3.50 Passive networks experiments revised $3.50 David Gesswein http://www.pdp8.net/ -- Run an old computer with blinkenlights

25 years, 2 months

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50 pin SCSI to 50 pin centronics

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Fred Cisin <cisin(a)xenosoft.com> wrote: > > BTW, there IS a documented fatality from the frustrations of serial > > interfacing. "Lanny Cox" <chronic(a)nf.sympatico.ca> wrote: > I hope you're joking, but if not, how did this occur? Electrocution? High > blood pressure due to frustration? I'm envisioning the frustrated party applying the frustrating device as a blunt instrument upon its designer, but somehow I expect the truth is not so satisfying. -Frank McConnell

25 years, 2 months

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unix for the Interdata model 70 ???

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

Don't forget OS/16... I could get OS/16... Will J _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

25 years, 2 months

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Micropolis drives (was: Micro-Expander disks

by fmc＠reanimators.org

"Fred Cisin (XenoSoft)" <cisin(a)xenosoft.com> wrote: > On 16 Apr 2001, Frank McConnell wrote: > > Hmm, here I sit looking at one of a pair of Micropolis model 1115-VI. > > It's a 5.25" full-height drive, serial 0372. Someone (not me) helpfully > > wrote on it with a marker: > They might be right. I had heard that Micropolis came out later with a > 96TPI, but I've never seen it. The date code and the double sided is > consistent with that. Is it really 2 sided? What kind of door assembly > does it have? Looking at it from the front, it looks like a typical full-height Tandon as seen in an IBM PC or Shugart drive. Flat door, closes down over center of slot. A printed-circuit board covers the top of the drive. I think there are two sets of head leads that disappear into the interior. The door, when closed, has a flange that pokes through a slot in the board to interrupt an optical emitter/sensor pair. What's funny is that the top hub appears to be fixed. The bottom hub is mounted to a sort of sub-frame that pretty much covers the bottom of the drive, and it pivots (drive shaft, drive motor and all) about the middle of the outer frame as you close the door. Of course, this makes looking into the interior of the drive more fun than usual, because it's completely surrounded by stuff. > But they might be mistaken, and have ASSUMED 96TPI due to it not being > 48TPI, and/or having about 80 tracks. I've even seen people label 720K > 5.25" drives as being 1/2M, "because it's NOT a 360K". Yep, that is what you got me thinking. -Frank McConnell

25 years, 2 months

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Cheap MicroFiche scanner

by healyzh＠aracnet.com

Does anyone know anything about the "Image Mouse"? The price looks to start at $2500, and will scan a "page" in less than a second! It sound like it would be fairly easy to scan in a page or two of fiche when needed with one of these! Zane > >http://www.zytrondfw.com/imagemouse/imagemouse.html > > > >http://www.eyecom.com/MousePlus.html > > > >http://infographix.com/Microfilm_Scanner-image-mouse.htm > > > >http://www.librarystoreltd.com/imagemouse2.shtml > > > >http://www.microequip.com/newprod.htm

25 years, 2 months

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SC/MP Elektor Emulator

by jos.mar＠bluewin.ch

-----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2001 12:25 AM Subject: Re: SC/MP Elektor Emulator >> >> Sipke de Wal wrote: >> >> > The Dutch Elektuur magazine (Elektor) devoted a lot of space 24 years ago >> > to a build-it-yourself SC/MP system. The firstversion came with dip-switches to >> > toggle in binary data into 256bytes of RAM. >> >> Was in the german version of elektor too. >> scampi ;-) > >And in the UK version IIRC. The version I remember had a PCB with the >SC/MP (the origial PMOS version) and IIRC the crystal on it, linked by >ribbon cables (with individual socket contacts on each wire -- no IDC >connectors :-() to another board with the memory and DIP switches, etc on it. > But does anyone remembers the computer Elektuur published before that, in 1974 ? It was a TTL based computer with a choice of memory : extremly expensive 2102's or moderate priced CCD's (bit bucket's) that offered serial access only ( i.e. a solidstate "magnetic drum") I really would like to see the articles again, but am unable to get my hands on such old issues of Elektuur. Jos Dreesen

25 years, 2 months

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SC/MP Elektor Emulator

by sipke＠wxs.nl

Hi Folks I'ts been a productive Easter ........ Hope you had a nice couple of days also 25 years ago National Semiconductor introduced the SC/MP microprocessor Today I finished the alpha release of an Emulator for the SC/MP. It is written in Visual Basic 6.0 and the sources are included also. Docs and background are also info aviable. The Dutch Elektuur magazine (Elektor) devoted a lot of space 24 years ago to a build-it-yourself SC/MP system. The firstversion came with dip-switches to toggle in binary data into 256bytes of RAM. Fiddeling with a few other switches would lead to running programs and getting output via 8 LEDs. This system is what the emulator emulates. Kinda Altair but with a very simple CPU. I've also dedicated part of my website to this program and will eventually add more SCMP-stuff. You can read about and fetch the proggy at: http://xgistor.ath.cx Go => Vintage Computers => SC/MP Elektor Emulator --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sipke de Wal

25 years, 2 months

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Micropolis drives (was: Micro-Expander disks

by fmc＠reanimators.org

"Fred Cisin (XenoSoft)" <cisin(a)xenosoft.com> wrote: > Micropolis had 2 major models of their 5.25" drive. One was 48TPI, with > 35 tracks (maybe 40), and was essentially interchangeable with the Shugart > SA400. It was fairly slow stepping, since it used a helical lead screw. > But it was a nice drive for TRS-80. > > The other was 100 TPI, with 77 tracks, not to be confused with the far > more common 96TPi 80 track drives. There is a somewhat rare Tandon > TM100-4M drive that can be used as a substitute for the Micropolis. > (Some think that the 'M' stands for Micropolis as replacing the Micropolis > 100TPI is its only use.) Hmm, here I sit looking at one of a pair of Micropolis model 1115-VI. It's a 5.25" full-height drive, serial 0372. Someone (not me) helpfully wrote on it with a marker: 96 TPI 2 SIDED 5 1/4 Date codes on the ICs would seem to place its manufacture sometime in early-mid 1983. Was the someone with the marker perhaps mistaken? Hard to tell from http://www.mfarris.com/know/floppy/floppy2.html -- that doesn't seem to get any more specific than "SD"/"DD"/"QD"/"HD". -Frank McConnell

25 years, 2 months

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Looking for Dongleville

by mikeford＠socal.rr.com

Anybody live in Dongleville? (the place where all missing PCMCIA dongles disappear to) Sitting on my desk I have 3 PCMCIA cards I recently purchased that are missing dongles/orphans; Noteworthy SCSI II adapter, NWSCSI01 3Com EtherLink 10bt, 3C589D Xircom Netwave Adapter, CNW The Xircom doesn't need a dongle, it needs a friend, ie another card or a base station thing. Xircom sold to Baytech, which passed it on to Nortel, but some old drivers are out there on ftp. I am looking to buy/trade for another card/base, or sell the little devil to somebody that has them. Not fast, 40k Bps, but anything wireless seems like kind of a fun toy. 3Com dongle I KNOW will turn up, so I am less wild about getting one from a distant place, but all deals considered. Noteworthy, it isn't real clear to me just what I would do with this one, but I suspect the dongle is pretty obvious given the SCSI2 connector it must have. If I could use it with one of my old laptops to field test hard drives it would be worth some cost for a cable, but I haven't found anyspecs for it. BTW I bought the 3Com and Noteworthy from a scrapper with a box full at $5 each.

25 years, 2 months

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Looking for Tek 545B manual for someone

by rhblake＠bigfoot.com

Anyone have a ops & service manual for a Tektronix 545B (old tube type, circe 1965) oscilloscope? A friend of mine in Wyoming has been given one and she wants to learn how to use it. A photcopy is even good. I have some commercial sources but if anyone has ever tried to find a manual you know what vultures the manual vendors can be. Any responses are greatly appreciated.

25 years, 2 months

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Looking for Tek 545B manual for someone

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On April 16, Russ Blakeman wrote: > Anyone have a ops & service manual for a Tektronix 545B (old tube type, > circe 1965) oscilloscope? A friend of mine in Wyoming has been given one > and she wants to learn how to use it. A photcopy is even good. I have some > commercial sources but if anyone has ever tried to find a manual you know > what vultures the manual vendors can be. > > Any responses are greatly appreciated. Can't help you with the manual, but tell your friend that she's gonna love it. I've got a 545A that I just adore. It's a wonderful scope. My everyday scopes are Tek 2465A and HP 54111D, but I'll keep my trusty 545A forever. It's a really rock-solid scope. -Dave McGuire

25 years, 2 months

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SCSI CD-ROM

by alinder＠ProgressLighting.com

Hi All, Many thanks to Joe for supplying me with a keyboard and mouse for my HP Apollo. Works great. It did allow me to boot up and provided me with some functionality but the OS is corrupt. Now I'm in the market for an external chassis or external SCSI CD-ROM that would allow me to reload an operating system. I wish there was a DRMO or disposal site close to me, but I happen to live in one of those places where used computer parts are scarce and if you can find them you have to pay $$$$$$$. I thought ebay was bad. Any help would be appreciated. Arnie

25 years, 2 months

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My Collection

by jos.mar＠bluewin.ch

-----Original Message----- From: Jerome Fine <jhfine(a)idirect.com> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Friday, April 13, 2001 5:18 PM Subject: Re: My Collection >>Marian Capel wrote: > >> PDP8/F with TU56 and DSD440 >> PDP8/A with TU56 and RL01 >> VT100, hacked about to contain an 11/23, with external ST412, runs RX11. >> Anybody has some RT11 manuals available. >> Jos Dreesen > >Jerome Fine replies: > >Interesting collection. I had not realized that DSD made a controller for the >PDP8, just for the PDP-11. Also I am really surprised that DEC made >an RL01 controller for the PDP8. As someone else mentioned: the RL01 only fits to the 8/A. The DSD440 controller for omnibus will have to be made from the schematics in the manuals..... Luckily i have an omnibus experimental board. But currently the DSD fails it's selftest... > >AS for your VT100, it sounds like you might have a VT103 which was a standard >DEC product. Does it use a dual 11/23 but have added a 3rd party MFM controller >with its own boot ROM or are you using a quad 11/23 and an RQDX1? > The system is definitly a hacked VT100 : it contains an M8186 ( dual 11/23?) a RQXD1, (with a possible custom boot prom), a M8044 32 KMOS memory board , itself hacked to contain 256K,a M8043, a third party NC550 programmable clock and a DSD440 controller card. The system boots of the ST412 into RT11. The system is in a very hobbyist state... Of course the VT100 also contains a second powersupply. >Also, I am not surprised, but no one seems to consider software as part >of their collection It certainly is, but how often does a system you've pulled from the dumpster contains a matching suite of software ? Jos Dreesen >

25 years, 2 months

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Micro-Expander disks

by Parapadakis＠Tesco.Net

Hello, Back in '82, I used a micro-Expander with a floppy drive. It run CP/M an we used it for CIS-COBOL programming. If I remeber, the disk-drive was an Micropolis(???) Does anybody know the details of the disk format, so that I can read the disks I have? Regards George Parapadakis

25 years, 2 months

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Dr. Dobb's from 82 & 83

by nerdware＠laidbak.com

Hi, gang. I have 8 issues of Dr. Dobb's from 82 & 83. I tried 'em on ebay, but the response was underwhelming both times I listed them. So, I'm offering them to the first person who wants them and is willing to pay postage. Let me know. Thanks! Paul Braun Cygnus Productions nerdware(a)laidbak.com

25 years, 2 months

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Tektronix 8501 Data Management Unit

by JOHN.M.CHU＠saic.com

I have a couple of 8" floppy disks. I believe that at that time they used 8560 Tektronix system with Tnix OS for these floppies. Now I want to transfer data from those floppy disks to different media. It is hard to find a service that does the data conversion from those floppies. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks for a million times

25 years, 2 months

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RT-11 - An Open letter to Mentec?

by dburrows＠netpath.net

I am actively involved in the hobby program with Mentec. ( I even managed to drag a couple other members of the list into it) The RT11 release is just waiting for one last update for something that will be on the CD. All of this probably would have been completed over a month ago but I had a major fire that destroyed my office and storage buildings at the end of January. ( You don't even want to know the amount of DEC equipment and docs that were destroyed - over 3000 sq. feet of tightly packed racks and shelves) this ranged from 11/40, 11/04 through 11/93's, M90's, M100's, numerous VAX's up to and including a couple 4705A's. Needless to say this has put me WAY behind financially and with the regular customers I support. I will be announcing it here when it is official but in the meantime please go easy on Mentec. It ends up trickling back to me and I am doing as much as I can, when I can. RSX and RSTS will follow as my time ( and the others involved) permits. Also don't expect them to be willing to put any time or effort into support of hobby users. If you want support then you need to be a real commercial paying $$ customer that pays for the consulting time like many of us here get paid that are consultants. Dan

25 years, 2 months

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RT-11 - An Open letter to Mentec?

by jhfine＠idirect.com

Is this a duplicate message? I sent it at 16:04:04 - 04:00 (EDT) just over 92 minutes ago! Either <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> did not receive it or (more likely) my ISP did not send it! Or my ISP lost the reply! The test message I sent at 17:12:55 took about 20 minutes round trip - not too bad, but since it has been over an hour and a half for this message, here it is again! I suspect the most likely possibility is that the original was lost since I have received many e-mails from classiccmp today!!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Of all the individuals of whom I am aware of that are still interested in any aspect of RT-11, about half subscribe to this list. Since this is still essentially a private as opposed to a public list (such as a news group), I would like some help plus an opinion on whether or not anyone would still be interested in an RT-11 News Letter? Also, should Mentec be approached to possibly support, provide a forum or at the very least provide its blessing? Obviously, I could just send a brief request via this list along with the "alt.sys.pdp11", and "vmsnet.pdp-11" news groups before I even contacted Mentec to find out if enough people are interested. But if some suggestions and feedback are useful prior to that inquiry, then Mentec might be more receptive. Note that the News Letter could be for both hobby and commercial users. Topics could be Y2K compliance for the hobby V5.03 as well as bug fixes for current V5.07 and enhancements for all versions. DEC used to publish an RT-11 status document each month, but there are obviously no funds as well as no need at this point due to the internet making distribution costs zero. However, I suspect there are not many more years left before interest may dip below a self-sustaining level. Consequently, it might be helpful to find someone who will attempt to assist new converts as well as helping with bugs and enhancements. I know that some interest remains in RT-11 and I would like to pass on my information so that it can be preserved. By the way, has anyone heard anything more about the hobby license issues for all PDP-11 software from Mentec along with anything specific about RT-11? I would appreciate any and all comments along with suggestions on how to proceed with getting Mentec involved (Is that a plus or a minus?) although at this point I feel the chances are very low and I would be more than satisfied if Mentec was just neutral. Sincerely yours, Jerome Fine

25 years, 2 months

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NeXT slabs, recent finds and a request

by agraham＠ccat.co.uk

Hi Folks, Curt, would you consider shipping a slab to the UK, and if so how much would it cost me? I think the chances of getting one over here otherwise might be pretty slim! Recent finds: Boxed Atari 520STfm Boxed Amiga A590 hard drive - nice! Like the SCSI out on the back. Odyssey 1 'Baseball' game in practically complete condition Unused boxed Timex Sinclair TS1000 Unused boxed Timex Sinclair TS1500 Unused Timex Sinclair TS2068 - smart :) Even the demo cassette is still wrapped. ICL One-Per-Desk with hi-res monitor in fully working condition; it's even y2k compliant! Mint boxed Sega Megadrive II to go with my Megadrive and MegaCD Commodore CDTV with keyboard and floppy drive - wahey! Another Mac Colour Classic :) I'm a sucker for compact macs, plus it was only ukp10. Mac Performa 5300 Acorn A7000 with monitor and keyboard Acorn A4000 with keyboard (another one) Fileware 'Twiggy' disk for the Lisa 1 :o)) Open University PT502 'Hektor' training machine. Hehe.....goes nicely with the PT501! Requests: Anyone got a spare superfloppy for the Mac Colour Classic? My new one's suffered from the 'dead floppy being pulled out with pliers' syndrome so the r/w heads are munged as is some of the sensory gubbins. And, anyone got a remote control and mouse for the CDTV they don't want any more? <hopes>. My CDTV works fine but it's difficult to use without the remote..... cheers! -- Adrian Graham MCSE/ASE/MCP C CAT Limited Gubbins: http://www.ccat.co.uk (work) <http://www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk> (home) <http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk> (The Online Computer Museum, as featured in Computer Weekly!) 0/0

25 years, 2 months

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Looking for Tek 545B manual for someone

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On April 16, Russ Blakeman wrote: > I have the 454A and HP 54201D and I'm set for good, at least now. Ahh, both nice scopes. I've seen many a 454A but never owned one. I did own a 54201D for a long time, though. A great scope! My favorite thing about it was that nice huge CRT. No squinting with that scope! :-) > By the way I misread your first message where the note of good scopes was to > someone else. Ignore my DUH reply. Understood...no biggie... -Dave McGuire

25 years, 2 months

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Honeywell Level 6 Stuff Needed

by univac2＠earthlink.net

Does anyone have anything for this computer? It's sitting in our house collecting dust because I have no software for it, and it doesn't have a programmer's panel. I would at least like the full control panel so I could run machine language programs (assuming I can find out anything about it). Every couple of months I renew my interest in my Honeywell Level 6 minicomputer. Thanks, Owen

25 years, 2 months

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Singer [TaDa!]

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On April 16, Gene Buckle wrote: > Here's the last commercial simulator for the Lockheed L-188 (Electra). This > is the civilian version of the P-3 Orion. > http://deltasoft.fife.wa.us/BehindTheScenes/lockheed.html What a great set of pics! -Dave McGuire

25 years, 2 months

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Technico (Re: TI Minicomputer?)

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

The F8 is one I skipped over by choice. I do have basic data on it though. The 8080/8085/z80/z180/z280 and Z800x are machines I'm also familiar with. The only SBC in the 8080 family is the STP cards from VT100s I have gobs of them and they make handy little controllers. Other chips level cpus I've played with include the 8008, 8048/8049 family, 8051, DEC T-11, NSC800, NEC D78xx series, many of the 4bit machines other than intel's. Allison ------Original Message------ From: Eric Chomko <chomko(a)greenbelt.com> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org Sent: April 13, 2001 2:53:27 PM GMT Subject: Re: Technico (Re: TI Minicomputer?) ajp me wrote: > For me to build it as a class project I'd have been the professor. I'd been out of school for a while by then. > No, I wanted a 9900 based machine to see what was on the non intel track back then. My 9900, ELF, 6800d1 and SC/MP all came from that effort back then. I've had them since before 1979. > Whoa! The class I took in microcomputers (two actually) was once a week at 7:00pm. I was a regular full-time day student at that time. However, the class was populated with many over 30 types and in one class the Prof. was about 60 and the other class the Prof was 28! Interesting group of machines. Did the F8 have an eval kit?, as you mention the Ti-9900, RCA 1802, Mot 6800, and National's "Scamp". Fairchild's F8 seems to be the ONLY one you missed barring 6502 and Z-80, which became very popular anyway. I think I have the spec books for most of the chips you list above. Eric > > Allison > > ------Original Message------ > From: Eric Chomko <chomko(a)greenbelt.com> > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Sent: April 13, 2001 4:07:02 AM GMT > Subject: Re: Technico (Re: TI Minicomputer?) > > Did you build it for a class project? Techinco was based out of Columbia, MD. > > Eric > > ajp166 wrote: > > > From: James B. DiGriz <jbdigriz(a)dragonsweb.org> > > > > >On Thu, 12 Apr 2001, Eric Chomko wrote: > > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> A company called 'Technico' put out a TI 9900-based single board mirco > > back in > > >> the > > >> late 70s before TI had the 99/4. I rememebr building one for a class > > project in > > >> college. In fact, I got one in the attic that I need to frag out of of > > these days > > > > I have one and it's operational. Bought is back in '77. > > > > Allison

25 years, 2 months

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Looking for Tek 545B manual for someone

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On April 16, Jim Strickland wrote: > On this note, can someone recommend me a good 'scope for a beginner? > I'm looking to get into microcontroller programming and robotics and can see > a whole bunch of places where a scope is pretty much a necessity. > > inexpensive is good, and I'm not afraid to use vaccuum tube equipment so > long as it doesn't require too too much tweaking to produce useful results. Tek 465/475 scopes are compact, reliable, predictable, and old enough to be affordable. Those scopes are easily the most popular of that era, sorta the Fluke 77 or Simpson 260 of oscilloscopes. Solid, proven design, easy to use, predictable, smooth, bulletproof. If you have a bigger budget, a Tek 2445 is a *sweet* machine, as are its bigger brothers in the 2465 family. I paid about $1200.00 for my 2465A as a point of reference. But if money is a concern, if you can live without fancy on-screen digital parameter display and stuff like that, a 475 (or 475A) can be had for less than $300.00. There's one on eBay right now, two hours left, at $175.00. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1229127837. -Dave McGuire

25 years, 2 months

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My collection

by blacklord＠telstra.com

Oh well, while we're at it : CBM PET 2001 CBM PET 4032 VIC20 (several) C64 (several & variations) C128, 128D & 128DCR Plus/4 (2) C16 Amiga 1000 (several) Amiga 500 Amiga CDTV Amiga CD32 (several) Commodore PC10-II Commodore PC40 Commodore SLC Hewlett Packard HP85 (2) Spectravideo SV318 Spectravideo SV328 Triumph Adler Alphatronics PC Various pre-1980 video games consoles (too numerous to tally). Cheers, BL ---------------- Powered by telstra.com

25 years, 2 months

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50 pin SCSI to 50 pin centronics

by azog＠azog.org

does anyone have a cable that has 50 pin SCSI on one side and a 50 pin male centronics on the other side? I need to connect an alternate boot disk to my VS 4000/60, and I don't want to mess with the existing drives, and it'll only be temporary while I try to fix my mistake in VMS, so it won't be in a box or anything...

25 years, 2 months

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Kim / Commie keypads

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com> > >This RS pad must have a catalog number, though, Allison. Since you've seen it, >perhaps you could provide the catalog number, as the RS meatheads wouldn't know >what a keypad kit was if you asked them. Well while picking up a barrel connector I noticed the Nashua store had it on the wall. I think 270-015 is the catalog number. Sheesh, if I do that might as well sent it to me for installation and labeling. Is it possible to read a catalog these days or has the "go ask the web, thin I don't have to work" mentality taken over? Allison

25 years, 2 months

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Looking for PDP-8..12 in Ottawa/ON/Canada area

by root＠parse.com

Hi folks, I was referred to this list be a gentleman from Ottawa, and he suggested that there might be some PDP-8..12 computers floating around that you folks might know of? I've managed to get a line on 20 X PDP-11/70's in Seattle/WA, but then I looked at how much it would cost to ship :-) Basically, in order of priority, I'm looking for the following: PDP-8/I PDP-8/L PDP-8/S PDP-12 PDP-11/20 Also, I'm looking for schematics, docs, etc... Thanks in advance for your help! Cheers, -RK -- Robert Krten, PARSE Software Devices +1 613 599 8316. Realtime Systems Architecture, Consulting and Training at www.parse.com

25 years, 2 months

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Rescue a system 36

by steve_moser＠parmalat.ca

We have a system 36 #5360, printer 3262-BI and 3 3476 terminals that I would like to get rid of to free up some space. The system was here when I started so I don't know a lot about it, but have found some old documentation. CPU 512K MAG 716MB, it was purchased in June 1986. There is also a bunch of disk and cartridges that I don't have a clue what they are for, but I'm sure anyone interested would know. I am just looking for someone to take it away from our office in Cincinnati, OH. Please e-mail me with any additional questions. Thanks Steve

25 years, 2 months

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Photo equimpent for hardware web pics (Re: Technico (Re: TI Minicomputer?))

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

There were a couple of video capture systems for the PDP-11 series, at USC in the image processing lab we built one that digitized a monochrome camera signal. It worked ok, but even better was the Micron drum scanner (boy I wish I had that puppy hooked up to my 11/34!) You can of course get a cheap digital camera (about $500 will get you one that does 80% of what you need) or you can spend $49 on a scanner and using a regular process camera get nice high resolution pictures of your equipment. Further you can hook some scanners up to classic computers to keep it "all in the family" so to speak, take pictures on a classic camera (I love the Leica) and be even better. --Chuck At 12:36 PM 4/13/2001 -0400, anonymous wrote: >Indeed. I have some machines I want to put up pics of here. All I have is >an inexpensive Sony CCD camera that only does NTSC video, however. My TV >tuner card has a capture function, but the camera has low resolution >and limited dynamic range, and is not very well suited for >detailed pictures of hardware, circuit boards, etc. > >I'm getting a better card, probably an ATI AIW, and I'm open to >recoomendations on a better camera that isn't too expensive. I could go >with a digital camera and a card reader, but I also have a security >application here that requires video capture. > >jbdigriz

25 years, 2 months

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Cyber 910

by broth＠heathers.stdio.com

OK, out of the two Cyber 910's I picked up the other day, I have one good machine that is now booting up to Iris. The problem is getting past the root password. Is ther any way of bypassing it or a hack to gain root access from the console monitor? It does have a 150 Mb Archive tape drive but I have no system software for it. Thanks, Brian.

25 years, 2 months

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My collection

by r.stek＠snet.net

Better late than never... Apple II+ Apple IIe Apple IIc Apple III mono monitor Apple Lisa XL - dealer demo in orig. packing Mac Plus Mac SE 30 Mac LC III Mac Color Classic Coco Coco II Coco III Model 100 portable Vic-20, boxed C-64 PC 5150 PC XT 5160 PC AT PC Jr. - dealer demo in carrying case Portable PC 5155 Datavue 8088 laptop HP 85 ProcTech Sol-20's, 1 w/ Helios II NorthStar Horizon - 2 360k floppies NorthStar Horizon - 5 MB HD IMSAI 8080 w/ NorthStar dual floppies Morrow Decision I w/ HD Godbout CompuPro - Z80 Godbout CompuPro - dual 8085 + 8088 Ithaca InterSystems Timex Sinclair 1000 Sinclair ZX-81 Ohio Scientific Challenger Lobo Max w/ 10 MB HD Epson PX-8 Sinclair Z88 Osborne Executive KayPro II KayPro 10 KIM-1 Synertek SYM-1 TI 99/4 and others I've forgotten about... Most are in storage and haven't seen daylight in 2 years, unfortunately. Bob Stek Saver of Lost Sols

25 years, 2 months

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SC/MP Elektor Emulator

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Sipke de Wal <sipke(a)wxs.nl> >> And in the UK version IIRC. The version I remember had a PCB with the >> SC/MP (the origial PMOS version) and IIRC the crystal on it, linked by >> ribbon cables (with individual socket contacts on each wire -- no IDC >> connectors :-() to another board with the memory and DIP switches, etc on it. >> >Yep that's the one ! Mine is the original NS design. The NS design used a 110baud TTY no switches save for reset. Allison

25 years, 2 months

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My Collection

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

>> Does anyone on the list run RT-11 still other than Megan Gentry? Me too, I have it and it's a really good OS. Allison

25 years, 2 months

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VaxStation 2000 PSU info needed

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com> >> To start with the switcher in question is 1987 design maybe earlier. >> The MV2000 was available in 87 or 88 if memory >> serves. And even if I'm wrong it's very definitely pre1990. >> >AND there's no reason to believe that because it behaves as I described, it's >because of an obsolete design. It's quite likely that they didn't want the >supply kicking on unless there was a load. PC supplies were designed that way >... of course that was in 1980 ... PC supplies would overvoltage and crowbar there was no intelligence in their design or applied to it. >From what I observed, the DEC rotatin memory subsystems were >ALWAYS of old technology, i.e. used SMD after nobody else >would ship SMD devices, and didn't start to use SCSI until forced >to do so by market demand and not until long after third-party >competitors had been beating them in the marketplace. Whats wrong with SMD? It was better than SCSI-1, and SCSI-2. And there was no third party standard for SCSI at all until the late 80s. Even then DEC had far faster technologies and regarded it for low end slower systems. >It was EMULEX, IIRC, that forced them out of the '70's with their >disk drive subsystems. I wasn't aware that DEC ever built a disk >drive. Their products seemed to me to be rebadged and Then you arent aware. All the RA8x and 9x were DEC as were the initial RZ2x series and a long list of others. They did off the shelf stuff too but then that was usually for the smaller packaged systems or where time was a market driver. >repackaged drives from other makers, only at 10x the current >price. Those DEC labels were surely expensive. Much of it markup but also a fair amount getting the vendor to fix errors spotted by DEC, getting it to comply to spec and in many cases getting it to pass FCC. Allison

25 years, 2 months

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Belle & Howell Apple II

by jss＠ou.edu

I have recently found an Apple II that is a bit interesting. Its color is very dark gray, almost black, and so is the color of the matching Disk II. The labels on both the Apple II and Disk II say "Made for Belle & Howell by Apple Computer, Inc" and have the logos of both companies. Is this a special machine in any way? I don't have it currently. I found it yesterday and have not yet contacted the institiution that owns it to see if is available (though it most likely is). -- Jeffrey S. Sharp jss(a)ou.edu

25 years, 2 months

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DC-30 tape ??

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

I just found several boxes of "Verbatim DC 30 Data Cassette" tapes. I've never seen these before. Does anyone knwo what they're for? In their boxes, they measure 4 3/8" x 2 7/8" x 5/8". The look like an over-sized audio cassette tape. They're driven by the tape hubs and the case does not have a metalbase plate like that found on most data cassettes. There is a note on the back of the tape saying "Do not to record on this side. Side B has a 1600 FCI Pre-recorded clock track for tape speed control". Joe

25 years, 2 months

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HP Rack mount monitor ??

by ip500＠home.com

Just picked up a neat looking HP 6947A "Raster Display" .. looks like a rack mountable monitor to me or ... is it some sort of X/Y plotter/graph display w/o video capabilities? Manual copy would be great too. Any info appreciated, Craig

25 years, 2 months

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Chips and SBCs(Re: Technico (Re: TI Minicomputer?)

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Eric Chomko <chomko(a)greenbelt.com> wrote: > Is the Apple Z-80 coprocessor boards the so-called "CP/M boards"? Some, like the PCPI Applicard, may have more claim to SBCness than others; the Applicard doesn't rely on the Apple for much other than power (unlike the Softcard-alikes which used the Apple's RAM) and I think I remember PCPI demoing one at Applefest in Boston in 1982 by way of having the card out on the table with a 9V battery hooked up to it via clip-leads. Mind, I can't remember what it was actually doing (if anything) without any I/O hooked up to it. -Frank McConnell

25 years, 2 months

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Test

by jhfine＠idirect.com

Testing

25 years, 2 months

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