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

dfitoimd: decoding Intel M2FM floppy flux images (was Re: Intel 432 floppy flux images for decoding)

by spacewar＠gmail.com

Because the cwtool support for Intel M2FM floppy disk flux images isn't publicly available, I've written a crude Python 3 program for converting such images (in DFI format) to ImageDisk images, and put it on github: https://github.com/brouhaha/dfitoimd My ADPLL data separator has parameters to control the proportions of frequency adjustment and instantaneous phase adjustment that are done at each flux transition. I've experimented with the parameters quite a bit, but it's still not good enough to reliably recover all sectors >from the disk images that started this thread. The default parameters are currently 0.5% frequency adjustment and 10% instantaneous phase adjustment. I was actually fairly surprised that I didn't get better results with more frequency adjustment and less instantaneous phase adjustment. It's entirely possible that my algorithm isn't very good. The code can handle normal IBM 3740 single-density FM format as well, though there are other published programs that already do that. There's a start at code for IBM System/34 double-density MFM format also, but it hasn't been tested at all as I don't happen to have any suitable DFI images. The dfitoimd program is quite slow; on a typical Intel M2FM image with two revolutions per track and 25 MHz sampling, it takes 64 seconds on a 4.0 GHz AMD CPU. I'm pretty sure that rewriting it in C/C++/C# or the like would make it much faster, but I specifically chose Python as I find it easier to experiment with the algorithms.

9 years, 10 months

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Atlanta Open House tomorrow!!

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

I'm posting this on behalf of Cindy at Elecplus I can't post to cctalk when I am away from home. I am in Atlanta, and the owner of the warehouse hs agreed to let people come in tomorrow. Please can you post the following for me? First come first served, no shipping on the really cheap items. Model M 101/103 terminal keyboards $10 each, no cracked cases, may not have complete caps. Hundreds of keyboards for other terminals starting at $30 each, tested and complete. A full pallet of AEK 1 and 2 keyboards More expensive items include a Burroughs keyboard, complete and in good condition, a 1978 terminal in working condition, and the following terminals/keyboards, tested, no screen burn, keyboards are complete. DEC VT100 (no keyboards), 220, 320, 420.Wyse 50 and 60 with keyboards. Qume 62 and 101+ with keyboards.Link MC2 and 3 with keyboards. ADDS 4000 with keyboards. HP 700/22, 700/43, 700/60, 700/90, 700/92, 700/94, 700/96 with keyboards. LOTS of working vintage test equip. Some pics are here: <https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxqLDyoLYuCKbkEwdmlST2lKaUU> https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxqLDyoLYuCKbkEwdmlST2lKaUU Thank you! Cindy

9 years, 10 months

1
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HP 110 AC Adapter

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

and with the right hil interface card can be used with hp-150 also. Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org) In a message dated 8/10/2016 1:56:14 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, Thanks (and thanks also to Rik for his input). The appropriate adapter is reasonably cheap on eBay ($20 with shipping) so I have one on its way. I've wanted an HP 110 for awhile (but never went out of my way to get one) so this should be fun to play with. And the 9114 drive that came with it can also be used with my HP-75, so that'll be cool as well. Thanks for the tips! - Josh

9 years, 10 months

1
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HP 110 AC Adapter

by Martin.Hepperle＠MH-AeroTools.de

Josh, for testing you can also remove the battery and connect a 6V DC power supply to the computer. Under the battery cover there is also a picofuse which may be blown if someone was tinkering with the machine before. The HP 110 is interesting if you want to play with HP-IL - it has some BIOS routines to control the HP-IL. The other remarkable thing is that he has MS-DOS in ROM and all data on RAM disks m(which is rather limited, though). Ideally you would also want a 9114 3-1/2" floppy disk drive for it. If the computer works, you can rebuild the battery pack. The lead cells are still available e.g. under the name Hawker Enersys Cyclone 2V/2.5Ah. You can use 3 single cells (about 7$ each) and make them into a pack. Good luck Martin

9 years, 10 months

2
1
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the value of old test and repair equipment

by sales＠elecplus.com

I had to pass up a large qty of old test equip at the recycler last time because they wanted too much for it. For instance, an old HP signal generator would have cost me $25, with no way to test it, and no guarantees that it was complete or working. So my question is, does as-is old test and repair equip that won't be particularly cheap have interest to you guys? Cindy Croxton Electronics Plus 500 Pershing Ave. Kerrville, TX 78028 830-370-3239 cell sales at elecplus.com AOL IM elcpls

9 years, 10 months

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Photo album and video from VCF West

by jwsmail＠jwsss.com

https://goo.gl/photos/KdnDMBHeryMZqctV9 Youtube Channel playlist of videos. Some walking around Saturday morning before the show, Charles Anthony's exhibit. Also a fellow who dropped by after my buying a PDP 11/34 and was one of the engineers. I recorded an impromptu interview with him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtmVGeVhr7A&list=PL5NK70kdq3-JGwb_8GXFN5SqD… Sherman Foy and I had a great time attending and participating in the event this year. Thanks to the organizers, staff and volunteers that were there to put it on. Thanks Jim

9 years, 10 months

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VCFMW 11 Updates and Special Guest

by silent700＠gmail.com

Hello retro fans - we are approaching the one month point before the Eleventh Vintage Computer Festival Midwest and plans are quickly coming together. Here are a few announcements and updates to bring you up to speed: - We're happy to announce our very special guest speaker, former Commodore engineer, Bil Herd! Bil will deliver an entertaining 90-minute talk and Q&A on his time at Commodore and his many post-Commodore adventures in engineering that continue today. - We are going to be packed FULL! And that means full of great exhibits, including the ones listed here: http://vcfmw.org/ex.html. The main hall's tables are all accounted for but there will be some unassigned space in one of the side rooms for late-comers and impromptu displays. - VCFMW Auction - an experiment last year, now a feature! Quality entertainment and a fundraiser for the show, 4pm Saturday will see another auction of donated items at low starting bids. If you have items you wish to donate for auction, please get in touch with show organizers Friday night or early Saturday. Auctions items need not be classic computing related. No registration is required for the auction. - The Free Pile tradition continues! One corner of the "Grove" side room (http://vcfmw.org/HIEGV_FloorplanDetail.jpg) will be dedicated to the infamous Free Pile - leave your junk there but be prepared to take it home if it's still there Sunday afternoon! No printers, please! - Hotel rooms are still available at the $84/night convention rate; please follow the link at http://vcfmw.org or use the code "VCF" when calling the hotel; if you are unable to obtain the con rate, please let me know as I may have to ask the hotel to expand the reservation block. - We remind you that VCF Midwest is a community-funded show; we receive no funding from any other organization. If you appreciate what we do and you are able, please visit the donation links on our site at http://vcfmw.org. Please feel free to help us get the word out and re-post this message in your favorite vintage-related forum. Thank you for your interest and support and we'll see you in September! -j

9 years, 10 months

2
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SWTPC 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

I think for me what gets confusing is where the various pins are. ?I have to read and re-resd pinouts to figure out where stuff should be. ?I sometimes have a brain fart and get it backwards. ?Yesterday part of my problem with my Tektronix box was having the numbering of pins on the terminal's DB25 backwards. ?Once I had that figured out it was just a matter of looping certain pins and we were good. ?It just adds an extra layer of fiddling. I have a question though.. there have been a few times where I thought the 6800 crashed but may not have. ?In several cases.. I sent a large loader file across and noticed errors coming through.. so I'd stop the machine. ?This was after teraterm said it had sent everything through. ?Is it possible the serial port on my PC is still trying to send out garbage for a while, messing up my connection to the 6800 until it finishes? ?I kept moving cards around but eventually it seemed to start working after so many powerups and time had passed.. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Brent Hilpert <hilpert at cs.ubc.ca> Date: 2016-08-09 9:49 AM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 On 2016-Aug-09, at 6:47 AM, Ethan Dicks wrote: > On Fri, Aug 5, 2016 at 6:55 PM, Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote: >> On 08/05/2016 02:15 PM, Brad H wrote: >>> I have one more question for you guys -- I have a few CT-1024 >>> terminals and would really like this system to work with one of >>> those.? However, all of the CTs are quite delicate and are set I >>> think for 7, E, 2 @ 110 baud via soldered jumpers. >> >> Well, 110 bps is a bit on the slow side--great for teletypes, not so >> much for video terminals. > > And I am not aware of any USB serial adapters that do 110 bps.? If > anyone knows of any, post brand and model numbers. It didn't do 110, but I chanced across one USB/serial adapter that goes down to 75 bps. which fortuitously was just what I needed at the time for the model 28 teletype (with the appropriate gears) I was attempting to drive. The 75 wasn't readily accessible, I had to go to a low level in the unix config code and try sequential factors in the configuration for the rate, 75 being another factor of 2 down in the standard rate series 19,200 . . 9600 . . 1200 . . 300 . . 150 . .

9 years, 10 months

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CCS S-100 system avail in Minneapolis

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

I was contacted about a CCS S-100 system available for pickup in the Minneapolis area. Contact me privately. Includes CP/M software, etc. A full station wagon full of stuff/docs. I don't know the guy, just trying to help out. http://www.vintagecomputer.net/contact.cfm Bill

9 years, 10 months

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Video From VCF West

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Thanks muchly. ?Interesting.. his 6800 has the all black front panel but has the db25 holes in the back.. mine doesn't have the db25s. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: william degnan <billdegnan at gmail.com> Date: 2016-08-08 6:30 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Video From VCF West > > > > Very cool stuff!? Thanks so much to everyone providing videos. > I'm curious.. I had heard Michael Holley would be there with a bunch of SWTPC stuff.. did that happen? > Brad > > http://www.vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/SWTPc_Exhibit.jpg He is the guy on the right, at his exhibit. B

9 years, 10 months

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Video From VCF West

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Nice display - we have some processor frame and disc drive that we got this spring at SMECC so I have been saving off the messages on SWTPC during the last week or so. About the only experience with this is I saw one John Harrington had that ran the GE service shop.... so time to learn now! Ed# Very cool stuff! Thanks so much to everyone providing videos. > I'm curious.. I had heard Michael Holley would be there with a bunch of SWTPC stuff.. did that happen? > Brad > > http://www.vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/SWTPc_Exhibit.jpg He is the guy on the right, at his exhibit. B

9 years, 10 months

1
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OT: Creative reuse

by starbase89＠gmail.com

I know the content of this picture is probably way too new for this list, but I figured people on here might appreciate it. I work at Pepboys and I snapped this picture a few days ago. I love this person's reuse of something they apparently don't have a use for anymore. I'm sorry if this email offends anyone http://i63.tinypic.com/28ahk06.jpg Joe

9 years, 10 months

3
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Video From VCF West

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Very cool stuff! ?Thanks so much to everyone providing videos. I'm curious.. I had heard Michael Holley would be there with a bunch of SWTPC stuff.. did that happen? Brad Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Curious Marc <curiousmarc3 at gmail.com> Date: 2016-08-08 11:50 AM (GMT-08:00) To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Video From VCF West Here is my video with excerpts from the show: https://youtu.be/2bbsgfanbE0 Marc From: cctalk <cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org> on behalf of "jwsmail at jwsss.com" <jwsmail at jwsss.com> Reply-To: "cctalk at classiccmp.org" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Date: Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 10:41 AM To: "cctalk at classiccmp.org" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Video From VCF West On 8/7/2016 7:36 AM, jim stephens wrote: 6 videos from saturday, youtube playlist once more with the link https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5NK70kdq3-JGwb_8GXFN5SqDtbTKtLi7

9 years, 10 months

3
2
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VCFMW 11 Updates and Special Guest

by silent700＠gmail.com

Hello retro fans - we are approaching the one month point before the Eleventh Vintage Computer Festival Midwest and plans are quickly coming together. Here are a few announcements and updates to bring you up to speed: - We're happy to announce our very special guest speaker, former Commodore engineer, Bil Herd! Bil will deliver an entertaining 90-minute talk and Q&A on his time at Commodore and his many post-Commodore adventures in engineering that continue today. - We are going to be packed FULL! And that means full of great exhibits, including the ones listed here: http://vcfmw.org/ex.html. The main hall's tables are all accounted for but there will be some unassigned space in one of the side rooms for late-comers and impromptu displays. - VCFMW Auction - an experiment last year, now a feature! Quality entertainment and a fundraiser for the show, 4pm Saturday will see another auction of donated items at low starting bids. If you have items you wish to donate for auction, please get in touch with show organizers Friday night or early Saturday. Auctions items need not be classic computing related. No registration is required for the auction. - The Free Pile tradition continues! One corner of the "Grove" side room (http://vcfmw.org/HIEGV_FloorplanDetail.jpg) will be dedicated to the infamous Free Pile - leave your junk there but be prepared to take it home if it's still there Sunday afternoon! No printers, please! - Hotel rooms are still available at the $84/night convention rate; please follow the link at http://vcfmw.org or use the code "VCF" when calling the hotel; if you are unable to obtain the con rate, please let me know as I may have to ask the hotel to expand the reservation block. - We remind you that VCF Midwest is a community-funded show; we receive no funding from any other organization. If you appreciate what we do and you are able, please visit the donation links on our site at http://vcfmw.org. Please feel free to help us get the word out and re-post this message in your favorite vintage-related forum. Thank you for your interest and support and we'll see you in September! -j

9 years, 10 months

1
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OT: Creative reuse

by couryhouse＠aol.com

Valid use... ?when network cables ?loose the litthe anchor tab I get another of the never ending ?stack the old ones tie trees to stakes... hold crates together etc.. the uses are infinite... never recrimped a new connector on them.Somehow the stack refills....Ed# Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: Richard Cini <rich.cini at verizon.net> Date: 8/8/16 16:17 (GMT-07:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: OT: Creative reuse I guess your customer switched to WiFi? Sent from my iPhone > On Aug 8, 2016, at 7:10 PM, Joe Giliberti <starbase89 at gmail.com> wrote: > > I know the content of this picture is probably way too new for this list, > but I figured people on here might appreciate it. I work at Pepboys and I > snapped this picture a few days ago. I love this person's reuse of > something they apparently don't have a use for anymore. > > I'm sorry if this email offends anyone > > http://i63.tinypic.com/28ahk06.jpg > > Joe

9 years, 10 months

1
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Honeywell 440

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

the fact it is rebranded suggests an older product indeed.... with a new name tag so who owns this thing now!??? Ed# In a message dated 8/8/2016 2:50:47 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, billdegnan at gmail.com writes: On Mon, Aug 8, 2016 at 5:29 PM, Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org> wrote: > According to the Computers and Automation census, the first delivery of the > 440 T/S was Jul, 69. After the sale, it shows up in the census under > Honeywell > as the G440 T/S. It's a pretty rare machine. It dissappears in Mar '72 > with no > known installations. > > I did check the KeyData Computer Characteristics Review of 1969, but I did not see it there. I have Vol 9 #2, not sure when exactly in 1969 or thereabouts it was actually written or published. I just now checked the Auerbach Computer Characteristics Digest of 4/1969 and I *did* find the GE 440 CPU there. $7,000 monthly rental, purchase price of $311,000 In the same digest, the Honeywell model 440 is part of the H-400 system. It's an expensive I/O thing not a CPU. At the time the Honeywell 440 was their name for their "Optical Scanning Unit and Control" with the note: Not available for new orders. $2530/mo and $121,440 to buy. So, to find a Honeywell 440 nameplate prob means it was for something produced after 1969, at least according to my sources. Bill

9 years, 10 months

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Honeywell 440

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

Jim and Sherman (?), I checked and I don't have anything on the Honeywell 440 or anything like a re-branded Honeywell sold by GE. I think that the name "General Electric" printed on the back was due to the fact that they owned the Honeywell 440 and used it internally. It's not a GE PAC or anything like that. http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_front-panel_1.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_front-panel_2.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_front-panel-tag.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_rear-panel_General-El… http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_placard.jpg -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net

9 years, 10 months

2
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Honeywell 440

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

I would certainly buy that desk and panel and get it back to phoenix! who ever has it/ ended up with it please contact us off list. Being that we are in the home of GE computer in the Metro Phx arrea we strive to bring some of these things back for display... It was sad watching them hack up all the off lease systems that came back at apache street. I even saw some 210 225 etc etc stuff hacked apart.... In a message dated 8/8/2016 2:28:35 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, aek at bitsavers.org writes: According to the Computers and Automation census, the first delivery of the 440 T/S was Jul, 69. After the sale, it shows up in the census under Honeywell as the G440 T/S. It's a pretty rare machine. It dissappears in Mar '72 with no known installations. On 8/8/16 2:23 PM, Al Kossow wrote: > and Honeywell bought the GE computer operation in 1970. > I'd have to do more research to see if the 400-series was still > being produced after the purchase. > > On 8/8/16 2:18 PM, Al Kossow wrote: >> >> >> On 8/8/16 1:48 PM, william degnan wrote: >>> Jim and Sherman (?), >>> >>> I checked and I don't have anything on the Honeywell 440 or anything like a >>> re-branded Honeywell sold by GE. >> >> >> It is a GE 400-series control console >> you can see the maint panel on page 281 of >> >> bitsavers.org/pdf/ge/GE-4xx/CPB-320_GE425-435_RefMan_Dec63.pdf >> >> >> >

9 years, 10 months

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Honeywell 440

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

absolutely wrong. In a message dated 8/8/2016 1:48:56 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, billdegnan at gmail.com writes: "General Electric" printed on the back was due to the fact that they owned the Honeywell 440 and used it internally.

9 years, 10 months

1
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Honeywell 440

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

this is just like our ge 400 operators desk panel thingie! GE GE! In a message dated 8/8/2016 1:48:56 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, billdegnan at gmail.com writes: Jim and Sherman (?), I checked and I don't have anything on the Honeywell 440 or anything like a re-branded Honeywell sold by GE. I think that the name "General Electric" printed on the back was due to the fact that they owned the Honeywell 440 and used it internally. It's not a GE PAC or anything like that. http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_front-panel_1.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_front-panel_2.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_front-panel-tag.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_rear-panel_General-Ele ctric.jpg http://vintagecomputer.net/VCFWest_2016/HoneyWell_440_placard.jpg -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net

9 years, 10 months

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VCF West - going?

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

I am heading to VCF West after a stop over in San Fran today...I am looking forward to meeting up with everyone. I will be there all day Friday as a set-up volunteer, Sat and Sunday morning. I was at the last VCF before it was called "West" ... it's been too long. Bill -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg>

9 years, 10 months

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Livingston PortMaster 2e

by brain＠jbrain.com

No questions, and nothing of interest, but a quick story of success. Not sure if PortMasters are on topic or not, but I picked a 20 port unit up at VCF-SE #2 in 2014 and it has sat on my shelf for 2 years as I tried to find a large block of time to get it working. Having never used a unit in the past, I somewhat dreaded the learning curve. Circumstances forced it to be moved, and I thought last night, instead of just putting it back, I'd try to get it going. Grabbed a null modem cable, gender changer, plugged into port 0, fired it up, started a term, and almost immediately got to a prompt! A quick dload of the PortMaster config guide, logging in as !root without a password, and I was in. Some of it was luck (the Port 0 was in console mode, and my term just happened to be at 9600 bps, 8N1), but having the docs easily accessible and not requiring a special Windows App or some other nonsense was half the battle. 20 minutes later, I had the unit configured to accept incoming direct connections from old equipment, with my userid set to no password with functionality to prompt for the server name upon login. That was awesome. On the other hand, after the 2e was up, I started investigating the AWAN 3883 Terminal Server I had lying here. Web sources and config guides kept pointing me to a Windows App to configure, and it looks to need adapters to connect to RS232 (not as big a deal, but still a irritant), so I put it in my pile to give away. Jim -- Jim Brain brain at jbrain.com www.jbrain.com

9 years, 10 months

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8 inch disks - help needed identifying format

by denise.devries＠flinders.edu.au

Thanks Rik and Eric for your information. BTW it was the HP Museum who directed me to this list. Denise

9 years, 10 months

2
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TRS-80 Trash Talk - Live Episode

by pete＠pski.net

We?re going to be recording a live episode of TRS-80 Trash Talk next Saturday, Aug 13th at 9pm EDT. If you?re into any of the machines from Tandy Radio Shack then stop by and join the fun. https://www.facebook.com/events/1044642265619305/

9 years, 10 months

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TRS-80 Trash Talk - Live Episode

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

I am up for some 100/102 talk! That unit is actually a big interest as not only are they vintage computers, but they fit in another of our displays, "The tools of the journalist" . As a matter of fact we are looking for another to go in the display in our university's journalism college we have offsite.. It does not need to work just look nice! There RS Computers were a great tool to remotely post stories... and the 100 fit in any carry on bag! let us know if there is a unit you can share! Ed Sharpe Archaist for SMECC _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org) In a message dated 8/7/2016 4:49:13 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, drlegendre at gmail.com writes: What sort of stuff do you tend to cover? My interest in Tandy / RS machines is mostly limited to the Model 100/102 machines, with which I have some familiarity. The Model 100 line are my "favorite" of the early pre-PC / DOS portables. The dang things are just so friendly and usable.. and what kind of modern laptop / netbook boasts a full-stroke keyboard and 30+ HR battery life? They have some seriously practical features, and the small screen & RAM space isn't really all that limited with the programming conventions and ethos of that era. On Sun, Aug 7, 2016 at 11:01 AM, Peter Cetinski <pete at pski.net> wrote: > We?re going to be recording a live episode of TRS-80 Trash Talk next > Saturday, Aug 13th at 9pm EDT. If you?re into any of the machines from > Tandy Radio Shack then stop by and join the fun. > > https://www.facebook.com/events/1044642265619305/ > >

9 years, 10 months

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SWTPC 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Okay so.. I decided to try the MP-C board out, just for kicks. ?No change. Then I decided to add one of the RAM boards.. the next one up in addresses. ?Got a little bit when I powered on. ?Added one of the old MPM boards.. one that has memory chips all piggybacked on one another. ?Now when I powered up, the system was sending four or five characters at a time, linefeed, four or five characters at a time, linefeed ad infinitum. ?I added the final MPM board.. zero. So.. I think we do have some ram problems.. most likely. ?I'm thinking it would be easiest to concentrate efforts on the socketed RAM boards.. test all the RAM out. ?I'm going to read up on addressing and try to understand a bit better what is going on. ?I'm thinking maybe I need to reconfigure the addressing on one of the boards to match whatever that overstuffed MPM board is set to. Until I get an oscilloscope.. fooling around is about all I can do here. Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> Date: 2016-08-05 3:55 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 On 08/05/2016 02:15 PM, Brad H wrote: > I think I will have to figure out how to do that.? Additionally I > have one of those PC based oscilloscopes on the way.? I don't know > how to use them 100% but I'm about to learn I guess. :) > > I have one more question for you guys -- I have a few CT-1024 > terminals and would really like this system to work with one of > those.? However, all of the CTs are quite delicate and are set I > think for 7, E, 2 @ 110 baud via soldered jumpers.? I'm a bit > reluctant to try pulling them apart to get in there and fix that.? Is > there a way to change the parity, etc settings on the SWTPC to match > the terminal?? Is it necessary? Well, 110 bps is a bit on the slow side--great for teletypes, not so much for video terminals.?? But you'll have to change the hardwired jumpers--the UART used in the CT1024 is not software-programmable. If this were my unit, I"d probably solder some pins into the pad holes and then either use slide on jumpers or wirewrap to set the characteristics.? That way, when changing things around, you won't be stressing the PCB. Something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/10PCS-20CFemale-to-Female-1-Pin-Plug-Jumper-Cable-W… Search on "female jumper wires" --Chuck

9 years, 10 months

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Old High-Noise-Immunity Logic for swap/trade

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

Hi, I have a small stack (~60) of assorted "High-Noise-Immunity Logic" (HNIL or HINIL) chips that I have no use for, and would like to trade for something I do have a use for. These run off like +16V; numbers are 3xxCJ (for xx=03, 21, etc); they were made by Teledyne (the line was later bought out by ITT, whose part numbers for these are ITT3xx; also, at some point passed through Telcom, whose part #'s for the series are TSC3xx). If anyone's interested, let me know, I can send you a list of what I've got. Noel

9 years, 10 months

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Yard sale goodies

by starbase89＠gmail.com

Greetings! Went to a sale this morning and ended up with some neato pieces of equipment. First are two Shugart 8 inch floppy drives ($1 each), a microprocessor training kit ($30) and finally a RCA COSMAC dual 8 inch disk drive ($5). One of the sellers told me to come back tomorrow because he's going to dig out a bunch of other 70s and early 80s equipment. https://postimg.org/image/gyjd3j16p/ I can find no reference to either the microprocessor trainer for the cosmic disk drive assembly online. Any information would be pretty cool to see. Thanks! Joe Giliberti

9 years, 10 months

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PDP-11 prices

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

So that most recent PDP-11/20 (well, technically, a /15) on eBay went for $2200: http://www.ebay.com/itm/191933305000 which was a lot less than the other one _but_ this was only one drawer, only one ME11 memory, no H960, no documentation, no software, no KT11-B, etc, etc. It looks like the high bidder was the under-bidder on the previous one. Noel

9 years, 10 months

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those unable to attend VCFhere is traffic '72 listen while watching videos..

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

For those unable to attend VCF here is a Traffic '72 live concert from Santa Monica to listen to while watching videos.. Ed# https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocjSc7v83pk

9 years, 10 months

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PDP-11 prices

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

do you collect microdata? we may have extra of their computer handbook. Ed# www/smecc.org In a message dated 8/7/2016 11:45:01 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, jwsmail at jwsss.com writes: On 8/7/2016 11:02 AM, Noel Chiappa wrote: > So that most recent PDP-11/20 (well, technically, a /15) on eBay went for > $2200: > > http://www.ebay.com/itm/191933305000 > > which was a lot less than the other one _but_ this was only one drawer, only > one ME11 memory, no H960, no documentation, no software, no KT11-B, etc, etc. > > It looks like the high bidder was the under-bidder on the previous one. > > Noel > > I had my pockets cleaned (and still cleaning) at the consignment tables by Pavel and Vince S so far an 11/34 and Microdata paper tape reader punch.

9 years, 10 months

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Video From VCF West

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

OK! thanks Charles! appreciate it! Thanks to all for the videos and photos ! Ed# In a message dated 8/7/2016 11:09:58 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, charles.unix.pro at gmail.com writes: I On Sun, Aug 7, 2016 at 10:48 AM, <COURYHOUSE at aol.com> wrote: > Folks! in the opening part of this movie Jim pans past a large white > front panel with leds and switches looks like form a Honeywell > series... > more details or a close up and ask the owner more about it please? > > It's part of Jim Stephens' collection, and was lent to me for VCF. It is a maintenance panel off a 6180 series machine, like the panels in your collection. The roller is missing. The text in the upper left reads "ADDRESS/SAMPLE TALLY CONDITIONS" I'll take some pictures and send you a link. -- Charles

9 years, 10 months

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PDP-11 prices

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

good to hear this assures me of the sanity of trading one of our 77 dx microphones for one and some other odd things In a message dated 8/7/2016 11:02:22 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, jnc at mercury.lcs.mit.edu writes: So that most recent PDP-11/20 (well, technically, a /15) on eBay went for $2200: http://www.ebay.com/itm/191933305000 which was a lot less than the other one _but_ this was only one drawer, only one ME11 memory, no H960, no documentation, no software, no KT11-B, etc, etc. It looks like the high bidder was the under-bidder on the previous one. Noel

9 years, 10 months

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Video From VCF West

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Folks! in the opening part of this movie Jim pans past a large white front panel with leds and switches looks like form a Honeywell series... more details or a close up and ask the owner more about it please? Looks like a good show but I do not travel a lot #ed# In a message dated 8/7/2016 10:41:21 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, jwsmail at jwsss.com writes: On 8/7/2016 7:36 AM, jim stephens wrote: > 6 videos from saturday, youtube playlist once more with the link https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5NK70kdq3-JGwb_8GXFN5SqDtbTKtLi7

9 years, 10 months

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New photorealistic PDP-15 panel simulation for SimH

by j_hoppe＠t-online.de

Hi, here are some updates to the virtual Java panels for SimH ("BlinkenBone project"): * New PDP-15. This rare 18 bit machine is a dream in White & Blue! Now we have PDP-11/20, 11/40, 11/70, PDP-8/I, PDP10/KI10 and PDP-15. * Merged with official SimH 4, timestamp 2016-06-16 * Bugfix for light patterns on the PDP-11/70 panel in "DATA PATH" knob position. Now the "running snake" idle pattern of IAS is shown correctly. * Added a 2.11 BSD UNIX installation for PDP-11/70 (yet another idle pattern!) There are precompiled distribution for Win32, Ubuntu x86 & x64, Raspberry Pi and Beaglebone. Just unzip and start. Downloads: https://github.com/j-hoppe/BlinkenBone/releases Web start page: http://www.retrocmp.com/projects/blinkenbone And direct to the PDP-15: http://www.retrocmp.com/projects/blinkenbone/simulated-panels/255-simulated… Enjoy, Joerg

9 years, 10 months

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VCF West - going?

by paul＠mcjones.org

Here are some photos from Saturday at VCF West: https://goo.gl/photos/GToKuQ33XwBenMJJA

9 years, 10 months

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6800 memory addressing

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

So I have the 6800 almost fully working, however I've hit one snag. ? I loaded some of the memory diags as a first test, from txt files posted online. ?The first couple worked ok, but the third kept hitting an error immediately on start. ? I thought little of it and was eager to try a bigger program. ?I tried Blackjack. ?However I noticed when it was loading.. instead of just the cursor remaining beside my L until loaded, it began dumping random stuff out. So that's when I went back to that RAM test. ?I noticed it has having the same issue with a certain range. ?I realized then that my single RAM board was only covering from (I think) A000 up to but not including C000.? So I used the jumpers on my DRC 16k boards to fill in the blanks, so to speak. ?But I'm stuck on the last one. ?The memory check now crashes at address 8000. ?Because my last MPM board was modified, I'm not sure how to get that particular range. ?I'm also wondering why I only get from A000 to C000 on my other MP-M board. ?The 16k boards can be set for wide ranges.. say 8000 through I think FFFF (can't look at the docs as SWTPC.COM went down tonight). ?I'm assuming the smaller RAM boards cover less? ?With three of the four installed, I can load a program via txt file without error but cannot run it.. if I hit G it just freezes there. ?So I'm not sure if I need to configure a ram board for $8000 up to $A000 or if I potentially have another problem. ?And because the MP-M boards are both modified.. I don't know what they are/were set up to do. Brad Sent from my Samsung device

9 years, 10 months

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TRS-80 Trash Talk - Live Episode

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

be sure to send a reminder right before too! sounds great! I never owned one in the old days but cure saw them around and we do have them at SMECC museum project in the collection. In a message dated 8/7/2016 9:01:17 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, pete at pski.net writes: https://www.facebook.com/events/1044642265619305/

9 years, 10 months

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ISO: HP 110 AC Adapter

by derschjo＠gmail.com

Hey all -- Picked up some lovely junk at the VCF consignment table today, amongst which was an HP 110 with carrying case, floppy drive, thinkjet, and manuals (including the service manual!). Not included was a means to power this thing up. Anyone have a power supply going spare? (Maybe even someone coming to VCF tomorrow? :) Thanks as always, Josh

9 years, 10 months

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Mall directory computers

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Been wondering about this for a while. Just one of those odd childhood memories. When I was a kid growing up in Oakville, Ontario, I remember Oakville Mall getting one of those very early mall directory computers. This would have been like, 1982-84, somewhere thereabouts. From what I remember, they had kind of CGA-sh graphics and a chiclet 'keyboard' you used to browse the directory. I'm wondering, were they just PCs, most likely? Or some kind of custom job?

9 years, 10 months

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SWTPC 6800

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

I've definitely got an MP-B. What I'm thinking is I'll use one of the socketed 16k boards and go through the RAMs to make sure I have good. ?But I'm having trouble understanding how to set the jumpers to get the addressing to A000. ?I thought I had that by the guide for the ram on the swtpc site (it's a Digital Research board). ?The machine only gets animated when that weird piggybacked mpm board is plugged in. I suppose if there are bad RAMs on the DR board that'd do it though. Brad Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Chris Elmquist <chrise at pobox.com> Date: 2016-08-06 7:10 AM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 Simplifying the machine configuration can help too.? You should only need MP-A (CPU), MP-S (serial interface) and MP-M at $A000 if you have the SWTBUG ROM.? It only needs 128 bytes of RAM at $A000 so an unexpanded (4K) or partially populated MP-M would be sufficient. If you have MIKBUG, then you need MP-C instead of MP-S since MIKBUG does not know how to talk to MP-S. Removing all the other cards temporarily could eliminate conflicts due to addressing, failed components, etc. With this minimal configuration, you should be able to get SWTBUG's "$" prompt.? MIKBUG will prompt with "*". Also, check which backplane board you have.? Depending on vintage, you may have MP-B or MP-B2.? MP-B2 allowed the I/O block address (normally at $8000) to be changed.? If you have MP-B2 and someone has customized the machine, then there will be more to figure out regarding where the I/O is really located, what the monitor ROMs expect, etc. http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/MP_B/MP_B_Index.htm http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/MP_B2/MP_B2_index.htm Chris On Friday (08/05/2016 at 10:47PM -0700), Brent Hilpert wrote: > Do you have some RAM at $A000+ yet? > That's all that should matter as far as required RAM goes. > > Presuming this is the holley page you were referring to: > http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/HiTerm/Test6800_Index.html > he does mention RAM needed at A000 for the BUGs, as Chris and I have been saying. > > Without RAM there there's no stack for return addresses for subroutines executed in the BUGs, so execution could head off to wherever. > > > On 2016-Aug-05, at 10:23 PM, Brad H wrote: > > Okay so.. I decided to try the MP-C board out, just for kicks.? No change. > > Then I decided to add one of the RAM boards.. the next one up in addresses.? Got a little bit when I powered on.? Added one of the old MPM boards.. one that has memory chips all piggybacked on one another.? Now when I powered up, the system was sending four or five characters at a time, linefeed, four or five characters at a time, linefeed ad infinitum.? I added the final MPM board.. zero. > > So.. I think we do have some ram problems.. most likely.? I'm thinking it would be easiest to concentrate efforts on the socketed RAM boards.. test all the RAM out.? I'm going to read up on addressing and try to understand a bit better what is going on.? I'm thinking maybe I need to reconfigure the addressing on one of the boards to match whatever that overstuffed MPM board is set to. > > Until I get an oscilloscope.. fooling around is about all I can do here. > > > > Sent from my Samsung device > > > > -------- Original message -------- > > From: Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> > > Date: 2016-08-05? 3:55 PM? (GMT-08:00) > > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 > > > > On 08/05/2016 02:15 PM, Brad H wrote: > >> I think I will have to figure out how to do that.? Additionally I > >> have one of those PC based oscilloscopes on the way.? I don't know > >> how to use them 100% but I'm about to learn I guess. :) > >> > >> I have one more question for you guys -- I have a few CT-1024 > >> terminals and would really like this system to work with one of > >> those.? However, all of the CTs are quite delicate and are set I > >> think for 7, E, 2 @ 110 baud via soldered jumpers.? I'm a bit > >> reluctant to try pulling them apart to get in there and fix that.? Is > >> there a way to change the parity, etc settings on the SWTPC to match > >> the terminal?? Is it necessary? > > > > Well, 110 bps is a bit on the slow side--great for teletypes, not so > > much for video terminals.?? But you'll have to change the hardwired > > jumpers--the UART used in the CT1024 is not software-programmable. > > > > If this were my unit, I"d probably solder some pins into the pad holes > > and then either use slide on jumpers or wirewrap to set the > > characteristics.? That way, when changing things around, you won't be > > stressing the PCB. > > > > Something like this: > > > > http://www.ebay.com/itm/10PCS-20CFemale-to-Female-1-Pin-Plug-Jumper-Cable-W… > > > > Search on "female jumper wires" -- Chris Elmquist

9 years, 10 months

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Yard sale goodies

by glen.slick＠gmail.com

On Aug 6, 2016 2:12 PM, "Joe Giliberti" <starbase89 at gmail.com> wrote: > > Greetings! > Went to a sale this morning and ended up with some neato pieces of > equipment. First are two Shugart 8 inch floppy drives ($1 each), a > microprocessor training kit ($30) and finally a RCA COSMAC dual 8 inch disk > drive ($5). One of the sellers told me to come back tomorrow because he's > going to dig out a bunch of other 70s and early 80s equipment. > https://postimg.org/image/gyjd3j16p/ > I can find no reference to either the microprocessor trainer for the cosmic > disk drive assembly online. Any information would be pretty cool to see. > > Thanks! > Joe Giliberti Those ICS microprocessor trainers show up on eBay from time to time. Erik has a page about them here. http://www.vintage-computer.com/ics.shtml

9 years, 10 months

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VCF West - going?

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

surprised no one pulled off a live stream of this... In a message dated 8/6/2016 12:09:58 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, billdegnan at gmail.com writes: Bruce Damer speaking now...incredible exhibits very talented exhibitors. .. hard to say what's "best"...taking lots of photos Bill Degnan twitter: billdeg vintagecomputer.net On Aug 6, 2016 11:51 AM, "Fritz Mueller" <fritzm at fritzm.org> wrote: > I'm headed down from Oakland now (Sat) and will be there most of the > afternoon. Looking forward to seeing all the goodies and meeting some > folks!

9 years, 10 months

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TU56 Tape Heads

by michael.99.thompson＠gmail.com

During our PDP-12 debugging today we found that the left tape head has an open coil for data track 0. The left head was OK a little more than a year ago when we found the open coil in the right head. One TU56 head on my personal PDP-8/e also had an open coil when I got it. Our guess is the chemicals from the epoxy potting, possible flux residue, and poor soldering are causing the failures. Getting the epoxy potting out to repair the solder connection has proved impossible so far. Any source for three TU56 tape heads would be appreciated. We are also interested in ideas on how to get the epoxy potting out without destroying the head. -- Michael Thompson

9 years, 10 months

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Somewhat amusing Grauniad article on retrieving old digital material

by lproven＠gmail.com

Germaine Greer's archive: digging up digital treasure from the floppy disks Archivists trying to preserve material stored in obsolete formats face a mighty challenge in retrieving decades of work by the Australian writer and feminist https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/aug/05/germaine-greer-archive-digita… -- Liam Proven ? Profile: http://lproven.livejournal.com/profile Email: lproven at cix.co.uk ? GMail/G+/Twitter/Flickr/Facebook: lproven MSN: lproven at hotmail.com ? Skype/AIM/Yahoo/LinkedIn: liamproven Cell/Mobiles: +44 7939-087884 (UK) ? +420 702 829 053 (?R)

9 years, 10 months

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VCF West - going?

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Is anyone shooting video for those of us that can't go? ?I really enjoyed the videos of VCF East I found on Youtube. ?I'll likely never get to one of these things being up here in Canada.. still fun to check out virtually. Brad Sent from my Samsung device -------- Original message -------- From: Curious Marc <curiousmarc3 at gmail.com> Date: 2016-08-05 3:03 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: VCF West - going? I'll be there with some of my HP equipment. On my way there soon. Marc Sent from my iPad > On Aug 5, 2016, at 10:08 AM, Ian Finder <ian.finder at gmail.com> wrote: > > I'll be there. Flying down from Seattle after work with an Amiga 4000 060 > and a GRiD in my carry-on. > I wanted to bring a Symbolics machine, but they happen to be quite heavy. ;) > > On Fri, Aug 5, 2016 at 10:01 AM, william degnan <billdegnan at gmail.com> > wrote: > >> I am here now, will be around all day helping set up.? I have not been to >> the CHM since the last VCF...The space for the event looks good, tables are >> out and waiting for exhibitors. >> >>> On Fri, Aug 5, 2016 at 12:07 PM, Josh Dersch <derschjo at gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> On Thu, Aug 4, 2016 at 12:25 PM, Ali <cctalk at ibm51xx.net> wrote: >>> >>>>> I am heading to VCF West after a stop over in San Fran today...I am >>>>> looking forward to meeting up with everyone.? I will be there all day >>>>> Friday as a set-up volunteer, Sat and Sunday morning.? I was at the >>>>> last VCF before it was called "West" ... it's been too long. >>>> >>>> I am going to be there both days and look forward to meeting people In >>>> Real Life (TM). So should the list members get special badges or >>> something >>>> so people can know who is who? Or *GASP* are we going to have to be >>>> personable and talk to each other! :D >>>> >>>> -Ali >>> I'll be there co-running the Living Computer Museum's exhibit.? Stop by >> and >>> say hi! >>> >>> - Josh >> >> >> >> -- >> @ BillDeg: >> Web: vintagecomputer.net >> Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> >> Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> >> Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm> > > > > -- >?? Ian Finder >?? (206) 395-MIPS >?? ian.finder at gmail.com

9 years, 10 months

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MicroVax II update

by dj.taylor4＠comcast.net

Progress on getting the MVII up and running: I ordered the SCSI2SD adapter and it has come in, the plan is to use it as the system disk on the MVII. The hobbyist VMS PAKS have arrived and I was able to download the VMS 7.3 iso, not sure what I can do with it since I think it must be burned to a 512 byte sector CD. I asked if the PAKS were good for older versions of VMS, like 5.5, and was told yes they were. We'll see about that. The Hobbyist VMS CD I had for VMS 7.2 was found and I was able to get the old Toshiba CD drive to work on the MV 4000 using a CQD 223A. How can I create an image of these CD's on the VAX 4000 that I could use in an emulator? I wasn't able to get the UC07 to see the CDROM because of a bad SCSI cable, I had hoped to format the SCSI2SD using the UC07. Is it possible to use the SCSI2SD on a microPDP-11 under RT-11? I ask because of the disk size limit under RT-11. Doug

9 years, 10 months

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IBM Diskette OEM Information manuals wanted

by spacewar＠gmail.com

Does anyone happen to have the IBM Diskette OEM Information manuals: GA21-9190 one-sided GA21-9257 two-sided I'm specifically NOT looking for the Diskette General Information Manual, GA21-9182, unless someone has an edition earlier than Fourth or later than Sixth. The OEM Information manuals were the definitive reference for the track formats for eight-inch diskettes. Generally equivalent information is available from a lot of later sources, including ECMA, ISO, and ANSI standards, and from vendor datasheets and application notes for floppy drives and floppy disk controller chips, though I've encountered a number of inaccuracies in vendor documentation. The ECMA standards are available online. I'm interested in the IBM OEM information manuals primarily for historical reasons, not because I'm missing any particular technical information. Thanks! Eric

9 years, 10 months

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How to get a Heathkit H8 to work with a serial terminal

by dkelvey＠hotmail.com

Hi Note that the combo card does not work reliably above 4800 baud. It feeds the serial through an optical isolator, even when doing RS232. It is really intended to do current loop at lower speeds. Dwight ________________________________ From: cctalk <cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org> on behalf of Bill Sudbrink <wh.sudbrink at verizon.net> Sent: Monday, August 1, 2016 6:01:21 PM To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts' Subject: RE: How to get a Heathkit H8 to work with a serial terminal Try in the SEBHC group: sebhc at googlegroups.com

9 years, 10 months

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[IBM1130] 029 keypunch available

by ball.of.john＠gmail.com

Make this yet another person as well in BC who would be jumping on it . I got almost no use for a card reader if I have no way to punch the cards. >Ditto. I'd be all over that if I wasn't in BC.

9 years, 10 months

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