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

by zmerch＠30below.com

Sorry folks... I forgot to paste the !*#^@%$ return address in... Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- Roger "Merch" Merchberger --- sysadmin, Iceberg Computers Recycling is good, right??? Ok, so I'll recycle an old .sig. If at first you don't succeed, nuclear warhead disarmament should *not* be your first career choice.

26 years, 7 months

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Results of Sealed-Bid Auction

by bill_r＠inetnebr.com

For what it's worth, here are the high bids on the items in my recent sealed-bid auction. Bidding on these items is now closed. If you want to make an offer for anything else, take a look at: http://incolor.inetnebr.com/bill_r/computer-sale.htm Reasonable offers (which must at least cover my shipping and packing costs) will be entertained. I will be contacting the individual bidders on the items below via private e-mail to arrange payment and shipping details. --- Working H-89 w/external floppies 75.00 Non-working H-89 20.00 Apple Plotter 21.12 Box 'o' Software 10.00 Friden Calculators 42.02 Fulcrum S-100 Chassis 75.00 IBM PC Chassis 10.00 Modem Tester 12.42 Radio Shack Printer/Plotter 16.00 Tracer 5 1/4" 24.42 Kontron Logic Analyzer 20.00 TRS-80 Model 1 100.00 3 1/2" Floppy Duplicator 40.00 Tektronix 532 Scope 50.00 Tandy 2000 20.00 Panasonic Hand-Held Computer 21.00 Panasonic Hand-Held Computer 21.00 IBM PC Jr. Keyboards (4) 10.00 Apple Macintosh Model M0001, Serial # F4110WXM0001 20.00 North Star Horizon S-100 computer 30.00 -Bill Richman (bill_r(a)inetnebr.com) http://incolor.inetnebr.com/bill_r - Home of the COSMAC Elf Microcomputer Simulator, Fun with Molten Metal, Orphaned Robots, and Technological Oddities.

26 years, 7 months

2
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HELP! DEC AXP Serial Console

by msg＠waste.org

Thanks for replies regarding the cable. It turns out that our cable wiring is ok and the AXP firmware expects 9600,8,1,n although it will display at 9600,7,1,e. Attempts to run 'cu' on the unix host (which provides the terminal session) at 8bit no parity creates a session at 8bit odd parity (a longer total frame) which confounds the AXP. Using 'kermit' instead is the solution for now. Michael Grigoni Cybertheque Museum

26 years, 7 months

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VAXstation 3100 history (Was ... different)

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- healyzh(a)aracnet.com wrote: > So *THAT* is what an 11/725 is! <shudder> Isn't the RC25 one of those drives > that rates about the same if not worse than a RD53? What I was refering to > is that VMS V5.1 is the last version to support it. I still wonder why. The only thing I can think of is that either the driver for the RC25 was removed or that VMS would no longer fit on an RC25 cartridge as a boot volume. The drives used two platters, one fixed, one removable, 26Mb each. You spun them up as a pair. When I got my 11/725 in 1988 ($4K), the guys who shipped it didn't ship it with a removable cart (they also shipped it sans grant cards and the terminator shoved all the way up the UNIBUS which fried the PSU on power-on). > Hmmm, now I'm going to have to dig up one of my catalogues and see if it's > the 11/725 or another system that I saw a picture of and thought it looked > cool. Could very well be, is the 11/725 a really tiny system that could go > beside a desk? It's a little larger than a BA123 and about the same proportions. I wanted one because it was the most affordable VAX at the time. I wish I still had it. :-( Fortunately for me, my boss paid the $4K, I only paid $1.5K for it. -ethan ===== Infinet has been sold. The domain is going away in February. Please send all replies to erd(a)iname.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com

26 years, 7 months

2
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Whats the screwiest thing you collect?

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

> I am just wondering what some of us collect that we consider the screwiest > ourselves. For example, for reasons I can't fathom I have started > collecting Apple logo AC power cords, and have a couple dozen of various > styles now. An off-topic thread that has already gone on too long - but I've only had time to reply to the "swords" subthread so far, so here goes anyway... Of the things I collect, mostly in small quantities, I think coins and cars are the only ones _not_ screwy. So: Classic computers (of course) Hymn books (full music editions if I can get them) Musical instruments. Ah yes. Musical instruments. Definitely the screwiest thing I collect. Why? I have only one piano, and a bassoon and a banjo and a guitar and ... Well, I collect electronic keyboards, the older the better, like classic computers. Heck, some of them practically _are_ classic computers. And I collect ethnic instruments from the strange parts of the world I visit. (I wish I'd bought that dulcimer in the traditional instrument shop in Bangkok...) Like, in Jakarta, I bought a gong. 28 inches in diameter, and weighing, um, I was going to say nearly 100lb but I think it's a bit less. I'll have to weigh it. I wish I'd known how expensive excess baggage charges are --- it cost me $700 US just to ship the damned thing home... When not in use at concerts and things, the gong does duty as my doorbell. I wondered about a mechanical system, but settled in the end for an electrical one: solenoid is driven by a monostable made from two relays. Screwy enough for you? Philip. ********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept for the presence of computer viruses. Power Technology Centre, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Nottingham, NG11 0EE, UK Tel: +44 (0)115 936 2000 http://www.powertech.co.uk **********************************************************************

26 years, 7 months

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hey, have old computer stuff for sale, have to make some room here

by Philip.Belben＠pgen.com

1 Mark wrote: > Hey all, I have a bunch of old comptuer stuff that I need to move to make > room here in the apartment...argh....I have some up for auction on EBAY, you > can look at those auctions if you wish at: [...] > Here is the other stuff I have here at the house, not yet up for auction. > Please let me know if any of you are interested. Has anyone responded to this yet? There's been so much traffic, I've been deleting a lot the last few days. Anyway, I might be interested in some of it, but, as we periodically have to tell the list, YOU MUST SAY WHERE IN THE WORLD YOU ARE!!! Even which side of the Atlantic you're on would be a help! Philip. (who is in Coalville, England FWIW) This E-mail message is private and confidential and should only be read by those to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying, reproduction, modification or publication of this communication is strictly prohibited. Please delete the message from your computer and destroy any copies. This message is not intended to be relied upon by any person without subsequent written confirmation of its contents. This company therefore disclaims all responsibility and accepts no liability of any kind which may arise from any person acting, or refraining from acting, upon the contents of the message without having had subsequent written confirmation. If you have received this communication in error, or if any problems occur in transmission please notify us immediately by telephone on +44 (0)2476 425474

26 years, 7 months

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Wanted: Newer DEC serial terminals with PC-style keyboard

by mrbill＠mrbill.net

Anybody know where I can get some newer (vt220 or better) DEC serial terminals that have a PC-style keyboard (or at least better than an LK201; I need something with a real ESC key...). I've got a mint-condition IBM 3151 with amber screen, if anybody's interested in it (or alternately, anybody know where I can get the VT100 "emulation" card for this thing? its a great terminal, just wont emulate ansi/VTxx...) Thanks. Bill -- Bill Bradford * mrbill(a)mrbill.net / http://www.mrbill.net mrbill(a)sunhelp.org / http://www.sunhelp.org --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to using Windows NT for mission-critical applications." -- What Yoda *meant* to say

26 years, 7 months

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Anyone got PL/M compilers ??

by edick＠idcomm.com

There were several PL/M compilers when I last looked at the "unofficial CP/M Web Site" which has been moved/closed or something but the files from which are purportedly still out there somewhere. Perhaps someone can fill us in. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Vincent HImpe <vincent.himpe(a)mie.alcatel.be> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, December 01, 1999 11:52 PM Subject: Anyone got PL/M compilers ?? >Hi all > >Just thought i might try my luck here. I'm looking for *ANY* PL/M >compiler ( PLM80 PLM51 PLM96 PM960 PLM86 ) >for DOS . They cut development of these long ago but it's still my >favorite language for low level stuff ( next to assembler ) > >anyone got any clue where to get these ? > > >Vincent > > >

26 years, 7 months

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Anyone got PL/M compilers ??

by IVIE＠cc.usu.edu

>There were several PL/M compilers when I last looked at the "unofficial CP/M >Web Site" which has been moved/closed or something but the files from which >are purportedly still out there somewhere. Perhaps someone can fill us in. http://cpm.interfun.net/ is now the main site for the unofficial CP/M web page. Indeed there is a PL/M compiler at http://cpm.interfun.net/binary.html it's the 8080 ISIS version packaged with an ISIS emulator for MS-DOS that provides just enough functionality to run the PL/M compiler. Intel had this available for download from their web site (as well as a PL/M-51 compiler) for some time, but I haven't looked recently to see if it's still there. Roger Ivie ivie(a)cc.usu.edu

26 years, 7 months

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VAXstation vs MicroVAX (was Re: dammit...)

by IVIE＠cc.usu.edu

>The only unique thing about the VS2000s I have is they 8mb, 12 and 14mb >ram respectively. A note on that is MV2000 is not fast mostly due to disk >IO but adding ram to the 14mb limit does really help if there is any >swaping going on. Of course finding ram is the real trick. I have a MicroVAX 2000 that was used to test the hybrid data separator in the 3100 as they came off the assembly line. It has a plastic box attached to the top with a ZIF connector, which is wired to the guts of the 2000 such that the 2000 can reroute the data from the disk drives through the ZIF connector. The test app runs under VMS; it locks itself into memory, switches to the hybrid data separator, then runs tests on the data separator using the disk (RD32) from which it booted. I'll have to take a picture of it someday and put it on a web site somewhere. I wound up with it because the company that made the data separators couldn't figure out how to break into the system. I had the console auto-log into an account that just ran the test app. All they had to do to break in was hook a terminal up to the 25-pin port and punch ENTER... Roger Ivie ivie(a)cc.usu.edu

26 years, 7 months

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Anyone got PL/M compilers ??

by IVIE＠cc.usu.edu

>Just thought i might try my luck here. I'm looking for *ANY* PL/M >compiler ( PLM80 PLM51 PLM96 PM960 PLM86 ) >for DOS . They cut development of these long ago but it's still my >favorite language for low level stuff ( next to assembler ) There's a PL/M80 compiler written in FORTRAN IV on the Walnut Creek CP/M CDROM. I've used it under VMS and spit the source through Microsoft's F80 (it took a little tweaking and the resulting object files were so large there was no point in attempting to link them). Gene Buckle has a copy of the CDROM hanging off his CP/M page at http://deltasoft.fife.wa.us./cpm/. Take a look at http://deltasoft.fife.wa.us./cpm/cdrom/CPM/MISC/PLM80.ARK in particular. Roger Ivie ivie(a)cc.usu.edu

26 years, 7 months

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old stuff

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

Anyone interested in this stuff? Contact the owner directly. Joe >Return-Path: <bjmace(a)bellsouth.net> >Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 22:07:12 -0500 >From: Brian Mason <bjmace(a)bellsouth.net> >X-Accept-Language: en >To: rigdonj(a)intellistar.net >Subject: old stuff > >i am moving, jax beach florida, to hawaii. i have all original >equipment and programs for commodre 64 and ibm' first pc's with WORD and >many other original programs iw ish to sell to someone who would >appreciate this grand old equipment. could you please advise or give >some direction thanks brian mason 904-273-5282 > >

26 years, 7 months

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Wanted: Newer DEC serial terminals with PC-style keyboard

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>> Anybody know where I can get some newer (vt220 or better) DEC serial >> terminals that have a PC-style keyboard (or at least better than an LK201; >> I need something with a real ESC key...). >If you really want an ESC key, find a VT100! Heck, I want a <ALTMODE> key! Tim.

26 years, 7 months

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VAXstation vs MicroVAX (was Re: dammit...)

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- Allison J Parent <allisonp(a)world.std.com> wrote: > > <I didn't mention it, but yes, there is the three-port MMJ adapter. I have > <one or two. The max ports on a MicroVAX 2000 is indeed 12. The DEC hot > > ???? no way. The base board does not have more than 4 usarts on it. Is > that an add in board? Yes. A daughter card for the CPU and a card under the skirt with a 36-pin centronics connector that has a H-mumble-mumble harmonica on the other end of a cable. The distribution card goes next to the SCSI-1 connector and the DB50P connector for the external RD53/RD54 drive. > My vax collection has: > > 3 VS3100/m10 (each has 24mb) plus two BA42 drive cases (each holds RZ56). > 1 VS3100/m76SPX 32mb, RZ24, RZ25, RZ26 TLZ04 tape. > 3 VS2000 (two with rd54 one with RD53 and one TK50Z) > 1 BA123 based MicrovaxII (KA630) 16mb, 2 RD53, RZ56, RX50) > 1 BA23 based MicrvaxII (ka630) 9mb, DHV11, TK50, RD54 > > All connected with 10b2 running DECnet. Well... to inventory... 2 MV2000 w/6Mb, 2xRD54 (one TK50Z-FA to share, one with DHT32 serial add-on) 2 VS2000 w/unknown (recently aquired from a friend's estate, untested) 1 uVAX-I w/4Mb, RQDX2+RD32+RX50 1 uVAX-II in BA123 w/9Mb, RQDX3+RD54+RX50, KDA50+shared RA81, DEQNA, TQK50 1 uVAX-II in BA23 w/17Mb, RQDX3+RD53+RX50, KDA50+shared RA81 2 11/750 w/8Mb and 14Mb, SI9900 each, Fuji Eagle, UDA50, Emulex serial, etc. 1 11/730 w/5Mb, RB80+RL02, DMF-32. 1 8300 w/16Mb, KDB50+shared RA81, DEBNT The uVAX-I, one uVAX-II, one 11/750 and the 11/730 were purchased by my former employer new from DEC. The 8300 was purchased used (at $12K), and I picked up the rest of the stuff in more recent years when stuff was essentially at "haul it out of here" prices when it could be found at all. Only the MV2000s are networked to anything. The 11/7xx machines are in storage for a while longer; the 8300 is set up in the basement, but I've never gotten the DEBNT working (cable issues, I expect; I only added it last year, played with it for a couple of evenings and moved on to other tasks). I've got a lot more VAX equipment than time to play with it, but once upon a time, I _did_ run a support organization from my basement (1992- 1995). Everyone has a 30A Hubble Twist-n-lok receptical attached to their breaker panel, don't they? I'm looking forward to a powerful VAX with modern low-power disks and minimal electricity consumption. I only wish it came with a TZ07(?) SCSI 9-track drive. Then I could easily archive my magtape library. > My fix, skip the connectors, soldered connection. Well... that's certainly one solution I hadn't considered. It *would* be more reliable, and really, how often do you need to change out a TK50 motor anyway? -ethan ===== Infinet has been sold. The domain is going away in February. Please send all replies to erd(a)iname.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com

26 years, 7 months

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VAXstation 3100 history (Was ... different)

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com wrote: > If you want to see slow, remember the process of building standalone > backup on TU58's on a 11/750 or 11/730? We're talking most of a *day*! > No wonder we've tried to erase those times from our memories :-). Ah... you needed the scripts I wrote eleven years ago... they would build a console TU58 with EXCHANGE and sling the files out to the tape in the right order. The benefit was that apparently the microprocessor in the TU58 (at least on the 11/730, don't know about the 11/750) would buffer the directory so that the only seeks were to *read* files, not to *locate* the files. Our 11/730 reboot time went from 18 minutes to under six with properly constructed tapes. It became a function of the serial line speed and tape velocity, not of random seek times on a 250-foot tape. You heard the drive go and go and go with occasional pauses at each new file. Every time I rebooted I was glad I'd taken an afternoon to automate the building process (which I had to re-do with every VMS major update). Boy... lots of VAX stuff flying the past few days. I'm going to have to fire something up and remind myself why I don't use 1980-vintage hardware on a daily basis. It was fun, but *damn* it was slow. I got a lot of reading done back in those days... seven hour offline backups, five hour upgrades... oh, yeah... the "good" old days. ;-) At least the stuff stayed up for more than ten minutes. Our record was 45 days between VAX reboots, but only because we were developing software and would have periods of several reboots per day to clear device drivers. Since then, I've seen uptimes on the cluster at Lucent measured in months. -ethan ===== Infinet has been sold. The domain is going away in February. Please send all replies to erd(a)iname.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com

26 years, 7 months

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[OT] They're restarting Chernobyl?

by truthanl＠oclc.org

oops - meant St Clair River. Port Huron / Sarnia. -----Original Message----- From: Roger Merchberger [mailto:zmerch@30below.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 1999 10:12 PM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: RE: [OT] They're restarting Chernobyl? Rumor has it that Truthan,Larry may have mentioned these words: >Fact: Canada's largest Oil terminal and Refinery is on the St Mary's River >in Sarnia Ont. Fact: you've oopsed your Great Lakes geography... ;-) I was raised on the St. Mary's River (from age 7 up)... Still live nearby. Sarnia is across >from Port Huron, MI. Urmmm... Dahhh... According to the quickie mileage graph I have, Port Huron & DeTour Village (southern outlet of St. Mary's River) are 349 Miles away... a goodly 275+ miles by water I'd guess. Fact: If the oil terminal is in Sarnia, it's on a different river... :-) Prost, Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- Roger "Merch" Merchberger --- sysadmin, Iceberg Computers Recycling is good, right??? Ok, so I'll recycle an old .sig. If at first you don't succeed, nuclear warhead disarmament should *not* be your first career choice.

26 years, 7 months

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[OT] They're restarting Chernobyl?

by truthanl＠oclc.org

I have found that the Canadians call all thier electric power "hydro". The term is probably rooted in the early use of the Niagara escarpment for actual hydo-electric power. But, IMHO it definately puts "Clean Spin" on thier NOW heavy use of Nuclear power. To Americans, It seems inherent that Canadian water is pure. Hydro says "water" = pure. When in reality Canada runs a goodly risk of contaminating the Great Lakes. Fact: Canada has a huge nuke plant north of Kincardine Ont. on the Bruce Penninsula. Fact: Canada's largest Oil terminal and Refinery is on the St Mary's River in Sarnia Ont. Fact: The Canadians have a network of gas wells "under" their side of Lake Erie - east of Long Point. The wells actually break the surface of Lake Erie with White and Orange pipes about the size of Canadian Spar Bouys. Occasionally these gas wells are struck by ships & boats (coming in or out of the Welland Canal)during storms - and they do leak (I Monitored such a leak being checked out by the Canadian Coast Guard on Marine VHF July 1-3,1998, while at Sugarloaf Harbor in Port Colbourne.) To me, all of these are higher risks for water pollution throughout the Great Lakes Area. Yet, Canadians keep blasting the USA for Coal use causing acid rain. I guess its all in the way the wind blows, and who is monitoring the leaks, spills and resource quality. OTOH, I wonder how many computerised process controllers were/are used in Power generation. I had seen an internet report on the Perry Nuclear Plant(Port Clinton, Ohio,USA) recommending taking a microVAX offline for Y2K compliance sake. Ironic, I found this list while searching on MicroVAX as well. Sincerely Larry Truthan -----Original Message----- From: Roger Merchberger [mailto:zmerch@30below.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 1999 10:28 PM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: Re: [OT] They're restarting Chernobyl? ... Charles E. Fox may have mentioned these words: > Here in Windsor, Ontario, we have some of the worst air in Canada. Most of >it comes from Michigan and Ohio on the westerly winds. > (Snip) Here in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan we have the worst air in the U.P. of Michigan. It all comes from Sault, Ontario thanks to Algoma Steel, Abitibi-Price Paper & the northern winds to bring it all across. Thankfully, we've had hydro-based power (water-spun turbines - great for alleving those Y2K fears... ;-) since before 1900 - The Canadians finally built a hydro plant a few years ago, too. ...If most parts of Canada are powered by non-hydro-based means, why do you call it a "hydro bill?" I always wondered that... --

26 years, 7 months

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VAXstation 3100 history (Was ... different)

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- "Zane H. Healy" <healyzh(a)aracnet.com> wrote: > >I believe someone gave an earlier response that the MicroVAX I was too > >small to run openVMS alone. > > Well, you're not as bad off as I was thinking, must have been mixing you up > with a VAX-11/725. Hey! What's wrong with the 11/725? I used to have one until the company that was borrowing it folded. I didn't find out until my VAX was gone. :-( Essentially, it was an 11/730 w/RC25 as the primary disk device, but you *could* stick other stuff in there. I even knew a company that ran a BA-11 box off of theirs, but DEC *did not* support that configuration. It was a packaging issue. There should be no way to tell an 11/725 from an 11/730 in software. -ethan ===== Infinet has been sold. The domain is going away in February. Please send all replies to erd(a)iname.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com

26 years, 7 months

3
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uVAX-I and Plessy systems (was RE: VAXstation 3100 history)

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- "Truthan,Larry" <truthanl(a)oclc.org> wrote: > Allison,or Anyone > > I recently got my MicroVAX I up and running it's MicroVMS 4.1 Congrats! > I listed devices and have an RD52 as DUA0. > and an RX50 as DUA1 and DUA2 Pretty standard. > I did not see any directory commands to tell how much disk space is > used/available. Are there any? SHOW DEVICE/FULL DUA0: > Nor did I see any FORMAT command. (Which at this point I want to AVOID, > because I don't understand the Backup process or target backup media > capacity constraints. It sounds like backup clones the OS on the same drive > in "renewed" and/or "rebuilt" files ) There is no low-level format commands (like a BIOS format) from within VMS. That stuff is all done from rare Field Service diagnostics. I don't know how to do it from a MicroVAX-I. With the right tape, it's just a bunch of menu questions for a MicroVAX-II w/RQDX3. > According to Allison's prior post, should I assume this RD52 is a 30MB MFM > non SCSI drive? Right. > I also have a Plessy 6600/6700 system which has a 84MB-90MB drive which I > think hangs on a DEC compatible SCSI controller. Cool. It might be an Emulex SMD drive interface (they were common third- party devices at one point). If the cables to the drive itself are a 60-pin and a 26-pin, it's SMD. If the cables are 34-pin and 20-pin, it's most likely ESDI. > Is there a chance I could Load the Hobby openVMS on either one, or both of > these systems in a cluster? AFAIK, yes. The issue becomes distribution. The hobby OpenVMS distro is on CD-ROM with the possibility of TK50 (OS only, no layered products) in the future. > It seems to me the more capable system would be the Plessy with larger HD > and Tape Unit already installed, (However I have never booted it, and I > have no Idea what OS currently resides on it.) Except that the Plessy system is a PDP-11 and not a VAX. It will run RT-11, RSX-11 and RSTS, among others, including 2BSD Unix ($100 hobby licenss from PUPS) I can help you with 2BSD. I have original 9-track 2.9 tapes (if your hardware is supported with the RP or XP drivers). Since we are in the same town, perhaps I can come over and give your stuff a look-see. I do have full docs for the 11/34 and attendant OSes of the era. > I believe someone gave an earlier response that the MicroVAX I was too > small to run openVMS alone. I don't know the minimum system requirements, but I would expect that you need 200Mb to load OpenVMS. VMS 6.1 barely fits on an RD54 - 154Mb, the largest you can use on your MicroVAX-I if you happen to have an RQDX3 (you probably have an RQDX1 or RQDX2 - quad-width cards). One of the reasons I'm looking forward to getting that MicroVAX 3100 is it will free me from the tyranny of small, slow, fragile and increasingly rare MFM disks. One downside I caught from a FAQ is that SCSI MicroVAXen don't like disks over 1.07Gb - too many blocks to keep track of with a 21-bit pointer. Fortunately, I have a couple of old DEC 3105's I can pull off of an Amiga. Quite the disks in their day, but discards now. Cheers, -ethan ===== Infinet has been sold. The domain is going away in February. Please send all replies to erd(a)iname.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com

26 years, 7 months

4
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classic basic games

by jim＠calico.litterbox.com

I just stumbled across an archive of classic computre games in basic at ftp://ftp.rahul.net/pub/rhn/classic.basic.programs/ -- Jim Strickland jim(a)DIESPAMMERSCUMcalico.litterbox.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BeOS Powered! -----------------------------------------------------------------------

26 years, 7 months

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Basic Source for Super Star Trek

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- "Richard A. Cini" <rcini(a)msn.com> wrote: > Hello, all: > > Does anyone have a copy of the Basic source for Super StarTrek? It's > included in the book "BASIC Computer Games" by David H. Ahl (Creative > Computing). I don't have a copy in the original dialect, but I do have a machine-readable copy for the PET. I typed it in and modified it about twenty years ago. -ethan ===== Infinet has been sold. The domain is going away in February. Please send all replies to erd(a)iname.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com

26 years, 7 months

1
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DEC Backplane cleansing

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

The ongoing PDP-8/L restoration saga adds a new chapter. I was working on a pair of them the other night and ran into an aggravating problem. The area of the backplane around D-02 through D-15 that holds the M310 delay line modules is giving me fits. I have the power-restart option in and on. I turn a machine on and it runs the lights in a random and pleasing fashion - the MA register shows some lights brighter than others and the AC occasionally shows changes. After a few seconds, the display gets more static - some of the lights in the MA get brighter than they were; some get dimmer. This indicates to me that the same region of memory is getting hit with a higher frequency. Now, here's the annoying part: if I stroke the M310 cards, the display usually goes back to a more random distribution of bits in the MA. The M310 cards are instrumental in the timing flow of TTL -8s. I appear to have a dirty backplane or loose backplane connector fingers. Without replacing sections of the backplane (don't laugh - I have at least one new-in-the-box p/N CAC-1 backplane section), how can I increase my connection reliability? The card fingers don't show any visible corrosion; the gold looks intact. I suspect the quality of the tin-plated steel in the backplane. Can say that these are especially tight, either. I'm not even as far as being able to reliably change and examine memory with the frontpanel. Diagnostics are somewhat distant aids at this point. I'm relegated to an oscilloscope and hand tools. Any tips? Thanks, -ethan ===== Infinet has been sold. The domain is going away in February. Please send all replies to erd(a)iname.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com

26 years, 7 months

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The good old days of tape players

by Glenatacme＠aol.com

Zane wrote: > Hmmm, do I understand that first part correctly that you're essentially > using the PC as a cassette recorder? That *REALLY* appeals to my sick sense > of humor. Now what machines do I have that can use cassette tapes.... :^) Well, you can still buy brand-new ZX81 kits for $49.95 . . . and the 16 KB RAM expansions are readily available for about US$5-10 ;>) Essentially, I use the PC as a device to transfer programs from FTP or Web sites to my small computers: download the program, send it out the sound card to a tape, then load that tape into the smaller computer. There are presently over 10,000 programs available -- all free -- on FTP/Web sites for the small computers I collect. Unfortunately there are groups in the US which oppose this activity -- not because any of the program authors are objecting at this late date -- but because these groups propose that *any* form of emulation, or use of *alien* hardware, to run, store, or transfer these programs is illegal and should be stopped. Their reasoning is: if I never bought a ZX81, but I use a ZX81 emulator on my PC to run ZX81 programs, then what is to stop me from using a Sony Playstation emulator on my PC to avoid buying a Playstation? My opinion is: the major game producers are afraid that if the public finds out that for well under US$100 anyone with a PC and a modem can pick up an "obsolete" computer and get 10,000 games, free, the new hot-rod game machines might lose a few sales. Regards, Glen Goodwin 0/0

26 years, 7 months

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3100 SCSI and 1.07GB (was RE: VAXstation 3100 history)

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- "Zane H. Healy" <healyzh(a)aracnet.com> wrote: > >I caught from a FAQ is that SCSI MicroVAXen don't like disks over 1.07Gb - > >too many blocks to keep track of with a 21-bit pointer. > Actually, that's not quite right. Plus I think the 3100/90 is likely to be > new enough that this isn't a problem. Most 3100's can't have a boot disk > that is over 1.07GB. The data disks can be over that. I wasn't clear. Sorry. Yes, the *boot* device can't be over $1FFFFF blocks long because of the limitation in the SCSI commands used by older firmware. One reason pointed out in the FAQ is that the system dump *could* overwrite the first couple of tracks if the disk is over 1.07Gb and conditions are right. As has been pointed out, VAXstation 3100s are not upgradable; later MicroVAXen are either upgradable or no upgrade is necessary. -ethan ===== Infinet has been sold. The domain is going away in February. Please send all replies to erd(a)iname.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com

26 years, 7 months

1
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Anyone got PL/M compilers ??

by vincent.himpe＠mie.alcatel.be

Hi all Just thought i might try my luck here. I'm looking for *ANY* PL/M compiler ( PLM80 PLM51 PLM96 PM960 PLM86 ) for DOS . They cut development of these long ago but it's still my favorite language for low level stuff ( next to assembler ) anyone got any clue where to get these ? Vincent

26 years, 7 months

1
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DEC Qbus Card

by stanp＠storm.ca

I found an Emulex CU04...... Qbus card today. Being the curious type, I picked it up. It's got a 34 pin header on the handle edge, and about 15 feet of shielded ribbon cable with it...... Now for the question of the day: What is it? Any thoughts? OT: Emulex (and their web site) seems to ignore everything that's not current product....... Stan

26 years, 7 months

2
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Apple Adjustable Keyboard

by MacNut9765＠aol.com

Would you happen to still have that keyboard? I know I'm sending this almost a year after you posted your original message but I just figured I would ask. I happen to have one of those keyboards and it grew on me. I didn't care for it when I first bought it but I love it now. Unfortunately, its getting old now and many of the buttons are starting to not work anymore or double type. I have been trying to find a replacement for it but they are rather tough to find. I really dont care for the current straight keyboards now that I am used to the adjustable one its hard to go back. Not to mention that I tend to make many more typos with a straight keyboard since Im used to having it split all the time. Let me know, I would appriciate it. Thanks! macnut9765(a)aol.com

26 years, 7 months

2
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HELP! DEC AXP Serial Console

by msg＠computerpro.com

Greetings. Life's tough without manuals. We'd appreciate some help with configuring an async terminal as console on a DEC 3000-M400 (and to remain on topic advice for the same on VAXStation 3100). After an exhaustive 'net search with little success researching cable data we empirically wired the following cable: MMJ-F,front view DB-25F Unix host DCE? DCE (multiport ctrlr)DTE ----- | 1 |----------dtr------------------ 20 dtr---------cd - 2 |----------td------------------- 2 td----------rd | 3 |----------td gnd---|----------- 7 sgnd--------gnd | 4 |----------rd gnd---| - 5 |----------rd ------------------ 3 rd----------td | 6 |----------dsr------------------ 6 cd----------dtr ----- |- 5 cts---------rts (pin nos are conjecture) |- 4 rts---------cts Setting the terminal for 9600,7,1,e produces a readable display during boot but commands entered to the firmware monitor and/or to SYSBOOT are invalid even though they echo properly. Only the single '?' or the letter 'c' function as intended. The system works properly when used with the attached keyboard/display (with the 'alternate console' switch in the other position). The terminal works properly as a login terminal under VMS (6.1 AXP) using this cable. Using other parity, framing, baud, etc. doesn't help. Also, the machine came without UCX (TCP/IP) and has no floppy or tape at the moment. We'd like to transfer some files over the serial cable (uuencoded or otherwise) and have tried 'COPY OPA1: FOO' which works except that an interrupt (^C) doesn't close the file. The proper procedure would be appreciated. Is there a terminal program bundled with VMS 6.1 (we couldn't find one)? We'd also appreciate advice regarding obtaining VMS documentation beyond the online help system and 'net faqs (I can't imagine becoming fluent in DCL or VMS otherwise) and hardware documentation for 3100 and AXP series machines (one would hope that microfiche or cd-rom versions exist by now).

26 years, 7 months

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Game economics (was Re: The good old days of tape players)

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: Chris Kennedy <chris(a)mainecoon.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, December 01, 1999 11:23 AM Subject: OT: Game economics (was Re: The good old days of tape players) >Glenatacme(a)aol.com wrote: > >[snip] > >> Their reasoning is: if I never bought a ZX81, but I use a ZX81 emulator on my >> PC to run ZX81 programs, then what is to stop me from using a Sony >> Playstation emulator on my PC to avoid buying a Playstation? >> >> My opinion is: the major game producers are afraid that if the public finds >> out that for well under US$100 anyone with a PC and a modem can pick up an >> "obsolete" computer and get 10,000 games, free, the new hot-rod game machines >> might lose a few sales. > > >Wellll, it turns out I have some insight into this. Until about 18 months ago >I was director of special projects for TAEC, a division of Toshiba. One of >the things which fell into my lap was developing the methodology for and >directing the actual verification effort for what was then called the TX5900; >the 5900 is the superscalar 128-bit core for CPU2, which in turn is the >processor for the Playstation II. As a consequence of this position I have some >insight into the thinking at SCE... > >One of the first things I learned was that "normal" assumptions regarding >economics associated with game consoles don't work. SCE more or less gave >the PS1 away and will do the same with the PS2; at some points in the lifetime >of the product the wholesale price is less than the manufacturing cost. The >money is made on the titles, not on the individual consoles, and hence SCE >has a motivation to see that as many copies of titles are shipped without >copies being bootlegged. In a somewhat misguided attempt to control that >SCE indulged in a bit of idiocy with the PS1 in the hopes of preventing >people from making copies of the code. > >The economics changed somewhat as the PS1 reached end-of-life and the >production cost of the PS1 had fallen somewhat (such that some >miniscule amount of money was being netted out on console sales), but >SCE's objections to PS1 emulators were rooted not in the potential loss >of such revenue, but rather in the need to duplicate SCE code contained >in the PS1 console ROM. > >As for PC's eating into PS2 sales, don't hold your breath. When you can >buy a PC with a 128-bit reconfigurable integer CPU with 10 floating point >units organized into two vector processors, synchronous rambus, a dedicated >rendering engine, ethernet, 56K modem, DVD drive and sound for $300 >(they also throw a PS1 chipset into the box, since the PS2 chipset >cannot run PS1 code) then SCE will find themselves in the same position >they were in 12 months ago. But then I'd expect the PS3 to be in the >works by then ;-) >-- Very well put! john PDP-8 and other rare mini computers http://www.pdp8.com >Chris Kennedy >chris(a)mainecoon.com >http://www.mainecoon.com >PGP fingerprint: 4E99 10B6 7253 B048 6685 6CBC 55E1 20A3 108D AB97 >

26 years, 7 months

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[OT] They're restarting Chernobyl?

by zmerch＠30below.com

Rumor has it that Truthan,Larry may have mentioned these words: >Fact: Canada's largest Oil terminal and Refinery is on the St Mary's River >in Sarnia Ont. Fact: you've oopsed your Great Lakes geography... ;-) I was raised on the St. Mary's River (from age 7 up)... Still live nearby. Sarnia is across >from Port Huron, MI. Urmmm... Dahhh... According to the quickie mileage graph I have, Port Huron & DeTour Village (southern outlet of St. Mary's River) are 349 Miles away... a goodly 275+ miles by water I'd guess. Fact: If the oil terminal is in Sarnia, it's on a different river... :-) Prost, Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- Roger "Merch" Merchberger --- sysadmin, Iceberg Computers Recycling is good, right??? Ok, so I'll recycle an old .sig. If at first you don't succeed, nuclear warhead disarmament should *not* be your first career choice.

26 years, 7 months

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Basic Source for Super Star Trek

by aek＠spies.com

"I do have the original SPACWR.BAS (Mike Mayfield, converted by David Ahl, I think) if you want that..." it would be nice to find the original HP2000 version somewhere. The copy that Jeff Moffatt has on the HP2100 page looks like a bad read.

26 years, 7 months

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Basic Source for Super Star Trek

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

Hi, Rich. On Dec 1, 20:18, Richard A. Cini wrote: > Hello, all: > > Does anyone have a copy of the Basic source for Super StarTrek? It's > included in the book "BASIC Computer Games" by David H. Ahl (Creative > Computing). Not *quite* what you're looking for, but point your web browser at ftp://ftp.rahul.net/pub/rhn/classic.basic.programs/ and you'll find a ported version. I have another version on one of my machines, but it's based on the the original (more or less) rather than Super Star Trek. I do have the original SPACWR.BAS (Mike Mayfield, converted by David Ahl, I think) if you want that... -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

26 years, 7 months

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Basic Source for Super Star Trek

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

> Does anyone have a copy of the Basic source for Super StarTrek? It's >included in the book "BASIC Computer Games" by David H. Ahl (Creative >Computing). > > I probably won't win the eOverPay auction, so I'm trying to search out a >copy of the game, since AFAIK, it's the only program of interest in book >anyway. Sure, I've got it, it's on one of the four 8" floppies that Creative Computing was selling in 1977 or so with all the "BASIC Computer Games" on them. If you want to see the original floppies and documentation cards, check out http://www.trailing-edge.com/www/flop1.jpg http://www.trailing-edge.com/www/flop2.jpg http://www.trailing-edge.com/www/sheet1a.gif http://www.trailing-edge.com/www/sheet2a.gif Here's what's on the four floppies - I'm pretty sure what you're asking for is "startrek.bas" from floppy #2. cpmutl version(7), date:7-30-85 disk status: 55 files, 55 extents, 184K allocated, 57K free recs K ex usr name 18 3K 1 [0]read.me 15 2K 1 [0]aceyducy.bas 23 3K 1 [0]amazing.bas 16 2K 1 [0]animal.bas 35 5K 1 [0]awari.bas 16 2K 1 [0]bagels.bas 22 3K 1 [0]banner.bas 34 5K 1 [0]basketbl.bas 16 2K 1 [0]batnum.bas 55 7K 1 [0]battle.bas 59 8K 1 [0]blackjck.bas 19 3K 1 [0]bombard.bas 21 3K 1 [0]bombsawy.bas 10 2K 1 [0]bounce.bas 17 3K 1 [0]bowling.bas 23 3K 1 [0]boxing.bas 40 5K 1 [0]bug.bas 35 5K 1 [0]bullfght.bas 12 2K 1 [0]bullseye.bas 11 2K 1 [0]bunny.bas 10 2K 1 [0]buzzword.bas 11 2K 1 [0]calendar.bas 10 2K 1 [0]change.bas 21 3K 1 [0]checkers.bas 9 2K 1 [0]chemist.bas 13 2K 1 [0]chief.bas 19 3K 1 [0]chomp.bas 61 8K 1 [0]civilwar.bas 25 4K 1 [0]combat.bas 17 3K 1 [0]craps.bas 27 4K 1 [0]cube.bas 10 2K 1 [0]depthchg.bas 5 1K 1 [0]diamond.bas 7 1K 1 [0]dice.bas 17 3K 1 [0]digits.bas 16 2K 1 [0]evenwin1.bas 22 3K 1 [0]evenwin2.bas 14 2K 1 [0]flipflop.bas 47 6K 1 [0]footbal1.bas 47 6K 1 [0]footbal2.bas 42 6K 1 [0]furtradr.bas 41 6K 1 [0]golf.bas 14 2K 1 [0]gomoko.bas 9 2K 1 [0]guess.bas 13 2K 1 [0]gunner.bas 34 5K 1 [0]hamurabi.bas 25 4K 1 [0]hangman.bas 24 3K 1 [0]hello.bas 39 5K 1 [0]hexapawn.bas 8 1K 1 [0]hilo.bas 26 4K 1 [0]hi-q.bas 58 8K 1 [0]hockey.bas 25 4K 1 [0]amazingp.bas 8 1K 1 [0]menu.bas 0 0K 1 [0]-games.600 ---- --- -- 1271 184 55 cpmutl version(7), date:7-30-85 disk status: 56 files, 56 extents, 182K allocated, 59K free recs K ex usr name 18 3K 1 [0]read.me 23 3K 1 [0]horsrace.bas 10 2K 1 [0]hurkle.bas 7 1K 1 [0]kinema.bas 65 9K 1 [0]king.bas 47 6K 1 [0]lem.bas 7 1K 1 [0]letter.bas 14 2K 1 [0]life.bas 16 2K 1 [0]life2.bas 14 2K 1 [0]litquiz.bas 17 3K 1 [0]lunar.bas 36 5K 1 [0]madlib.bas 36 5K 1 [0]mastrmnd.bas 11 2K 1 [0]mathdice.bas 13 2K 1 [0]mugwump.bas 8 1K 1 [0]name.bas 8 1K 1 [0]nicoma.bas 26 4K 1 [0]nim.bas 9 2K 1 [0]number.bas 17 3K 1 [0]onecheck.bas 28 4K 1 [0]orbit.bas 12 2K 1 [0]poetry.bas 53 7K 1 [0]poker.bas 45 6K 1 [0]qubic.bas 20 3K 1 [0]pizza.bas 28 4K 1 [0]queen.bas 14 2K 1 [0]reverse.bas 21 3K 1 [0]rocket.bas 9 2K 1 [0]rocksp.bas 44 6K 1 [0]roulette.bas 6 1K 1 [0]rusrou.bas 55 7K 1 [0]salvo.bas 4 1K 1 [0]sinewave.bas 32 4K 1 [0]slalom.bas 17 3K 1 [0]slots.bas 39 5K 1 [0]splat.bas 12 2K 1 [0]stars.bas 56 7K 1 [0]stock.bas 119 15K 1 [0]startrek.bas 46 6K 1 [0]trekinst.bas 14 2K 1 [0]synonym.bas 19 3K 1 [0]target.bas 9 2K 1 [0]tictac1.bas 18 3K 1 [0]tictac2.bas 29 4K 1 [0]towers.bas 6 1K 1 [0]train.bas 11 2K 1 [0]trap.bas 8 1K 1 [0]menu.bas 13 2K 1 [0]23-match.bas 4 1K 1 [0]3dplot.bas 15 2K 1 [0]war.bas 27 4K 1 [0]weekday.bas 14 2K 1 [0]word.bas 11 2K 1 [0]love.bas 11 2K 1 [0]love-p.bas 0 0K 1 [0]-games.601 ---- --- -- 1271 182 56 cpmutl version(7), date:7-30-85 disk status: 55 files, 55 extents, 219K allocated, 22K free recs K ex usr name 23 3K 1 [0]artilry3.bas 19 3K 1 [0]bogaii.bas 12 2K 1 [0]blackbox.bas 20 3K 1 [0]big6.bas 47 6K 1 [0]bridgeit.bas 29 4K 1 [0]bocce.bas 59 8K 1 [0]bombrun.bas 7 1K 1 [0]binary.bas 35 5K 1 [0]bobstone.bas 26 4K 1 [0]bacrat.bas 24 3K 1 [0]biblquiz.bas 25 4K 1 [0]condot.bas 16 2K 1 [0]concentr.bas 50 7K 1 [0]convoy.bas 16 2K 1 [0]corral.bas 15 2K 1 [0]column.bas 33 5K 1 [0]clsenctr.bas 25 4K 1 [0]chase.bas 10 2K 1 [0]chuck.bas 14 2K 1 [0]cup.bas 10 2K 1 [0]countdwn.bas 35 5K 1 [0]camel.bas 14 2K 1 [0]defuse.bas 59 8K 1 [0]dealers.bas 48 6K 1 [0]deepspce.bas 25 4K 1 [0]dragrace.bas 14 2K 1 [0]doctorz.bas 47 6K 1 [0]dodgem.bas 10 2K 1 [0]doors.bas 53 7K 1 [0]eliza.bas 31 4K 1 [0]father.bas 33 5K 1 [0]geowar.bas 17 3K 1 [0]flip.bas 32 4K 1 [0]guess-it.bas 54 7K 1 [0]granprix.bas 12 2K 1 [0]icbm.bas 18 3K 1 [0]inkblot.bas 35 5K 1 [0]joust.bas 13 2K 1 [0]jmpballs.bas 26 4K 1 [0]keno.bas 9 2K 1 [0]lisajous.bas 38 5K 1 [0]lewis.bas 41 6K 1 [0]lifexpct.bas 59 8K 1 [0]l-game.bas 59 8K 1 [0]million.bas 29 4K 1 [0]maneuvrs.bas 45 6K 1 [0]maze.bas 18 3K 1 [0]merabbit.bas 15 2K 1 [0]mcycljmp.bas 16 2K 1 [0]magicsqr.bas 59 8K 1 [0]minotaur.bas 9 2K 1 [0]menu.bas 17 3K 1 [0]matpuzzl.bas 17 3K 1 [0]mstrbgls.bas 13 2K 1 [0]mmind.bas ---- --- -- 1535 219 55 cpmutl version(7), date:7-30-85 disk status: 35 files, 36 extents, 166K allocated, 75K free recs K ex usr name 7 1K 1 [0]menu.bas 21 3K 1 [0]not-one.bas 29 4K 1 [0]obstacle.bas 22 3K 1 [0]pasart.bas 51 7K 1 [0]nomad.bas 43 6K 1 [0]octrix.bas 63 8K 1 [0]pinball.bas 13 2K 1 [0]patterns.bas 74 10K 1 [0]pasart2.bas 28 4K 1 [0]roadrace.bas 131 17K 2 [0]seabat.bas 22 3K 1 [0]smash.bas 20 3K 1 [0]rotate.bas 13 2K 1 [0]rbbtchs.bas 20 3K 1 [0]safe.bas 18 3K 1 [0]schmoo.bas 25 4K 1 [0]scales.bas 43 6K 1 [0]seawar.bas 21 3K 1 [0]strike9.bas 35 5K 1 [0]shoot.bas 20 3K 1 [0]two-ten.bas 43 6K 1 [0]twonky.bas 9 2K 1 [0]ttape.bas 42 6K 1 [0]ufo.bas 18 3K 1 [0]tvplot.bas 29 4K 1 [0]tennis.bas 12 2K 1 [0]undrover.bas 52 7K 1 [0]uspop.bas 33 5K 1 [0]wspuzzle.bas 42 6K 1 [0]wumpus.bas 64 8K 1 [0]wumpus2.bas 25 4K 1 [0]vangam.bas 30 4K 1 [0]warfish.bas 45 6K 1 [0]yahtzee.bas 20 3K 1 [0]4inarow.bas ---- --- -- 1183 166 36 -- Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/ 7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917 Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927

26 years, 7 months

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Looking for Heath H89 software and some advice

by dmb＠itasoftware.com

Tony Duell wrote: >As regards getting more hard sectored disks, I've not found a source. Actually, I found a place on the web today (about 10 miles from my house, amusingly) that can make 10-track hard sector floppies. They say it will take 3-4 weeks, but were willing to sell me some for $1 a piece, or cheaper for quantities of 5000 or more. :) Here's their web address: http://www.athana.com On the subject of the nonbooting HDOS disks, I don't think there's anything wrong with the machine (I have two separate machines exhibiting the same behavior, after all) -- I think the disks are just very borderline. I adjusted the rotational speed on one of the H89's (it should be 200 according to my Heath manual) and then was able to get one of the HDOS disks to almost boot. But part way through the boot sequence it gets some unpleasant error and complains. So I suspect that if I had a fresh copy of an HDOS disk it would boot. Still don't know why the CP/M disks fared better, but perhaps they're a bit younger... Dave

26 years, 7 months

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Great Finds

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

Well yesterday was a great day as I added 17 more manuals to my collection and some items that are not yet ten years old. I also picked up Toshiba T1200 not working right now, no charger for battery. I got a HP 35660A Dynamic Signal Analyzer. The other 15 items range from Apple to IBM to Maxtor and where 4 to 8 years old and will go into storage for display later. I started working on my web site and hope it have it up soon with pictures. Keep Computing John

26 years, 7 months

1
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Data Media Conversion -- commercial interest?

by kla＠helios.augustana.edu

A quick pair of questions to the list out of curiosity: Do you think there is much data out there on older storage media (paper tape, punch cards, 7-track tape, 9-track tape) that is waiting to be converted to newer (cd-rom, 8mm) media? Are there commercial firms that specialize in such transfers/ conversions of data from older media to newer media? Regards, Kevin Anderson * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Kevin L. Anderson Ph.D., Geography Department, Augustana College Rock Island, Illinois 61201-2296, USA phone: (309) 794-7325 e-mail: kla(a)helios.augustana.edu -or- gganderson(a)augustana.edu * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Opinions expressed here are my own and do not represent the administration of Augustana College.

26 years, 7 months

2
1
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SC/MP

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> <Today I bought a SC/MP wirewrapped board. Does anyone know of a site <with <> <data sheet? My search came up with what is known as "SC/MP II", <including <> <description of a "MK14" project in Practical Electronics mag. In <> <particular, the chip on my board requires an unknown neg. voltage on = <pin <> <40, instead of +5 Volts on the later NMOS versions. The actual part = <No. <is <> <ISP-8A/500D < <Some time ago i found one of these systems. It also included the = <original datasheets from National. It says that the voltage on pin 40 = <must be -7Volt. =20 <When you need more info i can send you a scan of the datasheets. There are two versions of the SC/MP the older Pmos part that requires +5V and -7V and the later NMOS part that only wants +5. They are nearly identical elsewise. <Unfortunately my system doesn't function. So i'm looking for the = <scematics. Maybe you can help me out?=20 I'd have to dig deep for them, I know I have them for the commercial board. Then I'd have to copy them as they are real paper and I don't have a working scanner just yet. Oh, I'm here in eastern USA. Allison

26 years, 7 months

1
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Looking for...PC/104 Ethernet board

by rcini＠msn.com

Hello, all: Well, my next project is an embedded Web server project for my to-be-built home weather station. I got myself the nice 486 SBC from BG Micro, but it doesn't have an Ethernet interface. So...I need a PC/104 Ethernet board. I'm looking for a used one, so long as it has drivers. Any pointers?? Rich [ Rich Cini/WUGNET [ ClubWin!/CW1 [ MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking [ Collector of "classic" computers [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ <---------------------------- reply separator

26 years, 7 months

2
1
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VAXstation 3100 history (Was ... different)

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<I've heard rumors of at least one cluster with an uptime measured in years <Me, I'm only at 18 days, but then I just put the system into production, <and most of the time there is only one machine in the cluster (yeh, that <doens't make a lot of sense). I've run MicrovaxIIs for over 11 months at a time before the local lighting company failed. Most of my systems average 2-3months between power downs (deliberate). I turn them on and boot, wait a few and work, and work, and work. the only reason I don't get longer uptimes it I prefer to only keep one system up before feeding the power company so that system gets all the uptime (MV3100) and that runs nominally 6-9months from the end of winter to hurricaine season without reboot. Allison

26 years, 7 months

1
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VAXstation 3100 history (Was ... different)

by IVIE＠cc.usu.edu

> I haven't run any direct timings, but my 3100/80 seems much more responsive >than an Alpha 3000/300LX running VMS v7.2. It's been my (unofficial) experience that a VAX usually seems about as fast as an Alpha running at twice the clock rate; so my 4000/96 at 83Mhz or thereabouts is roughly equal to my 3000/600 at 150MHz or thereabouts. Of course, every now and then the Alpha slaps you over the head to let you know that it's really fast. Roger Ivie ivie(a)cc.usu.edu

26 years, 7 months

1
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Aim 65

by edick＠idcomm.com

There's no reason why not. When you say disk driver, I assume you mean disk drive (the DRIVE is the piece of hardware into which you put the diskette, the DRIVER is the software with which you operate it). How you go about it will depend on a number of factors, however. Mostly it's how much work you want to do. The AIM65 ( I have a couple of them) did not come with a disk drive or an interface to one. You must have some information about your particular interface. If you do, that will shed light on the details. Dick -----Original Message----- From: OLIVIERO.A(a)mail.omnitel.it <OLIVIERO.A(a)mail.omnitel.it> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, December 01, 1999 2:15 PM Subject: Aim 65 Hello, i have a machine based on AIM 65: it is used to command a texile machine. I need to substite the disk driver. Do you know if it's possible to adapt a standard driver (such a 3 1/2 drive) to this machine? Thanks, Angelo Oliviero

26 years, 7 months

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Rainbow Monitor Cable

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

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26 years, 7 months

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VAXstation 3100 history (Was ... different)

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Ah... you needed the scripts I wrote eleven years ago... they would <build a console TU58 with EXCHANGE and sling the files out to the tape <in the right order. The benefit was that apparently the microprocessor <in the TU58 (at least on the 11/730, don't know about the 11/750) would <buffer the directory so that the only seeks were to *read* files, not to <*locate* the files. The majik was to assemble a freshly inited tape with the files in the correct order, or you end up doing rewind/seek operations and they are slow. There were other TU58 tricks for RT11 like putting "bad" blocks at the ends so the tape would not have wraparound files. Ya know, 3 blocks at the end and then rewind completely to get the next four. Allison

26 years, 7 months

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PDP-10 Software Archive

by CordaAJ＠NSWC.NAVY.MIL

Has anyone heard anything more about this? I'm trying to restore a PDP-10 (KS10) and would love to find an image of the distribution tapes (and any other relevant info...) - al - acorda(a)geocities.com > -----Original Message----- > From: Seth [mailto:sethm@loomcom.com] > Sent: Thursday, November 25, 1999 2:04 PM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: Re: PDP-10 Software Archive > > > > [...] but very shortly (as in the next week or two) there > > will be a public archive available with TOPS-10 > distribution tape images, > > sources, build kits, etc. Total quantity of stuff (at the > moment) is > > in the few hundred megabyte range, and will likely grow a bit by > > announcement time. Keep your ears peeled to alt.sys.pdp10 > for details. > > > > There will be about 200-300 Megabytes of PDP-10 (TOPS-10 > and TOPS-20) > > DECUS freeware, too. > > Tim, you RULE! > > (and/or whoever's making the archive available, too!) > > -Seth >

26 years, 7 months

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Data Media Conversion -- commercial interest?

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>A quick pair of questions to the list out of curiosity: > >Do you think there is much data out there on older storage >media (paper tape, punch cards, 7-track tape, 9-track tape) >that is waiting to be converted to newer (cd-rom, 8mm) media? I certainly think so! >Are there commercial firms that specialize in such transfers/ >conversions of data from older media to newer media? Yep, see the URL in my .sig below for more information on one such outfit :-). -- Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/ 7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917 Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927

26 years, 7 months

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uVAX-I and Plessy systems (was RE: VAXstation 3100 history)

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<looking forward to getting that MicroVAX 3100 is it will free me from the <tyranny of small, slow, fragile and increasingly rare MFM disks. One downs <I caught from a FAQ is that SCSI MicroVAXen don't like disks over 1.07Gb - <too many blocks to keep track of with a 21-bit pointer. Fortunately, I hav <a couple of old DEC 3105's I can pull off of an Amiga. Quite the disks in <their day, but discards now. The problem is the boot and system tracks must be in the first 1gig. I've never seen problems with larger. Allison

26 years, 7 months

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Aim 65

by OLIVIERO.A＠mail.omnitel.it

Hello, i have a machine based on AIM 65: it is used to command a texile machine. I need to substite the disk driver. Do you know if it's possible to adapt a standard driver (such a 3 1/2 drive) to this machine? Thanks, Angelo Oliviero

26 years, 7 months

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Teleco Question... More on my devious plan....

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- Arfon Gryffydd <arfonrg(a)texas.net> wrote: > First, Thanks to all who have helped so far... > I have some old modems (TRS-80, acoustic and etc.) which I would like to > use (flashing LEDs are cool) so, I want to build a little telco emulator to > interface with the modems in one of my Linux boxes. > > I figure an LM556 for the dial tone... A tone decoder for dialing... Not > sure an easy way to decode pulse dialing. For cheap? Either a stepping relay or some kind of PIC might do it. I don't know how you'll do it for under $25, though. I have this one relay that would do it - it looks like a clock face on the back with thirty or so solder points. There are two relay inputs (110VAC) - step and reset. With something like this, it would be possible to assign a number, 28, say, and require that all the digits add up to that number. It would be, in effect, like a 1920's central office, but with a one-dimensional stepper instead of a three-dimensional stepper. Those things are fun to watch if you ever get to see one in a science museum. Perhaps you could simlate that relay in solid state? If you have a circuit that will detect tones, perhaps you could run another connection from the same line conditioners to a series of decade counters. The phone number wouldn't be software settable, but it might accomplish the task. The trick is that the phone company designates a minimum time between pulses on the same number and a minimum interval between numbers. Old dial phones had a mechanical governor to space the pulses jost so and to prevent the next number >from starting too soon. I'd tell you the timing, but I just don't know. If I had to, I could hook up a scope/timer to this old dial phone I have. > As for ring... I am thinking using two charged capacitors and switching > them. That's the first method I came up with to limit the current cheaply. The cheap-o boxes I've seen worked by running 110VAC through a half-wave rectifier and current-limiting resistors. It's not perfect, but there's lots of tolerance on the part of phone equipment. My dad used to work for the phone company when he was right out of high school. Much later, when we were growing up in the 1970's, he had a box of old phones. We ran wires from my room to my next younger brother's room and just hooked a couple of batteries in the circuit and had a non- ringing intercom. I don't recall the voltage, but I think it was only 6v or 12v. True telco voltage is, IIRC, -48VDC. > Any suggestions? I'd like to do this for less that $25.00. I've seen telco simulators made in electrical junctions boxes sell at hamfests for about that. They didn't do any sort of dialling detection, though. I used to make a Cadillac telco simulator... I still have a box of parts and boards. We charged $800 for them. They would do half- connections, failed connections, fake busy, etc. The only think I ever used them for was to program an V.24 autodialer driver for our sync datacomm products. The rig was two of our own MC68K serial boards in the same BA-11, two Motorola 2400 baud sync modems and this box. Ny changing the dialed phone number, I could change the behavior in the telco simulator to force the modems to generate BUSY messages and NO CONNECT messages to run the dialer software through its paces. It was a hoot. The cheapest ones I've seen that did anything more than provide voltage and fake dialtone were around $200. Good Luck, -ethan ===== Infinet has been sold. The domain is going away in February. Please send all replies to erd(a)iname.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com

26 years, 7 months

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Teleco Question... More on my devious plan....

by edick＠idcomm.com

Decoding the pulse dialing should be easy enough. If you consider what the mechanism was 40 years ago, i.e. the mechanical central office, with stepping relays which responded to the pulses created by your telephone, it will become obvious that what each number did was drive a stepping relay which selected which bank of relays would be the destination of the next stream of pulses. If you count the pulses, which wil be at either 10 or 20 Hz, depending on the age of the telephone generating them, you'll get the number dialed. count/time the pulses. When one pulse is missing or 10 have been accumulated, go to the next digit ... Certain digits have special meanings, i.e. starting with a '1' meant it should expect a 10-digit number instead of a 7-digit one. A '0' also had special meaning, didn't it? If you poke around in some of the older National Semiconductor data books, there are plenty of circuits which they no longer sell which show details of how many of these functions are created, including the DTMF decoding, etc. EXAR and Signetics published lots of examples also. It's no coincidence that they all sold PLL components. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Arfon Gryffydd <arfonrg(a)texas.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, December 01, 1999 9:07 AM Subject: Re: Teleco Question... More on my devious plan.... >First, Thanks to all who have helped so far... > > >I have some old modems (TRS-80, acoustic and etc.) which I would like to >use (flashing LEDs are cool) so, I want to build a little telco emulator to >interface with the modems in one of my Linux boxes. > >I figure an LM556 for the dial tone... A tone decoder for dialing... Not >sure an easy way to decode pulse dialing. > >As for ring... I am thinking using two charged capacitors and switching >them. That's the first method I came up with to limit the current cheaply. > >Any suggestions? I'd like to do this for less that $25.00. >---------------------------------------- > Tired of Micro$oft??? > > Move up to a REAL OS... >######__ __ ____ __ __ _ __ # >#####/ / / / / __ | / / / / | |/ /## >####/ / / / / / / / / / / / | /### >###/ /__ / / / / / / / /_/ / / |#### >##/____/ /_/ /_/ /_/ /_____/ /_/|_|#### ># ###### > ("LINUX" for those of you > without fixed-width fonts) >---------------------------------------- >Be a Slacker! http://www.slackware.com > >Slackware Mailing List: >http://www.digitalslackers.net/linux/list.html

26 years, 7 months

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Data Media Conversion -- commercial interest?

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

At 13:17 01-12-1999 -0600, you wrote: >A quick pair of questions to the list out of curiosity: > >Do you think there is much data out there on older storage >media (paper tape, punch cards, 7-track tape, 9-track tape) >that is waiting to be converted to newer (cd-rom, 8mm) media? Probably quite a bit, yes. >Are there commercial firms that specialize in such transfers/ >conversions of data from older media to newer media? Yes indeed. In fact, I run one. ;-) (SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT) www.bluefeathertech.com/media.html for details. HOWEVER -- if it's just a minor job for a fellow listmember/classic computer user, like copying a distro tape or writing a NetBSD load onto some oddball media, I typically don't charge anything other than shipping, or I give a big fat discount on my published rates. Others have done the same for me, and I certainly don't see any reason not to do it for others. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77 "Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."

26 years, 7 months

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