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

by tom＠automatedtech.com

I'm working with a device which has poor documentation but it says the printer port is compatible with a TI Silent 700. Do you know what baud rate, character length and parity the Silent 700 used ? Tom Hickerson tom(a)automatedtech.com

26 years, 7 months

3
2
0 0

Looking for Heath H89 software and some advice

by dmb＠itasoftware.com

I just got two Heath H89's to replace the one my parents took to the dump 10 years ago while I was away at college. Both these machines seem to work fine -- they will boot CP/M and I can run programs, etc. One of them is in absolute mint condition -- a real beauty. However, the vast majority of the disks I have (circa 1979) are HDOS disks. I would like to be able to read these disks and use the software (e.g., Walt Bilofsky's C compiler), but I can't get any of my bootable HDOS disks to boot. Would anyone be willing to make me a bootable HDOS disk and mail it to me? If so, I would greatly appreciate it. Let me know by email (dmb(a)ai.mit.edu) if you would be willing to volunteer. :) I'm also looking for any of Evryware's interactive fiction (text adventure) games for the H89. They had a whole series of these games (starting with "A Remarkable Experience") and I would like to resurrect them by porting them to a modern platform. (Yes, there are still people who like text adventures. See the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.int-fiction for ample evidence of this!) Back in 1994, I ported Crowther & Woods' Adventure >from the original FORTRAN source (for PDP-10, I believe) to an object oriented language called TADS that was developed specifically for text adventures. This port was quite popular with the rec.arts.int-fiction crowd, and was itself ported to various other platforms, including Infocom's Z-Machine. I actually contacted one of the Evryware founders -- they're still making games -- but they said they don't have any copies of their H89 stuff anymore. So if anyone has them and would be willing to furnish copies, please let me know. Finally, does anyone know if it's possible to read/write H89 disks in a PC? I mean, I know that the disk format is radically different, but are PC 5 1/4" drives even physically capable of doing this? It would be very nice to have a PC-based program that could create H89 disks from disk images, and I'd love to write one, but frankly I'm a software guy and have no clue about the hardware side of floppy disk formats. If anyone has any sage advice, I'd be much obliged. Dave Baggett dmb(a)ai.mit.edu

26 years, 7 months

3
2
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by edick＠idcomm.com

please see comments embedded below. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 7:45 PM Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >> It isn't alignment as I can manually move the head very slightly back and >> forth which does affect the data coming into the controller assembly but >> does not help it find the actual sector... Therefore, hardware or an anlog >> adjustment >> >> I would like an alignment disk so I can use "their" tuning procedure to make >> this drive work quickly. It has a number of adjustments including : Clock, >> window, gap, etc... > These are not the usual things for which you'd want an alignment diskette. > >Most alignment disks do not include such tests (I am not saying that the >IBM one you asked for doesn't). They're just raw drive alignement disks >with catseye patterns for aligning the radial position, an index timing >burst, etc. > >If you think there's an electronic problem then you don't really need an >aligment disk. Start with the spindle speed, which I assume is right >since it almost certainly uses a mains-powered induction motor. Still, it >can't hurt to check that the index pulses occur at the right frequency. > >They'll be a master clock, probably also used for writing. Check this >with a 'scope or frequency counter. If it's incorrect, find out why. > Generally, there isn't a master clock. Among the drives I've been working on over the past months, none had onboard oscillators with the exception of the microprocessor-controlled Mitsubishi. That's why there are one-shots and the like. The writing is accomplished by using both outputs from a flipflop which is toggled by every positive edge on the data stream which is generated on the controller. > >Then take a formatted disk (format one yourself on your old CP/M machine >if you have to ;-)). Read a sector continously. Display the off-disk data >on one trace of a 'scope and the read clock on another. Does the read >clock seem to be the right frequency? Is it locked wrt the data? If not, >look at that read PLL (or whatever it uses). > Again, most drives don't have PLL's on them, but rather leave that to the controller. It does appear that this drive and controller may not be entirely separate. The adjustments for "window" and "gap" do sound like they are just trims on a one-shot, though. I've seen adjustments like that on old hard disks. As you may recall, almost all the early FDD's had FM clock/data separation on board. This drive is probably no exception. > >Index timing is either very important (if, for example, the controller >expects to see an address mark as the first thing after an index pulse) >or not at all important at this stage. > >At this point you should at least be recovering data bits from the disk. >So if it still can't find a sector, find out why not. Can it not find an >address mark at all?. Or can it not find the header you're asking for. >This is likely to be a digital problem. As I don't have schematics for >this unit I can't comment any further. > >-tony >

26 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: Al Kossow <aek(a)spies.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 10:05 PM Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >"I wonder if it really is working most of the way (i.e. it can read ID >marks and even data) but there's a problem getting that read data to the >CPU (shift registers, bus drivers, etc)." > >Are you trying this on your 8/I or 8/S ? The PDP-8i.. (it works the same on both units).. This drive has a dual buffer (50) and was made to be used on some of the slowest computers... The manual claims from high speed to "DC"... I have it on the 8i as I don't like to subject the 8/s to questionable hardware. > >>From memory, the Sykes interface is REALLY dumb. An 8/S might be too slow >to handle the data rates.. > It is... *really* dumb... Its got a 2 sector buffer option(claims it can do 2 things at the same time with the buffers) so I got a bigger really dumb controller. It's search algorithm is really funny too: Read Sector <------------- If requested Sector <> address then | If CRC not okay then ---------------------| (you get the idea.. and infinite loop for most errors) john PDP-8 and other rare mini computers http://www.pdp8.com

26 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 9:40 PM Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >> It isn't alignment as I can manually move the head very slightly back and >> forth which does affect the data coming into the controller assembly but >> does not help it find the actual sector... Therefore, hardware or an anlog >> adjustment >> >> I would like an alignment disk so I can use "their" tuning procedure to make >> this drive work quickly. It has a number of adjustments including : Clock, >> window, gap, etc... > > >Most alignment disks do not include such tests (I am not saying that the >IBM one you asked for doesn't). They're just raw drive alignement disks >with catseye patterns for aligning the radial position, an index timing >burst, etc. > I hear you. This particular drive claimed it did. >If you think there's an electronic problem then you don't really need an >aligment disk. Start with the spindle speed, which I assume is right >since it almost certainly uses a mains-powered induction motor. Still, it >can't hurt to check that the index pulses occur at the right frequency. > That's all working fine... It's controller has a serious status system in it where it monitors disk spindle speed, etc... >They'll be a master clock, probably also used for writing. Check this >with a 'scope or frequency counter. If it's incorrect, find out why. > One master clock.. 1Mhz, good.. A board dedicated to "data timing". >Then take a formatted disk (format one yourself on your old CP/M machine >if you have to ;-)). Read a sector continously. Display the off-disk data >on one trace of a 'scope and the read clock on another. Does the read >clock seem to be the right frequency? Is it locked wrt the data? If not, >look at that read PLL (or whatever it uses). > Good idea on the CPM unit. I rarely use/see one so I will format one and start that way. >Index timing is either very important (if, for example, the controller >expects to see an address mark as the first thing after an index pulse) >or not at all important at this stage. > Not there yet. >At this point you should at least be recovering data bits from the disk. >So if it still can't find a sector, find out why not. Can it not find an >address mark at all?. Or can it not find the header you're asking for. >This is likely to be a digital problem. As I don't have schematics for >this unit I can't comment any further. > It can't find a sector *most* of the time.. Once in a while I can get it to read and display a sector correctly... The rest of the time it is in an infinite loop. What bugs me is sometimes I can read a sector with a good CRC and the data is correct... probably *another* bad solder joint... this box has been filled with them so far. Thanks for the CP/M idea. >-tony > >

26 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

OT: Swords (was: Re: Whats the screwiest thing you collect?)

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

>>>> >Wow. My collection of sharp objects are strictly modern >>>>reproductions. To >>>> >the point where I took them to the vet and had 'em xrayed to see if >>>>they were >>>> >correctly made. Some were, come weren't. Sold the ones that weren't. >>>> > >>>> >> Swords can be neat, I have a friend who recently sold a japanese >>>>sword for >>>> >> $40k to one of those roving sword buyers. Some local yard sale had a box >>>> >>>> This one was 650 years old, made by one of the best, and used in some major >>>> ceremony. My friend estimated it will sell for 4 times as much in Japan. >>> >>>One wonders where your friend got the thing. I was under the impression >>>they're >>>illegal to export from Japan. (not sure where I got that impression though) >> >>Apparently a lot of swords were lost in WWII and found thier way to the US. >>The Japanese families that lost these swords are willing to pay big bucks >>for them if they can be found. > > Japanese I believe sometimes would "surrender" their swords as a formal > gesture. GIs would also rob bodies, etc. Getting them back to Japan is a > fair sized industry. Wow! Quite a thread for one so far off topic. In no particular order: At the surrender at the end of WWII, swords were formally handed over by commanding officers (of ships etc.) as a gesture of surrender. This is a western custom as well as (rather than?) a Japanese one. Seems strange that they handed over valuable antiques, but it is the sort of extravagant gesture that goes with a culture that commits ritual suicide... I will admit to having two swords, but I am not a collector. One is a modern fencing foil with a rubber tip. The other, that I think of as "my sword" (even though my brother has an interest in it) is a bit more interesting. It is the sort of sword that officers in the Royal Navy wore with dress uniforms up to about 1914 (when the design changed slightly). It belonged to my grandfather, so I assume he was commissioned as a midshipman (US: ensign) at age 16 (in 1913). He may have upgraded later to the newer design, but if so, this went to the bottom of the sea with him in 1944. The sword was made by Wilkinson (lately of razor blade fame but in his time the UK's leading sword manufacturer) and sold by Gieves (a well known supplier of uniforms, known in the services as Thieves), and it bears the number (which may be a serial number) 56500. The test of such a sword was not whether a handkerchief would fall in two pieces if dropped on the blade ;-) - in fact, mine has never been sharpened - but whether you could bend the blade so that the tip would touch the forte just below the hilt. Swords that passed would have a "proof mark" set into the blade at that point. Wilkinsons reps used to demonstrate this, but it was said that Gieves' swords made by anyone else, although they bore the proof mark, would be damaged if you tried it... My sword is somewhat corroded. I got someone to clean off the worst of the rust; he cleaned of "as much as he dared", which unfortunately reduced the clarity of the designs etched into the blade, so this may have been a mistake. Nonetheless, for such a heavy piece of iron (though not relative to my computer collection!) it is amazingly well balanced. I wouldn't have any difficulty wielding it in a fight, even though the grip is a bit too small for me. FWIW I am told that swords should be preserved with suitable grease. Suitable = hydrophobic. In particular, lube oil / axle grease etc. are NOT suitable. Petroleum jelly is recommended; I have heard of olive oil being used; and I imagine silicone grease and some of the water displacing penetrating oils would also work. FWI also W I have some small skill in European fencing (although I haven't done any for a few years now), but have never studied Kendo... 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

1
0
0 0

Stuff available in Richardson, Texas

by rka＠dadco.net

Anything still around? I'm interested in the Texas Instruments Omni 800 printer. Robert K. Adsit I.T. Manager, DADCO, Inc. rka(a)dadco.net

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by edick＠idcomm.com

I've got one of these diagnostic diskettes, though I was never able to find software suitable for using one with 8" drives. If there's anyone out there who can tell me where I can beg/borrow/steal it, I'd do that. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 7:51 PM Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >> I was hoping to use an alignment disk as this drive is filled with TTLs and > >Hmmm... As I mentioned in another message, _most_ alignment disks won't >really help you here. What you want is a 'diagnostic' disk -- one filled >with valid (and known/simple) data patters -- tracks of sectors of all >0's or all 1's, things like that. > >Fortunately, such a disk is fairly easy to make if you have any other >machine with 8" drives. I normally use one of my CP/M boxes for this. > >Then you can conitunally read sectors from the disk. Using a 'scope you >can see if the read PLL is locking -- is the read clock synchronised to >the off-disk data. Once you've got that, you use a logic analyser >(preferably) to look at the data stream and see if (for example) it >detects address marks correctly (these are quite easy to recognise with a >little practice. > >> pots... The manual has many test points with pictures using the alignment >> disk. I have no idea if the IBM system diskettes I have actually have a good >> format on them (betting it) > >My guess is that _any_ disk will do for setting up the PLL. For other >tests it helps if the data pattern is known and simple. > >-tony >

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by edick＠idcomm.com

I've got hundreds of diskettes over 20 years old, and NONE have been losing emulsion. I've had some of the jackets crack, and I've had some of the ones which have gotten wet along the way stick in their jackets so they wouldn't rotate, but the emulsion on those which would rotate, I've never had flaking of the emulsion. Maybe that's because it's really dry here in Denver. If you clean your disk heads from time to time, you'll probably not build up enough glutch to damage a diskette. Dick -----Original Message----- From: CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com <CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 6:38 PM Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >John B. wrote: > >>P.S. The sooner the better.. this thing is eating original IBM software >>diskettes from the early '70s > >Dick wrote: > >>Having aligned about 25 8" drives over the last 6 months, I can tell you >>that if your drive is "eating" your diskettes, the problem isn't with >>alignment. > >It depends on the rate of "eating", but for 25-year old floppies it's >not unusual to have a fair bit of flaking of the emulsion on the head >(lower) side. If there's any damage on the *top* side, that's definitely >the head load pad. > >Tim.

26 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

Before I find the highest building to jump off of, I though I might ask here first.... I have a Sykes 7150 8" floppy drive (negibus PDP-8I) that I have invested a half and hour in and have solved *most* of it's problems... It finally talks to the PDP and I can select tracks, reset, read status, etc... once in a while read a sector. I need a single sided 128 byte record alignment floppy. When I do a read now, the drive stays busy forever looking for the sector I asked it for. (even if the head is on top of it). Since it was made in 1974 with TTL chips it is only bright enough to sit there and *wait* for the correct data to come by. An alignment disk would make life a lot easier. Anyone have one available? Please e-mail. P.S. The sooner the better.. this thing is eating original IBM software diskettes from the early '70s PDP-8 and other rare mini computers http://www.pdp8.com

26 years, 7 months

4
3
0 0

C-64 Comms program

by ken_g＠MailAndNews.com

Kevin, I still have my C-64 and 300 baud modem. I know I have the Comms program somewhere. I'll search for it and get back with you. Ken >===== Original Message From classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu ===== >Hello, > >I have a lovely C-64 with 1541 disk drive and original Commodore 300 baud >modem.. but no software for the modem. Is anybody willing to make me a >copy of some disk with the Comms program on it? Basic utilities would also >be appreciated. I've considered making a cable to write with the drive on >my linux box but it's just not worth the effort. > >Thanks, >Kevin

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by aek＠spies.com

"I wonder if it really is working most of the way (i.e. it can read ID marks and even data) but there's a problem getting that read data to the CPU (shift registers, bus drivers, etc)." Are you trying this on your 8/I or 8/S ?

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by edick＠idcomm.com

What you describe doesn't appear to me to be an alignment issue. Whether the drive is in or out of radial alignment, the appearance of the data will change as the relative position of head to track changes. I'd suspect index alignment if the thing doesn't find the first sector on a track. On the other hand, if it doesn't ever find a sector address mark, it's also possible that the controller has a hardware flaw. Have you tried this controller with a drive that works? Have you tried this drive with a computer that works? Since I'm not familiar with the hardware you're using, and since I'm not anywhere which would make sending you a candidate drive possible if I even have one, I can't suggest much.

26 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 9:15 PM Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >> >> Before I find the highest building to jump off of, I though I might ask here >> first.... >> >> I have a Sykes 7150 8" floppy drive (negibus PDP-8I) that I have invested a >> half and hour in and have solved *most* of it's problems... It finally talks >> to the PDP and I can select tracks, reset, read status, etc... once in a >> while read a sector. >> >> I need a single sided 128 byte record alignment floppy. >> >> When I do a read now, the drive stays busy forever looking for the sector I >> asked it for. (even if the head is on top of it). Since it was made in 1974 >> with TTL chips it is only bright enough to sit there and *wait* for the >> correct data to come by. An alignment disk would make life a lot easier. >> >> Anyone have one available? Please e-mail. >> >> P.S. The sooner the better.. this thing is eating original IBM software >> diskettes from the early '70s > > >Do you mean it's physically damaging those disks? Or it's erasing them? >Or what? Becase if it is, then the last thing you should do is feed it an >alignment disk (for obvious reasons). > When I do a write the logic happily kills *needed* data on the disk. It does not erase them,.... it kind of writes what it wants to them. >Normally, of course, you get the system working well enough to >format/write/read a bulk-erased disk. It can do that however badly >aligned it is. And once it can do that it's safe to stick the alignment >disk in. But I assume that like many DEC and DEC-compatible systems, it >can't actually format a disk. That's right... this drive is pre '74.(an Orbis drive inside - serial #4) . No formatting possible.. all TTL.. but double buffered (really cool)... about 170 ttl chips in the interface alone (8 boards) This drive can be used on (according to the most recent manual): PDP-11/20 PDP-8,8/s,8I nova hp 2100 varian 620 or 70 family You just plug in one small interface board into the cage for each different mini. > >In that case, what I normally do is to put in a factory-formatted scratch >disk. Clip a 'scope to the outputs of the read amplifier and move the >head positioner slightly to peak the read amplitude. Sometimes it's >easier to find 2 points, one each side of the track, where the amplitude >has fallen off by the same amount and then to set it midway between them. > I did that (mentioned above).. I had the scope on the head... It did not need alignment but looks like it might need a few TTLs... >Once you've done that, the drive should be working well enough to test it >fully. I'd not trust the alignment for real data like that (although the >last 2 drives I did this way were within spec when checked with a catseye >disk). But at least you'll know if it's safe to use the alignment disk. > I was hoping to use an alignment disk as this drive is filled with TTLs and pots... The manual has many test points with pictures using the alignment disk. I have no idea if the IBM system diskettes I have actually have a good format on them (betting it) >Sorry, BTW, I don't have an 8" alignment disk. I wish I did... > >-tony > >

26 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Surplus paper tape punch/reader available

by stan＠netcom.com

Hello all, Although it's not *my* particular interest, a paper tape punch/reader caught my eye while I was scrounging around some surplus stores over the weekend and I thought of this group. I *know* you're going to ask the manufacturer and model, and I have to say that I don't remember, but it *wasn't* DEC, HP, IBM, or any other brand I recognized. It looks like it was designed to mount vertically in a 19" rack, and it is about 2 feet high, rack width, and about 6 or 8 inches deep. It has what appears to be a serial interface, and it even has a fairly decent size roll of unpunched tape loaded. It's in very good cosmetic condition (except for the dust on it) and it appears to be complete. I don't know if it works, but the little bin has a lot of punch debris in it, so it did at one time, anyway! If there's any interest in this item, I can go get more specifics on it. I doubt they guy wants too much for it, but then again I haven't asked him yet... Regards, Stan

26 years, 7 months

4
4
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com <CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 8:36 PM Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >John B. wrote: > >>P.S. The sooner the better.. this thing is eating original IBM software >>diskettes from the early '70s > >Dick wrote: > >>Having aligned about 25 8" drives over the last 6 months, I can tell you >>that if your drive is "eating" your diskettes, the problem isn't with >>alignment. > >It depends on the rate of "eating", but for 25-year old floppies it's >not unusual to have a fair bit of flaking of the emulsion on the head >(lower) side. If there's any damage on the *top* side, that's definitely >the head load pad. Again, "eating" refers to the fact that when I try to write it is damaging the format through the writing process thereby destorying more original IBM software... It is a very clean drive and handles disks well.. (it just doesn't find sectors most of the time)... It isn't alignment as I can manually move the head very slightly back and forth which does affect the data coming into the controller assembly but does not help it find the actual sector... Therefore, hardware or an anlog adjustment I would like an alignment disk so I can use "their" tuning procedure to make this drive work quickly. It has a number of adjustments including : Clock, window, gap, etc... I would know what to expect (data wise) as I am troubleshooting the boards. PROBLEMS TO DATE: Cold solder joints on the backplane... yuck! Resoldered the whole thing just to get the drive to talk to the CPU... I expect 1 or 2 problems on the boards which are keeping this drive from running nicely. I try to restore things that are pre-8" but this drive was built for a Straight-8,8/S so I *have* to get it going. john PDP-8 and other rare mini computers http://www.pdp8.com > >Tim. >

26 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by edick＠idcomm.com

I'd be really interested in how you'd make your own alignment diskette. Could you shed some light here? If this were in any sense straightforward, I'd have made my own long ago. I suppose I could fiddle with one of my PerSci drives, causing the head positioner to move as it would have to in order to produce the famous "cat's-eye" pattern on track 38, but I believe one would have to build special electronics to generate the sync reference burst or pulse (depending on whether you prefer DYSAN or SHUGART alignment diskettes) on tracks 1 and 76. Now, I've got no idea how to make the azimuthal adjustments precisely enough that I'd trust the results. Dick -----Original Message----- From: John B <dylanb(a)sympatico.ca> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 6:46 PM Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com> >To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers ><classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 8:31 PM >Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. > > >>Having aligned about 25 8" drives over the last 6 months, I can tell you >>that if your drive is "eating" your diskettes, the problem isn't with >>alignment. If it's damaging your diskette emulsion, it's likely that it's > > >No.. My "eating" implies I am sticking in original IBM software disks to old >IBM minis and writing over the data on them. :-( > >>either missing the headload pad, or the head penetration is misadjusted. I >>don't know what the procedure for head penetration adjustment on your >>particular drive is, but most drives seem to require a couple of feeler >>guages and some glyptol to make sure it doesn't move when you're done. >> >>Before I'll consider LENDING anyone one of my no longer readily available >>alignment diskettes, I want to be dead certain it won't be chewed up as >>might happen with the misadjusted head penetration or missing headload pad, >>or written on as might happen with an inappropriately set-up drive or >>controller. Even a $1k deposit won't ensure I get back a thoroughly >useable >>diskette, and I've not seen one for sale in over 15 years. > >The *moment* I get this drive up I'll be making IBM alignment disks for the >planet! > >> >>Dick >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: John B <dylanb(a)sympatico.ca> >>To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers >><classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >>Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 5:38 PM >>Subject: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >> >> >>>Before I find the highest building to jump off of, I though I might ask >>here >>>first.... >>> >>>I have a Sykes 7150 8" floppy drive (negibus PDP-8I) that I have invested >a >>>half and hour in and have solved *most* of it's problems... It finally >>talks >>>to the PDP and I can select tracks, reset, read status, etc... once in a >>>while read a sector. >>> >>>I need a single sided 128 byte record alignment floppy. >>> >>>When I do a read now, the drive stays busy forever looking for the sector >I >>>asked it for. (even if the head is on top of it). Since it was made in >1974 >>>with TTL chips it is only bright enough to sit there and *wait* for the >>>correct data to come by. An alignment disk would make life a lot easier. >>> >>>Anyone have one available? Please e-mail. >>> >>>P.S. The sooner the better.. this thing is eating original IBM software >>>diskettes from the early '70s >>> >>> >>>PDP-8 and other rare mini computers >>> >>>http://www.pdp8.com >>> >>> >>> >> >> >

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

for the love of god.... please remove me from this list !

by Joe_Gill＠spe.sony.com

CANCEL STOP Thanks for interesting info..... Bye

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Unkonwn QBus card... anybody know what this is?

by ndiablo＠diablonet.net

Hi, all! I recently purchased a large batch of old QBus cards to expand some of the systems in my collection, and one of the cards in the batch is rather unknown to me... I know its some kind of disk controller, guessing MSCP ST-506 but I'm wondering if its SCSI because i'm seeing some resistor packs on the board that could be terminating resistors, I suppose... anyways, here's the information: (Label on top of large 48 pin IC) "TD Systems Inc. Lowell, MA - USA VIK/QDT #2111" (Label on 28 pin ROM) "Viking Q/B A4.0" (Etching on card component side) "211 00031 Rev. E" (Another etching on component side) "(C) 1987 Made in USA Assy 210-00031" Physical characteristics - dual width board, 50 pin connector on board with a single red LED near the connector. I'd appreciate it if someone could clue me in on the identity of the card - i'm rather curious as to what it is! :) Thanks, -Sean Caron (root(a)diablonet.net)

26 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 9:48 PM Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >> I was hoping to use an alignment disk as this drive is filled with TTLs and > >Hmmm... As I mentioned in another message, _most_ alignment disks won't >really help you here. What you want is a 'diagnostic' disk -- one filled >with valid (and known/simple) data patters -- tracks of sectors of all >0's or all 1's, things like that. > >Fortunately, such a disk is fairly easy to make if you have any other >machine with 8" drives. I normally use one of my CP/M boxes for this. > >Then you can conitunally read sectors from the disk. Using a 'scope you >can see if the read PLL is locking -- is the read clock synchronised to >the off-disk data. Once you've got that, you use a logic analyser >(preferably) to look at the data stream and see if (for example) it >detects address marks correctly (these are quite easy to recognise with a >little practice. > >> pots... The manual has many test points with pictures using the alignment >> disk. I have no idea if the IBM system diskettes I have actually have a good >> format on them (betting it) > >My guess is that _any_ disk will do for setting up the PLL. For other >tests it helps if the data pattern is known and simple. > That's why I wanted one.. The manual actually calls it an alignment disk but your right.. it's really just a diagnostic disk. I am identifying major points on the schematics right now so I can quickly go through it with a scope... (I *really* dislike 8" floppies) >-tony > >

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by edick＠idcomm.com

As a matter of fact, it's not unusual for floppy drives to lose their alignment. What causes it is operating the stepping motor TOO SLOWLY. This is frequently done in an effort to be conservative and allow the use of as many different drives as possible, but the step rate is quite critical in the long-term retention of alignment. Two alignment seem to go askew frequently. One, the most common, is index alignment. An alignment diskette has a pulse or burst recorded nominally 200 microseconds after the start of the index pulse, thereby allowing you or the technician to move the index sense LED assembly once it's been loosened. I don't know why these get fouled up so easily, but the vibration from running a 6 ms drive at 8ms might be at fault. I'd say letting the springs POP the diskette out by snapping the drive door open can do quite a bit to move the index sensor around. Slamming the door shut won't help things either. The radial alignment doesn't get fouled up as often as people think, but the vibration I mentioned above is definitely the culprit, though rough handling can cause problems as well. If you can hear your drive move its heads, as you could with almost every PC FDD, then it's stepping too slowly. Dick -----Original Message----- From: CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com <CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 6:29 PM Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >> Try formatting the disk. If you still can't read >>back, an alignment disk won't help. > >I'd be willing to bet that the Sykes hardware in question isn't >capable of formatting a raw 8" floppy. Remember, we're talking large >boards packed full of SSI TTL here, and the formatting functionality >usually wasn't present. (Besides, at the time all 8" floppies came >preformatted.) > >> Check that the head(s) >>are clean and, if single sided, that the pressure pad is not >>tilted. It is rare that the alignment is off unless someone >>fiddled with it. > >100% true. Unless it's been physically abused or someone decided they >needed to "tweak" the alignment, it's probably right where it should be. > >And the advice to check the pressure pad is right on the money, too! > >Tim.

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Unkonwn QBus card... anybody know what this is?

by danburrows＠mindspring.com

It is a Viking disk and tape SCSI controller. I scanned the manuals and did a quick and dirty OCR of them. They are posted on Zane's site. ftp://zane.brouhaha.com/pub/dan/viking_scsi/ Dan - (Label on top of large 48 pin IC) "TD Systems Inc. Lowell, MA - USA VIK/QDT #2111" (Label on 28 pin ROM) "Viking Q/B A4.0" (Etching on card component side) "211 00031 Rev. E" (Another etching on component side) "(C) 1987 Made in USA Assy 210-00031" Physical characteristics - dual width board, 50 pin connector on board with a single red LED near the connector. I'd appreciate it if someone could clue me in on the identity of the card - i'm rather curious as to what it is! :) Thanks, -Sean Caron (root(a)diablonet.net)

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

John B. wrote: >P.S. The sooner the better.. this thing is eating original IBM software >diskettes from the early '70s Dick wrote: >Having aligned about 25 8" drives over the last 6 months, I can tell you >that if your drive is "eating" your diskettes, the problem isn't with >alignment. It depends on the rate of "eating", but for 25-year old floppies it's not unusual to have a fair bit of flaking of the emulsion on the head (lower) side. If there's any damage on the *top* side, that's definitely the head load pad. Tim.

26 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>"I'd be willing to bet that the Sykes hardware in question isn't >capable of formatting a raw 8" floppy." >Is there any reason to beleive this device used standard SD soft-sectored >discs, and wrote in the same format as IBM used? Does the Sykes claim to be RX01-compatible? If so, it ought to be able to read standard IBM 3740 floppies. There are third-party-for-DEC-systems drives out there that don't emulate RX01 or RX02, and use their own propietary data formats. The AED 6200 is an example. Tim.

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

eMail: Capital offense?

by oliv555＠arrl.net

Sorry for going a bit off-topic here. I normally have no qualm about including my company email in my postings, it has resulted in some interesting and useful dialogue since the topic *resembles* my work. But a story that aired here in Houston yesterday gave me some pause to think. It told of 3 workers at a midwest company who were terminated for ........ RECEIVING !! ... non-work-related email. As usual with radio news, few details were provided. Was it spam? Was it blatant personal mail? I wonder if anyone else has run across this story. While I don't believe that my own company would be this arbitrary, one has to wonder ..... if your employer Really wanted to get rid of you ....... Nick Oliviero

26 years, 7 months

5
5
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by aek＠spies.com

"I'd be willing to bet that the Sykes hardware in question isn't capable of formatting a raw 8" floppy." Is there any reason to beleive this device used standard SD soft-sectored discs, and wrote in the same format as IBM used?

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by edick＠idcomm.com

Having aligned about 25 8" drives over the last 6 months, I can tell you that if your drive is "eating" your diskettes, the problem isn't with alignment. If it's damaging your diskette emulsion, it's likely that it's either missing the headload pad, or the head penetration is misadjusted. I don't know what the procedure for head penetration adjustment on your particular drive is, but most drives seem to require a couple of feeler guages and some glyptol to make sure it doesn't move when you're done. Before I'll consider LENDING anyone one of my no longer readily available alignment diskettes, I want to be dead certain it won't be chewed up as might happen with the misadjusted head penetration or missing headload pad, or written on as might happen with an inappropriately set-up drive or controller. Even a $1k deposit won't ensure I get back a thoroughly useable diskette, and I've not seen one for sale in over 15 years. Dick -----Original Message----- From: John B <dylanb(a)sympatico.ca> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 5:38 PM Subject: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >Before I find the highest building to jump off of, I though I might ask here >first.... > >I have a Sykes 7150 8" floppy drive (negibus PDP-8I) that I have invested a >half and hour in and have solved *most* of it's problems... It finally talks >to the PDP and I can select tracks, reset, read status, etc... once in a >while read a sector. > >I need a single sided 128 byte record alignment floppy. > >When I do a read now, the drive stays busy forever looking for the sector I >asked it for. (even if the head is on top of it). Since it was made in 1974 >with TTL chips it is only bright enough to sit there and *wait* for the >correct data to come by. An alignment disk would make life a lot easier. > >Anyone have one available? Please e-mail. > >P.S. The sooner the better.. this thing is eating original IBM software >diskettes from the early '70s > > >PDP-8 and other rare mini computers > >http://www.pdp8.com > > >

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

> Try formatting the disk. If you still can't read >back, an alignment disk won't help. I'd be willing to bet that the Sykes hardware in question isn't capable of formatting a raw 8" floppy. Remember, we're talking large boards packed full of SSI TTL here, and the formatting functionality usually wasn't present. (Besides, at the time all 8" floppies came preformatted.) > Check that the head(s) >are clean and, if single sided, that the pressure pad is not >tilted. It is rare that the alignment is off unless someone >fiddled with it. 100% true. Unless it's been physically abused or someone decided they needed to "tweak" the alignment, it's probably right where it should be. And the advice to check the pressure pad is right on the money, too! Tim.

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Unkonwn QBus card... anybody know what this is?

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>Hi, all! I recently purchased a large batch of old QBus cards to expand >some of the systems in my collection, and one of the cards in the batch >is rather unknown to me... I know its some kind of disk controller, >guessing MSCP ST-506 but I'm wondering if its SCSI because i'm seeing >some resistor packs on the board that could be terminating resistors, >I suppose... anyways, here's the information: > >(Label on top of large 48 pin IC) > "TD Systems Inc. > Lowell, MA - USA > VIK/QDT #2111" > >(Label on 28 pin ROM) > "Viking > Q/B A4.0" It's a Viking QDT, a Q-bus host adapter for SCSI disks and tapes. (That's what the "DT" in QDT means.) -- 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

1
0
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com <CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 8:44 PM Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >>"I'd be willing to bet that the Sykes hardware in question isn't >>capable of formatting a raw 8" floppy." It cannot format anything. > >>Is there any reason to beleive this device used standard SD soft-sectored >>discs, and wrote in the same format as IBM used? > >Does the Sykes claim to be RX01-compatible? If so, it ought to be able to read >standard IBM 3740 floppies. No it doesn't.. When did RX01s come out? They mention in the manual that you can copy its disks with a IBM 3741 copier??? > >There are third-party-for-DEC-systems drives out there that don't >emulate RX01 or RX02, and use their own propietary data formats. The >AED 6200 is an example. > >Tim. >

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Amstrad CPC 6128 Floppy problem

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Nov 29, 19:02, Tony Duell wrote: > > > > I have a CPC6128 which reports that there is no disk in the drive when I > > try to run a program or even |dir. > > > > I have opened the box up and it looks as if the drive isn't spinning up. > I don't notice > a disk-inserted sensor on the FD1 schematic in the 8256 service manual > (which I am pretty sure is the same drive), though, and it appears to > detect a disk in place by looking for index pulses (the circuitry around > Q5-Q8). I think that's right. The classic symptom of the very common drive belt problem is that the disk isn't detected. Since the motor is pretty quiet, yo might not realise it's running but simply not driving the spindle. > These drives are well-known for suffering from drive belt problems, which > of course results in the motor spinning but the disk not turning. Could > that be the problem with your drive? *Very* common. After a few years disuse, the belt goes slack. In a pinch, you can replace the belt with a flat rubber band to prove the rest of the drive is operational, but it won't be completely reliable. The belts are easy to get, at least here in the UK, and quite cheap (a pound or so) if you don't buy the branded Amstrad spare part. However, they're flat belts and not very stretchy, unlike most round- or square-section cassette belts, so you do need to get the right size. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: Al Kossow <aek(a)spies.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 8:31 PM Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >"I'd be willing to bet that the Sykes hardware in question isn't >capable of formatting a raw 8" floppy." > >Is there any reason to beleive this device used standard SD soft-sectored >discs, and wrote in the same format as IBM used? Yes, the drive was *sold* on the fact that it was IBM compatible... Remember, I *can* get it to read in a sector once in awhile... They recommend using IBM 128byte record floppy disks. (what was available in 1974) > >

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

-----Original Message----- From: Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 8:31 PM Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. >Having aligned about 25 8" drives over the last 6 months, I can tell you >that if your drive is "eating" your diskettes, the problem isn't with >alignment. If it's damaging your diskette emulsion, it's likely that it's No.. My "eating" implies I am sticking in original IBM software disks to old IBM minis and writing over the data on them. :-( >either missing the headload pad, or the head penetration is misadjusted. I >don't know what the procedure for head penetration adjustment on your >particular drive is, but most drives seem to require a couple of feeler >guages and some glyptol to make sure it doesn't move when you're done. > >Before I'll consider LENDING anyone one of my no longer readily available >alignment diskettes, I want to be dead certain it won't be chewed up as >might happen with the misadjusted head penetration or missing headload pad, >or written on as might happen with an inappropriately set-up drive or >controller. Even a $1k deposit won't ensure I get back a thoroughly useable >diskette, and I've not seen one for sale in over 15 years. The *moment* I get this drive up I'll be making IBM alignment disks for the planet! > >Dick > >-----Original Message----- >From: John B <dylanb(a)sympatico.ca> >To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers ><classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 5:38 PM >Subject: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk. > > >>Before I find the highest building to jump off of, I though I might ask >here >>first.... >> >>I have a Sykes 7150 8" floppy drive (negibus PDP-8I) that I have invested a >>half and hour in and have solved *most* of it's problems... It finally >talks >>to the PDP and I can select tracks, reset, read status, etc... once in a >>while read a sector. >> >>I need a single sided 128 byte record alignment floppy. >> >>When I do a read now, the drive stays busy forever looking for the sector I >>asked it for. (even if the head is on top of it). Since it was made in 1974 >>with TTL chips it is only bright enough to sit there and *wait* for the >>correct data to come by. An alignment disk would make life a lot easier. >> >>Anyone have one available? Please e-mail. >> >>P.S. The sooner the better.. this thing is eating original IBM software >>diskettes from the early '70s >> >> >>PDP-8 and other rare mini computers >> >>http://www.pdp8.com >> >> >> > >

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

do you still need XT parts?

by mdalene＠home.ctol.net

Originally I did not, as at the time I dumped all of my Xt's I just happened to get another ORIGINAL IBM-XT system. its an Original IBM-PC system. so to answer your question. YES!!! I need to find a working 8 bit Ethernet card for it (NE1000?) or a Compaticard II or IV controller to Handle High Density disks. Right now it has a SEgate 8bit IDE controller card, which I would like to replace with a MFM card (I only have TWO ST3251A/X IDE drives. IDE and I are not on talking terms thoughi, IDE HATES ME, I want my SCSI or MFM! I would love to find another 8 bit SCSI Trantor Controller such as the T130B with the manual/software. Email back to me or call me at 860-423-2214 after 6PM Eastern Standard Time. ask for Michele Marie. For this brute, I need a CGA Monitor or color Composite monitor. Right now the system has a CGA/Composite Video board, I am using the Composite output to drive a Tandy VM11 (Actually the monitor is being used next door to watch TV (yeah its GREEN, but surpisingly its works great with DIRECTTV Satalite television.)). I have been looking for YEARS to get a Commodore 1702 Composite Monitor, This Commodore monitor supports standard Audio/Video in additon to S-VHS! video!! (you need a custom cable to be made to bring the Lumance and Chromance out as two RCA plugs though). An IBM-AT style keyboard by BTC would be nice. its not a clicky but I had one long ago on an old Hyundai XT that I used to have. Got one of those hiding around. I am going forward this to clasiccomp computers list also. I will summarise the pieces I am looking for below in detail: 1 Trantor T130B Scsi card with disks 1 Commodore 1702 Color Monitor (for computer/TV use) 1 BTC AT style keyboard that works on Xts 1 A better Motherboard (groan) or a new Bios for the IBM-Pc board. 1 Working 8 bit Ne1000 compatible 10base2 card/w packet drivers NCSA Telnet. Scsi Hard drives, any size from 40mb and up. 1 Cassette cable for the IBM-PC computer More US computer power cords! Memory! especially 4mb x 9 by 30pin simms at least 60ns (for the big bad ole 486 Linux file server 1 8087 math coprocessor chip for the XT (system is only 4.77mhz Hyndai/Blue Chip computer system. While we are on the commodore side (I am making this request to anyone that can help me here. In addition to the 1702. does anyone have a originall Commodore 64/128/128D computer and working 1541 floppy snail (if you know commodore, you know why the drive is a snail, I found a 1571. Only need a serial cable and the 1571 disks for that one and a 1541), Serial cables for drive, power cords, Datasette unit, (I have an Okimate 120 printer, not sure if it works though, a manual for this would help). serial cables Communications software. Rs232 serial adaptor (the thing that plugs into the user port/or quicklink II adaptor, fastload cartridge, software disks. I gave mine away, (sighhh, I want one again). I think some of my books are still at my parents. Might go home during Christmas to look for them. A pearl of wisdom from the y2K newsgroups: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Y2K appears to be the Baby Boomers mid-life crisis, and it has the potential to be a dandy. -- Anonymnous -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- B'ichela On Mon, 22 Nov 1999, Jeff Jonas wrote: > I found a note that you were once asking for > a PC-XT hard disk controller. > Do you still need any parts? > > Jeffrey Jonas > jeffj(a)panix.com >

26 years, 7 months

12
21
0 0

DG house numbered part xref/help with what *looks* like a mux...

by chris＠mainecoon.com

I was wondering if anyone has a DG house number to generic part cross reference somewhere (if not I suppose I'll start one). Pat of this is prompted by a part (not *yet* suspect) I ran across on a Nova 800 CPU1 board. From the prints it looks like it's a a quad 2-input mux like a 74158, but the pinouts are completely different and it's got wired-or outputs suggesting OC outputs. Select and enable are on 9 and 7 (I may have those switched); 1 = i0a, 2 = i0b, 3 = ya, 4 = yb, 5 = i1b, 6= i1a, 10 = i2a, 11 = i2b, 12 = yc, 13 = yd, 15 = i3a, 14 = i3b Of course, that's just the way it's drawn. It could be somewhat different :-) Does this part sound familiar to anyone? Best, Chris -- 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

2
3
0 0

trancor northern, oscilloscopes

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>I just saw some rack mounted oscilloscopes out on the loading dock. They are >manufactured by trancor northern, and have a quad height slot available from >the rear of the unit (no cover for the slot). It has a dual height LSI11 >cpu board (DEC), and another dual height board installed(DEC). The second >unit is the same, except the second card has generic white handles. > >Does anyone know about these things? one rack has two of these, and >under them is a dual 8" floppy drive unit, that has a small ribbon >connector that connects to something via a 25 pin rs-232 connector. It's *probably* a multichannel analyzer (MCA), not an oscilliscope. MCA's look at pulse heights and generate real-time cumulative histograms of pulse height on the screen. Tracor Northern is one of the more prolific manufacturers of MCA's. I once got to look at a MCA from the late 1940's, and it was fascinating: the input pulse was amplified, then fed to a solenoid that kicked a ball bearing up in a ballistic trajectory. There were bins that accumulated ball bearings according to how hard they'd been kicked. Fascinating machine! Of course, modern MCA's use computers to do the counting :-). -- 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

1
0
0 0

Oops.

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

Chalk that one up to user error. ^_^ Sorry. -------

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

trancor northern, oscilloscopes

by lemay＠cs.umn.edu

I just saw some rack mounted oscilloscopes out on the loading dock. They are manufactured by trancor northern, and have a quad height slot available from the rear of the unit (no cover for the slot). It has a dual height LSI11 cpu board (DEC), and another dual height board installed(DEC). The second unit is the same, except the second card has generic white handles. Does anyone know about these things? one rack has two of these, and under them is a dual 8" floppy drive unit, that has a small ribbon connector that connects to something via a 25 pin rs-232 connector. There are various oscilloscope probes there as well, with BNC style connectors to connect to the oscilloscope. I didnt count, but i'd say roughly a dozen probes mounted on the outside of the rack on some custom made holder. -Lawrence LeMay

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Old Compute stuff

by pmarzolf＠juno.com

I am looking for new homes for all the old computer stuff I have collected in my 40 years of working in the computer busness. I'm not a collector just a person that don't like to through any think away. I have 16 boxes of information, books, manuals, magazines, and software. Anyone interested or know someone that would be interested contact me using my E-mail address. Paul V. Marzolf 2761 Morningside Dr. Salt Lake City, Ut. 84124 Phone: (801) 277 7556 E-mail: pmarzolf(a)juno.com ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.

26 years, 7 months

3
2
0 0

Computer recycling companies in Sacramento?

by john＠antiquepc.com

Hello all, I've recently moved to the Sacramento area and was interested if anyone on the list is aware of any computer recycling companies out here? I know of a few in Orange County and the Bay Area, but can't seem to find anything out here. Any input is appreciated. Thanks, John

26 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

(fwd) 1976 Apple-I (Apple-ONE) up for auction sale

by donm＠crash.cts.com

From: Don Maslin <donm(a)cts.com> To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu Subject: (fwd) 1976 Apple-I (Apple-ONE) up for auction sale -- forwarded message -- Path: thoth.cts.com!sd-i2.cts.com!dave314x From: dave <dave314x(a)cts.com> Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: 1976 Apple-I (Apple-ONE) up for auction sale Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 11:20:46 -0800 Organization: CTS Network Services Lines: 5 Message-ID: <Pine.SCO.4.05.9911251119400.21089-100000(a)sd.cts.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII X-Trace: thoth.cts.com 943557656 79711 205.163.0.3 (25 Nov 1999 19:20:56 GMT) X-Complaints-To: newsmaster(a)cts.com Xref: thoth.cts.com alt.folklore.computers:23498 Details: http://members.cts.com/sd/d/dave314x -- end of forwarded message --

26 years, 7 months

5
4
0 0

PDP-8/m Memory (still more)

by healyzh＠aracnet.com

OK, I've been working on this for the past several days trying to see if data is actually being written to the core. However, I have run into a bit of a stumbling block. What is the following Chip, and does anyone have a pinout? S7316 DEC 6380A The MA lines go into it on the G227 board. 1=GND 8=Vcc +5V I think 4,7,12 are all inputs. I assume the 'S7316' is the manufacturer part number? Zane | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator | | healyzh(a)aracnet.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast | | healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector | +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ | Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | | and Zane's Computer Museum. | | http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |

26 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Need DOS 3.3 to restore a PC based instrument

by lance＠costanzo.net

At 12:13 PM 11/28/1999 -0800, you wrote: >It said "Microsoft DOS Version 3.3", IIRC. But now it won't boot from >the electronic drive, so I'm stuck with using an external floppy (for >now). If it helps matters, the COMMAND.COM on the electronic disk shows >a size of 25,308 and a creation date of 02-02-88 at 12:00a. This is MS DOS 3.3a, or 3.3.02, or 3.30a, or 3.30.02 (depending on how you pick your nits :); the timestamp is really 00:00:02. Let me know via email if you still need it. Lance. Lance Costanzo http://www.webhighrise.com System Administrator Website and Virtual Domain Hosting lance(a)costanzo.net starting at $5/month, no setup fees

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

D--16 Maintenance Manuals? Someone needed them?

by truthanl＠oclc.org

Please send them to Larry Truthan OCLC Inc - MC 363 6565 Frantz Rd Dublin OH 43017 -----Original Message----- From: John B [mailto:dylanb@sympatico.ca] Sent: Monday, November 29, 1999 7:52 AM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: D--16 Maintenance Manuals? Someone needed them? I have two maintenance manuals for the D-116. Someone requested these a while ago from this list but I cannot locate the email from him. Please e-mail me so I can ship them out. The first manual is part I (CPU handbook), the other manual is full schematics. PDP-8s and other rare mini computers http://www.pdp8.com

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Cool haul this weekend.

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

Managed to pick up: 2 more H901 DEC educational/prototyping flip chip panels 35 DECtapes with 2 rack mount holders, software is mostly PDP-9, some PDP-8 (OS/8) and a couple PDP-15. PDP-10 Applications in Physics manuals. 8" IBM disks (bunch).. cool for the Sykes 7150. KM-11 plastic templates A bunch of Nova software magtapes Storage: *just* started one storage unit and found 4 complete RK11-D controller sets still in the BA-11s (from Ontario Paper). Viewed the Fujitsu Super Computer (WOW!) Looks like the next load will be half a dozen PDP-8s in Georgia. I will post all my *micro PDP-8 diagnostics* later today. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! john PDP-8 and other rare mini computers http://www.pdp8.com

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

[OT] They're restarting Chernobyl?

by steverob＠hotoffice.com

On Saturday, November 27, 1999 7:40 PM, Carlos Murillo-Sanchez [SMTP:cem14@cornell.edu] wrote: > Chuck McManis wrote: > > > > Consider it flame bait if you like, but if you run the numbers this country > > would be a lot better off (fewer people killed generating the power, fewer > > natural resources destroyed) with a nuclear power infrastructure than it > > would be with a fossil fuel powered one. > > > > --Chuck Remember Bhopal, India? At least 15,000 died in that disaster and a reported 600,000 more suffered injuries. Why are we more critical of the russians then Union Carbide? Steve Robertson - <steverob(a)hotoffice.com>

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

D--16 Maintenance Manuals? Someone needed them?

by dylanb＠sympatico.ca

I have two maintenance manuals for the D-116. Someone requested these a while ago from this list but I cannot locate the email from him. Please e-mail me so I can ship them out. The first manual is part I (CPU handbook), the other manual is full schematics. PDP-8s and other rare mini computers http://www.pdp8.com

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

IBM P70-386 portable machines

by mrbill＠mrbill.net

I took out my pair of these tonight to see what level of functionality they're in. One of them gives a "dead HD" error on bootup (see http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/6370/errores.html) which was confirmed by downloading the boot/diagnostics disk and firing it up with that (see http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/6370/models.html for disks, if you've got a PS/2 that needs them). Turns out one of these also has the 300/1200/2400 modem and the PS/2 (MCA-bus, woah, in a portable!) SCSI card w/cache (its got two SIMM sticking on it, even). Right now I cant figure out how to get the HD out of the machine so I can swap it with the one from the other box (or possibly replace it with another IBM drive, these look to be the proprietaary PS/2 card-edge- connector HDs). Anybody got one or more of these machines that they'd like to "dispose" of, if I pay shipping? I love the red plasma display, and plan to use this box (if I can get it fully working with a HD) on my packet radio station. I've got this other semi-DOA (no screen display, no beeps, but power lights) 70-386, and in the garage somewhere, a complete (no manuals, but it boots and works, and has the I/O expansion "slice") IBM PC Convertible laptop, with power supply in IBm canvase carrying case, if anybody's interested and wants to swap something for them. I've also got this MCA-bus SCSI controller card w/cache, if that would prove useful to anyone... (I cant use it, it has the funky IBM-proprietary external SCSI connector on back). Bill (man, plasma displays are wonderful, wish I could find more machines that used them.. I've already got a couple of Toshiba 3x00 laptops that i use as VT100 terminals; anybody else know of portable machines that used similar displays?) -- 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

3
3
0 0

Whats the screwiest thing you collect?

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 11/26/99 11:23:32 PM Eastern Standard Time, edick(a)idcomm.com wrote about collecting train stuff, saying: > OOOHH! N-scale! Nice stuff, even for the apartment dweller. actually, Z-scale is better. you can run a coupla loops around on a shelf! of course, miniturization <sic> costs money...

26 years, 7 months

4
3
0 0

CP/M-80 drivers for WD33C93 ???

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Actually, the ACB4070 is a SCSI<=>RLL bridge. It operates in a way which I have one in use but it's been a long while since I did it. <translates what is on the disk to cyl/hd/sector. However, it talks to the <host in SCSI. In any case, I've seen implementations (back when they wer Yes but when you talk from the host is it CHS or BLOCKS? If memory serves you init the controller with the disk geometry and it translates that to a sequence of blocks where the physical geometry is not directly visible. <all over the place) which worked very well, and I've seen others which <worked very poorly. Insofar as the bridge controllers were the same, I hav <to assume that it was because of the BIOS code. I should have informed <myself about that back then, but it didn't seem important enough. They are not all the same performance wise. Some are realll sloowwww. Also it also depends on the host interface and IO. If the SCSI hardware is faked or a bit doggy it shows. <Many ESDI drives work on a logical block basis just like the SCSI's. They Cool, never worked with them. <one to shuffle the data between the host and drive. The thing that makes <SCSI outperform ESDI in most cases is that the SCSI leaves the host adapte <alone except when it's transferring corrected data. The ESDI relies on th <controller to handle all the correction, etc. In an environment, e.g. DEC' <MSCP, where there are enough smarts to utilize command queueing and <overlapped seeks, etc, SCSI outperforms the fastest ESDI by quite a little .... and? I know the VAX MSCP controllers I must have 5 or 6 RQDX3/2/1s I still run. <>Watch out for track (one head) and cylinder (n many heads). < <It seems that if the BDOS is willing to call out both the track and the <sector numbers in a range from 0..FFFFH, that means you only need to specif Correct both are passed as 16bit numbers in the BC pair. <one sector per track if all you want is a logical block (physical sector) <number. You then right-shift to scale for the physical sector size and the <let the deblocking code wade through undoing that. FFFFH sectors is the 8M <max allowable capacity, is it not? The bridge controller translates from I said all this already. <logical block numbers to cyl/hd/sec in some way they don't choose to tell u <mere mortals. It's not that majik, the bridge know the physical geometry passed on init and the rest is math. <OTOH, using the BDOS to do more of the work, sorta, you can map tracks int <logical blocks, and use the sector number to point into the logical block a <the appropriate 128-byte portion. What I'd like to know is what works best <It's particularly important that this be small, since it's for CP/M 2.2. I gave a few suggestions. Let the BDOS do the minimum, it's slow and written using 8080 code. the real space eater is not the code to do this but the allocation space. For a 8mb disk with 4k allocation that will want 256bytes!, then there is the dir vector (another 128) deblock buffer (512bytes or physical if different) so you have already used up 768bytes and not written any code. Oh, you need to have a unique allocation space for EVERY disk and if it's removable also CHK space that is half the size of the allocation space and also unique. <>to that to get the track offest for partitioning or system tracks. < < <What do you find this does to your directory allocation scheme? I've neve <quite figured out how to optimize the block size so you don't either run ou <of directory entries or disk space far too soon. That is a limitation of CPM. Block size affects the size of the 1byte file. By that it limits the number of files on a disk if they are of minimum size. for our 8mb disk you can use 2/4/8/16(32)k. If you use the smaller the allocation space is 512bytes in size, use the larger(16k) it will be 64 bytes so you have a tradeoff there. Assume 4k block, that means the largest number of files is 2047 so that limits the number of possible directory entries on the high side. from there you have to know how the disk space will likely be used and for many 2 blocks per file is a usable number so we are now down to 1024 directory entries. From that we know an entry is 32bytes and an allocation block slected is 4k or 128 entries so we will need 8 directory blocks to hold our directory. Done. Of course we can assume we need 4 blocks for each file and use half the number of directory blocks. This is a guess. <Actually, it's a 99.25 MB disk. It's a miniscribe 3085 used with RLL. <Since I have one of these lying about, and since the 4070 is an RLL bridge <I thought I'd use those numbers. You would have to partition it into 13 logical drives. Hint: don't mount more than two or three at any time and create a MOUNT utility to select what partitionis active and plug inthe tables for it. The amproLB bios is a good choice for this. The number of logical drives including floppies is a determining factor in BIOS size as you need the various Buffers and Allocation Spaces (8 8mb drives at 4k would eat 2k of allocation space!).

26 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

test-drb