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

by kurtkilg＠geocities.com

On Thu, 10 Dec 1998 ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: > That's all I have on this PC - text only. And there are plenty of > programs I run - bash, perl, gcc, tex/latex, all the gnu utilities, tin, > elm, lynx, etc, etc, etc.... > > Doesn't seem to limit me too much... > > -tony > What if someone says, "I posted this neat pic of a weird mini on the 'net. No one can tell me what it is. I think this may be one-of-a-kind. Here's the URL...." and you're just burning with curiousity. What do you do? ---------------------------------------------------- Max Eskin | kurtkilgor(a)bigfoot.com | AOL: kurtkilgor

27 years, 7 months

4
4
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what is this: shorting plug?

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

Stil cleaning. Found a molded plug with no cable so I guess it's a shorting plug. It's bigger than a DB connector but the same style. It has 51 pins in three rows. The name R Squared is molded into it. Anyone know what it's for? Anyone need it? Joe

27 years, 7 months

4
3
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Looking for group archive

by fauradon＠pclink.com

Hi all, I'm looking for the archive. I know someone has it somewhere but I just rebuilt my system and lost the whole deal (Who needs to backup?) Thanks Francois

27 years, 7 months

2
1
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Oh ! You Beautiful Doll !

by Watzman＠ibm.net

OK, talking about Actimates Barney opens the door to this one, which is otherwise more than a bit off topic: Does anyone know how flexible the vocabulary is for Talk With Me Barbie ? [Now I'm never going to be able to show my face in this group again]. I could do some amusing and humorous [NOT Perverted !!!] things with it at work if I could create my own phrases for the doll to say [ok, so I could do some perverted things also, but that's NOT what I had in mind !]. Apparently the toy was not successful and they are being liquidated for as little as $10-$15. Barry Watzman ---------- From: Hans Franke [SMTP:Hans.Franke@mch20.sbs.de] Sent: Thursday, December 10, 1998 5:05 PM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: Re: OT: Re: The Purple One (was Modem tones over television or radio) Date sent: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 12:54:05 -0800 Send reply to: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)freegate.com> To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: OT: Re: The Purple One (was Modem tones over television or radio) > Lots of people in the states sell them, its called the "Actimates" Barney. > As I understood it the toy "saw" signals in the form of IR coded pulses in > the video and responded appropriately. There are a couple of groups on the > net who have hacked the toy to give the dinosaur an extended, if somewhat > less refined, vocabulary. Any URL ? I did a quick search, but only comercial sites (like MS: http://microsoft.com./products/hardware/actimates/barney/default.htm ) showed up - and I got a strange feeling reading about what this toy is intended to do: <quote> See what your child can learn with Actimates Barney! Cooperation Good Citizenship Following Directions ... </quote> Brrrrrrr.... Brave new world. Hans -- Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut HRK

27 years, 7 months

3
2
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Digital Group photo from VCF?

by eric＠brouhaha.com

In the Reader to Reader column of issue 81 of The Computer Journal http://www2.psyber.com/~tcj/rtr81.html Rex Widmer mentions finding a photo of a The Digital Group computer in a photo on the VCF web pages. I can't seem to find it; does anyone have a URL for it, or a copy of the image? And does anyone have a current email address for Rex? Rex mentioned that Hugh McDonald published a newsletter with tips on Digital Group systems; does anone have copies, or know how to get in touch with Hugh? The machine I purchased should be here next week. I've started a web page at http://www.brouhaha.com/~eric/retrocomputing/the_digital_group/ Since I'm not getting any manuals, schematics, or software with the machine, any contributions for the web site will be welcomed. Cheers, Eric

27 years, 7 months

7
8
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SOL

by Watzman＠ibm.net

If we are talking about a processor technology SOL-20, I am interested. Where is it, what condition is it in, and what are the terms of the offer ? Barry Watzman Watzman(a)ibm.net ---------- From: Bob Stek [SMTP:bobstek@ix.netcom.com] Sent: Friday, December 11, 1998 6:19 AM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: SOL Paxton - Thanks for thinking of me. I have my hands full right now, but I'm sure that someone else on the list would like a SOL. (And whoever that someone is, contact me if you need docs or software.) And in the unlikely event that no one comes forward shouting, "Me! Me! Me!" then I will save it.) BTW, I had been meaning to get back to you about that 8" HH DSDD drive, but "stuff" happened... Still have one? Bob Stek bobstek(a)ix.netcom.com Saver of Lost SOLs

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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Linux Q's

by rhblake＠bigfoot.com

Just to refresh my memory on Linux since I'm just now getting into looking at it, just exactly what machines work well with it, and with what versions/vareities for each? I have tons of machines from IBM 5170 AT's, PS/2's of all sorts, other 286 and 386 machines, etc and I'm looking at possibly selling off the useful ones that will use Linux as cheap as I can to get some room to walk around here. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

27 years, 7 months

11
18
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"Single instance" machines

by jeff.kaneko＠juno.com

Okay, tough guy! Anybody else here have a Fluke 1720a? It is a TMS-9900 based instrument controller that Fluke marketed until the early 90's. Jeff On Wed, 09 Dec 1998 13:08:44 -0500 Christian Fandt <cfandt(a)netsync.net> writes: >Doug Yowza <yowza(a)yowza.com> wrote: >> I've always wanted to know which machines have only a single >instance >> represented on this list. > >Anybody have an HP250-30, IBM 9370, Tektronix 31 (kinda like the >9825)? > >Also, I haven't heard of anyone in our own group on the list >mentioning >they have a DG Nova 1200. > >These are four are in my collection. > >Regards, Chris >-- -- >Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian >Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net >Member of Antique Wireless Association > URL: http://www.ggw.org/freenet/a/awa/ > ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

27 years, 7 months

16
30
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E.I. Homebuilt Computer (was Re: "Single instance" machines)

by ddameron＠earthlink.net

Hi Doug and all, At 02:10 PM 12/10/98 -0600, you wrote: >On Thu, 10 Dec 1998, dave dameron wrote: > >> I would be interested in the article. I built the later one (E.I., about >> 1966) with 60 neon lamps as 6 decade shift register/counters and a rotary >> telephone dial. This one used 3 12AU7/ECC82 as 6 buffer amps. The diodes in >> it I used were from scrapped IBM assemblies. I still have some 6V lamps in >> orange plastic holders from the same scrapyard, used on some IBM panels. > >Very cool, Dave! I didn't know about that one. Any chance you can >pin-point the issue it appeared in? > I don't know the exact issue. I have it in a magazine- a collection of E.I. Articles: "Electronics Illustrated Practical Electronics", by Fawcett, No. 641, copyright 1966. It is a red magazine with a 72 mc radio controlled system on the cover + "Electronic Computer" + "Low power Transmitter". >I have the 1960 article, but I haven't built the 1960 machine (yet). >The nice case alone looks like it would be a coupla hundred bucks to >replicate today, but I suppose you could just make a bare-board version. > -Dave

27 years, 7 months

1
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HX20 (was: Re: Just bought this . . .)

by cswiger＠wilma.widomaker.com

>> accident). He used the HX-20 to print small notes on the paper-tape >> printer (it sounds like a single-line dot-matrix printhead impact >> printer) and also > >The HX20 printer is quite interesting. It's got 4 print solenoids/pins on >a little 'shuttle', spaced 5 characters apart in the same horizontal Sounds famalier - similar to an NCR pos receipt "ANSWER" printer - Alpha Numeric Single Wire Electronic Recorder of mid 80's vintage. Chuck cswiger(a)widomaker.com

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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SOL

by bobstek＠ix.netcom.com

Paxton - Thanks for thinking of me. I have my hands full right now, but I'm sure that someone else on the list would like a SOL. (And whoever that someone is, contact me if you need docs or software.) And in the unlikely event that no one comes forward shouting, "Me! Me! Me!" then I will save it.) BTW, I had been meaning to get back to you about that 8" HH DSDD drive, but "stuff" happened... Still have one? Bob Stek bobstek(a)ix.netcom.com Saver of Lost SOLs

27 years, 7 months

2
1
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Tandy 1000 TL/2 For Sale

by rhblake＠bigfoot.com

Immaculate condition 286 machine! 768k ram, 40 mb IDE hard drive, 3.5" and 5.25" floppies, monitor port, 101 key keyboard port, 2 joystick ports, 9 pin serial port microphone and earhone jacks, volume control, reset, more. Has 4 open 8 bit ISA slots, nice looking case. Has MSDOS 3.3 and Deskmate built in on ROMs leaving the hard drive free for your programs. Main unit ONLY - no keyboard or monitor selling for $30 plus shipping Main unit with CM-5 color monitor (like new) selling for $50 plus shipping. Buyer can use a standard 101 key enhanced keyboard with the standard 5 pin DIN, available everywhere. Documents laying out the specifications and enhancements are available in the manuals section at http://support.tandy.com/ and there are also downlaodable setup programs available for it as well. NOTE: US 48 states only, no out of country shipments. Contact me direct at RHBLAKE(a)BIGFOOT.COM if interested. SHipping will be the actual USPS rate plus applicable insurance from zip 40144 in central KY to your zip. Prepayment by cashier's check or money order, COD's may be possible. Russ Blakeman Harned, KY

27 years, 7 months

1
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HX20 (was: Re: Just bought this . . .)

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 08:36 PM 12/10/98 -0500, you wrote: >>a little 'shuttle', spaced 5 characters apart in the same horizontal >>line. A motor/scroll cam assembly wobbles this backwards and forwards >>across the paper and moves the paper up one dot line for ever complete > >May I ask, why do this when it's probably easier to use 9 vertically >aligned pins like the rest of the civilized dot matrix world? (Except for Compare: o o o o o to o o o o o o o o o Any difference jump out at you? Yep, the latter uses a lot more vertical space. In a laptop, that translates into thickness. If you want a skinny laptop, all your parts have to be thin. As to five heads versus one, you can print five characters at once. Faster printing. --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

27 years, 7 months

2
1
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HX20 (was: Re: Just bought this . . .)

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 07:25 PM 12/10/98 -0500, you wrote: >I just saw an HX-20 today! I was at a customer's house... he cannot talk If you've never seen an HX-20 before, go to <http://www.sinasohn.com/clascomp/> (or /clascomp/index2.htm for the new and improved CGI version!) and check it out. No pics of the HC-20 yet, but I'm working on it. --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

27 years, 7 months

1
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HX20 (was: Re: Just bought this . . .)

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 02:36 AM 12/11/98 +0000, you wrote: > This was a battery-powered printer? In that case, I sit slackjawed in >fascination at the ingenuity of this engineering. I want one! There are, of course, lots of battery-powered printers. I used a Canon BJ-20e (or BJ-10e?) for years to print invoices at client sites. Had a switch to turn on/off battery charging when using AC so as not to build a memory in the battery. Radio Shack had one that was about the size of half a ream of paper, or one of those clipboards with storage underneat. Slip some paper inside, hook up a cable, print, and out comes a printed page. Mannesman-Tally had one that ran on batteries, did 300dpi, 6ppm, LJ II compatible printing for under $1K, at a time when LaserJets were about that price. I believe HP's portable deskjet ran on batts too. Then, of course, there were plenty of portables with built-in printers, especially those from Panasonic, Canon, and Sharp. And a lot of the "pocket computers" (Casio, Sharp, TRS-80, Panasonic) had portable printers they could attach to. --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

27 years, 7 months

1
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Digital Group photo from VCF?

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 11:22 PM 12/10/98 -0000, you wrote: >Since I'm not getting any manuals, schematics, or software with the machine, >any contributions for the web site will be welcomed. A bit of trivia... I was in Denver on holiday a while back, and went to the Colorado History Museum (Denver has great museums!) There, amidst a lot of other Colorado stuff, was a Digital Group computer. Very Cool, but I'm sure there are still drool stains in the carpet around it. 8^) --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

27 years, 7 months

1
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Oral History Questions

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

I have a chance to speak with the designers of some of the machines in my collection. But other than the basic "when was it intro'd, what are the specs, what did it cost" stuff, what should I ask? What sorts of stories, info, etc. should I be trying to preserve? Thanks... --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

27 years, 7 months

8
9
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Saving vs. Shipping (was: Re: "Single instance" machines, Tek 8000

by Innfogra＠aol.com

The Tek 8000s are about 20"X12"X24". They weigh a good 75 or 80 pounds, 90 to 100 pounds shipping weight. My Zip code is 97214. Check UPS' Web Page Calculator for shipping costs. This is an approximate weight. The machines are in my whse and I haven't been down there yet today. Paxton

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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"Single instance" machines

by mbg＠world.std.com

>MiniMinc was the PDT11/150 with the EIS/FIS Microm... >I had one for a while purchased under the DEC employee purchase plan. Thanks, I didn't know that is what constituted a MiniMINC. Since I upgraded all the PDT-150s I have at home to EIS/FIS, then I guess they all qualify as MiniMINCs now, eh? Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry!zk3.dec.com | | Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg!world.std.com | | Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of '!' | | 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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what is this: shorting plug?

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

At 08:41 PM 12/10/98 -0500, you wrote: >On Thu, 10 Dec 1998, Joe wrote: > >> Stil cleaning. Found a molded plug with no cable so I guess it's a >> shorting plug. It's bigger than a DB connector but the same style. It has >> 51 pins in three rows. The name R Squared is molded into it. Anyone know >> what it's for? Anyone need it? > >Sounds like an old-style Sun or DEC SCSI terminator. If you count again, >you should see it has 50 pins. > You're right it has 50 pins. My eyes aren't what they used to be :-/ Joe

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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Speech synthesiser chip (was Re: HX20)

by scott＠isd.canberra.edu.au

At 01:08 11/12/98 +0000, ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) wrote: >> Curiously enough, the text-to-speech capabilities of this machine sound >> awfully close to the speech-sound pack I have for my CoCo's... methinks >> it's based on the same chipset, as they're roughly the same era. > >Could well be. There were a pair of chips from GI - one was the SPO256 >which was a speech synthesiser chip, and the other was the CTS256 which >was a PIC7000 (TMS7000-a-like), I think, programmed with the >text-to-speech algorithm. The Speech-sound pack for the Coco used a >microcontroller (I forget which) with much the same algorithm, but also >with commands to control an AY3-891x sound chip. These chips (the SPO256-AL2 and the CTS256A-AL2) seem really hard to find these days, but I've found a supplier of them if anyone is interested. A U.S. company called SMC Electronics, based in Brockton, MA, has the SPO256-AL2 for $US5.00 and the CTS256A-AL2 for $US7.50 (both include specification and application sheets). SMC Electronics web page is http://personal.tmlp.com/SMCONE/ The chips are listed on http://personal.tmlp.com/SMCONE/IC.HTM Regards, | Scott McLauchlan |E-Mail: scott(a)cts.canberra.edu.au | | Network Services Team |Phone : +61 2 6201 5544 (Ext.5544)| | Client Services Division |Post : University of Canberra, | | University of Canberra, AUSTRALIA | ACT, 2601, AUSTRALIA. |

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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FSOT: Sony MO drive

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

I have a complete 5 1/4" Sony MO drive with 7 disks, cables, Bustek bus-mastering 16 bit SCSI controller, Softeware and SW manual that need a home. If anyone wants it E-mail me directly. I'll sell it outright or trade for somehting that I can use. Joe

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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"Single instance" machines

by cube＠msn.fullfeed.com

Boy, does that bring back memories. When I was in middle school, a fellow >from 3M (I think his name was Doug Kinney) visited our school with a couple of computers. One was quite large - in a rack, and used decimal arithmatic. The other was a binary computer, and was much smaller. It was named "Little Binary Joe". He left behind a schematic for some JK flip flops built out of Motorola 2N554 power transistors, and it used #49 light bulbs (not the more common #47 bulbs). A friend of mine convinced me that we should try and build it. We scrounged for parts, wrote letters, etc. Got a free dial from the telephone company, free resistors from Hamilton Hall in Milwaukee, but Motorola would not come thru with the transistors. We eventually had to save up and order them. We got about 4 flip flops built. That got me started in electronics, from which I jumped into Computer Science. Jay At 02:55 AM 12/10/98 -0600, you wrote: >On Wed, 9 Dec 1998, Aaron Christopher Finney wrote: > >> And the 1/3 part is in the form of the "electronic" computer I'm building >> from the January 1960 issue of Electronics Illustrated...(flip-flops, >> light-bulbs, and a rotary phone dial - woo-hoo!) I'm about 1/3 >> completed... > >One of my favorite early personal computers! I regret that the designer >didn't give it a name, though. Specs: > >Name: "Electronic Computer" >Intro: Jan 1960 >Price: approx $35 >Technology: discrete transistors >Memory: 6 bits >Input: rotary telephone dial >Clock speed: as fast as you can dial >Output: 12 incandescent lights >Programming language: patch cords > >The author describes how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide on this >box, but it's really more of a calculator than a computer since it doesn't >have control logic or a clock. > >I hope to do a web page some day that describes this machine and several >other home computers from the 1950's and 1960's. > >-- Doug >

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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"Single instance" machines, Tek 8000

by Innfogra＠aol.com

In a message dated 12/9/98 3:24:05 PM Pacific Standard Time, ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk writes: > > OK, anyone else here got a Tektronix 8000 microprocessor development system > (either the 11/03 floppy-based one or the 11/23 hard-disk based one)? > I have one of each that are soon to be scrap unless someone is interested. Then yours will be the only one left. I can pack for shipping but they are very heavy. Paxton Portland, OR USA

27 years, 7 months

3
2
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what is this: shorting plug?

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>Stil cleaning. Found a molded plug with no cable so I guess it's a >shorting plug. It's bigger than a DB connector but the same style. It has >51 pins in three rows. The name R Squared is molded into it. Anyone know >what it's for? Anyone need it? You sure it has 51 pins? I'll bet you that it has 50, and that it's actually a SCSI terminator. 50-pin D-subs were common for SCSI connections on Sun equipment until quite recently. Tim.

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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NorthStar drives in cabinet

by Innfogra＠aol.com

Bob; I found another lost SOL in the warehouse the other day. It is still in a box on the bottom of the pallet. It may be a while before I can actually get at it. If interested in it please contact me at whoagiii(a)aol.com Paxton

27 years, 7 months

1
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"Single instance" machines

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

> I've always wanted to know which machines have only a single instance > represented on this list. Okay, here's a couple of recent acquisitions that might be unique on this list: Sharp PC-5000 V-Marc 88a Datavue 25 Datavue Spark Hopefully, I am not alone with these... The last two were actually made by Quadram. And of course, I just passed on to other collectors, not one, but two Symbolics 3600's, and a Sanyo MBC-8000. And just to make sure we all get our daily dose of off-topic-ness, I have an *autographed* CD of Vivaldi's complete Lute concertos! (No, not Vivaldi's autograph, Jacob Lindberg, the lutenist.)

27 years, 7 months

2
1
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IBM 5360 in North Carolina

by dastar＠ncal.verio.com

I know where there's an IBM 5360 with all the manuals and system disks which is probably free for the asking in Grifton, NC (about 85 miles east of Raleigh). If anyone out this way wants it, e-mail me. I'll give you all the details. Its in an abandoned manufacturing plant now owned by a bank from bankruptcy. Still in fine shape as far as I can tell. You'll probably need a big truck with a lift or 10 guys to haul it. Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Always being hassled by the man. Coming in 1999: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0 See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! [Last web site update: 12/07/98]

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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DC 300XL Tapes

by Innfogra＠aol.com

I have a case, maybe more, of new DC300XLs for sale. $3 singles, 2 for $5, $10 for a box of 5, plus shipping. I also have used DC600s for $1 each The Tektronix 31 takes a custom small tape. I may have a few around. I used too but I haven't seen any lately. I will continue to look. Please reply to me directly at whoagiii(a)aol.com

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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Just bought this . . .

by Innfogra＠aol.com

In a message dated 12/10/98 2:42:58 PM Pacific Standard Time, donm(a)cts.com writes: > > > > Anybody have experience with using normal xerographic copy paper instead > of > > the HP-specified Thinkjet paper? If so, how are the results? > Regular paper works fine except the letters are a little fuzzy. The ink bleeds a little. Try some of the new inkjet papers. They have a harder surface. Paxton

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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E.I. Homebuilt Computer (was Re: "Single instance" machines)

by ddameron＠earthlink.net

Hi Aaron and all, At 01:57 AM 12/10/98 -0800, you wrote: >> > And the 1/3 part is in the form of the "electronic" computer I'm building >> > from the January 1960 issue of Electronics Illustrated...(flip-flops, >> > light-bulbs, and a rotary phone dial - woo-hoo!) I'm about 1/3 >> > completed... >> >> One of my favorite early personal computers! I regret that the designer >> didn't give it a name, though. Specs: >> >> Name: "Electronic Computer" >> Intro: Jan 1960 >Did you actually build one of these? I was thinking of taking the author's >suggestion and upgrading the memory to 10 bits... > >Do you have the magazine? If you don't, and get around to putting up a web >page, I'll gladly scan the article to put on it. Actually, if anyone else >is interested, I could scan it and make it available for anyone who want's >to hack around on it. Pretty cool, actually. > I would be interested in the article. I built the later one (E.I., about 1966) with 60 neon lamps as 6 decade shift register/counters and a rotary telephone dial. This one used 3 12AU7/ECC82 as 6 buffer amps. The diodes in it I used were from scrapped IBM assemblies. I still have some 6V lamps in orange plastic holders from the same scrapyard, used on some IBM panels. -Dave

27 years, 7 months

3
2
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Modem tones over television or radio

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>>It's a requirement of the new EBS replacement! >Cynical as I am, the fact that the government is allowed to >do something doesn't tell me it's legal for citizens. :-) Well, broadcasters do, for many purposes, have the status of super-citizens. In today's FCC, all you need to do is have enough cash in hand and you can get the government to sell you whatever chunk of radio/microwave spectrum you decide are necessary. It doesn't matter that the new services stomp all over bands that were previously reserved for medical equipment or radio astronomy - after all, what does it matter whether >I seem to remember something about tone encoding/decoding >being illegal within citizen's band radio, for example. In shared bandwidth applications, modes that can obliterate existing services usually are tightly regulated. There's also the matter of "encrypted transmissions", too. For example, the ARRL had a special waiver written into FCC Part 97 that allows them to send 5-character Morse Code groups solely for the purpose of practice. And when I got started in RTTY, only Baudot transmissions were allowed on the ham bands - ASCII wasn't an approved encoding until a few years later. >The new system is called EAS (Emergency Alerting System), >replacing the old EBS. Thank you! I knew the EBS replacement wasn't called EBS anymore, but I couldn't quite remember what it was called. -- 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

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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single instance machines

by fauradon＠pclink.com

You've got a brain-fart with an expansion module? >At 07:19 PM 12/9/98, Joe wrote: >>At 02:27 PM 12/9/98 -0700, you wrote: >>> >>>> On Wed, 9 Dec 1998, Joe wrote: >>> >>>> > Hmmm. I have two AT&T 3B1 model 310s. Does that count as one or two? >>> ^^^ >>> >>>Whazzat? >> >> That's a brain-fart. It should have said 3B2. > >Well, in that case, i've got one too. (with the expansion module) > >Les > >

27 years, 7 months

1
0
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single instance machines

by lfb107＠psu.edu

At 07:19 PM 12/9/98, Joe wrote: >At 02:27 PM 12/9/98 -0700, you wrote: >> >>> On Wed, 9 Dec 1998, Joe wrote: >> >>> > Hmmm. I have two AT&T 3B1 model 310s. Does that count as one or two? >> ^^^ >> >>Whazzat? > > That's a brain-fart. It should have said 3B2. Well, in that case, i've got one too. (with the expansion module) Les

27 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

OT HP Vectra Networking

by kurtkilg＠geocities.com

On Mon, 7 Dec 1998 A_Finney(a)wfi-inc.com wrote: > What??? I think I missed something here [bangs thick head on desk]. Did > you just say that Linux is 30 years old or do I have barbecue sauce in my > ears? Is this some kind of metaphorical comparison of Linux to something > else? Did you mean just mean Unix in general? I mean UNIX in general. I consider Linux and UNIX to be similar enough to say that what I am running right now is as directly descended from something that ran 30 years ago on that PDP in Bell Labs (IIRC) as any other version of UNIX. ---------------------------------------------------- Max Eskin | kurtkilgor(a)bigfoot.com | AOL: kurtkilgor

27 years, 7 months

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Latest Project: homebrew paper tape reader

by geoffrob＠stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au

-----Original Message----- From: Richard A. Cini, Jr. <rcini(a)msn.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, 10 December 1998 13:38 Subject: Latest Project: homebrew paper tape reader >Well, another project to further divide my free time... > > I saw a project in one of my old Bytes for a hand-pulled paper tape >reader. Very simple - 9 photodiodes, a light, a latch, a pulse-stretcher, >and some guide posts. Hmmm, any chance you could post/email the circuit and article? Might be able to help. > Well, here's the parts I have lying around: a BasicStamp-II, two R/C >servos modified for constant running, a few switches, and photodiodes. > > If I get this thing working over the Christmas holiday, I'll post a >construction article. > > Any recommendations for rubber pinch rollers? I'm thinking rubber >stoppers from a plumbing supply shop. These are pre-drilled and come with a >washer, bolt, and wing nut. How about some VHS VCR Pinch Rollers. They'd be around the right size. In fact, might not some of the tape path components be used to make it a motorised version? A repairer probably has a swag of used ones that have gone a bit concave or slick to be any good in a VCR, but probably just fine for what you want. You might also ask around the ham radio community, lots of Siemens teleprinters have tape facilities. Baudot of course, but some of the transport might be useful. You might even get lucky and find something that handles ascii tape. Some later machines, like the SAGEM certainly had it as an option. RTTY has pretty much gone computer these days, so you might find there are lots laying about gathering dust. Cheers Geoff Roberts Computer Systems Manager Saint Marks College Port Pirie South Australia. My ICQ# is 1970476 Ph. 61-411-623-978 (Mobile) 61-8-8633-0619 (Home) 61-8-8633-8834 (Work-Direct) 61-8-8633-0104 (Fax)

27 years, 7 months

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Latest Project: homebrew paper tape reader

by rcini＠msn.com

Well, another project to further divide my free time... I saw a project in one of my old Bytes for a hand-pulled paper tape reader. Very simple - 9 photodiodes, a light, a latch, a pulse-stretcher, and some guide posts. Well, here's the parts I have lying around: a BasicStamp-II, two R/C servos modified for constant running, a few switches, and photodiodes. If I get this thing working over the Christmas holiday, I'll post a construction article. Any recommendations for rubber pinch rollers? I'm thinking rubber stoppers from a plumbing supply shop. These are pre-drilled and come with a washer, bolt, and wing nut. [ Rich Cini/WUGNET [ ClubWin!/CW7 [ MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking [ Collector of "classic" computers [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/pdp11/ <================ reply separator =================>

27 years, 7 months

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networking newbie

by JRichardson＠softwright.co.uk

>> Now let me get this straight. You say Linux worked -- that implies >> that it was in place at one point, then NT was put in there and that >> NT didn't work. Ah, but there's the problem. NT - about a day to get set up and working (or not at all in this case!). Needs lots of hardware. Costs lots. Linux - about an hour to set up, runs on old Pentium 60's (yes, I know it runs fast even on 486 machines, but in this case a P60 was all that was around and free). Doesn't cost anything. Management - "oh, that's quite impressive. But we don't know anything about Unix, but do know NT, so we have to stick with that". Not that I'm rather stressed out at the way the computing industry blindly follows the big players round (sarcasm mode is on here, folks!) - but I run up against this brick wall time after time. People high up in a company see something as a risk unless they have to invest lots of time and money in puchasing it and supporting it - they just don't seem to feel safe if the product in question is low-cost (or free!) and runs itself without any trouble, even if such "features" are rammed down their throats. It's a very scary industry. >> you then wrote a _Java_ program to do >> what should be handled by something two or three layers down? yup, took about 30 minutes too. I got fed up with NT wanting to reboot every ten minutes, the PC taking five minutes to boot, the 32x-speed-all-the-bells-and-whistles CDROM drive taking a minute to spin up to speed before I could access it to install software... I'm sure most of you have been there! cheers Jules >

27 years, 7 months

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Modem tones over television or radio

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>Somewhat apropos the recent thread about sending mains power >through modems, can anyone tell me if it's legal or illegal >here in the States to send data in the audio of television or >radio? Yes - and it's commonly done. The new Emergency Broadcast System replacement transmits 1200 bps (I believe Bell 212A modulation) bursts over TV and radio audio. And many different digital services are encoded in the video blanking interval of TV signals - closed captioning, timestamps, and program information, among others. > Certainly there would be bandwidth and therefore speed >limitations, but does the FCC allow this? It's a requirement of the new EBS replacement! -- 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

27 years, 7 months

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Modem tones over television or radio

by grant＠anachronism.sol.co.uk

There was a program once, here in the UK which sent data via a flashing dot in the bottom of the screen. You attached a little photo-sensor on the bottom of the screen while the show was being broadcast (similar I guess to those casio watches). I'm not sure what the data rate was though, as I never made one of the gizmo's for decoding it. On a similar note, does anyone own one of those toys for the Captain Power TV series. Apparently it picked up the "interference" pattern on the bad guy's chest, and allowed you to shoot it. It also, if memory serves, picked up the enemy's laser, and would tell you if you had been shot. Anyone know of any other good interactive TV attempts? Grant. ---------- > From: Hans Franke <Hans.Franke(a)mch20.sbs.de> > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> > Subject: Re: Modem tones over television or radio > Date: 10 December 1998 15:36 > > AFAIR the BBC did also transmit software thru teletext > pages (in GB). > > Gruss > hans > > -- > Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut > HRK

27 years, 7 months

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"Single instance" machines

by jeff.kaneko＠juno.com

On Wed, 9 Dec 1998 22:33:52 -0600 (CST) "Richard W. Schauer" <rws(a)eagle.ais.net> writes: >- Wang OIS-60X word processing server and terminals. Z80. >- CPT 8525 word processor. 8080. >- NCR UNIX Tower. Don't know yet. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I have the 68010 version of this, *and* I have the OS install tape! You are one of two people I know who has NCR hardware! >- All sorts of Intel and Teradyne Multibus cards (8080, 8088, 8086, >80188,80186, 80286), and a Microlink STD-145 card (8085, STD bus). My NCR uses MultiBUS. I also have one of 3Com's 1st products: A multibus ethernet adaptor! Now all I need is a TCP/IP stack, heh heh! >The biggest problem with oddball junk is doing something useful with >it. In the NCR case, this is definitely a problem . . . >Most of the above are of somewhat limited utility to me because >they're so obscure and hard to find stuff for (like the little cassettes or >cartridges for the Monroe). > ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

27 years, 7 months

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"Single instance" machines

by bill＠chipware.com

George Rachor wrote: > Finally another Ohio Scientific owner.... > > I have a few OSI C2's and one C4... All are diskless. What varieties of C2? I have a C2OEM a C2NET and a C2NETB, according to the ID plates. Whether they are still what OSI had in mind for those configs I don't know. The C2NET was just case, backplane and power supply when I got it, I've been adding boards as I acquire them. I guess technically it's really a C3 now, as it has a 555 CPU in it. I don't have a C4 in my collection. I passed on one about five years ago. It was in pretty good shape, with most of the docs and software, but the guy wanted $150 for it. I haven't seen one since and I'm starting to kick myself for not taking it. > > My dream find would be an OSI C8 or a C4 Mini-floppy drive. A C8? Doesn't ring a bell. What CPU? Was it OSI 48 pin bus? I'll have to dig through my old Bytes. At least I can just scan the back covers! > > I wouldn't mind eventually getting some of my software moved from tape to > CD. > > George Rachor

27 years, 7 months

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Up for grabs: Unusual video cable

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

Still finding more junk ^H^H^H^H er, ah, treasures. Found this video cable but I have no idea what it's for. It looks like a 13W3 cable for a Sun computer but only has the three co-axial connectors in the plug and no pins. The plug is the same size as a DB-15. The other end of the cable has the usual three BNC connectors for a RGB monitor. Send beer money plus postage and this wonderfull treasure will be your's. Joe

27 years, 7 months

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It's DEC-10 today!

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

Happy DEC 10, folks! -------

27 years, 7 months

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"Single instance" machines

by jeff.kaneko＠juno.com

That's the story I heard. The original name Commodore chose for the VIC was 'Vixen'. In German, that's a naughty word, too. Jeff On Thu, 10 Dec 1998 06:45:48 -0800 (PST) Cameron Kaiser <ckaiser(a)oa.ptloma.edu> writes: >::Trivia question: Why are VIC-20's called VC-20 in Germany? > >The running apocryphal story is because VIC, pronounced "fick" in >German, >comes out as a naughty word. (Take a guess.) There is some doubt >about >the veracity of this, of course. > >-- >-------------------------- personal page: >http://calvin.ptloma.edu/~spectre/ -- >Cameron Kaiser Information Technology Services Database >Programmer >Point Loma Nazarene University Fax: +1 619 >849 2581 >ckaiser(a)ptloma.edu Phone: +1 619 >849 2539 >-- He who Laughs, Lasts. >------------------------------------------------------ > ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

27 years, 7 months

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Need an IBM 9309-2 Rack Enclosure

by cfandt＠netsync.net

At 18:05 12/09/98 -0500, you wrote: >> Some of you know I rescued an IBM 9370 system from my now-ex employer in >> mid-'97. > >RCS/RI has so many, WERE GIVING THEM AWAY! 9309's or 9370's? I'll take a 9309-2! Already got the 9370 :) But how do I get a 9309-2 (or a couple of -1's)? Anybody heading out this way from RI with a truck??:) (I'm kinda serious with that question...) > >If you treat us kindly, you might find an RS/6000 930 (ex NSFnet router) >in it. Is this a RISC machine? (I'm not up on the RS/6k's) But I need the rack space inside though . . . > >I also have complete docs for the 9309s, in all their flavors. I've got some 9309 docs: GA24-4103-03 (Gen'l Info + Site Prep), S124-0155-02 (Parts Cat.) and SY24-4075-04 (Service guide). Could use: GA24-4039-0x (Setup + Operation Guide) and SA24-4077-0x (Guide to Analyzing Problems) and GA24-4101-0x (Installing the 9309 Stabilizer). The x's stand for the revisions which should be around early 1988 which is just after the vintage of the machine. I've got a bunch of other docs that are for the 9370 itself and 9332-400/600 and 9347 units. A few are missing I think. Regards, Chris -- -- Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net Member of Antique Wireless Association URL: http://www.ggw.org/freenet/a/awa/

27 years, 7 months

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NCR tower Re: "Single instance" machines

by JRichardson＠softwright.co.uk

>>>>- NCR UNIX Tower. Don't know yet. >>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >>>I have the 68010 version of this, *and* I have the OS install tape! >>>You are one of two people I know who has NCR hardware! >> >> >>Jeff, >> >> There's several of them at the computer scrapper's place here. Can you >>send a list of model numbers that you're interested in and I'll check on >>these. I did open one and look at it. It was a BIG tower case that slid >>out on rails. It had an Intel CPU, a 486-33 I think. There are several more >>there that are in tall slim tower cases but I didn't look at them. I don't think they ever developed the Tower series, or related OS to run with Intel CPUs. Unisys also released machines using the same hardware, but with different model numbers. I have a Tower 750 (I can't remember the NCR 'official' model numbel for this), with a couple of 380MB Maxtor SCSI disks in it, 150MB SCSI tape drive, 16 terminal ports ( I don't have any breakout boxes unfortunately), 10Mbps ethernet, 39MB memory (that's 32MB of user-accessible memory, 7MB of ECC / parity code - those memory boards should keep running forever :) I've got X-Windows (release 4 I think it was) for the machine - they appear to be pretty quick boxes from what I remember (due to no free space I haven't used the thing in the last two years - it failed to power up last time I tried, so I need to do some work on it sometime) Get hold of ethernet cards if you can, apparently they aren't that common. Also SCSI controllers - I get the impression that MFM boards were used most of the time rather than SCSI, it being a more expensive technology back then. I'm missing the one most valuable resource for my Tower - the OS tapes! Any questions, just ask - I may be able to help, and should have a few bits of info lying around for these beasts... cheers Jules

27 years, 7 months

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Free Software (Was Re: (Linux != UNIX) (Was Re: OT HP Networking))

by kurtkilg＠geocities.com

That's fine, except that's not what the GNU license allows him to do. > "I have nothing against people who sell >software, and they should have nothing against me for forbidding >them from using my software in the software they sell." > >--Chuck >

27 years, 7 months

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NorthStar drives in cabinet

by bobstek＠ix.netcom.com

Jeff - If no one else is interested, I am. I have several of the N* drives with their blue metal covers but not one with a wood cabinet. I have some S-100 boards, CP/M books, or a T/S 1000 if you are interested. Bob Stek bobstek(a)ix.netcom.com Saver of Lost SOLs

27 years, 7 months

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New links added to the VCF Links page

by dastar＠ncal.verio.com

I added a buttload of links to the VCF Links page (mostly to the Computer History Resources on the Web section). http://www.vintage.org/vcf/vcflinks.htm Take a gander! Submit a link! Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Always being hassled by the man. Coming in 1999: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0 See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! [Last web site update: 12/09/98]

27 years, 7 months

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