At 07:37 PM 9/3/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Finding old characters like Chris Crawford? Sheesh, doesn't anyone
>try a web search (via www.hotbot.com, etc.) before asking a question
Whups, sorry. I was just sort of reminiscing, while replying, not really
thinking. Besides, I'm currently running windoze, and can't load Eudora
and Netscape at the same time.
>of the endlessly patient oracle known as this mailing list? Crawford
>is still quite active as an old wise man in the gaming industry.
I'll check it out -- 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/
I just found an old fax machine in the trash. It has two connectors
on the back: one is a DIN-6 labelled coupler. The other is DIN-8
marked NCU. The question is that I have neither coupler nor 'NCU',
and does anyone have any idea how to wire this thing to a phone line?
Is a coupler necessary, or can I wire the line right into the machine
if I figure out the DIN-5 connector's pinout? This is a PERSONALFAX II
, BTW.
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
If the article William is refering to is on the Retro-Computing
Society of RI, go to the Providence Journal home page then do a search
under computers. The article for the Retro museum will be first up in
line.
Marty
______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: Re: Check this out...
Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet
Date: 9/8/98 10:43 AM
> That came up "not found", with and without a trailing "l". Did they move
> the story somewhere?
Sorry, it seems that article has expired. Made me mad, too...
William Donzelli
william(a)ans.net
------ Message Header Follows ------
Received: from lists4.u.washington.edu by smtp.itgonline.com
(PostalUnion/SMTP(tm) v2.1.9i(b5) for Windows NT(tm))
id AA-1998Sep08.104316.1767.61910; Tue, 08 Sep 1998 10:43:17 -0400
Received: from host (lists.u.washington.edu [140.142.56.13])
by lists4.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW98.06) with SMTP
id HAA25080; Tue, 8 Sep 1998 07:41:05 -0700
Received: from mxu3.u.washington.edu (mxu3.u.washington.edu [140.142.33.7])
by lists.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW98.06) with ESMTP
id HAA60492 for <classiccmp(a)lists.u.washington.edu>; Tue, 8 Sep 1998
07:40:59 -0700
Received: from il1.nyp.ans.net (il1.nyp.ans.net [147.225.190.5])
by mxu3.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW98.06) with SMTP
id HAA16343 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Tue, 8 Sep 1998 07:40:58
-0700
Received: by il1.nyp.ans.net id KAA02776
(InterLock SMTP Gateway 3.0 for classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu);
Tue, 8 Sep 1998 10:40:57 -0400
Received: by il1.nyp.ans.net (Internal Mail Agent-1);
Tue, 8 Sep 1998 10:40:57 -0400
Message-Id: <Pine.GSO.3.96.980908103940.4262H-100000(a)titan.purch.ans.net>
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 10:40:57 -0400 (EDT)
Reply-To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
Sender: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu
Precedence: bulk
From: William Donzelli <william(a)ans.net>
To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers"
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Check this out...
In-Reply-To: <01J1K51O9WEQ8YI8SZ(a)AC.GRIN.EDU>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
X-To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
Both the Prime systems I have are old 2250s (2044-90 & 901). I havn't looked
at the cards but one is a low cabinet with CPU and Hard drive. The other is
two low cabinets, the second holding a 1" Cipher Tape drive. Is there any
interest in them or parts from them. Unless someone is interested they are a
week or two from becoming parts & scrap. I am closing my warehouse shortly and
need to get rid of them. If you have more questions or interest in them
contact me directly at
Innfograph(a)aol.com
Thanks for your interest,
Paxton Hoag
> I was going thru a bunch of old material and I ran across this IBM
> manual that I had squirrelled away from a garbage find in the early 80s
> that also included a bunch of Bytes. It's a 6th edition (Mar 79) and says it
> applies to Release 4 of OS/VS1, Release 3 of OS/VS2 ,Release 2 of VM/370,
> DOS/VSE, and all other releases
> A descrptive heading says "This manual describes the OS/VS -DOS/VSE-
> VM/370 assembler language. It's a 450 page XEROXed copy.
> I know ziltch about non-micros and am wondering if this is of any value
> (in the intellectual sense) ?
/360, /370 ASSM is an brilliant example how simple, clear
and beautiful a (CISC) processor can be. I know now other
assembler so simple, so strikt and easy to implement (and
I'm still an Assm programmer since 20 years).
With exraordinary simple thinking one can easy develop all
stages of an execution pipline for this opcode. Staight
forward. Did I say develop ? There is noting to develop -
reading the opcodes is like reading a step by step instruction
to build the CPU.
Ok, maybe I'm overemphasing, but I love this structure.
I did almost any microprocessor (from 1802 to 9900 and Z80)
in the past 20 years, and some of the bigger architectures,
but none equals the /370.
So, if you want to have fun, take the OP-Code table and
solve the puzzle - or just keep the manual for 'real world'
tasks, since this Assm is still valid for IBM (and compatible)
Mainframes. I bet your taxes are calculated on one of 'em.
Gruss
H.
P.S.:
I did several interpreters for micros - first on the KIM :).
P.P.S.:
Shure there have been some realy genieous extensions to the
/370 architecture (like maybe the stack engine in the SIEMENS
X calss CPUs), beautiful and powerfull themself, but they are
still don't met the elegance of the basic instruction set.
P.P.P.S.:
And of course there are several good Microprcessors - but again:
not as elegant, simple and beautifull than the /370.
--
Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
HRK
>> I think the Computer Journal folk also have Kaypro parts and docs...
> Was someone looking for Commie schematics? Sams has a ton of them from the
> Vic20 through the Amiga 500. Not sure how cost effective it might be to spend
> the $$$ on a schematic for a $20 machine thoough.
Maybe pure fun ? I just recently browsed the KIM Manuals :)
But USD 20 ? Expensive box huh ?
Gruss
H.
BTW:
Anybody willing to host some 100 MB of
scans ? While browsing I just decided
to scan the KIM-1 USER MANUAL.
--
Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
HRK
Well, the C64 had a schematic in the reference manual, as did the
Apple ][. I would be willing to photocopy either.
>>> Was someone looking for Commie schematics? Sams has a
>>> ton of them from the Vic20 through the Amiga 500. Not sure how
>>> cost effective it might be to spend the $$$ on a schematic for a
>>> $20 machine thoough.
>
>So, what's the deal with copyright on schematics? If someone can sell
>them and make money out of them, is there any reason why they can't be
>scanned and put on the 'net for free? Or do companies that sell such
>information pay royalties for every schematic sold or something??
>
>Jules
>>
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Who does not remember the 'teletype' art, which was made by
people during the night shift?
I'm looking for these drawings. So if you have one (ore more)
of them please feel free to email them to me directly, unless
you want to please other readers as well...
Thanks,
Ed
P.S. can somebody help me with a 'chat' container or knows
an address where to get one?
--
The Wanderer | Geloof nooit een politicus!
wanderer(a)bos.nl | Europarlementariers:
http://www.bos.nl/homes/wanderer | zakkenvullers en dumpplaats voor
Unix Lives! windows95 is rommel! | mislukte politici.
'96 GSXR 1100R |
See http://www.bos.nl/homes/wanderer/gates.html for a funny pic. of
Gates!
> Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 14:15:41 +0100
> Reply-to: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
> From: Julian Richardson <JRichardson(a)softwright.co.uk>
> To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: RE: Service Manuals & Schematics needed
> X-To: "'classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu'" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
>>> Was someone looking for Commie schematics? Sams has a
>>> ton of them from the Vic20 through the Amiga 500. Not sure how
>>> cost effective it might be to spend the $$$ on a schematic for a
>>> $20 machine thoough.
> So, what's the deal with copyright on schematics? If someone can sell
> them and make money out of them, is there any reason why they can't be
> scanned and put on the 'net for free? Or do companies that sell such
> information pay royalties for every schematic sold or something??
Don't know in this case, but its still money to earn.
Every cent is at least 1/100 of a dollar.
:)
Gruss
H.
--
Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
HRK
>> Was someone looking for Commie schematics? Sams has a
>> ton of them from the Vic20 through the Amiga 500. Not sure how
>> cost effective it might be to spend the $$$ on a schematic for a
>> $20 machine thoough.
So, what's the deal with copyright on schematics? If someone can sell
them and make money out of them, is there any reason why they can't be
scanned and put on the 'net for free? Or do companies that sell such
information pay royalties for every schematic sold or something??
Jules
>
As a retired moneychanger turned storyteller, fighting against government
exploitation, often winning the un-winnable but definitely loosing the war,
I need to dispose of 'assets' to pay Sancho Pansa's wages.
'Assets'? available:-
COMPUTER - INTEL CORPORATION
Intellec 8
Model No. 8 - 84
Serial No. 245
S.D. 4.75 (Production Date?)
STAND ALONE TAPE READER/TRANSMITTER - ADDMASTER CORPORATION
ADDMASTER 606
Model No.606 - (Parallel Output)
Serial No.606136
Production Date 1975?
DESKTOP PUNCH STATION - LITTON - SWEDA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
ROYTRON 528 PUNCH
Model No. 528
Serial No. 528 - 23 - 3382.
CASSETTE TAPE UNIT - MESONIX AUTOMATION LTD.
CASSETTE UNIT.
Model No. - Fitted DCR-3 Tape Unit (Phillips?)
Serial No. - Mesonix Tape Storage Unit.
Production Date 1976?
I have recently dug out the above items which were purchased new in 1975/6
(whilst working as a moneychanger) and were working when put into storage
in 1980. There is also a quantity of advertising literature and
instruction manuals relating to all but the Mesonix Tape unit
(a U.K. company that no longer exists?)
Still in store there are also three complete Cromemco systems one System 1
(or 2?) and two System 3's with four or five terminals, a stand alone
double 8" disk drive, a Cromemco Spinwriter and Quime daisywheel printer
plus a mass of Cromemco software, manuals and disks.
S100 - a bit like tilting at windmills.
I'm thinking of eBay for disposal of anything of any real value but would
appreciate the helpful comments of any classic computer cognoscenti
/collectors/dealers out there, willing and able to assist.
James S. Bunting
Campaign Against Statutory Exploitation (C.A.S.E.)
M.V. Great Gull,
C/O Double Locks Hotel,
Canal Banks,
Exeter Ship Canal,
Exeter,
Devon.
EX2 6LT.
Phone No. 44- (0) 1932.493311. (On board)
eMail - headcase(a)eclipse.co.uk
Immediately following my success with the Mac yesterday, I got to work on
'fixing' my portable '286 box with LCD display (which I think is _barely_
classic).
The cable leading to the display had had three of its wires pulled out,
and I figured that this was the reason for the very weak and grungy
display.
I managed to solder little bits of wire into the holes and solder the
stray wires from the cable onto those, but then I realized that I couldn't
plug the thing in anymore as the holes (from the underside) had filled
with solder. :/
And I also realized that my solution was a bad one because the protruding
wires would short against the metal frame that holds the LCD panel in
place.
So I used the connector from the C64 keyboard instead.
Anyway, I got the cable rebuilt. I've tested it with the multimeter and
all the wires make contact and go to the right places.
But now I can't get any kind of display from the LCD panel. It doesn't
light up at all. It looks like it's totally dead.
I put a monochrome display adapter card in the machine, and it will boot
up with that and display fine on a monochrome monitor. So the machine is
_mostly_ OK.
I'm not sure the power supply is OK, though. It squeals now.
So basically, I've turned an ill-looking display into a dead display, and
for some reason a healthy power supply is now sounding sick.
Bleah!
Anyway, the machine has a special card in it for driving the LCD panel.
It is labeled "LCD & HGC CARD". What is "HGC"? It has an external 9-pin
port on it and I tried plugging the monochrome display into it, but the
picture was all distorted so I figured it was using a different frequency
or something. The cursor comes out about an inch wide, and none of the
craracters are recognizable, possibly just from overwritten numerous times
in the same scanline.
I don't know where I'll go from here. I'm just taking a breather
before continuing. I wanted to be rebuilding the TS1016 RAM pack by now
instead of still messing with this damn PC. <s>
Oh, and BTW, I electrocuted myself last night when I touched some exposed
wiring going to the LCD panel. It surprised me that there was that much
juice going through there. My thumb and forefinger are still tender. But
the display was still working at that point, and looking much sharper than
it had been. But the machine wouldn't close up properly because the
connector was too thick and that's why I went back in today, just to
reverse the cable so that the big fat Commodore connector was on the
inside instead of on the LCD panel end. (Which meant pulling the connector
apart and rebuilding it the other way, just so it would fit in.)
I haven't crossed any wires, I haven't plugged anything in backwards, and
I haven't dropped anything into the machine, so I don't know what I've
done wrong.
<s>
Doug Spence
ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca
http://alcor.concordia.ca/~ds_spenc/
Just got a PDP-11/84 into the basement, and after the Series/1 experience I
was ready... Go grab some 2x4 lumber if you ever need to get a rack system
up or down stairs... Now that it's down, I need to get it running. When I
plug it in and turn it on, it turns on the "DC on" light and the boot test
display says "77". And what is the easiest way to hook up a
terminal(probably use a WY-99GT or VT-220, maybe the WY-60)? It's a nice
system with 4MB RAM and a 9-track Cipher tape drive(I noticed that the tape
drive I have with my Series/1 appears to be a Cipher, or based on it as it
needs a Cipher tool to prepare the tape for the autoload feature). Any
ideas on how to hook the tape drive up?
--------------------------------------------------------------
| http://members.tripod.com/~jrollins/index.html - Computers |
| http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/1681/ - Star Trek |
| Orham(a)qth.net list admin KD7BCY |
--------------------------------------------------------------
At 01:43 AM 2/7/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Does any one know what type of printer ribbon can fit onto an original adam
>(Colecovision)printer (ginerec one I thought Was a deablo hytype but it wont
>fit.
>And where to get one from I live in Castlegar, British Columbia Canada.
Try American Ink (<http://www.americanink.com/> I believe); they carry
ribbons for a lot of older printers. (Ran across them while researching
one of the computers in my collection on the web, but have known of them
for years; very highly recommended in local Atari circles.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/
I think I have a Prime 23XX in the whse. I will look and get back to you. I
have one or two systems left. I am a secondary market dealer who is retireing
and getting rid of the last of the inventory.
Paxton Hoag
Hey, my Mac 512K is now working!
In fact, I'm using it to type this message.
Instead of going out hunting for more expensive connectors, I decided to
use a dead C64 for parts. I pulled a male 9-pin D connector out of there,
and while I was doing so, I also noticed that the C64 cartridge connector
might be useful for repairing my TS1016 memory cartridge for my Sinclair.
I don't think I'll go to hell for cannibalizing a C64. Besides, C64s are
cheaper than the useful salvageable parts inside.
Anyhow... I made a Macintosh to Amiga mouse adapter. I got the two
X-direction wires switched around the first time, but it's all working
now. I decided to use the lessons from the Laser 3000 and I poured hot
glue onto the wires after they were all soldered into place, so that the
thing is rigid, and then I wrapped it in electrical tape. :)
So my Macintosh is presently using a two-button 'Pregnant' Amiga mouse. I
should try the three-button optical mouse, but what would be the use of
having TWO useless buttons? :)
This is also giving me a chance to try out that old 1200bps Apple modem I
pulled out of the Goodwill a couple of months back. Obviously it works
pretty well! But I'm not used to this level of slowness anymore.
I'm also not used to using Pico without arrow keys. Who's idea was it to
use ^B, ^F, ^P, and ^N anyway? Couldn't they have at least arranged the
keys in some sensible manner?
It took me a couple of minutes to figure out how to configure the Option
key to work as Control, too.
I don't know what I'll do if I have to use ESC for anything.
Did Apple think they were doing someone a favour with this keyboard? :/
Anyhow, I'm glad to see this thing works. Eventually I'll get around to
fixing the real Macintosh mouse.
Now... my display appears to be squished slightly on the left hand side.
Can I fix that easily, without risk of electrocution?
And what about that MacSnap SCSI board? Do I need special drivers for it
or something? I can't get it to see my Zip drive.
Doug Spence
ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca
http://alcor.concordia.ca/~ds_spenc
> From: Marion.Bates(a)Dartmouth.EDU (Marion Bates)
> Subject: VIC-20 -- no sound
>
> I have a VIC-20 that didn't come with a video cable, but I later found what
> appeared to be the right one. The part that plugs into the computer has a
> half-circle of five connectors, and on the other end there are two RCA-type
> plugs, one red and one black. Regardless of which one I plug into the
> "video-in" port on my TV, I get perfect video (why does it work with both?) --
> but no audio, whether I plug the second RCA plug into the left or the right
> "sound-in" jack on the TV. Is this the wrong cable, or is there a problem with
> using a stereo TV? (Or is there a fault somewhere?)
>
The video cable you have is probably for a Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, or Sega
Genesis. There are two video outputs on the VIC video connector.
You should be able to locate a cable that has a 5-pin din to 4 RCA type plugs
- Radio shack used to sell them - I think they are (were) used in automobile
audio systems... With that you will find both video and audio output (but
watch out, there is also the +5v output in one plug too.) :/
BTW you're not missing much with the VIC-20 sound, the programmer's trick to
get better sound output is to keep the computer controlled sound volume low
(like 2 or 3) then the voices don't mess up each other as much.
--
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Larry Anderson - Sysop of Silicon Realms BBS (300-2400bd) (209) 754-1363
Visit my Commodore 8-Bit web page at:
http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/commodore.html
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Can anyone help him out? Email him directly if you can.
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From: "Scott L. Baker" <scd(a)teleport.com>
To: <dlw(a)trailingedge.com>
Subject: Looking for DG NOVA info
Date sent: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 14:05:59 -0700
I'm looking for any information that you might have on the
Data General Nova series of minicomputers. Specifically a
programmers reference or architecture reference. If you have
any info, I would gladly pay for photocopying and shipping charges.
Thanks in advanced,
Scott L. Baker
scd(a)teleport.com
-----
David Williams - Computer Packrat
dlw(a)trailingedge.com
http://www.trailingedge.com
Thomas Pfaff <thomas100(a)home.com> wrote:
> (View with proportional fonts)
Ewww. Y'know, not all proportional fonts have the same widths
for the same characters. Besides, who made ASCII terminals with
proportional fonts? (Yes, this is an invitation for folks to
inform us all. And make sure you tell us what they were used
for!)
-Frank McConnell
--- Tony Duell wrote:
The Mac PSU is a little marginal and should be tweaked if the load
changes.
How I do it is to connect a DC voltmeter to the +5V line on the logic
board (for example on the mouse port). And adjust the DC voltage preset
on the PSU board for a reading of 5V. I am not sure if this is the
official procedure, though.
--- end of quote ---
What you're doing is probably fine. The "official procedure" at the repair shop where I used to work involved a special little testing adapter (available from Apple, but probably only to authorized service centers) that plugged into the Mac's floppy port and split into four wires, one of which was ground. The other three were some combination of 5V and 12V leads (I think one 12V, one -5V, and one +5V, or something like that). You'd check all three and tweak each of them to within some tolerance, and according to the service manual, if you couldn't get all three within tolerance, then you were supposed to replace the board.
-- MB
September 1998.
I'm looking for this old unit functioning to purchase it, actually I need
the PACK or FIXED PLATE also called HDA, the interface of this unit is SMD
and there may be manufacturers that emulate SMD with SCSI disk, (an
alternative of this type as long as it is transparent and that doesn't
require modifications in hardware or software would do).
BRAND : Ampex
MODEL : 932 (DFR-932)
P/N : 3311637-01
DISC TYPE : Winchester ( 1 FIXED PLATE, 1 REMOVABLE PLATE TYPE BASF CARTRIDGE)
I/O INTERFACE TYPE: SMD/CMD
INTERNAL PROCESSOR : INTEL 8085A - 5 Mhz.
CAPACITY : 32 MByte
FABRICATION YEAR: AGO-1980
WEIGHT : 77 Kgm. - 154 Lbs.
ELECTRICAS CHARACTERISTICS: 60 Hz. - 120 VAC.
FABRICATION PLACE: Redwood City, California USA BY: AMPEX Corp.
NOTE : This Unit model 932 can be reeplaced by models 964 or 966.
We would appreciate if you could suggest where we may find a used unit.
Thanks.
Mexico City.
International Used Components.
I was volunteering for a short time at the Museum of Science, and they
had a Terrapin LOGO turtle stashed away, and some descendants as well.
The LOGO was controlled via an external box by serial cable. The
descendants were programmable by IR connection. They stored them
for lack of display space.I would have asked about the Amiga 500
deal with them too much. These people had no money, and they replaced
an entire computer due to a PSU problem I had asked about before.
Has anyone seen a turtle in action? How rare are these>
>motors have come loose, and a couple of pulleys need replacement..
>
>Phil...
>
>Jim wrote:
>
>> I was just watching a thing on robots and they mentioned some of the
early
>> 80s attempts. Does anyone have in their collection a H.E.R.O, or
other robots
>> of that vintage?
>> --
>> Jim Strickland
>> jim(a)calico.litterbox.com
>>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Vote Meadocrat! Bill and Opus in 2000 - Who ELSE is there?
>>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
--- Tony Duell wrote:
According to the Tech manual, the output from the VIC20 is composite
video and line level audio. There was an external RF modulator that
plugged into that socket and connected via a switchbox to the aerial
socket on a TV, but if you TV has composite video inputs, etc, then
there's no need to use a modulator.
--- end of quote ---
I posted the original question. There didn't seem to be any need for a switchbox since the TV has these inputs already.
Tony, your earlier post (thanks, BTW) describes the pinout for the correct video connector. Except that, um, I don't know the pin numbering scheme you're using. So, in this summary of continuity checks, I am counting pins from left to right, not knowing any better:
Pin 1 -- nothing.
Pin 2 -- tip of black RCA connector.
Pin 3 -- sleeves of both red and black RCA's.
Pin 4 -- tip of red RCA.
Pin 5 -- nothing.
So I guess that pin 3's corresponding with both RCA sleeves must have something to do with the video signal's being present even when I switch them around, right? But I'm not sure what to make of the rest of it. The answer is probably staring me right in the face from your previous post, but I'm pretty ignorant about electronics, so please bear with me. ;)
Thanks again for the help.
-- MB
--- Doug Spence wrote:
my display appears to be squished slightly on the left hand side.
Can I fix that easily, without risk of electrocution?
--- end of quote ---
There are some adjustments you can do with plastic TV-tweaking tools (even demagnetized metal ones distort the display when they're near the board). The easy-to-reach ones are accessible from the solder-side of the analog board (there should be a white plastic sheet that tells you which controls are which). If those don't fix the problem, then you can cut away the blop of glue (more lessons from the L3K!) that's across the adjustment rings on the CRT yoke. Then you twist those rings (they have little "handles," sort of) and see what happens. However, the yoke IS dangerous, and of course you can't discharge it if you need to look at the screen, so watch out. Those rings are right near the Copper Wires o' Death. :/
-- MB
I was given an old Tandy 3 microcomputer. The button on the right side
of the keyboard says "48K." Was this computer a newer version of the
TRS-80 Model III? I am going to try and restore this computer. Right now
it has a video problem. The screen lights up and has zig-zags on the
screen. Also the contrast and brightness knobs are frozen and move just
a little bit left or right.
--Alan
Can anyone help this guy?
>X-Persona: <Roger(a)Sinasohn.Com>
>Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 00:32:39 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Matt Herriot <linkstar457(a)yahoo.com>
>Subject: Panasonic HHC
>To: roger(a)sinasohn.com
>
>Roger,
>
> We came across a Panasonic HHC in the storage room the other day that
>had come frmo an insurance company ages ago with a bunch of eproms
>written with software for their business. We thought it would be cute
>to write a handy little program for it but do not have a manual. Can
>you tell me whether it programs in basic and what form?
>
> I myself have a fondness for the little Pocket Computer II or III
>from Tandy. The one with the white LCD screen, not the yellow. Mine
>was stolen back in the eighties though. If you happen to know where I
>can pick one up for around $30 or less let me know.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Matt Herriot
> linkstar457(a)yahoo.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/
----------
> From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: WTB: TRS-80 stuff.
> Date: Sunday, September 06, 1998 9:37 PM
>
>
> Well, you'll not be able to read an Apple ][ disk on anything but an
> Apple (or clone), or maybe a PC with a special disk controller board.
>
> And even if you got the program onto a TRS-80 disk, the TRS-80 and Apple
> have different CPUs (Z80 and 6502), different graphics systems, etc. A
> BASIC program might be able to be translated, but if it uses PEEK/POKE,
> or if it uses graphics, or has machine code routines, or anything like
> that, then it would be quicker to rewrite it.
>
> Anyway, Apple ]['s are not exactly rare, are they?
>
>
They're not rare at all. I just thought it would be neat to have a
computer that would run almost everything. I guess that's yet to be made.
I have a Franklin 2000, but it's sort of screwed up in it's own way. It
has two video outputs, that don't work simultaneously. One's 40 column,
one's 80 column. To use an 80 column program, you have to turn off the
computer, connect the 80 column to the monitor, and reboot. To use the 40
column, you need to turn it off, connect to the 40 column, and then reboot.
It also uses Integer Basic, not ProDos, like most of the Apples.
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
>
I have a couple of newbie questions re: the uVAX II that has come
to live with me..
One is (and I have looked before asking) where might I find more
technical data than the User's Manual seems to provide? Particularly
sysgen info.... I need to a) find some device drivers and b) make
them available to VMS.. specifically the TK50. There are no
floppies installed. (nor in my other one.. boo!)
Two is.. this old beast got quite cranky on me this morning.. it
crashed loudly five or six time before stabilizing... I managed to
capture the info once or twice, but I cannot verify that it was the
same each time... most crashes came during boot after VMS signed
on and somewhere right before/during the DATE/TIME prompt.. though
it happened at other times too...
FATAL CRASH Bugcheck... PGFIPLHI Pagefault IPL too high
Crash CPU 00 Primary CPU 00
and a ton of other stuff... registers etc. which I will not
reproduce unless asked. ;}
It *seemed* to get better as it warmed up.. the machine is out in
my shop and the ambient is about 68F and foggy... also it is not
retaining the DATE/TIME info... is the uVAX as sensitive to it's
battery state as some other machines? Has the RAM developed mange?
Today I will move it in to the house where it can be given TLC...
by the way, I have been asked re: the cabinet it's in.. it is in
a 4' high roll-around rack, whose top hinges up to allow access to
the Cipher 9trk tape drive. I don't have the cabinet model number.
Thanks to All who have offered comments/suggestions so far!
Cheers
John
Thanks for the info, I'm driving this puppy 850 miles though. Is the
clip permanently attached to the positioner?
-----Original Message-----
From: ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk [mailto:ard@p850ug1.demon.co.uk]
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 1998 10:04 AM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: RL02 Drive Transportaion Questions
>
> Hey folks,
>
> I'm going to pickup a system in a week or two, and it's got RL02
Drives.
> I haven't seen one of these in years. Any shipping hints, locking
> screws,
There is a locking clip on the head positioner, but in my experience the
positioner is stiff enough not to need locking for short moves.
Do make sure there are no packs in them. To open the top cover, either
remove the little plate on the RHS (if it's an old drive) and frob the
solenoid (and replace the plate afterwards), or undo the access cover on
top and release the door that way. Take out any packs you find in the
drives, but keep them, as one may well be a bootable OS.
> etc?
>
> Thanks.
>
-tony
Noticed this on the local forsale list - go for it guys/gals 8-)
Please contact him directly - all info is in the message.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: epement(a)ripco.com (Eric Pement)
Newsgroups: chi.forsale
Subject: free/cheap Kaypro computers
Date: 7 Sep 1998 05:19:38 GMT
Organization: Ripco, Chicago's Oldest Online Information Service
I have 10 Kaypro CP/M computers for sale or for free. Best offer
takes it (I'm hoping $5 or $10 for any working computer; any nonworking
Kaypro is free), but if you don't have any money and can pick them up
here in Chicago, any or *ALL* of them can be yours for free. Probably 3
or 4 of them have FDD problems with drive alignment, one or two has a
bad or missing power supply, one of them has both drives missing.
3 Kaypro II (nongraphics, 2 SSDD floppy drives)
1 Kaypro 2 (graphics, 2 DSDD floppy drives)
1 Kaypro 2x (graphics, 2 DSDD floppy drives)
4 Kaypro 4 (graphics, 2 DSDD floppy drives)
1 Kaypro 10 (graphics, 1 SSDD floppy dirve, one 10 meg HDD)
If anyone wants to pick them all up and cart them away, that would
be fine! I can provide bootable disks, including legit Kaypro masters,
for these computers, but no printed manuals (sorry!).
Email me at <epement(a)jpusa.chi.il.us> or phone at 773/561-2450, 1-2084#.
If I'm not there, leave a message on voice mail. If you need to know
more about Kaypros, CP/M, or have other questions, please ask.
Kind regards,
Eric Pement
-- end of forwarded message --
Well, I fired up my recently-acquired uVAX II/RC up this
afternoon, and whaddaya know... it boots!
Thanks to the reams of information which I have dutifully stored
away, I was able to get the system passwords reset, and I have VMS
V5.4 signed on. Now I need that DECUS Hobbyist license.
This machine originally booted into some kind of communications
software.. but it went by too fast to read much more than TCP/IP
and (I think) Excelan, or EXlan, or something....
This Machine has 1 RD53, 1 TK50(?) and a Cipher Data flatbed 9trk
tape drive. (no floppy)
The cartridge drive is not happy.. it will load the tape, but the
red load light stays on, and VMS reports "device not found", and
SHOW DEV shows it as unmounted.
I would *really* like to discover how to mount/access the Cipher
drive.. I have VMS 4.3 manuals, but I haven't found the right info
yet on where to look for the device drivers and other procedures.
The Cipher came installed with this machine, so I'm assuming at some
point someone was using it... maybe. ;}
ANYWAY: Thanks to Allison and Megan for various bits of wisdom
that I have vicariously snagged and now put to good use.
Now to wedge this thing into the rest of the gear in the Computing
Centre (AKA Rapidly Shrinking Living Room). Sigh. Why did it have to
be Minicomputers??? Why couldn't it have been Stamps?? Bottlecaps??
Toothpicks from Around the World?????
Cheers
John
>> It might be worth mentioning that Apple //e's don't have a slot 0. The
>> "language card" (really just an additional 16K of bank-switched RAM) is
>> built-in. Also, on the //e slot 3 is tied in to the auxiliary slot, where
>> normally RAM and 80-column boards go. If you've got something in the aux.
>> slot, you can't put anything in slot 3, with some exceptions. For
>> instance, I have an AE TransWarp accelerator board in my //e that has a
>> 3.3Mhz 6502 CPU which overrides the motherboard 6502 upon bootup. This
>> board is great in that it plugs into slot 3, in conjunction with my
>> expanded 80-column card in the aux. slot, and therefore does not waste a
>> slot.
> Can anyone explain the reason why Apple put the Aux slot directly in
> line with slot 3 on the European version of the IIe? For example, I
> have a full length Ramworks III board in the Aux slot and this
> completely obscures slot 3 so an accelerator so Sam's trick with the
> Transwarp will not work.
THe AUX slot _is_ slot #3. just some different signals. For
any 'regular' use you can only use the slot #3 connector or
AUX connector. The Transwarp is just (like some other very
special cards) desigend for uste in #3 while AUX is hosting
the 'regular' card. In fact, any card, able to run in slot
#0 (using no slot resources like RAM and (E)PROM space) will
coexist in #3 with a card in AUX.
The location was choosed to avoid that owners will plug in
two cards using the slot resources into AUX and #3, since
this (may) result in address conflicts. A far better solution
than any message in a manual for the usual I-am-an-expert-I-
-never-read-manuals user.
Gruss
H.
--
Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
HRK
On 4 Sep 98 at 18:24, Sam Ismail wrote:
> It might be worth mentioning that Apple //e's don't have a slot 0. The
> "language card" (really just an additional 16K of bank-switched RAM) is
> built-in. Also, on the //e slot 3 is tied in to the auxiliary slot, where
> normally RAM and 80-column boards go. If you've got something in the aux.
> slot, you can't put anything in slot 3, with some exceptions. For
> instance, I have an AE TransWarp accelerator board in my //e that has a
> 3.3Mhz 6502 CPU which overrides the motherboard 6502 upon bootup. This
> board is great in that it plugs into slot 3, in conjunction with my
> expanded 80-column card in the aux. slot, and therefore does not waste a
> slot.
Can anyone explain the reason why Apple put the Aux slot directly in
line with slot 3 on the European version of the IIe? For example, I
have a full length Ramworks III board in the Aux slot and this
completely obscures slot 3 so an accelerator so Sam's trick with the
Transwarp will not work.
Phil
**************************************************************
Phil Beesley -- Computer Officer -- Distributed Systems Suppport
University of Leicester
Tel (0)116 252-2231
E-Mail pb14(a)le.ac.uk
Cool. where would I get a copy of LDOS, and would I still be able to run
my TRS-DOS programs? Is there any program for the IBM PC that will allow
disks from a TRS-80 to be read on the PC? Is there one that will allow the
same to read TRS-80 Model 600 disks on the PC? Or on the Model III?
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
----------
> From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: WTB: TRS-80 stuff.
> Date: Sunday, September 06, 1998 7:19 PM
>
>
> That's probably a double-sided drive. If you modify the cable slightly to
> connect up the side select line (I will have to look up the details), and
> run somthing like LDOS, then you can have 360K on a disk.
>
> -tony
>
I was going thru a bunch of old material and I ran across this IBM
manual that I had squirrelled away from a garbage find in the early 80s
that also included a bunch of Bytes. It's a 6th edition (Mar 79) and says it
applies to Release 4 of OS/VS1, Release 3 of OS/VS2 ,Release 2 of VM/370,
DOS/VSE, and all other releases
A descrptive heading says "This manual describes the OS/VS -DOS/VSE-
VM/370 assembler language. It's a 450 page XEROXed copy.
I know ziltch about non-micros and am wondering if this is of any value
(in the intellectual sense) ?
ciao larry
lwalker(a)interlog.com
It's not a newer version. My TRS-80 Model III also has 48K. It was the
top-of-the-line Model III. When I first got mine, it had been sitting in a
basement for 2 years, and the basement had been flooded when the septic
tank backed up. when I cleaned it all out, and turned it on, I had the
same problem with the screen. I gave it a good, solid whack on the back,
and it's been working fine ever since (not too hard, though - you don't
want to put a hole in the back). I think that the problem may have been
that a couple of the chips got either corroded or slightly unseated, and
smacking the back of it reseated them. That may not be your problem,
though.
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
----------
> From: oajones <oajones(a)bright.net>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Tandy 3
> Date: Sunday, September 06, 1998 11:17 PM
>
> I was given an old Tandy 3 microcomputer. The button on the right side
> of the keyboard says "48K." Was this computer a newer version of the
> TRS-80 Model III? I am going to try and restore this computer. Right now
> it has a video problem. The screen lights up and has zig-zags on the
> screen. Also the contrast and brightness knobs are frozen and move just
> a little bit left or right.
>
> --Alan
----------
> From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: WTB: TRS-80 stuff.
> Date: Sunday, September 06, 1998 8:22 PM
>
> http://www.research.digital.com/SRC/personal/Tim_Mann/trs80.html/
>
> I seem to remember that you can't make a bootable LDOS disk by just
> copying the files onto it, and that some of the files have to be in the
> right place (or their directory entries do).
>
Thanks. I'll have to check it out.
> What version of TRS-DOS are you running at the moment?
>
I think it's 1.3. It's on an old Mortgage investment program disk that's
been sitting in my garage loft for three years (temperature ranges from -10
to 120 degrees F). I'm surprised that it even worked.
> > > There used to be a commercial program to do the opposite (allow
TRS-80s
> > > to read/write MS-DOS disks). No idea where you'd get that from now,
> > though.
> > >
> >
> > Do you remember what the name of it is?
>
> TRSCROSS, I think. Maybe HYPERCROSS (I think they were both programs to
> read 'foreign' disks on the TRS-80).
>
O.K. I'll try to see if I can find it or not. Was there a program that
would let you run Apple ][ Programs? I have about 100 program disks
without a working apple (I actually have a Franklin 2000). Or does the
disk controller thing come into play?
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
----------
> From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: WTB: TRS-80 stuff.
> Date: Sunday, September 06, 1998 8:03 PM
>
> I believe it's available from Tim Mann's TRS-80 web page. The author has
> allowed it to be copied for personal use. Of course getting it onto a
> disk is another problem.
>
What's the address? I may be able to use Telcom to transfer the files.
> Does anyone in the States on this list have it, and would be prepared to
> copy it, I wonder?
>
> There used to be a commercial program to do the opposite (allow TRS-80s
> to read/write MS-DOS disks). No idea where you'd get that from now,
though.
>
Do you remember what the name of it is?
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
I got a new drive (well, to me at least). It was from an XT clone, and
works great. When I took the fried one apart, I found out that the spindle
bearing was rusted, so I took the heads, motor, and everything else that
looked good out, and junked the rest.
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
----------
> From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: WTB: TRS-80 stuff.
> Date: Sunday, September 06, 1998 1:27 PM
>
> I have the schematics for that drive (both in the Tandy and IBM tech
> manuals). So I could probably identify the burnt components. What chips
> are they near (either type - like NE592, or circuit reference - like U1).
>
> Burnt traces can be repaired - I do it all the time....
>
>
> > --
> > -Jason
> > (roblwill(a)usaor.net)
> > ICQ#-1730318
> >
>
> -tony
>
Does anyone have any doc's or info on a "Pixel 80"? A nice fellow in
Guelph Ontario was kind enough to pass one on to me and I'd like to get it
running. On quick perusal, it has a 5.25" drive on the front, and at the
back a centronics output, 9- 9pin and 4- 25 pin D shell connectors. The
date says 9/83. Its the size of the bar fridge I had in university and
weighs a bloody ton. It was manufactured by "Instumentation Labratory
Inc." Dominique who gave it to me says that he contacted them but they
say they know nothing about it. There is a web site for IL but its no
help.
Colan
Hello everybody.
I'm in the process of restoring a submerged TRS-80 Model III. It was
sitting in my friend's basement when his septic tank backed up (yuk.), and
it was sitting on the basement floor (double yuk.). However, his solution
to fixing it was to drag it up the steps on sheet of plywood and let it sit
in the rain for three weeks. Then he gave it to me because he was afraid
to plug it in. I started by taking it apart, and hosing the whole thing
down. Then I took all the boards out, and set them in front of heater/fan
to dry (low power). I did the same to the disk drives, the keyboard, and
the picture tube.
After everything had dried for about a week, I put it all back together,
and turned it on. The tube came on with a bunch of crazy characters on the
screen. I took the main board out, propped it up behind the computer,
tried it again, and the screen came up with the "Diskette ?" prompt. I put
in a copy of TRS-DOS (unsubmerged), and hit reset. ERROR came up in
40-column letters. I shut it off, and pulled the drives. I stuck (well
more like jammed- it was too wide) a 5.25" 360 half-height drive in it (it
ended up at an angle and upside down to fit), and tried that. That time it
worked, booting to the TRS-DOS screen, asking for a date. I typed
"09/01/98". Nothing. I took a key off the keyboard to try to clean it,
and they are the sealed-switch type. I had to unsolder each switch, take
each one apart, clean it, put it back together, and solder it back to the
board. However, I just cleaned the <1>, the </>, and the <Enter> key-
enough for me to enter the date. It worked.
Now's where I need the help. Here's what I need:
-5.25" full-height 360k disk drives (any type but Apple - doesn't need to
be TRS-80).
-External TRS-80 disk drives.
-Cable to connect external drives to the computer.
-TRS-80 Model III hard drive (can be a clone)
-Internal cable connecting RS-232 adapter to the main board.
-TRS-80 Model III software (can be on tape or disk)
I'm also looking for anything for the CoCo Model I and II - ESPECIALLY disk
drives and a printer.
As always, ThAnX in advance,
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
> Stage 1 : LART the cousin....
>
> Stage 2 : It may not have done that much damage. Remove the coin and
> clean up the board. What components did it seem to have come into contact
> with?. There's not a lot on that board that can't be replaced,
actually...
>
I took it off, and it looks as though some resistors (I think) had burned
up (can't recognize the value coding), and some of the traces and also been
cooked (broken, and blackened).
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
> The original Tandy drives were normally made by a company called 'Texas
> Peripherals', and are identical to Tandon drives.
>
They're both actual Tandon drives, dated from 1981.
> Start by taking them apart a little way.
>
> Unplug all the cables going to the PCB on top of the drive, take out the
> 2 screws and slip off the PCB. If there's a separate motor control board
> on the back (old drives have this), then remove that as well.
>
> > -Cable to connect external drives to the computer.
>
> That's easy to make. It's just a length of 34 way ribbon cable with edge
> connectors crimped to it. Most people these days don't pull pins as Tandy
> did, but instead select the drive using the links on the drive PCB.
>
<snip>
I did this to one drive, and got it working, but the other is beyond
repair. A penny was once dropped into the computer by my friends 4 yr. old
cousin. The penny landed on top of the top drive PCB, shorting some stuff
and fusing the penny to a few components. I need at least one drive.
> > -Internal cable connecting RS-232 adapter to the main board.
>
> If you're _really_ stuck for this, remove the connectors from the CPU
> board and RS232 board and solder some 0.1" SIL headers in place. I seem
> to remember it's 20 pins. Then use a 40 pin (or whatever) IDC ribbon
> cable + connectors (like a very short IDE cable) to link them up. Just
> use the same row of holes in the 2 connectors.
>
I may just try making my own cable out of an old piece of ribbon cable,
some clear plastic, and some Super Glue. That's basically what the
original one was, anyway.
ThAnX,
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
Maybe I shouldn't post this.... O wot'th'ell, here goes.
I have discovered recently a very dangerous on-line book service,
which, in my *very* humble opinion, just beats the bloody tar out of
the 'major' ones.. (Amazon, Barnes, etc). Some of you Listmembers
may already be aware of these folks.. if not, the URL is;
www.abebooks.com
I'm *definitely* in Big $$$ Trouble. I have a very large library,
around 10K volumes, journals, periodicals, papers... collected over
many years. A lot of it is old, wierd, rare, fringe-science,
technology, engineering, computing, etc.
Now I find ABE (American Book Exchange) and they've got titles
I've been searching for for *ages*... including a book I read in 4th
Grade and never heard of since... oh dear: most of the booksellers
on ABE take credit cards... damn, damn, damn...!
I've already found over $1K of stuff I must have.. NOW!
Anyway, I hereby disclaim and hold myself inurred and harmless
>from anyone who goes bankrupt because I turned them on to ABE.
Just try searching with Van Nostrand or Wiley or Howard Sams
entered in the 'Publisher' slot... or pdp-11 in the 'keywords'
section....
I'm in **trouble** !
Cheers ;}
John
