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

by joezatarski＠gmail.com

> I also have a few boxes of old books and IBM slip-case manuals (techRef, > etc.), 3" and 3.25" drives, at least one bundle of hard sector disks, half > a dozen HP "pinch to close shutter" 3.5" disks, a Shugart 3.5" from before > they HAD shutters, a Sony 600RPM 3.5" (if I can find it), . . . > ('course all of THAT will look like Generic PC Crap to people unfamiliar, > . . . ) > > I'm not healthy enough (last year I had another TURP surgery, instead of > VCF, eclipse, and Concourse D'Lemons) to dig out the 8" drives, or to > really load up, so, it's gonna be a much lesser quantity of what I can > manage. > > -- > Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at xenosoft.com <http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctalk> If you turn it up, I might be interested in getting that Sony 600 RPM drive, but I won't be at VCF East. I need one to replace the broken one in my HP logic analyzer. Let me know price/shipping if it turns up. Joe Zatarski

7 years, 9 months

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TRS-80 floppy

by w2hx＠w2hx.com

Not mine, just thought it might interest some here https://www.ebay.com/itm/202376723756 73 Eugene W2HX

7 years, 9 months

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any data on death of Mark E Rorvig? - Microcomputers in Libraries etc

by couryhouse＠aol.com

Mark E. Rorvig , Denton, associate professor of library and information sciences, 1995-2002. Rorvig was nationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of information retrieval. From 1990 to 1995, while serving as an adjunct professor at UNT, he worked as a computer engineer for NASA at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston. His research focused on deciphering large amounts of information and finding new ways to piece it together. He produced four U.S. patents on information retrieval algorithms. Rorvig earned a bachelor's degree in English at Seattle University, a master's in library service from Columbia University and a doctorate in information studies from the University of California at Berkeley. At UNT, he led the master's program in information systems.any? ? one? know? him? I took? some? photos? for a? book he? did on microcomputers in libraries? and? took an into? to dp? class? from him? when I started? ?Computer Exchange in? AZ? ? ?I had? talked? ?into? course years? before? ?from someone else? but thought hey? good? to take it now things have changed and I am going into the biz! ? I talked to? him again? years? ago and? thanked? him? for admitting me? to an already? full class...but in looking him? up? to? get some data? from him? find? he? had? passed but? ?almost nothing out there....in the? way? of? info except? ?for the? brief? info in? google.? I? remember? ?during that? class period? I? got? first? pdp-8? m or? f ?? ?and? brought it into class and? showed? the students? how? I would? toggle it.... ? Funny? this is when I? got? to first? play on the HP2000 F I later to own? surplus? form the college that? shaped? my entire? future? business? ( still have it under glass at? SMECC) ? ? Having that? PDP 8 was? great? as a tty? tester!? Sold? many ttys? in the? early? days.... ? thanks? ed sharpe archivist for smecc ?

7 years, 9 months

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Strange third party board in PDP-11/45

by mattislind＠gmail.com

s?ndag 22 juli 2018 skrev Paul Birkel <pbirkel at gmail.com>: > 26 bits (or 13 bits) doesn't make any sense on a 16-bit machine; makes > more sense as a high-speed I/O buffer. One can note that it is actually two different types of 1k chips. 16 chips are 94L415 and 10 chips are 93415. As far as I understand the L is the slower variant. This could mean that 16 bit data is in the L chips while the faster chips are used for a 10 bit cache tag. Maybe 8 address bits plus some valid bit and possibly a dirty bit? The switch is marked ON/OFF which could simply cache on/off. The handwritten label on the board says that it is not in use and should sit in slot 21. And of course those two I/O connectors don't belong on a cache. Those IO connectors are connected to two double height boards in 26 /27 AB. They are also made by ACT and contain a few TTL chips. So it pulls out some signals out of both Unibuses but 20 + 10 signals at most it not much of a complete bus so I wonder what kind of signals go there. > While odd to use slot 21 (Fastbus) for something other than memory I don't > know why a fast memory-mapped I/O channel couldn't go there. > Also note all of the signals employed on tabs C-D-E-F? > It may not even employ the Fastbus; just talk to Unibus B. > Unfortunately there's not much documentation for the MS11. > It seems likely that A-B isn't anything like the usual Unibus signals, and > who knows where the Fastbus signals are routed. > On my backplane D-E are essentially unused whereas A-B-F are busiest. > > I see the marking "copyrighted 1976", which is rather earlier than the ACT > / ABLE documentation online. > > From Bitsavers see the ABLE documents for the SCAT/45: > Able_Computer_Product_Summary.pdf - page 3 > Able_Computer_Product_Brochures_1982.pdf - pages 16-17 > > The PN 10003 doesn't seem to match anything documented from ACT, however > it's consistent with them. > The original QBus Univerter is PN 10001, and is dated 1976. There are some documentation to get with the machine so the manual for the board might turn up. > > What are the pair of DIP24 ICs on the lower-left? Fairchild 9308 Dual 4 bit latches. > > -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Paul > Anderson via cctalk > Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2018 6:54 PM > To: Mattis Lind; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > Subject: Re: Strange third party board in PDP-11/45 > > I think it's Applied Computer Technologies, and I think they made cache > and several other options. They were popular back in the day. I have a > bunch of their boards here. > > Paul > > On Sat, Jul 21, 2018 at 1:37 PM, Mattis Lind via cctalk < > cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: > > > This board was sitting in slot 21 of the backplane in a 11/45 > > > > https://i.imgur.com/ZYWZQCo.jpg > > > > What kind of board is this? > > > > It has 26 bipolar RAMS. Fairchild 93415 1kbit SRAM. > > > > The manufacturer might be ACT whatever that is. > > > > My guess is that it is some kind of cache board? It is connected to both > > unibuses in the machine. > > > > Better ideas? Documentation? > > > > /Mattis > > > >

7 years, 9 months

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Strange third party board in PDP-11/45

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Paul Birkel > ABLE Computer Technology. Their first product was PN 10001 ... the > A.C.T. Univerter This board is not shown in any of the Able brochures we have: http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/able/brochures/ However, Able info is _very_ thin on the ground, now... Noel

7 years, 9 months

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Strange third party board in PDP-11/45

by mattislind＠gmail.com

This board was sitting in slot 21 of the backplane in a 11/45 https://i.imgur.com/ZYWZQCo.jpg What kind of board is this? It has 26 bipolar RAMS. Fairchild 93415 1kbit SRAM. The manufacturer might be ACT whatever that is. My guess is that it is some kind of cache board? It is connected to both unibuses in the machine. Better ideas? Documentation? /Mattis

7 years, 9 months

4
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AIM 65 Cassette Test Program

by mark＠matlockfamily.com

Bill, I?m not familiar with the program they mention for the AIM65, but in Section 9 of the User?s manual on bitsavers is a good description of how to set up cassette recorders with the AIM65. If the recorder has a pause input the AIM65 can control the tape both during read and write. If two cassette tapes were available It could read assembly source code from one and write object to the other. (When the computer came with 1K Ram expandable to 4K you did stuff like that. On page 9-13 they do have two short test programs ?SYN Write? and ?SYN Read? that can be used to adjust record and playback volume as well as the VR1 pot on the AIM. If they are just looking for ways to save and load programs the best way was to utilize Teletype interface that is described on page 9-26. The described interface is for the current loop that ASR33?s had but that is pretty easy to change to RS232 with some external chips. With that interface 240 characters per second could be read or written. If you upgraded the RAM a bit with an external board the AIM was quite a nice 6502 development tool. I built a number of things with it. 1. Instrument to measure the stability of vegetable oils. (See ?Oil Stability Index?) This analytical method is still used today but with more modern systems. It used a ICL7109 12 bit A/D, 16 relays, a pen plotter, and a home built conductivity circuit with 32KB Ram with software burned to 2532 EPROMs. We wrote the source on a PDP-11/24 and loaded it into the AIM65 for local assembly and store to RAM. We used 2K Byte battery backed up RAM (MK48Z02B-25) on the AIM till debugged then burned an EPROM. 2. A data acquisition system for a Perkin Elmer AA / Graphite Furnace. 3. A converter to change 66.67 baud 6 bit ticker tape code to 9600 baud ASCII. (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_tape <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_tape> ) Believe or not there was one commodity exchange still transmitting their data in this format in the 1980s and Our PDP-11/44?s DZ11 interface could do 50,75,110 and higher baud but could read this data. This used a 6522 to generate 16 times the 66.67 baud and was fed to a UART to read it. 64 byte program, and 64 byte look-up table. 4. A remote monitor that provided video output, and RS232 data recording from 9 digital temperature meters. The meters were read by counting their clock pulses during the down slope of the dual slope meter allowing each meter to be read with three wires (Ground, Clock, Gate) that were switched with 74150 Chips. So I have found memories of the AIM65 and the last time I had it set up about 2 years ago it still ran fine. Mark Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2018 11:27:36 -0400 From: Bill Degnan <billdegnan at gmail.com> To: cctech <cctech at classiccmp.org> Subject: AIM 65 Cassette Test Program Hi all...I got the following through my web site. Does anyone have a good known-working test program for an AIM 65 cassette that I can attempt and or send in response? I still have to set mine up and attempt to reproduce, but someone here likely has more experience, it has been at least 5 years since I powered mine on. Also, the article this guy references from MICRO April 1979 volume 11 is not present in my copy of MICRO, he may be mistaken in his reference. I don't know what cassette program he is referencing. I do know that the cassette test program that comes in the Rockwell AIM 65 manual is in error, but I don't have the corrections. I also know that one needs the correct (optional otherwise) power lines when using cassette. Bill VintageComputer.net Inquiry - I am one of the founders of the Computer Museum in Basel (CMBB/CMGB). We have 2 AIM 65 units that seem functional. However, we're experiencing problems with the cassette drive when trying to read back. We tried to record using cassette recorders and also a modern PC through line in and the audio signals are clearly recognizable (from pin M). A connection to pin L and using the corrected program to test readback from "micro_11_apr_1979_text_syn_read_program_AIM65.pdf" only displays the "N" on either AIM 65 system. The cassette interface potentiometers are sealed in one of the units by the manufacturer and have never been changed as far as we can tell. Is there anything we could try to get reading from tape to work? We are running our of ideas. Is there any way to visualize the incoming signal through a small program other than the one from the magazine?

7 years, 9 months

1
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Kenwood VC-1H SSTV communicator pricing request

by henry.bnd＠gmail.com

Hi Gang, I have a Kenwood communicator, I can't imagine many of these were sold in the UK, I have the box, manual, warranty card, data cable. It runs of four double As. Quite a weirdly niche gadget, if not strictly computers. Does anyone have an idea of what a good condition one of these is to buy? I doubt I've made base rate inflation with it mind. I'll email photos for anyone interested in seeing either an SSTV image or the device itself. And yes, you'll need an amateur radio license to use it. Henry

7 years, 9 months

1
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AIM 65 Cassette Test Program

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

Hi all...I got the following through my web site. Does anyone have a good known-working test program for an AIM 65 cassette that I can attempt and or send in response? I still have to set mine up and attempt to reproduce, but someone here likely has more experience, it has been at least 5 years since I powered mine on. Also, the article this guy references from MICRO April 1979 volume 11 is not present in my copy of MICRO, he may be mistaken in his reference. I don't know what cassette program he is referencing. I do know that the cassette test program that comes in the Rockwell AIM 65 manual is in error, but I don't have the corrections. I also know that one needs the correct (optional otherwise) power lines when using cassette. Bill VintageComputer.net Inquiry - I am one of the founders of the Computer Museum in Basel (CMBB/CMGB). We have 2 AIM 65 units that seem functional. However, we're experiencing problems with the cassette drive when trying to read back. We tried to record using cassette recorders and also a modern PC through line in and the audio signals are clearly recognizable (from pin M). A connection to pin L and using the corrected program to test readback from "micro_11_apr_1979_text_syn_read_program_AIM65.pdf" only displays the "N" on either AIM 65 system. The cassette interface potentiometers are sealed in one of the units by the manufacturer and have never been changed as far as we can tell. Is there anything we could try to get reading from tape to work? We are running our of ideas. Is there any way to visualize the incoming signal through a small program other than the one from the magazine?

7 years, 9 months

1
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zilog system 8000

by aek＠bitsavers.org

https://www.ebay.com/itm/292646012304 local pickup only the reserve is >$1500 I would guess the CDC Winchesters are toast if they haven't had their heads locked

7 years, 9 months

7
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Tektronix 4113

by jacob.ritorto＠gmail.com

Any interest in a Tek 4113 terminal (minus display)? I have one collecting dust here and would like to trade for older Tek restoration help / other pdp11 stuff. The keyboard is damaged but otherwise it's just old and dirty, haven't opened it up. Located in western Pennsylvania. thx jake

7 years, 9 months

2
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68k development, Avocet Development

by carlojpisani＠gmail.com

hi does anyone happen to use Avocet Development Tools for m68k? how good/bad is it?

7 years, 9 months

1
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GoTEK SFR1M44-U100...

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Liam Proven > one of the questions was about "the early days of the old-time > internet, if you're old and you've been online forever." > It was about Myspace. Yikes. Send them this: http://www.chiappa.net/~jnc/tech/sflovers/ Noel

7 years, 9 months

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SMUFDDV4@1104

by bill.gunshannon＠hotmail.com

I asked this in the GOTEK thread but I think it got lost in the chatter. Does any of this apply to the equivalent devices with the board labeled SMUFDDV4 at 1104? I have a few of them and would love to make them work with non-PCs as well. bill

7 years, 9 months

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Info needed: CMI 1600, CDC Omega/480, IPL Systems, Olivetti 5300

by johannesthelen＠hotmail.com

Anyone familiar with these PCMs? I got a CMI 1640 and little help needed. Here's photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1w74AYe6lRSn9gJhyKVlBYAq5zRDWybSw?us… What this 370 clone is exactly? If I have understood right, Steven Ippolito's IPL Systems Inc developed the original machine and CMI (Cambridge Memories Inc) made them. Also these sold as Omega/480 and Olivetti 5300 series. Later CMI made their own versions and I believe this one of those. But I haven't found model 1640. So is this 1641..? What is difference between CMI and others? Microcode? I got belong with the machine a couple manuals, Maintenance and Theory of Operation. Unfortunately original microcode disk is missing (and 8" drive...), so that would be needed if I ever want to fire this thing up. Any ideas where I could find a one? All ideas & info are welcome! - Johannes Thelen johannesthelen at gmail.com Finland Before microcomputers blog (Finnish) http://ennenmikrotietokoneita.blogspot.fi/

7 years, 9 months

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Anyone have a HALstation 300 install CD?

by aek＠bitsavers.org

I'm evaluating two that came in as a donation, and the donor didn't have any passwords

7 years, 9 months

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GoTEK SFR1M44-U100...

by cctalk＠gtaylor.tnetconsulting.net

Does anyone have any experience with the GoTEK SFR1M44-U100 floppy drive emulator that reads ""images from a USB flash drive? Good? Bad? Indifferent? Run for the hills? -- Grant. . . . unix || die

7 years, 9 months

13
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Reading HP2000 tapes

by dan＠ekoan.com

Hello, I recently received the following request: > I just recently found a (9 or 7 track?) tape of mine made on an > HP2000 (probably C, maybe F) in 1977 from a DUMP of two accounts. > I've had it for 40 years with nothing to process it. Now I have > simh to process it on, but nothing to read it with. Does anyone have experience and the ability to read such a tape? Cheers, Dan

7 years, 9 months

15
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Info, spice model parameters for DEC pulse transformers?

by josephoswald＠gmail.com

I'm trying to model the PDP-1 DEC system models, first with SPICE (ngspice on Linux), then with VHDL. I'm struggling to understand the properties of various transformers in the system module circuits, most importantly (at least, the ones I see in schematics I want to model) 2 winding T2003 (used in the 1304 delay, 1410 pulse generator, 1540 sense amp, 1607 pulse amplifier) 2 winding T2026 (used in the 1410) 4 winding T2029 (used in the 1201 flip-flop) 3 winding T2033 (used in 1204 flip-flop) 2 winding T2048 (used in the 1607 pulse amplifier, but the maintenance manual suggests this might be substituted with a T2010?) The maintenance manual also suggests uses for T2006, T2012, T2017, T2018, T2019, T2020, T2021, T2023, T2024 are used in modules I don't have schematics for yet. Is there any source for information about these? Basic specs? I don't even know what the turns ratios are for these parts, much less plausible inductances, so my spice models misbehave pretty badly. I've also posted a question on Reddit about this https://www.reddit.com/r/AskElectronics/comments/8zsyuq/reverse_engineering… --Joe

7 years, 9 months

2
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360 Technologies selloff

by aek＠bitsavers.org

360 Technologies is (was) and old HP reseller. I just tried buying a 9145 from them, and didn't hear anything back. Called them, and they are in the middle of selling off what they haven't scrapped. Mike is going to let me know more of what will be available and by whom next week.

7 years, 9 months

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New Items Listed in Sellam's VWoCW (Many DEC Handbooks)

by sellam.ismail＠gmail.com

Hi Folks. Here are the new items for July 17, 2018: IBM PS/2 Model P70 386 Morrow Designs Micro Decision 1 ACCTON EtherCombo-32 Ethernet Card Inmac SP-16 Serial-To-Parallel Converter Apricorn EZ-GIG Hard Drive Update Kit HP Series 80 Data Communications Pac HP Series 80 BASIC Training Pac HippoConcept The following are all DEC manuals and handbooks: Autoconf manual A Practical Guide to Word Processing and Office Management Systems Communications Handbook dBase III v1.0 DECmate II Handbook DECSYSTEM-20 Technical Summary Digital's Office Solutions: ALL-IN-1 Handbook Distributed Systems Handbook Emulex Controller Handbook: Communications and Periperhals Introduction to BASIC Introduction to Local Area Networks IDEAS Education Software Referral Catalog IDEAS: Index and Description of Educational Application Software: 4th edition Guide to Small Business Computing Guide to Personal Computing Introduction to Computer-Based Education Large Systems Software Referrral Catalog: 4th Edition Letterprinter 100 Installation Guide Letterprinter 100 Operator Guide Letterprinter 100 Programmer Reference Manual Logistics Management: Concepts and Techniques Maintenance Aids Handbook MBASIC VT180 BASIC-80 Reference Manual MBASIC VT180 Getting Started with MBASIC VT180 Microcomputers and Memories Microsoft Multiplan Manual Network Management I Student Guide Networking: The Competitive Edge Office Information Systems Guidebook Overview of DIGITAL Networking Products PDP-11 Architecture Handbook PDP-11 Microcomputer Interfaces Handbook PDP-11/04/34/34A Maintenance Card Peripherals Handbook Professional Handbook Rainbow Handbook RSTS/E PDP-11 Operating System RSX-11 Handbook Spares Kit Handbook Terminals & Printers Handbook The DECmate Family Handbook The Guide to Team Computing ULTRIX Software Guidebook: A Reference to UNIX Software ULTRIX-32 Reference: Volume 1 ULTRIX-32 Software Development: Volume 2 UNIX Software Guidebook VAX Architecture Handbook VAX Hardware Handbook VAX Software Handbook VAX Software Tools: Languages VAXcluster Technical Summary VAX/VMS Software: Information Management Handbook VAX/VMS Software: VMS System Software Handbook VAX/VMS Technical Summary Version 4 VEDIT User's Manual The index of links to the specific items above is, as always, here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...72371&range=A1 <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1I53wxarLHlNmlPVf_HJ5oMKuab4zrApI_hi…> For the month of July 2018 I'm offering 10% off for new buyers, and 15% off for past buyers. Thanks! Sellam

7 years, 9 months

1
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Apple and Sun keyboards

by sales＠elecplus.com

AEK II are here https://www.elecshopper.com/input-devices/keyboards/wired-keyboards/desktop- keyboards/apple-extended-keyboard-1.html All Apple are here https://www.elecshopper.com/input-devices.html?manufacturer=48 Sun Type 4 are here https://www.elecshopper.com/input-devices.html?manufacturer=46 Cindy Croxton Electronics Plus 1613 Water Street Kerrville, TX 78028 830-370-3239 cell sales at elecplus.com AOL IM elcpls --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

7 years, 9 months

2
1
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MSV11-J repairs

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

Hi, all, if anyone has any broken MSV11-J boards, I recently fixed one for a list member, and if anyone else has a broken one they'd like me to take a gander at, please let me know. (No charge!) I won't be able to fix _all_ problems (we don't have prints, or replacements for the custom gate arrays), but if it's just a failed DRAM chip, that I can isolate and repair. Noel

7 years, 9 months

1
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Got a kidney!

by harper＠secureoutcomesinc.com

Excellent! Godspeed! Jack ><snip> > > On Jul 14, 2018, at 14:14, Daniel Seagraves via cctalk < > > cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote: > > > > > > Got the call yesterday. Transplant operation was a success. Still at the > > hospital recovering. Will update when able. > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Harper, President Secure Outcomes Inc 2942 Evergreen Parkway, Suite 300 Evergreen, Colorado 80439 USA 303.670.8375 303.670.3750 (fax) http://www.secureoutcomes.net for Product Info.

7 years, 9 months

2
1
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Another DCJ11 oddity

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Jerry Weiss > See http://simh.trailing-edge.com/semi/j11.html for information on the > design of the J11. Thanks for that pointer; I don't think I've ever seen that - quite interesting. Alas, it didn't have the cache info - but now that I've though about it overnight, I'm pretty sure the reason for the two bits that do the same thing is for -11/70 compatability. > I've always assumed the differences in controls in the CCR as necessary > to support diagnostics of memory and the cache itself. Yes, the DCJ11 cache is quite interesting, the way the functionality is partitioned between the chip itself, and external circuitry; the actual cache data is stored externally, along with the tags, parity, etc, and also the CPU and DMA comparators. The KDB11-A and -B differ a bit in their cache; both are single-associative (i.e. only one cache cell for each word), but the -B has duplicate tag arrays, one for the CPU's use, one for DMA devices - apparently so that contention between the two for access to the tags doesn't slow things down (since the tag stores are memory arrays, they need to do an address-input before any tag can be checked). > In addition to above, there is a bypass cache bit in the PDR (section > 1.5.6.2) for finer control. Yes, I only found that out last night (or maybe I saw it on a previous scan of the manual, but its importance didn't register). The -11/70 doesn't have that! Very useful for my application (a memory tester program)... Noel

7 years, 9 months

3
2
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GCC Ada for Linux/MIPS/BE and Linux/HPPA2

by carlojpisani＠gmail.com

hi is there any chance someone has a working gcc-ada compiler? for - Linux/MIPS (big endian, MIPS3, MIPS4 or MIPS32) - Linux/HPPA2 I have successfully compiled gcc-ada for SGI_IRIX (MIPS4/BE) but ... every attempt to create a cross-compiler(1) fails on HPPA I have never seen an Ada compiler (1) host = Irix-MIPS4/BE target = Linux/MIPS32/BE

7 years, 9 months

2
4
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uVax cabinet wheels

by shumaker＠att.net

Anyone know a source for replacement hard molded wheels that would fit a MicroVax 4000 low profile cabinet base??? I'm missing two and the other two may as well be gone given how functional they are.??? Mounting hardware is still intact, it's just the wheels that I need.. Steve Shumaker

7 years, 9 months

1
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An historical nit about FDDs

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Jon Elson > I THINK the 370/145 used the same drive. The "IBM's 360 and Early 370 Systems" book doesn't say so explicitly (it just says Minnow - the one with the solenoids - was a"incorporated in .. the System/370 processors", pg. 517), but given that the follow-on drive (Figaro/Igar) didn't start shipping until 1973 (pg. 519), and the /145 started shipping in 1971, it pretty much had to have had a Minnow. Noel

7 years, 9 months

2
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An historical nit about FDDs

by t.gardner＠computer.org

Anyone know where the Step/Direction version of the FDD interface originated. So far as near as I can tell the earliest FDDs (IBM 23FD Minnow and Memorex 650/651) used Step In/Step Out. The IBM 33FD Igar used direct control of the motor. The earliest Step/Direction FDD I can find is the Shugart 800 which first shipped in September 1973. Tom

7 years, 9 months

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I hate HP 914x tapes

by aek＠bitsavers.org

Man, these things are annoying. All of the bands are bad, and they leave residue on the spools. There are no EOT BOT holes on the HP tape, and the drive locks the cartridge until you 'unload' it, which spins to the EOT soft region. Well, guess what, they leave the tape in a position where the residue ends up near the last block on the track, so it will read track 1 (4mb), or maybe 1-3 (12mb), then fail when it hits the gunk. You DON'T want to bake that gunk on! It is possible to remove it but DO NOT EVER USE ALCOHOL ON A QIC TAPE! It instantly takes off the binder. Water-based cleaner (like whiteboard cleaner) seems to work but it is extremely difficult to work with the tape and not damage it. My sympathies to anyone having to deal with recovery of this media.

7 years, 9 months

3
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New VCF Midwest Mailing List

by silent700＠gmail.com

Hello all - I have created a mailing list for VCF Midwest news and announcements. You may already get your show news here or on the forums, but it will be useful to us in the future to have as many interested people as possible listed in one place. So, if you'd care to take a moment to drop an email (name optional) in the bucket, it would be most helpful. Mail volume will be low and of course, we will not sell or share your email with anyone. Here is the link: http://eepurl.com/dyuzub (Many of you may find yourselves already on the list - that is either because you've attended before, signed the paper sign-in sheet at the show, or have otherwise made yourselves known. The list site will tell you whether you're already signed up). Thank you and hope to see you in September, -j

7 years, 9 months

1
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SuperBrain

by db＠db.net

I've discovered a SuperBrain manual and two floppy disks in my basement. Anyone want them? Free to a good home. Diane -- - db at FreeBSD.org db at db.net http://www.db.net/~db

7 years, 9 months

5
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8 inch floppies, decaying

by binarydinosaurs＠gmail.com

Hi folks, Tonight I got my imaging PC to successfully read some of the 8? disks from my CPT8500 word processor using one of its own Tandon TM848-01 drives, sadly it seems the boot disk is toast but I?ve been able to dump some of the data disks as well as the Utilities. Since I have a box of unused disks I thought I?d try writing back an image but got a lot of CRC errors. Closer inspection of the disk itself shows this - http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/8inchFloppyImaging-7.jpg <http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/8inchFloppyImaging-7.jpg> - which looks like damp. Is it actually the magnetic coating breaking down? Dare I attempt cleaning? Just for another test I tried reading some of my DEC diagnostic floppies since I hoped they were RX01 format, but they error constantly so they must be RX02s. Still, it was good to see the drive spring into life :) -- adrian/witchy Owner of Binary Dinosaurs, the UK's biggest home computer collection? t: @binarydinosaurs f: facebook.com/binarydinosaurs w: www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk

7 years, 9 months

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CHWiki issues fixed

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

The two main issues with the CHWiki (non-logged in users not seeing the most recent versions of pages, and image uploads not working) have been dealt with. Noel

7 years, 9 months

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Null program (was Re: ITS DDT anecdote)

by spacewar＠gmail.com

That reminds me of one of my favorite computer trivia questions: What is the shortest useful CP/M program?

7 years, 9 months

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ITS DDT anecdote

by web＠loomcom.com

On Sun, Jun 17, 2018, at 5:52 PM, Seth Morabito wrote: > I'm trying desperately to remember an anecdote I remember reading not > too long ago about programming ITS using DDT. > [...] Replying to myself here, because I found it! Thanks to Rainer Joswig on Twitter for posting it. I will quote it here: "By way of Joe Marshall in comp.lang.lisp: Here's an anecdote I heard once about Minsky. He was showing a student how to use ITS to write a program. ITS was an unusual operating system in that the 'shell' was the DDT debugger. You ran programs by loading them into memory and jumping to the entry point. But you can also just start writing assembly code directly into memory from the DDT prompt. Minsky started with the null program. Obviously, it needs an entry point, so he defined a label for that. He then told the debugger to jump to that label. This immediately raised an error of there being no code at the jump target. So he wrote a few lines of code and restarted the jump instruction. This time it succeeded and the first few instructions were executed. When the debugger again halted, he looked at the register contents and wrote a few more lines. Again proceeding from where he left off he watched the program run the few more instructions. He developed the entire program by 'debugging' the null program." -Seth -- Seth Morabito web at loomcom.com

7 years, 9 months

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Trying to make it easier to find keyboards

by sales＠elecplus.com

https://www.elecshopper.com/model-m-keyboards/?___store=rwd I know there are no products under some categories, and no stock under others, but does this help to make it easier to find things? Click on the links to see the products. Cindy Croxton Electronics Plus 1613 Water Street Kerrville, TX 78028 830-370-3239 cell sales at elecplus.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

7 years, 9 months

1
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TRS-80 Model 2000 Keyboard

by sales＠elecplus.com

https://www.elecshopper.com/tandy-trs-80-model-2000-keyboard.html Cindy Croxton Electronics Plus 1613 Water Street Kerrville, TX 78028 830-370-3239 cell sales at elecplus.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

7 years, 9 months

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Osborne 1 keyboard

by sales＠elecplus.com

https://www.elecshopper.com/osborne-1-keyboard.html I have no way to test it. Cindy Croxton Electronics Plus 1613 Water Street Kerrville, TX 78028 830-370-3239 cell sales at elecplus.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

7 years, 9 months

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A New Batch of Items in Sellam's Virtual Warehouse

by shadoooo＠gmail.com

Hello, I sent you an email about the Votrax system. Thanks Andrea

7 years, 9 months

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Can anyone identify this S100 serial board?

by ethan＠757.org

Trying to identify the S100 serial board in my Imsai 8080. https://imgur.com/eZyOVT5 I assume it was a kit. There are wires from behind one of the ICs that go to DB25 on the rear, along with other DB25s with a few pins (maybe cassette input.) Any help appreciated. -- : Ethan O'Toole

7 years, 9 months

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A New Batch of Items in Sellam's Virtual Warehouse

by sellam.ismail＠gmail.com

Hello Everybody! I hope you're enjoying your summer. I have added more items to my online Virtual Warehouse, as follows: Atari XF551 external 5.25" floppy disk drive Atari 410 Program Recorder Atari 410-P Program Recorder Data Pacific TR-1 Translator One Blue Chip BCD/5.25 floppy drive Panasonic KX-P412 AppleTalk Interface Board Pacific Bell [Cidco DETI] eMessage e-mail terminal Gandalf Data XpressConnect 5242i ISDN router Monster Cable MacCable LocalTalk Connector Telephone Talk PhoneNet adaptor Sinclair ZX81 Timex-Sinclair 1000 Sinclair 16K RAM Timex-Sinclair 1016 Timex-Sinclair Command Stick Byte-Back Co. Modem Sinclair power supply Timex-Sinclair 2020 AC Adaptor Macintosh Performa 475 Macintosh 12" RGB Display Farallon MacRecorder Sound System Nuvotech TurboNet ST Macintosh Performa 475 Votrax International PC Dial/Log MediaVision Pro Movie Spectrum Video Capture and Display System Radeon 9700 Atlantis Pro Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro Mouse Systems PenMate Lotus Information Network FM Receiver IntelliTools IntelliKeys touch tablet keyboard Tandy CCR-82 Cassette Recorder Micropolis 1022-1 floppy disk drive Micropolis 1042 I floppy disk drive Micropolis 1043 II floppy disk drive Lexisoft, Inc. Spellbinder and Electric Webster Micropolis 1040/1050 S-100 Floppy Disk Subsystems User's Manual Micropolis Maintenance Manual Floppy Disk Subsystem Colorado Memory Systems QIC-02 Everex Systems Inc. EV-940 modem Hayes SmartModem 1200B Hayes JT Fax 9600B modem Hayes B0014800-A modem Practical Peripherals PM2400 Adaptec AHA-1510A SCSI Adapter Future Domain Corp TMC-850IBM Video Seven VEGA Enhanced Graphics Adaptor Ven-Tel MD212-3E modem Racal-Vadic VI1222 modem Racal-Vadic VA3467 modem The index of links to the specific items above is, as always, here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1I53wxarLHlNmlPVf_HJ5oMKuab4zrApI_hi… Check the News and FAQ tabs for news and information. Right now I'm offering 10% off for the month of July from new buyers ONLY! But for past buyers, you get 15% off! ;) Thanks! Sellam

7 years, 9 months

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Another DCJ11 oddity

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

So, if one looks up the Cache Control Register in, say, the KDJ11-A (EK-KDJ1A-UG-002), one sees (in section 1.6.2.1) that there are _three_ ways to disable the cache: bits 2, 3 ('force miss'), and 9 ('bypass cache'). Looking at the DCJ11 manual (EK-DCJ11-UG-PRE) doesn't provide any additional insight. (The 9 bit one is slightly different than the other two, because it causes cache contents to be invalidated as the code runs, whereas the other two don't.) What is going on here, does anyone know? I'm _guessing_ that this is for compatability with the -11/70, where the cache is divided in two ('two-way set associative'), and either half can be disabled separately (using the 2 and 3 bits in its CCR). I suppose only someone who worked on the DCJ11 would know; but I have no idea how to track down such a person. Noel

7 years, 9 months

3
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SGI IRIX gcc 4.7

by carlojpisani＠gmail.com

hi I am trying to build gcc v4.7 on a remote IRIX machine (not my property, thus I can't access it 24h/7) with these (1) gnu-files, patch, and scrips (you can see how things are configured for compilation) I am stopped at the ppl v0.11 stage with the following error that I am not able to understand neither to solve any hint? thanks /usr/nekoware/gcc-4.7/lib/gcc/mips-sgi-irix6.5/4.7.1/../../../../include/c++/4.7.1/cmath: In function 'typename __gnu_cxx::__enable_if<std::__is_arithmetic<_Tp>::__value, int>::__type std::fpclassify(_Tp)': /usr/nekoware/gcc-4.7/lib/gcc/mips-sgi-irix6.5/4.7.1/../../../../include/c++/4.7.1/cmath:814:35: error: 'FP_NAN' was not declared in this scope /usr/nekoware/gcc-4.7/lib/gcc/mips-sgi-irix6.5/4.7.1/../../../../include/c++/4.7.1/cmath:814:43: error: 'FP_INFINITE' was not declared in this scope /usr/nekoware/gcc-4.7/lib/gcc/mips-sgi-irix6.5/4.7.1/../../../../include/c++/4.7.1/cmath:814:56: error: 'FP_NORMAL' was not declared in this scope /usr/nekoware/gcc-4.7/lib/gcc/mips-sgi-irix6.5/4.7.1/../../../../include/c++/4.7.1/cmath:815:7: error: 'FP_SUBNORMAL' was not declared in this scope /usr/nekoware/gcc-4.7/lib/gcc/mips-sgi-irix6.5/4.7.1/../../../../include/c++/4.7.1/cmath:815:21: error: 'FP_ZERO' was not declared in this scope gmake[3]: *** [Box.lo] Error 1 gmake[3]: Leaving directory `/root/ghdl-for-irix/prereq/new-gcc-v4.7/ppl-0.11-build/src' gmake[2]: *** [all] Error 2 gmake[2]: Leaving directory `/root/ghdl-for-irix/prereq/new-gcc-v4.7/ppl-0.11-build/src' gmake[1]: *** [all-recursive] Error 1 gmake[1]: Leaving directory `/root/ghdl-for-irix/prereq/new-gcc-v4.7/ppl-0.11-build' gmake: *** [all] Error 2 (1) http://www.downthebunker.xyz/wonderland/chunk_of/stuff/public/retrocomputin…

7 years, 9 months

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IBM junk

by cctalk＠emailtoilet.com

Collected stuff for over 10 years. Moving from 2300 sq. ft. to 1400. It had to go. Praise the computer gods I found someone that wanted it all. 115 boxes of manuals and documents. 26 boxes of coffee mugs 73 703 boxes of stuff. 106 loose big items. Filled the floor space of a 26' truck. It can be viewed at http://www.ibmjunkman.com/junk/ Best viewed on a PC with decent speed connection. Sample stuff: 360 Mod 20 panel, mod 30 panel, mod 65 panel, s/3 panel. Disk pack and HDA up the ying yang. 3850 data carts, 2321 data cell, 7340 Hypertape cartridge, a Russian equivalent, desktop chachki (tchotchke), 360 mod 70 desktop model used in 1964 World's Fair, etc, etc.

7 years, 9 months

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HP 5061-6565 scsi loopback plug

by aek＠bitsavers.org

Someone working on simulating the scsi DIO board in MAME asked me about the scsi loopback test plug. Anyone ever seen one? Is it just wires or are there active parts doing the loopback?

7 years, 9 months

5
7
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SMS floppy disk controller

by cctalk＠ibm51xx.net

>eBay is redirecting you because the --->auction is ended, This is a new >"feature." Yeah, I hate it when ebay gets creative. It usually ends up screwing the customers/buyers.? -Ali

7 years, 9 months

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SMS floppy disk controller

by aek＠bitsavers.org

https://www.ebay.com/itm//163128936661 ok, I'm guessing this is an SMS floppy controller why is someone willing to pay $50+ for it in the condition its in?

7 years, 9 months

4
5
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KDJ11 misfeature

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

So, it appears that the KDJ11 (definitely the -A, and probably all of them) cannot execute code from the PARs - one gets a NXM trap. (Definitely the kernel I PARs, I haven't checked all 6 sets, but I can't see why they others would be any different.) Has anyone else run into this, so I can be sure I'm not confused? This is a mild pain, because it's nice to be able to put short 'scope loops in them, either to debug a memory card when you don't have any working memory plugged in, or when you don't want the bus 'contaminated' with instruction fetch cycles, etc. Noel

7 years, 9 months

1
0
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Making a bootable LIF CD for the 9000/382

by aek＠bitsavers.org

brain fade, I know I've made a HPUX 9 install CD before but I've forgotten how you make one that can be booted by the LIF boot rom in the machine.

7 years, 9 months

9
21
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test-drb