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

by waisun.chia＠gmail.com

I am currently really enjoying "Fire in the Valley", and was reliving the days when IMSAI reigned.... I learnt about the VDP-80 and how poor management chose to released the not-fully-debugged VDP-80 into the public... So anybody as a VDP-80? Until I read about it I've never head of it... /wai-sun

21 years, 2 months

4
4
0 0

Age

by bmachacek＠pcisys.net

Guess I might as well weigh in too. The first computer I worked with was a CDC 1604-A which uses the octal numbering scheme. I will be 102 in 5 days, the 19th of March. Bill

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

longevity of media

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

Hi I thought I should note here that all of the floppies that I originally created years ago have been readable. The only issues I've had with these is that the glue used on some envelopes inner linings seeps through the lining onto the disk or the envelope has been pinch in a stack so long that the disk doesn't turn. I've heard that the surfaces will begin to break down but so far, none of my disk have shown that to be true. My floppies go back to when ever the H89 first came out ( within a year after anyway ). I'd hoped that CDROMs could at least hold up that long. It looks like I'll be disappointed soon. Dwight

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Got Videotrax card working

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Vintage Computer Festival" <vcf at siconic.com> > > >In case anyone cares, I ended up getting working that Videotrax card I >wrote about a day ago. What might be useful to know is that I followed >Dwight's advice and re-seated the only socketed chip on the board (that >customy Motorola chip). After doing this everything seems to be working >peachy. I'm more than halfway through dumping another 10 megabytes of >data from one of the VHS data tapes I have; so far so good. > >New maxim: when all else fails, re-seat. > >-- > >Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival > Hi Good to hear. Dwight

21 years, 2 months

3
2
0 0

RT11 sysgen and disk partitions

by mbg＠TheWorld.com

>I believe you want something like the following (my notes aren't handy at >the moment). >SET DU0: UNIT=0,PART=0 >SET DU1: UNIT=0,PART=1 >SET DU2: UNIT=0,PART=2 >SET DU3: UNIT=1,PART=0 Although these will work, I have found that for purposes of simplicity, and maximizing the ability to boot a given disk on multiple configurations, it is best to use the lower DU unit numbers for physical drives, and the higher ones for logical mappings. So, for example, I would have SET DU0 UNIT=0 PART=0 SET DU1 UNIT=1 PART=0 SET DU2 UNIT=2 PART=0 SET DU3 UNIT=3 PART=0 SET DU4 UNIT=0 PART=1 SET DU5 UNIT=0 PART=2 (when you use the 64-unit version of the driver, you're on your own...:-) Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL,ST| email: mbg at world.std.com | | Member of Technical Staff | megan at savaje.com | | SavaJe Technologies, Inc. | (s/ at /@/) | | 100 Apollo Drive | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Chelmsford, MA 01824 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (978) 256 6521 (DEC '77-'98) | required." - mbg KB1FCA | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

21 years, 2 months

2
3
0 0

USB Universal Floppy Disk controller

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Philip Pemberton" <philpem at dsl.pipex.com> ---snip--- >> >> o Reading disks > >Easy - start when you get an index pulse, then stop when you get another >pulse. I'd be tempted to make the stop pulse lag a bit though, just to make >sure there's enough overlap to be reasonably sure that you've got all of the >data. You need a little flexability here. I have a machine that is hard sectored and used 8 holes per sector. > >> o Writing back a disk image > >See above. It does need retiming and pre-comp added back in. Still, just a software issue. I like the DSP because it can actually analyze the particular media used and generate a more exacting pre-comp than even the best controller can. This would be great for archiving since the recreated disk can be better than the original. ---snip--- Go for it Phil!!!!! Dwight

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

DEC THZ02: Wottizzit?

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

Hi, gang, I've come across a DEC THZ02 external/stand-alone tape drive in a nice enclosure with what is labeled as a SCSI interface. It resembles DLT in terms of its cartridge style, but it doesn't look like any "normal" DLT drive I've come across before in that it has no manual density selection that I can find. Details? Also, if anyone wants it (I certainly don't need it), I would be happy to send it along for the stunning total of $10 plus shipping. Let me know... Thanks much. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner & Head Hardware Heavy, Blue Feather Technologies -- http://www.bluefeathertech.com kyrrin (at) bluefeathertech do/t c=o=m "If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped with surreal ports?"

21 years, 2 months

18
26
0 0

USB Universal Floppy Disk controller

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "9000 VAX" <vax9000 at gmail.com> > >On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 20:51:10 +0000, Jules Richardson >> >> What about cost? (irrespective of how the device physically connects to >> the host machine) >> >> I forsee four goals to make it useful: >> >> o Cheap >> o Simple to build by anyone with a few electronics skills. >> o Open 'source' (all schematics etc. available) >> o Easy / quick connectivity >> >> Catweasel seems to lose out on 1, 3, and 4 - and 2 isn't relevant in its >> case. Can't comment on how nice its software API is as I haven't looked >> at it yet, but doubtless a bunch of us on this list could come up with >> something that'd cater for all tastes (plus the really low-level >> software would all be open source anyway!) >> >> Personally I'm not a fan of a USB version though; I'd rather have >> parallel as pretty much any machine has a parallel port - USB limits me >> to newer PCs and Macs (plus software interfacing *might* be harder). >> >> Priorities seem to me to be (highest first): >> >> o Reading disks >> o Writing back a disk image >> o Decoding disk data on host machine >> o Modifying disk data on host machine, re-encoding back to floppy >> >> Happily, that's probably order of complexity too, easiest first :) (I am >> coming at this from a preservation point of view, rather than being able >> to create disk images for use with emulators, say) > >Luckly I have experience with both ADSP2181 and a CPLD/FPGA. I built >my own little board to read out the internal memory from an ADSP2181, >designed signal generation board with ADSP2181, and wrote thousands of >lines of ADSP2181 code. On the other hand, I built a QBUS MSCP SCSI >with Xilinx CPLD and now working on an Altera CPLD. > >I didn't read much of floppy controller but in my preliminary opinion, >CPLD/FPGA is a better fit. If you use a 2181 here, you utilize only >the (synchronous) serial port which can be easily built with a CPLD. A >CPLD on parallel port has another advantage, that you might be able to >eliminate a microcontroller which I guess is needed for a USB >sollution. I don't have knowledge of USB so please correct me if I am >wrong. > >vax, 9000 > Hi Vax What you say is true. I would suspect that it would be possible to do all of the work in a CPLD, even for the USB chip that I saw. Still, the ADI device has enough horse power to do a lot of data reduction. It also has the possibility to handle the writing back to a disk, including pre-comp. Again, all this has the possibility to be done in the CPLD as well but I think that incremental development in a software environment is easier than >from a Verilog/VHDL level. I expected to use the processors ability to analyze the data to help to do data reduction from an over sampled input. This could be done on a PC with just the raw data as you state( again, even with the CPLD ). USB might not be fast enough to handle the over sampled data. By local data reduction, one can minimize the buffering requirements. In order to make a open source that all can use, you'd need to provide a compiler. ADI gives one an assembler that can be use for free. Still, if you went ahead and did this on your own, that would be great! I'm not sure if I could find the time to fiddle with it for at least a few months. All efforts here will be greatly appreciated. Having the code in Verilog/VHDL would also help to avoid obsolescent. Chips like the ADI2181 only have a few years before being obsoleted. Both should have the advantage that one can add enhancements as other types of disk media are added. Dwight

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Qumetrak 242 drive

by rimmer＠xs4all.nl

Can anybody give me any information about this drive ? Would I for example be able to connect it to any more or less modern machine ? Thanks! Stefan Mansier.

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Floppy drive pin 2 question?

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 13 2005, 22:45, Randy McLaughlin wrote: > From: "Pete Turnbull" <pete at dunnington.u-net.com> > > Michael is correct, the exact function varies from drive to drive, and > > it always involves changing the write current. Some drives have > > several jumpers to affect this. > I have tried to research the issue further but can I find no authoritative > references to pin 2 being anything but an RPM select line. > If anyone has an authoritative reference stating it was not used to select > rotational speed I will be happy to change my website stating that it does > have multiple uses. [ ... ] > Please note I am not looking for what people remember it does but actual > documents from a manufacturer. I tested it with a TEAC FD-55GFR and sure > enough it slowed the RPM when grounded. Well, how about document 5fd0050a.pdf from TEAC's website, which is the spec sheet for the FD-55GFR-XXXX range. Page 1 lists the customer-selectable jumpers for -3xxx, -4xxx and -5xxx as including "LG" and "I". Page 7 shows where all the jumpers are. Page 8 lists the jumpers for -7xxx. Page 13 states (the CAPITALS are in the original document) ---------------------------- begin --------------------------------- LG strap: to select the logical meaning of the Hi/Normal DENSITY input signal at interface line #2 LG Strap OFF ON -------------- -------------- ------------- Density mode HIGH LOW HIGH LOW I/F #2 signal HIGH LOW LOW HIGH For an AT compatible system LG should be set to the off state. I Strap: Strap to select the rotational speed mode of the FDD for the Hi and Low density modes. ---------------------------- end --------------------------------- In other words, Pin 2 is the Density Select signal, and can be jumpered to work so that 0V (signal active) sets HD and inactive sets low density (SD/DD, or FM/MFM). Normally it's not fitted, so active (low) sets low density and inactive (or open-circuit) sets high density -- as you woould want for an IBM AT or similar. The "I" jumper controls whether the Density Select signal *also* controls the speed -- a *secondary* function of the Density Select. If fitted, speed changes when density does; if not fitted, speed is fixed at 360 RPM. Pages 16-21 of the same PDF file on TEAC's website are a scanned copy of TEAC's "FD-55-GRF-XXXX Instalation Guide" for use with IBM AT, which clearly shows the factory settings of the jumpers, with neither "LG" nor "I" fitted, so Pin 2 selects density as usual, and the signal on pin 2 does not affect the speed, which is fixed at 360 rpm. If you want more, I have data for Mitsubishi MF504C-310MP, on which jumper SS sets single speed (360 rpm) without affecting density selection, same for Mitsubishi M4854-35, Panasonic JU-475-2.AGG (jumper AX makes density select on pin 2 be latched when drive is selected, BX/CX/JX determine if speed is determined by density select or is fixed, and 1M forces it to ignore the density select signal on pin 2), and Fuji FDD5883AOK (Toshiba) which has a jumper from pin 2 to ground labelled "DD" for double density and described as disabling HD (jumpers DE/DX are described as to set the speed according to the density, or fixed). Think about this: All HD-capable 5.25" drives need a way to set the density (by changing the write current) for either 300 oersted media or 600 oersted media. The drive has no way to tell on its own. Therefore there must be some signal defined to do this. AT controllers can write both densities at 360 rpm (they just use a 300kbps clock instead of a 250kbps clock), so they don't actually need to change the speed. Therefore the signal previously unused (or, rarely, used in non-standard vendor-dependant ways) on pin 2 is the density signal; using it to reduce the speed is an optional extra. Your FD55 happens to have a jumper fitted to make the speed change when you change the density, that's all. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 2 months

4
4
0 0

Grandfather system RTE6/VM?

by MGemeny＠pgcps.org

>it's a museum!!! Emulate hardware for display? I agree, I?m running two 2883s on Access under simulation. I run a single 7900 on the TSB E version, and a single 2883 on the F version. The largest real Access system I ever owned/ran had 1 7920 and 3 7900s. What is that, about 47MB. So two 2883s at about 25 MB each would just over the largest real system I ever ran. If you want real drives, the most rugged of them was the 7900, IMHO. The 7920 was fine, but not as tough as the 7900. The 7905 was the one that seemed to me to crash for no reason at all. I always held my breath when I spun up one of those. It seemed as though every time I got one for my inventory I would have one fail on a customer?s site. So I cursed that drive so much that I would never even try to run one on my systems. BTW Jay, Al, I have a set of 2100 Access micro-code. My brother has offered to take a shot at making copies of the ROMs. He did it once before for me in the early to mid 80s. Perhaps if he can make 2 copy sets, we could send one set to Al to be read and archived, and when he?s done have him forward them to Jay to test the copies in real hardware.

21 years, 2 months

28
95
0 0

Floppy drive pin 2 question?

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 11 2005, 12:44, Randy McLaughlin wrote: > From: "Michael Sokolov" <msokolov at ivan.harhan.org> > > Changing the RPM is an option on SOME drives, and for PeeCees to work it > > must be OFF. It is very useful for Classic Computers, though. > > > > The high density select signal (pin 2) may or may not switch RPM, but it > > always switches the write current. > No, I have refered to the TEAC site and to WDC: > > WDC referes to pin 2 as speed select, their controller can be used with > either single speed or dual speed 1.2mb drives: > http://www.wdc.com/en/library/legacy/controllerboards/1006mm1.pdf Michael is correct, the exact function varies from drive to drive, and it always involves changing the write current. Some drives have several jumpers to affect this. I could show you several from my collection like that. Some controllers work at two speeds, some at two data rates. Some of the WD controllers can be configured either way. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 2 months

5
4
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Floppy drive pin 2 question?

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 14 2005, 14:30, Randy McLaughlin wrote: > 2.88 mb controllers use it one way, some 1.44mb drives use it another, some > 5.25" drives use it for one thing other another. 1.44MB drives, ie 3.5" drives, do not need to be told what density to use; they use the media sense to detect that from the holes in the diskette. Therefore if they use pin 2 at all, they usually use it to signal to the controller whether the media loaded is HD or DD. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 2 months

2
1
0 0

Seeking Motorola S38FC012PIO2 ($$$ Bounty! $$$)

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Pete Turnbull" <pete at dunnington.u-net.com> ---snip--- > >Bad contacts in sockets, accumulation of dust and airborne detritus, >and problems resoldering or modifying boards when they get older. It's >the lighter silicones that cause the problems, though, and if you >can find a modern grease that has a smaller spread of molecular >weights, the problem will be greatly reduced. The difficulty is in >getting rid of the silicones, as they don't wash off, and flow into >holes especially when you heat them up. Hi Silicon grease has a negative coefficient over much of the normal temperature range. I actually gets thicker with heat not the other way around. > >I used to do a lot of commercial repairs, especially on 1980s micros, >and I used to hate the ones where people had put gobs of heatsink >compund on socketed chips. The compound contains lots of light >silicones, which used to get into the sockets and cause bad >connections, and then it was a pain to remove the socket and solder in >a new one. Of course, the worst were the ones drenched in "contact >cleaner" and WD40. Don't confuse with heat sink compound. I actually put silicon grease into sockets to improve contact. It is used by manufactures in many places that require improved contact. Heat sink compound is nasty stuff. It is not what I'm talking about. I have sockets that have 10-20 years of trouble free function with silicon grease in them. From experiments that I did years ago when working for Intel, silicon grease not only works well on sockets and edge connectors, it help switches as well. Especially those that have particularly high or low current. In the high current ones it helps to prevent arcing. The improved contact reduces contact heating. In the low current ones it reduces the need for contact scrubbing. About the only bad thing I can think of is that one might get it on the surface of a floppy disk. Any grease on the surface usually makes writing the disk problematic. I've never seen DC#4 cause a bad contact. I've seen many cases where it has improved it enough that problems of contact over heating are no longer an issue ( Molex connectors in pinball machines ). WD40 contains all kinds of junk. I've never had troubles soldering when the joint had silicon grease ( DC#4 ) on it. In fact, most cases, it almost works as well a flux by keeping the oxidation down ( Also done while at Intel ). The only reason Intel didn't use it after the experiments I did was because they feared that pre-labled parts would get this on them and the lables would not stay on ( a valid reason ). Dwight

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Byte sizes

by bqt＠Update.UU.SE

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 der Mouse <mouse at Rodents.Montreal.QC.CA> wrote: > >> A byte is the smallest INDIVIDUALLY addressable unit of data on a > >> system. > > Well, it sounds reasonable, but probably isn't the most useful, as it > would mean that, for example, the PDP-8 had 12-bit bytes. > > > The PDP-10 is an excellent example of when this isn't true. > > The smallest addressable unit is a word, which is 36 bits. > > A byte is, as noted, anything between 0 and 36 bits. Bytes are > > stored in a word, as many as can be fitted. To access bytes on a > > PDP-10, you have a byte pointer, which consist of a word address, and > > a bit pointer, and byte size. > > That sounds a whole lot like a hardware-supported way of addressing an > object of an arbitrary size in bits. And that would mean that bytes of > any size *are* individually addressible. > > Or have I misunderstood? Well, yes and no. Please note that there are special instructions to deal with bytes in the PDP-10. These instructions can deal with objects of arbitrary size (well, 0 to 36 bits anyway). However, most instructions do not deal with bytes, and thus will not play with the bit field stuff, and only deal with a simple plain address, which address a 36 bit word. Among these instructions are such things as a normal MOVE instruction. So these byte pointers are only handled by a few special instructions, that deal with bytes. For all other purposes, the PDP-10 only deal with words, which always are 36 bits. Johnny Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at update.uu.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

AGE

by mmcfadden＠cmh.edu

53 Maybe I should try to make my wife let me buy that many computers for my birthday. Mike

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Seeking Motorola S38FC012PIO2 ($$$ Bounty! $$$)

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 14 2005, 13:37, Dwight K. Elvey wrote: > >From: "Pete Turnbull" <pete at dunnington.u-net.com> > >I still wouldn't use silicon grease, because it creeps over time, and > >can cause all sorts of problems, often at some distance from where it > >was originally put. > Yes, it does creep. I just wonder what problems you refer to. Bad contacts in sockets, accumulation of dust and airborne detritus, and problems resoldering or modifying boards when they get older. It's the lighter silicones that cause the problems, though, and if you can find a modern grease that has a smaller spread of molecular weights, the problem will be greatly reduced. The difficulty is in getting rid of the silicones, as they don't wash off, and flow into holes especially when you heat them up. I used to do a lot of commercial repairs, especially on 1980s micros, and I used to hate the ones where people had put gobs of heatsink compund on socketed chips. The compound contains lots of light silicones, which used to get into the sockets and cause bad connections, and then it was a pain to remove the socket and solder in a new one. Of course, the worst were the ones drenched in "contact cleaner" and WD40. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Floppy drive pin 2 question?

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 14 2005, 13:29, Randy McLaughlin wrote: > You have mis-read the table. > > Pin 2 can only change the speed to 300 RPM by lowering pin 2, with pin 2 > high no matter what the drive runs at 360 RPM. I have not misread the table. The point is that pin 2 controls the density, no matter how you set the "LG" jumper, and changing the density may or may not change the speed, depending on the jumper at "I". > The density mode can be high with pin 2 high or low with pin 2 high > depending on jumpering. But either way, changing its state changes the density, but not necessarily the speed. > The one and only standard the document gives for pin 2 is speed change. Read it again. I just did. It does not say that anywhere in the text, the tables, or diagrams. What it does say or show, in several places, is that the default setting is "LG" and "I" not fitted, and that that condition makes pin 2 control the change from normal density to high, and does not change the speed. It also says in the table that "LG" determines how pin 2 controls the density, and that "I" controls whether the speed changes *when the density changes*. I've also found on my system a TEAC document for the FD505. It clearly states that pin 2 is the "HD IN" density select input. And a document >from Don Maslin's archive that describes the pins and jumpers for an "FD-55GFR" (but it doesn't say which suffix). It, too, clearly says that pin 2 is the density select, that "LG" controls the polarity of the density select, and that "I" and "IS" control how this affects the speed ("I" to determine if the speed changes at all, in response to density changes, and "IS" controls whether that is latched once the drive is selected). -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Seeking Motorola S38FC012PIO2 ($$$ Bounty! $$$)

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Pete Turnbull" <pete at dunnington.u-net.com> > >On Mar 14 2005, 9:18, Dwight K. Elvey wrote: > >> Don't use heat sink grease. That has fillers to >> make it thermally conductive. Use the clear gel stuff. >> Dow Corning #4 works wonders and doesn't harm any of >> the electrical stuff. I actually use SilGlyde that I >> got at the automotive shop. It works quite well. > >I still wouldn't use silicon grease, because it creeps over time, and >can cause all sorts of problems, often at some distance from where it >was originally put. > >-- >Pete Peter Turnbull > Network Manager > University of York > Hi Yes, it does creep. I just wonder what problems you refer to. Dwight

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Byte sizes (was Re: 2.8M 3.5' floppy

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 14 2005, 12:19, woodelf wrote: > der Mouse wrote: > > >By the "byte = addressing unit" definition? It's been a while since I > >had a PDP-8 (I had an -8/f but I long ago gave it to a collector much > >more serious than I), but I'm fairly sure the addressing unit was the > >12-bit word. > > > > > Addressing unit is WORDS... How ever text can and often was packed in 6 > bit nibbles? > The real gotya on the old machines... UPPER CASE ASCII ONLY. Who told you that? It's true of Teletype ASR33s, but not of the machines themselves. I've happily done things in mixed-case ASCII on my PDP-8/E. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Seeking Motorola S38FC012PIO2 ($$$ Bounty! $$$)

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 14 2005, 9:18, Dwight K. Elvey wrote: > Don't use heat sink grease. That has fillers to > make it thermally conductive. Use the clear gel stuff. > Dow Corning #4 works wonders and doesn't harm any of > the electrical stuff. I actually use SilGlyde that I > got at the automotive shop. It works quite well. I still wouldn't use silicon grease, because it creeps over time, and can cause all sorts of problems, often at some distance from where it was originally put. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Age

by dm561＠torfree.net

---------------Original Message: Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 11:41:42 -0500 From: "John Allain" <allain at panix.com> Subject: Re: Age Let me point out that Jay had specifically mentioned this thread as one of the annoyingly off-topic ones. It's even worse now that people are off the track twice, not even keeping to the first diverted topic. John A. ---------------Reply: With all due respect to Jay and the moderators, I think it's a pretty unfriendly list if we're not even allowed to get to know a little about each other. I see that this thread is also on CCtech, so I assume that the moderators do deem it as on-topic; we're certainly all over ten years old, very much related to computers, and some of us are most definitely "classic"s. I suggest that we leave it up to Jay & the other moderators to let us know when a thread has strayed too far, and, when they do, act accordingly. mike BTW: Add me to the 59 year olds, if I'm not already there.

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Old 9-track Tar Tapes

by bristol22＠softhome.net

I have some 9-track mag tapes, mostly 1600bpi but a couple are 800bpi or 6250bpi. They were made under 4.2BSD Unix on a DEC Vax 11/780 in about 1986. They are "tar" tapes, blocking factor 20. The contents are my C programs written then, academic papers I wrote then, and my email >from then. I want to get the data off the tapes. I am only interested in the ASCII data, and not any executable files. (The physical tapes are up for grabs, and some cost me $25 each back then, "Graham Magnetics Ultra-Mag" certified 100% error free for 25 years.) Is there a kind, generous, and tape-drive equipped soul out there that would help me out? A reply like "Only the 800bpi" or "Only the 6250bpi" would be welcome. Destination: my friend's FTP server, CD-R, DVD-R, or whatever. Compensation: I have some PDP-11 style hex boards, some of them prototypes. I have the controller for a DEC RF-11 fixed head disk. I have a "certified error free", new old stock, 80MB disk pack for a CDC 9762 (SMD). Back in 1985 2.8 BSD on a PDP-11 needed an error free disk pack. I have a RK05 disk pack. I am unemployed at the moment, but could still pay something, and shipping. Maybe I can repay the favor with my time. I am pretty good at writing websites, including Flash. Maybe you have to work on the "dark side" sometimes, and I can ease your pain. I am good at most things >from uncle Bill, including Windows 2003 server clusters, Terminal Services, and applications large and small. I study Japanese and other languages, and software for that study. Also, I am an expert in auto-feed document scanners and document management/capture software. richard bristol // email: bristol22 [at] softhome [dot] net

21 years, 2 months

3
2
0 0

File format webopedia

by vcf＠siconic.com

Just found a terrific resource: http://www.fileformat.info/ Has tons of information on file formats (mostly graphics, but also some text and markup formats). Searchable, with links to specifications and such. Might be useful when trying to decode an old file format you're not familiar with. -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

21 years, 2 months

4
4
0 0

Age

by jec＠jcosper.com

Add another one to: 40 - 44: James.

21 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Timex SC-01 Speech Synthesiser

by alhartman＠yahoo.com

Glen, I might have something somewhere, but I couldn't put my fingers on it right now.. I remember taking the source for the manuals and backing them up to Floppy in the late 80's. I don't remember if I wrote the manuals on the PC I was using, or the Imsai 8080 (8" Z-80 CPM), OR the MS-DOS Clone we used for awhile.. If it's on the PC or the Clone, I might have the files still. But, I think that Stewart kept the source to that manual on the IMSAI. Stewart is still in business, and he might still have the information. Have you tried going to www.zebrasystems.com ? I remember that the software consisted of a Binary Driver that did text to speech conversions. It was contained in REM statements at the beginning of the program, and I would pass the text to it for parsing by poking values into a memory area, which would then be sent to the Synthesiser for output after CALLing the routine. It's been a LONG time.. LOL! I didn't write the text to speech algorithim. Stewart did that. I just did the UI, and wrote the manual for it. I'm not sure I have the source for that seperate from a TS1000/ZX-81 Cassette. And I never kept one for myself. I still have a Speech Pak for the Coco (which we made for Spectrum Projects), with the software... But, I never kept one of the Timex Boards. Regards, Al > Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 17:06:39 -0500 > From: "Glen Goodwin" <acme at gbronline.com> > Subject: SC-01 Votrax > > Al -- do you have any documentation for the ZX81/TS1000 > version? I have both boards but no docs for the ZX81 > version. > > Regards -- > > Glen > 0/0 __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site! http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/

21 years, 2 months

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Burroughs L7000 Magnetic System - What is it?

by dm561＠torfree.net

---------------Original Message: Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 17:21:05 -0800 (PST) From: steven stengel <tosteve at yahoo.com> Subject: Burroughs L7000 Magnetic System - What is it? Sheesh, I've been offered a Burroughs L7000, but I don't even know what it is. Any hints? http://members.cox.net/stengel/temp/L7000.jpg Steve. ----- Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 23:47:30 -0500 From: "James Fogg" <James at jdfogg.com> Subject: RE: Burroughs L7000 Magnetic System - What is it? Well, it looks like an A/C unit in a hotel ;-) ---------------Reply: It does indeed, but it is a somewhat misleading close-up picture of the nameplate. It's a relatively rare model of the L series accounting computer, desk size with a keyboard, dual tractor Selectric-type printer, fixed hard disk and integrated paper tape reader, capable of reading mag stripe ledger cards (hence the "magnetic"). Suggest you ask for a picture of the whole machine; see: http://www.sieler.com/L9000/original.html for excellent pictures of an L9000, identical but with solid state memory and dot-matrix printer (and a single tape drive on this particular one). Possible peripherals include PPT/EPC reader & punch, up to 4 digital cassette tape drives, external card reader, modem, etc. I believe it was the last model to use a fixed hard disk for program & working storage before they went solid state (L8000/9000). Programming was normally done in assembler on a mainframe, using punched card input and PPT output. With peripherals and the relevant software it was possible to program on the L itself; otherwise one could still program in machine language (again, with the necessary software/firmware). A real challenge if you don't have the firmware and utility tapes; threw out most of my manuals & tapes long ago, but might still have a golf & lunar lander game on cassette tape somewhere. BTW, looks like Bletchley has a restored L5000 in its collection, a very similar previous model; also, there used to be someone on this list with 2 L9000s. mike

21 years, 2 months

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Difference between 2 PDP11 models

by ggs＠shiresoft.com

Hi, I'm trying to figure out what the difference between a PDP-11/55 and a PDP-11/t55 is (other than the obvious "t"). Anyone out there know? Thanks. -- TTFN - Guy

21 years, 2 months

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RT11 sysgen and disk partitions

by mbg＠TheWorld.com

>> The Monitor you're using was Sysgen'd to load those drivers >> automatically. You could probably free up a little memory by doing a >> Sysgen that just includes the drivers you need. >Ok, makes sense. I suppose I have to find an original system master to >make my own sysgen. Though the boot disk I'm using now suits me fine for >my current purposes. Problem is that it is wrong. The monitor, at boot time, will fill in its tables for devices it finds (up to 40 devices). Except for the system device, which is loaded so that it can't be unloaded, these handlers are considered 'installed' if the I/O page addresses indicated as required in the handler exist. This does not mean that the handlers have been loaded. Handlers are not automatically loaded by RT-11. They can, however, be loaded using the startup command file. They can also be .FETCHed by properly written programs. Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL,ST| email: mbg at world.std.com | | Member of Technical Staff | megan at savaje.com | | SavaJe Technologies, Inc. | (s/ at /@/) | | 100 Apollo Drive | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Chelmsford, MA 01824 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (978) 256 6521 (DEC '77-'98) | required." - mbg KB1FCA | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

21 years, 2 months

2
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OT Troubleshooting: Old computers with modern parts

by dvcorbin＠optonline.net

> The 4051,4052 and 4053 were very static sensitive. But it > is try that most were relatively insensitive. Still, if you > are hitting a part with a spark large enough to make > a sound, you are most likely doing some damage, even if > it doesn't show right away. Duiring the '70s and '80s I worked at a company that made many military and space grade components. A percentage were de-lidded at the end of each lot and sent to a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) to look for static damage, that had NOT effected functionallity. If any (above a very small threshold) was found, the ENTIRE lot was scrapped [although they really became samples, lab grade, etc...] It was AMAZING, the various craters and cracks that were caused by static that you could not see, feel, or hear.... Wish I still had some of the prints....

21 years, 2 months

1
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Seeking Motorola S38FC012PIO2 ($$$ Bounty! $$$)

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "William Maddox" <wmaddox at pacbell.net> > >--- "Dwight K. Elvey" <dwight.elvey at amd.com> wrote: > >> Also, have you removed the chip and put some >> contact >> enhancer on it?? ( You know, some silicon grease ) >> Dwight > >I imagine that some DeOxit or similar would be >good, but silicon grease? I thought that was >for *thermal* conductivity only. > >--Bill Hi Bill Don't use heat sink grease. That has fillers to make it thermally conductive. Use the clear gel stuff. Dow Corning #4 works wonders and doesn't harm any of the electrical stuff. I actually use SilGlyde that I got at the automotive shop. It works quite well. Dwight

21 years, 2 months

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Mag Tapes was RE: Got Videotrax card working

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 14 2005, 9:54, Paul Koning wrote: > >>>>> "Joe" == Joe R <rigdonj at cfl.rr.com> writes: > > Joe> At 11:14 PM 3/12/05 -0500, James Fogg wrote: > >> Over the years I've learned to never trust tape of any kind. > > Joe> That's been my experience. I've never been able to get a tape > Joe> backup that worked. That includes brand new ones, DATs and > Joe> everything else. I know tapes have been a mainstay in the > Joe> computer field but I've had nothing but trouble with them. > > My view is that there are PC class tapes and real tapes. Real tapes > include classic half inch reel, DLT, and presumably IBM' cartridges (I > haven't used those). I'll go along with that. I've had a few problems recovering data from 8mm and 4mm tapes -- in the latter case it's been the drives that were troublesome, rather than the media -- but not with DLTs or 1/2" magtape (except for very very old ones). I've never used QIC tapes, though some of my friends seem to think the bigger ones are OK. > It doesn't help when trade press reviewers don't take data integrity > seriously. Some years ago there was a review article about backup > software. The reviewers did some restore testing. Good of them to do > that. Some of the programs tested didn't reliably restore data, so > they were docked 30 points or so. > > That's amazing. The only correct answer would be to unconditionally > flunk such programs, because the value of a backup program that can't > restore reliably is obviously zero, not any higher value... I agree. If it won't restore, you'd be better off not bothering at all, and saving the money (and time). -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 2 months

1
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New transputer pictures - original B004 prototype and 1st TRAM pr ototype!

by RMeenaks＠OLF.COM

Hi, Someone just sent me pictures of the original B004 prototype and prototypes of the 1st transputer tram. He also sent the 1st production run of the tram as well. Apparently, he has tons of vintage transputer equipment waiting to archived. Happy Days are coming!!! First set of pics are of the prototype B004, complete with all mod wires! Note the old-style 124pin PGA package and the unmarked link adapter. Truly an original in all respects! The TRAM is, again, prototype #1. Again, you can see the hand-wired mods. There's also a picture the first of the production rev. of the TRAM (new pcb layout). Finally, a total rarity - the T424 datasheet. http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/tram0_1.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/b4prepro_1.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/b4prepro_0.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/t424prelim.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/tram0_2.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/b4prepro_2.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/b4prepro_3.jpg http://www.classiccmp.org/transputer/images/prototypes/tram1_1.jpg Cheers, Ram (c) 2005 OpenLink Financial Copyright in this message and any attachments remains with us. It is confidential and may be legally privileged. If this message is not intended for you it must not be read, copied or used by you or disclosed to anyone else. Please advise the sender immediately if you have received this message in error. Although this message and any attachments are believed to be free of any virus or other defect that might affect any computer system into which it is received and opened, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that it is virus free and no responsibility is accepted by Open Link Financial, Inc. for any loss or damage in any way arising from its use.

21 years, 2 months

1
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MicroVAX II - TK50 problem

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 10 2005, 20:10, Adrian Graham wrote: > the uVAX II has a Q22/Q22 backplane so the positioning of the TQK50 is > important, as is the RQDX(2/3) disk controller which should be last on the > bus. No. It's only the RQDX1 that has the "must be last on the bus" problem, and only then if what's below it uses DMA and interrupts. RQDX2 and RQDX3 have no such limitation. You won't find an RQDX1 in a MicroVAX II because it is not compatible with the MicroVAX II processor. > The first 3 slots are CD types and are reserved for CPU/Memory, the > rest (I can't remember which size cab you've got) are serpentine so if > you've only got the CPU, 2 mem boards and the disk/tape controllers then the > TQK50 should be on top of the RQDX3. Well, as you mention the cabinet size, perhaps you realise this, but I'll spell it out: The backplane in a BA23 is three Q22-CD slots followed by serpentine slots; the BA123 is 4 slots of Q22-CD then serpentine. MicroVAX IIs came in both types. In either case, you must, of course, put the CPU and memory at the top, but there is nothing to prevent use of any remaining Q22-CD slot for anything else. Just remember only the left-hand side of a Q22-CD slot actually has Qbus signals on it (there are some quad boards that won't work in a Q22-Q22 slot; I can't think of any offhand that won't work in a Q22-CD slot but that doesn't mean there aren't any). The MicroVAX II Micronotes actually show such a configuration, with a processor, single memory card, a DEQNA, an RQDX2, and a DHV11 (with the DHV11 last, as usual). -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 2 months

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MicroVAX II - TK50 problem

by msokolov＠ivan.Harhan.ORG

willisjo at zianet.com wrote: > [ASCII art drawing of a BA23] > Is that a BA23? Yes. > (Apologies for the ASCII drawing) Why apologize? ASCII art is great! MS

21 years, 2 months

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Parking heads on MFM hard drive

by vcf＠siconic.com

How does one park the heads on an MFM hard drive when there's no park command available? I don't suppose the answer is to either create one or copy one to the hard drive? :) -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

21 years, 2 months

5
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Burroughs L7000 Magnetic System - What is it?

by James＠jdfogg.com

> Sheesh, > I've been offered a Burroughs L7000, but I don't even know > what it is. Any hints? > > http://members.cox.net/stengel/temp/L7000.jpg > > Steve. Well, it looks like an A/C unit in a hotel ;-)

21 years, 2 months

1
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RT11 sysgen and disk partitions

by mbg＠TheWorld.com

>So I imagine any device drive with the X at the end is the better one to >use with the XM monitor? Or is it mandatory to use X device drivers in >the XM monitor? It is mandatory... the system knows to append an X to any two-character device name >So this brings up another question: I've noticed that I don't explicitly >need to LOAD device drivers for the devices I want to use when I boot >RT-11. In particular, I don't need to LOAD DD when I want to use the >TU58 simulator. Are they found and loaded automatically when the OS >boots, or...? Most utilities and user applications know to .FETCH device drivers they need in order to do their task. After they are done, the drivers are .RELEAsed. If they are LOADed before the program is executed, a .FETCH and .RELEA are no-ops. If they aren't loaded and aren't .FETCHed, then they simply are not in memory. Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL,ST| email: mbg at world.std.com | | Member of Technical Staff | megan at savaje.com | | SavaJe Technologies, Inc. | (s/ at /@/) | | 100 Apollo Drive | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Chelmsford, MA 01824 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (978) 256 6521 (DEC '77-'98) | required." - mbg KB1FCA | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

21 years, 2 months

2
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RT11 sysgen and disk partitions

by gordon＠gjcp.net

(this is one of the messages that *didn't* show up) OK, next load of questions. I've been trying to create a "virgin" system from the install media I have. I have so far successfully sysgenned and built RT11 v5.0, and installed it on an RL02. Great. However, the version that boots off one of the hard disks built into the PDP allows me to access four partitions in total - DU0: to DU3: - but my own version only has DU0: (same as normal) and DU1: (same as DU3: in the version of RT11 installed on the hard disk). If I say "SET DU2: disk=0, part=1" then I can see my "old" DU1: as DU2:, and so on. What do I need to change to get it to come up like this? It doesn't appear to be a load of "SET" commands in the STARTS.COM file. Gordon.

21 years, 2 months

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RT11 sysgen and disk partitions

by mbg＠TheWorld.com

>> Once done, the SET command values are held in the >> DU.SYS device driver file. You do NOT need to >> do the SET commands each time. Probably not >> recommended in any case. >Ahaaa... Is that saved in DU.SYS when you issue the commands, then? Makes >sense. I'll try it when I get home. SET commands only operate on, and change, in on-disk copy of the handler file. If you are booted from a given device and you issue SET commands for that device handler, they won't take affect until you reboot.. Same thing for issuing SET commands for device handlers which are LOADed. But at least for them you can UNLOAD and LOAD them. Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL,ST| email: mbg at world.std.com | | Member of Technical Staff | megan at savaje.com | | SavaJe Technologies, Inc. | (s/ at /@/) | | 100 Apollo Drive | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Chelmsford, MA 01824 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (978) 256 6521 (DEC '77-'98) | required." - mbg KB1FCA | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

21 years, 2 months

2
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Burroughs L7000 Magnetic System - What is it?

by tosteve＠yahoo.com

Sheesh, I've been offered a Burroughs L7000, but I don't even know what it is. Any hints? http://members.cox.net/stengel/temp/L7000.jpg Steve. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

21 years, 2 months

1
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HP Integral : running ! (HP 2671 manual)

by vp＠cs.drexel.edu

The manual is at: http://www.series80.org/Manuals/HP2671-ThermalPrinter.pdf **vp

21 years, 2 months

2
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Wanted : Pinout of 82S83

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

Does anyone have a pinout for the Signetics 82S83 BCD full-adder chip (16 pin DIL package)? A google search didn't turn up anything useful that I could see. All I can find is a comment in the 74F583 data sheet (which I have) that said chip is functionally identical to the 82S83. But that doesn't necessarily mean the same pinout (although, of course, telling me that those 2 chips are the same pinout would be enough to let me get on). FWIW, this chip is used in the high-speed language processor option for the HP9845 (which is what I am currently working on), so it's on-topic here. -tony

21 years, 2 months

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OT Troubleshooting: Old computers with modern parts

by sloboyko＠yahoo.com

woodelf wrote: >The main problem I see with the current >crop of PDP-8 >clones/replica's today is >lack of paper tape and other hardware >at the time -- non volatile memory. Actually, it's possible to build a reader fairly easily. I liberated read mechanisms from Remex "Director" readers I picked up cheap on eBay, and built a microcontroller stepper controller/serializer (which was fairly trivial-the power to the stepper is done with 0-brainer power FETs; it was not difficult to reverse engineer the connections to the head). The smallest one I built is not much bigger than the read mechanism itself, and runs on an old laptop power supply. It will do only about 60 CPS mostly due to power limitations, but how fast can you handle tape (I have reeled units that I built serializers for also). All of the readers and mechs that I have are industrial strength, and I beleive that in home use the mechanisms will last essentially forever (certainly longer than I will). Older Remex's used now-unobtainable lightbulbs, which I have replaced as needed with high-power LEDs (the "Intel" readers used Remex mechanisms). The oldest reader I have is an Oktronics (NIB) which had a very special (and broken) lightbulb. The #$@$#@ lightbulb cost $42-I couldn't bear hacking LED's into it. It is possible to build a "slot" type reader with LED's and photodiodes; I built one but abandoned it when I built the mechanized units because they are "neater". The real problem in a paper tape "ecosystem" is in the punches, "handling equipment" and the tape itself; I got lucky and got a lot of Mylar cheap some time ago, as well as some real DEC fanfold and reel tape. Mylar tape is now fabulously expensive at retail. The older DSI punches are very rebuildable; I got a very beat-up one in, replaced the belts (standard) and the caps in the power supply, made a replacement chad box from a $2.00 radio shack project box and some Velcro and it works great. If the electronics fails (I think that they use an F8 microprocessor) I'll just replace it with work-alike modern electronics. I have a FACIT reader that was severely damaged in shipping, but it has a good punch head. I intend to make a smaller case for it and run it with a microcontroller and FETs; I think I can reduce the power requirements by only punching one hole at a time (obviously, it will be slower, but who cares). Most of the size/weight in the thing is in the colossal linear power supply. Again, this mechanism in home use could last a very long time. Paper tape is a PITA and fun at the same time. I like to point out to friends that the data on the metallized Mylar tape will be readable (even visually!) and usable long, long after their hard disks are very deep down in landfills! -Steve Loboyko Website: http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl Nixie Watch (one-tube):http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/complwatch.htm __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

21 years, 2 months

14
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DEC THZ02: Wottizzit?

by cctech-post＠desktopint.com

>From DEC's price list 1997: -THZ02-AA 6GBF Cipher tape drive sgl en -THZ02-AB 6GBF Cipher tape drive differ -THZ02-AC THZ02-AA in tabletop enclosur -THZ02-AD THZ02-AB in tabletop enclosur -THZ02-AE 6GB Cipher tape drive interna -THZ02-AF 6GB Cipher tape drive differe -THZ02-AG THZ02-AE in tabletop enclosur -THZ02-AH THZ02-AF in tabletop enclosur -THZ02-BA 6GB TT tape dr,SCSI OEM USD -THZ02-BC 6GB emb tape dr,SCSI OEM Phil St.Sauveur Desktop Integration Inc. -----Original Message----- From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Bruce Lane Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 11:32 AM To: cctech at classiccmp.org Subject: DEC THZ02: Wottizzit? Hi, gang, I've come across a DEC THZ02 external/stand-alone tape drive in a nice enclosure with what is labeled as a SCSI interface. It resembles DLT in terms of its cartridge style, but it doesn't look like any "normal" DLT drive I've come across before in that it has no manual density selection that I can find. Details? Also, if anyone wants it (I certainly don't need it), I would be happy to send it along for the stunning total of $10 plus shipping. Let me know... Thanks much. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner & Head Hardware Heavy, Blue Feather Technologies -- http://www.bluefeathertech.com kyrrin (at) bluefeathertech do/t c=o=m "If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped with surreal ports?"

21 years, 2 months

1
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Troubleshooting ATA Drives..

by leeedavison＠yahoo.co.uk

> It would be nice to know for historical purposes exactly which > vendors and when they started putting the firmware on the platter. I don't think it goes quite that far, most drives only store the geometry and block maps on tracks that are normally inaccessible to the user. All the firmware is usually in the memory on the controller. Seagate and Westarn Digital have had common electronics over different capacities from about the 1GB drive size. On Seagates the mechanism was interchangeable between ATA and SCSI controllers, something I used to exploit to transfer large ammounts of data between my Amiga and PC. > I'll also add my guesses as to why swapping platters is impossible. > When they build the drive, they clamp the platter on the hub, then > write it with servo information to let it find its tracks. Swapping > platters doesn't work because the two platters will never, ever sit > on the hub exactly the same way. It doesn't matter, all that's needed is a LL format and all the data tracks are re-written. Some manufacturers provide tools to do this as just doing a format from the OS won't do a LL format. > The expensive places must have some way to pull a platter with the > valuable info to be rescued, then re-align to find the true center, > then attempt to read the data. No need, they use things like dynamic tracking, even on data only platters, if needed but disassembling drives is always avoided if possible. Lee. . Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

21 years, 2 months

5
6
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Sunrise T-5000 IN-CIRCUIT BOARD PROGRAMMER??

by rigdonj＠cfl.rr.com

Bruce, I have two of these. Are you intersted in them? They're supposed to be some kind of hot shot programmer. I've been playing with them this morning. They're PC based and despite what the website says these have 286 CPUs and 512K of memory. They both power up. One says 8752 error and stops. The other had a keyboard error but I took the back off and plugged in a PC keyboard and got it running. The CMOS was dead so I reset the settings. Now it attempts to boot but says that it can't find a system. I don't know if they used different settings for the HD or if it's been erased. I tried to boot it from a floppy but my 3.5" boot floppy says that it needs at least a 386. I quit at that point. The drive settings may not be right, or the drive may be erased (and you may be able to unerase it) or you may be able to install the drive from the 2nd system (or fix it). Anyway they look like they may be something $pecail so I didn't want to pitch them if they are and you can use them. If you can use them we'll work out some kind of trade. But le me know ASAP since I don't have the space to keep them around for long. Joe Is anyone here familar with this programmer? It's about the size and layout of an old Kaypro portable computer. This is Sunrise Co. of Calfornia and not the Sunshine Co. of Taiwan that made a lot of the cheap PC based EPROM programmers. Brief description here <http://www.sunriseelectronics.com/t5000.htm>.. Joe

21 years, 2 months

1
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B&K PRECISION 540 COMPONENT TESTER Manual??

by technobug＠comcast.net

On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 17:15:08 -0500 "Joe R." <rigdonj at cfl.rr.com> inquired: > I picked this up yesterday and got it working last night. Does > anyone > have a manual for it? It's a small Oscilliscope-like device that's > used > for testing transistors and the like. Oh yeah, I'm going to use it to > fix > my vintage equipment. > > Joe Push come to shove, you can get the manuals at <http://www.bkmanuals.com/401-600.htm> probably for far more than you paid for the toy. CRC

21 years, 2 months

1
0
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MAKE Magazine premier issue rocks

by vcf＠siconic.com

I just got today my copy of the new Make magazine and I cannot begin to describe how cool it is. It's like the Byte of the new millenium. Go out and buy a copy copies today so you can have one to sell on eBay in 20 years ;) Better yet, subscribe! http://make.oreilly.com/ -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

21 years, 2 months

3
2
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Bamboo computer

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "David H. Barr" <dhbarr at gmail.com> > >On Wed, 9 Mar 2005 12:53:19 -0600, Jim Isbell, W5JAI ><jim.isbell at gmail.com> wrote: > >> At that point I began wondeering about a steam powered computer. >> Actualy I guess this laptop is actually a steam powered computer by >> that historians definition. BUT..what about a steam powered computer >> using steam valves and pistons. That could give you great gain!!! > >Wasn't Babbage's original design to be steam powered? > >-dhbarr. > Hi I think he means that the individual logic elements are steam driven. Not just a mechanical machine connedted to a steam engine. Dwight

21 years, 2 months

6
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