DEC RF08/RS08 module placement info - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

mattislind＠gmail.com

25 Apr 25 Apr

1:55 p.m.

Den s?n 25 apr. 2021 kl 22:43 skrev Josh Dersch via cctalk < cctalk at classiccmp.org>:

Hi all -- In addition to the 11/45 project I'm also working on restoring an RF08/RS08 fixed head disk/controller (in the vain hopes of one day running TSS/8 on my PDP-8/I). I have the power supply repaired and running and I'm getting ready to power the logic up (the disc itself will be a project all its own, once it arrives). I'd like to double-check that all the flip chips are in their right places; I have no cause to think they've been shuffled around but I want to be sure. The engineering docs have detailed schematics but no placement chart for the modules themselves. Given enough time with the schematics I could derive this chart but I'm saving that as a last resort. So, two possibilities here: 1) Does anyone know of a document I've overlooked that includes module placement? 2) Can someone with an RF08 and/or RS08 take a few detailed pictures of the logic (from the handle side, of course) so I can compare? (Note: the available RF08/RS08 pictures on the 'net are of the unit currently in my possession, so are not useful in this regard!)

I have a RF08 / RS08 combo. It was connected to a PDP-8/L, but the cabinet with the DW08 was missing. I can take a bunch of pictures next weekend. I have a vague idea that I have a bunch of docs with the unit. Double ledger size or around A2. I will have a look. Would be very interesting to read your story when repairing it! /Mattis

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Thanks! - Josh

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derschjo＠gmail.com

2:06 p.m.

On Sun, Apr 25, 2021 at 1:56 PM Vincent Slyngstad via cctalk < cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:

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On 4/25/2021 1:42 PM, Josh Dersch via cctalk wrote:

2) Can someone with an RF08 and/or RS08 take a few detailed pictures of

the

logic (from the handle side, of course) so I can compare? (Note: the available RF08/RS08 pictures on the 'net are of the unit currently in my possession, so are not useful in this regard!)

This one might be useful for comparison: https://www.computercollection.net/index.php/disk-drives/ https://www.computercollection.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/IMG_2241.jpg It's a little out of focus toward the bottom. https://www.computercollection.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/IMG_2243.jpg Only one side of the drive electronics appears to be visible.

Yeah -- this is a picture of the exact unit currently in my possession. So it matches 100% but tells me nothing useful ;). - Josh

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Vince

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cube1＠charter.net

26 Apr 26 Apr

6:27 a.m.

On 4/25/2021 3:55 PM, Mattis Lind via cctalk wrote:

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Den s?n 25 apr. 2021 kl 22:43 skrev Josh Dersch via cctalk < cctalk at classiccmp.org>: > Hi all -- > > In addition to the 11/45 project I'm also working on restoring an RF08/RS08 > fixed head disk/controller (in the vain hopes of one day running TSS/8 on > my PDP-8/I). I have the power supply repaired and running and I'm getting > ready to power the logic up (the disc itself will be a project all its own, > once it arrives). >

Fantastic. This thread sent me checking to see if I might have a DW08. Doesn't seem that I do. My notes indicate that somewhere I do have a DW8-E stashed somewhere - at least the backplane - in offsite storage. I had forgotten about it. If someone could use it, we could talk. [I suspect it was used to connect a PDP-12 to an RK8E to run RK05's, but I have neither of those, as far as I know.] I also have another level shifter that I don't have documented (near as I can tell). It is 11.5" high with M735 open collector modules, among others, on it, but the label that I can see has faded to illegibility. And as a result of investigating this in my PDP-12 notes, I found that the power supply that Josh received from me had become a "donor" of a rectifier bridge to my PDP-12 back in 1990. I suppose those wires were just dangling on the unit when you received it.

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> I'd like to double-check that all the flip chips are in their right places; > I have no cause to think they've been shuffled around but I want to be > sure. The engineering docs have detailed schematics but no placement chart > for the modules themselves. Given enough time with the schematics I could > derive this chart but I'm saving that as a last resort. So, two > possibilities here: >

Wise man.

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1) Does anyone know of a document I've overlooked that includes module placement? 2) Can someone with an RF08 and/or RS08 take a few detailed pictures of the logic (from the handle side, of course) so I can compare? (Note: the available RF08/RS08 pictures on the 'net are of the unit currently in my possession, so are not useful in this regard!)

I have a RF08 / RS08 combo. It was connected to a PDP-8/L, but the cabinet with the DW08 was missing. I can take a bunch of pictures next weekend. I have a vague idea that I have a bunch of docs with the unit. Double ledger size or around A2. I will have a look. Would be very interesting to read your story when repairing it! /Mattis > Thanks! > - Josh >

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mattislind＠gmail.com

2:24 p.m.

I did another check of the drawings and found a module list. Initially I was looking for something more graphic then I found this: https://imgur.com/a/hzmhwQ4 Hope it helps. /Mattis s?ndag 25 april 2021 skrev Josh Dersch <derschjo at gmail.com>:

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On Sun, Apr 25, 2021 at 1:55 PM Mattis Lind <mattislind at gmail.com> wrote:

Den s?n 25 apr. 2021 kl 22:43 skrev Josh Dersch via cctalk < cctalk at classiccmp.org>:

Hi all -- In addition to the 11/45 project I'm also working on restoring an RF08/RS08 fixed head disk/controller (in the vain hopes of one day running TSS/8 on my PDP-8/I). I have the power supply repaired and running and I'm getting ready to power the logic up (the disc itself will be a project all its own, once it arrives). I'd like to double-check that all the flip chips are in their right places; I have no cause to think they've been shuffled around but I want to be sure. The engineering docs have detailed schematics but no placement chart for the modules themselves. Given enough time with the schematics I could derive this chart but I'm saving that as a last resort. So, two possibilities here: 1) Does anyone know of a document I've overlooked that includes module placement? 2) Can someone with an RF08 and/or RS08 take a few detailed pictures of the logic (from the handle side, of course) so I can compare? (Note: the available RF08/RS08 pictures on the 'net are of the unit currently in my possession, so are not useful in this regard!)

I have a RF08 / RS08 combo. It was connected to a PDP-8/L, but the cabinet with the DW08 was missing. I can take a bunch of pictures next weekend. I have a vague idea that I have a bunch of docs with the unit. Double ledger size or around A2. I will have a look.

Thanks! That will be very helpful!

Would be very interesting to read your story when repairing it!

I'm going to try to write about it, we'll see how good I am about keeping up. Still slowly writing things up about the 11/70 from earlier this year and I'm behind on just about everything. I imagine getting an actual physical disk working is going to be an unlikely prospect, my plan is to develop some hardware to emulate one or more RS08 drives, eventually. But I want to try the real thing first :). - Josh > > /Mattis > > > >> Thanks! >> - Josh >> >

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mattislind＠gmail.com

1 May 1 May

5:58 a.m.

Hello again. Took pictures of the entire RF08/RS08 drawing in daylight: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-CD1D6Aok_OSpXzk0GaJhjwad0HreDhc The paper size is rather big. I think 22 x 17 inch. I don?t have access to such a big scanner unfortunately. Companies that do scanning charge around two or three dollar per page here in Sweden. At least it is what I found when checking quickly. Unless someone has access to a bigger scanner in the Stockholm area i think this is the best I can do for now. When looking at the schematics it quite interesting to see that DEC changed logic symbols from what they used in the PDP-8 and PDP-9 schematics while still using the older transistor modules rather than TTL in the RF08/RS08. The schematics are dated around 1970. /Mattis fredag 30 april 2021 skrev Josh Dersch <derschjo at gmail.com>:

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On Fri, Apr 30, 2021 at 2:24 PM Mattis Lind <mattislind at gmail.com> wrote:

I did another check of the drawings and found a module list. Initially I was looking for something more graphic then I found this: https://imgur.com/a/hzmhwQ4 Hope it helps. /Mattis

Thanks so much, both for the pictures of your RF/RS08 and of the engineering drawings, those will be extremely helpful. I've never seen those drawings before, the module list you have is definitely not in the ones available on Bitsavers. - Josh

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