30 Jan
1998
30 Jan
'98
9:26 p.m.
Please, someone help me!
I have acquired, free of charge, a Sage Iv microcomputer circa 1983.
Specification is : 512K RAM, 12MB hard drive, 1 x 5 1/4 inch floppy
drive.
I need help with : Group A/B microswitch settings, cable to connect to
the serial port of an Amiga A600, serial comms settings, and what I am
likely to find on the Sage IV once it's up and running.
So far, it appears sane (Processor light blinks meaningfully) but
without a terminal connection, I'm completely in the dark.
I really would like to get this machine up and running because it was my
dream machine circa 1982/1983, and I lusted after one of these for
years. Unfortunately I couldn't afford the £7,000 price tag
(U.K./British prices - always worse than American prices!) so it
remained a dream - until now!
Anyone with the relevant technical expertise please e-mail me at:
d_w_edwards(a)hotmail.com.
HELP!!!!
Thank you for your time and consideration.
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
31 Jan
31 Jan
5:42 a.m.
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11:28 a.m.
New subject: TRW Acquisitions
Since rain was forecast for today, the seller turnout was less than normal
and pickings were a bit slim. However I did pick up a couple of interesting
things. For $1 each, I picked up an Ampex core memory board (and gave it to
a friend of mine, another collector), a Beckman S-100 microprocessor board,
an Intel Multibus Single Board Computer 80/10A, and an Intel Multibus 80/10B
card of some sort. The only reason I picked up the Intel Multibus boards
was because they are were dated 1976 and 1985 respectively (and they were
only $1 each!) I've picked up Multibus memory cards in the past for the
same reason. I haven't checked out my Intel Development System and they may
fit is a system like that. Anyone collect/save from scrap these things ...
besides me:).
I did get a lead on a guy who sells S-100 cards down there, but didn't have
any this time. So, I'll make him a regular stop when I see him next time.
The last time I saw his S-100 cards, they were priced at $5 each which is
probably fine for the IMSAI I/O cards I saw, but perhaps high for the other
"no name", i.e. I didn't recognize the name, cards that looked like disk
controllers.
I did see a DigiLogic unit that appeared to be some type of logic analysis
unit, an Atari 400, and the usual collection of early Mac and IBM stuff, but
I wasn't interested so I didn't check prices.
1 Feb
1 Feb
12:47 a.m.
New subject: TRW Acquisitions
Marvin,
I have an Intel developement system. Almost never use it. I should get
rid of it. I ould be interested in any S-100 stuff that you find that
will work in an Altair.
Joe
At 05:28 PM 1/31/98 -0800, you wrote:
Since rain was forecast for today, the seller turnout
was less than normal
and pickings were a bit slim. However I did pick up a couple of interesting
things. For $1 each, I picked up an Ampex core memory board (and gave it to
a friend of mine, another collector), a Beckman S-100 microprocessor board,
an Intel Multibus Single Board Computer 80/10A, and an Intel Multibus 80/10B
card of some sort. The only reason I picked up the Intel Multibus boards
was because they are were dated 1976 and 1985 respectively (and they were
only $1 each!) I've picked up Multibus memory cards in the past for the
same reason. I haven't checked out my Intel Development System and they may
fit is a system like that. Anyone collect/save from scrap these things ...
besides me:).
I did get a lead on a guy who sells S-100 cards down there, but didn't have
any this time. So, I'll make him a regular stop when I see him next time.
The last time I saw his S-100 cards, they were priced at $5 each which is
probably fine for the IMSAI I/O cards I saw, but perhaps high for the other
"no name", i.e. I didn't recognize the name, cards that looked like disk
controllers.
I did see a DigiLogic unit that appeared to be some type of logic analysis
unit, an Atari 400, and the usual collection of early Mac and IBM stuff, but
I wasn't interested so I didn't check prices.
3:33 a.m.
New subject: TRW Acquisitions, VCF
Joe wrote:
I have an Intel developement system. Almost never
use it. I should get
rid of it. I ould be interested in any S-100 stuff that you find that
will work in an Altair.
Joe
Hi Joe,
I have several leads on people with S-100 boards so if you are looking for
something specific, let me know. Can't promise anything except that I will
check around. I would think that most, if not all, S-100 stuff would work
in the Altair. It is possible that compatability with the actual MITS
boards could be a problem though; Allison, Jim or a few others could
probably say more about board compatibility. The Intel Development System I
have hasn't even been fired up (my me!) yet as I acquired it only to add to
the collection.
Idea - Something that might be really interesting at the next VCF is to
have a number of operating tools for people to see what was used and how it
was used to develop hardware and software for the early microcomputer
systems.
3:44 a.m.
New subject: TRW Acquisitions, VCF
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9:38 a.m.
New subject: TRW Acquisitions, VCF
At 09:44 AM 2/1/98 -0800, you wrote:
> I have several leads on people with S-100 boards
so if you are looking for
> something specific, let me know. Can't promise anything except that I will
> check around. I would think that most, if not all, S-100 stuff would work
> in the Altair.
It depends. Most later good-quality boards follow the
IEEE-696
standard, which requires modifications to the front panel circuitry
of a Altair or IMSAI.
And make sure that they are still 8-bit boards! Some of the later
Godbout/Ithica Audio, etc. stuff went to 16 bit which will freak out an
Altair/IMSAI front panel something awful!
And the Altair backplane is so poorly designed that
it's nearly impossible
to run a CPU above 2 MHz in it
Well... I'll take minor exception to this statement. I ran (and still do)
the Cromemco (and other) Z-80 boards at 4mHz with little difficulty, and
saw others get tweaked as high as 10mHz!
Some improvement is had by installing Compupro/Godbout
terminators at the
far end.
No dispute here... Termination is good! I tended to add it to most of my
machines in later days.
-jim
---
jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com
The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174
2:16 p.m.
New subject: TRW Acquisitions, VCF
Marvin,
At 09:33 AM 2/1/98 -0800, you wrote:
Joe wrote:
I don't know enough about the Altair to be specific. I would like to
get some kind of tape cassette, video interface and keyboard interface for
it. The keyboard interfaces can be tricky. There are keyboards with serial
interfaces, matrixs and parallel interfaces, so you'd almost have to get a
keyboard with it. I think the same applies to a cassette interface. I
don't know if the tapes are different depending on the interface or not.
One of the other things that I need is software disks or tapes. I have
manuals for North Star monitor and BASIC and other programs but not the
software. I also have a manual for Microsoft Basic 80 but no software.
I have an Intel developement system. Almost
never use it. I should get
rid of it. I ould be interested in any S-100 stuff that you find that
will work in an Altair.
Joe
Hi Joe,
I have several leads on people with S-100 boards so if you are looking for
something specific, let me know. Can't promise anything except that I will check around. I would think that most, if not all,
S-100 stuff would work
in the Altair. It is possible that compatability with the actual MITS
boards could be a problem though; Allison, Jim or a few others could
probably say more about board compatibility. The Intel Development System I
have hasn't even been fired up (my me!) yet as I acquired it only to add to
the collection.
Idea - Something that might be really interesting at the next VCF is to
have a number of operating tools for people to see what was used and how it
was used to develop hardware and software for the early microcomputer
systems.
Yes, that would be nice but I doubt I'll make it to VCF. I'm too far
away. I'd like to learn more about the IDS. They seem to be a very
versatile systems and I have a lot of interesting accessories for mine.
(like In Circuit Emulators.)
Joe
9603
days inactive
9604
days old
7 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
-
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
d_w_edwards＠hotmail.com -
jimw＠agora.rdrop.com -
marvin＠rain.org -
rigdonj＠intellistar.net -
shoppa＠alph02.triumf.ca