29 Sep
2020
29 Sep
'20
11:25 p.m.
Hi all --
This is a long shot, but I was curious if anyone might have information on
the Motorola MDP-1000 minicomputer. I picked one up recently and I'm
working on restoring it. Of particular interest is the power supply, which
is external to the processor and which I am missing. I think I have the
voltages worked out (+/-5V and +/-15V), but there are a number of other
signals on the power supply connector that I'm unsure of at the moment.
I've put a few pictures up here:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aqb36sqnCIfMpIVYmzKjFnsT3nHh8w?e=b2iqqv
I'll note that this isn't technically an MDP-1000 -- it's labeled as an
MDP-6650 on the rear. I suspect that this is a ruggedized version of the
1000 intended for harsher environments. The front panel of mine appears to
be identical to the drawings of the MDP-1000 in the manuals I have.
It also came with a binder of documentation (but alas no schematics) that
I'll be scanning soon and getting off to Al. It's an odd little system --
5 12-bit registers, a 12-bit ALU, and a 12-bit Instruction Register, but
the memory is 8 bits wide. Instructions are packed into two bytes
normally, but there's a special 64-byte region of memory that can be used
to store "shared bytes," which allow encoding certain instructions into a
single byte, taking the other byte from the shared region. I've never seen
anything quite like this. I wonder why they didn't just use 12-bit wide
memory...
Also the process for using the front panel to examine and deposit memory is
insane. Here's the instructions for reading a memory location; it's 10
steps. Depositing is 17.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aqb36sqnCIfMpIVWThgwlxgCMQo59A
If anyone has anything on this, let me know. Not expecting much, but it's
worth a shot.
- Josh
29 Sep
29 Sep
11:55 p.m.
Den ons 30 sep. 2020 kl 08:26 skrev Josh Dersch via cctalk <
cctalk at classiccmp.org>:
Hi all --
This is a long shot, but I was curious if anyone might have information on
the Motorola MDP-1000 minicomputer. I picked one up recently and I'm
working on restoring it. Of particular interest is the power supply, which
is external to the processor and which I am missing. I think I have the
voltages worked out (+/-5V and +/-15V), but there are a number of other
signals on the power supply connector that I'm unsure of at the moment.
I've put a few pictures up here:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aqb36sqnCIfMpIVYmzKjFnsT3nHh8w?e=b2iqqv
Interesting machine. I see many standard Texas Instruments TTL parts in
there, for example SN7475, SN7483, SN7401. But there are also chips marked
SN4813, SN4814, SN4820. Never seen TI chips marked 48xx before. Also a few
chips marked SN6392. Out of curiosity I tried to look them up in the
old databooks at bitsavers, but didn't find them.
What kind of lCs are these?
/Mattis
30 Sep
30 Sep
3:12 a.m.
Josh I posted? ?photo? of? a manual? we? had? ?a long? time? but? not? too long if? you?
want? to search? the? ?cctalk? here..?Also? always? wondered? which? plant built in...?is?
this? same? ?basically as? a? pbp 8? or? ?is? it? just that? they are both? 12
bits???Thanks? Ed#?In a message dated 9/29/2020 11:26:36 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
cctalk at classiccmp.org writes:?
Hi all --?This is a long shot, but I was curious if anyone might have information onthe
Motorola MDP-1000 minicomputer.? I picked one up recently and I'mworking on restoring
it.? Of particular interest is the power supply, whichis external to the processor and
which I am missing.? I think I have thevoltages worked out (+/-5V and +/-15V), but there
are a number of othersignals on the power supply connector that I'm unsure of at the
moment.?I've put a few pictures up
here:?https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aqb36sqnCIfMpIVYmzKjFnsT3nHh8w?e=b2iqqv?I'll note that this
isn't technically an MDP-1000 -- it's labeled as anMDP-6650 on the rear.? I
suspect that this is a ruggedized version of the1000 intended for harsher environments.?
The front panel of mine appears tobe identical to the drawings of the MDP-1000 in the
manuals I have.?It also came with a binder of documentation (but alas no schematics)
thatI'll be scanning soon and getting off to Al.? It's an odd little system --5
12-bit registers, a 12-bit ALU, and a 12-bit Instruction Register, butthe memory is 8 bits
wide.? Instructions are packed into two bytesnormally, but there's a special 64-byte
region of memory that can be usedto store "shared bytes," which allow encoding
certain instructions into asingle byte, taking the other byte from the shared region.?
I've never seenanything quite like this.? I wonder why they didn't just use 12-bit
widememory...?Also the process for using the front panel to examine and deposit memory
isinsane.? Here's the instructions for reading a memory location; it's 10steps.?
Depositing is 17.?https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aqb36sqnCIfMpIVWThgwlxgCMQo59A?If anyone has
anything on this, let me know.? Not expecting much, but it'sworth a shot.- Josh
4:08 a.m.
On 9/30/20 4:07 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
On 9/30/20 3:12 AM, ED SHARPE via cctalk wrote:
CHM has some documentation in the collection.
I haven't looked to see what it is
https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/search/?s=mdp-1000
Josh I posted? ?photo? of? a manual? we? had? ?a
long? time? but? not? too long if? you? want? to search? the? ?cctalk? here..
If you did, it was eaten, since cctlk doesn't allow attachements
4:51 a.m.
i may have? posted? ?a link? yes? i k ow? cctalk is? lacking in image handling.? maybe?
some? day? that? will? change.?it was? ?years? back. it? may be? something josh has
already... but? maybe not. neat? he? found? the? hardware!??In a message dated 9/30/2020
4:08:43 AM US Mountain Standard Time, cctalk at classiccmp.org writes:?
On 9/30/20 4:07 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
On 9/30/20 3:12 AM, ED SHARPE via cctalk wrote:
CHM has some documentation in the collection.
I haven't looked to see what it is
https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/search/?s=mdp-1000
Josh I posted? ?photo? of? a manual? we? had? ?a
long? time? but? not? too long if? you? want? to search? the? ?cctalk? here..
If you did, it was eaten, since cctlk doesn't allow attachements
5:20 a.m.
whats? the? story on? this...i? see? items? ?but no pix.?also? ?check? your? spelling on
Motorola; Instrmentation and Control, Inc. ?that? is? in? the? index.?let me? now? if?
there? is a photo? group? for this at? least with the? covers???I always? wondered if it?
was? just? a? 12 bit? computer or? if it? was? ?software? compatible? with pdp-8??I
wonder? what? else? this? division of Motorola produced....? ?there? was a? teleprinter?
?they made...???Here is? the link? to the? teleprinter? it? is? filed under gov?
div.?http://www.smecc.org/motolola_government.htmi? think i got the? 12 bit? computer
manual? from same person.?Ed?In a message dated 9/30/2020 4:08:43 AM US Mountain Standard
Time, cctalk at classiccmp.org writes:?
On 9/30/20 4:07 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
On 9/30/20 3:12 AM, ED SHARPE via cctalk wrote:
CHM has some documentation in the collection.
I haven't looked to see what it is
https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/search/?s=mdp-1000
Josh I posted? ?photo? of? a manual? we? had? ?a
long? time? but? not? too long if? you? want? to search? the? ?cctalk? here..
If you did, it was eaten, since cctlk doesn't allow attachements
10:40 a.m.
On Wed, Sep 30, 2020 at 5:20 AM ED SHARPE via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
wrote:
whats the story on this...i see items but no
pix. also check
your spelling on Motorola; Instrmentation and Control, Inc. that is in
the index. let me now if there is a photo group for this at least
with the covers I always wondered if it was just a 12 bit computer
or if it was software compatible with pdp-8? I wonder what else
this division of Motorola produced.... there was a teleprinter they
made... Here is the link to the teleprinter it is filed under gov
div. http://www.smecc.org/motolola_government.htmi think i got the 12
bit computer manual from same person.
The link is dead (seems misspelled, but even correcting it (and changing
htmi to html) doesn't result in a link that works). I can't find any
reference to you posting a link to the manual in the cctalk archives, but
that doesn't mean it isn't there, somewhere. If you're able to scan this
manual, I'd love a copy.
The MDP-1000 is in no way like a PDP-8. Different memory word-size, has an
actual ALU, 5 registers, etc. It's a very odd little system. I was doing
a bit more reading last night and while the ALU is 12 bits wide, the Link
(carry) bit is the carry out from bit 7. Logical operations only operate
on the low 8 bits, though there are variants that work on the upper 4 bits
only, as well.
- Josh
11:06 a.m.
On 30/09/2020 18:40, Josh Dersch via cctalk wrote:
On Wed, Sep 30, 2020 at 5:20 AM ED SHARPE via cctalk
<cctalk at classiccmp.org>
wrote:
Maybe here: http://www.smecc.org/motolola_government.htm?? ?
I think the "i" wasn't an "ell" it was an "I" as in
"I think ..."?
Antonio
--
Antonio Carlini
antonio at acarlini.com
whats the story on this...i see items but
no pix. also check
your spelling on Motorola; Instrmentation and Control, Inc. that is in
the index. let me now if there is a photo group for this at least
with the covers I always wondered if it was just a 12 bit computer
or if it was software compatible with pdp-8? I wonder what else
this division of Motorola produced.... there was a teleprinter they
made... Here is the link to the teleprinter it is filed under gov
div. http://www.smecc.org/motolola_government.htmi think i got the 12
bit computer manual from same person.
The link is dead (seems misspelled, but even correcting it (and changing
htmi to html) doesn't result in a link that works). I can't find any
reference to you posting a link to the manual in the cctalk archives, but
that doesn't mean it isn't there, somewhere. If you're able to scan this
manual, I'd love a copy.
The MDP-1000 is in no way like a PDP-8. Different memory word-size, has an
actual ALU, 5 registers, etc. It's a very odd little system. I was doing
a bit more reading last night and while the ALU is 12 bits wide, the Link
(carry) bit is the carry out from bit 7. Logical operations only operate
on the low 8 bits, though there are variants that work on the upper 4 bits
only, as well.
- Josh
11:31 a.m.
her is? the? Motorola? hi speed? teleprinter? and? this is? a little? calc? device?
?pretty? neat....Motorola Military Electronics Division, Chicago Center 1450 Cicero Avenue
Chicago 51 Illinois.?
(Ed Groth Collection at SMECC) "http://www.smecc.org/motolo3.gif"? ?thanks? ed#
???
11:33 a.m.
?http://www.smecc.org/motolola_government.htm IS? URL? DO NOT? KNOW? WHERE? EXTRA LETTER?
CAME? FROM?
12:27 p.m.
On Wed, 30 Sep 2020, ED SHARPE via cctalk wrote:
?http://www.smecc.org/motolola_government.htm IS? URL?
DO NOT? KNOW? WHERE? EXTRA LETTER? CAME? FROM?
IT COMES FROM THAT GARBAGE FIRE OF AN EMAIL PROGRAM YOU INSIST ON USING!
g.
--
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
http://www.diy-cockpits.org/coll - Go Collimated or Go Home.
Some people collect things for a hobby. Geeks collect hobbies.
ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
http://scarlet.deltasoft.com - Get it _today_!
12:36 p.m.
wrong....? ?probably? my crippled? hands...? so there? wise ass!
In a message dated 9/30/2020 12:27:59 PM US Mountain Standard Time, geneb at deltasoft.com
writes:?On Wed, 30 Sep 2020, ED SHARPE via cctalk wrote:
?http://www.smecc.org/motolola_government.htm IS? URL?
DO NOT? KNOW? WHERE? EXTRA LETTER? CAME? FROM?
IT COMES FROM THAT GARBAGE FIRE OF AN EMAIL PROGRAM YOU INSIST ON USING!
g.
--
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
http://www.diy-cockpits.org/coll - Go Collimated or Go Home.
Some people collect things for a hobby.? Geeks collect hobbies.
ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
http://scarlet.deltasoft.com - Get it _today_!
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days inactive
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12 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
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a.carlini＠ntlworld.com -
aek＠bitsavers.org -
couryhouse＠aol.com -
derschjo＠gmail.com -
geneb＠deltasoft.com -
mattislind＠gmail.com