Introduction and need help bringing some pdp11's back

[Paul Anderson]

Hi Chris,

I have a lot of the parts you might need. Please feel free to contact me
off list

Thanks, Paul

On Tue, Oct 29, 2019 at 11:28 AM Chris Zach via cctalk <
cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Hi all!
>
> Re-subscribing to this list after a 20+ year "vacation" while raising
> kids. I was pretty active in the Dec pdp10, pdp11, and pdp8 communities
> back in the 80's and managed to acquire a lot of "stuff". Now that I
> have some time and space again I'm looking back into the pile of "high
> mass hobbies" and wondering what still works.
>
> In terms of communities I see the pdp8-lovers list is still going but I
> can't seem to find the pdp11 email list anymore. If anyone can add me
> I'd appreciate.
>
> On to the technical issues: I currently am trying to bring back online a
> PDT11/150 and my main Q-Bus pdp11/73. The 11/150 is trying to boot but
> it looks like my old disk with RT11 5.1 and the PD: boot driver is no
> longer working. Does anyone have a copy of RT11 5.1 source disks they
> can loan me (I can't find my set).
>
> The 11/73 is a bit more interesting: It's an 11/73 quad height CPU, 4mb
> of ram on a single DEC Q bus card, and for storage has an MTI ESDI
> controller hooked up to a Fujitsu ESDI drive. After some workings I was
> able to get the controller back online (hint: The password to get into
> the controller to make changes is MTI) and while I can boot RT11 off one
> of the two partitions my RSX11M 4.0 generated instance is flunking with
> a boot error. Probably some disk rot.
>
> I also have a RLV12 controller in it and a pair of RL02's sitting in a
> closet here that I can drag upstairs with RSX111M 4.1 on them. Better
> than nothing and might allow me to boot up and possibly run a disk
> repair/regenerate the boot code on the EDSI disk. But that's not the
> real problem.
>
> The real problem is I'm trying to put an RQDX3 in there instead of the
> ESDI controller so I can boot off RX50's. And I have no idea which way
> all the various ribbon cables are supposed to go. Will any 50 pin cable
> work between the RQDX3 and the BA23 distribution bulkhead? Anything
> special about the 34ish pin cable that goes between the bulkhead and the
> RX50? So far when I try to boot all devices DU0-3 give me not yet ready.
>
> Ultimately I would like to format one of my MFM Maxtor drives as a RD54,
> then install MicroRSX and MicroRSTS from floppy. For the big ESDI drive
> I'd be happy getting that upgraded to RSX11M+ if I can find install
> media and running it as a serious system.
>
> I also have TK70's, and a couple of other oddball things here including
> all the parts for BLT.AI.MIT.EDU (Sometimes called LSD), a RM80, an RX02
> with a RXV11 controller, and a bunch of other weird stuff.
>
> Anyway, will be interesting to see if I can get these going. If I can
> get the 73 running the next step would be to get the 11/24 up and going,
> then start working on the 2020...
>
> CZ
>
> On 10/29/2019 11:27 AM, Jon Elson via cctalk wrote:
> > On 10/29/2019 09:45 AM, jos via cctalk wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> an IBM 4331 for 1000 Euro b.i.n. seems OK to me, if I was in that sort
> >> of thing !
> >>
> >> See  https://www.ebay.de/itm/IBM-grosrechner/184010116585 and his
> >> other offerings...
> >>
> > WOW, this is some amazing stuff he has!
> >
> > Jon
>