Which Operating System for my DCC-116 E / Entrex 480 / Nixdorf 620 / Data General Nova 1200 clone ?

[AJ Palmgren]

Dominique, I just had an idea.  May I ask what type/style/pin-configuration
of plug is on the back connector of your 1 working terminal?

Not that the plug matters as much, but I'm thinking about an easy way to
build a quick interface to reverse engineer the protocol (and
pinouts/cabling) that these terminals use.

Besides, that would be a FASCINATING thing for me to learn about this
system, anyway.

And I have some diagnostic hardware that I'd like to contribute to this
portion, as well.

On Sun, Sep 30, 2018 at 2:16 AM AJ Palmgren <microtechdart at gmail.com> wrote:

> Well, Dominique, I would encourage you to not give up.  You have the only
> functional version of this system that anyone has ever reported over the
> Internet in recent times (as far as I've found), and I would love to help
> in any way that I can.
>
> I also am quite busy, as are you, but this system has come to hold a
> important place in my desire to preserve vintage equipment.
>
> The complexity of the situation may be beyond my current skill set as
> well, however, I'd be very happy to contribute to the diagnosis in any way
> I can.  I've come up with some pretty "unorthodox" methods, over the past
> few years, of reverse-engineering the way older vintage computer components
> talk to each other,and one of those tricks just might be the key to
> unlocking this mystery.
>
> Please keep us posted here.  There are many here far more knowledgeable
> and experienced than I, with this vintage of equipment.  It's so
> fascinating!
>
> Best always,
> AJ
>
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 26, 2018 at 4:50 AM Dominique Carlier <dce at skynet.be> wrote:
>
>> Hello AJ
>>
>> Thank you for your interest in my project ;-)
>>
>> Unfortunately I was stopped by some technical problems.
>>
>> As I was studying ways to create bootable tapes for my DCC-166 when it
>> started to present troubles.
>>
>> It started with illegible characters (like a bad charset) on the only
>> operational terminal I have. Despite this he continued to boot from the
>> Diablo 44.
>> Then I tried to reinstall from a bootable tape with DIDOS, the operating
>> system of Nixdorf, and there it does not work anymore.
>>
>> Is it because the terminal is not properly working? Is it because there
>> is a problem with the nine track tape? Is the disc of my Diablo 44 altered?
>> Is it all problems are from a PSU problem? I do not know.
>> I cleaned the tape drive, the disk platter, the heads, I clean all
>> connectors (boards), checked what I could at the level of power supply. I
>> still have not found the cause of the breakdown(s).
>>
>> I have not had the time yet but I am going to create a new topic on
>> cctalk about this, unfortunately, I already feel that this troubleshooting
>> will require knowledge beyond my skills.
>>
>> Well, we'll see ;-)
>>
>> Dominique
>>
>> On 25/09/2018 08:01, AJ Palmgren wrote:
>>
>> Dominique,
>>
>> Might you have any updates on your Nixdorf 620 / Entrex 480 system?  I am
>> quite interested, and it's been a while since I've seen any email with
>> these keywords here, from you or anyone.
>>
>> Someday, it is my hope that I might take a tour of your system in
>> Belgium, on my next trip to the region, if you would be open to this.  I am
>> quite fascinated by this rare dinosaur of a system.
>>
>> I have begun to archive your work, and everything else I've ever found
>> about the Entrex 480 systems here:
>>
>> http://Entrex480.com
>>
>> Like your system restoration, it is a work in progress...
>>
>> Best always,
>> AJ
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jan 16, 2018 at 9:52 AM Dominique Carlier via cctalk <
>> cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
>>
>>> I understand very well your concerns about sending by mail rare data on
>>> magnetic media. It's a pity that I live so far away (in Belgium), even
>>> if I have not finished to configure my machines, at the end I should be
>>> able to write anything on any media, and concerning magnetic tapes it
>>> will be from 500 to 6250 bpi.
>>>
>>> If one day you find in your stock a communication board for Nova 1200
>>> that you do not use please note that I am a potential buyer.
>>>
>>> In the meantime, I have to find solutions to reopen all my old monsters
>>> to the outside world ;-)
>>>
>>> Dominique
>>>
>>> On 16/01/2018 15:19, Jay West via cctalk wrote:
>>> > The 'other Jay' wrote...
>>> > ----------------------------------
>>> > Diagnostics for DG systems are notoriously difficult to find.  I have
>>> a few, in listing format.
>>> > ----------------------------------
>>> > I have a full official DG-issued/labeled original diagnostic OS tape.
>>> I do believe it is at 800bpi though. If I had an 800 bpi drive (everything
>>> I have is 1600-6250) I'd image it for everyone.
>>> >
>>> > I have a nice S/130 rack that I was almost finished restoring till
>>> Bruce Ray stopped responding. It's been sitting in my workshop for years
>>> now and I may have to just get rid of it. Next to it is a pile of about 8
>>> nova 800/1200 cpus (all stuffed with boards) that I was going to start on
>>> next, but was waiting till the S/130 was done. I'd like to get done with
>>> them so I can move on to other machines that need to be restored... but may
>>> have to just move them out altogether.
>>> >
>>> > I'm wary of just sending the tape through the mail for imaging....
>>> maybe I can find someone local with an 800 bpi tape drive and eric smith's
>>> tapeutils.
>>> >
>>> > J
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Thanks,
>> AJ Palmgren
>> http://fb.me/SelmaTrainWreck
>> http://SelmaTrainWreck.blogspot.com
>> https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
>
> Thanks,
> AJ Palmgren
> http://fb.me/SelmaTrainWreck
> http://SelmaTrainWreck.blogspot.com
> https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283
> https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/
>
>
>

-- 

Thanks,
AJ Palmgren
http://fb.me/SelmaTrainWreck
http://SelmaTrainWreck.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/