Re: I-4004

[dwight via cctalk]

I have had an interest in the 4004 for a number of years. I've acquired a 
SIM4-01 that I've used over the years to read and program 1702A EPROMs. I've 
recently also located a copy of Tom Pittman's resident 4004 assembler. Quite 
remarkable when you realize that that it was a complete two pass assembler that 
ran in just 1K of machine code.
I've always been interested in application code that ran on the 4004. The CHM 
has recovered the ROMs used on the original Busicom calculator and has been 
disassembled. One can easily find it on the web. In my searches I've found code 
that was used to calculate time differences from satellites ( now days GPS ). A 
couple of the more interesting pieces of code that I've come across was a load 
calculator for helicopters and an electronic maneuver board  ( used on shop to 
determine closest point of approach with time, speed and distance ). These two 
projects were interesting because they were developed by students of Gary 
Kildall, before CP/M was even a dream.
A number of years ago, I began a project to recreate a working maneuver board 
calculator. The original used 13 ea 1702As. That was a little bit much so I 
used a single 2732 instead. Anyway, I had the maneuver board at the VCF west 
this year, along with the sim4-01 and a 4004 to arduino interface. If one has a 
4004 or a 4040 with adapter, one could run the Busicom calculator code on that 
arduino retro-shield.
One of the fellows had the weighing machines running on 4004 as well.
All in celebration of the 50th year.
Dwight

Re: I-4004

[ben via cctalk]

On 2021-11-16 5:08 p.m., jim stephens via cctalk wrote:



On 11/16/2021 2:20 PM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:

On 11/16/21 2:08 PM, Murray McCullough via cctalk wrote:
Did the 4004 chip start our interest in microcomputing? 


no


I got interested in microprogramming  before it was hijacked as a a term 
for such devices.  It's generous at best to apply that term to a 4004 
anyway.


In 1971 firmware and the like still was still very much something that 
was used in conjunction with system design.  A group was very active, 
SIGMicro to share techniques.  Only after most microprogramming vanished 
into a black hole in the silicon did it taper off.


I'm glad some amount of that discipline has emerged in that context, and 
not applied to small ceramic chips with gold legs.


thanks
Jim

Only looking back now at the price and speed of main memory, I can see 
micro-programming advantage. Having the word settle on 8 bit bytes;

(my vote was for 10 bits : 2 BCD digits + sign flag + end flag)
You have a severe lack opcode space as every thing is n+ bytes, compared 
to when you could design the CPU to what ever word sized you needed and 
room for micro-coded ops

and full alu rather than ADD DCA AND OPERATE.
Ben.


Back then you touch the hardware.

Re: I-4004

[ben via cctalk]

On 2021-11-16 4:41 p.m., Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:

Yes, there were prior machines, but the 4004 is ARGUABLY the first 
successful commercial mass-produced one.

There were others, from TI, Fairchild, Four-Phase?, etc.
As usual, the label "FIRST" is questionable due to whether we count 
announcement, prototypes, demos, shipping, etc.


I think the first to sell at $5 or some other magic price number was most
important. For $75 more you can get a state of the art toaster, with one 
touch browning and a free remote.


Some call the 5150, the start of the END of classic computing, or at 
least of the hobby dominated field.



The lack of good front panel I say was end of classic computing.
After that every thing was the same black box computer,
and C compiler.


Happy computing all.
Murray  

IBM IS EVIL. LIKE BIG BROTHER FROM 1984.
Well regards to in my view to open ideas in computing hardware and
software up until the internet.



--
Grumpy Ol' Fred ci...@xenosoft.com

Ben.

Re: I-4004

[jim stephens via cctalk]

On 11/16/2021 2:20 PM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:

On 11/16/21 2:08 PM, Murray McCullough via cctalk wrote:
Did the 4004 chip start our interest in microcomputing? 


no


I got interested in microprogramming  before it was hijacked as a a term 
for such devices.  It's generous at best to apply that term to a 4004 
anyway.


In 1971 firmware and the like still was still very much something that 
was used in conjunction with system design.  A group was very active, 
SIGMicro to share techniques.  Only after most microprogramming vanished 
into a black hole in the silicon did it taper off.


I'm glad some amount of that discipline has emerged in that context, and 
not applied to small ceramic chips with gold legs.


thanks
Jim

Re: I-4004

[ben via cctalk]

On 2021-11-16 4:18 p.m., Will Cooke via cctalk wrote:




On 11/16/2021 4:35 PM Mike Katz via cctalk  wrote:


As for microprocessors, there are MANY MANY micros that preceded the PC.



Pretty sure "PC" meant "Politically Correct."

Will


I believe in free speech, not "Politically Correct".
The trash man takes out the trash, not some fancy "Politically Correct"
name. It feels more guilty using the correct term when dumpster diving. :).
Ben.

Re: I-4004

[ben via cctalk]

On 2021-11-16 3:33 p.m., William Donzelli via cctalk wrote:

Best, most concise answer of the week.

--
Will

On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 5:20 PM Al Kossow via cctalk
 wrote:


On 11/16/21 2:08 PM, Murray McCullough via cctalk wrote:

Did the 4004 chip start our interest in microcomputing?


no


For me it was STAR TREK.
Not everybody in the 70's had a 4004.
The 4004 had the most press, but how many 4 other bit micro controller
chips went in to things like washing machines or microwave ovens.
Ben.

Re: IEEE-488 on the PDP-11

[Fred Cisin via cctalk]

On Tue, 16 Nov 2021, Christian Gauger-Cosgrove via cctalk wrote:

Hmm now that I'm reminded that a large proportion of Commodore's
"stuff" was IEEE 488 or a serialized version thereof.


Was that called "IEC"?


I kind of want to see now if an IBV11 and Commodore 1541 can be abused
into cooperating. (There'd need to be a small "box of stuff" to turn
the real 488 bus to CBM's serial thing.)


I used to have an aftermarket drive for Commodore 64 made by MSD? that had 
both the Commodore serial AND the full GPIB IEEE488 interfaces.  I cabled 
that to an IEEE488 board on a PC, but then life got in the way, and I 
never got around to mastering it.

It can be done, but I didn't do it.

Re: I-4004

[Fred Cisin via cctalk]

On Tue, 16 Nov 2021, Murray McCullough via cctalk wrote:

Did the 4004 chip start our interest in microcomputing?


For ME, hearing about the 4004 was the first solid assurance that tabletop
computers would become available.  I heard some  mentions of it from cow-
orkers at Goddard Space Flight Center, and then somebody referred me to 
the Electronic News article. 
Very shortly after that, I got out of aerospace, which was going through 
some turmoil, but promised that I would get back into computers as soon as 
they got into MY price range.  THAT ended up being the Z80 based TRS80 for 
$399.


A LOT of people HERE were in it LONG before I was.

It is 50 today. Classic computing begins earlier but for the masses, if 
they could be called that in the early seventies, this was it.


Yes, there were prior machines, but the 4004 is ARGUABLY the first 
successful commercial mass-produced one.

There were others, from TI, Fairchild, Four-Phase?, etc.
As usual, the label "FIRST" is questionable due to whether we count 
announcement, prototypes, demos, shipping, etc.




I hesitate in calling it the first microprocessor as pc'ers will object.


It is good to hesitate!
Virtually EVERY "FIRST" has some prior art.
If, by "pc'ers", you mean Politically Correct, then it is arguably 
correct.
If, however, by "pc'ers", you mean the IBM 5150, then NO!  The IBM 5150 
was a late entry in order to "take over" and "dominate" an already 
"bustling" market.
Some call the 5150, the start of the END of classic computing, or at least 
of the hobby dominated field.



Happy computing all.
Murray  



--
Grumpy Ol' Fred ci...@xenosoft.com

Re: Intel 4004 turns 50

[ED SHARPE via cctalk]

The two contenders on tside leading g to the gold caphis question are white and 
Gold 4004. And. The white  and gold with leads showing through in the white 
material i

Sent from the all new AOL app for Android 
 
  On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 3:11 PM, ED SHARPE via cctalk 
wrote:   And agin people ask.  (Us included!)...  which processor is the true 
first... the all white and gold... or... the white and gold with leads showing 
thru...  Intel pictures  the leads show labeing through in  publicity stuff 
it does look better in a photo... some  Collectors  say the white and gold ( 
but it seems that is the one they personally own)..   we are fortunate to 
have been presented a white and gold this year. But unclear how to label the 
TRUE  chronology ...  we do have a black one  but we all know  that is a later 
one thanks for any insight.

Sent from the all new AOL app for Android 
 
  On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 10:51 AM, Paul Koning via 
cctalk wrote:  The Wall St. Journal had a good essay 
about that, by Andy Kessler.  This link should get you there:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-chip-that-changed-the-world-microprocessor-computing-transistor-breakthrough-intel-11636903999?st=nm37ik74mq9vp51=desktopwebshare_permalink
 


The subtitle is "Most of the wealth created since 1971 is a result of Intel’s 
4004 microprocessor" which seems extravagant until you read his arguments.

I still remember the 4004-based personal computer a college classmate of mine 
designed and built in 1974.  It was a large (DEC Unibus hex module sized) wire 
wrap board with about 100 chips on it.  And it worked.  Slowly, but it could do 
useful programs.

    paul

> On Nov 16, 2021, at 12:30 PM, Zane Healy via cctalk  
> wrote:
> 
> It looks like the Intel 4004 turned 50 yesterday.
> 
> Zane
> 
> 
> 

  
  

Re: I-4004

[Will Cooke via cctalk]

> On 11/16/2021 4:35 PM Mike Katz via cctalk  wrote:
> 
> 
> As for microprocessors, there are MANY MANY micros that preceded the PC.
>

Pretty sure "PC" meant "Politically Correct."

Will

Re: IEEE-488 on the PDP-11

[Christian Gauger-Cosgrove via cctalk]

On Tue, 16 Nov 2021 at 16:27, Ethan Dicks via cctalk
 wrote:
> Fun card.  Thanks for starting this thread.  I have one too (came with
> my MINC-11) and I have experience with IEEE-488 from my many hours
> spent with Commodore PETs.
>
Hmm now that I'm reminded that a large proportion of Commodore's
"stuff" was IEEE 488 or a serialized version thereof.

I kind of want to see now if an IBV11 and Commodore 1541 can be abused
into cooperating. (There'd need to be a small "box of stuff" to turn
the real 488 bus to CBM's serial thing.)


> Thanks to all for sharing code and software.
>
I'll second this; many thanks for sharing the official DEC RT-11
drivers and code.


Best regards,
Christian
-- 
Christian M. Gauger-Cosgrove
STCKON08DS0
Contact information available upon request.

Re: IEEE-488 on the PDP-11

[Toby Thain via cctalk]

On 2021-11-16 1:25 p.m., Glen Slick via cctalk wrote:

On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 9:23 AM Douglas Taylor via cctalk
 wrote:


I'm going by the 'Instrument Bus Subroutines Programmer's Reference
Manual' that is on bitsavers. [/pdf/dec/pdp11/minc]  In section 4, page
4-1 it seems to imply that there are 6 files:

IBLIB.OBJ
IBSVER.FOR
IBMNC.SYS
IBNMNC.SYS
IBXMNC.SYS
IBXNMC.SYS

I think that's it.  *.OBJ is a library to link to, *.FOR is a test
program, *.SYS are device drivers for MINC and ordinary PDP-11 SJ, FB
and XM monitors.  It probably is on it's own disk (RX01 RX02?)

Doug


I have an original DEC RX01 floppy labeled:

AS-H300E-BC
INSTMT BUS SUB V2.1 BIN RX1
(c) 1983 Digital Equipment Corporation

I have an image I created from that floppy which I can mount using
PUTR, and then access the files on the floppy image:




Hi Glen,

Can you make the image available?

Thanks
--Toby

Re: I-4004

[Mike Katz via cctalk]

As for microprocessors, there are MANY MANY micros that preceded the PC.

You can find a list here:

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microprocessor_chronology

The 8088 is a late comer to the microprocessor world.


On 11/16/2021 4:08 PM, Murray McCullough via cctalk wrote:

Did the 4004 chip start our interest in microcomputing? It is 50 today.
Classic computing begins earlier but for the masses, if they could be
called that in the early seventies, this was it. I hesitate in calling it
the first microprocessor as pc'ers will object.

Happy computing all.

Murray  

Re: I-4004

[William Donzelli via cctalk]

Best, most concise answer of the week.

--
Will

On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 5:20 PM Al Kossow via cctalk
 wrote:
>
> On 11/16/21 2:08 PM, Murray McCullough via cctalk wrote:
> > Did the 4004 chip start our interest in microcomputing?
>
> no
>
>

Re: I-4004

[Zane Healy via cctalk]

On Nov 16, 2021, at 2:08 PM, Murray McCullough via cctalk 
 wrote:
> 
> Did the 4004 chip start our interest in microcomputing? It is 50 today.
> Classic computing begins earlier but for the masses, if they could be
> called that in the early seventies, this was it. I hesitate in calling it
> the first microprocessor as pc'ers will object.
> 
> Happy computing all.
> 
> Murray  

For me, it was the Honeywell DPS-8 that started my interest in “Classic 
Computers”.  Mind you, the ones I used were production systems, running a 
current version of GCOS-8.

Zane

Re: I-4004

[Al Kossow via cctalk]

On 11/16/21 2:08 PM, Murray McCullough via cctalk wrote:
Did the 4004 chip start our interest in microcomputing? 


no

Re: Intel 4004 turns 50

[ED SHARPE via cctalk]

And agin people ask.  (Us included!)...  which processor is the true first... 
the all white and gold... or... the white and gold with leads showing thru...  
Intel pictures  the leads show labeing through in  publicity stuff it does 
look better in a photo... some  Collectors  say the white and gold ( but it 
seems that is the one they personally own)..   we are fortunate to have 
been presented a white and gold this year. But unclear how to label the TRUE  
chronology ...  we do have a black one  but we all know  that is a later 
one thanks for any insight.

Sent from the all new AOL app for Android 
 
  On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 10:51 AM, Paul Koning via 
cctalk wrote:   The Wall St. Journal had a good essay 
about that, by Andy Kessler.  This link should get you there:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-chip-that-changed-the-world-microprocessor-computing-transistor-breakthrough-intel-11636903999?st=nm37ik74mq9vp51=desktopwebshare_permalink
 


The subtitle is "Most of the wealth created since 1971 is a result of Intel’s 
4004 microprocessor" which seems extravagant until you read his arguments.

I still remember the 4004-based personal computer a college classmate of mine 
designed and built in 1974.  It was a large (DEC Unibus hex module sized) wire 
wrap board with about 100 chips on it.  And it worked.  Slowly, but it could do 
useful programs.

    paul

> On Nov 16, 2021, at 12:30 PM, Zane Healy via cctalk  
> wrote:
> 
> It looks like the Intel 4004 turned 50 yesterday.
> 
> Zane
> 
> 
> 

  

I-4004

[Murray McCullough via cctalk]

Did the 4004 chip start our interest in microcomputing? It is 50 today.
Classic computing begins earlier but for the masses, if they could be
called that in the early seventies, this was it. I hesitate in calling it
the first microprocessor as pc'ers will object.

Happy computing all.

Murray  

Re: IEEE-488 on the PDP-11

[Ethan Dicks via cctalk]

On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 11:01 AM Douglas Taylor via cctalk
 wrote:
> In my pile of DEC computer stuff I have a DEC qbus IBV11 IEEE-488
> controller board (M7954) with cable (BN11-A) that connects to the GPIB bus.

Fun card.  Thanks for starting this thread.  I have one too (came with
my MINC-11) and I have experience with IEEE-488 from my many hours
spent with Commodore PETs.

Thanks to all for sharing code and software.

-ethan

Re: IEEE-488 on the PDP-11

[Jonathan Chapman via cctalk]

Excellent, now I don't have to dig into that particular project tomorrow :P

Thanks,
Jonathan

‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐

On Tuesday, November 16th, 2021 at 13:25, Glen Slick via cctalk 
 wrote:

> On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 9:23 AM Douglas Taylor via cctalk
>
> cctalk@classiccmp.org wrote:
>
> > I'm going by the 'Instrument Bus Subroutines Programmer's Reference
> >
> > Manual' that is on bitsavers. [/pdf/dec/pdp11/minc] In section 4, page
> >
> > 4-1 it seems to imply that there are 6 files:
> >
> > IBLIB.OBJ
> >
> > IBSVER.FOR
> >
> > IBMNC.SYS
> >
> > IBNMNC.SYS
> >
> > IBXMNC.SYS
> >
> > IBXNMC.SYS
> >
> > I think that's it. *.OBJ is a library to link to, *.FOR is a test
> >
> > program, *.SYS are device drivers for MINC and ordinary PDP-11 SJ, FB
> >
> > and XM monitors. It probably is on it's own disk (RX01 RX02?)
> >
> > Doug
>
> I have an original DEC RX01 floppy labeled:
>
> AS-H300E-BC
>
> INSTMT BUS SUB V2.1 BIN RX1
>
> (c) 1983 Digital Equipment Corporation
>
> I have an image I created from that floppy which I can mount using
>
> PUTR, and then access the files on the floppy image:
>
> C:\PUTR>PUTR
>
> PUTR V2.01 Copyright (C) 1995-2001 by John Wilson wil...@dbit.com.
>
> All rights reserved. See www.dbit.com for other DEC-related software.
>
> COPY mode is ASCII, SET COPY BINARY to change
>
> (C:\PUTR)>MOUNT RX0: AS-H300E.IMG /RONLY /RX01
>
> (C:\PUTR)>DIR RX0:
>
> Volume in drive RX0 is RT11A
>
> Directory of RX0:\.
>
> 16-Nov-2021
>
> IB .MAC 76 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBBASE.MAC 8 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBCBLK.MAC 3 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBCMD .MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBDCL .MAC 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBDEV .MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBERMF.MAC 5 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBERR .MAC 4 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBERRF.MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBERSH.MAC 3 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBGET .MAC 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBGTL .MAC 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBIFC .MAC 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBINIT.MAC 6 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBLEGL.MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBLLO .MAC 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBLNR .MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBLSN .MAC 5 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBPPD .MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBPPE .MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBPPL .MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBPPU .MAC 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBRCVS.MAC 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBRDA .MAC 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBRECV.MAC 3 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBREMO.MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBREN .MAC 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBSDC .MAC 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBSEND.MAC 3 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBSPL .MAC 3 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBSRQ .MAC 5 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBSRQF.MAC 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBSTER.MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBSTS .MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBTERM.MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBTIMO.MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBTLK .MAC 4 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBUNIT.MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBUNL .MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBUNT .MAC 2 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBWAIT.MAC 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBXFER.MAC 3 27-Mar-1982
>
> IB .ASM 9 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBLOC .ASM 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBMNC .SYS 10 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBXMNC.SYS 11 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBNMNC.SYS 10 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBXNMC.SYS 11 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBDBLD.COM 1 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBLIB .OBJ 45 27-May-1982
>
> IBSVER.FOR 7 27-Mar-1982
>
> IBXBLD.COM 1 08-Mar-1983
>
> IBSBLD.COM 2 08-Mar-1983
>
> IBLBLD.COM 10 27-Mar-1982
>
> < UNUSED > 193
>
> 54 Files, 293 Blocks
>
> 193 Free blocks
>
> (C:\PUTR)>COPY RX0:IBSVER.FOR C:
>
> IBSVER.FOR
>
> C
>
> C
>
> C THIS PROGRAM IS THE INSTALLATION/VERIFICATION PROGRAM FOR THE IBS IEEE BUS
>
> C INTERFACE ROUTINES.
>
> C
>
> C*
>
> C
>
> EXTERNAL SERVE !ADDRESS OF USER'S SRQ HANDLING ROUTINE.
>
> BYTE ASCII(26) !ASCII ARRAY CONTAINING THE ALPHABET.
>
> INTEGER TALK,STAT
>
> IBZERO=' ' !ASCII CODE FOR ZERO INSTRUMENT ADDRESS
>
> LISTEN=5 !OUR LISTENER'S PRIMARY IEEE BUS ADDRESS.
>
> TALK=6 !OUR TALKER'S PRIMARY IEEE BUS ADDRESS.
>
> MAXL=15 !OUR MAXIMUM TRANSMIT/RECEIVE LENGTH.
>
> LINE=6
>
> C
>
> TYPE 1000
>
> 1000 FORMAT('1 IBS-11 V2.1 Verification Program'///
>
> 1' This procedure assumes that IB.SYS (or IBX.SYS) has been INSTALLED
>
> 2 and LOADED'/' in this system. Also, this procedure assumes
>
> 3 that no devices'/' are connected to your IBV11-A/IB11
>
> 4 instrument bus.')
>
> TYPE 1001
>
> 1001 FORMAT(//' The first part of this test calls routines that do
>
> 1 not depend'/' on any device and thus should produce no
>
> 2 error messages.'//)
>
> C
>
> CALL IBSTER(16,20) !ALLOW ERROR NUMBER 16 (TIME-OUT) TO OCCUR 20 X
>
> CALL IBSTER(5,5) !ALLOW THE NO DEFAULT LISTENER ERROR 5 TIMES
>
> CALL IBSTER(7,2) !ALLOW THE BAD UNIT ERROR TO OCCUR TWICE
>
> CALL IBSTER(15,25) !ALLOW THE NO VALID LISTENER ERROR TO OCCUR 25 X
>
> CALL IBSRQ(SERVE,,,STAT) !SET-UP TO HANDLE SRQ'S
>
> CALL IBSRQF(IFLG) !GET STATUS OF SRQ IEEE INTERFACE CONTROL LINE
>
> CALL IBTERM() !CLEARS INTERNAL TERMINATOR'S LIST
>
> CALL IBPPL !CONDUCT A PARALLEL POLL
>
> CALL IBIFC !ISSUE THE IEEE INTERFACE-CLEAR
>
> STAT=IBERRF() !GET ERROR INFORMATION
>
> CALL IBRDA !DISABLE (TURN-OFF) THE IEEE REMOTE LINE
>
> CALL IBREN !ENABLE (TURN-ON) THE IEEE REMOTE LINE
>
> TYPE 1002,IBREMO() 

Re: IEEE-488 on the PDP-11

[Glen Slick via cctalk]

On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 9:23 AM Douglas Taylor via cctalk
 wrote:
>
> I'm going by the 'Instrument Bus Subroutines Programmer's Reference
> Manual' that is on bitsavers. [/pdf/dec/pdp11/minc]  In section 4, page
> 4-1 it seems to imply that there are 6 files:
>
> IBLIB.OBJ
> IBSVER.FOR
> IBMNC.SYS
> IBNMNC.SYS
> IBXMNC.SYS
> IBXNMC.SYS
>
> I think that's it.  *.OBJ is a library to link to, *.FOR is a test
> program, *.SYS are device drivers for MINC and ordinary PDP-11 SJ, FB
> and XM monitors.  It probably is on it's own disk (RX01 RX02?)
>
> Doug

I have an original DEC RX01 floppy labeled:

AS-H300E-BC
INSTMT BUS SUB V2.1 BIN RX1
(c) 1983 Digital Equipment Corporation

I have an image I created from that floppy which I can mount using
PUTR, and then access the files on the floppy image:

C:\PUTR>PUTR
PUTR V2.01  Copyright (C) 1995-2001 by John Wilson .
All rights reserved.  See www.dbit.com for other DEC-related software.

COPY mode is ASCII, SET COPY BINARY to change
(C:\PUTR)>MOUNT RX0: AS-H300E.IMG /RONLY /RX01
(C:\PUTR)>DIR RX0:

 Volume in drive RX0 is RT11A
 Directory of RX0:\*.*

 16-Nov-2021
IB.MAC76  27-Mar-1982
IBBASE.MAC 8  27-Mar-1982
IBCBLK.MAC 3  27-Mar-1982
IBCMD .MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBDCL .MAC 1  27-Mar-1982
IBDEV .MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBERMF.MAC 5  27-Mar-1982
IBERR .MAC 4  27-Mar-1982
IBERRF.MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBERSH.MAC 3  27-Mar-1982
IBGET .MAC 1  27-Mar-1982
IBGTL .MAC 1  27-Mar-1982
IBIFC .MAC 1  27-Mar-1982
IBINIT.MAC 6  27-Mar-1982
IBLEGL.MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBLLO .MAC 1  27-Mar-1982
IBLNR .MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBLSN .MAC 5  27-Mar-1982
IBPPD .MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBPPE .MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBPPL .MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBPPU .MAC 1  27-Mar-1982
IBRCVS.MAC 1  27-Mar-1982
IBRDA .MAC 1  27-Mar-1982
IBRECV.MAC 3  27-Mar-1982
IBREMO.MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBREN .MAC 1  27-Mar-1982
IBSDC .MAC 1  27-Mar-1982
IBSEND.MAC 3  27-Mar-1982
IBSPL .MAC 3  27-Mar-1982
IBSRQ .MAC 5  27-Mar-1982
IBSRQF.MAC 1  27-Mar-1982
IBSTER.MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBSTS .MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBTERM.MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBTIMO.MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBTLK .MAC 4  27-Mar-1982
IBUNIT.MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBUNL .MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBUNT .MAC 2  27-Mar-1982
IBWAIT.MAC 1  27-Mar-1982
IBXFER.MAC 3  27-Mar-1982
IB.ASM 9  27-Mar-1982
IBLOC .ASM 1  27-Mar-1982
IBMNC .SYS10  27-Mar-1982
IBXMNC.SYS11  27-Mar-1982
IBNMNC.SYS10  27-Mar-1982
IBXNMC.SYS11  27-Mar-1982
IBDBLD.COM 1  27-Mar-1982
IBLIB .OBJ45  27-May-1982
IBSVER.FOR 7  27-Mar-1982
IBXBLD.COM 1  08-Mar-1983
IBSBLD.COM 2  08-Mar-1983
IBLBLD.COM10  27-Mar-1982
< UNUSED >   193
 54 Files, 293 Blocks
 193 Free blocks

(C:\PUTR)>COPY RX0:IBSVER.FOR C:
IBSVER.FOR


C
C
C THIS PROGRAM IS THE INSTALLATION/VERIFICATION PROGRAM FOR THE IBS IEEE BUS
C INTERFACE ROUTINES.
C
C*
C
EXTERNAL SERVE !ADDRESS OF USER'S SRQ HANDLING ROUTINE.
BYTE ASCII(26) !ASCII ARRAY CONTAINING THE ALPHABET.
INTEGER TALK,STAT

IBZERO=' ' !ASCII CODE FOR ZERO INSTRUMENT ADDRESS
LISTEN=5 !OUR LISTENER'S PRIMARY IEEE BUS ADDRESS.
TALK=6 !OUR TALKER'S PRIMARY IEEE BUS ADDRESS.
MAXL=15 !OUR MAXIMUM TRANSMIT/RECEIVE LENGTH.
LINE=6
C
TYPE 1000
 1000 FORMAT('1 IBS-11 V2.1 Verification Program'///
1' This procedure assumes that IB.SYS (or IBX.SYS) has been INSTALLED
2 and LOADED'/' in this system.   Also, this procedure assumes
3 that no devices'/' are connected to your IBV11-A/IB11
4 instrument bus.')
TYPE 1001
 1001 FORMAT(//' The first part of this test calls routines that do
1 not depend'/' on any device and thus should produce no
2 error messages.'//)
C
CALL IBSTER(16,20) !ALLOW ERROR NUMBER 16 (TIME-OUT) TO OCCUR 20 X
CALL IBSTER(5,5) !ALLOW THE NO DEFAULT LISTENER ERROR 5 TIMES
CALL IBSTER(7,2) !ALLOW THE BAD UNIT ERROR TO OCCUR TWICE
CALL IBSTER(15,25) !ALLOW THE NO VALID LISTENER ERROR TO OCCUR 25 X
CALL IBSRQ(SERVE,,,STAT) !SET-UP TO HANDLE SRQ'S
CALL IBSRQF(IFLG) !GET STATUS OF SRQ IEEE INTERFACE CONTROL LINE
CALL IBTERM() !CLEARS INTERNAL TERMINATOR'S LIST
CALL IBPPL !CONDUCT A PARALLEL POLL
CALL IBIFC !ISSUE THE IEEE INTERFACE-CLEAR
STAT=IBERRF() !GET ERROR INFORMATION
CALL IBRDA !DISABLE (TURN-OFF) THE IEEE REMOTE LINE
CALL IBREN !ENABLE (TURN-ON) THE IEEE REMOTE LINE
TYPE 1002,IBREMO() !READ AND TYPE THE REMOTE LINE STATUS
 1002 FORMAT(' IBREMO should return minus one at this point.  IBREMO ='
1I6)
C
TYPE 1003
 1003 FORMAT(//' At this point non-fatal error messages should begin to
1 appear.'//' EXPECTED ERROR MESSAGES'
2/' ---')
CALL IBTIMO(120) !SET TIME-OUT VALUE TO 2 SECONDS
CALL IBDEV(TALK,IBZERO) !SET-UP SRQ-CAPABLE DEVICE ADDRESS LIST
CALL IBLNR() !CHECK FOR VALID LISTENERS
CALL IBSEND(ASCII,MAXL,LISTEN)
CALL 

Re: Intel 4004 turns 50

[Richard Cini via cctalk]

The WSJ had an article on it, but oddly, they left out the 8080/8085 from the 
timeline discussion.

On 11/16/21, 12:30 PM, "cctalk on behalf of Zane Healy via cctalk" 
 wrote:

It looks like the Intel 4004 turned 50 yesterday.

Zane

Re: Intel 4004 turns 50

[Paul Koning via cctalk]

The Wall St. Journal had a good essay about that, by Andy Kessler.  This link 
should get you there:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-chip-that-changed-the-world-microprocessor-computing-transistor-breakthrough-intel-11636903999?st=nm37ik74mq9vp51=desktopwebshare_permalink
 


The subtitle is "Most of the wealth created since 1971 is a result of Intel’s 
4004 microprocessor" which seems extravagant until you read his arguments.

I still remember the 4004-based personal computer a college classmate of mine 
designed and built in 1974.  It was a large (DEC Unibus hex module sized) wire 
wrap board with about 100 chips on it.  And it worked.  Slowly, but it could do 
useful programs.

paul

> On Nov 16, 2021, at 12:30 PM, Zane Healy via cctalk  
> wrote:
> 
> It looks like the Intel 4004 turned 50 yesterday.
> 
> Zane
> 
> 
> 

Intel 4004 turns 50

[Zane Healy via cctalk]

It looks like the Intel 4004 turned 50 yesterday.

Zane

Re: IEEE-488 on the PDP-11

[Douglas Taylor via cctalk]

I'm going by the 'Instrument Bus Subroutines Programmer's Reference 
Manual' that is on bitsavers. [/pdf/dec/pdp11/minc]  In section 4, page 
4-1 it seems to imply that there are 6 files:


IBLIB.OBJ
IBSVER.FOR
IBMNC.SYS
IBNMNC.SYS
IBXMNC.SYS
IBXNMC.SYS

I think that's it.  *.OBJ is a library to link to, *.FOR is a test 
program, *.SYS are device drivers for MINC and ordinary PDP-11 SJ, FB 
and XM monitors.  It probably is on it's own disk (RX01 RX02?)


Doug

On 11/16/2021 11:56 AM, Jonathan Chapman via cctalk wrote:

I should have them in my MINC-23 stuff. If you can figure out which 
distribution diskette they're on, I can make you an image or copy.

Thanks,
Jonathan

‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐

On Tuesday, November 16th, 2021 at 11:01, Douglas Taylor via cctalk 
 wrote:


In my pile of DEC computer stuff I have a DEC qbus IBV11 IEEE-488

controller board (M7954) with cable (BN11-A) that connects to the GPIB bus.

It would be interesting to try this out, but I don't have the DEC

'Instrument Bus Subroutines' that work under RT-11.  Does anyone have

this package?  Or know where it can be found?

Doug

Re: IEEE-488 on the PDP-11

[Aaron Jackson via cctalk]

> In my pile of DEC computer stuff I have a DEC qbus IBV11 IEEE-488
> controller board (M7954) with cable (BN11-A) that connects to the GPIB bus.
>
> It would be interesting to try this out, but I don't have the DEC
> 'Instrument Bus Subroutines' that work under RT-11. Does anyone have
> this package? Or know where it can be found?
>
> Doug

I recently wrote a driver for the IBV11 card under 2.11BSD. I have it
talking to my scope and logic analyser without issue.

https://github.com/AaronJackson/2.11BSD/pull/1/files

Not the cleanest code but my first try at writing a driver :-)

Cheers,
Aaron

Re: IEEE-488 on the PDP-11

[Jonathan Chapman via cctalk]

I should have them in my MINC-23 stuff. If you can figure out which 
distribution diskette they're on, I can make you an image or copy.

Thanks,
Jonathan

‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐

On Tuesday, November 16th, 2021 at 11:01, Douglas Taylor via cctalk 
 wrote:

> In my pile of DEC computer stuff I have a DEC qbus IBV11 IEEE-488
>
> controller board (M7954) with cable (BN11-A) that connects to the GPIB bus.
>
> It would be interesting to try this out, but I don't have the DEC
>
> 'Instrument Bus Subroutines' that work under RT-11.  Does anyone have
>
> this package?  Or know where it can be found?
>
> Doug

IEEE-488 on the PDP-11

[Douglas Taylor via cctalk]

In my pile of DEC computer stuff I have a DEC qbus IBV11 IEEE-488 
controller board (M7954) with cable (BN11-A) that connects to the GPIB bus.


It would be interesting to try this out, but I don't have the DEC 
'Instrument Bus Subroutines' that work under RT-11.  Does anyone have 
this package?  Or know where it can be found?


Doug

COGNOS box

[Toby Thain via cctalk]

Hi all

Trying to get rid of some boxes of ephemera, including this one:

  https://imgur.com/a/dm1vR

Note that the software media is not included.

Location: Toronto Canada

--Toby