[cctalk] Re: Microcom S-64 8085 system

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Wouter de Waal via cctalk wrote:

> Hi all
> 
> I re-discovered some eurocards I found in a box at a swapmeet long ago.
> 
> It looks like a complete 8085 system. Lots of RAM, 2K EPROM, I/O, FDC.
> 
> The strange thing is that the EPROM is mapped at F800, the code in there
> looks like 8085 code, and looks like it wants to live at F800. And there's
> RAM at .
> 
> The DIN41612 A/C 64 pin bus has provision for 16 bits data.
> 
> Pics here http://retro.co.za/8085/Microcom/
> 
> Anyone maybe have more information on this? I'm curious.
> 
> W

Besides of relocating the entire ROM temporarly to 0x0 there are other
possibilities, for example placing NOP's (0x0) on the data bus until
the bus addresses reaching 0xf800 for the first time. This way a few
extra gates and a flipflop is all what you need.
On Z80 Systems I've mostly used a mechanism that enables writes to the
RAM at 0x0, but the reads came from the ROM until an flipflop was set
by an out instruction (and reset by Reset).

Regards,
Holm
-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
   i...@tsht.de Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

[cctalk] Re: Signetics N8220B ??

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Bingo! Thank you very much, I've read "2 Bit CAM" somewhere..but that
clarified nothing..

Currently I read trough the datasheet...cool device..

Regards,
Holm


Veit, Holger wrote:

> Maybe 8x2 content addressable memory?  
> See 
> https://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/components/signetics/_dataBooks/1972_Signetics_Full_Line.pdf,
>  page 4-3
> 
> --
> Holger
> 
> ____________
> Von: Holm Tiffe via cctalk 
> Gesendet: Montag, 28. August 2023 15:24
> An: cctalk@classiccmp.org
> Cc: Holm Tiffe
> Betreff: [cctalk] Signetics N8220B ??
> 
> Hi guys,
> I have 8 "new" Chips from Signetics, they are labeled:
> 
> S7536
> N8220B
> 
> and on the backside between the pins "8220".
> 
> Does anyone know what they do? My search with google and
> in the 1976 Signetics Date Manual (from Bitsavers) wasn't helpful...
> 
> Thanx in advance,
> 
> Holm
> 
> --
>Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe,
> Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
>i...@tsht.de Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
   i...@tsht.de Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

[cctalk] Signetics N8220B ??

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Hi guys,
I have 8 "new" Chips from Signetics, they are labeled:

S7536
N8220B

and on the backside between the pins "8220".

Does anyone know what they do? My search with google and
in the 1976 Signetics Date Manual (from Bitsavers) wasn't helpful...

Thanx in advance,

Holm

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
   i...@tsht.de Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

[cctalk] Nixies..

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

...only for a look..

https://www.daliborfarny.com/project/h-nixie-tube/


I'm not related with that czech factory, this is no advertising.

Regards,
Holm

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
   i...@tsht.de Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

[cctalk] Re: PSU of a 11/23SD??

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

The PSU (and the PDP11/73 in a BA11) is working again.

After thorough cleaning of the PSU PCB (had to dismount the heatsink and
the 3 TO3's, loosen the TO220's) I'vew checked the semiconductors..ok so far. 
Fuse F2 was
blown.
Interestingly the electrolyte of that original Mallory cap seems to
have some oil based blackish contents, it was impossible to remove that
in a water/soap solution, even in a ultrasonic cleaner.
I've finally used "white spirit" (Terpentinersatz in german)to clean up
the things.
I've mounted new fans (230V~ Types from EBMPABST (230V~ here anyways))
and now the pdp is working again, at least with ODT, don't have that
RX02 from that machine here.

Regards,
Holm

Mattis Lind wrote:

> That is a BA11-M box with a H780 supply. The schematics can be found in the
> KC780 document since the front end processor of the 11/780 is a PDP-11/03
> with a RX01 drive.
> In the end of this document there is a schematic:
> 
> http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/780/MP00534_KC780_Nov77.pdf
> 
> Good luck!
> 
> /Mattis
> 
> Den mån 13 mars 2023 kl 10:57 skrev Holm Tiffe via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org>:
> 
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I have to repair an PSU of a 11/23 n a BA11 Box with an H9720 Backplane
> > (with an KDJ-11A) that has run an CNC milling machine until 2 weeks
> > before now. :-) This is a Fidia machine..never heard about it before.
> >
> > The problem is that a big 19000µF 40V capacitor in the PSU has failed
> > and that I think because of that the 2nd of the two Nidec fans has
> > finally failed.
> > I'm in the process of cleaning the goo from the PSU-PCB, found a burnt
> > 5A fuse and now I'm checking the Semiconductors...
> >
> > The problem is here that the Transistors (and diodes) have uncommon
> > types printed on, an TO220 is named SJE2677, another one is labeled
> > 12652-00 RCA..and so on.
> > I've found a label with "0H780-B" on the PSU.. H780 PSU?
> > Where can I get some schematics from that beast? It is a secondary
> > switcher ist seems.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Holm
> > --
> >Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe,
> >  Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
> > i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790
> > 741
> >
> >

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

[cctalk] [h...@freibergnet.de: Re: PSU of a 11/23SD??]

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Oh yes, that's looking good :-)
Thank you very much Mattis!

BTW: Some years before I helped to repair and administering the east
german copy of an 11/780.. the Robotron RVS K1840.
The console Processor of this beast was an Robotron K1620, the slowest
PDP-11 ever made but it was enough to load the microcode :-)
The 1620 used two 5,25" Floppies instead of the 8" one in the 11/780.

Best regards,

Holm

Mattis Lind wrote:

> That is a BA11-M box with a H780 supply. The schematics can be found in the
> KC780 document since the front end processor of the 11/780 is a PDP-11/03
> with a RX01 drive.
> In the end of this document there is a schematic:
> 
> http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/780/MP00534_KC780_Nov77.pdf
> 
> Good luck!
> 
> /Mattis
> 
> Den mån 13 mars 2023 kl 10:57 skrev Holm Tiffe via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org>:
> 
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I have to repair an PSU of a 11/23 n a BA11 Box with an H9720 Backplane
> > (with an KDJ-11A) that has run an CNC milling machine until 2 weeks
> > before now. :-) This is a Fidia machine..never heard about it before.
> >
> > The problem is that a big 19000µF 40V capacitor in the PSU has failed
> > and that I think because of that the 2nd of the two Nidec fans has
> > finally failed.
> > I'm in the process of cleaning the goo from the PSU-PCB, found a burnt
> > 5A fuse and now I'm checking the Semiconductors...
> >
> > The problem is here that the Transistors (and diodes) have uncommon
> > types printed on, an TO220 is named SJE2677, another one is labeled
> > 12652-00 RCA..and so on.
> > I've found a label with "0H780-B" on the PSU.. H780 PSU?
> > Where can I get some schematics from that beast? It is a secondary
> > switcher ist seems.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Holm
> > --
> >Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe,
> >  Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
> > i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790
> > 741
> >
> >

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741


- Ende weitergeleitete Nachricht -

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

[cctalk] PSU of a 11/23SD??

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Hi all,

I have to repair an PSU of a 11/23 n a BA11 Box with an H9720 Backplane
(with an KDJ-11A) that has run an CNC milling machine until 2 weeks
before now. :-) This is a Fidia machine..never heard about it before.

The problem is that a big 19000µF 40V capacitor in the PSU has failed
and that I think because of that the 2nd of the two Nidec fans has
finally failed.
I'm in the process of cleaning the goo from the PSU-PCB, found a burnt
5A fuse and now I'm checking the Semiconductors...

The problem is here that the Transistors (and diodes) have uncommon
types printed on, an TO220 is named SJE2677, another one is labeled
12652-00 RCA..and so on.
I've found a label with "0H780-B" on the PSU.. H780 PSU?
Where can I get some schematics from that beast? It is a secondary
switcher ist seems.

Regards,
Holm
-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

[cctalk] Re: Soviet PDP clones

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Eugene? Most people that are named Eugene (or Eugen in German) are
descendands of russian people or russians...and named Jewegeny. :-)

Excellent is ...wrong, starting at the point that the eniac should be
the first electronic calculator, it wasn't.

There are more faults. The cause for the lag in computing technology in
the east is simple: the planned economy, not the decision to use one or
another memory technology.
The CMEA decided to build computer components in countries w/o any
experience in HiTec, as an example it was forbidden to produce magnet
tapes in the GDR (cars with 4 cycle engines too and more than 100HP was
forbidden too), tapes and disks should be produced in bulgaria..for
all of the CMEA countries. What do you expect then to come out?

Regards,
Holm




W2HX via cctalk wrote:

> This is an excellent video on the history of Soviet computing and the causes 
> of their lagging behind the west. I cannot comment on the accuracy since I am 
> no expert in this subject. But a very interesting and informative video. 
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnHdqPBrtH8 
> 
> 73 Eugene W2HX
> Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/w2hx-channel/videos
> 
> 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Joshua Rice via cctalk  
> Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2022 7:52 AM
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts 
> Cc: Joshua Rice 
> Subject: [cctalk] Re: Soviet PDP clones
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- Original Message --
> From: "Holm Tiffe via cctalk" 
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" 
> 
> Cc: "Holm Tiffe" 
> Sent: Tuesday, 18 Oct, 2022 At 08:45
> Subject: [cctalk] Re: Soviet PDP clones
> Joshua Rice via cctalk wrote:
> Hi all,
> After some discussion on reddit about russian PDP-11 clones, i made the 
> (perhaps erronous) claim that the PDP series in general was cloned by the 
> Soviets.
> I’m aware that there was a lot of QBUS/LSI PDP-11 clones, and depite poor 
> documentation, there is significant evidence of PDP-8 clones. Also, depite 
> not strictly a “PDP”, the VAX series was also cloned.
> However, i’m curious whether anyone has any evidence of either the 18-bit or 
> 36-bit PDP machines being cloned? I imagine that given the rather lacklustre 
> success of the 18-bit series, that there would have been less demand for an 
> 18-bit PDP machine in the Soviet Union, but i find it quite hard to believe 
> that no attempt to clone the PDP-6 and
> PDP-10 machines would have been attempted.
> Does anyone here have any information on such clones?
> Cheers,
> Josh Rice
> Josh, it seems to be difficult for any "western" guy to belive that russians 
> or the "warshaw pakt countries" where able to develop ther own systems of 
> computers, that's simply wrong.
> 
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I apologise for any misunderstanding. By "clone", i didn't exactly mean a 
> 1-to-1 copy, but more a reimplementation. Much like the term "IBM PC clone" 
> is still used to describe non-IBM-derived PC designs.
> 
> I understand that the eastern european countries can and di design their own 
> machines, but it's undeniable that the Soviet leaders deemed it more valuable 
> to copy western designs than design their own domestic architectures from 
> scratch. There was also plenty of designs that were literal "clones", down to 
> the silicon gates.
> 
> Cheers, Josh
> 

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

[cctalk] Re: Soviet PDP clones

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Joshua Rice via cctalk wrote:

> 
> Hi,
> 
> I apologise for any misunderstanding. By "clone", i didn't exactly mean 
> a 1-to-1 copy, but more a reimplementation. Much like the term "IBM PC 
> clone" is still used to describe non-IBM-derived PC designs.

Ok, sounds better, but the russians rolled out ther own CPUs too, that
makes a lot of difference in my eyes.

> 
> I understand that the eastern european countries can and di design their 
> own machines, but it's undeniable that the Soviet leaders deemed it more 
> valuable to copy western designs than design their own domestic 
> architectures from scratch. There was also plenty of designs that were 
> literal "clones", down to the silicon gates.
> 
> Cheers, Josh
> 

>From what I read in the last 20 years I would state that the PDP11's are
far more spread all over the country as they where in the US. Belive it
or not.

Most of us know that the PDP11's archtecture is an elegant design and it
was the blueprint of Z8000 and MC68000 (MSP430). It must have had favored
from russian programmers..as I already wrote above even Tetris was
programmed on a russian PDP11.
...but this hasn't happened since the CPUs got copied, they rolled out
ther own thing.

Even the "cloned" Z80 from the former GDR wasn't a clone at all. Zilog
Z80 have Bugs in the Flag handling for example, which the GDR U880 has
corrected.
One must know what he is doing to do that.
The russians "cloned" CPUs that never existet in original.

Regards,
Holm

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

[cctalk] Re: Soviet PDP clones

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Toby Thain via cctalk wrote:

> On 2022-10-18 2:57 a.m., Holm Tiffe via cctalk wrote:
> > Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:
> > 
> >>
> >>
> >>> On Oct 17, 2022, at 2:47 PM, Joshua Rice via cctalk 
> >>>  wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Hi all,
> >>>
> >>> After some discussion on reddit about russian PDP-11 clones, i made the 
> >>> (perhaps erronous) claim that the PDP series in general was cloned by the 
> >>> Soviets.
> >>
> >> That's definitely accurate.  I have seen pictures of Russian Pro clones.
> > 
> > Yes. But they "cloned" not only DEC Pros, they build PDP11 Computers in
> > several variants. ...
> > The USSR built several PDP11 Processors, K1801VM1, K1801VM2, K1801VM3, 
> > N1806VM2
> > etc.. which are all Single Chip PDP11's. DEC's only Single Chip CPU was
> > the T11.
> > 
> 
> J11?
> 
> --Toby

Yes, K1836 series as far as I remember, but the K1801VM3 is a much more
developed CPU as the J11 is and is a single Chip CPU was the J11 is not.

Regards,
Holm

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

[cctalk] Re: Soviet PDP clones

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Joshua Rice via cctalk wrote:

> Hi all, 
> 
> After some discussion on reddit about russian PDP-11 clones, i made the 
> (perhaps erronous) claim that the PDP series in general was cloned by the 
> Soviets. 
> 
> I’m aware that there was a lot of QBUS/LSI PDP-11 clones, and depite poor 
> documentation, there is significant evidence of PDP-8 clones. Also, depite 
> not strictly a “PDP”, the VAX series was also cloned.
> 
> However, i’m curious whether anyone has any evidence of either the 18-bit or 
> 36-bit PDP machines being cloned? I imagine that given the rather lacklustre 
> success of the 18-bit series, that there would have been less demand for an 
> 18-bit PDP machine in the Soviet Union, but i find it quite hard to believe 
> that no attempt to clone the PDP-6 and PDP-10 machines would have been 
> attempted. 
> 
> Does anyone here have any information on such clones?
> 
> Cheers, 
> 
> Josh Rice

Josh, it seems to be difficult for any "western" guy to belive that
russians or the "warshaw pakt countries" where able to develop ther own
systems of computers, that's simply wrong.
The demand for "clones" are only existed since it was pretty much
ineffective to develop all the interesting software for all the own
stuff again, you know there are many man years necessary..in the east
and in the west. Software clould easily copied, harware couldn't, it
has to be build. Therefore it isn't effective to clone parts that aren't
available locally, where other parts that could do the job are.
Therefore most of the machines aren't clones.
(don't come and say that copying software is illegal, there was not
only one illegal thing that NSA/CIA/GCHQ has done to that time, so why
don't do the same? It where totally different economical systems)

The PDP11 architecture looked interesting, so they build compatible
computers, not clones, on that this software could run.
The soviet SM-1420 (~ PDP11/34) (Wikipedia stated that they where build
in the former GDR also, wich is simply wrong) used AM2901 compatible
Chips to build the CPU (not the FPU!), which wasn't done from DEC in
any of ther PDP11's as far as I know.
Things got "cloned" by reading the manuals and developing an own
hardware that fits and used available parts.

There wasn't much demand to build an PDP8, 6 or 10, the 11 was much more
intersting. BTW: As far as I heard some of the russian ICBM's using
computers build from the more advanched russian "PDP11-clones".

Regards,
Holm

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

[cctalk] Re: Soviet PDP clones

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Holm Tiffe via cctalk wrote:
[..]

For the GDR I don't know of any PDP8 clones, There was the "Kleinrechner
Systeme K4100 and K4200", don't know much about the first one, but the
2nd was compatible to the honeywell DDP516 Series, no clone in any way,
they are totally different from the in- and the outside. The Bigger
machines from the ESER Series Mainfraimes where compatible to the 3270
but no "clones" either.

For the Robotron K1630 (K1600 PDP11 systems) existed an Hardware
emulator PCB set that could emulate the K4200 on this machine..faster
then the original.

Regards,
Holm

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

[cctalk] Re: Soviet PDP clones

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:

> 
> 
> > On Oct 17, 2022, at 2:47 PM, Joshua Rice via cctalk  
> > wrote:
> > 
> > Hi all, 
> > 
> > After some discussion on reddit about russian PDP-11 clones, i made the 
> > (perhaps erronous) claim that the PDP series in general was cloned by the 
> > Soviets. 
> 
> That's definitely accurate.  I have seen pictures of Russian Pro clones.

Yes. But they "cloned" not only DEC Pros, they build PDP11 Computers in
several variants. There are the DVKs https://www.wikiwand.com/en/DVK,
the Elektronika BK Homecomputer
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronika_BK
or the school computer UKNS 
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/UKNC

(C means an S in cyrillic letters)

I own an Elektronika E60 which is an LSI11 Computer, but all Connectors
and Board dimensions are metric. The PCB's are not "clones", that are
developments from USSR with their own chips.
This was the machine on which tetris got developed!

The USSR built several PDP11 Processors, K1801VM1, K1801VM2, K1801VM3, N1806VM2
etc.. which are all Single Chip PDP11's. DEC's only Single Chip CPU was
the T11.

> 
> > I’m aware that there was a lot of QBUS/LSI PDP-11 clones, and depite poor 
> > documentation, there is significant evidence of PDP-8 clones. Also, depite 
> > not strictly a “PDP”, the VAX series was also cloned.
> 
> You probably have heard of the CVAX chip, where on the mask in microscopic 
> lettering is the message, in Russian: "CVAX -- when you want to steal the 
> very best".

Yes, but this was nonsense, the first VAX CPU Chip from USSR was an
Equivalent of an VAX11/750..but the VAX11/750 never hat an single CPU
Chip! The CPU consisted of large Boards full of TTL and Sequencers.
Sorry...no clone. They used the DEC Processor Manual and build their own
chips.
The K1801VM3 can address 4Mbyte of Memory.

This is an Elektronika MK90  using an CMOS H1806VM2 CPU.. not really
a clone ehy?
https://elektronika.su/en/calculators/elektronika-mk-90/
MK85 is a smaller variant.

Same for the GDR, There was an PDP11 build from 8 Bit Bitslice
Processors, the Robotron K1600. They used 2708 like Eproms for the
Control store and the sequencers...this was the worlds slowest PDP11..

For a relativly short Time I was Adminstrator on a Robotron K1840
at the university of mining in Freiberg. The RVS K1840 was a direct
Clone of a DEC VAX11/780, Boards where interchangeable with the
original.
Later the ZMD Dresden produced a clone of the VAX 78032 Chip, the
U80701. This is a MV-II CPU.


> > However, i’m curious whether anyone has any evidence of either the 18-bit 
> > or 36-bit PDP machines being cloned? I imagine that given the rather 
> > lacklustre success of the 18-bit series, that there would have been less 
> > demand for an 18-bit PDP machine in the Soviet Union, but i find it quite 
> > hard to believe that no attempt to clone the PDP-6 and PDP-10 machines 
> > would have been attempted. 
> > 
> > Does anyone here have any information on such clones?
> 
> Here's something:
> 
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilnius_Computer_Factory
> 
> That's not the only Soviet clone factory, but it's an interesting one.  I 
> have a brochure from them, which I think I got when they visited DEC in the 
> 1980s (which takes some chutzpah!).  The brochure is not all that clear, but 
> the Wikipedia article says their 32-bit machine "SM 1700" is a VAX clone.  
> Apparently a number of their other machines were not clones but original 
> designs.
> 
>   paul

Sorry, I have no idea about PDP8 or PDP10 clones.

Regards,
Holm
-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: DEC DC319A DLART (DL11 Compatible Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter)

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

pbirkel--- via cctalk wrote:

> In case anyone else has been looking some of these, there is a listing for
> multiple tubes-of-11 on eBay at a moderate price:
> 
>  
> 
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/123710245814
> 
> QTY-11 PCS. AMI SEMICONDUCTOR DC319 C04090 Integrated Circuit - (UIC
> 40378901)

I've bought 11 pcs DC319A from the source above but need only 4 pcs. for
my self. In the meantime I've sold 2 pcs for 8,50€/peace + shipping to a
guy hiere in Germany. 8,18€/peace is the price I got myself including
shipping and border taxes.
I still have 5 pcs. left for sale for interested People from the euopean
side of the pond.  Just mail me if you are interested..

Regards,

Holm
-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Seeking a MC75325L Dual Memory Driver

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Gary Oliver via cctalk wrote:

> On 3/11/22 07:01, Paul Birkel via cctech wrote:
> 
> .snip.
> 
> > UTSOURCE claims to have a supplier of the ceramic part "new", with a
> > significantly higher shipping charge.
> >
> For what it's worth, I've ordered several times from UTSOURCE and the 
> results have been perfect.  So far, I obtained a number of the Harris 
> 'pdp8' chips D1-6120-9 and 6402 uarts plus Harris's weird baud-rate 
> generator and 6121 'port' decoder.  All have been quickly delivered and 
> were 100% tested by me only receipt and they all met operational specs 
> within specified voltage ranges.
> 
> Surprised about shopping charges, though.  I'm in the US and the 
> shipping charges were quite 'nominal'. Less than $5 on a 25 chip order 
> of about $150.
> 
> They are so far, "good guys" in my book.
> 
> -Gary

Same Experience here. One time I've got an defective Z8010 MMU with a
crack on the underside in the middle of the chip, Email was enough, got
a working replacement w/o any hassle...

Regards,
Holm
-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Wanted: Pinout IDT 49C402 PGA84

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Glen Slick via cctalk wrote:

> On Thu, Feb 10, 2022 at 3:21 PM Maciej W. Rozycki via cctalk
>  wrote:
> >
> > On Thu, 10 Feb 2022, Holm Tiffe via cctalk wrote:
> >
> > > Has anyone a databook newer than 1989 where the PGA84  Pinout is listed?
> >
> >  It seems like datasheetarchive.com has a copy of a 1995 datasheet listing
> > what you need ("IDT49C402/A/B 16-BIT CMOS Microprocessor Slice", IDT doc
> > #9011; original, not a scan).  I have just downloaded it.
> 
> See also:
> 
> http://www.bitsavers.org/components/idt/_dataBooks/1995_IDT_High-Performance_Logic_Data_Book.pdf
> 
> Chapter 11, 16-BIT CMOS MICROPROCESSOR SLICE
> IDT49C402, IDT49C402A, IDT49C402B
> Page 4 of Chapter 11, PGA TOP VIEW


Thx Maciej and Glen, got the files now..


Kind Regards
Holm
-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Wanted: Pinout IDT 49C402 PGA84

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Hi,

I have 4 pcs. IDT49C402 Bit Slices, it is no problem to find a datasheet
for that chip..but it is an problem to find the pinout for the PGA84
Package. In all Datasheets that I've found only DIP68, LCC/PLCC68
PGA68 and CERQUAD68 are listet..

Has anyone a databook newer than 1989 where the PGA84  Pinout is listed?

TIA,

Holm
-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

SMC FD37C65B and revision C Errata sheets?

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Hi all,

the german Engeneer Tillman Reh has build an Zilog Z280 SBC card with
Eurocard Bus connector:
http://oldcomputers.dyndns.org/public/pub/rechner/zilog/z280/index.html
The Software is open and Tillman allows the PCB to be reproduced from
his original Gerber files on request.

Unfortunately some parts for those cards are almost unobtanium in the
meantime, the Zigzag DRAMs, the COM8117 Uart, the LT1134 Driver chip
and also the SMC FD37C65CLJP FDC are difficult to source.
I have two such cards and I got all the necessary parts, but I have
friends that are also interested in such a card to run CP/M 3 or UZI280
on that Z280 (The Z800!) 16 Bit CPU.

There are many other FDCs that should be compatible, the WD37C65 for
example. This was used in many PC related Floppy controllers..but they
are in fact not compatible. The use of the SMC37C65CLJ P  seems to be
necesary for this board, for reasons that are unclear.

While copying data to the disc there happens a timeout on the earlier
FDC varaints, I have read somewhere that reading the status register
gives unexpected results, they have tried to fix this already in the
90ies by inserting some delays, w/o success.

Has someone here Errata Sheets for those SMC FD37C65B (not working) and
FDC37C65C (working) variants of that FDC Chip, so that one can see what
they may have changed between the releases?

Here are some part of the BIOS:

; I/O-Page mu~ bereits auf BOARDP gesetzt sein. Ver{ndert ABHL.

FdcCom::
if loader
ld  hl,CList
else
ld  hl,(CmdAdr) ; Zeiger auf Befehlsliste
endif
FdcCo1::in  a,(FdcSta)  ; (Einsprung mit Zeiger in HL)
rla
jr  nc,FdcCo1   ; warten bis FDC-RQM (Request for Master)
rla
jr  c,FdcErr; bei falscher Datenrichtung: DIO-Error
nop
nop
nop
ld  a,(hl)
out (FdcDat),a  ; Befehls/Datenbyte an FDC ausgeben
inc hl  ; Zeiger auf naechstes Byte
djnzFdcCo1  ; alle Befehlsbytes ausgeben
ret

; DIO-Error (Datenrichtungsfehler im FDC) : Stoppen des Systems
;*** evtl. Fehler korrigieren und weiterarbeiten?
; (Ist Fehler ueberhaupt korrigierbar?)

FdcErr: ld  hl,DioMsg
callPMsg; "DIO-Error" ausgeben
di
halt; sicherheitshalber nicht weiter arbeiten

It seems that the FDC Status register requests a data transfer in the
wrong direction on the B-Release Chips... It is this "DIO-Error" that
happens after a few write operations, but formating the disk is possible.


Kind Regards,

Holm


-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Programming Bipolar PROMs (Tom Hunter)

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Mark Moulding via cctalk wrote:

> From: Tom Hunter 
> Subject: Programming Bipolar PROMs
> 
> > The part is an Intersil IM5600CP, but these were also made by others, for
> > example Signetics and Philips made the 82S23 and TI and NTE made the 
> > faster
> > SN74S188N. Some vendors still sell these parts and there are even a few on
> > Ebay.
> >
> > How do I program these PROMs? I found one somewhat obscure description of
> > the algorithm in the NTE datasheet, but I suspect that each manufacturer
> > had (somewhat) different algorithms.
> 
> I built a project using Russian clones of the 74188, and ended up building a 
> programmer for them.  The programming process is slow (over a minute to 
> program 32 bytes), draws quite a bit of power (the chip is uncomfortably 
> warm afterwards), and it took a while to work out the programming algorithm. 
> Also, as Tom Hunter mentioned, the programming process isn't perfect - about 
> 5% don't program correctly; I don't know if this is my algorithm or the fact 
> that the clones aren't so good.  However, once programmed, they seem to work 
> just fine.


K155RE3? (К155РЕ3)

I've had to repair a stepper motor controller from some CNC grinding
machine lately. Luckily I had 2 such controllers, one with a working ROM
(some TIBPxxx) and I had K155RE3 in a box. I've programmed it with an
Labtool48 using Dataman48 Software on Windows. The Dataman ist the same
thing as the Labtool. It programmed the ROMs successfully as 74S188,
but the first peace failed to program correctly. Programming was
relatively fast, below 2 seconds with verify.

Regards,
-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Intersil Eprom 66S018? (IM6653?)

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

I have an old german PLC on the desk that I need to repair,
it is an Eberle PLS511, build out of a 1Bit CPU build out of 4xxx CMOS
Logic.
I do have two slightly different units, one is equipped with 3 pcs
66S018 Eproms from Intersilm DC is 8319.
I'm unable to find a datasheet for that device but I thin it is
compatible to the old Intersil IM6653 1024x4 Bit Eprom to build the
wordlength of 12 Bits out of 3 Roms..
There is a different memory Card equipped with 2 27C04, the jumpers are
configured for a 2K Rom type..and it seems that the 27C064 ar only
installed because of the CMOS Power consumption..

Can someone plase confirm that the 6653 is compatible to the 66S018
which may be a military variant?
Is there a datasheet perferably including the description of the
programming algorithm?

Thanks in Advance,

Holm

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Burnable, patched Microvax-2000 SCSI-boot EPROM images?]

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

..the compatible Device for the Labtool-48 is the Dataman-48, Software
is here: https://www.dataman.com/dataman-4848lv-resources

Regards,

Holm

- Forwarded message from Holm Tiffe  -

Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2021 07:45:32 +0200
From: Holm Tiffe 
To: Jonathan Stone 
Subject: Re: Burnable, patched Microvax-2000 SCSI-boot EPROM images?

Ok..sounds good so far..

I have an Labtool-48 Programmer for example..thats an old Promer with an
parallelport. Software is available for an OEM Device and I'm using that.
Forgot in the moment what this was..but I can check that later.
There are at least 3 Versions of the Promer that are more or less
incompatible to the others, there are "upgrades", with other PCBs in
there..last variant is able to do USB..
I'm owning the "plain" variant.

Another from my stuff is an HiLo ALL07, and I have German made GALEP III
and GALEP IV. All with Centronics Interface.. good Promers.

I think it is ok to have old programmers (and old
programmer-conterollers (old Laptops)) dedicated to them.
I never had to program 3,3V Eproms an such things.. every time old
Devices like Eproms, GALS or even TTL ROMs. 82S100 too..

I'm a german.. and sending Eproms from here seems to be the worst case
to me...

Regards,

Holm
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A


Jonathan Stone wrote:

>  
> 
> On Tuesday, September 21, 2021, 05:39:23 AM PDT, Holm Tiffe via cctalk 
>  wrote:
> 
> >I've tried this almost 2 years before..and it worked "somewhat".
> >An VS2000 booted up in the first stage but the NetBSD Kernel couldn't
> >mount root since nothing in the loader expected a disk at the NCR SCSI
> >interface on the VS2000. Ragge agreed to look at this (bootcode) on my
> >VS2000, but I'vwe couldn't get an ssh connection from the internet to
> >an VS3100 M76 to which the VS2000 console was connected to..to work..
> 
> I once "owned" the NetBSD MIPS port, and I've done VAX assembly and kernel 
> code j(e.g., VMS device drivers). If I can't figure it out by comparison to 
> 3100 code, I'll contact Ragge and set up remote access via a BCC08, a NetBSD 
> laptop, and serial. (At least one of the VS200s is jumpered to Vaxstation 
> mode, and I have two GPX daughter-cards on order.)
> 
> >For yure I could burn the proms, but I think I'm on the other side of
> >the pond..
> 
> I am located in the San Francisco Bay Area. I came here for grad school and 
> never left.
> 
>  It may be time for me to buy a PROM programmer. Anyone got recommendations 
> for a budget device? "Amazon's choice" is 
> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082D5NQ2P. The costlier option includes 10 
> different sockets, and it claims support for 29xxx and 29Cxxx EPROMs, plus 
> lots of others.
> 
> The DEC-badged Data-IO " on eBay is tempting, but expensive, and I don't know 
> where to find software.  

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741


- End forwarded message -

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Burnable, patched Microvax-2000 SCSI-boot EPROM images?

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Jonathan Stone via cctalk wrote:

> I recently rescued two Microvax-2000s but both have dead RD53s.  Does anyone 
> have a ROMable image of the Microvax 2000/Vaxstation 2000 boot-PROM patches 
> from Wolfgang Moeller at http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/vms/pk2k/ ?   I'm looking to 
> install NetBSD, not VMS and I don't have any VMS systems on which to run 
> PATCH.   Microvax 2000 specs say it can sustain 3.3MB/s I/O, which has to be 
> via the SCSI interface.  So a SCSI emulator should be significantly higher 
> performance than an MFM drive (either 30+ year old drive, or emulator).
> 
> Web-searching shows a Sean O'Banion has burned the PROMs successfully; I 
> haven't yet found other names.
> If someone is willing to burn at least one set of EPROMs for me, I'd pay for 
> the service (either ship EPROMS, or pay for them).
> 
I've tried this almost 2 years before..and it worked "somewhat".
An VS2000 booted up in the first stage but the NetBSD Kernel couldn't
mount root since nothing in the loader expected a disk at the NCR SCSI
interface on the VS2000. Ragge agreed to look at this (bootcode) on my
VS2000, but I'vwe couldn't get an ssh connection from the internet to
an VS3100 M76 to which the VS2000 console was connected to..to work..

For yure I could burn the proms, but I think I'm on the other side of
the pond..

Regards,

Holm
-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Sovier/Russian 132-pin PGA Ceramic IC Packaging

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Joshua Rice via cctalk wrote:

> Though i’m no expert, it looks like those are more an artefact of production, 
> rather than usable test points. It seems like those pins extend throughout 
> the ceramic substrate, and were most likely produced by pushing the pins 
> through holes in the substrate and then soldering them. This may have been a 
> solution used when the factory making them had limited tooling, or the chip 
> was particularly low volume and more dedicated tooling was uneconomical.
> 
> > On Feb 9, 2021, at 10:27 AM, Paul Birkel via cctalk  
> > wrote:
> > 
> > In item https://www.ebay.com/itm/265045229011 I am curious as to whether the
> > gold islands on the top-side are functional test-points giving electrical
> > access to the underside pins?  Was there a clip designed to attach to the
> > top-side of these chips for use in circuit analysis?  Was this design unique
> > to Russian manufacture (I don't recall ever seeing this design previously)?
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > paul
> > 

:-)

is it symtomatic for US people that things that russians do and that 
they couldn't explain, must have something todo with "limited tooling"
or other limitations that russians "must have"?

Nazis had the same idea, all other people seemed to be limited in on or
another way. You already know what came later.

Regards,
Holm

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Wanted: Hp Display Tube 5083-1551

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

hi all,
a friend of mine (Hartmut) is restoring desktop- and pocketcaluculators
as a hobby. Lately he got an HP9100B on his desk with a bad display tube (the
getters are white) but is otherwise in a good shape.

Is here possibly someone that has such an display Tube to sell?

Kind Regards from Germany,

Holm
-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: VAX rom patches - VAXstation 2000 SCSI boot, KA420 > 1GB boot

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

David Brownlee via cctalk wrote:

> I had some extra A4 pages with a VAXstation 2000 manual which covered
> a preview PK2K kit for VMS, bootloader and ROM to allow use of the
> VAXstation 2000 SCSI controller for more than just tapes.
> 
> Rough scan at http://sync.absd.org/vax/VAX-PK2K-preview-kit.pdf (the
> originals will be sent to someone who can do a better job)
> 
> The pages led me to http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/vms/ which includes some goodies:
> - http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/vms/pk2k - uVAX-2k SCSI patches with source
> for boot roms, VMB & VMS
> - http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/vms/ka420 - ROM patches for KA420/KA430 boot
> from >1GB disks
> - http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/vms/dk-552/ - VMS 5.2 patch to allow to
> accept more SCSI disk devices
> 
> (Starting a new thread in case there is (slightly) more general
> interest for anyone interested in using the onboard uVAX-2K SCSI
> controller more more than tapes (OK, OK, for anyone not running NetBSD
> on their uVAX-2K interested in etc etc) - have cross posted to cctalk
> & port-vax - hopefully not violating any conventions there)
> 
> David


Two years before I've tried to boot an VS2000 with those rom patches
into NetBSD..it didn't work, since the VS2000 Boot code does'nt expext to
have a disk connected to this controller and so it can't find a root fs
at all. I did discuss this at port-vax and ragge suggested so set up a
patched machine and connect it to the internet so he could try to fix
this remotely. Sorry, it was my fault that this got never realized,
I could'nt get a telnet port redirect to an VS3100 ony my net trough an
Linksys router to work for some still unknown reason.

I'm still interested to get this to work (for a friend, this isn't my
VS2000), just have to get the machines to where I live now and try to
setup this a 2nd time..

I hav'nt seen your crosspost to port-vax..huh?

Regards,
Holm

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: ISO earl TI DSP kits

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

David Gesswein via cctalk wrote:

> Until they are up on bitsavers you can get them from here.
> 
> http://www.pdp8online.com/misc/TMS320_TMS340.zip
> 
> On Sun, Mar 08, 2020 at 01:04:41PM -0400, emanuel stiebler wrote:
> > On 2020-03-07 14:38, David Gesswein via cctalk wrote:
> > 
> > > I found around 70 disks for the TMS320C30 and TMS340x0. I can read these
> > > Let me know your current desires for archiving such as IMD or files, text 
> > > label 
> > > info or disk pictures etc.  Do you want the TMS340 graphics processor 
> > > disk 
> > > images also?
> > 
> > Please share those ...
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --

Is there a chance that someone will find some TMS320C25 (TMS320C2x) dev tools?

The TI Datasheet lists:

Package   P/N
Macro Assembler/Linker  TMDS3242850-02
Simulator   TMDS3242851-02
C Compiler  TMDX3242855-02
Digital Filter Design Package (DFDP)DFDP-IBM002
DSP Software LibraryTMDC3240812-12

(only listet the pc-dos versions, vms, ultrix and SUN versions existed too)

I still have 14 pcs TMS320C25 laying around here and want to play with
them.

Regards,

Holm

-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederran, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: 9 track tapes and block sizes

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

shad via cctalk wrote:

> Hello,
> I have a question about 9 track tapes and block sizes.
> What I know is that tape is subdivided in files by means of marks, and each
> file is subdivided in blocks of equal size.
> Programs like tar use a specific block size to create files on tape.
> However files can have different block sizes like bootloader file,
> installation dumps and root file system copy on 2.11BSD.
> Now suppose you find and unknown tape you want to preserve: using dd you
> could easily 1:1 copy tape files to hard disk files using a SCSI drive and
> Linux.
> But: how you know which block size is on the tape?
> 
> Thanks
> Andrea

I've sometimes created my own simh .tap to Boottape converter (an later
found out that such a thing exists on the net) to create some boottapes
for my pdp11's using a tandberg 8GB quarter inch drive. It worked
(on Freebsd). I've installed 2.11BSD and on a KA630 Quasijarus Unix,

If you set the blocksize to variable you get back the read byte count
from the read() system call und you have to preserve that information to
the new copied tape (that's what the .tap formats are made for).

I know it is the other way around (.tap->tape) but this is my old q
tape write program, you hae made the other half yourselves...

#include
#include
#include
#include
#include
#include
#include

#define MAXBLOCK 50

extern int errno;

main()
{

FILE * ifp;
FILE * ofp;
unsigned char buf[MAXBLOCK*512];
unsigned char * bufp;
unsigned long foffs=0;
struct  mtop mtio;

int blnum,mark,mt;
unsigned int  blen, tlen;
mark=0;

if((ifp=fopen("tapefile","r"))==NULL)
{
fprintf(stderr,"Cant open input file\n");
exit(-1);
}
if(system("mt -f /dev/sa0 blocksize 0")<0)
{
fprintf(stderr,"Can't set variable blocksize on 
/dev/sa0\n");
exit(-1);
}
if((mt=open("/dev/sa0", O_CREAT|O_TRUNC|O_WRONLY,0666))<0)
{
fprintf(stderr,"Can't open tape device\n");
exit(-1);
}

blnum=0;

l0:
while(1)
{
if(fread(, sizeof(uint32_t),1,ifp)!=1)
{
fprintf(stderr,"Can't read blocklen\n");
fclose(ifp);
close(mt);
exit(-1);
}
foffs+=sizeof(uint32_t);
if(blen==0)
{
if(mark)
{
fprintf(stderr,"EOT detected\n");
fclose(ifp);
mtio.mt_op = MTWEOF;
mtio.mt_count = 2;
if (ioctl(mt, MTIOCTOP, ) < 0)
fprintf(stderr, "MTIOCTOP err: 
%d\n", errno);
close(mt);
exit(0);
foffs+=sizeof(uint32_t);
if(blen==0)
{
if(mark)
{
fprintf(stderr,"EOT detected\n");
fclose(ifp);
mtio.mt_op = MTWEOF;
mtio.mt_count = 2;
if (ioctl(mt, MTIOCTOP, ) < 0)
fprintf(stderr, "MTIOCTOP err: 
%d\n", errno);
close(mt);
exit(0);
}
else
{
fprintf(stderr,"tapemark detected 
foffs= %08x\n",
blen,foffs);
mark=1;
mtio.mt_op = MTWEOF;
mtio.mt_count = 1;
if (ioctl(mt, MTIOCTOP, ) <
0)
fprintf(stderr, "MTIOCTOP err: 
%d\n", errno);
goto l0;
}
}
else
mark=0;
fprintf(stderr,"foffs %08x,  blen bl %d = 
%d:%04x\n",foffs,blnum,blen,blen);
blnum++;
blen=blen&0x0fff; // erase error flags

if(fread(buf,sizeof(unsigned char),blen,ifp)!=blen)
{
fprintf(stderr,"Cant read blen %dbytes into 

Dolch (DLI) Logic Analyzer C100 Disassembler Roms?

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Hi guys,

I have three Dolch Logic Analyzers, the two bigger ones are Palas
 Analyzers, one of them with an highspeed option, the third is
an Compact 100 Analyzer. For the bigger ones I have Disassemblers for
8080/8085 and Z80 as far as I know. I want to use the C100 with a Z80
disassembler, but the ROM images are different it seems, the roms don't
work in the C100.
 Has anyone the rom images for the C100 Z80 disassembler?

Kind Regards,

Holm
-- 
   Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederran, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 37292 709779 Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: [cctalk] Replacing the Flyback Transformer From My VAXmate

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Rob Jarratt via cctech wrote:

> 
> 
> > -Original Message-
> > From: cctech  On Behalf Of Gregory Beat via
> > cctech
> > Sent: 19 May 2020 00:00
> > To: r...@jarratt.me.uk
> > Cc: General Discussion: On-Topic Posts 
> > Subject: Re: [cctalk] Replacing the Flyback Transformer From My VAXmate
> > 
> > Rob -
> > 
> > A DEC Part Number would speed up your Part Search.
> > 
> 
> I have already searched for the DEC part number and drawn a blank. For
> reference it is 16-27188-01.
> 
> For me the problem is getting any data about the flybacks you find. I have
> outline specs for what I need, but no info on the ones I find to help me
> determine if they may be compatible. The mac page you quoted doesn't really
> say how he determined that the replacement was compatible, but I will try
> searching the apple communities to see if I can find more information.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Rob
> 
I've never saw a list of types with data or compativility list for FBTs.
The best your proably can do is looking for another CRT Monitor with an
similar Voltage (28V) as the power for the horizontal output stage and
look at the schematics of that monitor how the FBT is to be wired to the
CRT and the deflections coils. ..then try to get such an transformer
from somewhere...

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Replacing the Flyback Transformer From My VAXmate

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Rob Jarratt via cctalk wrote:

> I am about as certain as I can be that the flyback transformer from my
> VAXmate monitor board has failed. I know this is probably impossible, but I
> am wondering if there is a way to find a more modern equivalent? How
> standardised are these things? I do see a lot that appear to have the same
> circular arrangement of the pins.
> 
>  
> 
> The VAXmate one is a Tai-Ho TH-1802B and according the Technical Description
> has a primary voltage of +28V and produces auxiliary voltages as follows:
> 
>  
> 
> +13.1kV @85uA max
> 
> +950V @200uA
> 
> +45V @75mA max
> 
> -100V @1.2mA
> 
>  
> 
> Regards
> 
>  
> 
> Rob

Rob the Footprints are somewhat standardized, unfortunately the entire
FBTs are not. There are compatible Versions from different
manufacturers, but most manufacturers are gone in the meantime, nobody
want's to look at a CRT anymore...

As most of us, I'm in "historical computers"..and there are several
8-Bit machines that wants to be connected to an CRT Monitor  with some
TV related Video input. I have rescued some small 12" industrial-TV 
monitors from the dumpster years before und when I needed one lately
I had to fiddle with a defective FBT first.
There are 10pin and 8 pin versions and there are deflection coils with
different impedances, mostly the monitors are to be operated with 12VDC,
but I think in your case I've read something like 28VDC as the operating
voltage of the horizontal output Stage.

My Monitor is working again, I've fitted an 10 pin variant FBT into the 8
holes on the board..with some wire bridges.
I've searched on the hrdiemen.com Webpage, often there es at least an
raw schematic how the coils in ther 2nd source transformers are
connected..and I've crawled trough several monitor schematics to make
the refit work. My Monitor was an chinese model, clearly there is no
schematic available at all...but it can be done.

After the repair I've got 3 small FBTs and 2 deflection coils fromy
ebay for $10, must I say that 2 compatible FBT where in the ebay goods?
I think not...its murphy...

HR Diemens Website has had better times before..don't know how long they
will last. As far as I know there is no direct replacement for your
Vaxmate, I've looked there for that.

You are on your own..sadly as it is.

FBTs from former GDR "Robotron" monitors are all failing now if they
aren't already bad for years. There is an issue with the used potting
material of the HV coil, it shrinks and gets cracks..humidty is
diffusing in and that builds vinegar in conjunction with the for
isolation used polyacetate foil. 
There are many people that therefore rewound the hv coil on her own,
it can work..but it is a job for somebody that eats small childrens.

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Has My VAXmate Flyback Transformer Failed?

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Rob Jarratt via cctalk wrote:

> I have been looking at the flyback transformer from my VAXmate. I think it
> could have failed but I can't be completely sure. I have posted a
> description here:
> https://robs-old-computers.com/2020/05/12/vaxmate-flyback-transformer/
> 
>  
> 
> Can anyone offer an opinion?
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks
> 
>  
> 
> Rob

Hi Rob,

I think that the FBT is bad and it is the cause for overloding that
diode in the PSU.
This is an usual scenario for old Monitor Hardware, nothing new.
The Epoxy in the FBT gets hard and brittle over the time and therefore
it cracks internally..causing winding shorts or opens.
Look if you can get an replacement FBT somwehre on the surplus market.
Please post all the numbers on the FBT-Label..if any exists.

Regards,

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: VAXmate PSU

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Rob Jarratt via cctalk wrote:

> Thanks Eric, I had a private reply that said pretty much the same thing.
> 
>  
> 
> Last night I replaced the shorted diode and another electrolytic capacitor 
> and the PSU started up on the bench, powering a load board and an RD53 hard 
> disk. Ripple was good except on the -9V output, but that output doesn’t seem 
> to have any capacitors after the final transformer, so I think it is OK.
> 
>  
> 
> I need to replace a few marginal capacitors on the video module now, while I 
> have the machine in bits. Then I will put it all back together to see that it 
> still works. I have a lingering worry that the failed diode was on the +28V 
> supply to the video module and that there might be a fault on the video 
> module, but it doesn’t appear to present a short circuit, so I am hopeful.
> 
>  
> 
> I will do a blog post once it is all back up and running.
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks
> 
>  
> 
> Rob
> 

Congratulations Rob, you made it.

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: H7874 power supply

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Rob Jarratt via cctech wrote:

> 
> 
> > -Original Message-
> > From: cctech  On Behalf Of Robert
> > Armstrong via cctech
> > Sent: 29 March 2020 02:29
> > To: cct...@classiccmp.org
> > Subject: H7874 power supply
> > 
> >   Does anybody have a maintenance print or service manual for the DEC
> > H7874?
> > This is the power supply used in the BA4xx and R400x cabinets.  As you
> might
> > guess, I have one that tries to power up but shuts down after a second.
> > Probably a bad capacitor (or several), but this thing is ridiculously
> complicated
> > and not all that easy to disassemble, either.  I'd like to be able to
> trouble shoot
> > it rather than just firing the proverbial parts cannon at it.  FWIW, none
> of the
> > electrolytic (of which there are many) have obviously failed - no leaking,
> no
> > bulges, etc.  Of course, that proves fairly little.
> > 
> 
> This PSU is a real problem, as you say, complicated and hard to disassemble.
> I had one that didn't work, if I remember correctly in the end I had to get
> another one. I have a second machine with this PSU which has an intermittent
> problem and shuts itself down after a few minutes if it hasn't been used for
> a while, but a subsequent power up sees it work for as long as I need it.
> 
> It looks like I reverse engineered the schematic of the 12V output board. I
> don't know if that would be of any use? How correct it is I don't know.
> 
> Regards
> 
> Rob
> 
> 
I would be interested. I have an VAX400/300 with such an working again
PSU, Changed Capacitors two years before..now it works. A friend gave me
another PSU with a similar fault, changed capacitors as before on the
other one..but no luck at all. It still powers down shortly after
switching on. Yes..thats the most ugly PSU Design I ever saw..and I'm
interested in schematics or parts of them..

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: NetBSD on a VAX 3100 (DV-31AT1-A)

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Rod Smallwood via cctalk wrote:

> Hi All
> 
> With the upcoming demise of VMS/VAX I thought I might give NetBSD/vax a try.
> 
> Downloading a bootable image and burning it onto a CD was not a problem.
> 
> On the 3100 with attached RRD42 and SCSI drive RZ26l the CD duly booted 
> ito the NetBSD install menu.
> 
> All of versions 7,8 and 9. failed after partitioning at the point where 
> the system is copied to the hard disk.
> 
> Has anybody successfuly installed NetBSD on a VAX.  If which version on 
> which VAX
> 
> Rod Smallwood
> 
> 
> -- 
> 


I had several kinds of trouble installing NetBSD on Vaxstations in the
past. If I remember correctly one of the reasons for an failing install
was some trouble related to the cache and the SCSI Controller.

There is a maling list to which you should subscribe and report the
problem: port-...@netbsd.org.
I think personally that NetBSD-vax is in a not so good state...

This is from 03/30/2013, there is (was?) a bunch of similar problems
on VS3100/M76, or VS4000/90 too, stray interrupts, segfailts in the
install script and so on.
If the system is finally running, most of the problems are gone, but
installing is a special thing it seems...


>HI,
>I've got some Vaxstations lately and today I've tried to install
>NetBSD-6.1_RC2 on a VS3100M38 with 24Mbytes of RAM.
>Disk is an IBM DCAS 34330, 4Gbyte.
> 
>I can do what I want, the install.ram is crashing while labeling the
>disk,
>regardless if I have overwritten the disk with zeros before ot not.
> 
>This is the last screen:
> 
> Status: Command ended on signal
>Command: disklabel -w -r -f /tmp/disktab sd0 'DCAS-34330 '
> Hit enter to continue
>
>uid 0, pid 7, command disklabel, on /: file system full
> 
>/: write failed, file system is full
>pid 7 (disklabel): user write of 9272@0x1a2000 at 67912 failed: 28
> 
>---
> 
>I had all kinds of similar errors in the tris before that, illegal
>instrcutions and so on.
> 
>The disk is ok, OpenBSD is running fine on that beast and I'm unable to
>install more RAM as the two boards that are currently in that machine to
>get more than 24MB.
>
>What is the right way to install NetBSD on such a M38?
> 
>Kind Regards,
> 
>Holm
>



-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: HPE OpenVMS Hobbyist license program is closing

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:

> 
> 
> > On Mar 10, 2020, at 3:38 PM, Ethan O'Toole via cctalk 
> >  wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > Since HP is killing the Hobbyist program, you all should make a Hobbyist 
> > license key generator.
> > 
> > That solves the issue forever.
> 
> The difficulty is that people are looking for a solution that is legal.
> 
>   paul
> 

What's legal?

Wasn't there that thing in the past with SARS, where the US Government
was threatening to break the BAYER Patent of an Medicament, if BAYER wouldn't 
sell
that cheaply to americans? (or something like this?)

What about the International Court of Justice?
What about Mohammad Mossadegh?
What about Maduro in Venezuela?

Please define what "legal"  means to you.

BTW: There is no need to make an "Hobbyist license key generator", that
thing already exists (as can be read in that thread here) and is
available in source code.

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: HPE OpenVMS Hobbyist license program is closing

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

4.3 BSD Quasijarus by M.Sokolov should be the last OS for VAXen,
I had it run on a MVII with UC08, a Tandberg SLR5 and some SCSI disk.
Should be still on the disk, have a copy on my webserver
(www.tiffe.de/Robotron) and there is a github repository somewhere
available.

Regards,

Holm

Guy Sotomayor via cctalk wrote:

> Am I forgetting, but isn't BSD (4.3/4.4 as I recall) on the VAX?  That
> seems more suitable for running on classic hardware than moving to
> something newer.
> 
> Of course I got rid of all of my 11/780 and 11/785 systems (along with
> a smattering of VAXStations) years ago so I don't have any particular
> interest here.  ;-)
> 
> TTFN - Guy
[..]
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Fwd: Crypto AG

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Jim Manley via cctalk wrote:

> Not everyone on this list was even alive when much of this happened, and
> others of us were busy dealing with other very important things going on in
> The Real World then, so this is a very interesting story for many.
> 
> Anyone willing to do business with the terrorists in Iran knew why they
> were getting the big bucks to do it.  It's like being surprised when you
> get eaten while swimming with Great White sharks - it's in their nature.  A
> regime that repeatedly violates sovereign foreign territory in the form of
> embassies and consulates should have been cut off from the rest of
> the world on Day One until they dried up and blew away.  They laugh when
> others treat them with civility and grant them unearned respect as a
> legitimate government.
> 

You are talking from the US, right?
There is no other country on the world that fit's that nicely to your
described symptoms.

Regards,
Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Transformer Fault in a PSU?

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Rob Jarratt via cctalk wrote:

> The PSU in my VAXmate failed recently and I think I have found a problem
> with one of the windings on the transformer not ringing when I test it with
> a ringing tester. The technical description of the VAXmate says that one
> winding is operated in flyback mode and I wonder if that has any bearing on
> the ringing test. Also, one of the pins appears not to be connected to
> anything else, so possibly a broken (melted?) wire.
> 
>  
> 
> Can anyone help with the following questions:
> 
>  
> 
> Does the fact that one winding is operated in flyback mode have any bearing
> on the ringing test?
> 
> Can a transformer fail with a bad smell with no outward sign of damage?
> 
> Can this transformer be replaced (see picture in blog)? - I suspect not
> unless I find a donor PSU.
> 
> Where should I look for a possible cause of the transformer to fail (if
> indeed it has failed?).
> 
>  
> 
> I have posted more details here:
> https://robs-old-computers.com/2020/01/12/possible-cause-of-vaxmate-h7270-ps
> u-failure/
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks
> 
>  
> 
> Rob
> 
>  

The startup of the PSU is working as this:

after switching on the mains, the voltage over C12 rises, thre is a
startup Pulse generated with C14. After the Voltage reaches 8-12V
the UC3842 is starting up, switching the Transistor.
At this point the Voltage generated in P1, rectified with D6,D7
has to take over the supply for the UC3842 for the normal run.
If that doesn't happen, the UC3842 gets out of Supply and stops.

I don't think that your schematics are correct, specially around
C12 and C14.

A Ring test for an Transformer will pass or not, there are no windings
where it would pass, when other not pass, since the windings are
magetically coupled, so losses from shorts are coupled too.

Connect the PSU with a light bulb of approx 60Watts in series to the
mains (for 110V) 100-200W for 220V. This is functioning as an cold
conductor (PTC) so that the PSU doesn't explodes when something goes
wrong.

Supply the UC3842 with 12Volts from an external source trough an diode
(1N400x) (danger, life circuit!) and see what happens. (first switch
on the mains, later the 12V) Mostly the fault is on the secondary side,
bad rectifier diode or a bad cap.

Regards,
Holm




-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Conitec GRIP and GRIP-Color

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Hi all,

Some time ago I've got from a friend a defective ECB Bus Card named
GRIP-4, that's a ancient Z80 based graphic display controller Card
using the MC6845/HD6345 CRT Controller made by the (still existing)
german Company Conitec in the 80s.
Additional I've got an empty extension PCB called Grip-Color..the for
color needed Memory, shift and palette registers.

I've phoned the CEO from Conitec in the meantime and he will send the
paperwork regarding the GRIP-4 that he still could find to me for
scanning, unfortunately he couldn't find anything for the Grip-Color card.

I have a running ECB bus system with an REH-CPU280, an Z280 based System
that could run CP/M-3 and UZI280, has an FDC on board and an IDE Interface
with an 128MB Flash disk, I whish to extend that with the GRIP Cards..

Is here someone that could please provide some Information related to the
Grip-Color Card? I think I've repaired the GRIP-4 in the meantime (still
have to connect an CRT, just replaced the FBT [different Model and
Make] in the Monitor that I want to connect), but the oscillograms are
looking good.
I whish complete the Grip-Color card, any helpful information is welcome,
even a picture where I can see which ICs are soldered in.

https://www.z80cpu.eu/mirrors/oldcomputers.dyndns.org/public/pub/rechner/conitec/werbung/conitec_09.gif

Thanks in Advance,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Update: Received my 50lb Datapoint 2200 computer from Austria via regular post.

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Ethan Dicks via cctalk wrote:

> On Mon, Sep 23, 2019 at 4:36 PM steven stengel via cctalk
>  wrote:
> > Found a Datapoint 2200 in Austria that I wanted - I asked seller Viktor to 
> > pack it well, by wrapping it several times in big-bubble bubbewrap, until 
> > it was just a giant cube of bubble wrap.
> 
> Looks like it was worth it.
> 
> > See pics here:
> > http://oldcomputers.net/box/
> 
> > Second - what to do about that screen?
> 
> As someone pointed out, that looks like "CRT cataracts" - where the
> PVA layer between the face of the CRT and the implosion field breaks
> down.  I've had to fix DEC terminals with this condition (and others
> here have had similar experiences on certain devices).  There are ways
> to get the protective glass off the front.  I used a wire to slice
> through the PVA.  Others have reported using heat guns to soften the
> PVA.  In the case of the VT220, I needed to put the glass back after
> cleaning both surfaces because just the CRT along wasn't thick enough
> to fit in the bezel with the original mounting technique.  It did
> depend on the PVA layer.  I found some 3M Silicone Tape (3M VHB Tape
> 4910?) that was clear and 1mm thick.  I just put squares on the
> corners but it would likely work if you edged the entire area to keep
> dust out of the space between.
> 
> I know DEC VT220s and VR201s are prone to this condition and I believe
> I've read about ADM 3A terminals with the same.  Some terminals use
> bare CRTs (thicker face glass, or just manufactured to older
> standards?)
> 
> -ethan

Just a comment.. such picture tubes with the PVA layer seem to be
completely unusual in the former eastern block countires.
They all used tubes with thick fron glass for implosion protection.

Regards,
Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: 11/93 rebuild - Major and Significant Result.

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Rod Smallwood via cctalk wrote:

> Hi
> 
>   Due to the help from Glen Slick. (The only guy to answer the 
> question as asked.)
> 
>   What to do is interesting. How to do it will get you there.
> 
> I now have a SCSI drive on the 11/93 that thinks its an RD54 and is 
> trying to boot RSTS/E.
> 
> It fails gracefully during the boot  giving an error message.



..."an error message"??

Similar to q: "what's on the display?"  a: "a flower vase.."
( yes I know, this fits better in german)

What error message?

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: 11/93 rebuild

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:

> > From: Holm Tiffe
> 
> > You have to have an already existing parition structure on the disk and
> > an OS that knows what todo with that.
> 
> The "--list" command to 'dd' gives a whole bunch of stuff:


aha:

$ dd --list
dd: unknown operand --list
$

> 
>   Win32 Available Volume Information
>   \\.\Volume{cd4ae459-0daa-11e2-9625-806d6172696f}\
> link to \\?\Device\HarddiskVolume1
> fixed media
> Mounted on \\.\d:
> 
>   \\.\Volume{f3c65dd6-01af-11e1-a511-806d6172696f}\
[..]
> 
> some of which appear to be entire disks, not partitions.

Nobody in a PDP11 is interested what Windows thinks about partitions.

Most of the PDP11 SCSI Controllers could build two or more PDP11 disks
out of one physical device. That is what I meant with partition in this
case, if you dind'nt like it,  call it slice.
There is some logical information on the device, you simply don't get
the entire raw device on the pdp as you possibly think.

Shure, you can write to the entire disk on an PC with some tools, but
what you write has to fit the CQD220 adapters idea how the data structure
has to be if you would boot that.

Tapes have no such restrictions, that's why I suggested using a tape.

Regard's

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: 11/93 rebuild

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:

> > From: Rod Smallwood
> 
> > 4. I need a tried and tested list of step by step instructions to
> > put RD54.dsk on the SCSI drive.
> 
> Well, this isn't a list of directions, but... I've had good luck doing
> almost this exact same thing (on a Windows XP box, copy a filesystem in
> Windoze file onto a device, in my case an SD card on a USB adapter) with
> 'dd for Windows', available here:
> 
>   http://www.chrysocome.net/dd
> 
> The command line I've worked out to use is:
> 
>   dd-removable if=UnixRoot of=\\?\Device\Harddisk2\Partition0 count=4872 
> seek=131072
> 
> I don't recall the exact procedure I used to generate that, but I'm pretty
> sure it involved the use of the "--list" command to 'dd', to get a list of
> the devices on the system. (The "4872" is the size of the RK pack,
> obviously.)
> 
> I'm using dd-0.6beta3.zip but there may be a later version that works too.
> 
>   Noel

You have to have an already existing parition structure on the disk and
an OS that knows what todo with that.
There is no way that Ron could boot his PDP this way.

Regards,
Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: 11/93 rebuild

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Rod Smallwood via cctalk wrote:

> Hi
> 
>      Whilst I wait to hear from Glen Slick who has got me this far 
> (Thanks Glen) I'll restate the problem.
> 
> 1. I now have an old XP system with SIMH on it (PDP11.exe)
> 
> 2.  I have created RD54.dsk containing RSTS/E
> 
> 3. Attached to the system is a 2.1Gb SCSI drive via an adaptec 2940 
> controller
> 
> 4. I need a tried and tested list of step by step instructions to put 
> RD54.dsk on the SCSI drive.
> 
> 5. The drive will then be moved to a CQD-220A/TM SCSI controller on my 
> KDJ11-E based 11/93 and must boot.
> 
> 6. Its just an image copy from one drive to another on the same system.
> 
> 7. Nobody has come up with a tried and tested list of step by step 
> instructions yet.
> 
> 
> Rod Smallwood
> 

I don't think that you have any chance to get that to work, since the
data structures on the floppy disk will be different to that needed
structure on the scsi disk. As far as I know the controllers put some
kind of partitioning information to the disks too...

I've installed different PDP11 Os'es from simh to the real
pdp11/(53,73,83) using simh's tape interface writing boot tapes.
I've converted the simh's tape file with my own utility to an qarter
inch tape connected to an Tandberg SLR5 to my FreeBSD box. as far as I
know in the meantime there exists an utility similar to mine that could
write out tapes from a tape file.

I've connected another SLR5 drive to the PDP11 box with an Emulex UC08,
Im sure that will work on the CQD220 too.
An Tandberg SLR5 and Tapes should be easy to et on ebay.

I've installed RT11, RSX11, XXDP and 2.11BSD this way.

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: PDP-11/83 w/FPU?

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

W2HX via cctalk wrote:

> ?Hi friends. I am putting together a PDP-11 set up. i have a few CPUs 
> available to me, a 11/23+, an 11/73 and I also have available to me an 11/83, 
> M8190-AE .
> 
> 
> I would like to try to run as many different OS's as may interest me, 
> including some unixes as possible (bsd...etc).  My question is, are there any 
> OSes that need the floating point option?
> 
> 
> Another question is, would I see any improvement in performance with the FPU 
> compared to without it? Or does the application running need to be something 
> like fortran to see any perceivable difference?
> 
> 
> Thanks

2.11BSD needs it. There is an peace of emulator software in it, but as
far as I know it never really worked.

Regards,
Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: 2.11 BSD on an 11/93 with an CMD SCSI Module

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Bill Gunshannon via cctalk wrote:

> On 4/2/19 11:21 PM, Glen Slick via cctalk wrote:
> > On Tue, Apr 2, 2019 at 5:09 PM Bill Gunshannon via cctalk
> >  wrote:
> >>
> >>> Try deleting everything on the device entry lines after "cnxint"
> >>>
> >>> (For reference, "cnrint" and "cnxint" are the names of the interrupt
> >>> handler routines in src/sys/pdp/cons.c  Those names have to match to
> >>> be able to link up the pointers to the interrupt handlers).
> >>>
> >>
> >> Let's make it simple.  Here's that section of my dtab file:
> >>
> >> # If you have DL11s, you must give each line an explicit unit number 
> >> instead
> >> # of using a '?' as above.  If you use a '?', autoconfig(8) will start
> >> # assigning unit numbers starting at 0 which will effectively move your
> >> # console to that first line.  Start your unit numbers with '1'.
> >> #
> >> # cn1 176500 3005   cnrint  cnxint  # kl/dl-11 (on mvx11-aa)
> >> cn  1 176500 3005   cnrint  cnxint
> >> cn  2 176510 3105   cnrint  cnxint
> >> cn  3 176520 3205   cnrint  cnxint
> >> cn  4 176530 3305   cnrint  cnxint
> >> cn  5 176540 3405   cnrint  cnxint
> >> cn  6 176550 3505   cnrint  cnxint
> >> cn  7 176560 3605   cnrint  cnxint
> > 
> > Hmm, I spent some time experimenting with this on a SIMH PDP-11 and it
> > appears that the device entry lines in /etc/dtab cannot end exactly at
> > the last character of an interrupt handler name. At least one
> > isspace() character is required before the newline character at the
> > end of the line. I would consider that a bug in the read_dtab()
> > routine in src/sys/autoconfig/read_dtab.c
> > 
> > These are the device entry lines I ended up adding to /etc/dtab to
> > ensure that there is at least one isspace() character before the
> > newline character at the end of the line. The '#' comment character
> > isn't necessary, just makes it obvious that there is at least one
> > isspace() character after the last interrupt handler name.
> > 
> > cn  1 176500 3005   cnrint  cnxint  #
> > cn  2 176510 3105   cnrint  cnxint  #
> > cn  3 176520 3205   cnrint  cnxint  #
> > cn  4 176530 3305   cnrint  cnxint  #
> > cn  5 176540 3405   cnrint  cnxint  #
> > cn  6 176550 3505   cnrint  cnxint  #
> > cn  7 176560 3605   cnrint  cnxint  #
> > 
> > After changing the NKL definition in the kernel configuration file and
> > rebuilding and installing a new kernel with that change I now get this
> > when booting the system:
> > 
> > November  1 10:44:01 init: configure system
> > 
> > ra 0 csr 172150 vector 154 vectorset attached
> > rl 0 csr 174400 vector 160 attached
> > rx 0 csr 177170 vector 264 attached
> > tms 0 csr 174500 vector 260 vectorset attached
> > cn 1 csr 176500 vector 300 attached
> > cn 2 csr 176510 vector 310 attached
> > cn 3 csr 176520 vector 320 attached
> > cn 4 csr 176530 vector 330 attached
> > cn 5 csr 176540 vector 340 attached
> > cn 6 csr 176550 vector 350 attached
> > cn 7 csr 176560 vector 360 attached
> > erase, kill ^U, intr ^C
> > 
> > To create the device nodes for the additional DL lines in /dev I then
> > did the following:
> > 
> > # cd /dev
> > # rm ttyl*
> > # ./MAKEDEV dl1 dl2 dl3 dl4 dl5 dl6 dl7
> > # ls -l ttyl*
> > crw---  1 root   0,   1 Nov  1 10:59 ttyl1
> > crw---  1 root   0,   2 Nov  1 10:59 ttyl2
> > crw---  1 root   0,   3 Nov  1 10:59 ttyl3
> > crw---  1 root   0,   4 Nov  1 10:59 ttyl4
> > crw---  1 root   0,   5 Nov  1 10:59 ttyl5
> > crw---  1 root   0,   6 Nov  1 10:59 ttyl6
> > crw---  1 root   0,   7 Nov  1 10:59 ttyl7
> > 
> > Then to enable getty to run on those addition DL lines I added entries
> > for those device in /etc/ttys. There was already an entry for ttyl1 in
> > /etc/ttys, but I had to change the 'off' to 'on' for that entry:
> > 
> > /etc/ttys new entries:
> > ttyl1   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   vt100   on secure
> > ttyl2   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   vt100   on secure
> > ttyl3   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   vt100   on secure
> > ttyl4   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   vt100   on secure
> > ttyl5   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   vt100   on secure
> > ttyl6   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   vt100   on secure
> > ttyl7   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   vt100   on secure
> > 
> > After making all of those changes and restarting the system I got
> > login prompts on the additional DL lines after exiting single user
> > mode.
> > 
> > In summary the only changes I had to make from the generic 2.11BSD
> > installation were:
> > (1) Change the  NKL definition in the kernel configuration file and
> > rebuild and install a new kernel with that change
> > (2) Add new 'cn' device entries for the additional DL lines in /etc/dtab
> > (3) ./MAKEDEV dl1 ... dl7 in /dev for 

Labtool48 Programmer

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Hi all,

I've got an Advantech Labtool48 parallel Port Programmer lately
for fifty bucks. I've got it w/o any Software, cable or documentation
and now I have a few questions.

1. Is the parallel Cable a straight one to one Cable? The Labtool48
has an male connector on the back so a standard cable wouldn't fit..
(ok, think I can reverse engeneer or at least try that if needed..)

2. This isn't a Labtool48UXP, the UXP Version seems to have an USB
connector additionally, doesn anyone know if the Software that Advantech
provides (http://www.aec.com.tw/software_files/LT48UXP_83203.exe) will
work with the Labrtool48?

3. I want to programm Altera PLD's EPM7160LC84. On many sites on the web
can be read that Advantech is providing an PDF with the required "pin
swapping Table" so the user can build adapters himselves..this seems to
be history, the link http://www.aec.com.tw/products/adapters.pdf is dead
and the wayback machine shows that it is dead for many years.
Doens someone has possibly a copy of this pdf?

TIA,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Astounding Asking Price

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Adrian Graham via cctalk wrote:

>  >It looks nice externally, and it has the pedestal, which is nice, but the
> >seller has not even give the spec or posted pics of the innards and it is
> >"untested". At that price I would expect a bit more information..
> 
> Instant alarm bells to me are a seller posting a London address but the
> item is 'for pickup only in Budapest, Hungary'
> 

I'm pretty sure there is nothing wrong with them, I (as a german)
have only positive experiences with people from Hungary.
Hungary is EU like Germany and UK is still EU.. that makes it possible
to buy and sell w/o any customs, only the shipping costs may be higher.
You can place your stuff in the best market you think..that's all.

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Desktop Metaphor

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

> On 10/23/18 3:29 PM, Torfinn Ingolfsen via cctalk wrote:
> 
> >> FreeBSD may not have the installed base of Linux but it has a its fans.
> > 
> > Yes, this workstation runs FreeBSD 10.4 and Xfce.
> 
> I prefer OpenBSD myself for mission-critical stuff--the nearly paranoid
> attitude to new software is unusual to say the least.   Even old
> packages that have had demonstrated security issues are omitted.   You
> want to use telnet?  Good, find a version somewhere and convert and
> compile it yourself--we're not even going to give you a telnet client,
> much less a host.
> 
> Was VirtualBox or QEMU ever offered as a standard package on OpenBSD?  I
> don't think so...
> 
> --Chuck
> 

For mission critical stuff this may be ok, but what's the
advantage for the desktop if you can't even run Virtualbox or Qemu,
simh, cpmsim, dosbox and other related stuff?
The same problem on Dragonfly, Nice File system (Hammer,Hammer2)
but

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Desktop Metaphor

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Torfinn Ingolfsen via cctalk wrote:

> On Tue, Oct 23, 2018 at 10:16 PM Richard Loken via cctalk
>  wrote:
> >
> > I am replying to this email on a FreeBSD 10.3 box and Motif.  I don't
> > know what FreeBSD runs out of the box because I immediately delete it
> > and install Motif.
> 
> FreeBSD doesn't run *any* graphical user interface out of the box.
> What you end up with after install of the FreeBSD OS is a console with
> a login prompt.
> As any _real_ operating system should be, IMNSHO.
> 
> After you have logged in, you can (of course) install Xorg and your
> selection of desktop environments (or a wm + extras if you prefer
> that) via the package system (or ports, if you prefer to wait for
> compiling from source).
> 
> > FreeBSD may not have the installed base of Linux but it has a its fans.
> 
> Yes, this workstation runs FreeBSD 10.4 and Xfce.
> -- 
> Regards,
> Torfinn Ingolfsen

FreeBSD 11.2-stable and Mate Desktop here.

Regards,

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Identifying TO-3 w/HP house numbering

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Josh Dersch via cctalk wrote:

> On Tue, Oct 16, 2018 at 11:19 AM Josh Dersch  wrote:
> 
> > Thanks, all, for the responses!  The way it measures out makes it look
> > like it may be an MJ10006 or similar.  I think it's probably ok.
> >
> > I poked around a bit more this morning and it's looking like part of the
> > flyback is shorted out -- we have a 2382 at the museum and I popped it open
> > just now and I verified that it measures differently (i.e "not shorted" :))
> > at the same points.  So that's likely my problem.  Drat.
> >
> > - Josh
> >
> 
> And I was wrong -- the flyback's fine (yay!).  Found a nearby 0.015uF, 400V
> film capacitor that was shorted.  Replaced it and now I have video!  It's a
> bit dim, it's too wide, and gets wider as it warms up but it's a start :).
> 
> Thanks again,
> Josh

Sure? It sounds not like a start, it sounds more like the
finish..or the end of the flyback transformer.
The symptoms you describe, to weide and dull image .getting wider while
warmup are those from a dead transformer.

Regards,
Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

HP1000 A600 Boards available

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Hi,

two weeks before I was asked from a friend if it's worth to
rescue an HP1000 A600 computer from the stuff available at a local
scrapp seller in Erfurt.
Of course I've answered yes!

Unfortunately someone at the scrap site has pulled some cards and at
least in one case a chip fom a card. There is to much missing to rescue
this computer..at least my friend has saved some of the pcb's:

hier die HP-Kartennummern:
  
12103-60004  1MB RAM , 2x vorhanden
12005-60012  Ser. Interface
12005-60001  Ser. Interface
02430-60009

drop me a mail if you are interested on buying those cards and give a
hint what you want to pay for them.

The stuff is located in Weimar, Germany ..Europe.

Regards,


Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: PDP-11 in russia?

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Jay West via cctalk wrote:

> Someone has contacted me about a pdp-11 that controls a "measuring machine
> dea epsilon".
> 
>  
> 
> It appears that they want to replace the pdp-11 with a "ibm" (I'm guessing a
> pc), and then they would give the pdp-11 as a gift.
> 
>  
> 
> That is all the info I have. Are there any listmembers in Russia who would
> be able to take on a project?
> 
>  
> 
> J


This for sure isn't a PDP11, it would be an "ELEKTRONIKA 60" I think.
This is something like an 11/23 but with metric Connectors, PCBs are a
little bit bigger as PDP11's.

I do own such a beast, that's a picture from the CPU:

https://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/E60/E60-01.jpg

Other pictures are in the same directory (directory index is allowed).

..it's running RT11 from a 8" RX Floppy clone...

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

GE2149G206 Bit slice CPU??

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Hi all,

I've got an VME Bus sized CPU or GPU Board out of ebay a while before,
it is equipped with 4 pcs of AM29203 Slices and an AM2910A Sequencer.
It sems to be a german Product.
The Sticker on one of the DIN 96 Connectors states: 

GE2149G206 WNr. 10488 Grund- Baugruppe

Does anyone know what it is or where is it coming from?

Kind Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

VAX 4000 Memory?

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Hi,

I have an working VAX4000/300 and I'm looking for additional memory for
this machine. Has anyone left over MS-670 Memoryboards that he wants to
get rid of for an symbolic price? (or compatibles, clearpoint etc...)

I'm ocated in germany..

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: VMS Mosaic 4.2

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Cameron Kaiser via cctalk wrote:

> I'm worried that VMS Mosaic 4.2 is lost since WVNET's VAX systems are no
> longer operational, and it was stored on their FTP server (not somewhere
> that the Wayback Machine got to). I only have an old version of 3.6 and a
> diff of 4.2. Does anyone have the original copy of 4.2? It was named
> MOSAIC4_2.ZIP. What I've got is here:
> 
>   gopher://gopher.floodgap.com/1/gopher/clients/vms/
> 
> -- 
>  personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ 
> --
>   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckai...@floodgap.com
> -- The world is coming to an end. Log off now. 
> 

I think  I have 4.0:

Archive:  /data/holm/Computer/vax/mosaic.zip
  Length Date   TimeName
    
0  02-09-10 08:17   exe/
 7452  05-28-06 16:48   exe/mosaic.dat
  2990080  05-28-06 16:38   exe/mosaic_alpha_v73-2.exe
  1466368  05-28-06 16:45   exe/mosaic_vax_v54-3.exe
  1870336  05-28-06 16:43   exe/mosaic_vax_v73.exe
  387  06-03-06 12:04   exe/readme.txt
 7253  07-23-06 10:47   freeware_readme.txt
  2662912  05-28-06 16:11   mosaic4_0.zip

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: eBay search fail

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:

> So someone mentioned this to me:
> 
>   https://www.ebay.com/itm/222941705847
> 
> Now, the crazy thing is that I religously do a search for "PDP-11" for newly
> listed items on eBait at least once a day - and this never showed up! I just
> did a search for sold "PDP-11" items, and it's not showing up there either -
> although a search for sold "PDP-11 parts" turns it up!
>  
> Anyone have any idea why it didn't turn up? That is a regular '-', not an
> mdash or anything, and those are 1's, not lower-case l's. And it does show up
> in the search for "PDP-11 parts". So I can only conclude that somehow eBait's
> search function blew out somehow?
> 
> Anyway, someone got a total steal: at least _3_ H960's, a TU10, and an -11/45
> (can't tell if there's an FP11) - and who knows what else is hidden!
> 
>Noel

Ebay's search engine is unusable here in europe for years now.

I don't even get te item when I do a search for "222941705847", the item
number of your link above. Maybe that's since it isn't listet for
international buyers, but you could'nt even find it to see pictures.
another thing are many chinese items that's listed for international
buyers, they simply don't get listed here. I can find them with ebay.com
and I can buy them, no problem.

My answer to this? Use Aliexpress, the Americans (Ebay) doesn't want my
money. If you don't care for your customers, anyone else will.

I do habe an ebay.com account too since I've done some businnes with us
customers years before, beu I have stopped any selling over ebay for
some years, provisions from ebay and paypal + costs to insert articles where
higer then the the income.

If you do a search for AM298* to get eome of the old AM 29xx Chipset
devices, you currently get 2 items where AM298-43 is in the description,
do a search for am29821 and you get many items.

Don't know what they want, for sure they don't want you to find items
you need...

Regards,

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: VAX 4000 PSU (H7874) Schematics

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Aaron Jackson via cctalk wrote:

> > On Thu, 7 Jun 2018, Aaron Jackson wrote:
> >> The VAX turns on and the status LED stays on F. The DC lamp does not
> >> illuminate on the PSU. 5V rail appears fine but there is nothing from
> >> the 12V rail. There were some *very* dodgy looking caps which I have
> >> replaced, and some *very* exploded MOSFETs, which I have also
> >> replaced.
> >
> > If that's all that you replaced, no wonder it still doesn't work ;-)
> > Usually shorted power transistors in SMPSUs also break one or more fusable 
> > resistors, maybe some diodes, maybe the driver IC or transistors.
> > So if you have anything that "exploded" in the power supply, be sure there 
> > is more work to be invested that replacing the obious parts.
> >
> > Christian
> 
> Haha, okay, seems reasonable. I'll have to probe about a lot more
> then. Not giving up quite yet, even though everything I have read about
> this power supply has said that it is difficult to repair. So far, I
> would agree with such a statement.
> 
> Thanks,
> Aaron.

Difficult to repair? Probably since it is the worst switching PSU Desing
I ever meet, at least from seriveability and the mechanical point of view.

I own an 4000/300 with an working again PSU (after some capacitor
changes) and I habe an PSU from a friend here..its works sometimes,
mostly not.

Regards,

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Happy Armed Forces Day 2018

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Christian Corti via cctalk wrote:

> On Sat, 19 May 2018, Ed Sharpe wrote:
> > Happy Armed Forces Day 2018 Saturday, May 19 ... Do not forget our brave 
> > men and women! Ed# WWW,SMECC,org    KF7RWW
> 
> a) This is an international list
> b) This topic has absolutely nothing to do with classic computing
> c) I get a bit allergic about glorifyin arms and the like
> 
> Christian


Agree fully.

Regards,

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: CMOS for NMOS

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

allison via cctalk wrote:

> On 04/15/2018 10:25 AM, David Griffith via cctalk wrote:
> >
> > I'm pondering upgrading the CPU of a Pacccomm Tiny-2 Mk2 radio packet
> > controller from a 6Mhz Z80 processor and SIO to 10Mhz parts.  My
> > problem is that the parts already in it appear to be NMOS.  The family
> > is still being made by Zilog, but for 10Mhz parts, CMOS is all they
> > have.  Can I just drop in CMOS, change out the crystal/oscillator and
> > have things work as expected?
> >
> No, and why?
> 
> Changing to CMOS can cut power drain.  However speeding up clocks can
> make the packet controller
> broken even if it runs!  If you keep the 6mhz clock all will be fine.
> 
> You do not want to alter the output data rate to the modem side.  Also
> the other devices on the bus have
> to be able to run at 10mhz.
> 
> I have in the past upgraded my AmproLB+ to CMOS but that was to lower
> power needs for
> battery operation.  However there was no intent to go faster.
> 
> 
> Allison
> 
> 
> > Here's what are fitted to my TNC.
> >
> > Z84C00BB6
> > Z80BCPU
> > 29125
> >
> > Z8440BB1
> > Z80BSIO-O
> > 29014
> >

Power drain? ..just not interresting here.  Electrically there is no problem
changing an Z80 NMOS Part against an CMOS Version, but you are right in
sight of the speeds of the serial connections.

Z84C00 ..is an CMOS Variant of the CPU, Z8440 is the NMOS Version of the
SIO ..but..
The Z80 Processor needs external memory Parts, RAM and EPROM mostly,
I don't think that the manufacurer of the TNC has fitted faster Parts as
neccessary since they are much more expensive.
Given that, you would not only get an unit that works with wrong speeds
over serial lines, I would expect an just "not working" unit...

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: AlphaServers

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Benjamin Huntsman via cctalk wrote:

> Place your wagers...
> 
> 
> How many more years do you think it'll take before decent, practical-sized 
> Alphas, like the DS15, and to some degree, the DS10, will be obtainable at 
> hobbyist-friendly prices?
> 
> 
> I have an ES47 I got for a price I could stomach, but it's sans rail kit, 
> drinks power like it's going out of style, and can anchor a 40-ft yacht.
> 
> 
> Anyone out there do Alphas anymore?

I have a DEC 500/AU Miata and a 500/AU from Compaq as far as I know,
The Comapq ran at 600Mhz 24/7 in a company I was employed with FreeBSD,
the DEC is untouched since I got it and has cache memory (3rd. level)
in difference to the compaq which has no cache module.
Besides of that I have a VAX4000/300 running VMS7.3, an VS4000/90
with VMS 7.3 and NetBSD and a VS3100/M76 with Open- and NetBSD as far as
I remember.
Most of the time they all switched off, because of enery bills...

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Ferut computer

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Diane Bruce via cctalk wrote:

> I just stumbled over this page this morning. Wow.
> Fascinating story!
> 
> http://ferut.ca/my-story/
> 
> 
> -- 
> - d...@freebsd.org d...@db.net http://www.db.net/~db

Read all about the Ferut computer and the radar techncan time, really  great
written stories! 

Regards from Germany,

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Adaptec 1522A SCSI Support (was re: New TestFDC Results Registry)

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Christian Corti via cctalk wrote:

> On Fri, 19 Jan 2018, TeoZ wrote:
> > Didn?t early SUN gear have SCSI floppy drives?
> 
> No, SUN always used standard floppy controllers. But HP and DEC used them, 
> although it was not very common. The floppy drives are standard TEAC 
> FD-235HF with an additional SCSI floppy controller board.
> 
> Christian


Christian weißt Du wo man Sowas noch auftreiben könnte? Ich suche nach
einer Möglichkeit Floppies mit "modernen Computern" zu lesen und
Schreiben..natürlich noch viel lieber 5,25 Zoll..
SCSI hab ich in so gut wie allen Rechnern, aber die Motherboards haben
keinen FDC mehr und auch keine ISA Slots um sowas wie einen 1542 rein zu
stöpseln.

Gruß,

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: To the 2901 bit slicers out there

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Randy Dawson via cctalk wrote:

> Since I know there's tons of PDP/11 geniuses here, and other gurus with a 
> NOVA 4, and a Tektronix 4052 guy (I have the 4051):
> 
> 
> What have you done, with microprogramming this part?  In your architecture,  
> have you changed the microcode, create an instruction to enhance your machine?
> 
> 
> I would be interested in any hardware projects, stories (or even in the FPGA, 
> I hear its a popular thing to copy);
> 
> 
> I read all of Donnamaies pages, and planing to hook up, breadboard the eval 
> kit, perhaps reproduce the PCB if you guys are interested.
> 
> 
> What about the coding tools?  ADASM?  Looks long gone, how do you do 
> microcode today?
> 
> 
> If I forget the soldering iron, can anyone show me an example on a Xilinx 
> board, ISE, Vivado that uses the original AMD 2900 architecture?
> 
> 
> http://www.donnamaie.com/AMD_Vintage/AMD_2900_ED2900A.html
> 
> Donnamaie E. White - AMD 2900 Family, Bit-Slice; Am2900 
> ...
> www.donnamaie.com
> Lecture Monograph updated. The AMD 2900 Family (Am2900) Bit-Slice and other 
> devices were supported by a number of high-level application notes. 
> (Generated by the AMD ...
> 
> 

The Micorocode Assembler should be here:

$ ls
am290x-simulator-1.01-simulator.exe am290x-Software-AMDOS32K.zip
am290x-Software-AMDOS1.zip  am290x-Software-AMDOS4.zip
am290x-Software-AMDOS2.zip  am290x-Software-AMDOS5.zip
am290x-Software-AMDOS3.zip
$ unzip -l am290x-Software-AMDOS1.zip
Archive:  am290x-Software-AMDOS1.zip
  Length Date   TimeName
    
0  12-07-12 04:00   AMDOS1/
 3072  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/AMDOS.SYS
 5632  12-07-12 04:08   AMDOS1/AMUSRTTY.MAC
  768  12-07-12 04:08   AMDOS1/CHECKSUM.DAT
  768  12-07-12 04:08   AMDOS1/CHKSUM.DAT
 1280  12-07-12 04:08   AMDOS1/CPYDSK.CPM
 3840  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/CREF.CPM
 4864  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/DDT.CPM
 1792  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/DISPL.CPM
 3328  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/DUMP.CPM
 6656  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/ED.CPM
 7424  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/FILCOM.CPM
 2816  12-07-12 04:08   AMDOS1/FORMAT.CPM
 4736  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/LIB.CPM
 8960  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/LINK.CPM
18304  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/MAC.CPM
 7424  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/PIP.CPM
 4736  12-07-12 04:08   AMDOS1/PLPROG.CPM
 3712  12-07-12 04:08   AMDOS1/PPROG.CPM
36352  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/PREHEAT.CPM
 5248  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/STAT.CPM
 1280  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/SUBMIT.CPM
 1024  12-07-12 04:08   AMDOS1/SYSGEN.CPM
  512  12-07-12 04:08   AMDOS1/VFU.CPM
  768  12-07-12 04:07   AMDOS1/XSUB.CPM
$ unzip -l am290x-Software-AMDOS2.zip
Archive:  am290x-Software-AMDOS2.zip
  Length Date   TimeName
    
0  12-07-12 04:00   AMDOS2/
 2432  12-07-12 04:08   AMDOS2/AFT.CPM
24064  12-07-12 04:08   AMDOS2/AMDHST.C
48384  12-07-12 04:09   AMDOS2/AMDHST.FOR
  384  12-07-12 04:09   AMDOS2/CHKSUM.DAT
 3328  12-07-12 04:09   AMDOS2/FILEXF6.CPM
 3328  12-07-12 04:09   AMDOS2/FILEXF96.CPM
10880  12-07-12 04:09   AMDOS2/HEX2AMD.CPM
$ unzip -l am290x-Software-AMDOS3.zip
Archive:  am290x-Software-AMDOS3.zip
  Length Date   TimeName
    
0  12-07-12 04:00   AMDOS3/
 8960  12-07-12 04:10   AMDOS3/AM2900.LIB
11008  12-07-12 04:10   AMDOS3/AMDASM.CPM
13184  12-07-12 04:10   AMDOS3/AMMAP.CPM
17664  12-07-12 04:10   AMDOS3/AMPROM.CPM
 9472  12-07-12 04:10   AMDOS3/AMSCRM.CPM
  256  12-07-12 04:10   AMDOS3/ASMDEMO.SUB
  512  12-07-12 04:10   AMDOS3/CHKSUM.DAT
 3200  12-07-12 04:10   AMDOS3/DDT29.CPM
  384  12-07-12 04:10   AMDOS3/DDTDEMO.SUB
  128  12-07-12 04:09   AMDOS3/JUMP.DEF
  256  12-07-12 04:10   AMDOS3/JUMP.SRC
 2944  12-07-12 04:09   AMDOS3/LBPM.CPM
 1664  12-07-12 04:10   AMDOS3/PFORMAT.CPM
 2048  12-07-12 04:09   AMDOS3/RBPM.CPM
 2304  12-07-12 04:09   AMDOS3/SBPM.CPM
 3072  12-07-12 04:10   AMDOS3/VBPM.CPM
$ unzip -l am290x-Software-AMDOS4.zip
Archive:  am290x-Software-AMDOS4.zip
  Length Date   TimeName
    
0  12-07-12 04:00   AMDOS4/
 9600  12-07-12 04:12   AMDOS4/AM29203.SRC
25216  12-07-12 04:11   AMDOS4/AM29CPU.DEF
  384  12-07-12 04:12   AMDOS4/CHKSUM.DAT
27264  12-07-12 04:11   AMDOS4/CONTROLR.DEF
 4480  12-07-12 04:12   AMDOS4/CONTROLR.SRC
15872  12-07-12 04:12   AMDOS4/DISK.DOC
21376  12-07-12 04:11   AMDOS4/DISKCTLR.DEF
32384  12-07-12 04:11   AMDOS4/DISKCTLR.SRC
$ unzip -l am290x-Software-AMDOS5.zip
Archive:  am290x-Software-AMDOS5.zip
  Length Date   TimeName
    
0  12-07-12 04:00   AMDOS5/
 6144  12-07-12 04:13   AMDOS5/CATALOG.DM8
  512  12-07-12 04:13   

Re: Restoring a VT50 (VT52 actually) .

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

> On 12/23/2017 01:02 PM, Stefan Skoglund via cctalk wrote:
> 
> > stearinljus (candles)
> > some glögg (mulled wine)
> > julskinka (ham)
> > 
> > or as in our case:
> > lutfisk (dried ling later on soaked in lut and boiled) och potatis
> > (potatoes) och vitsås (a white sauce.)
> 
> Add the odor of some failed selenium rectifiers and you'll really have
> something to talk about!
> 
> --Chuck

:-)

in german that devices are called "Gleichrichter" (Rectifier)
an abbrevation is "gleich riecht er" what means something like
next time it smells ...

Regards,

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: EPROM baking

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Hmm..I've read about that baking in conjunction with 1702A too..but
don't remember the source of that discussion. I know that ppl suggested
it for proms that would'nt program correctly...

Regards,
Holm

dwight via cctalk wrote:

> When I was at Intel, years ago, I recall the baking was only to repair the 
> retention of the EPROMs. It was not to fix random failures.
> 
> It sounds like your EPROMs have various failures that wouldn't be helped by 
> baking.
> 
> Each time the EPROM is programmed, there is a slight increase in the leakage 
> of the floating gate. This was typical after thousands of program/erase 
> cycles. Baking them repaired the damage to the insulating layer that was 
> damaged.
> 
> Dwight
> 
> 
> 
> From: cctalk  on behalf of william degnan via 
> cctalk 
> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 6:18:16 AM
> To: Mark G Thomas; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> Subject: Re: EPROM baking
> 
> On Wed, Dec 13, 2017 at 9:08 AM, Mark G Thomas via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> 
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am working on several projects requiring 2708 and 2716 EPROMs, and
> > am finding some of my chips will not erase, and some will not take
> > a program. I've also learned more in the past week than I wanted
> > to know about repairing Data-I/O 29a/b programmers.
> >
> > I vaguely remember in the 1990s baking such EPROMs in the oven, but
> > I do not remember temperature or time. I was surprised that Google
> > didn't turn up anything useful with this info.
> >
> > I'm sure someone here will have some notes on EPROM baking.
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >
> >
> 
> Mark,
> 
> If this is an issue about reviving bad eproms?  I assume you have tried the
> regular stuff.
> 
> What process are you using now to erase 2708/16's?  I have a simple eraser
> unit and it seems to always work.  Some eproms go bad but I never have
> issues with erasing them.  My point is that maybe you need a better prom
> eraser unit.  I would avoid baking them until you have exhausted other
> options.  Not sure what others think.  This topic has come up before here,
> about putting them outside and all that.  The erasers are all over ebay,
> and the hardware store is full of the correct types of lighting, why not
> make a box that will do the job?I assume there is more to it that
> simply erasing them.
> 
> 
> Bill

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: A Mystery

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Zane Healy wrote:

> 
> > On Oct 13, 2017, at 9:51 AM, Antonio Carlini via cctalk 
> >  wrote:
> > 
> > On 13/10/17 07:17, Holm Tiffe wrote:
> >> 
> >> I meant that brick:
> >> http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/VAX/rtVAX300-internal-3.jpg
> >> http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/VAX/rtVAX300-internal-1.jpg
> >> http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/VAX/rtVAX300-internal-12jpg
> >> 
> >> 
> >> on those boards:
> >> 
> >> http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/rtVAX300/rtVAX-ISA.jpg
> >> http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/rtVAX300/rtVAX-VME.jpg
> >> 
> >> which contains an CVAX.
> >> 
> > 
> > That does look nice.
> > 
> > But the VAX 4000-50 was actually called "VAX Brick" (at least internally 
> > ... I never saw many external references to it).
> > 
> > Antonio
> 
> Interesting, that’s something I’ve never seen, then again, I’ve not seen a 
> VAX 4000-50 either.
> 
> What does the ISA card plug into?
> 
> Zane
> 

It was meant to plug in in a standard PC, that thing run some control
application in semiconductor production equipment..running his own
VAXELN Subssystem. (never seen that, the friend who gave me that card
told about it).

The PC had a 486 CPZ and an AHA1542 in it. I think it must have had some
briging software for booting an disk access.

Regards,

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: A Mystery

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Antonio Carlini wrote:

> On 13/10/17 07:17, Holm Tiffe wrote:
> >
> > I meant that brick:
> > http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/VAX/rtVAX300-internal-3.jpg
> > http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/VAX/rtVAX300-internal-1.jpg
> > http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/VAX/rtVAX300-internal-12jpg
> >
> >
> > on those boards:
> >
> > http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/rtVAX300/rtVAX-ISA.jpg
> > http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/rtVAX300/rtVAX-VME.jpg
> >
> > which contains an CVAX.
> >
> 
> That does look nice.

Yes, I know :-)

As I've already wrote I had it netbooting NetBSD until the point where
the shell should be going started, but I had to port the SLU driver from
the netbsd-pmax port to get it really working. Next thing is that with
that defect marked config memory page that gets overwritten from NetBSD.
I've to dumb to figure that things out and the netbsd people where'nt
relally interrested at all (almost nobody has such cards).
Otherwise the Gate arrays and the ISA cards interface to the PC bus
aren't documented at all, at least I could'nt find any docs for it.

> But the VAX 4000-50 was actually called "VAX Brick" (at least internally 
> ... I never saw many external references to it).
> 
> Antonio

I think I've read the description "VAX-Brick" for that rtVAX300 in the
port-...@netbsd.org mailing list, so that isn't my invention, the fact
that a VAX 4000-50 called VAX-Brick exsists was mentioned there too.

Regards,

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

CALCUSEUM Email dead?

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Hi,

I friend of mine tried to contact the CALCUSEUM Owner at the Mail
address provided at http://www.calcuseum.com/Wanted.html, but
he got his mail reflected as undeliverable, tried the same, got a 550,
user doesn't exist there.

Does someone know how to contact the guy there?

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: A Mystery

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Antonio Carlini via cctalk wrote:

> On 12/10/17 21:10, Holm Tiffe via cctalk wrote:
> 
> This thread is becoming a little confusing. The VAXstation II/RC was a 
> VAXstation II in a pedestal enclosure
> and differed from a normal VAXstation II in only one way: some of the 
> backplane slots had glue in them.
> (OK, two ways, since apparently DEC couldn't be bothered to build a 
> special backplane with fewer slots
> but did think it made sense to produce a new badge with "/RC" on it :-)).
> 
> It used a KA630 board just like any other VAXstation II.
> 
> >
> > As far as I remember there where some restrictions in the cache memory
> > controller that prevented the use of virtual memory on that restricted
> > KA620 CPU, not the CPU chip itself.
> 
> Now the KA620 was a board that used a modified 78032 uV2 chip
> (which I *think* might have been called the 78R32). It differed from
> the 78032 in the way it handled page tables (and it may have differed in
> other ways too). The intention was to ship something that simply could
> not be supported by VMS. Since the limitation was in silicon, there was
> nothing that a customer could do to get themselves a cheap VMS box.
> The development effort presumably cost a bit more than bunging some
> glue in a few backplane slots, but the ROI was probably greater too :-)
> 
> > I have an ISA Card with a "VAX-Brick" on it, but that was a later
> > Version with an ordinary CVAX, Cache, SCSI and Network inside w/o those
> > restrictions.  Usually that was meant to run VAXELN.
> 
> The VAX Brick (or VAX 4000-50 iirc, that's fifty ... not a typo for five 
> hundred) was
> a full VAX. It was supposed to be an upgrade for the VAX 4000-200.
> It replaced the CPU and memory in the original system.
> One of the few VAXes I'm pretty sure I've never seen in real life.
> It was intended to run OpenVMS. I've no idea whether it also ran Ultrix.
> 
> Antonio
> 
> 
> -- 
> Antonio Carlini
> arcarl...@iee.org

I meant that brick:
http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/VAX/rtVAX300-internal-3.jpg
http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/VAX/rtVAX300-internal-1.jpg
http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/VAX/rtVAX300-internal-12jpg


on those boards:

http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/rtVAX300/rtVAX-ISA.jpg
http://www.tiffe.de/Robotron/PDP-VAX/rtVAX300/rtVAX-VME.jpg

which contains an CVAX.

Regards,
Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: A Mystery

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Jon Elson via cctalk wrote:

> On 10/11/2017 01:51 AM, Steven M Jones via cctalk wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 10/10/2017 12:51, allison via cctalk wrote:
> >> Memory says: it was MICROVAX/RT and the cpu had a reduced instruction
> >> set and was used with ELN/PASCAL.  IT was a reduced capability
> >> machine.
> > As I recollect it used the same KA630/M7606, and any peripherals were
> > the same as other Mayflower machines. The entire gimmick was that you
> > had three fewer Q/Q slots and an RC on the badge.
> >
> > Therefore no difference in the level of ISA subsetting, but I think it
> > would have been an attractive target for VAXELN applications.
> >
> > ISTR there were later products that were limited to VAXELN, but can't
> > recall any designations...
> >
> I think it would be VERY hard to remove instructions from 
> the 78032 CPU chip.  You could leave out the
> floating point processor, and maybe do things with the gate 
> arrays to restrict memory size and such.
> 
> Jon

As far as I remember there where some restrictions in the cache memory
controller that prevented the use of virtual memory on that restricted
KA620 CPU, not the CPU chip itself.

I have an ISA Card with a "VAX-Brick" on it, but that was a later
Version with an ordinary CVAX, Cache, SCSI and Network inside w/o those
restrictions.  Usually that was meant to run VAXELN.

Tried to port NetBSD to it, but failed since the NetBSD VAX Kernel is
somewhat related to a plate of spaghetti and the card firmware itself,
that uses a part of normal memory to store the boot config,
marking that memory as broken to the operating system software to
protect it from overwriting, but NetBSD does'nt take any notice of that.
The SLU was another problem..
That was a little bit to high for me.. but at least the kernel netbooted..

Regards,

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: Convex C220 lives

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Camiel Vanderhoeven via cctech wrote:

> For a change, rather than a request for help, here¹s a success story: I
> managed to bring a Convex C220 (dual vector CPU mini supercomputer from
> 1988) back to life. Both CPUs are working, but I¹m running with a single
> CPU because of the power it draws with two CPUs. Next challenges: the
> Convex C1, and quad vector processor C240 (not before I¹ve upgraded the
> power feed).
> 
> Running ConvexOS 11.5.1, it has FORTRAN 7.0.1 installed; I ran a little
> benchmark, and with a single CPU the system clocks in at 49.1 MFLOPS on a
> big multiply-add loop (advertised peak performance was 50 MFLOPS per CPU).
> 
> Getting the system to the state where it is now was quite a journey
> (though nowhere near as bad as it might have been). If you¹re interested
> in the details, I have a (somewhat long) report of my work on my website;
> if you go to http://www.vaxbarn.com/index.php/other-bits/603-convex-c220,
> there are some links at the bottom that have much more details, as well as
> photos of the system and the boards.
> 
> Now I¹m looking for some FORTRAN code that would typically have run on
> this kind of computer so I can show people what this kind of system was
> used for.
> 
> Camiel
> 

Congrats Camiel!

We had an C34 and an C220 in the Computing Centre of out university here
in Freiberg (Saxony). I don't had much todo with it, but I've used The Metrum 
Robot with two RSP2150 later for Backups at a small ISP.

I have still some quarter Inch Tapes labeled with golden Convex Labes
here laying around..but the contents are'nt original anymore.

Regards,

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: HP Draftmaster I, Power Supply repair

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Peter Coghlan via cctalk wrote:

> >
> > I think that I'm responsible for the dead, as the plotter stood in an attic 
> > for 20 years, meanwhile power was raised from 220 to 230v (+-10%) in Europe.
> >
> 
> The distribution voltage had previously been specified as 220V in some 
> European
> countries and 240V in others but the specification was then changed to 230V
> in all the countries involved, with a wider tolerance applied.  This allows
> new equipment to be designed to a common standard which will work in any of
> the countries.  As far as I understand it, there has been no deliberate change
> in the actual distribution voltage in any individual European country and the
> power companies continue to do what they did before the 230V standard came in.
> 
> Regards,
> Peter Coghlan.


..sorry, no.
I live in Germany and the line Voltage has rised after that specification
change from 220V to 230. In fact I see sometimes line voltages up to
250V. (I have an Aluminum Casting company in the neightborhood, maybe
that's one of the causes for this)

Since I do own many old devices from the 220V era, Ive think about
the use of an big 3 phase 24V transformer (3phase power here)
that's laying around here to step down that line voltage back in
to the 220V range. That should'nt harm any new equipment, but save
some liftime from the old stuff.

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Elan 5000 Eprom Programmer someone?

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Hi,

I've got an Elan 5000 Epromer from a friend in the past.
The Prommer has an ZIFPAC-523 installed which seems to be the same as
the ZIFPAC-932 but with only five Textool Sockets populated on the PCB.

I've cleaned it up a little ans since the ROM moule is missing I've
build my own following the information available from here

http://baddinsbits.altervista.org/e5000.html

and there

http://matthieu.benoit.free.fr/ELAN_5000_turbo_programmer.htm

I've tried all the firmware versions (2.05, 6.04, 7.03 and that 4.0I)
but I get after RAM Check "MISMATCH S/W H/W", a repeated display "spi"
or simple a "POWER OFF".

The Faceplate says that I have an HDWR. ISS 2.00, the main PCB says 
"EF PER MCU PCP 393 ISS 4".

Has someone a similar programmer and can read out the Firmware from
the firmware plugin module (which contains an 27C010)?

Thanks in Advance,

Holm

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: I hate the new mail system

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Mouse via cctalk wrote:
[..]
> law).  I simply consider it antisocial and uncivilized, and am not
> interested in accepting mail from any domain within its bailiwick.


...what you call social and civilized it seems...

Regards,

Holm
-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741

Re: I hate the new mail system

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Mouse via cctalk wrote:

> >> And BTW, what you are doing is not clever at all:
> >>   mo...@rodents-montreal.org
> >> SMTP error from remote mail server after initial connection:
> >> host MX-4.rodents-montreal.org [98.124.61.89]:
> >> 550-.de's whois server, whois.denic.de, is completely broken, handing
> >> 550-out no contact information at all when queried for .de domains in
> >> 550 the usual way.  Such a domain has no place on a civilized network.
> 
> It's not supposed to be clever.  I'm just willing to call brokenness
> brokenness.  That it's an entire country that's broken does not make it
> any less broken.  Nor does it get them a pass on brokenness; if
> anything, being big makes the offence greater - they have less excuse.

Yes..you are the good guy.
It's better now?

It may be not supposed to be clever, it's just supposed to be idiotic..you
behave like a moron in this case, I'm toldd my opinion about that years
before to you.

I think no one from the german guys here can change anything on the
DeNics behavior regarding their whois service, and you punishing all the
germans for ther NIC service...OMG...

You are an intelligent guy and a very good programmer..but in this case,
sorry...

Regards,

Holm

$ whois  uni-stuttgart.de
% IANA WHOIS server
% for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org
% This query returned 1 object

refer:whois.denic.de

domain:   DE

organisation: DENIC eG
address:  Kaiserstrasse 75-77
address:  Frankfurt am Main  60329
address:  Germany

contact:  administrative
name: Vorstand DENIC eG
organisation: DENIC eG
address:  Kaiserstrasse 75-77
address:  Frankfurt am Main  60329
address:  Germany
phone:+49 69 27235 0
fax-no:   +49 69 27235 235
e-mail:   vorst...@denic.de

contact:  technical
name: Business Services
organisation: DENIC eG
address:  Kaiserstrasse 75-77
address:  Frankfurt am Main  60329
address:  Germany

-- 
  Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe, 
 Freiberger Straße 42, 09600 Oberschöna, USt-Id: DE253710583
i...@tsht.de Fax +49 3731 74200 Tel +49 3731 74222 Mobil: 0172 8790 741