Re: domains available (FTGH)

[Jarratt RMA via cctalk]

Hello Jay,

In the highly unlikely event that you get no interest in decvax.org I would be 
interested. I do an occasional blog and keep thinking it would be good to have 
a place to collect DEC VAX information. I think others are more likely to be 
able to dedicate more time to it, so give it to anyone you think would do it 
justice before falling back on me. I don't want it to get into the hands of 
domain squatters though!

Regards

Rob

> On 03 September 2020 at 17:10 jwest--- via cctalk  
> wrote:
> 
> 
> Over the years I've snagged a few domains related to classic computing with
> the best intentions of doing something with them. I have not, so I will be
> letting the following expire:
> 
>  
> 
> decvax.org
> 
> dgeclipse.org
> 
> dgnova.org
> 
> hp1000.org
> 
> hp2000.org
> 
> pdp11.org
> 
> rt-11.org
> 
>  
> 
> You can of course wait to get them until they expire via your registrar of
> choice. If you want them sooner, let me know and after a week or so I'll
> subjectively decide who to approve a transfer to their registrar.
> 
>  
> 
> Best,
> 
>  
> 
> J
> 
>  
> 
>  
>

Re: Manchester University Joint System in the 1970s

[Jarratt RMA via cctalk]

I was there 1980-1984, I don't ever recall using a 7600 though, I thought I used
a CDC Cyber 172 (or 170 or something similar). It is possible I may have some
records buried at home, but I am away at the moment and they would not be easily
accessible. I have to re-arrange a lot of stuff over Christmas so I will keep a
lookout.


However, *I* have a question for *you*. For the last year I have been working on
building an emulator for MU5 (see https://robs-old-computers.com/projects/mu5/).
Do you have *any* information at all about MU5? I am particularly short on
anything about the operating system, MUSS.


Thanks


Rob

> 
> On 17 November 2017 at 17:24 Peter Allan via cctalk
>  wrote:
> 
> 
> I was a student at Manchester University from 1974 to 1980. During that
> time I used the University of Manchester Regional Computer Centre (UMRCC)
> computer system. The so-called Joint System consisted of a CDC 7600 with
> an
> ICL 1906A front end. We used to submit card decks via a Systime (a PDP-11
> clone, I believe) that functioned as a remote job entry service.
> 
> I am trying to find out information about the structure of those card
> decks
> (mine were used for shopping lists years ago), and in particular, what the
> first card in the deck was that routed the job to the correct computer.
> 
> I have found information about JOB cards for both ICL computers running
> George 3 and for the CDC 7600 running SCOPE 2.1 (which is what the
> computers ran), but I believe that neither of these gives the full story
> about what we used on the Joint System.
> 
> Does anyone who used this system, or similar ones in the UK, recall
> anything relevant?
> 
> If you have suggestions about where else to post this query, I would be
> grateful for that too.
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Peter Allan
> 

Re: FTGH clear-out at Mesa Electronics, Richmond, CA, USA

[Jarratt RMA via cctalk]

If FedEx is the only option then I think that may have to rule me out, shipping
to the UK would be prohibitive. I had found a good rate with Parcel Monkey, if
that is an option then I am still keen.

Thanks for your help!

Regards

Rob

> 
> On 24 May 2017 at 19:39 Anders Nelson via cctalk 
> wrote:
> 
> 
> Alright I have my bearings, God help me. I'll make a trip *today* at 1pm
> PST, so 1.5 hours from now. I should be there for 1.5 hours or so.
> 
> Please send me your prioritized wish lists ASAP - I can't guarantee
> anything but I'll do my best.
> 
> The Rules!:
> 
> - DECTalk priority goes to the person who responded to my offer first.
> After I get shipping estimates (FedEx services only, please) should he/she
> decline I'll offer it to the next person to respond.
> 
> - I drive a coupe so I can only fit so much - a 75lb chassis is unlikely
> to fit and I'm unlikely to be able to carry it!
> 
> - I'll take the loot to my local FedEx office for packing *tomorrow*. If
> there are any specifics I'll instruct them to pack accordingly.
> 
> - After I return with the list of items I hauled, please try to estimate
> the shipping costs so there aren't any surprises. I think the FedEx
> packing
> service will add ~$25 or so for medium-sized items.
> 
> Here we go
> 
> --
> Anders Nelson
> 
> +1 (517) 775-6129
> 
> www.erogear.com
> 
> On Wed, May 24, 2017 at 9:57 AM, Anders Nelson 
> wrote:
> 
> > To whomever wants that DECTalk, I live in San Francisco and could pick
> > it
> > up and ship it for you!
> >
> > --
> > Anders Nelson
> >
> > +1 (517) 775-6129
> >
> > www.erogear.com
> >
> > On Wed, May 24, 2017 at 9:49 AM, Peter C. Wallace via cctalk <
> > cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >
> >> A few more things
> >>
> >> HP 1650A logic analyser
> >> A couple Nova core memory boards
> >> lots of random connectors/cables/SMT parts etc
> >>
> >>
> >> The Dectalk is still here, for people that expressed an interest, I
> >> really have no time to ship it as we are moving at the same time trying
> >> to
> >> keep production/testing/shipping going so its pretty hectic, so if
> >> someone
> >> local could pick it up that would be great
> >>
> >> Peter Wallace
> >> Mesa Electronics
> >>
> >>
> >
> 

Re: Stripping an RA80

[Jarratt RMA]

> 
> On 31 December 2016 at 17:26 Tony Duell  wrote:
> 
> 
> I am probably going to be flamed for this
> 
> My VAX11/730 has an R80 disk drive as you might expect. I dismantled this
> many
> years ago to move it and never reassembled it. Over the years (in
> particular during
> a house move), the smaller parts (screws, the brackets and clevis pins for
> the
> gas struts, and ribbon cables) have got lost.
> 
> A friend of mine (Philip) was having a clearout and gave me an RA80
> (SDI interface,
> of course). I don't run SDI drives anywhere (I think I have a UDA50
> somewhere),
> but a lot of parts are the same as in the R80.
> 
> My first thought is to strip this RA80 (that's why I got it!). This
> will provide me
> with most of the missing parts (all that I would have to make is the
> 26 way ribbon
> to the controller cable -- the 60 way one is still in the R80 chassis). So
> after
> stripping I think I would be left with 4 classes of part :
> 
> 1) Those I need for the R80 -- brackets, screws cables, etc
> 
> 2) Those that could be useful spares for the R80 :
> HDA
> Spindle Motor
> Belt
> Belt Tensioner
> PSU
> R/W PCB
> Servo PCB
> Microprocessor PCB (the ROMs are different, of course, but the the
> PCB is the same and could be a source of components. I don't swap boards
> anyway)
> AC and DC power harnesses
> Fans
> Motor capacitor
> 
> 3) Those that are of no use in the R80, but are not too hard to store
> Personality board
> Control panel
> SDI cabling
> 
> 4) Those that I don't need and which are a pain to store
> Cbassis parts.
> 
> Is there any reason to keep the bare, stripped, chassis, or should I let
> it go
> as scrap metal?
> 
> Does anyone run an RA80 and think any of the bits in list 3 (certainly) or
> 2
> (I may want to keep these, in particular the HDA if it's good) are useful
> to
> them? Of course I don't know if the parts are still good.
> 
> Or should I preserve the RA80 as it is, and just use it as patterns for
> the
> missing bits. Try to find a source of the UNC screws, make up the cables,
> make up brackets, etc. I would only do that if there is a very good
> reason.
> 
> -tony
> 


If I may say so, this doesn't sound like you at all :-)

I don't have an RA80, nor am I ever likely to unless I suddenly acquire a lot
more space (and time, and money), however, it would seem a shame to scrap an
RA80 if the missing parts could be re-fabricated.

Regards

Rob

Re: MicroVax II

[Jarratt RMA]

> 
> On 30 July 2016 at 02:30 Zane Healy  wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> > On Jul 29, 2016, at 6:08 PM, Douglas Taylor 
> > wrote:
> >
> > I just got a MicroVax II in the BA123 world box chassis. I has a TK50,
> > RX50, RXDQ2, but no DEQNA. I'd like to get it running an OS.
> >
> > The DU disks don't work, but I have a couple of Qbus SCSI controllers
> > that might come in handy.
> >
> > Can you use those SD to SCSI convertors in this type of configuration?
> > Anyone have experience with this?
> >
> > What OS's can I use with this hardware? NetBSD? Are versions of VMS
> > available? How do you get an OS onto this system?
> 
> The all around best choice would be VAX/VMS v5.5-2. You can get Hobbyist
> licenses. The OS was available as part of the Hobbyist program. If you add a
> SCSI adapter, you can hopefully attach a CD. IIRC, it will run up to either
> v7.2 or 7.3, at least I know I had v7.2 on a MicroVAX III (well, technically I
> still do, if it will boot).
> 
> Ultrix would also be available.
> 
> What I did though was I gave it a brain transplant, and converted mine to
> a PDP-11 once I got a better VAX.
> 
> I need to invest in a couple of those SD adapters myself. I’d really like
> to put one on one of my AlphaStation 200 4/233’s. Hopefully they’ll still
> work. It’s been years since I’ve done anything with my DEC HW. :-(
> 
> Zane
> 
> 
> 

>

Zane,

OT reply, but I have been looking for anyone with a working AlphaStation 200
4/233 who could run a test for me. If you get VMS (7.2-1 iirc) running on one of
them would you be prepared to run a test program of mine on it that would dump
the DROM and the NVRAM?

Thanks

Rob

RE: classics I threw away or sold ... foolishly

[Jarratt RMA]

> On 18 May 2016 at 23:31 Swift Griggs  wrote:
>
>
> On Wed, 18 May 2016, Benjamin Huntsman wrote:
> > 1. HP 150 and 9121D, [...]
>
> Whoa. That's a really "cute" machine. What are those drives in the front,
> flopticals or just cool looking 3.5" floppies ? I'm looking at this:
>
> http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/photos/hp_hp150_1.jpg
>


I have one of these. It it a pretty ordinary 3.5" floppy as I recall. Really
pleased with my example! It is just missing the printer in the top of the
monitor.

Regards

Rob

Re: classics I threw away or sold ... foolishly

[Jarratt RMA]

> On 18 May 2016 at 22:11 Swift Griggs  wrote:
>
>
> On Wed, 18 May 2016, Ben Sinclair wrote:
> > That's a fun and depressing exercise...
>
> Hee hee. I thought so, or perhaps I was just looking for company in my
> mock-misery :-)
>


In my case nothing too spectacular, but I do rather wish I had kept the MIPS
DECstation 5000/240.

Regards

Rob

Replacement for a Corcom F2987A EMI Filter

[Jarratt RMA]

I have two failed Corcom filters in two DEC Rainbows. I see some spares
available in the US, but shipping to the UK is likely to be prohibitive and I
would like if possible to find a modern equivalent. It is this one:
http://meci.com/corcom-12-20129-01-emi-line-filter-model-f2987a.html.

I am told it isn't enough to know the current rating (2A at 240V) and that it
you need to know the source impedance (and the impedance of the load?). Does
anyone know the spec for this filter so that I can get a suitable one?

Incidentally, when I fix these PSUs, I may be wanting to pass on one of the
Rainbows. In this case it would not be free because I had to pay for it (and
drive a fair distance to get it too). The one I may pass on is in a vertical
pedestal. I may also have a third one to pass on which has a fault on the system
board, I don't have a logic analyser capable of helping me to find the fault
though.

Thanks

Rob

Re: PDP-11

[Jarratt RMA]

> 
> On 11 May 2016 at 21:53 Dave Wade  wrote:
> 
> 
> I thought I had attached a pic of the card layouts, I assume these are
> deleted... Here is a link... Sorry it's long.
> 
> 
>
> https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=277A0739F125010E!88626=!AEjo1kJ4FKG5jZk=3=photo%2cJPG
> 
> Cards are
> M7264,
> M7940,M9400ye
> M8044ee,m7946
> M8192,empty.
> 
> Also have loose grant card
> 


I collected this machine on Dave's behalf. The seller said it was indeed out of
a 780. I got the impression the 11/23 card was just a spare he had that he put
in the enclosure, not really part of the original system.

Regards

Rob


> 
> 
> On 11 May 2016 20:46, "Paul Koning"  wrote:
> >
> >
> > > On May 11, 2016, at 3:30 PM, Noel Chiappa 
> wrote:
> > >
> > >> From: Dave Wade
> > >
> > >> I have recently a PDP-11 which apparently came from a VAX console.
> > >
> > > If that's really where it came from, it's a QBUS 11/03. (And IIRC only
> the
> > > 780 had a PDP-11 console, although I'm not a VAX expert.)
> >
> > Some others had a PRO as their console. Don't remember which models
> specifically.
> >
> > > ...
> > >> I have done lots of searching and there doesn't seem to be a simple
> > >> list of what can run on it
> > >
> > > Well, nothing that needs memory management - at least, as it sits. You
> could
> > > swap out the CPU card for an 11/23 or 11/73, then you could run an OS
> that
> > > needs memory management (Unix, or one of the DEC OS's that needs it -
> > > I
> know
> > > nothing of the DEC OS's for the -11, someone else here will, though).
> And
> > > your backplane is probably so-called Q18, limited to 256KB of memory,
> but
> > > that's easy to upgrade.
> >
> > The 11/03 should run RT-11 nicely. Limited RSX, possibly; I don't know
> those details. RSTS V4 also runs on unmapped PDP-11 systems, but that OS
> only supports Unibus machines and a very limited set of disk controllers
> (which doesn't include floppies).
> >
> > paul
> >
> >
> 

RE: AlphaStation 200 NVRAM Problem

[Jarratt RMA]

> 
> On 03 May 2016 at 18:20 "Maciej W. Rozycki"  wrote:
> 
> 
> On Mon, 2 May 2016, Robert Jarratt wrote:
> 
> > I decided to attempt the construction of an adapter. But it is the
> > connectors which always bite me because I don't know what all the types
> > of
> > connector are. I naively assumed that an IDC 10-way (2x5) would do the
> > trick, but it is too wide to go into the male connector on the board.
> >
> > What kinds of connectors exist for ribbon cables that can be used to go
> > into
> > a 2x5 connector, but which don't have a lot of space at the sides?
> 
> I think this header is intended for a crimp wire receptacle, like:
> . This is
> non-polarised though; getting one that is polarised and with the right key
> might be a bit of a challenge. Alternatively a PCB socket like:
>  would do too; again
> getting a polarised one seems tough.
> 


The crimp wire one looks like it would work, thanks for the suggestion!


> 
> 
> I don't know which of the two solutions the original DEC SROM "dongle"
> used. I can only find 3 references quoting the part number, which is/was
> 96-RM001-01. It provided for a standard DECconnect cable, so I think it's
> actually quite likely that it was just a small daughtercard with a PCB
> socket, line driver and receiver ICs (DEC documentation quotes 1488 and
> 1489, but with a pair of wires used for communication that looks like an
> overkill to me -- a single IC like MAX232N would do IMHO; RS sell them
> individually even) and their associated passive components, and then an
> MMJ socket, all on the PCB. Obviously these days you probably want a DE-9
> connector instead. ;)
> 


I have a MAX232CPE now, just need the connectors and one more 1uF capacitor and
I should have all I need.


> 
> 
> I wonder if I shouldn't actually make something like this myself just for
> fun -- to have a way to peek at my DEC 3000's internals even though it
> appears healthy overall.
> 
> Maciej
> 

RE: AlphaStation 200 NVRAM Problem

[Jarratt RMA]

> 
> On 02 May 2016 at 22:56 "Maciej W. Rozycki"  wrote:
> 
> 
> On Mon, 2 May 2016, Robert Jarratt wrote:
> 
> > > Other than that maybe it's NVRAM after all. But what could it be then
> > that
> > > did not show up in your testing? Could it be that the settings and
> > > environment variables stored there are protected with a checksum (or a
> > > signature) which happened to be correct for the random contents after
> > > power was restored and that in turn confused DROM diagnostics? Can you
> > > wipe NVRAM with your program, reinstall the DROM chip and see if the
> > > error
> > > returns?
> >
> >
> > This thought has crossed my mind. However, since I had to change the
> > battery
> > that backs up the NVRAM in any case, then surely the memory would have
> > been
> > zeroed? This NVRAM is battery backed, right? The NVRAM does contain
> > data, I
> > have verified this with my program, so something is repopulating it
> > after
> > the battery has been changed. I am slightly reluctant to zero the memory
> > on
> > purpose in case I can no longer boot the machine (I would save the
> > contents
> > before zeroing of course).
> 
> I don't think you can assume power-cycling NVRAM (which is effectively
> what you've done here by putting a new battery) will zero it. It would if
> there was some kind of a reset signal asserted at poweron that would set
> the flip-flops to a known state. But the KM6264B chip does not appear to
> have such a feature, nor an external reset input. So we need to assume
> its contents are random after a powerup. Have you ever used Sinclair ZX
> Spectrum? It had its video adapter active from powerup and you could
> briefly see the random contents of video RAM on the screen.
> 


I did a test last night which failed, but realised I did it wrong. I am away
from home again now and will try that test again, plus the suggestions below.

Thanks

Rob


> 
> 
> I understand your reluctance. The NVRAM is indeed supposed to be backed
> with the same battery the RTC is. There's just a slight chance the
> battery circuit is not operating correctly. There's no battery status bit
> in the NVRAM, but there is one in the RTC. You should be able to verify
> it with:
> 
> >>> d -b pmem:1ce00 0d
> >>> e -b pmem:1ce20
> 
> this will read BQ4285 RTC chip's register D. If this comes out as 80,
> then the battery is giving power to the chip. If this is 00, then there
> is no battery power available. Of course a broken PCB trace could make
> battery power reach one of the two chips only.
> 
> BTW, does your SRM console have a TEST command? If so, then have you
> tried it? Of course it might want to call into DROM and thus fail rather
> spectacularly if it's absent, but chances are it might not and you may get
> useful output from it.
> 
> Maciej
> 

Re: Manual for DEC 433au

[Jarratt RMA]

> 
> On 19 April 2016 at 19:29 Laurens Vets  wrote:
> 
> 
> On 2016-04-16 18:07, Glen Slick wrote:
> > On Sat, Apr 16, 2016 at 5:44 AM, Robert Jarratt
> >  wrote:
> >> Anyone got the following document: DIGITAL Personal Workstation
> >> System
> >> Reference and Maintenance Guide
> >>
> >
> > Only thing I managed to find so far:
> > http://www.cilinder.be/docs/digitalpwsau/miatasg.zip
> >
> > Download and unzip that, then start at:
> > miatasg\dpws_aau\Service\Aaudpwssg.htm
> >
> > DIGITAL Personal Workstation System Reference and Maintenance Guide
> > a/au-Series
> >
> > It's a collection of html pages, not a single pdf manual, and not
> > super friendly, but better than nothing.
> 
> Unfortunately, I never got/found the pdf of that manual :(
> 
> Btw, cilinder.be is my site, I only keep it in the air for the old
> documentation.
> 

Thanks for keeping that site up, even if the format isn't ideal, it is still
providing a useful manual!

Regards

Rob

Re: Need info for a VAX Station 3100 SPX / VS42A-DA

[Jarratt RMA]

> 
> On 01 April 2016 at 03:45 Pete Lancashire  wrote:
> 
> Won the guy on the big auction site, put the minimum bid down and $50
> later
> it showed up on the doorstop.
> 
> http://petelancashire.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=6027
> 
> Sorry for the bad photo's but the sun was going down fast.
> 
> Been trying to find the display interface specs, pinout, freqs, etc. but
> so
> far have been overwhelmed with just about everything else.
> 
> Other things I guess I'll need are
> 
> Also what keyboard should I be looking for ?
> 
> What options do I have for an O/S ?
> 
> The last time I logged into a VAX was one of many 11/780s the company I
> worked for was like 198? something.
> 
> A LONG time ago ..
> 
> -pete
> 


To get started you don't need a display or a keyboard. As long as you have some
DECconnect serial cable and an adapter (see Hoff's site for details:
http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/467), then you can connect it to a terminal
emulator on a PC. You need to switch the machine to console mode (can't remember
the official name) though. To do that there is a small switch on the back. In
this picture http://petelancashire.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=6056 it is in
the small hole immediately to the left of the diagnostic LEDs.

You won't get a graphics display, but at least you can start setting it up.

Regards

Rob

Re: The last fix for a "All Shook Up" 33

[Jarratt RMA]

> 
> On 27 October 2015 at 18:06 Peter Cetinski  wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> > On Oct 27, 2015, at 1:59 PM, tony duell  
> wrote:
> >
> >> experience. An 'UP ARROW' means nothing, nor does 'FRAGILE'
> >
> > I thought 'Fragile' meant 'Use this package for playing American
> > Football'
> >
> > This it not a new problem, it probably pre-dates the ASR33. Flanders and
> > Swann
> > (think of them as being the British equivalent of Tom Lehrer) said
> >
> > The new way to split the atom. Send it through the post marked 'Fragile'
> >
> > -tony
> 
> Of course FRAGILE means something...FRAGILE (pronounced ‘Fra-gee-lee') is
> Italian for “major award”. :)
> 

>

I suspect I am missing a joke here, but "fragile" in Italian has exactly the
same meaning as "fragile" in English. "Major award" in Italian is probably
something like "gran premio". Where is the joke I have missed?

Regards

Rob

Re: The last fix for a "All Shook Up" 33

[Jarratt RMA]

> 
> On 27 October 2015 at 19:30 Peter Cetinski <p...@pski.net> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> > On Oct 27, 2015, at 3:25 PM, Ethan Dicks <ethan.di...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > On Tue, Oct 27, 2015 at 3:22 PM, Jarratt RMA
> > <robert.jarr...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> >>> Of course FRAGILE means something...FRAGILE (pronounced ‘Fra-gee-lee')
> >>> is
> >>> Italian for “major award”. :)
> >>
> >> I suspect I am missing a joke here, but "fragile" in Italian has
> >> exactly the
> >> same meaning as "fragile" in English. "Major award" in Italian is
> >> probably
> >> something like "gran premio". Where is the joke I have missed?
> >
> > Movie reference: A Christmas Story.
> >
> > -ethan
> 
> Yeah, sorry, I just assumed everyone else has that movie memorized line by
> line.
> 

>


Not to worry, I don't watch many films, so even though I now know the name of
the film I still have no idea what the joke is :-)

Regards

Rob

Re: VT100 and/or VT105 rescued from scrap

[Jarratt RMA]

> On 21 October 2015 at 20:52 william degnan  wrote:
> 
> 
> On Wed, Oct 21, 2015 at 3:29 PM, tony duell  wrote:
> 
> > [VT100, etc, monitor PCB]
> >
> > > Is that true of the vt102 as well?
> >
> > I don't think I've ever worked on a VT102, but the same video monitor
> > boards turn up
> > in the VT100, VT105 and VT101 (at least). There are at least 3 different
> > types, at least
> > 2 made by Ball Brothers. From what I remember the 2 Ball Brothers ones
> > I've seen are
> > very similar, the main difference being the video amplifier.
> >
> > What is different between the terminals is the PSU. The VT100 and VT105
> > use an SMPSU
> > that is actually quite friendly to work on (there is a separate linear
> > supply to start it up,
> > the pscillator and control circuits are on the output side of the
> > isolation barrier with
> > transformer coupling to the base of the chopper. The VT101 has a big mains
> > transformer
> > and a linear regualtor board.
> >
> > -tony
> >
> 
> VT101 and VT102 are the same, the 01 and 02 pertain to options that come
> with the terminal. I would *assume* they have the same PSU.
> 
> -- 
> Bill

I have a 101 and a 102 and can confirm that the PSUs in both of mine are
identical.

Regards

rob

Re: VT100 and/or VT105 rescued from scrap

[Jarratt RMA]

> On 20 October 2015 at 22:12 Ian Primus  wrote:
> 
> 
> I can't seem to get the link to work with the pictures, so I don't
> know what the tube looks like, but sticky fluid is NOT an indication
> of a problem with the tube. Some tubes used a bonded safety glass, and
> that goo leaks out over time. But I've never seen a VT100 with such a
> tube installed. The most common cause of goo on the tube is going to
> be goo surrounding the 2nd anode connection (the suction cup). This is
> the plasticizers leeching out of the anode wiring, and gooing up the
> tube. The cable will be all sticky too. You can clean it off, I find
> that brake cleaner will dissolve it nicely. Just clean the area around
> the connection, don't clean the graphite coating off the main parts of
> the back of the tube - scrub only the clear glass areas.
> 
> Without knowing what parts you have, I can't really tell you more than
> that, but, in general, I find that VT100's tend to work fine. There's
> nothing special I would do, just hook everything up and try it out.
> You're not going to blow anything up, assuming you've got parts
> connected properly.
> 
> -Ian
> 
> On Tue, Oct 20, 2015 at 12:11 PM, Lukas Kaminski
>  wrote:
> > Hello list,
> >
> > i got hands on several VT100 and VT105 parts. It SEEMS (at least to me)
> > to be one complete terminal without a power supply and some additional
> > parts. I took pictures of everything, which can be seen here:
> > https://antares.krankikom.de/index.php/s/vcIZuHbpsn3lSoL
> > (sorry for the self-signed certificate)
> >
> > I already found this interesting page:
> > https://github.com/bbenchoff/VT100Adapter, so i guess i have everything
> > to try to repair the VT100.
> >
> > But i never tried something like that, and i fear to break something as
> > soon i connect anything to power.
> >
> > How should i start? I especially don't know how to clean the boards,
> > check the eproms and i'm afraid that the CRT is broken, since it has a
> > sticky fluid on it.
> >
> > Bye,
> >
> > Lukas Kaminski

I couldn't get the link to work either, I could only get parts of the images. I
too saw leakage from around the anode cap. I have been advised to get all that
cleaned up (isopropyl will do I think), and then, iirc, re-grease the anode cap,
although I am not at home to check and I can't remember what kind of grease you
need to use for that.

I would be careful about just powering it on in case there is something bad
somewhere that blows a component that can't be replaced (I believe flyback
transformers fall into that category). So I would check all the PSU and video
control board electrolytic capacitors in particular, and probably re-form them.
I would also use a dummy load to test the PSU to make sure it is producing the
right voltages without too much ripple. Once all that checks out, I would power
it up one part at a time, leaving the video control board to last but one, and
then the tube (and flyback) to last. At least, this is what I did, and suffered
no ill effects, although I did have to re-cap the video control board to stop a
screen wobble.

My VT101 and VT102 were one of my rare successes, with a lot of help from
another list member though!

Regards

Rob

Re: A tale of woe, including carelessness, stupidity and laziness....

[Jarratt RMA]

As a child I remember getting a shock from a fridge and being thrown
across the room into the wall opposite. I really did crash into the
wall quite hard, so I can imagine it being very easy for the shock to
cause other injuries.

Regards

Rob

On 26/08/2015, tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote:
 Remember that most injuries associated with electric shock are secondary -
 that is, the real damage often occurs when the individual recoils from the
 shock, jamming their hands into even worse places in the equipment - like
 rotating assemblies. And then there's the innocent guy behind you, who
 gets
 knocked into his equipment, when you jump back.

 An obvious example of this is the the charge stored on the 'capacitor' of a
 CRT
 (the capacitor being formed by the final anode coating inside the glass
 flare and
 the coating on the outside) is not likely to be lethal for most people. But
 it will
 you jump, you will then either drop the CRT (if you are carrying it) or jerk
 back
 and break the CRT with whatever tool you are holding. And then the CRT
 implodes, you get showered in glass

 -tony

Re: VT100 preventative maintenance?

[Jarratt RMA]

I can't say I know for sure, but I did replace all the electrolytics on the
video control boards of both my VT101 and VT102, because there was a
definite wobble to the image on both terminals. Replacing all of them fixed
the wobble. As I have posted before, I did this after testing each
capacitor with the test equipment I have, which is just a capacitance meter
and an ESR meter, neither of which appeared to reveal a problem.

Regards

Rob

On 22 August 2015 at 18:52, Earl Evans e...@retrobits.com wrote:

 Hi all,

 I have two VT100 terminals. Both of them work just fine.

 Should I leave well enough alone, or is there preventative maintenance that
 should be done? For instance, should capacitors be proactively replaced. In
 general, I'm thinking about things that, if they fail catastrophically,
 would cause collateral damage.

 Thanks!

 - Earl

Re: VT100 preventative maintenance?

[Jarratt RMA]

Oooh, didn't know about the diodes. Are there any specific ones that you
think should be replaced no matter what? If not, are there any tests you
would recommend?

Regards

Rob

On 22 August 2015 at 19:10, tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote:

 
  Should I leave well enough alone, or is there preventative maintenance
 that
  should be done? For instance, should capacitors be proactively replaced.
 In
  general, I'm thinking about things that, if they fail catastrophically,
  would cause collateral damage.

 The main part you want to protect is the flyback transformer. It is very
 hard to
 get a good replacement now. Flybacks can just fail, but failure can be
 caused
 by defective diodes and capactors on the video PCB. Look at the schematics
 for
 your video board (there are at least 3 versions) for half-wave rectifier
 circuits that
 produce the CRT and video stage supply voltages from the flyback. You
 might want
 to check or replace those diodes and caps.

 A VT100 and models derived from it (VT105, etc) has an SMPSU. Defective
 capacitors
 on that can kill the chopper transistor, but that is in not impossible to
 replace.

 -tony

Re: Saved DEC kit

[Jarratt RMA]

Hello Adrian,

Any news on whether I might be able to get my hands on the 2000 and 4000
VLC?

Regards

Rob

On 1 August 2015 at 11:59, Adrian Graham wit...@binarydinosaurs.co.uk
wrote:

 No probs Rob, I'll give it a couple of days and dig through my old messages
 from Dec/Jan this year. The original takers might also have dropped off the
 list in the same way I did.

 A


 On 01/08/2015 11:45, Robert Jarratt robert.jarr...@ntlworld.com wrote:

  Always interested in a 2000 and a 4000. I suspect these were destined for
  other people, but if the takers have not materialised then I will happily
  take them.
 
  Regards
 
  Rob
 
  -Original Message-
  From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Adrian
  Graham
  Sent: 01 August 2015 11:11
  To: Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
  Subject: Saved DEC kit
 
  Folks,
 
  Before the great company meltdown of Jan this year and as I discovered
 the
  great mailing list breakdown of not long after I saved some DEC kit for
  list
  members to collect, namely:
 
  Alpha 800 (rackmount)
  uVAX 2000
  VAX 4000VLC
 
  These are still in my hallway in Cambs UK so if either the people who
  called for
  them or failing that anyone else would like to collect that'd be great.
 
  I have proper scales for shipping weight but they need to be calibrated
  and I'm
  struggling to find anything that weighs exactly 25kg :) (I know the
  Alpha800 is
  '24-28kg', scales are pretty correct there, as they are with my DS25,
 but
  they
  get a DS10 horribly wrong so...)
 
  --
  Adrian/Witchy
  Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator
  Www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UK's biggest private home computer
  collection?
 
 

 --
 Adrian/Witchy
 Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator
 Www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UK's biggest private home computer
 collection?

Re: Chromatics on ebay

[Jarratt RMA]

It is always hard to know the real story. It *is* possible the seller
genuinely didn't know what they were doing. I know I can be too willing to
give others the benefit of the doubt, and, equally this could be an
experienced seller pretending not to know, when his plan to avoid higher
insertion fees failed. I would be inclined to report him if he wasn't
prepared to accept an offer that was (presumably) more generous than the
final bid.

Regards

Rob

On 23 July 2015 at 22:27, Noel Chiappa j...@mercury.lcs.mit.edu wrote:

  From: Josh Dersch

  the seller and I failed to reach an agreement

 You were very nice to try and work with the person; if they couldn't take
 that
 on board, and in return come to some agreement that you could be happy
 with,
 they're being some combinations of greedy and unreasonable.

 I have to agree with other people: an open auction was held, and the value
 of
 the item was determined by that to be $5. End of story.

 Noel

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

[Jarratt RMA]

(I would change the subject line, but I am not sure how to do it in my
ISP's web mail client)

As far as I know XH558 will be permanently stationed at Finningley after
this year's flying season is completed. The full details are here:
http://www.vulcantothesky.org/, including dates of flypasts and displays.

Regards

Rob

On 17 June 2015 at 12:16, Christian Gauger-Cosgrove 
captainkirk...@gmail.com wrote:

 On 17 June 2015 at 05:09, Huw Davies huw.dav...@kerberos.davies.net.au
 wrote:
  Funny I was discussing just this pair of planes last night - I last saw
 them fly in 1971 at RAF Shawbury. Of course they were both in active
 service then and I remember watching the Lightning do a supersonic pass
 with much joy.
 
 Off topic for a moment but, do you know perchance what's going to
 happen to XH558 at the end of this year? I've never had a chance to
 see a flying Vulcan, and it's too bad I won't ever get to see one (nor
 did I get to see the awesome display of both of he flight worthy
 Lancasters flying together last year...).


  Getting a little closer to the topic at hand, eventually parts will no
 longer be available for older computers so the decision will have to be
 made to either retire them or use more modern components to keep them
 going. Somewhat ironically the ones that can be maintained in ‘original'
 condition for longer may be the mechanical ones where replacement parts
 could be fabricated whereas valves and SSI TTL may not be able to be
 economically produced.
 
 The point you raise is comparable to the fact that we'vve basically
 flown the life out of the last Avro Vulcan, meanwhile here in my home
 town we're still managing to keep an Avro Lancaster flying after all
 these years.


 Also, I realize anyone can infer where I live based on the statements
 in this e-mail, hah.


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

Re: DEC Runoff to any modern format conversion or DEC MSCP protocol specs

[Jarratt RMA]

I wouldn't mind running a file through runoff either, or building the
Pascal code that was mentioned. It would be a good excuse to do something
with one of my machines.

Regards

Rob

On 4 June 2015 at 20:53, Mark Wickens m...@wickensonline.co.uk wrote:

 Someone (possibly me) surely can process the files with dec runoff
 directly? Doesnt it support postscript output?
 On 4 Jun 2015 20:52, Pete Turnbull p...@dunnington.plus.com wrote:

  On 04/06/2015 20:17, Paul Koning wrote:
 
   DECs Runoff is a markup language that sort of looks like an early
  HTML, so I suppose I could try a grep conversion to HTML, or just
  strip out the markup.
 
 
   A much closer relative is Unix “troff” format, which apparently goes
  back to something in Multics called “runoff”.  Fancy that.  So you
  might dig up a troff manual (here’s one: http://www.troff.org/54.pdf)
  and convert to that.  It looks like that wouldn’t be hard.
 
 
  runoff is pretty simple, so a converter shouldn't be hard to do.  You
  might look for Unix roff, which begat nroff/troff.
 
  --
  Pete
 
  Pete Turnbull