Re: VAXmate PSU

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den sön 5 apr. 2020 kl 22:18 skrev Brent Hilpert via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> On 2020-Apr-05, at 6:05 AM, Rob Jarratt via cctalk wrote:
> > I found time to follow Mattis’s suggestion today and I got some
> interesting results.
> >
> > I powered the UC3842 with about 16V from a bench power supply. I lifted
> R32 so that the transformer would not supply it. I then used an isolating
> transformer to power a variac and applied the variac to the AC inlet. I
> also used a load board from a MicroVAX 2000 and an old RD53 disk as the
> load, so there should be enough load.
> >
> > I found that I can vary the AC input up to a maximum of about 40VAC
> before the SCR triggers, the  5V output reaches about 400mV. If I raise the
> AC input more slowly, it will usually cut out before that, around 30VAC. I
> noticed that the inrush thermistors also get quite hot at these low AC
> voltages, I don’t know if this is because of the relatively low AC supply
> voltage, or if this indicates a problem of some kind.
> >
> > The voltage coming out of L3 into the T1 “bounces” somewhat. I guess
> this is because the AC input is only 20V or so, or it may be expected
> ripple from the smoothing capacitors? In the description below, the peaks
> of the bounces are used. Throughout the variation from 0VAC to 40VAC the
> duty cycle of the oscillation of the UC3842 output does not change, I guess
> because the output voltage has not reached its target value.
> >
> > With the AC input at about 25VAC the circuit seems to be stable (apart
> from the bounces mentioned above). At this supply voltage, the voltage at
> the source of Q1 reaches 2V. The current sense resistor is 1 Ohm, which
> means 2A must be flowing through it at that time.
> >
> > When the Q1 source is at 2V, the other end of R14 is at about 0.5V,
> which is just below the trigger voltage for the SCR. This makes sense
> because R14 and R15 form a voltage divider that looks to be nominally 25%
> of the Q1 source. Given the SCR nominally triggers at about 0.8V, this
> means that the current sense resistor is set to trigger the SCR at about
> 2.5A, I think. This would suggest that the duty cycle on Q1 is too high and
> causing too much current to be drawn. So presumably the feedback to the
> UC3842 is not working correctly.
> >
> > I tried setting the AC input at 120V and using a one-shot sample. Q1 is
> switched for about 30ms and then there is a spike on the SCR gate to 2V and
> it triggers. The gate voltage then remains at 1V. However, there is no
> spike across the current sense resistor (R13), so I don’t know if the spike
> is because the SCR is being turned for some other reason. There is nothing
> unusual on the anode of D19 to cause it to trigger due to avalanche
> breakdown. I got the same result when the AC input was 220V. I wonder if
> the SCR is behaving slightly differently because I have lifted R32?
> >
> > Since there might be a feedback problem, I looked at the VFB input to
> the UC3842 when doing a one-shot test at 240VAC. I can see VFB steadily
> rise over the period when Q1 switched, up to a maximum of 4V. I don’t
> really know if this is how it should behave though, but it seems to make
> logical sense. During all that time the duty cycle of Q1 does not change.
> >
> > I am not too sure where to go from here. I hope the above makes sense. I
> would appreciate any further thoughts.
>
>
> Switching power supplies are, to coin a phrase, voltage/current-ratio
> power translators.
> They will attempt to adjust the (cycle-averaged) input-current demand in
> inverse proportion to the input voltage, to meet the power demand of the
> load.
>

I am not sure what you mean here. A SMMPS mode chop up the input voltage
and feed it through a transformer. Then it can vary the duty cycle to to
regulate the output voltage in case of load variation or input voltage
variation.


>
> When you load a switching supply, and run it with a low input voltage, it
> will attempt to increase the input-current demand, either with increased
> peak current or increased duty-cycle (ON-time of primary switching
> transistor(s)).
>
> Suppose you have a load demand of 100W. At 100V input the input current
> needed is 1A.
> At 10V input, the input current needed is 10A.
>

NO, that is not how it works. I think you are confusing things. All SMPS
has a certain turn ratio. There is nothing magic with a SMPS PSU rather
than a normal iron core transformer. It does transform the primary side
voltage into a secondary side voltage based on turn ratio like any standard
iron core transfomer. But at a higher frequency since then we can have a
smaller transformer. For your calculation to hold some kind of magic duty
cycle will be needed.
The advantage of a SMPS mode PSU is that you also can very the duty cycle
and thus be able to regulate the output voltage as it is feed back to the
control circuitry.

Your statement only holds for the interval the SMPS PSU is designed to
operate in. If it is 

Re: VAXmate PSU

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Hello Rob,

söndag 29 mars 2020 skrev Rob Jarratt :

> Thanks Mattis. I do test it with a load, although to be honest I forgot to
> do this when I took the measurements yesterday. I use a modern-ish IDE disk
> and a load board from a MicroVAX 2000 as the dummy load. I don’t know if
> that is sufficient.
>
>
Do you know the nominal output rating for the supply?
It might be the case that even with load board the load is uneven. But it
sounds less likely.

>
>
> I don’t know enough about PSUs to make the secondary side drawing more
> logical unfortunately.
>
>
Can be hard. But a good idea is try to minimise the length of wires. Maybe
use designators for networks instead of wires to make the schematic more
readable. On the other hand I was reading the post on the iPad.

>
>
> I have a variac and a bench power supply, so I could do what you suggest.
>
> To stay safe you need a protection transformer as well. Otherwise the the
bench supply will end up at line potential. With the protection transformer
in place the circuit will be left floating in relation to earth. With a
variac you can then vary the input and keep it within safe limits. If you
don’t have a protection transformer and variac then another bench DC supply
that can give up to 100 V can be used instead.

>
> Could you be a bit more specific about where to apply what, so I don’t do
> it wrong or damage something? Would you put the bench PSU across the UC3842
> Vcc and Gnd pins? I am not sure what would happen if the normal supply to
> the UC3842 was still in place with the bench power supply also trying to
> supply power. Would it be wise to lift R32 so nothing conflicts with the
> bench power supply?
>
>
Absolutely right. I should have been more explicit about where to introduce
external supply. But as you say, lift R32 to isolate the switching
controller and feed in the bench supply current at VCC. Check the data
sheet for what is approriate voltage.

Good luck!

/Mattis

>
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
> Rob
>
>
>
> *From:* Mattis Lind 
> *Sent:* 29 March 2020 06:39
> *To:* r...@jarratt.me.uk; Rob Jarratt ;
> General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts 
> *Subject:* Re: VAXmate PSU
>
>
>
> Hello Rob,
>
> lördag 28 mars 2020 skrev Rob Jarratt via cctalk :
>
> I have posted here a couple of times because I have a failed VAXmate PSU. I
> have just posted a little bit more information here:
> https://robs-old-computers.com/2020/03/28/further-
> analysis-of-the-vaxmate-h7
> 270-psu-failure/ with some scope traces and a greatly improved schematic.
> Although the schematic is likely to have errors still. Unfortunately, a
> stray scope probe ground lead blew the fuse so now I have to wait for a new
> fuse to arrive before I can continue work.
>
>
>
> I would really like to know if all the spiking I am seeing is to be
> expected, and any suggestions why it appears to be detecting an
> overcurrent?
> There do not appear to be any shorts on the secondary side, but that could
> be wrong of course. I don't know if a genuine short anywhere would cause it
> to trip the SCR quite so quickly (within 20ms of the switching transistor
> starting to switch).
>
>
>
> This is fly back design and I would expect some spiking when the
> transistor shuts off.
>
>
>
> Then for over-current. It might be so that there are over-voltage
> protection on the outputs that kicks in. A crowbar that short circuits the
> output. It looks like there is such a circuit on 5 and 12 V. But to be
> honest the output circuit schematic is hard to read.
>
>
>
> If you have no load or little load or un-even load the PSU might hae
> problems to regulate. I know for fact that the PSU in the MicroVAX 2000
> need to have a dummy load when no hard drive is installed otherwise there
> will be uneven load which it has hard time to handle sonce the output
> regulation is based on the sum of the outputs somehow. It will trip the
> crowbar on over voltage on one of the outputs otherwise.
>
>
>
> What if you supply the control circuitry on the primary side using a bench
> lab supply and then connect a protection transformer and a variac in series
> to the normal AC inlet.
>
>
>
> Slowly increase input AC voltage while monitoring source voltage and
> output voltages.  At what AC input voltages does it trip? What is the
> output voltages at this point?
>
>
>
> If both voltages exceed normal and the crowbar trips I would think that
> the feedback network somehow reports to low output voltage to the control
> circuitry. Maybe the opto coupler is bad?
>
>
>
> Sorry. A lot of guessing here. But it is hard to tell withour more
> measurements.
>
>
>
> /Mattis
>
>
>
>
>
> Any thoughts gratefully received.
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
> Rob
>
>

Re: VAXmate PSU

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Hello Rob,

lördag 28 mars 2020 skrev Rob Jarratt via cctalk :

> I have posted here a couple of times because I have a failed VAXmate PSU. I
> have just posted a little bit more information here:
> https://robs-old-computers.com/2020/03/28/further-
> analysis-of-the-vaxmate-h7
> 270-psu-failure/ with some scope traces and a greatly improved schematic.
> Although the schematic is likely to have errors still. Unfortunately, a
> stray scope probe ground lead blew the fuse so now I have to wait for a new
> fuse to arrive before I can continue work.
>
>
>
> I would really like to know if all the spiking I am seeing is to be
> expected, and any suggestions why it appears to be detecting an
> overcurrent?
> There do not appear to be any shorts on the secondary side, but that could
> be wrong of course. I don't know if a genuine short anywhere would cause it
> to trip the SCR quite so quickly (within 20ms of the switching transistor
> starting to switch).
>
>
This is fly back design and I would expect some spiking when the transistor
shuts off.

Then for over-current. It might be so that there are over-voltage
protection on the outputs that kicks in. A crowbar that short circuits the
output. It looks like there is such a circuit on 5 and 12 V. But to be
honest the output circuit schematic is hard to read.

If you have no load or little load or un-even load the PSU might hae
problems to regulate. I know for fact that the PSU in the MicroVAX 2000
need to have a dummy load when no hard drive is installed otherwise there
will be uneven load which it has hard time to handle sonce the output
regulation is based on the sum of the outputs somehow. It will trip the
crowbar on over voltage on one of the outputs otherwise.

What if you supply the control circuitry on the primary side using a bench
lab supply and then connect a protection transformer and a variac in series
to the normal AC inlet.

Slowly increase input AC voltage while monitoring source voltage and output
voltages.  At what AC input voltages does it trip? What is the output
voltages at this point?

If both voltages exceed normal and the crowbar trips I would think that the
feedback network somehow reports to low output voltage to the control
circuitry. Maybe the opto coupler is bad?

Sorry. A lot of guessing here. But it is hard to tell withour more
measurements.

/Mattis


>
> Any thoughts gratefully received.
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
> Rob
>
>

IBM chip cross reference list?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I am helping a guy with a dead IBM 3279 terminal

The PSU does not seem to work. But as usual it is impossible to find any
schematic online for IBM stuff. Just interconnection diagram and high level
drawings.
Anyone?

Now the PSU circuit seems to be quite simple with just one IC in it. A chip
marked 4216092.

https://i.imgur.com/WMe7DgU.jpg

>From the look of mold I guess that the manufacturer is Texas Instruments.
At least it matches very well with other TI chips manufactured in the same
time frame.

The rest is looking like a quite simple flyback mode PSU:  A transformer
with air gaps, no output filter inductors and one single power transistor.

Is there a cross reference list available for IBM numbers to standard chips?

It shouldn't be that hard to figure from the how it connected, though,
since it is most likely a standard chip. It can be a TL494 or SG3524
perhaps?

/Mattis

Re: Is this IBM keyboard compatible with the IBM 3279?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den sön 8 mars 2020 kl 05:30 skrev :

> On 2020-03-03 10:48, Mattis Lind via cctalk wrote:
> > The connector is the correct one. It has four jumpers that could be
> > used
> > for setting one of the keyboard types using the KB ident lines.
> >
> > https://i.imgur.com/PhfvKaV.jpg
> >
> > https://i.imgur.com/VPT38cK.jpg
> >
> > https://i.imgur.com/nN1gtFu.jpg
> >
> > Which terminal was it used for originally?
> >
> > /Mattis
>
> https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Model_F
>
> It appears to be from a 3101?
>

The 3101 has 15 pin DSUB while this has a 25 pin D-SUB. So, while very
similar to 3178 and 3101 keyboards in many aspects I do think it is
different. Maybe some kind of replacement keyboard for the big original
3278/3279 keyboard. Will trace the connections of the cable some day to
verify, though.

/Mattis


>
> Cindy
>

Re: Is this IBM keyboard compatible with the IBM 3279?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den ons 4 mars 2020 kl 02:05 skrev Matt Burke via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> On 03/03/2020 16:48, Mattis Lind via cctalk wrote:
> > The connector is the correct one. It has four jumpers that could be used
> > for setting one of the keyboard types using the KB ident lines.
> >
> > https://i.imgur.com/PhfvKaV.jpg
> >
> > https://i.imgur.com/VPT38cK.jpg
> >
> > https://i.imgur.com/nN1gtFu.jpg
> >
> > Which terminal was it used for originally?
> >
> > /Mattis
>
> It looks a lot like the keyboard for a 3178 except that has a DA15
> connector and there is a blue switch on the top to select between upper
> and mixed case.
>


Yes, it indeed looks a 3178 kb. But as you said that one had a 15 pin dsub.
This 25 dsub actually has the missing pins in the righty places compared to
the 3279 so I am leaning towards that it in fact is a 3279 compatible
keyboard. Will probably trace the lines and compare those with the 3279 KB
connector to see if at least ident pins and power pins is in the right
places.

Then I will just go ahead and try to connect it to the 3279 and see what
happens when executing the keyboard test (test 2) of the 3279.

/Mattis


>
> Matt
>

Is this IBM keyboard compatible with the IBM 3279?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

The connector is the correct one. It has four jumpers that could be used
for setting one of the keyboard types using the KB ident lines.

https://i.imgur.com/PhfvKaV.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/VPT38cK.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/nN1gtFu.jpg

Which terminal was it used for originally?

/Mattis

Re: IBM BSC CRC?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Hello Peter!

Thanks for the effort to help!

I maybe should elaborate a bit on what I am doing and what equipment is
involved. The sending equipment is a Alfaskop CPR4101 communication
processor. Basically IBM 3274 model C BSC compatible. There is some
description on how it communicates using BSC from page 89 and onwards in
this pdf:
http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/Alfaskop/Alfaskop_System_41_Reference_Manual_IBM3270_Emulation.pdf

Essentially what is written there is very similar to what IBM has written
in
http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/ibm/3274/GA23-0061-1_3274_Control_Unit_Description_and_Programmers_Guide_Jan84.pdf
on
page 159 and onwards.

The receiving end was an Intel 8274 chip programmed in BSC mode from a
small STM32 micro controller. https://i.imgur.com/aPNMMkr.jpg?1 I just
added a 1488 and 1489 and a cable to connect to the communication
controller. I pulled together some kludgy software that just acquired SYNC
and the listened to what was received on the line when sending a POLL
message to the communication controller.

So here I did capture the messages involved:
https://i.imgur.com/rHfN3t4.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/t1NgEz2.jpg

The trailing FF is because there is no state machine in the receiver that
is properly detecting the end of message and then putting  the receiver in
SYNC HUNT mode again. Not having a state machine also makes it difficult to
use the CRC hardware inside the 8274 chip. But the chip only support CRC-16
and the CCITT CRC-16. The actual communication processor uses the Motorola
6852 chip which doesn't seem to have built in CRC handling om chip so I
guess it takes place in the software.

Have checked just the IPL ROM of the software involved. And it contain a
CRC routine for checking the integrity of the ROM itself. Since many of the
routines in the ROM are used by the operating system and high level
software of the comm processor it might be the one checking BSC
communication or it might be a completely different algorithm. Don't know
for sure. 6800 assembler code generated by some kind of compiler.

; subroutine
FC03: CE F8 02 ldx #$F802 ; The address of the ID string of the software
FC06: FF 01 A9 stx $01A9
FC09: CE 00 00 ldx #$
FC0C: FF 01 AB stx $01AB
FC0F: CE F8 00 ldx #$F800 ; Base of IPL PROM
FC12: FF 01 A7 stx $01A7 ; Store it
FC15: BD FC 23 jsr $FC23 ; jump to CRC routine
FC18: B6 01 B7 lda $01B7
FC1B: 27 05 beq $FC22 ; If ok jump to the rts.
FC1D: 86 50 lda #$50 ; Put a "P" in A.
FC1F: 7E FB A9 jmp $FBA9 ; Error routine
FC22: 39 rts
; CRC subroutine - at least the tech spec says it does a CRC on the IPL ROM
and this sure looks like it.
FC23: 7F 01 B8 clr $01B8
FC26: 7F 01 B9 clr $01B9
FC29: FE 01 A9 ldx $01A9
FC2C: 86 F8 lda #$F8
FC2E: B7 01 BA sta $01BA
FC31: A6 00 lda (x+$00)
FC33: 08 inx
FC34: B7 01 BB sta $01BB
FC37: 74 01 B9 lsr $01B9
FC3A: 76 01 B8 ror $01B8
FC3D: C6 00 ldb #$00
FC3F: 59 rolb
FC40: F8 01 BB eorb $01BB
FC43: C4 01 andb #$01
FC45: 27 0E beq $FC55
FC47: F8 01 B8 eorb $01B8
FC4A: F7 01 B8 stb $01B8
FC4D: F6 01 B9 ldb $01B9
FC50: C8 A0 eorb #$A0
FC52: F7 01 B9 stb $01B9
FC55: 7C 01 BA inc $01BA
FC58: 27 03 beq $FC5D
FC5A: 44 lsra
FC5B: 20 D7 bra $FC34
FC5D: BC 01 AB cmpx $01AB
FC60: 26 CA bne $FC2C
FC62: FE 01 A7 ldx $01A7
FC65: EE 00 ldx (x+$00)
FC67: BC 01 B8 cmpx $01B8
FC6A: 27 03 beq $FC6F
FC6C: 7C 01 B7 inc $01B7
FC6F: 39 rts



I tried to communicate with the comm processor  without using the Intel
8274 chip, directly using the STM32 micro controller by using the SPI port.
It successfully receives the message and is able to sync but since I cannot
check incoming CRC neither can I generate a proper outbound CRC it will not
be able to communicate very well.
WIP: https://github.com/MattisLind/alfaskop_emu/tree/master/Utils/BSCGateway


More comments inline below:


Den mån 27 jan. 2020 kl 00:52 skrev Peter Coghlan via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> Mattis Lind wrote:
>
> >
> > Hello IBM BSC Experts!
> >
> > I am trying to figure out the CRC algorithm used by IBM BSC. I have
> tried a
> > lot of different settings in crcreveng but not getting a match.
> >
>
> I'm definately not an IBM BSC Expert and I don't even play one on TV.  I
> have
> tweaked some BSC emulation code written by someone else so I have some
> vague
> idea about this stuff, however, the emulation did not include CRCs so I'm
> not sure how much help I can be.
>

I guess any idea here can push me forward to find a solution!

>
> >
> > I am pretty convinced that the CRC-16 used by IBM was
> >   16  15   2
> > x  +   x +   x +  1
> >
>
> In the file bcb_crc.c supplied with the funetnje and HUJI-NJE packages, it
> says the following (which may or may not relate to CRCs in the BSC world):
>
>
Thanks! Interesting. Checked this CRC generator and it creates exactly the
same CRC bytes

Re: IBM BSC CRC?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

So it all turned out to be a single bit error in the first message that
prevented me from finding the algorithm.

The annoying thing was that I used pretty much the same algorithm that
Peter provided but since I mostly looked for match of the first message and
then that CRC bytes were swapped made me miss the fact that the second
message actually matched.

Thanks Peter for spotting this!

I also got crc reveng to work eventually.

./reveng -w 16  -s 6cd90240c84050030d28
./reveng: warning: you have only given 1 sample
./reveng: warning: to reduce false positives, give 4 or more samples
width=16  poly=0x8005  init=0x  refin=true  refout=true
xorout=0x  check=0xbb3d  residue=0x  name="CRC-16/ARC"
MattisMacBook:reveng-2.1.0 mattis$ ./reveng -w 16  -s 6CD90240404070032688
./reveng: warning: you have only given 1 sample
./reveng: warning: to reduce false positives, give 4 or more samples
./reveng: no models found
$ ./reveng -w 16  -s 6CD90240404050032688
./reveng: warning: you have only given 1 sample
./reveng: warning: to reduce false positives, give 4 or more samples
width=16  poly=0x8005  init=0x  refin=true  refout=true
xorout=0x  check=0xbb3d  residue=0x  name="CRC-16/ARC"


Then from there it took a bit of fiddling with options to make crc reveng
to actually be able to get it to generate the same output:

$ ./reveng -w 16 -P a001 -i   -x   -l  -d
width=16  poly=0x8005  init=0x  refin=true  refout=true
xorout=0x  check=0xbb3d  residue=0x  name=(none)
$ ./reveng -w 16 -P a001 -i   -x   -l  -c 6CD9024040405003
2688


For some reaason I had to swap the bit order of the polynom to get it
working which I got when I used the -d option when using -P 8005 it showed
a001. I tried to swap that and voila it worked!

A lesson for me is then to have more message samples to spot errors easier
and also never assume there is such things that error free serial links
even though the cable was just one meter and the speed 9600 bps.

/Mattis

Den tis 28 jan. 2020 kl 03:21 skrev Peter Coghlan via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> Mattis Lind wrote:
> >
> > > > I have two actual messages from equipment employing IBM BSC:
> > > > 32016CD90240404070032688
> > > > and
> > > > 32016CD90240C84050030D28
> > > >
> >
>
> How about this code:
>
> #include 
>
> int crc16(unsigned char *ptr, int count)
> {
> unsigned int crc;
> char i;
>
> crc = 0x;
> while (--count >= 0)
> {
> crc = crc ^ (unsigned int) *ptr++;
> i = 8;
> do
> {
> if (crc & 0x0001)
> crc = (crc >> 1) ^ 0xA001;  /* 0x8005 bit reversed */
> else
> crc = (crc >> 1);
> } while(--i);
> }
> return (crc);
> }
>
> void main()
> {
>  /* 32  01  6C  D9  02  40  40  40  70  03  26  88 */
>
>unsigned char data1[] = {0x6c, 0xd9, 0x02, 0x40, 0x40, 0x40, 0x50,
> 0x03};
>
>  /* 32  01  6C  D9  02  40  C8  40  50  03  0D  28 */
>
>unsigned char data2[] = {0x6c, 0xd9, 0x02, 0x40, 0xc8, 0x40, 0x50,
> 0x03};
>
>printf("crc sent: 8826 computed: %4.4x\n", crc16(data1, sizeof(data1)));
>
>printf("crc sent: 280d computed: %4.4x\n", crc16(data2, sizeof(data2)));
>
>return;
> }
>
> Please note that I had to cheat to get this to work.  It worked initially
> for the second case but it only worked for the first case when I tweaked
> 70 to 50, ie I substituted the corresponding value from the second case.
>
> Regards,
> Peter Coghlan.
>

Re: IBM BSC CRC?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den mån 27 jan. 2020 kl 02:07 skrev Chuck Guzis via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> On 1/26/20 3:12 PM, Bob Smith via cctalk wrote:
> > I ma rusty on this, been almost 50 years since I worked on the DP8EP
> > aka the KG83. then the KG11, and the Autodin 2 CRC32 designs in
> > hardware.
> > I don't recall whether bisync, aka bsc used LRC8, 12, 16, or crc16 as
> > the error detection algorithm.
> > I don't think it used VRC. I did find a refresher that might help, but
> > I don't think the polynomial you have for crc 16 has enough terms.
> > BUT I could be misremembering.
>
> If you've got the message and the checksum, however computed, there are
> free tools to grind through the usual suspects.  I've used it on alien
> disk formats very successfully.
>
>
Yes, there are the crc reveng for example. But I cannot get it to generate
the CRC digits that matches. Neither does it give me anything when I ask it
to search for algorithm used.
Of course it is probably just me that don't understand it well enough.

It is slightly worrying though that I cannot recreate known examples that I
find online using crc reveng:

 https://stackoverflow.com/questions/23638939/crc-16-ibm-reverse-lookup-in-c

The first answer by Mark Adler involves a pretty simple CRC algorithm that
given the data buffer and initiial crc value in the Maxim example generates
the mentioned output. But I cannot gat the same output using crc reveng. So
I just have to do something wrong when using it. But cannot figure out what.

/Mattis


> --Chuck
>
>

IBM BSC CRC?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Hello IBM BSC Experts!

I am trying to figure out the CRC algorithm used by IBM BSC. I have tried a
lot of different settings in crcreveng but not getting a match.

I am pretty convinced that the CRC-16 used by IBM was
  16  15   2
x  +   x +   x +  1
This would give the polynomial 8005.
Anyone against this statement?

But what was the initial value?

I have two actual messages from equipment employing IBM BSC:
32016CD90240404070032688
and
32016CD90240C84050030D28

>From this document (
http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/ibm/datacomm/GA27-3004-2_General_Information_Binary_Synchronous_Communications_Oct70.pdf
)
I get that the CRC calculation is reset on SOH (01h) or STX (02h) and
accumulates until and including the ETX (03h). (excluding any SYN (32h)
characters).

I have tried crcreveng back and forth and I am not getting the CRC bytes
right.
I think I have tried most things, different bit order, different initial
values. But nothing.

I also tried the mode in crcreveng where it searches for matches but it
always says "no models found". Maybe I am doing something wrong when using
crcreveng?

Any clues? Surely there are someone out there that has been around for some
time and knows this, right?

On the topic of crc reveng I tried to verify how it works by using some
kind of known value: This article
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/23638939/crc-16-ibm-reverse-lookup-in-c

has a specific example where a certain data in (75h) with initial value
90f1h gives output 6390h. I tried to get crc reveng to do the same, but
failed. There has to be some option I simply do not understand. I tried
most combinations.

/Mattis

Re: Old Nokia/alfaskop 3270 terminal

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Hi Dave,

Den lör 11 jan. 2020 kl 14:03 skrev Dave Wade :

> Mattis,
>
>
>
> These are VDU472C which were produced with both Nokia and ICL badges. They
> are very much a straightforward IBM3179 clone and have normal IBM coax
> ports on the back.
>
> They have 122-key PC style keyboards with a large plug. Not sure if they
> are AT or XT style. A parallel printer port. Inside there is a M68000P12
> CPU.
>
> So an “embedded system” with no floppies. I have it plugged into am IBM
> 3174 screen controller and can connect out to
>

Ahh. Then that one is much more modern than the Alfaskop 4110 that I have.
It is based on a 68A00 processor and loads everthing from the communication
processor. S41 series was designed in the laste seventies.  Is the VDU472C
actually manufactured in Sweden like the rest of the Alfaskop series or
somewhere else. Does it say something on some kind of badge?
It would be nice to see a picture.


>
>
> I know Matt Burke (9track.net) has plugged his SDLC 3174 controller into
> a CISCO router and used CISCO SDLC encapsulation to pass data to a modified
> Hercules.
>
> This works for MVS but not MTS or VM.
>

OK. The 4101 comm processor only speaks BSC. Need other software to do SNA
/SDLC. On the other hand BSC is much easier to understand than the SNA
stuff. At least for me who is not used to IBMish. I did manage send a POLL
to the comm processor and received back a valid STATUS message.

>
>
> Dave
>

/Mattis

>
>
>
>
> *From:* Mattis Lind 
> *Sent:* 11 January 2020 12:15
> *To:* Dave Wade ; General Discussion: On-Topic and
> Off-Topic Posts 
> *Subject:* Re: Old Nokia/alfaskop 3270 terminal
>
>
>
> Hi!
>
>
>
> What kind of Alfaskop terminal do you have?
>
>
>
> Incidentally, me and a friend has been working quite a lot with Alfaskop
> terminals lately. I have been refurbishing a complete Alfaskop S41 terminal
> cluster with terminal , floppy unit and terminal controller. In the process
> I have dumped all PROMs, PALs and FPLAs so that my friend could create an
> emulation of the system in MAME.
>
>
>
> A bit of the project is described here:
>
>
>
> https://github.com/MattisLind/alfaskop_emu
>
>
>
> and here:
>
>
>
> http://www.datormuseum.se/peripherals/terminals/alfaskop
>
>
>
> This short clip show when we just recently managed to boot the terminal
> and the communication processor.
>
>
>
> https://youtu.be/6DPpZw8JOmI
>
>
>
> Aside from getting emulation of the cluster we are working on building a
> gateway to bridge IBM BSC to TN3270 so that the system could be used with
> Hercules. Then also we are looking into creating hardware so that the
> emulated communication processor could talk over the proprietary interface
> used by the system with a real Alfaskop terminal.
>
>
>
> So the answer to your question is that to get an Alfaskop running you need
> the communcation processor and a floppy drive. There are some variants that
> are more self contained. The older System S37 had a model which included
> the emulation software in ROM. But I doubt that one had a setup menu. It
> had very simple 8 bit TTL CPU.
>
>
>
> Then the system 41 could run in standalone mode. But it still required a
> floppy drive to load the software from.
>
>
>
> I don't know much about the later models, but my understanding is that
> those also booted from the communication processor, the 9101.
>
>
>
> /Mattis
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Den lör 11 jan. 2020 kl 00:13 skrev Dave Wade via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org>:
>
> Folks,
>
>
>
> Can any one remember how to get an AlfaSkop terminal into local setup mode>
>
> Dave Wade
>
> G4UGM & EA7KAE
>
>
>

Re: Old Nokia/alfaskop 3270 terminal

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Hi!

What kind of Alfaskop terminal do you have?

Incidentally, me and a friend has been working quite a lot with Alfaskop
terminals lately. I have been refurbishing a complete Alfaskop S41 terminal
cluster with terminal , floppy unit and terminal controller. In the process
I have dumped all PROMs, PALs and FPLAs so that my friend could create an
emulation of the system in MAME.

A bit of the project is described here:

https://github.com/MattisLind/alfaskop_emu

and here:

http://www.datormuseum.se/peripherals/terminals/alfaskop

This short clip show when we just recently managed to boot the terminal and
the communication processor.

https://youtu.be/6DPpZw8JOmI

Aside from getting emulation of the cluster we are working on building a
gateway to bridge IBM BSC to TN3270 so that the system could be used with
Hercules. Then also we are looking into creating hardware so that the
emulated communication processor could talk over the proprietary interface
used by the system with a real Alfaskop terminal.

So the answer to your question is that to get an Alfaskop running you need
the communcation processor and a floppy drive. There are some variants that
are more self contained. The older System S37 had a model which included
the emulation software in ROM. But I doubt that one had a setup menu. It
had very simple 8 bit TTL CPU.

Then the system 41 could run in standalone mode. But it still required a
floppy drive to load the software from.

I don't know much about the later models, but my understanding is that
those also booted from the communication processor, the 9101.

/Mattis



Den lör 11 jan. 2020 kl 00:13 skrev Dave Wade via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> Folks,
>
>
>
> Can any one remember how to get an AlfaSkop terminal into local setup mode>
>
> Dave Wade
>
> G4UGM & EA7KAE
>
>
>
>

Re: SMD disk specifications

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

måndag 16 december 2019 skrev Eric Smith via cctalk :

> On Sun, Dec 15, 2019 at 3:05 AM jim stephens via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> > I don't know that I recall SMD being a product as much as a reference to
> > the interface they had though.
> >
>
> "SMD" was in fact a product name. The CDC976x, BK4XX, BK5XX, BK6XX, and
> BK7XX series drives had the official name "CDC(R) Storage Module Drive",
> from whence came the "SMD" name for the interface, starting with the 9760
> in 1973.  MMD and CMD drives came along a few years later. AFAIK the MMD
> drives weren't too popular in the early years, but gained traction in the
> 1980s. CMD drives, on the other hand, were an instant hit, starting with
> the 9427 "Hawk" drive in 1977.
>

The Hawk was quite different from the Phoenix. Actually it was not a
Cartridge Module Drive, rather it was called Cartridge  Disk Drive. While
the CMD and SMD drives could be used on the same host interface the Hawk
could not since the interface was different from the SMD interface.

Re: SMD disk specifications

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

lördag 14 december 2019 skrev jim stephens via cctalk :

>
>
> On 12/14/2019 1:10 AM, shad via cctalk wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>> I also was searching about a clear SMD specification years ago, I found
>> something in disk documentation from CDC, but doubts remain, because some
>> disks call the interface SMD, some other CMD, never understood the
>> difference...
>>
> CMD was the name of the division that manufactured the disks, FWIW. Not
> heard of CDC calling it anything other than SMD.  It was their golden
> goose, so though it's not really a spec, reading the specs of any CDC drive
> of an equivalent capability as you are looking for is probably what any
> standard would contain.


I think the name of the division was MPI. CMD was the Cartridge Module
 Drive aka Phoenix.

http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/cdc/discs/CDC_Drive_Models.txt

But as far as I know the interface of the SMD drives and CMD drives were
identical. At least the Norsk Data ND10 used them both on the same
interface in the computer end.

/Mattis


> The big problem they faced was there wasn't a second act for them, despite
> spending huge amounts on a lot of other products.  They continued using
> oddball interfaces to try to pull the same stunt and people didn't fall for
> it twice.
>
> The closesest that anyone came to challenging them was the Trident
> interface, but they crashed and burned anyway.
>
> When did you see something called CMD?
> thanks
> Jim
>
>> Andrea
>>
>>
>>
>

DEC documentation

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I have updated my inventory of DEC documentation with the latest arrivals
from Gunnar, the ex-DEC FS tech.

Those were mostly binders of software documentation and handbooks. If there
are a document that you would like to have scanned I will do my best to
help out. But please do me a favour to check if they are not online already
from the regular sources.

http://forum.datormuseum.se/category/35A7E09F-5154-49F1-BE57-9F9E3D923327.html


I can only scan documents up to ledger size. Larger documents, like some of
the old schematics, need help from a professional scanning service, which
unfortunately cost money. I cannot scan books, either.

I will continuously update the inventory as I go through all the
documentation.

There are likely to be errors in the inventory. Typing on the phone is a
pain. If you find errors please let me know.

/Mattis

VT420 drawings

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I got heaps of documentation from an ex-DEC field service engineer.

Among them there were a VT420 print set. I didn't see any schematics for
the VT420 on bitsavers so even though this one looks a bit strange it is
better than nothing.

http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC/VT420-engineering-drawings.pdf

/Mattis

Strange DEC stuff.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

An ex-DEC engineer offloaded some strange stuff that was going to the skip.
I just thought I could have a look. But what is it?

There is two backplanes marked KA14 and BE14. I thought it was the PDP-14,
but I am not sure really.

https://i.imgur.com/86tcLFz.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BWiCz8l.jpg

I came together with a similar sized PSU.

Then there was a strange DEC workshop built paper tape reader. The reader
mechanics looks similar to PC04 and PC05 but is smaller. The wheel is
smaller and the stepper motor is smaller as well. Are these parts from some
other DEC reader they cobbled together at DEC for inhouse duty.

https://i.imgur.com/0zv55pP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rE423Hi.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8th1y3Z.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/VKoH2LX.jpg

Any clues?

Eyring PDOS - paging Camiel Vanderhoeven

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I have a odd TMS9900 machine with floppy drives that would be interesting
to get an operating system runnig on. The Eyring institute PDOS looks
interesting and I have found a page describing it.
https://www.vaxbarn.com/index.php/other-bits/105%20-pdos Unfortunately none
of the download links works.

I sent a few mails to Camiel but it seems like they might have ended up in
the garbage folder so I am trying this public mail instead and hope that it
gets through!

I really appreciate if the links could be fixed so that I could download a
copy. And source code for the boot ROM would be nice.

Or is there someone else that have a copy of the manuals and the binaries?

Thanks in advance!

/Mattis

IBM 5110 power supply schematics?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

It turned out my friend was wrong. The power transformer is most likely ok.
But one of the main choppers were short circuited (yes, it is a switcher,
again to little info from my friend).

Anyway. The chopper transistors were TI made in 1978 but marked T484.
Probably some IBM marking which no one has the cross for.

I replaced them with nice high voltage high current TO3 transistors The
only thing i could get from the original transistors except for the
physical appearance was the polarity.

With a 5.6 ohm resistor on the 5V i fired up the PSU with a 60W lamp in
series with one of the mains leads. Nothing happened on the bases of the
switchers until I got to around 190 VAC input.
At that point the base went high and stayed there.

Really strange. Of course I have no schematics for this IBM thingie. Does
anyone have a schematic for the IBM 5110 PSU? I think I really need it to
understand what is going on.

Tracing it out is an option but then all those square metal canned IBM
ICs...

/Mattis

Re: IBM 5110 transformer?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Really good point. Thanks! I will check with my friend.

/Mattis

Den mån 30 sep. 2019 kl 16:46 skrev Paul Berger via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

>
> On 2019-09-30 3:44 a.m., Mattis Lind via cctalk wrote:
> > A friend of mine is trying to repair a IBM 5110. He is convinced that the
> > transformer is bad.
> >
> > Anyone knows the spec of the transformer?
> >
> > Someone that has a spare?
> >
> > Looking into the tech documentation tell me that the machine requires +/-
> > 5V and +/- 12 V and also +8.5V
> >
> > A very rough guesstimate based on the number of wires from the PSU to the
> > backplane would give 20A 5V, 4A +12V, 4A +8.5V, 1A -5V and 1A -12V.
> >
> > Anyone with a better guess?
> >
> > /Mattis
>
> Does this transformer has a resonant capacitor on it?  They where very
> common on IBM power supplies from that time period and if the capacitor
> goes short you will not get any output from the transformer.  This is a
> lesson I learned as a green service rep 40 years ago after lugging in a
> very heavy transformer for a machine.
>
> Paul.
>
>

Re: IBM 5110 transformer?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den mån 30 sep. 2019 kl 15:37 skrev dwight :

> Is it a switcher or an AC?
>

Good old transfomer. He could probably find something suitable if the specs
were known. Or replace it with switchers at least for testing the machine.
But still it would be great to know the specs.


> A custom transformer is going to be quite expensive. About the only way is
> to cannibalize another machine.
> Dwight
>

/Mattis


>
> --
> *From:* cctalk  on behalf of Mattis Lind
> via cctalk 
> *Sent:* Sunday, September 29, 2019 11:44 PM
> *To:* General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org>
> *Subject:* IBM 5110 transformer?
>
> A friend of mine is trying to repair a IBM 5110. He is convinced that the
> transformer is bad.
>
> Anyone knows the spec of the transformer?
>
> Someone that has a spare?
>
> Looking into the tech documentation tell me that the machine requires +/-
> 5V and +/- 12 V and also +8.5V
>
> A very rough guesstimate based on the number of wires from the PSU to the
> backplane would give 20A 5V, 4A +12V, 4A +8.5V, 1A -5V and 1A -12V.
>
> Anyone with a better guess?
>
> /Mattis
>

IBM 5110 transformer?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

A friend of mine is trying to repair a IBM 5110. He is convinced that the
transformer is bad.

Anyone knows the spec of the transformer?

Someone that has a spare?

Looking into the tech documentation tell me that the machine requires +/-
5V and +/- 12 V and also +8.5V

A very rough guesstimate based on the number of wires from the PSU to the
backplane would give 20A 5V, 4A +12V, 4A +8.5V, 1A -5V and 1A -12V.

Anyone with a better guess?

/Mattis

Re: Help identifying mystery Unibus board

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den tis 24 sep. 2019 kl 09:11 skrev Josh Dersch via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> Hi all --
>
> Found this in a stack of boards, and I don't know what it is, other than
> that it's Unibus -- there's a logo but no text identifying the board or the
> manufacturer.  Anyone recognize the logo in this picture?
>
> http://yahozna.dyndns.org/scratch/random/board0.jpeg



System Industries?



>
>
> Here's the full board, for reference:
>
> http://yahozna.dyndns.org/scratch/random/board1.jpeg
>
> Thanks,
> Josh
>

/Mattis

Re: Tektrionix VAXBI board and DC100 training tapes?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

lördag 21 september 2019 skrev Mark J. Blair via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

>
>
> > On Sep 21, 2019, at 11:19 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> > I've got over a hundred TU58s I need to look at some day as well.
> > Fixed the pinch rollers on some TU58s a year or two ago, just too many
> other things to do.
>
> I have about a dozen TU58 cartridges which came with my VAX-11/730. I'd
> like to archive them (or even read them, for that matter), but so far I
> have had not had any success with repairing cartridge drive belts. I just
> hate those things. I have a feeling that I might have better results by
> building an open reel imaging drive where I transfer the tape media out of
> the original cartridge, abandoning the &$@#! drive belt concept. But that's
> going to be a fairly big project, so I haven't made progress on it beyond
> brainstorming so far.


I dumped some 40 TU58 tapes a year ago. I replaced the band directly with
90 mm plastibands without even trying to run the tape. This was my
procedure: Open up the tape cartridge. Then the old band was removed
carefully by heating it slightly with a heat gun (low temperature). Then I
managed to remove it without destroying the tape itself. One can see the
tape changes appearance on the surface, then it can be removed. (Thanks to
Rik Bos for the advice about heating)

There are usually some residue from the band left on the tape. I used
isopropanol to remove this by gently rubbing the surface. Sometimes some
kind of salty residue has deposited on the back of the tape. Usually at the
posts. This was also cleaned gently using isopropanol. Failure to do the
last step usually caused the tape to stick during tape winding. Then
cleaning the backside helped out.

Now the plastiband was installed and the cover put back.

I managed to fully recover all but one tape that had one bad block.

The bands I used was the 90 mm baumgarten plastibands. The interesting
thing is that they are actually japanese made by Nisshinbo and are called
mobilon bands.

It should be possible to buy from Misumi.

https://us.misumi-ec.com/vona2/detail/223000860382/?KWSearch=Mobilon=results2products=%7b%22field%22%3a%22%40search%22%2c%22seriesCode%22%3a%3000860382%22%2c%22innerCode%22%3a%22%22%2c%22sort%22%3a1%2c%22specSortFlag%22%3a0%2c%22allSpecFlag%22%3a0%2c%22page%22%3a1%2c%22pageSize%22%3a%2260%22%2c%220161458%22%3a%22mig0001661601%22%2c%22fixedInfo%22%3a%22MDM0001617623122300086038211%7c12%22%7d=codeList


460 bands for 18 dollars is far better than buying those assorted packs
from Baumgarten.

Haven’t ordered myself since they want that you have a  company to order.
Need to ask a friend to help out.

/Mattis


>
> --
> Mark J. Blair, NF6X 
> http://www.nf6x.net/
>
>

Tektrionix VAXBI board and DC100 training tapes?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

An ex DEC engineer offloaded some stuff that he had found in his attic.

https://i.imgur.com/413NSSL.jpg?1

It came together with a tektronix 1241 Logic Analyzer.

Someone that can tell more about it?

Then there were some DC100 tapes in a huge heap of TU58 diagnostic tapes
for VAX-11/730 and  VAX-11/750 that looked different.

https://i.imgur.com/6n8yCxd.jpg?1


They were marked "BI-SYNC TRAINING TAPE" and "ASYNC TRAINING TAPE
TAP-895-103-1.0 3.04"


Anyone recognize what that could be?



BTW. What are the status of various 11/730 and 11/750 diagnostics on TU58.
Are those already dumped? It takes some time to work with TU58 so if
someone already done all this I might skip dealing with them.

I know of only one place that has TU58 dumps.
http://iamvirtual.ca/VAX11/VAX-11-software.html
Anywhere else?

/Mattis

Re: Ferroresonant transformer supply repair

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

måndag 9 september 2019 skrev Kyle Owen via cctalk :

> On Sun, Sep 8, 2019, 20:39 Guy Dunphy via cctalk 
> wrote:
>
> > >
> > >We recently replaced the ferroresonant capacitor in a power supply on
> the
> > CHM's
> > >PDP-1. They do fail (thankfully, not often) - and they are not
> > super-critical
> > >as to value. If the one you're replacing has the same marked value, you
> > should
> > >be fine.
> > >
> >
> > Yes, that's right. Find something with the same marked capacitance value.
> > The rated voltage can be the same or higher.
> >
>
> I can't seem to find motor caps that meet the voltage spec of 660V. 8uF
> doesn't seem like a problem, but the combination together isn't looking
> good. Are there any specific vendors I should be looking at? My usual
> suspect of DigiKey isn't looking good.


Mouser has CDE 8 uF 660 VAC. 11 are on order from the manufacturer.


https://www.mouser.se/ProductDetail/Cornell-Dubilier-CDE/SFA66T8K475B-F?qs=sGAEpiMZZMu3dWSqd4Tl0A9wIZdhZWWRKQi0fpV8QTUDmNGSFUtTTQ%3D%3D

I have replaced several  of these capacitors in  PDP-8, LA30, PDP-9.

/Mattis


> Thanks!
>
> Kyle
>
> >
>

Re: eBay: PDP-8/A KL8A serial line card

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den tors 8 aug. 2019 kl 13:01 skrev Bill Gunshannon via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> On 8/7/19 3:07 PM, Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:
> >  > From: Paul Anderson
> >
> >  > $325??
> >
>
>
I have some KL8A with the 4 DSUB BC08W cable in case someone want to trade
for something interesting DECish stuff.

/Mattis

RE: Scanning question (Is destruction of old tech docs a moral crime?)

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

> >> BTW. I have three IBM 026 card punch machines as a future restoration
> project. But can I find
> >> a service manual? No. None online, only one for the later 028. And even
> if there was a PDF


Have you seen these:

http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/punchedCard/Keypunch/A24-
0520-2_24-26_Keypunches.pdf

http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/punchedCard/Keypunch/225-
6535-5_24-Base_Machines_FEMM_Dec65.pdf

http://ibm-1401.info/IBM-026-Wiring-228005P.html



> >> I expect it would be the usual terrible quality.
> >> Does anyone have a physical copy they would sell? Or as my last resort,
> loan?
> >>
> >> Ditto for a service/schematics manual for the Documation TM200 punch
> card reader. No copy can be found.


Do you expect the TM200 to be substantially different from the M200? My
guess is that they are quite similar. Gone down the route of reverese
engineering the differences?


>
> Guy
>

/Mattis

What connector is this?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I am looking for the mating male connector. Anyone that has an idea what
connector this is? There is nothing indicated on the connector itself about
what the manufacturer it is.

https://i.imgur.com/YzAfB2g.png

/Mattis

Re: Wtd: advice upcoming visit to Bletchley Park / comp museum

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

lördag 6 juli 2019 skrev Bill Degnan via cctech :

> Hi...I am arriving at Gatwick Airport this weds evening1045pm and I have a
> 17 hour layover.  I'd like to visit the national computer museum at
> bletchley park about an hour north.  I see I can rent a car from the
> airport and drive to a hotel near the  museum.  There are a few hotels with
> 24/7 desks.  Concerns?  Total time in England is 17 hours, 8 of which
> needed for sleep, plus travel to and from the airport and museum.  Not sure
> how efficient the car rental return process is, etc.  Need some buffer for
> unknowns
> Thanks in advance


When I visited Bletchley park and TNMOC I went by train from London. Euston
I believe. From Gatwick there are trains to Victoria which are quite quick.

I have never driven myself in London, but has been going with taxi a number
of times from the airports in the London area. The traffic can be quite
bad. Gatwick is south of London and Bletchley is north of London so expect
some queues depending on time.

/Mattis



> Bill
>

Dumping MC6801 ROM contents.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I have been asked to dump the ROM contents out of the MC6801 in the
Ericsson PC keyboard to get the MAME emulation fully working. The guy that
is doing the emulation says this is the only thing missing and would be
nice if I could help him getting it finalized.

It is supposed to be quite easy. Put the MC6801 in test mode 0 and provide
RESET vectors for an external EPROM that has a program that dumps the
contents. Maybe in Intel HEX over the serial port. Should be quite straight
forward. But I have thousands of other things to deal with so if someone
already made such a small program I gladly use it instead of making my own.
Even though I done some 6800 and 6809 assembler once upon a time, it was 30
years ago, so I imagine it will take some time to get it working.

Is there anyone that already done this?

/Mattis

Alfaskop terminals and SPL programming language.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I have been scanning a few manuals and brochures related to the Alfaskop
series of IBM 3270 compatible and Uniscope 100  compatible terminals.

http://www.datormuseum.se/peripherals/terminals/alfaskop

Unfortunately very little seems to be saved regarding this series of quite
successful terminals. In total around 900.000 units were produced.
Starting with the dumb 3100 with delay line memory, to the 3500/ 3700 with
a TTL CPU and the the 4100 series with 6800 CPU and finally the 91xx series
with 68k CPU (I believe). There is a brief history on the wiki page (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfaskop)

One interesting thing with the 41xx series is that it has a general purpose
real time operating system described in this manual
http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/Alfaskop/Alfaskop_System_41_Operating_System_Reference_Manual.pdf

This manual refers to a SPL programming Language, and a SPL reference
manual, which I am lacking. The SPL language seems to have realtime
constructs like WAIT, DECLARE  TASK, POST etc. Is there anyone that
recognize the language or is it an invention made by Datasaab back in the
days?

Another interesting feature is that the 41xx series made use of a star
coupled 300 kbit/s sort of network. Mainly to communicate with the likewise
networked floppy drive or communication controller. The terminal could be
configured to work stand alone with a floppy drive or using a communication
controller as it seems.

Depending on what it was configured for, the terminal could either run
various terminal emulations, the Alfaword wordprocessing package or even
the UCSD p-system.

It would really be very interesting to find any of this software. So if
anyone knows anything I am interested.

Re: M7264 Troubleshooting

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den tors 23 maj 2019 kl 14:14 skrev Noel Chiappa via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> > From: Jon Elson
>
> > Yes, this is most likely a bus timeout
>
> The good news is that it looks like his CPU is 'mostly' working; and if
> the NXM is due to a fault on the CPU (e.g. bad bus transceiver sending
> the wrong address), that would be fixable (it uses 8641's).
>
> If the fault is in the DLV11-E (and not just misconfiguration), depending
> on
> where the fault is, he might be out of luck with that card; it uses DC005's
> for transceivers, which of course are unobtainium now.


Not really unobtainium: https://www.ebay.com/itm/281679682476 and
https://www.ebay.com/itm/253305313497

These DC0xx chips can sometimes be found on Ebay under their Signetics name.

DC003 C2293N
DC004 C2301N
DC005 C2324N
DC006 C2345N
DC010 C2344N




> Still, QBUS serial
> interfaces are not rare.
>
> And overall, progress is being made! :-)
>
> Noel
>

/Mattis

RCA Spectra 70 manuals on Ebay

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Maybe of interest to someone?

I didn't find the Cobol manual on Bitsavers.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/372663250835

Re: VCF/PNW Exhibit & Trip Report - The Old Calculator Museum

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

torsdag 28 mars 2019 skrev Noel Chiappa :

> > From: Mattis Lind
>
> > It is KATIA. Peter Lothbergs collection.
>
> Ah. I wonder where it came from originally?


It has been in use at STACKEN at least since the beginning of the 80ies
until maybe mid nineties. STACKEN is the computer club at KTH in Stockholm.

https://techworld.idg.se/2.2524/1.454545/the-stacken-story

I think that some pictures are from the big computer hall I visited when
studying at KTH. But it might be Collosal Cave Computing Center.



> That looks like a relatively 'new' one; the older KA10's had black panels.
> And it's odd (to me, at least) to see TU56's on a KA10.


It is TU55s as far as I can see.


>
> I wonder how many KA10's are left in the world? I have this vague memory
> that
> MIT-AI might have gone to Sweden, but I also have a memory that that was
> the
> plan, but some how it didn't happen?


/Mattis

>
>   Noel
>

Re: VCF/PNW Exhibit & Trip Report - The Old Calculator Museum

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den tors 28 mars 2019 kl 14:17 skrev Noel Chiappa via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> > From: Rick Bensene
>
> > upstairs to the computer room and take some photos of the KA-10
>
> Wow! That's a rara avis indeed; I wasn't sure there were any left. Does
> anyone know where this one came from?
>

Sweden. It is KATIA. Peter Löthbergs collection.

https://mobile.twitter.com/LivingComputers/status/1102063746019549184?fbclid=IwAR2SeOPHUSZmTzHLGenRVZ-6KZQlx5IRgh4xHumARbBMDrG5DTMRxCqQWjE


/Mattis


>
> Noel
>

Re: George Comstock

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den tis 26 mars 2019 kl 18:08 skrev Chuck Guzis via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> On 3/26/19 8:53 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
> >
> https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2019/03/25/george-comstock-silicon-valley-pioneer-and-portola-valley-civic-leader-dies
>
> Thanks for that--I remember George well.
>


While restoring a Diablo HyType II printer back to operation I spent some
time researching about Diablo and came across this interview with George
Comstock.
https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2015/07/102658008-05-01-acc.pdf

Very interesting reading.

During this work I also understood that the wiki page on Daisy Wheel
printing was wrong since they attributed the invention of the Daisy Wheel
printing technology to the Qume founder, David Lee. From reading the
interview with George Comstock it is evident that the true inventor is
Hungarian born Dr Andrew Gabor.  A week ago I finally updated the wiki page
to reflect this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisy_wheel_printing If
someone else has more information and details it could be worthwhile to
update the page yet more.

Here is btw my HyType II printing som ASCII art.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1=C5bodpSsFl8 Nice printer.
The servo system designed by Andrew Gabor works very well. The speed of the
carriage when it moves back to the home position makes you keep fingers on
your back not touching anything...



>
> --Chuck
>
>

Re: Tape reading question

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

tisdag 12 mars 2019 skrev Al Kossow via cctalk :

>
>
> On 3/11/19 10:42 PM, Mattis Lind via cctalk wrote:
> > A few years back AJ Palmgren helped me recover data from a S8000 tape
> using
> > his hacked QIC drive.
>
> Did you ever put the tape images on line anywhere?


The image is a backup tar archive. It do contain files of more private
nature. The backup is not complete since it spans two tapes. This means it
is not of huge interest to the public. The second tape has not been
recovered.

All files extracted has been listed on the web page. In case someone is
interested I could of course clean the archive from the private files.

Re: Tape reading question

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

A few years back AJ Palmgren helped me recover data from a S8000 tape using
his hacked QIC drive.  He fed the data coming off the drive into a Saleae
logic analyzer. I took the gigantic dumps and wrote a software decoder. The
data on the tape are MFM encoded. It went pretty well and I could recover
the entire tape.

http://www.datormuseum.se/computers/others/zilog-s8000/extract-s8000-tapes

So you can read these tapes by other means than the original drive. It just
requires some tinkering with the drive to get the correct tracks and some
software.

Trio laboratories inc PSU schematic?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Does anyone have schematic for a Trio Labs PSU made in 1975

https://i.imgur.com/MTwcpRA.jpg

It is a primary side switcher made in 1975 outputting 100 Amps 5Volt.

Quite early for being primary switcher I would guess.

Re: PDP-11/45 RSTS/E boot problem

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

torsdag 7 februari 2019 skrev Fritz Mueller via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

>
> > How about a Unibus trace?  That would give you the RK11 commands as well
> as the data it sends in response.
>
> I don't think my sad little HP LA has enough buffer for that...


You could use triggers in innovative ways. Maybe trigger on that particular
data on that particular address. What takes place just before this? Is it
DMA or is it the CPU moving the data. Is it just reading out bad or is it
written bad?  That should be possible to figure out. You will probably get
quite far with only 16 data and 16 address bits (if you have the smallest
analyzer). Of course more is better...

/Mattis


>
>--FritzM.

Re: PDP-11/45 RSTS/E boot problem

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den tis 5 feb. 2019 kl 00:23 skrev Fritz Mueller via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

>
> > On Feb 4, 2019, at 2:28 AM, Noel Chiappa via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >
> > I'm pretty sure the command only gets a few instructions in before it
> blows
> > up.  Here are the process' registers, and the _entire_ contents of the
> user
> > mode stack:
> >
> > R0 10
> > R1 0
> > R2 0
> > R3 0
> > R4 34
> > R5 444
> > SP 177760
> > PC 010210
> >
> > 060: 00 20 01 10 14 17 071554 00
>
> Okay, I've had a bit of time in front of the machine to repro this and
> take a look.  What I actually see is:
>
> R0 10
> R1 0
> R2 0
> R3 0
> R4 0
> R5 34
> R6 141774
> PC 000254
>
> (remember, for the last, this will have been after taking a trap to 250,
> where I have the usual "BR .+2; HALT" catcher installed)
>
> Also, memory at 060 (PA:164060) is all zeros as far as the eye can see...
>

Would it be any difference if you run the machine at full speed or lower
speed or even single step past this instruction? With the KM11 installed
you could even single step the 5 minor states in each micro instruction.
Would it be possible to insert a breakpoint or halt and run the program,
insert original instruction and single step?

The TIG module has a separate non crystal controlled oscillator which one
could tune for marginal checking.

Would it be possible to isolate the test case outside the UNIX environment?

/Mattis



>
> I have a bit of water on the basement floor right now after the recent
> rains here, which is complicating setup of the LA.  There's a big puddle
> where I normally place it...
>
>
>

Re: How to refurbish plotter pens?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

It has been almost two years since I visited this topic. But just before
christmas i got around doing something about it.

I interfaced it to the PDP-11/05 using an XY11 board. It seems to be very
little information on the XY11 board saved. At least I didn't find
anything. But the board is a quite simple dual module so I made a schematic
of the circuit and then got the understanding how it should be connected to
the plotter and how it should be programmed. Created a quick program for
the PDP-11 and tested it. It worked just fine but then the problem was the
pens.

All my pens were obviously dry. Refurbish a pen seems to be impossible. The
type of ink used is quite thick and I couldn't figure out how to get it
into the ball point pens. Even though it was possible to clean them
reasonably well using an ultrasonic cleaner there was no way I could get
the ink in there.

The other option is to find compatible pens. I searched google for pen
refills with dimensions that would fit but couldn't find matching pens to
modify and use.

So I concluded that the best option is to make a new pen holder plunger
which could take standard ball point refill. The Pilot  BRFV-10M seemed to
be very common refill and would probably work well if I had another pen
holder. I asked around and found a guy with a lathe that made one for me.
Unfortunately it wasn't working immediately. I hadn't thought of certain
mechanical properties of the mechanism.

Essentially it is two parts. The pen holder plunger itself and a small
plastic part to insert into the cut off ball point refill. This latter part
will reduce the exterior diameter of the pen from 4 mm to 3.2 mm so it will
work with the spring in the lid. It also has a small 1 mm hole in it to let
air through.

Then I had a problem that the pen stayed in the up position. Most likely
held by some kind of remaining magnetism that could withstand the force of
the spring. A couple of M3 washers was used to reduce the contact area
between the pen holder plunger and the top lid which made it work.

http://i.imgur.com/PRGUa9U.jpg

And in action:

https://i.makeagif.com/save/QCDG_W

controlled by a quick and dirty PDP-11 program :
https://github.com/MattisLind/pdp11-plot

Next is to draw some nice things on the plotter.


Den mån 24 apr. 2017 kl 06:59 skrev Philipp Hachtmann via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

>
>
> On 22.04.2017 15:21, David Gesswein via cctech wrote:
> > Felt tip was also available.
> > picture here http://ferretronix.com/1627/
>
> Wow, great page! I think I also have the felt tip metal thing somewhere.
> I have to find that plastic box with Calcomp stuff again!
>
>

Re: SPACE WAR for PDP-11 - link issues

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Success sort off!


>
> the source paper tapes for fpmp are at
> http://bitsavers.org/bits/DEC/pdp11/papertapeimages/20040101/tray07
>
> TRAY07
>
> dec-11-nfpma-a-pr1 8/72; fpmp-11 single precision package; replaces:
> dec-11-yqpc-pb; (c)1971,72
> dec-11-nfpma-a-pr2 8/72; fpmp-11 double precision package; replaces:
> dec-11-yqpc-pb; (c)1971,72
> dec-11-nfpma-a-pa1 8/72; fpmp-11 source; tape 1 of 6; replaces:
> dec-11-yqpc-pa; (c)1971,72
> dec-11-nfpma-a-pa2 8/72; fpmp-11 source; tape 2 of 6; replaces:
> dec-11-yqpc-pa; (c)1971,72
> dec-11-nfpma-a-pa3 8/72; fpmp-11 source; tape 3 of 6; replaces:
> dec-11-yqpc-pa; (c)1971,72
> dec-11-nfpma-a-pa4 8/72; fpmp-11 source; tape 4 of 6; replaces:
> dec-11-yqpc-pa; (c)1971,72
> dec-11-nfpma-a-pa5 8/72; fpmp-11 source; tape 5 of 6; replaces:
> dec-11-yqpc-pa; (c)1971,72
> dec-11-nfpma-a-pa6 8/72; fpmp-11 source; tape 6 of 6; replaces:
> dec-11-yqpc-pa; (c)1971,72
>


I did download those. But I linked with the pre made single precision
package. Reading the manual more carefully reveal that there is not  the
complete FPMP-11 package in those pre made object files. So one have to
assemble ones own version by specifying exactly which modules to include in
a short file and then feed the six source file into PAL11-S. And voila a
tailor made version of FPMP-11 made for SPACE WAR is produced.

I then fed this object into LINK11-S followed by the 19 object files of
SPACE WAR. Finishing with the POINT module. And after doing this twice I
was greeted by a MODULE MAP and a 7323 byte absolute binary file!

* U

* E

LOAD MAP

TRANSFER ADDRESS: 01
LOW LIMIT: 025562
HIGH LIMIT: 037460
**
MODULE  FPMP11
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<. ABS.>00  00
<  >025562  000640
$ERR026364
$ERRA   026374
$ERVEC  026414
$ICI025570
$ICO026074
$OCI025562
$OCO026066
$POLSH  026360
$V20A   026360
**
MODULE  CHAR
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >026422  000246
CHAR026422
**
MODULE  CHRTAB
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >026670  000606
CHRTAB  026670
**
MODULE  COMPAR
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >027476  000444
COMPAR  027476
**
MODULE  EXPLOD
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >030142  000330
EXPLOD  030142
EXPREP  030260
EXPX030266
EXPY030270
**
MODULE  GRAVTY
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >030472  000450
GRAVTY  030472
**
MODULE  MULPLY
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >031142  000304
MULPLY  031142
**
MODULE  PARM
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >031446  001214
PARM031446
**
MODULE  PWRUP
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >032662  000106
**
MODULE  RESET
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >032770  000206
CENTER  04
ORBIT   000400
RESET   032770
RES01   033156
**
MODULE  RKT1
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >033176  000160
RKT1033176
**
MODULE  RKT2
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >033356  000142
RKT2033356
**
MODULE  SCORE
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >033520  000266
SCORE   033520
**
MODULE  SINCOS
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >034006  000462
SINCOS  034006
**
MODULE  SLINE
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >034470  000114
SLINE   034470
**
MODULE  SPCWAR
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >034604  000232
ADBR176772
ADCS176770
AMMO035022
ANGH1   034760
ANGH2   035006
ANGL1   034756
ANGL2   035004
ANGMID  000702
DAC0176750
DAC1176752
DAC2176754
FIRE001440
FLAG1   034736
FLAG2   034764
GAME1   035026
GAME2   035030
GRVFLG  035032
HIT1035010
HIT2035012
MASK002100
PTREP   035034
RKTSIZ  007000
SHOTS1  035014
SHOTS2  035016
SPCRST  034624
SPCWAR  034604
SUNSZ   004000
TSPEED  035024
WIN 035020
XDISP1  034754
XDISP2  035002
XSIZE1  034746
XSIZE2  034774
XVELH1  034752
XVELH2  035000
XVELL1  034750
XVELL2  034776
YDISP1  034744
YDISP2  034772
YSIZE1  034734
YSIZE2  034762
YVELH1  034742
YVELH2  034770
YVELL1  034740
YVELL2  034766
**
MODULE  SUN
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >035036  000304
SUN 035036
**
MODULE  UPDAT1
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  >035342  000356
UPDAT1  035342
**
MODULE  UPDAT2
SECTION ENTRY   ADDRESS SIZE
<  > 

SPACE WAR for PDP-11 - link issues

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

So after some intensive transcribing work I finally got all files into
source files ready for assembling using PAL11-S.

Assembling under PAL11-S rooted out a bunch of errors and then when side by
side comparing the output listing with the PDF I found a bunch of more
errors.

The next step involved linking and during the first run a number of errors
surfaced again.

On the last run I only had two undefined: $ICO and $ICI. It makes sense
since these two are part of the FPMP-11 package and used for number
conversion. However adding the FPMP-11 object as an extra input in the link
does not resolve these two undefined symbols.

Does anyone have a clue on how to get a proper link with FPMP-11 for these
two symbols?

Here is the repo with PDF files, source PAL files, LST files and OBJ files
as generated by PAL11-S:

https://github.com/MattisLind/SPACEWAR

/Mattis

OCR old software listing.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Finally I got hold of the sources for the PDP-11 SPACE WAR that was
submitted to DECUS by Bill Seiler.

The format is scans of the PAL-11S listing output. It is easy to crop the
image to only contain actual source. Then running OCR on it. Tried a few
online versions and tesseract.

The problem is that the paper that the listing is printed on has lines.
Very black lines. It makes the OCR go completely crazy. Source lines
without black lines OCR ok. The others do not. The files need massive
amount of manual intervention.

Does anyone have an idea how to process files like this?

A good way to remove the black lines?

There are only 19 source files with three or four pages each so I don't
think it makes sense to try to train tesseract to do it (training tesseract
seems to be a huge undertaking).

https://i.imgur.com/dvY973s.png

/Mattis

Re: Which DEC machine made use of th pre Flip-Chip board?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den fre 21 dec. 2018 kl 12:03 skrev Rod Smallwood via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> It could be a prototype that never made it to production, internal
> automated test gear or a bespoke job.
>

Do you know or just guessing? Why would it be some kind of test gear with a
AR, MQ, and MB designation?

I searched a bit more and the PDP-6 has exactly AR, MQ and MB registers. My
guess it comes from a PDP-6 since it was not used in the PDP-1, PDP-4 and
PDP-5 from looking in the maintenance manuals.. Then I found this manual:

http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/dec/pdp6/F-67_circuitInstr_May66.pdf

Which confirms that is from a PDP-6. Page 3-13. It also makes sense since
one of the other boards from the same seller has a tag on it which indicate
PDP-6.

Case closed..


>
> Rod
>
>
> On 21/12/2018 10:49, Mattis Lind via cctalk wrote:
> > There is an auction for some kind of early DEC module. It appears to be a
> > bit slice of MB, AR and MQ. There is also a signature by Gordon Bell on
> the
> > board.
> >
> > But I cannot figure out which early machine it comes from.
> >
> >
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-DEC-6205-Arithmetic-Registers-Circuit-Board-for-Vintage-Mainframe/264093791320?hash=item3d7d377458:g:U2AAAOSwpTBcGULN
> >
> > The same seller has several other pre Flip-Chip modules like 4706
> Teletype
> > Receiver. If I read correctly the transistors are dated 1963-1964.
> >
> >
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-DEC-4706C-8-Bit-Teletype-Receiver-Circuit-Board-for-Vintage-Mainframe/323607301613?hash=item4b587f8ded:g:AMcAAOSwXF5cGUH9
>
> --
>
>
>

Which DEC machine made use of th pre Flip-Chip board?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

There is an auction for some kind of early DEC module. It appears to be a
bit slice of MB, AR and MQ. There is also a signature by Gordon Bell on the
board.

But I cannot figure out which early machine it comes from.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-DEC-6205-Arithmetic-Registers-Circuit-Board-for-Vintage-Mainframe/264093791320?hash=item3d7d377458:g:U2AAAOSwpTBcGULN

The same seller has several other pre Flip-Chip modules like 4706 Teletype
Receiver. If I read correctly the transistors are dated 1963-1964.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-DEC-4706C-8-Bit-Teletype-Receiver-Circuit-Board-for-Vintage-Mainframe/323607301613?hash=item4b587f8ded:g:AMcAAOSwXF5cGUH9

Re: GCC for pdp11

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Hello Paul!

When I read this once upon during the summer I saw that the problems I once
had reported was solved and it was great news. Really thankful that you did
so much work with this!

However I know tried to turn on optimizations and then it fails in a
strange way.

If you have some spare time maybe you could check why it fails on when
11/10 but not when set to 11/40. And it only fails for even powers of two
above 16. It is the if that fails so if I remove that one it works.

The bug report is https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=88435

/Mattis

Den lör 14 juli 2018 kl 19:51 skrev Paul Koning via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

>
>
> > On Jul 14, 2018, at 9:46 AM, David Bridgham via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >
> > Hey, glad to hear of some improvement on GCC for the PDP-11.  Last
> > spring I ended up side-tracked on the QSIC project and working more on
> > FPGA issues than writing PDP-11 code but that's going to change here at
> > some point.  I still want to put a soft PDP-11 into the FPGA as an I/O
> > controller and will need to be writing code for it.
> >
> > For the moment, I'm off at my summer job in Alaska but when I get home
> > this fall, it's back to working away on the QSIC and maybe my PDP-10
> > project where I'm thinking I may also use a soft PDP-11 as an I/O
> > processor.  Anyway, I'll grab up the new GCC and see if my issues with
> > the 'volatile' keyword are still there.
>
> I didn't directly address anything like that, but it may well be that
> things are better.  "Volatile" is a very tricky area.  There is detailed
> discussion in the GCC manual about when volatile objects are accessed.  You
> may want to review that.  Sometimes the rules are not precisely what you
> might expect.
>
> paul
>
>

Re: CDC floppy disks on Ebay.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

söndag 9 december 2018 skrev Warner Losh :

>
>
> On Sun, Dec 9, 2018 at 2:41 PM Mattis Lind via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
>> Don't know if this worth saving. https://www.ebay.com/itm/283294561797
>>
>> 8 inch CDC disks from 1982. Maybe something interesting?
>>
>
> Like US launch codes? :) Doesn't the military still use 8" floppies for
> some operational systems they don't want to replace?
>

Yes. Maybe it is just crap. Sorry for wasting bandwidth.


>
> Warner
>

CDC floppy disks on Ebay.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Don't know if this worth saving. https://www.ebay.com/itm/283294561797

8 inch CDC disks from 1982. Maybe something interesting?

Re: DECUS PDP-11 SPACE WAR?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den fre 7 dec. 2018 kl 23:04 skrev Al Kossow via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

>
>
> On 12/7/18 1:25 PM, Mattis Lind via cctalk wrote:
> > Anyone has old DECUS distributions?
>
> For all intents and purposes, no
>
> DECUS threw them out.
>

Sad.

>
> About the only thing that survives are the titles that
> were included on some of the SIG tapes.
>
> Working on gathering what parts still survive in individual
> collections would be a good thing, but I'm not holding my
> breath for it to happen.
>

I will check the labels of all the RL01, RL02, RK05 and RK07 packs I have
to see if there happens to be any DECUS  material on them.

However I found one Bill Seiler in Santa Cruz that is very likely to be the
very Bill Seiler that wrote the original SPACE WAR for PDP-11. Since he at
least had the source in 2006 it might be so that he still has it?

DECUS PDP-11 SPACE WAR?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Anyone has old DECUS distributions? I am looking for the PDP-11 SPACE WAR
program. It is supposed to be 11-192, written by William (Bill) Seilier and
Lawrence (Larry) Bryant in 1974.

https://i.imgur.com/rjaWX4X.png

It is a space war like program for the PDP-11/10 with AA11 and AD01.

Much later Bill rewrote it in C for the MSP430:

http://processors.wiki.ti.com/images/tmp/f1276339401-2015330541.html
https://github.com/dlitz/openmsp430/blob/master/fpga/actel_m1a3pl_dev_kit/software/spacewar/main.c

But where is the original PAL-11 source? Anyone?

Re: Removing PVA from a CRT

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

>
> The heat pads are worth a shot if they can maintain temp long enough to do
> the job, though you'll be up against quite a bit of thermal mass with that
> thick glass. The old trick that people are still using today with vintage
> 21" CRT's is to put them in a kiddie pool outside and let the sun warm the
> water. You don't want to start too hot for risk of cracking the glass.
> *Glances out window* I can tell you that trick wouldn't work here today,
> nor for 6 more months.
>
> If you have a way of ensuring the optically clear adhesive sheet bonds
> evenly and won't yellow, I don't see why that wouldn't work. I recall
> someone did do the foam tape/packing tape operation and then DID fill the
> void with a PVA type liquid material. Risky to ensure all the air bubbles
> made their way out, for sure. -C
>
>
>

I did some tiny bit of research into this when I dealt with my HP2640 B and
a VR201. The former was in a condition where just a tiny fraction in the
middle of the screen attached to the glass so it almost fell of by itself.
With the VR201 the story was a bit different. I didn't want to heat it up
like most people seems to be doing when looking at the Youtube clips. I
checked the solubility of the PVA (PVAc really, PVA is something different)
in water and nothing happened at all. I tried to heat the water a bit but
no change. I am not sure how come people are successful with this method.
But I investigated PVAc a bit and found out that it is soluble in various
esters. I bought a bottle of Butylacetate and indeed it made it dissolve
quite well. Butylacetate is mostly used as as solvent for polyester paints,
and I think it is an ingredient in what women use for removing nail polish
(when not using acetone). BTW Acetone is also dissolving PVAc very well but
the boiling temperature is much lower. As far as I can understand
Butylacetate is not very harmful to deal with either.

What I did wash to inject butylacetate using a long needle syringe in
between the front glass and the CRT and let it rest for a few days. I put
some plastic wrap around to contain the butylacetate a bit more and then I
repeated it a couple of times until the front glass simply fell off.

This is the method I will use in future with my other screens that have the
same problem (HP2645, HP9835, HP9845, (Possibly also the Tektronix 4016
depending on the type of front glass used).

/Mattis

Re: Documation TM200 card reader - pinch roller restoration

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den tis 16 okt. 2018 kl 11:52 skrev Guy Dunphy via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> Previously: Manual for Documation TM200 punched card reader
>
> Restoration of the mechanics of my TM200 punch card reader progresses.
> There's a writeup here:
> http://everist.org/NobLog/20180922_data_in_holes.htm#tm200
>
> Currently I'm machining a mold to cast new pinch rollers - and there's the
> rub (ok kill me.)
> The old rubber rollers were decayed to gunk, so there's no chance of
> measuring their original dimensions.
> From the mechanics, if they were just touching the steel capstan rollers
> they'd have been 27.1 mm Dia.
> The mechanics has no adjustment or spring tension on the pinch roller
> positions. Their shafts are in fixed
> position, so all the spring is in the rubber of the rollers.
>

My hardened rubber rollers in my M200 measure 26.8 mm.

/Mattis

Re: Source code listings from REDAC PDP-based PCB layout system.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den tis 2 okt. 2018 kl 00:27 skrev Al Kossow via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> I'm interested.
> PDP-15 software in any form is pretty rare
>
>
>
Good that we have a taker. I have no such scanner available that could
possible scan these in a good way.

I will retrieve them and pack them and get back when we get close to
shipping.

/Mattis

PDP-15 documentation

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I have now finally concluded the PDP-15 documentation scanning project.

Many year ago my father saved a big lot of PDP-15 documentation that was
thrown out from Philips in Stockholm. I have over the years scanned
documents on request which has ended up at bitsavers. Some docuements were
already present on bitsavers. Now I took a stab and finalised this project.
All the remaining PDP-15 has now been scanned and I put them here:

http://www.datormuseum.se/documentation-software/pdp-15-documentation

Many documents already has made its way to bitsavers but many remains.

There are DOS-15, XVM/DOS  and various general documents such as operators
guide, course handouts etc.

The only remaining document to scan is the RSX PLUS III reference manual
which will be tricky to scan without damage it.

Happy reading!

Source code listings from REDAC PDP-based PCB layout system.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I have a set of around 5 to 8 binders with printed source code listings
from a PDP-15 system. The listings appear to be from a REDAC SOFTWARE
LIMITED PCB CAD system. The name of the software seems to be REDAL 3 MARK
7. There are dates on the listings in the range 74 and 75.

https://i.imgur.com/m1ji9uR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/SzaiH78.jpg

First of all does anyone has more info on the REDAL software from REDAC?

Then secondly is there anyone interested in these binders with listings? I
think the quality of printout is good enough to do OCR on.

Note that there is no guarantee that these are the complete set of binders
with listings.

/Mattis

RA60 head #4

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I have what I believe is an unused RA60 head #4. At least the surface looks
very clean.

Someone has written "RA60 04" on the side of the box. On the top there is
handwritten 70-18661-04.

https://i.imgur.com/RNK0FOTl.jpg

I could use a RL02 or RL01 head as a trade if someone is interested.

/Mattis

IBM 3270 MCA card available

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I have some kind of IBM 3270 MCA board available for the cost of shipping
from Sweden. IBM P/N 26F0191. Have no way of testing it, but it was pulled
from an otherwise working machine.

https://i.imgur.com/jBBDrcnl.jpg

/Mattis

Re: DEC H744 +5 supply

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

The H744 is a buck converter. You can read about buck converters here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_converter

You have a good description there.

Den fre 21 sep. 2018 kl 22:03 skrev Noel Chiappa via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> Oh, one thing I forgot to include:
>
> > a lot of the incoming power in that 30V AC has to be thrown away, in
> > producing +5V.
>
> So, if my understanding is correct, the 'switching' H744 really isn't much
> better than a classic linear supply. It still wastes a very large amount of
> the input power, and it still has a massively heavy transformer in it. Yes?
>
> So I wonder what exactly the advantage was in going to the switching
> approach?
> Yes, it keeps the output voltage steadier then a pure linear supply could -
> but I'll bet there are analog approaches that can do the same. (They'd need
> something that can produce a steady reference voltage, but the switching
> approach needs, and has, the same thing.) Maybe the main output transistors
> are happier being full-on or full-off, or something like that?
>
> Noel
>

Re: ISO 70's and 80's coax and twinax terminal docs/brochures

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den ons 19 sep. 2018 kl 18:15 skrev Al Kossow via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> I've started to more aggressively archive material on old IBM and
> compatible coax and twinax
> terminals and was wondering if anyone has documentation scanned or
> squirreled away that I don't
> already have on bitsavers. Most of these have been scrapped by now, and
> surviving keyboards for them
> are going for the high hundreds of dollars now, even from companies like
> Telex or Memorex.
> I started surveying what we have in the CHM collection and about half of
> them have no keyboards :-(
> This is a drag.
>
> Terminals from the PC era forward seem to be in a little better state
> since many appear to have adopted
> some flavor of 5 pin DIN interface.
>
> There are some new pictures of a few Telex coax terminals up now under
> http://bitsavers.org/pdf/telex/terminal
> and I started trying to restore a 276-12 with integrated establishment
> controller
> that I'm going to have to find a keyboard for. Maybe Cindy knows of
> someone who
> has some more old Telex Microswitch keyboards.
>
>
>
I have a set of four binders of technical documentation for the Alfaskop
4110 series. Very often used with IBM.
An overview of the Alfaskop 4110 can be found here:
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/datapro/programmable_terminals/Datapro_C21_Ericsson.pdf
Is more in-depth tech info for the 4110 series of interest?

BTW. The only thing I have from a Alfaskop 41xx terminal IS the keyboard.
Remains to find the rest..

/Mattis

Re: Dilog DQ604 RL01 / RL02 emulation on ST506/ST412 disk.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

>
> It seems to be well known that the number of each size you get in the
> SF-7000 package is, umm, random...  so a guy needs to get several packages
> and hope for plenty of white ones.
>

The box is marked "Made in Japan" so I started to check for other sources.
Then I found "Nisshinbo Mobilon Band". They look very much like the
plastibands.

https://www.nisshinbo-textile.co.jp/english/goodidea/mobilon_band.html
https://uk.misumi-ec.com/vona2/detail/223000860382/

Haven't ordered any yet.




>
> Thanks again,
>
> Chris
> --
> Chris Elmquist
>

/Mattis

Re: Dilog DQ604 RL01 / RL02 emulation on ST506/ST412 disk.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den tis 28 aug. 2018 kl 19:50 skrev Chris Elmquist :

> On Tuesday (08/28/2018 at 11:25AM +0200), Mattis Lind via cctalk wrote:
> > Den sön 26 aug. 2018 kl 09:26 skrev Paul Birkel via cctalk <
> > cctalk@classiccmp.org>:
> >
> > > Which length band did you find worked best as a replacement?
> > >
> >
> > I used the white three inch plastiband. Rik Bos told me that the best way
> > is to heat the old band slightly. I used a SMD desoldering air gun which
> I
> > set to 100 degrees centigrade and then blowed heat air onto the tape from
> > some distance until it changed from a white matte surface into a darker
> > brown surface.
>
> Hmm.  3" plastiband seem to be rare or my Google-foo is pretty bad.
>
> Do you have a source for these?
>
> I have found only 2-1/8", 4-1/4" and 6" so far.
>

The SF-7000 contain a number of different sizes. 1 1/2 inch, 2 1/8 inch, 3
5/8, 4 1/4 inch and 6 inch

http://www.officedirectsupply.com/sf7000_baumgartens_plastiband_77071_prd1.htm

On the other hand I haven't found a source for the 6 inch variant (that
actually could deliver them) other than in the mixed package.

/Mattis


>
> Tack.
> --
> Chris Elmquist
>

Re: Dilog DQ604 RL01 / RL02 emulation on ST506/ST412 disk.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Den sön 26 aug. 2018 kl 09:26 skrev Paul Birkel via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> Which length band did you find worked best as a replacement?
>

I used the white three inch plastiband. Rik Bos told me that the best way
is to heat the old band slightly. I used a SMD desoldering air gun which I
set to 100 degrees centigrade and then blowed heat air onto the tape from
some distance until it changed from a white matte surface into a darker
brown surface.

Then it easily came of the tape without damaging the tape. There were some
kind of residue left which I used isopropyl alcohol to remove. I also added
some lubricant to the tape rollers. This far I have recovered ten tapes
successfully. Two tapes only read 128 blocks.

I used RT11 to recover the tapes but it seems that the /IGNORE option
doesn't skip bad blocks at all. I had the hope that COPY/DEV/FILE/IGMORE
DD0: TU58.DSK would skip the bad blocks. But I might be misunderstanding
the syntax?

I will try to use DUP directly and see if that makes any difference.
Something like
* TU58.DSK/F=DD0:/I/J

But according to the manual it just skip the bad block which is annoying
since then all remaining blocks is shifted block number wise. Probably have
to manually recreate the structure using dd?

/Mattis




>
> -Original Message-
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Mattis
> Lind via cctalk
> Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2018 2:50 AM
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts; Al Kossow
> Subject: Dilog DQ604 RL01 / RL02 emulation on ST506/ST412 disk.
>
> I unearthed some old TU58 tapes that luckily was readable (after carefully
> replacing the tension band)
>
> -
>
>

Scans of VT05, RK05 and PC04 IPB, TC11 Formatter doc and DC013 chip doc

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I scanned some more documents:

The version of the TC11 formatter manual online is not matching the binary
that is available. This one is a later version which is a better match.

http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC/DEC-11-YPTC-D_TC11_DECTAPE_FORMATTER.pdf

I found three IPBs. I couldn't find them directly on bisavers:

http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC/DEC-PC04-IPB-1.pdf
http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC/DEC-VT05-IPB-1.pdf
http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC/DEC-RK05-IPB-1.pdf

Finally I found a copy from a book that is about the DC013 chip - not the
best copy unfortunately. But I haven't found anything like this online.

http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC/DC013.pdf

/Mattis

Dilog DQ604 RL01 / RL02 emulation on ST506/ST412 disk.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I unearthed some old TU58 tapes that luckily was readable (after carefully
replacing the tension band)

It resulted in two RT11 V4 images with two versions of the formatter
program. One is bootable and the other not.

http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/Dilog/DQ604/sq604c.dsk
http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/Dilog/DQ604/sq604d.dsk

I tried to run the formatter program in Simh:

.run sq604C.sav


TEST AND FORMAT DQ604 DISK SYSTEM (REV C.)


DRIVE FORMATS AS RL01 UNIT (5.24 MB)

SWITCH 3 CLOSED ENABLES BOOTSTRAP

THERE ARE 17 PHYSICAL SECTORS PER TRACK

(2) ALTERNATE CYLINDERS MAY BE ASSIGNED PER UNIT

THE INTERLACE FACTORS ARE TWO OR THREE TO ONE


DATA BUFFER ERROR



USE PROCEED (P) TO REPEAT TEST


HALT instruction, PC: 006312 (BR 6202)



.RUN SQ604D


TEST AND FORMAT DQ604 DISK SYSTEM (REV C.)


DRIVE FORMATS AS RL02 UNIT (10.48 MB)

SWITCH 3 CLOSED ENABLES BOOTSTRAP

THERE ARE 17 PHYSICAL SECTORS PER TRACK

(4) ALTERNATE CYLINDERS MAY BE ASSIGNED PER UNIT

THE INTERLACE FACTORS ARE TWO OR THREE TO ONE


DATA BUFFER ERROR



USE PROCEED (P) TO REPEAT TEST


HALT instruction, PC: 006312 (BR 6202)


So it appears to be runnable.

I also found the manual for the board and scanned it:

http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/Dilog/DQ604/DQ604.pdf

Now the next step is to see if this can make the DQ604 board I have working
with David Gessweins MFM emulator.

General Electric Terminet 30 manuals?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Continuing this thread with requests for heavy printers and the like. Is
there anyone that has manuals for the GE Terminet 30?

https://i.imgur.com/8Q0Mf2d.jpg

/Mattis

Oliverti Te300 teleprinter manuals?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Does anyone have any type of manuals for the Olivetti Te300 teleprinters?

Preferebly maintenance manuals or similar.

https://vads.ac.uk/diad/bres/pub/COID/231/32.jpg

Re: RK05 spindle pulleys - trade 50Hz vs 60Hz?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

2018-07-26 6:21 GMT+02:00 Paul Anderson via cctalk :

> I can't find my IPB, but the maintenance manual shows there were both 50
> and 60 hz  versions made.
>
> I think I've shipped them overseas, but never modified them. I did ship a
> lot of RX02 drives overseas, and to properly convert them the pulleys,
> belts, and wiring harness had to be swapped. We were always on the lookout
> for parts. I still have a few different wiring harnesses around here
> somewhere.
>
> BA11-K conversions were also common. I still have interesting stories and
> parts about them.
>
> What gets me with the RK05 is how you can swap pulleys without swapping
> belts. A few products had pulleys with two grooves, one for 50, the other
> for 60. But you still needed a different belt.
>

You need to move the motor to a new position in the RK05. The drive is
already prepared for all this. It is just the pulley, moving the motor and
the 220VAC jumper that is needed.

/Mattis


>
> Paul
>
> On Wed, Jul 25, 2018 at 10:32 PM, Tony Duell via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> > > There are, however, DEC products other than the RK05 which had
> different
> > > transformers for 50 Hz and 60 Hz. For example, the H771 power supply
> used
> > > in the RX01 and RX02. There were three H771 models, The H771A for
> 90-132
> > > VAC 60 Hz, The H771C for 90-132 VAC 50 Hz, and the H771D for 180-264
> VAC
> > 50
> > > Hz. The H771A uses a transformer rated for 60 Hz. The H771C and H771D
> > both
> > > use the same 50 Hz rated transformer, with different wiring. The H771C
> > and
> > > H771D also require one of two different wiring harnesses to cover the
> > > entire mains voltage range, e.g., 90-120 VAC vs 100-132 VAC for the
> > H771C,
> > > or twice those voltages for the H771D.
> >
> > IIRC that's a ferroresonant transformer (with a capacitor to resonate one
> > of the
> > windings to a harmonic of the power line frequency), so it's not
> > surprising it has
> > to be changed for 50Hz or 60Hz input.
> >
> > -tony
> >
>

Re: DEC power connectors (UNIBUS PDP-11s, mostly)

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

> They are 'Commercial Mate-n-Lok', now made by TE Connectivity, who bought
> AMP.
> Here are the current part numbers:
>
>


VAX (VAX-11/750 specifically) but I assume many DEC machine of the same
vintage uses Universal Mate-N-Lok series.

This what I bought a couple of years ago to have handy when working with
various PSUs etc:

1-480710-0  15 position plug housing
1-480708-0  12 position plug housing
1-480704-09 position plug housing
1-480704-06 position plug housing
1-480763-05 position plug housing
1-480702-04 position plug housing
1-480700-03 position plug housing
1-480698-02 position plug housing
350536-1Female socket 14-20 AWG cut-strip
350218-1Male socket 14-20 AWG cut-strip

Unfortunately the mate-n-lok which has 8 position and is used for current
loop connectors and H74x plug regulator does not seems to be available
anymore. But it would be nice to be corrected here.

It uses the same sockets as the commercial mate-n-lok.

/Mattis

Re: Scanned a few DEC manuals.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Two more drawings:

http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC-11-HLCA-D_LC11_DECwriter_system_engieering_drawings_MISSING_ONE_PAGE.pdf

http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC-11-HLCA-D_LC11_DECwriter_system_manual.pdf

The latter is very similar to  the HLCB version that already is available
at bitsavers.



2018-07-25 9:07 GMT+02:00 Mattis Lind :

> http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC-
> MS11-HMSB-D_PDP11_45_MS11_semiconductor_memory_systems_
> maintenance_manual.pdf
>
> The MS11 main manual above seems to be a later version than the one
> already available
>
> http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC-11-
> H40SA-A-D_PDP-11_40_System_manual.pdf
>
> Earlier version then the one I found on bitsavers.
>
> http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC-11-
> HRJSA-B-D_RJS04_RJS03_fixed-head_disk_system_maintenance_manual.pdf
>
> Didn't find much at all mentioning RJS04/03.
>

Re: ABLE, other non DEC boards.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

>
> While looking for the ABLE (ACT) board that Mattis was talking about (and I
> found it for a list member who has first dibs on it) I came across:
>
>
>
It is likely that the one that wanted the Cache/45 board also wants the
double dual board that goes into slot 26 AB and 27 AB. I cannot tell for
sure if it is necessary or not but it at least sits in the 11/45 machine
here. So maybe you should check for that as well. Two dual boards bolted
together in one unit. One 20 pin connector and one 10 pin connector.

https://i.imgur.com/4TEZoiO.jpg

The board to the left with white handles.

/Mattis

Re: Strange third party board in PDP-11/45

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

> > The sandwiched dual boards are sitting in 27 / 26 AB. The board in
> 27AB
> > was empty (quick glance), while the board in 26AB has a few TTL chips
> > on it. Slot 26AB is the Unibus A slot, Slot 27 AB should be a
> > terminator on Unibus B.
>
> I'm more interested in _what_ the two boards are doing! :-)
>
>
I will take a picture of the boards in more detail so we can figure out
what they are doing later on.



> It seems they must be jumpering UNIBUS A and UNIBUS B together. (Which I
> didn't expect, but maybe... will have to ponder.)
>
> As to what _else_ it is doing, and why it has the cable to the main
> card... I
> think that it must intercept MSYN from the processor and only let it pass
> if
> there's no hit in the cache.
>
> (To explain why it would need to do that... normally with the MS11,
> there's a
> static partitioning between FastBus memory and UNIBUS A memory. So when the
> CPU goes to do a memory cycle, it can put the address out on both the
> UNIBUS
> and FastBus, with the certainty that it will only get a reply on one. But
> with
> the cache, if there's a hit, it would in theory get a reply on both, which
> might confuse it. Or if it takes the cache copy, and terminates the UNIBUS
> cycle, that might confuse the memory.)
>
> Or maybe I'm confused, because now that I think about it, UNIBUS A goes
> straight from the CPU to the UNIBUS A out slot, so the Able board couldn't
> intercept MSYN? I guess I need to understand the fine details of the
> UNIBUS A
> and B stuff, maybe it will make sense at that point.
>
> Oh, wait a moment: slot 26 is UNIBUS A out, slot 27 is 'UNIBUS B in', and
> slot
> 28 is UNIBUS B 'termination'. (27 is 'in' because when the M9200 is
> installed
> in 26/27 to join the two UNIBI together, obviously one has to connect an
> 'out'
> to an 'in'... and then 28 is not 'UNIBUS B termination', it's 'UNIBUS out'
> to
> the rest of the system.
>
> OK, so that works - MSYN coming out of slot 26 is intercepted by the dual
> double-card, and is only allowed to pass on cache miss. Yeah, that sounds
> like
> it should work.
>

I am not sure I follow you entirely. My understanding is that slot 1AB and
slot 26 AB is tied to each other. So if there would be no expansion unibus
there should be a M930 in each of these slots. The same goes for slots 27AB
and 28AB. It corresponds with what I see on page 111 in
http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/dec/pdp11/1145/1145_System_Engineering_Drawings_Jun74.pdf
if I am not missing something.

I cannot see how a device in slot 26AB or 27AB would be able to intercept
MSYN here. What it could do though is to force some signals active (low).



>
> > The hex ABLE/ ACT board sits in slot 21 which is the memory
> controller
> > board for the MS11.
>
> One of two; the other is slot 16.
>
>
> > From: Paul Birkel
>
> > I wonder whether this CACHE/45 can coexist with MS11 memory on the
> > Fastbus itself
>
> According to that marketing thing you found, "User may optimize hit ratio
> by
> upper/lower limit switch settings", so one would have to configure the
> Cache/45 to not cache the block that the 'other' MS11 controller thinks it
> owns... otherwise both might respond to requests for addresses in that
> range :-)
>
> Noel
>

Scanned a few DEC manuals.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC-MS11-HMSB-D_PDP11_45_MS11_semiconductor_memory_systems_maintenance_manual.pdf

The MS11 main manual above seems to be a later version than the one already
available

http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC-11-H40SA-A-D_PDP-11_40_System_manual.pdf

Earlier version then the one I found on bitsavers.

http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/DEC-11-HRJSA-B-D_RJS04_RJS03_fixed-head_disk_system_maintenance_manual.pdf

Didn't find much at all mentioning RJS04/03.

RK05 spindle pulleys - trade 50Hz vs 60Hz?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Hello!

I have two RK05J-AA as part of a system that I guess has been imported used
form the US. A DC-10 simulator.

The only difference is the pulley, the motor position and a 230 / 115 V
jumper inside.

Is there anyone in 60Hz land that has the opposite problem and want to
trade two spindle pulleys?

The good thing for me that I would guess that it possible to use a lathe to
get the diameter down to the correct 50Hz diameter. On the other hand going
from 50Hz to 60 Hz is tougher...

Then there is a PC05 that has the wrong number of grooves on the motor
pulley. Apparently it should be 16 instead of 20.

Now in 50Hz land the only difference is that the punch would be slower than
it should be. Using a 50Hz punch in 60Hz area might get you into problems,
so maybe there is someone here as well that want to do a trade?

/Mattis

Re: Strange third party board in PDP-11/45

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

>
>
> Studying the MS11 Maint Manual, the MS11 controller has access to the full
> address and data from both the CPU (FastBus) and UNIBUS B. (The FastBus
> actually has two uni-directional data busses; in and out.) So all that
> info,
> this hypothetical cache board can get from the slot it is plugged into
> (assuming the cache is plugged into one of the controller slots), over its
> connector pins.
>
> The connectors on the back of the card, and two small boards, must be for
> listening to UNIBUS A (in configurations in which the two UNIBI aren't
> joined
> together)? (I'm too lazy to check the slot numbers are see what they
> actually
> are.)
>
> And there is indeed a signal which the MS11 uses to tell the CPU it has the
> location the CPU is asking for, so it's theoretically possible to build a
> cache
> card that plugs into a FastBus slot.
>

Here is how it is connected: https://i.imgur.com/4TEZoiO.jpg

The sandwiched dual boards are i sitting in 27 / 26 AB. The board in 27AB
was empty (quick glance), while the board in 26AB has a few TTL chips on it.
 Slot 26AB is the Unibus A slot, Slot 27 AB should be a terminator on
Unibus B. (maybe there were terminating resistors on the second board.
Didn't check in detail) Slot 28AB is Unibus B and goes to the DD11-C and
the RK11-D backplanes.

The hex ABLE/ ACT board sits in slot 21 which is the memory controller
board for the MS11.

It very much looks like it is a Cache board. But why have some one written
"Not used" (Används ej) on it? I'll hope I find the documentation for it!

/Mattis


>
>  Noel
>
>

Strange third party board in PDP-11/45

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

söndag 22 juli 2018 skrev Paul Birkel :

> 26 bits (or 13 bits) doesn't make any sense on a 16-bit machine; makes
> more sense as a high-speed I/O buffer.


One can note that it is actually two different types of 1k chips. 16 chips
are 94L415 and 10 chips are 93415. As far as I understand the L is the
slower variant.

This could mean that 16 bit data is in the L chips while the faster chips
are used for a 10 bit cache tag. Maybe 8 address bits plus some valid bit
and possibly a dirty bit?

The switch is marked ON/OFF which could simply cache on/off. The
handwritten label on the board says that it is not in use and should sit in
slot 21.

And of course those two I/O connectors don't belong on a cache.


Those IO connectors are connected to two double height boards in 26 /27 AB.
They are also made by ACT and contain a few TTL chips.

So it pulls out some signals out of both Unibuses but 20 + 10 signals at
most it not much of a complete bus so I wonder what kind of signals go
there.


> While odd to use slot 21 (Fastbus) for something other than memory I don't
> know why a fast memory-mapped I/O channel couldn't go there.
> Also note all of the signals employed on tabs C-D-E-F?
> It may not even employ the Fastbus; just talk to Unibus B.
> Unfortunately there's not much documentation for the MS11.
> It seems likely that A-B isn't anything like the usual Unibus signals, and
> who knows where the Fastbus signals are routed.
> On my backplane D-E are essentially unused whereas A-B-F are busiest.
>
> I see the marking "copyrighted 1976", which is rather earlier than the ACT
> / ABLE documentation online.
>
> From Bitsavers see the ABLE documents for the SCAT/45:
> Able_Computer_Product_Summary.pdf - page 3
> Able_Computer_Product_Brochures_1982.pdf - pages 16-17
>
> The PN 10003 doesn't seem to match anything documented from ACT, however
> it's consistent with them.
> The original QBus Univerter is PN 10001, and is dated 1976.


There are some documentation to get with the machine so the manual for the
board might turn up.


>
> What are the pair of DIP24 ICs on the lower-left?


Fairchild 9308 Dual 4 bit latches.


>
> -Original Message-
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Paul
> Anderson via cctalk
> Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2018 6:54 PM
> To: Mattis Lind; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> Subject: Re: Strange third party board in PDP-11/45
>
> I think it's Applied Computer  Technologies, and I think they made cache
> and several other options. They were popular back in the day. I have a
> bunch of their boards here.
>
> Paul
>
> On Sat, Jul 21, 2018 at 1:37 PM, Mattis Lind via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> > This board was sitting in slot 21 of the backplane in a 11/45
> >
> > https://i.imgur.com/ZYWZQCo.jpg
> >
> > What kind of board is this?
> >
> > It has 26 bipolar RAMS. Fairchild 93415 1kbit SRAM.
> >
> > The manufacturer might be ACT whatever that is.
> >
> > My guess is that it is some kind of cache board? It is connected to both
> > unibuses in the machine.
> >
> > Better ideas? Documentation?
> >
> > /Mattis
> >
>
>

Strange third party board in PDP-11/45

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

This board was sitting in slot 21 of the backplane in a 11/45

https://i.imgur.com/ZYWZQCo.jpg

What kind of board is this?

It has 26 bipolar RAMS. Fairchild 93415 1kbit SRAM.

The manufacturer might be ACT whatever that is.

My guess is that it is some kind of cache board? It is connected to both
unibuses in the machine.

Better ideas? Documentation?

/Mattis

Re: zilog system 8000

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

>
> I seem to remember the original QIC11 standard was (or at least included) a
> 4 track version. And the later 9 track format kept those 4 tracks in the
> same
> place and put 5 more, one on each side and 3 between them if you see what
> I mean.
>
> So unless you need to read 2 tracks simultaneously (e.g. becuase it uses
> the
> encoded where a pulse on one track is a '0', a pulse on the other is a '1'
> and
> pulses on both together are a marker) you can probably get the data off
> the tape
> with a raw 4 track or 9 track drive and a custom controller.


That didn't work when AJ read my S8000 tapes at least. Some of the tracks
had to be read a few stepper motor steps off the nominal track to give a
good read.

And I did the decoding in software. No custom conroller hardware.

/Mattis

>
> -tony
>

Re: zilog system 8000

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I have one model 21 and one model 11. Finch drive and ST506 drive
respectively. Not sure about the status of disks, but I have a spare Finch
drive. I also have three install tapes. One Sadie 3.5 and two ZEUS 3.21.

When time permits I will read those. AJ Palmgren read a tape with a tar
archive I made myself on this machine many years ago.  The ouput I got from
AJ was  Saleae logic analyzer dumps. One per track read. He is using a
quite standard Wangtek 5099 drive where he is able to control the head in
more detail. Some dumps were from tracks which were spot on one of the
tracks on the tape. Others were not a full hit. I had to test all of them.

I created a small program that decoded the MFM data off the tracks. It
processed gigabytes worth of samples. Checked the CRC and wrote it to file
so I could recover the archieve.
http://www.datormuseum.se/computers/others/zilog-s8000/extract-s8000-tapes

Credits goes to AJ Palmgren for reading the tape and to David Gesswein from
whom I stole and modified the MFM decoder.

And as Al wrote:  No it is not at all QIC. The drive has four fixed tracks
and the encoding is MFM.

/Mattis

fredag 20 juli 2018 skrev Al Kossow via cctalk :

>
>
> On 7/20/18 6:20 AM, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:
>
> >> We also have some tapes, again, I don't know which ones.
>
> Be VERY careful with those if you find them. They are NOT
> QIC-compatible and the belts WILL be bad.
>
>

CDC 9762 drive, alignment disk and exerciser on Ebay.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Someone is selling a drive that was just taken out of service ! And
alignment disks and  exercisers for CDC 9762 (it doesn't look like a 9766 /
RM05 even though it says so in the listing)

Probably useful to RM02 or RM03 owners as well.

https://www.ebay.de/sch/rbembenek1/m.html?item=142830473695=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

Re: ISO: DECtape controller

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

2018-05-16 13:08 GMT+02:00 Noel Chiappa via cctalk :

> > From: Josh Dersch
>
> > the TU56 lacks the G888 flip-chips necessary to work with the TD8E; I
> > know these parts are in short supply, but in the unlikely event that
> > anyone has (a) a set of 5 G888 boards,
>
> I have this memory that someone in Scandanavia is well along with the
> process
> of creating new G888's. (If I should not have let that cat out of the bag,
> my apologies.)
>

I can jump in here since I have been  a bit involved in this. Anders (
http://www.pdp-9.net/) designed a modern replacement for the G888. I tested
it in my TC11 + TU56 and it mostly worked fine, except for in the far end
of the tape where it performed worse than an original G888. It worked fine
for booting RT-11 and XXDP but when you run the TC11 diagnostics it will
give some errors while the original is error free.

Anders is in the process of  setting up a TU56 together with a TD8E right
now to continue with this work to design a new card.

I think all this is quite official since Anders has posted this thread on
vcfed.org:
http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?63589-DEC-power-supply-725-going-hot-in-TU56H

/Mattis



> Noel
>

Re: Old core memory system.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

2018-05-05 17:20 GMT+02:00 Jon Elson <el...@pico-systems.com>:

> On 05/05/2018 04:57 AM, Mattis Lind via cctalk wrote:
>
>> Can anyone tell what kind of computer this might have been connected to?
>>
>> https://i.imgur.com/IC3AVCf.jpg
>>
>> The panel just SCREAMS military.  A lot of outfits (CDC,Burroughs, IBM,
> Honeywell) made systems for the military.  Likely, the back of that unit
> tells who made it.


I don't think it would be necessary to look at the back. The picture
matches very well with the ones in the Fabri-Tek brochure that I linked.
And then ID MS8192x26-1.9-RT make a hit in the "NSN database" to a
FABRI-TECH unit. Core memory system.

The FABRI-TEK brochure is printed sometime after 1965. And the System units
have a slightly more modern look compared to the one I linked to. I am
mostly referring to the panel meter which seems to have gone from round to
rectangular.

It can indeed have been used for some military application. Especially
since this museum have received some military aircraft items in the past.


>
>
>> It could be flight control related since it is aviation museum that
>> currently have it. But the person I have contact with don't know the
>> actual
>> source. Possibly flight simulation since the same guys do have several old
>> flight simulators.
>>
>> Simulation -- could be.  Some Honeywell gear was 24-bit.



I found one more google hit for FABRI-TEK:
http://ljkrakauer.com/LJK/60s/moby.htm  Interfacing it with a PDP-6.



>
>
> Jon
>

Old core memory system.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Can anyone tell what kind of computer this might have been connected to?

https://i.imgur.com/IC3AVCf.jpg

I googled MS8192X26-1.9-RT and found one hit:

http://www.nsn-now.com/Indexing/ViewDetail.aspx?QString=7025013480747

And then FABRI-TECH (maybe miss-spelled) gave a nice broschure:

https://archive.org/details/TNM_Fabri-Tek_Inc_-_Brochure_20170629_0325

The core memory system boxes indeed look similar.

But still no clue what kind of system this has been connected to.

What kind of system made use of 26 bits? Maybe 24 bits + check bits?

It could be flight control related since it is aviation museum that
currently have it. But the person I have contact with don't know the actual
source. Possibly flight simulation since the same guys do have several old
flight simulators.

Re: RT-11 V4 MU-BASIC help

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

> Oops! Sorry. Dropbox removed deeplinking to dropbox files and I started to
> move files to new storage solution. But many files are still on the todo
> list. I fix those files asap..
>
> I'll get back soon.
>

Fixed now (I hope).



>
> /Mattis
>
>
>>
>> thanks much,
>>--FritzM.
>>
>>
>>
>>

Re: RT-11 V4 MU-BASIC help

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

fredag 30 mars 2018 skrev Fritz Mueller via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

>
> > On Mar 29, 2018, at 9:53 PM, Mattis Lind <mattisl...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > I have imaged some RX01 and RX02 floppy disks with RT11 V3B and MU
> Basic.  http://www.datormuseum.se/documentation-software/rx01-
> and-rx02-floppy-disks <http://www.datormuseum.se/
> documentation-software/rx01-and-rx02-floppy-disks>
>
> Hi Mattis,
>
> I did find your page above while googling, but the links seem dead
> (returns a 404 page from dropbox?)


Oops! Sorry. Dropbox removed deeplinking to dropbox files and I started to
move files to new storage solution. But many files are still on the todo
list. I fix those files asap..

I'll get back soon.

/Mattis


>
> thanks much,
>--FritzM.
>
>
>
>

Re: RT-11 V4 MU-BASIC help

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

fredag 30 mars 2018 skrev Fritz Mueller via cctalk :

> Hello all,
>
> I would like to try and get MU-BASIC working on my PDP-11/45, under RT-11
> V4.  The best bits I've been able to find to work with so far are the RK05
> image here:
>
> http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/bits/DEC/pdp11/
> discimages/rk05/rt11v4-mubasicv2.rk.gz
>
> ...but I've not had much success getting this to work under simh.  Using
> the 1USER.CNF configuration file in this image, no matter how I configure
> the machine, I get either traps, halts, or stack violations when issuing
> the first command in basic.
>
> Trying to rebuild MU-BASIC using the indirect files in the image results
> in a linker barf on some undefined symbols.
>
> Has anybody else here had much luck getting MU-BASIC up and running under
> RT-11 V4?  Is there an alternate image or distribution kit somewhere that I
> could try to work with?


I have imaged some RX01 and RX02 floppy disks with RT11 V3B and MU Basic.
http://www.datormuseum.se/documentation-software/rx01-and-rx02-floppy-disks

Not tested getting them running though.

/Mattis


> thanks much,
>   --FritzM.
>
>
>

Re: LSI11 CPU Microm

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

lördag 24 mars 2018 skrev Douglas Taylor via cctalk :

> I was trying to put together a minimal PDP-11/03 using a quad width M7264
> CPU and got nothing, no ODT prompt.  I'm not sure the board is working.
>
> Searching the internet I came across this page which described a M7264 CPU
> board with a 'bad' MICROM
>
> http://www.datormuseum.se/computers/digital-equipment-corporation/qbus
>
> Quoting the page; "Using a logic analyser showed that the MICROM without
> label is not behaving well."


I guess I wrote that a couple of years ago. If I remember correctly the way
I did research into this was to attach a 40 pin DIP clip connected to my
logic snalyzer on on the various MICROM chips and there were no activity at
all when the board got out of RESET. Then I removed one chip at a time to
see if there were any difference. This particular chip made a difference.
After removing it there were busactivity.

I have not yet got around trying with -3.9V Bias chips to see if that make
the board run better.

If your board is the later E etch then it has 3.9V bias and you could
directly use chips from a KD11-HA board.


>
> Anyone know how a logic analyser would be used to determine this?  Other
> hints to debug this board?
>
> Doug


/Mattis

LSP10-NW (printer interface for KI10?)

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I have received this for a retired DEC service engineer:

https://i.imgur.com/pJkcsHe.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/zwpSbrg.jpg

According to the label it is a LSP10-NW made by DEC CSS. Previous owner
claims it is for a KI10. I don't really know.

I have no real use for it except for the flip-chips.

Anyone has a need for such a thing or just the backplane?

/Mattis

Re: UCSD p-system manuals and disks?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

So I have imaged the three disks I found using ImageDisk:
http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/TEXAS.zip

Then I scanned one of the manuals. UCSD Pascal :
http://storage.datormuseum.se/u/96935524/Datormusuem/UCSD-Pascal.pdf

The problem is that manual has text in red/brown and black. I scanned it in
colour. However the actual colour of the scan varies a bit between pages.
(Maybe because there are two sensors, one for top side and one for bottom
side.)
And the scan get very big.

Is there a way to create filter this pdf to use three colours and possibly
compress it better? What is the best way to deal with scans of documents
with coloured text. I know many DEC manuals that has coloured text as well.

/Mattis


2018-02-20 17:19 GMT+01:00 Bill Degnan <billdeg...@gmail.com>:

> These may be uncommon, given they're for the TI 350-era business computer.
> They were partially IBM clones, I am guessing the Pascal in particular
> would have been incompatible with a regular IBM of the time and these disks
> would only work on the TI's.  These disks would be greatly appreciated by
> someone with a TI 350 who had no other way to get Pascal running.
> b
>
> On Tue, Feb 20, 2018 at 11:15 AM, Mattis Lind via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
>> I received these nice binders.
>>
>> https://i.imgur.com/L80ZGusl.jpg
>>
>> I think that most of them are already available online. Not sure about the
>> UCSD Pascal manual?
>>
>> One of the binders contained some disks.
>>
>> https://i.imgur.com/FYIBbmjl.jpg
>>
>> Are these disks available online already or should I dump them? Bitsavers
>> seems to have the Mac version.
>>
>> /Mattis
>>
>
>

Re: Four Unibus boards from radiation dose measurement system.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

måndag 19 mars 2018 skrev Al Kossow via cctalk :

>
>
> On 3/19/18 8:57 AM, Lyle Bickley via cctalk wrote:
>
> >> 2914 chips. One board has some kind of dedicated memory one board has
> >> 4 TRW chips which I think are AD converters.
> >>
>
> It's a frame buffer, you can see the 10422 lookup tables behind the TRW
> video DACs
>
>
>
Interesting. A framebuffer. But why four DACs?  The framebuffer itself is
the 72 16kbit DRAM chips. Slightly more than one megabit. Not much being a
color framebuffer. I wonder what the colordepth and resolution was on this
one. 256 x 192 and 8 bits per colour perhaps?

Anything else known about it except for what Lyle dug out?

Four Unibus boards from radiation dose measurement system.

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Hello!

I have four unibus boards that came in a 11/34 which was used for radiation
dose measurement at a hospital.

Three of them are made by Computer Design & Application inc and is a three
board set interconnected with over the top flat cables. It has some kind of
AMD 29xx based bitslice processor with 2903,2910 and 2914 chips. One board
has some kind of dedicated memory one board has 4 TRW chips which I think
are AD converters.

https://i.imgur.com/lMvhxOp.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/LEVN5Qp.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/kcSnDRy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ZfFrq3j.jpg

Then there is some kind of serial com board with four UARTs on it.

https://i.imgur.com/YvnTlxq.jpg

Is there any interest in these boards? Trade for something interesting DEC
stuff maybe? Or something else?

/Mattis

Sanyo PHC-3100 (or PHC-3000) ?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Does anyone have more info on these Japanse machines. I collected the
infomation I got from the former owner of a PHC-3100. Interesting machines
based on the TMS9900.

http://www.datormuseum.se/computers/others/sanyophc3100-1

I have 32 floppies which was dumped using ImageDisk. 40 tracks, double
sided, FM encoding. But none of these floppies are original so I am not
sure if I have the full OS, whatever that is. I also lack documentation.
>From what I understand they were never sold outside Japan.

Re: VT52 microprogram

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

fredag 9 mars 2018 skrev Lars Brinkhoff <l...@nocrew.org>:

> Mattis Lind writes:
> > Lars Brinkhoff wrote:
> >> Does anyone have VT52 microprogram ROM image, a listing, or a copy of
> >> "DECscope System Manual"?
> > I did dump the microprogram of my VT52. I also did a very crude first
> > attempt to disassemble it. Since the VT52 has a mode bit that control
> > what operation to run it has to be simulated to get it right. You find
> > everything here: http://www.datormuseum.se/home/dec-vt5x
>
> Thank you!
>
> Time permitting, I'd like to make a VT52 simulator running this
> microprogram.
>

Yes. That was basically my idea as well. I didn’t get that far. It sort of
ran small pieces of the code but then I thought it would be a good idea to
compare with the real thing. Thus the planned work for taking traces with a
logic analyzer. At that time I didn’t have deep memory on my LA. Now I
have. Right now the VT52 is stored away and I am onto other things. But in
time it will happen.

/Mattis

Re: VT52 microprogram

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

2018-03-09 10:47 GMT+01:00 Lars Brinkhoff via cctalk 
:

> Hello,
>
> Does anyone have VT52 microprogram ROM image, a listing, or a copy
> of "DECscope System Manual"?
>

I did dump the microprogram of my VT52. I also did a very crude first
attempt to disassemble it. Since the VT52 has a mode bit that control what
operation to run it has to be simulated to get it right. You find
everything here: http://www.datormuseum.se/home/dec-vt5x

I had a plan to run the VT52 with a logic analyzer attached to recover
traces of what it is doing for a keypress, UART in, scanline etc.

/Mattis


>
> Best regards,
> Lars Brinkhoff
>

Re: DEC Pro 350

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

fredag 23 februari 2018 skrev Kurt Hamm via cctalk :

> Well, I bought that DEC Pro 350 on ebay.  It initially booted up and I got
> the error screen.  The error code I found on the Internet was related to
> the hard disk controller.  So, I thought I just needed someone to sell/give
> me some systems disks for the unit and I could try to setup the drive again
> if it still functioned.
>
> Then, it after a couple of restarts (I re-seated the boards and cleaned the
> connectors) it stopped showing the error screen (with picture of the
> computer).  All the diagnostic lights are red on the back and nothing ever
> shows on the screen.  The power comes on and then nothing.


The tech manual is :
http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/dec/pdp11/pro3xx/EK-PC350-TM-001_Professional_300_Series_Technical_Manual_Dec82.pdf

In case you haven't already found it.

All LED on means sytem module failed. (Page 5-33). Have you checked power
supply voltages? I would try to remove all option boards and see if that
makes any difference. The printer port is actually a console port. The
details is in the manual (page 5-126 and 5-131). I suspect that all leds
come on if it fails to run the rom based diagnostic. It might have halted
to uODT in case you could try use the console to see if you could diagnose
the problem.




> If anyone has any thoughts, I would appreciate it.  I knew the history of
> this type of computer and figured it was a long shot.  I am just
> disappointed to have gotten really nowhere with it.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Kurt
>

Good luck!

/Mattis

What are these memory modules?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

Can anyone tell me which system these belongs to?

https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/28058349_10155950589854985_8635795214284744688_n.jpg?oh=c0be0a30ee09cd98cb69ed728375520b=5B02220D

/Mattis

UCSD p-system manuals and disks?

[Mattis Lind via cctalk]

I received these nice binders.

https://i.imgur.com/L80ZGusl.jpg

I think that most of them are already available online. Not sure about the
UCSD Pascal manual?

One of the binders contained some disks.

https://i.imgur.com/FYIBbmjl.jpg

Are these disks available online already or should I dump them? Bitsavers
seems to have the Mac version.

/Mattis