Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-29 Thread Fred Cisin via cctalk

I have learned that Bakelite insulating is phenol and formaldehyde with
embedded asbestos.  Does anyone have any Bakelite insulation in any of
their vintage computers?


I wonder whether it was the word "insulation" that triggered this 
ridiculous inquiry.


To many people, "insulation" means the stuff that is blown into cavities 
in walls for thermal insulation.  Asbestos used to be preferred, because 
it would also make the structure less flammable.  (or is that 
"inflammable"?)  It has/had a tendency to get airborne, and to contain 
asbestos.  Breathing THAT can be a serious worry.


The bakelite "insulation" is hard chunks of [usually] black plastic.  It 
was one of, if not THE, first commercially available plastics.
It has a very high electrical resistance, so is a good "insulator".  Used 
to be used a lot for switch bodies, etc.
To the best of my very limited knowledge, it is not powders, etc. blown 
into spaces.  It is never airborne, unless you throw it at somebody.
NOBODY gets it in their lungs from their computer; NOBODY gets lung cancer 
from it.

(not counting workers in factories where they MANUFACTURED it)

Cancer from asbestos is in the lungs.  Asbestos, if NOT entered into the 
lungs, is harmless, and was quite common in old plumbing.  Nobody gets 
cancer from drinking it.  (cf. scare tactic used to close down Reserve 
Mining)



--
Grumpy Ol' Fred


Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-29 Thread Bill Gunshannon via cctalk

On 1/29/21 11:30 AM, Pete Turnbull via cctalk wrote:

On 29/01/2021 15:51, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:

I have learned that Bakelite insulating is phenol and formaldehyde with
embedded asbestos.  Does anyone have any Bakelite insulation in any of
their vintage computers?


*Some* Bakelite contains asbestos.  The primary filler is commonly wood 
flour.  I worked with the Estates' asbestos team at a university and we 
found that a lot of Bakelite does not contain any asbestos.  The trouble 
is, you can't tell without proper analysis.





Lots  of bakelite around my house. Old radios, old Computers, but I
was not planning on grinding any of it down and snorting it this week.


bill


Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-29 Thread Chuck Guzis via cctalk
On 1/29/21 8:30 AM, Pete Turnbull via cctalk wrote:
> On 29/01/2021 15:51, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:
>> I have learned that Bakelite insulating is phenol and formaldehyde with
>> embedded asbestos.  Does anyone have any Bakelite insulation in any of
>> their vintage computers?
> 
> *Some* Bakelite contains asbestos.  The primary filler is commonly wood
> flour.  I worked with the Estates' asbestos team at a university and we
> found that a lot of Bakelite does not contain any asbestos.  The trouble
> is, you can't tell without proper analysis.

I suspect that any danger from asbestos-reinforced Bakelite in computers
is very minimal, as the stuff usually isn't machined to any extent and
isn't used as a friction surface.  I doubt that a Bakelite lamp socket,
switch body or terminal strip, for example sheds much of the fiber
during its normal operating life.

Unlike, for example, automotive brake linings.

--Chuck


Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-29 Thread Pete Turnbull via cctalk

On 29/01/2021 15:51, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:

I have learned that Bakelite insulating is phenol and formaldehyde with
embedded asbestos.  Does anyone have any Bakelite insulation in any of
their vintage computers?


*Some* Bakelite contains asbestos.  The primary filler is commonly wood 
flour.  I worked with the Estates' asbestos team at a university and we 
found that a lot of Bakelite does not contain any asbestos.  The trouble 
is, you can't tell without proper analysis.


--
Pete
Pete Turnbull


Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-29 Thread Bill Degnan via cctalk
I have learned that Bakelite insulating is phenol and formaldehyde with
embedded asbestos.  Does anyone have any Bakelite insulation in any of
their vintage computers?

On Mon, Jan 25, 2021 at 11:13 PM Bill Degnan  wrote:

> I do not know this guy, this came through my site, but if you do have info
> that you think he might find useful and would like to share please contact
> CECIL the Specific.
>
>  VintageComputer.net Inquiry Contact Information Name: CECIL CRAIN
> Email: ccrain@rgoldlegal-got-com Phone: 4157869527 
> - Comments:
> I'm looking for any information about Bakelite insulating 
> materials and phenolic resins used in Univac DCT products manufactured in the 
> Salt Lake City facility from 1970 to 1978.   VintageComputer.net 
> ---
>
>
> Bill
>


Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-29 Thread Liam Proven via cctalk
On Fri, 29 Jan 2021 at 15:20, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk
 wrote:

> Ah yes, radium. You'll get my original R-390/URR meters when you pry
> them from my cold, dead, glowing hands.

Relevant (& from a list member):
"My vintage vacuum tubes are radio-active!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYSWIdDcbGU

-- 
Liam Proven – Profile: https://about.me/liamproven
Email: lpro...@cix.co.uk – gMail/gTalk/gHangouts: lpro...@gmail.com
Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn/Flickr: lproven – Skype: liamproven
UK: +44 7939-087884 – ČR (+ WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal): +420 702 829 053


Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-29 Thread Bill Gunshannon via cctalk

On 1/29/21 9:56 AM, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:

 > Anti-vax stuff

Do me a favor: Mail it to me. This vaccine FUD is crap, is not based in 
science or reality, and has to stop.


Sorry to post this on a classic forum, but this bullshit needs to end now.

Bill, I sent out the box of 8 inch floppies yesterday.

CZ


Thanks Chris, give me a paypal and I will send you the money.  Sorry for
the delay.  I had a rather bad incident over the weekend.

bill


Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-29 Thread Chris Zach via cctalk

> Anti-vax stuff

Do me a favor: Mail it to me. This vaccine FUD is crap, is not based in 
science or reality, and has to stop.


Sorry to post this on a classic forum, but this bullshit needs to end now.

Bill, I sent out the box of 8 inch floppies yesterday.

CZ


Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-29 Thread Bill Gunshannon via cctalk

On 1/28/21 5:00 PM, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:

On Thu, 28 Jan 2021, corey cohen via cctalk wrote:
I’m actually surprised that it took this long before the “sharks” 
started to circle our historical objects looking for things like 
asbestos, arsenic, radium and other “poisons” used in the making these 
machines.


I'm sure that they have already filmed TV commercials, "If you or a 
loved one was vaccinated for Covid-19 and have . . . "


Sadly, they fought for and were granted immunity before the first
COVID vaccine was released.  Thus the reason I am not lining up
to get one even though, effective yesterday,  I am on the top of
the list.

bill



Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-29 Thread Bill Gunshannon via cctalk

On 1/28/21 3:08 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

Most of these actions aren't lawsuits per se, but rather claims made on
trust funds set up by asbestos manufacturers as part of Chapter 7
bankruptcy filings.   So the money's already there and if one has been
afflicted by mesothelioma and can claim *any* exposure to asbestos in
the past, the fund usually pays out a million or two to the claimant and
his lawyer.   Not quite ambulance-chasing, but close.   Late night TV is
full of ads for this sort of thing.

A similar thing is going on for Roundup herbicide and non-Hodgkins
lymphoma from a fund set up by Montsanto, whose patent on glyphosate
herbicide has long since run out.  Glyphosate is still widely used in
agriculture.



I use it all the time.  And in a much stronger potency than what you
find in Roundup.  Make you wonder, if it really is so bad, why is it
still legal?  But then, look at tobacco.  Won't even let you sue for
that.

bill



Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-29 Thread Bill Gunshannon via cctalk

On 1/28/21 10:52 AM, Jon Elson via cctalk wrote:

On 01/28/2021 02:29 AM, Curious Marc via cctalk wrote:
We have had this guy harassing the Computer History Museum, then all 
unsuspecting restorers under the false pretense of doing computer 
materials history research. In the end we understood he was trying to 
find out if asbestos was used in the machinery or buildings that were 
used to make the IBM 1401. We believe he is trying to find a sleazy 
way to sue all the computer makers that have made computers in the past.
Wow!  I doubt there is an asbestos in the actual computer parts, but 
quite possible asbestos-containing floor tiles and pipe insulation WAS 
used in the factory buildings, or computer rooms where they were used.


Suing the manufacturers for something that was general practice 60 years 
ago seems a far stretch.  And, other than IBM, all the other computer 
makers are long gone.  Some may have been absorbed into other 
corporations, of course. Getting legal, what would be his standing for 
such a suit?
If he wants a class action, he has to find somebody that was harmed, and 
then track down others and/or heirs.


Well, some people just need to find real work, like digging ditches or 
driving trucks.




Sorry, those tasks take way more intelligence than you are likely
to find in a lawyer.

bill




Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-29 Thread Bill Gunshannon via cctalk

On 1/28/21 9:19 AM, corey cohen via cctalk wrote:

I’m actually surprised that it took this long before the “sharks” started to 
circle our historical objects looking for things like asbestos, arsenic, radium 
and other “poisons” used in the making these machines.



Ah yes, radium. You'll get my original R-390/URR meters when you pry
them from my cold, dead, glowing hands.

bill



Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-29 Thread Bill Gunshannon via cctalk

On 1/28/21 3:29 AM, Curious Marc via cctalk wrote:

We have had this guy harassing the Computer History Museum, then all 
unsuspecting restorers under the false pretense of doing computer materials 
history research. In the end we understood he was trying to find out if 
asbestos was used in the machinery or buildings that were used to make the IBM 
1401. We believe he is trying to find a sleazy way to sue all the computer 
makers that have made computers in the past. When it became clear what he was 
doing, we told him to stop harassing us and contact the CHM legal people. Never 
heard of him again.
Marc


On Jan 25, 2021, at 8:13 PM, Bill Degnan via cctalk  
wrote:

I do not know this guy, this came through my site, but if you do have info
that you think he might find useful and would like to share please contact
CECIL the Specific.

VintageComputer.net Inquiry Contact Information Name: CECIL CRAIN
Email: ccrain@rgoldlegal-got-com Phone: 4157869527
- Comments:
I'm looking for any information about Bakelite insulating
materials and phenolic resins used in Univac DCT products manufactured
in the Salt Lake City facility from 1970 to 1978.
VintageComputer.net
---





First thought that came to my mind when I read this was "ambulance
chaser".  I guess all the crap on TV has made me quite the cynic.
Saw one the other day about getting Meso from using talc,  Only if
your snorting it!!  :-)

bill




Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-28 Thread Fred Cisin via cctalk

On Thu, 28 Jan 2021, corey cohen via cctalk wrote:
I’m actually surprised that it took this long before the “sharks” 
started to circle our historical objects looking for things like 
asbestos, arsenic, radium and other “poisons” used in the making 
these machines.


I'm sure that they have already filmed TV commercials, "If you or a loved 
one was vaccinated for Covid-19 and have . . . "


Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-28 Thread Chuck Guzis via cctalk
Most of these actions aren't lawsuits per se, but rather claims made on
trust funds set up by asbestos manufacturers as part of Chapter 7
bankruptcy filings.   So the money's already there and if one has been
afflicted by mesothelioma and can claim *any* exposure to asbestos in
the past, the fund usually pays out a million or two to the claimant and
his lawyer.   Not quite ambulance-chasing, but close.   Late night TV is
full of ads for this sort of thing.

A similar thing is going on for Roundup herbicide and non-Hodgkins
lymphoma from a fund set up by Montsanto, whose patent on glyphosate
herbicide has long since run out.  Glyphosate is still widely used in
agriculture.

--Chuck


Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-28 Thread Van Snyder via cctalk
On Thu, 2021-01-28 at 09:52 -0600, Jon Elson via cctalk wrote:
> On 01/28/2021 02:29 AM, Curious Marc via cctalk wrote:
> > We have had this guy harassing the Computer History Museum, then all 
> > unsuspecting restorers under the false pretense of doing computer materials 
> > history research. In the end we understood he was trying to find out if 
> > asbestos was used in the machinery or buildings that were used to make the 
> > IBM 1401. We believe he is trying to find a sleazy way to sue all the 
> > computer makers that have made computers in the past.
> Wow!  I doubt there is an asbestos in the actual computer 
> parts, but quite possible asbestos-containing floor tiles 
> and pipe insulation WAS used in the factory buildings, or 
> computer rooms where they were used.
> 
> Suing the manufacturers for something that was general 
> practice 60 years ago seems a far stretch.  And, other than 
> IBM, all the other computer makers are long gone.  Some may 
> have been absorbed into other corporations, of course.  
> Getting legal, what would be his standing for such a suit?
> If he wants a class action, he has to find somebody that was 
> harmed, and then track down others and/or heirs.

It wasn't just "general practice" sixty years ago. It was mandated by
building codes.

> Well, some people just need to find real work, like digging 
> ditches or driving trucks.
> 
> Jon


Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-28 Thread Jon Elson via cctalk

On 01/28/2021 02:29 AM, Curious Marc via cctalk wrote:

We have had this guy harassing the Computer History Museum, then all 
unsuspecting restorers under the false pretense of doing computer materials 
history research. In the end we understood he was trying to find out if 
asbestos was used in the machinery or buildings that were used to make the IBM 
1401. We believe he is trying to find a sleazy way to sue all the computer 
makers that have made computers in the past.
Wow!  I doubt there is an asbestos in the actual computer 
parts, but quite possible asbestos-containing floor tiles 
and pipe insulation WAS used in the factory buildings, or 
computer rooms where they were used.


Suing the manufacturers for something that was general 
practice 60 years ago seems a far stretch.  And, other than 
IBM, all the other computer makers are long gone.  Some may 
have been absorbed into other corporations, of course.  
Getting legal, what would be his standing for such a suit?
If he wants a class action, he has to find somebody that was 
harmed, and then track down others and/or heirs.


Well, some people just need to find real work, like digging 
ditches or driving trucks.


Jon


Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-28 Thread corey cohen via cctalk
I’m actually surprised that it took this long before the “sharks” started to 
circle our historical objects looking for things like asbestos, arsenic, radium 
and other “poisons” used in the making these machines.  

Cheers,
Corey

Re: UNIVAC

2021-01-28 Thread Curious Marc via cctalk
We have had this guy harassing the Computer History Museum, then all 
unsuspecting restorers under the false pretense of doing computer materials 
history research. In the end we understood he was trying to find out if 
asbestos was used in the machinery or buildings that were used to make the IBM 
1401. We believe he is trying to find a sleazy way to sue all the computer 
makers that have made computers in the past. When it became clear what he was 
doing, we told him to stop harassing us and contact the CHM legal people. Never 
heard of him again. 
Marc

> On Jan 25, 2021, at 8:13 PM, Bill Degnan via cctalk  
> wrote:
> 
> I do not know this guy, this came through my site, but if you do have info
> that you think he might find useful and would like to share please contact
> CECIL the Specific.
> 
> VintageComputer.net Inquiry Contact Information Name: CECIL CRAIN
>Email: ccrain@rgoldlegal-got-com Phone: 4157869527
> - Comments:
>I'm looking for any information about Bakelite insulating
> materials and phenolic resins used in Univac DCT products manufactured
> in the Salt Lake City facility from 1970 to 1978.
> VintageComputer.net
> ---
> 
> 
> Bill


UNIVAC

2021-01-25 Thread Bill Degnan via cctalk
I do not know this guy, this came through my site, but if you do have info
that you think he might find useful and would like to share please contact
CECIL the Specific.

 VintageComputer.net Inquiry Contact Information Name: CECIL CRAIN
Email: ccrain@rgoldlegal-got-com Phone: 4157869527
- Comments:
I'm looking for any information about Bakelite insulating
materials and phenolic resins used in Univac DCT products manufactured
in the Salt Lake City facility from 1970 to 1978.
VintageComputer.net
---


Bill


Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: Univac 490 Gallery Talk - 1963 Real Time Computer

2020-04-22 Thread Chuck Guzis via cctalk
On 4/22/20 12:52 PM, ED SHARPE via cctalk wrote:
> We  have a  UNIVAC 422 compute  at smecc..looking for the Remington 
> typewriter unit with a removable punch and reader on it.
> The  typer is like a flexowriter but  newer and   sleeker...although we have 
> seen a 422  with the flexowriter  like  the UDT  had  on it. 

I take it that the 422 is incompatible with, say, the 1100 seriesl (e.g.
1107) of the same period.

--Chuck


Re: Univac 490 Gallery Talk - 1963 Real Time Computer

2020-04-22 Thread Bill Degnan via cctalk
On Wed, Apr 22, 2020 at 11:57 AM Nigel Johnson via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Thanks for the link.  I am sure I am going to come down and see your
> site when this crisis is over!
>
> I was an FE on three Univac 418 IIs at Bell Canada in Toronto between
> 1971 and 1975.
>
> Don't suppose you have any 418s there?
>
> cheers,
>
> Nigel
>
>
>
The 1218 is more or less a 418.  The 418 is just oriented horizontally, the
1218 is vertically oriented for portability (loaded on a Naval ship).  My
418 and 1218 manuals' components appear to be interchangeable.
Bill
kennettclassic.com
vintagecomputer.net


Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: Univac 490 Gallery Talk - 1963 Real Time Computer

2020-04-22 Thread ED SHARPE via cctalk
We  have a  UNIVAC 422 compute  at smecc..looking for the Remington typewriter 
unit with a removable punch and reader on it.
The  typer is like a flexowriter but  newer and   sleeker...although we have 
seen a 422  with the flexowriter  like  the UDT  had  on it. 

Have  some programming that is unique  to this  unit and  some real genuine 
UNIVAC program  instruction cards  that  are  duplicates  but  have  yet  to  
find  anyone to buddy up  with to  share them  with that might also be 
struggling to get their  doing something. ARE WE THE ONLY ONES IN THE WORLD  
LEFT  WITH A  422? 
We of course  are on lock down and since we can not share photos  here  on this 
list  serve you  will  have  to  wait
Our  422  is  pristine almost   but  one major  problem we do not have the key 
to open the  front  glass panel!
Lots  of  cards  lots of transistors  we have not plugged it in  yet..   
There is an analog power supply shall  we  start it off on a big  variac?  
I  dunno if  we  have one big  enough. This power supply looks  beefy and there 
are lots  of  transistors  to light off!
Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC  The  lonley  UNIVAC  422 information Hoarder!)

In a message dated 4/22/2020 11:57:15 AM US Mountain Standard Time, 
cctalk@classiccmp.org writes:

Sorry, no 418, just the 490, and the 1218.

Bob Roswell
brosw...@syssrc.com
410-771-5544 ext 4336

Computer Museum Highlights



-Original Message-
From: cctalk On Behalf Of Nigel Johnson via cctalk
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 11:58 AM
To: Bill Degnan via cctalk 
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Univac 490 Gallery Talk - 1963 Real Time Computer

Thanks for the link.  I am sure I am going to come down and see your site when 
this crisis is over!

I was an FE on three Univac 418 IIs at Bell Canada in Toronto between
1971 and 1975.

Don't suppose you have any 418s there?

cheers,

Nigel


On 22/04/2020 08:52, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:
> A true treasure and worth the trip to System Source to see in person.
> First class stuff there!  (When it reopens, ug)
>
> On Tue, Apr 21, 2020, 7:16 PM rar via cctalk  wrote:
>
>> The System Source Computer Museum is closed due to COVID-19, so we 
>> are making some video gallery talks.
>>
>> Here is the first one:
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq7aVCc2GP8
>>
>> The video describes some of the applications of this 57 year old 
>> computer including it original use at Goddard Space Flight Center
>>
>> Bob Roswell
>> mus...@syssrc.com
>> https://museum.syssrc.com
>>
  

--
Nigel Johnson
MSc., MIEEE, MCSE
VE3ID/G4AJQ/VA3MCU

Amateur Radio, the origin of the open-source concept!


You can reach me by voice on Skype:  TILBURY2591

If time travel ever will be possible, it already is. Ask me again yesterday

This e-mail is not and cannot, by its nature, be confidential. En route from me 
to you, it will pass across the public Internet, easily readable by any number 
of system administrators along the way.
    Nigel Johnson 

    
Please consider the environment when deciding if you really need to print this 
message






RE: [EXTERNAL] Re: Univac 490 Gallery Talk - 1963 Real Time Computer

2020-04-22 Thread rar via cctalk
Sorry, no 418, just the 490, and the 1218.

Bob Roswell
brosw...@syssrc.com
410-771-5544 ext 4336

Computer Museum Highlights



-Original Message-
From: cctalk On Behalf Of Nigel Johnson via cctalk
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 11:58 AM
To: Bill Degnan via cctalk 
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Univac 490 Gallery Talk - 1963 Real Time Computer

Thanks for the link.  I am sure I am going to come down and see your site when 
this crisis is over!

I was an FE on three Univac 418 IIs at Bell Canada in Toronto between
1971 and 1975.

Don't suppose you have any 418s there?

cheers,

Nigel


On 22/04/2020 08:52, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:
> A true treasure and worth the trip to System Source to see in person.
> First class stuff there!  (When it reopens, ug)
>
> On Tue, Apr 21, 2020, 7:16 PM rar via cctalk  wrote:
>
>> The System Source Computer Museum is closed due to COVID-19, so we 
>> are making some video gallery talks.
>>
>> Here is the first one:
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq7aVCc2GP8
>>
>> The video describes some of the applications of this 57 year old 
>> computer including it original use at Goddard Space Flight Center
>>
>> Bob Roswell
>> mus...@syssrc.com
>> https://museum.syssrc.com
>>
  

--
Nigel Johnson
MSc., MIEEE, MCSE
VE3ID/G4AJQ/VA3MCU

Amateur Radio, the origin of the open-source concept!


You can reach me by voice on Skype:  TILBURY2591

If time travel ever will be possible, it already is. Ask me again yesterday

This e-mail is not and cannot, by its nature, be confidential. En route from me 
to you, it will pass across the public Internet, easily readable by any number 
of system administrators along the way.
Nigel Johnson 

 
Please consider the environment when deciding if you really need to print this 
message





Re: Univac 490 Gallery Talk - 1963 Real Time Computer

2020-04-22 Thread Nigel Johnson via cctalk
Thanks for the link.  I am sure I am going to come down and see your 
site when this crisis is over!


I was an FE on three Univac 418 IIs at Bell Canada in Toronto between 
1971 and 1975.


Don't suppose you have any 418s there?

cheers,

Nigel


On 22/04/2020 08:52, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:

A true treasure and worth the trip to System Source to see in person.
First class stuff there!  (When it reopens, ug)

On Tue, Apr 21, 2020, 7:16 PM rar via cctalk  wrote:


The System Source Computer Museum is closed due to COVID-19, so we are
making some video gallery talks.

Here is the first one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq7aVCc2GP8

The video describes some of the applications of this 57 year old computer
including it original use at Goddard Space Flight Center

Bob Roswell
mus...@syssrc.com
https://museum.syssrc.com

 


--
Nigel Johnson
MSc., MIEEE, MCSE
VE3ID/G4AJQ/VA3MCU

Amateur Radio, the origin of the open-source concept!


You can reach me by voice on Skype:  TILBURY2591

If time travel ever will be possible, it already is. Ask me again yesterday

This e-mail is not and cannot, by its nature, be confidential. En route from me 
to you, it will pass across the public Internet, easily readable by any number 
of system administrators along the way.
   Nigel Johnson 


Please consider the environment when deciding if you really need to print this message






Re: Univac 490 Gallery Talk - 1963 Real Time Computer

2020-04-22 Thread Bill Degnan via cctalk
A true treasure and worth the trip to System Source to see in person.
First class stuff there!  (When it reopens, ug)

On Tue, Apr 21, 2020, 7:16 PM rar via cctalk  wrote:

> The System Source Computer Museum is closed due to COVID-19, so we are
> making some video gallery talks.
>
> Here is the first one:
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq7aVCc2GP8
>
> The video describes some of the applications of this 57 year old computer
> including it original use at Goddard Space Flight Center
>
> Bob Roswell
> mus...@syssrc.com
> https://museum.syssrc.com
>


Univac 490 Gallery Talk - 1963 Real Time Computer

2020-04-21 Thread rar via cctalk
The System Source Computer Museum is closed due to COVID-19, so we are making 
some video gallery talks.

Here is the first one:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq7aVCc2GP8

The video describes some of the applications of this 57 year old computer 
including it original use at Goddard Space Flight Center

Bob Roswell
mus...@syssrc.com
https://museum.syssrc.com


Re: help needed: Document scan of ISS Sperry Univac Driver Exerciser avalaible for bitsavers upload

2020-03-30 Thread ED SHARPE via cctalk
ok  that  is  the  larger  ones... we  are  trying  to  fill a  whole in a  
display
we  are seeking the  20 meg  iss  graves  10 platter.    the  40 meg that looks 
 the  same  is  ok  too   for a  visual...
If  anyone  was  one  let  us  know... it   completes a museum display   
even  better  yet  wold  e    the HP  branded  version of   it the  2883    or 
lesser   2884  or  the  40 meg  2888 

thank s   Ed#    smecc
In a message dated 3/30/2020 3:25:43 AM US Mountain Standard Time, 
p.gebha...@ymail.com writes:

Hi Ed,

this exerciser supports the ISS 7330-type of drives, which come with capacities 
of 100MBytes and 200MBytes on 10-platter-placks (they are IBM-3336 equivalents).

Best regards,
Pierre

-
http://www.digitalheritage.de






Am Montag, 30. März 2020, 08:49:23 MESZ hat ED SHARPE via cctalk 
 Folgendes geschrieben: 





  I mean 
which  iss  drive  the  10 platter pack.  the  20 meg one?   Ed# 




In a message dated 3/29/2020 10:22:30 PM US Mountain Standard Time, 
cctalk@classiccmp.org writes:

which  iss  drive  the  10 plotter  20 meg one?   Ed#
In a message dated 3/27/2020 5:12:08 AM US Mountain Standard Time, 
cctalk@classiccmp.org writes:

On 3/27/20 3:55 AM, P Gebhardt via cctalk wrote:
> I contacted two times Al via email for access credentials to upload the 
> document as I did in the past years for numerous scans, but I never got an 
> answer.

private msg sent
sorry, things have been crazy




Re: help needed: Document scan of ISS Sperry Univac Driver Exerciser avalaible for bitsavers upload

2020-03-30 Thread P Gebhardt via cctalk
Hi Ed,

this exerciser supports the ISS 7330-type of drives, which come with capacities 
of 100MBytes and 200MBytes on 10-platter-placks (they are IBM-3336 equivalents).

Best regards,
Pierre

-
http://www.digitalheritage.de






Am Montag, 30. März 2020, 08:49:23 MESZ hat ED SHARPE via cctalk 
 Folgendes geschrieben: 





  I mean 
which  iss  drive  the  10 platter pack.  the  20 meg one?   Ed# 




In a message dated 3/29/2020 10:22:30 PM US Mountain Standard Time, 
cctalk@classiccmp.org writes:

which  iss  drive  the  10 plotter  20 meg one?   Ed#
In a message dated 3/27/2020 5:12:08 AM US Mountain Standard Time, 
cctalk@classiccmp.org writes:

On 3/27/20 3:55 AM, P Gebhardt via cctalk wrote:
> I contacted two times Al via email for access credentials to upload the 
> document as I did in the past years for numerous scans, but I never got an 
> answer.

private msg sent
sorry, things have been crazy




Re: help needed: Document scan of ISS Sperry Univac Driver Exerciser avalaible for bitsavers upload

2020-03-30 Thread ED SHARPE via cctalk
  I mean 
 which  iss  drive  the  10 platter pack.  the  20 meg one?   Ed# 




In a message dated 3/29/2020 10:22:30 PM US Mountain Standard Time, 
cctalk@classiccmp.org writes:

which  iss  drive  the  10 plotter  20 meg one?   Ed#
In a message dated 3/27/2020 5:12:08 AM US Mountain Standard Time, 
cctalk@classiccmp.org writes:

On 3/27/20 3:55 AM, P Gebhardt via cctalk wrote:
> I contacted two times Al via email for access credentials to upload the 
> document as I did in the past years for numerous scans, but I never got an 
> answer.

private msg sent
sorry, things have been crazy





Re: help needed: Document scan of ISS Sperry Univac Driver Exerciser avalaible for bitsavers upload

2020-03-29 Thread ED SHARPE via cctalk
which  iss  drive  the  10 plotter  20 meg one?   Ed#
In a message dated 3/27/2020 5:12:08 AM US Mountain Standard Time, 
cctalk@classiccmp.org writes:

On 3/27/20 3:55 AM, P Gebhardt via cctalk wrote:
> I contacted two times Al via email for access credentials to upload the 
> document as I did in the past years for numerous scans, but I never got an 
> answer.

private msg sent
sorry, things have been crazy





Re: help needed: Document scan of ISS Sperry Univac Driver Exerciser avalaible for bitsavers upload

2020-03-27 Thread Al Kossow via cctalk

On 3/27/20 3:55 AM, P Gebhardt via cctalk wrote:

I contacted two times Al via email for access credentials to upload the 
document as I did in the past years for numerous scans, but I never got an 
answer.


private msg sent
sorry, things have been crazy




help needed: Document scan of ISS Sperry Univac Driver Exerciser avalaible for bitsavers upload

2020-03-27 Thread P Gebhardt via cctalk
Hello list,

I have a scan of a manual with schematics for a  ISS Sperry Univac Driver 
Exerciser for 7330 and 843x type of disk drives that was kindly scanned and 
provided to me by Mark from the Computer History Archivies Project, since he 
and myself happen to come accross such exercisers. I contacted two times Al via 
email for access credentials to upload the document as I did in the past years 
for numerous scans, but I never got an answer. He is probably very busy during 
the last months. In case anybody has access for uploading documents on this 
list, can you contact me so that we can make this document available to 
everybody? 

Best regards,
Pierre


-
http://www.digitalheritage.de


Re: Estate sale -- Univac Terminal Keyboard

2019-10-29 Thread jim stephens via cctalk
Someone really wanted a keyboard for a Univac Terminal in the last year, 
year and a half.  Added to subject line to maybe attract attention of 
who was searching.


Someone in Europe though, IIRC?
thanks
Jim

On 10/29/2019 7:15 PM, Jeffrey S. Worley via cctalk wrote:

This link was posted on an Atari forum.  I noticed a PDP 8 faceplate, a
UNIVAC keyboard, and some other seriously retro parts.  Might want to

Hit this link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-n9AUXZAiVw0nvht-JhD4IN8DMZWrAW7YCsS7gvFaP8/edit?fbclid=IwAR0t9_X5i_qC_k0lRZUvNyRLBXi98wn-MCBF6gT7lX1qR4vSYrPVAkvwZJk

Jeff






Re: Early Univac Commercial

2019-09-20 Thread Paul Berger via cctalk



On 2019-09-20 12:52 p.m., Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

On 9/20/19 8:16 AM, William Sudbrink via cctalk wrote:

Isn't there also one that's a "help wanted" for programming positions?
I seem to recall that they didn't say anything about professional training
or experience, just things like "do you have a logical, ordered way of
thinking?"

I don't recall, but IBM had a "computer aptitude test" that it
administered to just about anyone involved in sales or the technical
end, regardless of education.   I recall taking such a test, though I
turned down IBM's job offer.

--Chuck

Before I was hired as a CE I took a few test for understanding of 
digital logic as also mechanics as there was still lots of 
electro-mechanical equipment around 40 years ago.  Later when I 
transferred to a job in a development lab I took a test called the DPAT 
which was all aimed at testing logical thinking skills.  I was never 
told how I scored on any of these tests, but I was hired and I did get 
accepted for the training program that lead up to a job in the 
development lab.


Paul.




Re: Early Univac Commercial

2019-09-20 Thread Guy Sotomayor Jr via cctalk
Yea, I recall having to take that test.  I almost didn’t because my degree is 
EE but then
they realized I was applying for SW positions.  Go figure!  ;-)

Worked there for 17+ years.

TTFN - Guy

> On Sep 20, 2019, at 8:52 AM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk  
> wrote:
> 
> On 9/20/19 8:16 AM, William Sudbrink via cctalk wrote:
>> Isn't there also one that's a "help wanted" for programming positions?
>> I seem to recall that they didn't say anything about professional training
>> or experience, just things like "do you have a logical, ordered way of
>> thinking?"
> 
> I don't recall, but IBM had a "computer aptitude test" that it
> administered to just about anyone involved in sales or the technical
> end, regardless of education.   I recall taking such a test, though I
> turned down IBM's job offer.
> 
> --Chuck
> 



Re: Early Univac Commercial

2019-09-20 Thread Chuck Guzis via cctalk
On 9/20/19 8:16 AM, William Sudbrink via cctalk wrote:
> Isn't there also one that's a "help wanted" for programming positions?
> I seem to recall that they didn't say anything about professional training
> or experience, just things like "do you have a logical, ordered way of
> thinking?"

I don't recall, but IBM had a "computer aptitude test" that it
administered to just about anyone involved in sales or the technical
end, regardless of education.   I recall taking such a test, though I
turned down IBM's job offer.

--Chuck



RE: Early Univac Commercial

2019-09-20 Thread William Sudbrink via cctalk
Isn't there also one that's a "help wanted" for programming positions?
I seem to recall that they didn't say anything about professional training
or experience, just things like "do you have a logical, ordered way of
thinking?"

Bill S.

-Original Message-
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Chuck Guzis 
via cctalk
Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2019 10:10 PM
To: Marvin Johnston via cctalk
Subject: Re: Early Univac Commercial

There are several Univac commercials in the archive.org video library.

I like the one that talks about he Univac "memory tank", which, it
really was.

The curious thing was that Remington Rand ran commercials not only for
UNIVAC computers, but also for shavers and typewriters.

--Chuck


---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus



Re: Early Univac Commercial

2019-09-19 Thread Chuck Guzis via cctalk
There are several Univac commercials in the archive.org video library.

I like the one that talks about he Univac "memory tank", which, it
really was.

The curious thing was that Remington Rand ran commercials not only for
UNIVAC computers, but also for shavers and typewriters.

--Chuck



Early Univac Commercial

2019-09-19 Thread Marvin Johnston via cctalk
I was watching an early airing of "What's My Line", and they aired a 
commercial by Remington Rand:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-DNG_bbHDE

The commercial starts about 19:30 and shows the Univac being used in a 
weather prediction. Not much useful information, but the video is quite 
interesting to watch.


Marvin


Re: UNIVAC IBM AND APOLLO - -History --Background

2019-07-21 Thread Steve Malikoff via cctalk
Ed   said
> Great 
> info!https://www.zdnet.com/article/to-the-moon-ibm-and-univac-appollo-11s-integrators/?ftag=TREc64629f=46856739
>

Here's an all-employees memo my dad kept about IBM's part in the success of the 
mission:
https://archive.org/details/IBMAustraliaMessageToEmployeesApollo11Success


BTW archive.org is a great place to put up scanned documents, in as many dpi as 
you like.

Steve




Re: UNIVAC IBM AND APOLLO - -History --Background

2019-07-21 Thread Nigel Johnson via cctalk

800 bpi, bloody luxury.

I was an FE on a Univac 418 installation, the Uniservo VI C drives that 
we used had three choices, 200, 556, and 800.   We had to extract 
billing data daily to send to head office, I think they had an IBM 360 
that read them, and we had to check alignment every month against an IBM 
standard tape.  We frequently used visi-mag to check it visually in the 
maintenance room over coffee.


Fun days!

cheers,

Nigel Johnson


On 21/07/2019 19:10, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

On 7/21/19 11:41 AM, ED SHARPE via cctalk wrote:

Great 
info!https://www.zdnet.com/article/to-the-moon-ibm-and-univac-appollo-11s-integrators/?ftag=TREc64629f=46856739

Since I'm just winding up (I hope!) archiving a batch of tapes from JPL
from the 60s and 70s, I might toss in a word or two.

The bulk of tapes that I see from between 1968-81 are 7-track 800 bpi
odd-parity, often with the notation "Univac 1108" or "Univac 1100".
After about mid 1981, the tapes tend to be 9 track 1600 PE ones, even if
from Univac 1100 36-bit gear.  Text is all Fieldata.

The Lunar orbiter (1966-67) selenodesy tapes that I processed originated
on IBM 7094 gear, so probably 729-IV drives.

There are exceptions.  The tape from the Galilean moon radar experiments
conducted from Arecibo (ca. 1975-76) is a short-record (ca. 128
characters) 200 bpi 7 track even-parity tape in IBM BCD (think 1401).
Labels on some unprocessed tapes hint at data from other Jovian satellites.

There are also several card-image tapes (even parity) that I haven't
examined.

There are others--I've only described the tapes that tickled my fancy
and got my attention.  Doubtless there are some real gems buried in the
unexamined tapes.  Sadly, most of the tape labels limit themselves to
the owner/programmer, tape number and date, so you get what you get.

Please don't ask for the data--that belongs to JPL and I'm not at
liberty to release that, nor the physical tapes.

What's surprising is how well these crusty old beggars read.  JPL used
the cr*p out of their tapes, with some tapes having the first 600'
removed (tapes wear from BOT, so re-certifying involved discarding a
sufficient amount of tape from the front of the reel and applying a new
BOT marker.

Keeps me off the streets, it does.

FWIW,
Chuck


 


--
Nigel Johnson
MSc., MIEEE
VE3ID/G4AJQ/VA3MCU

Amateur Radio, the origin of the open-source concept!


You can reach me by voice on Skype:  TILBURY2591

If time travel ever will be possible, it already is. Ask me again yesterday

This e-mail is not and cannot, by its nature, be confidential. En route from me 
to you, it will pass across the public Internet, easily readable by any number 
of system administrators along the way.
   Nigel Johnson 


Please consider the environment when deciding if you really need to print this message






Re: UNIVAC IBM AND APOLLO - -History --Background

2019-07-21 Thread Chuck Guzis via cctalk
On 7/21/19 11:41 AM, ED SHARPE via cctalk wrote:
> Great 
> info!https://www.zdnet.com/article/to-the-moon-ibm-and-univac-appollo-11s-integrators/?ftag=TREc64629f=46856739

Since I'm just winding up (I hope!) archiving a batch of tapes from JPL
from the 60s and 70s, I might toss in a word or two.

The bulk of tapes that I see from between 1968-81 are 7-track 800 bpi
odd-parity, often with the notation "Univac 1108" or "Univac 1100".
After about mid 1981, the tapes tend to be 9 track 1600 PE ones, even if
from Univac 1100 36-bit gear.  Text is all Fieldata.

The Lunar orbiter (1966-67) selenodesy tapes that I processed originated
on IBM 7094 gear, so probably 729-IV drives.

There are exceptions.  The tape from the Galilean moon radar experiments
conducted from Arecibo (ca. 1975-76) is a short-record (ca. 128
characters) 200 bpi 7 track even-parity tape in IBM BCD (think 1401).
Labels on some unprocessed tapes hint at data from other Jovian satellites.

There are also several card-image tapes (even parity) that I haven't
examined.

There are others--I've only described the tapes that tickled my fancy
and got my attention.  Doubtless there are some real gems buried in the
unexamined tapes.  Sadly, most of the tape labels limit themselves to
the owner/programmer, tape number and date, so you get what you get.

Please don't ask for the data--that belongs to JPL and I'm not at
liberty to release that, nor the physical tapes.

What's surprising is how well these crusty old beggars read.  JPL used
the cr*p out of their tapes, with some tapes having the first 600'
removed (tapes wear from BOT, so re-certifying involved discarding a
sufficient amount of tape from the front of the reel and applying a new
BOT marker.

Keeps me off the streets, it does.

FWIW,
Chuck


Re: UNIVAC IBM AND APOLLO - -History --Background

2019-07-21 Thread Charles Anthony via cctalk
On Sun, Jul 21, 2019 at 11:42 AM ED SHARPE via cctalk 
wrote:

> Great info!
> https://www.zdnet.com/article/to-the-moon-ibm-and-univac-appollo-11s-integrators/?ftag=TREc64629f=46856739
>

The Boeing Museum of Flight is doing Moon landing events this weekend. The
Living Computer Museum is showing an IBM 360/91 maintenance panel wired to
a Hercules 360 emulation. The emulator is running Apollo era FORTRAN code
to do orbital predictions and display tracking data on a map. The code is
taking the International Space Station tracking data and displaying the
orbital track and current position in real-time.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YEBcc2dsAPRJXjji7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/FFoJagkS83y3w6fi8

-- Charles


UNIVAC IBM AND APOLLO - -History --Background

2019-07-21 Thread ED SHARPE via cctalk
Great 
info!https://www.zdnet.com/article/to-the-moon-ibm-and-univac-appollo-11s-integrators/?ftag=TREc64629f=46856739


UNIVAC 422 material  acquisitions updates..

2019-05-25 Thread ED SHARPE via cctalk
UNIVAC 422 Training  Computer  material acquisitions updates..


- UNIVAC 422 Training  Computer program Instruction reference cards   -  (4 
each)- Photograph  of  students  using one  in an educational environment (1 
each)- Applications programs description sheets  fro  2  programs ( 1  each ,  
2  programs)- UNIVAC 422 Partial Maintenance Manual  (1 each)-UNIVAC Card 
Spares  suitcase -  some dividers-   removed  (1 each)

The   Game is  Afoot! Please  check  your  files  for ANYTHING  related to  the 
 UNIVAC  422  or  UDT  Training  computers!  -   Ed Sharpe -   Archivist   for 
SMECC




UNIVAC 422 material  acquisitions updates..

2019-05-25 Thread ED SHARPE via cctalk
UNIVAC 422 Training  Computer  material acquisitions updates..


- UNIVAC 422 Training  Computer program Instruction reference cards   -  (4 
each)- Photograph  of  students  using one  in an educational environment (1 
each)- Applications programs description sheets  fro  2  programs ( 1  each ,  
2  programs)- UNIVAC 422 Partial Maintenance Manual  (1 each)-UNIVAC Card 
Spares  suitcase -  some dividers-   removed  (1 each)

The   Game is  Afoot! Please  check  your  files  for ANYTHING  related to  the 
 UNIVAC  422  or  UDT  Training  computers!  -   Ed Sharpe -   Archivist   for 
SMECC




Re: UNIVAC 422 User Grouop Forming Please drop us a note offlist With SN of your unit and stats of operability and completeness and go withs.

2018-11-04 Thread dwight via cctalk
I was curious. It would seem that it would be easy enough to make an emulator 
or simulator for but the OCR is really bad.
There may be one out there. It would be a shame if yours was the last one.
Dwight


From: ED SHARPE 
Sent: Sunday, November 4, 2018 9:00 AM
To: dkel...@hotmail.com; cctalk@classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: UNIVAC 422 User Grouop Forming Please drop us a note offlist With 
SN of your unit and stats of operability and completeness and go withs.

there  are   2  manuals  one is the   art   versionthe other one  is a  
programmers  one  but  theocr is   horrible  towards  end.  I  think  there 
  are  one or  2  more things  around  here  too.

There  must  have been  some of  these units that  survived? aside  from ours?


Ed#



In a message dated 11/3/2018 9:17:22 PM US Mountain Standard Time, 
dkel...@hotmail.com writes:

These sound really cool but I suspect the number of people with a Univac 422 
are quite limited. Even those with Univac panel of any kind are quite limited.
I see the web page has a OCR of the text. A photo copy of the manual would be 
great as well.
Dwight


From: cctalk mailto:boun...@classiccmp.org>> on 
behalf of ED SHARPE via cctalk 
mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org>>
Sent: Saturday, November 3, 2018 2:19 PM
To: cctalk@classiccmp.org<mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org>; 
cct...@classiccmp.org<mailto:cct...@classiccmp.org>; 
direc...@smecc.org<mailto:direc...@smecc.org>; 
couryho...@aol.com<mailto:couryho...@aol.com>
Subject: UNIVAC 422 User Grouop Forming Please drop us a note offlist With SN 
of your unit and stats of operability and completeness and go withs.

NOW FORMING - -UNIVAC 422 User Group and  including  The  422 and  the prior 
UNIVAC DIGITAL TRAINER  - (Is there a  code compatibility?)

Please drop us a note off list  With SN of your unit and stats of if able to  
operate and completeness and go withs. Include a  pic  of  you and  your  unit 
if  you   want to appear in 1st  newsletter.


Thanks  Ed Sharpe  Newsletter editor


Re: UNIVAC 422 User Grouop Forming Please drop us a note offlist With SN of your unit and stats of operability and completeness and go withs.

2018-11-04 Thread ED SHARPE via cctalk
there  are   2  manuals  one is the   art   version    the other one  is a  
programmers  one  but  the    ocr is   horrible  towards  end.  I  think  there 
  are  one or  2  more things  around  here  too.


There  must  have been  some of  these units that  survived? aside  from ours?
 
 
Ed#
 
 
 
In a message dated 11/3/2018 9:17:22 PM US Mountain Standard Time, 
dkel...@hotmail.com writes:

 
These sound really cool but I suspect the number of people with a Univac 422 
are quite limited. Even those with Univac panel of any kind are quite limited.
I see the web page has a OCR of the text. A photo copy of the manual would be 
great as well.
Dwight
 
From: cctalk  on behalf of ED SHARPE via cctalk 

Sent: Saturday, November 3, 2018 2:19 PM
To:cctalk@classiccmp.org; cct...@classiccmp.org; direc...@smecc.org; 
couryho...@aol.com
Subject: UNIVAC 422 User Grouop Forming Please drop us a note offlist With SN 
of your unit and stats of operability and completeness and go withs. 
NOW FORMING - -UNIVAC 422 User Group and  including  The  422 and  the prior 
UNIVAC DIGITAL TRAINER  - (Is there a  code compatibility?)
  
 Please drop us a note off list  With SN of your unit and stats of if able to  
operate and completeness and go withs. Include a  pic  of  you and  your  unit 
if  you   want to appear in 1st  newsletter.

  
 Thanks  Ed Sharpe  Newsletter editor


Re: UNIVAC 422 User Grouop Forming Please drop us a note offlist With SN of your unit and stats of operability and completeness and go withs.

2018-11-03 Thread dwight via cctalk
These sound really cool but I suspect the number of people with a Univac 422 
are quite limited. Even those with Univac panel of any kind are quite limited.
I see the web page has a OCR of the text. A photo copy of the manual would be 
great as well.
Dwight


From: cctalk  on behalf of ED SHARPE via cctalk 

Sent: Saturday, November 3, 2018 2:19 PM
To: cctalk@classiccmp.org; cct...@classiccmp.org; direc...@smecc.org; 
couryho...@aol.com
Subject: UNIVAC 422 User Grouop Forming Please drop us a note offlist With SN 
of your unit and stats of operability and completeness and go withs.

NOW FORMING - -UNIVAC 422 User Group and  including  The  422 and  the prior 
UNIVAC DIGITAL TRAINER  - (Is there a  code compatibility?)

Please drop us a note off list  With SN of your unit and stats of if able to  
operate and completeness and go withs. Include a  pic  of  you and  your  unit 
if  you   want to appear in 1st  newsletter.


Thanks  Ed Sharpe  Newsletter editor


Re: Old Univac Tape and Printer Maintenance Manuals

2018-10-13 Thread jim stephens via cctalk
Bill Donzelli may have things in the part of the Univac load he has 
either in OKC or at his place.


I gathered all the documentation on the remains of a stolen Univac III 
system I could, along with all the tapes.


Muffed an opportunity to get the tapes to Al K for digitizing, will 
organize another run when he has capacity to tackle it.


There is also a Uniservo that was overlooked in the heist that was 
rescued, but not enough to run it much, just the drive.


thanks
jim

On 10/13/2018 3:55 PM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:

hopefully, Jim Stevens was able to save some of the docs from the Univac III

On 10/13/18 1:36 PM, Tom Gardner via cctalk wrote:

Hi:

I'm looking for maintenance manuals for old Univac tape and printers.  I've
already mined Bitsavers and done some fairly extensive Google searches but
would like manuals on:

Tapes:  Uniservo IIA, IIIA or IIIC, VIC, VIIIC, 12, 16 or 20
Printers: 0751, 0755 (used on 1108), 0758 (used on 1108 and 494), 0768 (used
on 92/9300) or 0770 series (used on 1100)

Pointers to on line versions would be appreciated.  If you have hardcopies
I'll be happy to buy them and give back a scan, or pay for the scan.

Tom







Re: Old Univac Tape and Printer Maintenance Manuals

2018-10-13 Thread Al Kossow via cctalk
You may also need to make a field trip to CBI to check the Univac corporate 
archives


On 10/13/18 3:55 PM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
> hopefully, Jim Stevens was able to save some of the docs from the Univac III
> 
> On 10/13/18 1:36 PM, Tom Gardner via cctalk wrote:
>> Hi:
>>
>> I'm looking for maintenance manuals for old Univac tape and printers.  I've
>> already mined Bitsavers and done some fairly extensive Google searches but
>> would like manuals on:
>>
>> Tapes:  Uniservo IIA, IIIA or IIIC, VIC, VIIIC, 12, 16 or 20
>> Printers: 0751, 0755 (used on 1108), 0758 (used on 1108 and 494), 0768 (used
>> on 92/9300) or 0770 series (used on 1100)
>>
>> Pointers to on line versions would be appreciated.  If you have hardcopies
>> I'll be happy to buy them and give back a scan, or pay for the scan.
>>
>> Tom
>>
> 



Re: Old Univac Tape and Printer Maintenance Manuals

2018-10-13 Thread Al Kossow via cctalk
hopefully, Jim Stevens was able to save some of the docs from the Univac III

On 10/13/18 1:36 PM, Tom Gardner via cctalk wrote:
> Hi:
> 
> I'm looking for maintenance manuals for old Univac tape and printers.  I've
> already mined Bitsavers and done some fairly extensive Google searches but
> would like manuals on:
> 
> Tapes:  Uniservo IIA, IIIA or IIIC, VIC, VIIIC, 12, 16 or 20
> Printers: 0751, 0755 (used on 1108), 0758 (used on 1108 and 494), 0768 (used
> on 92/9300) or 0770 series (used on 1100)
> 
> Pointers to on line versions would be appreciated.  If you have hardcopies
> I'll be happy to buy them and give back a scan, or pay for the scan.
> 
> Tom
> 



RE: Old Univac Tape and Printer Maintenance Manuals

2018-10-13 Thread ED SHARPE via cctalk
Tom will check I was looking thru some univac stuff.  and saw  ..trying to find 
manuals for that odd freiden flexowritrer sorta thing that was used on univac 
422 that has a punch and reader that...separates. YES SEPERATES!  from the side 
of the typer...  so weird I must have one of these... ..  having a univac 422 
attached to it would be a real bonus... do you have any of those?
OK back to your manuals.. will check this evening. ed# www.smecc.org 

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail

On Saturday, October 13, 2018 Tom Gardner via cctalk  wrote:
Hi:

I'm looking for maintenance manuals for old Univac tape and printers. I've
already mined Bitsavers and done some fairly extensive Google searches but
would like manuals on:

Tapes: Uniservo IIA, IIIA or IIIC, VIC, VIIIC, 12, 16 or 20
Printers: 0751, 0755 (used on 1108), 0758 (used on 1108 and 494), 0768 (used
on 92/9300) or 0770 series (used on 1100)

Pointers to on line versions would be appreciated. If you have hardcopies
I'll be happy to buy them and give back a scan, or pay for the scan.

Tom



RE: Sperry Univac UTS-40 Terminal doc anyone?

2018-03-17 Thread Electronics Plus via cctalk
I had a number of these. The construction seemed to be surprisingly flimsy.
If you removed the top cover, check the back corner where all the cards
interface together. These often work loose, making the terminal useless.
Gently but firmly re-align everything and push it all back together. Then
plug it in and turn it on. Without the keyboard, you will get errors.

Cindy

-Original Message-
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of CuriousMarc
via cctalk
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2018 1:25 AM
To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'
Subject: Sperry Univac UTS-40 Terminal doc anyone?

I am the temporary caretaker of a Sperry UTS-40 "intelligent" terminal (very
green screen, Z-80 based terminal from the late 70's or early 80's) which I
grabbed on eBait for sending parts to Dominique Carlier over in Belgium. The
CRT, power supply and character generator seem to work (gives a very sharp
semi-random geometric display on power-on, sometimes with a few nicely drawn
characters interspersed), but the darn thing does not seem to boot on reset.
The picture goes away and weird sound is emitted from the speaker after a
long beep-of-death. I was wondering if anyone had service documentation. Or
a dump of the firmware. Al, anything that crossed your desk?

Marc

 



---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus



Sperry Univac UTS-40 Terminal doc anyone?

2018-03-10 Thread CuriousMarc via cctalk
I am the temporary caretaker of a Sperry UTS-40 "intelligent" terminal (very
green screen, Z-80 based terminal from the late 70's or early 80's) which I
grabbed on eBait for sending parts to Dominique Carlier over in Belgium. The
CRT, power supply and character generator seem to work (gives a very sharp
semi-random geometric display on power-on, sometimes with a few nicely drawn
characters interspersed), but the darn thing does not seem to boot on reset.
The picture goes away and weird sound is emitted from the speaker after a
long beep-of-death. I was wondering if anyone had service documentation. Or
a dump of the firmware. Al, anything that crossed your desk?

Marc

 



Re: Univac 9400 panel ( Was:Re: Will be up for sale in this calendar year 360 Front Panel)

2018-02-22 Thread Ed Sharpe via cctalk
have the 360-30  aluminum bar on top but not eh panel... wish I had   kept it!  
ca. 1980 when I  got the bar... Ed#
 
In a message dated 2/23/2018 12:33:34 AM US Mountain Standard Time, 
cctalk@classiccmp.org writes:
 
 On 22.02.2018 18:56, Pete Lancashire via cctalk wrote:
> I thought I would post a heads for
> 
> https://photos.app.goo.gl/36CxlZQJDssj5uLh1
> 
> I have the IBM 360 aluminum plate that goes on top, it is scratched. More
> detailed and better pictures as I dig deeper.


...and if someone needs a nice Univac 9400 console to go with that, I have one 
doing nothing in my basement.
Good condition, but flatcables cut. Located in Switzerland I'm afraid.


Was planning to one day add an FPGA behind it, but I now realized that I have 
enough on my classiccmp plate as it is...


Jos 



Univac 9400 panel ( Was:Re: Will be up for sale in this calendar year 360 Front Panel)

2018-02-22 Thread Jos Dreesen via cctalk

On 22.02.2018 18:56, Pete Lancashire via cctalk wrote:

I thought I would post a heads for

https://photos.app.goo.gl/36CxlZQJDssj5uLh1

I have the IBM 360 aluminum plate that goes on top, it is scratched. More
detailed and better pictures as I dig deeper.



...and if someone needs a nice Univac 9400 console to go with that, I have one 
doing nothing in my basement.
Good condition, but flatcables cut. Located in Switzerland I'm afraid.


Was planning to one day add an FPGA behind it, but I now realized that I have 
enough on my classiccmp plate as it is...


Jos  



Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-18 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk

Hi Dwight

The machine is in fact equipped with three connectors, a DB25 for RS-232 
communication, a DB9 male for the keyboard and a third connector, 
another DB9, female this time, not sure but I think it was to connect a 
card reader.


Do you think the serial I/O channel B can share its resource for the 
RS-232 and the keyboard at the same time?
Clearly the problem is around the SIO B, not the SIO itself because I 
tested this IC by replacing it with another identical SIO with exactly 
the same result.


As said below, the "OPTIONAL RAM BANK 0.1: FAILED" is not the problem, 
the machine can start without this memory extension board. It was the 
case when the machine worked by the past, it was also the case when I 
was able to enter the page setup some weeks ago, when the failure was 
still intermittent and not permanent.


Note that once the default parameters are loaded into the non-volatile 
memory and manually completed, after a reset, some FAILEDs are replaced 
by "??", which can be considered as "assumed as absent ".


I will continue to check and repair the eventually damaged solder/tracks 
(battery leakage), this is what I have been doing for 2 weeks now, and 
I'm going to try a suggestion from Chuck : Put an external "loopback" 
connector to the RS-232 DB25 which is linked to the SIO channel B, just 
to see if this has any impact on the diagnosis.


If not there is no result, I always would like to induce to the 
self-test program that the channel B is OK by injecting something (but 
what ?) to the SIO (perhaps by acting on this pin 30 which is W/RDYB, 
something like "channel B Ready to write" right ?) in the idea to force 
a positive diagnosis in the self-test.


Dominique

On 18/10/2017 06:44, dwight via cctalk wrote:

By the way, how is the terminal and keyboard connected to the computer?

Is it by RS232?

If so, it might be through SIO B. If this is the case, it might be the problem.

Also, the RAM failure may be the issue as well. You have something that is 
intermittent there. Bad RAM can cause programs to misbehave as well. Just 
because it passes some times doesn't mean it is good enough to run programs.

Dwight



From: cctalk <cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org> on behalf of dwight via cctalk 
<cctalk@classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 4:08:46 PM
To: Dominique Carlier; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette 
subsystem : Restoration

Since you know the pinout of the SIO chip, you might first look to see if where 
the rx and tx pins go. This may require some hunting with an ohm meter. I'd 
suspect they go to a RS232 level shifter.

You may also have to write some code to run the serial chip and any possible 
external loopback. As I recall these chips may have an internal loopback.

If you have a working logic analyzer, you can trigger on the select pin to the 
SIO and look to see what address the SIO is located at. That will allow you to 
create some debug code.

I'm not saying this is easy. Still, this is the way I'd attack the problem as a 
start.

You have to realize, there is not much more we can do for you.

Creating a ROM with a diagnostic looping program is about the only practical 
way to deal with a machine with no documentation.

I fixed an old mini once without schematics but it was all DTL and TTL and 
there were signal names at the card edges.

You have a Z80 computer. If you can program EPROMs you have a chance, otherwise 
it is unlikely that your current easter egg hunting method is likely to be very 
fruitful. You have already gone through most all of the likely failure items. 
From here you will likely have to begin to troubleshoot.

Dwight



From: cctalk <cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org> on behalf of Dominique Carlier via 
cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 1:59:47 PM
To: Chuck Guzis; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette 
subsystem : Restoration

Thanks for your response Chuck,

As described in the topic, just after the Power On, the machine runs a
self-test which is called "POC TEST" on the UTS range of Sperry Univac.
During this test, the machine checks the status of the RAM, the ROMs,
the Counter Timer, and the various communication interfaces.
Everything is OK except the ninth line which says: "SERIAL I / O CHANNEL
B: FAILED"

(ignore the FAILED next to "OPTIONAL RAM BANK 0,1", the machine can
start without this board)
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_screen03.jpg

This channel B error completely freezes the machine, it does not load
the default settings, I no longer have access to the setup page, in this
situation the keyboard remains without effects.

When the POC test i

Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-17 Thread dwight via cctalk
By the way, how is the terminal and keyboard connected to the computer?

Is it by RS232?

If so, it might be through SIO B. If this is the case, it might be the problem.

Also, the RAM failure may be the issue as well. You have something that is 
intermittent there. Bad RAM can cause programs to misbehave as well. Just 
because it passes some times doesn't mean it is good enough to run programs.

Dwight



From: cctalk <cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org> on behalf of dwight via cctalk 
<cctalk@classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 4:08:46 PM
To: Dominique Carlier; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette 
subsystem : Restoration

Since you know the pinout of the SIO chip, you might first look to see if where 
the rx and tx pins go. This may require some hunting with an ohm meter. I'd 
suspect they go to a RS232 level shifter.

You may also have to write some code to run the serial chip and any possible 
external loopback. As I recall these chips may have an internal loopback.

If you have a working logic analyzer, you can trigger on the select pin to the 
SIO and look to see what address the SIO is located at. That will allow you to 
create some debug code.

I'm not saying this is easy. Still, this is the way I'd attack the problem as a 
start.

You have to realize, there is not much more we can do for you.

Creating a ROM with a diagnostic looping program is about the only practical 
way to deal with a machine with no documentation.

I fixed an old mini once without schematics but it was all DTL and TTL and 
there were signal names at the card edges.

You have a Z80 computer. If you can program EPROMs you have a chance, otherwise 
it is unlikely that your current easter egg hunting method is likely to be very 
fruitful. You have already gone through most all of the likely failure items. 
From here you will likely have to begin to troubleshoot.

Dwight



From: cctalk <cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org> on behalf of Dominique Carlier via 
cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 1:59:47 PM
To: Chuck Guzis; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette 
subsystem : Restoration

Thanks for your response Chuck,

As described in the topic, just after the Power On, the machine runs a
self-test which is called "POC TEST" on the UTS range of Sperry Univac.
During this test, the machine checks the status of the RAM, the ROMs,
the Counter Timer, and the various communication interfaces.
Everything is OK except the ninth line which says: "SERIAL I / O CHANNEL
B: FAILED"

(ignore the FAILED next to "OPTIONAL RAM BANK 0,1", the machine can
start without this board)
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_screen03.jpg

This channel B error completely freezes the machine, it does not load
the default settings, I no longer have access to the setup page, in this
situation the keyboard remains without effects.

When the POC test is successful, it loads the default settings in non
volatile RAM:
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_screen01.jpg

And I can access the setup page:
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_screen02.jpg

The few times I was able to go into the setup page (CHANNEL B: PASSED),
I rushed to try to encode (with the dead keyboard) the data to declare
the subsystem and finally return to the CP/M mode. And I had twice the
case where without warning hop! Blank screen, automatic reset, self-test
(POC) -> SERIAL I / O CHANNEL B: FAILED (again).
Maybe we have there some interesting information about the problem, the
intermittent nature of this failure, could this give information about
the type of component in fault?

But note that since weeks now the problem has become permanent, I have
never been able to return to this famous setup page and the "serial I/O
channel B" is now always marked as 'FAILED'.

So I have no way to try anything using the terminal at this point.

It is possible that the breakdown is in fact very simple (dry solder dry
or attacked solder by the acid of the battery), but I would like to
avoiding to rework all the solders, and maybe to finally find that the
problem was at the level of an IC, I would try to locate the components
linked to this problem. I look at the SIO, try to discover what is after
just after, see how I can eventually act on the pin 30 (W/RDYB) of that IC :
http://www.sbprojects.net/projects/izabella/assets/images/sio1.jpg


And try to understand why this SIO no longer considers the channel B as
'READY'
This kind of things ...
There are probably programmable loop-back circuitry used by the POC test
program (in the ROM of the program cartridge).To ignore the negative
diagnostic I would like to induce to the self-test program that the
chann

Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-17 Thread dwight via cctalk
Since you know the pinout of the SIO chip, you might first look to see if where 
the rx and tx pins go. This may require some hunting with an ohm meter. I'd 
suspect they go to a RS232 level shifter.

You may also have to write some code to run the serial chip and any possible 
external loopback. As I recall these chips may have an internal loopback.

If you have a working logic analyzer, you can trigger on the select pin to the 
SIO and look to see what address the SIO is located at. That will allow you to 
create some debug code.

I'm not saying this is easy. Still, this is the way I'd attack the problem as a 
start.

You have to realize, there is not much more we can do for you.

Creating a ROM with a diagnostic looping program is about the only practical 
way to deal with a machine with no documentation.

I fixed an old mini once without schematics but it was all DTL and TTL and 
there were signal names at the card edges.

You have a Z80 computer. If you can program EPROMs you have a chance, otherwise 
it is unlikely that your current easter egg hunting method is likely to be very 
fruitful. You have already gone through most all of the likely failure items. 
From here you will likely have to begin to troubleshoot.

Dwight



From: cctalk <cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org> on behalf of Dominique Carlier via 
cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 1:59:47 PM
To: Chuck Guzis; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette 
subsystem : Restoration

Thanks for your response Chuck,

As described in the topic, just after the Power On, the machine runs a
self-test which is called "POC TEST" on the UTS range of Sperry Univac.
During this test, the machine checks the status of the RAM, the ROMs,
the Counter Timer, and the various communication interfaces.
Everything is OK except the ninth line which says: "SERIAL I / O CHANNEL
B: FAILED"

(ignore the FAILED next to "OPTIONAL RAM BANK 0,1", the machine can
start without this board)
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_screen03.jpg

This channel B error completely freezes the machine, it does not load
the default settings, I no longer have access to the setup page, in this
situation the keyboard remains without effects.

When the POC test is successful, it loads the default settings in non
volatile RAM:
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_screen01.jpg

And I can access the setup page:
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_screen02.jpg

The few times I was able to go into the setup page (CHANNEL B: PASSED),
I rushed to try to encode (with the dead keyboard) the data to declare
the subsystem and finally return to the CP/M mode. And I had twice the
case where without warning hop! Blank screen, automatic reset, self-test
(POC) -> SERIAL I / O CHANNEL B: FAILED (again).
Maybe we have there some interesting information about the problem, the
intermittent nature of this failure, could this give information about
the type of component in fault?

But note that since weeks now the problem has become permanent, I have
never been able to return to this famous setup page and the "serial I/O
channel B" is now always marked as 'FAILED'.

So I have no way to try anything using the terminal at this point.

It is possible that the breakdown is in fact very simple (dry solder dry
or attacked solder by the acid of the battery), but I would like to
avoiding to rework all the solders, and maybe to finally find that the
problem was at the level of an IC, I would try to locate the components
linked to this problem. I look at the SIO, try to discover what is after
just after, see how I can eventually act on the pin 30 (W/RDYB) of that IC :
http://www.sbprojects.net/projects/izabella/assets/images/sio1.jpg


And try to understand why this SIO no longer considers the channel B as
'READY'
This kind of things ...
There are probably programmable loop-back circuitry used by the POC test
program (in the ROM of the program cartridge).To ignore the negative
diagnostic I would like to induce to the self-test program that the
channel B is OK, what should I inject to the SIO (perhaps on this pin
30) to force a positive diagnosis?
It would be interesting, just to see if in that way I can take control
again on the machine, and check that the rest is working.

And yes, the SIO is working (as the CPU, the counter timer and the DMA
controller) because I replaced these IC by another ones with the same
faulty result.
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_01.jpg

Thanks for your help ;-)

Dominique


On 17/10/2017 20:22, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:
> On 10/17/2017 10:50 AM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:
>> Hi Chuck,
>>
>> Yes I understand well. But the fact that the machines Z80 based were all
>> equipped with this famous serial I/O channel A and B,

Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-17 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk

Thanks for your response Chuck,

As described in the topic, just after the Power On, the machine runs a 
self-test which is called "POC TEST" on the UTS range of Sperry Univac.
During this test, the machine checks the status of the RAM, the ROMs, 
the Counter Timer, and the various communication interfaces.
Everything is OK except the ninth line which says: "SERIAL I / O CHANNEL 
B: FAILED"


(ignore the FAILED next to "OPTIONAL RAM BANK 0,1", the machine can 
start without this board)

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_screen03.jpg

This channel B error completely freezes the machine, it does not load 
the default settings, I no longer have access to the setup page, in this 
situation the keyboard remains without effects.


When the POC test is successful, it loads the default settings in non 
volatile RAM:

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_screen01.jpg

And I can access the setup page:
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_screen02.jpg

The few times I was able to go into the setup page (CHANNEL B: PASSED), 
I rushed to try to encode (with the dead keyboard) the data to declare 
the subsystem and finally return to the CP/M mode. And I had twice the 
case where without warning hop! Blank screen, automatic reset, self-test 
(POC) -> SERIAL I / O CHANNEL B: FAILED (again).
Maybe we have there some interesting information about the problem, the 
intermittent nature of this failure, could this give information about 
the type of component in fault?


But note that since weeks now the problem has become permanent, I have 
never been able to return to this famous setup page and the "serial I/O 
channel B" is now always marked as 'FAILED'.


So I have no way to try anything using the terminal at this point.

It is possible that the breakdown is in fact very simple (dry solder dry 
or attacked solder by the acid of the battery), but I would like to 
avoiding to rework all the solders, and maybe to finally find that the 
problem was at the level of an IC, I would try to locate the components 
linked to this problem. I look at the SIO, try to discover what is after 
just after, see how I can eventually act on the pin 30 (W/RDYB) of that IC :

http://www.sbprojects.net/projects/izabella/assets/images/sio1.jpg


And try to understand why this SIO no longer considers the channel B as 
'READY'

This kind of things ...
There are probably programmable loop-back circuitry used by the POC test 
program (in the ROM of the program cartridge).To ignore the negative 
diagnostic I would like to induce to the self-test program that the 
channel B is OK, what should I inject to the SIO (perhaps on this pin 
30) to force a positive diagnosis?
It would be interesting, just to see if in that way I can take control 
again on the machine, and check that the rest is working.


And yes, the SIO is working (as the CPU, the counter timer and the DMA 
controller) because I replaced these IC by another ones with the same 
faulty result.

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_01.jpg

Thanks for your help ;-)

Dominique


On 17/10/2017 20:22, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

On 10/17/2017 10:50 AM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:

Hi Chuck,

Yes I understand well. But the fact that the machines Z80 based were all
equipped with this famous serial I/O channel A and B, I therefore
thought that the principle of verification of these channels would
probably be the same on this type of architecture (Z80+PIO+CTC+SIO).
Therefore, there should be probably more people able to give me some
useful information.

Perhaps, but we don't know exactly what surrounds the Z80 SIO, or
exactly what the diagnostic is complaining about.   Does your SIO have
anything other than line drivers or receivers on its external interface?
  Some systems have programmable loop-back circuitry to enable the
terminal to function to talk to itself and verify functionality.

If you ignore the diagnostic message and feed the terminal some serial
data, do the inputs on the SIO wiggle appropriately in response?  In
other words, is the data getting from the connector to the SIO chip?

Troubleshooting is slow, methodical work.

The SIO/DART chip itself is very simple--and most likely not the cause
of the diagnostic failure.  But writing your own diagnostic software can
verify that.

At least that's what I think from a few thousand km away.

--Chuck






Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-17 Thread dwight via cctalk

You can not fix anything without knowing what it is suppose to do. Chuck's idea 
is sound. You will not likely get much with the logic analyzer unless the 
processor is actually running some code.

It doesn't sound like it is. You need to check that it is.

Dwight




From: cctalk <cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org> on behalf of Dominique Carlier via 
cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 10:50:29 AM
To: Chuck Guzis via cctalk
Subject: Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette 
subsystem : Restoration

Hi Chuck,

Yes I understand well. But the fact that the machines Z80 based were all
equipped with this famous serial I/O channel A and B, I therefore
thought that the principle of verification of these channels would
probably be the same on this type of architecture (Z80+PIO+CTC+SIO).
Therefore, there should be probably more people able to give me some
useful information.

Dominique


On 17/10/2017 19:26, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:
> On 10/17/2017 04:56 AM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:
>> Hi guys!
>>
>> Nobody here has any information to help me to solve my problem?
>> Do you think I should talk about this breakdown on another forum? If
>> yes, have you an address to recommend me?
>>
> Dominique, the probably reason that many of us don't jump in is that
> you've got a tough job, given the house-numbered ICs and lack of visible
> traces.
>
> If this were my system and I was determined to get it working, I'd
> probably start by dumping and disassembling the ROMs to find out exactly
> what set of program steps occur to produce the error message.
>
> I'd probably then write a diagnostic ROM that would allow me to probe in
> detail to characterize the fault.  The happy circumstance is that the
> display (and possibly the keyboard) is functional.)
>
> Then I'd jump in with a logic analyzer or ICE to determine the exact
> nature of the failure and its source.
>
> You can see that this is an arduous process that few are equipped to
> help you diagnose remotely.
>
> My two cents' worth,
> Chuck
>
>



Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-17 Thread Chuck Guzis via cctalk
On 10/17/2017 10:50 AM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:
> Hi Chuck,
> 
> Yes I understand well. But the fact that the machines Z80 based were all
> equipped with this famous serial I/O channel A and B, I therefore
> thought that the principle of verification of these channels would
> probably be the same on this type of architecture (Z80+PIO+CTC+SIO).
> Therefore, there should be probably more people able to give me some
> useful information.

Perhaps, but we don't know exactly what surrounds the Z80 SIO, or
exactly what the diagnostic is complaining about.   Does your SIO have
anything other than line drivers or receivers on its external interface?
 Some systems have programmable loop-back circuitry to enable the
terminal to function to talk to itself and verify functionality.

If you ignore the diagnostic message and feed the terminal some serial
data, do the inputs on the SIO wiggle appropriately in response?  In
other words, is the data getting from the connector to the SIO chip?

Troubleshooting is slow, methodical work.

The SIO/DART chip itself is very simple--and most likely not the cause
of the diagnostic failure.  But writing your own diagnostic software can
verify that.

At least that's what I think from a few thousand km away.

--Chuck



Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-17 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk

Hi Chuck,

Yes I understand well. But the fact that the machines Z80 based were all 
equipped with this famous serial I/O channel A and B, I therefore 
thought that the principle of verification of these channels would 
probably be the same on this type of architecture (Z80+PIO+CTC+SIO). 
Therefore, there should be probably more people able to give me some 
useful information.


Dominique


On 17/10/2017 19:26, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

On 10/17/2017 04:56 AM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:

Hi guys!

Nobody here has any information to help me to solve my problem?
Do you think I should talk about this breakdown on another forum? If
yes, have you an address to recommend me?


Dominique, the probably reason that many of us don't jump in is that
you've got a tough job, given the house-numbered ICs and lack of visible
traces.

If this were my system and I was determined to get it working, I'd
probably start by dumping and disassembling the ROMs to find out exactly
what set of program steps occur to produce the error message.

I'd probably then write a diagnostic ROM that would allow me to probe in
detail to characterize the fault.  The happy circumstance is that the
display (and possibly the keyboard) is functional.)

Then I'd jump in with a logic analyzer or ICE to determine the exact
nature of the failure and its source.

You can see that this is an arduous process that few are equipped to
help you diagnose remotely.

My two cents' worth,
Chuck






Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-17 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk

Hi Mattis !

I'm afraid I do not have the required skills :-/

I have never used this kind of tools. However I recovered this recently:
http://actingmachines.com/img/photos/package/europacorp/tektronix_1240_b.jpg 



But in the present state of my knowledge, I could not use it. Is it 
difficult for a novice to learn how to use it?


If I could just know what is the principle of the verification system of 
the PIO's channels A & B, and also what are the integrated circuits 
concerned? That would be valuable information.


Dominique

On 17/10/2017 17:09, Mattis Lind wrote:



2017-10-17 13:56 GMT+02:00 Dominique Carlier via cctalk 
>:


Hi guys!

Nobody here has any information to help me to solve my problem?
Do you think I should talk about this breakdown on another forum?
If yes, have you an address to recommend me?

Thanks

Dominique



I don't know anything about the system you are about to repair but it 
make use of a standard CPU which is kind of useful when the schematic 
is missing. If I were you I would attach my trusty logic analyzer over 
the CPU to try to trace what it is doing. Which ROM does it access 
when it is doing the power up self test? Use a disassmbler on that 
particular ROM and work out what flow the CPU takes in the ROM 
contents and try to understand what causes it to take the decision 
that something is broken.


Since my logic analyzer has fairly limited memory depth I would have 
it to trigger on for example accessing the SIO.


/Mattis




On 15/10/2017 23:12, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:

Hi everybody,

As I have no documentation / schematics I started to look for
computer schematics where it is about Z80 and “serial I/O
channel B”, I found a lot of data about this subject that I do
not know at all.
These information would allow me to better target the
breakdown, if any of you would consent to pass on some of his
knowledge.
In all documentation on Z80 based machines, I find the same
elements, similar architectures: CPU, PIO, CTC, SIO.

http://www.z80.info/gfx/nascom1main.gif

http://www.ep128.hu/Sp_Konyv/Pic/SIO_11.gif


I interchanged with the IC of my other CPU board which are of
the same model.
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_01.jpg


But the error persists, so the problem is around.
I'm trying to find out why the SIO detects a problem on the
channel B. How does this detection system work? What are the
solicited ICs? Do they communicate through other ICs like
multiplexers or others?

I would also like to simulate the absence of this problem in
order to see if this allows my UTS to have a successful POC
test, to have again access to the setup page of the machine.
Is it possible to do something at the SIO pin 30 (W/RDYB) to
pretend that the B channel is OK?
http://www.sbprojects.net/projects/izabella/assets/images/sio1.jpg


Can we imagine that the problem would be at the level of what
checks channel B and not channel B itself?
I also read a lot of obscure thing about memory, and I still
wonder if a memory problem could also play a part in this
failure? You must understand that I continue to try to
troubleshoot this machine like the others, comparative logic
without advanced academic knowledge, a challenge every time.

It's even harder because I have trouble identifying the
components. I do not find any results concerning the 3/4 of
the ICs, as for example these:
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_02.jpg


And even for components like this, "AVX 224Z 8238"
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_03.jpg


(ceramic capacitor of 220nf 50v? not sure)

There is also the fact that the tracks are not visible on the
CPU board which I try to repair, so I try to locate myself by
comparing component location to the original CPU board, in
short a beautiful mess.
Meanwhile, I restore this beautiful Key Tronics keyboard which
was in a very sad condition. Here are some pictures of this
restoration (work in progress)

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_01.jpg


http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_02.jpg

Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-17 Thread Chuck Guzis via cctalk
On 10/17/2017 04:56 AM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:
> Hi guys!
> 
> Nobody here has any information to help me to solve my problem?
> Do you think I should talk about this breakdown on another forum? If
> yes, have you an address to recommend me?
> 

Dominique, the probably reason that many of us don't jump in is that
you've got a tough job, given the house-numbered ICs and lack of visible
traces.

If this were my system and I was determined to get it working, I'd
probably start by dumping and disassembling the ROMs to find out exactly
what set of program steps occur to produce the error message.

I'd probably then write a diagnostic ROM that would allow me to probe in
detail to characterize the fault.  The happy circumstance is that the
display (and possibly the keyboard) is functional.)

Then I'd jump in with a logic analyzer or ICE to determine the exact
nature of the failure and its source.

You can see that this is an arduous process that few are equipped to
help you diagnose remotely.

My two cents' worth,
Chuck



Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-17 Thread Mattis Lind via cctalk
2017-10-17 13:56 GMT+02:00 Dominique Carlier via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> Hi guys!
>
> Nobody here has any information to help me to solve my problem?
> Do you think I should talk about this breakdown on another forum? If yes,
> have you an address to recommend me?
>
> Thanks
>
> Dominique



I don't know anything about the system you are about to repair but it make
use of a standard CPU which is kind of useful when the schematic is
missing. If I were you I would attach my trusty logic analyzer over the CPU
to try to trace what it is doing. Which ROM does it access when it is doing
the power up self test? Use a disassmbler on that particular ROM and work
out what flow the CPU takes in the ROM contents and try to understand what
causes it to take the decision that something is broken.

Since my logic analyzer has fairly limited memory depth I would have it to
trigger on for example accessing the SIO.

/Mattis

>
>
>
> On 15/10/2017 23:12, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:
>
>> Hi everybody,
>>
>> As I have no documentation / schematics I started to look for computer
>> schematics where it is about Z80 and “serial I/O channel B”, I found a lot
>> of data about this subject that I do not know at all.
>> These information would allow me to better target the breakdown, if any
>> of you would consent to pass on some of his knowledge.
>> In all documentation on Z80 based machines, I find the same elements,
>> similar architectures: CPU, PIO, CTC, SIO.
>>
>> http://www.z80.info/gfx/nascom1main.gif
>> http://www.ep128.hu/Sp_Konyv/Pic/SIO_11.gif
>>
>> I interchanged with the IC of my other CPU board which are of the same
>> model.
>> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_01.jpg
>>
>> But the error persists, so the problem is around.
>> I'm trying to find out why the SIO detects a problem on the channel B.
>> How does this detection system work? What are the solicited ICs? Do they
>> communicate through other ICs like multiplexers or others?
>>
>> I would also like to simulate the absence of this problem in order to see
>> if this allows my UTS to have a successful POC test, to have again access
>> to the setup page of the machine.
>> Is it possible to do something at the SIO pin 30 (W/RDYB) to pretend that
>> the B channel is OK?
>> http://www.sbprojects.net/projects/izabella/assets/images/sio1.jpg
>>
>> Can we imagine that the problem would be at the level of what checks
>> channel B and not channel B itself?
>> I also read a lot of obscure thing about memory, and I still wonder if a
>> memory problem could also play a part in this failure? You must understand
>> that I continue to try to troubleshoot this machine like the others,
>> comparative logic without advanced academic knowledge, a challenge every
>> time.
>>
>> It's even harder because I have trouble identifying the components. I do
>> not find any results concerning the 3/4 of the ICs, as for example these:
>> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_02.jpg
>>
>> And even for components like this, "AVX 224Z 8238"
>> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_03.jpg
>>
>> (ceramic capacitor of 220nf 50v? not sure)
>>
>> There is also the fact that the tracks are not visible on the CPU board
>> which I try to repair, so I try to locate myself by comparing component
>> location to the original CPU board, in short a beautiful mess.
>> Meanwhile, I restore this beautiful Key Tronics keyboard which was in a
>> very sad condition. Here are some pictures of this restoration (work in
>> progress)
>>
>> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_01.jpg
>>
>> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_02.jpg
>>
>> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_03.jpg
>> 
>> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_04.jpg
>>
>> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_05.jpg <
>> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_05.jpg>
>>
>> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_06.jpg <
>> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_06.jpg>
>>
>> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_07.jpg
>>
>> In any case I hold on, restarting this machine has become an obsession,
>> but without help I will still be on it for the next 10 years, thus  HELP!
>> ;-)
>>
>>
>> Everything would be perfectly fine if most of the time I did not have at
>>> startup an error at line 9. of the POC test:
>>>

> SERIAL I / O CHANNEL B: FAILED
>


>>
>>
>


Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-17 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk

Hi guys!

Nobody here has any information to help me to solve my problem?
Do you think I should talk about this breakdown on another forum? If 
yes, have you an address to recommend me?


Thanks

Dominique


On 15/10/2017 23:12, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:

Hi everybody,

As I have no documentation / schematics I started to look for computer 
schematics where it is about Z80 and “serial I/O channel B”, I found a 
lot of data about this subject that I do not know at all.
These information would allow me to better target the breakdown, if 
any of you would consent to pass on some of his knowledge.
In all documentation on Z80 based machines, I find the same elements, 
similar architectures: CPU, PIO, CTC, SIO.


http://www.z80.info/gfx/nascom1main.gif
http://www.ep128.hu/Sp_Konyv/Pic/SIO_11.gif

I interchanged with the IC of my other CPU board which are of the same 
model.

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_01.jpg

But the error persists, so the problem is around.
I'm trying to find out why the SIO detects a problem on the channel B. 
How does this detection system work? What are the solicited ICs? Do 
they communicate through other ICs like multiplexers or others?


I would also like to simulate the absence of this problem in order to 
see if this allows my UTS to have a successful POC test, to have again 
access to the setup page of the machine.
Is it possible to do something at the SIO pin 30 (W/RDYB) to pretend 
that the B channel is OK?

http://www.sbprojects.net/projects/izabella/assets/images/sio1.jpg

Can we imagine that the problem would be at the level of what checks 
channel B and not channel B itself?
I also read a lot of obscure thing about memory, and I still wonder if 
a memory problem could also play a part in this failure? You must 
understand that I continue to try to troubleshoot this machine like 
the others, comparative logic without advanced academic knowledge, a 
challenge every time.


It's even harder because I have trouble identifying the components. I 
do not find any results concerning the 3/4 of the ICs, as for example 
these:

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_02.jpg

And even for components like this, "AVX 224Z 8238"
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_03.jpg

(ceramic capacitor of 220nf 50v? not sure)

There is also the fact that the tracks are not visible on the CPU 
board which I try to repair, so I try to locate myself by comparing 
component location to the original CPU board, in short a beautiful mess.
Meanwhile, I restore this beautiful Key Tronics keyboard which was in 
a very sad condition. Here are some pictures of this restoration (work 
in progress)


http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_01.jpg

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_02.jpg

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_03.jpg

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_04.jpg

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_05.jpg 



http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_06.jpg 



http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_07.jpg

In any case I hold on, restarting this machine has become an 
obsession, but without help I will still be on it for the next 10 
years, thus  HELP! ;-)



Everything would be perfectly fine if most of the time I did not have 
at startup an error at line 9. of the POC test:


SERIAL I / O CHANNEL B: FAILED 









Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-15 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk

Hi everybody,

As I have no documentation / schematics I started to look for computer 
schematics where it is about Z80 and “serial I/O channel B”, I found a 
lot of data about this subject that I do not know at all.
These information would allow me to better target the breakdown, if any 
of you would consent to pass on some of his knowledge.
In all documentation on Z80 based machines, I find the same elements, 
similar architectures: CPU, PIO, CTC, SIO.


http://www.z80.info/gfx/nascom1main.gif
http://www.ep128.hu/Sp_Konyv/Pic/SIO_11.gif

I interchanged with the IC of my other CPU board which are of the same 
model.

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_01.jpg

But the error persists, so the problem is around.
I'm trying to find out why the SIO detects a problem on the channel B. 
How does this detection system work? What are the solicited ICs? Do they 
communicate through other ICs like multiplexers or others?


I would also like to simulate the absence of this problem in order to 
see if this allows my UTS to have a successful POC test, to have again 
access to the setup page of the machine.
Is it possible to do something at the SIO pin 30 (W/RDYB) to pretend 
that the B channel is OK?

http://www.sbprojects.net/projects/izabella/assets/images/sio1.jpg

Can we imagine that the problem would be at the level of what checks 
channel B and not channel B itself?
I also read a lot of obscure thing about memory, and I still wonder if a 
memory problem could also play a part in this failure? You must 
understand that I continue to try to troubleshoot this machine like the 
others, comparative logic without advanced academic knowledge, a 
challenge every time.


It's even harder because I have trouble identifying the components. I do 
not find any results concerning the 3/4 of the ICs, as for example these:

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_02.jpg

And even for components like this, "AVX 224Z 8238"
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/sio_issue_03.jpg

(ceramic capacitor of 220nf 50v? not sure)

There is also the fact that the tracks are not visible on the CPU board 
which I try to repair, so I try to locate myself by comparing component 
location to the original CPU board, in short a beautiful mess.
Meanwhile, I restore this beautiful Key Tronics keyboard which was in a 
very sad condition. Here are some pictures of this restoration (work in 
progress)


http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_01.jpg

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_02.jpg

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_03.jpg

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_04.jpg

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_05.jpg 



http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_06.jpg 



http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/keyboard2_07.jpg

In any case I hold on, restarting this machine has become an obsession, 
but without help I will still be on it for the next 10 years, thus  
HELP! ;-)



Everything would be perfectly fine if most of the time I did not have 
at startup an error at line 9. of the POC test:


SERIAL I / O CHANNEL B: FAILED 






Re: More videos of VCF's Univac

2017-10-13 Thread Ben Sinclair via cctalk
On Tue, Oct 10, 2017 at 1:16 PM, Evan Koblentz via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> I texted our project leader. He replied: "The short answer is I don't
> know. The copy I got is from one of the sailors on a destroyer with the
> equipment. Most programs written for the 1219 used an assembler called TRIM
> or Ultra. Remember that there is only 32K of memory in the machine."
>

They're not currently using these machines, are they? I did a little
digging and I found mentions of that machine running the "RIM-24 Tartar"
missile system, which is still in use, but maybe the computer has been
replaced by now!



-- 
Ben Sinclair
b...@bensinclair.com


RE: More videos of VCF's Univac

2017-10-11 Thread Jay West via cctalk

VCF Univac 'project leader' wrote:
"Remember that there is only 32K of memory in the machine."

"only 32k"?? HP2K ran 32 users in 32K of ram, and did it quite well.

J




Re: More videos of VCF's Univac

2017-10-11 Thread Chuck Guzis via cctalk
On 10/10/2017 11:16 AM, Evan Koblentz via cctalk wrote:

> I texted our project leader. He replied: "The short answer is I don't
> know. The copy I got is from one of the sailors on a destroyer with the
> equipment. Most programs written for the 1219 used an assembler called
> TRIM or Ultra. Remember that there is only 32K of memory in the machine."

For the day, that's actually quite a bit--that's 32K of 18-bit
words--more than a lot of S/360 iron at the time had.

--Chuck



Re: More videos of VCF's Univac

2017-10-11 Thread Ed via cctalk
good to see it up and running!
Ed#
 
 
In a message dated 10/10/2017 5:08:17 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,  
cctalk@classiccmp.org writes:

nice  job.  How many 1219-B's are still running in the world any  more?
Bill

On Tue, Oct 10, 2017 at 1:00 AM, Evan Koblentz via cctalk  <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Here it is  loading/running memory tests and Wumpus. :)
>
>  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_e5fSxflvrzeovlnioDfQR86zJOLPQ-D
>



Re: More videos of VCF's Univac

2017-10-11 Thread CuriousMarc via cctalk
Wonderful! What a beast! Nice to see the Model 35 TTY working so well too. 
Wumpus runs on my HP 85, but it's not quite the same experience ;-). Curiously 
it's one of the kids favorite  vintage games. 
Marc



On Oct 9, 2017, at 10:00 PM, Evan Koblentz via cctalk  
wrote:

Here it is loading/running memory tests and Wumpus. :)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_e5fSxflvrzeovlnioDfQR86zJOLPQ-D


Re: More videos of VCF's Univac

2017-10-10 Thread Evan Koblentz via cctalk

Here it is loading/running memory tests and Wumpus. :)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_e5fSxflvrzeovlnioDfQR86zJOLPQ-D


Fun.  Would love to see more Wumpus, but turn the camera 90 degrees.

Was it written in FORTRAN?  Machine code?  Feasible to port other
games of the vintage?



I texted our project leader. He replied: "The short answer is I don't 
know. The copy I got is from one of the sailors on a destroyer with the 
equipment. Most programs written for the 1219 used an assembler called 
TRIM or Ultra. Remember that there is only 32K of memory in the machine."


Re: More videos of VCF's Univac

2017-10-10 Thread Evan Koblentz via cctalk

nice job.  How many 1219-B's are still running in the world any more?


None that I know of...


Re: More videos of VCF's Univac

2017-10-10 Thread Liam Proven via cctalk
On 10 October 2017 at 07:00, Evan Koblentz via cctalk
 wrote:
> Here it is loading/running memory tests and Wumpus. :)
>
> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_e5fSxflvrzeovlnioDfQR86zJOLPQ-D

Wonderful -- but I do wish the camera operator had held their phone on its side!

-- 
Liam Proven • Profile: https://about.me/liamproven
Email: lpro...@cix.co.uk • Google Mail/Talk/Plus: lpro...@gmail.com
Twitter/Facebook/Flickr: lproven • Skype/LinkedIn/AIM/Yahoo: liamproven
UK: +44 7939-087884 • ČR/WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal: +420 702 829 053


Re: More videos of VCF's Univac

2017-10-10 Thread Lyle Bickley via cctalk
On Tue, 10 Oct 2017 01:00:34 -0400
Evan Koblentz via cctalk  wrote:

> Here it is loading/running memory tests and Wumpus. :)
> 
> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_e5fSxflvrzeovlnioDfQR86zJOLPQ-D

Terrific!!! Passing this on the the PDP-1 and 1401 Restoration  and
Demo Teams at the CHM.

Cheers,
Lyle
-- 
73  AF6WS
Bickley Consulting West Inc.
http://bickleywest.com

"Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"


Re: More videos of VCF's Univac

2017-10-10 Thread Ethan Dicks via cctalk
On Tue, Oct 10, 2017 at 1:00 AM, Evan Koblentz via cctalk
 wrote:
> Here it is loading/running memory tests and Wumpus. :)
>
> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_e5fSxflvrzeovlnioDfQR86zJOLPQ-D

Fun.  Would love to see more Wumpus, but turn the camera 90 degrees.

Was it written in FORTRAN?  Machine code?  Feasible to port other
games of the vintage?

-ethan


Re: More videos of VCF's Univac

2017-10-10 Thread william degnan via cctalk
nice job.  How many 1219-B's are still running in the world any more?
Bill

On Tue, Oct 10, 2017 at 1:00 AM, Evan Koblentz via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Here it is loading/running memory tests and Wumpus. :)
>
> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_e5fSxflvrzeovlnioDfQR86zJOLPQ-D
>


More videos of VCF's Univac

2017-10-09 Thread Evan Koblentz via cctalk

Here it is loading/running memory tests and Wumpus. :)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_e5fSxflvrzeovlnioDfQR86zJOLPQ-D


Re: Univac

2017-10-05 Thread Kirk Davis via cctalk


> On Oct 4, 2017, at 9:58 AM, Evan Koblentz via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> 
> wrote:
> 
>>> Here's a phone video from a recent repair workshop at the VCFed
>>> museum in New Jersey. Bill Dromgoole is demonstrating progress on one
>>> of the tape drives for our Sperry-Rand Univac 1219B mainframe (circa
>>> mid-1960s).
>>> 
>>> https://www.instagram.com/p/BZxg7e7DJ3r/
>> Terrific!
>> It's really amazing that you have a complete 1219-B!!! Wishing you the
>> best in your restoration. We need more 18-bit systems from that era up
>> and running :)
> 
> 36 bit.

Anyone remember Uniblab?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnsVmPHbQT0 
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnsVmPHbQT0>



Re: Univac

2017-10-04 Thread Evan Koblentz via cctalk

Here's a phone video from a recent repair workshop at the VCFed
museum in New Jersey. Bill Dromgoole is demonstrating progress on one
of the tape drives for our Sperry-Rand Univac 1219B mainframe (circa
mid-1960s).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZxg7e7DJ3r/


Terrific!

It's really amazing that you have a complete 1219-B!!! Wishing you the
best in your restoration. We need more 18-bit systems from that era up
and running :)


36 bit.


Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-04 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk

Hi All !

I started checking / replacing all the capacitors - tantalum and 
electrolytic - on the CPU board saved from the US. Until now I don't 
found the guilty.
The CPU board of the USA is a horror to troubleshoot, because of the 
acid the battery that changed the nature of solder tin and some kind of 
resin characteristic of these PCBs, it is difficult to desolder the 
components. I wonder if I would do better to repair my own CPU board 
because this one is finally in a better state in comparison.


What is raging is that these two types of breakdownswere perfectly well 
identified by Sperry Univac. According to the UTS 20 manual :


- Blank screen and long tone (the breakdown of my CPU board) : I'm 
supposed to report this information to my Sperry Univac customer 
services, point, no explanation


- SERIAL I/O CHANNEL B failure (the breakdown of the CPU board from US) :
Their advice = Corrective action: none, and I'm supposed to transmit the 
code "3560U-0010" (still to my Sperry Univac customer services).


Zero information, nothing, it is raging. One or two clues to orient my 
research would be so precious...


I have the corresponding manual but for the UTS 40 somewhere lost in my 
attic. I will find it, I do not have the hope to find a better 
description but I must be sure.
On this subject, I would like to scan and share it because it does not 
exist on the internet.


Dominique


On 2/10/2017 18:13, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:

Hi everybody,

Here is the next episode of the restoration of my UTS 40.

During the previous “season”, I was talking about buying a wreck of an 
UTS 40 from the USA.

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/annonce.jpg

 I had taken the risk to buy it, after the conclusion of the sale, the 
seller had retracted, I had argued with him, I finally put a bad note 
on Ebay. However, surprise! The guy still sends me the machine. This 
one remains blocked during a full month at the Belgian custom house. I 
finally receive it, and now, if you like horror movies, you will be 
happy.


Here is the state in which I received the machine:
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_01.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_02.jpg

I never - never! - received a package in this condition !! The reason 
maybe was the hideous and ridiculously “protective” packaging ? 
Possible ... or in the plane they 400kg over my UTS ? Possible ... but 
we still have the impression that someone hammered the machine, even 
the very solid plastic pieces have also shattered.


As I am an optimistic guy, I think "the plastic ... not important, 
fortunately the chassis and the electronics of this machine is build 
like a tank".


I analyze the boards, as expected, some architectural differences but 
not so much. Here is the CPU board:

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_03.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_06.jpg

Unsurprisingly, the battery has sunk and there are damages:
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_04.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_05.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_07.jpg

With courage I clean the board, I replace some resistors, one 
capacitor, ...

Before/After
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_08.jpg

and I replace the battery (2,4V ? A doubt persist)
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_10.jpg

And comes the time of the first test and it boot!
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_09.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_09b.jpg

The POC test at startup is not successfull but from the outset, this 
allows me to analyze and diagnose some elements of my own UTS 40, here 
is what I notice:


- The program cartridge of my UTS 40 is functional
- The power supply to my UTS 40 is OK
- The video circuit of my UTS is OK
- The keyboard of my UTS requires a restoration (aluminum discs, foam 
cylinder, classic issue of old keytronic keyboard)

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_11.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_12.jpg

- The absence of the backup battery is not a problem, the machine can 
boot, without this it can successfully passing the POC test and the 
encoding of the parameters in the setup page is possible.


I discover other interesting things about the relationship between the 
cartridge program and the hardware configuration.


- These program cartridge are made for a specific hardware 
configuration, for example the RAM repartitions at the level of 
hardware has an impact on the result of the startup test. The number 
of kilobytes checked, the memory extension considered as PASSED or 
FAILED. Even the installed memory is working and assignable, with a 
configuration that differs from the hardware intended to run with a 
specific Program Cartridge, the POC test could show that a memory is 
mis

Re: Univac

2017-10-04 Thread Lyle Bickley via cctalk
On Tue, 3 Oct 2017 01:20:40 -0400
Evan Koblentz via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Here's a phone video from a recent repair workshop at the VCFed
> museum in New Jersey. Bill Dromgoole is demonstrating progress on one
> of the tape drives for our Sperry-Rand Univac 1219B mainframe (circa
> mid-1960s).
> 
> https://www.instagram.com/p/BZxg7e7DJ3r/

Terrific!

It's really amazing that you have a complete 1219-B!!! Wishing you the
best in your restoration. We need more 18-bit systems from that era up
and running :)

Lyle

-- 
73  AF6WS
Bickley Consulting West Inc.
http://bickleywest.com

"Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"


Re: Univac

2017-10-04 Thread CuriousMarc via cctalk
Beautiful tape unit. Threading the tape over the myriad of pulleys must be a 
joy!
Marc



On Oct 2, 2017, at 10:20 PM, Evan Koblentz via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> 
wrote:

Here's a phone video from a recent repair workshop at the VCFed museum in New 
Jersey. Bill Dromgoole is demonstrating progress on one of the tape drives for 
our Sperry-Rand Univac 1219B mainframe (circa mid-1960s).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZxg7e7DJ3r/


Evan Koblentz, director
Vintage Computer Federation
a 501(c)3 educational non-profit

e...@vcfed.org
(646) 546-

www.vcfed.org
facebook.com/vcfederation
twitter.com/vcfederation


Univac

2017-10-03 Thread Evan Koblentz via cctalk
Here's a phone video from a recent repair workshop at the VCFed museum 
in New Jersey. Bill Dromgoole is demonstrating progress on one of the 
tape drives for our Sperry-Rand Univac 1219B mainframe (circa mid-1960s).


https://www.instagram.com/p/BZxg7e7DJ3r/


Evan Koblentz, director
Vintage Computer Federation
a 501(c)3 educational non-profit

e...@vcfed.org
(646) 546-

www.vcfed.org
facebook.com/vcfederation
twitter.com/vcfederation


Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-02 Thread Camiel Vanderhoeven via cctalk
On 8/13/17, 11:15 PM, "cctech on behalf of Dominique Carlier via cctech"
 wrote:


>On 12/08/2017 19:35, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
>> the black one in the lower left
>>
>> it is a tantalum, which are known to short, try removing them
>>
>
>Yes ! It was this one that was shorted !
>I decided in the same way to repair the second disk drive but this time
>by taking some pictures.

It would be a good idea to replace all tantalum capacitors; if two
shorted, chances are others are on their way out soon, too. Sometimes,
tantalum capacitor failure is paired with a nasty epxlosion that can make
a mess of things.

Camiel




Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-02 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk
You're probably right, but the work is so massive, and also this time I 
would like to understand and target this breakdown instead of working 
(as usual) in blind mode.
In addition, I do not see the same type of capacitor on the CPU board as 
the one from the subsystem you quote as being known to break down.


Do you think that the small green capacitors here
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_08.jpg

can be as fragile as this model there?
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/8406repair07.jpg

Dominique

On 2/10/2017 19:05, Camiel Vanderhoeven via cctech wrote:

On 8/13/17, 11:15 PM, "cctech on behalf of Dominique Carlier via cctech"
 wrote:



On 12/08/2017 19:35, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:

the black one in the lower left

it is a tantalum, which are known to short, try removing them


Yes ! It was this one that was shorted !
I decided in the same way to repair the second disk drive but this time
by taking some pictures.

It would be a good idea to replace all tantalum capacitors; if two
shorted, chances are others are on their way out soon, too. Sometimes,
tantalum capacitor failure is paired with a nasty epxlosion that can make
a mess of things.

Camiel







Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-02 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk
Yes indeed, on the "Peripheral Interface" connector of the US 
configuration there was a terminator which seems indicated that nothing 
was connected there. Moreover, with the Program Cartridge US, the 
terminal does not recognize the PERIPHERAL I/O board of my original 
configuration.
This is why I use the CPU board US, its memory extension but with my 
Program Cartridge and my PERIPHERAL I/O board on which the subsystem 
8406 was connected.
It is not impossible that the PERIPHERAL I/O board US is also able to 
manage the 8406 Subsystem, the board is very elaborate, 4 or 5 Zilog 80, 
and two rows of dip switches, but without documentation ... I prefer to 
try with the board that worked with the subsystem.


It remains to be discovered what the "SERIAL I/O CHANNEL B" is, find the 
related component and the breakdown, and there is a good chance that I 
can restart this venerable machine.
But I search everywhere, I have not found any information that explains 
what it is.


Dominique


On 2/10/2017 21:28, jim stephens via cctalk wrote:



On 10/2/2017 9:13 AM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:



Everything would be perfectly fine if most of the time I did not have 
at startup an error at line 9. of the POC test:


SERIAL I / O CHANNEL B: FAILED 
I doubt the US unit you bought was used with a floppy running CPM. It 
most likely had a synchronous channel for connection to some network 
and ran just standalone.


I recall that there were modules of some sort you added to get some 
functionality, so as to not have to open the box.  I don't know if you 
set anything outside the box, but it may have some switches or such to 
indicate some other device is present that now is not.  So it would 
fail on power on test.


that's just a guess on which way I'd go to figure it out.  I don't 
have any documentation or anything other than having had one for about 
a year for a project I did to go on.


Mine had no floppies, but had a printer interface option attached 
which was the same as one that was on a Univac 1100 series mainframe I 
was making a controller for.  So I could  just run a standalone test 
and if my controller card was working it would spew on the printer.
That option was also one of these things added on.  Never dug into 
anything as the device is pretty overengineered and without a lot of 
manuals and parts, you can't do much with it.


thanks
Jim





Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-02 Thread jim stephens via cctalk



On 10/2/2017 9:13 AM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:



Everything would be perfectly fine if most of the time I did not have 
at startup an error at line 9. of the POC test:


SERIAL I / O CHANNEL B: FAILED 
I doubt the US unit you bought was used with a floppy running CPM. It 
most likely had a synchronous channel for connection to some network and 
ran just standalone.


I recall that there were modules of some sort you added to get some 
functionality, so as to not have to open the box.  I don't know if you 
set anything outside the box, but it may have some switches or such to 
indicate some other device is present that now is not.  So it would fail 
on power on test.


that's just a guess on which way I'd go to figure it out.  I don't have 
any documentation or anything other than having had one for about a year 
for a project I did to go on.


Mine had no floppies, but had a printer interface option attached which 
was the same as one that was on a Univac 1100 series mainframe I was 
making a controller for.  So I could  just run a standalone test and if 
my controller card was working it would spew on the printer.
That option was also one of these things added on.  Never dug into 
anything as the device is pretty overengineered and without a lot of 
manuals and parts, you can't do much with it.


thanks
Jim


The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-10-02 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk

Hi everybody,

Here is the next episode of the restoration of my UTS 40.

During the previous “season”, I was talking about buying a wreck of an 
UTS 40 from the USA.

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/annonce.jpg

 I had taken the risk to buy it, after the conclusion of the sale, the 
seller had retracted, I had argued with him, I finally put a bad note on 
Ebay. However, surprise! The guy still sends me the machine. This one 
remains blocked during a full month at the Belgian custom house. I 
finally receive it, and now, if you like horror movies, you will be happy.


Here is the state in which I received the machine:
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_01.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_02.jpg

I never - never! - received a package in this condition !! The reason 
maybe was the hideous and ridiculously “protective” packaging ? Possible 
... or in the plane they 400kg over my UTS ? Possible ... but we still 
have the impression that someone hammered the machine, even the very 
solid plastic pieces have also shattered.


As I am an optimistic guy, I think "the plastic ... not important, 
fortunately the chassis and the electronics of this machine is build 
like a tank".


I analyze the boards, as expected, some architectural differences but 
not so much. Here is the CPU board:

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_03.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_06.jpg

Unsurprisingly, the battery has sunk and there are damages:
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_04.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_05.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_07.jpg

With courage I clean the board, I replace some resistors, one capacitor, ...
Before/After
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_08.jpg

and I replace the battery (2,4V ? A doubt persist)
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_10.jpg

And comes the time of the first test and it boot!
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_09.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_09b.jpg

The POC test at startup is not successfull but from the outset, this 
allows me to analyze and diagnose some elements of my own UTS 40, here 
is what I notice:


- The program cartridge of my UTS 40 is functional
- The power supply to my UTS 40 is OK
- The video circuit of my UTS is OK
- The keyboard of my UTS requires a restoration (aluminum discs, foam 
cylinder, classic issue of old keytronic keyboard)

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_11.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40_from_usa_12.jpg

- The absence of the backup battery is not a problem, the machine can 
boot, without this it can successfully passing the POC test and the 
encoding of the parameters in the setup page is possible.


I discover other interesting things about the relationship between the 
cartridge program and the hardware configuration.


- These program cartridge are made for a specific hardware 
configuration, for example the RAM repartitions at the level of hardware 
has an impact on the result of the startup test. The number of kilobytes 
checked, the memory extension considered as PASSED or FAILED. Even the 
installed memory is working and assignable, with a configuration that 
differs from the hardware intended to run with a specific Program 
Cartridge, the POC test could show that a memory is missing, simply 
because the RAM is not physically in the slot or socket according to the 
program specification in the cartridge.
I drew this conclusion because the CPU board form USA has 64Kb installed 
on it, and 27 empty sockets, I filled them with RAM and now with the 
program cartridge form Ebay, 4X  64KB are detected and flagged with a 
PASSED.
However with my program cartridge, it detects a second memory extension 
as PASSED, but considers the first extension FAILED, I think that on the 
original CPU board, there was only 32kb, even 16kb and non-extensible on 
that board (hence the presence of two memory expansion boards in my 
original configuration). Briefly, according to the inserted program 
cartridge, the tests are sometimes but not always dynamically adaptable 
to a given configuration.


- A cartridge program can be programmed to operate only with a specific 
model of PERIPHERAL I/O board. The program cartridge form Ebay does not 
work with my PERIPHERAL I/O board, however my program cartridge seems to 
detect the PERIPHERAL I/O board of the US.


- I recreated the breakdown of my machine with the hardware of the other 
UTS. I'm talking about the situation of a long BEEP + blank screen, this 
happens if I remove the unique memory expansion board in the original 
configuration of the UTS from Ebay, this could mean that my own CPU 
board is maybe OK and that this could be one of two memory extensions of 
my machine that has a problem (Hypothesis).


But now, 

Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-08-13 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk

On 12/08/2017 19:35, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:

the black one in the lower left

it is a tantalum, which are known to short, try removing them



Yes ! It was this one that was shorted !
I decided in the same way to repair the second disk drive but this time 
by taking some pictures.


http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/8406repair01.jpg

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/8406repair02.jpg

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/8406repair03.jpg

First, I desolder the same capacitor as on the first drive

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/8406repair04.jpg

but ...

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/8406repair05.jpg

Damn, it's not the same faulty capacitor ! Fortunately by checking the 
next one on the path of the + 24v


http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/8406repair06.jpg

There you are !

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/8406repair07.jpg 



Since, I reassembled the beast, everything seems to be OK on the 
subsystem side, he's ready to follow the instructions of the UTS 40 !


http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/8406repair08.jpg

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/8406repair09.jpg 



When I think that somewhere on the CPU board of the computer it is 
perhaps a simple component like that capacitor which is the cause of 
this breakdown since 17 long years ...





Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-08-12 Thread Al Kossow via cctalk


On 8/12/17 6:45 AM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:

> I did not know this type of case for capacitors
> 
> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/M2894-63_board03.jpg


the black one in the lower left

it is a tantalum, which are known to short, try removing them





Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-08-12 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk
It seems that you are right, I start successfully the Memorex 102 with 
the PSU without flickering, this HDD uses the same voltages as the 
Mitsubishi M2894-63D 8" disk drive (24VDC - 5VDC).


It remains me to find out which components are faulty

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/M2894-63_board01.jpg

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/M2894-63_board02.jpg

I did not know this type of case for capacitors

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/M2894-63_board03.jpg



On 12/08/2017 14:30, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:
Note that this produces the same result with either of the two disk 
drive connected however your suggestion is interesting.
These two drives have the same age and some capacitors may become 
faulty simultaneously. I will analyze the hypothesis, thanks!
I have an old hard drive (MEMOREX 102) with the same connector for the 
supply, i'm going to test the PSU with this other device.


On 11/08/2017 16:13, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:

On 8/11/17 5:40 AM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:

I continued my investigations about the power supply if the 8406 subsystem.
Here is what I observe:

With the PSU in charge, I mean with a disk drive connected but without the +24V 
:
+5V -5V +12V -12V: OK
If I connect the +24V to the drive this is at this moment than the power supply 
goes mad and sends erratic alternating
voltages to the + & - 5V and + & - 12v.

It sounds like something is wrong with the disk drives, probably a shorted 
capacitor on the drive.

If you apply a resistive load on the 24v does the supply still go crazy?





Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-08-12 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk
Note that this produces the same result with either of the two disk 
drive connected however your suggestion is interesting.
These two drives have the same age and some capacitors may become faulty 
simultaneously. I will analyze the hypothesis, thanks!
I have an old hard drive (MEMOREX 102) with the same connector for the 
supply, i'm going to test the PSU with this other device.



On 11/08/2017 16:13, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:


On 8/11/17 5:40 AM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:

Hi all,

I continued my investigations about the power supply if the 8406 subsystem.
Here is what I observe:

With the PSU in charge, I mean with a disk drive connected but without the +24V 
:
+5V -5V +12V -12V: OK
If I connect the +24V to the drive this is at this moment than the power supply 
goes mad and sends erratic alternating
voltages to the + & - 5V and + & - 12v.

It sounds like something is wrong with the disk drives, probably a shorted 
capacitor on the drive.

If you apply a resistive load on the 24v does the supply still go crazy?






Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-08-11 Thread Al Kossow via cctalk


On 8/11/17 5:40 AM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I continued my investigations about the power supply if the 8406 subsystem.
> Here is what I observe:
> 
> With the PSU in charge, I mean with a disk drive connected but without the 
> +24V :
> +5V -5V +12V -12V: OK
> If I connect the +24V to the drive this is at this moment than the power 
> supply goes mad and sends erratic alternating
> voltages to the + & - 5V and + & - 12v.

It sounds like something is wrong with the disk drives, probably a shorted 
capacitor on the drive.

If you apply a resistive load on the 24v does the supply still go crazy?



Re: The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-08-11 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk

Hi all,

I continued my investigations about the power supply if the 8406 subsystem.
Here is what I observe:

With the PSU in charge, I mean with a disk drive connected but without 
the +24V :

+5V -5V +12V -12V: OK
If I connect the +24V to the drive this is at this moment than the power 
supply goes mad and sends erratic alternating voltages to the + & - 5V 
and + & - 12v.


The question remains complete, which is the guilty component? :

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/subsystem05.jpg

Is it possible that rectifier diodes become mad only when they have a 
significant load? Or is it finally a faulty capacitor that a ESR-meter 
can not detect as broken when is it not in charge?


Dominique

On 10/08/2017 20:07, Dominique Carlier via cctalk wrote:

Hi everybody,

After talking about this subject but in a thread following a sale - 
http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2017-July/036578.html - I 
decided to start here a thread but this time fully dedicated to the 
restoration of this rare computer, I named the SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 
and its Subsystem 8406 (2 X 8 "DSDD).

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/1.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/2.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/3.jpg

I take the opportunity to show you the 4 motherboards of that beast in 
details (hi-res)

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/4boards_presentation.jpg

The CPU board
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/cpu_board.jpg

The communication board
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/communication_board.jpg

A memory extension board
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/memory_extension_board.jpg

And a - I don't know exactly - board
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/unknown_board.jpg
(Any information ?)

In the other thread some topics were discussed, I will copy some part 
here in the idea of grouping these information.


This machine has an historical importance for me. I have an 
unforgettable memory of the data center in which my father worked. He 
sometimes took me with him in the early evening to start some 
procedures to be done during the night (process, tape backup, 
printing), my father worked on a UNIVAC 9200 II and then on a SPERRY 
UNIVAC 90/30. I remember the look of this big room in the dark, it was 
beautiful like a Christmas tree ;-) (that's what I was saying when I 
was five).


Me in 1980 at 6 ... yes, I had hair like the kid in the movie 
"Shining" ;-)

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/dce1980.jpg

I even remember the exact configuration of the 90/30 : 3 X disk pack 
drive of 30 MB each, 3 X nine track tape drive Uniservo 10/14, a punch 
card reader/writer, a frightening and noisy drum printer, an 
indefinable number of UTS20D terminals, a beautiful Uniscope 100 that 
was standing next to the control panel on the central console, and a 
little bit later (1983) ... a UTS 40 and its subsystem. All these 
beautiful machines shone in the darkness of this data center during 
the night, it was beautiful, there was also the characteristic smell 
of hot machines in these places, well ventilated but smokers allowed. 
It is indeed of this time that I come to me an attraction for the 
technology and mainly for computers, preferably big, imposing and 
spectacular.


In 1987, my father acquired a VAX 8350 (3 X CPU - 6 X RA82H - 2 X TU81 
plus - a lot of VT220s and one VT340), progressively they started the 
migration from the 90/30  to the 8350, some part of the 90/30 are been 
progressively decommissioned and I received sometimes some gears. 
Notes that at the age of 14 I had only an Amiga 500 and a Commodore 
64, when I received the UTS 40 and its subsystem 8406 (with a UTS 20D 
bonus) in 1987 from my father's hands, I considered this computer as 
my first "serious" machine. Besides the sentimental value through the 
paternal donation, this machine evoked me the loved mainframes and 
computer terminals from my childhood.


I used this machine from 1988 to 1999 (the date of the breakdown). I 
wanted to give it a major utility in my own "data center" and under 
CP/M I coded in BASIC a program to manage a database, a kind of big 
help-memory-reminder, in which I noted all that passed by my mind, a 
lot of funny stuff, dreams, projects, technical stuff, music 
annotations, poetry... ;-)


Here I was 16 and so happy to have fun with my dear UTS 40 ^_^
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/1989.jpg

My UTS 40 was ON every day and I used it constantly, the machine 
seemed indestructible however after 20 years of good and loyal 
services it began to show signs of fatigue. I had sometimes an error 
message during the POC TEST at initialization (RAM or ROM error, I can 
not remember). At this time I incriminated my brave cat who was 
watching me tapping on the keyboard and sleeped regularly on the top 
of the screen that served her as heater, thus blocking the normal 
ventilation of the 

The SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 system + 8406 double-sided diskette subsystem : Restoration

2017-08-10 Thread Dominique Carlier via cctalk

Hi everybody,

After talking about this subject but in a thread following a sale - 
http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2017-July/036578.html - I 
decided to start here a thread but this time fully dedicated to the 
restoration of this rare computer, I named the SPERRY UNIVAC UTS 40 and 
its Subsystem 8406 (2 X 8 "DSDD).

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/1.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/2.jpg
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/3.jpg

I take the opportunity to show you the 4 motherboards of that beast in 
details (hi-res)

http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/4boards_presentation.jpg

The CPU board
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/cpu_board.jpg

The communication board
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/communication_board.jpg

A memory extension board
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/memory_extension_board.jpg

And a - I don't know exactly - board
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/unknown_board.jpg
(Any information ?)

In the other thread some topics were discussed, I will copy some part 
here in the idea of grouping these information.


This machine has an historical importance for me. I have an 
unforgettable memory of the data center in which my father worked. He 
sometimes took me with him in the early evening to start some procedures 
to be done during the night (process, tape backup, printing), my father 
worked on a UNIVAC 9200 II and then on a SPERRY UNIVAC 90/30. I remember 
the look of this big room in the dark, it was beautiful like a Christmas 
tree ;-) (that's what I was saying when I was five).


Me in 1980 at 6 ... yes, I had hair like the kid in the movie "Shining" ;-)
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/uts40/dce1980.jpg

I even remember the exact configuration of the 90/30 : 3 X disk pack 
drive of 30 MB each, 3 X nine track tape drive Uniservo 10/14, a punch 
card reader/writer, a frightening and noisy drum printer, an indefinable 
number of UTS20D terminals, a beautiful Uniscope 100 that was standing 
next to the control panel on the central console, and a little bit later 
(1983) ... a UTS 40 and its subsystem. All these beautiful machines 
shone in the darkness of this data center during the night, it was 
beautiful, there was also the characteristic smell of hot machines in 
these places, well ventilated but smokers allowed. It is indeed of this 
time that I come to me an attraction for the technology and mainly for 
computers, preferably big, imposing and spectacular.


In 1987, my father acquired a VAX 8350 (3 X CPU - 6 X RA82H - 2 X TU81 
plus - a lot of VT220s and one VT340), progressively they started the 
migration from the 90/30  to the 8350, some part of the 90/30 are been 
progressively decommissioned and I received sometimes some gears. Notes 
that at the age of 14 I had only an Amiga 500 and a Commodore 64, when I 
received the UTS 40 and its subsystem 8406 (with a UTS 20D bonus) in 
1987 from my father's hands, I considered this computer as my first 
"serious" machine. Besides the sentimental value through the paternal 
donation, this machine evoked me the loved mainframes and computer 
terminals from my childhood.


I used this machine from 1988 to 1999 (the date of the breakdown). I 
wanted to give it a major utility in my own "data center" and under CP/M 
I coded in BASIC a program to manage a database, a kind of big 
help-memory-reminder, in which I noted all that passed by my mind, a lot 
of funny stuff, dreams, projects, technical stuff, music annotations, 
poetry... ;-)


Here I was 16 and so happy to have fun with my dear UTS 40 ^_^
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/1989.jpg

My UTS 40 was ON every day and I used it constantly, the machine seemed 
indestructible however after 20 years of good and loyal services it 
began to show signs of fatigue. I had sometimes an error message during 
the POC TEST at initialization (RAM or ROM error, I can not remember). 
At this time I incriminated my brave cat who was watching me tapping on 
the keyboard and sleeped regularly on the top of the screen that served 
her as heater, thus blocking the normal ventilation of the machine.
Important thing : after a POC test error asimple reset was enough to 
restart the machine.This can be a useful data regarding components that 
were tired at that time. In the case of an eprom that breaks down, the 
change from the operating state to the non-operating state is direct, is 
it not? (i mean, without return possible to an operating state).


Anyway, one day I turned my UTS ON and instead of the POC TEST and the 
short BIP, just a long "BEEEP" and nothing on the screen. As I 
remembered the RAM / ROM issues displayed via the POC TEST, I suspected 
the ROMs on the "program cartridge". In fact I knew a lot less 
electronics compared to today. Fortunately I had printed all of my 
writings with the Manesmann-Tally dot matrix printer that w

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