[cctalk] Re: FWIW CD & DVD demagnitizitation [was: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks]

2024-05-07 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> First, in general, there are so many apparent reviews of so many products, it > is hard to believe they are all scams. How can there be enough fools to buy > enough of those products to have that many different ones? I see you're new to the intersection of the audiophile world and online

[cctalk] Re: Drum memory on pdp11's? Wikipedia thinks so....

2024-04-15 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Well, I can submit a correction, but does anyone remember /dev/drum? I > don't recall that in V6m or V7 Unix, I guess I could fire one of them up > and see There's at least references to /dev/drum in 2.11BSD, I forget if it was in the docs or actually important stuff in the source. I don't

[cctalk] Re: PDP-11 thingy. What is it?

2024-04-10 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> 1. I have read that the card and the drives were compatible with the dec rx02 > drives. Why would the CRDS even bother to redesign a card where DEC had > perfectly good working ones? Anyone know if there is any value in keeping the > FC-202 or just keep with the DEC cards? A lot of the

[cctalk] Re: typical IC kits on Amazon and elsewhere

2024-03-30 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Been lurking for a while, but this topic hits true with some recent > experiences. I would not hesitate to buy most common digital ICs on Amazon > or ebay I mean we had to stop buying 7400 series from Jameco over counterfeits, so it's definitely a problem for jellybean parts too. We had so

[cctalk] Re: typical IC kits on Amazon and elsewhere

2024-03-30 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Standard TTL 74XXX is drying up rather quickly. Futurlec still has some > TTL but 7404s are all gone. Even LS is hard to find. Ours comes from Mouser, between two part #s they have over 7,000 74LS04s in DIP packaging in stock. Didn't check ACT, HCT, or ALS. I don't think we've had a 7400

[cctalk] Re: WTB: Cromemco System Zero

2024-03-28 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> I had no idea they made a System Zero. I have a System One FWIW. Apparently a lot of folks, even those actively hacking on S-100 stuff, don't know about the System Zero! I've had a number of folks say as much. It's definitely a real product, I had a purchase lined up for one a few years ago,

[cctalk] WTB: Cromemco System Zero

2024-03-27 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
All, I'm looking for a Cromemco System Zero, doesn't matter if it's empty or not. Please contact me off-list if you have one to sell/trade or know of one! Thanks, Jonathan

[cctalk] Semi-OT: MAX180 Evaluation Kit ROM/Diskette Image

2024-03-17 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
All, I'm looking for an image of the ROM or companion diskette for the Maxim MAX180 Evaluation Kit (MAX180EVKIT). I've got one that has a custom application ROM in it. Thanks, Jonathan

[cctalk] Re: ADM3a screen rot.

2024-01-29 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> This apparently is true of some capacitors as well, I'm not sure which types. It is true of all capacitors (CRTs are intentional capacitors, after all) designed for and subjected to sufficiently high voltage. It's referred to as dielectric absorption, and is why HV caps ship from the factory

[cctalk] Re: WWVB

2024-01-14 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> I agree with Don on the interference. We have a very high noise floor > here in Toronto as well as being on the fringe IIRC there's something on-frequency in England that often swamps WWVB on the northeastern part of North America, too! Thanks, Jonathan

[cctalk] Re: WWVB

2024-01-14 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
Bill, If it's an older clock it's probably tripping over a timecode transmission format/modulation change. I forget the exact details but changes were required to my old 8085-based Spectracom receiver. Thanks, Jonathan On Sunday, January 14th, 2024 at 14:49, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk

[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...

2023-10-15 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Next step will be trying the same on my UltraBook (DS1643 instead of DS1553 > on the UltraBook IIi). But need to Xray that one first before attaching a new > battery. I have a DS1643 replacement prototype if you're interested. Thanks, Jonathan

[cctalk] Re: Soviet tube/transistor/IC spec source

2023-10-02 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
Very cool, thanks for sharing! I didn't know such a tabulation existed! Thanks, Jonathan --- Original Message --- On Monday, October 2nd, 2023 at 13:12, Shoppa, Tim via cctalk wrote: > > > For those working with ex-Soviet equipment from the 60’s and 70’s here’s a > remarkable

[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...

2023-09-28 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
Booted the SPARCbook 3, its battery is in fact dead, and aside from taking a little longer to come up (totally expected) it's fine. Thanks, Jonathan --- Original Message --- On Thursday, September 28th, 2023 at 07:41, Jonathan Chapman via cctalk wrote: > > > Yet we h

[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...

2023-09-28 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
Yet we have a few datapoints showing that a dead NVRAM/RTC still boot UltraBooks just fine! As I said, I personally confirmed with my UltraBook IIe. Pretty sure the NVRAM is dead in my SPARCbook too, I can confirm that today. Thanks, Jonathan --- Original Message --- On Thursday,

[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...

2023-09-27 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Hi Jonathan, thanks for your thoughs. I am still using the same NVRAM, just > with external battery attached, so no Chineese counterfeit. > My hypothesis is: With the battery losing voltage, some bits flip first. They > cause the error message you see and values get set to proper values. But

[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...

2023-09-27 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Interesting - did you youse some modern technology for > doing that? Modern "special sauce" replacements from Dallas/Maxim/Analog/etc., plus a fast, low-power SRAM, all packaged on a circuit board with Batten & Allen DIP leadframe pins, like this:

[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...

2023-09-27 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Speaking of dumping... > > Is it possible to read a Dallas DS1643 in programmer? That's what's in my > Ultrabook. I just tried with a Topmax II that supports it and I get all > zeros. :( You probably need to make a shim socket and pull pin 26 to VCC (pin 28), then read it as a DS1225. I'd

[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...

2023-09-27 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
/me hears mention of dead NVRAMs and materializes Pulled out my UltraBook IIe today, it's fine with a dead NVRAM, just gives you the usual "IDPROM contents are invalid" message you see on Suns. If I'd have to guess, based on past experience, you likely have a counterfeit DS1553W or you ordered

[cctalk] Re: FTGH: (3) Qualstar 1260 9 track tape drives pertec interface

2023-09-25 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Do you know of a source for drivers and software for the PC environment > for this equipment? I was recently given a 1054 which is supposedly the > same system with a SCSI interface. I've yet to find anything online. > Any suggestions would be most appreciated! The version with SCSI (it's a

[cctalk] Re: Silly question about S-100 and video monitors

2023-08-30 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Other than graphics (and maybe some special function keys for an application > on a keyboard), why would an S-100 builder in those days opt to buy a video > card instead of a terminal? Primarily cost I'm led to believe. There were also games that took advantage of primitive graphics

[cctalk] Re: Polymorphic Systems Poly88

2023-08-09 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
Marvin, You and I had talked about reproductions of some of the Poly 88 stuff at VCF MW in I think 2018. We're currently working on that project, Connor Krukosky recently spent a week down here capturing dimensions on both the old and new style cases and covers! We're currently nailing down

[cctalk] Re: 50 pins in three rows

2023-08-04 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Anyone seen those before, and is it actually SCSI, or is it something else? Common on old Sun SCSI stuff, it's a DD-50. Could be something else, but they were indeed used for SCSI termination. Thanks, Jonathan

[cctalk] Re: VCF and System Source Computer Museum swap meet this weekend

2023-07-18 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Is that somewhere in Maryland? Yeah, Cockeysville, just outside Baltimore off I-83. Thanks, Jonathan

[cctalk] Re: VCF and System Source Computer Museum swap meet this weekend

2023-07-18 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
I'm going, there's going to be a fair bit of Ohio Scientific hacking going on this weekend. We're going to try and get my CD-23 hard disk system up and going and pull data off it (14" Shugart SA-4008) Thanks, Jonathan --- Original Message --- On Tuesday, July 18th, 2023 at 19:56, Mark

[cctalk] Re: 1-click exploits was Re: BEWARE: Phishing

2023-07-09 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> It helps if you're running a version of *nixand not fenestrae. Helps, but is not the near cure-all it was at one point, especially for the larger/more popular distros! Thanks, Jonathan

[cctalk] Re: VT100: Datasheet for Intel 8228

2023-07-09 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
HLDA should be deasserted, that puts the processor in a DMA mode where it releases all the control signals. I/O W is asserted low when OUT is high and the low WR pulse comes along. It's both status and timing, coming out of the 8228. You would probably do well seeing if MEMR and MEMW are

[cctalk] Re: Need AUI cable

2023-06-28 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Not necessarily a DEC thing. TEMPEST PC's (and other TEMPEST boxes like > fiber > > ethernet transceivers) also had screw connectors rather than the spring > clip ones. It's semi-common on random old stuff, yeah. I've got a Cisco IGS that uses jackscrews, and have had a pretty good number of

[cctalk] Re: Need AUI cable

2023-06-28 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> There is no real equivalent of an 'AUI null modem cable' (should that > be 'null transceiver cable'?) > > If you want to link 2 computer-type ports together you need the > equiavelent of 2 transceivers. This (or devices like it) is probably the only single-piece two station "null modem

[cctalk] Re: Need AUI cable

2023-06-28 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> There is also DD, though I've never seen one in the wild. Old SCSI uses DD-50. I've also seen it used on Pertec tape controllers and multiport serial cards. Thanks, Jonathan

[cctalk] Re: Need AUI cable

2023-06-28 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> For a few inches, which would be enough here I think, I've used an IDC > DA15 plug and socket crimped onto the normal ribbon cable. Technically > it's wrong but the reflections on that length of cable won't matter. That's how Sun VME Ethernet boards are set up, the board itself is way back

[cctalk] Re: Need AUI cable

2023-06-27 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
These are my go-to for short ones: https://www.ebay.com/itm/233295839501 Not affiliated with seller, just a satisfied customer. Thanks, Jonathan --- Original Message --- On Tuesday, June 27th, 2023 at 21:16, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote: > > > Anyone in MD got an AUI cable (few

[cctalk] Re: Gb Ethernet and 10Mb links

2023-05-29 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> I believe the 10Gb standard specifically prohibits autonegotiation, so > 10G should not drop down to 1G or 100Mb/s. It drops down to 1gig just fine, at least on everything I've tested. This is of course over copper, not optical. Thanks, Jonathan

[cctalk] Re: Gb Ethernet and 10Mb links

2023-05-28 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
Best thing to do is keep an old 10mbit switch or hub around with 100mbit or gigabit uplink. Second best thing is to have a router that will talk 10mbit half duplex. I've also found some poorly behaved stuff that won't autonegotiate duplex even with older switches, like my 3Com SuperStack II.

[cctalk] Re: Altair 8800 question

2023-05-09 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
Everyone lost the metal strip! It's sandwiched in between the trim of the outer case and the dress panel. Some folks stuck it to the dress panel with glue, double-sided tape, etc. Those are usually the machines which still have the metal strip. Thanks, Jonathan --- Original Message

[cctalk] Re: Knockoffs, was: Low cost logic analyzer

2023-03-19 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Make of that what you will, but if that isn't just a slander, that's the > guy upon whose legacy everyone is relying. Everyone knows (or ought to, at this point) RMS is a weird guy and at best makes some seriously questionable life choices and misinformed public statements. There's a reason

[cctalk] Re: Knockoffs, was: Low cost logic analyzer

2023-03-16 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> FSF does not enforce anything. I repeatedly begged for help with Desktop > CYBER which was GPL licensed and they did not even bother to reply. I'm told by a friend at Red Hat that RH/IBM has a department for that kind of thing and can/will provide legal help for outside projects. Thanks,

[cctalk] Re: Knockoffs, was: Low cost logic analyzer

2023-03-14 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> If you posted your design as Open Source, someone else producing it isn't a > knockoff, it's the system working as intended. What is it when the design is open source, but they're not complying with the terms of the license? That's what really bugs me, the "cost" of producing your own from

[cctalk] Re: Knockoffs, was: Low cost logic analyzer

2023-03-14 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> But, as some who worked > to bring a product to market only to see people on forums say "Skip > buying it from Jim for , you can build the same thing by yourself > for $ from AliExpress parts or buy this eBay knockoff for 2X$", I will > admit that is somewhat infuriating. If the hobby

[cctalk] Re: Low cost logic analyzer

2023-03-14 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> On HP: yes, perhaps. I used one of those back at DEC, in the mid 1980s. Nice > machine, but my suspicion is that I'd run into the small memory problem again > that plagues me with the Philips/Fluke analyzer I use right now. We use several HP analyzers around here, all from the 80s. Even the

[cctalk] P Surplus in Kingston, NY

2023-02-22 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
All, I went to find a page about P Surplus to link to a friend who'd never been there, and this was today's top result: https://www.dailyfreeman.com/2023/02/19/pt-surplus-in-kingston-struggles-as-owners-battle-illnesses-mounting-bills/ Apparently Mr. Smythe is having hard times with his

[cctalk] Re: ZFS, was [... GreaseWeazle ..]

2023-02-02 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> So, what else do you guys use, to make sure your data is safe for the > years to come? ZFS and redundant copies of important stuff, plus backups on media that's likely to be readable in 10 years (meaning the drives must still work/be available, too!) Anything that's appropriate to have on a

[cctalk] Re: Aging of unused CD-R media

2023-02-01 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> I find myself wondering, how well does CD-R and DVD-R media that hasn’t been > used age? Anecdotal, but I have some Fuji blanks from the 90s that still burn just fine (works great on old drives that hate modern "see-through" media). The DVD-Rs I have were bought by my parents in the

[cctalk] WTB: Kinetics/Shiva FastPath 4 or 5

2022-10-29 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
All, I've been looking for a Kinetics or Shiva FastPath 4 or 5 for a while, without luck. Don't know why I didn't think to ask on the various lists! If anyone has one they'd like to part with, let me know off-list. Thanks, Jonathan

[cctalk] Re: Xerox 820II U07 Power Supply magic smoke....

2022-10-13 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
If the PSU requires too much hacking, you may just want to replace with a modern Mean-Well switcher or two. The Aztec supplies used in those Xerox enclosures are OK but nothing stellar. I recapped mine (it also showed signs of electrolytic leakage) and it did work so I kept it, but if it'd had

[cctalk] Re: Xerox 820II U07 Power Supply magic smoke....

2022-10-13 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> If it's gold and got RIFA on it, replace it, though. - snip - > I've learned now, to always check every PSU or other mains-powered > vintage equipment for these little stinkbombs. If they're present, i'll > always replace. Yup, always replace. These are not parts that can be rehabilitated.

[cctalk] Re: 8" floppy diskette storage cases

2022-10-12 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> From the USPS Domestic Mail Manual, section 170, subsection 4.1(i): > > "Computer-readable media containing prerecorded information and guides or > scripts prepared solely for use with such media." I've asked and our postmaster has said anything that's not blank is OK (we ship a lot of

[cctalk] KIM-1 Boards of the Past

2022-09-18 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
I finally herded together the extant pictures of the KIM-1s I've had in the past and did a writeup: http://www.glitchwrks.com/2022/09/18/kim1-boards-past TL;DR is that during college I found a KIM-1 in an employer's warehouse. Later, I found a box with five more! These were all Virginia Tech

[cctalk] Re: Flipping an 8" diskette

2022-09-01 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> It turns out that some 8" drives can be set to separate the sector holes > from the index hole (separate output pins for index and sector). Doing > so, gives you what amounts to a soft-sectored floppy, regardless of what > the physical object is. The flippy 8" diskette I linked a picture of

[cctalk] Re: Flipping an 8" diskette

2022-09-01 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> BTW, the greaseweazle can format RX01 format diskettes quite nicely. Any PC that can do single-density can (with ImageDisk or similar), as well as basically all CP/M boxes with 8" drives. That's how I format new RX01 media. RX01 can of course be up-converted to RX02 format with XXDP. Thanks,

[cctalk] Re: Flipping an 8" diskette

2022-09-01 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Someone suggested punching a notch in them and using both sides. > Was that even possible on 8" disks? Sure, but you have to punch an offset index hole: https://imgur.com/a/6vdR6NE That's a single-sided flippy 8" diskette (it's also hard-sector but that's not really relevant). 8" diskettes

[cctalk] Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet

2022-08-16 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> I think it was Dysan that first showed up with reinforcing ring kits Probably, "Grabettes." > Then why was is it that DD media bought well after HD media was available, in > use, and the norm still had the reinforced ring? Tradition? You might be putting it in an old drive. It was also

[cctalk] Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet

2022-08-16 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> The last time I checked, bitsavers had information on the 1015, 1016 and > 1115 floppy drives (I have all three models). Did the VG use something > different? No, but I didn't find the model numbering w.r.t. first chassis vs. expansion chassis very clear, especially between the older "blue

[cctalk] Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet

2022-08-16 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
I stumbled across that the other day, looking for information on their 100 TPI drives commonly used with Vector Graphic stuff. I was very surprised to find it! Thanks, Jonathan --- Original Message --- On Tuesday, August 16th, 2022 at 03:42, P Gebhardt via cctalk wrote: > > >

[cctalk] Re: Dec rl02 disk pack shelf design

2022-08-09 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
I have a friend who has one of the wire rack RL style pack racks, which looks a lot like the one pictured. I've thought about having a wireform manufacturer do a run of them. Aforementioned friend is willing to loan it for dimensional capture/reproduction. Is this something people would be

[cctalk] Cheap Lantronix Hardware

2022-08-01 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
All, Per the LAN-attached serial thread, here's another cheap Lantronix device: https://www.ebay.com/itm/123577635191 This is a LRS-2, which is basically a two-port LRS-1, one of their older models of serial bridges. The LRS-2 is nice not only for the two ports, but because it also has AUI

[cctalk] Re: Connecting a physical terminal via LAN to Serial Port

2022-07-31 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> When I looked at the manual for the Lantronix UDS1100 I did not see any > mention of it being able to be used as Telnet client. PDF Page 54. You put it in manual CONNECT mode, modem emulation, and type "ATDT10.20.30.40:23" on most modern Lantronix devices. I have no personal experience with

[cctalk] Re: Connecting a physical terminal via LAN to Serial Port

2022-07-31 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> At least that's how I would configure things Yeah that's basically it. You can often assign aliases so that e.g. `CONNECT RAID` executes a Telnet to a specific IP/DNS name, and many support setting up a default or automatic connection so that as soon as the terminal autobauds it just

[cctalk] Re: Connecting a physical terminal via LAN to Serial Port

2022-07-31 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> i.e. there is no device that make a shell or a telnet client available to a > terminal and I will have to roll my own. You may of course choose to DIY but there have been several common and cheaply-available-used solutions presented to you. The default behavior of most terminal servers

[cctalk] Re: Connecting a physical terminal via LAN to Serial Port

2022-07-31 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> I have used the Lantronix UDS1100 for Ethernet/RS232 bridgingmaybe too > pricey new, but available on ePay The older models (LRS-1, LRS-2, UDS10, etc.) also work fine. If you have more than one terminal, look at a small terminal server. There are a few terminal server models that go for

[cctalk] Re: Odd Unix computer Bio-Rad SRC 3200

2022-07-30 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
Doug, > A few years ago I got it to power on and it runs Unix variant, their > product name was Idris. I have 16 floppies (dated 1992) that came with > the system, but the hard disk has died. Interesting! I have a Multibus system that runs Idris, very little information seems to be around on

Re: Vintage Computing Hosting [Was: List migration]

2022-07-11 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
We do hosting for a few other hobbyists, and Andy Meyer has his Sony SMC-70 pages on users.glitchwrks.com subdomain: http://users.glitchwrks.com/~ahm/smc70/ Not really advertised as a service, just one of those things where a few friends have needed a place to host a few things! Thanks,

Re: Memory Card Explorer for the Elan P423

2022-07-06 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> I ended up getting a PCI bus PC Card adapter based on the TI PCI1131 > PCI-TO-CARDBUS CONTROLLER UNIT chip. I set that up in a Linux system > and eventually managed to get some MTD (Memory Technology Devices) > software installed so that I could read and write to a variety of > linear flash

Re: cleaning up edge connectors

2022-04-29 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
DeOxit works pretty good for cleaning up connectors that still have serviceable surface finishes, but yeah, temporary at best if the surface finish is gone. We use it to clean up all sorts of connectors that are just regular dirty, pots, etc. Thanks, Jonathan --- Original Message

Re: cleaning up edge connectors

2022-04-29 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Copper? Mine all look like solder. Probably copper underneath but > the exposed part is lead which probably explains why they seem to > corrode so easily. Ah, yeah, if they're finished in matte tin or HASL, I just reflow leaded solder on. A little bit of Superior #30 flux will make it flow

Re: cleaning up edge connectors

2022-04-28 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
If there's bad/deep corrosion, I hit it with the ink eraser (I have a bunch of Eberhard-Faber ones that look like a wooden pencil, you sharpen them like a pencil too). If that won't touch it, I use the stainless steel toothbrush. Corey Cohen has some plating solution that you dip a pen in,

RE: new Z80 monitor ROM works with no RAM

2022-04-27 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Dang! That Z80 computer looks AWESOME. Sure does! Simpson 260 sitting on the bench too :P Thanks, Jonathan

Re: IMSAI SIO2 cable part number

2022-04-18 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
Bill, Let me know right quick if you'll be at VCF East and I'll make you a pair, I have both kinds of IDC ends. I'm heading out first thing tomorrow morning though as I have work in the northeast before VCF East. Thanks, Jonathan --- Original Message --- On Monday, April 18th, 2022

Re: Data recovery (was: Re: SETI@home (ca. 2000) servers heading to salvage)

2022-04-04 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> SSD's are a different beast, if you're going to put data > on them that you do not want recovered I would recommend encrypting the > drive before using it, then when done delete/destroy the key. That > should turn your drive into a useless (but format-able) chunk of silicon. That's our take on

Re: PDP 11/24 - A Step Backwards

2022-03-28 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> What surprises me (a little) is that there is a commercial outfit > willing to work on something so old. It's essentially what we do. I doubt there's a directory of all the small shops that work on legacy equipment, but consider that some of this stuff runs CNC machines that are still in use.

RE: Testing H745 Regulators

2022-02-18 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> I always forget that the VAC is the RMS and not the peak-to-peak. I will > look for a minimum rating of 100V. 600V bridge modules are often more cost effective, and more likely to be in stock. That's why I went with the Vishay part I used. If you can't find what you need due to shortages, you

RE: Testing H745 Regulators

2022-02-17 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
I used a Vishay GBPC3506W-E4/51, which is 600V 35A, 400A inrush rated. Looks like they're currently on-order at Mouser, I don't know about other suppliers. The GBPC3506W-E4/51 is a little thinner than the bridge rectifier DEC used originally, which sometimes matters. For the 5411086 board in my

Re: WTB: DEC VSXXX-AA Mouse or Compatible

2022-02-11 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
Wow, that was quick! Mouse acquired. Thanks, Jonathan --- Original Message --- On Friday, February 11th, 2022 at 10:06, Jonathan Chapman via cctalk wrote: > All, > > I'm looking for a DEC VSXXX-AA "hockey puck" mouse or compatible for a > VAXstation 3100. > > Thanks, > > Jonathan

WTB: DEC VSXXX-AA Mouse or Compatible

2022-02-11 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
All, I'm looking for a DEC VSXXX-AA "hockey puck" mouse or compatible for a VAXstation 3100. Thanks, Jonathan

Re: More switchmode power supply grief - Cisco IGS router

2022-02-05 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
; > "I put a new module in my router. It blew up. At least it meant well" :-) > > (My IGS has the rather heavy and over-engineered divider shelf with the > > main board underneath and the fan and power supply above.) > > Regards, > > Peter Coghlan > > Jonathan

Re: More switchmode power supply grief - Cisco IGS router

2022-02-05 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
With that much carnage, I'd probably drop a Mean-Well module in there. I believe there would be enough room for one or two in the IGS I have (taller white box, divider "shelf" over the mainboard, I don't know if there was a lower profile model). Thanks, Jonathan --- Original Message

RE: Testing H745 Regulators

2022-01-26 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
Get yourself a largeish 24V transformer, I use an old 8A Stancor: http://www.glitchwrks.com/images/dec/pdp1110_psu_repair/5411086_under_test.jpg The AC input can be between 20-30V so it's not critical. Plenty of other "control transformer" type units would do fine. You shouldn't need a lot of

Re: Typing in lost code

2022-01-23 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
I recently dealt with this with the DaJen SCI monitor listing out of the manual. The copy is pretty bad, and either their printer was having issues, or slashing of "zero" vs "O" was inconsistent somehow. OCRing it produced more of a mess than just sitting with the original and a text editor

Re: seeking Motorola M68MM01A2 documentation

2022-01-19 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> He has a lot of Exorciser boards and manuals to scan so I will let him > step forward when he's ready for that. But I do greatly appreciate > getting this manual. Nice! Looking forward to that manual dump when it does happen. I haven't done a ton with EXORbus due to the lack of

Re: seeking Motorola M68MM01A2 documentation

2022-01-19 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Excellent information Jonathan! Glad to share! I get the impression that people often think I'm on some ideological soapbox when I tell them not to use $flybynite_pcb but really there are big differences in quality. > I generally carry the s100computers and many RetroBrew board Thank *you*

Re: seeking Motorola M68MM01A2 documentation

2022-01-19 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
to order some boards for my PDP-8/E but I've never ordered boards > > before. > > What board house do you use? Have you ever specified gold fingers before? > > Any advice would be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Mike > > +1 (773) 414-1044 > > On 1/19/2022

Re: seeking Motorola M68MM01A2 documentation

2022-01-19 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
2 at 10:24, Chris Elmquist via cctalk wrote: > On Wednesday (01/19/2022 at 03:35PM +0100), Jos Dreesen via cctalk wrote: > > > On 19.01.22 13:15, Jonathan Chapman via cctalk wrote: > > > > > That's a neat board! Where can I/we order one? > > > > With

Re: WARNING: Clear QIC Tape Bands

2022-01-19 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
Just as a follow-up, I retensioned and read both tapes with clear bands this morning, and they're fine. Since they were parked, there shouldn't have been anything important there, and it looks like the removed oxide is staying on the band. Thanks, Jonathan ‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐ On

Re: seeking Motorola M68MM01A2 documentation

2022-01-19 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
That's a neat board! Where can I/we order one? Thanks, Jonathan ‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐ On Wednesday, January 19th, 2022 at 04:08, jos via cctalk wrote: > On 19.01.22 01:22, Chris Elmquist via cctalk wrote: > > > On Tuesday (01/18/2022 at 11:35PM +), Jonathan Chapman wrote: > >

Re: seeking Motorola M68MM01A2 documentation

2022-01-18 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
How's about a Glitchbus board set that's compatible? I was planning on doing it anyway. Thanks, Jonathan ‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐ On Tuesday, January 18th, 2022 at 16:45, Chris Elmquist via cctalk wrote: > On Tuesday (01/18/2022 at 03:37PM -0600), Mike Katz wrote: > > > If the

Re: WARNING: Clear QIC Tape Bands

2022-01-18 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> However, "couple (of) months" seems incongruent with "day-to-day". I don't do a reinstall of SunOS every day, though! > I am assuming that the day-to-day operation to mean that the source data > is still accessible on the source system. As such, it's probably simply > a matter of annoyance

Re: WARNING: Clear QIC Tape Bands

2022-01-18 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> I wince at the idea of running with QIC tape. But my experience is with > QIC-80 tapes of the '90s Yes, small ftape QIC-80s were certainly in the "not great" category! Thanks, Jonathan

Re: WARNING: Clear QIC Tape Bands

2022-01-18 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> My opinion is that if you're trying to use DC carts for archival storage, you should have your (tape) head examined. Not archival storage, just day-to-day operation on old stuff, like Sun3/Sun4, AT UNIX PC, etc. > As someone that has worked with computer tapes for nearly 40 years, I have to

WARNING: Clear QIC Tape Bands

2022-01-18 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
https://i.imgur.com/48EfOQG.jpg That's after sitting parked a couple months. I have a Dysan doing it too. The Dysan had been re-banded with a boiled 3M band and run for years like that with no shedding. I have another Dysan with a green Plastiband in it which is also fine, minimal/no shed. So,

RE: Mate-n-lok connector for H744 Regulator

2022-01-08 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Note that both have a minimum order :-<. As for pins: If folks don't want to deal with minimums, we can make up cables with the correct connector, we stock the housings, crimps, and have the correct TE crimp tool for them. That said, connectorpeople.com are good to deal with, we use them for

Re: Source for replacement caps in H744 regulators

2022-01-07 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> The terminal posts are aluminum, and can develop an oxide > layer that prevents good contact. > > Removing and replacing them might improve the contact. I have experienced this personally with TO-3 regulators, too. I had a bunch of triple voltage Power One linear supplies that would

RE: Source for replacement caps in H744 regulators

2022-01-06 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> One of the H744 regulators whines FWIW, none of mine are silent under load. If they're not being loaded (e.g. on a test bench, with no dummy load, or if you have all the boards out) they can whine excessively due to no minimum load. > it seems higher than the expected values printed on the

Re: cctalk Digest, Vol 88, Issue 2

2022-01-04 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> Why couldn't 120V be derived from either of the 240V phase and the > grounded corner via a 2:1 transformer? It can. That's often how, say, an Edison base decorative luminary is run when all other lighting is 277V (the ratios would of course be different). Otherwise someone invariably screws a

Re: cctalk Digest, Vol 88, Issue 2

2022-01-04 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> For what it's worth, the building I bought has two services installed when > it was built in 1921 - single phase 120/240 for lighting loads, and 240V > Delta for three phase loads. I bet you have a fun electrical system :D > It's the even more obscure corner-grounded delta I love the reaction

Re: 3-phase power; was: cctalk Digest, Vol 88, Issue 2

2022-01-04 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> The IIRC oldest US generating station still in operation (on original > hardware anyway) is at Mechanicville, NY. Well that ruined my evening, Wikipedia says the generating station now uses the power to mine bitcoins, because it's more profitable than selling it to the public grid. Thanks,

Re: 3-phase power; was: cctalk Digest, Vol 88, Issue 2

2022-01-04 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> much of it related to Niagara Falls and other power systems > modeled after it. The IIRC oldest US generating station still in operation (on original hardware anyway) is at Mechanicville, NY. It is hydroelectric and originally fed 40 Hz AC to Schenectady. They just sped up the alternators

Re: cctalk Digest, Vol 88, Issue 2

2022-01-04 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> High-leg delta is independent of open- or closed-delta. That's correct. > Open delta uses two single-phase transformers primaries connected to > phases AB and BC. A to C is also valid, presumably it's rotated if there's a lot of open delta in an area (again, why?) to balance phases. > On

Re: cctalk Digest, Vol 88, Issue 2

2022-01-04 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
Message ‐‐‐ On Tuesday, January 4th, 2022 at 14:56, Grant Taylor via cctalk wrote: > On 1/4/22 8:52 AM, Jonathan Chapman via cctalk wrote: > > > Indeed. This is not corner-grounded delta. Once you figure out open > > > > delta, look at dog-leg. > > I did so

Re: cctalk Digest, Vol 88, Issue 2

2022-01-04 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> I apparently need to do more reading. Indeed. This is not corner-grounded delta. Once you figure out open delta, look at dog-leg. Thanks, Jonathan

Re: cctalk Digest, Vol 88, Issue 2

2022-01-04 Thread Jonathan Chapman via cctalk
> I have seen some roads where the utility has 2 of the phases plus > neutral going down them, not true 2-phase power, but 2 phases 120/240 > degrees apart with the third phase just not present. Yes, that's open delta. There are one or two small commercial buildings here in town that still have

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