Re: recent ebay lot of assorted ICs - did somebody on the list win this?

[Sam O'nella via cctalk]

I don't know the etiquette but if you had the auction saved you might be able 
to ask the seller a question and see if theyd be opposed to putting you in 
contact with rhe buyer. 
null

Disk imaging with IMD - question

[Richard Cini via cctalk]

Guys –

 

    I’m working on a restoration project for VCF that requires 
imaging 8” disks (both SSSD and DSDD, mostly for the Tarbell controller) but 
I’m having trouble with it reading disks. So, I wanted to run through what I’ve 
done and see if I’m missing anything. 

 

It took me a while to hunt down a controller that would work with the PC/AT I 
have on the bench and that would pass all of the testfdc tests. The floppy 
drives are both 1.2MB drives. I located an Adaptec AHA-1522F. Testfdc passes.

 

Next, I connected my 8” drive (a QumeTrak 242) to the controller using the 8” 
floppy interface adapter from DBit. On reboot, the BIOS seeks the drive no 
problem so I would say that the physical interface works. 

 

I tried formatting an 8” DSDD disk for MSDOS and I can’t get that to work (not 
sure why since the 8” drive should be similar to the 1.2MB). Rerunning the 
testfdc program fails all tests with the 8”, and it doesn’t successfully read 
any of the non-critical sample disks I have.

 

Not sure this is enough for someone to go on, but I thought I’d throw it out 
there. 

 

As a separate question, what kind of disk imaging setups are people using for 
8” disks? 

 

Thanks!

 

Rich

 

--

Rich Cini

http://www.classiccmp.org/cini

http://www.classiccmp.org/altair32

 

Re: PDP-8s that was EBAY.. what is the other rack? Thought TTY inf in main box?

[Jon Elson via cctalk]

On 08/08/2017 10:51 PM, Ed via cctalk wrote:

PDP-8s that was EBAY.. what is  the other rack? Thought TTY inf. in  main
box?
  
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DEC-PDP-8-S-Minicomputer-Complete-with-original-Tele

type-Extremely-rare-/282485298792?hash=item41c56f9668:g:JBkAAOSwCU1Y4nfa
  
We have an 8S in warehouse and will need to drag out and start learning

about it Clean it up and  get it on  display -
We have   CLASSIC 8  with plexi S/N #18   on  display already.

8 **S**  Arrgh!  The worst computer DEC ever made!  It was a 
real speed demon, when compared to computers with vacuum 
tubes and drum memory!


Jon

recent ebay lot of assorted ICs - did somebody on the list win this?

[r.stricklin via cctalk]

Folks;

I keep meaning to ask... a couple months ago, there was an eBay auction for a 
fairly large assortment of miscellaneous ICs. IIRC there were a couple of 
NS32016s, along with some other interesting spares. I was one of the interested 
bidders, but did not win.

In the lot were a small number of ROM chips with silkscreens like AATKJ, AATKL, 
AARAM, etc. These are AT 3B2 ROMs; the AATKx ones in particular are the 
original 3B2/300 ROMs that are missing from my machine. If somebody from the 
list won this lot and doesn't know what to do with these ROM chips... I'd love 
to hear from you.

Thanks!


ok
bear.



-- 
until further notice

Re: Vintage HP 1000 Floating point processor ( EBAY )

[Glen Slick via cctalk]

On Tue, Aug 8, 2017 at 10:48 AM, GerardCJAT via cctech
 wrote:
> Seems it found a new home  !!  ( One bid )
>
> I am curious : From someone on this forum ???
>
> PS : I was NOT interested by this processor  ;-)by now, I have my 1000 
> Lseries to play with, that is enought for now.

I'll raise my hand and admit that after watching that one get relisted
several times I bought it before someone else finally did and then
regretted not buying it while I had the chance. They can't be too easy
to find if you really need one.

I figure I can use it as a spare for my 2117F, or use it with my 2113E
as a 2117F after a firmware swap.

I wonder if the person that bought this somewhat sparsely populated
2117F for $500 realized that it won't be fully functional without the
FPP box?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201998054663?orig_cvip=true

I also have a couple of 1000 A900 boxes. No L-series boxes.

Re: ftp.compaq.com mirror

[Adrian Graham via cctalk]

> On 8 Aug 2017, at 20:30, Eric Christopherson via cctalk 
>  wrote:
> 
> On Tue, Aug 8, 2017 at 2:19 PM, Adrian Graham via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> 
>> Hi folks,
>> 
>> Managed to rescue a Compaq Deskpro EN from the scrap pile at work today
>> and realised it has a proper floppy controller so I can install a 5.25”
>> drive.
>> 
>> Trouble is ftp.compaq.com  has disappeared so
>> getting drivers for win98 is going to be difficult unless I have them at
>> work on old driver CDs. archive.org  has a mirror of
>> the whole ftp site but it’s 220gb and I’m not sure my little 150mb/s web
>> connection will download that in less than a month :)
>> 
>> Did anyone else grab it before it disappeared?
>> 
> 
> I've found it at
> http://web.archive.org/web/20051120074512/http://ftp.compaq.com:80/ -- and
> that allows you to descend into subdirectories just like on a real FTP site

I think my ISP was having a brain fart a couple of hours ago because I couldn’t 
ftp to ftp.compaq.com and can now, I’m browsing away happily. Technology eh!

> I'm guessing the one-file download you mentioned was at
> https://archive.org/details/ftp.compaq.com. That page offers a torrent,
> which gives you another way of downloading either the whole thing or just
> parts: you can open that torrent file in a decent BitTorrent client but,
> instead of starting to download the whole thing, go into the list of files
> included and just check off the ones you want to download and keep the rest
> excluded.
> 
> 

Yes, but my view of it said there were no browseable files which was the point 
I asked here. I’ll put it down to Virgin Media/Libery Global cocking something 
up somewhere just for a change

Cheers!

>> 
>> cheers,
>> 
>> —
>> Adrian/Witchy
>> Binary Dinosaurs - Celebrating Computing History from 1972 onwards
>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
>Eric Christopherson

PDP-8I acrylic Front Panel

[Ray Neal via cctalk]

Rod;

I'm looking for a PDP-8I acrylic Front Panel for my replica PDP-8I I'm
putting together.  I have a PCB board created by Vince and in between
Hospital stays I have been able to populate it.

The next step is to either locate a frame or to find manufacturing drawing
on the aluminum frame so I can make a wax male mold form to allow me to
cast the frame. As a last resort, if I can't find drawing or a frame, then
I will attempt to locate a PDP-8 that the owner will allow me to
disassemble, photograph & take measurements, then reassemble.

Using these I can then create the drawing to allow me to create the Wax
Mold Master.

As for the acrylic if you don't have a panel in stock and don't plan to
create a new order, would you consider placing the artwork into opening
source.  This will allow people such as myself the ability to take the
artwork to a silkscreen printer and have them create the screen prints to
allow for the print of a couple of panels. (When in doubt, creat a spare).

*Note*:  Not the cheapest way to obtain a Front Panel.

Thank you for your time and the work you have done on this project.

Respectfully;

Ray Neal

Vintage HP 1000 Floating point processor ( EBAY )

[GerardCJAT via cctalk]

Seems it found a new home  !!  ( One bid )

I am curious : From someone on this forum ???

PS : I was NOT interested by this processor  ;-)by now, I have my 1000 
Lseries to play with, that is enought for now.

PDP-8s that was EBAY.. what is the other rack? Thought TTY inf in main box?

[Ed via cctalk]

PDP-8s that was EBAY.. what is  the other rack? Thought TTY inf. in  main 
box?
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DEC-PDP-8-S-Minicomputer-Complete-with-original-Tele
type-Extremely-rare-/282485298792?hash=item41c56f9668:g:JBkAAOSwCU1Y4nfa
 
We have an 8S in warehouse and will need to drag out and start learning  
about it Clean it up and  get it on  display - 
We have   CLASSIC 8  with plexi S/N #18   on  display already.

Re: Informer D304 terminal docs, etc?

[Curious Marc via cctalk]

I thought it looked awesome. Great pick!
Marc

On Aug 8, 2017, at 7:13 PM, Josh Dersch via cctalk  
wrote:

On 8/8/2017 3:50 PM, Glen Slick via cctalk wrote:

> On Aug 8, 2017 3:42 PM, "Josh Dersch via cctalk" 
> wrote:
> 
> Hi all --
> 
> I picked up an Informer D304 terminal at VCF West because it was cute and
> cheap.   You can see a picture of this beast on page 3 of:
> 
> 
> You got the one with the monitor on the pole in the left corner? Seems like
> poor ergonomics if you actually had to use that much.
> 

Yep, that's the one.  And yeah, it would be pretty annoying to use for any 
serious length of time.  But you have to admit it's interesting looking :).

- Josh

Re: Informer D304 terminal docs, etc?

[Josh Dersch via cctalk]

On 8/8/2017 3:50 PM, Glen Slick via cctalk wrote:


On Aug 8, 2017 3:42 PM, "Josh Dersch via cctalk" 
wrote:

Hi all --

I picked up an Informer D304 terminal at VCF West because it was cute and
cheap.   You can see a picture of this beast on page 3 of:


You got the one with the monitor on the pole in the left corner? Seems like
poor ergonomics if you actually had to use that much.



Yep, that's the one.  And yeah, it would be pretty annoying to use for 
any serious length of time.  But you have to admit it's interesting 
looking :).


- Josh

Re: Informer D304 terminal docs, etc?

[Ed via cctalk]

pretty neat!   Something to display that is visually  different!
 
what  year(s)  were they  made!?
 
Ed#
 
 
 
In a message dated 8/8/2017 3:42:20 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,  
cctalk@classiccmp.org writes:

http://chiclassiccomp.org/docs/content/computing/Informer/Informer_401Termin
alBrochure.pdf

Re: Informer D304 terminal docs, etc?

[Glen Slick via cctalk]

On Aug 8, 2017 3:42 PM, "Josh Dersch via cctalk" 
wrote:

Hi all --

I picked up an Informer D304 terminal at VCF West because it was cute and
cheap.   You can see a picture of this beast on page 3 of:


You got the one with the monitor on the pole in the left corner? Seems like
poor ergonomics if you actually had to use that much.

Informer D304 terminal docs, etc?

[Josh Dersch via cctalk]

Hi all --

I picked up an Informer D304 terminal at VCF West because it was cute 
and cheap.   You can see a picture of this beast on page 3 of:


http://chiclassiccomp.org/docs/content/computing/Informer/Informer_401TerminalBrochure.pdf

I haven't found any real documentation for this terminal, and mine's 
missing the external power supply.  This connects via a 25-pin d-sub 
connector.  I can probably work out what voltages it wants, but if 
anyone has any documentation for this thing (or happens to have a power 
supply they can scope out) please let me know.


Thanks!

Josh

Re: Not Booting OS/8

[Brian L. Stuart via cctalk]

On Tue, 8/8/17, Rod Smallwood via cctalk  wrote:

>          Well not surprisingly it didn't. I keyed in the bootstrap and 
>
> So next move will be to try and see if we can read / write the registers 
> on the controller card.
> 
> First find out what address they are at.

Unlike the 11s, the device registers on an 8 aren't memory
mapped.  The controller effectively adds instructions to the
repetoire.  Doug Jones' site has a good summary of the RX8
functionality:

http://homepage.divms.uiowa.edu/~jones/pdp8/man/rx01.html

BLS

Re: ftp.compaq.com mirror

[Chuck Guzis via cctalk]

On 08/08/2017 12:38 PM, Rico Pajarola via cctalk wrote:
> I have the whole archive, but you'd have to tell me which files you need.
> Note that most files from ftp.compaq.com are still available on
> ftp://ftp.hp.com/ (including all softpaqs).
> 
> You should be able to install Windows 98 without any special drivers, and
> then use Google to find the specific drivers that are missing.
> driverguide.com and driverscollection.com etc. are your friend.

I've got a Deskpro ENP tower (built like a truck) and I ran into
difficulties running GWBASIC.  Fortunately, there is a Softpaq that
fixes that, so you may want to pick that one up also.

--Chuck

Re: ftp.compaq.com mirror

[Rico Pajarola via cctalk]

I have the whole archive, but you'd have to tell me which files you need.
Note that most files from ftp.compaq.com are still available on
ftp://ftp.hp.com/ (including all softpaqs).

You should be able to install Windows 98 without any special drivers, and
then use Google to find the specific drivers that are missing.
driverguide.com and driverscollection.com etc. are your friend.



On Tue, Aug 8, 2017 at 9:19 PM, Adrian Graham via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Hi folks,
>
> Managed to rescue a Compaq Deskpro EN from the scrap pile at work today
> and realised it has a proper floppy controller so I can install a 5.25”
> drive.
>
> Trouble is ftp.compaq.com  has disappeared so
> getting drivers for win98 is going to be difficult unless I have them at
> work on old driver CDs. archive.org  has a mirror of
> the whole ftp site but it’s 220gb and I’m not sure my little 150mb/s web
> connection will download that in less than a month :)
>
> Did anyone else grab it before it disappeared?
>
> cheers,
>
> —
> Adrian/Witchy
> Binary Dinosaurs - Celebrating Computing History from 1972 onwards
>
>

Re: ftp.compaq.com mirror

[Alexandre Souza via cctalk]

I'd download everything and keep it in a safe place, just in case...


2017-08-08 16:30 GMT-03:00 Eric Christopherson via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org>:

> On Tue, Aug 8, 2017 at 2:19 PM, Adrian Graham via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> > Hi folks,
> >
> > Managed to rescue a Compaq Deskpro EN from the scrap pile at work today
> > and realised it has a proper floppy controller so I can install a 5.25”
> > drive.
> >
> > Trouble is ftp.compaq.com  has disappeared so
> > getting drivers for win98 is going to be difficult unless I have them at
> > work on old driver CDs. archive.org  has a mirror
> of
> > the whole ftp site but it’s 220gb and I’m not sure my little 150mb/s web
> > connection will download that in less than a month :)
> >
> > Did anyone else grab it before it disappeared?
> >
>
> I've found it at
> http://web.archive.org/web/20051120074512/http://ftp.compaq.com:80/ -- and
> that allows you to descend into subdirectories just like on a real FTP
> site.
>
> I'm guessing the one-file download you mentioned was at
> https://archive.org/details/ftp.compaq.com. That page offers a torrent,
> which gives you another way of downloading either the whole thing or just
> parts: you can open that torrent file in a decent BitTorrent client but,
> instead of starting to download the whole thing, go into the list of files
> included and just check off the ones you want to download and keep the rest
> excluded.
>
>
> >
> > cheers,
> >
> > —
> > Adrian/Witchy
> > Binary Dinosaurs - Celebrating Computing History from 1972 onwards
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Eric Christopherson
>

Re: ftp.compaq.com mirror

[Eric Christopherson via cctalk]

On Tue, Aug 8, 2017 at 2:19 PM, Adrian Graham via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Hi folks,
>
> Managed to rescue a Compaq Deskpro EN from the scrap pile at work today
> and realised it has a proper floppy controller so I can install a 5.25”
> drive.
>
> Trouble is ftp.compaq.com  has disappeared so
> getting drivers for win98 is going to be difficult unless I have them at
> work on old driver CDs. archive.org  has a mirror of
> the whole ftp site but it’s 220gb and I’m not sure my little 150mb/s web
> connection will download that in less than a month :)
>
> Did anyone else grab it before it disappeared?
>

I've found it at
http://web.archive.org/web/20051120074512/http://ftp.compaq.com:80/ -- and
that allows you to descend into subdirectories just like on a real FTP site.

I'm guessing the one-file download you mentioned was at
https://archive.org/details/ftp.compaq.com. That page offers a torrent,
which gives you another way of downloading either the whole thing or just
parts: you can open that torrent file in a decent BitTorrent client but,
instead of starting to download the whole thing, go into the list of files
included and just check off the ones you want to download and keep the rest
excluded.


>
> cheers,
>
> —
> Adrian/Witchy
> Binary Dinosaurs - Celebrating Computing History from 1972 onwards
>
>


-- 
Eric Christopherson

Not Booting OS/8

[Rod Smallwood via cctalk]

Hi List

Well not surprisingly it didn't. I keyed in the bootstrap and 
checked it a couple of times.


Pressing clear produced a healthy clonk from the RX01 (RX01's and 2's 
clonk a lot).


Pressing clear started the program but no activity from the drive.

So next move will be to try and see if we can read / write the registers 
on the controller card.


First find out what address they are at.

Rod


--
Wanted one pdp-8/i rocker switch leaver to copy.

ftp.compaq.com mirror

[Adrian Graham via cctalk]

Hi folks,

Managed to rescue a Compaq Deskpro EN from the scrap pile at work today and 
realised it has a proper floppy controller so I can install a 5.25” drive.

Trouble is ftp.compaq.com  has disappeared so getting 
drivers for win98 is going to be difficult unless I have them at work on old 
driver CDs. archive.org  has a mirror of the whole ftp 
site but it’s 220gb and I’m not sure my little 150mb/s web connection will 
download that in less than a month :)

Did anyone else grab it before it disappeared?

cheers,

—
Adrian/Witchy
Binary Dinosaurs - Celebrating Computing History from 1972 onwards

Re: Booting OS/8

[Rod Smallwood via cctalk]

On 08/08/2017 16:12, Josh Dersch via cctalk wrote:

On 8/8/2017 6:40 AM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk wrote:


OK RX8 is in the pdp-8/e connected to the RX01. OS/8 floppy in drive.

All I need is the toggle in bootstrap and you never know.


It's the first hit on google for "RX01 bootstrap."

http://www.pdp8.net/interface/rx01_boot.shtml

- Josh



Rod





Thanks Josh
I put OS/8 bootstrap in
Rod

--
Wanted one pdp-8/i rocker switch leaver to copy.

Re: Booting OS/8

[Josh Dersch via cctalk]

On 8/8/2017 6:40 AM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk wrote:


OK RX8 is in the pdp-8/e connected to the RX01. OS/8 floppy in drive.

All I need is the toggle in bootstrap and you never know.


It's the first hit on google for "RX01 bootstrap."

http://www.pdp8.net/interface/rx01_boot.shtml

- Josh



Rod

Re: Avoiding Shorts While Testing a DIN Plug

[Chuck Guzis via cctalk]

I'm with Fred on this one.   Get a socket, solder some pigtails to it
and use that, if you're worried.

I'd definitely do that if the plug were a mini-DIN.  Standard DIN, not
so much.  Just use a smaller probe with only the tip exposed through a
bit of "spaghetti".

--Chuck

Booting OS/8

[Rod Smallwood via cctalk]

OK RX8 is in the pdp-8/e connected to the RX01. OS/8 floppy in drive.

All I need is the toggle in bootstrap and you never know.

Rod


--
Wanted one pdp-8/i rocker switch leaver to copy.

Re: pdp-8/e restoration.

[allison via cctalk]

Note: TU58 (variant of DC100 tape) to my knowledge was never used with PDP-8
in any flavor.  There is no reason why not other than no driver and it 
8bit only

and the blocking is 512bytes.

The 8bit part is solved by storing 2 words (12bit word) to 3 bytes (24bits).

It could be quite handy as a DECTape substitute.

As distribution it was the same as RX01 in size (256K max) and not cheaper.
it was more compact as a system loader typically used on VAX730 and PDT110.


On 8/8/17 1:09 AM, Ian S. King via cctalk wrote:

On Mon, Aug 7, 2017 at 5:28 PM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:



On 08/08/2017 00:01, Josh Dersch via cctalk wrote:


On 8/7/2017 3:50 PM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk wrote:



One other thing - I have a working TU58.
The two cassette drives in a box type with serial interface.
Now the pdp-8/e DECTapes were also called TU58.


The typical DECtapes used with the PDP-8 were TU56's, a completely
different (and much more rare) beast.

The M8650 is on the list of what you can connect it to.

So does the one substitute for the other and raise the possibility of
booting from tape?


No, they're not substitutes.  I'm not aware of any PDP-8 systems booting
and running from a TU58, but I suppose it's not impossible. Mostly the
problem with the TU58 at this point is that (a) the capstan rollers in your
drives are most likely tar, and (b) the rubber parts in the tape itself
have done the same, and (c) the tape itself probably isn't in great shape
either.

- Josh



Rod



Mmm senior confusion.

Its a working TU58 - Restored including fixing the roller problem.
Runs on a PC OK.

Just fixed the echo test problem.
RS232 on M8650 needed a jumper E-M on board or plug.


So now to check out that  rim loader stuff.
Its in C but I can get round that problem.


Rod

--
Wanted one pdp-8/i rocker switch leaver to copy.



For verily, LINCtape begat DECtape, and DECtape begat DECtape II.  LINCtape
and DECtape were legitimate backing store, DECtape II was a cheap way of
delivering software updates.

And since when is C a 'problem'?  :-)  -- Ian

Re: Convex documentation online (C220 arrived)

[Camiel Vanderhoeven via cctalk]

On 8/7/17, 10:35 PM, "cctalk on behalf of Mark J. Blair via cctalk"
 wrote:


>
>> On Aug 7, 2017, at 12:13 AM, Camiel Vanderhoeven
>> wrote:
>> 
>> That would have been the CPU cabinet for the C240 (which is twice as
>>wide
>> as the C220¹s CPU cabinet. The C240¹s CPU consumes - i.e. converts to
>>heat
>> - about 20 kilowatts of power, so that would indeed have created a
>>hotspot
>> in a computer room. It will surely create a hotspot in my barn!
>
>
>Ok, that makes sense. All I remember is that from the rear side of the
>cabinet, it was behind the exhaust vents at the lower right corner that
>was the optimal place in the computer room to curl up in a fetal position
>at 6AM, when the main building A/C came on and the computer room
>temperature plummeted, right about when the metabolism of an exhausted
>college student working a graveyard computer operator shift was at
>minimum. But it was all worth it for a key to the computer room, and
>unlimited root access on Sun workstations when most students were lucky
>to get a small quota on the heavily-loaded Sequent Symmetry series
>machine. Oh, and they paid me, too. :)

Lower right corner when seen from the back sounds right, as the CPU
cabinets are usually on the left on these machines. I guess there’s no
reason they couldn’t be on the other side, but in all the pictures I’ve
ever seen - as well as on my machines - the CPU’s on the left.

It sounds like you had the same student job at your university as I had at
mine. One of the job perks for me was that I got to take a decommissioned
supercomputer (Alliant FX/2800) home :-)

>That C240 also had the nicest 9-track drive in the room. Most of my tape
>mounts were on the TU77 next to the VAX-11/780 (or maybe 785?), but I
>always liked working with that drive on the C240. I no longer recall
>which company manufactured its transport, but it was really fast.

It was made by STC (Storage Technology Corporation), which is owned by
Oracle, and known as StorageTek these days. It uses a STC-proprietary
interface, and Convex built their own interface board for high-speed
operation for it. One of the ways they got it to run fast was to use very
large blocks (which not all tape drives can read, as I found out when I
was making images of the tapes I have!)

Camiel