Re: Available: Wang 370 book

[Anders Sandahl via cctalk]

It's been taken.

> Hi,
>
> I got a stash of documentation yesterday. Found a book "WANG 370
> calculating system, program library volume 1" which I don't have any use
> for. Looks to be almost unread, it has become a bit yellow and it has a
> small sticker on the front page. Printed in 1968.
>
> Is there anybody that want's it (free pickup in south Sweden or for
> postage fee)?
>
> /Anders
>

Available: Wang 370 book

[Anders Sandahl via cctalk]

Hi,

I got a stash of documentation yesterday. Found a book "WANG 370
calculating system, program library volume 1" which I don't have any use
for. Looks to be almost unread, it has become a bit yellow and it has a
small sticker on the front page. Printed in 1968.

Is there anybody that want's it (free pickup in south Sweden or for
postage fee)?

/Anders

Re: Looking for Limited Function Board

[Anders Sandahl via cctalk]

Hi,

I have looked into my PDP-8/a computers now. The small one have the
limited function board that you want. That is the machine that should be
identical to yours.

In my big PDP-8a/420 I have the same board as you have "have.jpg" but in
another revision (no IDC header connector, just the DIL connector).

The big machine is a core memory machine. I had a quick look at the
schematics, they are not compatible.

/Anders

> Hi Paul
>
> I have put pictures of the boards here:
>
> http://pdp8.se/slask/LFB
>
> have.jpg is the board I have and want.jpg is the one
> I'm looking for.
>
> The identifying numbers are in aproximately the same
> place. But you can clearly see that the "want" board
> is much simplified and if I interpret the
> documentation correctly they are not compatible.
>
> I'm happy to be proven wrong, maybe I should just try
> it.
>
> /P
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 05, 2019 at 07:54:39PM -0600, Paul Anderson via cctalk wrote:
>> Hi Pontus,
>>
>> I looked at my limited function front panels, and they were 54-11507s. I
>> have not looked at any prints. Where did you find the 54-11165 number?
>> Could it be for a Q-bus system?
>>
>> The 50-X is the etched PCB. DEC usually added a 1 to that number to
>> make it complete board.
>>
>> Thanks, Paul
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Feb 4, 2019 at 9:41 PM Paul Anderson  wrote:
>>
>> > I have a few of the limited function and programmers panels. I do not
>> > recall either of them being dependent on particular backplane. I'll
>> try to
>> > pull a few a few later and check the part number on them.
>> >
>> > Remember, a 54-X number can become a 70-X with the addition of
>> a
>> > cable or something simple.
>> >
>> > Paul
>> >
>> > On Mon, Feb 4, 2019 at 12:51 PM Anders Sandahl via cctech <
>> > cct...@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>> >
>> >> > Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2019 22:22:42 +0100
>> >> > From: Pontus Pihlgren 
>> >> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
>> >> >   
>> >> > Subject: Looking for Limited Function Board
>> >> > Message-ID: <20190203212242.gf24...@update.uu.se>
>> >> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>> >> >
>> >> > Hi
>> >> >
>> >> > I'm restoring a PDP-8/a with the help of some
>> >> > friends. The CPU is now passing the MAINDECs I've
>> >> > thrown at it. The memory is a modern semiconductor
>> >> > board my friend Anders Sandahl made.
>> >> >
>> >> > This machine is pieced together from several others
>> >> > and the limited function panel I got does not match
>> >> > the backplane I have.
>> >> >
>> >> > My theory is the DEC simplified the design of the
>> >> > boardto cut costs and simpler design is not
>> >> > compatible. Mine is labeled (on the PCB):
>> >> >
>> >> > "LIMITED FUNCTION BD.
>> >> > 5411507
>> >> > 5011506C-P2"
>> >> >
>> >> > And the one I need is:
>> >> >
>> >> > "LIMITED FUNCTION
>> >> > 5411165
>> >> > 5011167"
>> >> >
>> >> > However, the picture I have of the other is not so
>> >> > good. I may have read the numbera wrong.
>> >> >
>> >> > I would very much like to buy one to finish this
>> >> > project.
>> >> >
>> >> > /P
>> >>
>> >> Får du inget napp så ritar jag upp ett kort till dig, det borde gå
>> att
>> >> flytta över brytarna från det du har. Lite synd att scrappa ett
>> >> originalkort bara, men är man försiktigt så man inte tar sönder det
>> så går
>> >> det ju att återställa...
>> >>
>> >> /A
>> >>
>> >>
>

Re: Looking for Limited Function Board

[Anders Sandahl via cctalk]

> Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2019 22:22:42 +0100
> From: Pontus Pihlgren 
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
>   
> Subject: Looking for Limited Function Board
> Message-ID: <20190203212242.gf24...@update.uu.se>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Hi
>
> I'm restoring a PDP-8/a with the help of some
> friends. The CPU is now passing the MAINDECs I've
> thrown at it. The memory is a modern semiconductor
> board my friend Anders Sandahl made.
>
> This machine is pieced together from several others
> and the limited function panel I got does not match
> the backplane I have.
>
> My theory is the DEC simplified the design of the
> boardto cut costs and simpler design is not
> compatible. Mine is labeled (on the PCB):
>
> "LIMITED FUNCTION BD.
> 5411507
> 5011506C-P2"
>
> And the one I need is:
>
> "LIMITED FUNCTION
> 5411165
> 5011167"
>
> However, the picture I have of the other is not so
> good. I may have read the numbera wrong.
>
> I would very much like to buy one to finish this
> project.
>
> /P

Får du inget napp så ritar jag upp ett kort till dig, det borde gå att
flytta över brytarna från det du har. Lite synd att scrappa ett
originalkort bara, men är man försiktigt så man inte tar sönder det så går
det ju att återställa...

/A

Re: PDP8/a Initial Power Up (Columbia Valley Maker Space)

[Anders Sandahl via cctalk]

Hi,

Most of the documentation is found here:
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp8/pdp8a/

For some basic testing look here:
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp8/pdp8a/EK-8A001-OP-002_PDP-8A_Operators_Handbook_Sep76.pdf
in chapter 5.1 (pdf page number 48).

To do basic memory read and write:
Press MD and DISP (memory data register will be displayed on the four digits)
Then press 0200 and LA (load address)
Press 5050 and D-THIS (deposit to memory on this adress, no increment).
Press E-THIS (examine on this memory address, no increment) and you should
get the same result back.

Another good place to be is to post in the DEC category on the VCFED
forum: http://www.vcfed.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?23-DEC

Good luck!

/Anders


> Date: Fri, 02 Nov 2018 08:56:08 -0700
> From: Columbia Valley Maker Space 
> To: cctalk@classiccmp.org
> Subject: PDP8/a Initial Power Up
> Message-ID: <27c485c4ae4ef3a32a0756739e85c...@cvmakerspace.ca>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>
> Hello everyone - my first post, so be easy on me!
>
> I have just acquired a PDP8/a and a Remex punch tape reader. The unit
> starts up and displays some data on the displays, and that is about all
> I can tell you.
>
> I am going to do some googling about this, but I am looking for basic
> initial tests  something I can enter via the keypad.
>
> I learnt some basic programming in 1978 on a PDP8, but that was the last
> time I touched one, so if you are going to suggest some tests, I need
> complete instructions. I don't know how to modify a memory location, let
> alone enter and check a program. I will pick all this back up very
> quickly and I do use computers in my work a lot - I am also an
> electronic hobby guy and have been for years. My point is I am OK with
> component level measurements, I have a scope and probes, etc.
>
> So there you go - hope to hear back form you guys.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Brian
>
> --
> Brian McIntosh
> Columbia Valley Maker Space Communications Guy
> i...@cvmakerspace.ca
> 250 270 0689

Re: Re: SPACEWAR! Switch Boxes for a PDP-12

[Anders Sandahl via cctalk]

> Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2018 12:26:57 -0600
> From: Eric Smith 
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
>   
> Subject: Re: SPACEWAR! Switch Boxes for a PDP-12
> Message-ID:
>   
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> On Mon, Sep 24, 2018 at 11:23 AM, Robert Feldman via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
>> >that is what the PDP-1 at CHM has been using for over 10 years
>>
>> https://na.suzohapp.com/products/pushbuttons/58-9166-L
>
>
> Ken Sumrall built the Spacewar control boxes used at the museum, with some
> suggestions from me. We originally intended these to be temporary, and to
> build nicer control boxes later. Since they were intended to be used by
> restoration team members, and possibly museum guests, we wanted them to be
> reliable rather than authentic, and specifically did NOT want these
> temporary boxes to themselves become historical artifacts. We chose
> inexpensive but robust arcade pushbuttons. They can take a beating, and in
> the event that the microswitch does break or wear out, it can easily be
> replaced, though the complete button assembly with microswitch is not
> expensive. The boxes are particle board. We used DE-9 connectors. On the
> PDP-1, hyperspace is invoked by the CW and CCW rotate controls being
> activated simultaneously, so the hyperspace button is wired via series
> diodes to both rotate buttons.
>
> After we built them, Steve Russell pointed out to us that although these
> boxes don't look like at all like the originals, they actually are
> authentic, in the sense that like the originals, these boxes were quickly
> knocked together rather than carefully planned, and are functional rather
> than pretty.
>
> We positioned the individual buttons based on the layout used on one of
> the
> Atari coinop games, "Space Duel" IIRC, on the because Atari had done a
> good
> job of laying them out to be easy to use.
>
> I'm not trying to discourage anyone from trying to make replicas of the
> original Spacewar control boxes, but aside from some grainy photos and a
> brief description, not much detail about them is actually known.
>
> We do not know what controls were used when PDP-1 Spacewar was
> demonstrated
> at the Computer Museum in Boston. We don't think they had the original
> control boxes. Possibly they might have just used the PDP-1 console
> switches, which is quite inconvenient and increases wear on those
> switches.  When we restored the PDP-1, we discovered that some of the
> console switches were flaky, and upon inspection, that they appeared to
> have been replaced multiple times, with suboptimal craftsmanship.
>

I like the ideas with the diodes for hyperspace, I'll steal that right away!

Re: SPACEWAR! Switch Boxes for a PDP-12

[Anders Sandahl via cctalk]

> Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2018 10:46:48 -0400
> From: Michael Thompson 
> To: cctech 
> Subject: SPACEWAR! Switch Boxes for a PDP-12
> Message-ID:
>   
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Visitors to the RICM like to play SPACEWAR! in the PDP-12. Unfortunately
> using the console switches is uncomfortable, not intuitive, and is tough
> on
> the switches. We would like to recreate the switch boxes used on the PDP-1
> to make playing a better experience.
>
> We modified the source
> 
> from D.E. WREGE
> 
> to use the LINC SXL instruction to read the PDP-12 GPIO signals, and
> prototyped two switch boxes using recycled toggle switches. This works
> great, so now we need to make better switch boxes.
>
> This CHM article shows what we want to recreate.
> 
> This article shows a sketch of the switch boxes.
> 
> A generous donor made these boxes for us.
> 
>
> The lever switches are turning our to be difficult to find at a reasonable
> price. We found some NOS SwitchCraft lever switches that looked like the
> sketch and the PDP-1 pictures and were a reasonable price, but our order
> was rejected because they only had one in stock. eBay has Mossman and
> SwitchCraft, but they are either very expensive (more than $50 each), or
> they only have one available.
>
> The switches that we are looking for need to be SPDT, three-position,
> non-locking, center off. (If the switches have more than one pole we can
> remove the extra poles to keep the operational force low.) Before we cave
> in and buy some modern C toggle switches, does anyone have a source for
> Mossman or SwitchCraft switches at a reasonable price?
>
> --
> Michael Thompson

Michel,

I did just what you did for being able to play Spacewar! on my PDP-8a (I
have KK8E with EAE, VC8E and the DK8E real time clock). But since the
frontpanel doesn't have proper switches for the switch register I had to
build game hand controls.

I built them just like those that can be spotted in the video from CHM:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EWQYAfuMYw but smaller.

I just used ordinary arcade style buttons and connected them to the
digital inputs on the DKC8A board and modified the source code for that.

Those hand controls have two switches for rotate left/right, one for fire
and one for acceleration. The last one is for hyper speed but that is
triggered by pressing left/right switches at the same time. I intended to
fix this so it should be triggered by the last button but never came to
it.

Unfortunately I haven't written on my page https://www.pdp-9.net/pdp-8a on
this yet...

/Anders