[cctalk] PDP 11/40 power supply question

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Hi,

I have a PDP-11/40 that I've wanted to restore for many years now.  I got
it in the standard 21" cabinet but the power supplies were in a cardboard
box.  I'm not certain how the power supply bundle mounts in the cab.  Also
I'm missing the power supply cables.  Do they use currently available Molex
connectors?

Could someone on the list perhaps take a picture or two to show me how the
supplies are supposed to mount in the rack?  Also, a shot of the power
cable routing would help.

Thanks,

Marc Howard

[cctalk] Re: Talking PDP11

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Try 1970.
https://www.vintagecomputermusic.com/notran_system.php

I worked in the same (computer graphics) lab with Hal.  He wrote the
seminal book on microprocessor generated music and later worked at Kurzweil.

Marc Howard

On Tue, Jul 11, 2023 at 1:10 PM Martin Bishop via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> For info on DAC internals, have a look at
> https://www.analog.com/en/education/education-library/analog-digital-conversion-1986.html
> Part 2 details basic A/D & D/A architectures
>
> Current output converters are:
> - less common than voltage output DACs
> - and, if a ladder conversion architecture is used, lurking inside voltage
> output DACs behind a transimpedance amplifier (I to V converter)
>
> I would be very surprised if the AAV11 does not output buffered volts
>
> Lots of other good reference material on analog.com, TI.com is also worth
> a look
>
> Martin
>
> PS Most contemporary audio work uses SigmaDelta converters, see e.g.
> Analog Devices AN-283 and MT-022
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Douglas Taylor via cctalk [mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org]
> Sent: 11 July 2023 17:29
> To: Mike Katz via cctalk 
> Cc: Douglas Taylor 
> Subject: [cctalk] Re: Talking PDP11
>
> The DACs on the AAV11-C board are not marked in any revealing way.  I
> think they are Burr Brown DAC80, 24 pin, but I'm not sure.  I wasn't sure
> if they were working and was looking for a replacement.
>
> Looking at the spec sheets DAC's seem to come in Voltage or Current
> versions.  Life got more complicated.
>
> This started out as a simple exercise into verifying the AAV11-C operation
> using PDP11GUI to program up a basic program to run all the codes thru the
> DAC.  It worked, got a ramp out.  Now, I'm starting to look at the KWV11-C
> and how to use that to send values to the DAC at a controllable rate.
>
> Doug
>
> --
>
> On 7/11/2023 11:41 AM, Mike Katz via cctalk wrote:
> > I originally used R-2R DACs but I was lucky enough to be able to buy a
> > couple of DAC08 chips at Radio Shack and built a circuit using 74LS244
> > latching buffers so that I could drive both channels of a single 8-bit
> > parallel port and 2 extra control lines (Select and Strobe).
> >
> > On 7/11/2023 6:43 AM, ste...@malikoff.com steven--- via cctalk wrote:
> >>> On 07/10/2023 11:31 PM AEST Mike Katz via cctalk
> >>>  wrote:
> >>> Way back in the 80's I was able to do stereo 4 part harmony on a 2
> >>> MHZ
> >>> 6809 using two 8-bit D/A converters.
> >> Much the same here. I recounted this on VCFed a few months ago about
> >> building a simple 2-chip 8-bit ladder DAC with one-transistor
> >> amplifier for my Applied Technology DG680 S100 machine back in the
> >> early 80s from this absolutely excellent BYTE article on how to do
> >> polyphonic synthesis on a microcomputer (KIM-1):
> >>
> >> https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1977-09/page/n63/mode/2up
> >>
> >> A schoolfriend who had an Apple ][ and had not done any Z80 machine
> >> code before asked for me to hand him my Zaks book, upon which he
> >> wrote out one attempt in Z80, crossed it out and wrote a second
> >> version. Which worked perfectly. For the music piece I got it to play
> >> four-voice polyphony after painstakingly encoding Bach's Praeludium
> >> in C Major from my mothers' collection of piano music scores.
> >>
> >> A few years ago I had thoughts about porting the 6502 code to the
> >> PDP-11 and use the same sort of ladder DAC. Not sure if the slimline
> >> 11/05 would be fast enough for anything too high frequency, but if it
> >> was, the slimline 05's power supply could then temporarily come out
> >> and be perhaps be powered off some beefy batteries in that space,
> >> along with a small 1970s transistor amp and 1970s headphones topped
> >> off with a leather shoulder strap to lug it around like a giant Walkman.
> >
>
>

[cctalk] Are there any useful OCR programs for scanning old listings and producing text with proper formatting

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Marc Howard 
[image: Attachments]May 10, 2023, 8:58 PM (15 hours ago)
to cctalk-owner
I have some listings I want to convert to ASCII.  They're line printer
output from a computer that existed from the mid-sixties to the early 70's
(Agage AGT series).

I can't find any OCR package that can take scanner output (either PDF or
JPEG) and convert it to text with roughly the same number of spaces between
words as was there originally.

Seems like it would be an easy task.  The input is non-proportional text
from line printer output (actually it might have been printed on a Diablo
hytype).  And yet all I get is most of the characters with either no or
single spacing between words.  And it misses quite a bit of scanned
characters at that.

Anyone have any good experiences trying to do this?  I've attached a PDF
scan if you have a way to do a test run.

Thanks,

Marc Howard

[cctalk] Re: Disk pack production tools

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Most white LEDs are really blue LEDs with a thin yellow phosphor coating
(the eye sees yellow as red + green).  I doubt they have much energy in the
IR range.

IR LED is probably the way to go.  How hard is it to get to that bulb?

Marc

On Thu, Jan 19, 2023 at 4:02 PM Paul Koning via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

>
>
> > On Jan 19, 2023, at 2:46 PM, David Gesswein via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >
> > On Wed, Jan 18, 2023 at 12:42:26PM -0600, Jon Elson wrote:
> >> On 1/17/23 21:18, Marc Howard via cctalk wrote:
> >>> Does anyone know if that light bulb is still available?  I’m not sure
> what
> >>> the response of that photo sensor is and that might rule out using a
> led
> >>> replacement. The fact that the bulb is almost certainty driven below
> the
> >>> rated voltage also complicates matters.
> >>
> >> If you need JUST ONE badly enough, you can probably keep it going.
> Likely
> >> an LED could be used as a substitute.  But, a roughly equivalent bulb
> with
> >> the wrong base could likely be found and hacked.
> >>
> >
> > Originally discussing RK05 head position sensor bulb. I have replaced
> it. The
> > offical part to replace it isn't available. You can open it up and put in
> > a new bulb. I wasn't able to quickly find what bulb I used a number of
> > years ago but if someone really needs to know I can dig further. One of
> the
> > small ones with wires. It doesn't use bulb with base. LED didn't work. I
> > think sensor is IR.
>
> Hard to know what the sensor wants given that it isn't described in any
> DEC documents I could find.  The schematics do mention that the light bulb
> runs on +5 volts, which suggests that indeed it might be below its rated
> voltage.
>
> If the sensors want IR you could try an IR LED.  Or a white LED on the
> theory that it's a broadband light source...
>
> paul
>
>

[cctalk] Re: Disk pack production tools

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Does anyone know if that light bulb is still available?  I’m not sure what
the response of that photo sensor is and that might rule out using a led
replacement. The fact that the bulb is almost certainty driven below the
rated voltage also complicates matters.

Marc


On Tue, Jan 17, 2023 at 5:10 PM Chuck Guzis via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On 1/17/23 13:58, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:
> >
> > No, 844 drives use linear voice coils (linear motors), which seems to
> have become the norm in the early 1970s.  RK05 is another example.  The
> term "voice coil" is used because they look like oversized versions of the
> coil that drives the speaker cone in loudspeakers.  These all are some sort
> of servo device; in many of them the servo signal is on the media, but not
> always.  For example, the RK05 uses a pattern of lines on a glass substrate
> attached to the actuator; the "fault" light on the drive indicates a
> failure of the light bulb that illuminates the servo pattern.
> >
> > A common feature of linear motor actuators is an emergency retract
> circuit, powered by rather large capacitors, to pull the heads off the disk
> if there is a power failure.
> >
> And, IIRC, a bit red warning sticker on the actuator.
>
> --Chuck
>

[cctalk] Re: DEC LINC Eight auction

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Cool.  The only thing I notice is that it doesn't seem to have enough cards
in it.  I think a TC01 interface is an entire rack of cards for instance.
Still I'm tempted as I doubt I'll ever get a chance the wildly overspend on
a PDP-12.

Marc

On Tue, Jan 10, 2023 at 12:01 PM steve shumaker via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Popped up in a search:   A DEC LINC Eight up for auction in Friedens, PA.
>
> https://hibid.com/lot/143159802/digital-equipment-corp-linc-eight-vintage
> Currently has a single bid for $1.00  They are even offering shipping!
>
>
>
> Visually looks to be in excellent shape
>
>
> https://cdn.hibid.com/img.axd?id=7750162854==false===0=0===true=false=MAX=dXJczRVCwWW3aM2jOohA14P%2ful8pCw%2bs
>
>
> Steve
>

Looking for the numeric pad "1" key on VT-100 vintage keyboard

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Does anyone out there have a "1" key (the one in the numeric keypad, not
the 1 / ! key) that they are willing to sell: me?  I saw a couple of
partial keyboards go fairly cheap on ePay a couple of months ago but didn't
see it until it was sold.

Thanks,

Marc Howard

Re: RSX11D disks on EBAY- anyone interested?

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

I'll chip in too if you won it and can copy the stuff off.

Marc

On Wed, Mar 3, 2021 at 3:44 PM Ron Pool via cctalk 
wrote:

> No boards for me, but I'll PayPal you a bit towards your purchase.
>
> On 3/3/21, 2:14 PM, "cctalk on behalf of Al Kossow via cctalk" <
> cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org on behalf of cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> On 3/3/21 11:11 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
> > On 3/3/21 10:42 AM, Lee Gleason via cctalk wrote:
> >
> >>The auction starts at  more than I have in my computer budget
> this month
> > I went ahead and bought these, but paypal contributions to my email
> would be helpful
> > this is way more than I can afford as well.
>
> I have a set of RK11-D boards w/o backplane
> that I'll need to sell to help cover the cost if
> anyone wants to make an offer.
>
>
>

Re: ISO: Stabilization feet for DEC H960 rack

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

I love to buy some if anyone ever makes reproductions.

Marc

On Sat, Feb 27, 2021 at 7:37 PM Josh Dersch via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> I realize these are uncommon; curious if anyone has a spare pair somewhere
> (hey, that rhymes.)  I'd like to be able to pull out the CPU on my 11/70
> without worrying about the whole thing tipping over and crushing people I
> care about.  It's the little things, really...
>
> Thanks!
> - Josh
>

Re: non-shunting jumpers?

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Why couldn't you get a piece of #20 wire and strip off an inch or so.  Bend
it into a U to block out two pins.

It might need #18 or #22 but you get the idea.

Marc


On Thu, Oct 22, 2020 at 11:31 AM brian--- via cctalk 
wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Oddball question here: has anyone ever seen a way to cap off or protect
> standard 0.1" pin header jumpers? Maybe there exist jumper plugs that
> *don't
> *conduct across the two pins? I'm looking at a piece of hardware that has
> some jumper pins on top of the PC board and I'd like to protect against
> anything accidentally making contact.  I have seen surface mount 0.05 pitch
> pin headers come from their manufacturer with protective caps, but I
> haven't been able to find anything to apply to 0.1" pin headers that I
> could by aftermarket.
>
> Any ideas would be appreciated!
> thanks
> brian
>

Re: 11/84 print set

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

You have a working 7-track drive??  Does it have a sibling?

Marc Howard

On Mon, Oct 19, 2020 at 11:39 AM Alan Frisbie via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Al Kossow  wrote:
>
>  > anyone willing to chip in some money to help me pay for this?
>  > https://www.ebay.com/itm/303733340900
>
> I don't have a PDP-11/84 and likely never will but I just
> sent you $150.  Bitsavers has saved my bacon multiple times
> and it's only right that I support you.
>
> In about a month I hope to be able to deliver the 7-track
> tape drive to you.  Details later.
>
> Alan Frisbie
>

Re: Tips on reviving a TU56 + TD8E?

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Tom,

Ditto.  Could you supply links to these doc

Thanks,

Marc

On Thu, Oct 8, 2020 at 11:33 PM Bob Vines via cctech 
wrote:

> >
> > Message: 8
> > Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2020 05:59:40 + (UTC)
> > From: Thomas Moss 
> > To: cctalk@classiccmp.org
> > Subject: Tips on reviving a TU56 + TD8E?
> >
> ...
>
> > I've recently bought a TU56 for my PDP-8/e, and am looking for some
> > advice on getting it to work.
> >
> ...
>
> > ... I found a copy of the source for TDFRMT so I could see what
> > exactly was causing the "SETUP?" error.
> >
> ...
>
> Tom,
> I don't have a TU56 & TD8E _yet_, but really hope to get one fairly soon --
> if successful, they will most assuredly require troubleshooting & repairs.
> Where did you find the source for TDFRMT?  Also, where did you find the
> MAINDEC document that matches your version of the TD8E MAINDEC?  I ask
> because I've had _great_ difficulty finding MAINDEC docs that actually
> match whatever MAINDEC images I've tried to use.
> Thanks,
> Bob
>

Anyone out there that can read 7 track / 556 BPI tapes?

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Hi,

I bumped into an old friend of mine today.  We both talked about a pair of
machines we worked on that no longer exist as far as we cant tell.  They
were both Adage machines and had the same base digital architecture.  Their
names are Ambilog 200 and AGT-30.  The Ambilog was the predecessor to the
AGT line.  The AGT came in 3 flavors, AGT-10, AGT-30 and AGT-50.  The 30
seems to have been the most prevalent.

They were 30 bit, one's complement machines.  The Ambilog had a beautiful
console that used an IO Selectric.  It was designed as a 2D vector graphics
machine.

Here's an image of the Ambilog 200: Ambilog 200


The AGT/30 was a very advanced 3D vector machine.  The XYZ signals for the
display came from a 4 x 3 "hybrid" matrix multiplier which allowed for 3D
imaging with Z axis depth cueing.  The matrix multiplier was a 19 in rack
of a dozen discrete 15 bit multiplying D to A converters.  About once a
year it had to be re-calibrated due to long term drift.

Here's a link to an image of an AGT-30: Adage AGT-30


And here is it's 1.5 seconds of fame from the SciFi classic "Dark Star": AGT-30
das Blinkenlights 

Anyway, it turns out he has quite a few of the source and backup tapes.
Unfortunately they are 7 track 556 BPI.  So the question is: is there
anyone out there that can assist with either reading these tapes or (better
yet) has a 7 track tape head we could buy?

Our goal is to preserve this forgotten machine designed at the start of the
computer graphics era.  Writing a full emulator is our goal.

I live in the Bay Area.  Maybe those of you with connections to CHM could
see if we could read the tapes on the 1401.  Or maybe one of you has a 7
track driver in your junk file.  All we really would need is the head and
we could put it on an existing drive.  As a last option, a commercial tape
recovery vendor although that is probably too pricey.

Thanks,

Marc Howard

Re: FYI: ACM library opened

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Great.  Now I can finally get copies of my Siggraph papers.

Marc

On Thu, Apr 2, 2020 at 1:50 PM Paul Koning via cctalk 
wrote:

> This might be of interest to many of the people on the list.
>
> paul
>
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> >
> >> Also, ACM has currently opened up all of its digital archives during
> these pandemic times, ...  https://dl.acm.org/action/doSearch
>
>
>

Re: REL APL-11

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

The only things I remember about APL were:

1. Square  divide symbol formed something that looked like a
domino (1 over 1) and was the random number generator.
2. Someone always finds a way to do a moderate sized task in one line of
code.  The ultimate obfuscated code contest.

Marc


On Mon, Mar 30, 2020 at 4:35 PM John H. Reinhardt via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On 3/30/2020 6:29 PM, Marc Howard wrote:
> > Stupid question time.  I last used APL in a class in 1975.  Back then
> you needed a magic terminal and/or a magic Selectric typeball.  How does
> one input or print a program on a PDP-11 with mere mortal equipment?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Marc Howard
> >
> > On Mon, Mar 30, 2020 at 4:07 PM John H. Reinhardt via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org > wrote:
> >
> > On 3/30/2020 1:37 PM, Mark Matlock via cctalk wrote:
> > >
> > > Bill,
> > >  I have the APL-11 V2.1 source files on a RL02 disk image. I
> will make it available at http://www.rsx11m.com/apl11.zip <
> http://www.rsx11m.com/apl11.zip>
> > >
> > >  Once you mount the disk image with Simh, the are two ready to
> run task images that will run under RSX11M or M+
> > > In [201,200]APL6OK.TSK and APL7OK.TSK that are the REAL*4 and
> REAL*8 versions of APL-11. On the disk are the
> > > Original .MAC sources as well as files from a RSX SIG tape that
> modified APL-11 for I/D under RSX11M+ that increased
> > > The workspace (.BXWA from ~3 to ~6 bytes). It also
> contains a character set for Vt220 for the APL character set.
> > >
> > > When you install the APL task experiment with the /INC to
> maximize the available workspace, On my system, I can
> > > INS APL6.TSK/INC=37000 to max the workspace for the single
> precision version.
> > >
> > > Also, the scanned APL-11 reference manual can be downloaded at
> http://www.rsx11m.com/APL-11-Ref-Man.pdf <
> http://www.rsx11m.com/APL-11-Ref-Man.pdf>
> > >   and the APL11 installation guide at
> http://www.rsx11m.com/APL11ins.pdf 
> > >
> > > The RSX SIG files that have the info to change APL-11 to an
> I/D RSX11M+ task are at [370,360] on the RL02 disk. I remember having this
> work back in the mid-1980s butI have not been able to get it to work today.
> If I link it with ODT it seems to blow up when the first overlay is loaded.
> If anyone could help with that I’d really appreciate it!
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > Mark
> >
> > Thanks Mark!
> >
> >
> > I remember we had APL at Rose-Hulman when I was in college there
> from 1978-1983.  At first I thought it was on the VAX-11/780 that showed up
> over the summer of 1980, but now I realize it had to have been on our
> PDP-11/70 running RSTS/E. Probably APL-11 V1.X since it was there in the
> Fall of 1978 when I started.  We had a couple of DEC LA36's with the APL
> character set and keyboards.
> >
> > --
> > John H. Reinhardt
> >
> Marc,
>
>On page 1-5 of the APL-11 Reference Manual that Mark posted there is a
> table showing the ACII equivalents for the special APL character set.
> There are also instructions there on how to do it.  It's a combination of
> characters and backspaces.  Kinda tough on a video terminal but workable on
> a printer.
>
> --
> John H. Reinhardt
>
>

Re: REL APL-11

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Stupid question time.  I last used APL in a class in 1975.  Back then you
needed a magic terminal and/or a magic Selectric typeball.  How does one
input or print a program on a PDP-11 with mere mortal equipment?

Thanks,

Marc Howard

On Mon, Mar 30, 2020 at 4:07 PM John H. Reinhardt via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On 3/30/2020 1:37 PM, Mark Matlock via cctalk wrote:
> >
> > Bill,
> >  I have the APL-11 V2.1 source files on a RL02 disk image. I will
> make it available at http://www.rsx11m.com/apl11.zip <
> http://www.rsx11m.com/apl11.zip>
> >
> >  Once you mount the disk image with Simh, the are two ready to run
> task images that will run under RSX11M or M+
> > In [201,200]APL6OK.TSK and APL7OK.TSK that are the REAL*4 and REAL*8
> versions of APL-11. On the disk are the
> > Original .MAC sources as well as files from a RSX SIG tape that modified
> APL-11 for I/D under RSX11M+ that increased
> > The workspace (.BXWA from ~3 to ~6 bytes). It also contains a
> character set for Vt220 for the APL character set.
> >
> > When you install the APL task experiment with the /INC to maximize
> the available workspace, On my system, I can
> > INS APL6.TSK/INC=37000 to max the workspace for the single precision
> version.
> >
> > Also, the scanned APL-11 reference manual can be downloaded at
> http://www.rsx11m.com/APL-11-Ref-Man.pdf <
> http://www.rsx11m.com/APL-11-Ref-Man.pdf>
> >   and the APL11 installation guide at http://www.rsx11m.com/APL11ins.pdf
> 
> >
> > The RSX SIG files that have the info to change APL-11 to an I/D
> RSX11M+ task are at [370,360] on the RL02 disk. I remember having this work
> back in the mid-1980s butI have not been able to get it to work today. If I
> link it with ODT it seems to blow up when the first overlay is loaded. If
> anyone could help with that I’d really appreciate it!
> >
> > Best,
> > Mark
>
> Thanks Mark!
>
>
> I remember we had APL at Rose-Hulman when I was in college there from
> 1978-1983.  At first I thought it was on the VAX-11/780 that showed up over
> the summer of 1980, but now I realize it had to have been on our PDP-11/70
> running RSTS/E.  Probably APL-11 V1.X since it was there in the Fall of
> 1978 when I started.  We had a couple of DEC LA36's with the APL character
> set and keyboards.
>
> --
> John H. Reinhardt
>
>

Re: PDP-8 Straight 8 restoration

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Nigel,

I first learned assembly on a straight-8.  Also learned about repair with
the same machine (1974).

As for fun time wasters back then there was a DECUS paper tape that could
compute n! up to 200! exactly.  I remember that I could start it before
lunch, come back, and then about 15 minutes later it would start printing
all the digits for 200!.

Enjoy your 8,

Marc Howard


On Sun, Mar 29, 2020 at 2:59 PM Nigel Johnson via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Brings back memories!  My first 6800 cross assembler came to me as 2000
> Fortran source code punch cards. We had an F4R4 compiler on the PDP11
> but the card reader was on the PDP-8.
>
> The only common peripheral was paper tape.  One night, the Chief
> Engineer and I fed the cards into the PDP8 card reader, punched tape,
> and fed it directly into the PDP11 tape reader.  X-on X-off was handled
> by hitting the stop and continue buttons on the PDP8 as the punch was
> faster than the reader.  The buffer was a pile of paper tape in the
> floor, which we carefully prevented from tangling.  Somehow OS/8 managed
> to not crash with the constant start/stop.
>
> Nobody was more surprised than we were when the output compiled
> perfectly on the PDP11 and we made our first 6800 program - a ham
> repeater controller!
>
> The Chief Engineer is still alive - I was at his 95th birthday last year
> and we often have fun talking about the good old days!
>
> cheers,
>
> Nigel Johnson
>
>
> On 29/03/2020 16:59, Diane Bruce via cctalk wrote:
> > On Mon, Mar 30, 2020 at 09:47:51AM +1300, Brendan McNeill via cctech
> wrote:
> >> Here in NZ and around the world many of us are in lockdown and spending
> more time on our computers, if that were possible.  I have just completed
> the restoration of a PDP-8 Straight 8 which I believe is the only one in
> New Zealand.  You can view the restoration story and find appropriate
> resources here:  https://pdp-8.nz 
> >>
> >> While it plays Chess, it would be great if someone wanted to write
> (say) a Prime Number Generator, or some other application and email it to
> me off list.  I have Focal-69 and can probably source other languages for
> this wonderful old machine with 4K of memory.
> > I have memories of keying in RIM and BIN. Long long time ago. I also
> learned
> > how to talk to the OS/8 file system so we could play morse code from a
> file
> > instead of a paper tape for our University club station. ;)
> >
> >> --//
> >> bren...@mcneill.co.nz
> >> +64 21 881 883
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> > 73 de VA3DB for those that care ;)
>
>
>
> --
> 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: TU55 / TC01

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Wow, a TU55 + TC01.  Were they once a part of a PDP-12?

Marc Howard

On Tue, Jan 7, 2020 at 8:55 AM Al Kossow via cctalk 
wrote:

> I just listed one of my TU55s on eBay
> I have a second one available in a rack with a TC01 avalilable for pickup
> in Fremont, CA
> that I'm accepting offers on.
>
>

Re: Ferroresonant transformer supply repair

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Amazon is your friend:

https://www.amazon.com/Capacitor-Motor-Quick-Connect-Snap/dp/B00HRNKI9Q/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?keywords=660v+capacitor+8+mfd=1568059220=gateway=8-2-fkmr0

$13 bucks.  Cheep.

Marc Howard

On Sun, Sep 8, 2019 at 7:41 PM Kyle Owen via cctalk 
wrote:

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

Re: Ferroresonant transformer supply repair

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

BTW, Genteq is a reputable brand.  It is the former GE capacitor division,
hence the name Gen(eral Electric)teq(technology).

On Mon, Sep 9, 2019 at 1:02 PM Marc Howard  wrote:

> Amazon is your friend:
>
>
> https://www.amazon.com/Capacitor-Motor-Quick-Connect-Snap/dp/B00HRNKI9Q/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?keywords=660v+capacitor+8+mfd=1568059220=gateway=8-2-fkmr0
>
> $13 bucks.  Cheep.
>
> Marc Howard
>
> On Sun, Sep 8, 2019 at 7:41 PM Kyle Owen via cctalk 
> wrote:
>
>> On Sun, Sep 8, 2019, 20:39 Guy Dunphy via cctalk 
>> wrote:
>>
>> > >
>> > >We recently replaced the ferroresonant capacitor in a power supply on
>> the
>> > CHM's
>> > >PDP-1. They do fail (thankfully, not often) - and they are not
>> > super-critical
>> > >as to value. If the one you're replacing has the same marked value, you
>> > should
>> > >be fine.
>> > >
>> >
>> > Yes, that's right. Find something with the same marked capacitance
>> value.
>> > The rated voltage can be the same or higher.
>> >
>>
>> I can't seem to find motor caps that meet the voltage spec of 660V. 8uF
>> doesn't seem like a problem, but the combination together isn't looking
>> good. Are there any specific vendors I should be looking at? My usual
>> suspect of DigiKey isn't looking good.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Kyle
>>
>> >
>>
>

Re: Recovering the ROM of an IBM 5100 using OCR (among other things)

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Look at  http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=39958

Marc

On Thu, Jun 27, 2019 at 8:30 AM Mark J. Blair via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

>
>
> > On Jun 27, 2019, at 8:21 AM, Warner Losh via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >
> > Back when I got to school and I was hanging around the computer room on
> > campus (back when it was THE room on campus with computers), I saw this
> > half-dollar sized plastic fob on the desk and asked what it was for. The
> > on-staff operator took a mag tape off the rack, opened it up and set the
> > end of the tape on the table. She then took the fob and placed it on the
> > end of the tape and all the iron filings that were suspended in the
> liquid
> > inside the fob aligned to the magnetic fields of the tape.
>
> I don't recall seeing one of those in either of the computer rooms I
> worked in as a student back in the late 1980s. I would love to get my hands
> on one (or make one?) now.
>
> --
> Mark J. Blair, NF6X 
> http://www.nf6x.net/
>
>

Help with TCBASX and TCRANX (PDP8/OS8/TC08)

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

How do you run TCBASX.DG (TC01 Basic Exerciser) and TCRANX.DG (TC01 Random
Exerciser)?

When I run TCBASX.DG it almost immediately halts.  Pressing makes the TC08
controller lights grind but no tape motion.  TCRANX.DG is basically the
same.

Is there any documentation for these two programs?

Thanks,

Marc Howard

Re: Uniprobe

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

OK, stupid question time.  I'm at work and I can't find retrocomp's
website.  Can you point me to it?

Thanks,

Marc Howard

On Fri, May 31, 2019 at 2:36 PM Brian Roth via cctalk 
wrote:

> If anybody is interested in building  Jorge Hoppe's Uniprobe, I have some
> PCB's available. I made a few extra to keep the price down. Price is $40 ea
> shipped in the CONUS. These have Silver fingers rather than Gold but should
> still hold up well. Build information is on Retrocomp.
>
> Brian.
>

How to format Dectape (TC08 + TU56)

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Hi,

I fired up the 8/A tonight and the TU56's are failing diags.  I want to
format a tape for scratch use but I can't find the MAINDEC that does this
(along with flipping up the backplane switch.

Can someone refresh me on the proceedure?

Thanks,

Marc Howard

VT52 stand

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Does anyone on the list have or have seen the stand that DEC sold with the
VT52?  I'm just curious; does the stand screw into holes on the monitor or
does it just sit on top?

>From what I've seen before it just looks like an office chair base with a
top that is the correct size.

Thanks,

Marc

Re: AMD Am8177 Datasheet

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Kyle,

Where did you find that part?  I designed the video stage of the AT Pixel
Machine back in the late 80's using that part.  It was perfect for us as I
had to access up to 16 cards worth of pixels in TTL and spit out a video
rate stream in ECL to drive the lookup tables and the DACs.  Only time I've
ever designed a backplane with active parts on it.

Marc

On Thu, Dec 13, 2018 at 10:00 AM Noel Chiappa via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> > From: Kyle Owen
>
> > Gah...just found it.
>
> We've all been there... :-)
>
> Noel
>

Re: BIG ol tektronix scope 555 - need it gone - make an offer

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

That's a beautiful old scope setup.  I have a friend who collects this
stuff but he is very low budget and on the opposite side of the country
like me.

Marc

On Tue, Dec 11, 2018 at 6:15 AM Paul Koning via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

>
>
> > On Dec 11, 2018, at 7:59 AM, Toby Thain via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >
> > On 2018-12-11 1:17 AM, devin davison via cctalk wrote:
> >> The line about being used with an early computer as a display caught my
> >> eye. How would it be used as a display, what kind of graphics capability
> >> would it have? is there an interface for the thing for the pdp 11 or a
> >> modcomp? Those are the old systems i have on hand that i might be able
> to
> >> interface to it.
> >
> > A scope is at heart an electrostatic CRT with X and Y deflection (and
> > perhaps Z axis blanking control). Many older systems did have such
> > displays -- the PDP-1 is a well known example (e.g. see Marc and Lyle's
> > CHM demo on YT[1]). Imlac PDS-1 is another. And before _digital_
> > systems, scopes or X-Y displays were a typical output medium for
> > _analog_ computers.
> >
> > For digital computers, output is point plotting, vector drawing, and/or
> > character generation depending on the sophistication (= cost) of the
> > hardware involved. You'd also need to find or write suitable software :)
> >
> > Yes, there were interface cards for PDP-11, such as AA11 (dual DACs).
>
> I made such a setup in college: we had an 11/20 with AA11 (and other lab
> I/O gear).  I hooked those up to the X/Y inputs of a scope, and a digital
> I/O line to the Z input.  Then loaded coordinate pairs into a buffer on the
> RC11 disk, which was set up to do DMA directly to the AA11 data CSR.
> Worked nicely, and with low overhead on a  machine that certainly could not
> afford to do refresh in software.
>
> The classic example of a computer display like that is the CDC 6000
> mainframe console.  That is essentially a pair of oversized oscilloscopes
> (with electrostatic deflection), with their X/Y inputs driven by a
> dedicated display controller that includes a vector character generator.
>
> paul
>
>
>

Re: DECUS PDP-11 SPACE WAR?

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

When did the DECUS purge occur?

Marc


On Sat, Dec 8, 2018 at 8:26 AM Bill Gunshannon via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

>
> On 12/8/18 11:16 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
> >
> > On 12/8/18 7:10 AM, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk wrote:
> >
> >> As long as we're talking about old PDP-11 DECUS stuff I
> >>
> >> am still looking for a copy of:
> >>
> >> 11S042   Symposium Tape from the RSTS SIG, Spring 1980,
> >>
> >> Chicago Version: Spring 1980
> >>
> >>
> >> Of course, I would be interested in pretty much anything from
> >>
> >> the RSTS SIG but this is  my holy grail.  :-)
> >>
> >>
> >> bill
> >>
> >>
> > Maybe I can talk Josh at LCM+L to work on a joint project in 2019 to
> > see what DECUS submissions they and CHM have.
> >
> > I know Lyle would really like me to read his DECUS
> > PDP-12 DECtapes and I really should better organize
> > what is in bitsavers.org/bits/DEC. I probably makes
> > sense to break out the DECUS library there.
>
>
> Would be nice to save what of this can still be recovered.
>
> It was disturbing to hear DECUS threw stuff out, but not
>
> surprising.  I know of other such actions.  Stuff Dennis
>
> Ritchie donated to a former East Coast Computer Museum
>
> was discarded and I also know of stuff given to USENIX
>
> that they tossed (luckily some of that has been recovered
>
> but I am sure much was lost permanently).
>
>
> bill
>
>
>

Re: Opening RL02 disk pack

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Sounds like a good youtube video topic...

Marc

On Wed, Dec 5, 2018 at 1:38 PM Guy Dunphy via cctalk 
wrote:

> At 02:09 PM 3/12/2018 +0100, Christian wrote:
> >Hi,
> >how does one open a RL02 disk pack? A couple of packs need cleaning but I
> >can't figure out how to open them...
>
>
> Wait, by 'open' do you mean 'release the bottom dust cover',
> or 'disassemble and remove all plastic till the platters are fully
> exposed'?
>
> By 'cleaning' do you mean blowing dust out with clean compressed air,
> or some kind of all-surfaces wash & wipe?
>
> I'd assumed the former in both, thinking you might (like me) be new to DEC
> hardware.
>
> If you actually want to do a thorough surface clean of the platters, how
> does one
> do that anyway? Is there a proceedure recommended by DEC?
> Because I may eventually need to do this on old RLO2 packs I have, as I
> get a
> PDP 11-something system together.
>
> Guy
>

Re: i860: Re: modern stuff

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

I designed the video section of that board set (VX/MVX).  The VX had an
i860 + a very large 32 bit frame buffer.  It also had and 2nd 8 bit frame
buffer based two custom Sun chips that was used for the window system.  The
video could switch between the two frame buffers on a per-pixel basis.  The
output format of the larger frame buffer was micro-programmable; some VXs
were used by Sarnoff Labs in early development of the HDTV standard.

The MVX had four i860s and a very wide (256 bits?) high speed connection to
the VX.

Oh, and the guys that developed the chip set for 2D graphics?  They left
and founded a little company called Nvidia.  Sigh.

Marc

On Fri, Nov 2, 2018 at 5:34 AM Michael Thompson via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> >
> > Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2018 14:29:18 -0700
> > From: Eric Korpela 
> > Subject: Re: i860: Re: modern stuff
> >
> > A Google search on Skybolt i860 produces interesting results.
> > >Additional realtime signal processing
> > > capability is provided by four Skybolt i860-based VMEbus single-board
> > > computers with 240 MFLOPS peak combined capacity.
> > > --
> > > Remember when 240 MFLOPS was a lot?
> >
>
> That's the board that I have.
>
> Quad i860 on a 9Ux400 VME board.
>
> Its in a Sun 4/280 development system.
>
>
> --
> Michael Thompson
>

Re: 70's computers

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

You know that since you mentioned possibly using CMOS 22V10's why not just
build a board around AMD 29XX bit slice parts.  They actually predate
22V10's by quite a bit and you can pretty much implement what every you
want to without rewiring.

Marc

On Wed, Oct 24, 2018 at 8:57 AM Jon Elson via cctalk 
wrote:

> On 10/24/2018 08:13 AM, allison via cctalk wrote:
> > On 10/23/2018 05:32 PM, Gordon Henderson via cctalk wrote:
> >> On Tue, 23 Oct 2018, ben via cctalk wrote:
> >>
> >>> The PDP 11 is nice machine, but I am looking  for simpler designs
> >>> where 16K words is a valid memory size for a OS and small single user
> >>> software.
> >> Try the Modular One with an OS written in BCPL.
> >>
> >> https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/files/3230/PRG08.pdf
> >>
> >> Although that paper suggest 32K of core.
> >>
> >> -Gordon
> > Why not the Data General Nova,  16bits and fairly simple.
> >
> >
> Yeah, basically a PDP-8 with a wider word.  No surprise,
> Edson De Castro designed the PDP-8 first, at DEC, before
> creating Data General.  And, it retained all the horrible
> things about the PDP-8 that I hated.
>
> Jon
>

Re: VCFMW DEC VTs, LAs

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Never mind.  I saw the DEC VT in the subject line and skipped over the
VCFMW.

Maec

On Thu, Sep 6, 2018 at 5:39 AM Marc Howard  wrote:

> Bring where?  The Silicon Valley swap meet this Saturday?
>
> I'd be interested in VT-52 parts or a VT-100.
>
> Marc
>
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 6, 2018 at 5:33 AM David Griffith via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
>> On September 5, 2018 8:55:45 PM PDT, Paul Anderson via cctalk <
>> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>> >Is anyone interested in any DEC VT50, VT52(ONE WITH PRINTER), VT78,
>> >any of the VT100 family, or any other video terminals or monitors or
>> >parts?
>> >
>> >LA35, LA36, LA120, any other printer or parts?
>> >
>> >Anything else?  If asked, I will try to bring.
>> >
>> >Thanks, Paul
>>
>> I'm looking for a "1" key and a "data" key for an LA-12 "Correspondent"
>> --
>> David Griffith
>> d...@661.org
>>
>

Re: VCFMW DEC VTs, LAs

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Bring where?  The Silicon Valley swap meet this Saturday?

I'd be interested in VT-52 parts or a VT-100.

Marc



On Thu, Sep 6, 2018 at 5:33 AM David Griffith via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On September 5, 2018 8:55:45 PM PDT, Paul Anderson via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >Is anyone interested in any DEC VT50, VT52(ONE WITH PRINTER), VT78,
> >any of the VT100 family, or any other video terminals or monitors or
> >parts?
> >
> >LA35, LA36, LA120, any other printer or parts?
> >
> >Anything else?  If asked, I will try to bring.
> >
> >Thanks, Paul
>
> I'm looking for a "1" key and a "data" key for an LA-12 "Correspondent"
> --
> David Griffith
> d...@661.org
>

Re: 360 Technologies selloff

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

www.conticomp.com is still down.  If they think it's up (internally) then
maybe DNS is using the wrong IP address.

Marc

On Mon, Jul 16, 2018 at 8:52 AM, Electronics Plus via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Just talked to Lidan at Continental Computers. They did not realize the
> website was down!
>
> You can call him directly at 310-906-3553, or email li...@conticomp.com
>
> They killed the pallet of Sun pizza boxes, but the other machines they
> parted out and put the parts in stock.
>
> They do have some old DEC stuff; he will check for anything PDP related.
>
> They do not have any VT100 stuff left, nor any terminals below a VT320.
>
> He will also look for HP 1000 type boxes, and hdd and tape drives to match.
>
>
>
> Cindy
>
>
>
> From: Wayne S [mailto:wayne.su...@hotmail.com]
> Sent: Monday, July 16, 2018 1:12 AM
> To: marc.how...@ieee.org; Marc Howard; General Discussion: On-Topic and
> Off-Topic Posts
> Cc: Electronics Plus
> Subject: Re: 360 Technologies selloff
>
>
>
> They still have am active ebay store, though.
>
>
>
> Continental Computers
>
>
> Wayne
>
>
>
>
> On Jul 15, 2018, at 9:51 PM, Marc Howard via cctalk 
> wrote:
>
> I'm not sure Continental Computer is still in business.  www.conticomp.com
> doesn't respond anymore.
>
> Sigh,
>
> Marc
>
> On Wed, Jul 11, 2018 at 9:44 AM, Electronics Plus via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Are there any HP resellers left now that have
>
> their own inventory and don't speculatively list parts that they don't
>
> have or never had?
>
>
>
> Sure! The problem is that most of them don't know that collectors still
>
> want old stuff. Continental Computers in Calif has old DEC, SUN, and old
>
> and new HP stuff. Pallets of it! They just don't advertise it.
>
>
>
> If there are not too many requests, you can send me PN, and I can see who
>
> is ACTUALLY listing them, not just advertising.
>
>
>
> Cindy
>
>
>
>
>
> ---
>
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
>
> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>
>
>
>
>
>

Re: 360 Technologies selloff

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

I'm not sure Continental Computer is still in business.  www.conticomp.com
doesn't respond anymore.

Sigh,

Marc

On Wed, Jul 11, 2018 at 9:44 AM, Electronics Plus via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Are there any HP resellers left now that have
> their own inventory and don't speculatively list parts that they don't
> have or never had?
>
> Sure! The problem is that most of them don't know that collectors still
> want old stuff. Continental Computers in Calif has old DEC, SUN, and old
> and new HP stuff. Pallets of it! They just don't advertise it.
>
> If there are not too many requests, you can send me PN, and I can see who
> is ACTUALLY listing them, not just advertising.
>
> Cindy
>
>
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>
>

Re: Logic Analyzer software for the HP-IB/RS-232 bus pre-processor HP 10342B

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Oh I know that. At work we have several different types.  USBee, Total
Phase, etc.  They all seem to have various flaws, the most common of which
is lack of ground isolation in USB based models.

Just seems like a curious omission from their repertoire of post analyzers.

Marc

On Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 8:09 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk 
wrote:

>
>
> On 5/30/18 7:09 PM, Marc Howard via cctalk wrote:
> > Was there ever an I2C decoder created for the 16500/16700?
>
> Today it may be easier just to get one of the inexpensive 16 channel USB
> analyzers with built-in i2c decoding
> like a DSLogic
>
> http://www.dreamsourcelab.com/order.html
>
>
>
>
>

Re: Logic Analyzer software for the HP-IB/RS-232 bus pre-processor HP 10342B

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Was there ever an I2C decoder created for the 16500/16700?

Marc


On Wed, May 30, 2018 at 7:07 PM, Curious Marc via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Wow. Impressive reverse engineering work. Congrats!
> Marc
>
> > On May 26, 2018, at 5:09 PM, Glen Slick via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >
> >> On Fri, May 22, 2015 at 7:43 PM, Marc Verdiell 
> wrote:
> >> This has probably been asked before, but does anyone have the software
> >> package that came with the HP-IB/RS232 HP10342 bus pre-processor for the
> >> HP1650 series Logic Analyzer (actually I have a 1670G)? It should have a
> >> config file and an inverse assembler file. I'm interested in the HP-IB
> >> files. Can't find it anywhere.
> >> - Marc
> >>
> >
> > Reviving a 3 year old thread...
> >
> > For anyone that does any work with old HP logic analyzer inverse
> > assembler files, it turns out that it is possible to decode the 68000
> > based logic analyzer IAL style IA binary files back into equivalent
> > source code that can be assembled again with the 10391B ASM.EXE
> > assembler. (No idea yet about the 6809 based 1630 series logic
> > analyzers. Those use a different binary format).
> >
> > Decoded Inverse Assembler .S source code files for the 10342B HPIB,
> > RS-232, RS-449 interface posted here:
> > http://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hp-logic-analyzer-
> inverse-assemblers/msg1568359/#msg1568359
>

Re: 5.25- inch alignment disk needed

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

If you get stuck you might try athana.com.  They have lots of hard/floppy
disks, including some alignment media.  I've used them to rebuild RK05
media.

A few years back I asked the owner how he stays in business.  Two words:
Federal Government.

Marc

On Wed, Apr 11, 2018 at 9:10 AM, Bill Degnan via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On Wed, Apr 11, 2018 at 12:01 PM, Eric Smith via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> > I find myself in need of a 5.25-inch alignment disk. A few years ago
> > someone mentioned a source for those, but I can't seem to find it. Is
> there
> > still a source, or does anyone have one they'd be willing to sell?
> >
> > I could use an 8-inch alignment disk also, but don't need that as
> urgently.
> >
>
> where are you located
>

Re: WeirdStuff going out of business

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Looking at Outback's website I don't see them selling old Sun 3 keyboards
or outlet strips.

Sigh,

Marc

On Sat, Apr 7, 2018 at 7:29 AM, Lyle Bickley via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On Fri, 6 Apr 2018 20:35:28 -0400
> Douglas Taylor via cctalk  wrote:
>
> > On 4/5/2018 8:21 PM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
> > > Last Day is this Sunday
> > >
> > > http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?63045-
> WeirdStuff-is-going-out-of-buisiness-(
> > >
> > > since I can't attach a picture here
> > >
> > What's going to happen to all the weird stuff?
>
> Here's the newsletter Weirdstuff sent to all their subscribers:
> ---
> WeirdStuff Warehouse Newsletter
>
> April 6, 2018
>
> To Weirdstuff Customers,
>
> Sadly, after 32 years in business, Weirdstuff Warehouse will be closing
> its doors as of April 9, 2018. If you have been following the real
> estate news for Sunnyvale you know that Google purchased a large amount
> of real estate in the area including the building we have been leasing
> for the past 22 years. We have been asked to vacate the building as
> soon as possible, and in order to accomplish that task we are selling
> our inventory and many of our assets to Outback Equipment of Morgan
> Hill. The transfer of inventory and assets will take place on April 9,
> 2018; at that time Weirdstuff Warehouse will cease to do business.
>
> Even though Weirdstuff is closing we will retain ownership of the
> Corporation, trademark, and domain names. We hope to handle these
> entities and wind down the corporation before year end.
>
> Many of you have been loyal customers for many years, and we have
> enjoyed working with you. We thank you for your loyalty and business.
>
> For more information, check out our website after Monday, April 9, 2018.
> 
> ---
>
> I spent most of yesterday (Friday) hanging out at Weirdstuff. NBC News
> interviewed WS management and myself about the closing. NBC showed up
> because of the "trend" of Bay Area tweets about the closure. Needless
> to say, the WS store was packed with sad faces about the closing. Not
> one good word about Google, who is buying up all the land they can and
> wiping out small businesses with disregard.
>
> Lyle
> --
> 73  AF6WS
> Bickley Consulting West Inc.
> http://bickleywest.com
>
> "Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"
>

Re: RL02 Question

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

There's another option if you're near Manassas VA (roughly DC area):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-Digital-DEC-RL02-A-Rack-Mount-PDP-11-Disk-Subsystem-Cartridge-Drive/401453950361?hash=item5d78852599:g:480AAOSwuNBZlG8W

Look at the pictures.  It's in sad shape but if you look closely it looks
like the heads are locked in place for shipping.  He's down to $16.49 (+199
shipping).  If you can arrange local pickup it would probably be worth
risking 3 big Macs just for the parts.

Marc


On Tue, Mar 27, 2018 at 6:26 AM, Jay Jaeger via cctech <
cct...@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> My inventory indicates that I have a pair of lower ("UP") heads, part
> number 70-15637 for an RL02.  (I don't have any spare "DOWN" heads as
> far as I can tell).  I think they might even be new old stock, as they
> are marked "NEW" in my inventory.  So maybe we could work something out.
>   You might suggest a price, and we can take it from there.  Once we get
> agreement, I'll open up the box they are in (in my garage) and confirm
> my inventory.
>
> JRJ
>
>
> On 3/27/2018 4:34 AM, Aaron Jackson via cctech wrote:
> >> On 03/26/2018 04:08 PM, Aaron Jackson via cctalk wrote:
> > So, from what I can see, the drive should spin up correctly, but for
> > some reason it goes into fault mode. I am right in thinking that upon
> > load, the heads should continue moving forward until the first track
> is
> > found, right? I should not have to perform a seek manually from the
> PDP?
> > If this is not the case, perhaps there is something else wrong.
>  I’m not an RL02 hardware expert at all, just a daily user back in the
>  day. I’m reading this assuming that at all times the drive is
>  correctly hooked up to an RLV12 in a running PDP with the correct
>  cable and termination present on the drive? If it isn’t you’ll get a
>  fault condition instead of ready after spin up.
> 
>  A
> >>> No worries, your input has been valuable, so thank you.
> >>>
> >>> For anyone else who might have an idea:
> >> ON fault the heads are retracted and will not load till cleared.
> >> Least mine behaves that way.
> >>
> >> Most common problems are wrong drive address, cable issues, no
> terminator.
> >> Others include head lock not removed or the auto unlock style of
> >> headlock has
> >> the tab broken.
> >>
> >>> It seems to be hooked up correctly. When it is in the weird flashing
> >>> ready state, the boot loader says "Read error" or "Device error"
> >>> randomly. The heads oscillate back and forth very slightly as if it is
> >>> trying to align itself better on the first track, which doesn't exist
> >>> because it hasn't moved far enough into the pack.
> >> IF in fault its resetting to retracted on every try.
> >> If not something else is wrong.
> >>
> >>> I'm beginning to think the heads are bad which will be far too
> expensive
> >>> so I may end up giving up.
> >>
> >> Heads are not that expensive... However you could have a wrong pack
> >> or one that has been erased and has no servo tracks. You must start with
> >> a known good pack and cleaned heads.
> >>
> >>
> >> Allison
> >
> > Thanks for the suggestions, Allison.
> >
> > Given that the pack was tested before it was shipped, I am beginning to
> > come to the conclusion that the heads are bad. I can see the servo burst
> > data if I push the heads on a few mm further into pack, but perhaps the
> > heads produce noise which confuse the logic upon load.
> >
> > Heads are more expensive than what I'd like, from what I have seen on
> > eBay.
> >
> > I believe I have a "working" (i.e. non-crashing) down head (as in the
> > one on top). If this is head 0 (anyone know?) then I might have a chance
> > of getting it working without spending anymore money. Let's see.
> >
> > Thanks again,
> > Aaron.
> >
>

Re: Did anyone on the list get these tapes?

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Wow.  I never knew they had a carrying case for dectapes.  Kinda makes
sense for the field service folks.

Marc

On Fri, Mar 16, 2018 at 9:07 AM, Glen Slick via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On Fri, Mar 16, 2018, 8:51 AM Al Kossow via cctalk 
> wrote:
>
> > https://www.ebay.com/itm/1372243559202
> >
> > basic.p11
> > syslod.p11
> > rdt.p11
> >
> > all from mid 1971
> > original RSTS?
> >
> > hope the person who got these knows what they bought
> >
>
> Extra digit in that link, try:
>
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/372243559202
>
> >
>

Re: Replica IBM 5150 PC motherboard

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Umm, I'm missing something here.  It can't possibly be $149.50 as listed on
the webpage.  I would think that would be the price for the bare board if
anything.

Marc

On Thu, Mar 8, 2018 at 3:42 PM, Fred Cisin via cctalk  wrote:

> On Thu, 8 Mar 2018, Paul Berger via cctalk wrote:
>
>> H I don't remember my original PC having all the chips in sockets nor
>> do I recall it having 64Kb DRAMs.  I clearly recall that it had one bank of
>> 16Kb DRAMs soldered down and sockets for three more banks of 16Kb chips.
>> The only other sockets on the board where for the ROM, CPU, and math
>> coprocessor.  hardly a fathful reproduction.
>>
>
> If I remember correctly, the original PC/5150 BIOS supported a maximum of
> 544K; later BIOS could handle 640K.
>
>
> What were the details for modifying a 64-256 5150 to 640K on the
> motherboard?  (It was not the same as converting 5160).
> It did NOT involve unsoldering the 64K Bank0.
>

PDP-8 name plate artwork

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

The VCF picture album just posted has a shot of a PDP-8e system that looks
like mine.  Except that all 3 of my rack toppers are southwestern
red/orange with no logo as opposed to the one on the right with the DEC,
PDP-8e printing.

Does anyone have a scan/stencil/etc. of that panel available?

Thanks,

Marc

A couple of RL02 questions

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

I've got two RL02 units.  One is a parts unit and has an access plate for
the door solenoid.  I can open it.  The other has no access plate nor is
there a cutout for one.  How do I open this cover with the power off?  This
is a newer unit as it has head lock screws on the bottom of the drive.

The second question has to do with rack mounting.  I want to mount this in
a H960 cabinet but will obviously need to slide it out to replace packs.
All the unit has is a thin rail on both sides that is riveted to the unit.
It looks like chassis slides were there originally.  Does anyone have
either the DEC part # for the slides or a contemporary part # for one that
will work?

Thanks,

Marc

Re: KK11-A / PDP-11/34 Cache module print set

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

BTW, what's the difference between a KK11-A and KK11-B?

Thanks,

Marc

On Fri, Jan 26, 2018 at 6:21 AM, Noel Chiappa via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> > From: Mattis Lind
>
> > I have now scanned the MP00574 / KK11-A printset I have received.
>
> Thank you very much for doing that! Those prints were one of the main
> missing
> PDP-11 print sets.
>
> > Hope the quality is good enough.
>
> It looks good to me.
>
> Noel
>

Re: GT-40 etc.

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

There was a guy in the Netherlands (I believe) who was trying to sell a
GT40 for $14K with no delivery option.

If I were on the east coast (or just not very busy) I would have higher on
the ebay system just to get the GT40 + monitor.

Marc

On Sat, Jan 20, 2018 at 1:12 PM, Noel Chiappa via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> > From: Al Kossow
>
> > vt11 is integrated into the 11/05 backplane on the gt40
>
> Right (although I had forgotten that); I listed the 11/05 separately since
> I
> do have data on how much they've been going for - in an attempt to roughly
> value the lot. The GT40, however, no idea. (I recall one was for sale on
> eBay
> for many thousands, but I don't know if that was ever sold, and how much
> for.)
>
> Noel
>

PDP8.org

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Is anyone re-hosting pdp8.org yet?

Marc

Re: OT: the death of shortwave / Re: Hallicrafters S-85

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

KISS.  Keep It Single Sideband.  Not many can do AM and even fewer have
linear amps for that.  Ditto for HF digital.

And the anoying thing about nets is the ionisphere can't tell time.

That said, it is much easier to do coast to coast now with WebSDR.  Go to
websdr.org and choose a receiving site.  They have way better antennas than
you or I and you can (cheat) pick one near the person your talking to.

Marc
NC6SU


On Thu, Oct 19, 2017 at 7:42 PM, Lyndon Nerenberg via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

>
> > On Oct 19, 2017, at 7:15 PM, Ed Thierbach via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >
> > I'd be interested in a classic computing net as well.  I have 40 - 10
> > meters available on HF.  Our area is lagging in digital repeater
> coverage,
> > so no Fusion or DMR or D*Star for me just yet.
>
> This would be cool.  Since it's computing-related, an HF digital mode
> would be appropriate, no?  Preferably something I could chat on with my
> 5W-into-a-mag-loop-on-the-balcony setup :-P  Seems appropriately stone
> aged for the computers we're talking about ;-)  And the bit rate sounds
> about right for matching the various card/paper-tape/ readers.
>
> --lyndon (VE7TFX et al)

Re: is it just me or does this apple candy dish seem over priced?

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Wait till you see what iCandy costs.  And they only make a new batch every
two years.

Marc

Re: Importing a PDP-8 from Canada

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/375/~/duty-on-u.s.-made-goods-returning-to-the-u.s
.

Kinda echos my experience.  Unless the PDP-8 has been
"improved" I don't think you'll have any problems.

Marc

On Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 7:51 PM, william degnan via cctech <
cct...@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> That's what I did, became my own brokerage, and as a broker ran through fed
> ex.  I declared the items as props for a movie.
>
> Bill Degnan
> twitter: billdeg
> vintagecomputer.net
> On Jul 31, 2017 10:36 PM, "Adrian Stoness via cctech" <
> cct...@classiccmp.org>
> wrote:
>
> > call a broker
> >
> > On Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 9:35 PM, Ian McLaughlin via cctech <
> > cct...@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >
> > > There may be no duties or tariffs, however you may have to pay sales
> > taxes
> > > on the value of the machine, so make sure you have paperwork showing
> how
> > > much you paid for the machine, or paperwork showing it is a gift.
> > >
> > > (This is the case for me bringing in hardware from the USA into Canada)
> > >
> > > Ian
> > >
> > > > On Jul 31, 2017, at 7:22 PM, Marc Howard via cctech <
> > > cct...@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I had a similar issue many years back (re)importing a pinball machine
> > > from
> > > > Canada.  It was held in customs for a few hours (they thought it was
> a
> > > > gambling machine) until I casually mentioned that it was built in
> > > > Bensonville, IL and say so on the playfield.  No problems after that.
> > > >
> > > > If you're re-importing something that was previously made in the USA
> > then
> > > > there are no customs duties.
> > > >
> > > > Marc
> > > >
> > > > On Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 5:15 PM, Michael Thompson via cctech <
> > > > cct...@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> The RICM has an opportunity to get a PDP-8/M (built in Maynard, MA)
> > > that is
> > > >> in Canada. I remember that there was a discussion on the procedure
> > here,
> > > >> but I can't find it with Google.
> > > >>
> > > >> Can you either point me to the discussion, or tell me what the
> > procedure
> > > >> is?
> > > >>
> > > >> --
> > > >> Michael Thompson
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ---
> > > > Filter service subscribers can train this email as spam or not-spam
> > > here:   http://my.email-as.net/spamham/cgi-bin/learn.pl?messageid=
> > > 3FB1C53E766011E7AD1CEA3A93ED0201
> > >
> > >
> >
>

Re: Importing a PDP-8 from Canada

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

I had a similar issue many years back (re)importing a pinball machine from
Canada.  It was held in customs for a few hours (they thought it was a
gambling machine) until I casually mentioned that it was built in
Bensonville, IL and say so on the playfield.  No problems after that.

If you're re-importing something that was previously made in the USA then
there are no customs duties.

Marc

On Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 5:15 PM, Michael Thompson via cctech <
cct...@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> The RICM has an opportunity to get a PDP-8/M (built in Maynard, MA) that is
> in Canada. I remember that there was a discussion on the procedure here,
> but I can't find it with Google.
>
> Can you either point me to the discussion, or tell me what the procedure
> is?
>
> --
> Michael Thompson
>

Re: early (pre-1971) edge-triggered D flip-flop ICs

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

" In final use, the parts had power
applied for no more then an hour."

...and then something goes boom???

Marc

On Thu, Jul 20, 2017 at 9:19 AM, Pete Lancashire via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> In 1978 the place I worked the cost per SSI/MSI TTL 38510 device was
> between $100 and $200 each by the time they were released to production.
> the key is the 38510 and the testing. In final use, the parts had power
> applied for no more then an hour.
>
> -pete
>
> On Thu, Jul 20, 2017 at 1:35 AM, Eric Smith via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> > On Wed, Jul 19, 2017 at 11:29 PM, Ethan Dicks 
> > wrote:
> >
> > > I have no datasheet, but I have examples on DEC M-series FLIP-CHIP
> > > modules from my PDP-8/L, c. 1968.
> > >
> > > I am pretty sure I have examples with 1968 date codes and possibly
> > > 1967 date codes.
> > >
> >
> > Thanks! Also, the 1967 Allied catalog lists the SN7474 (flat pack) and
> > SN7474N (plastic DIP), priced at $8.00.
> >
> >
>

Need captive panel screw for unibus mounting

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

I need (1) of the 8/32 x 1 3/8 captive screws that are at either end of a
unibus backplane to mount it to the chassis.

I've looked online and not only are they expensive (~ $10.00/ea) but you
have to order 5 of them at a time.

I'm hoping that there's someone on the list that has one to spare from
their bone pile that they could part with for some cash.  I don't mind the
$10.00 for one (ouch) but ordering 5 is just over the top.

Thanks,

Marc Howard

Re: RK11-D print set

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Al,

Thanks for putting the pdf version of the RK11-D docs on bitsavers.  I was
having trouble printing the tiff versions.

Marc Howard

On Sun, Jun 4, 2017 at 10:04 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org
> wrote:

> weird I would have missed that, it's the most common unibus disk interface
> there is
>
> http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102749003
>
> I'll have it up on bitsavers by noon PDT
>
> On 6/3/17 5:56 PM, Marc Howard via cctalk wrote:
> > Although I can find the RK11D users manual on the web there doesn't
> appear
> > to be print set (schematics) out there.  Does this exist somewhere under
> a
> > non-obvious name?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Marc Howard
> >
>
>

RK11-D print set

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Although I can find the RK11D users manual on the web there doesn't appear
to be print set (schematics) out there.  Does this exist somewhere under a
non-obvious name?

Thanks,

Marc Howard

Re: Dec Stuff available in Sunnyvale CA

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Kirk,

I'd love to get a 11/34.  Sorry, don't have a RL02 lying around.  And I'm
local (Los Gatos / Milpitas).

Marc Howard

On Thu, Apr 6, 2017 at 12:23 PM, Kirk Davis via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> I’m moving and need to downsize a bit. I have 2 of the DEC short racks.
> One has a 11/34 and the other is a uVax 3600 with a RA82 on top.
>
> I haven’t tried to power up the 34. The uVax works but the RA82 on top
> doesn’t. However I have several RA90’s that work with it. I saw a version of
> 4.3 BSD Quasijarus booted and running on it when I picked it up.
>
> Local pickup only. Preference given to some one that has a RL02 drive for
> trade. Otherwise a good home. Worst case - money (to quote Salam “I don’t
> want eBay prices but I’ll take them).
>
> Kirk
>
>

Re: Cleaning RK05 packs

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

BTW, have you replaced the emergency head retract batteries and/or allowed
them to reach full charge?

Marc

On Sat, Apr 1, 2017 at 2:01 PM, Fritz Mueller via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

>
> > On Jan 5, 2017, at 8:48 AM, Rick Bensene  wrote:
> >
> > The method I've used very successfully for unknown packs is:
> >
> > 1) I first mount the pack in a drive that has a good absolute filter,
> > and has had the head load disabled, and spin it for a few hours.
>
> I’m getting to the point in my RK05 restore where I’m about ready to try
> spinning up a pack so I can work through the various offline dynamic
> checks.  I have a pretty clean looking pack to start with (has been stored
> in plastic bag, etc) that doesn’t have any particularly valuable data (just
> an RKDP backup, according to the label, and I have the original as well).
> But I thought it’d be prudent to give it a clean first anyway just in case.
>
> In step one of the process quoted above, is it enough to put the toggle on
> the servo amp board in the down position to disable head load?  Or is it
> best to disable head load in some other way (e.g. jumpers on the backplane,
> or disconnecting any particular cables?)
>
> thanks!
>—FritzM.
>
>

Re: DEC items

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Peter,

Did you get my earlier message about the PDPs?  I'm in the bay area as well.

Marc Howard

On Fri, Mar 17, 2017 at 3:35 PM, Peter C. Wallace via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On Fri, 17 Mar 2017, Paul Anderson via cctalk wrote:
>
> Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2017 17:15:42 -0500
>> From: Paul Anderson via cctalk 
>> Reply-To: Paul Anderson ,
>> "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <
>> cctalk@classiccmp.org>
>> To: Peter C. Wallace via cctalk 
>> Subject: DEC items
>>
>> Hi Peter,
>>
>> Sounds like a nice collection. Which PDP11s do you have?
>>
>
> Unfortunately its pretty buried. Its in one of those narrow vertical cases
> and i dont think its a terribly desirable or fast one though ISTR that it
> does have a A-D card installed
>
> Thanks, Paul
>>
>>
> Peter Wallace
> Mesa Electronics
>
> (\__/)
> (='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
> (")_(") signature to help him gain world domination.
>
>

Re: FTGH Large amount of DEC/Misc Classic computer hardware

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

I would love to get a PDP-11 & I'm in the Bay Area.

Marc Howard


On Fri, Mar 17, 2017 at 1:14 PM Peter C. Wallace via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On Fri, 17 Mar 2017, Kirk Davis wrote:
>
>
>
> > Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2017 13:08:31 -0700
>
> > From: Kirk Davis 
>
> > To: Peter C. Wallace ,
>
> > "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org>
>
> > Subject: Re: FTGH Large amount of DEC/Misc Classic computer hardware
>
> >
>
> > My Plate is full but Iяяm sure others would like to know the location of
> this stuff.
>
> >
>
>
>
> Richmond CA (Hilltop business park)
>
>
>
> >
>
> >> On Mar 17, 2017, at 12:56 PM, Peter C. Wallace via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> >>
>
> >> We need to move our business and I have about a ton of
>
> >> classic cimputer junk in the SFBA that need to go or get scrapped:
>
> >>
>
> >> Many Decstations (3100, 5000/1xx and 5000/240/260s series even a 5100)
>
> >> many Vaxstations 3100s mostly
>
> >> Vax 4000 300?
>
> >> 5" DEC hard drives
>
> >> Many DEC mice
>
> >> Small Alphas
>
> >> Dec/HP  CRT monitors
>
> >> HP ~1990s Unix workstations and parts
>
> >> Versatec CE3000 plotter (huge)
>
> >> test equipment (misc Tek scopes and plugins mainly)
>
> >> Symbolics 3645? (from Guy Sotomayer a few years back)
>
> >> HP 2115? mini
>
> >> PDP 11
>
> >> Couple 3 KW UPSs with bad batterys
>
> >> SR22 calculator
>
> >> Altos 5 15
>
> >> etc
>
> >>
>
> >> Would really like all to go to someone in the CC community who can take
> all and sort/distribute themselves rather than cherry pick but that may be
> optimistic...
>
> >>
>
> >>
>
> >>
>
> >> Peter Wallace
>
> >>
>
> >
>
>
>
> Peter Wallace
>
> Mesa Electronics
>
>
>
> (\__/)
>
> (='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
>
> (")_(") signature to help him gain world domination.
>
>

Re: Univac I memory tank

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Adds a whole new dimension to the term "memory leak".

Marc

On Wed, Mar 15, 2017 at 6:32 AM, dwight via cctalk 
wrote:

> I can't imagine why it needed to be reworked. That is only what I was
> told. I always thought it was kind of funny.
>
> The Olivetti used a piece of wire for the delay line. I forget what the
> Dielh Combitron used but I know it used a two delay lines. One was for
> registers and the other was for lookup tables that loaded at turn on time
> from a metal tape ( as I recall ).
>
> Dwight
>
>
> 
> From: cctalk  on behalf of Pontus Pihlgren
> via cctalk 
> Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2017 1:11:10 AM
> To: Noel Chiappa; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> Subject: Re: Univac I memory tank
>
> On Tue, Mar 14, 2017 at 05:41:57PM -0400, Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:
> > > From: Dwight Kelvey
> >
> > > I need on of those.
> >
> > I think it belongs in a museum, actually. Provided they can make it
> work, of
> > course! :-) I wonder how many working delay line main memories are left
> in
> > the world?
>
> CHM has one: http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/X976.89
>
> It used to be on display, perhaps it still is.
>
> /P
>

VT52 keyboard question

[Marc Howard via cctalk]

Hi,

The "2" key on my VT52 is very hard to use.  You've gotta pound it and you
might get 2 "2"s for your trouble.

I assume that the keyboard switch is made of unobtanium (If you know of a
substitute chime in) so I'm thinking of swapping it for the "COPY" key
which I guess is useless unless you have the built-in thermal printer.

1. Do you simply pull the keyboard button off the switch or is there a
trick involved?

2. Any other gotcha's?

Thanks,

Marc