Re: Cleaning RK05 packs (Was: LGP-30 Memory Drum Update)

[curiousmarc3]

We use 6"x6" clean room rated wipes (I think they were either Berkshires or 
Kimwipes) from Grainger and 99% isopropyl alcohol from Fry's. Won't scratch, 
free of microscopic dust and lint, and 99% alcohol will leave no drying marks 
(it's typically the last rinse in IC manufacturing). May cost you a bit. Wipe 
your work area before and use clean room gloves.
Marc

Sent from my iPad

> On Jan 5, 2017, at 6:40 AM, Al Kossow  wrote:
> 
> isopropyl alcohol works. TFE is better, if you have some stashed.
> 
> If you can find them anywhere, Texwipe made a plastic wand that looks like
> a tongue depressor with a slit down the middle and a lint free sleeve
> called the Texsleeve (tx300 sleeve, tx800 wand) that you would use to clean 
> heads
> 
> Minor head crashes leave a tar-like residue that you need to remove. A pack 
> inspector
> is a handy thing to have (spinle with microscope and illuminator on the rack 
> and pinion)
> to look for surface damage.
> 
> On 1/5/17 5:22 AM, Noel Chiappa wrote:
>>> From: Klemens Krause
>> 
>>> We clean our RK05 disks in a very robust way: with cheap burning spirit
>>> and paper towels. ... We rubbed away thick black traces from occasional
>>> head crashes and we never removed the oxide coating with this torture.
>> 
>> I am about to get a large batch of RK05 packs, so I am interested in the
>> details of this.
>> 
>> First, what is 'burning spirit'? (I assume this is a straight translation
>> into English of some German term, but not knowing German... :-) After poking
>> around with Google for a while (hampered no little by the fact that it's the
>> name of a band, and also a term in World of Warcraft :-), it seems like it
>> might be acetone?
>> 
>>Noel
> 

Re: Tek 4051 with a 10 year old at the helm

[curiousmarc3]

Sweet!
Marc

> On Nov 4, 2016, at 5:03 PM, Randy Dawson  wrote:
> 
> Here is my daughter Gina, I thought you guys would like, Tek is still 
> exciting.
> 
> 
> Sure, we have lots of PC's around the house, but this is the first one that 
> she is programming, and programming the 4051 creates a smile.
> 
> 
> Randy
> 
> 
> https://youtu.be/o0LiYkHG3iE
> 

Re: HP-1000 12044A 12825A HDLC Interface manuals available anywhere?

[curiousmarc3]

I have only the M/E/F interfaces (HP 12825A and 12826B). I just dumped the ROMs 
and forwarded to Al.
Marc

> On Oct 28, 2016, at 6:56 PM, Glen Slick  wrote:
> 
>> On Wed, Oct 26, 2016 at 9:25 PM, Curious Marc  wrote:
>> I'm interested too, I have the interfaces.
>> Marc
> 
> Do you have the M/E/F-Series interfaces, or the A/L-Series interfaces, or 
> both?
> 
> I currently only have A/L-Series interfaces. Two with the firmware
> 91750-80008 (2716) and 91750-80009 (2732), and one with firmware
> 5180-7233 (2764).
> 
> The manuals I have seen list the HDLC firmware set 91750-80008 and
> 91750-80009 for both the M/E/F-Series interfaces and the A/L-Series
> interfaces.
> 
> I went looking and found a reference to the version 5180-7233 firmware:
> http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/hp/communicator/1000/5961-6201_Dec-1992.pdf
> Section 3.33.15 PSI Firmware History (page 3-131, page 257 of the PDF)
> 91750-80008/91750-80009
> 91750-80008/91750-80021
> 5180-7233
> 5181-6113
> 
> Has anyone started archiving binaries for various firmware versions
> for the any of the interfaces, or any microcode and firmware for the
> A-Series CPUs? I know some of the E/F-Series firmware is on Bitsavers.
> 
> I currently have 2 different versions of A900 microcode on sequencer
> boards and 3 different versions of A900 VCP firmware on cache
> controller boards. I should dumps these sometime.

Re: Y Combinator is restoring one of Alan Kay's Xerox Alto machines

[curiousmarc3]

And it finally boots on session 8!
https://youtu.be/9OQMhvArI9g


> On Sep 10, 2016, at 7:46 PM, CuriousMarc  wrote:
> 
> Video of session 6 is up:
> https://youtu.be/b7yVhMT7tr4
> Found our first bad IC. Probably not our last one.
>  
>  
> On 9/3/16 11:08 PM, curiousma...@gmail.com wrote:
> Episode 5, still does not boot, but we are starting to follow long why:
> https://youtu.be/Wr7vDZpniNIr
>  
> Marc
>  
>  
> On Jul 31, 2016, at 6:12 PM, CuriousMarc  wrote:
>  
> Next Episode:
> https://youtu.be/EDw8U1a6s78
> http://www.righto.com/2016/07/restoring-y-combinators-xerox-alto-day_31.html
> Marc
>  
> From: Curious Marc [mailto:curiousma...@gmail.com] 
> Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2016 2:01 AM
> To: Curious Marc; cctalk@classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: Y Combinator is restoring one of Alan Kay's Xerox Alto machines
>  
> Ken's in-depth blog post to go with the previous video
> http://www.righto.com/2016/07/restoring-y-combinators-xerox-alto-day_11.html
>  
> On Jul 5, 2016, at 2:46 PM, Curious Marc  wrote:
>  
> Video from yesterday’s work on the Diablo cartridge disc:
> https://youtu.be/PR5LkQugBE0
> Should be up in a few minutes.
> We were tickled pink to have official representation from PARC (former Xerox 
> Parc) at the session.
> Marc
>  
> Ken’s new post on the monitor repair to go with my previous video.
> http://www.righto.com/2016/07/restoring-y-combinators-xerox-alto-day.html
> Al Kossow got us a new CRT tube, so we are probably going to try that this 
> week-end.
> Marc
>  
>  
> Latest entry from Ken Shirriff, trying out BCPL (ancestor of C). On the 
> emulator, not yet on the real machine:
> http://www.righto.com/2016/06/hello-world-in-bcpl-language-on-xerox.html
>  
> Marc
>  
> There are only two entries right now:
> http://www.righto.com/2016/06/y-combinators-xerox-alto-restoring.html
> http://www.righto.com/2016/06/restoring-y-combinators-xerox-alto-day.html
> Marc
>  
>  
>  

Re: HP 7970B/E Tape Unit manual available

[curiousmarc3]

That would be great, as some of the pages in the current manuals or bits of the 
schematics are missing. And for some reason it is always the page I need that's 
missing!
Marc

> On Sep 22, 2016, at 10:32 AM, Al Kossow  wrote:
> 
> for people that care, I'll be rescanning that series of HP manuals using my 
> long page
> scanner at 600dpi. They are sitting on the pile next to the scanner right now.
> 
> I'm trying to decide if I want to attempt getting my 7970 with a dual 7/9 
> track head
> running this year.
> 
> 
>> On 9/22/16 8:43 AM, Noel Chiappa wrote:
>> Hi, all, I have a HP 7970B/E Tape Unit Diagrams and Parts Manual available; I
>> got it with a group of other manuals, and I don't have any use for it.
>> 
>> I'd prefer to get something in return for it (some PDP-11 manual/print I 
>> don't
>> have, or something), but mostly I want to get this into the hands of someone
>> who can actually use it (it's already on Bitsavers, so it doesn't fill a
>> lacuna).
>> 
>>Noel
> 

Re: HP 7970B/E Tape Unit manual available

[curiousmarc3]

I'll gladly take them if they are still available. Let me know how much the 
shipping is to California.
Marc


> On Sep 22, 2016, at 8:43 AM, Noel Chiappa  wrote:
> 
> Hi, all, I have a HP 7970B/E Tape Unit Diagrams and Parts Manual available; I
> got it with a group of other manuals, and I don't have any use for it.
> 
> I'd prefer to get something in return for it (some PDP-11 manual/print I don't
> have, or something), but mostly I want to get this into the hands of someone
> who can actually use it (it's already on Bitsavers, so it doesn't fill a
> lacuna).
> 
>Noel
> 

Re: Y Combinator is restoring one of Alan Kay's Xerox Alto machines

[curiousmarc3]

> On Sep 7, 2016, at 4:18 PM, Josh Dersch  wrote:
> 
> Yep, the NEC uPD416D's are what we have in the Alto we recently restored.
> And yeah, it takes awhile, but it's worth the effort :).
> 
> Have fun!
> - Josh
Out of curiosity, did you find any bad RAM chips in your system? If so, how 
many? I had only one bad one in one of my HP 85 (out of 8), but it definitely 
happens.
Marc

Re: Components available - the rest of the story

[curiousmarc3]

I might be interested, as I already have two FFT systems that I am restoring 
(an HP 5420A and a HP 5451C). I am local. Just drop me an email.
Marc

Sent from my iPad

> On Sep 8, 2016, at 10:08 AM, Tom Gardner  wrote:
> 
> The rest of the story.
> 
> As Al pointed out, much to our surprise, the museum has rejected an offer
> from Art's estate for the donation of a Fast Fourier Transform computing
> system which included both the Unicomp Computer and a hardware FFT
> accelerator.  This is a very strange decision since the system is one of the
> earliest if not the first implementation of a FFT in anti-submarine and
> anti-aircraft warfare.  FFT mathematics dates to 1965 but processor until
> much later had the power to do it real time in software at the resolution
> necessary, so Art invented the hardware accelerator and multiple units were
> sold to the Navy.  The estate is appealing the museum's decision.
> 
> The estate would like to keep the FFT system together and so if the museum
> continues with a cranial rectal inversion it will look to other alternatives
> including those of u who have already 
> 
> I will respond by email not later than tomorrow to the several list members
> who expressed interest in the components and/or the computer.  I'm busy
> today helping set up the Atari retrospective for the IEEE Silicon Valley
> History Committee.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Tom  
> 
> Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2016 18:16:23 -0700
> From: Al Kossow 
> To: cctalk@classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: Components available
> 
> 
>> On 9/6/16 4:18 PM, Tom Gardner wrote:
>> 
>> A friend of mine died recently; he was amongst many things an 
>> electronics tinkerer and has a closet full of small parts in bin 
>> cabinets (resistors, capacitors, ICs, transistors, hardware, etc.).
> 
> 
> There is also a Unicomp 18 bit minicomputer, paper tape reader, and FFT
> processor circa 1972 in the garage (6ft rack) with full documentation.
> 
> I walked out of the donations meeting with the other curators today who
> thought it was a piece of s**t and didn't want to take it, calling it a
> 'dumpster fire'
> 
> Art was a friend of mine.
> 
> Hopefully it can go someplace where it can be appreciated.
> Talk to Tom about it, unfortunately, time is short.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 73  AF6WS
> Bickley Consulting West Inc.
> http://bickleywest.com
> 
> "Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"
> 

Re: Y Combinator is restoring one of Alan Kay's Xerox Alto machines

[curiousmarc3]

> On Sep 5, 2016, at 9:30 AM, Josh Dersch  wrote:
> 
> At the LCM, I used an Apple II to test out the Alto's memory -- the Alto II 
> XM uses 4116 RAM chips.  I swapped in a row at a time and wrote a little 
> BASIC program to test for obvious errors.  This was time-consuming, but 
> eliminated the obviously bad chips, which helped immensely.

Oh, that's so simple and clever! Are these 16k chips? I don't have an Apple II, 
but I wonder if I could use the same trick and plug them in my HP 85 for which 
I just managed to burn the service ROM, which has a memory test built in.
Marc

Re: Y Combinator is restoring one of Alan Kay's Xerox Alto machines

[curiousmarc3]

Episode 5, still does not boot, but we are starting to follow long why:
https://youtu.be/Wr7vDZpniNIr

Marc


> On Jul 31, 2016, at 6:12 PM, CuriousMarc  wrote:
> 
> Next Episode:
> https://youtu.be/EDw8U1a6s78
> http://www.righto.com/2016/07/restoring-y-combinators-xerox-alto-day_31.html
> Marc
>  
> From: Curious Marc [mailto:curiousma...@gmail.com] 
> Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2016 2:01 AM
> To: Curious Marc; cctalk@classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: Y Combinator is restoring one of Alan Kay's Xerox Alto machines
>  
> Ken's in-depth blog post to go with the previous video
> http://www.righto.com/2016/07/restoring-y-combinators-xerox-alto-day_11.html
> 
> On Jul 5, 2016, at 2:46 PM, Curious Marc  wrote:
> 
> Video from yesterday’s work on the Diablo cartridge disc:
> https://youtu.be/PR5LkQugBE0
> Should be up in a few minutes.
> We were tickled pink to have official representation from PARC (former Xerox 
> Parc) at the session.
> Marc
>  
> Ken’s new post on the monitor repair to go with my previous video.
> http://www.righto.com/2016/07/restoring-y-combinators-xerox-alto-day.html
> Al Kossow got us a new CRT tube, so we are probably going to try that this 
> week-end.
> Marc
>  
>  
> Latest entry from Ken Shirriff, trying out BCPL (ancestor of C). On the 
> emulator, not yet on the real machine:
> http://www.righto.com/2016/06/hello-world-in-bcpl-language-on-xerox.html
>  
> Marc
>  
> There are only two entries right now:
> http://www.righto.com/2016/06/y-combinators-xerox-alto-restoring.html
> http://www.righto.com/2016/06/restoring-y-combinators-xerox-alto-day.html
> Marc
>  
>  

Re: Flex Disc options for the HP 9825

[curiousmarc3]

Thanks. That's a very clean mod!
Marc

> On Aug 15, 2016, at 7:35 AM, Rik Bos  wrote:
> 
> 
> https://flic.kr/p/L8SNPJ
> 
> Done.
> 
> -Rik
> 
>> -Oorspronkelijk bericht-
>> Van: cctech [mailto:cctech-boun...@classiccmp.org] Namens Curious Marc
>> Verzonden: zondag 14 augustus 2016 21:08
>> Aan: General Discussion: On-Topic Posts
>> Onderwerp: Re: Flex Disc options for the HP 9825
>> 
>> Would you pictures of it and where it sits in the machine by any chance?
>> Marc
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
>> 
>>> On Aug 14, 2016, at 10:22 AM, Rik Bos  wrote:
>>> 
>>> Paul,
>>> 
>>> It is a small extra pcb( with hp logo). Both my machines are build in 
>>> Germany,
>> which is logic because I’m living in the Netherlands and aquired both in 
>> Europe.
>>> So it could be a local modification made by the Boeblingen factory or even 
>>> HP
>> Netherlands.
>>> I’m happy with it
>>> 
>>> -Rik
>>> 
>>> Van: Paul Berger
> 

Re: Flex Disc options for the HP 9825

[curiousmarc3]

Thanks!
Marc

> On Aug 13, 2016, at 1:19 PM, Rik Bos  wrote:
> 
> Marc,
> 
> Building a crowbar is easy, just take a Zener a little higher than the psu
> voltage eg 5.2V for 5V rail put a resistor of 1k in series take a Thyristor
> big enough to take about 150% of the schort current and connect it to the
> zener through a small resistor. I suppose you can do the math  ;) 
> Be sure to put a crowbar on both the +12V and +5V and you could consider one
> on the -12V rail but that voltage doesn't have a pass transistor but a 320K
> voltage regulator which has a reasonable protection for over voltage.
> The -5V is connected to the -12V through a zener.
> Tony reverse engineered the schematics, you can download them a the HP
> Museum website or become a member of the HPCC and order the CD with all
> Tony's diagrams (a lot of eexcellent work).
> 
> -Rik
> 
>> -Oorspronkelijk bericht-
>> Van: cctech [mailto:cctech-boun...@classiccmp.org] Namens
>> curiousma...@gmail.com
>> Verzonden: zaterdag 13 augustus 2016 12:15
>> Aan: General Discussion: On-Topic Posts
>> Onderwerp: Re: Flex Disc options for the HP 9825
>> 
>> Thanks for the info. Any schematics of the modification?
>> Marc
>> 
>> 
>>> On Aug 13, 2016, at 2:37 AM, Rik Bos  wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> For what it's worth a small warning about the HP 9825 series computers.
>>> The power supply doesn't have a crowbar(over voltage protection), so a
>>> transistor failure in the Psu can be catastrophic.
>>> On the other hand the two 9835's I have, which uses the same form
>>> factor and almost the same power supply layout are HP modified with
>> crowbars added.
>>> It seems to be good practice to add some ov-protection to the HP 9825
>>> supply because the switching transistor and 723 voltage regulators
>>> don't have the eternal life.
>>> And there no certain prediction in how they fail, short or open
>>> circuit, I found out the hard way several years ago.
>>> 
>>> -Rik
> 

Re: Flex Disc options for the HP 9825

[curiousmarc3]

Thanks for the info. Any schematics of the modification?
Marc


> On Aug 13, 2016, at 2:37 AM, Rik Bos  wrote:
> 
> 
> For what it's worth a small warning about the HP 9825 series computers.
> The power supply doesn't have a crowbar(over voltage protection), so a
> transistor failure in the Psu can be catastrophic.
> On the other hand the two 9835's I have, which uses the same form factor and
> almost the same power supply layout are HP modified with crowbars added.
> It seems to be good practice to add some ov-protection to the HP 9825 supply
> because the switching transistor and 723 voltage regulators don't have the
> eternal life.
> And there no certain prediction in how they fail, short or open circuit, I
> found out the hard way several years ago.
> 
> -Rik
> 

Re: Flex Disc options for the HP 9825

[curiousmarc3]

I got the HP 9885 single sided disk unit that was at Weird Stuff, thanks for 
the heads up! Now I just need a parallel interface for the 9825, a cable, the 
right 8" diskettes, and get my HP-IB 9895 to work... That's a lot of stars to 
align but that should be fun to try.
Marc

> On Jul 24, 2016, at 3:30 AM, David Collins  wrote:
> 
> Guys, I've looked for a 98228A ROM in the HP Computer Museum but haven't
> been able to find one - but it looks like we've had one at some stage
> judging by the photo. 
> 
> If I come across it I'll come back to you. 
> 
> David Collins 
> Curator
> 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of CuriousMarc
> Sent: Saturday, 23 July 2016 5:40 PM
> To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'
> 
> Subject: RE: Flex Disc options for the HP 9825
> 
> Thanks, I didn't know, I grabbed the image. That offers a path if I can ever
> get an 9885 and single sides 8" discs...
> Marc
> 
>> -Original Message-
>> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Paul 
>> Berger On the hpmuseum.net page for the 98217A ROM here is an image of 
>> what is reputed to be an initialized diskette for use with 9825 and 
>> 98217A http://www.hpmuseum.net/display_item.php?hw=166. When I get my 
>> 9825T I will look into 9885 emulation, I don't think it will be too
> difficult but
>> you may still need a GPIO unless I build the whole thing onto a 
>> plug-in card I don't think the GPIO would be too difficult to clone.
>> But ideally I would still like to get access to a 98228A ROM to dump 
>> and
> clone
>> it, even though it is bank switched it should still be possible.
>> 
>> Paul.
> 
> 

Re: the value of old test and repair equipment

[curiousmarc3]

For some reason the 7474's have a higher failure rate than other TTL IC's in HP 
equipment. I don't know if it's true in general for 1970's TTL. Signetics MSI 
chips (counters and stuff) seem to be prone to failure too. 
Marc


> 
> All this talk of older test equipment reminds me of the HP 4261A LCR
> bridge I repaired a while back, last winter I think.
> 
> 
> My dad found the 4261A in the garbage years ago, and it seemed to work
> fine, until one day he powered it up and the display showed garbage.
> He decided to open it up, and noticed some uncovered windowed EPROMs.
> Knowing that EPROMs sometimes flip bits in their old age, we decided
> that was the first place we would look. We were also able to locate
> the full HP service manual in PDF form for the instrument which helped
> tremendously. In typical HP fashion, it had full theory of operation,
> schematics, state diagrams, etc.
> 
> 
> Now, I have an EPROM burner that does your typical JEDEC pinout parts,
> 27 series and such. The issue is that these were Intel i1702A's from
> the early 70's I think. Not only are 1702's a totally different
> pinout, but they run on 14V (a +5V, and a -9V rail, with no connected
> ground, this is how intel got TTL levels on a MOS chip at the time).
> The 4261A has a total of 4 1702's, two of which form a finite state
> machine which controls the instrument, while the other two perform
> display decoding.
> 
> 
> I had to pull out my dad's DeVry Console 80, which has adjustable
> positive and negative supplies, and I manually clocked out the data
> and compared the contents to a dump I found online. I started with the
> state machine EPROMs, and compared the data. I did find a few
> discrepancies, but there was too much difference to have been bit rot.
> Given the sudden nature of the issue, I would have expected one, at
> most a couple bit flips, or something much more drastic (like total
> chip failure). Upon reading through the state diagrams in the HP
> manual, I noticed that there was a change noted in the state diagram
> between certain minor revisions of the 4261A. I looked at what the
> changes were, and deduced that my ROMs were in fact correct for the
> serial number prefix.
> 
> 
> At a dead end with the EPROMs, I decided to see if the state machine
> was even running at all. I used a DVM in DC mode, and measured perfect
> TTL ones and zeroes on all the state number outputs, which means those
> outputs weren't changing: the state machine was stuck. I wrote down
> the state it was stuck in and referred to the state diagram. I noticed
> something interesting. The state machine in the 4261A is able to
> evaluate simple conditions and control flow based on those. The state
> path to get to the state that the FSM was stuck on meant the FSM was
> always taking one of the conditional paths (always true, or always
> false, I don't remember which). At that point, I started looking into
> the condition circuitry, tracing out the path, checking IC's as I
> worked my way back, until I made it back to 1/2 of a 7474 which had a
> set input that was stuck active (low). This pin went to a pullup
> resistor, and nothing else in our unit (certain options used this pin,
> but not ours). We desoldered the IC, and sure enough, that pin was
> shorted to ground internal to the chip. We replaced it with a 74LS74,
> and the 4261A has been working great ever since, even with the
> original 40 year old 1702's.
> 
> 
> Also, on the topic of interesting HP products, and perhaps my personal
> favorite so far, is the HP dynamic signal analyzer 35670A. This
> instrument can perform all sorts of cool measurements. It can produce
> a test signal, and measure two different points in the circuit being
> measured. The measurement input channels give you a complex number
> phasor of the measured signal, which means you can do all sorts of
> cool measurements of networks, especially since you can do complex
> number math with the equation support of the instrument. The signal
> generator will perform sweeps too, of course. This was very useful
> determining whether the speaker crossovers my dad built were working
> as intended (actually they weren't, and this instrument helped us
> uncover a problem). We also used this to do inductor and capacitor
> characterization. There are all sorts of applications this instrument
> is good for.
> 
> 
> Joe Zatarski

Re: VCF West - going?

[curiousmarc3]

I'll try to post a video on my channel (youtube/curiousmarc). Maybe not the 
whole thing, but the stuff that is interesting to me.
Marc


> On Aug 5, 2016, at 4:38 PM, Brad H  
> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> Is anyone shooting video for those of us that can't go?  I really enjoyed the 
> videos of VCF East I found on Youtube.  I'll likely never get to one of these 
> things being up here in Canada.. still fun to check out virtually.
> Brad
> 
> 
> Sent from my Samsung device
> 
>  Original message 
> From: Curious Marc  
> Date: 2016-08-05  3:03 PM  (GMT-08:00) 
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" 
>  
> Subject: Re: VCF West - going? 
> 
> I'll be there with some of my HP equipment. On my way there soon.
> Marc
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On Aug 5, 2016, at 10:08 AM, Ian Finder  wrote:
>> 
>> I'll be there. Flying down from Seattle after work with an Amiga 4000 060
>> and a GRiD in my carry-on.
>> I wanted to bring a Symbolics machine, but they happen to be quite heavy. ;)
>> 
>> On Fri, Aug 5, 2016 at 10:01 AM, william degnan 
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> I am here now, will be around all day helping set up.  I have not been to
>>> the CHM since the last VCF...The space for the event looks good, tables are
>>> out and waiting for exhibitors.
>>> 
 On Fri, Aug 5, 2016 at 12:07 PM, Josh Dersch  wrote:
 
 On Thu, Aug 4, 2016 at 12:25 PM, Ali  wrote:
 
>> I am heading to VCF West after a stop over in San Fran today...I am
>> looking forward to meeting up with everyone.  I will be there all day
>> Friday as a set-up volunteer, Sat and Sunday morning.  I was at the
>> last VCF before it was called "West" ... it's been too long.
> 
> I am going to be there both days and look forward to meeting people In
> Real Life (TM). So should the list members get special badges or
 something
> so people can know who is who? Or *GASP* are we going to have to be
> personable and talk to each other! :D
> 
> -Ali
 I'll be there co-running the Living Computer Museum's exhibit.  Stop by
>>> and
 say hi!
 
 - Josh
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> @ BillDeg:
>>> Web: vintagecomputer.net
>>> Twitter: @billdeg 
>>> Youtube: @billdeg 
>>> Unauthorized Bio 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>>Ian Finder
>>(206) 395-MIPS
>>ian.fin...@gmail.com

Re: the value of old test and repair equipment

[curiousmarc3]

Yes, quite interested, HP test equipment is a significant part of my 
collection. Most of what I get is untested. Would need model number and photos 
of course.
Marc

Sent from my iPad

> On Jul 28, 2016, at 12:52 PM, Electronics Plus  wrote:
> 
> I had to pass up a large qty of old test equip at the recycler last time
> because they wanted too much for it. For instance, an old HP signal
> generator would have cost me $25, with no way to test it, and no guarantees
> that it was complete or working. So my question is, does as-is old test and
> repair equip that won't be particularly cheap have interest to you guys?
> 
> 
> 
> Cindy Croxton
> 
> Electronics Plus
> 
> 500 Pershing Ave.
> 
> Kerrville, TX 78028
> 
> 830-370-3239 cell
> 
> sa...@elecplus.com
> 
> AOL IM elcpls
> 
> 
> 

Re: Flex Disc options for the HP 9825

[curiousmarc3]

Thanks for looking!
Marc

> On Jul 24, 2016, at 3:30 AM, David Collins  wrote:
> 
> Guys, I've looked for a 98228A ROM in the HP Computer Museum but haven't
> been able to find one - but it looks like we've had one at some stage
> judging by the photo. 
> 
> If I come across it I'll come back to you. 
> 
> David Collins 
> Curator
> 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of CuriousMarc
> Sent: Saturday, 23 July 2016 5:40 PM
> To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'
> 
> Subject: RE: Flex Disc options for the HP 9825
> 
> Thanks, I didn't know, I grabbed the image. That offers a path if I can ever
> get an 9885 and single sides 8" discs...
> Marc
> 
>> -Original Message-
>> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Paul 
>> Berger On the hpmuseum.net page for the 98217A ROM here is an image of 
>> what is reputed to be an initialized diskette for use with 9825 and 
>> 98217A http://www.hpmuseum.net/display_item.php?hw=166. When I get my 
>> 9825T I will look into 9885 emulation, I don't think it will be too
> difficult but
>> you may still need a GPIO unless I build the whole thing onto a 
>> plug-in card I don't think the GPIO would be too difficult to clone.
>> But ideally I would still like to get access to a 98228A ROM to dump 
>> and
> clone
>> it, even though it is bank switched it should still be possible.
>> 
>> Paul.
> 
> 

Re: Lunar Module Code Walk Through

[curiousmarc3]

Wow. Talk about a historically significant computer system and program. I'd 
love to make a replica one day. Thanks!
Marc

> On Jul 5, 2016, at 7:28 AM, Dave Wade  wrote:
> 
> I guess this is on-topic.
> 
> http://hackaday.com/2016/07/05/don-eyles-walks-us-through-the-lunar-module-s
> ource-code/
> 
> 

Re: Y Combinator is restoring one of Alan Kay's Xerox Alto machines

[curiousmarc3]

And here is Ken's new post in the series
http://www.righto.com/2016/06/restoring-y-combinators-xerox-alto-day.html

Marc

> On Jun 21, 2016, at 10:59 PM, CuriousMarc  wrote:
> 
> The restoration is physically happening at my place. As noted below we have 
> a small and quite knowledgeable group of people contributing, including 
> actual hardware when we are missing a part (thanks Al !). A few of us are 
> chronicling this on our favorite media from our favorite angle.
> I like to make short videos trying to convey the inside story of the 
> restoration, on my YouTube channel:
> https://www.youtube.com/curiousmarc
> It's interspersed with all the other restorations, but two videos so far:
> https://youtu.be/YupOC_6bfMI
> https://youtu.be/xPyqQXFC2yw
> Ed Thelen likes to collect every bit of raw information floating around, 
> including some of the team emails and throw them into equally raw site, as 
> he does for the IBM 1401 restoration effort at CHM:
> http://ed-thelen.org/RestoreAlto/index.html
> Carl Claunch methodically recounts everything he does every day (and he does 
> a lot), so when he works on the Alto, you'll know every detail:
> http://rescue1130.blogspot.com/
> Ken Shirriff makes deeply researched, superlative detailed posts on his 
> blog. These are reference pieces, I admire them a lot:
> http://www.righto.com/2016/06/y-combinators-xerox-alto-restoring.html
> And it gets discussed on the Y-combinator (the owners of the machine) and 
> hopefully here too.
> Seeing the interest, I will make an effort to post new links when they 
> become available, unless of course Master Al beats me to it.
> 
> Marc
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Al Kossow
> Sent: Monday, June 20, 2016 8:54 AM
> To: cctalk@classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: Y Combinator is restoring one of Alan Kay's Xerox Alto machines
> 
> http://www.righto.com/2016/06/y-combinators-xerox-alto-restoring.html
> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11929396
> http://ed-thelen.org/RestoreAlto/index.html
> 
>> On 6/20/16 8:51 AM, Al Kossow wrote:
>> I post just went up on Saturday. It's nice that both CHM and LCM folks
>> are helping with this.
>> 
>> 
>>> On 6/20/16 8:41 AM, Liam Proven wrote:
>>> http://www.righto.com/2016/06/y-combinators-xerox-alto-restoring.html
>>> 
>>> Found via:
>>> 
>>> http://www.osnews.com/story/29261/Xerox_Alto_restoring_the_legendary_
>>> 1970s_GUI_computer
>>> 
>>> There are 2 videos up so far, with disassemblies that may interest 
>>> CCmpers.
>>> 
>>> Some people from the list are involved, including Al Kossow, but I
>>> haven't seen the link posted.
>>> 
>> 
> 

Re: Macintosh Quadra 840AV

[curiousmarc3]

I just use a relatively recent SCSI drives with an adapter plug back to 50 
pins. SCSI 1 is still lurking in the interface, works just fine.
Marc

> On Jun 1, 2016, at 9:11 AM, Cody Swanson  wrote:
> 
> I managed to pick up a Mac Quadra 840AV yesterday with an apple VGA monitor 
> and Laser Writer II printer for $60 CAD (approximately $5 USD :-) off the 
> local classifieds site. The pram battery had leaked pretty badly but seemed 
> to only drip onto the internal RF shielding. After I cleaned everything up 
> with isopropanol it booted fine off a startup floppy although the hard disk 
> appears to be bad. Like most macs of this vintage it does seem to have 
> leaking surface mount caps so I am going to order the standard tantalum 
> replacements from digikey and recap the mainboard. 
> 
> What is everyone doing for replacement 50 pin SCSI drives in their 90's 
> hardware? Is there a reasonably priced flash based replacement yet? I 
> remember looking into it a few years ago for my Sun IPX and the only 
> solutions I could find seemed to be priced for industrial applications. 
> 
> Also, has anyone had experience with the apple power supplies of this 
> vintage? I'm wondering if it's something I should recap as well? Also, any 
> comments as to which classic mac OS version is best for this era of hardware? 
> I haven't played around with classic macs much, I went right from the Apple 
> IIe to PC's in the early 90's. 

Re: News about hpmuseum.net

[curiousmarc3]

This is great news despite the sorrow. Thank you for that, the museum is such 
an awesome resource for HP collectors. I saw your video on the 2116 restoration 
were both Jon and you appear. We have at least one more at the CHM, just as a 
static display for now. I hope I can visit you in Melbourne one day.
Marc

Sent from my iPad

> On May 10, 2016, at 2:25 PM, Paul Berger  wrote:
> 
> The following was posted on hpmuseum.org this morning:
> 
> *RE: Jon Johnston Passes *
> As an update to the sad news of Jon Johnston's death, I can advise that the 
> HP museum and the hpmuseum.net website he built will be continued and 
> maintained for the foreseeable future.
> 
> Over the last 8 months I have worked with Jon in restoring items from his 
> collection of equipment and, among a range of items, recently restored an 
> HP2116A computer to working order - one of only two Jon was aware of in the 
> world and the only one that's operational.
> 
> At this stage we have not been able to access the website and put any notices 
> or updates but that should be addressed shortly.
> 
> Jon's wife has asked me to look after the museum and website for the 
> foreseeable future and as much as possible, continue to develop the museum in 
> line with Jon's vision and objectives.
> 
> As a short background, I joined HP Australia in 1982 as a Customer Engineer 
> maintaining HP3000s, HP250s, all peripherals, terminals etc. I stayed with HP 
> for over 26 years (including 5 years in Palo Alto) in a range of Services 
> roles and have many fond memories of the company and the people I worked with.
> 
> While my ability to invest time into the museum is more limited than Jon's, I 
> hope to honour both his memory and the legacy of the 'old HP' by keeping the 
> museum going as best I can, hopefully with help from the HP interest groups 
> across the world.
> 
> David Collins
> 

Re: Facit 4070 to PC interface

[curiousmarc3]

Thanks for the link! I didn't know about it. Looks like a pretty 
straightforward trick, very helpful.
Marc


> On May 4, 2016, at 8:32 PM, Bob Rosenbloom  wrote:
> 
>> On 5/4/2016 5:52 PM, Charles Dickman wrote:
>> Has anyone ever worked up a PC parallel port to Facit 4070 paper tape
>> punch interface?
>> 
>> I found one on a Swedish website. The punch parallel input looks like
>> it is TTL compatible, but I can't find anything in the documentation
>> that describes the input voltage specifications.
>> 
>> Chuck
> 
> Check this link out:
> 
> http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~pmaydell/misc/cardpunch/dongle.htm
> 
> It shows how to build a PC to 4070 interface. Basically inverting a few 
> signals.
> 
> Bob

Re: Very sad message: the passing of Jon Johnston

[curiousmarc3]

You can see him in the YouTube video he posted at the beginning of the month 
about his HP 2116 restoration. Very sad indeed.
https://youtu.be/Kko526UpHsM
Marc

Re: [OT] Alternatives to eBay

[curiousmarc3]

I haven't look at Craigslist much. Isn't it more oriented to geographically 
local sales? Can you setup search alerts like on ebay?
Marc

On Apr 20, 2016, at 10:36 AM, et...@757.org wrote:
> Craigslist is the one big eBay alternative. 

Re: Anyone have DIBOL-11, CTS-300, or CTS-500?

[curiousmarc3]

All of my 9 tracks are working right now, I could give it a try. I can only 
read 1600 and 6250 bpi. Contact me off list if interested.
Marc

> On Feb 16, 2016, at 11:23 PM, Eric Smith  wrote:
> 
>> On Mon, Feb 15, 2016 at 5:17 PM, Jason T  wrote:
>> Can you process (image) 9-track tape?
> 
> Not at the moment, alas. I have a SCSI 9-track, but it's presently
> about a 20 hour drive away from here.
> 
>> I have quite a few tapes with
>> DIBOL-related packages on them.  Whether any of them are actual DEC
>> DIBOL, I don't know yet.  I can work up a list of titles/numbers
>> soon-ish.  I do have a SCSI 9-track drive but it's not easily
>> accessible at the moment (nor is the time to read them in.)  I'd be
>> happy to send them off to someone who could, though.
> 
> I'd definitely be interested to know what you've got. Maybe someone
> else might be willing to image the tapes sooner, but if not, I'll let
> you know when I get my 9-track set up again.

Re: PRM-85 board case?

[curiousmarc3]

Interested too.
Marc


> On Feb 6, 2016, at 9:43 PM, Glen Slick  wrote:
> 
>> On Sat, Feb 6, 2016 at 2:31 PM, Jay West  wrote:
>> Rumor has it that one or more people have designed and 3d-printed cases for
>> their HP-85 PRM-85 boards. Anyone have any of those cases available? I'd
>> like to get my PRM-85 a proper case :)
> 
> I would like to hear about that too. I also have a bare PRM-85 board.
> It would be nice to have a proper case for it without gutting another
> plug in I/O module for it's case.

Re: .IMD diskette image file recovery

[curiousmarc3]

Yes, if you download the original imd, in the package there is a simple to use 
command line utility to do just that. Writing from memory, IMD2BIN.EXE or 
something like that.
Marc

> On Feb 3, 2016, at 4:56 PM, Jim Simpson  wrote:
> 
> Is there a utility that will read .IMD diskette archive files and recover
> the data?  I've found a wealth of BigBoard & BigBoard II data (and lots of
> other stuff too) on many different sites, all saved in .IMD format.  Is it
> possible to read these files and recover the data instead of writing a
> floppy disk with DiskImage?
> 
> Thanks, Jim Simpson
> 
> 
> 
> 

Re: Character ROMs for HP 2631G printer / 264x terminals

[curiousmarc3]

No, but I have an HP 1670G, does the same trick. I also managed to install it 
as a printer on Windows 98 using a GPIB ISA card and National Instruments DOS 
drivers. Even had the choice of 14 7/8 inch fan fold paper in the printer 
dialog! I'm working on a nicer HP only demo.
Marc

> On Jan 19, 2016, at 8:51 PM, Glen Slick  wrote:
> 
>> On Tue, Jan 19, 2016 at 8:15 PM, Curious Marc  wrote:
>> Here is the restoration video. Works beautifully now:
>> https://youtu.be/54bu0bM0Qjo
>> Marc
> 
> Do you have an HP 16500 series logic analyzer? They are supposed to be
> able to print to an HP 2631G if you select the printer type as
> QuietJet. Might make for an interesting quick demo.