[cctalk] Re: What to take to a vintage computer show

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2024-05-07 12:29, John Foust via cctalk wrote:

At 09:52 PM 5/1/2024, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:

In the early days of the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga, (and I may have the two 
reversed in the following anecdote), Atari had a nice display of a bouncing 
checkered beach ball.  Amiga had almost nothing.
But, the second day, everybody except the booth bimbos at Commodore looked 
haggard, but their machine was showing a bouncing checkered beach ball. And it 
was bouncing faster than Atari's!


Yes, you have them mixed up.  Amiga had the bouncing beach ball, with sound.
Atari had nothing.


Than, the juggler demo on amiga came out, and nobody ever talked about 
atari & graphics again :)


https://www.reddit.com/r/amiga/comments/oqx9qr/35_years_ago_the_amiga_juggler_demo_released_in/

http://www.etwright.org/cghist/juggler.html

[cctalk] Re: Last Buy notification for Z80 (Z84C00 Product line)

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2024-04-20 04:37, Peter Corlett via cctalk wrote:


Unless people start panic-buying them, Z80 chips are likely to languish in
Mouser etc's warehouses for years. After all, Zilog wouldn't stop production
of something in high demand.


They will be still at Mouser/DigiKey for a while, then be moved to 
Rochester & alike for the time being. You won't be able to buy single 
quantities anymore, that's all.

[cctalk] Re: NRAO Data tapes

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-05-09 12:36, Dani Werts via cctalk wrote:

Hello,

I'm an employee with the National radio astronomy observatory here in Socorro 
New Mexico.
As part of our NGVLA upgrades, we are seeking to get rid of old data tapes from 
the tape reel days of Computing. These contain things such as the boot loaders, 
OS, specific collection programs and antenna movement programs.
I personally would hate to see these just wind up in the literal dumpster and 
would like to see them sent out to a museum or an archiving body that can 
preserve them and keep them safe as a dynamic part of history.

If anyone is interested or knows someone who would be interested in the VLAs 
data tape library please let me know.



How did this work out?
Did anybody read the tapes?

[cctalk] Re: VT100: Failing 2114 Chip Replaced With One With The Same Fault

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-10-08 10:34, Rob Jarratt via cctalk wrote:


Perhaps it isn't the 2114 or its associated circuit at all.  Maybe some other
device is being incorrectly selected by that address and driving (half) the bus
low?  Just a thought.


Many thanks for the suggestion. This hadn't crossed my mind, so I checked. All 
the things that I could identify on the schematic that connect to the bus 
(UART, interrupt vector, flag buffer and modem signals) seem not to be enabled. 
I have looked at what is sinking the data bus, there is a buffer which seems to 
be OK and the 8251 PIC. The PIC is harder to check but I can see it is not 
selected and the input pins don’t appear to be shorted.


Put a scope on the data bus. You should see it, if two chips are driving 
the bus at the same time ...

[cctalk] Re: Good C to FPGA/PLA compiler

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-09-22 20:16, Mike Katz via cctalk wrote:

Martin,

Thank you for all of your suggestions.


Actually, there is something like you're trying to do,
on discord, he is making a board for the data general nova:

https://discord.com/channels/700194611091472415/805549176238112768/1137590594831646860

[cctalk] Re: Good C to FPGA/PLA compiler

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-09-22 12:04, Mike Katz via cctalk wrote:
I'm working on the design for an Omnibus (PDP-8/E) debug board and I am 
not very good at circuit design.  I know there are programs that will 
compile something that looks like C into Verilog/VHDL/Abel/Etc for use 
on some kind of large (more than 64 pins) programmable logic device.


There are still some 84pin chips out there(Altera & Xilinx). Sometimes 
they are pulls, or some 5V tolerant xilinx xc95l



Can any of you recommend a good C like tool for programmable logic?


Stay away from them :)

At the end, you will spend as much time learning the differences
(as it is not real "C") so invest the time in learning system verilog or 
VHDL. VHDL is a little more verbose, system verilog lets you shoot in 
your foot much easier.


If you just like to "debug" the bus, get an FPGA & some level shifters,
very easy to do ...

[cctalk] Re: 8" DSDD to USB MSD?

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-09-08 20:08, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:


I use a STM32F4 MCU for my floppy work (and my tape work also).  Half a
meg of program flash and 192KB of SRAM on-chip, running at 168MHz.   But
my interface is strictly by image file.  The USB connection is strictly
for file transfer and terminal operation.  One does a whole disk at a
time, since the bulk storage interface is SD Card.  Currently, I'm
limited to 32GB there.


You have this somewhere on GIT?

[cctalk] Re: SCO on Virtualbox

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-08-03 20:29, jim stephens via cctalk wrote:



On 8/3/23 13:21, KenUnix via cctalk wrote:

My efforts have failed. My host is Ubuntu 22.04 with Virtualbox 7.0.10.
I'd be curious given the nature of SCO if anyone has posted the goods to 
install any of them, and what versions.


Wasn't there a joke back than, that if somebody figure out, how to 
install SCO on any machine, he was considered a "computer guru"?

[cctalk] Re: Old Professional/350 software, any of this out there

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-07-29 13:57, Bjoren Davis via cctalk wrote:

Paul,

A couple of years ago I did design and build a new daughterboard with 
modern SRAM that supports up to 2 MiB of RAM on the PC/380 and up to 512 
KiB on the PC/350. https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/eBNkBw8x


Cool!


It even works.

;-)
I never made a push to publish it because by the time I got to it the 
parts (Cypress CY62167G-45ZXI SRAM and ATF1504AS-10AU100 CPLD) had 
become unobtainable.


The SRAM can still be find, but the CPLD?
Any chance to replace it with something newer?

Maybe things have changed, but right now there are only 3 of these 
boards.  I have 2 and I think I sent the 3rd to you, Paul.


Any chance you like to have a look at it again?

[cctalk] Re: Old Professional/350 software, any of this out there

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-07-29 13:36, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:


The Pro Technical Manual (on Bitsavers) answers a bunch of these questions.  If 
I remember right, the 380 will accept 350 memory daugher cards but also 
larger-capacity cards (bigger chips) that are 380 only.  Also, the wiring for 
the board allows for larger memories than what DEC actually built; the details 
are in the CPU/Motherboard chapter of the manual.  And/or in the schematics.  
I've thought about building such a daughtercard, I think the best case allows 
close to full 4 MB worth of memory.


Seems that a 3 MB module could be built, giving a 3.5 MB total?

[cctalk] Re: IBM RT Graphics

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-06-08 08:20, Santo Nucifora wrote:

Looking back, I did buy one from Digikey but it was not the right one.

I bought mine from this ebay auction: 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/171649843131 
  Specifically, the "D-SUB 3W3 
Male" item.  I did not install the three metal coax covers that come 
with it.  The end looks like this: 
https://vintagecomputer.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IBM_RT_3W3_end.jpg 



Hope this helps.
Santo


Hello Santo, looks good, just ordered some.
THANKS!

[cctalk] Re: IBM RT Graphics

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-06-08 06:12, Santo Nucifora via cctalk wrote:


I got the 3W3 connector and parts from Digikey.   Here's what that looks
like:
https://vintagecomputer.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IBM_RT_3W3_RGB-rotated.jpg
Please forgive the crude construction.  I didn't think it would work but it
did.


You still have the part numbers?

[cctalk] Re: Getting floppy images to/from real floppy disks.

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-06-04 13:24, ben via cctalk wrote:


Down the Autobahn...
https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/artifact/331/1893



I think the "bug" is in the back of a "beetle" :)

[cctalk] Re: Getting floppy images to/from real floppy disks.

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-05-30 13:08, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

"Sneakernet" or whatever, I'm still impressed that I can spend USD$3 for
a 64GB microSD card and store the entire code output of my life 


I was looking for some files on my backup tapes, wondering if I have 
enough space on my drives to simply copy the tape to the disk, and then 
search. Finally hit me, that my DOS disk from back than was only 300MB :)



and
still have lots of room left over for photos of my dogs.


Look at it from the other side: you need two RL02s for a decent 
resolution picture of your dog this days :)

[cctalk] Super I/O chips

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

Anybody out here, still in business using them?
Which ones are still easily available?
(I look for something which has 2 UARTs, FDC and IDE?)
Thanks

[cctalk] Re: ST-251 Data Recovery for Glenside Color Computer Club (GCCC)

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-05-24 05:26, Tony Duell via cctalk wrote:

On Wed, May 17, 2023 at 5:29 AM Fred Cisin via cctalk
 wrote:


Last time that I tried to research it, I found that there had once been an
external drive in which the USB and controller werenot integrated with the

Alas some spoilsport has removed the numbers from them. One (14 pins)
is probably a TTL buffer to drive the disk drive signals. The other
(still an SMD dual-in-line package but closer pin pitch than the SOIC
of the other chip) is presumably a USB floppy controller. When I have
time I'll probe things and see if I can figure it out.


Some of the USB<->Floppy drives used the SMSC USB97CFDC like chips.
Which basically was an 8051, USB and a 765 FDC in a chip ...

[cctalk] Re: Chatgpt : I had a retro dream

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-02-07 05:46, Cedric Amand via cctalk wrote:

I had a dream ; that someone makes a small telnet to chatgpt gateway (using 
azure chatgpt API possibly ?) So that we could telnet our retro devices to the 
hype of the year, and get chtgpt answers in our TRS80, PDP and such.


I'm not sure this group is exactly about following the latest hype :)

ChatGPT? Eliza on steroids ;-)

[cctalk] Re: Nuking an MFM drive with a magnet, format/servo gone?

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-02-03 21:28, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:
Perm magnet. Those neodynium magnets are powerful, keep them away from 
disks.


Keep "all" magnets away from disks :)

[cctalk] Re: RQDX3's: Lessons learned.

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-02-03 22:48, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:

2) There are at least two RQDX3 ROM sets. The earlier one does not 
support the RX33 floppy and doesn't give any info during formatting. The 
later version (Version 4) does support the RX33 and is a lot nicer.


Is it just the ROMs, or also some HW changes?
Do we have backup of the newer versions?

[cctalk] Re: Nuking an MFM drive with a magnet, format/servo gone?

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-02-03 11:57, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:

This is a Maxtor 2190. The RD54 base disk. I've been having major 
problems trying to format them on my RQDX3, I'll post that adventure in 
a bit. In a nutshell the drives only partially format then error out. On 
Dave G's MFM emulator all the tracks appear to be there.


OK, is it a MAXTOR 2190, or a RD54?
If it is really an RD54, it has the weird DEC sectors with the bad block 
information.
If it doesn't have the bad blocks information written in the "DEC way" 
it won't be recognized as a RD54

[cctalk] Re: Formatting and using RQDX3's and 2190's.

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-02-03 12:09, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:
Decided to spend some time working on my 11/73 with MFM drives. 


You don't have a MicoVAX 2000 sitting around?

Did you use the RD54 by any chance in a different system, and low level 
formatted it there?

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

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-02-02 04:38, David Brownlee wrote:

> That reminds me (looks at 43.5T of zfs pool that has not had a scrub
> since 2021).
>
> It can be nice to have a filesystem which handles redundancy and also
> the option to occasionally read all the data, check end to end
> checksums (in the unlikely case a device returns a successful read
> with bad data), and fixup everything. Does not eliminate the need for
> remote copies, but gives a little extra confidence that the master
> copy is still what it should be :)

So, what else do you guys use, to make sure your data is safe for the 
years to come?

[cctalk] Re: Computer Museum uses GreaseWeazle to help exonerate Maryland Man

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-02-01 10:56, Warner Losh wrote:


On Wed, Feb 1, 2023 at 1:41 AM emanuel stiebler via cctalk 
mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org>> wrote:



retension in case of power off.
If the power is applied all the time, the internal controller "can"
check the quality of the cells automatically (but this really
depends on
the controller, controller version, and the OS has to chose the right
strategy. And the controllers improved a lot lately)


The OS might not have a choice. All the SSDs that I've used in the
past decade at $WORK have not exposed any of this to the host, not
even enough stats to know when it's going on in real time... let alone
the ability to pause these operations for a little while until we're off
peak for the day...


But you should be able to choose (at least on controllers I know) if you 
like to go for automatic or manual refresh.


If you go for the automatic, it could happen that the drive decides to
scan the drive, when your're busy and going nuts waiting for the drive
(you can also define on newer drives how many block to check per run)

If you're going for the manual refresh, just make sure you really run it 
one day. But, you should be the one who knows, when your computer isn't 
busy ...

[cctalk] Re: Computer Museum uses GreaseWeazle to help exonerate Maryland Man

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-02-01 00:00, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

On 1/31/23 20:16, Ali via cctalk wrote:



If you look at the specs for SSDs or any flash medium for that matter,
they're rated in terms of *write* cycles, which is why you don't want to
abuse that.

right
But, in most OS you can check the SMART data, to get an idea


However, it may well be that writing is the only way to refresh cells,
as reading won't, if I understand flash operation correctly.


Reading ensures, that the cells are checked. if they fall below specific 
thresholds, they will be copied to another block



But
rewriting a sector or block of a file doesn't usually write back to the
original, because of the write-leveling firmware in the drive.


right


JEDEC requires data retention of a consumer drive for at least 1 year,
which doesn't sound like much; real retention is probably much longer.


retension in case of power off.
If the power is applied all the time, the internal controller "can" 
check the quality of the cells automatically (but this really depends on 
the controller, controller version, and the OS has to chose the right 
strategy. And the controllers improved a lot lately)



You can write a script that write-refreshes every file on the drive.


Please don't :)
Just tell the controller to run a refresh ...


The easiest thing is to buy a second drive and ping-pong the data
between them periodically.   That way, if one fails, you still have the
other for backup.


Disagree here, just run a compare between the two drives.
a.) it will read all files, and the controller checks them in the 
background (will move them, if necessary)
b.) you know, that after the compare you still have the data twice, on 
independent drives


cheers

[cctalk] Re: DEC PDP 11/60's in need of a new home.

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-01-28 16:54, Jerry Wright via cctalk wrote:

I have 2 of these that  are in need of a  new home.  These are quite large  4 
racks each.  Although the 11/60 is only a double rack by itself.


Pictures? Configuration?

[cctalk] Re: Computer Museum uses GreaseWeazle to help exonerate Maryland Man

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-01-26 14:15, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:


A somewhat similar but more primitive thing is found in the DEC VT71/t typesetting 
terminal, which has a row of 16 "User Defined Keys" at the top.  These have 
double keycaps, an outer transparent plastic shell that snaps over a smaller ordinary 
keycap with no label.  The idea is that you could make your own labels and insert them 
under the clear shell.  Then again, a lot of users simply laid a cardboard strip with 
legends just above the top row: http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/terminal/vt71t/vt71t.jpg


And on the lk201 they finally made a strip for that :)

[cctalk] Re: Computer of Thesus (was: Re: Re: Computer Museum uses GreaseWeazle to help exonerate Maryland Man)

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-01-23 11:37, Jim Brain via cctalk wrote:

In the spirit of the original thought, though, where I find myself 
scratching my head are the folks who have replaced every IC on their 
vintage system with an aftermarket FPGA "equivalent" (loosely used 
here).  The resulting board, with all of the expensive FPGA devices, 
costs much more than obtaining a second stock unit, and when every IC 
has been replaced with FPGA, I am not sure I see the value over just 
obtaining an FPGA-based design where all of the IC functionality has 
been aggregated into 1 larger HDL-based device. The "keyhole" nature of 
replacing each individual IC seems expensive, prone to issues, and still 
relies on constraints of the original motherboard and/or mobo design. 
But, I smile and nod when I see them at shows, since it must make sense 
to the owner, and that's how they enjoy the hobby.


For me, it is a way to make sure, I understood the original 
machine/chip. If you can replace the original chip with an CPLD/FPGA, 
you probably have an idea, what you're talking about.

Same with emulators.
But, I'm talking about guys doing it, not using it :)

[cctalk] Re: USB Attached 5.25" drives?

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-01-21 15:18, Jim Brain via cctalk wrote:

On 1/21/2023 6:45 AM, emanuel stiebler via cctalk wrote:

On 2023-01-20 18:14, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:

On Fri, 20 Jan 2023, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

There is also the SMSC USB97CFDC2 floppy usb controller.   Al has the
datasheet archived on bitsavers:

http://www.bitsavers.org/components/standardMicrosystems/_dataSheets/USB97CFDC2-01.pdf


also, I found it here;
https://www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/374/97cfdc2_01-198397.pdf


What more could you ask for--legacy floppy interface, external flash
programming...
I'm a bit surprised that nobody's come up with a design using this
creature.  Of course, there's the possibility that they're 
unobtainium...



The older(?) USB97CFDC is still available ...


BAH!  I just ordered the DC2 part! :-)


You found a better manual, than die two above?
You have an 8051 inside, and a 765 FDC, but on what adresses, etc.?
How would you write any software for that?

[cctalk] Re: USB Attached 5.25" drives?

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-01-21 15:39, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:

There is also the SMSC USB97CFDC2 floppy usb controller.   Al has the
datasheet archived on bitsavers:
http://www.bitsavers.org/components/standardMicrosystems/_dataSheets/USB97CFDC2-01.pdf 

also, I found it here;
https://www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/374/97cfdc2_01-198397.pdf

What more could you ask for--legacy floppy interface, external flash
programming...


A possible minor issue, and/or stupid question, . . . looking at the 
datasheet, it says that it supports 1Mbps, 500 Kbps, 300Kbps, 250Kbps 
data rates.


1Mbps is the never-made-it-to-mainstream "2.8M" drive (and NeXT "4M" 
(unformatted))

500 Kbps is "HD" ("1.4M", "1.2M", and 8"DD/MFM)
300 Kbps is a "360K" disk in a "1.2M" drive (compensating for the 360RPM)
250 Kbps is 5.25" DD/MFM (and also 8" FM/SD)

For 5.25" FM/SD, don't you also need a 125 Kbps data rate?

1) SO, does this mean that it can't handle 5.25" single density (TRS80 
model 1, early Osborne, and many others)?


2) It mentions Win98/2000 driver and firmware.  Is there also newer 
driver/firmware support?


Isn't the biggest problem, that it uses the NEC 765 controller, which 
can't read a lot of the WD formatted floppies?

[cctalk] Re: USB Attached 5.25" drives?

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-01-21 10:33, geneb via cctalk wrote:

On Sat, 21 Jan 2023, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk wrote:


An interesting note.  I have a device from DBIT that lets you
hook up an 8" disk to the interface for 5.25 or 3.5 floppies.
I wonder how I would go about reversing that process so I could
hook one of these GOTEKs up in place of a physical 8" disk.



I use the DBIT adapter with my AppleSauce and it works pretty well.  You 
can also get one of these:

https://www.tindie.com/products/siliconinsider/8-floppy-disk-interface-50-pin-to-34-pin-adapter/


The tindie ones don't seem to have the tg43 signal? They look just like 
some passive connectors ...

[cctalk] Re: USB Attached 5.25" drives?

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-01-20 18:14, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:

On Fri, 20 Jan 2023, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

There is also the SMSC USB97CFDC2  floppy usb controller.   Al has the
datasheet archived on bitsavers:

http://www.bitsavers.org/components/standardMicrosystems/_dataSheets/USB97CFDC2-01.pdf


also, I found it here;
https://www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/374/97cfdc2_01-198397.pdf


What more could you ask for--legacy floppy interface, external flash
programming...
I'm a bit surprised that nobody's come up with a design using this
creature.  Of course, there's the possibility that they're unobtainium...



The older(?) USB97CFDC is still available ...

[cctalk] Re: Computer Museum uses GreaseWeazle to help exonerate Maryland Man

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-01-20 15:58, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk wrote:

On 1/20/23 15:45, Ali via cctalk wrote:

The funny thing is that James and I were talking about doing some PCBs
and kits for the things, then decided that it would appeal to too few
people.  I still have the prototype, done in wire-wrap.


Chuck,

It may be a good time to dust off the old design and bring it out! ;)



Why?  There are already a number of functional (and in
most cases cheap) floppy emulators.  It is unlikely
even the boards could be made to match the price and
in any case just how many of us do you really think are
left?  :-)


I was looking at Chuck's pertec interface this morning, and I really 
like what he did. If he can pull of the same with the stm32f407 for 
floppies, I'm in. Boards with the stm32 are cheap, and actually 
available. And all in source, free compilers etc.


(and MFM disks, ESDI disks, and, and ;-) )

[cctalk] Re: Computer Museum uses GreaseWeazle to help exonerate Maryland Man

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-01-20 15:25, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

On 1/20/23 11:30, Sellam Abraham via cctalk wrote:



You were ahead of your time (and everyone else's).


The funny thing is that James and I were talking about doing some PCBs
and kits for the things, then decided that it would appeal to too few
people.  I still have the prototype, done in wire-wrap.


Probably it would be worth it, to make a board like you did with the 
pertec interface?

[cctalk] Re: AI applied to vintage interests

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2023-01-19 07:05, Chris via cctalk wrote:

The question is what type of information has the ai been programmed to deliver. Higjly accurate technical info? Or info that is suitable for the umwashed masses? 


Old rule for all data collections: SH*T in, SH*T out

[cctalk] Re: Inline Serial Device?

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2022-11-12 11:08, Tony Duell via cctalk wrote:

On Sat, Nov 12, 2022 at 11:59 AM Antonio Carlini via cctalk
 wrote:


Surely a microcontroller is just a 555 with a few extra transistors?


For suitable (large) values of 'few'?

Actually I can think of many differences...

Firstly, the full equivalent circuit of the 555 is in the datasheet.
So I can predict how it should behave under all conditions (there are
many things you can do with a 555 besides astables and monostables). I
have never seen an equivalent circuit, or a gate level description of
a microcontroller.


And if you like to "tune" your ne555, you can do it on your own:

https://www.adafruit.com/product/1526

:)

[cctalk] Re: Intel's i860, Cray-On-A-Chip

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 9/28/2022 20:18, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:

FWIW, I just tried building GCC 2.95.2 on my Linux system (Fedora Core 32, GCC 10.3.1.  
It almost built, ran into an argument mismatch error message in something called 
"chill".  So if you want something that old it looks like you'll have to start 
by building a less ancient version, say 4.8 or so, and then use that to build the 
dinosaur.


Which switches/options did you use?
Last weekend I spent some cycles to try ...
I can build the binutils around 2.32, emitting elf
No luck at all, getting gcc to compile. Support for the i860 was removed 
very early after 4.0, going back to 3.x versions fails as they can't 
compile on 64 bit systems. (and also never used ELF, but COFF?)


So stuck a little at the moment, I guess I have to install some linux 32 
bit version, and try again ...

[cctalk] Intel's i860, Cray-On-A-Chip

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

Hi all,
anybody has some GCC or any other tool chain for the above?
Or some pointers, which was the last version of the GCC tool chain which 
supported the i860, and would be still compile-able on this days tools/OS's?


Anything?

Thanks in advance!

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

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2022-07-31 11:09, Douglas Taylor via cctalk wrote:

Decided to sell it, can't keep it any longer.  See pictures on ebay item 
325288272428.  There were manuals for Idris.


Did you see, there is another one of those on ebay ...

[cctalk] Re: VCF West?

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2022-07-26 17:19, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:

Is there going to be one this year?


Is there a reason why it never gets mentioned here?
(are there some personal issues that I shouldn't even ask about?)



https://vcfed.org/events/vintage-computer-festival-west/

August 6 & 7, 2022

RTF/68K, Real Time Fortran, OS-9

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

Long shot, but it is quiet here ...

There was this FORTRAN compiler, emitting 68k code for OS-9/68k. It was 
freely distributed, ran on VAX as a cross compiler or natively on the 68k.


(was probably coming from University of Heidelberg, or CERN)

Anybody has a copy of the sources etc?

Re: Looking for ESDI controller for QBus

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2022-05-10 10:05, Nigel Johnson Ham via cctalk wrote:
Does anybody have one they can spare? I have a DQ696 that I have to 
share between by 11/73 and MicroVax 2 - the Sigma RQD11 I have on the 
Microvax died with an internal failure and i don;t have any kind of test 
frame, or the space for one, to try and repair it.


Cash or trade would be good.


There is a dq696 on epay at the moment ...

Never saw the cab kit before. Where was that used?
External cabinets?

Re: idea for a universal disk interface

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2022-04-13 01:35, shad via cctalk wrote:

Hello,
For the first phase, I would ask you to contribute with a list of interfaces 
which could be interesting to emulate, specially if these are similar to one 
from my list.


Just use a GIT repository for documents, schematics & layouts, or whatever.

So this is not lost.

Re: Quantum ATL-7100 DLT Changer in SLC

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2022-04-09 09:37, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:
I have this strong desire to pick this up and install TK70 tape units. 
Finally I can back up my pdp11 items in style :-)


Just pick it up, and read the SETI tapes ;-)

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

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2022-04-03 11:51, Eric J. Korpela via cctalk wrote:

From here:

https://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_thread.php?id=85870=2096776#2096776

They are bog standard Sun Enterprise systems, drive removed and destroyed
for privacy reason.  They are only interesting for what they've done.  By
university rules, our group can essentially "permanent loan" them to a
non-profit, but any sale or transfer of ownership is up to
University Excess and Salvage.

A bit of history disappearing, which is nothing new in this group.


I think in this group, we have plenty of DLT IV tape drives?
How many tapes are we talking?

Re: VAX 780 on eBay

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2022-01-03 13:19, Ethan Dicks via cctalk wrote:


Compiling all the code for our product took the 11/750 6 hours to
compile and link plus an additional 2 hours for an 11/730 to link
under a different version of VMS.  8 hours total to rebuild totally
from source.  Some things about the good old days weren't so good.


Disagree here ;-)
Before you hit compile, you switched your brain on, and thought for a 
while what you did.


When I watch this kids in the office now pressing compile after each 
character they typed, 

Re: 11/785 on ebay (2018) - was Re: VAX 780 on eBay

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2022-01-03 08:54, Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:


Not too surprising; the /780 and /785 are basically the same machine. (In
fact, one could convert a /780 to a /785 by pulling out the /780 CPU cards
and replacing them with a set of /785 cards; basically the same cards, with
the 74S chips replaced with 74AS.)


There should be more /785s out there than plain /780...
IIRC, most /780 were upgraded, as the "old" /780 had some EMC issues
in the field? Am I dreaming this up?

Re: 11/785 on ebay (2018) - was Re: VAX 780 on eBay

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2022-01-02 16:03, Toby Thain via cctalk wrote:

On 2022-01-02 2:48 p.m., Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:

 > From: Jonathan Chapman

 > Last one that went auction-style on eBay went for $1,178.00

When was that?

Do you have any details of the machine's config?

That's a pretty good deal for a 780 (IMO).


Someone I know won a '785, Feb 10, 2018, but it went for $1,000 (they 
bid $1,178.50).


I didn't bid on it, it was too far, now I'm on the east coast, and there 
is one in Arizona :(

Re: VAX/VMS 4.0 source listings scans

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-12-14 12:25, Joerg Hoppe via cctech wrote:
Full micro fiche scans of VAX/VMS 4.0/4.1 source listings are now 
published at
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/microfiche/vms-source-listings/AH-BT13A-SE__VAX-VMS_V4.0_SRC_LST_MCRF/AH-BT13A-SE__VAX-VMS_V4.0_SRC_LST_MCRF/ 


THANKS A LOT FOR DOING THIS !!!



Not sure who needs to know.
Perhaps they are useful for emulation crash analysis, or for educational 
purposes.

You also see the highly optimizing BLISS32 compiler at work.


Spent already hours yesterday staring at the code ;-)

Thanks again, I guess you spent some time on that ...

OT, assembly houses in the US

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

Hi all,
where do you guys go for assembly of your boards, when you replace old 
stuff?
Not too many places like THT anymore, and getting ridiculously expensive 
lately.


Any recommendations?

Re: Linux and the 'clssic' computing world

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-09-27 23:46, ben via cctalk wrote:

> POSIX requires a byte to be exactly 8 bits I read somewhere.
> C99 C standard?
> Great for ARM and INTEL, not so great for the 36 bit computers.
> Ben.

And probably don't work on your 20-bit CPU, when it is done ;-)

Re: VAX4000 VLC diagnostics/console

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-09-04 08:30, Antonio Carlini via cctalk wrote:

> "Digital Diggings" couldn't get BlueSCSI to work on either VAX or Alpha:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFEh7owqHxU=36s.
> That's a pity as it's much cheaper than SCSI2SD.

OK guys, but please compare that to costs for SCSI drives (please 6 of
them, as you have partitions on the SDCARD), cost of SCSI controllers
(QBUS/UNIBUS anyone?), or even IDE drives.

So this is whining on a pretty high level, and there is no noise, so you
can keep your machines working. (and *** very easy backup too)

So, yes, there probably could be cheaper, but the guy spent a lot of
time making it working.

In my opinion, it is worth every penny.

Cheers

Re: VAX4000 VLC diagnostics/console

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-07-13 15:39, Zane Healy via cctalk wrote:

> When I did all my testing about a month and a half ago, I used a VT320.  I’m 
> not sure if I’ve ever tried to talk to a VAXstation with anything other than 
> a DEC terminal.

I don't have any problems with USB-Serial adapters, on most DEC
equipment. I have most VT***, but not always like to move them.
So a laptop is easier.

Just don't forget to switch of HW handshake on the USB side, and get
XON/XOFF ...

yes, sometimes one has tp play with 7/8 bits, parities etc., but it
usually works ...

Re: RQDX3 firmware sources

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-08-26 20:22, Charles Dickman via cctalk wrote:
> Has anyone tried to compile the sources? succeeded?

Where did you find the sources?

Re: Scanning Suggestions (Bookmarks & Colour)

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-08-28 04:21, æstrid smith via cctalk wrote:
> i've achieved satisfactory results paletteizing scans of low-color-depth 
> material using a tool called 'noteshrink':
> 
> https://mzucker.github.io/2016/09/20/noteshrink.html

Even if you don't use the tool, it is worth reading ;-)

Re: Scanning Suggestions (Bookmarks & Colour)

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-08-27 16:50, Antonio Carlini via cctalk wrote:

> For photographs or shaded areas that don't necessarily come out well
> under those settings, I plan to use 8-bit greyscale. I'd prefer to use
> 600dpi but I may have to fall back to 300dpi if the per-page fiile size
> shoots up too much.

I always fail to understand this ...
With prices for hard drives like they are, and comparing to the amount
of work, it really is to scan a manual, I would recommend to scan with
the best resolution you have, and have those files as you "original scans"
Than, you apply whatever tricks you have in your bin, to "publish" those
scans.

Probably, one day there will be a nice tool, to do whatever you
expected, and you have the scan already on your drive, and the original
manual is digitized and preserved already.

Just my .001 cents ;-)

And I was talking about pictures/hafltone etc.

The recommendations for b/w & text/line drawings are clear ...

Re: Ian Hirschsohn - DISSPLA, Superset Inc. and sad news

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-07-31 10:36, John Foust via cctalk wrote:
> At 12:56 AM 7/31/2021, Randy Dawson via cctalk wrote:
>> As some here know, I collect some dusty deck fortran graphics.  We have 
>> MOVIE.BYU up and running! (Thanks Douglas Taylor and Emanuel Steibler).
> 
> Once I was in the business of making 3D file format translators,
> and I still have code that runs under Windows that can read
> and write Movie.BYU format.

So, what formats did you import/export to Movie.BYU?

Re: Ultrix-11

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-08-20 13:14, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk wrote:
> On 8/20/21 12:38 PM, Ethan Dicks via cctalk wrote:
>> Back in the day, I struggled to get enough disk space to install
>> 2.9BSD on an 11/24.  Two RK07s would have been a luxury.  I had an
>> RL02 (10MB) and I think maybe an RL01.  I could get the initial
>> restore to work but I didn't have enough space to rebuild my kernel.
> 
> Those were the days.  Sadly, most people in the business today know
> nothing about them.

Yeah, tell those kids, which have now 1/2 TB on their phones ;-)

I was musing about it, when I noticed few days ago, that a picture file
of a decent camera this days is larger, than my RL02 was back then :(

Re: Ultrix-11

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-08-14 12:18, Douglas Taylor via cctalk wrote:
> I ran into a YouTube video, that it is 5 years old, titled "Ultrix-11
> 3.1 on an emulated PDP-11/73" and I found it very interesting.
> It shows installation of Ultrix-11 under SIMH.  The fellow steps through
> the installation process and appears to be quite knowable.
> I wanted to replicate it but couldn't locate the *.tap file used in the
> video that was an image of the bootable TK50 distribution.
> Bitsavers and tuhs.org have Ultrix-11 files, but not the bootable tape
> image.
> Anyone know where the tape image is located?

The "install tape" was distributed as a series of  files which have to
be written to a real tape with different block sizes. So if you have a
directory with more than one .tap file, look for a shell script to write
those to a tape drive ... There you will see, which file made the real
boot tape ...

Re: VT340 Emulation

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-06-24 10:36, Zane Healy via cctalk wrote:

> Thanks!  That’s not bad at all considering what VT525’s are going for, and 
> I’d really like to get a terminal with ReGIS Graphics (though I finally have 
> a VAXstation 4000/90 running as a VAXstation).  Mind you, I’m not sure why I 
> need one. 

If you just need Regis, get a GIGI, keyboard built in ;-)

Re: VT340 Emulation

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-06-22 06:32, Grant Taylor via cctalk wrote:
> On 6/22/21 1:49 AM, emanuel stiebler via cctalk wrote:

>> So I would use an 15" 4K display at the RBpi, and scale up...
> 
> I personally dislike all the 4k monitors that I've seen.  I'd be more
> likely to go old school.

Why? I love the new ones, as I travel a lot ;-)

>> Imagine a Tekronix Emulation on a 4K display ;-)
> 
> ~chuckle~

;-)

>> I would love to see REAL RS232 on a RBPi, probably even the original
>> MMJ from DEC for keyboard & mouse
> 
> What is a /real/ RS-232?  How does it differ from USB-to-RS-232 and / or
> bit banging GPIO lines?

OK, sorry. "Real" is for me here, physically the same connectors like
DB25/DB9/MMJ/etc ...

Re: VT340 Emulation

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-06-22 01:03, Grant Taylor via cctalk wrote:

> I'm now wondering about building something like a Raspberry Pi with an
> LCD display (native resolution?) 

Be careful. The "native" resolution of the vt340 is 800x480 in 4:3
format ...

So I would use an 15" 4K display at the RBpi, and scale up...

Imagine a Tekronox Emulation on a 4K display ;-)

> in a custom case that's stylaized after
> the VT340 (?) case, all be it abbreviated so that it's much shallower.
> I'd probably simply run a full screen XTerm without any window manager.
> (I might have a different way to start with a window manager and
> traditional GUI.)

> I could support serial, but if I'm using an SBC, why not use Ethernet
> (or even WiFI)???

I would love to see REAL RS232 on a RBPi, probably even the original MMJ
from DEC for keyboard & mouse

Re: VT340 Emulation

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-06-22 01:03, Grant Taylor via cctalk wrote:

> After seeing the prices of VT3xx / VT4xx / VT5xx when I looked a few
> years ago, I quickly decided that I didn't want to spend that sort of
> money.

And, if you get a cheap VT340, it probably is just an "A", not a "G+"
version :(

Re: VT100 colors

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-06-21 13:12, Antonio Carlini via cctalk wrote:

> I did find one seemingly untouched image of a VT100 with green text:
> https://vistapointe.net/cliparts/getsecond. That does appear to be a
> VT100 (not a VT102/VT103 etc) and is green.

We had some like that, but upgraded with a Selenar (?) board and
different tube, to have tektronix emulation as an option. And looking at
the picture it seems to be a darker green, which make me believe it was
a P39 phosphor like ours ...

Re: VT340 Emulation

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-06-18 15:09, Christian Groessler via cctalk wrote:
> I've got a real VT340, if somebody wants to verify an emulation.

340 A or 340 G+?

Big difference ...

Re: SCSI2SD

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-05-21 16:41, Zane Healy via cctalk wrote:
> Does anyone have experience using a SCSI2SD board to replace a Hard Drive on 
> a VAXstation or an AlphaStation?  I’m thinking about using them on some of my 
> systems to reduce the amount of noise.  

Yes, I'm using the on my 4000/90's ...

Get nice SD cards, and big ones too. And format the first partion to be
less than 1GB. So you can simply "dd" ISO images for install there ...

> I’ve gotten used to a quiet office. :-)

Now you will have to climb under the desk to check if it runs. With the
rotating rust, it wasn't necessary, you knew all the time ;-)

> Zane
> 
> 
> 

Re: VAXstation 4000/90 Diagnostics

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-05-21 16:38, Zane Healy via cctalk wrote:
> Is anyone familiar with the 4000/90 diagnostics?  It looks like it will fail 
> the test of the LCSPX graphics board, if it’s not plugged into a monitor, or 
> is missing a loopback device. Is that correct?
> 
> T 2 fails, but the manual makes it sound like I need a loopback

IIRC, it is normal that it fails, without a monitor attached.
Did you try to switch to serial console, if it still complains?
> T 100 succeeds when testing the LCSPX graphics board.
If you have amonitor attached, you would see some colors flipping and
some drawing being made on the screen
> 
> The system had been a boat anchor until a short time ago, as the battery in 
> the Dallas DS1287A RTC was dead.  Amazon just delivered two DS12887’s.  Once 
> I replaced it, it came right up.  I was surprised to see I had a 4GB and a 
> 2GB drive in it.

Which ones did you get? (source?)
Have to fix another two in the near future ...
> 
> Now to dig out the mouse, and wait for the parts to hook it up to a monitor. 
> :-)

Yes, the monitor cable is fun to look for ...

Cheers!

Re: Hard To Believe This Person Is Serious

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-03-25 15:15, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk wrote:
> On 3/25/21 1:56 PM, mazzinia--- via cctalk wrote:
>> Rofl,
>>
>> If he manages to find someone at that price, I will have to sell my
>> micropolis 5"25 
> 
> I would gladly sell my brand new, still in the static bag, RZ28's for
> that price.

And that's the right thinking ...

Everybody, who has dozens of old hard drives in the basement,
doesn't have to worry about retirement anymore ;-)

Re: Vax/pdp on ebay

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-03-07 14:56, Glen Slick via cctalk wrote:
> On Thu, Mar 4, 2021 at 11:25 PM Wayne S via cctalk
>  wrote:
>>
>> Is anyone from this list bidding on this.
>> If so i’ll back out. Just don’t want it to be “recycled “ and i have room 
>> for it.
>>
>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-DEC-BA23-Lot-Micro-PDP-11-73-VAXstation-3200-x2-VT220-x2-Extras-Docs/224368924502?hash=item343d6e1756:g:zp8AAOSwvWNgO9qe
>>
> 
> Sold for $4,900. Looks like a couple of low score bidders got in a
> bidding war and really wanted to win.

at least three people were thinking it is worth more than 2700 ...

WOW.

Re: Spelunking the places where files are not

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-03-05 09:41, John Foust via cctalk wrote:
> 
> This situation makes me hesitant to release disk images from the past.
> It's one thing to do it with disks that were mine and to take responsibility
> for my risk; it's another to release disks once owned and used by others.
> Do the unused sectors contain their love letters from 1983?  
> 
> Or if I want to release disk images that contain known personal files,
> how will I image, then remove specific files, then zero unused blocks
> if I don't want to alter the original media?

I started to do something in this direction, using a lot of virtual
machines ...

Before I make backups, I write a file with zero content, until it fills
up the filesystems (something like dd if=/dev/zero of=/ttt.tmp ; rm ttt.tmp)

Two benefits:
a.) there shouldn't be any hidden stuff anymore
b.) the file containers can be zipped nicely, as all unused stuff is zero

Hope it helps ...

pdp11, pdp8 prototyping boards

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

Don't know if you guys know about them, I just tripped over them...

https://www.tindie.com/products/glitchwrks/gw-dec-1-prototyping-board-for-pdp-11-pdp-8-etc/

Cheers

Re: Vax/pdp on ebay

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-03-05 11:57, Doc Shipley via cctalk wrote:
> On 3/5/21 10:51, Nigel Johnson via cctalk wrote:
>> Speaking of badges, I have a BA23 that doesn't have one. It was an 11/73
>> but that badge is gone, and I am trying to repair an 11/93 to go in
>> there.
>>
>> Does anybody have a spare 11/73 badge for the BA23 that could be used as
>> a model for a printed version that says 11/93?  I don't believe there
>> ever was one for the BA23 chassis!  I have a BA123 micro VAX II badge
>> going spare if anybody needs it, or to swap for an 11/73!
> 
>   I once had a pair of 11/93s that originally lived in BA23 pedestals,
> and I'm fairly certain that they did have "MicroPDP 11/93" badges.
> 
>   I'll look and see if I have any photos.

That was pretty easy ;-)

https://www.pdp-11.nl/pdp11-93startpage.html

Re: cctalk Digest, Vol 77, Issue 3

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-02-03 15:29, Adam Thornton via cctalk wrote:
> As long as we’re talking about divesting: if anyone has a VaxStation that 
> they’d sell me for substantially less than eBay prices, I’d be interested.  I 
> have a 3100M38, but it doesn’t POST; indeed, a replacement mainboard would be 
> a place I could start.  (I did try burning new ROMs and replacing them, but 
> that wasn’t the problem).  I’d even consider swapping an 11/730 in unknown 
> condition (this is from the Kaur collection) for a working VaxStation, on two 
> conditions: you have to pick it up, and you have to take an RM80 drive with 
> it and dump it far enough away from my house that no one thinks it was me 
> what done it.

Where are you?

Re: Greaseweazle

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-02-02 12:20, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

> When I last proposed the STM32F407, I was met with "Oh, but the Blue
> Pill is cheaper".  Okay, use the Blue Pill, but my code won't work with
> it.  Not once has anyone contacted me and said "I'd like to try my hand
> at doing this, what can you tell me?".   I've described the methodology
> of using an MCU elsewhere several times.
> --Chuck

Not true ;-)
You told me how to use it, and I got some boards, and played with the
stm32f407. Then went the ESP32 route, and now trying RbPi-CM4, which
looks promising, as it is dirt cheap and powerful.

So, some people listen ;-)

Re: APL\360

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-02-01 11:40, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

> Whose pint?   UK Imperial pint = 568 ml.  US liquid pint = 473 ml.

That explains some conversations I had with people there ;-)

Re: APL\360

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-02-01 10:59, Liam Proven via cctalk wrote:
> I do not know what a fluid ounce is, or how many are in a pint. 

not enough?
;-)

Re: Stride computers, was Re: Rod Coleman's personal history of founding, building & running SAGE

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-01-03 05:18, Jos Dreesen via cctalk wrote:

Hello Jos,
I saw on a German web, that you're planing on a SAGE II remake?
Still toying with it?

Cheers

Re: Rod Coleman's personal history of founding, building & running SAGE

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-01-02 22:34, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:
> On Sat, 2 Jan 2021, Liam via cctalk wrote:
>>  I'm not really familiar with SAGE machines. They were not as
>>  well-known in the UK, I think, being upmarket from the Apple ][ and
>>  IBM PC, both of which were eye-wateringly expensive by UK standards of
>>  the time.
> 
> Possibly, they weren't aimed at the same target audience.
> 
> Perhaps they were intended more to compete with machines such as PDP-11,
> rather than Apple][ and IBM PC.

I was working 1981 with pdp11s and VAX780. Then I heard/read about the
68000, had to have one of those. Simple programming model, flat address
space and really good performance. Signed up at a startup in Germany in
1982, had a lot of fun with all of them(68000, '10, '20, '30, '40). We
basically only sold to research/labs.
Every time, somebody told us the PC is better, we asked them to run
their code on the 68000 and compare themselves. That's how easy it was
back than ;-)

We ran our own OS, own compilers, and also UCSD Pascal, CPM/68k, APL,
coherent Unix ...
Was a lot of fun. When I saw the Sage II on a fair, I thought it is a
pretty cool machine, but lacking graphics. Still was impressed with
their marketing ...

Cheers

Re: Rod Coleman's personal history of founding, building & running SAGE

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-01-03 19:08, Liam Proven via cctalk wrote:
> On Sun, 3 Jan 2021 at 03:53, Boris Gimbarzevsky  
> wrote:
>>
>>  Ran into 68000 processor for
>> first time in 1986 when my father bought a 512 K
>> Mac and couldn't believe performance of this CPU
> 
> It is odd. I had read of it, of course, but for me the revelation was
> getting an Acorn Archimedes in 1989, with an 8MHz ARM2, and seeing it
> blast past benchmarks of ~8MHz 68K machines such as the Amiga 500 or
> Atari 512 ST. It was about 4x faster, I believe.

I guess we have to be careful, comparing machines & CPUs.
68000 came out as a CPU in 1980/1981 (available on the market (?))

You're comparing it to a ARM2 machine of 1987, where Motorola had the
newer 68020, and 68030 by than ...

Re: Stride computers, was Re: Rod Coleman's personal history of founding, building & running SAGE

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2021-01-03 05:18, Jos Dreesen via cctalk wrote:
> On 03.01.21 01:11, Liam Proven via cctalk wrote:
>> This may be old news -- it was new to me, though.
>>
>> https://suddendisruption.blogspot.com/search/label/Booting%20Sage%20Computer
>>
>>
> The story is around for several years already, but yes : interesting
> read indeed.
> 
> Speaking of which :

Just like to rise my hand, in case anybody likes to get rid of his SAGE
II or IV ... or even at a decent price. Have one, but never got it
really working :(

Cheers

Re: tty and video displays

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-12-14 05:41, Brent Hilpert via cctalk wrote:
> On 2020-Dec-14, at 1:26 AM, ben via cctalk wrote:
>> Often for data input one could use over strike characters for input. Not EQ 
>> might be = BS | Did any video display terminals
>> repeat the same effect?
> 
> Yes. Coincidentally I've just been refurbishing one - a Teleray 3931.
> It's an ASCII/APL terminal, overstriking was included for the APL mode.
> 
>   http://madrona.ca/e/teleray3931/index.html
> 
> Note the screenshots in APL mode.

Is it really an overstrike? They look simply like different characters.
At least, I didn't (probably missed it) how they can be generated out of
the available ones...

Re: Microvax 3100 VMS 7.3 password reset

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-11-12 12:45, Zane Healy via cctalk wrote:

> Hopefully with the move to x86, we’ll see more people interested in OpenVMS.

Then, the people will ask for an ARM port, before they touch it ;-)

Re: Microvax 3100 VMS 7.3 password reset

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-11-12 10:42, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk wrote:

> As another aside, it is rather interesting how many hits for VAX and
> VMS I got that have nothing to do with what we think of as VAX and VMS.

And most of them suck ;-)

Re: Looking for PDP-11/23+ parts for museum restoration

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-11-02 19:16, Stephen Buck via cctalk wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> I'm working on restoring a DEC PDP-11/23+ for the University of Colorado
> computer museum and I'm struggling to find a few parts, working or not,
> needed to complete the system. Please let me know if you have any of
> these items and would be willing to donate or sell them.

What are you looking for exactly?

Looking at your blog, you are pretty far, having a nice machine there
already...

Cheers

Re: Vintage Computer Federation Swap Meet 11/7/2020

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-11-04 01:24, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:
> It was a meatball sandwitch

Halloween?

Re: Thoughts on restricted distribution documents (Dec Professional 350)

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-09-29 17:34, Bjoren Davis via cctalk wrote:
> If it helps, I bought a copy of the DEC Professional 350 Field
> Maintenance Print Set (MP-01394) on eBay a few months back.
EXCELLENT!

> 
> I've scanned it but I've been waffling about where to post it. Scanned
> @600DPI with lossless compression it's huge: 1 GB.  Saved as an
> "optimized" PDF (with very little visible difference) it's 94 MB.
> 
> In the short term I've temporarily thrown up the optimized copy onto
> Google drive:
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BHpaneWpvWTO4UXUhLRgNV09rIiWTf3P/view
> 
> I'd love to be able to contribute this to something like bitsavers.

Personally, I prefer file names to start with the DEC designator, like
MP...
But I'm happy already to see this ;-)

Re: 1U VAX, was: Re: Computer stores

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-08-24 23:21, Antonio Carlini via cctalk wrote:
> On 24/08/2020 21:34, Zane Healy via cctalk wrote:
>> On Aug 24, 2020, at 7:06 AM, John Klos via cctalk
>>  wrote:
 OK, I'll bite ;-)
 What is it exactly?
 There was a rtVAX on VME, which could be easily configured as 1U, but
 what do you have?
>>> https://twitter.com/AnachronistJohn/status/1291815674570891264
>>>
>>> It's a VAXstation 4000/30 (also known as VLC) with a 500 gig SATA
>>> drive in a 1U case. It's colocated in a proper datacenter right now :D
>>>
>>> John
>> I was going to comment that the only way I could see a 1U VAX was if
>> someone rack mounted a 4000/VLC.  Is that the stock VLC power supply? 
>> My cluster doesn’t even have that much space.
>>
>> Zane
>>
>>
> What do you use to go from SATA to SCSI (SCSI-1 even)?

I (not John ;-) ) switched on my 4000s to the SCSI2SD, and I'm pretty
happy with them. 6 partitions on one SD, and works nicely ...

Re: 1U VAX, was: Re: Computer stores

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-08-24 16:06, John Klos via cctalk wrote:
>> OK, I'll bite ;-)
>> What is it exactly?
>> There was a rtVAX on VME, which could be easily configured as 1U, but
>> what do you have?
> 
> https://twitter.com/AnachronistJohn/status/1291815674570891264
> 
> It's a VAXstation 4000/30 (also known as VLC) with a 500 gig SATA drive
> in a 1U case. It's colocated in a proper datacenter right now :D

Interesting, I have (after moving) some VLCs with broken fronts,
so his would be nice to pu them in a rack ;-)

1U VAX, was: Re: Computer stores

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-08-23 21:06, John Klos via cctalk wrote:

> Relatedly, I have what I think is the only 1U VAX in the world. I've
> mentioned this in many places, but if someone says I'm wrong and shows
> me an example of another, it would please me, not upset me. I'll have
> learned of another :)

OK, I'll bite ;-)
What is it exactly?
There was a rtVAX on VME, which could be easily configured as 1U, but
what do you have?

Sage II, was: Re: Looking for a Stride OS set

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-08-16 19:08, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:
> I do, but my Sage II is currently packed away.  I'd have to make a disk
> copy, I dont have the ability to image the boot disks otherwise.   If you
> can find no other source let me know and I will make you an OS disk or two.

If anybody would like to get rid of his Sage II machine, I would be very
interested. ;-)

Re: OS-9/68k Control Coprocessor module

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-07-29 19:08, Charles Dickman via cctalk wrote:
> I came across an Allen-Bradley 1771-DMC4 Control Coprocessor. If you are
> familiar with AB PLC's, it is a 1771-IO chassis module that could be a
> "sidecar" for a PLC5 PLC or a standalone module.

Can't help you here, we made our own HW.

> It runs some version of OS-9/68k on a 68340 processor. It has 4MB static
> ram and a 10MB ethernet AUI connector. I hooked up a terminal and can get
> to an OS-9 prompt. It has by default a 64k RAM disk that is empty. The best
> I can gather is that there was an external IDE (AB 1771-PCB PCbridge) that
> was used to create programs that were loaded onto the RAM disk. Once
> configured it would run standalone.

I was a big fan of OS-9 for years, and did many projects with it ...
LOVED it ...

Most (all?) OS-9 manuals you can find online.

> Microware is still around in some form so OS-9 is not completely dead and I
> did find some references to a Microware product called PBbridge. It would
> be interesting to experiment with.

It is actually not much more than a Procomm, or whatever Terminal
software was used back then. It gave you access to your target, some
commandlines, and download/upload features.

> I am curious if anyone has any experience with this hardware, with the IDE
> or OS-9/68k in general. I've never seen much discussion of OS-9/68k on
> classicmp.

OS-9 had many fans, when it came up on 6809. The 68k version, was more
used around professionals ...

Will definitely set it up again in my office, as soon as I get a decent
DOSBOX again ...

Re: SCSI2SD & Amiga's (was: About to dump a bunch of Compaq SCSC...)

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-07-07 13:46, Zane Healy via cctalk wrote:

> Am I correct that a v5.1 SCSI2SD should work just fine?  Anything I need to 
> be aware of?
> 
> I’ve been interested in these for ages, in part as a way to have quieter 
> systems, but have never purchased one.

Not completely to the subject, but I got some of those, and they work
nicely on my VAXStation 4000/90, where most other designs failed.

Watch for Asia copies of the version 5, go for the "original" 6 from the
guy who made it.

Just a little trick I use a lot:

take a nice big/fast SD_CARD, and partiton it with the first partition
of 1GByte, the others to your liking.

So you can simply dd your install media on a pc to the sd-card,
and install on the real machine from device id0 ...

Cheers

Re: Future of cctalk/cctech

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-06-19 23:42, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:
>>> Images take up a lot of space and are best dealt with via links.
> 
> On Fri, 19 Jun 2020, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
>> Which rot over time.
>> If you're going to create a permanent archive, you need to archive any
>> attachments as well.
>> http://www.vcfed.org/forum is a perfect example of messages full of
>> link rot.
> 
> We need, or at least want, to handle BOTH.
> Long-term, "permanent" content, as well as
> the casual "What is this? here's what it looks like"
> 
> I have no idea whether it is practical to handle those the same, or
> differently.

Some mailing lists accept only attachments, if those are links into the
permanent storage at the mail server ...

Re: Someone's confused

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-06-19 20:37, Chris Zach wrote:
> Yes, there was D and F, and F and G versions. Everything else was
> emulated slowly. Putt putt it was

Right! I have at least one of them. You know how one would see, which
one it is? Different board numbers?

> On 6/8/2020 3:26 PM, emanuel stiebler wrote:
>> On 2020-06-08 11:55, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:
>>
>>> 4) The 11/730 could emulate pdp11 instructions, the MV1 could not. Come
>>> to think of it I think the 730's floating point could do D,F,G,H while
>>> the MV1 could only do D,F,G.
>>
>> IIRC, there were two versions of the MV I board sets with different
>> floating points?
>>

Re: Future of cctalk/cctech

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-06-17 10:46, John Foust via cctalk wrote:
> 
> I'm most puzzled by the eager hosting volunteers who'd volunteer even before
> they have a full understanding of the job.  Wouldn't you want to know
> how much time it might take you to administer the list, how much 
> bandwidth it eats, storage, format of the archives, etc.?

Please don't spoil this discussion with details and facts ;-)

Re: Someone's confused

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-06-08 11:55, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:

> 4) The 11/730 could emulate pdp11 instructions, the MV1 could not. Come
> to think of it I think the 730's floating point could do D,F,G,H while
> the MV1 could only do D,F,G.

IIRC, there were two versions of the MV I board sets with different
floating points?

Re: Someone's confused

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-06-08 02:35, r.stricklin via cctalk wrote:
> 
> On Jun 7, 2020, at 7:52 PM, Jon Elson via cctech wrote:
> 
>> Wow, who would want a 730?
> Somebody very, very determined.

Guys be nice! That's the slowest VAX, right?

In a small cabinet, I would take it, simply for that ;-)

Re: 13W3 to HDMI/DisplayPort

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-05-23 21:35, Alan Perry via cctalk wrote:
> Anyone here know of a SVGA-to-HDMI (or DisplayPort) adapter that a 
> 13W3-to-SVGA adapter 
> so I can connect my Sun frame buffers to a HDMI display? I am hoping someone 
> here has already figured this one out.

SVGA should be possible, but Sun Frame Buffer? Which ones are you
talking about?

Resolution? Framerate?

Re: Looking for old Suns

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-05-03 11:22, silvercreekvalley via cctalk wrote:

Hi all,
also like to raise my hand, in case anybody on the US east coast is
looking for a good home for a SUN2/SUN3 ...

Cheers

Re: (V)HDL Toolsets

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-05-21 22:44, Jim Brain via cctalk wrote:

> I must have miscommunicated.  I have Xilinx ISE WebPack installed and
> running.  I was asking about getting the Lattice toolchain up and
> running, which programming cable to get, 

Are you talking Lattice/Diamond on Win10 or linux?
I don't remember having problems installing it on both ...

> and suggestions for a test
> board for Lattice.

That's a cute board, with really good software support (f32c, and a lot
of games)

https://radiona.org/ulx3s/

No clue, how to get one in the US at the moment ...

What would you like to do with it?

Re: (V)HDL Toolsets

[emanuel stiebler via cctalk]

On 2020-05-21 07:34, Sytse van Slooten via cctalk wrote:

> One of the things I’ve done with my pdp11 vhdl from the start is that I’ve 
> not used any vendor specific constructs or language extensions. That’s 
> probably the only design decision that I’m still really happy about - it 
> allows me to change to another vendor and another tool chain at will. 

That's actually VERY important!

There is always a way, to get around the vendor specifics, and actually,
all three (altera/lattice/xilinx) got better over time, to figure what
you actually like to do (inferring RAM/ROM/Tables etc.).

So using the vendor specific stuff, gets you the last ns squeezed out of
the design, but in most cases it isn't necessary. However, in some
cases, you can't get around (DDR3/DDR4/etc) it is simpler to use the
Macros/Wizard to do.

And, just look around, there are some open projects, which use all three
in them, so you can learn a lot, how to hide the differences ...

Personally, I like to play with all of them, also to be able to compare
chips & tool chain. (made some carrier boards, and plug in little
modules, which just contain the FPGAs on them, to be able to easier
exchange them)

Cheers!