RE: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-07-20 Thread Dave G4UGM
-Original Message- From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Chuck Guzis Sent: 15 June 2015 18:25 To: gene...@classiccmp.org; discuss...@classiccmp.org:On-Topic and Off- Topic Posts Subject: Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-07-13 Thread Jay Jaeger
Not all EE's have the same education with regard to how semiconductors function. When I was in school I took a class in semiconductor physics - an entire semester on how the wee beasties function - more than most EEs. The prof., Henry Guckel, told an interesting story about an advanced IBM

Re: OT: learner kits (was: Re: using new technology on old machines)

2015-06-20 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 19, 2015, at 19:19 , Tapley, Mark mtap...@swri.edu wrote: He has a Raspberry Pi, which he pretty much contempts in favor of his laptop, which will play the modern version of MineCraft :-P, but presumably hooking those together might be fun. I suspect that boards like the

OT: learner kits (was: Re: using new technology on old machines)

2015-06-19 Thread Tapley, Mark
All, My 14-year-old son has mentioned that he’d like a breadboard and some parts to fool with, and the pointer below really helps. I have an old Archerkit VOM already, and I’m thinking about turning him loose in August with the discrete components part kit, the VOM, a box of logic

DEC M452 module oscillator/ was Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-19 Thread Brent Hilpert
On 2015-Jun-17, at 7:31 AM, Dave G4UGM wrote: From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Noel Chiappa From: Dave G4UGM I found it easier to think of it in DC terms. So the Cap charges through R5 + R3 and R9 + R8. As the Cap charges the voltage on the base of Q1 rises

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-18 Thread Alexander Schreiber
On Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 10:53:33PM +0200, Pontus Pihlgren wrote: On Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 04:53:01PM +, tony duell wrote: I also think it is in the spirit of the computer - using what is available to fix a problem at hand. I think the arduino was overkill when an attiny (smaller,

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-17 Thread Jarratt RMA
(I would change the subject line, but I am not sure how to do it in my ISP's web mail client) As far as I know XH558 will be permanently stationed at Finningley after this year's flying season is completed. The full details are here: http://www.vulcantothesky.org/, including dates of flypasts and

Re: Windows and devices - was Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-17 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 17, 2015, at 10:50 , Toby Thain t...@telegraphics.com.au wrote: Here's a cute gotcha I hit this week: - Have a running Windows 8.1 machine with PS/2 keyboard. - Shut it down, start up with only USB keyboard. - Shut down and boot again with PS/2 keyboard atached. - Windows ignores

Re: RE: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-17 Thread Jonas Otter
On 2015-06-17 13:28, Dave G4UGM wrote: I found it easier to think of it in DC terms. So the Cap charges through R5 + R3 and R9 + R8. As the Cap charges the voltage on the base of Q1 rises until it turns on, which then turns on Q2. While the cap charges, it steals the base current which would

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-17 Thread Alexander Schreiber
On Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 10:14:18PM -0700, Mark J. Blair wrote: On Jun 15, 2015, at 21:59, tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: Even though there are at least 4 different USB connectors Ok, you got me there! When I was working for a GPS startup, I used mini-B on everything I

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-17 Thread Brent Hilpert
The M452 module schematic for quick access for anyone following along, as it hasn't been linked before in the thread: http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/dec/modules/mSeries/M452.pdf

RE: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-17 Thread Dave G4UGM
[mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Brent Hilpert Sent: 17 June 2015 09:28 To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: Re: using new technology on old machines The M452 module schematic for quick access for anyone following along, as it hasn't been linked before

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-17 Thread Noel Chiappa
From: Dave G4UGM I found it easier to think of it in DC terms. So the Cap charges through R5 + R3 and R9 + R8. As the Cap charges the voltage on the base of Q1 rises until it turns on, which then turns on Q2. At this point the cap is then charged (or discharged) in

RE: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-17 Thread Dave G4UGM
-Original Message- From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Noel Chiappa Sent: 17 June 2015 15:08 To: cctalk@classiccmp.org Cc: j...@mercury.lcs.mit.edu Subject: Re: using new technology on old machines From: Dave G4UGM I found it easier

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-16 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 16, 2015, at 06:46, tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: Again, I wonder if the data retention time decreases as the number of bits per device increases. Intuitively it should. Mind you, any SD card is probably going to be more reliable than a real TU58 tape now :-) I think

RE: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread tony duell
Sure, the pre-manufactured boards can allow you to prototype quickly... but I think Tony is kind of bemoaning the loss of the old way and I respect that ... I kind of miss it myself, even though I wasn't there to experience it first-hand ... It's also that this is the 'classic computers'

RE: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-16 Thread tony duell
I am of course counting all the transistors inside that chip. Well, that was obvious. But it raises an interesting point, today you can cram a whole computer in the footprint of the simplest DIP carrier. For the same price point and same reliablity. Is it then overkill if you choose to

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-16 Thread Chris Elmquist
Choosing the larger card is, IMO, the right answer because you don't actually waste the space, you extend the life significantly because the wear leveling will spread your 256K across the entire flash region. The larger that region, the less often you re-write the same cells, thereby extending

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread Noel Chiappa
From: tony duell One method that works for me is that if you are buying a fairly cheap part, buy 10 of them and put the rest in stock. Or more than 10 if it is something really common. I suspect a lot of us do that - that's why I have tubes of 4164's, etc, for instance. It

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-16 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 16, 2015, at 07:36, Chris Elmquist chr...@pobox.com wrote: So, now you have to use a Type A to Type A cable to connect this box to your computer. That is just really, really messed up and I honestly tried to make it right but it was like pushing a rope. I hope my friends will

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread Pontus Pihlgren
On Tue, Jun 16, 2015 at 04:18:03PM +, tony duell wrote: [Build your own 11/70] Oh, very much! Then we could have a discussion about using modern switching power supplies ot not ;-) As opposed to the original 11/70 switching supply? I would suspect that modern switchers are more

Re: O/S design implementation - was Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread Paul Koning
On Jun 15, 2015, at 9:21 PM, ben bfranc...@jetnet.ab.ca wrote: On 6/15/2015 7:11 PM, Paul Koning wrote: On Jun 15, 2015, at 8:09 PM, ben bfranc...@jetnet.ab.ca wrote: On 6/15/2015 4:42 PM, Toby Thain wrote: I think Tanenbaum should be fine? A lot of it is fairly timeless. The

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 16, 2015, at 08:19, geneb ge...@deltasoft.com wrote: On Tue, 16 Jun 2015, Noel Chiappa wrote: I wish there was some _easy_ way to lay in a stock of the most common TTL IC's - e.g. some kind of kit one could buy - but alas, I don't know of any. (Hence my dream of finding and

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-16 Thread Alexandre Souza
Again, I wonder if the data retention time decreases as the number of bits per device increases. Intuitively it should. Mind you, any SD card is probably going to be more reliable than a real TU58 tape now :-) I think that paper tape, used outdoors on a rainy day, is likely to be more reliable

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-16 Thread Chris Elmquist
On Tuesday (06/16/2015 at 07:24AM -0700), Mark J. Blair wrote: On Jun 16, 2015, at 06:46, tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: Again, I wonder if the data retention time decreases as the number of bits per device increases. Intuitively it should. Mind you, any SD card is

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-16 Thread Chris Elmquist
On Tuesday (06/16/2015 at 07:43AM -0700), Mark J. Blair wrote: On Jun 16, 2015, at 07:36, Chris Elmquist chr...@pobox.com wrote: So, now you have to use a Type A to Type A cable to connect this box to your computer. That is just really, really messed up and I honestly tried to make it

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread geneb
On Tue, 16 Jun 2015, Mark J. Blair wrote: On Jun 16, 2015, at 08:19, geneb ge...@deltasoft.com wrote: On Tue, 16 Jun 2015, Noel Chiappa wrote: I wish there was some _easy_ way to lay in a stock of the most common TTL IC's - e.g. some kind of kit one could buy - but alas, I don't know of

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread Pontus Pihlgren
On Tue, Jun 16, 2015 at 01:54:56PM +, tony duell wrote: I find it odd that people want to have a lights-and-switches panel, but are prepared to totally adulterate the hardware of the machine that drives it. Are you honestly suggesting that I should rebuild a PDP-11/70 from things I

Re: O/S design implementation - was Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread Paul Koning
On Jun 16, 2015, at 2:49 AM, ben bfranc...@jetnet.ab.ca wrote: ... Since the computer I designed is a *small* computer, 8 16 bit operating systems is what I am looking at for ideas. This is a 18 bit cpu with the concept, byte access of memory needs true 18 bit addressing and 16 bits

RE: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread tony duell
I find it odd that people want to have a lights-and-switches panel, but are prepared to totally adulterate the hardware of the machine that drives it. Are you honestly suggesting that I should rebuild a PDP-11/70 from things I have in my partsbin? You have to admit it would be an

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread Pontus Pihlgren
On Tue, Jun 16, 2015 at 03:58:51PM +, tony duell wrote: Are you honestly suggesting that I should rebuild a PDP-11/70 from things I have in my partsbin? You have to admit it would be an interesting and educational project :-) Oh, very much! Then we could have a discussion about using

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-16 Thread Chris Elmquist
On Monday (06/15/2015 at 10:14PM -0700), Mark J. Blair wrote: On Jun 15, 2015, at 21:59, tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: Even though there are at least 4 different USB connectors Ok, you got me there! When I was working for a GPS startup, I used mini-B on everything I

RE: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread tony duell
It's also that this is the 'classic computers' list. To me, classic computing means rather more than just the hardware. It also covers the design and construction methods, technology and so on. And there seems to be precious little of that in a modern microcontroller acting as a clock

Re: O/S design implementation - was Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread Paul Koning
On Jun 15, 2015, at 7:10 PM, Sean Caron sca...@umich.edu wrote: ... 4. Madnick/Donovan Operating Systems or Donovan's Systems Programming ... were, I imagine, the canon of the 70s and early 80s ... these are written mostly with the S/360 in mind … If it’s written with 360 operating

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread geneb
On Tue, 16 Jun 2015, Noel Chiappa wrote: I wish there was some _easy_ way to lay in a stock of the most common TTL IC's - e.g. some kind of kit one could buy - but alas, I don't know of any. (Hence my dream of finding and acquiring someone else's collection! :-) Suggestions for the source of

Re: O/S design implementation - was Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread ben
On 6/16/2015 8:56 AM, Paul Koning wrote: On Jun 16, 2015, at 2:49 AM, ben bfranc...@jetnet.ab.ca wrote: ... Since the computer I designed is a *small* computer, 8 16 bit operating systems is what I am looking at for ideas. This is a 18 bit cpu with the concept, byte access of memory needs

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread ben
On 6/16/2015 9:58 AM, Pontus Pihlgren wrote: On Tue, Jun 16, 2015 at 01:54:56PM +, tony duell wrote: I find it odd that people want to have a lights-and-switches panel, but are prepared to totally adulterate the hardware of the machine that drives it. Are you honestly suggesting that I

RE: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-16 Thread Fred Cisin
On Tue, 16 Jun 2015, tony duell wrote: Actually, IIRC a USB A male-female cable violates the spec... The spec forbids extending the cable further? Or should the spec forbid absolutely any cable, with absolutely any USB connector on either end?

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread Paul Koning
On Jun 16, 2015, at 4:05 PM, Kyle Owen kylevo...@gmail.com wrote: On Jun 16, 2015 3:43 PM, tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: Actually, no. That honour goes to the PSU in a Zenith MDA monitor which as I said 'combines the efficiency of a linear with the reliability of a

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread Mike Ross
On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 1:54 AM, tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: It's also that this is the 'classic computers' list. To me, classic computing means rather more than just the hardware. It also covers the design and construction methods, technology and so on. DING. Staying

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 16, 2015, at 17:52 , Mike Ross tmfdm...@gmail.com wrote: 'remanufacturing' has become part of preservation movements in general; [...] Has this ever been seriously considered, or mooted as a possible co-operative venture for a group of us? On this topic, I'm particularly curious

RE: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread tony duell
[M452] that the original appears to use a 2k 10-turn pot, and a 7440 output buffer, neither of which are in my rather extensive junk box. In fact the 7440 are rather rare, and I see the cheapest I can get them for is around $4.00 each. True. But you don't need either to build and test the

Re: O/S design implementation - was Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread Sean Caron
I thought I'd take a quick spin through the operating systems section of my library now that I'm at home just to give you some titles that you might want to check out. 1. Toby mentions Tanenbaum's Minix book and that's a fairly canonical text ... there is a lot of great information in there but

Re: O/S design implementation - was Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-16 Thread ben
On 6/15/2015 5:10 PM, Sean Caron wrote: I thought I'd take a quick spin through the operating systems section of my library now that I'm at home just to give you some titles that you might want to check out. 1. Toby mentions Tanenbaum's Minix book and that's a fairly canonical text ... there is

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-16 Thread Pontus Pihlgren
On Tue, Jun 16, 2015 at 04:32:23AM +, tony duell wrote: Oh come on. You yourself said you are here to learn. This module is hardly complicatated. Well, you got me there :) /P

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-16 Thread Pontus Pihlgren
On Tue, Jun 16, 2015 at 04:28:16AM +, tony duell wrote: I am of course counting all the transistors inside that chip. Well, that was obvious. But it raises an interesting point, today you can cram a whole computer in the footprint of the simplest DIP carrier. For the same price point and

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Johnny Billquist
While I agree that as long as things can be restored it's not a real problem, I'm surprised that not more people consider it a serious overkill. We're talking about putting in a rather complex computer to generate a baud rate. Are people really that handicapped when it comes to building

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Pontus Pihlgren
On Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 11:52:28AM +0200, Johnny Billquist wrote: We're talking about putting in a rather complex computer to generate a baud rate. Are people really that handicapped when it comes to building hardware nowadays? Speaking for myself, yes. I have a Teensy 2.0 lying at my desk,

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Pontus Pihlgren
Indeed, you use what is at hand and what you are comfortable with. /P On Sun, Jun 14, 2015 at 09:41:42PM +0200, Simon Claessen wrote: as long as it is done in a way that it can be restored to its original, i have no problems in using newer technology in older machines. we have a alix sbc

using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Simon Claessen
as long as it is done in a way that it can be restored to its original, i have no problems in using newer technology in older machines. we have a alix sbc build into our tek 4002a for demonstrational purpouses, all done without damaging or altering the original machine. On 14-06-15 17:25, tony

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Joe Lenox
I also think it is in the spirit of the computer - using what is available to fix a problem at hand. I think the arduino was overkill when an attiny (smaller, easier to hide) would probably serve just as well. If you have the ttl logic bits lying around and know how to use them, fine. Still would

RE: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Dave G4UGM
] On Behalf Of Johnny Billquist Sent: 15 June 2015 10:52 To: cctalk@classiccmp.org Subject: Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM While I agree that as long as things can be restored it's not a real problem, I'm surprised that not more people consider

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Mouse
We're talking about putting in a rather complex computer to generate a baud rate. Are people really that handicapped when it comes to building hardware nowadays? Speaking as someone who didn't do that, but might well have - it's not a question of handicapped; it's a question of convenience,

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Chris Osborn
On Jun 15, 2015, at 3:06 AM, Pontus Pihlgren pon...@update.uu.se wrote: On Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 11:52:28AM +0200, Johnny Billquist wrote: We're talking about putting in a rather complex computer to generate a baud rate. Are people really that handicapped when it comes to building hardware

Re: O/S design implementation - was Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread Toby Thain
On 2015-06-15 8:09 PM, ben wrote: On 6/15/2015 4:42 PM, Toby Thain wrote: I think Tanenbaum should be fine? A lot of it is fairly timeless. The latest version is *useless*. The racoons on the cover tells alot. I figured, although I haven't seen it. My copy is 1987.

RE: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread tony duell
Why not do it properly first time? What is the rush in bringing up a classic computer? And for a test, use the TTL pulse generator you have on your bench. I don't have one. I have a lot of test equipment, but mostly for RF work. If I needed to generate TTL pulses, I'd probably pull

RE: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread tony duell
I am very worried that people would rather use a microcontroller than change a couple of passives. Can't anyone read a schematic and think Nope. I didn't know this hobby required a degree in electrical engineering. Well it had better not. I don't have one By your criteria a lot of

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 15, 2015, at 21:28, tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: As am I. I've learnt a heck of a lot since I started (there is a common myth that there is something magic about a processor. This hobby has taught me to understand quite a few at the gate level). And the day I stop

RE: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread tony duell
But if you are going to repair/restore something then IMHO it makes a lot of sense to have common spares around. Agreed! But you generally tend to accumulate those spares *after* you have been involved in that particular True. I wil bet you didn't have firearm spares when you first

Re: O/S design implementation - was Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread Toby Thain
On 2015-06-15 9:11 PM, Paul Koning wrote: On Jun 15, 2015, at 8:09 PM, ben bfranc...@jetnet.ab.ca wrote: On 6/15/2015 4:42 PM, Toby Thain wrote: I think Tanenbaum should be fine? A lot of it is fairly timeless. The latest version is *useless*. The racoons on the cover tells alot. Or you

RE: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread tony duell
Unfortunately I believe you. Use at least a thousand times more components than you need to. Actually it's just two, a Teensy and a usb cable. (Sorry, I couldn't resist). I am of course counting all the transistors inside that chip. How do you suggest I learn? I believe you had a

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 15, 2015, at 21:40, tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: Exactly. I don't do firearms at all (we have various IMHO ridiculous laws in the UK, but I do not want to start that debate) Sorry I even brought it up; I was just using it as an example of the different

RE: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread tony duell
I am very worried that people would rather use a microcontroller than change a couple of passives. Can't anyone read a schematic and think The exact same argument could be made for somebody using an NE555 instead of discrete transistors to blink an LED, or discrete transistors

RE: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread tony duell
I could replace an M1 Carbine trigger spring on the spot, or a HMMWV taillamp housing ... Should I criticize you for not having SAE grade 8 hardware on hand, or Bristo wrenches I think Tony's point was that someone who's into vintage computers ought to have a stock of suitable

Re: O/S design implementation - was Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread ben
On 6/15/2015 7:58 PM, Toby Thain wrote: It's also one of the papers in the Brinch Hansen book cited earlier in the thread. (Google books: http://ur1.ca/mu61v ) Too much $$ for me at the moment (even online version). --Toby Ben.

Re: O/S design implementation - was Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread ben
On 6/15/2015 7:55 PM, Toby Thain wrote: (The Structure of the THE-Multiprogramming System) Are you sure? http://ur1.ca/mu60x --Toby I saw that paper before. Ben.

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 15, 2015, at 21:59, tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: Even though there are at least 4 different USB connectors Ok, you got me there! When I was working for a GPS startup, I used mini-B on everything I designed with USB (always devices, never hosts, and no need for USB

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 15, 2015, at 09:53 , tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: I also think it is in the spirit of the computer - using what is available to fix a problem at hand. I think the arduino was overkill when an attiny (smaller, easier to hide) would probably serve just as well. Would

RE: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread tony duell
Would you put plastic handles on a piecc of antique furniture? Would you make the seatboard for an antique longcase clock from MDF? Both are easily reversable, BTW. Sure! Temporarily and reversibly, of course, and I'd hope to replace them with proper stuff when possible. But to

RE: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread tony duell
I also think it is in the spirit of the computer - using what is available to fix a problem at hand. I think the arduino was overkill when an attiny (smaller, easier to hide) would probably serve just as well. Would you put plastic handles on a piecc of antique furniture? Would you make the

RE: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Dave G4UGM
-Original Message- From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of ben Sent: 15 June 2015 17:18 To: cctalk@classiccmp.org Subject: Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM On 6/15/2015 9:08 AM, Toby Thain

Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread ben
On 6/15/2015 10:57 AM, Dave G4UGM wrote: But alas the software does *not* support the older chips. How old is old? I managed to get a copy of ISE10.1 downloaded, installed and running without phoning, ringing or otherwise jumping through hoops. That supports the Spartan 2 which has been

RE: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread tony duell
We're talking about putting in a rather complex computer to generate a baud rate. Are people really that handicapped when it comes to building hardware nowadays? Speaking for myself, yes. Unfortunately I believe you. Use at least a thousand times more components than you need to. Now,

Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread ben
On 6/15/2015 11:33 AM, Paul Koning wrote: On Jun 15, 2015, at 1:28 PM, ben bfranc...@jetnet.ab.ca wrote: On 6/15/2015 10:57 AM, Dave G4UGM wrote: But alas the software does *not* support the older chips. How old is old? I managed to get a copy of ISE10.1 downloaded, installed and running

Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 15, 2015, at 09:18, ben bfranc...@jetnet.ab.ca wrote: But alas the software does *not* support the older chips. You want to make a mod 5 years down the road, sorry we do not support that model any more. TTL needs to be stock piled now for the next +50 years. Good point. Just as TTL

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 15, 2015, at 11:54 , tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: Why not do it properly first time? What is the rush in bringing up a classic computer? And for a test, use the TTL pulse generator you have on your bench. I don't have one. I have a lot of test equipment, but mostly for

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 15, 2015, at 12:15 , tony duell a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote: I am very worried that people would rather use a microcontroller than change a couple of passives. Can't anyone read a schematic and think The exact same argument could be made for somebody using an NE555 instead of

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Pontus Pihlgren
On Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 04:55:57PM +, tony duell wrote: Unfortunately I believe you. Use at least a thousand times more components than you need to. Actually it's just two, a Teensy and a usb cable. (Sorry, I couldn't resist). In general this worries me if you are restoring a

RE: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread tony duell
We're talking about putting in a rather complex computer to generate a baud rate. Are people really that handicapped when it comes to building hardware nowadays? Are people aware how easy baud generators are? I've jsut turned up the M452 schematic. Has anyone else looked at it? It's a

Re: O/S design implementation - was Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread Paul Koning
On Jun 15, 2015, at 8:09 PM, ben bfranc...@jetnet.ab.ca wrote: On 6/15/2015 4:42 PM, Toby Thain wrote: I think Tanenbaum should be fine? A lot of it is fairly timeless. The latest version is *useless*. The racoons on the cover tells alot. Or you could just read “The structure of the

Re: O/S design implementation - was Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread Toby Thain
On 2015-06-15 9:21 PM, ben wrote: On 6/15/2015 7:11 PM, Paul Koning wrote: On Jun 15, 2015, at 8:09 PM, ben bfranc...@jetnet.ab.ca wrote: On 6/15/2015 4:42 PM, Toby Thain wrote: I think Tanenbaum should be fine? A lot of it is fairly timeless. The latest version is *useless*. The racoons

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread Chris Osborn
On Jun 15, 2015, at 2:19 PM, Noel Chiappa j...@mercury.lcs.mit.edu wrote: Having said that, _I_ don't have 2N3904s nor NE555s around either! I do have a modest number of parts (e.g. 4164's, 40-ping Berg shells, .250 tab hardware, etc, etc) - a large enough collection that I just had to

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 15, 2015, at 15:07 , Noel Chiappa j...@mercury.lcs.mit.edu wrote: One wonders why some manufacturer didn't realize there was money to be made in smaller cards (now less competition, but still enough demand to drive the prices up) and keep making them. Because the chip fab equipment

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Pontus Pihlgren
On Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 04:53:01PM +, tony duell wrote: I also think it is in the spirit of the computer - using what is available to fix a problem at hand. I think the arduino was overkill when an attiny (smaller, easier to hide) would probably serve just as well. Would you put

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Pontus Pihlgren
On Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 01:59:11PM -0700, Mark J. Blair wrote: Big. VERY big. :) And one more thing (until the next thing comes to mind): I consider this to be an enjoyable and level-headed debate, just in case anybody gets the mistaken impression that I'm trying to come down hard on Tony

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread Noel Chiappa
From: Mark J. Blair I could replace an M1 Carbine trigger spring on the spot, or a HMMWV taillamp housing ... Should I criticize you for not having SAE grade 8 hardware on hand, or Bristo wrenches I think Tony's point was that someone who's into vintage computers ought to

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 15, 2015, at 14:56 , Dave G4UGM dave.g4...@gmail.com wrote: A friend of mine refused to buy modern SD Cards because there was no way he was going to fill them. Trouble is that although smaller SD cards were available they were way more expensive (being discontinued and therefore

RE: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Dave G4UGM
of it, or buy a smaller one and waste his money Dave Wade G4UGM -Original Message- From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Mark J. Blair Sent: 15 June 2015 21:56 To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: Re: using new technology

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread Noel Chiappa
From: Dave G4UGM Trouble is that although smaller SD cards were available they were way more expensive (being discontinued and therefore rare and valuable).. One wonders why some manufacturer didn't realize there was money to be made in smaller cards (now less competition, but

Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 15, 2015, at 14:19 , Noel Chiappa j...@mercury.lcs.mit.edu wrote: I think Tony's point was that someone who's into vintage computers ought to have a stock of suitable parts for them. Yes, that'll likely be true once they have been in the hobby for a while. But for somebody who has

Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

2015-06-15 Thread Mark J. Blair
On Jun 15, 2015, at 14:27 , Robert Jarratt robert.jarr...@ntlworld.com wrote: This particular thread has all the hallmarks of one that *could* descend into a flame war. Thank you for avoiding that! I think we're doing ok. The same folks having a spirited debate in this thread are carrying

O/S design implementation - was Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread Toby Thain
On 2015-06-15 12:18 PM, ben wrote: On 6/15/2015 9:08 AM, Toby Thain wrote: On 2015-06-15 9:35 AM, Dave G4UGM wrote: I don't think it is over kill. If you want over kill try this:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALXax3Gydl8 and FPGA implementation of the Baby or SSEM which had 32x32 bits of

Obsolescence proprietary FPGA toolchains - Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

2015-06-15 Thread Toby Thain
On 2015-06-15 12:57 PM, Dave G4UGM wrote: -Original Message- From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of ben Sent: 15 June 2015 17:18 To: cctalk@classiccmp.org Subject: Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM