My search for this was prompted by my seeing one on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/282462822861
Did anyone here purchase it, or know who did? Just curious, since these seem so rare and interesting. Best, -AJ On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 8:29 PM, AJ Palmgren <microtechd...@gmail.com> wrote: > Dominique, > > I'm quite interested in seeing your Entrex/Nixdorf system restored. > Please keep us updated here. Nice work saving these rare items! > > I've done some of my own work restoring a DG Nova-type system. ( > http://Point4iris.com ). I'd love to see if there's any way I could help. > > I'll read Christian Kennedy's response here, as he seems FAR more familiar > and knowledgeable than I am here, but if I can add value in any way, I > would love to. > > Best, > -AJ > > On Sat, Apr 1, 2017 at 12:33 PM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk < > cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > >> Hi guys ! >> >> My name is Dominique, 43 , from Belgium (I apologize in advance for my >> approximate English). I join this forum under the recommendations of >> Curious Marc. It seems there are people here who can help me to get back to >> life the venerable machine that I have just recovered. >> >> Some pictures of the beast : >> >> http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/overview01.jpg < >> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/overview01.jpg> >> >> http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/terminal.jpg < >> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/terminal.jpg> >> >> http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/comrack_closeup.jpg < >> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/comrack_closeup.jpg> >> >> It is a "Nixdor 600 series" (Apparently a Nixdorf 620/35), upgraded >> several times until 1980, the CPU board is dated from this year. So I do >> not know exactly what machine it is today the equivalent. >> >> Anyway, the Nixdorf 620 is actually built by "Digital Computer Controls" >> and after some researches it seems that it is a "DCC-116 E", the 17 slot >> version of the "DCC-116" which Is a clone of the "Data General Nova 2/10". >> >> http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/DCC.jpg < >> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/DCC.jpg> >> >> The machine has five Key-stations (ENTREX DATA/SCOPE), a Mag-tape Pertec >> 8840A - A Disk Cartridge Diablo Model 40 and a big line drum printer (Data >> Products model 2230), strange machine, there is a tape reader inside the >> printer. >> >> Here is the list of the boards I have with the references written on them >> and their position in the machine: >> >> *17 HEX 0 – 15 ENTREX INC 62 00 01842 002 REV A* >> >> *16 HEX 16 30 31 ENTREX INC 62 00 01842 002 REV A** >> 15 OPTION 2 Empty** >> 14 OPTION 1 Empty** >> 13 PRINTER ENTREX INC SN598** >> 12 TAPE 556/800 BPI 2433 LFI 213** >> 11 TAPE 1600 BPI Empty** >> 10 DISK 2456 00 MP-Kontroller D44an620 >> 6393500215 2456 7 0 1577** >> 09 COMMO Empty** >> 08 SCANNER Scanner BD 2431 NCAG 54147.1.15 2431 >> 02394** >> 07 MEM 1609 0 7 02616** >> 06 MEM Empty** >> 05 MEM 1609 0 8 02367** >> 04 MEM 1615 01 9 5596** >> 03 TTY Empty** >> 02 DO NOT USE Empty** >> 01 C.P. 1509 05 4 04436* >> >> Concerning this I also ask a few questions: >> >> * >> >> What are the boards in slots 16 and 17 for? >> >> * >> >> I do not have a COM card, does that mean that I could not attempt a >> serial transmission (type rs232) with this actual setup ? >> >> * >> >> I have no idea how many kilobytes are present, apparently there are >> two core memory cards (8kb each? 16Kb each?), And non-core RAM board. >> >> I first solved a problem with the power supply of the disk pack (bad HF >> filter, short-circuited with the chassis, then it is also dead HF filter in >> the "multi-plug" of the chassis that start to burn, once these problems >> were solved, I cleaned the machine thoroughly, cleaning the heads of >> readings with isopropyl alcohol, I Not yet cleaned the disc himself which >> at first glance looks extremely clean, it has not left the machine for 30 >> years. >> >> http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/disckpack01.jpg < >> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/disckpack01.jpg> >> >> I cleaned all the guides and the heads of the nine track tape Pertec >> 8840A. There was also a false contact in the ON-LINE button. I did a first >> cleanup. I think there is always a problem with the HI-DEN button used to >> set the magtape to 800BPI. It is currently ineffective, but I have a doubt >> about the contacts of the lamp socket). >> >> http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/ninetrack.jpg < >> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/ninetrack.jpg> >> >> I then cleaned all the sockets and contacts at the boards of the computer >> (logic and PSU) >> >> http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/clean_contact.jpg < >> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/clean_contact.jpg> >> >> >> Unfortunately, after a couple of hours, the "POWER FAIL" light has >> started to light up. The problem here is that I have no schematics, it is a >> modular power supply consisting of two elements: >> >> http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/psus.jpg < >> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/psus.jpg> >> >> One seems to be dedicated to the 15 VDC regulated, the second module is >> in charge of the regulated 5VDC. Both elements have a "Power fail module". >> When the machine is completely populated I now observe that the + 5VDC >> collapses at +1,9VDC. >> >> Here what I measured out, you will also see what the boards of these >> power supply look like. >> >> http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/psu_module_1.jpg < >> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/psu_module_1.jpg> >> >> http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/psu_module_2.jpg < >> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/psu_module_2.jpg> >> >> Another thing I noted during my measurements, where I should (I think) >> measure 15V, I have 18V, looking at the documentation on the NOVA 2 (4 >> slots), I observed according to the diagrams below That there is 18V but >> before a zener diode and not at the level of connectors where there must be >> 15VDC, should I warn me ? Would the diode be dead ? >> >> I tried to join temporarily a secondary regulated power supply to >> reinforce the + 5VDC so as to be sure that the problem did not come from >> the logical part of the computer which checks these voltages and triggers >> the Power Fail status. By coupling this external regulated power supply, >> the computer restarts again, thus it is definitively the power supply (or >> the comparator component(s) of the power fail module) >> >> If I removes all the boards (printer, core memory, scanner, disk >> controller, etc.), the Power Fail light eventually goes out, I get again >> the 5VDC, so the power has become "too weak" to power the computer when it >> is fully populated. >> >> Despite the temporary (and dangerous) look of my assembly with secondary >> power supply, I could not stop myself and attempt a boot procedure via the >> Cold Start button of the machine from the Disk Pack, and it works! :-) >> >> http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/first_boot.jpg >> >> It seems that I still have problems with the magtape, I had errors trying >> to read a backup, but it may be simply because I still cannot get the >> machine in 800BPI because of the capricious buttons of the front panel. I >> also wrote a tape mark via a "WRITE TAPE MARK AND REWIND" function, the >> mark seems to be written but does not do the Rewind, however if I launch a >> REWIND only function, it executes the action appropriately. In short, still >> things to investigate on this side. >> >> Notes that the Operating system I used to make these tests is a very >> limited OS named DIDOS which was distributed by Nixdorf for his 620 Serie. >> As the machine is a clone of DG NOVA 2/10, I wonder if the computer is >> compatible with programs for the NOVA series of Data General? So I wonder >> if the DCC-116 was compatible with the software for NOVAs? >> >> The other questions I ask myself at this point are the ways to transfer >> softwares or bootable OS on this machine? I have no other disk pack on >> another system but I have a nine track tape TU81 + connected to a VAX >> 4000-605A under OpenVMS 6.2, and I can put this computer on my network. Do >> you think there's a way to make a bootable tape for my NOVA 2 clone with >> the Pertec 8840A from a VAX 4000 with a TU81+ ? >> >> Well, to continue, I have to repair this PSU, all information is welcome, >> schematics would be ideal of course. >> >> Finally, note that I am not a professional electronics technician, I >> fixed a lot of machines basic knowledge, intuition, researches, comparisons >> and logic, it is effective but full of limitations too, so forgive me in >> advance If I do not always understand the possible answers of electronics >> in "high engineering" mode ;-) >> >> As a bonus, the V1 of a small video mounted with a few clips captured >> during a session of my nocturnal repairs, during the first boot of the >> machine since 3 decades ! (on my music, yes, I'm also a composer ;-) ) >> >> https://youtu.be/5jWOUtLKRIU >> >> Thanks a lot to all in advance ;-) >> >> Dominique >> >> > > > -- > > Thanks, > AJ Palmgren > http://fb.me/SelmaTrainWreck > https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283 > https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/ > > -- Thanks, AJ Palmgren http://fb.me/SelmaTrainWreck https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283 https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/
