RE: MicroVax II update

[Dave Wade]

> 
> 
> >
> > Is it possible to use the SCSI2SD on a microPDP-11 under RT-11? I ask
> because of the disk size limit under RT-11.

I believe so. It can be configured to look like several disks <1Gb for this
reason.

> >
> > Doug
> >

Dave

Re: TU56 Tape Heads

[Tom Uban]

I have a linctape drive, which is a dectape compatible unit. I do not have
the controller or any documentation, but it does have a head which might be
useable to replace the broken head. If this would be useful, I would be
willing to contribute it to the cause.

Please see attached pics.

--tom


On 7/25/16 7:03 PM, Michael Thompson wrote:
> During our PDP-12 debugging today we found that the left tape head has an
> open coil for data track 0. The left head was OK a little more than a year
> ago when we found the open coil in the right head. One TU56 head on my
> personal PDP-8/e also had an open coil when I got it.
> 
> Our guess is the chemicals from the epoxy potting, possible flux residue,
> and poor soldering are causing the failures. Getting the epoxy potting out
> to repair the solder connection has proved impossible so far.
> 
> Any source for three TU56 tape heads would be appreciated.
> 
> We are also interested in ideas on how to get the epoxy potting out without
> destroying the head.
> 

Re: VCF West - going?

[curiousmarc3]

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


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

RE: the value of old test and repair equipment

[tony duell]

I also collect old/classic test gear. Some I use (my main 
'scope is a Tekky 555, I think that's old enough to be a 
classic :-)). Some I just collect because it's a beautiful 
piece of electronics. My latest find was an HP3770B
telephone line analyser -- an instrument to measure the
freqeuncy response, etc of a telephone line. I have no
real use for it, but it's classic HP, built like a brick outhouse,
designed to be repaired (fixing screws are labelled, there
are testpoints for everything, there's even an extender board
stored inside). I had to add it to the collection.


> 
> I've been restoring a HeathKit capacitor checker.
> 
> I also have a couple HP counters with Nixies.

Ditto. Mine have those HP counter boards with 8 transistors
as the counters, 8 neons as the latch and a thick film CdS
photoresistor array to drive the nixie tubes. 5243 and 5245 I think.

> 
> I even have a 10 channel printer ( need to repair the
> 
> roller ). I've found that one doesn't need the expensive
> 
> ink roller ( though I'd love to have one, used or not ).
> 

Is that the HP5055. I've rebuilt one. Be warned the printer
motor runs off the mains, and that therefore there's mains
on some PCB traces where you might not expect it. 

Interestingly the HP59301 HPIB-> 64 bit parallel interface
can be connected directly to the HP5055 printer. There 
are 2 conenctors on the interface, one carries 40 bits
the other 24. The 40 bit one links to the 5055 with a straight-wired
50 pin microribbon cable. The alternative character set for
the HP59301 was clearly designed for this, it decodes ASCII
V,A,O into the V, A, Ohms symbols on the 5055.

> I use the two layer impact paper.

Mine had an ink roller in it _and_ the impact paper. The fomer
was doing a good job of gunging everything up, so I removed
it and stored it in a plastic bag. 

-tony

Re: SWTPC 6800

[Chris Elmquist]

Simplifying the machine configuration can help too.  You should only need
MP-A (CPU), MP-S (serial interface) and MP-M at $A000 if you have the
SWTBUG ROM.  It only needs 128 bytes of RAM at $A000 so an unexpanded
(4K) or partially populated MP-M would be sufficient.

If you have MIKBUG, then you need MP-C instead of MP-S since MIKBUG does
not know how to talk to MP-S.

Removing all the other cards temporarily could eliminate conflicts due to
addressing, failed components, etc.

With this minimal configuration, you should be able to get SWTBUG's "$"
prompt.  MIKBUG will prompt with "*".

Also, check which backplane board you have.  Depending on vintage, you
may have MP-B or MP-B2.  MP-B2 allowed the I/O block address (normally
at $8000) to be changed.  If you have MP-B2 and someone has customized
the machine, then there will be more to figure out regarding where the
I/O is really located, what the monitor ROMs expect, etc.

http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/MP_B/MP_B_Index.htm

http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/MP_B2/MP_B2_index.htm

Chris

On Friday (08/05/2016 at 10:47PM -0700), Brent Hilpert wrote:
> Do you have some RAM at $A000+ yet?
> That's all that should matter as far as required RAM goes.
> 
> Presuming this is the holley page you were referring to:
>   http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/HiTerm/Test6800_Index.html
> he does mention RAM needed at A000 for the BUGs, as Chris and I have been 
> saying.
> 
> Without RAM there there's no stack for return addresses for subroutines 
> executed in the BUGs, so execution could head off to wherever.
> 
> 
> On 2016-Aug-05, at 10:23 PM, Brad H wrote:
> > Okay so.. I decided to try the MP-C board out, just for kicks.  No change.
> > Then I decided to add one of the RAM boards.. the next one up in addresses. 
> >  Got a little bit when I powered on.  Added one of the old MPM boards.. one 
> > that has memory chips all piggybacked on one another.  Now when I powered 
> > up, the system was sending four or five characters at a time, linefeed, 
> > four or five characters at a time, linefeed ad infinitum.  I added the 
> > final MPM board.. zero.
> > So.. I think we do have some ram problems.. most likely.  I'm thinking it 
> > would be easiest to concentrate efforts on the socketed RAM boards.. test 
> > all the RAM out.  I'm going to read up on addressing and try to understand 
> > a bit better what is going on.  I'm thinking maybe I need to reconfigure 
> > the addressing on one of the boards to match whatever that overstuffed MPM 
> > board is set to.
> > Until I get an oscilloscope.. fooling around is about all I can do here.
> > 
> > Sent from my Samsung device
> > 
> >  Original message 
> > From: Chuck Guzis  
> > Date: 2016-08-05  3:55 PM  (GMT-08:00) 
> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" 
> >  
> > Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 
> > 
> > On 08/05/2016 02:15 PM, Brad H wrote:
> >> I think I will have to figure out how to do that.  Additionally I
> >> have one of those PC based oscilloscopes on the way.  I don't know
> >> how to use them 100% but I'm about to learn I guess. :)
> >> 
> >> I have one more question for you guys -- I have a few CT-1024
> >> terminals and would really like this system to work with one of
> >> those.  However, all of the CTs are quite delicate and are set I
> >> think for 7, E, 2 @ 110 baud via soldered jumpers.  I'm a bit
> >> reluctant to try pulling them apart to get in there and fix that.  Is
> >> there a way to change the parity, etc settings on the SWTPC to match
> >> the terminal?  Is it necessary?
> > 
> > Well, 110 bps is a bit on the slow side--great for teletypes, not so
> > much for video terminals.   But you'll have to change the hardwired
> > jumpers--the UART used in the CT1024 is not software-programmable.
> > 
> > If this were my unit, I"d probably solder some pins into the pad holes
> > and then either use slide on jumpers or wirewrap to set the
> > characteristics.  That way, when changing things around, you won't be
> > stressing the PCB.
> > 
> > Something like this:
> > 
> > http://www.ebay.com/itm/10PCS-20CFemale-to-Female-1-Pin-Plug-Jumper-Cable-Wires-Multicolor-K-/262158878688?hash=item3d09e307e0:g:B-MAAOSwwE5WVLR6
> > 
> > Search on "female jumper wires"

-- 
Chris Elmquist

Re: SWTPC 6800

[Brad H]

I've definitely got an MP-B.
What I'm thinking is I'll use one of the socketed 16k boards and go through the 
RAMs to make sure I have good.  But I'm having trouble understanding how to set 
the jumpers to get the addressing to A000.  I thought I had that by the guide 
for the ram on the swtpc site (it's a Digital Research board).  The machine 
only gets animated when that weird piggybacked mpm board is plugged in.
I suppose if there are bad RAMs on the DR board that'd do it though.
Brad


Sent from my Samsung device

 Original message 
From: Chris Elmquist  
Date: 2016-08-06  7:10 AM  (GMT-08:00) 
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"  
Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 


Simplifying the machine configuration can help too.  You should only need
MP-A (CPU), MP-S (serial interface) and MP-M at $A000 if you have the
SWTBUG ROM.  It only needs 128 bytes of RAM at $A000 so an unexpanded
(4K) or partially populated MP-M would be sufficient.

If you have MIKBUG, then you need MP-C instead of MP-S since MIKBUG does
not know how to talk to MP-S.

Removing all the other cards temporarily could eliminate conflicts due to
addressing, failed components, etc.

With this minimal configuration, you should be able to get SWTBUG's "$"
prompt.  MIKBUG will prompt with "*".

Also, check which backplane board you have.  Depending on vintage, you
may have MP-B or MP-B2.  MP-B2 allowed the I/O block address (normally
at $8000) to be changed.  If you have MP-B2 and someone has customized
the machine, then there will be more to figure out regarding where the
I/O is really located, what the monitor ROMs expect, etc.

http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/MP_B/MP_B_Index.htm

http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/MP_B2/MP_B2_index.htm

Chris

On Friday (08/05/2016 at 10:47PM -0700), Brent Hilpert wrote:
> Do you have some RAM at $A000+ yet?
> That's all that should matter as far as required RAM goes.
> 
> Presuming this is the holley page you were referring to:
>   http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/HiTerm/Test6800_Index.html
> he does mention RAM needed at A000 for the BUGs, as Chris and I have been 
> saying.
> 
> Without RAM there there's no stack for return addresses for subroutines 
> executed in the BUGs, so execution could head off to wherever.
> 
> 
> On 2016-Aug-05, at 10:23 PM, Brad H wrote:
> > Okay so.. I decided to try the MP-C board out, just for kicks.  No change.
> > Then I decided to add one of the RAM boards.. the next one up in addresses. 
> >  Got a little bit when I powered on.  Added one of the old MPM boards.. one 
> > that has memory chips all piggybacked on one another.  Now when I powered 
> > up, the system was sending four or five characters at a time, linefeed, 
> > four or five characters at a time, linefeed ad infinitum.  I added the 
> > final MPM board.. zero.
> > So.. I think we do have some ram problems.. most likely.  I'm thinking it 
> > would be easiest to concentrate efforts on the socketed RAM boards.. test 
> > all the RAM out.  I'm going to read up on addressing and try to understand 
> > a bit better what is going on.  I'm thinking maybe I need to reconfigure 
> > the addressing on one of the boards to match whatever that overstuffed MPM 
> > board is set to.
> > Until I get an oscilloscope.. fooling around is about all I can do here.
> > 
> > Sent from my Samsung device
> > 
> >  Original message 
> > From: Chuck Guzis  
> > Date: 2016-08-05  3:55 PM  (GMT-08:00) 
> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" 
> >  
> > Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 
> > 
> > On 08/05/2016 02:15 PM, Brad H wrote:
> >> I think I will have to figure out how to do that.  Additionally I
> >> have one of those PC based oscilloscopes on the way.  I don't know
> >> how to use them 100% but I'm about to learn I guess. :)
> >> 
> >> I have one more question for you guys -- I have a few CT-1024
> >> terminals and would really like this system to work with one of
> >> those.  However, all of the CTs are quite delicate and are set I
> >> think for 7, E, 2 @ 110 baud via soldered jumpers.  I'm a bit
> >> reluctant to try pulling them apart to get in there and fix that.  Is
> >> there a way to change the parity, etc settings on the SWTPC to match
> >> the terminal?  Is it necessary?
> > 
> > Well, 110 bps is a bit on the slow side--great for teletypes, not so
> > much for video terminals.   But you'll have to change the hardwired
> > jumpers--the UART used in the CT1024 is not software-programmable.
> > 
> > If this were my unit, I"d probably solder some pins into the pad holes
> > and then either use slide on jumpers or wirewrap to set the
> > characteristics.  That way, when changing things around, you won't be
> > stressing the PCB.
> > 
> > Something like this:
> > 
> > http://www.ebay.com/itm/10PCS-20CFemale-to-Female-1-Pin-Plug-Jumper-Cable-Wires-Multicolor-K-/262158878688?hash=item3d09e307e0:g:B-MAAOSwwE5WVLR6
> > 
> > Search on "female jumper wires"

-- 
Chris Elmquist

Somewhat amusing Grauniad article on retrieving old digital material

[Liam Proven]

Germaine Greer's archive: digging up digital treasure from the floppy disks

Archivists trying to preserve material stored in obsolete formats face
a mighty challenge in retrieving decades of work by the Australian
writer and feminist

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/aug/05/germaine-greer-archive-digital-treasure-floppy-disks

-- 
Liam Proven • Profile: http://lproven.livejournal.com/profile
Email: lpro...@cix.co.uk • GMail/G+/Twitter/Flickr/Facebook: lproven
MSN: lpro...@hotmail.com • Skype/AIM/Yahoo/LinkedIn: liamproven
Cell/Mobiles: +44 7939-087884 (UK) • +420 702 829 053 (ČR)

Re: SWTPC 6800

[Brent Hilpert]

If you use a 16K board you'll want to config it to start at $8000, so that it 
covers $8000-$BFFF.
If it goes higher than that it may end up in conflict with the ROMS and IO.

Alternatively, you could start with a minimal machine by reenabling the 6810 
RAM on the CPU board and all you would need plugged into the backplane is the 
CPU board and console device board.



On 2016-Aug-06, at 7:59 AM, Brad H wrote:

> 
> 
> I've definitely got an MP-B.
> What I'm thinking is I'll use one of the socketed 16k boards and go through 
> the RAMs to make sure I have good.  But I'm having trouble understanding how 
> to set the jumpers to get the addressing to A000.  I thought I had that by 
> the guide for the ram on the swtpc site (it's a Digital Research board).  The 
> machine only gets animated when that weird piggybacked mpm board is plugged 
> in.
> I suppose if there are bad RAMs on the DR board that'd do it though.
> Brad
> 
> 
> Sent from my Samsung device
> 
>  Original message 
> From: Chris Elmquist  
> Date: 2016-08-06  7:10 AM  (GMT-08:00) 
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" 
>  
> Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 
> 
> 
> Simplifying the machine configuration can help too.  You should only need
> MP-A (CPU), MP-S (serial interface) and MP-M at $A000 if you have the
> SWTBUG ROM.  It only needs 128 bytes of RAM at $A000 so an unexpanded
> (4K) or partially populated MP-M would be sufficient.
> 
> If you have MIKBUG, then you need MP-C instead of MP-S since MIKBUG does
> not know how to talk to MP-S.
> 
> Removing all the other cards temporarily could eliminate conflicts due to
> addressing, failed components, etc.
> 
> With this minimal configuration, you should be able to get SWTBUG's "$"
> prompt.  MIKBUG will prompt with "*".
> 
> Also, check which backplane board you have.  Depending on vintage, you
> may have MP-B or MP-B2.  MP-B2 allowed the I/O block address (normally
> at $8000) to be changed.  If you have MP-B2 and someone has customized
> the machine, then there will be more to figure out regarding where the
> I/O is really located, what the monitor ROMs expect, etc.
> 
> http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/MP_B/MP_B_Index.htm
> 
> http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/MP_B2/MP_B2_index.htm
> 
> Chris
> 
> On Friday (08/05/2016 at 10:47PM -0700), Brent Hilpert wrote:
>> Do you have some RAM at $A000+ yet?
>> That's all that should matter as far as required RAM goes.
>> 
>> Presuming this is the holley page you were referring to:
>>  http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/HiTerm/Test6800_Index.html
>> he does mention RAM needed at A000 for the BUGs, as Chris and I have been 
>> saying.
>> 
>> Without RAM there there's no stack for return addresses for subroutines 
>> executed in the BUGs, so execution could head off to wherever.
>> 
>> 
>> On 2016-Aug-05, at 10:23 PM, Brad H wrote:
>>> Okay so.. I decided to try the MP-C board out, just for kicks.  No change.
>>> Then I decided to add one of the RAM boards.. the next one up in addresses. 
>>>  Got a little bit when I powered on.  Added one of the old MPM boards.. one 
>>> that has memory chips all piggybacked on one another.  Now when I powered 
>>> up, the system was sending four or five characters at a time, linefeed, 
>>> four or five characters at a time, linefeed ad infinitum.  I added the 
>>> final MPM board.. zero.
>>> So.. I think we do have some ram problems.. most likely.  I'm thinking it 
>>> would be easiest to concentrate efforts on the socketed RAM boards.. test 
>>> all the RAM out.  I'm going to read up on addressing and try to understand 
>>> a bit better what is going on.  I'm thinking maybe I need to reconfigure 
>>> the addressing on one of the boards to match whatever that overstuffed MPM 
>>> board is set to.
>>> Until I get an oscilloscope.. fooling around is about all I can do here.
>>> 
>>> Sent from my Samsung device
>>> 
>>>  Original message 
>>> From: Chuck Guzis  
>>> Date: 2016-08-05  3:55 PM  (GMT-08:00) 
>>> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" 
>>>  
>>> Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800 
>>> 
>>> On 08/05/2016 02:15 PM, Brad H wrote:
 I think I will have to figure out how to do that.  Additionally I
 have one of those PC based oscilloscopes on the way.  I don't know
 how to use them 100% but I'm about to learn I guess. :)
 
 I have one more question for you guys -- I have a few CT-1024
 terminals and would really like this system to work with one of
 those.  However, all of the CTs are quite delicate and are set I
 think for 7, E, 2 @ 110 baud via soldered jumpers.  I'm a bit
 reluctant to try pulling them apart to get in there and fix that.  Is
 there a way to change the parity, etc settings on the SWTPC to match
 the terminal?  Is it necessary?
>>> 
>>> Well, 110 bps is a bit on the slow side--great for teletypes, not so
>>> much for video terminals.   But you'll have to change the hardwired
>>> jumpers--the UART used in the CT1024 i

RE: Mall directory computers

[Kevin Parker]

As suggested I have removed the top cover  - there was nothing accessible 
inside the black side cover.

It's quite clever how its put together but what did surprise me was the TV 
remote control hardwired in under the Amiga.

I've added some more photos so if anyone has any commentary or info it would be 
most welcome - I have yet to power it up.

http://koken.advancedimaging.com.au/index.php?/albums/shop-mall-commodore-64/




Kevin Parker
P: 0418 815 527

-Original Message-
From: cctech [mailto:cctech-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Ian Finder
Sent: Tuesday, 2 August 2016 04:23
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts 
Subject: Re: Mall directory computers

you should certainly open it up and remove the battery. I would guess the add 
on shell is a power supply, video modulator of some kind, and possibly a hard 
drive controller.

On Mon, Aug 1, 2016 at 3:06 AM, Kevin Parker 
wrote:

> I'm not exactly sure - it was one of those things that someone gave me 
> and I put it away - my policy is grab first and ask questions later so 
> it doesn't become landfill.
>
> I have tried to research this based on info from another reply but no joy.
>
> I might open it up and see if there are any clues inside.
>
> My understanding was that it was connected to a large flat panel 
> monitor and just used for displaying advertisements and specials etc. 
> It has a floppy disk "jammed" in the floppy drive which won't come out 
> - not sure why.
>
>
>
> Kevin Parker
>
> -Original Message-
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of 
> drlegendre .
> Sent: Monday, 1 August 2016 09:41
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts < 
> cctalk@classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Re: Mall directory computers
>
> It's not +just+ an A500. What's the extra hardware piggybacked on the 
> A500 case?
>
> Looks to have a set of six RCA (F) type jacks on it. Is this for 
> connection of a touchscreen display?
>
> On Sun, Jul 31, 2016 at 2:43 AM, Kevin Parker 
> 
> wrote:
>
> > Thanks for the clarity and the extra info  - as I said I haven’t 
> > opened it or fired it up much less had a good look at it.
> >
> >
> >
> > Kevin Parker
> >
> > -Original Message-
> > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Ian 
> > Finder
> > Sent: Sunday, 31 July 2016 17:28
> > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts < 
> > cctalk@classiccmp.org>
> > Subject: Re: Mall directory computers
> >
> > That is certainly not a C= 64 as the title in your link suggests but 
> > rather an Amiga 500.
> >
> > These were quite popular for "video billboard" sort of purposes- I 
> > imagine they had it running SCALAMultimedia or a similar authoring
> environment.
> >
> > My local high school district channel ran on a similar setup for 
> > many years. I recall seeing it stuck on the Amiga Workbench one day...
> >
> > On Sunday, July 31, 2016, Kevin Parker  wrote:
> >
> > > Just spotted this Brad clearing up email after a 4 week break. I 
> > > can't answer your question but it reminded me of something that 
> > > other list users may be able to help with or it might just be of
> interest.
> > >
> > > Quite some time ago a friend of mine bought a travel agent in a 
> > > shopping mall, did a refit of the shop and then later went bust.
> > > Fortunately before the refit and going bust he gave me his old 
> > > shop display which was run on a modified Commodore.
> > >
> > > I haven't opened it up or powered it up but if anyone knows what 
> > > this is I'd be grateful. I've posted some photos:
> > >
> > >
> > > http://koken.advancedimaging.com.au/index.php?/albums/shop-mall-co
> > > mm
> > > od
> > > ore-64/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Kevin Parker
> > >
> > > -Original Message-
> > > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org ] 
> > > On Behalf Of Brad H
> > > Sent: Thursday, 14 July 2016 12:25
> > > To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts' < 
> > > cctalk@classiccmp.org >
> > > Subject: Mall directory computers
> > >
> > > Been wondering about this for a while.   Just one of those odd
> childhood
> > > memories.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > When I was a kid growing up in Oakville, Ontario, I remember 
> > > Oakville Mall getting one of those very early mall directory computers.
> > > This would have been like, 1982-84, somewhere thereabouts.  From 
> > > what I remember, they had kind of CGA-sh graphics and a chiclet
> 'keyboard'
> > > you used to browse the directory.  I'm wondering, were they just 
> > > PCs, most likely?  Or some kind of custom job?
> > >
> > >
> >
> > --
> >Ian Finder
> >(206) 395-MIPS
> >ian.fin...@gmail.com
> >
> >
>
>


-- 
   Ian Finder
   (206) 395-MIPS
   ian.fin...@gmail.com

Re: TU56 Tape Heads

[Pontus Pihlgren]

On Fri, Aug 05, 2016 at 03:41:32PM -0500, Tom Uban wrote:
> I have a linctape drive, which is a dectape compatible unit. I do not have
> the controller or any documentation, but it does have a head which might be
> useable to replace the broken head. If this would be useful, I would be
> willing to contribute it to the cause.

Please don't scavenge a LINCtape. it would be more valuable on a LINC or PDP-12 
which are 
must rarer.

> 
> Please see attached pics.

The list strips pics. Send separately or put on the web.

/P

> 
> --tom
> 
> 
> On 7/25/16 7:03 PM, Michael Thompson wrote:
> > During our PDP-12 debugging today we found that the left tape head has an
> > open coil for data track 0. The left head was OK a little more than a year
> > ago when we found the open coil in the right head. One TU56 head on my
> > personal PDP-8/e also had an open coil when I got it.
> > 
> > Our guess is the chemicals from the epoxy potting, possible flux residue,
> > and poor soldering are causing the failures. Getting the epoxy potting out
> > to repair the solder connection has proved impossible so far.
> > 
> > Any source for three TU56 tape heads would be appreciated.
> > 
> > We are also interested in ideas on how to get the epoxy potting out without
> > destroying the head.
> > 
> 

Re: Mall directory computers

[Chris Pye]

> On 6 Aug 2016, at 5:49 pm, Kevin Parker  wrote:
> 
> As suggested I have removed the top cover  - there was nothing accessible 
> inside the black side cover.
> 
> It's quite clever how its put together but what did surprise me was the TV 
> remote control hardwired in under the Amiga.
> 
> I've added some more photos so if anyone has any commentary or info it would 
> be most welcome - I have yet to power it up.
> 
> http://koken.advancedimaging.com.au/index.php?/albums/shop-mall-commodore-64/

Hi Kevin, it appears as though the company that made that setup is still in 
business.   http://multiscreen.biz/au/about-us

I would have though that the TV/VCR remote would have had it’s IR LED close to 
a hole in the metal case.

Do you know which travel agent it came from? If it was a major chain one, then 
there were probably heaps of these units around Australia.

Cheers,
Chris

Re: VCF West - going?

[Fritz Mueller]

I'm headed down from Oakland now (Sat) and will be there most of the afternoon. 
 Looking forward to seeing all the goodies and meeting some folks!

Re: VCF West - going?

[william degnan]

Bruce Damer speaking now...incredible exhibits very talented exhibitors. ..
hard to say what's "best"...taking lots of photos

Bill Degnan
twitter: billdeg
vintagecomputer.net
On Aug 6, 2016 11:51 AM, "Fritz Mueller"  wrote:

> I'm headed down from Oakland now (Sat) and will be there most of the
> afternoon.  Looking forward to seeing all the goodies and meeting some
> folks!

RE: SWTPC 6800

[Brad H]

Okay... I'm beginning to think RAM config is a part of the problem here.
Here's how the boards are configured:

DRC 16k Bd 1 - Jumpered for -3FFF
DRC 16k Bd 2 - Jumpered for 4000-7FFF
MP-M Bd 1 - Jumpers are - I can't figure it out.  Supposed to be A to one of
the pads marked 0 - 7.. instead A goes to a 7401, which is piggybacked on
another chip.  Pads 3 and 4 are also jumpered to this chip?
MP-M Bd 2- Jumpered from A - 5

Is it possible I have nothing for $A000 here?

-Original Message-
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Brent
Hilpert
Sent: Saturday, August 6, 2016 8:24 AM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts 
Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800

If you use a 16K board you'll want to config it to start at $8000, so that
it covers $8000-$BFFF.
If it goes higher than that it may end up in conflict with the ROMS and IO.

Alternatively, you could start with a minimal machine by reenabling the 6810
RAM on the CPU board and all you would need plugged into the backplane is
the CPU board and console device board.



On 2016-Aug-06, at 7:59 AM, Brad H wrote:

> 
> 
> I've definitely got an MP-B.
> What I'm thinking is I'll use one of the socketed 16k boards and go
through the RAMs to make sure I have good.  But I'm having trouble
understanding how to set the jumpers to get the addressing to A000.  I
thought I had that by the guide for the ram on the swtpc site (it's a
Digital Research board).  The machine only gets animated when that weird
piggybacked mpm board is plugged in.
> I suppose if there are bad RAMs on the DR board that'd do it though.
> Brad
> 
> 
> Sent from my Samsung device
> 
>  Original message 
> From: Chris Elmquist 
> Date: 2016-08-06  7:10 AM  (GMT-08:00)
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" 
> 
> Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800
> 
> 
> Simplifying the machine configuration can help too.  You should only 
> need MP-A (CPU), MP-S (serial interface) and MP-M at $A000 if you have 
> the SWTBUG ROM.  It only needs 128 bytes of RAM at $A000 so an 
> unexpanded
> (4K) or partially populated MP-M would be sufficient.
> 
> If you have MIKBUG, then you need MP-C instead of MP-S since MIKBUG 
> does not know how to talk to MP-S.
> 
> Removing all the other cards temporarily could eliminate conflicts due 
> to addressing, failed components, etc.
> 
> With this minimal configuration, you should be able to get SWTBUG's "$"
> prompt.  MIKBUG will prompt with "*".
> 
> Also, check which backplane board you have.  Depending on vintage, you 
> may have MP-B or MP-B2.  MP-B2 allowed the I/O block address (normally 
> at $8000) to be changed.  If you have MP-B2 and someone has customized 
> the machine, then there will be more to figure out regarding where the 
> I/O is really located, what the monitor ROMs expect, etc.
> 
> http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/MP_B/MP_B_Index.htm
> 
> http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/MP_B2/MP_B2_index.htm
> 
> Chris
> 
> On Friday (08/05/2016 at 10:47PM -0700), Brent Hilpert wrote:
>> Do you have some RAM at $A000+ yet?
>> That's all that should matter as far as required RAM goes.
>> 
>> Presuming this is the holley page you were referring to:
>>  http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/HiTerm/Test6800_Index.html
>> he does mention RAM needed at A000 for the BUGs, as Chris and I have been
saying.
>> 
>> Without RAM there there's no stack for return addresses for subroutines
executed in the BUGs, so execution could head off to wherever.
>> 
>> 
>> On 2016-Aug-05, at 10:23 PM, Brad H wrote:
>>> Okay so.. I decided to try the MP-C board out, just for kicks.  No
change.
>>> Then I decided to add one of the RAM boards.. the next one up in
addresses.  Got a little bit when I powered on.  Added one of the old MPM
boards.. one that has memory chips all piggybacked on one another.  Now when
I powered up, the system was sending four or five characters at a time,
linefeed, four or five characters at a time, linefeed ad infinitum.  I added
the final MPM board.. zero.
>>> So.. I think we do have some ram problems.. most likely.  I'm thinking
it would be easiest to concentrate efforts on the socketed RAM boards.. test
all the RAM out.  I'm going to read up on addressing and try to understand a
bit better what is going on.  I'm thinking maybe I need to reconfigure the
addressing on one of the boards to match whatever that overstuffed MPM board
is set to.
>>> Until I get an oscilloscope.. fooling around is about all I can do here.
>>> 
>>> Sent from my Samsung device
>>> 
>>>  Original message 
>>> From: Chuck Guzis 
>>> Date: 2016-08-05  3:55 PM  (GMT-08:00)
>>> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" 
>>> 
>>> Subject: Re: SWTPC 6800
>>> 
>>> On 08/05/2016 02:15 PM, Brad H wrote:
 I think I will have to figure out how to do that.  Additionally I 
 have one of those PC based oscilloscopes on the way.  I don't know 
 how to use them 100% but I'm about to learn I guess. :)
 
 I have one more

RE: SWTPC 6800

[Brad H]

Gahh!  So close!

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B4pq0-BHd2x6WVFiZHdyMHBlNW8&usp=shar
ing

The prompt is totally what should be appearing, at least initially.  But it
just keeps repeating itself over and over again and doesn't stop.

Notes:  I tried jumpering the DRC board to A000 properly this time, but no
dice.  So then I changed the jumper on the 'simple' MP-M board so that it
was A-0... plugged it in.. nothing.  Finally I took the second MP-M, with
all the fancy jumper wires and piggybacking nonsense.  Cannot tell how it is
jumpered or what for, but plugged it in.. boom!  Got that prompt.  Only one
problem.. it just endlessly repeats itself.  I can't type anything or stop
it.

Also, I'm using the MP-C board.  After I got that prompt I thought I'd
switch the MP-S in but.. nada.  

I'm thinking (hoping) I've just got a wiring issue or something here that is
generating a continuous feedback loop.  But I don't know.  It could well be
that both the MP-C and MP-S are hooped.

But, that's definitely progress.

I'll post some high-res photos of the boards in that link asap.

Brad

Re: VCF West - going?

[COURYHOUSE]

surprised no one  pulled off a live stream of this...
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 8/6/2016 12:09:58 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,  
billdeg...@gmail.com writes:

Bruce  Damer speaking now...incredible exhibits very talented exhibitors. ..
hard  to say what's "best"...taking lots of photos

Bill Degnan
twitter:  billdeg
vintagecomputer.net
On Aug 6, 2016 11:51 AM, "Fritz Mueller"   wrote:

> I'm headed down from Oakland now  (Sat) and will be there most of the
> afternoon.  Looking forward  to seeing all the goodies and meeting some
>  folks!

Yard sale goodies

[Joe Giliberti]

Greetings!
Went to a sale this morning and ended up with some neato pieces of
equipment. First are two Shugart 8 inch floppy drives ($1 each), a
microprocessor training kit ($30) and finally a RCA COSMAC dual 8 inch disk
drive ($5). One of the sellers told me to come back tomorrow because he's
going to dig out a bunch of other 70s and early 80s equipment.
https://postimg.org/image/gyjd3j16p/
I can find no reference to either the microprocessor trainer for the cosmic
disk drive assembly online. Any information would be pretty cool to see.

Thanks!
Joe Giliberti

Re: AT&T 3b2, IBM RT, others

[Doug F]

The woman didn't seem to be interested in shipping, Ken. I posted her 
information online earlier so you can contact her directly. One of the other 
list members is in Austin and may be able to assist, however. Check the recent 
archives. :)

Cheers,

Doug

> On Aug 5, 2016, at 10:03 PM, Ken Seefried  wrote:
> 
> I'd really like the AT&T 4425 terminal, which doesn't seem to have
> been claimed.  I spent a couple of years with one on my desk.  Any
> chance they'd ship?
> 
> My wife and I have an agreement that if I bring home any more VME kit
> I have to get rid of an equivalent tonnage of other things.  So unless
> that Motorola tower is an 88200 or something suitable esoteric, I
> probably need to pass.
> 
> The E&S box looks like a Sun 3/110 or 4/110 with additional boards.
> I'd love to have one.
> 
> Obviously, I would have killed for the Explorer or the RTs.  Double
> kill for the 5620.  Good they've found homes.
> 
> KJ
> 

Re: Yard sale goodies

[Glen Slick]

On Aug 6, 2016 2:12 PM, "Joe Giliberti"  wrote:
>
> Greetings!
> Went to a sale this morning and ended up with some neato pieces of
> equipment. First are two Shugart 8 inch floppy drives ($1 each), a
> microprocessor training kit ($30) and finally a RCA COSMAC dual 8 inch
disk
> drive ($5). One of the sellers told me to come back tomorrow because he's
> going to dig out a bunch of other 70s and early 80s equipment.
> https://postimg.org/image/gyjd3j16p/
> I can find no reference to either the microprocessor trainer for the
cosmic
> disk drive assembly online. Any information would be pretty cool to see.
>
> Thanks!
> Joe Giliberti

Those ICS microprocessor trainers show up on eBay from time to time.

Erik has a page about them here.
http://www.vintage-computer.com/ics.shtml

Re: Yard sale goodies

[Peter Cetinski]

> On Aug 6, 2016, at 5:12 PM, Joe Giliberti  wrote:
> 
> Greetings!
> Went to a sale this morning and ended up with some neato pieces of
> equipment. First are two Shugart 8 inch floppy drives ($1 each),..,

8in Shugarts at a Yard Sale?! Man, wish I found that at yard sales around here. 
 Nothing but junk.

Re: Yard sale goodies

[Joe Giliberti]

Supposedly the guy has a full COSMAC system that he'll have for me
tomorrow.

On Aug 6, 2016 5:45 PM, "Peter Cetinski"  wrote:

>
> > On Aug 6, 2016, at 5:12 PM, Joe Giliberti  wrote:
> >
> > Greetings!
> > Went to a sale this morning and ended up with some neato pieces of
> > equipment. First are two Shugart 8 inch floppy drives ($1 each),..,
>
> 8in Shugarts at a Yard Sale?! Man, wish I found that at yard sales around
> here.  Nothing but junk.

Re: VCF West - going?

[Mark J. Blair]

I'm too lazy to drive up there myself, but I'm wearing out my mouse button 
finger clicking "like" on interesting pictures tweeted from the show. Wow, an 
original Amiga custom chip prototype board stack!! I'm looking forward to 
seeing any video that comes out from the show.

-- 
Mark J. Blair, NF6X 
http://www.nf6x.net/

RE: SWTPC 6800

[Brad H]

I am pleased to report I now have the 6800 alive and working.

I discovered one last error I made -- I assumed the cable to be used was a
null modem.  It was not.. what we needed was a 'standard modem cable' or
just straight serial.  I hooked that up, then looped the DSR/DTS pins on the
cable at the SWTPC end.. voila!  I can do all kinds of SWTBUG functions no
problem now.

For fun, I even hooked it up to my SWTPC CT1024.  I was pleased to see it
does communicate, albeit with lots of ? marks because the CT1024 is
configured for parity.  I guess I'll have to swallow hard, pull the board
(hoping the machine works again after) and change the jumpers to what the
6800 is expecting.  Then I can do a video of the two working together, which
as of yet has not been demonstrated on youtube. :)

Thanks to everyone for their helpful suggestions.  I'm very lucky this thing
wanted to work.  Off to do memory tests and test load some programs.. then
figure out how to bring back in the other mem boards.

-Original Message-
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Brad H
Sent: Saturday, August 6, 2016 1:44 PM
To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'

Subject: RE: SWTPC 6800


Gahh!  So close!

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B4pq0-BHd2x6WVFiZHdyMHBlNW8&usp=shar
ing

The prompt is totally what should be appearing, at least initially.  But it
just keeps repeating itself over and over again and doesn't stop.

Notes:  I tried jumpering the DRC board to A000 properly this time, but no
dice.  So then I changed the jumper on the 'simple' MP-M board so that it
was A-0... plugged it in.. nothing.  Finally I took the second MP-M, with
all the fancy jumper wires and piggybacking nonsense.  Cannot tell how it is
jumpered or what for, but plugged it in.. boom!  Got that prompt.  Only one
problem.. it just endlessly repeats itself.  I can't type anything or stop
it.

Also, I'm using the MP-C board.  After I got that prompt I thought I'd
switch the MP-S in but.. nada.  

I'm thinking (hoping) I've just got a wiring issue or something here that is
generating a continuous feedback loop.  But I don't know.  It could well be
that both the MP-C and MP-S are hooped.

But, that's definitely progress.

I'll post some high-res photos of the boards in that link asap.

Brad

dfitoimd: decoding Intel M2FM floppy flux images (was Re: Intel 432 floppy flux images for decoding)

[Eric Smith]

Because the cwtool support for Intel M2FM floppy disk flux images
isn't publicly available, I've written a crude Python 3 program for
converting such images (in DFI format) to ImageDisk images, and put it
on github:

https://github.com/brouhaha/dfitoimd

My ADPLL data separator has parameters to control the proportions of
frequency adjustment and instantaneous phase adjustment that are done
at each flux transition. I've experimented with the parameters quite a
bit, but it's still not good enough to reliably recover all sectors
from the disk images that started this thread. The default parameters
are currently 0.5% frequency adjustment and 10% instantaneous phase
adjustment. I was actually fairly surprised that I didn't get better
results with more frequency adjustment and less instantaneous phase
adjustment. It's entirely possible that my algorithm isn't very good.

The code can handle normal IBM 3740 single-density FM format as well,
though there are other published programs that already do that.
There's a start at code for IBM System/34 double-density MFM format
also, but it hasn't been tested at all as I don't happen to have any
suitable DFI images.

The dfitoimd program is quite slow; on a typical Intel M2FM image with
two revolutions per track and 25 MHz sampling, it takes 64 seconds on
a 4.0 GHz AMD CPU. I'm pretty sure that rewriting it in C/C++/C# or
the like would make it much faster, but I specifically chose Python as
I find it easier to experiment with the algorithms.

Video From VCF West

[Kirk Davis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjf3WkYDaEk 


Carl Claunch at Vintage Computer Festival West, Mount View CA 2016

Re: the value of old test and repair equipment

[drlegendre .]

Though I have some background in Telcom, I'd never heard of the HP 3370(B)
so had to check it out.  Here are a couple of take-away quotes from a
thread at: http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?p=866814

"The A suffix boxes were designed to test phone lines for modems for CCIT
standards (UK & Europe), the B suffix (B-for-Bell) were the for the
American market. Designed and built in South Queensferry.

You use a pair of 3770s one at each end of a leased phone line connection.
One transmits to the other and vice-versa and they measure frequency
response and group delay. The purpose was to assess lines for modem use.
The firms who leased lines used these boxes to check they were getting the
quality they were paying for. The telcos used these boxes to make sure the
lines they were leasing out weren't below contract performance and going to
cost them penalties. Nice business for the instrument makers."

"They were around 12 kilobucks each back in the day. I think the 3770 did
level, flatness and distortion, I think the 3771 did group delay come to
think of it. My pilot tone filter probably did go in the 3770."

As I was assuming, they are used in pairs at opposite ends of the line.
Neat device.



On Sat, Aug 6, 2016 at 7:14 AM, tony duell  wrote:

> I also collect old/classic test gear. Some I use (my main
> 'scope is a Tekky 555, I think that's old enough to be a
> classic :-)). Some I just collect because it's a beautiful
> piece of electronics. My latest find was an HP3770B
> telephone line analyser -- an instrument to measure the
> freqeuncy response, etc of a telephone line. I have no
> real use for it, but it's classic HP, built like a brick outhouse,
> designed to be repaired (fixing screws are labelled, there
> are testpoints for everything, there's even an extender board
> stored inside). I had to add it to the collection.
>
>
> >
> > I've been restoring a HeathKit capacitor checker.
> >
> > I also have a couple HP counters with Nixies.
>
> Ditto. Mine have those HP counter boards with 8 transistors
> as the counters, 8 neons as the latch and a thick film CdS
> photoresistor array to drive the nixie tubes. 5243 and 5245 I think.
>
> >
> > I even have a 10 channel printer ( need to repair the
> >
> > roller ). I've found that one doesn't need the expensive
> >
> > ink roller ( though I'd love to have one, used or not ).
> >
>
> Is that the HP5055. I've rebuilt one. Be warned the printer
> motor runs off the mains, and that therefore there's mains
> on some PCB traces where you might not expect it.
>
> Interestingly the HP59301 HPIB-> 64 bit parallel interface
> can be connected directly to the HP5055 printer. There
> are 2 conenctors on the interface, one carries 40 bits
> the other 24. The 40 bit one links to the 5055 with a straight-wired
> 50 pin microribbon cable. The alternative character set for
> the HP59301 was clearly designed for this, it decodes ASCII
> V,A,O into the V, A, Ohms symbols on the 5055.
>
> > I use the two layer impact paper.
>
> Mine had an ink roller in it _and_ the impact paper. The fomer
> was doing a good job of gunging everything up, so I removed
> it and stored it in a plastic bag.
>
> -tony
>

Re: VCF West - going?

[Kevin Griffin]

Had a great time today at VCF West!  Awesome presentations. Will anybody be
there tomorrow who can give me direction on how to tackle my ""scrolling
screen" issue with both of my Lisa 2s?  Not looking for anyone to work on
them, just on where to start or what to replace.  Thanks!

On Saturday, August 6, 2016, Mark J. Blair  wrote:

> I'm too lazy to drive up there myself, but I'm wearing out my mouse button
> finger clicking "like" on interesting pictures tweeted from the show. Wow,
> an original Amiga custom chip prototype board stack!! I'm looking forward
> to seeing any video that comes out from the show.
>
> --
> Mark J. Blair, NF6X >
> http://www.nf6x.net/
>
>