- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

VCF Workshop July 16/17 who's going? Watcha working on? When Coming?
by Jeffrey Brace 12 Jul '16

12 Jul '16

Now that Independence Day has passed. Just getting the workshop interest moving again. The workshop will be July 16/17 Starting Sat. 7/16 at 10am and ending Sun. 7/17 at 5pm. Besides the list below I also created a Google Sheet to make a more clean way of looking at the list. 1. Jeff Brace - Commodore 64 Robotics Kit - All Weekend. 2. ? 3. ? 4. ? 5. ? 6. ? 7. ? 8. ? 9. ? 10. ?

4 5

OT: SCA SCSI Disks up for grabs
by Ethan 11 Jul '16

11 Jul '16

Heya, someone I do some side work for is donating a bunch of IT hardware to a non-profit music and gaming fest I help. Not all is needed and there is some stuff that ?might? be of interest to this crowd. Not quite vintage yet. Up for grabs for cost of shipping, SCSI disks. SCA interfaces (sorry no 50/68 pin) 6 x Seagate st373453lc ultra 320 8 x Seagate st373454lc 15k.4 15 x Seagate st3300007lc 10k.7 2 x st3450857ss 15k.7

2 1

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] What's that smell?
by Mike Loewen 10 Jul '16

10 Jul '16

On 07/09/2016 12:41 AM, Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > > sniff...sniff...oh look, the magic smoke is pouring out of my TRS-80 > 8MB hard drive! :-( The culprit turned out to be a RIFA X-class capacitor in the Astec power supply: http://q7.neurotica.com/0709162317.jpg This is exactly the same cap the blew in my Xerox 820-II. Fortunately, I had ordered spares when I fixed the Xerox, and replaced the X and Y-class caps: http://q7.neurotica.com/0709162345.jpg Time to order a new batch from Digikey. Here's a picture of the inside of the 8MB unit: http://q7.neurotica.com/0709162253.jpg The drive shows "ready" (green light). I need to find the diskette with the INIT program to see if I can access the drive. Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

2 1

Scan of an Apple IIc ad
by Jeffrey Jonas 10 Jul '16

10 Jul '16

I found this among my magazine clippings. Probably from Byte. http://ferretronix.com/tech/adz/apple_ad_1.jpg http://ferretronix.com/tech/adz/apple_ad_2.jpg

1 0

HOPE - July 23-24
by Evan Koblentz 09 Jul '16

09 Jul '16

Jeff B. and I are going to HOPE next month. Who else is going?

8 8

What's that smell?
by Mike Loewen 09 Jul '16

09 Jul '16

sniff...sniff...oh look, the magic smoke is pouring out of my TRS-80 8MB hard drive! :-( Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

6 5

Workshop July 16/17 location change
by Jeffrey Brace 09 Jul '16

09 Jul '16

Since a lot of our members are going to K-Fest and the turn out looks really low we are moving the location of the workshop from the big room (9032-A) to a smaller "classroom" space in 9010-A. This is the same building where our new museum is located. This is also the same space where we will have Festivus. We will need help to move tables from 9032 to 9010. Please let me know if you have any questions. == Jeff Brace

8 18

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Hero Robot
by Alexander 09 Jul '16

09 Jul '16

Welcome to the club, Joseph! I have the complete documentation that came with my Hero 1, however I have yet to begin assembly of mine just yet. As to Evan's suggestion, I believe that my schedule is setting up to be able to attend Saturday of the next workshop, however I am still finalizing that plan. My intent is to work in the VCFed's Hero 1, but I would be bringing along mine and all of the manuals in my possession. -Alexander 'Z' Pierson Sent from my pocket telephone. Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >PS- There's nothing off-topic about HERO! Thus I removed the OT: from >the subject line.

3 4

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] IBM 360 in North Carolina
by Evan Koblentz 09 Jul '16

09 Jul '16

>> The Vintage Computer Federation Museum? We never came up with anything better. :)

1 0

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] IBM 360 in North Carolina
by Evan Koblentz 09 Jul '16

09 Jul '16

>> I just noticed that LCM passed on the 360 in North Carolina First I'm hearing if its existence! >> Something that the Infoage museum (what's the correct name?) Vintage Computer Federation >> would go after? YES! Send me details in a private message, ASAP. Important: nobody else contact the owner, it must come from me.

2 2

FindStuff - application for vintage Macs
by Jeffrey Brace 08 Jul '16

08 Jul '16

Rediscovered this useful application that was written by a friend at Drexel in 1993ish. It search the hard drive for files (by filename, date etc.) very quickly: http://www.macintoshrepository.org/565-find-stuff-1-0-2.

1 0

IBM 360 in North Carolina
by Bill Sudbrink 08 Jul '16

08 Jul '16

I just noticed that LCM passed on the 360 in North Carolina. Something that the Infoage museum (what's the correct name?) would go after? Bill S.

1 0

OT - Hero Robot
by Joseph Oprysko 08 Jul '16

08 Jul '16

I just picked up a Hero 1 Robot off ebay. I know it's going to need a LOT of work, as there are missing parts. Would anyone in the group happen to have any manuals for the ET-18 (Hero 1 Robot) around. Preferably the technical guide, or base curriculum that came with the robot? -- Normal Person: Hey, it seems that you know a lot. Geek: To be honest, it's due to all the surfing I do. Normal Person: So you go surfing? Normal Person: But I don't think that has anything to do with knowing a lot... Geek: I think that's wrong on a fundamental level. Normal Person: Huh? Huh? What?

2 2

BASICChallenge with Turtle Graphics
by william degnan 08 Jul '16

08 Jul '16

FYI - some here are known to use Turtle Graphics (c64, etc.) https://www.reddit.com/r/retrobattlestations/comments/4qs0f3/july_is_basic_… -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm>

1 0

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] PDP-8 in Lawerence Kansas...
by william degnan 07 Jul '16

07 Jul '16

pretty good price. On Thu, Jul 7, 2016 at 5:23 PM, Bill Sudbrink via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > On a lark, I did a craigslist search and this popped up: > > http://lawrence.craigslist.org/atq/5618641029.html > > Been listed for a while, could be gone for all I know. > Maybe somebody could pick it up on the way to VCFMW or > VCF West. > > Bill S. > > > -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm>

1 0

PDP-8 in Lawerence Kansas...
by Bill Sudbrink 07 Jul '16

07 Jul '16

On a lark, I did a craigslist search and this popped up: http://lawrence.craigslist.org/atq/5618641029.html Been listed for a while, could be gone for all I know. Maybe somebody could pick it up on the way to VCFMW or VCF West. Bill S.

1 0

OT: Leer ADM-3A @ local recycler
by Jason Perkins 07 Jul '16

07 Jul '16

Noticed a recycler I deal with often had this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lear-Siegler-ADM3A-Dumb-Terminal-AS-IS-Does… Looks to be in very poor shape. If anyone is interested I'd be happy to inspect it in person. Thanks, -- Jason Perkins 313 355 0085

1 0

OT Fireproof filing cabinets available FREE
by Kelly Leavitt 06 Jul '16

06 Jul '16

They would have to be picked up in either Lafayette or Sparta New Jersey. We have several extra after our recent move. These are all full size 4 and 5 drawer models. Several hundred pounds each. Contact me off list. kelly(a)catcorner.org Kelly

1 0

Drive listings for Heath/Zenith 386 bios
by Matt Patoray 06 Jul '16

06 Jul '16

Hi all, I have a Heath/Zenith Z-386 SX/20. I am wanting to get it up and running, The only thing is the listings for the hard drive in the bios do not seem to be standard standard, as there are 63 of them. Does anyone have a listing of the bios settings and the corresponding drive parameters? Thanks, -- Matt Patoray Owner, MSP Productions KD8AMG

1 0

Museum Report 7/3/2016
by Bill Dromgoole 06 Jul '16

06 Jul '16

I was at the museum today with Bill Degnan. Corey Cohen was there to unlock the doors. We had three groups of visitors today. The first was a women and three children. The kids were very excited but Mom was afraid they would break something so they didn't stay long. The next was an older man who was reminiscing about the old days when he operated some similar equipment He hung around for a while and kept talking to Bill D. Ha-ha The last was a couple who were very interested in the punch cards and the card reader/printer on the IBM 1130. Apparently she used to work with punched cards and formatting data for the keypunch operators. Bill D1 was able to complete his tasks given to him by Jeff. He got all the computers working except for the TRS 80 model 1 which was missing a cable. Bill D2 removed the capstan from the display Univac 1532 and cleaned out all the gummy rubber and debris left in the paper tape reader. We also checked two of the three warehouse 1532s. The capstans on them are in equally bad condition to the one removed from display. We took one of the other bad capstans off of the warehouse 1532 for comparison and measurements. We have fairly accurate measurements taken with a vernier dial indicator caliper. Now we need to get one rebuilt. The extra capstan is in the bottom drawer of the I/O console. Bill Drom

6 11

win 286 disks
by william degnan 06 Jul '16

06 Jul '16

Still working on windows 286. I had issues with the disk drive I was using, put me back a few days. Bill --

1 0

OT: bluetooth mouse
by Evan Koblentz 05 Jul '16

05 Jul '16

I ordered a Bluetooth mouse for my laptop. It comes with a little adapter that plugs into the laptop's USB port. Dumb question: the laptop already has Bluetooth built in, so would I not need that adapter? Then again, which would use drain the laptop battery less -- the internal Bluetooth or the adapter via USB?

11 15

found some 8212's with strange markings
by Dan Roganti 05 Jul '16

05 Jul '16

anyone come across some 8212's with a strange markings. I bought these a long time ago, so I can't which parts supplier had them. the part# is 8212P but it has no vendor symbol or prefix and the datecode has TSL9445 I didn't think they were still made 20yrs later And the prefix on the datecode is rather odd I just might have to add this profile to my chip tester to see if these are really genuine Dan

2 1

OT: Likely failure mode of LCD of early portable PCs, T6600C
by Douglas Crawford 04 Jul '16

04 Jul '16

2 1

Prometheus Promodem 1200 commands
by Mike Loewen 03 Jul '16

03 Jul '16

Does anyone have a list of AT commands for the Prometheus Promodem 1200? Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

3 4

Looking for Windows/286; vintage windows setup question
by Richard Cini 02 Jul '16

02 Jul '16

All – Lots of fun on a Saturday…I’m working on an AT/286 project and wondered if anyone had a copy of Windows/286. I have various versions from 1.00 to 3.11 (including 2.03) but not that version. Please let me know off-list if you have it. Thanks. As an aside, I was able to get Windows 2.03 running with the normal EGA driver but NOT Windows 1.04 even though I selected the same video driver. It bombs out on the splash screen while printing the copyright info (random characters and beeping). Not sure what to make of it…guessing video driver issue but not 100% sure because the same setting works in 2.03. My 2.03 disks also have a bad sector on the fonts disk so I’m missing the Times font. The video card is a Quadram EGA+. Thanks! Rich -- Rich Cini http://www.classiccmp.org/cini http://www.classiccmp.org/altair32

2 2

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Looking for Windows/286; vintage windows setup question
by Richard Cini 02 Jul '16

02 Jul '16

One other thing to note…I just reinstalled 1.04 and ran it. Although the splash screen is somehow corrupted, it eventually gets to the Windows desktop. Not sure why it happens in 1.04 and not 2.03. Same source files are used to build working installation in a virtual machine so I know the disks are good. Rich -- Rich Cini http://www.classiccmp.org/cini http://www.classiccmp.org/altair32 On 7/2/16, 2:37 PM, "vcf-midatlantic on behalf of Richard Cini via vcf-midatlantic" <vcf-midatlantic-bounces(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org on behalf of vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: All – Lots of fun on a Saturday…I’m working on an AT/286 project and wondered if anyone had a copy of Windows/286. I have various versions from 1.00 to 3.11 (including 2.03) but not that version. Please let me know off-list if you have it. Thanks. As an aside, I was able to get Windows 2.03 running with the normal EGA driver but NOT Windows 1.04 even though I selected the same video driver. It bombs out on the splash screen while printing the copyright info (random characters and beeping). Not sure what to make of it…guessing video driver issue but not 100% sure because the same setting works in 2.03. My 2.03 disks also have a bad sector on the fonts disk so I’m missing the Times font. The video card is a Quadram EGA+. Thanks! Rich -- Rich Cini http://www.classiccmp.org/cini http://www.classiccmp.org/altair32

1 0

Vintage (yes really) Cisco router/TS
by Herb Johnson 02 Jul '16

02 Jul '16

Neil Cherry initiated this discussion thread, about his Cisco router. At some point he posted: > Sorry about the trip down memory lane, those were some fun times. Neil, do not apologize for describing your experiences with now-vintage computing equipment. You've provided a valuable service. By your posting this item, and the discussions of it, there is now a year 2016 trail of what it was, how it was used, how it led to other products, and something of its content. When "multibus" was mentioned, that caught my attention - Multibus is an interest of mine, any Google search of my Web site will show my interests. Others of course were/are interested in "Ethernet" or "Sun Microsystems", and so on. Many people look to decades-old Usenet discussions of even older equipment and still-fresh memories, as posted at that time. Those discussions were preserved and made available much later and today. They have been resources I and others have used to restore and support that vintage equipment. Some number of those posters, are not active, or not around, today. "Sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander". (Please, this is not a punch line, I'm making a point not a joke.) Thank you and your respondents, for preserving your knowledge of this part of early Multibus, Ethernet, and related technologies. Herb Johnson retrotechnology.com -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

1 0

OT: InMoov Robot Project
by Joseph Oprysko 02 Jul '16

02 Jul '16

I know this is WAY off topic for vintage computers, but I'd like to build an InMoov Robot. I think it would be an AWESOME "Guide" for the museum. Does anyone with a 3D Printer have any interest in building one? -- Normal Person: Hey, it seems that you know a lot. Geek: To be honest, it's due to all the surfing I do. Normal Person: So you go surfing? Normal Person: But I don't think that has anything to do with knowing a lot... Geek: I think that's wrong on a fundamental level. Normal Person: Huh? Huh? What?

5 6

Capsela Commodore 64 Robotics parts wanted
by Jeffrey Brace 02 Jul '16

02 Jul '16

I'm doing the Commodore 64 robotics exhibit for HOPE and MakervFaire. The Commodore 64 robotics kit uses Capsela parts, but some parts are missing. Two of the three motors and worm drive are missing. Anyone have any that I can borrow? See attached photos. Thanks! Jeff Brace

5 6

My HOPE project - update
by Evan Koblentz 01 Jul '16

01 Jul '16

Here's an update on my project for our HOPE exhibit next month. Ben G. loaned us his mid-1980s Lego robotics/Logo kit. I'm saving the Logo part (paired with an Apple II) for World Maker Faire in September. I am using the bare robot components (motors, light sensors) with the IBM PC card for HOPE. I started experimenting with this at our repair workshop a couple of weekends ago. Jon C. loaned me a Compaq (386, I think) lunchbox-style computer, since I'm stuck home while recovering from leg surgery. I set up a big table in my living room because I can't sit comfortably at my workbench. What I'm building, tailored for the HOPE audience, is a Lego game called that I'm calling "Smush the 'Softie". The premise: Microsoft employees are invading HOPE to install Windows 10 on your computer! Thus you must run them over with a New York City taxi cab before then enter the hotel. :) A cab (Lego car) is in a garage. You press a key in the software to aim the driveway side-to-side. Then press another key to release the car. The car travels down a track. There are two Microsoft employees crossing the road. The employees (Lego figures, of course) have holes in the ground behind them. If you hit one, then s/he falls into the hole, which blocks the light sensor, which increases the score by 1. One employee is closer and one is farther away. Hitting the second employee gives you two points. You get five cars. If you reach eight points then you win. The score will be displayed on a binary counter of Lego lights. If you lose the lights will all flash, a beeper will go crazy, and the compurer screen changes to resemble a Windows 10 logo. The game isn't finished but I am making good progress. Programmed in simple BASIC, just as it was meant to be 30 years ago. I am not using any non-Lego parts (but I did take two non-valuable pieces from my childhood huge box of Legos and drill holes in them because I needed a part that doesn't exist!) The game won't be hard. Its point is to demonstrate what could be done back then. Thinking ahead to Maker Faire: I'm going to make a robot arm that you use to pick up a ping-pong ball, drop it into a hole, and out pops a (previously hidden) Wiffle ball. I will tell children it's a ping-pong ball enlarging machine. :) Jeff B., how goes your own mad science experimenting with the C-64 robotics kit?

3 3

Unknown Sperry Univac Display Boards
by Systems Glitch 01 Jul '16

01 Jul '16

I picked up three Sperry Univac boards in a lot of scrap the other day: http://imgur.com/a/9BBQ0 The first image is representative of two of the boards. They are heavily built, conformally coated, and the one in the second picture has an aerospace type connector in one place. The displays are HP LED hex displays (or a second source). The aluminum frame around the board appears to be a heatsink for the displays and a few of the ICs. Does anyone know what these are? I was going to remove the displays from the boards for use in other projects, but I don't want to destroy them if they're useful to someone else. Thanks, Jonathan

4 4

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] SOT 10base-5 LAN parts
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 01 Jul '16

01 Jul '16

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >>> How do you envision it being installed in our current space? For >examp= le, would we need to hang a cable ladder from the ceiling so >wires can co= nnect the minicomputer area to where our router will be in >the workshop a= rea? (Looks will matter, given that we're a museum, not >a lab.) > >Another question is, what's the advantage to connecting some of the >minis= to the Internet? We can't keep that sort of equipment running >24/7. Power and process cooling woould be the major impediments; otherwise, just consideration for the wear and tear on the old kit. As for the cabling, I prefer to see the overhead cable conduit approach.

4 4

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] SOT 10base-5 LAN parts
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 30 Jun '16

30 Jun '16

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >>> Can't help with the install, but can contribute then to the Museum >cau= se. > >Hold off. There is no active project. It's only an idea. I know that I've told you that when Camp Evans was active there was etherpipe strung in most all of the buildings and I know who strung it. ;) Who=Me!

2 2

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Update - museum internet access
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 30 Jun '16

30 Jun '16

Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic writes: >On 06/30/2016 04:29 PM, Brian Schenkenberger via vcf-midatlantic wrote: >>> On 06/30/2016 03:38 PM, Joseph Oprysko via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > >But >> I thought SneakerNet was the primary network protocol when the >machines >>> were in their prime. >> >> Good heavens no. Even PDP-8s >had DECnet over serial lines. > > DDCMP! > > As God intended. I'd occasionally fire up DDCMP over a modem link to some clients to transfer files back in the day. Indexed files mostly which don't take kindly to being ZIPped and UNZIPped and FTPd; albeit, current version of ZIP/UNZIP do have a switch to maintain VMS file attributes making it possible now.

1 0

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Need a couple AUI cables - building 10base-5 LAN
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 30 Jun '16

30 Jun '16

Jim Scheef via vcf-midatlantic writes: >Hello all, Please forgive my infrequent lurking. For those who do not >know me (most = of you) I'm the guy who helps Kelly in the consignment >room at VCF-E = each year.=20 I've decided to build a 10base-5 LAN >segment in my basement. Right now = I'm in the collecting the parts >stage and need 2 or 3 AUI cables no more = than 2 meters long. They must >have that arcane DB-15 connector with the = sliding clip.=20 I also need >two N-connector terminators (50 ohm, of course). So far I have a three >short lengths of real ether hose with N-connectors = and three Cabletron >ST-500 transceivers (2 more would be nice). = Unfortunately these have a >BNC connector where the vampire tap should = be, so I'm working on >that.=20 In the meantime, some short, good AUI cables would be a big >boost. I = will be happy to pay reasonable price plus shipping. Anyone? > >Longer term, would it not be cool if our museum had a working 10base-5 = >LAN hanging from the rafters providing connectivity between the Vaxen, = >PDPs and other period machines? Maybe even to the inter-tubes! And a large etherhose!

4 3

Vintage (yes really) Cisco router/TS
by Neil Cherry 30 Jun '16

30 Jun '16

For the folks who know what this is ... I have a Cisco AGS 9.1 or 10.x IOS (technically a terminal server, that can route) that support the normal terminal services such as telnet and LAT. If you are interested please contact me. I'm not using it and this might be useful for a display or the museum. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry(a)linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies

6 12

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Update - museum internet access
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 30 Jun '16

30 Jun '16

Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic writes: >On 06/30/2016 03:38 PM, Joseph Oprysko via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > But >I thought SneakerNet was the primary network protocol when the machines >> were in their prime. > > Good heavens no. Even PDP-8s had DECnet over serial lines. DDCMP!

2 1

IBM MLR3-25GB tape cartridges available
by Mike Loewen 30 Jun '16

30 Jun '16

A friend of mine has 9 NIB IBM MLR3-25GB (SLR50) data cartridges. They're labeled "Servo Written", "Compatible: QIC5210 DC, MLR3 SLR50 Drives)". I don't know what he wants for them, but it wouldn't be much. If you need any, let me know and I'll put you in touch with him. Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

1 0

Anniversary of transistor day
by Jeffrey Brace 30 Jun '16

30 Jun '16

Was at InfoAge today and Fred mentioned this and said the transistor was developed at Camp Evans first (in secret). He mentioned a book: Crystal Fire Birth of the Information Age Book - p. 162, 201. - Jeff Brace

2 1

Update - museum internet access
by Evan Koblentz 30 Jun '16

30 Jun '16

We ordered a modem/router gadget from a company called Mobile Citizen. They sell low-priced wireless Internet access exclusively to non-profits. We got a desktop version (still has wifi built in), not the mobile hotspot described on their web site. This means we don't have to rely on InfoAge for Internet access in the museum. Also, it is a very good deal: you buy the modem and then only pay ten bucks a month for service. The hardware arrived recently and we will install it soon.

3 2

Capacitor list for Mac 128/512/plus Analog board (US Version)
by Matt Patoray 30 Jun '16

30 Jun '16

I thought this might be of help to some trying to do a bulk replacement of capacitors on the Analog boards form the early macs. Where possible i went with 105 degree rated capacitors and with a 25% higher voltage rating. The part numbers are from Mouser. -- Matt Patoray KD8AMG

4 8

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Need a couple AUI cables - building 10base-5 LAN
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 30 Jun '16

30 Jun '16

Jim Scheef via vcf-midatlantic writes: >Brian, As I'm sure you are aware, brand new Belden 9880 (genuine >etherhose) is available if not exactly cheap. Nevertheless, I'm willing >to donate 100 feet of the stuff to make the museum project work whenever >that might be. Jim I might have some AUI cables here but I'm rather busy with some *paying* me work to go rummaging through the cable cache looking for them.

1 0

PDP 11/40 finally got it working better-er
by william degnan 30 Jun '16

30 Jun '16

For many years I have been working off and on to get my pdp 11/40 running. I was having trouble getting past "chase the lights" and simple tests. I was even able to load in a papertape. It was in memory ok but never ran .I got a lot of good advice but nothing seemed to work. I made sure everything was correct on the backplane and RAM was ok. Some important diagnostics simply would not run however. I was stuck. After a lot of spinning my wheels finally I discovered the CPU was wired for a KJ11 module (stack limit register) but I did not have one installed. I was having problems with code that included the stack so there you go makes sense now....but it took a while. Part of the problem is that I always thought the KJ11 and KW11-L (line time clock) were always paired up. This was not a logical reasoning, it was only because I always saw them paired that way and I assumed they were a set. I even had in the past tested the system with both installed but it froze things so I abandoned, never thought to try just one or the other alone. But apparently that would have been the ticket, my system CPU was wired for the KJ11 only. I tried just the M7237 and poing it worked. I finally was able to run complex diagnostics and I even downloaded BASIC from papertape and ran it (much faster than 11/05 btw) Here is the page with more info http://vintagecomputer.net/browse_thread.cfm?id=635 Next I can try to boot an RT11 RL02 pack from an RL11 controller (M7762). If anyone is going through the same thing how to troubleshoot a lot of the UNIBUS stuff let me know happy to try to help. Bill -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm>

1 0

Museum Report 6/29/16
by Jeffrey Brace 29 Jun '16

29 Jun '16

Gave a tour to campers age 6-11 today. Two groups of 10 each. It was a quick 10 minute tour because their time was limited. They were seeing all the museums. Later I gave general tours to about 20 people. Most were interested and loved everything there. I finally managed uninterrupted time to getting the Commodore 64 robotics kit working. Also took the Univac parts to the warehouse.

1 0

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Need a couple AUI cables - building 10base-5 LAN
by Steven Michelsen 29 Jun '16

29 Jun '16

Jim, I believe I have a sack full of that stuff somewhere. I am unable to look for it until Sunday. If you don't hear from me by Tuesday or so write me direct at stevenm(a)optonline.net Steve Sent on the new Sprint Network from my Samsung Galaxy S®4 -------- Original message -------- From: Duane via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> Date: 06/29/2016 1:52 PM (GMT-07:00) To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> Cc: Duane <DBC1964(a)cox.net> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Need a couple AUI cables - building 10base-5 LAN -----Original Message----- From: Jim Scheef via vcf-midatlantic Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2016 4:30 PM To: 'vcf-midatlantic' Cc: Jim Scheef Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] Need a couple AUI cables - building 10base-5 LAN Hello all, Please forgive my infrequent lurking. For those who do not know me (most of you) I'm the guy who helps Kelly in the consignment room at VCF-E each year. I've decided to build a 10base-5 LAN segment in my basement. Right now I'm in the collecting the parts stage and need 2 or 3 AUI cables no more than 2 meters long. They must have that arcane DB-15 connector with the sliding clip. I also need two N-connector terminators (50 ohm, of course). So far I have a three short lengths of real ether hose with N-connectors and three Cabletron ST-500 transceivers (2 more would be nice). Unfortunately these have a BNC connector where the vampire tap should be, so I'm working on that. In the meantime, some short, good AUI cables would be a big boost. I will be happy to pay reasonable price plus shipping. Anyone? Longer term, would it not be cool if our museum had a working 10base-5 LAN hanging from the rafters providing connectivity between the Vaxen, PDPs and other period machines? Maybe even to the inter-tubes! Thanks, Jim

1 0

Need a couple AUI cables - building 10base-5 LAN
by Jim Scheef 29 Jun '16

29 Jun '16

Hello all, Please forgive my infrequent lurking. For those who do not know me (most of you) I'm the guy who helps Kelly in the consignment room at VCF-E each year. I've decided to build a 10base-5 LAN segment in my basement. Right now I'm in the collecting the parts stage and need 2 or 3 AUI cables no more than 2 meters long. They must have that arcane DB-15 connector with the sliding clip. I also need two N-connector terminators (50 ohm, of course). So far I have a three short lengths of real ether hose with N-connectors and three Cabletron ST-500 transceivers (2 more would be nice). Unfortunately these have a BNC connector where the vampire tap should be, so I'm working on that. In the meantime, some short, good AUI cables would be a big boost. I will be happy to pay reasonable price plus shipping. Anyone? Longer term, would it not be cool if our museum had a working 10base-5 LAN hanging from the rafters providing connectivity between the Vaxen, PDPs and other period machines? Maybe even to the inter-tubes! Thanks, Jim

2 1

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] vcf-midatlantic Digest, Vol 8, Issue 28
by mark＠markesystems.com 29 Jun '16

29 Jun '16

>>I am in the SF Bay Area, until Thursday, for a conference, so I figured >>that I should check out the Computer History Museum, which I have never >>seen, >>to my shame. But then I found out that it is closed on Mondays and >>Tuesdays, which pretty much makes it impossible for me, as I have customer >>meetings all day Wednesday and Thursday. >> >>Does anyone else have suggestions of things worth doing, other than the >>standard Weird Stuff/Halted visits? Sorry I didn't see this earlier - hopefully you still have time for a couple more stops, both in Sunnyvale: First is Weird Stuff Warehouse - sort of a last stop before recycling for corporate cast-offs. You never know what you'll find there, and a lot of it is stuff at the bottom of the market (48-port managed Ethernet switches, etc.), but I saw an HP-2000 Access system go through there a few years ago, and there's frequently a least some bits and pieces from that era. Another fun place is Halted Specialties. Vintage test equipment, odd laboratory equipment, tons of components (new, surplus, and reclaimed) - and again, you'll never know what you'll find. I'm a lucky man in that my wife likes this place almost as much as I, so we've spent a lot of hours (and a bit of money, too) there over the years. They moved recently, after a gazillion years in the same location, and I'm not sure the new location has quite the _cachet_ of the old, but still a fun place. > FYI - My old band is playing at Slim's in San Fran the Thurs night before > VCF West, I will be there, but I have not played with the band in many > years, I will not know any of their songs to sit in unless they do some of > the oldies from my days with the band. It will be fun to pop in though, a > surprise. > > http://spindriftwest.com/wp/shows/ I'll definitely make a plan to see them - and you, if our paths cross. It would be great to meet you in person. ~~ Mark Moulding

3 2

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Bendix G-15 was Re: Univac, our first real work!
by Brian L. Stuart 29 Jun '16

29 Jun '16

On Sun, 6/26/16, David Riley <fraveydank(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Agreed on all points. I'd be highly interested in working on that, if > only I had more time... a drum emulator should be extremely simple > to make in principle, the interface will probably be the hardest > part. I've done a little thinking about that in a different context, and I think the best way to conceptualize the interface is to think in terms of two separate power domains with the interfacing being done with optoisolators. The timing aspects of the interface won't be as difficult as one might guess. The main clocking for the machine comes from the drum, so the whole machine is slaved to the drum for timing. As a result, we wouldn't have to worry about getting the data rates exact as long as simultaneity is preserved. _If_ such a restoration were to ever be attempted, I'd suggest approaching it as four tasks: 1) Develop a full emulation of the machine in such a way that the drum emulation and the rest of the machine are connected through the same interface used on the real machine. For example, using one Raspberry Pi to emulate the machine's logic and another to emulate the drum. That way the drum emulator can be developed against an emulation of the machine and the major functionality of it can be developed before attempting to tie to the real machine. 2) Restore the power supplies. Of course, we're mostly all familiar with that by now from other projects. The good news is that tube electronics of that era generally had relatively simple power supplies when compared with the complex switchers we've been using the last 40 years. 3) Set up a test bench with fixtures for testing all the tubes and all the plug-in modules. Then one-by-one go through every module in the machine, replacing tubes and repairing modules as needed. 4) Restore the original drum. Once Tasks 1, 2, and 3 are completed, we could integrate the drum emulator and would have a running G-15. I'd recommend doing Task 1 first as a proof of feasibility and competence. Then if the machine's owner were amenable, Tasks 2 and 3 could be undertaken concurrently with relatively little risk. Finally, only if it were decided to be worth the risk would any attempt be made to touch the drum. Of course, we'd want to carry out any such effort using the same level of preservation as the CHM PDP-1 project, documenting every step, preserving and labeling replaced components, etc. But I know what you mean about available time. I've been meaning to do an emulator anyway for some time, but other projects keep getting priority. What I should do is force myself to spend a Christmas break doing an emulator. Then if a restoration project were ever approved, I could try to spend most of a summer when I'm not teaching on it. Of course, the same thing applies to restoring George. BLS

2 1

[OT] In the Bay Area...On the Wrong Day
by J. Alexander Jacocks 28 Jun '16

28 Jun '16

I am in the SF Bay Area, until Thursday, for a conference, so I figured that I should check out the Computer History Museum, which I have never seen, to my shame. But then I found out that it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, which pretty much makes it impossible for me, as I have customer meetings all day Wednesday and Thursday. Does anyone else have suggestions of things worth doing, other than the standard Weird Stuff/Halted visits? - Alex

7 7