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8-bit ISA slot Single Board Computer
by Herb Johnson 20 Sep '16

20 Sep '16

Joseph Oprysko posted: > Is anyone here aware of such a beast? I have a Heathkit/Zenith Z-150 > system. It's motherboard is literally just an 8-Bit ISA backplane, the > computer occupies 4 of the ISA slots. I have Z-150 and related documentation. Zenith/Heath produced a number of models of ISA computers which used passive backplanes and several ISA boards to complete the PC-nearly-compatible computer. Other Zenith products used IBM-type motherboards with most of the PC functions on that board. http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/zenith_mans.html#z148 > I'm curious if there exists a Single Board Computer that would work in the > 8-bit slots. > > What I would actually like to try is to have multiple SBC's on the ISA bus, > and have them communicate with each other. There may be single-board PC's which fit a single 8-bit ISA slot. But many were 16-bit ISA, the longer slot. And the PC-104 stackable bus standard, is essentially the ISA bus on a different connector. YOu can look up PC-104 if that's not familiar. Running multiple ISA-bus "masters" on one ISA bus, may be a problem. Briefly: they each expect to drive the bus as a single master. There may be products that can share the bus with each other. (shrug) you'll have to do some homework to become familiar with such things; and then of course find now-vintage products which will share the bus; and of course determine how to set them up, boot up sequences, who is in charge when, and so on. Likely more common, are slave CPU boards, where a task or a user gets a CPU on a board with memory and I/O; but uses the bus to share resources like hard drives. this was common in S-100 TurboDOS systems. Some of the S-100 "IEEE-696" CPU boards, can release the bus to another CPU or DMA bus-master; some of those boards are fairly functional "computers". Multibus did this too. But I'm guessing the idea, is to use IBM-PC ISA-class products, to check out multiple bus-masters and multiple CPU's, in a vintage way. a modified ISA backplane, may be such a way. A custom backplane may be able to adapt ISA "no share" bus masters to access common ISA bus devices. But you might look at PC-104; they are smaller cards, more integrated and so with more features; and they may have a multi-master standard as part of PC-104. And of course, they are vintage now. ;) Herb JOhnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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8-bit ISA slot Single Board Computer
by Joseph Oprysko 20 Sep '16

20 Sep '16

Is anyone here aware of such a beast? I have a Heathkit/Zenith Z-150 system. It's motherboard is literally just an 8-Bit ISA backplane, the computer occupies 4 of the ISA slots. I'm curious if there exists a Single Board Computer that would work in the 8-bit slots. What I would actually like to try is to have multiple SBC's on the ISA bus, and have them communicate with each other. If anyone knows if such a board exists, I'd appreciate the help. Joe -- 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?

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Looking for a dead Vectrex, the deader the better
by Corey Cohen 20 Sep '16

20 Sep '16

I have a Vectrex with a case cracked bad enough that it's not fixable. The unit works great. I have two options. One convert to a desktop arcade it using a custom wood case or find a cheap dead Vectrex. I prefer the second option. Anyone have a dead Vectrex they'd be willing to sell at a reasonable price? Don't need controllers. Thanks, Corey corey cohen uǝɥoɔ ʎǝɹoɔ

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Workshop -- Univac Status / Progress
by Bill Dromgoole 20 Sep '16

20 Sep '16

The 1532 is well on its way to being an I/O console again. Installed new capstan for the reader and have the paper tape punch almost fully working. The main problem is the punched index holes have hanging chads. I changed the paper tape roll between tests because the tape kept breaking between the reel and the first roller. I change the half twist in the tape to the other direction and think that is what actually stopped the tape from breaking. Not 100% sure. https://goo.gl/photos/ng88qoiRgDuPoaXEA https://goo.gl/photos/NWNZb65ZQub9rXv49 The tape being used in the video was punched by copying another piece of tape we had at the museum. The text printed on the teletype looks like Z80 assembly code. In this video the Univac 1532 input / output console is reading a paper tape while simultaneously copying the contents to the teletype and punching another paper tape. https://goo.gl/photos/AH5sZcEkqMUzWAWFA . Tried to open 1219 power supply drawer for inspection but could not. Look like the bottom of drawer is being squeezed by the pallet. I think I convinced Evan we need to make a custom pallet that extends two feet or so in front of computer using 3/4" plywood and 4"x 4" rails. He seemed excited about the possibility to move the Univac items closer together with custom pallets. We will also bolt the computer to the pallet to prevent tipping over when opening the upper drawers. Also installed new 1219 nameplate grill and air filter. Still needs small grill but the computer in the warehouse has one. Looked for desk for teletype mounting but the one we need is smaller than normal and only has drawers on the left side. Keeping an eye out for one. We are currently working on building an RS-232 interface to the NTDS slow interface (Mil-Std 1397) so we can fully test the 1532 console from its I/O connectors. We could possibly use it for some testing with the Univac 1219 also after it is powered up. We spoke to the electrician and made plans for a 220 volt power jack near the 1219 and 1532 . There is room there also for our three phase 400 Hz motor/generator set. We completed all the cable assemblies needed to power the 1219 computer including a local on/off switch and current monitoring capabilities. The 400 Hz generator was load tested at one of our previous workshops and seems to be fully operational. Hopefully we will apply power to the computer at one of the workshops this winter. Bill Dromgoole

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Museum updates
by Evan Koblentz 19 Sep '16

19 Sep '16

Some neat things happened in the museum during this past weekend's workshop. The sign from Tekserve arrived: http://vcfed.org/evan/teksign.jpg. New-ish member Bill I. brought in a vintage rack-mounted plotter to use with our EAI TR-20 analog computer. We hunted around InfoAge's storage buildings and found the PERFECT rack to use for this: it's got a blue chassis frame and shelves (same shade as the TR-20 itself) and a silver door frame (same as the plotter). It was already pretty clean; a simple wipe-down with Windex and paper towels removed the rest. And it's got a magnetic door latch with a standard locking mechanism. Other than lacking caster wheels, which we can add later, there couldn't be a better choice. Pure luck that IA happened to have this rack in a readily available spot and nobody else needed it. Here's a picture: http://vcfed.org/evan/tr20rack.jpg. We positioned it in the museum between George (the 1958 Philbrick computer) and the IBM 1130. Ignore the wire shelving rack to the left of it; that was temporary. Bottom of the rack will be used to store TR-20 documents and accessories. We also put some cinder blocks on the bottom of the rack for safety. We acquired the 2.4 cubic ft. mini-fridge funded by a club member who requested anonymity. We also bought two 32" LED TVs. One will go on our hallway wall and the other will hang from our ceiling to greet visitors. We adopted a second rack, this time a modern one with a Compaq logo on front, which will go into the museum workshop area -- mini fridge on bottom :) and storage or servers on top! But we're going to change it out for a different one that has side panels (this one didn't). Martin from OMARC is providing the replacement which is an HP rack with a nice-looking mesh door. Corey brought in plexi and the special drill bit. We installed this in front of the shelves for the modern history exhibit using temporary screws because the right ones we're handy. Jeff J. brought us the right screws. We'll swap them soon. The electrician stopped by again to take another look at our circuit and lighting needs.

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Festivus reminder
by Jeffrey Brace 19 Sep '16

19 Sep '16

Festivus will be Dec. 3 & 4. Starting at 10 on 12/3 and ending about 5pm on Dec. 4. I will be organizing this in the coming months. -- Jeff Brace - ark72axow(a)gmail.com

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Starting workshop day 2 @ 9am Sunday
by Evan Koblentz 18 Sep '16

18 Sep '16

End of message.

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Workshop 9/17 & 9/18 important info
by Jeffrey Brace 16 Sep '16

16 Sep '16

Everyone who has already told me that they are coming will have a table. If you haven't told me, then there is no guarantee and you will have to carry one over from the hotel building or 9032-A. Temperature is great in that room and HVAC is new so we can stay comfortable in there. LOCATION: InfoAge Building 9010A - (2201 Marconi Road, Wall Township, NJ) TIME: Start about 10 A.M. on Saturday and ends whenever we go to sleep. End about 5 P.M. on Sunday. (Starts around 10 A.M. Sunday morning) COST: $10 for all members attending the workshop, which VCF donates to InfoAge as thanks for providing the space for us. $25 for those wanting to stay overnight. Please pay me when you get there so that I don't forget. EQUIPMENT: VCF will provide a table and you can use any available electrical outlet. Bring your own tools, power strips, power cords and supplies etc. DRINKS: You should bring your own. I would recommend bringing a cooler of some type. FOOD: You provide your own. We may order pizza or go out to a dinner. Usually we make a decision when everyone gets hungry. GATE: During the hours from 1pm to 5pm close the front gate behind you. We want museum visitors to go to the front lobby and not wander through the middle of the campus. Outside of those times you can feel free to leave the gate open. PARKING: Park across from 9010A on the grass area. QUESTIONS? Please ask me (Jeff Brace) or Evan. My cell is 732-759-1783 and Evan’s is 646-546-9999 in case you need to contact us. See everyone there! And have fun! -- Jeff Brace - ark72axow(a)gmail.com

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C64 CRT monitors vs LCD (was: PC speakers needed)
by Herb Johnson 16 Sep '16

16 Sep '16

Responding to posted comments and responses. First, thanks for considering my propositions. Here's my responses, and that concludes my posting on the subject. 1) CRT monitors by exhibitors are up to them, not VCF Inc. Roganti/Brace exhibit is their's, not VCF Inc's. Anyway, the museum has these CRT monitors, they are not hard to move around the Infoage site. I suggest that VCF Inc amounts to a sponsor of Roganti/Brace's vintage-computing development, by the museum's extraordinary efforts to provide a large exhibit space, and big tables with big monitors from the museum - which consume space and electric power and of course use of VCF Inc equipment. Jeff says CRT monitors aren't so easily set up; I'm responding to that. Specifically, for that exhibit, I suggest using LCD monitors would allow use of LESS space, putting the SMALLER monitors, right in front of the users. Old people with normal vision issues will find them easier to see, than big monitors many feet away and elevated. Issues of space, electric power, and user access are reasonable for VCF Inc to consider. Museums often sponsor exhibition projects, even development, with funds, exhibit apparatus, etc. This is entirely between VCF Inc and the Roganti/Brace project of course. I'm responding to issues raised, here. 2) exhibitors should use period monitors with period vintage computers. Exhibitors often exhibit many, large, items.... Mostly reasonable - except, well, I'll cut to the chase here. I am old, Evan, and getting older. I'm driving a compact car, not a van or station wagon. Soon, I won't be able to LIFT heavy monitors. And big square monitors - or CRT terminals - take up table space too, which I need for other purposes. I'm already choosing LCD's over CRT terminals; if I need video I'll use an LCD. For many vintage computers - and this is true - video was not part of their product line. So how and what displays video (or just text), is secondary. 3) LCD TV's can still be found at thrift stores.... Correct - today. Not tomorrow, which was my point. And it depends on where you shop; many thrift stores just avoid any electronics. And so on. Also: thrift store customers want BIGGER TV's, not smaller ones - for our vintage computing, smaller is fine for close-up vintage experience. Today at a flea market of tools, I bought a 14" LCD analog TV. He wanted $10, I paid $5. I guarantee, that guy won't bother to offer another LCD TV in the future. I repeat - eventually the well will run dry. 4) LCD (VGA's) seem like more work and expense, wiring up converters, devices.... Excuse me - I said "LCD analog TV's". They accept NTSC video, many accept analog RGB video too. Most just need an AC cord and an RCA-connector video cable. Most have their own speakers (two more RCA cables). They are MORE convenient than CRT monitors, that's my point! ------------ Of course, for those for whom the brand and model of video monitor is part of the presentation or experience - or the core of their presentation - the correct monitor (or terminal) matters - no argument from me. But there's other considerations, which I've described; and I've responded to counter-claims; and I'm done. Also, I gave supportive suggestions to the Roganti/Brace C64 multiplayer project. I hope I've made useful suggestions and observations. Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Stuff to sell at workshop
by Evan Koblentz 16 Sep '16

16 Sep '16

I have a Dell laptop running Mint 18 and an old Simpson meter to sell at the workshop this weekend. Any reasonable offer accepted.

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