- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

DEC Real Time Clock board wanted - ETOS
by Jack Rubin 20 Nov '15

20 Nov '15

I'm hoping to build a system to run ETOS, a PDP-8 multiuser system. One of the requirements is a system clock for time slicing and stamping. I'm looking for either an M882 (line frequency) or M8830 (crystal controlled) clock card. Anyone have a spare? Working preferred but anything will do. Happy to buy or trade. Thanks, Jack

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Unix manuals available
by Kelly Leavitt 18 Nov '15

18 Nov '15

Miscellaneous manuals for Unix software. Wordperfect for Unix dBase for Unix Lotus 123 for Unix SCO Unix manuals Any interest? I can bring them to Festivus if I get them out of the attic in time. Kelly

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Zilog System 8000
by Herb Johnson 18 Nov '15

18 Nov '15

> Your tape drive has also a capstan which went to goo over the past > 30 years, so please do not just put them into the drive without > fixing that first. The following are suggestions I'm not implemented, but they seem plausible to me based on other's discussions and some related experience. Please report any results. Consider making another capstan, otherwise called a "pressure roller". In the end, it's a stiff rubber wheel on a bronze bearing with an internal diameter to fit on some roller. Examine your drive or others of same brand and model to determine dimensions. Keep in mind: it's the metal drive roller which determines tape speed, not the roller. It's possible a piece of bronze can be machined to be the correct size, then rubber molded around it, and then carefully machine the rubber to the correct diameter. There are two-part rubber compounds which when mixed and cured are quite stiff. Or, obtain another larger roller and cut it to fit. Rubber can be abraded in a lathe at low speed. Stiff rubber pieces are often sold as furniture bumpers or "corks" for pipe and "test tubes". These machining operations may require practice, and old tape drives can be found to make test rollers - as all you really need to do is drive the capstan motor and monitor tape speed for stability. Any signal on any tape can be watched on an oscilloscope and tape speed determined. A stable signal means tape speed is stable, a wriggly signal means tape speed is varying, probably at the rotation rate of the capstan pressure wheel, or rotation rate of the drive capstan, or due to other irregularities. Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Replicating Boot Drive, VAX
by william degnan 18 Nov '15

18 Nov '15

Reading up about VAX 4000 support. I have a three drive 4000-200 in the BA430 enclosure. It also has a tape drive and ethernet device Question - Do you formerly MARCH and now VCFedgerationites who are also VAX users with similar systems maintain more than one bootable drive as a rule of thumb? I am not detecting any issues with my primary drive but I don't want to take chances. Just curious what kinds of support strategy ideas you may have. I have the manuals and have been reading up on backups, etc. I just got a new hard drive and I need to replace a bad drive, amd I was thinking now would be a good time to set as the 2nd bootable drive, before I put anything on it. I thus could experiment with one drive knowing I have a fall-back that will boot. I am also reading up about how the three drives worth together, it's not as simple as "three independent hard drives" as far as I can tell. Interesting and complex file system. -- Bill

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Wanted: Commodore PET
by Todd George 18 Nov '15

18 Nov '15

First, my apologies if this somehow shows up on the list twice, I think there was an issue with how I have my email that is registered with the new list configured. Anyway... Been looking for a Commodore PET for a while. None have shown up locally on CraigsList. The eBay ones are either too far away (trying to avoid huge shipping costs and/or damage) or are overpriced. Anyone with MARCH/VCFed have an extra or spare (need NOT be working) that they'd like to (or be willing to) part with (for someone who would appreciate it immensely)?? I would like one with a standard keyboard, not the chicklet. Otherwise, I've got very little preference. As I said, shipping tends to be really expensive on these. Something local-ish would work better. Willing to trade stuff or pay cash. Festivus? Contact me off-list. Thanks!!! -Todd

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Semi-OT: FS: 20 MHz Leader dual channel oscilloscope
by Systems Glitch 17 Nov '15

17 Nov '15

All, I figured I'd offer this to the group before listing it on eBay. I've got a small "student" oscilloscope, I believe a LS 1020, for sale. Limited in bandwidth but adequate for most vintage computer repairs, general hobby use, et c. It's a barebones unit from the Virginia Tech physics department, completely analog with no storage, but it does work and has a nice, bright CRT. It's fairly small and light. I can confirm model numbers if anyone is interested -- it's still in the truck with the rest of the test equipment from the VT Surplus Auction. Looking for $75, doesn't include probes but I'm sure I can dig up a pair for a little bit more. I can ship, but would prefer to exchange at the festivus get-together. Thanks, Jonathan

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ODYSSEY 2 on Craigs list in LI
by Kelly Leavitt 17 Nov '15

17 Nov '15

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/sys/5313961495.html I want it, but I don't want to drive out there. Anyone else interested? Kelly

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Zilog System 8000
by Herb Johnson 17 Nov '15

17 Nov '15

http://pics.pofo.de/gallery3/index.php/S8000/Repair/tapedrive If this is the correct series of photos for your tape drive, then the rubber roller which is driven by the tape drive motor IS, repeat IS, of critical dimensions. Please verify. Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Lack Of Windows 3.1 Technicians Causes Traffic Backup At French Airport
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 17 Nov '15

17 Nov '15

Kelly Leavitt via vcf-midatlantic writes: >A little OT for this group: > >http://consumerist.com/2015/11/13/lack-of-windows-3-1-technicians-causes-tr= >affic-backup-at-french-airport/ One of the reasons I do NOT fly into Paris. I fly into London and take the Chunnel train to the other .EU countries! WEENDOZE... the only winning move is not to play!

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Lack Of Windows 3.1 Technicians Causes Traffic Backup At French Airport
by Kelly Leavitt 17 Nov '15

17 Nov '15

A little OT for this group: http://consumerist.com/2015/11/13/lack-of-windows-3-1-technicians-causes-tr…

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