Various notes about the workshop follow... - Jeff G. is almost done making one good/working IMSAI from the two parts machines that were formerly Roger Amidon's. When it is totally done, then we will make a video to show it is fully working and we'll sell the computer on eBay. This is to maximize its value because the proceeds will be donated to Roger's family. Jeff had some (remote) help from Herb (documentation) and Glitch (ZPU board). - Ian repaired VCF's PET 2001 (replaced the magic smoke!) and IBM 5150 (disconnected a faulty memory expansion board that was causing trouble). He and Dean also repaired the modern(ish) PC that we're going to use as a BBS server -- I couldn't get any video from it; turns out the CF card adapter that Dean installed as an SSD (8GB was fine because it's only running DOS) was being pushed down by another component and bending the motherboard! We improved the other component by cutting out an infringing piece of metal bracket. :) He also helped Tony with a CRT issue and helped Jeff B. with one of Jeff's 64s. - We have a new member, Marco (15 yrs. old), who brought in his iMac. It needed a lot of work + CRT repair. Ian helped him and used parts from one of our spares. - Jason Perkins brought in a very nice/modern rack console for us and showed me how to install it. - I ordered the wrong patch panel. Got the correct one coming soon. - Mike Lowen worked on VCF's Zorba portable computer. It needs more TLC than he could do at the workshop, so I let him take it home for further repair. Mike got his own HP-3000 working! Exciting stuff. - Bill Drom. got the UNIVAC running more reliably and taught me, Tony, and Dean how to turn it on + do a quick 1-minute demonstration (it tests all of the CPU's 102 instructions and tests 40K of core memory). I will show other docents. - Bill and Mike helped me troubleshoot + repair the Compaq Portable III that I need working for my HOPE lecture. Lego card wasn't talking to the interface box. Turns out the problem was a dirty connector between the computer and its "backpack" card expansion module. Deoxit solved that. - Dean helped me learn how to use the STICK and STRIG (presumbably derived from "Stick Trigger") commands in Compaq's flavor of IBM/MS BASIC. Different from the Applesoft that I know, where stick control is PDL(0)/PDL(1) and reading the buttons is PEEK(49249) and PEEK(49250). - I'm not sure what else Jason, Jeff J., Tony, and Ian worked on.
I installed the DOM Glitch donated in the Lisa's XProfile, and reinstalled all the software. I then made a backup copy on the DOM, so we can restore the software easily if needed. The Museum's Lisa now has the Lisa Guide loaded on the hard disk, which makes for a good demo. -J On Mon, Jul 2, 2018 at 11:46 AM, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Various notes about the workshop follow...
- Jeff G. is almost done making one good/working IMSAI from the two parts machines that were formerly Roger Amidon's. When it is totally done, then we will make a video to show it is fully working and we'll sell the computer on eBay. This is to maximize its value because the proceeds will be donated to Roger's family. Jeff had some (remote) help from Herb (documentation) and Glitch (ZPU board).
- Ian repaired VCF's PET 2001 (replaced the magic smoke!) and IBM 5150 (disconnected a faulty memory expansion board that was causing trouble). He and Dean also repaired the modern(ish) PC that we're going to use as a BBS server -- I couldn't get any video from it; turns out the CF card adapter that Dean installed as an SSD (8GB was fine because it's only running DOS) was being pushed down by another component and bending the motherboard! We improved the other component by cutting out an infringing piece of metal bracket. :) He also helped Tony with a CRT issue and helped Jeff B. with one of Jeff's 64s.
- We have a new member, Marco (15 yrs. old), who brought in his iMac. It needed a lot of work + CRT repair. Ian helped him and used parts from one of our spares.
- Jason Perkins brought in a very nice/modern rack console for us and showed me how to install it.
- I ordered the wrong patch panel. Got the correct one coming soon.
- Mike Lowen worked on VCF's Zorba portable computer. It needs more TLC than he could do at the workshop, so I let him take it home for further repair. Mike got his own HP-3000 working! Exciting stuff.
- Bill Drom. got the UNIVAC running more reliably and taught me, Tony, and Dean how to turn it on + do a quick 1-minute demonstration (it tests all of the CPU's 102 instructions and tests 40K of core memory). I will show other docents.
- Bill and Mike helped me troubleshoot + repair the Compaq Portable III that I need working for my HOPE lecture. Lego card wasn't talking to the interface box. Turns out the problem was a dirty connector between the computer and its "backpack" card expansion module. Deoxit solved that.
- Dean helped me learn how to use the STICK and STRIG (presumbably derived from "Stick Trigger") commands in Compaq's flavor of IBM/MS BASIC. Different from the Applesoft that I know, where stick control is PDL(0)/PDL(1) and reading the buttons is PEEK(49249) and PEEK(49250).
- I'm not sure what else Jason, Jeff J., Tony, and Ian worked on.
-- Jason Perkins 313 355 0085
I installed the DOM Glitch donated in the Lisa's XProfile, and reinstalled all the software. I then made a backup copy on the DOM, so we can restore the software easily if needed. The Museum's Lisa now has the Lisa Guide loaded on the hard disk, which makes for a good demo.
How did I forget that??? Sorry .... you also won first-to-smoke! :)
On Mon, 2 Jul 2018, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
How did I forget that??? Sorry .... you also won first-to-smoke! :)
More like first to explode! Mike Loewen mloewen@cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/
- Bill Drom. got the UNIVAC running more reliably and taught me, Tony, and Dean how to turn it on + do a quick 1-minute demonstration (it tests all of the CPU's 102 instructions and tests 40K of core memory). I will show other docents.
Drom also brought us a framed drawing of the type of Navy ship that used the UNIVAC 1219B. I'll hang it up in that exhibit.
On Mon, 2 Jul 2018, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
- Mike Loewen worked on VCF's Zorba portable computer. It needs more TLC than he could do at the workshop, so I let him take it home for further repair. Mike got his own HP-3000 working! Exciting stuff.
I also repaired a broken toggle switch on the HP 2117F in the museum and showed Bill how to enter and run a quick demo from the front panel. Mike Loewen mloewen@cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/
I also repaired a broken toggle switch on the HP 2117F in the museum and showed Bill how to enter and run a quick demo from the front panel.
That's two major things I forgot to report! @#$@#$% Not only did Mike fix the vital 'store' switch on that computer, he also showed me how the fix is done.
Is there a write up somewhere on the HP and Univac? I'd like to be able to demo them as well. On Mon, Jul 2, 2018 at 2:12 PM, Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
On Mon, 2 Jul 2018, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
- Mike Loewen worked on VCF's Zorba portable computer. It needs more TLC
than he could do at the workshop, so I let him take it home for further repair. Mike got his own HP-3000 working! Exciting stuff.
I also repaired a broken toggle switch on the HP 2117F in the museum and showed Bill how to enter and run a quick demo from the front panel.
Mike Loewen mloewen@cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/
Is there a write up somewhere on the HP and Univac? I'd like to be able to demo them as well.
Mike L. has a writeup of the HP demo at the bottom of http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/HP/HP1000/ -- it's pretty easy to do. I will email you other important details, no need to post this to the whole list. :) I'll also send UNIVAC instructions.
In the "Notes" section of this page, there are two front panel programs and instructions for entering them: http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/HP/HP1000/ In order to power on the system: 1. Turn on the power strip behind the rack (left rear as you look at it). 2. Retrieve the front panel key from the lock box. 3. Use the key to open the front panel, then turn on the white breaker-switch on the power supply: http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/HP/HP1000/2109E-3L.jpg 4. Close the panel. The register LEDs should count up in binary during the memory self-tet. 5. When the self-test is complete, you may enter the program. Be GENTLE with the front panel switches! The instruction codes are in octal. The display register is laid out as 6 octal numbers, with the leftmost (15, MSB) containing only one bit. The registers are selected by the horizontal left-right button under the register select LEDs. To power off the system, press HALT, then open the panel and turn off the white breaker. Finally, turn off the power strip. On Tue, 10 Jul 2018, Drew Notarnicola wrote:
Is there a write up somewhere on the HP and Univac? I'd like to be able to demo them as well.
On Mon, Jul 2, 2018 at 2:12 PM, Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
On Mon, 2 Jul 2018, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
- Mike Loewen worked on VCF's Zorba portable computer. It needs more TLC
than he could do at the workshop, so I let him take it home for further repair. Mike got his own HP-3000 working! Exciting stuff.
I also repaired a broken toggle switch on the HP 2117F in the museum and showed Bill how to enter and run a quick demo from the front panel.
Mike Loewen mloewen@cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/
Mike Loewen mloewen@cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/
With the discussion on demoing front panel computers how has the straight 8 been doing? After last servicing it seemed to be running reasonably well. It seemed to occasionally corrupt an instruction on power on/off.
participants (6)
-
David Gesswein -
Douglas Crawford -
Drew Notarnicola -
Evan Koblentz -
Jason Perkins -
Mike Loewen