Dominique, I just had an idea. May I ask what type/style/pin-configuration of plug is on the back connector of your 1 working terminal?
Not that the plug matters as much, but I'm thinking about an easy way to build a quick interface to reverse engineer the protocol (and pinouts/cabling) that these terminals use. Besides, that would be a FASCINATING thing for me to learn about this system, anyway. And I have some diagnostic hardware that I'd like to contribute to this portion, as well. On Sun, Sep 30, 2018 at 2:16 AM AJ Palmgren <microtechd...@gmail.com> wrote: > Well, Dominique, I would encourage you to not give up. You have the only > functional version of this system that anyone has ever reported over the > Internet in recent times (as far as I've found), and I would love to help > in any way that I can. > > I also am quite busy, as are you, but this system has come to hold a > important place in my desire to preserve vintage equipment. > > The complexity of the situation may be beyond my current skill set as > well, however, I'd be very happy to contribute to the diagnosis in any way > I can. I've come up with some pretty "unorthodox" methods, over the past > few years, of reverse-engineering the way older vintage computer components > talk to each other,and one of those tricks just might be the key to > unlocking this mystery. > > Please keep us posted here. There are many here far more knowledgeable > and experienced than I, with this vintage of equipment. It's so > fascinating! > > Best always, > AJ > > > > On Wed, Sep 26, 2018 at 4:50 AM Dominique Carlier <d...@skynet.be> wrote: > >> Hello AJ >> >> Thank you for your interest in my project ;-) >> >> Unfortunately I was stopped by some technical problems. >> >> As I was studying ways to create bootable tapes for my DCC-166 when it >> started to present troubles. >> >> It started with illegible characters (like a bad charset) on the only >> operational terminal I have. Despite this he continued to boot from the >> Diablo 44. >> Then I tried to reinstall from a bootable tape with DIDOS, the operating >> system of Nixdorf, and there it does not work anymore. >> >> Is it because the terminal is not properly working? Is it because there >> is a problem with the nine track tape? Is the disc of my Diablo 44 altered? >> Is it all problems are from a PSU problem? I do not know. >> I cleaned the tape drive, the disk platter, the heads, I clean all >> connectors (boards), checked what I could at the level of power supply. I >> still have not found the cause of the breakdown(s). >> >> I have not had the time yet but I am going to create a new topic on >> cctalk about this, unfortunately, I already feel that this troubleshooting >> will require knowledge beyond my skills. >> >> Well, we'll see ;-) >> >> Dominique >> >> On 25/09/2018 08:01, AJ Palmgren wrote: >> >> Dominique, >> >> Might you have any updates on your Nixdorf 620 / Entrex 480 system? I am >> quite interested, and it's been a while since I've seen any email with >> these keywords here, from you or anyone. >> >> Someday, it is my hope that I might take a tour of your system in >> Belgium, on my next trip to the region, if you would be open to this. I am >> quite fascinated by this rare dinosaur of a system. >> >> I have begun to archive your work, and everything else I've ever found >> about the Entrex 480 systems here: >> >> http://Entrex480.com >> >> Like your system restoration, it is a work in progress... >> >> Best always, >> AJ >> >> >> >> On Tue, Jan 16, 2018 at 9:52 AM Dominique Carlier via cctalk < >> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: >> >>> I understand very well your concerns about sending by mail rare data on >>> magnetic media. It's a pity that I live so far away (in Belgium), even >>> if I have not finished to configure my machines, at the end I should be >>> able to write anything on any media, and concerning magnetic tapes it >>> will be from 500 to 6250 bpi. >>> >>> If one day you find in your stock a communication board for Nova 1200 >>> that you do not use please note that I am a potential buyer. >>> >>> In the meantime, I have to find solutions to reopen all my old monsters >>> to the outside world ;-) >>> >>> Dominique >>> >>> On 16/01/2018 15:19, Jay West via cctalk wrote: >>> > The 'other Jay' wrote... >>> > ---------------------------------- >>> > Diagnostics for DG systems are notoriously difficult to find. I have >>> a few, in listing format. >>> > ---------------------------------- >>> > I have a full official DG-issued/labeled original diagnostic OS tape. >>> I do believe it is at 800bpi though. If I had an 800 bpi drive (everything >>> I have is 1600-6250) I'd image it for everyone. >>> > >>> > I have a nice S/130 rack that I was almost finished restoring till >>> Bruce Ray stopped responding. It's been sitting in my workshop for years >>> now and I may have to just get rid of it. Next to it is a pile of about 8 >>> nova 800/1200 cpus (all stuffed with boards) that I was going to start on >>> next, but was waiting till the S/130 was done. I'd like to get done with >>> them so I can move on to other machines that need to be restored... but may >>> have to just move them out altogether. >>> > >>> > I'm wary of just sending the tape through the mail for imaging.... >>> maybe I can find someone local with an 800 bpi tape drive and eric smith's >>> tapeutils. >>> > >>> > J >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> >>> >> >> -- >> >> Thanks, >> AJ Palmgren >> http://fb.me/SelmaTrainWreck >> http://SelmaTrainWreck.blogspot.com >> https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283 >> https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/ >> >> >> >> > > -- > > Thanks, > AJ Palmgren > http://fb.me/SelmaTrainWreck > http://SelmaTrainWreck.blogspot.com > https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283 > https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/ > > > -- Thanks, AJ Palmgren http://fb.me/SelmaTrainWreck http://SelmaTrainWreck.blogspot.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283 https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/