Re: HP-35/45 Simulator for PDP-8

[Mark J. Blair]

> On Sep 4, 2016, at 21:39, Kyle Owen  wrote:
> 
> Just thought I'd share with you all one of my pet projects for the past few
> years. I have written an HP-35 and HP-45 simulator for the PDP-8, which
> uses the original microcode from these calculators. Thus, it is just as
> accurate as the original calculators, I would believe.

That is silly, fantastic, absurd, and wonderful. All at the same time.

-- 
Mark J. Blair, NF6X 
http://www.nf6x.net/

Re: DEC Indicator Panels pag

[Michael Thompson]

>
> On Thu, Aug 18, 2016 at 8:56 AM, Noel Chiappa 
> wrote:
> > So, I've been working for a while on a page about DEC indicator panels
> (the
> > standardized 36x4 light arrays which go into a 19" rack, with an inlay to
> > customize it to a particular device). It's online now, here:
> >
> >   http://ana-3.lcs.mit.edu/~jnc/tech/DECIndicatorPanels.html
> >
> > Does anyone happen to have a good image of an RK08 panel, or an RF11,
> which I
> > can use here?
> >
> > Even better, does anyone know of, or have images of, panels which are not
> > listed here? (I am not including the unknown 'RK' panel in the RSTS
> document,
> > which will be the subject of a separate message.)
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Noel
>

How about PDP-9 panels?

TC02, 18-bit DECtape controller


TC59, 18-bit Magnetic Tape controller


-- 
Michael Thompson

HP-35/45 Simulator for PDP-8

[Kyle Owen]

Just thought I'd share with you all one of my pet projects for the past few
years. I have written an HP-35 and HP-45 simulator for the PDP-8, which
uses the original microcode from these calculators. Thus, it is just as
accurate as the original calculators, I would believe.

Not really sure why I decided to do this, but I suppose I enjoy both HP
calculators and PDP-8 programming. I guess it's nice to have a scientific
calculator at one's disposal too while sitting in front of a PDP-8, too. It
also shows that something like this could've existed back in the early
1970s if one were so inclined to do it. Perhaps it's also a bit of homage
to the Expensive Desk Calculator for the TX-0 and PDP-1.

Anyways, you can grab the code from here:
https://github.com/drovak/hpcalcpdp8

The HP-45 support is new as of the past couple of days; I went ahead and
through in a help function to explain the keys. Toggle between 4XXX and
0XXX on the switch register to toggle between HP-45 and HP-35 modes,
respectively. Feel free to give feedback; I've tested it fairly extensively
in SimH with no major issues other than no error indication on the HP-35. I
have a debug mode which prints each register every instruction cycle, but I
haven't used it too much in recent times; I went ahead and IFDEF'ed it as
it also reads from the switch register.

OS/8 support will come soon, as that shouldn't be challenging. You need 8k
to run this, though I also uploaded my original hp35pdp8.pal code which
runs in 4k. It lacks the help function (and obviously the HP-45 simulator),
but otherwise, works pretty much the same.

Big thanks to Eric Smith for his 'nonpareil' work which inspired much of
the simulator.

Kyle

Re: vt100 terminfo with padding for an actual vt100?

[Fritz Mueller]

> On Sep 4, 2016, at 6:08 PM, william degnan  wrote:
> 
> Even better, I found this post, this is my how to attach a vt100 to a VAX
> 4000, you can apply to most any case


Hi Bill,

Thanks for you help!

I will say that I have the getty running fine, baud rate, serial format, etc. 
all okay.  Works just fine at 1200 baud and below.  At higher baud rates, it 
seems like the vt100 is dropping some characters or bits after certain escape 
sequences, even with xon/xoff flow control enabled, so I’m *pretty* sure the 
issue is just with the padding values in the vt100 terminfo spec?

To answer your question, though: since this is Ubuntu 16.04, systemd based, it 
runs agetty, and has no inittab.  The sorta equivalent under systemd is 
serial-getty@.service, which on my system looks like what is posted below.  
I’ve also posted the effective terminfo (from infocmp) below that.

cheers,
   —FritzM.

 snip -

#  This file is part of systemd.
#
#  systemd is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
#  under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
#  the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
#  (at your option) any later version.

[Unit]
Description=Serial Getty on %I
Documentation=man:agetty(8) man:systemd-getty-generator(8)
Documentation=http://0pointer.de/blog/projects/serial-console.html
BindsTo=dev-%i.device
After=dev-%i.device systemd-user-sessions.service plymouth-quit-wait.service
After=rc-local.service

# If additional gettys are spawned during boot then we should make
# sure that this is synchronized before getty.target, even though
# getty.target didn't actually pull it in.
Before=getty.target
IgnoreOnIsolate=yes

[Service]
Environment=TERM=vt100
ExecStart=-/sbin/agetty --keep-baud 115200,38400,19200,9600,4800,1200 %I $TERM
Type=idle
Restart=always
UtmpIdentifier=%I
TTYPath=/dev/%I
TTYReset=yes
TTYVHangup=yes
KillMode=process
IgnoreSIGPIPE=no
SendSIGHUP=yes

[Install]
WantedBy=getty.target

 snip -

#   Reconstructed via infocmp from file: /lib/terminfo/v/vt100
vt100|vt100-am|dec vt100 (w/advanced video),
am, mc5i, msgr, xenl, xon,
cols#80, it#8, lines#24, vt#3,
acsc=``aaffggjjkkllmmnnooppqqrrssttuuvvwwxxyyzz{{||}}~~,
bel=^G, blink=\E[5m$<2>, bold=\E[1m$<2>,
clear=\E[H\E[J$<50>, cr=^M, csr=\E[%i%p1%d;%p2%dr,
cub=\E[%p1%dD, cub1=^H, cud=\E[%p1%dB, cud1=^J,
cuf=\E[%p1%dC, cuf1=\E[C$<2>,
cup=\E[%i%p1%d;%p2%dH$<5>, cuu=\E[%p1%dA,
cuu1=\E[A$<2>, ed=\E[J$<50>, el=\E[K$<3>, el1=\E[1K$<3>,
enacs=\E(B\E)0, home=\E[H, ht=^I, hts=\EH, ind=^J, ka1=\EOq,
ka3=\EOs, kb2=\EOr, kbs=^H, kc1=\EOp, kc3=\EOn, kcub1=\EOD,
kcud1=\EOB, kcuf1=\EOC, kcuu1=\EOA, kent=\EOM, kf0=\EOy,
kf1=\EOP, kf10=\EOx, kf2=\EOQ, kf3=\EOR, kf4=\EOS, kf5=\EOt,
kf6=\EOu, kf7=\EOv, kf8=\EOl, kf9=\EOw, lf1=pf1, lf2=pf2,
lf3=pf3, lf4=pf4, mc0=\E[0i, mc4=\E[4i, mc5=\E[5i, rc=\E8,
rev=\E[7m$<2>, ri=\EM$<5>, rmacs=^O, rmam=\E[?7l,
rmkx=\E[?1l\E>, rmso=\E[m$<2>, rmul=\E[m$<2>,
rs2=\E>\E[?3l\E[?4l\E[?5l\E[?7h\E[?8h, sc=\E7,

sgr=\E[0%?%p1%p6%|%t;1%;%?%p2%t;4%;%?%p1%p3%|%t;7%;%?%p4%t;5%;m%?%p9%t\016%e\017%;$<2>,
sgr0=\E[m\017$<2>, smacs=^N, smam=\E[?7h, smkx=\E[?1h\E=,
smso=\E[7m$<2>, smul=\E[4m$<2>, tbc=\E[3g,

Re: RQDX3 as secondary MSCP controller

[Charles Dickman]

Hi Mark,

On Sun, Aug 28, 2016 at 6:19 PM, Mark G Thomas  wrote:

>
> The difficulty I am having is I would like to configure the system with
> both MSCP controller cards installed, so I can boot from either SCSI or
> floppy, preferably with the SCSI still starting at DU0 so my BSD2.11 CFs
> remain portable to my other system.
>

I have the same board configuration but with the quad wide KDJ11
processor and it works fine. So it may be something about the
processor and ROM instead of the RQDX3.

>
> Another oddness I noted was that with my original RQDX3 config, if I
> plug the M7516 ethernet card in, that breaks booting from floppy.
>

This shouldn't happen if the CSR addresses don't conflict.

Could it be something with the backplane?

-chuck

Re: vt100 terminfo with padding for an actual vt100?

[william degnan]

On Sep 4, 2016 9:03 PM, "william degnan"  wrote:
>
>
> On Sep 4, 2016 8:10 PM, "Fritz Mueller"  wrote:
> >
> > Hi all —
> >
> > I’m trying to run a real-deal vt100 on a serial port connected to Linux
(Xubunto 16.04).  I’ve got this working *pretty* well, but it looks like
the padding values in the default vt100 terminfo entry are not quite
correct — when running the vt100 at 9600 I still get occasional garbage
characters on the screen, and 19200 is a hopeless mess.
> >
> > I did figure out that if the terminfo contains “xon”, the non-mandatory
padding values in the terminfo are disregarded.  Removing this, then
disabling xon/xoff on both the vt100 and the tty device actually produces
*better* results — apparently the turnaround on xon/xoff isn’t quite fast
enough to keep the terminal from being swamped at higher baud rates, and
padding actually works better.  But tracking down the source for the
default vt100 entry turned up a comment that admits that the padding values
there are a total guess. :-(
> >
> > So, before I go diving too much further into the
terminfo-tweaking-samp, I thought I’d ask if anybody has a good vt100 entry
already on hand?  (I’d take one for the VT52 as well!)
> >
> > thanks much,
> >—FritzM.
> >

Even better, I found this post, this is my how to attach a vt100 to a VAX
4000, you can apply to most any case

http://vintagecomputer.net/browse_thread.cfm?id=618

Bill Degnan
twitter: billdeg
vintagecomputer.net

Re: vt100 terminfo with padding for an actual vt100?

[william degnan]

On Sep 4, 2016 8:10 PM, "Fritz Mueller"  wrote:
>
> Hi all —
>
> I’m trying to run a real-deal vt100 on a serial port connected to Linux
(Xubunto 16.04).  I’ve got this working *pretty* well, but it looks like
the padding values in the default vt100 terminfo entry are not quite
correct — when running the vt100 at 9600 I still get occasional garbage
characters on the screen, and 19200 is a hopeless mess.
>
> I did figure out that if the terminfo contains “xon”, the non-mandatory
padding values in the terminfo are disregarded.  Removing this, then
disabling xon/xoff on both the vt100 and the tty device actually produces
*better* results — apparently the turnaround on xon/xoff isn’t quite fast
enough to keep the terminal from being swamped at higher baud rates, and
padding actually works better.  But tracking down the source for the
default vt100 entry turned up a comment that admits that the padding values
there are a total guess. :-(
>
> So, before I go diving too much further into the terminfo-tweaking-samp,
I thought I’d ask if anybody has a good vt100 entry already on hand?  (I’d
take one for the VT52 as well!)
>
> thanks much,
>—FritzM.
>

Post the relevant inittab line for ttyUSB0, assuming you are using a USB to
Serial adapter, we can troubleshoot
Bill Degnan
twitter: billdeg
vintagecomputer.net

Bill Degnan
twitter: billdeg
vintagecomputer.net

vt100 terminfo with padding for an actual vt100?

[Fritz Mueller]

Hi all —

I’m trying to run a real-deal vt100 on a serial port connected to Linux 
(Xubunto 16.04).  I’ve got this working *pretty* well, but it looks like the 
padding values in the default vt100 terminfo entry are not quite correct — when 
running the vt100 at 9600 I still get occasional garbage characters on the 
screen, and 19200 is a hopeless mess.

I did figure out that if the terminfo contains “xon”, the non-mandatory padding 
values in the terminfo are disregarded.  Removing this, then disabling xon/xoff 
on both the vt100 and the tty device actually produces *better* results — 
apparently the turnaround on xon/xoff isn’t quite fast enough to keep the 
terminal from being swamped at higher baud rates, and padding actually works 
better.  But tracking down the source for the default vt100 entry turned up a 
comment that admits that the padding values there are a total guess. :-( 

So, before I go diving too much further into the terminfo-tweaking-samp, I 
thought I’d ask if anybody has a good vt100 entry already on hand?  (I’d take 
one for the VT52 as well!)

thanks much,
   —FritzM.

Re: Power Supply capacitor physical size

[Adrian Graham]

On 03/09/2016 23:27, "John Robertson"  wrote:

>>> Similar size - then no problem!  But, some new cap types are
>>> VASTLY smaller than the caps from 40 years ago.
>> Hence my question, I'll stick with the same size but higher voltage.
>> 
>> Cheers!
>> 
> 
> You do have to consider where in the circuit the capacitor is. If this
> is a switching power supply (as I suspect) then if the cap is after the
> switching transformer it MUST be a low ESR, high temp cap - otherwise it
> won't last very long. If this is on the primary side and is simply
> filtering the input rectified AC then ESR is not as big a problem, but
> you need a good physical size if the switching supply puts out a fair
> bit of current due to heating effects of low frequency ripple.
> 
> So, it all depends.
> 
> For general repair I would get the best grade of capacitor - say
> Panasonic - with a nice low ESR and away you go.

Panasonic and Multicomp as it happens, identical capacitance and similar
size but higher voltage rating. The mentioned heating effects worried me so
I went big.

Cheers,

-- 
Adrian/Witchy
Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator
Www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UK's biggest private home computer
collection?

Data Genera MPT/100

[Lyle Bickley]

I have a nice, clean DG MPT/100 I'm in the process of restoring. As you
might expect, I contacted Bruce at "Wild Hare" to see what
documentation and software he had for the critter.

He was able provide some helpful PDF documentation - but NO schematic or
software.

Without software, the MPT/100 is essentially useless. If anyone has the
5.25" floppy system and/or diagnostic diskette sets for this
workstation I'd really appreciate images of same.

If you have the floppies, but no images, and you lend me your floppies,
I'll make images and make them publicly available and return your
floppies (assuming you want them back).

If by some stroke of luck you have the schematics for the MPT/100 (DG
part numbers: Mainboard 001-002963 and Keyboard 001-002688) I could
really use them :)

The MPT/100 contains the DG microNOVA mN602 CPU and 64K of system RAM
plus video memory. Software for the MPT/100 includes a set of Diagnostic
diskettes and the MP/OS system diskettes.

Regards,
Lyle 
-- 
73  AF6WS
Bickley Consulting West Inc.
http://bickleywest.com

"Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"

Re: DEC Pro 350/380 Memory Cards - Interchangeability?

[Eric Smith]

I wrote:
> Mouser has some in
> stock, e.g., the IS41C16105-50KLI in SOJ-42 package at $7.20 each
> (quantity one) or the IS41C16105-50TLI in TSOP-44 package at $7.02
> each (quantity one).

On Fri, Sep 2, 2016 at 12:44 PM, Paul Koning  wrote:
> The ISSI memory calls itself "DRAM with fast page mode", it does not say 
> "EDO".  But judging from the timing diagrams (which show that data out turns 
> off after the later of RAS and CAS deassertion) it sounds like "fast page 
> mode" is a confusing way to say "EDO".

ISSI selection information refers to the IS41C16100C as EDO, and the
IS41C16105C as FPM.  I suspect that they were careless in preparing
the timing diagram on page 11 of the IS41C16106C (FPM) datasheet,
including footnote 1.

Another consideration in replacing legacy DRAM is that the x1 parts
have separate DIN and DOUT pins, while the wider parts have them in
common. Many but not all systems that use legacy DRAM tied DIN and
DOUT together. Using wider DRAMs in the systems that did not may
require additional buffers and control logic.

DCS 2400 or System 2400?

[Bob Rosenbloom]

I found a simple manual for a "System 2400" 24 bit computer. Can be 
downloaded here: http://dvq.com/docs/dcs2400o.pdf


There's a reference to "dcs 2400" and on the title page, "Digital 
Computer" from the rep. Gene Baumgardner.


Does anyone have more info on this computer, or the company who made it? 
It looks like an interesting system.


-Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: Wanted - two 27C010-capable EPROM emulators

[Philip Pemberton]

On 01/09/16 04:11, Glen Slick wrote:
> Grammar Engine PromICE units show up on eBay from time to time in the
> US sometimes around the $20 range for just the box alone. Then you
> need to supply your own power adapter and ribbon cable DIP plug
> adapters.

Ahh - I hadn't heard of the PromICE.

Thanks for the lead!

Cheers,
-- 
Phil.
classic...@philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/

Re: Wanted - two 27C010-capable EPROM emulators

[Philip Pemberton]

On 01/09/16 13:00, Alexandre Souza wrote:
> 
>Can't you roll your own? It is SO easy to build one, if you don't
> mind the hassle!?

I was looking at that option, but I still have repressed memories from
the last one I designed :P

Getting the PCB layout onto two layers was hell.

If I did it again, I'd use a CPLD and an FTDI FT240X USB interface, but
most CPLDs are 3.3V -- which leaves level translation to a 5V host.

That might well be the path I take -- a custom-designed EPROM emulator
for the Datatrak unit, to plug into the front-panel EPROM board socket.
I was just hoping to be a little lazy and save some effort :)

Thanks,
-- 
Phil.
classic...@philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/

Re: Y Combinator is restoring one of Alan Kay's Xerox Alto machines

[curiousmarc3]

Episode 5, still does not boot, but we are starting to follow long why:
https://youtu.be/Wr7vDZpniNIr

Marc


> On Jul 31, 2016, at 6:12 PM, CuriousMarc  wrote:
> 
> Next Episode:
> https://youtu.be/EDw8U1a6s78
> http://www.righto.com/2016/07/restoring-y-combinators-xerox-alto-day_31.html
> Marc
>  
> From: Curious Marc [mailto:curiousma...@gmail.com] 
> Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2016 2:01 AM
> To: Curious Marc; cctalk@classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: Y Combinator is restoring one of Alan Kay's Xerox Alto machines
>  
> Ken's in-depth blog post to go with the previous video
> http://www.righto.com/2016/07/restoring-y-combinators-xerox-alto-day_11.html
> 
> On Jul 5, 2016, at 2:46 PM, Curious Marc  wrote:
> 
> Video from yesterday’s work on the Diablo cartridge disc:
> https://youtu.be/PR5LkQugBE0
> Should be up in a few minutes.
> We were tickled pink to have official representation from PARC (former Xerox 
> Parc) at the session.
> Marc
>  
> Ken’s new post on the monitor repair to go with my previous video.
> http://www.righto.com/2016/07/restoring-y-combinators-xerox-alto-day.html
> Al Kossow got us a new CRT tube, so we are probably going to try that this 
> week-end.
> Marc
>  
>  
> Latest entry from Ken Shirriff, trying out BCPL (ancestor of C). On the 
> emulator, not yet on the real machine:
> http://www.righto.com/2016/06/hello-world-in-bcpl-language-on-xerox.html
>  
> Marc
>  
> There are only two entries right now:
> http://www.righto.com/2016/06/y-combinators-xerox-alto-restoring.html
> http://www.righto.com/2016/06/restoring-y-combinators-xerox-alto-day.html
> Marc
>  
>  

Re: Power Supply capacitor physical size

[Ian S. King]

I try very hard to match physical size and since, as has been noted, that
usually means higher working voltage, it's not a negative.  If you're
preserving something as an historical artifact, be sure to document what
you've done!  Otherwise, someone will be really confused 10-20 years from
now when, trying to maintain the machine, they see a different value on the
board than on the printset.  :-)  IMHO -- Ian

On Sat, Sep 3, 2016 at 10:07 AM, Adrian Graham  wrote:

> On 03/09/2016 17:39, "Jon Elson"  wrote:
>
> > On 09/03/2016 10:56 AM, Noel Chiappa wrote:
> >>> From: Jon Elson
> >>
>  needs new caps since one of the 1000uF 16V ones has bulged badly.
>  ...
>  If I go up to 25V I can get 16mm diameter which is the size of the old
>  ones.
> >>
> >>> Capacitors that are subjected to high AC ripple current may need the
> >>> large surface area for cooling.
> >>
> >> Interesting point - but in his particular case, he should be OK
> replacing the
> >> old 16V cap with a similar-sized modern 25V cap?
> >>
> >>
> > Similar size - then no problem!  But, some new cap types are
> > VASTLY smaller than the caps from 40 years ago.
>
> Hence my question, I'll stick with the same size but higher voltage.
>
> Cheers!
>
> --
> Adrian/Witchy
> Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator
> Www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UK's biggest private home computer
> collection?
>
>
>


-- 
Ian S. King, MSIS, MSCS, Ph.D. Candidate
The Information School 
Dissertation: "Why the Conversation Mattered: Constructing a Sociotechnical
Narrative Through a Design Lens

Archivist, Voices From the Rwanda Tribunal 
Value Sensitive Design Research Lab 

University of Washington

There is an old Vulcan saying: "Only Nixon could go to China."

Apple IIgs and (separately) Big Apple collection, Baltimore MD area (USA)

[Brad Ackerman]

Both these locations are NW of Baltimore, Maryland. I have no relationship with 
either seller but am willing to do in-person recon for people on this list if 
required.

Large lot of Apple stuff, $1200
Mostly Macs but a good amount of Apple II stuff (including a //c with all 
original boxes and paperwork)
Westminster, MD

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/sys/5763302040.html


Apple IIGS, $100
3.5 and 5.25 floppy drives, monitor, keyboard, mouse
New Windsor, MD

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/sys/5746461980.html


— 
Brad Ackerman N1MNBPGP: 0x9F49A373
b...@facefault.org   <*>   http://bsa.smugmug.com/

Re: Power Supply capacitor physical size

[John Robertson]

On 09/03/2016 10:07 AM, Adrian Graham wrote:

On 03/09/2016 17:39, "Jon Elson"  wrote:


On 09/03/2016 10:56 AM, Noel Chiappa wrote:

From: Jon Elson

needs new caps since one of the 1000uF 16V ones has bulged badly.
...
If I go up to 25V I can get 16mm diameter which is the size of the old
ones.

Capacitors that are subjected to high AC ripple current may need the
large surface area for cooling.

Interesting point - but in his particular case, he should be OK replacing the
old 16V cap with a similar-sized modern 25V cap?



Similar size - then no problem!  But, some new cap types are
VASTLY smaller than the caps from 40 years ago.

Hence my question, I'll stick with the same size but higher voltage.

Cheers!



You do have to consider where in the circuit the capacitor is. If this 
is a switching power supply (as I suspect) then if the cap is after the 
switching transformer it MUST be a low ESR, high temp cap - otherwise it 
won't last very long. If this is on the primary side and is simply 
filtering the input rectified AC then ESR is not as big a problem, but 
you need a good physical size if the switching supply puts out a fair 
bit of current due to heating effects of low frequency ripple.


So, it all depends.

For general repair I would get the best grade of capacitor - say 
Panasonic - with a nice low ESR and away you go.


John :-#)#

--
John's Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9
Call (604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, VideoGames)
 www.flippers.com
"Old pinballers never die, they just flip out"