Re: Circuit board trace repair...

[Chuck Guzis via cctalk]

On 8/10/20 2:31 PM, William Sudbrink via cctalk wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
>  
> 
> I'm going to be attempting to repair, both cosmetically and operationally, a
> circuit board that had a strip of 12 volt trace "blown off" of it by a
> short.  The fiberglass is clean and there was no solder resist in the
> affected area.  I'm considering using 3M 1183 adhesive tinned foil tape for
> the job.  Has anyone else done this?  Could you recommend this or another
> product?  Any tips?
> 

I've used AWG30 wire-wrap wire to accomplish similar repairs.

--Chuck

Re: weird rack unit

[Chuck Guzis via cctalk]

On 8/10/20 2:44 PM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
> On 8/10/20 12:40 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:
>> On 8/10/20 12:17 PM, Christian Kennedy via cctalk wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> On 8/7/20 4:34 PM, Warner Losh via cctalk wrote:
>>>
 The OCO looks nice. Timing gear maybe?
>>>
> 
> There was a discussion of this on the cctalk discord
> It was made for the USGS to study the earth's magnetic field


Anyone remember the Popular Electronics "Carl and Jerry" episode that
involved a baby bottle full of water with a coil wrapped around it?

"The Educated Nursing Bottle" April, 1964, PDF page 82 here;

https://hobbydocbox.com/Radio/69634003-Popular-1964-electronics-35-cents-talkie-cb-talkie-it-p-65-cuit-power-noise-lip-steal-your-cb-ers-in-tornado.html

An interesting article about using a 7090 to determine the cause of WWI
also.

--Chuck

Re: Circuit board trace repair...

[Jon Elson via cctalk]

On 08/10/2020 04:31 PM, William Sudbrink via cctalk wrote:

Hi All,

  


I'm going to be attempting to repair, both cosmetically and operationally, a
circuit board that had a strip of 12 volt trace "blown off" of it by a
short.  The fiberglass is clean and there was no solder resist in the
affected area.  I'm considering using 3M 1183 adhesive tinned foil tape for
the job.  Has anyone else done this?  Could you recommend this or another
product?  Any tips?

I usually repair these with solid copper wire, but then I'm 
not trying to make it cosmetic, too.


Jon

Re: Unix text processing software with daisy wheel output

[Dennis Boone via cctalk]

 > I want to use my daisy wheel printer to create letters and memos and
 > similar (rather simple) texts.  What can I use to write the text?

I worked on a v7 system that had a troff driver for iirc Diablo 630
printers, but I don't see it in stock v7.  For groff, you'd probably
hunt up a dvi-to-630 converter to do the same thing.

 > I think "special effects" with daisy wheel printers are "bold" and
 > "underline" parts. And "double stroke" (if that's the correct word, I
 > mean a space char between each char).

Depending on the environment, it may be possible to change wheels in mid
document to get italics or font changes.  On a daisywheel, bold is
generally done by double striking, and if the printer is capable (the
Vector Graphic micros with their Qume Sprint daisywheel printers did
this) micro-motion in between strikes.  Underscore is obviously fairly
straightforward, as are overstrikes for e.g. line-through or to
construct some special characters that might not be on the wheel, like
cent signs, section symbols.

De

Re: Circuit board trace repair...

[Will Cooke via cctalk]

> On August 10, 2020 at 4:31 PM William Sudbrink via cctalk 
>  wrote:
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> 
> I'm going to be attempting to repair, both cosmetically and operationally, 
> acircuit board that had a strip of 12 volt trace "blown off" of it by ashort. 
> The fiberglass is clean and there was no solder resist in theaffected area. 
> I'm considering using 3M 1183 adhesive tinned foil tape forthe job. Has 
> anyone else done this? Could you recommend this or anotherproduct? Any tips?
> 

I've never tried it, but maybe one of these pens that draws tracks with 
conductive ink?
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/chemtronics/CW2000/CW2000-ND/1929216

Will

Re: weird rack unit

[Al Kossow via cctalk]

On 8/10/20 12:40 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

On 8/10/20 12:17 PM, Christian Kennedy via cctalk wrote:



On 8/7/20 4:34 PM, Warner Losh via cctalk wrote:


The OCO looks nice. Timing gear maybe?




There was a discussion of this on the cctalk discord
It was made for the USGS to study the earth's magnetic field

Circuit board trace repair...

[William Sudbrink via cctalk]

Hi All,

 

I'm going to be attempting to repair, both cosmetically and operationally, a
circuit board that had a strip of 12 volt trace "blown off" of it by a
short.  The fiberglass is clean and there was no solder resist in the
affected area.  I'm considering using 3M 1183 adhesive tinned foil tape for
the job.  Has anyone else done this?  Could you recommend this or another
product?  Any tips?

 

Thanks,

Bill Sudbrink

 



-- 
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus

Re: Unix text processing software with daisy wheel output

[systems_glitch via cctalk]

I use `groff` for some tasks like that. If it's a simple document I'll only
ever do once, I often just open it with a text editor and set the editor to
display a bar on the 76th column, and manually hit return :)

There are probably Markdown preprocessors that either produce fixed width
text or input suitable for `groff`.

Thanks,
Jonathan

On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 5:01 PM Christian Groessler via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I want to use my daisy wheel printer to create letters and memos and
> similar (rather simple) texts.
>
> What can I use to write the text?
>
> I think "special effects" with daisy wheel printers are "bold" and
> "underline" parts. And "double stroke" (if that's the correct word, I
> mean a space char between each char).
>
> groff (or any *roff) comes to my mind. Are there other options?
>
> regards,
> chris
>
>
>

Re: Unix text processing software with daisy wheel output

[Paul Koning via cctalk]

Depends on the OS, and the model of the printer, and what its interface is.

If it's a printer that DEC software understands, the WPS family of word 
processing software would be a nice option.  There's WPS-8, WPS-PLUS for RSTS, 
various others probably as well.

paul

> On Aug 10, 2020, at 5:01 PM, Christian Groessler via cctalk 
>  wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I want to use my daisy wheel printer to create letters and memos and similar 
> (rather simple) texts.
> 
> What can I use to write the text?
> 
> I think "special effects" with daisy wheel printers are "bold" and 
> "underline" parts. And "double stroke" (if that's the correct word, I mean a 
> space char between each char).
> 
> groff (or any *roff) comes to my mind. Are there other options?
> 
> regards,
> chris
> 
> 

Unix text processing software with daisy wheel output

[Christian Groessler via cctalk]

Hi,

I want to use my daisy wheel printer to create letters and memos and 
similar (rather simple) texts.


What can I use to write the text?

I think "special effects" with daisy wheel printers are "bold" and 
"underline" parts. And "double stroke" (if that's the correct word, I 
mean a space char between each char).


groff (or any *roff) comes to my mind. Are there other options?

regards,
chris

Re: DEC Server 300

[John H. Reinhardt via cctalk]

On 8/10/2020 12:24 PM, Douglas Taylor via cctalk wrote:

I'm interested in getting one of these, but browsing the manuals it appears 
there is software that is installed on the VAX to use them with VMS.


Not necessarily a VAX, but on something that either has DECnet or MOP.  Most, 
but not all DECservers download it's OS from the network. So you need something 
on the the local network with the correct file to load when the DECserver boots 
and makes the request.

Is the software required to attach terminals and login to various Vax's? Or is 
it for management of the Dec Server 300?


It's the DECserver's OS so yes to both.

If the software is required, where do I find it?  Is it in the hobbyist 
distribution?  Is there a VAX and ALPHA version?

If you have access to any of the VMS software distribution CD's it on there. For the DS300 
it would be in the DS3C022 directory on the appropriate CD.  According to Wikipedia you 
need the SH1601ENG.SYS file Online images of 
the CD are available several places online.  www.archive.org has some, VAXHaven as several 



Doug


For downloading the file into the DECserver you need an OpenVMS system with DECnet 
and that kit you get from the distribution CD will tell you how to install.  Or you 
can follow this instruction to set up downloading from a Linux system 


A DECserver 300 installation manual 



Some of the software was available on one of the VMS Freeware CDs.  I don't 
remember which one though and it's not in my notes.

--
John H. Reinhardt

Re: DEC VR260 service docs / common failure modes?

[Bill Degnan via cctalk]

Correction
https://www.vintagecomputer.net/digital/VR-260/
B

On Mon, Aug 10, 2020, 2:28 PM Bill Degnan  wrote:

> I just remember wrestling with one of those and determined I did not have
> a matching system.  So I traded for something else about 2 years ago, or
> so.  Mine is photographed on vintagecomputer.net/dec/vr260 I believe
> Bill
>
> On Mon, Aug 10, 2020, 1:53 PM Douglas Taylor via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
>> That's a very interesting comment, got me to thinking.  The VR150 was
>> connected to a working Vax Station 3100 with the proper DEC cable and I
>> observed the non-working behavior.  However, the color RGB output from
>> the VS3100 works just fine, I boot the machine into VMS and runs just OK
>> (but using a different monitor and video cable).
>>
>> In the VS3100, at least the one I have M78, I think the monochrome video
>> output is separate from the RGB outputs.  I wonder if that part of the
>> video circuit is not working correctly?
>>
>> I understand your comment about the rate, the VR150 is a non-standard
>> video refresh rate.  I think it is hard wired just for the DEC video
>> output.
>>
>> Doug
>>
>> On 8/10/2020 1:37 PM, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:
>> > One comment...if you don't have the correct cable and a system that is
>> set
>> > for the correct refresh rate, it may appear that the monitor does not
>> > work.  Be sure you have compatible equipment.  This was a specialized
>> > display.
>> > Bill
>> >
>> > On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 1:19 PM Douglas Taylor via cctalk <
>> > cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Josh;
>> >>
>> >> I have a DEC VR150 that is nearly functional; shows full screen but the
>> >> H/V are not in any sync at all.  Would love to use it with a VaxStation
>> >> 3100.
>> >>
>> >> Opened it up and found it quite a complicated monitor, not like a
>> simple
>> >> PC monochrome monitor.
>> >>
>> >> Purchased a microfiche manual off ebay, but haven't been able to view
>> it
>> >> yet.
>> >>
>> >> Eager to hear how you do with your larger monitor.
>> >>
>> >> Doug
>> >>
>> >> On 8/9/2020 3:10 AM, Josh Dersch via cctech wrote:
>> >>> Hi all --
>> >>>
>> >>> Picked up a non-functional but otherwise nice looking DEC VR260 (19"
>> b
>> >>> monitor) on the cheap, hoping to use it with my VAXstation 2000.  From
>> >> what
>> >>> I've read, these were never the most reliable displays.  Curious if
>> >> anyone
>> >>> has any information on common failure modes, or has service docs
>> >> squirreled
>> >>> away somewhere.  I've at least found schematics, so I have something
>> to
>> >> go
>> >>> on, but it's not exactly the most straightforward design I've poked
>> at.
>> >>>
>> >>> Right now when powered up I hear a repeated low hum from the
>> transformer
>> >>> followed by a soft ticking noise so I'm guessing I've got power supply
>> >>> issues at the very least.  Unsure what I should expect the monitor to
>> do
>> >> if
>> >>> it's not being fed a valid video signal (I haven't yet tried to hook
>> the
>> >>> VS2000 up to it) -- whether it'll go into free-running mode or do
>> mostly
>> >>> nothing until it has something to sync to...
>> >>>
>> >>> Thanks as always,
>> >>> Josh
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>

Re: weird rack unit

[Chuck Guzis via cctalk]

On 8/10/20 12:17 PM, Christian Kennedy via cctalk wrote:
> 
> 
> On 8/7/20 4:34 PM, Warner Losh via cctalk wrote:
> 
>> The OCO looks nice. Timing gear maybe?
> 
> Looks like a mid 70's - early 80's three-axis fluxgate magnetometer.
> The precision of a fluxgate is a direct function of the stability of the
> frequency source that is driving the drive winding, so an OCXO makes
> perfect sense.
> 
> My offhand guess would be oil and gas exploration.
> 

I recall that the petroleum industry was among the earliest of adopters
of NMR logging, hailing back to the late 1950s/early 1960s for use in
oil exploration.

Medical use was much later.

--Chuck

Re: DEC VR260 service docs / common failure modes?

[Bill Degnan via cctalk]

I just remember wrestling with one of those and determined I did not have a
matching system.  So I traded for something else about 2 years ago, or so.
Mine is photographed on vintagecomputer.net/dec/vr260 I believe
Bill

On Mon, Aug 10, 2020, 1:53 PM Douglas Taylor via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> That's a very interesting comment, got me to thinking.  The VR150 was
> connected to a working Vax Station 3100 with the proper DEC cable and I
> observed the non-working behavior.  However, the color RGB output from
> the VS3100 works just fine, I boot the machine into VMS and runs just OK
> (but using a different monitor and video cable).
>
> In the VS3100, at least the one I have M78, I think the monochrome video
> output is separate from the RGB outputs.  I wonder if that part of the
> video circuit is not working correctly?
>
> I understand your comment about the rate, the VR150 is a non-standard
> video refresh rate.  I think it is hard wired just for the DEC video
> output.
>
> Doug
>
> On 8/10/2020 1:37 PM, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:
> > One comment...if you don't have the correct cable and a system that is
> set
> > for the correct refresh rate, it may appear that the monitor does not
> > work.  Be sure you have compatible equipment.  This was a specialized
> > display.
> > Bill
> >
> > On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 1:19 PM Douglas Taylor via cctalk <
> > cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >
> >> Josh;
> >>
> >> I have a DEC VR150 that is nearly functional; shows full screen but the
> >> H/V are not in any sync at all.  Would love to use it with a VaxStation
> >> 3100.
> >>
> >> Opened it up and found it quite a complicated monitor, not like a simple
> >> PC monochrome monitor.
> >>
> >> Purchased a microfiche manual off ebay, but haven't been able to view it
> >> yet.
> >>
> >> Eager to hear how you do with your larger monitor.
> >>
> >> Doug
> >>
> >> On 8/9/2020 3:10 AM, Josh Dersch via cctech wrote:
> >>> Hi all --
> >>>
> >>> Picked up a non-functional but otherwise nice looking DEC VR260 (19"
> b
> >>> monitor) on the cheap, hoping to use it with my VAXstation 2000.  From
> >> what
> >>> I've read, these were never the most reliable displays.  Curious if
> >> anyone
> >>> has any information on common failure modes, or has service docs
> >> squirreled
> >>> away somewhere.  I've at least found schematics, so I have something to
> >> go
> >>> on, but it's not exactly the most straightforward design I've poked at.
> >>>
> >>> Right now when powered up I hear a repeated low hum from the
> transformer
> >>> followed by a soft ticking noise so I'm guessing I've got power supply
> >>> issues at the very least.  Unsure what I should expect the monitor to
> do
> >> if
> >>> it's not being fed a valid video signal (I haven't yet tried to hook
> the
> >>> VS2000 up to it) -- whether it'll go into free-running mode or do
> mostly
> >>> nothing until it has something to sync to...
> >>>
> >>> Thanks as always,
> >>> Josh
> >>
> >>
>
>

Re: weird rack unit

[Christian Kennedy via cctalk]

On 8/7/20 4:34 PM, Warner Losh via cctalk wrote:

> The OCO looks nice. Timing gear maybe?

Looks like a mid 70's - early 80's three-axis fluxgate magnetometer.
The precision of a fluxgate is a direct function of the stability of the
frequency source that is driving the drive winding, so an OCXO makes
perfect sense.

My offhand guess would be oil and gas exploration.

-- 
Christian Kennedy, Ph.D.
ch...@mainecoon.com AF6AP | DB0692 | PG00029419
http://www.mainecoon.comPGP KeyID 108DAB97
PGP fingerprint: 4E99 10B6 7253 B048 6685 6CBC 55E1 20A3 108D AB97
"Mr. McKittrick, after careful consideration…"

Re: DEC VR260 service docs / common failure modes?

[Douglas Taylor via cctalk]

That's a very interesting comment, got me to thinking.  The VR150 was 
connected to a working Vax Station 3100 with the proper DEC cable and I 
observed the non-working behavior.  However, the color RGB output from 
the VS3100 works just fine, I boot the machine into VMS and runs just OK 
(but using a different monitor and video cable).


In the VS3100, at least the one I have M78, I think the monochrome video 
output is separate from the RGB outputs.  I wonder if that part of the 
video circuit is not working correctly?


I understand your comment about the rate, the VR150 is a non-standard 
video refresh rate.  I think it is hard wired just for the DEC video output.


Doug

On 8/10/2020 1:37 PM, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:

One comment...if you don't have the correct cable and a system that is set
for the correct refresh rate, it may appear that the monitor does not
work.  Be sure you have compatible equipment.  This was a specialized
display.
Bill

On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 1:19 PM Douglas Taylor via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:


Josh;

I have a DEC VR150 that is nearly functional; shows full screen but the
H/V are not in any sync at all.  Would love to use it with a VaxStation
3100.

Opened it up and found it quite a complicated monitor, not like a simple
PC monochrome monitor.

Purchased a microfiche manual off ebay, but haven't been able to view it
yet.

Eager to hear how you do with your larger monitor.

Doug

On 8/9/2020 3:10 AM, Josh Dersch via cctech wrote:

Hi all --

Picked up a non-functional but otherwise nice looking DEC VR260 (19" b
monitor) on the cheap, hoping to use it with my VAXstation 2000.  From

what

I've read, these were never the most reliable displays.  Curious if

anyone

has any information on common failure modes, or has service docs

squirreled

away somewhere.  I've at least found schematics, so I have something to

go

on, but it's not exactly the most straightforward design I've poked at.

Right now when powered up I hear a repeated low hum from the transformer
followed by a soft ticking noise so I'm guessing I've got power supply
issues at the very least.  Unsure what I should expect the monitor to do

if

it's not being fed a valid video signal (I haven't yet tried to hook the
VS2000 up to it) -- whether it'll go into free-running mode or do mostly
nothing until it has something to sync to...

Thanks as always,
Josh

Re: DEC VR260 service docs / common failure modes?

[Bill Degnan via cctalk]

One comment...if you don't have the correct cable and a system that is set
for the correct refresh rate, it may appear that the monitor does not
work.  Be sure you have compatible equipment.  This was a specialized
display.
Bill

On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 1:19 PM Douglas Taylor via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Josh;
>
> I have a DEC VR150 that is nearly functional; shows full screen but the
> H/V are not in any sync at all.  Would love to use it with a VaxStation
> 3100.
>
> Opened it up and found it quite a complicated monitor, not like a simple
> PC monochrome monitor.
>
> Purchased a microfiche manual off ebay, but haven't been able to view it
> yet.
>
> Eager to hear how you do with your larger monitor.
>
> Doug
>
> On 8/9/2020 3:10 AM, Josh Dersch via cctech wrote:
> > Hi all --
> >
> > Picked up a non-functional but otherwise nice looking DEC VR260 (19" b
> > monitor) on the cheap, hoping to use it with my VAXstation 2000.  From
> what
> > I've read, these were never the most reliable displays.  Curious if
> anyone
> > has any information on common failure modes, or has service docs
> squirreled
> > away somewhere.  I've at least found schematics, so I have something to
> go
> > on, but it's not exactly the most straightforward design I've poked at.
> >
> > Right now when powered up I hear a repeated low hum from the transformer
> > followed by a soft ticking noise so I'm guessing I've got power supply
> > issues at the very least.  Unsure what I should expect the monitor to do
> if
> > it's not being fed a valid video signal (I haven't yet tried to hook the
> > VS2000 up to it) -- whether it'll go into free-running mode or do mostly
> > nothing until it has something to sync to...
> >
> > Thanks as always,
> > Josh
>
>
>

DEC Server 300

[Douglas Taylor via cctalk]

I'm interested in getting one of these, but browsing the manuals it 
appears there is software that is installed on the VAX to use them with VMS.


Is the software required to attach terminals and login to various 
Vax's?  Or is it for management of the Dec Server 300?


If the software is required, where do I find it?  Is it in the hobbyist 
distribution?  Is there a VAX and ALPHA version?


Doug

Re: DEC VR260 service docs / common failure modes?

[Douglas Taylor via cctalk]

Josh;

I have a DEC VR150 that is nearly functional; shows full screen but the 
H/V are not in any sync at all.  Would love to use it with a VaxStation 
3100.


Opened it up and found it quite a complicated monitor, not like a simple 
PC monochrome monitor.


Purchased a microfiche manual off ebay, but haven't been able to view it 
yet.


Eager to hear how you do with your larger monitor.

Doug

On 8/9/2020 3:10 AM, Josh Dersch via cctech wrote:

Hi all --

Picked up a non-functional but otherwise nice looking DEC VR260 (19" b
monitor) on the cheap, hoping to use it with my VAXstation 2000.  From what
I've read, these were never the most reliable displays.  Curious if anyone
has any information on common failure modes, or has service docs squirreled
away somewhere.  I've at least found schematics, so I have something to go
on, but it's not exactly the most straightforward design I've poked at.

Right now when powered up I hear a repeated low hum from the transformer
followed by a soft ticking noise so I'm guessing I've got power supply
issues at the very least.  Unsure what I should expect the monitor to do if
it's not being fed a valid video signal (I haven't yet tried to hook the
VS2000 up to it) -- whether it'll go into free-running mode or do mostly
nothing until it has something to sync to...

Thanks as always,
Josh