[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
@Jonathan: Wow, amazing project in creating the replacement NVRAM. You really spent lot of time and efforts into that one. To attach the external battery I took a X-Ray to know where to have access to the battery pins most easily - was just 1 hour of work but far less cool of course! Thanks for sharing! @Santo: MANY thanks for dumping your NVRAM - looks interesting. I must admit that the plenty of 55 and AA look like lot of bits flipped from zero to 1 already (that is what happens with many memory chips) but yes, the lower section is all zeros. I will give that one a try in the next opportunity! By the way: What type of UltraBook was that from precisely (U14.?)?
[cctalk] Free Fujitsu M2444 6250 BPI tape drive
I bought this giant GCR tape drive on eBay five years ago, http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/fujitsu/_brochures/M244X_Brochure_1984.pdf hoping to be able to use it to extract analog signals from 6250 BPI tapes to feed into my decoding program. https://github.com/LenShustek/readtape I failed to figure out how to get the right signals out, and eventually abandoned the project. I now need the space it takes, so I'm offering it for free before consigning it to the landfill. It's big (20" x 24" x 30" on the wheeled stand I built) and heavy (160 lbs) so I won't ship it. Pickup only, on the San Francisco peninsula.
[cctalk] Theory of operation of DEC H7441 regulator?
The DEC H7441 regulator is a relatively complex circuit using 2 x 555 timers, 2 x LM301 op-amps, 2 x transformers and 2 inductors I am struggling to understand how it is meant to work and was hoping to find a maintenance manual for it. Could anyone with such a manual please help? Alternatively is there another explanation of the operation of this or similar types of circuits? The circuit implements a switch mode supply. One of the two 555 timers operates as an oscillator, the second I think operates as a monoflop with the pulse length controlled via one of the LM301s. Overall the circuit seems very complex and while I understand parts of it, other parts are mysterious. In particular the top left section around Q1/Q2/Q3 and T1/T2 and E3 is most confusing. I did not find anything remotely similar in "The Art of Electronics" from Horowitz & Winfield. The H7441 schematics are available from here: https://deramp.com/downloads/mfe_archive/011-Digital%20Equipment%20Corporation/08%20PDP-11/01%20PDP-1104-1134/02%20PDP-1134A%20Power%20Supply/H7441%20FMPS%20MP00271%20part-1%20(H7441).pdf Thanks for any help or suggested reading material. Tom
[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
Thanks Jonathan. I'm not sure this is correct as I needed to select a DS1643 after I tied pin 26 and pin 27 to pin 28 (and cut 26 and 27 in a chip socket/adapter) but I did manage to dump it. It is very small though. All zeros until data starts at 0x1800. Would you have an idea if this is accurate? Reading as a DS1225 got all zeros. https://vintagecomputer.ca/files/Tadpole/Ultrabook2-8528496.bin Maybe if Eric can write this to his Dallas chip, he might be in business if it's good? Santo On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 4:35 PM Jonathan Chapman via cctalk < cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > > Speaking of dumping... > > > > Is it possible to read a Dallas DS1643 in programmer? That's what's in my > > Ultrabook. I just tried with a Topmax II that supports it and I get all > > zeros. :( > > You probably need to make a shim socket and pull pin 26 to VCC (pin 28), > then read it as a DS1225. I'd also pull pin 27 (*WE) to VCC to avoid errant > writes. > > Thanks, > Jonathan >
[cctalk] Re: Shelves / Rails for DEC Racks Questions
> On Sep 27, 2023, at 12:25 PM, Jay Jaeger via cctalk > wrote: > > I have some open slots in some of my racks. I do have some old DEC rails, > but I have a fair amount of equipment, from both DEC and other manufacturers, > for which those rails are not suitable. > > Does anyone have any specific recommendations for shelving? (where equipment > could just be slid on top of, if the equipment isn't too wide - some pieces > are very close to 19 inches all by themselves, and were designed for front > cantilever style mounting.) Rack makers sell these; for example https://www.budind.com/racks-cabinets-accessories/ or https://www.dell.com/en-us/search/server%20rack%20shelves but I would expect any number of places that produce racks have them. I have an H960 and needed a solution for a 3U 19 storage array that can attach in the front but needs more support and doesn't mate up with the H960 rear rails. So rather than spend significant money on a shelf, I just installed a pair of angle irons from front to back (vertical flange down) and set the array on that. Since it's close to 19 inches wide, that simple solution fully supports it. For a heavy oscilloscope I wanted to install as well, I did something similar: angle iron supporting a sheet of plywood. In that case, it has some additional angle irons running across, to keep the plywood from bowing under the load. paul
[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
> Hi Jonathan, thanks for your thoughs. I am still using the same NVRAM, just > with external battery attached, so no Chineese counterfeit. > My hypothesis is: With the battery losing voltage, some bits flip first. They > cause the error message you see and values get set to proper values. But > there are some bytes which must not flip because they determine e.g. the type > of graphics, processor, speed, RAM timing etc. If one of these bits flips > first, than one is lost because the machine does not reach the OpenBoot > firmware because it tries to test non-existing hardware etc. etc. I wouldn't think that's possible, the small portion of NVRAM used to set parameters is checksummed, so it's unlikely a random combination would also result in a correct checksum. Still, to rule that out, try blanking the NVRAM by writing all zeroes to it. You may be able to do that with something like a TL866+ and a shim socket -- don't just plug the DS1553 right in, as it's got two output pins that may cause a conflict! Thanks, Jonathan
[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
> Interesting - did you youse some modern technology for > doing that? Modern "special sauce" replacements from Dallas/Maxim/Analog/etc., plus a fast, low-power SRAM, all packaged on a circuit board with Batten & Allen DIP leadframe pins, like this: https://users.glitchwrks.com/~glitch/2018/03/17/gw-1244-1 (note that the Phantom RTC chip used in that is *not* what would be needed for Sun-style NVRAMs) Thanks, Jonathan
[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
> Speaking of dumping... > > Is it possible to read a Dallas DS1643 in programmer? That's what's in my > Ultrabook. I just tried with a Topmax II that supports it and I get all > zeros. :( You probably need to make a shim socket and pull pin 26 to VCC (pin 28), then read it as a DS1225. I'd also pull pin 27 (*WE) to VCC to avoid errant writes. Thanks, Jonathan
[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
Speaking of dumping... Is it possible to read a Dallas DS1643 in programmer? That's what's in my Ultrabook. I just tried with a Topmax II that supports it and I get all zeros. :( Santo On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 4:14 PM Ethan O'Toole via cctalk < cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > > Interesting - did you youse some modern technology for > > doing that? I already thought to attach a logic analyzer to the > > NVRAM to see which bytes are read first (e.g. for dtermining > > the hardware configuration). > > Late to the convo, but it's interesting. > > You might be able to dump the ROMs and find someone who knows Sparc > assembly to run it through a debugger/emulator and trace it? Hard part > would probably be knowing where the NVRAM lives in memory space (memory > map.) > > Maybe the MAME people would have an idea? Some of the old arcade games > suffer from the exact same issue - they store variables in the ST > Microelectronics Timekeepers and once it dies game won't boot due to a > byte or two. > > MAME has SPARC emulation. > > Other thing is people with a working Tadpoles needs to dump their NVRAMS > ASAP because it sounds like all of them are about to quit working? > > > -- > : Ethan O'Toole > > >
[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
Hi Ethan - yes, I think that may be a severe issue and getting hands on a dump/making users aware was already in my first post and therefore it is also titled "species needs rescue" ;-) Never looked into MAME - if they run the OpenBoot firmware, that would indeed be an opion! Thanks for the hint...
[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
Interesting - did you youse some modern technology for doing that? I already thought to attach a logic analyzer to the NVRAM to see which bytes are read first (e.g. for dtermining the hardware configuration). Late to the convo, but it's interesting. You might be able to dump the ROMs and find someone who knows Sparc assembly to run it through a debugger/emulator and trace it? Hard part would probably be knowing where the NVRAM lives in memory space (memory map.) Maybe the MAME people would have an idea? Some of the old arcade games suffer from the exact same issue - they store variables in the ST Microelectronics Timekeepers and once it dies game won't boot due to a byte or two. MAME has SPARC emulation. Other thing is people with a working Tadpoles needs to dump their NVRAMS ASAP because it sounds like all of them are about to quit working? -- : Ethan O'Toole
[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
Hi Jonathan! > Now the good news is, I can probably make replacements > for the DS1553W. I already have a prototype replacement > for the DS1643 Interesting - did you youse some modern technology for doing that? I already thought to attach a logic analyzer to the NVRAM to see which bytes are read first (e.g. for dtermining the hardware configuration).
[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
Hi Jonathan, thanks for your thoughs. I am still using the same NVRAM, just with external battery attached, so no Chineese counterfeit. My hypothesis is: With the battery losing voltage, some bits flip first. They cause the error message you see and values get set to proper values. But there are some bytes which must not flip because they determine e.g. the type of graphics, processor, speed, RAM timing etc. If one of these bits flips first, than one is lost because the machine does not reach the OpenBoot firmware because it tries to test non-existing hardware etc. etc.
[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
Hi Santo, thanks for your efforts in taking the vid that looks different from my behaviour on all UltraBooks! Drive Caddy: They are silly devices - no smart stuff. I can take pictures on the weekend and make a wiring chart if you want. I have a 160GB drive, WD1600BEVE for the OS. Erik.
[cctalk] Shelves / Rails for DEC Racks Questions
I have some open slots in some of my racks. I do have some old DEC rails, but I have a fair amount of equipment, from both DEC and other manufacturers, for which those rails are not suitable. Does anyone have any specific recommendations for shelving? (where equipment could just be slid on top of, if the equipment isn't too wide - some pieces are very close to 19 inches all by themselves, and were designed for front cantilever style mounting.) Would also be interested in specific recommendations for the following: DEC VR14 (I have one on a PDP-12 with proper rails, but have another to mount and don't have proper rails for it) HP 88780 (Perhaps a shelf is the best bet for these?) JRJ
[cctalk] Re: FTGH: (3) Qualstar 1260 9 track tape drives pertec interface
I'm a bit late to the ballgame, but I use Depot 4 - which is available for download from Curious Marc. https://www.curiousmarc.com/computing/overland-tape-drive On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 1:00 PM Anders Nelson via cctalk < cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > Yup, right there in /doc. > -- > Anders Nelson > www.andersknelson.com > > > On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 2:58 PM Anders Nelson > wrote: > > > Chuck - is this the one?: > > > > https://github.com/Tubatstuff/Pertec-Interface-Tape-Controller > > > > =] > > -- > > Anders Nelson > > www.andersknelson.com > > > > > > On Tue, Sep 26, 2023 at 11:13 AM Chuck Guzis via cctalk < > > cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > > > >> On 9/26/23 07:11, jim stephens via cctalk wrote: > >> > Overland data Pertec controllers, ISA, AT and PCI interfaces with > >> > utilities for the Pertec interface drives. > >> > >> I also posted plans and software for a Pertec tape controller using an > >> MCU with U SB or serial for comms and control. Data is stored on mcriSD > >> card. You can find details on Github. > >> > >> I run mine with a 32GB SD card; it works just fine. > >> > >> --Chuck > >> > >> > >> >
[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
/me hears mention of dead NVRAMs and materializes Pulled out my UltraBook IIe today, it's fine with a dead NVRAM, just gives you the usual "IDPROM contents are invalid" message you see on Suns. If I'd have to guess, based on past experience, you likely have a counterfeit DS1553W or you ordered the DS1553 without the W suffix. The W means 3.3V part. On a 3.3V system, the DS1553 5V part will never release write lock-out; furthermore, the DS1553 has a power-on reset comparator and will never de-assert reset either! I don't know if the UltraBooks use this reset output, but if I were designing a system and using the DS1553/W, I certainly would. A missing DS1742W in a SGI Tezro stops it dead, as does a DS1742 5V part (W suffix is, again, 3.3V). Part of what took so long on my designing a replacement for the DS1742W was the sacrificial modules that were sent to me were...wait for it...Chinese counterfeits! The part numbers from the dissected modules were all 5V parts! Now the good news is, I can probably make replacements for the DS1553W. I already have a prototype replacement for the DS1643, some customer must've needed it for a one-off as I've never run more, but that should already be a solved problem. I have one or two GW-1643-1 prototypes on hand for testing. Thanks, Jonathan
[cctalk] Re: FTGH: (3) Qualstar 1260 9 track tape drives pertec interface
Yup, right there in /doc. -- Anders Nelson www.andersknelson.com On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 2:58 PM Anders Nelson wrote: > Chuck - is this the one?: > > https://github.com/Tubatstuff/Pertec-Interface-Tape-Controller > > =] > -- > Anders Nelson > www.andersknelson.com > > > On Tue, Sep 26, 2023 at 11:13 AM Chuck Guzis via cctalk < > cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > >> On 9/26/23 07:11, jim stephens via cctalk wrote: >> > Overland data Pertec controllers, ISA, AT and PCI interfaces with >> > utilities for the Pertec interface drives. >> >> I also posted plans and software for a Pertec tape controller using an >> MCU with U SB or serial for comms and control. Data is stored on mcriSD >> card. You can find details on Github. >> >> I run mine with a 32GB SD card; it works just fine. >> >> --Chuck >> >> >>
[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
Hi Erik, I just happen to have mine out and took a quick video of boot up. Mine does not have a floppy drive or hard drive (I don't have a caddy) so it boots pretty quickly to the "ok" prompt but you can see the LCD display and when the LCD comes up. Here's a quick video. https://vintagecomputer.ca/files/Tadpole/Ultrabook-boot.mp4 On another note: Still hoping to find an Ultrabook hard drive caddy if anyone has a spare or even internal pictures to see if it has any smarts or if it's just an EIDE drive that goes pin-for-pin to the internal 40 pin SCSI-5 connector. I've been checking eBay for years now :( Hope this helps, Santo On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 2:19 PM erik--- via cctalk wrote: > Did some experiments in removing/swapping NVRAMs and none of my UltraBooks > is reaching the OpenFirmware or even turning on the backlight/LCD, so I > have no way of trying to read the NVRAM contents from there :-( > > Symptoms (i.e. behaviour of the LCD display) of the UltraBooks differ with > contents of NVRAM or if there is no NVRAM at all. So without some > known-valid NVRAM contents I fear I am lost :-( > > Symtpoms I see: Power symbols coming up always then (a) only tock-tock > from speaker (b) blank, only the inverse A flashing several times, later a > single time again and then blank forever (c) heart beat and speaker > flashing, later the inverse A coming on as well. > > Can anyone out there at least tell me what their LCDis showing during > startup? > > I will archive the contents of the NVRAMs as they are now although they > are probably not of much use... >
[cctalk] Re: FTGH: (3) Qualstar 1260 9 track tape drives pertec interface
Chuck - is this the one?: https://github.com/Tubatstuff/Pertec-Interface-Tape-Controller =] -- Anders Nelson www.andersknelson.com On Tue, Sep 26, 2023 at 11:13 AM Chuck Guzis via cctalk < cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > On 9/26/23 07:11, jim stephens via cctalk wrote: > > Overland data Pertec controllers, ISA, AT and PCI interfaces with > > utilities for the Pertec interface drives. > > I also posted plans and software for a Pertec tape controller using an > MCU with U SB or serial for comms and control. Data is stored on mcriSD > card. You can find details on Github. > > I run mine with a 32GB SD card; it works just fine. > > --Chuck > > >
[cctalk] Re: Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...
Did some experiments in removing/swapping NVRAMs and none of my UltraBooks is reaching the OpenFirmware or even turning on the backlight/LCD, so I have no way of trying to read the NVRAM contents from there :-( Symptoms (i.e. behaviour of the LCD display) of the UltraBooks differ with contents of NVRAM or if there is no NVRAM at all. So without some known-valid NVRAM contents I fear I am lost :-( Symtpoms I see: Power symbols coming up always then (a) only tock-tock from speaker (b) blank, only the inverse A flashing several times, later a single time again and then blank forever (c) heart beat and speaker flashing, later the inverse A coming on as well. Can anyone out there at least tell me what their LCDis showing during startup? I will archive the contents of the NVRAMs as they are now although they are probably not of much use...
