OT: Trying to fix my account

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

Sorry for the spam - I'm trying some ideas to see if I can figure out why I
don't get cctalk/cctech messages anymore (for about a month now).  -- Ian

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

Principal Investigator, "Reflections on Early Computing and Social Change",
UW IRB #42619

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."

Is it really that quiet out there?

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

I haven't seen any list messages since the 16th.

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

Principal Investigator, "Reflections on Early Computing and Social Change",
UW IRB #42619

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."

Re: OT: the death of shortwave / Re: Hallicrafters S-85

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Sun, Oct 8, 2017 at 1:34 PM, allison via cctalk 
wrote:

> On 10/08/2017 02:47 PM, Ed via cctalk wrote:
> > When I see something that is   neat...I  camp on it   until I decide or
> > have a friend  put his hand on and stand in front. Yea...  to many
> times  turn
> > around and  then look  down and someone else  now  has it...  Ed#
> >
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 10/8/2017 9:52:59 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
> > cctalk@classiccmp.org writes:
> >
> > I missed  out on a nice Hallicrafters receiver at a hamfest last
> weekend...
> > Walked  way to look it up, and it was gone when I came  back!
> >
> I have a few Hallicrafters radios...
>
> SX120 not much of a radio but along the lines of the S-38 (al la AA5
> line powered).
>  I have two one bone stock and pretty and the other has been modded
>  six ways to Sunday by me.  The mods include a 2.1khz mechanical filter,
>  additional IF stage and a real product detector using 6AR8 and even a
>   power transformer.
> SX110, more serious radio, hurts the back some too.
> HT37 transmitter Phasing to create SSB at a pair of 6146 power level.
>
> I home brew on HF though 432...
>
> Allison
>

My FT-817 (5 watts) has no problem reaching from the West Coast of the US
to the East with SSB - IF the band is open.  Most recently I've found 40m
to be open most often (at least when I'm on HF).

Does anyone on this thread know if there are any regularly scheduled
traffic nets?

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

Principal Investigator, "Reflections on Early Computing and Social Change",
UW IRB #42619

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."

Re: TU58 Serial port address

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

I've used the TU58 emulation on my MINC-11 connected to SLU1, no problem (I
use it to move software between SIMH and the real hardware). But I gather
that the other question is how to set up SLU1, and it looks like that's
answered.  Yes, it will map to DD0 in RT-11, if memory serves.  It's been a
while since I set that up  -- Ian

On Fri, Oct 6, 2017 at 4:31 PM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

>
>
> On 06/10/2017 21:21, Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:
>
>>  > From: Rod Smallwood
>>
>>  > I do not know the correct addresses or vectors I need so I can't
>> set
>>  > them.
>>  > ...
>>  > State like this for each and every jumper required
>>
>> Sorry, too busy to type all that out. Jumper it for 776500/300.
>>
>> Noel
>>
> Now lets see - DLV11-J Manual says Factory setting is
>
> Base Address 176500 / Base Vector 300
> Channel 3 is console at 177560-177566
>
> So Channel 0 at 176500 / 300 for the TU58 = Factory
>  Channel 0 8-n-1 = Factory
>
> Set Channel 0 Baud Rate to 19200  =  Connect K to 0
>
>   Disable console = C1  X to 0 and C2 X to 0
>
> So do the above and connect TU-58 to Channel 0 and it will be Device DD0
> under RT11FB - Yes?
>
> Rod
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
>  Wanted one pdp-8/i rocker switch leaver to copy.
>
>


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

Principal Investigator, "Reflections on Early Computing and Social Change",
UW IRB #42619

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."

Re: HP 9845 complete system on auction in Sweden

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Mon, Sep 25, 2017 at 10:37 AM,  wrote:

> Folks - Any idea what causes the screen rot?
>
> also  any preventative measures to  keep it  from happening or spreading?
> Ed#
>
>
>
> It's the understood chemical decomposition of the adhesive that holds the
screen shield to the CRT.  It's pretty much inevitable, from what I
understand.  The solution is to separate the shield from the CRT, clean the
face of the CRT and reattach the shield.  Some people don't reattach it,
and some people think they are risking serious injury - no opinion. Will
the newer adhesives hold up better?  We hope so.  -- Ian

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

Principal Investigator, "Reflections on Early Computing and Social Change",
UW IRB #42619

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."

Re: HP 9845 complete system on auction in Sweden

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Sun, Sep 24, 2017 at 8:13 PM, Ed via cctalk 
wrote:

> The shipping cost  would be obscene!
> Ed#
>
>
> In a message dated 9/24/2017 6:57:29 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
> cctalk@classiccmp.org writes:
>
> > On  I Sep 23, 2017, at 4:23 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk
>  wrote:
> > The 7970E comes in an HP-IB  version
>
> Indeed, and I even have one of these beautiful tapes! I managed  to
> interface it to my HP 85 but that was very hard. It required bus sniffing
> work, an
> FPGA adapter, and making an HP 85 "driver" for the thing (see the  result
> in a demo here: https://youtu.be/YS9dGYUbNd0). Great to know the same
> tape
> works out the box on an HP 9845. Yet one more reason for me to get one
> ;-).
> But my, from Sweden, that's going to be a monster shipping and customs
> headache.
> Marc
>
>
>
I have one of these with pretty bad screen rot, and I'm not sure if my HPIB
controller is working right - but the system itself runs pretty well.  One
of my local collector friends has developed an approach to pull the face
shield and replace the adhesive - on my list of things to do  -- Ian

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

Principal Investigator, "Reflections on Early Computing and Social Change",
UW IRB #42619

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."

Re: Alto 5-Key Keyset pictures

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

I've been interviewing people who used the Alto in various scenarios
(system devs, app devs, non-expert users) and NO ONE used the keyset.  It's
fascinating historically, but in part because of its apparent irrelevancy.
 -- Ian

On Wed, Sep 20, 2017 at 1:21 AM, CuriousMarc via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> I see you have the same problem as I did encounter: a rusting shaft that
> binds the keys together... I agree, they really spent big $ for production
> level tooling (and industrial design and engineering) to make the chordset,
> it is quite impressive.
> Marc
>
>
>
> On Sep 16, 2017, at 1:58 PM, Al Kossow via cctalk 
> wrote:
>
> I had to fix a key on CHM's keyset today, so I shot a bunch of pictures
> while it was apart
> http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/Alto_5-Key_Keyset
>
> They spent a lot of money on this. There are two castings of the same
> material as the keyboard
> and monitors, and two injection molded parts for the keys and the four
> spacers betwen the microswitches.
>
>
>


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

Principal Investigator, "Reflections on Early Computing and Social Change",
UW IRB #42619

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."

Re: Convex C220 lives

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Mon, Sep 11, 2017 at 8:47 AM, Camiel Vanderhoeven via cctech <
cct...@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> For a change, rather than a request for help, here¹s a success story: I
> managed to bring a Convex C220 (dual vector CPU mini supercomputer from
> 1988) back to life. Both CPUs are working, but I¹m running with a single
> CPU because of the power it draws with two CPUs. Next challenges: the
> Convex C1, and quad vector processor C240 (not before I¹ve upgraded the
> power feed).
>
> Running ConvexOS 11.5.1, it has FORTRAN 7.0.1 installed; I ran a little
> benchmark, and with a single CPU the system clocks in at 49.1 MFLOPS on a
> big multiply-add loop (advertised peak performance was 50 MFLOPS per CPU).
>
> Getting the system to the state where it is now was quite a journey
> (though nowhere near as bad as it might have been). If you¹re interested
> in the details, I have a (somewhat long) report of my work on my website;
> if you go to http://www.vaxbarn.com/index.php/other-bits/603-convex-c220,
> there are some links at the bottom that have much more details, as well as
> photos of the system and the boards.
>
> Now I¹m looking for some FORTRAN code that would typically have run on
> this kind of computer so I can show people what this kind of system was
> used for.
>
>
Congratulations!  I've been too busy to do any restorations, so for now I
live vicariously through people like you.  :-)   -- Ian

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

Principal Investigator, "Reflections on Early Computing and Social Change",
UW IRB #42619

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."

Re: EMA Links on a G104 Sense/Inhibit board

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Wed, Aug 23, 2017 at 5:40 PM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Does anybody know how the EMA links should set on 4 x 4K G104 boards
> For example
>  EMA
> 0 1 2
>
>   Field 0ININ   IN
>
>   Field  1? ? ?
>
>   Field  2? ? ?
>
>   Field   3   ? ? ?
>
>
> Rod Smallwood
>
>
> --
> Wanted one pdp-8/i rocker switch leaver to copy.
>
> It's in the prints, which are available on BitSavers.  That's where I
found it last time I did this.


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

Principal Investigator, "Reflections on Early Computing and Social Change",
UW IRB #42619

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."

Re: pdp-8/e restoration.

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Mon, Aug 7, 2017 at 5:28 PM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

>
>
> On 08/08/2017 00:01, Josh Dersch via cctalk wrote:
>
>> On 8/7/2017 3:50 PM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk wrote:
>>
>>
>>>
>>> One other thing - I have a working TU58.
>>> The two cassette drives in a box type with serial interface.
>>> Now the pdp-8/e DECTapes were also called TU58.
>>>
>>
>> The typical DECtapes used with the PDP-8 were TU56's, a completely
>> different (and much more rare) beast.
>>
>> The M8650 is on the list of what you can connect it to.
>>> So does the one substitute for the other and raise the possibility of
>>> booting from tape?
>>>
>>
>> No, they're not substitutes.  I'm not aware of any PDP-8 systems booting
>> and running from a TU58, but I suppose it's not impossible. Mostly the
>> problem with the TU58 at this point is that (a) the capstan rollers in your
>> drives are most likely tar, and (b) the rubber parts in the tape itself
>> have done the same, and (c) the tape itself probably isn't in great shape
>> either.
>>
>> - Josh
>>
>>
>>> Rod
>>>
>>>
>> Mmm senior confusion.
>
> Its a working TU58 - Restored including fixing the roller problem.
> Runs on a PC OK.
>
> Just fixed the echo test problem.
> RS232 on M8650 needed a jumper E-M on board or plug.
>
>
> So now to check out that  rim loader stuff.
> Its in C but I can get round that problem.
>
>
> Rod
>
> --
> Wanted one pdp-8/i rocker switch leaver to copy.
>
>
For verily, LINCtape begat DECtape, and DECtape begat DECtape II.  LINCtape
and DECtape were legitimate backing store, DECtape II was a cheap way of
delivering software updates.

And since when is C a 'problem'?  :-)  -- Ian

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

Principal Investigator, "Reflections on Early Computing and Social Change",
UW IRB #42619

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."

Re: pdp-8/e restoration.

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Mon, Aug 7, 2017 at 2:40 PM, Pete Turnbull via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On 07/08/2017 18:37, Rod Smallwood via cctalk wrote:
>
> So to-morrow connect up a terminal that will do 110 baud and try an echo
>> test.
>>
>> Next part is interesting. There should be a way to fake a reader / punch
>> and feed in tape images.
>>
>
> There is.  Look on Kevin McQuiggin's site:
> http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/pdp8/
>
> In the section called "Software", about 1/3 of the way down, look for
> send.c or better still new-send.c (I call it rsend, on my system).  You
> might also find rim.c and the BIN loader useful.
>
> They're also on my webpage, with the corresponding manpages:
> http://www.dunnington.info/public/PDP-8/
>
> That's the easiest place to get the manpages for rim.c, send.c, rsend.c.
> Here's the gist (top parts of the manpages):
>
> rim - create RIM-format file from ASCII addr/instr
>   rim is a very simple converter.  It reads in a file containing two
>   columns of ASCII digits; the first column is a list of addresses (in
>   octal) and the second is a list of machine instructions (also octal).
>   Output is a file suitable to feed to the RIM loader on a PDP-8.
>
> send, rsend - send a file in RIM or BIN format to a PDP-8
>   send and rsend are utilities to transmit a RIM format or BIN format
>   file from a UNIX (or other) host to a PDP-8 over a serial line.  The
>   PDP-8 should be running the RIM loader routine prior to starting
>   either of these programs.
>   Input should be a file in RIM format or BIN format.  Output goes to
>   the host serial port, which should be connected via appropriate cable
>   to the PDP-8.
>   send is a simple version, with built-in serial port settings and a
>   fixed delay between characters.  rsend is more sophisticated; it can
>   be controlled by command-line options or environment variables, and
>   can accept input on stdin.
>
> On a Unix (or Linux etc) machine you can pipe the output from rim to
> rsend, and if you're using papertape images (of which there are load on the
> net), rsend can strip the headers for you.
>
> --
> Pete
> Pete Turnbull
>

Once upon a time I wrote a Python program to stand in for an ASR-33,
providing both a terminal session and a papertape image reader/punch.
N.B.: much PDP-8 software likes 7E1, but PTR/PTP is 8N1.  ISTR that even
when I fiddled with SLU settings, I couldn't get away from 7E1 for some of
the diagnostics.  Of course, I've slept since then.  -- Ian

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

Principal Investigator, "Reflections on Early Computing and Social Change",
UW IRB #42619

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."

Re: Visual 1050

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Mon, Aug 7, 2017 at 9:06 AM, william degnan via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> >
> > >
> > > dumping the firmware and character generator would be a good thing to
> do
> > as well
> > >
> > >
> > There are milti versions of these I believe.
> >
> > "MULTI" not milti :-)
>

Gary, if you're not in too much of a hurry I'd be interested in driving up
to Bellingham and picking it up.  :-)

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

Principal Investigator, "Reflections on Early Computing and Social Change",
UW IRB #42619

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."

Re: pdp-8/e restoration.

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

Those keys are common across nearly all DEC machines prior to the ones that
started using plastic keys.  XX2247 is the code.  -- Ian

On Sat, Aug 5, 2017 at 10:29 PM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Hi List!
>
>   Movin right along.
>
>  Programmers console now properly attached to light screening bar.
>
> Front panel and bezel on. Needs a bit more work.
>
> Not as secure or as straight as I would like.
>
> Then there's the key lock problem.
>
> Its in the off position and of course I don't have the key.
>
> So I cant fit that just now.
>
> Took power supply out. Changed mains cable as it was only a foot long.
>
> Soldered to the circuit breaker was a factory standard would you believe.
>
> Power supply back in. Connect up. Power on. Load address , press CLEAR
> and CONT.
>
> Test program still in core. Started right up.
>
> To-days task get the serial I/O going.
>
> Rod in Restore Mode
>
>
> .--
> Wanted one pdp-8/i rocker switch leaver to copy.
>
>


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

Principal Investigator, "Reflections on Early Computing and Social Change",
UW IRB #42619

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."

Re: pdp-8/e restoration.

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

Yes, the 8/e has the 'keep-alive current'.  The lamps are driven by an 8V
line that runs from the power supply to the programmer's panel.  -- Ian

On Fri, Aug 4, 2017 at 8:23 AM, Doug Ingraham via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On Fri, Aug 4, 2017 at 1:24 AM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> > 1. Should the run light glow dimly?
> >
>
> Without looking at the schematics I can't tell you if they bothered to put
> the resistor in there to make
> it glow dimly but I can tell you that it isn't necessary for the run lamp.
> The reason to make it glow
> dimly when off is to reduce the filament thermal shock when turning on and
> off.  This makes the bulbs
> last a lot longer.  The run lamp does not flicker in operation so not
> necessary on that one.
>
> --
> Doug Ingraham
> PDP-8 SN 1175
>



-- 
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."

Did you use a Xerox Alto? Know anyone who did?

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

Hi all,

I'm principal investigator on a research project that encompasses the
history of the Xerox Alto workstation.  I'm trying to find people who
actually USED an Alto in the course of business/academics, i.e. writing
documents, sending emails and the like.  This is part of a set of
interviews intended to add the voices of non-inventor stakeholders to the
historical narrative.

Interviews to date have primarily been over Skype and last between a
half-hour and an hour, depending on how much the individual chooses to
share.  One may participate anonymously should you so choose.

This study is approved by the University of Washington Human Subjects
Review Board (IRB #42619) and an Informed Consent form will be provided
upon request or if you choose to participate.

Got stories to tell?  I'd love to hear 'em.  Please respond to me privately
at isk...@uw.edu.  Thanks -- Ian

PS:  I asked Jay for permission to post this.

-- 
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."

Re: Whole IBM System/34 available in unknown condition

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

"The scrapper wants $800"?  I thought the point of going to scrap was that
the scrapper makes money on the metals, and pays you for that privilege.
Have the tables really turned so dramatically?-- Ian

On Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 4:45 PM, Robert via cctalk 
wrote:

> As Guy says, location will be the key to who, if anybody, can get it.
> I'd certainly be interested if it was withing a reasonable distance of
> me, though I'm not sure exactly where I'd put it...
> --
> Robert
>
> On Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 3:39 PM, Guy Sotomayor Jr via cctalk
>  wrote:
> > Usual question.  Where is it?
> >
> > TTFN - Guy
> >
> >> On Jul 25, 2017, at 1:36 PM, Benjamin Huntsman via cctalk <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> Anyone on here want a whole System/34?
> >>
> >>
> >> Not mine, but I have contact details.  The scrapper wants $800 for it
> local pick up.
> >>
> >>
> >> Let me know today, please.
> >>
> >>
> >> Thanks.
> >>
> >>
> >> -Ben
> >
>



-- 
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."

Re: Cipher F880 with S100 interface card on local CL

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Mon, Jul 10, 2017 at 10:00 AM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On 07/10/2017 09:50 AM, Mark J. Blair via cctalk wrote:
>
> > I was previously planning to so that, and I still think that the FPGA
> > approach would feel more natural to me than using the PRUs. But the
> > Beaglebone seems like a much more economical approach. I'd need a
> > processor to control it, an SD card and/or USB and/or network
> > interface to get data and commands on and off, and driver stacks for
> > all of that stuff. I could also get there with a Xilinx Zynq family
> > device, but at 2x or more cost vs. a BeagleBone.
>
> I worked out an interface using an Xilinx 95108 CPLD, but again, you
> still need a CPU to interface to it.  It just seems more natural, given
> the I/O count on today's MCUs, to dispense with the CPLD altogether.
>
> --Chuck
>
>
>
FWIW: once upon a time I hooked up a TX-8 to a DOS PC with a network card,
ran MS LANMAN client, and had a networked F880.  I wrote a small RMT
interpreter for it, too.  -- Ian

-- 
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."

Re: Cipher F880 with S100 interface card on local CL

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Sat, Jul 8, 2017 at 12:23 AM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Just thought I'd mention running across a guy in the next town peddling
> a Cipher F880 streamer with an S100 interface card for $150.  Even
> includes the (lowboy) rack.
>
> Let me know if you're interested (I'm in Eugene, OR)
>
> --Chuck
>

S-100?!?!?!?  I have a couple of those drives.  I don't have anything with
S-100, but isn't there a SS-50 adapter to S-100?  I'd love to have just the
interface card.

-- 
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."

Re: Monitors for ADM3 and ADM3a parts or replacement whole unit?

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Fri, Jun 30, 2017 at 12:26 AM,  wrote:

> Ian   we  are in   Arizona!
> Ed#
>
>
All,

Ed and I are talking privately and I think I have him covered.   FYI -- Ian

-- 
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."

Re: DEC LK201 Keyboards for VT220 terminals etc.

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Fri, Jun 30, 2017 at 10:39 AM, Liam Proven via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On 30 June 2017 at 19:12, Aaron Jackson  wrote:
> > Just saw this - All good here. I have an LK401 and LK201 :)
> >
> > Thanks Liam,
>
> No worries. I have a box of the things myself, waiting for me to try
> to fix up my 3 VAXstation 4000VLCs. Any spares -- including 2 of the
> VAXstations -- will be heading for eBay. The snag is that they're now
> in Czechia. :-)
>
>
> Bummer - I've been wanting a VLC for a while.  Wrong side of the pond for
me  -- Ian


-- 
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."

Re: Monitors for ADM3 and ADM3a parts or replacement whole unit?

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

Where are you?  -- Ian

On Tue, Jun 27, 2017 at 10:46 PM, Ed via cctalk 
wrote:

> Monitors  for ADM3  and ADM3a parts  or replacement whole unit?
>
>
> Have  a beauty  that was just  given us   but  there is much of the monitor
> circuitry missing.. the  picture tube  is  there  the flyback transformer
> is there.
>
> But the rest of the monitor...  GONE!
>
> Assuming the  logic  and keyboard  work   where  can I get the  rest  to
> make the monitor whole again?
> Or.. do I just  leave it as a static  display next to another  static
> display  early system?
>
> It is  a beauty  save for  the missing monitor   parts..
> Advice Hints?
>
> thanks   Ed#
>
>
>
>
>


-- 
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."

Re: DECstation 220 - Out of Ideas?

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Sat, Jun 24, 2017 at 4:17 PM, Rob Jarratt via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> As I mentioned in an earlier email, I have been trying to fix a DECstation
> 220. I have made what I think may be some progress, but I am out of ideas
> now.
>
>
>
> The problem appears to be that the 80286 CPU is shutting down and then the
> Olivetti chip is RESETting it repeatedly. The reason for this seems to be
> that it is failing to read the ROMs. The ROM is an ST M27512. The output
> enable signal (active low) does not appear to go below about 1.8V, although
> it does go up to 5V. It is as if the system is trying to read the ROM, but
> somehow the signal is not going low enough to actually make the ROM read.
> The signal is connected to DMAMEMR (DMA Memory Read) on a Chips P82C206
> controller, and to something on the Olivetti GA099-B, it may be connected
> to
> other components too, but I have not discovered any more so far. I have
> taken the ROMs out and read them in a reader, they seem to read back OK, so
> I don't think they are faulty.
>
>
>
> I am not sure what could cause the signal not to go low enough, apart from
> a
> bad P82C206 or a bad GA099-B. Does anyone have any suggestions or
> experience
> of common causes?
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
> Rob
>
> I don't recall from this thread - do you have prints?  I'd try to divine
whether this is a wire-OR bus (likely).  If so, I'd suspect the P82C206.
It may not be toast itself - be sure it has sufficient power to drive the
OC transistor that's bringing down the bus, and that its connection to that
bus doesn't have excessive resistance, and that its ground (earth)
connection is also low-resistance.  A long shot: it could be something else
on that bus that's sourcing rather than sinking, but the scenario seems
unlikely.

I'd agree that it's probably not the ROMs, from the symptoms you're
describing - unless, again, one of them has an internal short/leak to rail
on its read-enable pin.  A thought: can you measure the current and its
direction on the P82C206 pin?

That's my troubleshooting thinking given that I don't have it in front of
me.  :-)  I hope this is helpful -- Ian


-- 
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."

Re: DEC MINC in center Germany

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

I have some disks - but my MINC is a bit buried at the moment.  :-)
 Contact me privately if nothing else works out, and I'll try to get to
where I could make you some copies.  -- Ian

On Wed, Jun 14, 2017 at 12:18 AM, jim stephens via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

>
>
> On 6/10/2017 1:29 AM, Jörg Hoppe via cctalk wrote:
>
>> I like to point you to this DEC MINC-11:
>>
>> http://www.ebay.de/itm/112435553232
>>
>> Its a non-profit offer, we just need the space.
>>
>> best,
>> Joerg
>>
>
> Is it possible to get a copy of the Mincbasic and RT11 disk? willing to
> pay to get it for our Mincs.
>
> thanks
> Jim
>
>


-- 
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."

Re: DEC archives

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

>
> > On Wed, Jun 14, 2017 at 10:54:03AM -0700, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
> > > They are trivial to access. You just have to cart your lazy asses to
> > > Fremont.
> >
>
I wonder: how technical is the 'technical' content?  I have been looking
for even pinout-level documentation for my VAX 6000-660 for some time.  I'd
part with significant organs to obtain printsets of power supply elements.
Al?

And it looks like I'm burning the bulk of my PTO on my daughter's high
school graduation and installation at university.  :-)  I might have to put
this on the list for 2018.  -- Ian

-- 
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."

Re: Micral N (1974) for sale

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Tue, May 30, 2017 at 3:56 PM, Stéphane Tsacas via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> If it happens you're in Tours (in France, https://goo.gl/maps/BXNZ4YJixYq)
> June 11 2017, a Micral N from 1974 will be auctioned.
> More info -- in French -- on the auction house website
> https://www.rouillac.com/fr/news-1252-le_micral_n_premier_micro_ordinateur
>
> Starting price : 20 K€.
>
> Good luck ;-)
>
> I sure hope it goes to a good home - but unfortunately it won't be mine.
 -- Ian
-- 
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."

Re: Any PDP11s for sale in the UK?

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Mon, May 29, 2017 at 1:26 AM, Aaron Jackson via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> I had a couple of emails about but nothing has come of them (at least,
> not yet anyway). The LSI models are perhaps safer to send across Europe?
> Maybe an 11/23, 34 or 73?
>
> I'd say that you're more likely to find an 11/23 or perhaps an 11/03, the
latter being a less-capable version of the former.  The 11/73 is fairly
powerful and valued, and less available.  The 11/34 is a Unibus machine,
and I've not seen one that wasn't rack-mounted.  -- Ian
-- 
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."

Re: Something for the P3 you have in your back yard

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Sun, Apr 30, 2017 at 10:52 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Military-IBM-Computer-/201911842662
>
> https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/an-uys-1.htm
>
> Does this come under the category of 'home defense'?


-- 
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."

Re: Large Scale Systems Museum announcement

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

Awesome!  I regret I won't be able to be there, but do have a great time.
 -- Ian

On Fri, Apr 21, 2017 at 12:44 PM, Dave McGuire via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

>
>   Most of you have heard of the Large Scale Systems Museum, a public
> museum in the Pittsburgh area that is focused on minicomputers,
> mainframes, and supercomputers.  LSSM has been closed for renovations
> and expansion for the past several months; we've added nearly a
> thousand square feet of new exhibit space and many new exhibits.
>
>   On May 6th, there will be a large block party (actually, several
> blocks) here in town, called "New Kensington Better Block", with
> street vendors and other standard block party fare.  LSSM will be
> participating in that event with our post-renovation reopening; we
> will be open to the public all day with docents on duty.  Many of our
> systems will be running and demonstrated throughout the day.
>
>   In even bigger news, LSSM is pleased to announce the opening of a
> brand new wing, the Large Scale Integration Museum, or LSIM.  As the
> name suggests, the LSIM wing is dedicated to computer systems based on
> Large Scale Integration CPUs, from the earliest four-bit 4004
> processors through the desktop computer revolution of the 1970s and
> 1980s.  Thanks to a partnership with Pennsylvania-based nonprofit
> organization Tristate Technology Museum Consortium, and a generous
> donation from the private collection of Corey Little and C/PMuseum,
> LSIM will add more than one hundred new exhibits in four thousand
> square feet of newly-renovated space located in the same building as
> the recently-expanded Large Scale Systems Museum.
>
>   Everyone is welcome.  LSSM is located at 924 4th Avenue, New
> Kensington, PA 15068.  For more information, directions, or hotel
> recommendations, contact the LSSM via email at i...@lssmuseum.org or
> on Facebook (search for "Large Scale Systems Museum").  You can also
> see some photos of our facilities on the Facebook page.
>
>   Please feel free to forward this message to anyone whom you think
> might be interested.
>
> Thanks,
> -Dave McGuire
>  President/Curator, LSSM
>
> --
> Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
> New Kensington, PA
>



-- 
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."

Re: If C is so evil why is it so successful?

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

Weighing in on the C vs. assembler subthread: modern processors are like
exotic sportscars, in that pretty much anyone can drive the thing to the
corner grocery but it takes a lot of skill to get the best performance out
of it.  Load/store superscalar architectures benefit enormously from
various tricks that optimizing compilers do.  Sure, you can code those
tricksk in assembler, but for any program other than the most trivial it
becomes a daunting task.

Compiled C also supports writing sustainable code.  Use as many
intermediate variables as you like to clarify what your code is trying to
do - the compiler will optimize them out of existence.  This can make
troubleshooting more difficult, but that's why you turn off the
optimization for debug builds.

C vs. anything else?  I think John Wilson was spot on, it's like a
motorcycle and if you don't know what you're doing you can hurt yourself.
Personally, I usually use Python for application code and C if I'm doing
something down 'on the metal' that has to be performant (e.g., device
drivers).  -- Ian

On Wed, Apr 12, 2017 at 9:15 AM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

>
>
> On 12/04/2017 16:08, Norman Jaffe via cctalk wrote:
>
>> Assembler is a sports car kit.
>>
>> From: "cctalk" 
>> To: "cctalk" 
>> Cc: j...@mercury.lcs.mit.edu
>> Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2017 7:57:07 AM
>> Subject: Re: If C is so evil why is it so successful?
>>
>> From: Alfred M. Szmidt
>>> No even the following program:
>>> int main (void) { return 0; }
>>> is guaranteed to work
>>>
>> I'm missing something: why not?
>>
>> Noel
>>
>> PS: There probably is something to the sports car analogy, but I'm not
>> going
>> to take a position on that one! :-) Interesting side-question though: is
>> assembler more or less like a sports car than C? :-)
>>
> All computer computer languages are only as good or bad as the person
> using them.
>
> Rod
>
> --
> There is no wrong or right
> Nor black and white.
> Just darkness and light
>
>


-- 
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."

Re: Microcomputer and misc for sale

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

OK, thanks for the photos.  This confirms that this is gear I already have
- if others are interested, I'll back away (although spares are always
nice).  Thanks -- Ian

On Wed, Apr 5, 2017 at 8:01 PM, devin davison via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Many people have been asking for details on the Hp gear. Here are some
> pictures of everything.
>
> https://postimg.org/gallery/wdgbt8lm/
>
> I have powered up the machine and it boots up to hp basic. I never fired up
> any of the external drive enclosures or the printer. If someone wants to
> tell me how to test the external drives, I am more than willing to do so to
> verify that they are in working order.
>
> I have gotten several inquiries on the HP gear. Not sure how to handle many
> people wanting the same gear, now that i have some pictures up showing the
> model numbers, ill see if people are still interested and what they are
> willing to offer.
>
> --Devin
>



-- 
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."

Re: Z-8000 something on eBay

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Thu, Mar 23, 2017 at 2:12 AM, jim stephens via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

>
>
> On 3/22/2017 6:26 PM, Ken Seefried via cctalk wrote:
>
>> I don't have any idea what this is but it appears to have Z-8000
>> CPU+MMU chips.  Perhaps an Onyx or S8000 CPU card?  I know some folks
>> here are in to that sort of thing.
>>
>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Vintage-DSC-MP-4-EPC-Rev-D-K-Exp
>> ansion-Board-Card-PCB-for-Mini-Computer/152475939021
>>
>> KJ
>>
> just guessing with the number of I/O's it may be a controller board of
> some sort for something which needed a lot of go power, or perhaps an
> embedded OS.
>
> The EPC part of the nomenclature kept hitting things made by Epson, so
> maybe it is a scanner or printer controller?
>
> The large number of connectors is what bothers me with respect to it being
> a part of a general purpose mini.  I've not seen many with so many
> connectors of this type, and therefore cables coming to the main
> processor.  And in a chassis type mounted mini that would be a huge mess of
> cables to run out of a card slot if it were a high performance controller.
>
> Can prove me wrong, but I'm guessing some sort of controller.
> thanks
> Jim
>

All of those connectors make me think it's some sort of comm controller.
FWIW.

-- 
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."

Re: Introducing the UUCP/Usenet Project

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Tue, Mar 21, 2017 at 3:19 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On 03/21/2017 02:44 PM, Seth Morabito via cctalk wrote:
>
> > I would very much like to get one of my 3B2s up and running on this
> > new UUCP network. I still have a mostly fallow land line that I can
> > use. When I have some time in the next week or two, I'll try to get
> > things ready under SVR3 UNIX.
>
>
> For those without *nix boxes, there is a DOS/OS2 version called UUPC:
>
> https://github.com/swhobbit/UUPC
>
> I used this back in the pre-web days and it worked fine.
>
> --Chuck
>

There's a VMS version, too.  So many choices

-- 
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."

Re: Univac I memory tank

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Tue, Mar 14, 2017 at 11:21 AM, Adrian Stoness via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> its been pulled
>
> It's still there when I click on the link, five days to go.  Boy howdy,
this would be a headache to get shipped!  Even if the mercury is gone,
there are almost certain to be residuals.  -- Ian

-- 
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."

Re: IBM S/32, PDP-11/60+RL01, PDP-11/34, East Lansing MI

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Tue, Feb 28, 2017 at 8:05 AM, Ethan Dicks via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On Tue, Feb 28, 2017 at 10:47 AM, Earl Evans via cctech
>  wrote:
> > I'm on the other side of the country or I'd be all over this.
>
> I'm hours away myself...
>
> > Someone please rescue this equipment. The thought of it going to the
> scrappers is, well, brutal.
>
> Indeed.
>
> > Aren't PDP-11/60s kind of a rare beast?
>
> Quite rare.  I've seen more 11/20s than 11/60s... (not that either
> number is large).
>
> -ethan
>

PDP-11/60 - the fastest PDP-8 ever built!  :-)

-- 
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."

Re: Wildly hopeful eBay seller

[Ian S. King via cctalk]

On Mon, Feb 27, 2017 at 8:25 PM, Josh Dersch  wrote:

> I've been looking fruitlessly for boxes of fanfold paper-tape for long
> enough that that price *almost* seems reasonable.  There isn't much left
> and they don't make it any longer.
>
> (It's still a ridiculous price.)
>
> - Josh
>
>
> It'll probably show up again as a regular auction when this guy realizes
he's on e-crack.

-- 
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."