- cctalk - classiccmp.org

by Tom Hunter

Does anyone have a surplus DEC M8340 board with PCB etch level E and revision F (as imprinted on the handle)? If yes, please reply to thunter6600(a)gmail.com. Thanks and best regards Tom Hunter

3 years, 4 months

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NCD-17c and NCD-19 X terminal cap lists?

by Chris Hanson

Does anyone have a list of replacement capacitors to use for NCD X terminals, specifically the 17c and 19? A couple searches online don't turn up anything. I just got my NCD 17c up and running—I showed a pic or two on discord://classiccmp/#terminals a couple days ago—and now while I hear the HV power up the low voltage power seems kaput and the system never comes on. And my NCD 19 won't power up either. I can certainly take them apart and make lists, and I will if need be, but I was hoping maybe someone had already done so so I could get an order in ASAP. The power supply for these things is in the display portion, which makes me a bit nervous just generally… :) -- Chris

3 years, 4 months

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Re: WICAT Systems

by Paul McJones

Some models (e.g., the 150) supported Multibus. In the early 1980s at Tandem Austin we used one with a SUN graphics board in a Multibus slot to prototype a 68000 workstation we were building (but that never became a product). Al Kossow has lots of information about Wicat in bitsavers. Here’s a brochure for the 150: http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/wicat/brochures/System_150_Brochure.pdf

3 years, 5 months

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WICAT Systems

by Steve Lewis

Is anyone familiar with WICAT Systems? I came across their ad in BYTE Nov 1981 (page 84), with a claim of "first family of microcomputers with mainframe capability" It is a 68000 based system (like the Lisa?), one configuration offers 400x300 monochrome graphics. Ad also claims 1.5MB main memory and a multi-user operating system ("UNIX/V7 and a CP/M Emulation also available") called MCS. Address mentions Orem, Utah. Haven't come across a price sheet, but I imagine they were quite expensive ($6000+ would be my guess). From the images, looks to me the main problem is a lack of an expansion bus (and overall not a very appealing-looking system). Was just curious if anyone had witnessed one ever running. -Steve

3 years, 5 months

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Earliest version of 3b2/400 sim

by KenUnix

Hi, Does anyone know the oldest version of the SIM 3b2/400 is and where I can get it? Thanks, Ken -- WWL 📚

3 years, 5 months

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Re: cctalk Digest, Vol 233, Issue 1

by badbob

Message: 1 Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2023 11:26:58 -0400 From: KenUnix <ken.unix.guy(a)gmail.com> Subject: [cctalk] Earliest version of 3b2/400 sim To: CCTALK <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <CAJXSPs_duQJNrpdf=gy1iZyPta5-wpoDJ-CUdJyhqdqL281gKw(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Hi, Does anyone know the oldest version of the SIM 3b2/400 is and where I can get it? Thanks, Ken -- Found this toohttps://loomcom.com/3b2/emulator/ - 2017-12-27: HD135 and HD161 are now both recognized names forthe Maxtor XT-2190 disk drive. - 2017-12-27: Fix for CPU traps. The UNIX debugger sdb should nowwork correctly under System V Release 3. - 2017-12-17: Minor compiler warning fix. - 2017-12-16: Fixed a FIFO overflow bug in the CONTTY device. - 2017-12-15: Critical MMU bugfix. - 2017-12-13: Improved support for multiple hard disk drives, aswell as adding support for additional hard disk geometries. - 2017-12-09: Added support for the secondary on-board serialterminal (CONTTY). RMS

3 years, 5 months

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Re: cctalk Digest, Vol 233, Issue 1

by badbob

1. Earliest version of 3b2/400 sim (KenUnix) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2023 11:26:58 -0400 From: KenUnix <ken.unix.guy(a)gmail.com> Subject: [cctalk] Earliest version of 3b2/400 sim To: CCTALK <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> Message-ID: <CAJXSPs_duQJNrpdf=gy1iZyPta5-wpoDJ-CUdJyhqdqL281gKw(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Hi, Does anyone know the oldest version of the SIM 3b2/400 is and where I can get it? Thanks, Ken This is what I have found after searching, which implies around or before Nov 2017, AT&T 3B2 400 emulated Posted on November 24, 2017 https://virtuallyfun.com/2017/11/24/att-3b2-400-emulated/ WWL 📚 End of cctalk Digest, Vol 233, Issue 1 **************************************

3 years, 5 months

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DEC RSX BACKUP.SYS (bup?) files

by Chuck Guzis

I've got a few RX50 floppies that are *part* of a couple of backup sets. I don't have the complete sets, so the backup utility (BUP?) won't process the set in bits and pieces. Is the BACKUP.SYS file format documented anywhere? This is the file that starts out "JOURNAL", a few nulls, then "MICRORSX" Any help would be appreciated! TIA, Chuck

3 years, 5 months

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TREK7 is back! - TREK7 FORTRAN Multi-User Game (PDP-10/VAX) Revived

by Hans-Ulrich Hölscher

The Star Trek simulation game TREK7 was written in FORTRAN by Donald M. Ecclestone in the early 70ties for the PDP-10. The game was ported to VAX computers running VMS in 1978 by the author with the help of Dan Gahlinger. For some years TREK7 fell into a deep slumber until in 1993 Dan Gahlinger decided to revive it, but some severe bugs remained, hindering any successful round of game. Last year I began to work on the problems still present in TREK7. After detecting and fixing more than 60 bugs (mostly caused by transcription errors) step by step, the game is playable again now. Dan Gahlinger backed out of the project and I am the maintainer of TREK7 now. For details see: https://gunkies.org/wiki/TREK7 Former TREK7 players please give me a shout! Ulli The VAXorcist

3 years, 5 months

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MIT Lisp Machine and ucode recovered

by Eric Moore

Originating in 1960, Lisp is second only to Fortran as the oldest programming language still in use today. Historically used for research, artificial intelligence, and mathematics, Lisp remains relevant in these fields, as well as in quantum computing research and other cutting-edge applications. In the mid-1970s, researchers sought high-performance, single-user, interactive machines due to the constraints of running their code on large multi-user mainframes. Such machines would allow for more efficient and flexible research and development. Richard Greenblatt at the MIT AI Lab spearheaded the development of the first dedicated Lisp machines, including the successful CONS machine and later CADR machines. MACSYMA, a symbolic mathematics program written in Lisp which consumed significant resources on the PDP-10 running ITS, was a key motivator for the Lisp Machine's creation. LispM hackers in residence, including Daniel Weinreb (DLW), David Moon (MOON), Richard Stallman (RMS), John L. Kulp (JLK), Mike McMahon (MMcM), and others, were responsible for the overall system development. Kulp designed the legendary Space Cadet keyboard, known for its unique key arrangements and symbols, and Moon and Weinreb wrote the first and second Lisp Machine editors (EINE, ZWEI) respectively. Brad Parker developed the first working CADR simulator (usim), which emulates the MIT CADR, and with the Lisp Machine microcode running on top, allows users to explore the historic system and its unique features. Until recently, only up until system 78 of the LISP operating system and microcode from MIT could be emulated. Alfred M. Szmidt (AMS) received copies of backup tapes containing systems 98 and 99, dating from 1983 and 1984, respectively, and was able to get them running after a decade of effort. The bootstrap process was an impressive hack, due to the Lisp Machine's use of network booting and a mixture of compiled and uncompiled code. Szmidt has now iterated the distribution to system 100 with all of his fixes included. This marks the first time in 35 years that anyone can use this environment, designed to support AI and computational research at the cutting edge. The windowing and graphical feel of the environment stand out, and the Lisp machine and CADR processor allow users to dive deep into the operating system's inner workings. The line between compiled and source code is thin, and users can open and read almost everything. The CADR machine served as the foundation for commercial products sold by LISP Machines, Inc., founded by Richard Greenblatt, and Symbolics, founded by MIT AI Lab ex-administrator Russell Noftsker. The emulator provides a glimpse into the height of 80s MIT hacker culture by booting to MIT System 100. Find more information and try the system out yourself via AMS's announcement post: https://tumbleweed.nu/r/bug-lispm/forumpost/7475d8a3db Or visit https://tumbleweed.nu/lm-3 -Eric

3 years, 5 months

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