test-drb December 2000

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

192 participants
490 discussions

World's Crappiest Drives (was Re: A&J Microdrive)

by jeff.kaneko＠juno.com

On Tue, 05 Dec 2000 18:36:01 -0500 THETechnoid(a)home.com writes: > How about a vote on the BEST disk drives ever? > > I'd vote: > > Bulletproof drives: > > The Atari 810, 1050, and any modified version > > Seagate St225,251, and 4096 interface version notwithstanding Hmmm, you've obviously never experienced *stiction*! > Teac floppy mechanisms - just great mechs Well you know, these were originally National/Matsushita/Panasonic drives; whatever the labeling, they (almost) never break! I have a pair of JA-455's I bought in 1986, and they *still* work. > CDC/Imprimis hard disks You gotta love these, but I always felt that the earlier Fujitsu drives (8" & 5.25") just reeked of *quality*. ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

25 years

TS1000 gets $800 composite monitor

by spectre＠stockholm.ptloma.edu

I have found a new use for my Power Mac G3: as a composite monitor for my Timex Sinclair 1000. Now that's quality! :-P Here's the question. I picked up a Formac ProTV tuner card with composite and S-video input, and two antenna jacks (TV/cable and FM). This is on-topic because actually I will be using this set-up to do video frame grabs >from the Tomy Tutor and the Commodore 128 -- and possibly even movies. Composite input works fine thanks to the mod Glen put in the TS1000 (tip of the hat :-). No sound, of course. RF input, however, does not -- and since I'll be doing vid captures from the Commodore, I'd love to capture SID music in there also, so that rules out plain old composite input (it doesn't have audio inputs). Does anyone know of gotchas with TV tuner cards in general for capturing RF? Is anyone familiar with this card? (Hans, they're your countrymen, but their U.S. office is near Sam, in Pleasanton.) I'm just using a regular old R**** S**** switchbox (slide, not automatic) and terminating in antenna leads, which I'm turning into coax. Works great on my television, but nothing out of the video card. (Power Mac 7300/180 with Sonnet G3/400, OS 8.6, ATI Rage 128 video, 64MB.) Ideas or suggestions? -- ----------------------------- personal page: http://www.armory.com/~spectre/ -- Cameron Kaiser, Point Loma Nazarene University * ckaiser(a)stockholm.ptloma.edu -- It's not enough to be Hungarian. You must have talent too. -- Alex Korda ---

25 years

Unusual uses for ZX81/TS1000 (was: TS1000 gets $800 composite monitor)

by Glenatacme＠aol.com

In a message dated 12/05/2000 10:16:24 AM Eastern Standard Time, spectre(a)stockholm.ptloma.edu writes: > have found a new use for my Power Mac G3: as a composite monitor for my > Timex Sinclair 1000. Now that's quality! :-P Well, even Apple equipment has some real-world functionality ;>) > Composite input works fine thanks to the mod Glen put in the TS1000 (tip of > the hat :-). Thanks! -- and glad to hear you're up and running. The standard RF modulator included with the ZX81/TS1000 is so bad that I had to do something. Lots of folks dismissed this machine just because of the eye-bleeder display, but for fifty cents in parts and a TV or monitor with composite input (plus a decent keyboard) the thing is actually useable for basic applications. I've used mine for company payroll, inventory, order tracking, etc. The ability to load programs at 4800 baud (as opposed to the native 300 baud) also increases the useability of the machine. Currently I have one set up in the shop as a "system configurator," where people custom-build a system by selecting the parts they want included, then they print out the results and hand them to me. Customers really like the "one-finger" keyboard commands and never notice the monochrome display . . . I recently spoke with a guy at NASA who uses ZX81s for robotics projects, so I guess there must be others out there who use these critters for something. Is anyone else still using a ZX81/TS1000 on a regular basis? And if so, for what? Glen 0/0

25 years

Great Find

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

This weekend I picked up a LOGI-TRAN FOUR a logic education system by Fabri-Tek. It was in the box it was shipped but the manual(s) was missing. It does power on but that's about all I have done with it. If anyone has spec's on this email me. John Keys

25 years

DEC LK201AA keyboard available cheap

by whdawson＠mlynk.com

DEC LK201AA Keyboard available cheap. I found it at the local Goodwill, where it still is. Nice condition, all keycaps present. Price is $3.25. If anyone is interested, LMK and I'll pick it up. Shipping at actual cost, UPS or USPS. Bill

25 years

VAX 6310 in Piscataway NJ

by azog＠azog.org

I'm not affiliated with this guy at all, but found this interesting: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1200276177 A complete 6310 with SA600 and other odds & ends, starting bid at $500. I'd bid on it myself, but I'm not sure where I'll be living in the next month. Which is too bad, because Piscataway is "just down the road" from me.

25 years

Classic monochrome phosphors?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com <CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com> >Does anyone know the designation (as in "P3" or "P25") of these long-lived >green and yellow phosphors that were commonly used on IBM PC and PC-clone Between scopes and terminals I have: P31 blue, ? amber, P1 green and two differnt whites (vt100 and Vt320 paperwhite). P1 is the common medium green of older scopes and terminals P3 and P39 are either amber or white range, I forget P7 short blue/long yellow (used mostly for scopes and slowscan) P11 is blue (more toward the medium persistance) P31 The common scope tubes early 90s (blueish white medium) There are others but, the codes to them are long forgotten. Allison

25 years

Fwd: TX State Surplus Macs Must Be Saved! (fwd)

by optimus＠canit.se

A forward from the Compact Macs list. Of interest to y'all kauboois doun dere. -- En ligne avec Thor 2.6. "I am *different* from all of you because I am a *ningen*!!"

25 years

DECstation Haul...

by Mzthompson＠aol.com

On Mon, 4 Dec 2000, LFessen106(a)aol.com wrote: > Hi Everyone! > I just picked up a few DECstations (Thanks Carlos!) and was wondering what > your impressions/suggestions for them would be. > I picked up: > 2 DECstation 5000/33 (Maxine) > DECstation 5000/125 (3min - I think) > DECstation 2100 (pmin - I think) > > The Maxine's and the 2100 are running Ultrix 4.2 and 4.3 respectively. The > 2100 is running NetBSD. > I didn't get any monitor with the 2100 and it's got some sort of mono frame > buffer with a cable that terminates in a single bnc connector. Anyone know > what I can hook this into to get some video? I did get monitors with both > maxines, however, one is very dim. I have some other monitors that take the > BNC type connectors but don't know what the frequencies are supposed to be on > the Maxines and don't want to blow any of my old working monitors up trying > them out arbitrarilly. Both Maxines are running expanded frame buffer cards > (forget exactly the name and can't look at them right now). Here some info I put together a while back that may help some. Mike DEC Monitor Specifications Following are listed the specs for some of the common DEC monitors that are finding their way into the hobbyist area. The specs were taken from the following DEC manuals: EK-VR290-IN-002 (1985); EK-VR299-IN (1989); EK-VR319-TC-001 (1991); EK-VR320-IN-001 (1990); EK-VRT16-TC-001 (1991); EK-VRT19-TC-001 (1991); ER-VRT19-OP-002 --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Monitor Overview Resolution Frequencies Model Horiz Vert Horiz - Khz Vert - Hz -------- ------ ---- ----------- --------- VR299 1024 x 864 54.054 60 VR320-CA 1280 x 1024 70.66 66.47 * VR320-DA 1280 x 1024 77.13 72.56 * VRT19-DA 1280 x 1024 70.7 66.5 (aka Sony GDM-1960) VRT19-HA ** 1280 x 1024 77.1728 72.5562 (aka Sony GDM-1961) * The VR320 manual states that the monitor can operate at either 66 or 72 Hz, and is preset to match the machine prior to shipping. The manual also says to contact DEC Customer Service (yeah, right) if a change is needed. If DEC set it to 66 Hz they stamped 'CA' after 'VR320-' on the ID tag, if set to 72 Hz they stamped 'DA'. DEC set it to 66 or 72 Hz using a slide switch that is inside the monitor. The switch is clearly marked 66 & 72 Hz, just set it to the desired position. ** The VRT19-HA will operate at either 66 or 72 Hz vertical refresh. VR290 - 19" Color - See VR299 VR297 - 16" Color - See VR299 VR319-CA - 19" Mono - See VR320-CA VR319-DA - 19" Mono - See VR320-DA VRT16-DA - 16" Color - See VRT19-DA VRT16-HA - 16" Color - See VRT19-HA The monitors with a suffix (CA, DA, & HA) are considered Northern Hemisphere versions. For the down-under folks the suffixes are C4, D3, D4, & H4 instead. --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- VRT19 - 1280 x 1024 VRT19-DA VRT19-HA Pixel Clock: 119.843 Mhz 130.825 Mhz * Pixel Period: 8.344 ns * 7.643 ns * Horizonital Pixels Horiz Freq: 70.7 Khz 77.1728 Khz Horizontal Period: 14.1441 us * 1696 12.9656 us Active Video: 10.68 us 1280 9.7853 us Blanking Interval: 3.465 us 416 3.1802 us Front Porch: 258 ns 32 244.6 ns Sync Pulse: 1335 ns 160 1223.2 ns Back Porch: 1873 ns 224 1712.4 ns Vertical Lines Vert Freq: 66.5 Hz 72.5562 Hz Vertical Period: 15.035 ms 1063 13.7824 ms Active Video: 14.485 ms 1024 13.2768 ms Blanking Interval: 551.62 us * 39 505.6584 us * Front Porch: 42.432 us * 3 38.8968 us * Sync Pulse: 42.432 us * 3 38.8968 us * Back Porch: 466.7553 us * 33 427.8648 us * * These values were calculated as they are not list in the manuals. --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- VR320 - 1280 x 1024 The specs for the VR320 are only slightly different than those for the VRT19, and most of that appears to be rounding differences. Since have the manual, thought would include it here for completeness. VR320-CA VRT320-DA Pixel Clock: 119.84 Mhz 130.81 Mhz Pixel Period: 8.34 ns 7.64 ns Horizonital Pixels Horiz Freq: 70.66 Khz 77.13 Khz Horizontal Period: 14.15 us 1696 12.97 us Active Video: 10.68 us 1280 9.79 us Blanking Interval: 3.47 us 416 3.18 us Front Porch: 267 ns 32 245 ns Sync Pulse: 1340 ns 160 1220 ns Back Porch: 1870 ns 224 171 ns Vertical Lines Vert Freq: 66.47 Hz 72.56 Hz Vertical Period: 15.035 ms 1063 13.7824 ms Active Video: 14.49 ms 1024 13.28 ms Blanking Interval: 552 us 39 506 us Front Porch: 42.46 us 3 38.89 us Sync Pulse: 42.46 us 3 38.89 us Back Porch: 467 us 33 427.9 us --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- VR299 - 1024 x 864 Pixel Clock: 70 Mhz Pixel Period: 14.45 ns Horizonital Pixels Horiz Freq: 54.054 Khz Horizontal Period: 18.50 us 1280 * Active Video: 14.8 us 1024 Blanking Interval: 3.70 us 256 * Front Porch: 160 ns 12 * Sync Pulse: 1850 ns 128 * Back Porch: 1680 ns 116 * Vertical Lines Vert Freq: 60 Hz Vertical Period: 16.667 ms 901 Active Video: 16.0 ms 864 Blanking Interval: 684.5 us * 37 Front Porch: 0 us 0 Sync Pulse: 55.5 us * 3 Back Porch: 629 us * 34 * * These values were calculated as they are not list in the manuals. --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Display Options In the DEC world, certain monitors only work with certain equipment, for example the VR299 works with the DECstation 2100/3100. Then there is the TURBOchannel graphics cards as found in the DECstation 5000 series as well as other machines. This is an attempt to list what monitors work with which graphic cards. For simplicity's sake, the monitors can be placed in one of three categories, and that is by the vertical scan frequency. The monitors are of one of the following vertical frequencies: 60, 66 or 72 Hz. Of course there are those monitors (ex: VRT19-HA) that will work at both 66 and 72 Hz. The following table lists the graphics card model, its vertical output, and a description of that graphics card. Model Freq Description -------- ---- ----------- PMAG-AA 72 Monochrome frame buffer PMAG-B 60 PMAG-C 66 2D graphics accelerator PMAG-CA 66 2D graphics accelerator PMAG-D 66 PMAG-DA 66 Low 3D graphics accelerator PMAG-DC 66 Low 3D graphics plus PMAG-E 66 PMAG-EA 66 Mid 3D graphics accelerator PMAG-F 66 PMAG-FA 66 High 3D graphics accelerator PMAG-JA 66 True color frame buffer PMAGB-A 60 PMAGB-B 66 PMAGB-BA 66 Smart frame buffer PMAGB-BC 72 Smart frame buffer PMAGB-BE 72 Smart frame buffer PMAGB-DA 72 Low 3D graphics accelerator PMAGB-EA 72 Mid 3D graphics accelerator PMAGB-FA 72 High 3D graphics accelerator PMAGB-JA 72 True color frame buffer --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------

25 years

IBM Displaywriter available in LA

by dlw＠trailingedge.com

Contact the person below if you are interested. ------------------------ From: KirkwoodBS(a)aol.com Date sent: Tue, 5 Dec 2000 17:35:01 EST Subject: IBM Displaywriter Hello, I have an IBM Displaywriter system, 5218 A04 printer, program disks and complete set of manuals. This is a big, dedicated word processing system but I'd like to find someone who'd want it. I hate to just trash it. Do you, or do you know of anyone who may like this equipment? If not, any suggestions of how to dispose of it? I am located in Los Angeles CA. Thank you Bobby --------------- ----- David Williams - Computer Packrat dlw(a)trailingedge.com http://www.trailingedge.com

25 years

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test-drb December 2000