test-drb June 2013

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

216 participants
271 discussions

by captainkirk359＠gmail.com

Hello list: Going back on-topic from the recent wave of off-topic posts (that is, assuming people consider the PDP-11 both classic and on-topic), I have five PDP-11 questions which I wish to post to the list. 1. Is the bootstrap for the MRV11-D (the MXV11-BF boot ROMs apparently) "conversational" or "automatic." Conversational being defined as similar to the BDV11's bootstrap, automatic being, you hit the boot toggle and the system automatically brings up a <device>. 2. Is there a 22-bit QBUS bus terminator board? (I.e. only a 22-bit terminator, no bootstrap/ROM, no DMA refresh, et cetera.) If there is what is it's name? 3. Somewhat tying into the above, but; is there a 22-bit version of the BDV11 bootstrap ROM/bus terminator board? Because personally I'd rather deal with a single quad-wide board I've dealt with before, then deal with a pair of boards I've never even *SEEN* before. 4. This is more an opinion question but... Would trading a KDJ11-BF (yes, -BF; it has an FPU) for a KDJ11-AC (or -AB with FPU; FPU required because it took me long enough to get a J-11 with an FPJ11-AA, I'm going to run my '11/73 with an FPU if it kills me), a MRV11-D/terminator or 22-bit BDV11, and a DLV11-J be a good trade? (More on this question later...) 5. What size of wire, and wirewrap tool is the one most best usable when dealing with the jumpers (and possibly backplane) of a DEC system? (Specifically, in this case, wirewrap jumpers on various PDP-11 option boards). In terms of my question number four; I ask of that trade because I have a KDJ11-BF and an H9275-A backplane (that's the Q22/Q22 serpentine 9x4 one), as I'm in the process of replacing my PDP-11 system. And -- natrually -- the -BF (being PMI) won't play nice in the H9275-A. So I would like a trade for a functionally similar set of devices in this case a KDJ11-AC (or -AB with FPU; read my FPU statement), some form of bootstrap, and a SLU (the bus terminator would be nice as I plan on filling up said H9275-A). Thank you, any who respond, Christian G.

12 years, 1 month

Kaypro successes

by brain＠jbrain.com

K4/84 has 2 new drives. Thanks Dave. ON that success, I pulled the K10, and temp attached a TEAC FD55. No joy on the boot disk I created (it goes to top left screen with cursor, then resets), but Gene B had sent me a complete set (I assume HDD restore set) of K10 disks (again, thanks Gene), and Disk #1 booted the machine. The same disk does not work in the internal FDD, even though the internal FDD does the same reset cycle when used with some boot disks. the existing HDD must partially work. Anyway, I wonder if someone else has a K10 and could help with HDD diagnosis. If I leave out the boot disk, the HDD ready light comes on after a bit, but then the K10 Disk #1 won't boot the system. If I boot the floppy, the drive ready light never comes on. And, things like checkbad.com won't find the HDD And, in either case, I can't hear the ST225 spin up. Should it? I am perfectly content if the diagnosis is a toasted HDD (expect it, I do). But, if so, where should I go looking for a spare? I see this on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/SEAGATE-ST-225-21MB-MFM-5-25-HH-Hard-Drive-with-ORI… And I understand it's a gamble, but I assume my options are limited. Jim -- Jim Brain brain at jbrain.com www.jbrain.com

12 years, 1 month

Looking for DEC DZ11 20ma dist panel and LA34 tractor feed assy.

by bub7734＠yahoo.com

I'm trying to free up slots in my PDP-11, so I'm looking to remove the DL11's I'm using and want to replace them with a single 20ma DZ11.? Does anyone have a DZ11 20ma dist panel they'd part with? I also seem to have lost my LA34 tractor feed assembly.? Would anyone have a spare they'd sell? TIA, -scott

12 years, 1 month

Looking for DEC DZ11 20ma dist panel and LA34 tractor feed assy.

by bub7734＠yahoo.com

Hello, Tony, Thanks for the reply. In reply to Tony Duell ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk, Sun Jun 16 15:49:53 CDT 2013 > > I'm trying to free up slots in my PDP-11, so I'm looking to remove the DL11's I'm using > > and want to replace them with a single 20ma DZ11. Does anyone have a DZ1 > > Firstly, I am probably telling you what you already know, but the DZ11 > and DL11 are totally different in software. If you are doing anything out > of the ordinary and have sustom drivers you ahve a lot of work ahead. Of course it requires a different device driver. ? > > 1 20ma > > dist panel they'd part with? > > Soecondly, IIRC the disptribution panel is essentially just connectors. I > have a few of the even older DJ11 muxes and a couple of the distirbution > panels were home-made. Berg conenctors on a bit of square pad board with > wire-swap wire goign off to what we call 'chocolate blocks' [1]. Looks a > right msess, but apprently it was used at a university to conenct up > ASR33s for many years with no problems. > > [1] Does that term mean anything to you? It's a common term over here for > thos plastich screw terminal blocks Modern ones are norally white, > flexible plastic (nylon?) the very old ones were a brown brittle themoset > plastic, hence the name. I know them as Terminal Blocks.? The intention here is to connect Teletype Model 33s as well. > Given that the current loop signals are pretty low speed, you would > almost certainly get away with taking a length of ribbon cable, putting a > BERG socket on one end, splitting the other end into individual wires and > puttign them on screw terminals. > > -tony I'm specifically looking for the DEC distribution panel at this time, but thanks for the suggestion though. Regards, -scott

12 years, 1 month

Early UNIX File Optimization

by tom94022＠comcast.net

Second posting since for some reason the first posting apparently didn't make it. -----Original Message----- From: Tom Gardner [mailto:tom94022 at comcast.net] Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 10:07 AM To: 'cctalk at classiccmp.org' Subject: RE: Early UNIX File Optimization I have a vague recollection that early time sharing systems, in particular UNIX, enforced I/O fairness by fragmenting files and thereby freeing the I/O between fragments. However I don't recall much and this might be an artifact of aging :-) If so, I am curious as to how this was implemented - interleaving sectors or some more complex physical fragmentation or ?? Anyone point me to any references? Tom

12 years, 1 month

Best comeback of the year (was: Re: Antiques roadshow)

by mtapley＠swri.edu

At 16:49 -0500 6/19/13, Fred wrote: >On Wed, 19 Jun 2013, Cory Smelosky wrote: > > I was quite confused when I read "adjustable spammers". ;) > >Find them, and we will adjust them. Grumpy ol' Fred for President. I'll vote as many times as it takes. -- - Mark 210-379-4635 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Large Asteroids headed toward planets inhabited by beings that don't have technology adequate to stop them: Think of it as Evolution in Fast-Forward.

12 years, 1 month

Re: Yellowed/Cosmetically Damaged Apple IIGS Monitors $20 dollars each plus shipping

by mark＠wickensonline.co.uk

S Sent from my HTC ----- Reply message ----- From: "Mark Martin" <storycrafter at gmail.com> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Yellowed/Cosmetically Damaged Apple IIGS Monitors $20 dollars each plus shipping Date: Wed, Jun 19, 2013 9:50 pm Whereabouts do you live? Offering local pickup? On Wed, Jun 19, 2013 at 3:39 PM, Steven Landon <slandon110 at gmail.com> wrote: > Got about 15 Apple IIGS Monitors that are yellowed and or lightly > scratched. 15khz sync, Good for Amigas, Ataris, and Apple IIGS's > > $20 dollars each plus shipping via USPS Parcel Post > > Trying to empty the storage unit of these things >

12 years, 1 month

El Reg : Nuke plants to keep PDP-11 UNTIL 2050!

by seefriek＠gmail.com

My brothers company is a specialty shop that does IT related services (mostly custom development work) for small to mid-sized manufacturing companies (bro is an industrial engineer by training...he speaks the language). He periodically pings me because a client has something outside of his core competency and he want's me to take a look and see if someone in my network can help out. Sometimes it's a PDP-8 (or several) running an industrial loom, or a DG Nova controlling a CNC machine the size of a bus, or some ancient IBM thing cranking out invoices/schedules/statistics in the back room. Or an industrial grade PC (8088 vintage) running a DOS app and custom A/D-D/A hardware where all the menus and doco were in Italian controlling a fabric dyeing machine about the size and shape of a Soyuz (I got the call on this one because I can passably read Italian, not because of a technical value add). There's a cadre of folks I can count on to help out and never fail to miracle the odd replacement part or bit of code to keep things going (for a price, of course). There will absolutely be shops running things much older than a PDP-11 in 2050.

12 years, 1 month

Early UNIX File Optimization

by tom94022＠comcast.net

I have a vague recollection that early time sharing systems, in particular UNIX, enforced I/O fairness by fragmenting files and thereby freeing the I/O between fragments. However I don't recall much and this might be an artifact of aging :-) If so, I am curious as to how this was implemented - interleaving sectors or some more complex physical fragmentation or ?? Anyone point me to any references? Tom PS: as in infrequent poster I am happy to make a small change to the statistics

12 years, 1 month

Looking for: Sperry/Beckman SP-333 (gas discharge display)

by derschjo＠gmail.com

I'm working through repairing a Tektronix 31 calculator for my dad (late father's day gift...). It seems to mostly be working now but all of the display panels except for two are dead (as I understand is pretty typical). The display consists of two SP-333s and four SP-332s. I've found a source for the SP-332s (2digit 7-segment displays) but can't find much for the SP-333s (3digit 7-segment display). Here's the specs: http://www.tube-tester.com/sites/nixie/data/SP-333/sp-333.htm Found a couple of "request a quote!" type listings on the 'net but that's about it. I need two of these beasts to get things visible again... Thanks in advance, Josh

12 years, 1 month

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test-drb June 2013