hybridfree/eevblog-posts huggingface dataset:
[Melbourne, Australia] Vintage computer buy/sell/swap/repair meet - 1/9/18  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 26, 2018, 10:34:35 am
content: Within the Bundoora computer swap meet there will be a Vintage computer buy/sell/swap/repair meet on Saturday 1st of September 2018.More information in the Australian Vintage Computer Group on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212398038011441&set=gm.681474682218811&type=3&ifg=1

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2018, 10:39:29 am
content: Thanks John.What is the address?

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 26, 2018, 10:41:06 am
content: Bundoora Netball & Sports Centre (BNAS), Corner of McKimmies & Plenty Rd’s, on the RMIT west campus, enter from Mckimmies Rdhttp://www.technologymarkets.com.au/

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2018, 10:58:27 am
content: I haven't been going to those markets for years. I'd almost forgotten they existed. I had an additional question about parking but I eventually found it.For the convenience of others this is from the website"The Bundoora Computer Market is held on the 1st Saturday and from March 2018 will also be on the 3rd Sunday of each month. SCROLL DOWN FOR DATES. It is located at the Bundoora Netball and Sports Centre (BNASC) which is on the RMIT University West Campus. The west campus is located on the corner of Plenty road and McKimmies Road. Entry is via 344 McKimmies Road Bundoora. Public transport to the Computer Market is via tram 86, as well as various bus stops surrounding the university. There is ample FREE onsite parking both at the front and rear of the facility. There is onsite catering, there is also an ATM located in the library open from 11am. This market is open from 10am-4pm entry cost is $3 per person, while kids under 10 are free. The next Market is Sunday 15th April 2018. DATES FOR 2018: Sunday 15th April 2018 To be updated regularly about when this Computer market is taking place, sign up via email or text for FREE. "

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 15, 2018, 12:45:25 pm
content: I missed seeing this notification thread last time around otherwise I probably would have gone along as it's only a few minutes away from home. Also, Just a reminder that the regular computer market is on again tomorrow at the same venue, I need another sound card so I might go for a look as I haven't been to that particular market in quite a while.
Random talk about old floppy drives. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: glarsson
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2018, 07:20:59 pm
content: Discussion continued from here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/what-did-you-buy-today-post-your-latest-purchase!/msg1636547/#msg1636547Quote from: bsudbrink on June 28, 2018, 06:33:38 pmNo. I designed both the hardware and the software. The starting of the spindle was done in the software (CP/M BIOS) with waiting until the floppy was up to speed. The hardware was built around the 1793 chipset (later 2793) with my own additions on the side for extra features and fixes for software bugs in the 2793. Some form of hardware timer shut down the spindle after a while. It was 37 years ago, so the exact details are a bit fuzzy.Quote from: bsudbrink on June 28, 2018, 06:33:38 pmSoftware and I/O-pins on the floppy controller board. The tables could be tuned per drive. Originally full height Shugart 8 inch drives, but later upgraded to half height Shugart 8 inch drive (with 24V motor for the spindle) and 1.6MB 5.25 inch floppy. My BIOS could auto detect formats, so I supported the common ones plus my own format giving 1.6MB for the 80 track formats. All boards were my own design with nice features like a 7.3MHz Z80, MMU, 128K fast static RAM, and interrupt driven CP/M BIOS (requires patch to BDOS).
PSION Series 5/5mx - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2018, 12:10:16 pm
content: Hi GuysIf there are any current users or collectors of PSION pocket computers (particularly those mentioned in the title), I’d love to get in touch.I’m chasing any of the commercial GPS packages for it, which I already know didn’t apply to Australia, but still very curious about them.I got the EPOC C SDK working with Windows 7, which was a minor miracle. It requires MS Visual C++ version 5.0 (1997), and an old Perlto run the scripts. The emulators for development also appear to be working fine, so there will be new software in 2018 that nobody will use!Hardware is easy to come by on eBay if you’re willing to pay for it, but software is another story.I just paid $150AU inc. postage for a secondhand boxed Chess, and I don’t think that will happen again.The unit itself, I should be grateful. It was $12 from an op-shop (thrift store).Cheers, Brek.

author: elecman14
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2018, 01:15:21 pm
content: If you are looking for software you should check outhttps://archive.org/for example here is some GPS softwarehttps://archive.org/search.php?query=PSION%205%20gps.

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2018, 02:31:31 pm
content: HiI was talking about commercial software (without trying to explicitly say such), but not matter in what form I get it, would be willing to pay for original software.Garmin stuff and NMEA viewers I can write myself.

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2018, 06:53:04 am
content: I had (and still have) a PSION 3a and Psion 5mx, but use neither of them now. I had some sort of map routing software for the UK (where I lived at the time). It had provision to read your position from a GPS module, but I never bought the module. It's unlikely that I still have the software, but I can take a look.McBryce.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2018, 08:59:28 am
content: Can't believe I missed this thread.I had an Acorn rebadged Psion 3, the PocketBook II:https://www.heyrick.co.uk/software/pb2/intro.htmlLovely machine.Didn't bother with the 5/5mx. I had a ThinkPad 600 running NT!

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2018, 03:19:11 pm
content: Why not bother with 5mx? I love the thing despite it’s flimsiness.Within a week of posting this, I had the commercial GPS hardware, and it’s associated software.Ask and you shall receive I guess. It wasn’t from here though, and wasn’t exactly free either.I’ll bet nobody else has the GPS hardware. Any GPS could be used of course, but nice to have the original intended one.What does the Thinkpad have to do with it?Funny you mention it because I purchased an old Thinkpad T400, basically as a PSION accessory to run Win XP,so all of the PSION stuff would work (not just the stock programs, but commercial game installers),so I’m planning to set up the development environment on that.
(AU) Cheap SCSI cable. $1 at Rockby Electronics (now $0.70) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2018, 10:03:13 am
content: A further 30% off. Aren't you glad you waited?Maybe this should go in B/S/W but it is likely more useful here.For Aussies mostly. If you need a SCSI cable like this one Rockby Electronics have on sale then check it out.https://www.rockby.com.au/catresultsSql_12.cfm?Stock_no=13941Hard to go wrong for $1

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2018, 03:23:30 pm
content: If it wouldn't have been stupid to ship to my States United, I would pick one up. I don't even have any external SCSI devices, but I could definitely have use for it in the future, with potential stuff like Zip/Jaz drives for my older computers (since all my optical drives have blown up and have taken my floppies with them).

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2018, 06:37:58 am
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on May 19, 2018, 03:23:30 pmMaybe you shouldn't have jammed floppies into those optical drives?(Yes, there were "floptical" drives, but those were pretty rare I think...)

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2018, 09:49:15 am
content: DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DOI CAN BE AS STUPID AS I WANT!

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2018, 06:31:15 pm
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on May 20, 2018, 09:49:15 amHey, I didn't tell you what to do. I just teased you for something you have done (presumably, if I take your first post at face value). I hope that's more agreeable to you...

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 21, 2018, 12:34:14 am
content: Thanks for posting. They actually have quite a lot of random things and the pricing isn't bad.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 21, 2018, 07:57:34 am
content: if i was in .AU i'd probably order something, they have a nice selection of handy stuff

author: Synthtech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2018, 08:32:21 am
content: I just ordered 12 of those SCSI cables, great price. I have ordered a lot of bulk parts and components from Rockby’s monthly sale mail outs, there are some good bargains every month.

author: austfox
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2018, 01:14:27 pm
content: Damn, bought 2 of these, plus $100 of other stuff!

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 24, 2018, 10:46:55 pm
content: Quote from: austfox on May 24, 2018, 01:14:27 pmLikewise.I intended to buy just cables, ended up getting a bunch of other things. One bargain I found was a120ml pump action solvent dispenserfor $12.32.
Test - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Bruce Abbott
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2018, 12:59:36 pm
content: Just a test to see if I can post here using my Amiga A1200 with IBrowse 2.4 web browser.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2018, 02:05:10 pm
content: Wow, very nice!

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2018, 07:11:22 pm
content: And I thought I was pretty cool trying to get on the EEVBlog Forums with my 486! I couldn't even post with that thing.Good work, man.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 18, 2018, 05:51:52 am
content: Nice one :-)

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 19, 2018, 06:44:26 am
content: lol, nice!
Amiga 500 turn up adventure after over 20 years - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jcrubin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2018, 11:33:23 pm
content: PART ITo start off I go through the Amiga 500 power supply before attempting to apply power to it. More importantly, before attempting to connect it to the Amiga. This is not an overly complicated power supply though worth noting the interesting capacitors soldered to the bottom of the board upon opening.Gotta love linear.... No noise, keeps the feet warm.The only real source of failure were the electrolytic capacitors, so a comprehensive testing of the caps were accomplished. The resistors tested fine. Yeah we can see one bad cap was a false alarm, but thats ok, better safe than sorry. But the fact that even one bad cap was found made the project worth it.I took the bad one and tried to reform it to see if it would improve the ESR, and it made it worse, cap was replaced.PART IIContinuing on from the power supply repair its time to turn up this computer and ensure that it is operating properly. This started with an inventory of the system as found, though not 100% familiar with the components I work my way through it along with some research. This includes a ram expansion, real time clock and 68030 accelerator.The inter-operability challenge was the monitor going from RGB to HDMI, so I went with the RGB to SCART to HDMI converter which worked very nicely in the modes that I required. Luckily I have some disks to include workbench boot disks to get the computer going. This allowed for checking out aspect ratio and sharpness of the picture and clarity. An IFF close up also displayed the picture quality as well.A further exercise was conducted to move disk images from the internet to the Amiga using the serial port and the process that I used to accomplish the task without any hardware purchases using Hombre, transwarp and a linux box.TO BE CONTINUED

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2018, 07:34:56 am
content: Nicely made videos, good stuff.

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2018, 05:27:41 am
content: Not going to watch the videos. They are probably good, but I’ve done enough of these that I don’t fancy watching someone else on videoBut.. did you just say you tired to reform a capacitor?Nobody who collects these are trying so hard to maintain originality to that extentAll of the SMD versions have capacitors spewing their guts over the board, and there really is no choice.

author: jcrubin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 04:00:46 am
content: In keeping with an opportunity for experimentation aside from the amiga project itself, I wanted to see how reformation would effect the baseline ESR captured on the offending CAP over time.

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 04:09:22 pm
content: Yeah ok. It can be possible to wake the dead. Even for caps far older than that.
HP 1650B Logic Analyzer: Display issues - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2018, 04:31:02 pm
content: I just bought a HP1650B on EBAY. It's a vintage but nice device ideally suited to my needs....... but it has display issues. The onscreen display dialogs (black boxes) shoud have white writing in them,Does anyone have a schematic? Thanks in advance

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2018, 06:07:36 pm
content: Don't think there is anything beyond assembly level repair information and block diagrams for all but the earliest logic analyzers. The manual does show the expected signals on the CRT connector, so that would be the obvious place to start. Looking at the picture, I would suspect the half brightness signal, apart from the usual checks like power rails. Could be something simple like a bad connection.

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2018, 10:18:07 am
content: Without a schematic this is going to be challenging and I don't want to break my 'new' toy straight away... I guess I will have to imagine the text in the onscreen boxes..... quite hard to guess with messages like... waiting for Pattern X Occurence etcI imagine the display memory is memory mapped and clearly all that part is working correctly.The On Screen dialog box is either hardware overlaid or software controlled... it would be nice to know which. (I tried 2 system discs and got the same effect)

author: Silveruser
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2018, 06:33:34 pm
content: Just out of curiosity I booted up my 1651B. The message if I just hit run the blank message says 'MACHINE 1' -- Transitions Remaining to PostStore : 127. Scanning the System_ file with an editor lots of phrases seem to part of the software including Transitions Remaining to PostStore.Maybe you have corrupted file - or two.

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2018, 07:00:27 pm
content: Took the cover off... Reseated cables, twizzled a couple of knobs but left them at the same offset I found them...And then discovered an "intensity knob" at the back...... by pumping up the volume I can see text!!!!Awesome. Thanks people!!

author: glagnar
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 25, 2018, 04:31:54 am
content: I have a 1661 and there's a color scheme option in the menus for me (System -> Utilities -> Shade). I don't know if yours has the same option, but if so that may solve the problem without having to boost the intensity way up. I think the color scheme option is there because these analyzers (the 1661 at least) can speak X11 and can be used remotely from a PC.
Custom ASIC Design on a 1976 Xerox Alto - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 14, 2018, 02:25:37 am
content: Wow!

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 14, 2018, 10:47:35 pm
content: excellent video with a nice look at the softwaresurprising how it's really not much more than a painting app though.would have been great to know what ic's were designed on it
Universal Device Programmer Help!!!  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Amiga_nerd
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 24, 2018, 10:47:07 am
content: Does anyone have a daughter board part number list or catalogue for the TURPRO-1 programmer? circa 1995-1998I own a Turpro-1 programmer with p68 and 40 dip adapters already. but require a daughter board that goes ontop of the p68 for the PHD48N22 from philips in order to work for my project.System General havent been helpful at all.
PDP 11/24 CPU Card Teardown - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: electronupdate
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2018, 04:26:07 am
content: A look at the CPU card from a PDP 11 / 24. DEC part # M7133. A nicely representative board design from the late 1970's.

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2018, 06:05:29 pm
content: Saved for later - I once restored something similar, an 11/23. The boards all checked out, it came from an industrial environment and every card edge and connector needed a good solid cleaning, and I was amazed when it fired up. Neat machine to work with, half because of what it was and half because of what it controlled - a big Brown & Sharpe coordinate measuring machine. Actually got to use the FORTRAN I learned in HS and college.

author: geekGee
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 01, 2018, 05:47:30 am
content: Thanks for that. My computer science classes in the mid-80's were mostly using a PDP-11... I couldn't tell you which model. This was during my university days in NB, Canada.I never actually saw the computer itself, let alone its internals, so found this interesting. My interactions were all from either a CRT or teletype terminal.
Anybody have a UMC "Computer IC's" data book from circa ~'93-'95 or so? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: clay_cowgill
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2018, 11:43:26 pm
content: The 1991 UMC "Computer IC's" data book has been preserved up on archive.org, but a lot of the more integrated ISA bus/PC era chipsets are a year or two out of range for it (thine like the UM82C863 and UM82C865 Multi I/O chips, etc.)Does anyone here happen to have any 'newer' UMC data book that has the computer IC's in it? (I don't know if one actually exists-- I suppose it's also possible/probable that this was about the time manufacturers were switching over to CD-ROM for data distribution, so maybe there's nothing in print...)Anyway, if any of you have any leads/info/pointers I'd love to hear it! (and/or beg a copy of the 82C863/865 pages!)Thanks,-Clay

author: drussell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2018, 07:47:33 am
content: They're pretty much bog-standard integrated I/O chips that will look just like a 16450/16550, a standard (WD-style or clone) floppy controller, bare IDE interface, etc. programming-wise and the pins can fairly easily be traced to the ISA bus, the output connectors and the jumpers for configuration.What, specifically, do you wish to know about them?
BK 2553 Scope issue. (Siglent 1074CFL) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jsantoro
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2018, 04:45:06 pm
content: Hi,I have a BK Precision 2553 70Mhz scope. This is the same scope as the Siglent SDS1074CFL. It has developed a problem when trying to turn it on. I press the power button and the lights blink like normal, but it doesn't boot up. It takes 3-4 times to get it to boot. This just started last week. For now I just leave it on and its fine, wakes up from timeout just fine. Has anyone seen this before in these scopes to point me in the right direction?Thanks,Jim
Restored 90 KHz IBM-1401 runs floating point in just 8k (CuriousMarc video) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 10:27:29 pm
content: This was before my time, but those chain printers scared the hell out of me when they started without warning. Fingers back or lose'em!

author: jh15
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2018, 07:12:16 am
content: true.A friend back in the time said at his workplace how one of those things worked.At first in his head, he thought of a chain poking around, some hammers hitting it it at a leisure pace, but many at once. sounded logical.Then the colleague opens the printer, and he saw the the chain whoosh whoosh whoose.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2018, 08:24:02 am
content: So cool!They've even got the Buck Rodgers consoles and gaudy colors; only thing missing is the ash tray and thick layer of cigarette smoke in the air!Tim
sWTPC 6800 and CT-64 terminal - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: AllMacs
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 31, 2018, 04:37:42 pm
content: Who here has one of these or knows how to troubleshoot them?I bought a CWTPC 68000 and CT-64 terminal that I am trying to troubleshoot and get to fully running condition again.Right now the Terminal seems to have a vertical sync issue.
GP Industrial Electronics XP640 EPROM Programmer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: adegough
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 23, 2018, 03:12:17 pm
content: Hello all!This post is a request for information on The GP Industrial Electronics XP640 EPROM Programmer. This device was manufactured in the mid 1980's and a few still exist (I have one, hence this post). The machine had a few attachments to allow it to program EPROMs larger than 28 pins and also to act as an EPROM Emulator.The additional attachments were the XU620, with various pods for different devices and microprocessors of the era. The EPROM Emulator was designated the XM512.I located a review of the XP640 and XM512 in the July 1985 issue of Electronics Today International (Australia).I would be interested in finding more information about this machine and whether anyone has examples of the programmer or attachments. I am willing to purchase any items related to this device (at a reasonable price + shipping).Documentation would be very useful. Please see Matthieu Benoit's website for further info.Regards to all.Ade
Russian phone dialler device using core rope memory as configuration UI - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2018, 12:33:44 pm
content: Very ingenous, those Russians...!https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USSR-Programmable-Ferrite-Core-Memory-in-Telephone-Accessory-Manual-1984-2-3-kg/232586036356?hash=item3627354484:g:YCUAAOSwttVaJa6c

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2018, 01:01:27 pm
content: "To enter a number in the accessory memory a single wire has to be threaded through 7 rows of ferrite rings in accordance with the table on the inside of the appliance’s cover."That's brilliant. So it is configurable by re-wiring through the cores. Superb.

author: Kalvin
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2018, 01:22:26 pm
content: Try to make a call to a cellular phone or to another operator network

author: Bruce Abbott
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2018, 03:43:51 am
content: In New Zealand we used a similar technique to upgrade electromechanical telephone exchanges to STD (Subscriber Toll Dialing) in the 1980s. To 'program' the calling subscriber's number into the system we would feed a wire through several levels of ferrite rings, one level for each digit. A tone was sent through the wire and the rings acted as current transformers, producing voltages that were detected and operated relays which encoded the phone number (used to bill the subscriber for the toll call).I helped install this equipment into the Hastings (NZ) telephone exchange. The rings were mounted on iron racks that went from floor to ceiling and (literally) weighed a ton. We had to unpack them before hoisting up to the 1st floor of the exchange. Two of us were holding onto opposite ends of a crate while another jemmied it open. He got a bit too keen and pushed it over. I could feel the weight was too much so I jumped back and the rack crashed to the ground on its back, bending all the pins flat against the rings. We installed it just like that because bending the pins straight again would probably break them off. Luckily no ferrite cores were broken in the fall!

author: Canis Dirus Leidy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2018, 05:28:49 am
content: Here are few more photos of this device:http://www.retrotexnika-forum.ru/talk/viewtopic.php?p=827

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2018, 07:51:30 am
content: really interesting thing, funny how different countries can come up with novel ideas like thisthere are some very nice items in their ebay store!
Commodore 64 mini a remake of the old computer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: snoopy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2018, 11:06:16 pm
content: https://thec64.com/Wonder if Jeri Ellsworth is behind this ?

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 08:39:10 pm
content: I dunno. The fake keyboard just feels wrong...

author: jh15
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 02:00:27 am
content: She built everything into the joystick.After my Ohio Scientific c24p computer, the c-64 was my daily driver. Even had one souped up with ribbon cables to the hard drive. Don't remember who modded it. Long gone just have a few plain ones staring at me.Used to bring one into work to shame my boss into getting me a x86 ibm clone to do my bi-weekly efficiency reports.Was into spreadsheets on a green screen and loved them, but now there is so much bloat on any spreadsheet app, it's no longer fun.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2018, 04:57:51 am
content: Fake keyboard is just stupid, either make it a functional keyboard or don't bother IMO.The C64 built into a joystick was pretty cool, I could never figure out why they stopped making that. My friend had one he modded to use a real Commodore floppy drive.

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2018, 06:43:23 am
content: Please read the description and look at the pictures. The whole unit is not much bigger than a hand, so there is no point in having real keys. It supports USB keyboards.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2018, 10:01:57 pm
content: So just put it in a plain box styled in the same way as a C64 peripheral, or in the joystick like the previous retro C64 did. I've never liked fake stuff.
Commodore History Part 2 - The VIC 20 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2017, 02:52:32 am
content: I'm watching him do a directory and thinking, I don't remember any of that.I wanted my VIC to talk so I made an interface board for it with an LPC encoder chip. I even attempted to do some speech recognition similar to what I had shown with my IBM AT but it just did not have the power to pull it off or my skill set was too lame. Fun times.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2017, 05:31:06 pm
content: No game players here. Interesting story. Youngster gets the VIC20 and shows the previous owners work on it.https://youtu.be/E0yLak9X5nw

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2017, 10:43:49 pm
content: Quote from: Homer J Simpson on October 08, 2017, 12:58:59 amIntro music sounds like 80's PBS, why not use some music from an 8 bit machine

author: kPATm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2017, 02:16:12 pm
content: Ah. My very 1st computer that was. Absolutely magic times

author: djos
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 14, 2017, 06:46:33 am
content: Good video from 8-bit guy as per usual - I'd like to know why his VIC-20 is missing the Orange function keys tho? It looks like a C64 keyboard to me.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2017, 05:42:09 pm
content: I looked through my box of VIC-20 parts. Shown is my homemade joystick (I was never much of a game player), the programmers manual and my expansion board. The DC-DC generates the programming voltage. From what I remember, I could only program the old Motorola EPROMs, not the standard 27xxx. The 5220C is an LPC used for the speech. LPC is what was used in the Speak and Spells. I wanted to use a standard Centronics based printer with it and added a port for it.

author: cowasaki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2018, 12:47:19 am
content: VIC-20..... The first computer I ever used (not with the first TV in this image!)

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2018, 04:04:59 am
content: A sweet and simple machine. Although these days I find the BASIC terribly limited. But I'm reviving my VIC and hoping to get Programmer's Aid and a ML monitor going in there.
Can anyone translate this from Japanese? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 01:42:46 am
content: It is I/O port information for a NEC PC-6001...

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 02:09:47 am
content: Thank you blueskull! I appreciate it!I am surprised it didn't list the 0xD0/0xD1/0xD2 - think they were used for the flopp disk.

author: Asuka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 03:07:47 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on January 14, 2018, 01:51:28 amIt says "printer" not "print".

author: Asuka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 03:08:59 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on January 14, 2018, 02:05:05 amThis should be "Change (toggle) displayed page".

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 03:35:47 am
content: Here is the schematic:https://www.sendspace.com/file/r943d0I tried to make it searchable and search for IORQ, but the searchable engine didn't find them...Any idea what PSG is?

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 04:01:22 am
content: Any idea what the second CPU does? It says it is an 8049. It looks like it is connected to the keyboard? or cassette interface?

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 04:07:30 am
content: Does this shed light:

author: Asuka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 04:35:07 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on January 14, 2018, 04:25:42 amOne of the special features of the PC-6001's hardware...Quote from: blueskull on January 14, 2018, 04:25:42 amRegarding the main memory, there is nothing particularly unusual about the RAM (kawatta tokoro means unusual features, not changes).QuoteI don't know where "thanks to" comes from but that is the basic meaning.Edit: apparently the forum software changes Japanese characters into question marks so I changed to romanised Japanese. Oddly enough the preview showed them correctly.
HD out of a sony kv-27fs100? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: AutogolazzoJr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2018, 01:47:37 am
content: I own a sony trinitron tv, it's as old as me, but I just stumbled by this empty forum post.http://www.avsforum.com/forum/64-direct-view-single-tube-crt-displays/350561-sony-kv27fs100-resolution.htmlI thought svideo can't carry hd signal? Can my tv support a beyond 480i resolution? At least more vertical resolution?Thanks.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2018, 04:37:24 am
content: Sony did make high definition computer monitors, so those are definitely capable of better than standard 640x480 SD video use. they also did make professional broadcast monitors that are still used in studios on HD signals, using those same VGA CRT's, but a regular consumer Trinitron will probably not have the resolution for this higher resolution display.

author: bw2341
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 05:38:51 am
content: S-Video can't support anything other than standard definition (480i here, 576i in PAL countries).It looks like the post at avsforum is referring to the graphics card resolution in TV-out mode.While 640x480 would seem like the natural resolution for TV-out, it's problematic in practice. All CRT TVs have overscan so you'll lose maybe 10-20 pixels all around the image. This would make the Windows Start menu difficult to use and cut off a lot of text on the screen. To compensate, the graphics card scales the image smaller than 640x480, leaving a black border all around.Since the 1:1 pixel mapping is already lost, it doesn't matter what resolution you start with. The graphics card in that post can use 800x600 and 1024x768. The Windows desktop will be running at those resolutions, but the TV-out will still be 480i.
Identifying A Vintage 'Winchester' Disk Pack - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 05, 2018, 11:08:59 am
content: Does anyone recognise the make/model of this removable hard disk pack?it will be 1980s era and looks to be around 8" or so

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2018, 11:32:34 am
content: Now that's interesting. I've never seen one of them before! It's also not listed in the museum of obsolete media either:http://obsoletemedia.org/Blue says 1990s to me.Interested to see if you find an answer to this.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2018, 11:47:21 am
content: You can rule out DEC if that's any help. It's Blue, but I doubt it's 'Big Blue'.Possibly one of the smaller players - Data General, Wang?

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2018, 02:59:51 pm
content: CDC 1209ANd if you want to know how I found that - I put: blue removable disk pack 8" in google and scrolled through the results.

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2018, 03:13:28 pm
content: According to a google on "CDC 9710" 82.9MB unformatted capacity and circa 1982.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 06, 2018, 09:35:14 am
content: awesome workhmm, now... what are the chances of finding a 9710 drive!

author: ferdieCX
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2018, 11:29:49 am
content: You bring me back beautiful memories. I worked in the eighties as service engineer for a DEC representative, some of our customers had those drives and also the fixed disk version 9715. Those CDC drives had SMD interface an where attached to PDP-11 Minicomputers using controllers from Emulex. I have even the drive boards repaired, they had TTL and ECL logic.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 06, 2018, 11:35:32 am
content: Quote from: ferdieCX on January 06, 2018, 11:29:49 amyea, sounds about right!the disk pack in the photos i posted was used on a quantel paintbox, specifically the 'classic' model, we believe it contains graphics from the cartoon network in the mid 1980s.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2018, 06:24:45 am
content: It would be an interesting archeology project to extract the data. Finding a drive mechanism could be a real challenge though, a lot of equipment like that is simply extinct.

author: DrGeoff
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2018, 06:38:40 am
content: Looks like a Lark pack. I used to use those in the mid-1980's. 25MB on the removable pack.However they were also notorious for spin-up head crashes, where the heads were slammed into the side of the pack with total destruction of both.
Honeywell 'Excel' system. 'R.A.C.L. Language'  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2017, 03:41:45 pm
content: I used to work for Honeywell, and amongst numerous other styles of technology & equipment,I did a lot of work with high rise building energy management/control systems....ONE of the interesting systems was "Excel" for automated control. The programming 'interface'was called 'R.A.C.L.' which stood for "Row And Column Language". (Crude interface then).MANY years later, I've tried to replicate the 'ideology' at least, with my own software, which 'sort'of simulates the old process control environment, 'something' like the typical P.L.C. units, combinedwith numerous analog as well as digital I/O's, and in a graphical environment......There are MANY ways to 'process/display' such data/control, TODAY, but I loved the methodologyof that original 'language' many years ago, although I know there are better ways today !!!The GRAPHICAL environment consists of numerous input & output devices, analog & digital, beingsensors, valves, motors etc and all the interconnecting wiring.... (I know there are other systems!!)The CRUX of what the 'software' does is to PROCESS the 'data' in rows & columns ....Imagine a GRID where all 'items' in the 1st column are processed one underneath the other, with theircurrent input & output values updated. Then the 2nd column is processed from the top down, usingall the previous columns specific rows outputs, now processed & awaiting the NEXT columns processing.Feedbacks in the schematic simply await the next processing cycle of columns & rows in the grid.Considering the speed of the processing, I can't see there being any problems, and so fat there is not.
Does anyone recognise the make/model of this old hard disk drive? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 20, 2017, 10:20:02 pm
content: The top cover has been removed and there are no identifying brands or markings apart from a serial number. The platters are approx. 20cm in diameter.EDIT: Removing the metal cover reveals some ICs but none appear to have date codes.EDIT #2: I'm just wondering if the SS9130 and QFVD9146 markings are date codes? Late 1991 perhaps?

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2017, 10:21:56 pm
content: It could be anything. An indication as to what sort of interface it uses may help. With 20cm platters, I don't imagine that thing fitting into a PC-compatible any time soon, and before then hard drives were mostly server, mainframe, or mini's domain.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 20, 2017, 10:30:35 pm
content: It's definitely not a PC hard disk, it's from a mainframe or server of some sort. Probably from the 1980's if I had to guess.

author: glarsson
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2017, 10:42:59 pm
content: In the 1980's we used 14 inch drives in our DEC VAX cluster. Each 14 inch drive had a capacity of about 450MB. This gives an indication on the capacity of this 8 inch drive ...If you had money, very much of it, you could buy an IBIS 1400. A disk with a weird vertical 14 inch drive with a capacity of 1.4GB. Cray used these drives with their supercomputers.

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2017, 10:48:53 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on December 20, 2017, 10:30:35 pmThe date code on the MECL chips shows 1991. Could be a CDC, IBM or DEC drive. Ought to be a logo on something to tell for sure.I did see a hint of a bar code on the edge of the platters.Jon

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 20, 2017, 11:08:10 pm
content: Quote from: jmelson on December 20, 2017, 10:48:53 pmYep, it looks like the edge of each platter is encoded with a barcode however they are too narrow for my camera's auto focus to lock onto. No logos at all, I suspect there would have been on the top cover, but that is long gone.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2017, 12:52:10 am
content: I think the 32R252R's ic's from Silicon Systems date to around 1993. Does it have an IDE (40 pin) connector or a SCSI connector?If it was IDE, the drive has a maximum capacity of just over 500MBytes and could easily be a lot less. That was as big as IDE could handle back then. If it is SCSI, there were a few brands that went up to about 2GBytes which was massive at the time.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 21, 2017, 01:47:27 am
content: I found out what it was (actually found the other half of the case). It's a Seagate 2GB "Sabre Module Assembly" ML202948 (Assy # 70896783). It looks like it had a SCSI interface but it has been removed. It seems to be part of a bigger system.
Antique Acoustic coupler Modem BBS attempt - and subsequent recalibration - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jcrubin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2017, 08:25:43 pm
content: Retrobattlestations has their own BBS which happens to connect at 300 Baud, id figured the Apple II would be up for the challenge. Having proved out the phone line with another modem it looks like things dont go as planned with 1970's technology.....
Dick Smith Super-80 revived. Interested?   Join the Yahoo group to find out more - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 09:21:06 am
content: There is a very recent reveal of great work being done to create a new PCB for the Dick Smith Electronics Super-80 computer.It was a Z80 computer published in Electronics Australia in late 1981.However I'm sure anyone feeling nostalgic or interested would already be familiar.If you are interested in getting a PCB which is currently estimated to cost $46 shipped to East coast (Aus) capitals then why not go to the Yahoo group and join in the discussion.https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dick_smith_super-80/conversations/messages
LMT computers zx spectrum disk interface  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: bigfathairybiker
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 08, 2017, 01:12:53 am
content: Many years ago, I was part of a team of three designing and programming a plug in module for the zx spectrum. Which eventually ended up with just me finishing the code.It was called the SPD-1 Disk interface with "snapshot" button.I have been looking for years now for anything related to this.Has anyone got one going spare?Even just an eprom from one or pcb?Mark

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2017, 11:47:15 am
content: Hi... No I DON'T, sorry !!!!!!But I DO remember something, (similar??), for the Commodore-64, that Ihad, but long gone now....It was called 'SnapShot', and was a plug-in CARTRIDGE with a red button it....You would load in any game/app software from tape or disk, (however many modules), until it was RUNNING.THEN, hitting the 'SnapShot' button, resulted in (virtually?) all memory compressed & written to disk !I can't remember if it gave you an "SYSxxxxx" number to run it later, or created an 'Auto-Boot' loader for it.Upon thinking, itmusthave been the 'AutoBoot', and was mainly for transferring from TAPE to DISKI'm sure I 'copied' that 'ROM' to file, for later mods/burning, but is now too long ago... sorry mate.
Brand new, boxed Model M Compact Keyboards - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Digby
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 28, 2017, 05:07:03 pm
content: I have three of these. What are they worth these days?

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 29, 2017, 12:54:13 am
content: I paid about $70 on ebay for one a while ago. I wouldn't take much notice of listings which boast about them being "rare" etc... and ask for several hundred dollars.That being said, I might be interested in one for my IBM PS/2 machine. Which country are you in? (Shipping costs might be a killer as those things weren't exactly light weight keyboards.)

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2017, 04:29:59 am
content: Depends. are they AT, PS/2, or USB?

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2017, 04:43:37 am
content: Quote from: Digby on November 28, 2017, 05:07:03 pmThey are still made (with USB interface these days) and sell for between $84 and $115 depending on features.https://www.pckeyboard.com/

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2017, 10:33:35 pm
content: I'd be interested, but I am a bit short on cash for now. ~80 bucks sounds about right, but I would honestly prefer an AT keyboard.They can get REALLY expensive if it's a PC or XT connector, as those weren't as common, and almost any keyboard that can be used on an IBM PC or PC/XT goes for a lot.AT and PS/2 are electrically compatible. My KB-101, which is a rubber domed capacitive keyboard, has a DIN-5 connector with a switch for IBM PC, PC/XT, or PC/AT standards which use different methods for keyboard reset.

author: nidlaX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2017, 08:53:13 am
content: Post a part number for an accurate valuation.

author: Flenser
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2017, 03:52:20 pm
content: http://clickykeyboards.com/sells Model M keyboards and replacement parts.The site currently only lists one of the space saving 84-key keyboards. It is one made in 1987 so the price comparison will be most useful if your keyboards are also the '87 model.
Eizo F930 CRT monitor - source for flyback transformer ? (Murata MSU1FVM007) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mawrick
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 18, 2017, 07:52:13 pm
content: Anyone know of a source of flyback transformers that would fit a Eizo F930 CRT monitor, I'm also interested in getting hold of a service manual for this monitor if anyone happen to have one.The flyback seem to be a Murata MSU1FVM007HR Diemen equivalent would be: 48373If anyone know of a source of any of these or another equivalent, any tips would be appreciated.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2017, 10:03:51 pm
content: You can probably get an extra monitor for less than the cost of the flyback transformer. The biggest problem you have is that most people (like me) have thrown these monitors out years ago. For Eizo monitors you don't need a service manual because Eizo is so expensive and low volume that they just stitch the various application notes together. So find the datasheets for the chips and there is your service manual. The downside is that these monitors are unlike any other CRT monitor.

author: mawrick
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 20, 2017, 10:06:40 am
content: thnx for feedbackYea I know, but these monitors doesn't show up much around here - and I don't have much money put in it anyway so would be willing to pay for a flyback if I could source one.I know Eizo isn't the most widely produces brand - but I'v def seen service manuals from them on other monitors, though also they seem hard to get hold of as Eizo have a policy of not giving out any info at all - even on obsolete equipment.but yea, might give it a try to just find manuals/sheets for the components itself.