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1972 DEC idacs 11/07 Industrial PDP 11 |
Xerox 820-II - Set Upby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 4 Updated: [ Blew a Power Cap! ] 06/23/2015  The Xerox 820-II Computer with DD 8" and "Rigid" disk option.
Xerox is one of those computer companies, like Apple, whose computers you'd buy partially because of the brand name. At least that was the the case in early 80's. The initial reaction of consumers when the Xerox 820 series was announced was "Ah ha, watch out IBM, Xerox is getting in the game and they'll show everyone how to make a real computer".
It did not quite work out that way, the 820 series was pretty boring - no mouse and no hi-res graphics like the Lisa-inspiring Xerox Star, the production version of the Xerox Alto. Instead, the 820-II was a business machine, and as such it wa">... [ read more ]
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DECpc 433SLC Laptopby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 1  The 33Mhz i486 Digital "DECpc 433SLC Premium" laptop model PCP38 - One of the last Digital-branded laptops made before the company was bought by Compaq. The SLC was first made available in February 1994 and would have been designed for Windows 3.11, but would have run Windows 95 as well.
More photos">... [ read more ]
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1993 Compaq Deskpro 5/60Mby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 2 Updated: [ Restoration progress ] 06/17/2015  The unassuming Compaq Deskpro 5/60M computer is considered one of the first commercially-sold desktop computers with an Intel Pentium processor. Click for larger view.
 Pictured is a rare Compaq QVGA EISA video card. These were at the time Cadillac VGA cards, a good match for the system. The QVision VGA cards also appeared in AlphaServers. Click for larger view.
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Raspberry Pi as Gateway to Internetby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 3 Updated: [ IRSSI IRC slashnet.org #vc ] 06/13/2015  The Raspberry Pi can be used to connect vintage computers to the internet. This image shows my preference - A USB wireless dongle and a USB to serial cable. One could also use the serial port of the Pi, but that method is not covered here.
The operating system I chose is a version of Debian Linux tailored for Apple II use (search the web for "IvanX" to download a copy with directions), but this Pi distro is also good for most other terminal software-driven vintage computers. Click for larger view.
The first thing I attempted was to connect a Digital VT102 terminal to the Raspberry Pi. I used a cabled ethernet conection rather than wireless. I also">... [ read more ]
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The Digital Ultimate Workstation 533au2by billdeg Total messages in this thread: 1  The 1998 Digital Ultimate Workstation 533au2 was one of the last Digital-branded mini computers. Click image for larger view.
 These machines shipped with either Windows NT® Server 4.0 or DIGITAL UNIX, but many installed OpenVMS as well. As you can see, this machine has OpenVMS 7.3 installed (the latest VMS release version as of this writing). Click for larger view.
Marketing Brochure:
http://manx.c...ons/antonio/dec/EC-F869">... [ read more ]
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Telebyte 65A RS232 Converterby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 6 Updated: [ Repairs ] 05/07/2015  I modified my Altair 680 for 110b, no Baudout, 1 stop bit (see notes about stop bits below). I tested my work by connecting the Altair to a DEC VT102 terminal. Comms are slow but they work enough to get to the ROM monitor prompt and enter commands. Now I know the system works well enough at 110 baud to continue. Note in the photo next to the Altair is a Multi-Tech Systems MT25 EIA-CCITT Breakout / Monitor tester. This device allows me to see what signals are being sent through the serial cable. Click image for larger view.
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MITS 8800b Turnkey Restoration (#3)by billdeg Total messages in this thread: 3 Updated: [ Restoration Complete ] 04/30/2015  Started Pertec / MITS Altair 8800b Turnkey system restore project. After doing an initial power test I disassembled the unit for cleaning. Click image for larger view.
 The system itself works pretty well, with 48K RAM. The only functional issue remaining is the front panel. I cannot reset nor start the system using the switches. I removed the front panel card by desoldering the switch posts connected to the rear of the card from the front of the chassis so I could slide the card out. I also desolder">... [ read more ]
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Vintage Joystick Kitby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 1  A game controller from the mid 1970's that was built from a kit. Designs for these kits were published in magazines like Radio Electronics and Popular Electronics.
Looking for the source of the kit for this joystick. If you can provide, please contact me. It looks a lot like the Cromemco joystick, but not exactly.">... [ read more ]
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VCF East 10by billdeg Total messages in this thread: 1  Dave Gesswein powering up the R.E.S.I.S.T.O.R.S. historic PDP-8 computer for the first time in 40 years. A magnificent restoration achievement.
 My pick for best exhibit of the show was Doug Crawford's comprehensive VISICALC, with an impressive display of systems running VISICALC, plus a spreadsheet program he wrote for the RCA ELF.
 Mike Loewen's TRS 80 Model 4 exhibit featured a unit with a hi-res display.
 Dave McGuire's fabulous Digital Pavilion was a smorgasbord of DEC goodness that filled a truck.
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IMSAI 8080 / Thinkertoys Backplane projby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 4 Updated: [ Progress on Imsai 8080 ] 01/31/2010 Project Update: 1. Replaced tantalum capacitors c15, c16, c17, c18 2. Applied power. MC78M12CT (on the schematic it's IC4) started to smoke. Updated pics: New Board pics (have 4/20 file date) power supply pics (have 4/20 file date) One of two things is going on... 1) The IC's are dry/brittle and need to be replaced, the 4 new tantalum capacitors did not smoke after being replaced, it was simply the MC78M12CT (IC4) turn. 2) There is an issue with the power, and that's what's blowing out the ic's. ">... [ read more ] |
DEC Pictures - PDP, VAX, Alpha Picsby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 1  Two Digital PDP 11/40 computers. Both are housed in 72" cabinets The left cabinet contains a standard front panel and on the right stands a PDP 11/40 "industrial11" type.
Picked up a few new restoration projects for me and some friends including a PDP 11/40 "industrial 11" and regular PDP 11/40.
Other items include some Altair 8800b-T unit with drives, two Alpha Servers, two VAX Servers, two PDP 11/34's, two PDP 11/44's, and related parts and peripherals. I will create separate threads for each as they're restored.
Pictures">... [ read more ]
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PDP 11/40 M7656 Serial Commsby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 3 Updated: [ Downloading programs via serial card ] 07/18/2015 Now that the core system is running again I can turn my attention to adding a display and disk drives to the system. I have a M7856 10 F-C (RS232 WITH 19.2 OPTION?) i.e. serial card and few terminals including a vt52 a LA36 Instructions for booting the PDP 11/40 using RL02 drives http://www.pdp-1...sk/rl-info.html Next - I will replace one of the grant continuity cards and put in a M7762 (RL02 controller) in its place and attempt to boot from RL02 using M9312 ROM boot terminator card with RL02 ROM chip installed. I had a hopefully still working RL02 (01) and I bought a second drive from Ian last year (02). I have 10 or so RL02 packs, at least one should be a RT11 boot disk.">... [ read more ] |
Altair 8800B Restorationby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 7 Updated: [ VR2 cap replacement no improvement ] 03/08/2015 The subject of this thread is to document the restoration of a previously-working Altair 8800B, which I accidentally shorted by inserting a RAM card with the power on (oops). After probing voltages and looking for A/C ripple, the general consensus of the MARCH workshop team was to open up the front panel to check for blown voltage resistors. The processor card checked out, but I could not examine memory locations or deposit memory. The front panel could not lock onto a location in memory, the front panel is largely un-responsive to toggled input.">... [ read more ] |
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