-------- Original Message --------
> From: "Systems Glitch" <systems.glitch@...>
> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 10:38 AM
> To: midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [midatlanticretro] Roll Call for VCF E
>
> > Jon Chapman (? - do you want to bring your Altair 8800 instead and I
can
> > bring something else?)
>
> I HAVE AN ALTAIR?! How'd I miss that?!
>
> I was thinking about bringing my current long-term 8 bit
modern-homebrew-with-vintage-processors project, or my Intel SDK-85. I do
have the IMSAI up and going as well. Or I could bring the little 8085 SBC
system I've designed.
>

Please bring something that would have primarily made up of stuff from
1974-1976 if you can.  that's why I was suggesting the Altair 8800.  The
target theme for TCF is "homebrew" era.
bd

> Please bring something that would have primarily made up of stuff from
> 1974-1976 if you can.

Can I bring the Intel SDK-85? That's from 1977 and was popular as a hobbyist
controller board and educational tool. It'll talk to a teletype over current
loop too.

> that's why I was suggesting the Altair 8800

It would have to be someone else's Altair as I don't own one. If you want to
bring yours I can bring a bunch of the homebrew boards I've got. I can write a
program to scroll a message across the little LED display on one of my Solid
State Music IO-2 boards or control something else.

Thanks,
Jonathan

>> Can I bring the Intel SDK-85? That's from 1977 and was popular as a hobbyist
controller board and educational tool. It'll talk to a teletype over current
loop too.

I say yes. Bill, as you often remind me, the homebrew era did not come to an
abrupt end when the '77 micros debuted.  :)

>
> > Please bring something that would have primarily made up of stuff from

> > 1974-1976 if you can.
>
> Can I bring the Intel SDK-85? That's from 1977 and was popular as a
hobbyist controller board and educational tool. It'll talk to a teletype
over current loop too.
>

That's perfect, yes.


> > that's why I was suggesting the Altair 8800
>
> It would have to be someone else's Altair as I don't own one. If you want
to bring yours I can bring a bunch of the homebrew boards I've got. I can
write a program to scroll a message across the little LED display on one of
my Solid State Music IO-2 boards or control something else.
>

That's right, Ian's Altair 8800.  Nevermind.

Ian - are you coming?

Bill

> RS-232 is still very confusing to me. I've got a Northstar Horizon that can
> use one type of cable to interface with a terminal or my USB-serial
> adapter, but my Data I/O EPROM programmer requires a null modem cable, as
> does my Tandy 200, if I recall. I've tried the null modem cable with the
> printer and was getting garbage characters, which tells me I'm on the right
> track, I suppose.

I think a lot of the old Sperry/Unisys stuff was 7-bit even parity. That might
be what the printer is expecting for serial data.

Try setting the comm port to that if you can and send it data again using the
null modem cable.

Serial is "simple" in some respects in that it is mostly understandable, and
slow enough to troubleshoot a bit with an inexpensive scope. rx on one end goes
to tx on the other. There are two basic types of devices DTE and DCE. DTE
devices are meant to connect to DCE devices, the null modem converts one end
from one flavor to another. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_terminal_equipment for some background.
Handshaking gets a bit bothersome sometimes, but us usually understandable.

Don't expect too much data back from the printer other than handshaking. Serial
printers were typically bit consumers not bit producers.

I was recently given a small drum plotter, a Strobe 100, with a S-100 based
interface card, but no documentation at all on the protocol and commands to make
it operate.

Anyone have documentation on the Strobe 100 (or the similar models 200 or 260),
or any information at all to help get it drawing some simple plots.

All I need it to do is move one unit step in the left right, forward or back
position, plus move the pen off paper and on paper, pretty basic operations.

I will be using it to create a replica IBM 1627 by putting this in an enclosure
similar to that device, which was a rebadged small Calcomp plotter of the 1960s.
It will be used with the replica 1130 I am building (
http://ibm1130.blogspot.com ).

Carl

>> http://ibm1130.blogspot.com

Hi Carl. Great blog!

As you've read, we are a group based on the east coast, but all are welcome to
chat here.

Let me know if you're ever visiting out here (NYC, Philly, etc.) and we'd be
happy to show you our (non working) 1130.

> Some low grade tape is truly bad. But, again, cassettes can sound very,
> very good - don't dismiss the format entirely.

OK, Mr. Albini.

--
Will

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG6goCIWCYY
1972 8008 Minicomputer - Nice

Hi Folks,

I have been restoring a PDP-8/m and RK05J disk drive. Much has been accomplished
and it has come to the point that I need to insert a cartridge, to perform
stand-alone tests on the RK05. (Sector pulses are required.) The filter in the
unit is dated 1984 and smells kinda musty, so I'm a bit worried about it and
reluctant to insert a new disk.

Tried to buy a filter from ACPP on eBay but they never responded to the order or
followups. eBay/Paypal finally refunded the purchase. (Does anyone know what
happened to ACPP?) The existing filter was made by ALFCO, whose website seems to
refer such things to The Filter Factory. Have sent an RFQ to them but I'm not
very hopeful.

Anyone know where I might find a filter? It was DEC's part no. 121275-01.

Thanks, Steve L.

>> 1972 8008 Minicomputer - Nice

Nice indeed!

I think we've talked about Ziggy Stachniak and MCM on the list. I know Zig, and
I vouch for his research. If he and Titus say this one is a '72 unit then I am
convinced.

I'm told the Mark 8 arrived today. I will be home in about a half-hour from now.
Damn it, bus driver, drive faster! Can't wait to see it.

I will take pictures and post them for all to see.

The computer arrived safely and it's gorgeous!

I'm not clear how to remove the front panel without disconnecting a
bunch of switches and lights, so I will leave that to Degnan and Herb at
Trenton...

Observation: As displayed in the Radio Electronics article, the switches
are on the left side of the front panel, and the lights are on the right
side of the front panel. This one is arranged different.

Corey C. -- the existing case is very nice -- so we don't need you to
fabricate one. Sorry!  :)

But enough of my yapping! Here are cameraphone pictures:

http://snarc.net/m8angle.jpg

http://snarc.net/m8case.jpg

http://snarc.net/m8close.jpg

PS, the package also included schematics for the original power supply,
so we can build one if needed.

On Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 10:35:28PM -0000, Stephen L wrote:
> Hi Folks,
> Anyone know where I might find a filter? It was DEC's part no. 121275-01.
>
http://www.varx.com/CAT/AIR_FILTERS.HTML

--- In midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com, Evan Koblentz <evan@...> wrote:
>
> The computer arrived safely and it's gorgeous!
>
> But enough of my yapping! Here are cameraphone pictures:
>
> http://snarc.net/m8angle.jpg
>
> http://snarc.net/m8case.jpg
>
> http://snarc.net/m8close.jpg
>


WOW! That's beautiful!  I love the covered power switch, I guess you wouldn't
want to turn off the power by accident!  Imagine entering 256 bytes of
program/data then flipping the power switch instead of RUN!!!

I have some extra molex connectors incase the I/O board wasn't fully populated. 
But perhaps you don't want to change a thing? That's cool.

Hope it boots up!

Regards,
Josh

--- In midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com, evan@... wrote:
>
> >> 1972 8008 Minicomputer - Nice
>
> Nice indeed!
>
> I think we've talked about Ziggy Stachniak and MCM on the list. I know Zig,
and I vouch for his research. If he and Titus say this one is a '72 unit then I
am convinced.


I'm going to be seeing Ziggy this week, I'll bring it to his attention.

>> perhaps you don't want to change a thing? That's cool.

We have permission to restore the computer to original working condition, and we
intend to do so.

>> Hope it boots up!

That's a long way off. Bill Deg., Herb, etc. will examine it at Trenton and
decide how to proceed. This is definitely NOT a "plug in and see what happens"
system.  :)

I have contact info the system's original owner. Even though Dave L. co-founded
Blacksburg Group, he acquired this particular Mark 8 from someone else. But he
stayed in contact with that person (I think his name is George) and told him
that it's been loaned for a museum. Dave said George is happy about that. One of
these says I'll interview him.

>> I'm going to be seeing Ziggy this week, I'll bring it to his attention.

That's great. We talk by email now and then, but I haven't seen him since fall
2009.

--- In midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com, "Evan Koblentz" <evan@...> wrote:
>
> >> I'm going to be seeing Ziggy this week, I'll bring it to his attention.
>
> That's great. We talk by email now and then, but I haven't seen him since fall
2009.
>

I was hoping to drag him down with me to VCF East this year, but I was sorry to
hear that it was canceled.  We'll have to wait for next year.  Hopefully, I'll
have learned about a few more 8 bit computers by then!

--- In midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com, "Evan Koblentz" <evan@...> wrote:
>
> >> Hope it boots up!
>
> That's a long way off. Bill Deg., Herb, etc. will examine it at Trenton and
decide how to proceed. This is definitely NOT a "plug in and see what happens"
system.  :)

Oh, most definitely!  Even though I only have a replica, I still value it and
wouldn't think of running it without a crow bar circuit on the +5 and -9 supply.

> I have contact info the system's original owner. Even though Dave L.
co-founded Blacksburg Group,

How is Dave doing? I heard he fell off the roof in the summer, broke his leg.


> museum. Dave said George is happy about that. One of these says I'll interview
him.
>

Yes, please do interview! and thanks for taking the history of computing so
seriously!  I love hearing these stories.  Are your interviews open for public
reading?

Cheers,
Josh

A few updates:

- Dave made a video of this computer and put it on Youtube!
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=nskEKaIN_AQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DnskEKaIN_A\
Q

- He emailed me with simple instructions about how to open the case.

- He also sent some better pictures (which I'll post later) and he noted that a
bank of lights must've come loose inside the case.

- I changed my mind; Corey C., we will ask you to fabricate a clear case after
all.

Here is the desktop link to the March Mark-8 computer.
The mobile link didn't work for me .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nskEKaIN_AQ

Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Evan Koblentz" <evan@...>
To: "MARCH Yahoo Midatlanticretro" <midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 8:34 AM
Subject: Re: [midatlanticretro] Re: Mark 8 pictures


>A few updates:
>
> - Dave made a video of this computer and put it on Youtube!
>
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=nskEKaIN_AQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DnskEKaIN_A\
Q
>

Ah-ha! Now that I'm watching the video on a large screen, vs. on my phone, I see
what I did wrong last night. When sitting intact (case on), it looks like the
front panel just unscrews. But now I see that the front panel stays in place and
the whole top lifts off.

For all the times I've opened MARCH's Altairs, IMSAIs, North*, etc., you'd think
I would know that by now!?!?

In my defense :) what confused me was the lack of screws on the sides and
bottom. It didn't look like the sides/top were removable. Only screws are on the
front panel, so it looked like the computer slides forward, as with a cabinet
drawer.

Looking forward to having another try at it tonight (possibly not until
9:30/10ish).

I heard something small rattling inside -- sounded like a screw or a nut -- it's
probably what holds the other bank of LEDs to the front panel.

On 2/26/2013 10:03 AM, ekoblentz wrote:
> Ah-ha! Now that I'm watching the video on a large screen, vs. on my phone, I
see what I did wrong last night. When sitting intact (case on), it looks like
the front panel just unscrews. But now I see that the front panel stays in place
and the whole top lifts off.
>


while you have your smartphone there, it's wise to take pictures of each
step during the disassembly. In case you don't recall where something
belongs, when it's time to assemble it again. This includes orientation
of components/parts, not just the location.

Dan

On Tue, 26 Feb 2013, Dan Roganti wrote:

> On 2/26/2013 10:03 AM, ekoblentz wrote:
>> Ah-ha! Now that I'm watching the video on a large screen, vs. on my phone, I
see what I did wrong last night. When sitting intact (case on), it looks like
the front panel just unscrews. But now I see that the front panel stays in place
and the whole top lifts off.
>>
> while you have your smartphone there, it's wise to take pictures of each
> step during the disassembly. In case you don't recall where something
> belongs, when it's time to assemble it again. This includes orientation
> of components/parts, not just the location.

     On that subject, I hate smart phone pictures.  Do we have a better
digital or DSLR camera to use?


Mike Loewen 		 mloewen@...
Old Technology       http://sturgeon.css.psu.edu/~mloewen/Oldtech/

>> On that subject, I hate smart phone pictures. Do we have a better digital or
DSLR camera to use?

I don't, nor does MARCH have one.

Even if we did, I know zilch about taking pictures, with no particular
time/interest to learn.