Roland Huisman
Veteran Member
Where do I sign up as a beta tester? 
- VCF East 2023 - April 14-16 - InfoAge Science and History Museums, Wall, NJ
- VCF Southwest 2023 - June 23 - 25 - Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center at University of Texas, Dallas, TX
- VCF Midwest 2023 - September 9, 10. More info to come
- VCF West 2023 - August 5, 6 (Tentative dates). More info to come
-
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What did I do to my PDP-8 today.
- Thread starter DougIngraham
- Start date
DougIngraham
Veteran Member
I think you just did.Where do I sign up as a beta tester?
I am several weeks out but all the code will most likely get posted over on that other thread and when I am happy with it I will put it up on github..
Mike_Z
Veteran Member
You guys! Making a leader is trivia. Here is some copied and slightly modified code for punching the title into the paper tape, if that helps.
Thanks, Mike
Code:
/ I used this as a start. The 1st three statements of LOOP1 were removed and
/ in their place I hardcoded the TITLE and and loaded it so as to work as the
/ keyboard entry did. I limited the entry to 9 characters, 6 for filename, 2 for
/ext and a dot. Maybe this helps?
ADDR=20 /20 PUNCH, 40 TELETYPE
TPLS=6006 ADDR
TPSF=6001 ADDR
/ TAPE LABELER SA=200, CORE=200-734
/ BY JOHN WILSON 05-JAN-85
/ MODIFICATIONS TO FONT BY DAVID GESSWEIN 13-APRIL-14
/ ECHO TYPED INPUT ON HIGH-SPEED PUNCH
*200
LOOP1, KSF /WAIT FOR INPUT
JMP .-1
KRB /GET IT
AND P0177
DCA TEMP
TAD TEMP
TAD M0141
SPA
JMP UPPER
CLA
TAD M0040 /CONVERT TO LOWER CASE
TAD TEMP
DCA TEMP
UPPER, CLA
TAD TEMP
TAD M0040 /CONVERT SPACE::BACKARROW TO 00::77
DCA TEMP /SAVE
TAD TEMP /GET IT BACK AGAIN
CLL RTL /*4
NOP /(BUG FIX, REPLACING 7006/RTL)
TAD TEMP /*5
TAD BASEM1 /ADD TABLE BASE -1
DCA 10 /SAVE IN AUTO-INDEX LOC
TAD M0005 /INIT COUNT TO -(# OF COLUMNS), CLEAR AC
DCA COUNT
LOOP2, TAD I 10 /GET NEXT COLUMN (AUTO-INDEX)
TPLS /PUNCH IT
TPSF /SPIN UNTIL DONE
JMP .-1
CLA /AC=0 FOR NEXT TIME
ISZ COUNT /DONE ALL COLUMNS?
JMP LOOP2 /LOOP IF NOT
TPLS /PUNCH ONE MORE COLUMN OF ZEROS
TPSF /SPIN UNTIL DONE
JMP .-1
JMP LOOP1 /BACK AROUND FOR NEXT CHAR
/ DATA (BESIDES LOCATION 10)
M0040, -40 /-40 (OFFSET FROM BLANK TO 00)
P0177, 177
M0141, -141 /(A)
TEMP, 0 /TEMP FOR COMPUTING INDEX INTO TABLE
M0005, 7773 /-5 (- # COLUMNS PER CHAR)
COUNT, 0 /COLUMN COUNTER
BASEM1, . /BASE OF TABLE, -1
DECIMAL
0;0;0;0;0 /SPACE
0;0;223;223;0 /!
0;7;0;7;0 /"
40;255;40;255;40 /#
134;137;255;137;113 /$
131;99;24;198;193 /%
108;146;172;64;160 /&
0;0;7;7;0 /'
0;60;66;129;0 /(
0;129;66;60;0 /)
84;56;255;56;84 /*
16;16;255;16;16 /+
0;160;64;0;0 /,
16;16;16;16;16 /-
0;192;192;0;0 /.
128;96;24;6;1 //
126;161;137;133;126 /0
132;130;255;128;128 /1
194;161;145;137;134 /2
66;137;137;137;118 /3
12;10;137;255;136 /4
199;137;137;137;248 /5
126;137;137;137;114 /6
1;1;249;5;2 /7
118;137;137;137;118 /8
70;137;137;137;126 /9
0;96;96;0;0 /:
0;128;96;96;0 /;
16;40;68;130;0 /<
12;12;12;12;12 /=
130;68;40;16;0 />
4;2;177;10;4 /?
56;68;154;188;152 /@
254;9;9;9;254 /A
255;137;137;137;118 /B
126;129;129;129;129 /C
255;129;129;129;126 /D
255;137;137;137;137 /E
255;9;9;9;1 /F
126;129;129;145;243 /G
255;8;8;8;255 /H
129;129;255;129;129 /I
96;128;129;127;1 /J
255;8;20;34;193 /K
255;128;128;128;128 /L
255;2;12;2;255 /M
255;2;60;64;255 /N
126;129;129;126;0 /O
255;9;9;9;6 /P
124;129;161;65;190 /Q
255;25;41;73;134 /R
134;137;137;137;113 /S
1;1;255;1;1 /T
127;128;128;128;127 /U
63;96;192;96;63 /V
127;128;112;128;127 /W
195;36;24;36;195 /X
3;4;218;4;3 /Y
193;161;145;137;135 /Z
0;255;129;129;129 /[
1;6;24;96;128 /\
129;129;129;255;0 /]
4;2;255;2;4 /UP ARROW (^)
128;128;128;128;128 /_
0;1;2;4;0 /
$Thanks, Mike
gwiley
Experienced Member
I'm also facing this issue of discoloration of the +5V pin on the power supply connector. It seems likely to be a common problem with all 8/m systems. I'm seeing a worse issue with the quick-connect connection crimps at the ends of the wires that attach to the backplane.
@mcguire (Dave) could you share the connector pin and shell part numbers that you found at Mouser? I think we can all benefit from this.
I'd like to rebuild the cable between the power supply and backplane (both ends and wire) and also implement the fix that Roland has done in his PDP-11/10:
photo is in: https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/what-did-i-do-to-my-pdp-8-today.77577/post-1247620
mcguire
Experienced Member
Hi, these are the 8/e connectors, which I'm pretty sure (can't picture it right now and I'm not near one) it's different from the 8/m. But here's the 8/e connector info, for the H724 power supply:
TE Connectivity Commercial MATE-N-LOK
Power supply side:
Shell 1-171196-0
Pins 60619-1
Cable harness side:
Shell 1-163035-0 or 1-480276-0
Pins 60620-1
For these connectors, I recommend coating them with DeOxit before mating them. This will stave off the high-resistance problem later on.
-Dave
gwiley
Experienced Member
Thank you! You're correct, the 8/m is different... it has 9 pins instead of 6. The 8/e part numbers got me in the ballpark and was able to find what I'm pretty sure are the 8/m connectors which are a cousin of the 8/e. I'm going to order shells, pins and sockets to confirm.
What I think is probably the 8/m Power Supply side, TE Internal #: 1-480274-0
https://www.te.com/usa-en/product-1-480274-0.html
uses the same 60619-1 socket terminals for 20 AWG to 14 AWG
and what's probably the 8/m cable harness side,
https://www.te.com/usa-en/product-1-480277-0.html
uses the same 60620-1 socket terminals for 20 AWG to 14 AWG
Phosphor bronze sockets and pins are the -4 versions.
There are Mouser "shop now" links from both of the above TE pages.
Tyco catalog/datasheet with technical details of shells, pins and sockets is here:
mcguire
Experienced Member
Excellent, I'm glad to help. Thanks for digging up the 8/m connector part numbers; I've made a note of these. My 8/m is at home, not at LSSM, and it's a bit difficult to dig into as it's under a couple of S-100 chassis at the moment, but I'm pretty sure its power connectors are still ok. It runs and doesn't make any burning smells, anyway.
If you end up ordering these, please let me know if they fit ok.-Dave
gnupublic
Experienced Member
These days I get some equipement out of my basement, that was lasting there since some years. This beautiful 8/e was one of two machines from a shool. Only the relais was a bit sticky in the powersupply, after some knocking it was OK. The front was made by a DEC Professional, I think somewhere in the 90s.
The Frame is 8/e with two backplanes in it. The front is LED. But the switches are more like a PDP15 or PDP12.
Inside there are 2 8k Plessy Core cards, that only need one slot each. The two 4k DEC Core Ensembles need 6 slots.
Have fun,
gnupublic
The Frame is 8/e with two backplanes in it. The front is LED. But the switches are more like a PDP15 or PDP12.
Inside there are 2 8k Plessy Core cards, that only need one slot each. The two 4k DEC Core Ensembles need 6 slots.
Have fun,
gnupublic
DougIngraham
Veteran Member
That is a very different 8/e front panel. The 8/i and the PDP-12 have rocker switches like those. The colors are similar to those used on the DECset 8000. Very unusual and rare.
Any idea what company the logo in the upper right is for? What comes to mind for me is something to do with nuclear power.
Any idea what company the logo in the upper right is for? What comes to mind for me is something to do with nuclear power.
gnupublic
Experienced Member
The sticker is only for mesuring temperature like the ones for wine bottles and aquariums. Nothing specific. I don't know why this was placed to the front.
That's an impressive piece of work for a custom 8E front panel. Looks like the power and selector switches are DEC originals. I get the impression it could be an 8F (LED-style) front panel that needed toggle switches. He had some PDP-15 (or DECsystem KA10) ones handy?
Roland Huisman
Veteran Member
I'd love to see more pictures of that machine, expecially from the insides
gnupublic
Experienced Member
Thats all I have at the moment. Maybe more when I have done some Maindecs. And tested the core ram.
Thought I'd join this thread. Working on getting ready for VCF. Decided to bring my 8/I this year. Fired it up and stuck memory bit. Swapped a G22x and good to go.
My DF32 wouldn't boot though and would read on first power on but quickly stop working. I'm using my DS32 emulator instead of trying to use the platter since they don't like power cycles. Traced it to my board which isn't giving the proper incrementing word address pattern. Touched it and behavior changed. Cleaned contact and re-soldered anything looking suspicious but now no change when touched and still not working. More false leads. Poked more and its just not doing what the VHDL says. Pulled out the programmer and read it back and it doesn't match and reads give different results. Reflashed the XC9572 and now all is well.
Does it mean I've been doing this too long if the stuff I made is now dying of old age? Programming file was from 2008 so only 14 years. Seems a little early to be loosing programming.
Next up was my Tek 611 storage monitor. It has a nice display and can be used store or non store. It died at VCF a while ago so time to fix. The storage screen glowed so assumed tube was good but later check of the high voltages and they are way off. Found a short between two windings on the high voltage transformer so its not going to be working for VCF. I had picked up another DEC branded one at a hamfest that was in rough shape. Little playing with adjustments and got the test pattern working ok non store. Store isn't working well. Tube likely near end of life for store. Need to poke at it some more.
A file dump on Bitsavers recovered more of DECUS-8-250 signal capture and FFT program for my AX08 so been working on recreating the missing storage definition and little bit of code tape that is still missing. Got it working and found the multiply routine had serious bugs. 0 * -1 = -2048. Other times zero give small non zero values. Many negative results were off by 4 and some other values had large errors. Fixed that and the sin table also had some wrong values and was truncated so fixed that. Will be showing it off at VCF.
Got more plans. Will see what gets done in time. Not a lot of time left.
My DF32 wouldn't boot though and would read on first power on but quickly stop working. I'm using my DS32 emulator instead of trying to use the platter since they don't like power cycles. Traced it to my board which isn't giving the proper incrementing word address pattern. Touched it and behavior changed. Cleaned contact and re-soldered anything looking suspicious but now no change when touched and still not working. More false leads. Poked more and its just not doing what the VHDL says. Pulled out the programmer and read it back and it doesn't match and reads give different results. Reflashed the XC9572 and now all is well.
Does it mean I've been doing this too long if the stuff I made is now dying of old age? Programming file was from 2008 so only 14 years. Seems a little early to be loosing programming.
Next up was my Tek 611 storage monitor. It has a nice display and can be used store or non store. It died at VCF a while ago so time to fix. The storage screen glowed so assumed tube was good but later check of the high voltages and they are way off. Found a short between two windings on the high voltage transformer so its not going to be working for VCF. I had picked up another DEC branded one at a hamfest that was in rough shape. Little playing with adjustments and got the test pattern working ok non store. Store isn't working well. Tube likely near end of life for store. Need to poke at it some more.
A file dump on Bitsavers recovered more of DECUS-8-250 signal capture and FFT program for my AX08 so been working on recreating the missing storage definition and little bit of code tape that is still missing. Got it working and found the multiply routine had serious bugs. 0 * -1 = -2048. Other times zero give small non zero values. Many negative results were off by 4 and some other values had large errors. Fixed that and the sin table also had some wrong values and was truncated so fixed that. Will be showing it off at VCF.
Got more plans. Will see what gets done in time. Not a lot of time left.
jackrubin
Veteran Member
vrs42
Veteran Member
vrs42
Veteran Member
I did (eventually) find those.
Hmm. Is it normal for me to have part 2 in the same file as part 1? I find the naming quite confusing when they do that. A grep for PART shows I have 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, and 6 spread accross tapes 3, 4, and 5. But the tape labeled part 1 doesn't have a PART, just a trig table. And I don't have a tape 2.
Anyway, thanks!
Vince
Hmm. Is it normal for me to have part 2 in the same file as part 1? I find the naming quite confusing when they do that. A grep for PART shows I have 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, and 6 spread accross tapes 3, 4, and 5. But the tape labeled part 1 doesn't have a PART, just a trig table. And I don't have a tape 2.
Anyway, thanks!
Vince
antiquekid3
Veteran Member
I did some work on my Tennecomp Minidek TP-1371 which came with my 8/M. It was originally used in a Rotochem system. Unfortunately, I lack the two-board controller for it. Fortunately, I should be able to still read the tapes I've got either using Audacity and some decoding from there, or by using a microcontroller with a little analog-to-digital front end per the schematics I've got.
Album here:
My predicament is still finding foam pads to replace the deteriorated ones in each of my cartridges.
Edit: added more pictures to the album. Hopefully this will refresh it so they appear.
Album here:
My predicament is still finding foam pads to replace the deteriorated ones in each of my cartridges.
Edit: added more pictures to the album. Hopefully this will refresh it so they appear.
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jackrubin
Veteran Member
Adhesive backed furniture pad felt might work - does the job for floppy drive backup pads. I think I have one of these Tenecomp drives too, with an interface for an 8/L or 8/I. Or not.
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