DEC Scrounging & SWTPC 6800 Update

From: Anthony Clifton <wirehead_at_retrocomputing.com>
Date: Thu Sep 4 13:35:10 1997

First, the SWTPC is getting closer and closer to being available online.
I'm waiting for a memory board and some documentation to help me locate
a little flakiness it sometimes has and need to do some work to correct
same.

Second, I went and checked out the PDP-11 I mentioned in my web pages
and I'll be picking it up next week! It's a PDP-11/84 with 32 serial
ports, an RA-80 disk, a TU-80 tape drive, RSX-11M on the RA-80 and on
tape, full RSX documentation set, a Tektronix display (forgot the model
darnit) and ...AND a Hayes 1200! =-)

It's been a few years since I've worked on an 11...the last being an 11/73
and an 11/44 so once I refamiliarize myself with this beast and figure out
which house circuit I can connect it to without popping breakers =-) it'll
be placed on the net for access on a limited, scheduled basis...like 2 hours
a day probably. An 11/84 CPU alone apparently pulls 1100 watts and the
RA-80 and TU-80 PROBABLY (maybe more) pull the same so, if I don't run the
TU-80 all the time and assuming that's ok with the CPU which it SHOULD be,
I'll pull roughly 2 kilowatthours every hour! Woo hoo! The local rate
is about 8 or 9 cents per kwhr so that means it'd cost me 16-18 cents
per hour of operation if running current is actually 1100watts or so for
each of the 11/84 and the RA-80. (Hmmm...wonder if that's startup (IE max)
or running draw?) I always loved watching the lights dim when I powered
up my 11/34!

Basically, I can run it whatever amount of time does not consume more than
$10 of power per month.

Now for my request, if anyone has schematics or technical drawings of this
machine or the peripherals I've mentioned, they would be greatly appreciated.
We can work a trade, or compensation or something.

Thanks...

Anthony Clifton - WireHead Prime
Received on Thu Sep 04 1997 - 13:35:10 BST