DEC Lab 11/40

From: Jerome Fine <jhfine_at_idirect.com>
Date: Sun Oct 21 13:04:42 2001

>Pete Turnbull wrote:

> On Thursday I took possession of a DEC Lab 11/40 system. I've not had time
> to clean it up and check it out yet, but it was reputedly working when last
> used (well, I suppose it would have been, wouldn't it?).
> [Snip]
> I've had a very cursory look over the machine, and the only things I notice
> that want some attention before I think about powering it up are a section
> of frayed insulation on the power loom to the BA-11 box, a lot of dust
> everywhere (how surprising!), and some kinks in the unibus cable that
> connects to the RK05s. I plan to vacuum out the dust, ix the insulation,
> and check the PSUs before I do anything else. I'm no Unibus or RK05
> expert; most of my -11s are Q-bus. What else should I look for before I go
> too far?

Jerome Fine replies:

Sounds like quite a find - after all this time. I also had not thought that
there were many Unibus 11s left in working condition (or close).

But last month, I had the opportunity to pick up some Unibus hardware.
Unfortunately, I don't have the physical strength or the help to manage
them. I stick to only the Qbus versions.

> I mentioned I only got one disk pack -- it's an original RT-11 distribution
> and I don't want to risk that in an unknown drive. Anyway, I know for a
> fact it's been dropped (the owner told me). I have since acquired 4 more
> packs, three of which came from the same machine originally. Anything I
> should look out for before trying them? I thought it might be wise to
> check the RK05 heads and perhaps clena them with IPA before I do anything
> else.

I did accept an RK05 drive and hopefully a working (or will be working in
the future) Qbus controller. Cleaning the heads was not too difficult - just
remove the top cover with a wide slot screwdriver. The heads are very
large and easy to see and wipe clean.

I also accepted a number of RK05 packs. I would like to read them, but
the Qbus controller is not connected as yet. Can anyone provide some helpful
hints as to what I need to look for in respect of the Qbus stuff. It is non-DEC,
of course. Right now I have a system with an RL02 drive that I also plan
to use with the RK05 and hopefully a SCSI host adapter. That will allow me to
connect a magneto optical drive and slip in a cartridge. So eventually, all the
files on the RK05 packs can be transferred to a magneto optical cartridge
which is only ten years old. At that point, I go off topic as the next step would
be a CDR for longer archival storage. But first I need to get the RK05 working!

HELP!! Please!!!

Sincerely yours,

Jerome Fine
Received on Sun Oct 21 2001 - 13:04:42 BST