Newbie enquiries

From: Kane, David <David.Kane_at_aph.gov.au>
Date: Thu Nov 21 20:09:00 2002

Hi All,

I found some old computer book during our spring clean (I'm in the southern hemisphere) and I got all nostalgic for the first computer I ever programmed a PDP-11/0?. The reason for the question mark is I cannot definitely remember if it was an 03, 04, or 05. So I was hoping I might fire off a bit of my remembered details, and someone here could help me definitively identify the machine. I have done some web searching and I have not been able to sort it out yet.

The system comprised a CPU and dual 8" floppy in a half height rack, on top of which sat a marked sense card reader, and in the corner was a DEC line printer. My memory of the CPU front panel is that it looks somewhat like an 11/34 picture I found in the user manual PDF with the programmers console. But I definitely remember it as an "slash zero" something model, so I believe that it was an 04. However the only picture of an 04 I have found to date has a rather basic looking programmers panel, by basic I mean as it is simple white text on black panel and buttons. I seem to remember the octal keypad had a border drawn on the pane and was a little bit smarter looking, maybe there were updated cosmetic version of the panel. The system booted straight to a local derivative of FORTRAN (MONECS FORTRAN), so we were insulated from the hardware and I therefore have no memory or interface card details.

Any help in IDing the machine would be greatly appreciated.

Now this leads me to the second reason for this message. I would like to collect a sample of the machine in question, but I am unsure of how to proceed. What are your tried and tested ways of locating such antique hardware? Also I saw an ebay auction for two RK05 disk packs today. Would these be usable with an 11/0? system? And if so what would be a reasonable price to pay?

I have lurked on the list for a few weeks now, and think that I shall stick around and get into the classic computer collecting myself (time and wife permitting).

OH BTW, I contacted Charles L. regarding his Zilog 8000 system (the Z8000 being another chip I found interesting when it came out). He is unsure if he actually wants to part with the machine at the present time. That might just be my first dead end lead in this new hobby of mine.

Thanks in advance,

David Kane
Received on Thu Nov 21 2002 - 20:09:00 GMT