11/45 pictures & questions (odd flip chips)

From: Jay West <jwest_at_classiccmp.org>
Date: Sun Dec 28 18:46:40 2003

Due to popular request... I am now uploading some close up pictures of the
flipchips in that odd panel to the url
http://www.ezwind.net/jwest/1145-whatsit

I was told this system was taken from either a naval or air force facility,
used in some kind of testing. Definitely was installed in TN.

Here are the flip chips in that odd rack wirewrap panel:
BFC (big fu... er... flat cable from cpu) to paddle connector in the
"whatsit" backplane
Some kind of terminator, like the one in the first slot of the cpu - unibus
terminator methinks
M7821
M7311
M7317
M7317
(2) M111
M302
M102
M113
M205
about 12 or 13 K281
M801
six K581
three K650A
M105

Here are also the legends I read off the cards (not in the order as above,
just a sampling to give you an idea what's there)
Address Selector
DC driver
Contact Input Filter
Relay Board
Contact Sense
Inverter
10 2-input NAND
RT(tm) Input Interface
Unibus Driver
R(t) DOP1

After flipping a few of the front panel switches, it would appear some of
the switches fell off. It seems like the switch cover poles that stick out
are not broken, it's the mechanical switch that came apart underneath the
cover. They look like CK switches (red & silver, gold bar inside)... I've
seen CK switches disintigrate like that before. Looks like I'll be looking
for switches too.And MAN I'm starting to hate those people who sell front
panels on ebay for hundreds. Leave them on the system would ya?? :) Thats
the thing about this hobby I seem to be discovering... with any given
system, you're never "done" :)

Jay West


----- Original Message -----
From: "Zane H. Healy" <healyzh_at_aracnet.com>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2003 6:21 PM
Subject: Re: 11/45 pictures & questions


> >I couldn't wait, had to get the 11/45 off the trailer and dig around in
it.
> >Upon first close inspection, the thing is FILTHY. It will take some very
> >major cleaning before attempting to do anything with it. However, from a
> >first looksee - it definitely doesn't look "beyond all recall", it looks
> >like it will clean up nicely. While very dirty, I can't see any rust
> >anywhere. Good sign.
>
> Looks like we know what you're going to be working on for a while :^)
>
>
> >There is a separate power supply at the back top of the rack, which
powers a
> >DEC brand backplane mounted "pins forward" in the front. There's also
some
> >lights & switches here. There's some flipchips in it, and lots of what
look
> >to be D/A cards. Does anyone have any clue what this was used for? I took
> >extra pictures of this part - tried different focus settings & all so
> >hopefully some will be clear.
> >
> >Looks like the machine has no FP option, and 8K of core memory. I haven't
> >decided what OS I want to run on this thing yet, maybe RT11, or RSTS, but
I
> >was really hoping to run 2.9BSD or Unix 7 or some flavor of unix. That's
not
> >gonna happen with 8K of core. I have some RL02's I could put on it.
Anyone
> >want to trade the bits to make it use semiconductor memory in exchange
for
> >the core backplane and core boards? Is FP required for anything I've
> >mentioned? I'll get it up and running on 8K to test & refurb, but
definitely
> >want to go the semiconductor memory route so I can run one of the above
> >O/S's. Hey, can this thing use any of the memory boards I have in my
11/44?
>
> Do you know anything about the history of this system? Based on the odd
collection of flipchips and such that you mention and the fact that it's
only got 8k of RAM, I'm guessing that it was used as some sort of
intelligent industrial controller.
>
> With only 8k of RAM I'm not sure you can run anything other than the PTOS
(Papertape OS). I'm not sure if DOS/Batch would fit on a 8k system as I've
not messed with it. I'm fairly sure the RAM boards in your /44 won't work
in a /45. Once you get a decent amount of RAM in the system I'd recommend
RSTS/E for an OS (it seems the most appropriate to me), and failing that
either RSX-11M/M+ or RT-11.
>
> Zane
>
> --
> --
> | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator |
> | healyzh_at_aracnet.com (primary) | OpenVMS Enthusiast |
> | | Classic Computer Collector |
> +----------------------------------+----------------------------+
> | Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
> | PDP-10 Emulation and Zane's Computer Museum. |
> | http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |
>
>
Received on Sun Dec 28 2003 - 18:46:40 GMT

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