57
votes
How were files transferred between different systems in the late 1980s?
The most classic serial solution here was ofc a direct serial connection and Kermit the most versatile software solution. Developed at the Columbia University, NYC, Kermit supported already in the ...
- 208k
50
votes
Why doesn’t my VGA-to-HDMI converter work with my 286 PC?
The manual says that the smallest resolution it can handle is 800x600.
That is almost certainly the key. Original VGA supported 640x480 16-colors and 720x400 (essentially a small step up from the ...
25
votes
Accepted
Using a Minitel keyboard with a modern PC
This Instructables project by Gautchh shows how to handle the keyboard. The keyboard uses a simple matrix with a 17-wire output; pressing a key connects two of the wires. In Gautchh’s project, the ...
- 117k
24
votes
How were files transferred between different systems in the late 1980s?
I personally did not do any data transfer from home 8-bit systems to other systems, but I did do transfers from several older proprietary systems to Unix and MSDOS systems back in the 80’s.
We used a ...
- 3,264
23
votes
Would it be technically possible to make a "Satiator" for the PlayStation?
Per the developers of PSIO, the answer is no:
Exactly why is [the internal modification] required?
There are two signals that PSIO needs in order to function that are not present on the expansion ...
- 35.6k
21
votes
How were files transferred between different systems in the late 1980s?
I worked on a project quite a few years ago (late 80's) where a client purchased truckloads of surplus military electronics inventory that he intended to sell into the spare parts market. The ...
- 310
21
votes
Accepted
What are the difficulties in putting old AT style motherboards into modern ATX cases?
Some issues you may encounter are:
Motherboard size. An AT motherboard is 13 inches from front to back,
while the ATX standard mandates 9.6 inches. If a case takes an
Extended ATX motherboard it ...
- 6,905
19
votes
Accepted
How can I connect a DIN plug keyboard to USB?
If the IBM Model M keyboard is one of the ones that uses the AT protocol, you may be able to use a passive 5-pin to PS/2 adapter, chained with an active PS/2 to USB converter such as the Belkin F5U119....
- 6,905
18
votes
How were files transferred between different systems in the late 1980s?
No, there were no adapters for different floppies.
Data was typically copied by serial port, if it was copied at all: Programs on some 8-bit computer (e.g. Apple II, Commodore 64) wouldn't run on an ...
- 25.6k
17
votes
What does it take to recreate microchips like 68000 and 6502 in their original process nodes nowadays?
It should be feasible to manufacture NMOS-process parts using 0.6µm equipment that is still in current use. WDC's W65C02S, as well as their other current products, are made at TSMC on 0.6µm, though ...
- 16.6k
15
votes
Accepted
How can I use a SideWinder 3D Pro with a modern PC running Windows 7?
The SideWinder 3D Pro has its own protocol, which isn't supported by typical gameport-to-USB adapters. The best you can hope for with one of those is to find an adapter which supports the CH ...
- 117k
13
votes
How can I connect a DIN plug keyboard to USB?
The easiest (PnP) approach is definely using two adapters. The first one should be a USB to PS/2 (miniDIN) adapter; This one needs to be an active adapter, such as this one:
Avoid using weird smaller ...
- 1,017
13
votes
Accepted
Can I build a working(ish) vacuum tube byte?
Switching Tech
Tubes
I do not recommend to use them because you would need to deal with high voltage and heat dissipation which can be potentially dangerous especially in class (pupils do not act ...
- 7,152
12
votes
How were files transferred between different systems in the late 1980s?
There were (and are) a few possibilities to transfer programs* and data between 8 bit Commodore systems and other platforms via floppy disks and other media.
Commodore 1541 floppy drives could be ...
12
votes
How were files transferred between different systems in the late 1980s?
I have done my share of transfers between incompatible systems.
There were some service bureaus that could convert floppy disks between different systems, and I used some to convert CP/M-86 ...
12
votes
Accepted
Are game port joystick button circuits more than plain switches? Is this one just faulty?
Is this a special signaling mechanism of some sort,
No. Buttons are always on/off mechanics. The PC doesn't have any means to detect anything but high or low, according to the threshold (*1) the ...
- 208k
12
votes
Accepted
Reverse engineering an RS-422 protocol with access to only one device?
I posted a comment on the reverse-engineering Q&A you linked before I realized it'd do better as an answer here.
The answerer there found that googling Accom and Axial from your photo turns up a ...
- 6,326
11
votes
Connecting Panasonic "Penwriter" RK-P400C to modern PC using USB to serial cable
I successfully got the RK-P400C printing from a serial console (minicom on Linux) today. Here's how to do it for future reference...;)
The DB25 connector on the right side is a 25 pin serial port. At ...
- 341
11
votes
Connecting a Vintage Monochrome Monitor to a Modern PC
Does anyone know hard or time consuming it would be to achieve this?
Assuming you have a modern PC with VGA out, or you can put in a graphics card with VGA out, it's not hard at all, if you know a ...
- 25.6k
10
votes
How can I connect a DIN plug keyboard to USB?
There are two aspects to this. The cable for the physical connection and the driver for the communications protocol.
I suspect with adaptor upon adaptor you are either losing voltage and therefore ...
- 7,963
10
votes
Can I build a working(ish) vacuum tube byte?
Nice idea. I like it.
Tubes et all.
My general understanding is that in early computing, pre-solid state technology, a bit would represented by a single vacuum tube.
That would be a missconception ...
- 208k
9
votes
Can I build a working(ish) vacuum tube byte?
My suggestion would be to use relays. Still readily available, and while you wouldn't be using vintage parts, there were definitely some computers built with relays. Can't handle as high speed as well ...
9
votes
How can a ST-412 MFM hard drive be integrated with a modern PC?
Unless going the SCSI bridge route described in another post, you will very likely need a PC with an ISA slot - such mainboards were only common up to the Pentium 3 era, unless you are using a PC ...
- 5,630
9
votes
How can I adapt a digital CGA/C128 signal (RGBI DE-9) to a modern monitor?
One strategy is to convert the digital to analog, then the analog to VGA.
CGA consists of digital red, green, blue, and intensity (RGBI) 5V signals, plus horizontal (15.75 kHz) and vertical (59.92 Hz)...
- 17.4k
9
votes
How were files transferred between different systems in the late 1980s?
I transferred a lot of text documents and spreadsheets/databases from my ZX Spectrum to my Sinclair QL using the Sinclair network, a 80kBps serial network that was inbuilt into the QL and provided by ...
- 32.4k
9
votes
Panasonic KX-W50TH Data Transfer
The Solution
I added a StarTech PM111SP2 print server, and changed the print speed to slow. Here is a video of it working for the first time: Printing for the Very First Time
(source: wordpress.com)
...
- 141
9
votes
Why doesn’t my VGA-to-HDMI converter work with my 286 PC?
The standard text mode for VGA DOS was 80 by 25 characters, which translated to a resolution of 720 by 400 (characters of 9 by 16 pixels) per the table on VGA text mode page in Wikipedia.
One option ...
- 131
9
votes
How can I make an 80 GB hard drive work with an Asus P2L97 motherboard?
You need a BIOS update. Version 1009 from November 1999 already fixes it according to release notes. It is the final official BIOS version and newer beta releases exist, but must be chosen carefully ...
- 27k
8
votes
Using a 1995 model M with a modern setup
Are you just looking for a generic PS/2 to USB adapter?
Ziotek's SANOXY PS2 Keyboard To USB Adapter seems to have good reviews on Amazon and work well with older keyboards.
- 9,392
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible