DEC Computers

Collector of vintage computer stuff from DEC, Compaq and HP (mid 80s - mid 2000s) Mainly Alpha, VAX, OpenVMS and DEC network stuff. Working on the dark side🇩🇪

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

The #VAXcluster / #VMScluser is continuously getting larger...

[Tommi @tommithetechie]

Is this a washing machine? Nope!

This is the DEC TU80 (Digital Equipment Corporation TU80). It is an industry-standard 9-track streaming magnetic tape drive subsystem. It was heavily used for data storage, disk backup, and archiving for DEC's systems, such as the PDP-11 and VAX systems.

Fun fact: the TU80 was manually loaded, so an operator had to physically thread the half-inch magnetic tape into the drive before it could read or write data. That sounds like more work, but it makes me love it even more.

https://t.co/rl88U7fqdd
https://t.co/YtG7TDnPi7
#RetroTech #VintageComputing #TechHistory

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

The two #MicroVAX 3100s are now side by side.

[SDF @sdf_pubnix]

Powering up a 1972 DEC PDP-10 after decades of sleep… 2026 is turning out to be the Year of the PDP-10

https://t.co/ta3WPaLKa6

#retrocomputing #vintagecomputing

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

The #AlphaServer ES40 power supplies have been taken apart. The electronics look fine at first glance, but I'm still going to test a few components.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

The #AlphaServer ES40 has been disassembled as much as is practical. Now it's time to start cleaning and removing all the corrosion.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

The connection to the base station is active, but I can't talk...

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

Start setting up my Motorola MTM800e TETRA device for amateur radio TETRA

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

This storage expansion with an additional SCSI hard drive also works smoothly.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

The #MicroVAX 3100/10 is now running side by side with the MicroVAX 3100/40.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

Start setting up my Motorola MTM800e TETRA device for amateur radio TETRA

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

The #MicroVAX 3100/10 is now running side by side with the MicroVAX 3100/40.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

@HpcJohn With a bit of luck, yes. However, that’s often difficult, especially with the first generation of tapes.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

Picked up a few more machines: a #MicroVAX 3100/10, a #VAXstation 3100/M38, and a storage expansion unit the size of a VAXstation/MicroVAX 2000

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

@davepl1968 But the VAX 4000/705A also 16 years newer. My most recent AlphaServer ES40 certainly has a lot more processing power compared to the VAX 4000.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

The #MicroVAX 3100/10 actually works (with a different power supply). It's nice to have a machine that isn't damaged by a leaking battery for once.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

Picked up a few more machines: a #MicroVAX 3100/10, a #VAXstation 3100/M38, and a storage expansion unit the size of a VAXstation/MicroVAX 2000

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

Technically, a VAX 4000/705A is also a MicroVAX, as it is still classified as one of the smaller VAX systems. The VAX 4000 series was the successor to the MicroVAX 3X00 series. The MicroVAX 3100/10 is the smallest in this series and quite slow at 2.4 VUP compared to the 45 VUP of the VAX 4000/705A, but it is also 7 years older (released in 1987). I’m running OpenVMS - as always - but netBSD would work naturally as well.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

@AlanSan01896098 First get it up and running, and then we'll see...

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

Added some FDDI hardware: The DECconcentrator 900TH is a dedicated #FDDI device. The copper ports are CDDI, i.e., FDDI over copper. I don't have any end devices to use it with yet, but that needs to change. Also, the ring needs to be wired here.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

To keep things more organized, the #DEChub 90 and other network hardware on the workstations' and terminals' side are now also housed in a small network rack.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

@indiawhiskey1 @BoscoMac @F4JSU I don't know. So far, I've just been looking at what's available in my area.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

I've been interested in amateur radio for a while now, and at least I have my entry-level license now.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

@dez_blanchfield Got this a while back along with a bunch of other stuff (AlphaServer 800, VT520, VT525, TK50 drive...). I was even able to choose the screen color (white or green).

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

To keep things more organized, the #DEChub 90 and other network hardware on the workstations' and terminals' side are now also housed in a small network rack.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

@indiawhiskey1 @BoscoMac @F4JSU Fortunately, an interconnected TMO relay (DO0ATR) is available here. I'm excited to see how well it works.

[DEC Computers @deccomputers]

@BoscoMac @F4JSU Werde ich machen. Mal sehen wie lange die Behörde so braucht ;) Danach muss ich auch noch eine DMR-ID beantragen...