> Hi Tim,
>
> > I am not sure what other UNIBUS cages there are out there, but I think
> > and UNIBUS cage would probably work. They seem to be prity self
contained
> > and just paddle connectors. From memory only th 11/7xx and 8600 series
> > realy used UNIBUS.
>
> don't forget the PDP-11, UNIBUS was really the main PDP-11 system
> bus.

Yes, just after I sent the email I thought of that!

>
> > How are you going with getting hold of a system cabinet? and/or
backplane?
>
> two friends have turned up some things from the scrap yard. Unfortunately
> those may be missing critical pieces and have been fairly exposed to
> whether and water on the scrapyard probably for years. It's a shame.
> I'm not even sure I can afford the sipping accross the country, depends
> on the condition. I'm still hoping to find a decomissioned complete
> system someday somewhere. May be that would even have the UNIBUS
> extension cabinet end everything (= VAX heaven :-).
>

They are quite tough. Unfortuantly mine had to endure some weathering, but
after some time to clean it up, works fine. They don't make em like they
used to!

> > > > As far as the UNSBUS in my 11/785, I have a DEUNA Ethernet, SCSI
Tape
> > > > Controller and serial cards (can't remember part numbers of hand).
> > >
> > > Anything SCSI seems like utterly unaffordable for the VAX, whatever
> > > bus it is, ebay prices simply skyrocket on every VAX SCSI adapter.
> > > So, I'll do without. Leaves me with DEUNA, a whole bus for one
> > > card! I won't cry if I don't get it
> > >
> >
> > I am in Australia, over here last time I tried bidding on a uVAX II,
that
> > when completely crazy! When as high as $700 AU, about $1400 US.
>
> yea, eBay is a sword with two edges, it's a big flea market where we
> can gather things, but there is a lot of activity going on driving up
> the prices. There is nothing better than sitting right at the source
> where people want to get things out of their way quickly. Blessed are
> the folks in New York or other huge cities, who know where to turn to.
>
> > As I  understand the MASSBUS on the 11/785 is just a couple of slots in
the
> > card cage in the system cabnet, far right hand site.
> > The cards I have heard you can get for it are Disk/Tape controlers  and
HSC.
> > MASSBUS is genraly perfered to UNIBUS for speed reasons as it is full
system
> > width.
>
> Ah, you mean the reserved slots in the main cabinet? O.K. that would at
> least not require another major component. Cards show up over time.

If you read John Wilsons reply, there is a bit of a correction to my above
comments.
I would seem that the MASSBUS is a cable bus and the slots I mentioned are
for
the MASSBUS Adapters.
In any case as I see it, it is pritty hard to find the drives to match let
alone the cards.

>
> > There is some more info in the 11/780 and 11/785 Installation Manuals
that I
> > have, that I can scan in if you are interested. Manly only things like
> > pictures of the cabnets and layouts.
>
> Thanks, I have one drawing of front and back side by now. Of course
> I'd be glad for the manuals. If you could scan and put up on web site,
> that would be a great community service. I'm sure there are others
> who might want to look at this.
>

It will take some time, but I will do it. I am very slack, but I have not
got
a web site of my own, so I will need to find somewhere to put them.
Will deal with that when the time comes. I will see if the DFWCUG is
interested.

> > I just thought, you would need to source a LSI-11 console as well?
>
> very true, and unfortunately those are really PDP-11 computers that
> people take from the yard just for its own sake. I dearly hope that
> one of the machines the friends have found has that console computer
> still in it. Otherwise it'll be a big pain. Do you have one spare?
>

Nope, sorry. I have only one of everything.
> regards
> -Gunther
>
> --
> Gunther Schadow, M.D., Ph.D.                    gschadow@regenstrief.org
> Medical Information Scientist      Regenstrief Institute for Health Care
> Adjunct Assistant Professor        Indiana University School of Medicine
> tel:1(317)630-7960                         http://aurora.regenstrief.org

Regards,
Tim.