Altomare

I like old hardware and to start projects I'll never finish.
From Paris, with leaded solder.

Website: https://altoma.re/

Last Notes

2025-10-26 00:15:16 GMT

Some neat info about 70s hard drive contaminants.
From the DEC RK05 disk drive maintenance manual (DEC-00-HRK05-C-D)
#retrocomputing #dec
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/115/437/564/265/341/408/original/bad4c3c6e7767094.png

2025-06-17 19:57:22 GMT

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Well, I also came across these files in my archives. The original uploader name sounds... familiar :-)
https://altoma.re/files/otrona/software/jennings/

2025-06-17 19:53:41 GMT

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I can make you a zip image yeah. IMD files and the rest are a pain to open. cpmtools is good, but it's also very finicky...
I'm working on adding CP/M filesystem support to the HxC Floppy software, but it nowhere near complete.

2025-06-17 18:51:35 GMT

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I probably have a Multiplan disk image for the Otrona Attaché if needs be.

2025-02-06 21:49:57 GMT

Sorting through a box of modern-ish (2000s~2010s) integrated circuits, which I'll give away due to never having any use for them.
I'm starting with the tubes, but it's taking a lot of time.
Is anyone interested in what's inventorized so far?
The first table with bags doesn't have proper quantities, it's what was written on the original Mouser label.
#electronics #freestuff
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/113/959/141/694/767/925/original/3e2609ae8575fc4b.png
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/113/959/143/047/193/847/original/154f828b3d385011.png

2024-12-31 10:47:41 GMT

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Xerox Alto uses 74181, not AM2900. There's the Mick and Brick book for the AM2900 family but it's a brain twister.
As for schematics, check out the ETH Lilith. Everything is available on bitsavers and the schematics include handy block diagrams

2024-12-29 23:44:16 GMT

ADM-3A terminal first test: this is a triumph.
#retrocomputing #terminal
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/113/738/761/755/497/359/original/dc4c2a8dfbb3ab2c.jpeg

2024-11-14 10:36:53 GMT

It's an Open University Hektor III, a little computer companion for a course on computer design!
It came with a lot of documentation and a few software tapes.
#retrocomputing
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/113/480/838/486/207/402/original/c5430df16dbd1afe.jpg

2024-11-10 17:44:12 GMT

The mystery computer is...
A R2E Portal! It was an French Intel 8085-based luggable intended for accounting. It used the Prologue operating system. Didn't sell well and was forgotten by most.
I'm surprised at how good the build quality is.
The wikipedia page for this machine was written by an auction house trying to sell one, and features a bunch of equid-defecation. They tried to pass it as a very influential machine, and the first true luggable. It's absolutely not.
The machine belongs to @npub12s8…f6e5 and we plan on reversing/documenting as much as we can
#retrocomputing
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/113/459/892/860/186/246/original/71f705f730f41ed2.jpg

2024-10-19 21:37:06 GMT

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There's also this one
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/113/336/240/182/354/248/original/83c3b5b211426ce3.jpg

2024-10-18 18:24:16 GMT

Special problems require special solutions.
Pic by DontDoubleBagIt on Reddit
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/113/329/791/336/399/280/original/41db7db07b0f35fb.jpeg

2024-09-25 18:26:00 GMT

Recently saved a lot of unused MCX and MMCX hardware from the dumpster: solder connectors, crimp connectors, cables and adapters.
Would anyone have any use for it?
#electronics #hamradio #freestuff

2024-08-18 22:54:27 GMT

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Just to let you know, I made 2 piles for the both of you :)
I won't ship them right away as I'm sorting through the parts and will offer more stuff, then dispatch everything at once

2024-08-14 22:57:26 GMT

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I did find some Zilog parts but they're the kind of parts I use in my tinkering (CP/M era machines). No sound chip so far but I got a few ISD1416P voice recorder chips I won't use.

2024-08-14 22:15:25 GMT

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I might have some more in another box, and I gave a bunch away to friends IRL already.
A seller here has these kind of lots every 2 weeks or so, and they're full of goodies. I'm trying to sort through and dispatch everything I won't use. Got my money worth of parts from it already ^^
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/112/962/678/385/750/203/original/7c101b841d23fbc2.jpg

2024-08-14 22:13:33 GMT

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https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/112/962/673/750/838/968/original/febc72e48c6d39d6.jpg

2024-08-14 22:04:36 GMT

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PLCC, and I got enough for the both of you. I just need to gather all the chips in one place, they're from 3 separate lots

2024-08-14 21:56:53 GMT

Would anyone have use for a non-reasonable quantity of CPLDs from the Altera MAX7000 family? EPM7128, EPM7064...
I got a lot in a recycling lot, and won't use them.
#electronics #retrocomputing #fpga