Highgate's PDP-8 Page

The documents consist of scanned sets of images in TIFF format. They were created by David Gesswein djg@drs-esg.com. Other scans have been contributed by Doug Coward, dcoward@pressstart.com.

FOCAL 69 is made available courtesy of DEC. It's a copy of the package distributed with Bob Supnik's pdp-8 simulator, made available here in both RIM and text formats for your convenience.

The software utilities rim and send were written by Kevin McQuiggin. They are basic but they work for me. Consider them "alpha" quality!

Highgate is a FreeBSD machine. It's a Pentium 133 MHz box with 32 MB RAM and 6.6 GB HD space. The machine is located in the Telematics Lab at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.

Utilities are available from FFII (Forderverein fur eine Freie Informationelle Infrastruktur) which will convert the grouped TIFF files on this site to PDF format! These utilities are available here

Web server access statistics are now available:

• Total stats prior to April 7th, 2000
• Total stats Stats April 7th, 2000 through December 22nd, 2000
• Total stats Stats December 22, 2000 through August 7th, 2001
• Total stats Stats August 8th, 2001 through July 14th, 2002
• Total stats Stats July 14th, 2002 through September 18, 2004
• Total stats Stats September 19th, 2004 through August 7th, 2005
• Total stats Stats August 8th, 2005 through August 2nd, 2006
• Total stats Stats August 3rd, 2006 through May 30th, 2007
• Total stats Stats May 31, 2007 through January 8, 2010
• Current stats!

Kevin's wish list contains a list of hardware, software, and documentation that I'm currently looking for!

Contents:

• Print Sets:
  • M8300, M8310, M8320, and M8330 base system modules
  • The M8655 serial I/O module
  • The H740 switching power supply used on the pdp-8/f
  • The RK05j disk drive
  • The RX01 disk drive (M7726 and M7727 modules, plus power supply)
  • The M8357 (RX8E) disk controller
  • The TD8E DECtape control interface
  • Core Memory Stack, 16K
  • Front Panel Control Board (LED)
  • PDP-8/E Front Panel Control Board (BULB)
  • 16K 12 Bit Base Board (Core Control)
  • Memory Extension and Time Share Control

• Software:
  • FOCAL69, in RIM loader format
  • rim.c, a program that converts textual input in the form of <addr> <instruction> into RIM loader format
  • send.c, a program that handshakes with the toggled-in RIM loader on a pdp-8 and uploads RIM format files to the machine for execution
  • Improved send.c, with several convenient features. Written by Pete Turnbull, pete@dunnington.u-net.com
  • FOCAL69, in text format, suitable for processing by rim.c above
  • A collection of BASIC games and utilities. These run under OS/8. Courtesy of DEC.
  • All these BASIC programs in tarred-gzipped format
  • PDP-8/E Instruction Test 1 (source code in TIF format)
  • PDP-8/E Instruction Test 2 (source code in TIF format)
  • BIN Loader, Documentation and Application Notes (May 10, 1967)
  • Updated BIN Loader in text format, suitable for processing by rim.c above. Correction provided by Pete Turnbull, pete@dunnington.u-net.com
  • Original BIN Loader in text format, suitable for processing by rim.c above
  • The Dump and Restore utilities, a set of programs that allow you to make image backups of RX01 diskettes, RK05 disks, and Dectapes from your pdp-8 on a PC, and restore these images to their original media. Format compatible with that used by Bob Supnik's pdp-8 emulator. A tarred-gzipped archive for UNIX users. Written by David Gesswein
  • These utilities, in DOS/Windows ZIP archive format

• Documentation:
  • The Small Computer Handbook (1966 Edition), Sections 1 and 2
    • This document scanned and contributed by Doug Coward, dcoward@pressstart.com
    • This is a large file (~69MB) but contains lots of historically interesting information on the original pdp-8! This DEC handbook states the following on the rear cover:
      "This first edition of the DIGITAL Small Computer Handbook is designed to be a sourcebook of basic computer technology for the computer user and student. In addition to detailed material on computer fundamentals and programming examples, this book includes three user handbooks covering Digital's popular Family of Eight scientific/engineering computers - the PDP-8, LINC-8, and the new PDP-8/s."

  • The PDP-8/e Small Computer Handbook (1972):
    • Introduction
    • Chapters 1 to 3
    • Chapters 4 to 6
    • Chapter 7, Part I
    • Chapter 7, Part II
    • Chapter 7, Part III; Chapter 8
    • Chapters 9 to 11
    • Appendix

  • OS/8 Reference:
    • OS/8 System Reference Manual, October 1973
    • Getting on the Air (OS/8), June 1974

  • OS/8 Handbook (1979):
    • Chapters 1 to 4
    • Chapters 5 to 7
    • Chapters 8 to End
    • Update Notice #1, revisions to the original manual

  • OS/8 Basic:
    • OS/8 BASIC Language Reference Manual

  • PDP-8/i Hardware Maintenance Manual (July, 1969):
    • Volume I
    • Volume II (11x17)
    • Volume II (8.5x11)
    • PDP-8/I Module Location Chart

  • PDP-8/l Hardware:
    • PDP-8/L Module Location Chart by David G. Mahoney

  • PDP-8/e/f/m Hardware Maintenance Manual (September, 1973):
    • Chapters 1 and 2
    • Chapter 3 (pages 1 to 100)
    • The rest of chapter 3
    • Chapter 4 to End

  • PDP-8/e/f/m Processor Maintenance Manual (January, 1974):
    • Processor Maintenance Manual Volume 1 chapter 1-4 LC8E,PC8E,XY8E,LE8E

  • Peripheral Maintenance/Documentation:
    • DM01 Data Multiplexer Instruction Manual
    • The RK05 Disk Drive:
      • DEC Maintenence RK05 alignment notes
      • RK05 Quarterly Maintenence Procedure
      • RK05 Annual Maintenence Procedure
      • RK05 Disk Drive Maintenance Manual
      • RK05/RK05J/RK05F Disk Drive Maintenance Manual
    • The RX01/RX02 Floppy Drive:
      • RX8/RX01 Diagnostic Program
      • RX8/RX01 Data Reliability/Exerciser Program
      • RX8/RX11 Floppy Disk System Maintenance Manual
      • RX01/RX02 Pocket Service Guide
      • RX01 M7726 Engineering Change Order, December 1975
    • The VT52 Terminal:
      • VT52 DECscope Maintenance Manual
      • This document has been converted to HTML format by Paul Williams, paul@celigne.co.uk
    • TU56 DECtape:
      • TU56 DECtape Transport Maintenance Manual
    • PC04/PC05 Paper-Tape Reader/Punch:
      • PC04/PC05 Paper- Tape Reader/Punch (Feed-Hole Strobed Models)
    • RK8E Disk Controller:
      • RK8E Diskless Control Test
      • RK8E Drive Control Test
      • RK8E/RK8L Data Reliability Program
      • RK8E/RK8L Disk Formatter Program
    • KL8E Serial I/O Module:
      • KL8F Double Buffered Asynchronous Interface Diagnostics, May 1972
      • PDP-8/E Teletype and KL8 Asynchronous Data Control Tests, April, 1972
    • DK8E Clock:
      • DK8E Clock Diagnostic, October 1971
    • ASR33 Teletype Unit:
      • Bulletin 310B Technical Manual 33 Teletypewriter Sets RO, KSR, ASR Volume 1 Part 1, October 1971
      • Bulletin 310B Technical Manual 33 Teletypewriter Sets RO, KSR, ASR Volume 1 Part 2, October 1971
      • Bulletin 310B Technical Manual 33 Teletypewriter Sets RO, KSR, ASR Volume 1 Part 3, October 1971
      • Bulletin 310B Technical Manual 33 Teletypewriter Sets RO, KSR, ASR Volume 2 Part 1, March 1971
      • Bulletin 310B Technical Manual 33 Teletypewriter Sets RO, KSR, ASR Volume 2 Part 2, March 1971
      • Bulletin 11848 33 Page Printer Set (ASR, KSR and RO) Parts, Februrary 1971
      • ASR 33 Teletype Print Set

  • COS-310:
    • New Users' Guide, Version 8
    • System Reference Manual, Version 8 (Chapters 1 to 4)
    • System Reference Manual, Version 8 (Chapters 5 to 18)
    • Application Notes, Version 8

  • WPS-8:
    • WPS-8 Word Processing System Reference Manual (Chapters 1 to 8)
    • WPS-8 Word Processing System Reference Manual (Chapters 9 to end)
    • WPS List Processing Users Manual
    • Update Notice for WPS Communications Option
    • WPS-8/78 Version 3.3 Release Notes

  • ETOS Version 5B
    • ETOS V5B Patches
    • ETOS V5B Release Notes
    • ETOS V5B System Users Guide Start throu
    • ETOS V5B Systems Users Guide chapter 6
    • ETOS V5B System Managers Guide Start th
    • ETOS V5B System Managers Guide chapter
    • ETOS V5B System Managers Guide chapter
    • ETOS V5B System Managers Guide chapter
    • ETOS V5B System Managers Guide chapter
    • ETOS V5B Update Pages
    • ETOS V5B Worksheet Pages

  • ODT:
    • Octal Debugging Technique ODT-8, October 1968

  • DDT:
    • PDP-8 DDT Programming Manual, January 1969

  • MACRO-8:
    • PDP-8 Programming Manual MACRO-8, February 1969

  • General Reference, System Performance Reports, Other Documentation:
    • Software Performance Summary for the PDP-8 & PDP-12 Volume 3: #5
    • PDP-8, 8S, 8I, 8L System Program Index, October 1968
    • Classifying and Documenting, June 1969

  • Loaders and Support Software:
    • "Help" Loader
    • Readin-Mode (RIM) Punch, November 1966
    • Binary Punch (ASR 33 or 75A) (For BIN loader), March 1965
    • Octal Memory Dump, March 1965
    • High Speed Reader-Punch Tests, March 1977
    • Read-In-Mode Loader (RIM), February 1965
    • Binary Loader May 1967 (BIN)
    • Random AND Test, June 1971
    • Random TAD Test, June 1971
    • Random ISZ Test, June 1971
    • Random DCA Test, June 1971
    • Random JMP Test, June 1971
    • Basic JMP-JMS Test, June 1971
    • Random JMP-JMS Test, June 1971
    • PDP-8E Memory Power On/Off Test, June 1971

  • TD8E DECtape:
    • TD8-E DECtape Formatter, December 1971
    • TD8E DECtape Copy User's Manual, May 1972

  • DECUS:
    • DECUS Program 8-111 Disklook (DF32)
    • DECUS Program 8-111 Disklook Listing (DF32)
    • DECUS Program Library Catalog For PDP-8, Focal8 Part 1, July 1973
    • Update to DECUS PDP-8, Focal8, Basic8, PDP-12 Catalog Volume II, May 1975
    • DECUS Program Library Catalog For PDP-8, Focal8 Part 2, July 1973

  • Fortran:
    • 4K Fortran Programmer's Reference Manual, May 1969

  • Coming Soon:
    • New documents that haven't been indexed properly yet. See readme.txt for an index.
    • DEC's Introduction to Programming, 1972
    • Here's a list of upcoming documents! Got a request? Email Kevin at the address below!

• Photographs:
  • Click here for some photos of pdp-8 systems, peripherals, and related items. These are mostly from the Small Computer Handbook, 1972.
  • Here's a picture of Kevin's pdp-8/f, with dual RX01 floppies. This machine is fully operational, and runs (amongst other software) OS/8 and FOCAL.
  • This is definitely off-topic, but here's a photo of Kevin's pdp-11/45. This old fellow needs some work, but will hopefully be back running soon!
  • While off-topic, here's a recent view of Kevin's basement logjam.
  • I now have an older, black-and-white webcam! Check out the current situation in the basement here!

• Disk, Magnetic Tape, and Paper Tape Images:
  • Various pdp-8 disk/tape images. See file "list" for full information!

• Handy Information:
  • Problems getting OS/8 Fortran to run under Bob Supnik's simulator? Here's a solution!
  • Need to make a bootable disk, but don't know how? Click here for the procedure.

• Off Topic Files and Other Info:
  • pdp-5 Handbook, provided by Al Kossow, aek@spies.com
  • pdp-12 Handbook, also provided by Al Kossow.

How to View These Scanned Documents:

To view these documents you'll need a utility that can read TIFF Group 4 files.

• One package that can do this is "Imaging Pro" from Eastman Software. Here's a link to the Eastman web site at http://www.eastmansoftware.com/products/ImagingPro for some information on this package. Here's a direct link to the download page for those who are impatient!

• Paint Shop Pro 5 from JASC Software can also load these documents. A multiple page document is read with each page coming up in a separate Paint Shop Pro window. While not optimal, this works, and Paint Shop Pro is a great application.

• Are you a Mac user? If so, here's a link to Graphic Converter, a utility that will let you read these TIFF files, and optionally convert them to other formats, including PDF. This link was provided by Al Kossow, aek@spies.com.

• Other TIFF to PDF conversion utilities from FFII (contributed by Jos Dreesen):
  • Linux
  • Windows

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Comments? Contact Kevin McQuiggin at mcquiggi@sfu.ca