DSD-440 software

[vrs]

>    I picked up at least two DSD manuals in my big haul last week. I think
> they both have disks in them. I can send you the disk (and a mamual if you
> need it) if you'll promise to return them.  FWIW Thom has a NIB DSD drive.
> I think I'm going to pick it up and try to use it on my PDP-8.  I've been
> reading the description of the DSD drives in the manual and they sound
> GREAT! They will do IBM 3740 format, DEC RL-01/02 format and some kind of
a
> DD format. They also have stand alone diagnostics built into the
controller
> so you can test them with no computer attached (and no special computer
SW!)

They are mostly quite cool :-).  I will relate a cautionary tale, though.
While fiddling the DIP switches and power cycling, I discovered the hard way
that the DIP switches don't work reliably any more (probably some corrosion
in there).  As a result, I didn't get the test that I wanted, and instead
erased my OS/8 diskette (grumble).

Since then, I formatted some blanks with the DSD drive, then switched over
to the RX02 to read and write them.  someday I will have to pull and replace
the DIP switches on the DSD, I guess.

    Vince