November 2015 - vcf-midatlantic

Replicating Boot Drive, VAX
by william degnan 17 Nov '15

17 Nov '15

Reading up about VAX 4000 support. I have a three drive 4000-200 in the BA430 enclosure. It also has a tape drive and ethernet device Question - Do you formerly MARCH and now VCFedgerationites who are also VAX users with similar systems maintain more than one bootable drive as a rule of thumb? I am not detecting any issues with my primary drive but I don't want to take chances. Just curious what kinds of support strategy ideas you may have. I have the manuals and have been reading up on backups, etc. I just got a new hard drive and I need to replace a bad drive, amd I was thinking now would be a good time to set as the 2nd bootable drive, before I put anything on it. I thus could experiment with one drive knowing I have a fall-back that will boot. I am also reading up about how the three drives worth together, it's not as simple as "three independent hard drives" as far as I can tell. Interesting and complex file system. -- Bill

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Wanted: Commodore PET
by Todd George 17 Nov '15

17 Nov '15

First, my apologies if this somehow shows up on the list twice, I think there was an issue with how I have my email that is registered with the new list configured. Anyway... Been looking for a Commodore PET for a while. None have shown up locally on CraigsList. The eBay ones are either too far away (trying to avoid huge shipping costs and/or damage) or are overpriced. Anyone with MARCH/VCFed have an extra or spare (need NOT be working) that they'd like to (or be willing to) part with (for someone who would appreciate it immensely)?? I would like one with a standard keyboard, not the chicklet. Otherwise, I've got very little preference. As I said, shipping tends to be really expensive on these. Something local-ish would work better. Willing to trade stuff or pay cash. Festivus? Contact me off-list. Thanks!!! -Todd

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Semi-OT: FS: 20 MHz Leader dual channel oscilloscope
by Systems Glitch 17 Nov '15

17 Nov '15

All, I figured I'd offer this to the group before listing it on eBay. I've got a small "student" oscilloscope, I believe a LS 1020, for sale. Limited in bandwidth but adequate for most vintage computer repairs, general hobby use, et c. It's a barebones unit from the Virginia Tech physics department, completely analog with no storage, but it does work and has a nice, bright CRT. It's fairly small and light. I can confirm model numbers if anyone is interested -- it's still in the truck with the rest of the test equipment from the VT Surplus Auction. Looking for $75, doesn't include probes but I'm sure I can dig up a pair for a little bit more. I can ship, but would prefer to exchange at the festivus get-together. Thanks, Jonathan

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ODYSSEY 2 on Craigs list in LI
by Kelly Leavitt 17 Nov '15

17 Nov '15

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/sys/5313961495.html I want it, but I don't want to drive out there. Anyone else interested? Kelly

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Zilog System 8000
by Herb Johnson 17 Nov '15

17 Nov '15

http://pics.pofo.de/gallery3/index.php/S8000/Repair/tapedrive If this is the correct series of photos for your tape drive, then the rubber roller which is driven by the tape drive motor IS, repeat IS, of critical dimensions. Please verify. Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Lack Of Windows 3.1 Technicians Causes Traffic Backup At French Airport
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 17 Nov '15

17 Nov '15

Kelly Leavitt via vcf-midatlantic writes: >A little OT for this group: > >http://consumerist.com/2015/11/13/lack-of-windows-3-1-technicians-causes-tr= >affic-backup-at-french-airport/ One of the reasons I do NOT fly into Paris. I fly into London and take the Chunnel train to the other .EU countries! WEENDOZE... the only winning move is not to play!

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Lack Of Windows 3.1 Technicians Causes Traffic Backup At French Airport
by Kelly Leavitt 17 Nov '15

17 Nov '15

A little OT for this group: http://consumerist.com/2015/11/13/lack-of-windows-3-1-technicians-causes-tr…

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Floppy Days Podcast #49 on the TI-99/4A
by Randall Kindig 16 Nov '15

16 Nov '15

Floppy Days Episode 49 http://floppydays.libsyn.com/floppy-days-49-ti99-interview-with-jim-fetzner… <http://floppydays.libsyn.com/floppy-days-49-ti99-interview-with-jim-fetzner…> The TI-99/4A - History, Interview with Jim Fetzner and Mark Wills In the home computer timeline, I’m currently covering computers released in the era from 1979 to 1980. Next up is the TI-99/4A. When I went to research the TI-99 I found an incredible amount of information about the machine and an involved, vibrant community surrounding it. As a result, I pulled in as many experts as I could find to be involved in providing information about this very interesting machine. I got so much involvement, and found so much information, that I will be covering the TI-99 for the next several shows. That will include the typical topics, such as history, tech specs, modern upgrades, emulation, Web sites and much more, as well as interviews with some TI luminaries. As I typically like to cover the history of the machine first, that will be the topic of the first couple of shows. For the history segment, I was lucky enough to find a couple of people who have an incredible history with the TI-99, Jim Fetzner and Mark Wills. Jim has an extensive, multilingual library of all things TI and possesses some very interesting hardware items related to the TI-99, as you will hear. Mark is the author of TurboForth for the TI-99/4A and has been involved in the TI-99/4A scene pretty much since 1983. He’s also English, living in the UK, so he has a rather British take on the home computer wars. Since the interview piece I typically do with the co-hosts before covering the main topic took so long and turned out to be so interesting in it’s own right, I decided to break out the interview into its own show and the next show will then cover just the TI-99 history with the help of these two gentlemen. Randy Kindig host Floppy Days Podcast floppydays.com <http://floppydays.com/>

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Festivus food thread: Who's bringing what?
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 16 Nov '15

16 Nov '15

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >Please reply with what you're bringing. Ask if you are unsure about >anything. I will, as they've already been requested in another Festivus thread, bring my homemade pork ribs as I have for the past few Festivus. If Corey's Penn Brewery will be supplying us with zymurlogical libations, I'll likely leave the Guinness kit home.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Roland MT-32 equivalent?
by Mike Loewen 16 Nov '15

16 Nov '15

On Mon, 16 Nov 2015, John Heritage john.heritage(a)gmail.com [midatlanticretro] wrote: > I have a few Atari ST's (including a Mega STE) and I'd like to get > something like a Roland MT-32 for it to decode MIDI from games/demos that > support it to my stereo receiver.. They're a little hard to find these > days, or at least seem to be for a reasonable price. Does anyone have any > alternative classic MIDI synthesizers they'd recommend? > > I also have a MIDI port box for Amiga I have not tried yet so hoping I can > use this synth for that too. > > Thanks so much! > John H If you want an FM synth module rather than a LA module, you might look for a Yamaha FB-01. Similar vintage to the MT-32, and a lot cheaper. Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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