November 2016 - vcf-midatlantic

Bots on Hackaday
by Mike Loewen 26 Nov '16

26 Nov '16

Evan and Jeff Brace get a mention on Hackaday for their Maker Faire display: https://hackaday.com/2016/11/25/building-your-bots-the-1980s-way/ Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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Test
by Evan Koblentz 26 Nov '16

26 Nov '16

List company required a change in our MX records etc.; should work now.

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Important Festivus Information - Date, Time, Location, Cost
by Jeffrey Brace 26 Nov '16

26 Nov '16

Just making sure all are aware of Festivus. I will be posting reminders and final info in the coming week: *DATE:* 12/3 & 12/4 Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday Dec.4 *TIME:* Start about 10 A.M. on Saturday and goes late into the night until everyone sleeps. End about 5 P.M. on Sunday. (Re-starts around 10 A.M. Sunday morning) *LOCATION:* InfoAge Building 9010C/D - (2201 Marconi Road, Wall Township, NJ) - It will be straight ahead once you enter through the gate. The door is marked Sandy Recovery and is up the steps. *COST:* $10 for all members attending the workshop, which VCF donates to InfoAge as thanks for providing the space for us. $25 more if you are staying overnight. -- Jeff Brace - ark72axow(a)gmail.com

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Commodore stuff at Festivus
by Herb Johnson 18 Nov '16

18 Nov '16

http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/amiga.html These are Amiga, C-64, C-128, VIC-20 related service manuals, published by Commodore. I'll bring them to Festivus for some deal. Probably 25 pounds of manuals in a box. Most of these are probably online as PDF's, I'm told. I'd like something for these - ALL of these. Same deal, for a dozen books about C-128's or C-64's or related devices. Assembly language, programming, user's stuff. Another box. I'll also bring a VIC-20 and C2N cassette drive, both in the box. I have a loose C2N too. Again, looking to pass on there for a modest price. These are common., they are not "mint". Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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EAI TR20 analog computer exhibit
by Herb Johnson 18 Nov '16

18 Nov '16

SVCatITC [Bill Inderrieden] posted: >> I need analog math problems to be submitted, so that when the >> TR20 is restored, we'll have simulations to run on the computer. >> I'll make a list of what computational modules we have so you >> know what to work with, i.e. integrators, DFG's, summers, etc. >> The plan is to have an XY recorder and XY scope for results output. Bill and all: I've taken the liberty to post a reply under a proper subject line that's relevant to the thread. Not "digest question blah blah" which is irrelevant and will be impractical to search back for in the future. I really encourage people who post, to use relevant subject lines, but this is up to the Moderator to enforce, (except when he doesn't). Bill, I worked with EIA analog computers long ago, and I'm an old electrical engineer. So it's good to see this EIA TR20 will be restored and demonstrated. But very few people in the VCFed list, have any experience with analog computing or with differential equations. Fewer visitors will know this stuff. The classic demo of these sorts of systems, is some kind of "bouncing ball" display. Everyone has seen a ball bounce, so it's familiar. There ought to be enough integrators to make a damped oscillator. Since you want a chart recorder output, the frequencies will be sub-audio. But you might allow for a speed-up at audio rates, so an oscilloscope and speaker can demonstrate operation, without requiring the chart recorder and using up paper and ink - all points of failure, weeks and months later. If it were my choice, I'd go "audio" so it's easier for the docents to demonstrate the unit and avoid problems with chart recorders. That's my considerations. Something simple, familiar, and convenient to demonstrate when you aren't there. The amazing thing will be that it works, and has been preserved. We can run real programs, another day. Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Digest, Vol 13, Issue 12 Question on VCFed and Lists
by Evan Koblentz 17 Nov '16

17 Nov '16

>> I need analog math problems to be submitted, so that when the TR20 is restored, we'll have simulations to run on the computer. I'll make a list of what computational modules we have so you know what to work with, i.e. integrators, DFG's, summers, etc. The plan is to have an XY recorder and XY scope for results output. We have some books on the subject. Aren't there also samples in the TR20 documentation? >> As you saw, Evan becomes the safety net and guides us all in the right direction. As he self proclaims himself: "chief cat-herder". It all started when nobody else was foolish enough. :)

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] update: "modern history" exhibit
by Evan Koblentz 17 Nov '16

17 Nov '16

>> Evan,If you would like a video camera for the display, I've got a broken JVC Everio GZ-MC500. It was a cool DVD-quality Handycam-esque unit from 2005. It might be too modern in one sense, but it's small. And being broken, having it glued to a wall seems like a good use for it. That's perfect, thank you. Can you bring it to Festivus? If not, then I'll let you know where to mail it.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] update: "modern history" exhibit
by Jonathan Sturges 17 Nov '16

17 Nov '16

Evan,If you would like a video camera for the display, I've got a broken JVC Everio GZ-MC500. It was a cool DVD-quality Handycam-esque unit from 2005. It might be too modern in one sense, but it's small. And being broken, having it glued to a wall seems like a good use for it. -Jonathan

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Re: Digest, Vol 13, Issue 12 Question on VCFed and Lists
by SVCatITC＠aol.com 16 Nov '16

16 Nov '16

Hi Eugene; I am a Newbe also, and for what it is worth, I figured I would intro myself to you and the group. I am the one working on the EAI TR20 analog computer exhibit, since I worked at EAI from 1978-1985. I now become(?) the resident expert(?). We all know the definition of an expert: amateur away from home! I agree that sometimes it feels a little intimidating to know where to put / discuss stuff in the different forums. I figure this: put it out there, where you feel appropriate, and someone will pick it up and start the thread. I'll start one thread..... All you guys....... I need analog math problems to be submitted, so that when the TR20 is restored, we'll have simulations to run on the computer. I'll make a list of what computational modules we have so you know what to work with, i.e. integrators, DFG's, summers, etc. The plan is to have an XY recorder and XY scope for results output. As you saw, Evan becomes the safety net and guides us all in the right direction. As he self proclaims himself: "chief cat-herder". Bill Inderrieden In a message dated 11/12/2016 6:00:02 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, vcf-midatlantic-request(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org writes: From: W2HX <w2hx(a)w2hx.com> To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] question on vcfed and lists Message-ID: <ACBC68AC7928FA4FB768DFB3FDD641AC0110D7C0F866(a)ex-be-032-sv1.shared.themessag ecenter.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi all, pretty new to the VCF stuff. Question about the various means of communications available to us. So I see a lot of infoage/camp evans/club related discussion here. But not a lot of technical q&a. On the VCFED website, there are various forums. Is that the right/best place for technical discussion and this is more for club-related activities? Do I have this right?

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OT: free stuff
by Jeffrey Jonas 16 Nov '16

16 Nov '16

I'm downsizing my heap-o-PCs. Free. Pick up at Festivus, or earlier if possible. bling modder's ATX tower-case with huge side window Dell Optiplex GX260 Pentium 4 2.26 GHz, 1 Gig RAM

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