December 2016 - vcf-midatlantic

SASI Hard Drive Controllers
by Herb Johnson 17 Dec '16

17 Dec '16

> I have a SASI XEBEC 104526 rev 4 that works > ok when there is a fan blowing on it but overheats after a while. > Is there a common component that > fails more often in SASI controllers but not IDE and others of the era? Short answer: I don't know, but here's how to diagnose heat-failing components: controlled heat and freeze. The trick is in finding the physical location. I simply don't know if there's a common component on XEBEC products which fails. I do know there are heat-related failures on decades-old computers; so I look for such things when I repair them. Obviously one can just replace "hot" components, but they may not be the source of the problem. Long-term, excessive heat is an enemy. Small hand-held IR thermometers are your friend. I bought one at Radio Shack decades ago for $50. Now they are $15; I'm still using my first one. If you freeze-spray a hot component and the board operates again, you've established cause-and-effect. A temperature-related failure mode can be a solder joint. Or a printed-circuit board through-hole which does not contain (enough) solder: the copper plating of the hole cracks over time and separates when hot or flexed. Components can crack too. I isolate heat-failing components, by putting the board in a freezer, then I install the board back in the device, after heating a SELECTED portion of the board with a hair dryer. Heating different parts of the board, and smaller sections, in succession, should isolate the failing location. "Teach a person to fish...." Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Apple III
by william degnan 17 Dec '16

17 Dec '16

You all in the Apple team might need one of these there Apple III's I rec'con http://delaware.craigslist.org/sys/5887919925.html b

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Computer Music Exhibit for 2017?
by Ethan 17 Dec '16

17 Dec '16

I thought about doing a computer music exhibit for 2017. I have Sound Blaster 1.0, 1.1, Gravis Ultrasound, MT-32. What would be good? What would make it good? I do have a Mega ST 2 as well, Atari ST was known for MIDI sequencing. Thoughts? - Ethan

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Fw: Anyone have a hardcopy of "More Basic Computer Games"
by Duane 17 Dec '16

17 Dec '16

-----Original Message----- From: Duane Craps Sent: Friday, December 16, 2016 7:47 PM To: vcf-midatlantic Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Anyone have a hardcopy of "More Basic Computer Games" Corey, Uploaded basic program to an online OCR service. File looks fixable. Made Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays tapes with the 1219 emulator. Try to read each line into a variable and output it with a CHR$() function. I tried to send this before but I never saw it go through. Duane -----Original Message----- From: Corey Cohen via vcf-midatlantic Sent: Friday, December 16, 2016 5:54 PM To: vcf-midatlantic Cc: Corey Cohen Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Anyone have a hardcopy of "More Basic Computer Games" I was able to bring the pic into photoshop and clean it up so it’s perfectly readable!!!! I’ll type this in tomorrow… Cheers, Corey > On Dec 16, 2016, at 4:59 PM, Corey Cohen via vcf-midatlantic > <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > > Can you take a closer up pic of the code. Your pic looks like it has the > same problem, just not as bad. > > I really appreciate it. > > Thanks > Cheers, > Corey > > corey cohen > uǝɥoɔ ʎǝɹoɔ > >> On Dec 16, 2016, at 4:21 PM, Jonathan Gevaryahu via vcf-midatlantic >> <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >> >>> On 12/16/2016 3:37 PM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic wrote: >>> On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 3:35 PM, Corey Cohen via vcf-midatlantic < >>> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >>> >>>> I’m trying to run “TICKERTAPE” on my Altair so I can punch out some >>>> holiday paper tape. >>>> >>>> Problem… I don’t have a copy, I’ve been trying to decipher the image >>>> on >>>> the atari archives site, but I can’t seem to get it to work. The image >>>> is >>>> really bad and I’ve had to guess on a few things. >>>> >>>> If you have a hardcopy, can you please take a high resolution >>>> photograph >>>> with a camera or your phone and email it to me. I want to send the >>>> paper >>>> tape in with my kids to school on Monday morning. >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> Cheers, >>>> Corey >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> checked, don't have it. >>> >> >> I have it, here's the page: >> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/cifwy6u3w56pao8/2016-12-16%2016.19.44.jpg?dl=0 >> >> -- >> Jonathan Gevaryahu >> jgevaryahu(a)gmail.com >> jgevaryahu(a)hotmail.com >>

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Teams?
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 17 Dec '16

17 Dec '16

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >> I'm a bit confused, and likely missed something. What are these >"teams" I'm > hearing about for VCF? > >Trying something different this year. The show will still have regular >exhibits -- lots of 'em! -- but we arranged three "mega exhibits" to >honor the 40th anniversary of the Apple II, Commodore PET 2001, and >TRS-80 Model 1. These exhibits will be full-ish timelines of ALL vintage >computers from those brands, with each team having 4-6 members, several >tables, a captain, team name, and a prize for the best team. As >discussed by members on the list, the teams are: Commodorians, >TRanSistors, and AppleDappleDude. Is there a VAX/VMS team? It too will be 40 years old as of Oct. 25, 2017.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Anyone have a hardcopy of "More Basic Computer Games"
by Duane 17 Dec '16

17 Dec '16

Corey, Link to TRS-80 version online: https://archive.org/details/More_BASIC_Computer_Games_1980_Creative_Computi… Duane -----Original Message----- From: Corey Cohen via vcf-midatlantic Sent: Friday, December 16, 2016 3:35 PM To: vcf-midatlantic Cc: Corey Cohen Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] Anyone have a hardcopy of "More Basic Computer Games" I’m trying to run “TICKERTAPE” on my Altair so I can punch out some holiday paper tape. Problem… I don’t have a copy, I’ve been trying to decipher the image on the atari archives site, but I can’t seem to get it to work. The image is really bad and I’ve had to guess on a few things. If you have a hardcopy, can you please take a high resolution photograph with a camera or your phone and email it to me. I want to send the paper tape in with my kids to school on Monday morning. Thanks, Cheers, Corey

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Anyone have a hardcopy of "More Basic Computer Games"
by W2HX 17 Dec '16

17 Dec '16

Please share once you've keyed it in! Looks like a fun program! Eugene ________________________________ From: Corey Cohen via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> Sent: Dec 16, 2016 5:54 PM To: vcf-midatlantic Cc: Corey Cohen Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Anyone have a hardcopy of "More Basic Computer Games" I was able to bring the pic into photoshop and clean it up so it’s perfectly readable!!!! I’ll type this in tomorrow… Cheers, Corey > On Dec 16, 2016, at 4:59 PM, Corey Cohen via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > > Can you take a closer up pic of the code. Your pic looks like it has the same problem, just not as bad. > > I really appreciate it. > > Thanks > Cheers, > Corey > > corey cohen > uǝɥoɔ ʎǝɹoɔ > >> On Dec 16, 2016, at 4:21 PM, Jonathan Gevaryahu via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >> >>> On 12/16/2016 3:37 PM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic wrote: >>> On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 3:35 PM, Corey Cohen via vcf-midatlantic < >>> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >>> >>>> I’m trying to run “TICKERTAPE” on my Altair so I can punch out some >>>> holiday paper tape. >>>> >>>> Problem… I don’t have a copy, I’ve been trying to decipher the image on >>>> the atari archives site, but I can’t seem to get it to work. The image is >>>> really bad and I’ve had to guess on a few things. >>>> >>>> If you have a hardcopy, can you please take a high resolution photograph >>>> with a camera or your phone and email it to me. I want to send the paper >>>> tape in with my kids to school on Monday morning. >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> Cheers, >>>> Corey >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> checked, don't have it. >>> >> >> I have it, here's the page: >> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/cifwy6u3w56pao8/2016-12-16%2016.19.44.jpg?dl=0 >> >> -- >> Jonathan Gevaryahu >> jgevaryahu(a)gmail.com >> jgevaryahu(a)hotmail.com >>

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PDP 8i computers
by william degnan 16 Dec '16

16 Dec '16

Guys, Just a follow up, spoke with the owner of the 10 pdp 8i's today. No decision yet what he is going to do. Bill

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track 787 of 1223 and counting...
by william degnan 16 Dec '16

16 Dec '16

Having repaired my keyboard (better this time) I am in the process of formatting the external hard drive. Takes a few hours I am on track 787 or 1223 so far, looking for positive vibes...think good thoughts until it completes the format. Then I don't care what you people think. ha ha. The XEBEC controllers are a bear. Bill

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Teams?
by Joseph Oprysko 16 Dec '16

16 Dec '16

I'm a bit confused, and likely missed something. What are these "teams" I'm hearing about for VCF? Are we doing both individual exhibits as well as group/team exhibits? One of the things I know I'd like to see are "Awards" for various exhibits. While most if not all of us are exhibiting for fun/historical/educational reasons. It would kind of be nice to be recognized and acknowledged by the organization for the work we all put into our exhibits. I also believe that it could increase the quality of some of the exhibits, as well allowing for more focused exhibits. Also I feel that it could attract both more exhibitors, as well as more visitors to the festival, as competition is human nature. Joe -- Normal Person: Hey, it seems that you know a lot. Geek: To be honest, it's due to all the surfing I do. Normal Person: So you go surfing? Normal Person: But I don't think that has anything to do with knowing a lot... Geek: I think that's wrong on a fundamental level. Normal Person: Huh? Huh? What?

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