February 2017 - vcf-midatlantic

Museum Report 2017-02-05 February 5, 2017
by Jeffrey Brace 05 Feb '17

05 Feb '17

An untold number of visitors came today with interest that I am unable to describe. It is fun to explain to kids about pre-internet computer communication as well as what a cassette tape player is etc. Dropped into the warehouse the latest donation. A few of the museum machines need repair. I am assigning certain members to repair them during the coming workshop. -- Jeff Brace - ark72axow(a)gmail.com

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Donation of the day: 9508S Microsystem Emulator
by Jeffrey Brace 05 Feb '17

05 Feb '17

After a few attempts at picking up, I finally was able to pick up this machine from Cliffside Park. It is the 9508S Microsystem Emulator. What is it? How does it work? Come to the workshop Feb 11 & 12 to let us know. :) https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B9SJLfGXYiG5R1FMUlo0NC1NekE?usp=sha… -- Jeff Brace - ark72axow(a)gmail.com

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] vintage comms days
by Ken 05 Feb '17

05 Feb '17

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Babylon 5 and the Amiga
by Jeffrey Brace 05 Feb '17

05 Feb '17

I decided to create a separate thread from the one about the workshop. Babylon 5 is off topic, but the Amiga is on topic. I wanted to explore how the Amiga was used to create the computer generated graphics on Babylon 5. The creator of Babylon 5 called it CGI (Computer Generated Imagery). The show used Amigas because it was really advanced graphics at a much lower price than a Silicon Graphics workstation or whatever was available at the time. Deep Space Nine was also on the air at the same time, but they must have used something much more expensive. Does anyone know which software was used? Do the computer models used still exist from the TV show or were they lost? -- Jeff Brace - ark72axow(a)gmail.com

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great day at the museum
by Evan Koblentz 05 Feb '17

05 Feb '17

Adam and I were at the museum today. Lots of awesome things happened. - VCFed owns two Laser 128 computers. Both fire up and both have working drives. One computer works completely, the other has a bum keyboard. The good one is missing the drive door handle. We had to turn the pin sticking out with pliers. We took both computers apart and tried swapping the drives, but they are different model drives and don't fit quite the same. Both computers said "128" but with different logos. I didn't get pictures. Neither said "EX" so I am unclear about which version(s) we have. Tony stopped by and said he may have a Laser or two available to us for parts, so we'll investigate that next weekend at the workshop. - We don't have any Laser power supplies, but we tried two //c supplies and they both worked fine with these computers. - Using the working computer and pliers to turn the drive door handle, I was able to successfully test the Lego software with our replica Apple Lego card (from Jon C.) in the Laser's expansion slot. The slot is made for a two-slot expansion box, but we don't have that and it works fine when you plug in a card directly. - The bad-keyboard Laser has a switch on bottom for configuring the expansion as slot 7 or slot 5. The working unit didn't have any switch. I tried the Lego software configured for slot 7 and it worked the first time. - This is good news (once we get the drive door handle settled). Laser 128 and a //c monitor use much less space than a //e and traditional monitor for the Lego programming demo station, and it's also much easier for me to bring on traveling demos. Less space, no separate drive needed, etc. - The reason Tony came over was to bring part 2 of a NeXT donation that he began bringing on Wednesday. This is a complete system from a woman in the DC area. It includes all hardware and a large assortment of original software/manuals. Very nice!!! - Roddy (the art guy across the hallway from our museum) finished putting our VCFed banner outside the building doorway. It's attached to a thick piece of white plexiglass which is held up by garden stakes. It looks very good. I'm going to get some white paint and go over the bolt heads. - There were several families who visited today. They all stayed for full tours. - Adam spent a couple of hours organizing part of our videogame console collection. He focused on systems and Atari VCF/2600 cartridges. - Some pictures: http://www.vcfed.org/evan/nextlogo.jpg http://www.vcfed.org/evan/next1.jpg http://www.vcfed.org/evan/next2.jpg http://www.vcfed.org/evan/sign.jpg ________________________________ Evan Koblentz, director Vintage Computer Federation a 501(c)3 educational non-profit evan(a)vcfed.org (646) 546-9999 www.vcfed.org facebook.com/vcfederation twitter.com/vcfederation

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Last call for February Workshop
by Jeffrey Brace 05 Feb '17

05 Feb '17

If you don't sign up by Wednesday midnight, then you are not guaranteed a table and you will be locked up in a room with Evan after he ate a lot of beans. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13GnWX3AajJRMede2N7BrVht2j26hyt4lQoO… -- Jeff Brace - ark72axow(a)gmail.com

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In Philadelphia free to non profit museum
by Christian Liendo 04 Feb '17

04 Feb '17

https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/clt/5967904410.html Vintage computers, free to not-for-profit computer museum(Lansdale) hide this posting Sharp "lunchbox" style portable computer, model: 7221. Complete with all original manuals and software. It was purchased May, 1989.This portable was unique for its day. One PC card could be installed in it. There is a external video card currently installed. When put away, it was in working condition. Macintosh SE desktop. This system is also complete with software and cables. It includes a carrying case. When put away, it was in working order. I will sell them to individuals or to for-profit museums. Please make an offer to be considered

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OT: entry-level tech support job available in Peapack NJ
by Evan Koblentz 04 Feb '17

04 Feb '17

I doubt many (any?) here would be interested, but this position is available if anyone wants it. -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: Needed: Tech Support in Peapack NJ Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2017 15:34:24 +0000 From: Conner, Alora (04860) <alora.conner(a)rht.com> To: evan(a)snarc.net <evan(a)snarc.net> *RH_Header*** 3 February 2017 10:31 AM Dear Evan Koblentz Thank you for taking the time to review this email. Please reply to this email if you are interested in working this position. If not, I would appreciate your help in identifying a consultant for a job opportunity that is coming up in your area. The Client would like to identify resources as soon as possible. If you are interested please reply to this email with the best time to call you and verify the *phone number that my database has on file. P 1-(646) 5469999, or forward this to anyone that might be available. *My apologies if the below project does not meet your current skillset, I have included you on this email to help me find the best resource. Email is the best way to contact me. Alora.Conner(a)rht.com, If you email me I will call you back as soon as possible. You can also reach me by phone at 877.838.6924 EXT 54114 For this or other job search needs, please email me your resume. Again, Evan Koblentz, I thank you for helping me locate the right person to do this job. Additional details are listed below: *Job Title* Tech Support *Locations* Peapack, NJ *Start Date* ASAP *Pay Rate* $15.00/hour *Duration* 12+ months *Hours*** Normal Business Hours ** *Job Description* *All Info below is provided by the client*** * Responsible for supervising the manufacturing and installation of computer or computer-related equipment and components. Major Job Duties: Test and image desktops and laptops. Maintain, analyze, and troubleshoot, software and computer peripherals. Ability to setup, configure and add all hardware. Assist Corporate Desk Side Support technicians with large IMAC’s. Assure that all tickets requiring follow up work and/or calls receive appropriate attention. Provide technical support to end users via telephone. Back up and burn end user data. Assist in developing and documenting improvements to current processes. Assist coworkers in resolution of end users’ technical issues. Assist coworkers in the execution of established processes and escalations. Test, image and clean PC’s, laptop, monitors, printers, and other related hardware. Education/Experience: High School Diploma or GED required. Entry level -2 years of hands on technical knowledge of laptop and desktop design and software installation required. Skills and Competencies: Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on limited experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Possess 1 to 2 years experience in a break/fix environment. Able to lift and palletize heavy equipment. (PC’s, monitors, printers.) Strong verbal and written communication skills. A certain degree of creativity and latitude is required.* Email is the best way to contact me. Alora.Conner(a)rht.com, If you email me I will call you back as soon as possible. You can also reach me by phone at 877.838.6924 EXT 54114 *Thank you for your time. * Alora Conner TSS & RHL Recruiting Center <http://www.rht.com/> Phone: 877-838-6924 ext. 54114 Robert Half again was named to FORTUNE^® magazine's "World's Most Admired Companies" list, ranking #1 in our industry. (March 1, 2016) Robert Half is an Equal Opportunity Employer G5202trans

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Re: Joe O's X-Y Display Problem
by SVCatITC＠aol.com 04 Feb '17

04 Feb '17

Hi Joe; I will be at the workshop next weekend. Is the Vectrex something that can be transported, and can you come to the workshop in order to explore your problem? Being a hardware guy and interfacing a lot of exotic stuff in my main job, I could have a go at your problem. I'll need to know the SCELBI output signal configuration and wether we can generate up a synched time base for the X axis. We can discuss offline if you like. (I'm the Newbe working on the EAI TR20) Bill Inderrieden In a message dated 2/4/2017 12:00:39 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, vcf-midatlantic-request(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org writes: Message: 1 Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2017 17:26:45 +0000 From: Joseph Oprysko <joprysko1(a)gmail.com> To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] SCELBI Oscilloscope/Keyboard Interface Updates Message-ID: <CAPXecpCwDnu2ASSE73QfJmO_6q8WzE5RKD9Cd0ddLnkU=wDv5A(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Question, while I know the original display was an Oscillscope, would other X-Y displays work do you think? I'm asking as most scopes have relatively small screens. But the Vectrex game console has a 9" X-Y display. While I know modifications would be needed to accept the input, if it's something you may be interested in trying, I have 2 Vectrex systems, and would be willing to use one for that if you think we could make it work. Joseph Oprysko.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] SCELBI Oscilloscope/Keyboard Interface Updates
by Mike Willegal 04 Feb '17

04 Feb '17

Hi Joseph, I don’t know much, if anything about "X-Y” displays and how they may differ from a typical scopes. Because I’m only going to 20x5, the scope screen is actually plenty big enough. Here are a few details on the issues I hope to improve upon over the next couple of months. The scope interface has three outputs. Two are the X-Y vectors each of which is a voltage value offset. The third is a blanking signal. First problem is that my Tektronics 465 isn’t responding fast enough to the blanking signal. There are some limitations in the 465 blanking input, in that it’s capacitor coupled, and along a with resistor in the scope interface blanking circuit it is creating your classic RC time constant delay. I’m going to see if I can reduce a key resistor value a bit in order to reduce this effect or find another way to drive the input a bit harder. The second issue is that the analog board op amp circuit isn’t really calibrated correctly. The design uses an op-amp integrator scheme to “paint” the vectors on the screen. When the circuit is reset to top left, in order to repaint the page, the op-amp outputs drift a bit after that before they “settle down”. I haven’t looked into this in detail, but I’m pretty sure that I can fix this with some resistor value tweaks to the op-amp integrator circuits. regards, Mike Willegal

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