February 2017 - vcf-midatlantic

Web site maintenance
by Evan Koblentz 16 Feb '17

16 Feb '17

Don't panic! Our web site is down (and may be up-and-down again) for maintenance this afternoon. Someone on Facebook asked if we're replacing the vacuum tubes. :) ________________________________ 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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Three history talks at Trenton
by Evan Koblentz 16 Feb '17

16 Feb '17

This year's Trenton show is Saturday, March 18, as Jeff B. already posted. Our little group here is giving back-to-back-to-back history talks in room ED-207. 12:25-1:20 - Brian Stuart, "ENIAC Then and Now" 1:30-2:25 - Frank O'Brien, "Flying to the Moon / The Apollo Guidance Computer" 2:35-3:30 - Jeff B. & me, 8-Bit 'Bots (Capsella, Lego) ________________________________ 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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SPITBOL Manual Scan
by william degnan 16 Feb '17

16 Feb '17

For those of you who wanted a copy of Bill Dudley's SPITBOL 2.0 manual that he gave me at the workshop this past weekend, I found a copy here. His copy starts at page 7 of the document: http://www.snobol4.com/spitbol360/spitbol_360_manual.pdf Note this is an IBM OS/360 implementation of SNOBOL-4 computer language for IBM 360 and 370's. SPITBOL is smaller. I posted a few photos from the workshop on my site, nothing exciting. Bill

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Late-night BASIC support
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 16 Feb '17

16 Feb '17

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >There's no ELSE in Applesoft. In that case, you need to use the COMEFROM. :P

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Dallas TOD replacement (was: Feb 2017 workshop)
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 16 Feb '17

16 Feb '17

Herb Johnson via vcf-midatlantic writes: >There is a literal "mod" of Dallas chips: > >http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/sgi_battery.html > >wherein you slice into the epoxy package and splice in a watch battery. >if this is the mod you are doing, I'd be glad to reference any Web page >you have about doing it. > >There are likely some old versions of the Dallas time-of-day chip and >RAM which have no modern version. That said: > >VAXman posted: > >> The DS1287A was fairly common TOY clock back then. You can replace it >with > the newer DS12887A. Goggle it, there are ample sources. > >...one has to replace it with a compatible device, and it's a bit of >work and luck to determine if any replacement is likely to work. >Whereas, you have the chip-in-hand, that only has a dead battery. Well, the DS12887A has worked well for *all* of my VAX and or Alpha systems that were equipped with the DS1287A. That "slicing into the chip" hack to add a battery has seen serveral re-incarnations over the years whenever the topic of replacement arises.

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Dallas TOD replacement (was: Feb 2017 workshop)
by Herb Johnson 16 Feb '17

16 Feb '17

>> "J. Alexander Jacocks writes: >> >>> Alex J. worked on the Commodore PC-III, and the Emerson 286, from >>> the storage area. Both need batteries, and I took the Emerson >>> with me, for modding of the Dallas chip. There is a literal "mod" of Dallas chips: http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/sgi_battery.html wherein you slice into the epoxy package and splice in a watch battery. if this is the mod you are doing, I'd be glad to reference any Web page you have about doing it. There are likely some old versions of the Dallas time-of-day chip and RAM which have no modern version. That said: VAXman posted: > The DS1287A was fairly common TOY clock back then. You can replace it with > the newer DS12887A. Goggle it, there are ample sources. ...one has to replace it with a compatible device, and it's a bit of work and luck to determine if any replacement is likely to work. Whereas, you have the chip-in-hand, that only has a dead battery. Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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OT: Windows Resource Kits available
by Kelly Leavitt 16 Feb '17

16 Feb '17

At least the manuals. One Windows NT, one Windows 2000 server. I believe the CD is there for the 2000 server. Anyone want them? Can bring to VCF or you come get them. Will not ship because I'm lazy and they are heavy/bulky. Thanks, Kelly

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EEWeb did something nice for us
by Evan Koblentz 15 Feb '17

15 Feb '17

EEWeb selected us as their "Engineering Site of the Day". It's midway down their homepage in the center, you'll see the VCF logo, which links to https://www.eeweb.com/websites/vintage-computer-federation. ________________________________ 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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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] 6300 stuff to donate
by William Dudley 15 Feb '17

15 Feb '17

I need ONE of the persons interested in the 6300 stuff to step up and say that they will handle the duplicating/scanning, etc of the materials, and also the disbursal of the copies to the others. I do not need another project, and this is turning into one. I just want to get rid of this stuff and have it not go into a landfill. Once one of you has volunteered, we can arrange your getting the material from me, and I'll be on to the next thing. Thanks, Bill Dudley This email is free of malware because I run Linux. On Tue, Feb 14, 2017 at 1:05 PM, Jonathan Gevaryahu via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > I can handle floppies here. > > > On 2/14/2017 10:42 AM, William Dudley via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > >> Jason, thanks for the offer. >> >> Let us try to arrange the scanning at the next workshop, or at VCF East. >> >> Then, Douglas Crawford, Jonathan Gevaryahu, and Kyle Owen can all get >> copies of the 6300 stuff. >> >> Who can image the floppies to digital files? >> >> Bill Dudley >> >> >> This email is free of malware because I run Linux. >> >> On Mon, Feb 13, 2017 at 10:21 AM, Jason Perkins via vcf-midatlantic < >> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >> >> I have a nice Fujitsu sheet fed scanner I'd be happy to bring with me >>> to VCF, or if I can make it out to a workshop. It can do color, duplex >>> scanning. >>> >>> -J >>> >>> On Mon, Feb 13, 2017 at 8:45 AM, William Dudley via vcf-midatlantic >>> <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >>> >>>> Jonathan, >>>> >>>> I have no means to do the copying but am open to the idea. >>>> >>>> Does anyone have the means to copy those annoying little >>>> 5" x 8" loose leaf pages, and to copy 5" diskettes? >>>> >>>> Bill Dudley >>>> >>>> This email is free of malware because I run Linux. >>>> >>>> On Mon, Feb 13, 2017 at 12:45 AM, Jonathan Gevaryahu via vcf-midatlantic >>>> >>> < >>> >>>> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >>>> >>>> On 2/12/2017 8:24 PM, Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic wrote: >>>>> >>>>> 8. AT&T 6300 Plus Service Manual and Hardware Reference Manual. >>>>>> Two hard cover binders in slip cases, including several different >>>>>> diagnostic >>>>>> diskettes (5 1/4"). >>>>>> >>>>>> Any chances of getting scans of that manual and dumps of the >>>>> diskettes? >>>>> The existing olivetti M24 (the machine the 6300 is a rebadge of) >>>>> documentation is incomplete, particularly for the z8000 (olivetti m20 >>>>> backwards compatibility related stuff, which also handles the hi res >>>>> >>>> video >>> >>>> mode in m24/6300 mode) which is entirely missing from existing >>>>> >>>> schematics >>> >>>> online! >>>>> The diskettes could be very useful for testing machines as well. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Jonathan Gevaryahu >>>>> jgevaryahu(a)gmail.com >>>>> jgevaryahu(a)hotmail.com >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> >>> -- >>> Jason Perkins >>> 313 355 0085 >>> >>> > > -- > Jonathan Gevaryahu > jgevaryahu(a)gmail.com > jgevaryahu(a)hotmail.com > >

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Slightly off topic (retro telephony)
by Martin A Flynn 15 Feb '17

15 Feb '17

Anyone have resources to duplicate / copy a 16 MB PCMCIA memory card to fresh media? It's from a vintage AT&T Definity telephone system Underlying operating system is ORYX, applications are written in PECOS.

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