July 2017 - vcf-midatlantic

TRS-80 graphics pad?
by Kenneth Seefried 09 Jul '17

09 Jul '17

Noticed this today...seems like it would have above average fetish value for the TRS-80 crowd. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Radio-Shack-TRS-80-X-Pad-GT-116-Graphic-Tablet-IN-B… Disclaimer: I have purchased a couple of things from this seller, all positive experiences, but I have no other interest in their business. KJ

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Museum Report 2017-07-09 July 9, 2017
by Jeffrey Brace 09 Jul '17

09 Jul '17

Had three highly interested and knowledgeable visitors today. They had all been to VCF, but only on Friday. I told them to come again next year for the whole weekend. They stayed for an hour as they asked a lot of questions about VCF the group and what we did. I booted up the NextStation and wrote a little helloworld.c program. It was fun! I also have been combing through the vast High Voltage SID Collection and picking out some new tunes for the museums C64. The docents are getting tired of hearing the same old songs over and over. I have to just get the uIEC working and transfer them to real floppy next weekend. -- ======================================================== Jeff Brace ========================================================

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The Eagle has landed
by Mike Loewen 09 Jul '17

09 Jul '17

I recently acquired an Eagle IIE-2 CP/M computer, along with a binder containing manuals and diskettes for Spellbinder 2.30 and Ultracalc 2.0: http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/Eagle/ The Eagle has single-sided, 80 track (96tpi) drives. It was missing the the CP/M / CBASIC disk, and I was able to create one from an image in Don Maslin's archive. The image was in Teledisk format (TD0), originally read on a quad-density 96tpi drive at 250kpbs. I used the TD02IMD utility to convert it to an IMD image, then used IMD with the data rate set to translate from 250kpbs to 300kpbs to write the image on a 1.2MB HD drive. Works fine. Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] July workshop: anyone need a hand?
by Jeffrey Brace 09 Jul '17

09 Jul '17

Evan could use help sorting through the Apple //c to find 4 good working ones and repair if necessary. Also find color monitors that work with them in the warehouse. <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> Virus-free. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> On Sat, Jul 8, 2017 at 6:30 PM, Jonathan Sturges via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Jonathan Sturges <jonathansturges(a)yahoo.com> > To: vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org > Cc: > Bcc: > Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2017 18:30:40 -0400 > Subject: July workshop: anyone need a hand? > I'm thinking of coming up for the workshop because I haven't been in > awhile, but I don't have a good project. Anyone need any assistance? Some > soldering maybe? > > Note to Evan: I don't want to spend the whole weekend in the > warehouse... :-) > > -Jonathan S. > > -- ======================================================== Jeff Brace ========================================================

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Very productive day!
by Evan Koblentz 08 Jul '17

08 Jul '17

Jeremy (Corey's teenage son) and I worked in the warehouse from 10am-5pm today. Jeff B. was the museum docent. Jeff and I then continued warehouse work until 9pm. Until today, half of the warehouse was orderly and sorted/organized, with the other half being a mess. Now that other half is still disorganized but it's disorganized in neat orderly aisles. :) This will please the town fire inspector (due next month, we're told) and will make it pleasant for us when we do the sorting and organizing next month. It was a pleasure to walk around that side of the warehouse tonight and have plenty of space with nothing to trip over! We also made a plan for how to proceed next time. It was a good day in the museum too: Jeff said he counted 14 visitors. Thank you Jeremy and Brace for great work today.

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July workshop: anyone need a hand?
by Jonathan Sturges 08 Jul '17

08 Jul '17

I'm thinking of coming up for the workshop because I haven't been in awhile, but I don't have a good project. Anyone need any assistance? Some soldering maybe? Note to Evan: I don't want to spend the whole weekend in the warehouse... :-) -Jonathan S.

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OT: Favorite Pizza in InfoAge area
by Jeffrey Brace 08 Jul '17

08 Jul '17

I'm curious to see which pizza everyone likes the best. We have sampled various pizza during workshops and I'm wondering which one is preferred. This survey data will be used for future workshops after using variance and standard deviation data analyzed on a Commodore 64. If you don't remember the name, then specify when you had it. Vote for your favorite pizza: 1) Joe's 2) Dominick's 3) Vinny's 4) Anthony's 5) Carmen's (Pete and Elda's) 6) Other: (Please specify) -- ======================================================== Jeff Brace ========================================================

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Funny
by Evan Koblentz 08 Jul '17

08 Jul '17

Stopped at a Walgreens near my home tonight. Happened to be wearing VCF hoodie. Kid behind the counter asked if VCF is a real thing or if it's just a shirt. So I explained the group. He said "yeah I do that". I asked what's the oldest computer he knows of, figuring he would say Windows 95 or something. He said "Zed X Spectrum" and even pronounced it right! Then added he's only 20. I was impressed.

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Important Info for Workshop July 15 & 16
by Jeffrey Brace 08 Jul '17

08 Jul '17

Looks like a light turnout this workshop because of K-Fest and the Hamfest in Sussex County, NJ. We are therefore moving it to the smaller room in 9010-A. As a reminder the workshop is $10 per person, per day now. InfoAge rules. If you have signed up, then you are guaranteed a table otherwise you will forced to work in the hot un-air conditioned warehouse with Evan forcing you to move the same heavy computer back and forth the whole weekend. DATE: July 15 & 16, 2017 LOCATION: InfoAge Building 9010A - (2201 Marconi Road, Wall Township, NJ) TIME: Start about 10 A.M. on Saturday and ends whenever we go to sleep. End about 5 P.M. on Sunday. (Starts around 10 A.M. Sunday morning) SIGNUP: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16G0w7Z5y15B2uWh-NKItmVnoJF-f3NIIFQD… COST: - $10 per person, PER day. This is required by InfoAge as mandatory payment by us. - $25 for those wanting to stay overnight. Please pay me when you get there so that I don't forget. Otherwise I will send my attack cat to find you. OVERNIGHT: Bring your own pillow, blankets, soap etc. We provide a bed frame and an uncovered mattress. There are showers and a kitchen for your use. - We will have PayPal credit card swipes available. Let me know ahead of time if you want to use this and I will set it up. EQUIPMENT: - VCF will provide a table and you can use any available electrical outlet. - Bring your own tools, power strips, power cords, and supplies etc. - Please bring an extra one or two power cords as these are often forgotten by people. DRINKS: You should bring your own. I would recommend bringing a cooler of some type. FOOD: You provide your own. We usually order pizza, subs or go out to a dinner and everyone pays their own way. Usually, we make a decision when everyone gets hungry. GATE: During the hours from 1 pm to 5 pm close the front gate behind you. We want museum visitors to go to the front lobby and not wander through the middle of the campus. Outside of those times, you can feel free to leave the gate open. PARKING: Park across from 9010A on any blacktop area. InfoAge doesn't like us parking on the lawn anymore. QUESTIONS? Please ask me (Jeff Brace) or Evan. My cell is 732-759-1783 and Evan’s is 646-546-9999 in case you need to contact us. See everyone there! And have fun! -- ======================================================== Jeff Brace ========================================================

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Off topic-testing 3 phase power
by Ben Greenfield 08 Jul '17

08 Jul '17

Hey All, I find myself needing to verify that an outlet is supplying 16 amps at 400 volts Alternating Current at 50 Hz. I have verified the voltage with a multimeter but feel I should be more thorough. I’m trying to purchase an appropriate european socket tester which is much cheaper if not as versatile as Fluke 109-104. I also have a Tektronix 2355 which I think I could measure each line on it’s own channel to measure the voltage and the phase. Is there a safe way to measure current with this oscilloscope? Thanks, Ben

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