September 2017 - vcf-midatlantic

C128 computer
by william degnan 18 Sep '17

18 Sep '17

I always liked the c128, being it was my first Commodore. I have a pretty good GEOS 128 setup and I use it to connect to IRC chat. Because it c128 is also essentially a c64, I feel that the modern dongle for tcp/ip finally put the c128 over the top compared to a c64 as far as desirability goes. In fact, I rately use a c64. Anyone else have the same perspective? And, I am testing c128's at the moment, they hold up well. I have 4 or 5 working systems to put up on Ebay soon, leaving me with plenty others. I bet many c128's will still work in 30 years. Very solid (state) computers. Bill Degnan twitter: billdeg vintagecomputer.net

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semi OT: microcenter sale includes $5 Raspberry Pi Zero Wireless
by Jeffrey Jonas 18 Sep '17

18 Sep '17

microcenter has a sale until 10/1. This seems to be part of it: $5 Raspberry Pi Zero Wireless (usually $10, limit 1 per person per day) SKU: 240424

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] [OT] DC-Area Workshop - September 16th and 17th - Middletown, MD
by alex bodnar 16 Sep '17

16 Sep '17

Alex J, hopefully you will be sending out directions ;-)) Alex B. At 07:07 PM 9/14/2017 -0400, you wrote: >Alex, > >Nope, nobody is coming Saturday. We're definitely on for Sunday, as Jason >is coming, too. > >Thanks! >- Alex > >On Thu, Sep 14, 2017 at 1:45 PM, alex bodnar via vcf-midatlantic < >vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > >> Alex J, >> >> is there anyone else who said they would come over on saturday?? >> if not, i will make it sunday and let you and the family have all day at >> Andrews AFB. >> >> Alex B. >> >> >> At 11:42 AM 9/12/2017 -0400, you wrote: >> >All, >> > >> >So, after discussing it with my wife, we'll still host the workshop, for >> >anyone who wants to come, this weekend. >> > >> >Given the small attendance (or none, at this point?), we will play it by >> >ear, on the schedule. Jonathan Sturges and I will be there, and anyone >> >else who wants to come is welcome. I think that we are going to go to the >> >Air Show at Andrews AFB, some time on Saturday afternoon, and anyone who >> >wants is welcome to join us. >> > >> >So, if you're coming, let me know, and I'll make sure that there is space >> >for you. >> > >> >Thanks! >> >- Alex >> > >> >On Mon, Sep 4, 2017 at 6:45 PM, J. Alexander Jacocks <jjacocks(a)gmail.com> >> >wrote: >> > >> >> I'm starting to think that September isn't a good time, as I only have >> 1+ >> >> confirmed. >> >> >> >> So, unless I hear differently in the next day, I'll reschedule this for >> >> another time. >> >> >> >> Thanks! >> >> - Alex >> >> >> >> On Sun, Sep 3, 2017 at 14:56 Jason Perkins via vcf-midatlantic < >> >> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >> >> >> >>> We'll be at Poolsville Drive Electric Day on the 16th, but I should be >> >>> able >> >>> to make it on the 17th. >> >>> >> >>> On Wed, Aug 30, 2017 at 5:04 PM J. Alexander Jacocks via >> vcf-midatlantic < >> >>> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >> >>> >> >>> > All, >> >>> > >> >>> > Since VCF can't do a workshop, due to facilities usage conflicts, >> this >> >>> > fall, I'd like to offer to host a smaller workshop, at my house, in >> >>> > Middletown, MD. >> >>> > >> >>> > I have a 3-car detached garage of about 960ft^2 that we can use for >> the >> >>> > purpose. There is air conditioning, and a refrigerator, for >> drinks. I >> >>> > have plenty of power, and some table space. >> >>> > >> >>> > Please bring yourselves, your projects, folding chairs, folding >> tables >> >>> (if >> >>> > you have them), and anything else that you might want. We will >> provide >> >>> > some drinks (but feel free to bring your favorite), and are willing >> to >> >>> > order lunch, based on the requests of the attendees. >> >>> > >> >>> > We have very limited space in the house, but talk to me, if you want >> to >> >>> > stay the night. There are hotels not so very far away. >> >>> > >> >>> > Date: September 16th and 17th, 2017 >> >>> > Time: Starting 10:00am Saturday, ending Sunday around 5:00pm >> >>> > Place: Alex's house, Middletown, MD >> >>> > >> >>> > Please RSVP, so that I know who is coming, and when. I'll provide >> >>> > directions directly to the attendees. >> >>> > >> >>> > I asked Evan, before posting this, to make sure that this wasn't >> going >> >>> to >> >>> > conflict with VCF needs, as this is definitely NOT an official VCF >> >>> event. >> >>> > >> >>> > Hope to see you here! >> >>> > - Alex >> >>> > >> >>> -- >> >>> Jason Perkins 313 355 0085 <(313)%20355-0085> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> >> >> >> > >> Alex M. Bodnar >> amateur Radio: K3CIM >> Emergency Services: ARES/RACES >> > Alex M. Bodnar amateur Radio: K3CIM Emergency Services: ARES/RACES

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Circa late 90s PC peripheral boxes
by John Heritage 15 Sep '17

15 Sep '17

Hey folks - As part of cleaning up, i found some circa-late 90s PC Peripheral boxes all in pretty good shape. If anyone is interested in any of these let me know otherwise i'll recycle them next Thursday: - Onstream 50GB Tape Drive - Western Digital "3.5 enhanced IDE" Ultra ATA/66 HDD - 20.4 GB! - Digital Research 50X SUPERFAST cdrom - Linksys Instant Etherfast 10/100 3 port print server - Linksys Etherfast 10/100 LAN Card - Linksys Etherfast 10/100 8-port workgroup switch - Linksys Etherfast 10/100 Dual Speed 8-port workgroup switch - ABIT Mainboard Box (no model listed on box, no manuals inside), PCI bus logo on front. - Creative Live X-Gamer box If you want pics just email me. No cost for the box(es) of course we just have to figure out how to get them to you cheaply.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] COBOL: vintage vs. legacy code
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 15 Sep '17

15 Sep '17

"Joseph S. Barrera III via vcf-midatlantic" writes: >On Mon, May 22, 2017 at 7:53 PM, Jeffrey Jonas via vcf-midatlantic < >vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > >> Java and all its variants and environments, > > >I've been writing Java for almost 20 years and fully expect to be >writing in it for another 10. I've been writing assembly for 40+ years and fully expect to be writing it for another 10+. ;)

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Testing 4164/41256 RAM Chips
by Herb Johnson 15 Sep '17

15 Sep '17

Responding to various suggestions for old DIP-chip RAM testing. cheap EPROM programmers that test things like TTL or RAM, are not likely to be better than go / nogo. THey won't test at anything like access speed. Commercial grade RAM testers are likely better, but few have those. Vintage computer designs for DRAM were not always very good, and many of them aged poorly. (Changes to the other components make the DRAMs work marginally.) What chips may work in one brand/model, may not work in another. And frankly, prices for old 16K and 64K and 256K chips (IBM PC class) are fairly cheap - buying them is simpler than extracting and testing. Now, if someone needs an exact brand/model/datecode of DRAM chip, then more effort is warranted. Otherwise, there's not much incentive to work hard to test these chips. One puts them in the application hardware and runs such tests as they can. Some of these old circuits not only need component repairs, they need in-field circuit changes. This is hard work that few do. Also: specific brand model owners probably have known-fixes and specific suggestions about DRAM selection. But for some vintage systems, one can choose static RAM and have better luck than with DRAM. Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Testing 4164/41256 RAM Chips
by John Heritage 15 Sep '17

15 Sep '17

Hey folks, I've come across an old PC XT motherboard that's sat in a dirty warehouse for a long time. It has 18 x 41256 and 18 x 4164 (640KB total + parity) RAM chips. Knowing that i've needed some of these in the past to repair my old Atari computers, I'd like to test these individual RAM chips somehow, but preferably without abusing the old sockets on my Atari's.. Does anyone know of a relatively simple circuit I can build to test these chips directly? The 4164s come on the Atari 600XL, 800XL, 1200XL and 130XE, and the 41256 come on the 4-chip versions of the 130XE. The micron 4164's that came on a lot of old Atari's are just flat out dying (I had 3 x 800XLs out of 7 that had bad ram), so these are handy for that or other communities. Thanks! John

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] [OT] DC-Area Workshop - September 16th and 17th - Middletown, MD
by alex bodnar 15 Sep '17

15 Sep '17

Alex J, is there anyone else who said they would come over on saturday?? if not, i will make it sunday and let you and the family have all day at Andrews AFB. Alex B. At 11:42 AM 9/12/2017 -0400, you wrote: >All, > >So, after discussing it with my wife, we'll still host the workshop, for >anyone who wants to come, this weekend. > >Given the small attendance (or none, at this point?), we will play it by >ear, on the schedule. Jonathan Sturges and I will be there, and anyone >else who wants to come is welcome. I think that we are going to go to the >Air Show at Andrews AFB, some time on Saturday afternoon, and anyone who >wants is welcome to join us. > >So, if you're coming, let me know, and I'll make sure that there is space >for you. > >Thanks! >- Alex > >On Mon, Sep 4, 2017 at 6:45 PM, J. Alexander Jacocks <jjacocks(a)gmail.com> >wrote: > >> I'm starting to think that September isn't a good time, as I only have 1+ >> confirmed. >> >> So, unless I hear differently in the next day, I'll reschedule this for >> another time. >> >> Thanks! >> - Alex >> >> On Sun, Sep 3, 2017 at 14:56 Jason Perkins via vcf-midatlantic < >> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >> >>> We'll be at Poolsville Drive Electric Day on the 16th, but I should be >>> able >>> to make it on the 17th. >>> >>> On Wed, Aug 30, 2017 at 5:04 PM J. Alexander Jacocks via vcf-midatlantic < >>> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >>> >>> > All, >>> > >>> > Since VCF can't do a workshop, due to facilities usage conflicts, this >>> > fall, I'd like to offer to host a smaller workshop, at my house, in >>> > Middletown, MD. >>> > >>> > I have a 3-car detached garage of about 960ft^2 that we can use for the >>> > purpose. There is air conditioning, and a refrigerator, for drinks. I >>> > have plenty of power, and some table space. >>> > >>> > Please bring yourselves, your projects, folding chairs, folding tables >>> (if >>> > you have them), and anything else that you might want. We will provide >>> > some drinks (but feel free to bring your favorite), and are willing to >>> > order lunch, based on the requests of the attendees. >>> > >>> > We have very limited space in the house, but talk to me, if you want to >>> > stay the night. There are hotels not so very far away. >>> > >>> > Date: September 16th and 17th, 2017 >>> > Time: Starting 10:00am Saturday, ending Sunday around 5:00pm >>> > Place: Alex's house, Middletown, MD >>> > >>> > Please RSVP, so that I know who is coming, and when. I'll provide >>> > directions directly to the attendees. >>> > >>> > I asked Evan, before posting this, to make sure that this wasn't going >>> to >>> > conflict with VCF needs, as this is definitely NOT an official VCF >>> event. >>> > >>> > Hope to see you here! >>> > - Alex >>> > >>> -- >>> Jason Perkins 313 355 0085 <(313)%20355-0085> Sent from my iPhone >>> >> > Alex M. Bodnar amateur Radio: K3CIM Emergency Services: ARES/RACES

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Davy Jone's Locker Wall Street Journal Article
by John Heritage 15 Sep '17

15 Sep '17

I'm one of those 'was busted by the feds' for running a Pirate BBS people.. (DeadBeat BBS).. Anyway, I've been cleaning out some old boxes of stuff, and came across a Wall Street Journal article I had a copy of discussing Davy Jone's Locker legal case.. Attached is pic copy..

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Oracle finally kills off Sun
by Jeffrey Jonas 14 Sep '17

14 Sep '17

I consulted to clients who were all-Sun, even in y2k. One was ISO 9001 certified for their software process so I guess running Solaris on Sun hardware was part of that. They liked using 2 Sun 1000 servers with the serial ports criss-crossed so one machine could access the other's serial console and reboot it, dropping to firmware mode if required. None of this switched outlets of remote reset-switches. I'm frustrated with the way Sun never fulfilled their potential. The SunRay "thin client" terminals could have beaten the pants off of today's room of Windows machines had the servers been properly maintained with the latest software. Too many web pages simply didn't work on the Sun terminals. And security was much better with the built in SmartCard reader. -- Jeff Jonas

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