October 2018 - vcf-midatlantic

"Super" sneak peek!
by Evan Koblentz 03 Nov '18

03 Nov '18

Here's a little teaser picture of the computer being delivered to VCF headquarters in early November. https://tinyurl.com/y7lnzwqs I am still not saying what it is, but it's not just any computer, it's "super"!!! :) And: we're sharing with friends. There are two EXTRA of these computers, which we redirected to friends-of-VCF .... stay tuned in November for details. :)

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Degnan Resigns
by Bill Degnan 01 Nov '18

01 Nov '18

I have been contacted a few times recently about my status on the board of directors at VCFed. For those who don't know, I submitted my resignation Aug 6th, but there has not been much about it here so I thought I'd mention this event for the record. Please contact me privately with questions/concerns through my company, degnanco.net. Good luck everyone. Bill Degnan

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Too quick to reply, need to fix
by Christian Liendo 31 Oct '18

31 Oct '18

After I re-read what I wrote I can see where this might not be taken the way I wrote it. I really want to thank Bill for all he has done. He has contributed a lot to the community. I really mean it when I say thank you. I never thought to do it before, but I thought to do it now. On 10/31/18, Christian Liendo <cliendo(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Thank you for all that you have done not only for the group but for > the community in general. >

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Forbes article on Amiga Vampire V4
by Jeffrey Brace 31 Oct '18

31 Oct '18

For those that missed it: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marcochiappetta/2018/10/29/the-first-next-gene… -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President Vintage Computer Federation

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Games ready for Festivus 2018 (Jeffrey Brace)
by Eric Rangell 30 Oct '18

30 Oct '18

Hi all, I'm curious about the Infocom game Trinity and what was unique about the Commodore 128 version of it. Will someone have the hardware and software to demonstrate it at Festivus? Thanks, Eric

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Help with RCA VIP COSMAC
by Earl Baugh 30 Oct '18

30 Oct '18

> > Earl, I re-posted your request, to have an appropriate subject. Your > post was buried with a bunch of other postings. Myself, I like COSMAC > stuff, congrats on your find. Thanks for the update Herb (you're right a better subject!) FYI -- What the video shows is exactly what I got.... with all the manuals, original box, etc. (Penciled in on the box is a note about the possible memory issue.... the person was moving so I don't have follow on contact yet). It had an odd video cable set up (looks like an old BNC network connector with a Composite Jack. Not something I had seen before... and that was connected with some banana clips. I didn't receive any expansion cards :-( Nor an expansion interface...:-( The VIP is popular among COSMAC (RCA 1802 processor) enthusiasts. You > will find other owners in the Yahoo cosmacelf discussion group. > Great, thanks for that pointer... Of course, spend time with what you got, and find out what's actually > going on with it. Then look for chips by model number to see if you can > find it or them. Much of the fun I have with this stuff, is in figuring > it out myself. But it's also fun to discuss repair and parts, once > details are established. > My first fairly quick question is :It's got the original RCA power supply. I can test it (I don't have a scope though) but wanted to know what people's experiences were with them, do they tend to hold up? (I know that I don't run Commodore VIC and 64's without a long test of any original power supplies...had and know of too many issues with them) I've also got to figure out how this video cable is supposed to be set up... one of the banana clips was off on one end...not sure if it was supposed to be connected or what. It also came with a number of tapes (which I suspect contain some saved programs...) so also have to figure out how the tape player connects. I haven't found a manual with general set up yet.... most are all about the chip and assembly listings for it. I've not gone thru them all yet. The video was helpful in learning more about it (was interesting to see that it had audio options and color board!) It didn't show it running, so I've still got to figure that out... Would really like to find the Tiny Basic card for this... Earl

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Heads-up: Amazon Smile / VCF
by Evan Koblentz 29 Oct '18

29 Oct '18

From now through Nov. 2, Amazon will donate 5% of your purchases to us if you shop throughsmile.amazon.com/ch/47-4133714 <http://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-4133714?fbclid=IwAR2aFvNN_Z6RY3eHZjdQexx20rc9…>. ________________________________ Evan Koblentz, executive 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 instagram.com/vcfederation

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help with RCA VIP COSMAC
by Herb Johnson 29 Oct '18

29 Oct '18

> Earl Baugh > Thu Oct 25 12:22:18 EDT 2018 > I got one of these (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkgmAjE1ONY) arrived > last night... > With original box, manuals and even sales receipt! [video shows an RCA COSMAC VIP single-board computer. Unknown if the items shown match what Earl obtained.] > > There may be a bad RAM chip... (according to the notes on the box...) > Any ideas if I'll have trouble finding an appropriate part to fix it? > (I've only had time to unbox it, not look thru the manuals or anything but > thought I'd try to tap the collective intellect here to get some initial > thoughts..) > > Earl Earl, I re-posted your request, to have an appropriate subject. Your post was buried with a bunch of other postings. Myself, I like COSMAC stuff, congrats on your find. The VIP is popular among COSMAC (RCA 1802 processor) enthusiasts. You will find other owners in the Yahoo cosmacelf discussion group. Of course, spend time with what you got, and find out what's actually going on with it. Then look for chips by model number to see if you can find it or them. Much of the fun I have with this stuff, is in figuring it out myself. But it's also fun to discuss repair and parts, once details are established. Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT info

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] "Super" sneak peek!
by Evan Koblentz 28 Oct '18

28 Oct '18

> Vic-20 prototype? > But seriously, worst kept secret: The name of the system is in the > filename of the photo. > > On Sun, Oct 28, 2018 at 9:35 PM Dean Notarnicola > <dnotarnicola(a)gmail.com <mailto:dnotarnicola@gmail.com>> wrote: > > FYI: The title of the photo shows up in the picture viewer VAX > [New Jersey]3.jpg > VAX [New > VAX [New Jersey]3.jpg > VAX [New Jersey]3.jpg > Fake news!!! :) And anyway, there are many kinds of VAXen, aren't there?

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Games ready for Festivus 2018
by Jeffrey Brace 27 Oct '18

27 Oct '18

I was able to test Giana Sisters for the C64 (think Super Mario Bros, but with different sprites) Also got Bomb Mania working, which is a C64 - 4 player game. Yes, 4 player. I have a device that plugs into the user port which allows two more joystick controllers. It's a fun game. Working on getting other 4 player games Ian is bringing his usual suite of games: Atari 7800 (2600 & 7800 games), Sega Genesis, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, etc. -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President Vintage Computer Federation

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