October 2020 - vcf-midatlantic

Free Livingston PortMaster 2 board
by Jonathan Sturges 07 Oct '20

07 Oct '20

Cleaning out the garage this weekend, I came across this board. I believe it comes from one of the multi-slot PM2s, but I think is the same PCB as those in the standalone PM2. Board has an unknown quantity of RAM installed. It is assumed to work but I can't guarantee it. P/N: 400-1220 Rev. B "Rev G" ROM Free for shipping cost, or I can bring it InfoAge this weekend. thanks, Jonathan Vienna, VA 22180

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CoCo 1 for Sale in PA [FBM]
by Alexander Jacocks 07 Oct '20

07 Oct '20

If anyone is looking for a Color Computer 1, there’s one for sale near Harrisburg, PA: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/708189433113876/ - Alex

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Dual drive for Intel MDS-80 system
by jsalzman＠gmail.com 06 Oct '20

06 Oct '20

FYI for those who may be interested.. This passed across my Facebook feed this morning. It's in Pottstown, PA. You may need a Facebook account to see it via this link. https://www.facebook.com/groups/vintagecomputerswapmeet/permalink/339211541…

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How do we do a VCF/TCF presentation over Zoom?
by Neil Cherry 05 Oct '20

05 Oct '20

Not sure I can add CDL to this so I'll repost in CDL and summarize at some point. How do you present, things that are not on the computer or something I'm talking about such that a white board or circuits? How do I take a camera off of me and move it over to the circuit or whiteboard? Dr Katz has a camera on an arm that he swings over or a separate white board that he picks up. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry(a)linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] VCF East Swap Meet - Save the Date - Saturday November 7 (Rain: Sunday November 8)
by Sentrytv 05 Oct '20

05 Oct '20

I understand. you don’t have to email me directly. I mean to send an email out to all the people who were interested of course. I am a little concerned whether you’re having this or not and I’m kind of trying to confirm it. Thank you Mike Rosen Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. >> On Oct 5, 2020, at 5:38 PM, Adam Michlin <amichlin(a)swerlin.com> wrote: > Hi Mike, > > Candidly, with East coming up next weekend and finishing off the by laws so we can have the upcoming Steering Committee elections, we're a bit behind on fleshing out the details for the Swap Meet. > > I'll make sure I email you directly as soon as we get details. > > Thanks for understanding, > > -Adam > >> On 10/5/2020 12:03 PM, Sentrytv wrote: >> Adam >> >> Is there a “sign up sheet “ for this event to reserve spaces? >> I plan on reserving two . >> >> Mike Rosen >> >> Sent from: >> My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. >> >>>>> On Sep 13, 2020, at 12:32 PM, Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: >>> Hi Everyone, >>> Alas, there will be no consignment at our hybrid VCF East coming up, but we have decided to try something new and have an *outdoor* Swap Meet. Vendors (which can be individuals) will be able to rent space and people will be able to attend the event for the very modest fee of $5. All VCF surplus will also be on sale at this event. >>> DATE: Saturday, November 7, with Rain Date Sunday, November 8 >>> TIME: 9AM TO 6PM >>> Location: InfoAge, 2201 Marconi Road Wall, NJ 07719 >>> $20 for vendors for first space, $10 for each additional space. 4 spaces max - BRING YOUR OWN TABLES/BLANKETS/WHATEVER >>> $5 for admissions for general public >>> We want to emphasize this will be an *outdoor* event with a rain date on the following day. There will be no indoor contigency in the case of rain both days because of social distancing issues. If the event doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, and no one will be charged if the event does not happen. >>> This will be different from consignment as we wont have a central place to pay for items. Vendors and individuals will have to man your area (or have someone else man it) for the entire event. There is absolutely no reason you can't work together, though, and have multiple people's items in one space (therefore manned by multiple people). The event will be only about the swap meet, so there should not be much of a pull (beyond wishing to shop) from manning your space. No electricity will be provided, so all items will have to be sold as is. We are also working on a lunch plan. >>> I'm particulary excited about this because, back in the 1990s, my first stint (habit, if you prefer) of vintage computer collecting was supported by attending regular computer swap meets in Silicon Valley at De Anza College and Lawrence Livermore Labs. The enthusiam at consignment each year tells me we are ripe to bring something like this back on a regular basis, but, of course, COVID make things trickier than usual. >>> Best wishes, >>> -Adam

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VCF East 2020 is Virtual ONLY!
by Jeffrey Brace 04 Oct '20

04 Oct '20

I just want to make it clear to everyone that the general public IS NOT ALLOWED at VCF East 2020 next weekend. I know that there was some confusion when we used the world "hybrid", so we are not using that word anymore. What we meant to say is that we would be on-site at InfoAge running the operation with administrative staff and a handful of exhibitors who will show off their exhibit live. Everything will be streaming from our studio to YouTube. We will be allowing questions from the internet via Discord and our e-mail address. If anyone from the general public arrives, due to Covid-19 restrictions at the museum campus, we cannot allow them in the exhibit area or the Steaming studio. Sorry for the confusion. I will be releasing the schedule soon. I'm just waiting for some last minute submissions before I do that. The administrative staff did some testing, setup and discussion this past Saturday to make sure we had everything working properly in the Streaming Studio. We have the major parts worked out and are in good shape for next weekend. We have a good lineup for next weekend and will be starting Saturday October 10 at 9AM Eastern time until 6PM. Sunday's schedule will be the same. -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Board Member Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org cell: 732-759-1783 <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>

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VCF East Swap Meet - Save the Date - Saturday November 7 (Rain: Sunday November 8)
by Adam Michlin 03 Oct '20

03 Oct '20

Hi Everyone, Alas, there will be no consignment at our hybrid VCF East coming up, but we have decided to try something new and have an *outdoor* Swap Meet. Vendors (which can be individuals) will be able to rent space and people will be able to attend the event for the very modest fee of $5. All VCF surplus will also be on sale at this event. DATE: Saturday, November 7, with Rain Date Sunday, November 8 TIME: 9AM TO 6PM Location: InfoAge, 2201 Marconi Road Wall, NJ 07719 $20 for vendors for first space, $10 for each additional space. 4 spaces max - BRING YOUR OWN TABLES/BLANKETS/WHATEVER $5 for admissions for general public We want to emphasize this will be an *outdoor* event with a rain date on the following day. There will be no indoor contigency in the case of rain both days because of social distancing issues. If the event doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, and no one will be charged if the event does not happen. This will be different from consignment as we wont have a central place to pay for items. Vendors and individuals will have to man your area (or have someone else man it) for the entire event. There is absolutely no reason you can't work together, though, and have multiple people's items in one space (therefore manned by multiple people). The event will be only about the swap meet, so there should not be much of a pull (beyond wishing to shop) from manning your space. No electricity will be provided, so all items will have to be sold as is. We are also working on a lunch plan. I'm particulary excited about this because, back in the 1990s, my first stint (habit, if you prefer) of vintage computer collecting was supported by attending regular computer swap meets in Silicon Valley at De Anza College and Lawrence Livermore Labs. The enthusiam at consignment each year tells me we are ripe to bring something like this back on a regular basis, but, of course, COVID make things trickier than usual. Best wishes, -Adam

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The Strange History of Camp Evans
by Jeffrey Brace 03 Oct '20

03 Oct '20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R4rSsntLEk&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR31Z… -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Board Member Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org cell: 732-759-1783

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TI-99/4A Peripheral Expansion Box - Voltages
by Mark Whittington 03 Oct '20

03 Oct '20

Does anyone here have much experience with these? I picked one up recently and I've been going over it before plugging things in. I tested the unloaded voltages with the transformer set to 115VAC and got the following on the unregulated DC output rails: +8V rail: 14.4V +16V rail: 25.2V -16V rail: -25.3V It looks like a previous owner had it apart -- there are hand-written labels on the various input taps for the transformer, so I thought that perhaps it was mis-wired on reassembly. But testing the other taps the best result I can get is with the 220VAC tap at approx. +7.5V and +/- 12V on the unregulated outputs. My analog circuits knowledge is pretty thin, so I'm hoping someone here might be able to help out. My questions are: 1) I've measured the output taps from the transformer for each of the various input taps and they match what I'd expect to see as inputs given the various rectified outputs (RMS AC -> Peak AC, minus a diode drop) so I don't *think* the problem is on the power supply board. Am I missing something? The schematic I've been referencing: http://www.mainbyte.com/ti99/schematic/peb_power.jpg (I have the -2 version) 2) Is just a case of not having a load on the outputs causing them to run high? I know that the linear regulators that are likely to be used on any cards can technically handle these inputs, but I wouldn't want to assume that they have heat sinks large enough to dissipate the extra power for very long. 3) Is this actually normal? Thanks in advance for any help.

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Last Meeting – Bill Atkinson and HyperCard (1987)
by Adam Michlin 03 Oct '20

03 Oct '20

Hi Everyone, So I'm blogging now. Mostly about Computer Science education, but every so often I find something that intersects with my other love. I was lucky to be in Silicon Valley in the 1980s and, since my family purchased one of the earliest Mac 128Ks, my father took me to the Stanford Macintosh User Group (SMUG) every month. I can only remember bits and pieces (including a particularly enjoyable presentation by Guy Kawaski) and SMUG, being a few minutes away from Apple headquarters, was a hot bed of all that was upcoming in the Macintosh world. I've been doing some research as of late and discovered that my father also wrote a column for the SMUG newsletter and he has graciously given me permision to post the text of his "Last Meeting" column describing the meeting where Bill Atkinson introduced HyperCard circa 1987. Interesting to me both for the disucssion of how HyperCard might or might not influence Computer Science education and, of course, Bill freakin' Atkinson! https://blog.ceos.io/2020/10/03/last-meeting-bill-atkinson-and-hypercard/ Best wishes, -Adam

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