February 2021 - vcf-midatlantic

Altair 680/Dan Roganti
by Dave McGuire 07 Feb '21

07 Feb '21

I'm trying to find out what happened to Dan's Altair 680. Does anyone here have it, or know anything about it? Please contact me off-list if so. Thanks, -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA

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Tomorrow is Bring Your Atari to Work Day
by Andrew Diller 07 Feb '21

07 Feb '21

And take a photo and submit it at RetoBattleStations on Reddit! February 7: Bring Your Atari to Work Day <https://twitter.com/benjedwards/status/1225782929282027520> (observed Monday February 8) https://old.reddit.com/r/retrobattlestations/comments/laiwqb/calendar_of_up… <https://old.reddit.com/r/retrobattlestations/comments/laiwqb/calendar_of_up…> With WFH still going on for some of us this should be a piece of cake. Submit away. -andy

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Super Sketch drawing tablet for Commodore 64
by David K 07 Feb '21

07 Feb '21

I recently bought a Super Sketch drawing tablet for the C64 from eBay. I was surprised by how sophisticated it was and how much fun I had trying it out. I have a video about it on YouTube that features: -unboxing of the tablet and all the extras that were included -a demonstration of drawing and the many other functions (2:57) -a look inside at how it works (21:20) My question is about the last part; about how it works. When I opened up the drawing tablet there were two, what I believe to be, linear potentiometers. Since the tablet plugs into the joystick port I was surprised that the C64 could "read" the potentiometers. There was not an IC (?) in the tablet itself but when I opened up the plug there was indeed an IC that I assume converted the variable voltage of the potentiometers into something the C64 could read. If anyone has feedback on whether I got this right and whether this was a unique feature I would appreciate it. The link to the video is: https://youtu.be/pLvQVJhRx2o. If that gets scrubbed you can likely search "Super Sketch vintage drawing tablet for Commodore 64 - also made for TI-99 / 4A and Atari 800 XL" to find it. Interestingly I had initially bought another Super Sketch on eBay that said it was for the C64 but when I received it the plug was not correct (which is why I bought the second one). Interestingly the non-C64 tablet has different circuitry in it and does not have the IC in the plug or anywhere else. So any help with this is appreciated. David K

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Repair Workshop on March 6, 7, 2021
by Jeffrey Brace 06 Feb '21

06 Feb '21

Our next repair workshop will be March 6 & 7, 2021 Signup here: March Repair Workshop Signup Sheet <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XE6z0-LwO77hg7BIhphhP6eSjbo5AhJ5Jdc…> 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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VCF East 2021 rescheduled
by Jeffrey Brace 06 Feb '21

06 Feb '21

Hello everyone, I hope that everyone is safe, healthy and still able to enjoy our vintage computer hobby these days. As you can see Covid-19 persists across the country and vaccines are not yet at the levels that we want them to be. Large crowds will not be possible in April and likely not be for at least a few months. So I am rescheduling VCF East to our backup date of October 8, 9 & 10, 2021. I'm hoping that 8 months from now we will be in a place where we can have an in-person event. I will make a final decision by August 1 whether we will stay in-person or go virtual. I will be starting to make plans for this event with the hope that we will have an in-person event. Take care everyone, be safe, and be well! 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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Snow and Repair Workshop this weekend
by Jeffrey Brace 05 Feb '21

05 Feb '21

So the forecast is for snow to start around 4AM Sunday morning and get heavier around 2PM. For those traveling far, I advise either leaving Saturday night or after breakfast Sunday morning. We are expected to get 6 to 8 inches in our area during Sunday. 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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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Heathkit H8
by Herb Johnson 05 Feb '21

05 Feb '21

It's good to see H8 activity. I have one but it's sitting quiet these days: https://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/h8.html It is also "native" pretty much. I'd not mind a floppy controller upgrade, but not too modern a board. I also have some early SEBHC H8 boards unbuilt, from quite awhile ago. Thanks for the reminder! regards, Herb -- 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 comcast DOT net

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Flip-Chips on ebay
by Duane Craps 05 Feb '21

05 Feb '21

For all you DEC people -- DuaneCraps sdɐɹɔ ǝuɐnp

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February Repair Workshop Feb 6 & 7, 2021
by Jeffrey Brace 05 Feb '21

05 Feb '21

Starting January 2021 we will be charging $15 per person per day. $10 goes to InfoAge and $5 will go to CDL. Signup for February Repair Workshop here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FytFtk9_rE0Nw_Pk_M9bFVMh324hNwJMwcK… Remember the spaces are first come first serve to the CDL space. Limited space available. Overflow space in 9032-A building. The workshop is $15 *per* person, *per* day. $10 goes to InfoAge and $5 goes to CDL. Sign up to guarantee a table!!! *DATES*: February 6 & 7, 2021 *LOCATIONS:* InfoAge: 2201 Marconi Road, Wall Township, NJ 1) Building 9059 (CDL Hackerspace - Formerly IXR) AND 2) Building 9032-A (Old workshop area in main building) TIME: Saturday START time == 10 A.M. END time == 11PM. Sunday START time == 10 A.M. and END == 5 P.M. *SIGNUP HERE!*: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FytFtk9_rE0Nw_Pk_M9bFVMh324hNwJMwcK… : Workshop area is limited to 10 people per room and facemasks are required. Hand sanitizer is available. *COST:*- $15 per person, PER day. This money goes to InfoAge and CDL. - $25 per night for those wanting to stay overnight (Money goes to InfoAge). Please pay ME (Jeff Brace) upon arrival. Cash or PayPal is acceptable as payment. Ask ahead of time if you need to use a credit card. *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. - You can pay via PayPal to paypal(a)vcfed.org. or to me via cash or credit card in person. *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. - If you need particular tools that you don't know or particular parts, please post to the list for those going. They may have what you need. Let them know ahead of time. - Let everyone know what project you are working on ahead of time to inspire collaboration. *DRINKS*: You should bring your own. We have a refrigerator in CDL to keep them cold. VCF will buy some water and soft drinks for member use. *FOOD*: *Saturday afternoon*: Pizza from Attilios (Tinton Falls) *Saturday Night Dinner at 7:30?*: Main Street Bar and Grill Address: 735 Route 35, Ocean Township, NJ https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h3U1lf0M_nsgu2M7dccb2CoDnAAfDfLDc4Z… *Sunday Morning*: Bagel order from Delicious Bagels < https://www.deliciousbagelspointpleasant.com/) Fill out Order here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/106iJBC9_YlD6Z561qzWpvV5DlbdOBLezD0U… *Sunday Afternoon*: Wawa order GATE: Please close the gate behind you at all times. We want to discourage random strangers from wandering the campus as well as during museum hours. PARKING: Park in the main parking lot, unless you are unloading. Don't park on the lawn. QUESTIONS? Contact Jeff: 732-759-1783 jeffrey(a)vcfed.org Have fun everyone! -- ========================================= 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 -- ========================================= 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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Welcome New Member Murat!
by Jeffrey Brace 03 Feb '21

03 Feb '21

Hello Murat! How did you find our list? What are your interests? -- ========================================= 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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