August 2021 - vcf-midatlantic

Bringing items to VCF
by Dean Notarnicola 17 Aug '21

17 Aug '21

All, Thank you to everyone who attended our workshops. While we always appreciate and are grateful for donations of hardware/software/etc., we are currently experiencing a severe space crunch. On top of that, we are in the process of figuring out the logistics of relocating all the warehouse items to temporary space. In light of this, we ask everyone to please contact someone on the committee or board before bringing anything that will be stored at VCF (contact me, Jeff, Adam, Andy, Tony, Chris or Corey.) This will give us an opportunity to find a place for things. Again, thank you to everyone for your participation and contributions to making us a successful organization. Hope to see you at VCF East in October! Regards, Dean

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Kennett Classic Sept 21st 2021 Flyer / Event Update
by Bill Degnan 17 Aug '21

17 Aug '21

I am writing to extend an invitation to my friends at the VCFederation to attend the 2nd-annual Kennett Classic event on Sept 25th. This date marks the 2nd anniversary of the place. I booked the large community activity space called "The Garage" across the street of the museum, which is really going to be a great venue for this event. It's a large converted garage with a high ceiling, break-out rooms and a stage for the computer music performances (8-bit and maybe a theremin show) Here is a link to the flyer, fresh off the presses: https://www.kennettclassic.com/kennett-classic-flyer-KC-II.pdf Here is the page that will be updated frequently. https://www.kennettclassic.com/2nd-annual-kennett-classic-announced/ There are dozens of persons and families living in or visiting Kennett Square who have expressed interest and signed up to get involved. Some are veterans like you guys and some are eager to learn more about the hobby. If you're interested in getting involved, contact me through the web site. I will be updating the details for registration and so on. The basics: 1) You can register for an all-day pass that gives you access to all rooms, activities and project work space. The all-day pass includes a ticket to the computer music performances that start after 7PM. 2) You can exhibit - Make use of that old exhibit from last year, or this year, and turn on a whole new audience to vintage computing! We have a pretty large, growing group here to meet and share. There will be a lot of public walk-in traffic while exhibits are open. *Exhibitors' all-day passes are free* 3) Public exhibits 12-5PM 4) Computer music show from 7-11PM https://www.kennettclassic.com/2nd-annual-kennett-classic-announced/ About Kennett Square: https://historickennettsquare.com/ Thanks in advance Bill Degnan

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What does Al Kossow have against VCF?
by Christian Liendo 17 Aug '21

17 Aug '21

>From ClassicCMP From: Al Kossow via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Fri, Aug 13, 2021 at 9:24 PM Subject: Re: 30 yrs. ago To: <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> On 8/13/21 6:14 PM, Murray McCullough via cctalk wrote: > this began > the era of mass-computing and it is now what classiccmp.org > is all about wrong go play with the children on vogons or the VCF forum if you feel that way

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] September workshop
by Bill Degnan 16 Aug '21

16 Aug '21

Speaking of which, it's really coming together nicely if anyone here is interested to go. After the all-day workshop we have three chiptunes bands booked for the evening, but there will still be spaces for people who might want to keep working while the music is playing. Technically we'll also have the space Friday night as well, if you need time to load in. The Garage Center is across the street from the museum but it's much larger and can house 200 people. It will be nice to bounce back and forth between the museum and the event. Here is the latest: https://www.kennettclassic.com/2nd-annual-kennett-classic-announced/ On Mon, Aug 16, 2021 at 6:20 PM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > Jeff > there must be a lag in email. > > I was looking forward to September’s workshop which I saw, when I looked > back through my emails, that it was listed. > I never saw an alert that it was canceled. > > I was going to make the September workshop because I was asked to loan my > Columbia XT clone to someone to show at the VCF East and we were going to > try and get it working. > > I didn’t make the August workshop because I thought there was one in > September. > But that’s not an issue I just thought I would > Explain. > > So, second thing on my list is about the tapes that you were asking me > about. > > I sent you an email about that but I want To make clear that I want keep > that one tape that was in a plastic bag, un-opened. > > I do actually want to pick that up at some point when you’re available. > > So please let me know when I can pick it up. > > Thank you > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > > > On Aug 16, 2021, at 6:08 PM, Jeffrey Brace <jeffrey(a)vcfed.org> wrote: > > > > > >> On Sat, Aug 14, 2021 at 7:11 PM Sentrytv <sentrytv(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > >> Jeff could you tell me when September’s workshop is please? > > > > Hello Mike, > > > > I'm sorry, but there is no September workshop. Kennett Classic is having > their event and Bill Degnan asked for me not to do a repair workshop that > weekend. There is also VCF MW on September 11 & 12. Also I will be too busy > preparing for VCF East to take up my whole weekend with a repair workshop. > > > > Repair workshops resume in January because VCF East is in October, I > need a rest in November. Festivus is in December and we will have a hybrid > party/repair workshop/swap meet that weekend. > > > >> > >> Sent from: > >> My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. >

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Re: September workshop
by Sentrytv 16 Aug '21

16 Aug '21

Jeff there must be a lag in email. I was looking forward to September’s workshop which I saw, when I looked back through my emails, that it was listed. I never saw an alert that it was canceled. I was going to make the September workshop because I was asked to loan my Columbia XT clone to someone to show at the VCF East and we were going to try and get it working. I didn’t make the August workshop because I thought there was one in September. But that’s not an issue I just thought I would Explain. So, second thing on my list is about the tapes that you were asking me about. I sent you an email about that but I want To make clear that I want keep that one tape that was in a plastic bag, un-opened. I do actually want to pick that up at some point when you’re available. So please let me know when I can pick it up. Thank you Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > On Aug 16, 2021, at 6:08 PM, Jeffrey Brace <jeffrey(a)vcfed.org> wrote: > > >> On Sat, Aug 14, 2021 at 7:11 PM Sentrytv <sentrytv(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> Jeff could you tell me when September’s workshop is please? > > Hello Mike, > > I'm sorry, but there is no September workshop. Kennett Classic is having their event and Bill Degnan asked for me not to do a repair workshop that weekend. There is also VCF MW on September 11 & 12. Also I will be too busy preparing for VCF East to take up my whole weekend with a repair workshop. > > Repair workshops resume in January because VCF East is in October, I need a rest in November. Festivus is in December and we will have a hybrid party/repair workshop/swap meet that weekend. > >> >> Sent from: >> My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] What does Al Kossow have against VCF?
by Michael Brutman 16 Aug '21

16 Aug '21

I don't think we're debating Al's contributions. It would be better if he wouldn't insult a large group of people gratuitously, especially since it is a bit hypocritical since he is also a user of that particular forum. It also reinforces the stereotype that the hobby is full of cranky people with few social skills.

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3D Printers for VCF Donation?
by John Heritage 15 Aug '21

15 Aug '21

Hey All, I have 2 (maybe 3) home-made Prusa i3 clones in mostly working condition that have been collecting dust for a few years and I was curious if VCF would take these as donations for workshops or others to use / learn from in some capacity? The 2 "for sure" printers are ~ 8" x 8" x ~ 6" high build areas. Electronics are RAMPS based on one, and Rambo based on the other. Heated beds work well. One of the printers has a finicky hot end (E3D v6) - it'll work for a while and then stop, and seems to require reassembly every time you change filament. It was quite reliable for a while then became too much work .. This printer uses 1.7mm filament. The other one is my father's he's no longer using -- his has an older hot end, is the RAMPs based model, but he's printed many things over the years. Uses 3.0mm filament. This one might have a larger than 8" x 8" bed - I need to get some more up to date info from Dad. Both are mechanically sound and have LED screens (1 attached, 1 not yet attached). Will of course throw in some filament with these printers. I still have all of the arduino settings/firmware handy for these printers. I also have spare parts for these -- some extra E3D hot end parts, another set or two of ramps electronics, wires, etc.. Thanks..

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wanted: Amiga 3000 front bezel and floppy
by Ethan O'Toole 14 Aug '21

14 Aug '21

Got an a3000 but front was cut out for a floppy drive replacement. looking for an undamaged front and floppy to make it original.

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Z80 single board computer needs a good home.
by William Dudley 13 Aug '21

13 Aug '21

In the late 70's I designed and produced a single board Z80 computer for my job, and I kept one for myself, and eventually used it in home automation projects. I don't need this anymore, so it wants to be adopted by somebody who wants to play with a Z80 without breaking anything expensive. Specs: approx size: 11.25 x 9 inches. double sided ceramic/gold Z80 with 2.4576 MHz crystal 6 2114 RAM installed, room for 2 more. So 3K bytes installed, upgradable to 4K bytes 2732 EPROM installed but socket designed to take bigger parts. EPROM is running a simple monitor that allows one to control the I/O ports. Footprints on the board for two more EPROMS. 2 Z80 DARTs, so 4 serial ports 1488 and 1489 RS232 line driver/rcvr installed. Three of the serial ports are brought out in DB25 connectors. 1 Z80 CTC installed, room for a 2nd one. Footprint on the board for a Z80 PIO 2 74LS374 8 bit latches for I/O installed. Footprints on the board for an analog mux and an A/D converter, both in 28 pin 600 mil wide packages. No idea what part they are. Input power should be 5v and +/- 12v (for the RS232 output) The board comes with almost no documentation, but it's a double sided board, so it should be easy-ish to reverse engineer it, especially since it's half populated and there are handwritten markings for some of the uninstalled parts. The board and I are in Jackson, NJ. I will be going to the repair workshop at the museum this weekend, though I realize this is short notice. I can ship this at your expense. Bill Dudley This email is free of malware because I run Linux.

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VCF museum machines in need of TLC
by Jeffrey Brace 13 Aug '21

13 Aug '21

Jeff Salzman will be working making a backup boot disk for the Zorba. One of them stopped working. He will also take a look at the H89. We also need good demos to run on the Amiga 1000. Some of the disks don't seem to work *and* apparently some disks have the SCA virus. Could someone bring a disinfectant? The museum also has an SD card reader for the Vic-20. I just haven’t had time to set it up yet. Maybe someone can help me figure it out and pick some good demos. Also the museum 1541 drive on the C64, has issues. I had swapped it out for another one, but haven't had the chance to try simple troubleshooting like a disk cleaner, etc. It has JiffyDOS and is cosmetically better than the one I swapped. Maybe someone can take a look at it. Jason Perkins will look at the Lisa as it doesn't boot now. I would like a better demo for the Atari 1040ST. If anyone has a better suggestion for a disk, please let me know. Also need someone to install the SD card read for the IBM PCjr. The Apple 2 seems to be having issues again. It might just need a card to be reseated. Does anyone have experience getting the TRS-80 working with a floppy drive? I'd like to get some demos working on that machine. I think that's all. ========================================= 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

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