March 2022 - vcf-midatlantic

Looking for time on working PDP-11 (or other DECs minicomputers)?
by Michael Casadevall 15 Mar '22

15 Mar '22

Hey all, I'm curious if anyone knows if there are museums on the east coast (and ideally close to New Jersey) that have working PDP machines, and may allow some time working with them. I've been wanting to do a video on some of the PDP series machines, and especially some of the other operating systems beside UNIX such as RT-11. I know it's possible to emulate most of these in SIMH, but I'd prefer to at least be able to show the real hardware in action. Ideally, I'm looking for time on a PDP-11, and a PDP-8, but I'd mostly like to capture these minicomputers running for real, including loading tape, and more if possible. Figure this was the best place to ask on potential leads. For those who don't know me, I'm NCommander at YouTube, and I've been at the last few VCF events. Hope someone can point me in the right direction, ~ NCommander

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] EGA Monitor for 3/26 work weekend
by Dan FitzGerald 14 Mar '22

14 Mar '22

Hey, whatever works... I'm not picky ;-) Regards, Dan FitzGerald They/Them/Theirs http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger -----Original Message----- From: skogkatt007--- via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> Reply-To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> To: Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> Cc: skogkatt007(a)yahoo.com Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] EGA Monitor for 3/26 work weekend Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2022 20:56:32 +0000 (UTC)What about a multisync? You need a relatively early model to display digital video though. On Sunday, March 13, 2022, 03:39:56 PM EDT, Jeffrey Brace via vcf- midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: On Sun, Mar 13, 2022 at 2:32 PM Dan FitzGerald via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > I'm planning on attending the 3/26-3/27 work weekend and towing along a > PC/AT that I could use some advice and help with. Do we know if there > is a working EGA monitor in the warehouse that I can use for the > weekend so that I don't risk damaging my own on a lengthy car trip? > If you knew specific models or guide me to look for, then I could tell you. Otherwise someone more familiar with the monitors in the warehouse and with how to tell what is EGA capable could answer. > > > Regards, > Dan FitzGerald (they/them) > http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger > id="-x-evo-selection-start-marker"> >

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EGA Monitor for 3/26 work weekend
by Dan FitzGerald 14 Mar '22

14 Mar '22

I'm planning on attending the 3/26-3/27 work weekend and towing along a PC/AT that I could use some advice and help with. Do we know if there is a working EGA monitor in the warehouse that I can use for the weekend so that I don't risk damaging my own on a lengthy car trip? Regards, Dan FitzGerald (they/them) http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger id="-x-evo-selection-start-marker">

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Any MIDI enthusiasts around?
by RETRO Innovations 14 Mar '22

14 Mar '22

I am looking to control some RGBW leds (maybe SPI-based strips, maybe individual high power RGBW LEDs, not sure yet) with some of my classic computers. That's pretty easy, no concerns there. Lots of arduino projects or I can just add in a 6522/6821/etc. But, I thought, instead of just making a hobby project, I should try to design something that would work with classic systems *AND* current gear, and not be so platform dependent. MIDI came to mind, both because the cost to interface is pretty low, cables are cheap, and MIDI is very well supported. Where I am struggling is getting a handle on how to map the ability to set an individual LED color in a strip of say 20 or 60 to the MIDI protocol without just punting and using SysEx msgs. And, I might have a bunch of these strips (more than 16 perhaps, though my initial project only needs 10-12. I am also aware of DMX lighting and MIDI->DMX converters. DMX XLR-5 cabling is a bit pricier than MIDI 5 pin DIN (though the RS485 protocol seems simple enough), so I thought maybe I should just emulate a MIDI->DMX->LEDs in my design. Anyone familiar with MIDI-controlled lighting and how it's mapped to MIDI messages? Jim -- RETRO Innovations, Contemporary Gear for Classic Systems www.go4retro.com store.go4retro.com

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down the rabbit hole: another women computer pioneer
by Jeffrey Jonas 13 Mar '22

13 Mar '22

A friend noted this URL: https://twitter.com/pickover/status/1503194571114790914 Mary Kenneth Keller (1913 – 1985) was an American Roman Catholic religious sister and the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in computer science in the United States. Ben Bradley replying to @pickover: I recognize that machine, it's a Bi-Tran Six, I used one in college in 1977 for an assembly programming course along with a KIM-1 and DG Nova. Specs (actual core memory and lights tied directly to the hardware registers!) in post #30 https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/bi-tran-six.3698/ Another friend noted She wasn't JUST the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in computer science. She and a male grad student at Washington University in St. Louis (Irving C. Tang) received the first two Ph.Ds in computer science on the same day. So she's tied for the honor of being the first PERSON to earn a Ph.D. in computer science. https://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm/159591-who-earned-first-computer-scien…

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Need keyboard for a PC/XT and help imaging the MFM drive
by Dan FitzGerald 13 Mar '22

13 Mar '22

Sorry to spam the list, but I wanted to ask this while I was thinking about it. I recently acquired an IBM PC/XT I am looking to image the MFM hard drive. I am *also* looking to acquire an IBM XT keyboard that doesn't cost $150.00. Would there be anybody coming to the repair workshop this month that knows how to image an MFM hard drive, and would anybody coming have an XT keyboard that they would be willing to sell me for something less than ebay prices? Regards, Dan FitzGerald They/Them/Theirs http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger

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EXHIBITOR DEADLINE APRIL 1! for VCF East 2022
by Jeffrey Brace 13 Mar '22

13 Mar '22

Less than 3 weeks before the exhibitor deadline for VCF East. So get your exhibit registered ASAP! We will be in the same rooms as last year 9001 (dining room), 9032-A (room down the hall or across from the dining room in the open room). Register your exhibit here: https://vcfed.org/wp/events/vintage-computer-festival-east/vcf-east-exhibit… ========================================= Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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March 2022 Repair Workshop 3/26 & 3/27
by Jeffrey Brace 13 Mar '22

13 Mar '22

The next repair workshop will be March 26 & 27. Sign up here: < https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XjiP43FAblQ2XCygWE4F71nan_1kKwVbKRl… > ========================================= Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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of possible interest: Wed virtual panel by NJIT: Wonder Women: celebrating women in tech 2022
by Jeffrey Jonas 13 Mar '22

13 Mar '22

I don't see the guest list, unsure who's on the panel citing https://www.meetup.com/njit-digital-skills-bootcamps-learn-tech-digital-ski… Wednesday, March 16, 2022, 5:30 PM EDT Wonder Women: Celebrating Women in Tech 2022 | Virtual Panel Discussion This event is virtual. Registration is required through Eventbrite to receive Zoom link. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wonder-women-celebrating-women-in-tech-2022-ti… This month, we are celebrating Women in Tech! Join us March 16th for a panel discussion led by four trailblazing women in celebration of Women's History Month.

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[Somewhat OT] - Any .ru sites we should Archive?
by John Heritage 11 Mar '22

11 Mar '22

Given the state of affairs and cyber stuff - are there any retro or other .ru sites we should "totally archive" now before they possibly disappear?

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