November 2023 - vcf-midatlantic

Festivus Update! Dec. 9. 2023
by Jeffrey Brace 12 Nov '23

12 Nov '23

Festivus will still be this coming Saturday, December 9 will be starting officially at 10AM (some people will be there the night before and early morning). We will do a swap meet. We will have video games. We will have drinks. We will have food. One thing that I want to do differently is to cater the event. Food served at least for dinner which will be higher quality and we don't have to have our volunteers grilling burgers, etc for hours. I'm looking into the cost to see if it is feasible. If there is a preference for food let me know. Click here for a sample menu. <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vXJzMyFzxh5VFi_UhxctSiPYDzk1X3F2/view?usp=…> For lunch we could order subs, pizza, etc. from Anthonys, Valentes, or Cracker Barrel (not the chain). Click here for Swap Meet Signup <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C0e0YwN-p_gl5i249rRBx9LYmyZMce3AqeC…> Click here for video game signup <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jWjr4FwdX5dMeKR8BSlkvCJpOYa3y6OX-uA…> Let me know if I'm forgetting anything! Thanks! Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner VCF Mid-Atlantic Event Manager Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity https://vcfed.org/ <http://www.vcfed.org/> jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Festivus Update! Dec. 9. 2023
by Thomas G 12 Nov '23

12 Nov '23

December 9th, which happens to be a saturday. On Sun, Nov 12, 2023 at 2:08 PM laurakid via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > This coming Saturday or December 9th? > > > Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone > > > On Sunday, November 12, 2023, 1:25 PM, Martin A. Flynn via vcf-midatlantic > <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > Does VCF need to borrow the CDL gas grill? > > On 11/12/2023 1:16 PM, Chris Fala via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > > I know I am not a good example since I eat like a 6-year-old, but I was > > perfectly happy with grilled hot dogs! ;-) > > > > > > > > On Sat, Nov 11, 2023 at 4:31 PM Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic < > > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > >> Festivus will still be this coming Saturday, December 9 will be starting > >> officially at 10AM (some people will be there the night before and early > >> morning). > >> We will do a swap meet. > >> We will have video games. > >> We will have drinks. > >> We will have food. > >> One thing that I want to do differently is to cater the event. Food > served > >> at least for dinner which will be higher quality and we don't have to > have > >> our volunteers grilling burgers, etc for hours. I'm looking into the > cost > >> to see if it is feasible. > >> If there is a preference for food let me know. > >> Click here for a sample menu. > >> < > >> > https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vXJzMyFzxh5VFi_UhxctSiPYDzk1X3F2/view?usp=… > >> For lunch we could order subs, pizza, etc. from Anthonys, Valentes, or > >> Cracker Barrel (not the chain). > >> > >> Click here for Swap Meet Signup > >> < > >> > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C0e0YwN-p_gl5i249rRBx9LYmyZMce3AqeC… > >> Click here for video game signup > >> < > >> > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jWjr4FwdX5dMeKR8BSlkvCJpOYa3y6OX-uA… > >> Let me know if I'm forgetting anything! > >> > >> Thanks! > >> > >> Jeff Brace > >> VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President > >> Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner > >> VCF Mid-Atlantic Event Manager > >> Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity > >> https://vcfed.org/ <http://www.vcfed.org/> > >> jeffrey(a)vcfed.org > >> > > > >

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Total Solar Eclipse and VCF East 2024
by Dean Notarnicola 12 Nov '23

12 Nov '23

Agreed fully with the above emails. IMO the risks incurred in moving the event are much greater than the risks of losing some attendance. - Dean On Sat, Nov 11, 2023 at 3:08 PM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > It is too bad that the solar eclipse does not fall on the same weekend as > VCF East > > Here is the reason why I say this. > > There will be more people at the event, and setting up a solar eclipse > viewing area could have been part of the VCF East event. > (Take advantage of the natural phenomena) > > The antique radio club could get involved as well, because during the > solar eclipse, there may be a change in solar activity that could affect > reception, possibly increasing the range people can transmit and receive > radio signals, just like with the event about a month or so ago. > > I am no scientist and I’m sure there are people out there that have more > information about this. > > Just my two. Cents. > > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > > > On Nov 11, 2023, at 2:53 PM, Herbert Johnson via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > > I'm posting, because no one has suggested the *merits* of timing > VCF-East adjacent to the April 8th Eclipse. Note that the Eclipse is an > early afternoon event on the Monday after Sunday's VCF-East. > > > > First. Wall NJ will have almost 90% totality. So if someone stays over > Sunday night at VCF, they get an afternoon show without going anywhere, for > one more day at their hotel, a skipped workday. They won't see totality, > but partials are still impressive. > > > > Second. Syracuse NY is on the south edge of totality. Google Maps > suggests a 4.5 hour drive from Wall NJ to Syracuse NY, along major > highways. For other Eclipse locations, more distance/time, more/less > driving convenience. Someone in Wall NJ could drive to the Eclipse zone > Sunday afternoon/evening, stay there overnight, drive home Monday evening. > (Sunset April 8th 7:40PM local time). They could also drive Monday morning > (Sunrise 6:34AM or so) and hope for no travel problems. > > > > For some people (not many, for geographic reasons), the Eclipse may be > on-the-way to/from VCF-East. But others, they will be on-the-road anyway. > > > > Third. VCF-East is a rain/snow/shine event (barring a 'noreaster). > Cloudiness alone - just for a few hours - impedes the Eclipse. But weather > can only be forecast a few days in advance; hard weather only a week, tops. > Yet, a hotel room for the Eclipse totality-zone? Probably they are > *already* fully booked. > > > > Fourth. The Eclipse will draw more people than the VCF-East event. > > > > Don't get mad at me, these are circumstances. > > > > But these suggest, it's *strategic* to schedule VCF-East adjacent to the > public event of the Eclipse. The Eclipse is the bigger draw. VCF-East gives > eclipse-attendees, *something to do before*, on a weekend. And VCF-East is > weather-proof, it's a Plan B if you've booked a room but the weather blocks > viewing of the eclipse. > > > > Conclusion: Eclipse-travelers are a *captive market* for the VCF-East > weekend prior to the eclipse. And a *draw* for some VCF-East attendees, on > their way to/from, who want to do both. > > > > How VCFed Inc. takes advantage of this strategy is for them to > determine. But do so soon for reasons stated. Consider contacting places in > northern NY state (most adjacent geography to Wall NJ); a > geography-directed strategy that in most years won't normally work. It's > likely there's already eclipse-directed advertising venues available. > > > > Regards Herb Johnson > > > > -- > > Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA > > https://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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November Workshop Idea - Human Interfaces day
by Ian Litchfield 11 Nov '23

11 Nov '23

Hello all! It’s been a while since a theme or anything has been used at a workshop. And with the next one coming up in a week I figured it’s more than enough time to try to get one going since it’s the last one of the year! Thomas said he will be working on an IBM Electromatic and that inspired this idea! My idea is to do Human Interfaces. Keyboards, teletypes, printers etc! I’m going to bring my PDP 11/23 and try to get my Model 33 going on it since I recently got an M8017 DLV11-E which can handle 110 baud! I may also drag out the Model 15 and see about messing with that. So if anyone wants to join in with the festivities of a theme next weekend, see what you have that needs work and join us in clunky old machines making far too much noise! I’ll bring some oil, a feeler gauge, service manuals if I can find them for ASR33s I know I have them somewhere.. and toothbrushes. See you all soon! Ian Litchfield

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Total Solar Eclipse and VCF East 2024
by Herbert Johnson 11 Nov '23

11 Nov '23

I'm posting, because no one has suggested the *merits* of timing VCF-East adjacent to the April 8th Eclipse. Note that the Eclipse is an early afternoon event on the Monday after Sunday's VCF-East. First. Wall NJ will have almost 90% totality. So if someone stays over Sunday night at VCF, they get an afternoon show without going anywhere, for one more day at their hotel, a skipped workday. They won't see totality, but partials are still impressive. Second. Syracuse NY is on the south edge of totality. Google Maps suggests a 4.5 hour drive from Wall NJ to Syracuse NY, along major highways. For other Eclipse locations, more distance/time, more/less driving convenience. Someone in Wall NJ could drive to the Eclipse zone Sunday afternoon/evening, stay there overnight, drive home Monday evening. (Sunset April 8th 7:40PM local time). They could also drive Monday morning (Sunrise 6:34AM or so) and hope for no travel problems. For some people (not many, for geographic reasons), the Eclipse may be on-the-way to/from VCF-East. But others, they will be on-the-road anyway. Third. VCF-East is a rain/snow/shine event (barring a 'noreaster). Cloudiness alone - just for a few hours - impedes the Eclipse. But weather can only be forecast a few days in advance; hard weather only a week, tops. Yet, a hotel room for the Eclipse totality-zone? Probably they are *already* fully booked. Fourth. The Eclipse will draw more people than the VCF-East event. Don't get mad at me, these are circumstances. But these suggest, it's *strategic* to schedule VCF-East adjacent to the public event of the Eclipse. The Eclipse is the bigger draw. VCF-East gives eclipse-attendees, *something to do before*, on a weekend. And VCF-East is weather-proof, it's a Plan B if you've booked a room but the weather blocks viewing of the eclipse. Conclusion: Eclipse-travelers are a *captive market* for the VCF-East weekend prior to the eclipse. And a *draw* for some VCF-East attendees, on their way to/from, who want to do both. How VCFed Inc. takes advantage of this strategy is for them to determine. But do so soon for reasons stated. Consider contacting places in northern NY state (most adjacent geography to Wall NJ); a geography-directed strategy that in most years won't normally work. It's likely there's already eclipse-directed advertising venues available. Regards Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA https://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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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Total Solar Eclipse and VCF East 2024
by Neil Cherry 10 Nov '23

10 Nov '23

On 11/10/23 10:46, Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > Yes, you do not look directly at an eclipse, but you can look directly at all of the stuff at VCF East. I'll be running the soldering workshop that day so I just hope I can get some time to stare at everything. :-) -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry kd2zrq(a)linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies KD2ZRQ

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s100 vector graphic flash writer video board to buy or trade
by Jeffrey Brace 09 Nov '23

09 Nov '23

Someone contacted VCF and they are looking for an s100 vector graphic flash writer video board to buy or trade. Any leads and I will send you their email l address. Thanks! Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner VCF Mid-Atlantic Event Manager Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity https://vcfed.org/ <http://www.vcfed.org/> jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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Official Opening Date of MARCH/VCFed Museum
by Bill Degnan 09 Nov '23

09 Nov '23

Looking through the old website files before we switched to WordPress we had a page to announce the official opening of the museum. Anyone care to guess what was the official date of the museum's grand opening? A) September 13, 2008 B) May 10, 2008 C) April 21, 2007 D) September 15, 2007 Bill

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Hero Robot 11/18 Kennett Classic 11-3PM
by Bill Degnan 09 Nov '23

09 Nov '23

Clarification to Earlier Post Someone is bringing a Hero Robot to Kennett Classic on November 18th. It will be there from approx. 11AM-3PM EST. The gentleman just wanted to show it to me and whomever else is interested to look it over and possibly test. The person has books and I believe everything, he just wants to share it with like minded people and maybe have a little fun with it at the museum. Sorry about the confusion from my earlier post. Again, if you want to keep informed about Kennett Classic activities, join the mailing list from kennettclassic.com by filling out the contact form there. Also...to be announced this weekend we have an 8080 homebrew system to work on, with front panel lights and switches, should be a fun project. Bill Kennett Classic 126 S. Union St. Kennett Square, PA

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Hero Robot
by Lou 09 Nov '23

09 Nov '23

I have some knowledge on these robots that I might be able to chime in on. Considering I have a few in various states of operation and the manuals/books that might be good for reference. Is this being done at Kennett or InfoAge that Saturday? I might be able to make the trip over with some reading materials. Cheers Lou

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