January 2024 - vcf-midatlantic

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Niklaus Wirth passed away
by Jeffrey Jonas 17 Jan '24

17 Jan '24

I usually ignore linkedin notifications. This is one I wish I had noticed on Jan 3. Liendo noted Wirth's creation of Pascal. This notes Modula-2 and Oberon: Computer History Museum <https://www.linkedin.com/company/computer-history-museum/?miniCompanyUrn=ur…> In Memoriam: Remembering Niklaus Emil Wirth It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Niklaus Emil Wirth, a pioneering Swiss computer scientist and esteemed 2004 CHM Fellow. Niklaus Wirth made incredible contributions to the world of computing, leaving an enduring legacy that shaped the industry. From the creation of Pascal in 1970 to Modula-2 in 1979 and Oberon in 1988, his programming languages influenced generations of students and professionals. Wirth, a recipient of the ACM Turing Award in 1984, was not only an inspiration in programming languages but also delved into the hardware and software of computer design. His impact resonates in the foundations of structured programming and software engineering. Please take a moment to honor and remember the life and work of Niklaus Wirth. Learn more about his journey and contributions: 🔗 Odysseys in Technology: https://bit.ly/3vpKNAK 🔗 The Personal Computer Lilith: https://bit.ly/48LcsKN 🔗 MODULA-2 by Niklaus Wirth: https://bit.ly/48qHJTF

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OT: Casino Night Fundraiser @ InfoAge April 6, 2024
by Jeffrey Brace 17 Jan '24

17 Jan '24

InfoAge is having a Casino night fundraiser. They are going to have three blackjack tables, one double roulette table, a large craps table and a Texas Hold'em table. The flyer is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z-F6u2UB1GnOWkcX_HZo_9e8j1LpkvC9/view?usp=… *Their description: * Join us for a thrilling journey back to the Roaring Twenties at the InfoAge Speakeasy Casino Night! It is not just a night out—it is a step back in time, bringing warmth and cheer to the end of the winter season. Immerse yourself in glitz and glamour where the excitement of casino games meets the charm of a bygone era. Come with your community spirit, dressed in your best 20s attire, get ready to roll the dice, and create unforgettable memories. Admission includes gaming chips, two drinks, and light dinner fare. Get your reservations in now!! Jeff Brace

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Does anyone know the substitute germanium transistor for a B1182
by corey cohen 17 Jan '24

17 Jan '24

Good point, I’ll just recap the monitor board then and start from there. If the transistors seem bad, I’ll bring the board to either the SystemSource workshop at the end of this month or the VCF one at the beginning of March. Cheers, Corey > On Jan 17, 2024, at 2:39 PM, Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > From: Sentrytv <sentrytv(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Does anyone know the substitute germanium transistor for a B1182 > Date: January 17, 2024 at 2:39:03 PM EST > To: Corey Cohen <corey(a)vcfed.org> > Cc: Herbert Johnson <hjohnson(a)retrotechnology.info>, vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > > > Just an fyi > If the transistor is suspect. > There are many of us (in the group) who have testers that can identify the “type” of transistor, if it’s good. > If you already know it is bad, then my point is moot. > Personally I would go with the proper replacement type Ger. Vs Sil. > > Funny, I have seen online so much conflicting information on this part number. > > As someone mentioned, it is best to go with OEM part number instead of crossing to another manufacturer . > There has to be a data book on the part “somewhere”. > > Mike R. > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > >> On Jan 17, 2024, at 2:21 PM, Herbert Johnson via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: >> >> >>> >>>>>> I tried to find a cross-reference to B1182 transistor which is Q106 on the video board. >>>>>> This is a Germanium transistor in what seems to be a TO-66 case. >> >> There's conflicting references to (2S)B1182 transistors or replacements as Silicon devices or germanium devices. >> >> This device is on the video board of the ADM3A. So the video board (not CRT) could be from Ball or Motorola or other suppliers. It would be informative to identify the monitor/video board brand/model. Ideally a schematic of the video board showing the part. >> >> also: A dead or good Ge transistor, will have a .2 or .3 volt drop across either junction (emitter base, base collector) with a "diode tester" voltmeter. A Si transistor shows .6 or .7 volt drop. >> >> Regards Herb >> 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] Does anyone know the substitute germanium transistor for a B1182
by corey cohen 17 Jan '24

17 Jan '24

It’s a different package and I think in a lot of cases you can’t swap out germanium for silicon in older circuits so I’d prefer to stay with germanium. Cheers, Corey > On Jan 17, 2024, at 9:04 AM, Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > From: Sentrytv <sentrytv(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Does anyone know the substitute germanium transistor for a B1182 > Date: January 17, 2024 at 9:04:36 AM EST > To: Corey Cohen <corey(a)vcfed.org>, vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > > > According to NTE Electronics, B1182 OR 2sb1182 crosses over to an NTE 2527 PNP silicon complementary. Hi current switch. > TO251 case > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > >> On Jan 17, 2024, at 8:46 AM, corey cohen via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: >> >> Hi, >> >> Working on my dead ADM3a video, I realized I may need some spare parts before I start working on it. >> >> I tried to find a cross-reference to B1182 transistor which is Q106 on the video board. >> >> This is a Germanium transistor in what seems to be a TO-66 case. >> >> Spent an hour Googling and can’t find a cross reference and no one seems to have them available in the correct Germanium. >> >> Thanks, >> Cheers, >> Corey >> >> >> > > >

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OT / Last Call - Network upgrade at Camp Evans
by Martin A. Flynn 17 Jan '24

17 Jan '24

01/20/2024 - the plan is to migrate the Hotel administration area to the Camp Evans network. This will eliminate the last of the main post cable modems, saving $1400.00 + a year. This includes attic work, along with running wire mold in the admin area for the new network drops. The plan is to start around 9:00 AM and wrap by 2:00 PM on 01/20/2024. Please reply off-list if you intent to participate... Martin

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Does anyone know the substitute germanium transistor for a B1182
by Herbert Johnson 17 Jan '24

17 Jan '24

>>>> I tried to find a cross-reference to B1182 transistor which is Q106 on the video board. >>>> This is a Germanium transistor in what seems to be a TO-66 case. There's conflicting references to (2S)B1182 transistors or replacements as Silicon devices or germanium devices. This device is on the video board of the ADM3A. So the video board (not CRT) could be from Ball or Motorola or other suppliers. It would be informative to identify the monitor/video board brand/model. Ideally a schematic of the video board showing the part. also: A dead or good Ge transistor, will have a .2 or .3 volt drop across either junction (emitter base, base collector) with a "diode tester" voltmeter. A Si transistor shows .6 or .7 volt drop. Regards Herb 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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Does anyone know the substitute germanium transistor for a B1182
by corey cohen 17 Jan '24

17 Jan '24

Hi, Working on my dead ADM3a video, I realized I may need some spare parts before I start working on it. I tried to find a cross-reference to B1182 transistor which is Q106 on the video board. This is a Germanium transistor in what seems to be a TO-66 case. Spent an hour Googling and can’t find a cross reference and no one seems to have them available in the correct Germanium. Thanks, Cheers, Corey

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A 4004 Based Microcomputer the Comstar System 4
by Herbert Johnson 16 Jan '24

16 Jan '24

On Fri, Jan 12, 2024 at 1:47 PM Jeffrey Jonas: > Herb touches upon how our expectations of "computers" have evolved. > To folks outside the engineering profession, > "embedded processors", "industrial controllers" and other special- > purpose machines > don't look-and-feel like that's now accepted as a "computer". > Yet the Arduino has made such embedded processing more accessible than > ever to the hobbyist, experimenter, artist, etc. > > Perhaps that applies here: what were once called "computers" > are now considered embedded processors, > IoT (Internet of Things) or Internet appliances. > > I was about to say how cellphones [or desktop computers] are more > of an appliance than a computer by the way most folks just > download apps. > > [list of late 1970's microprocessors used for embedded controllers]. I'm not entirely happy that a thread that has drifted to Asimov's Laws of Robotics, has my name in it. I'll respond to the original points, on the original subject line. Those people interested in robotics, maybe can start a new thread subject? Those interested in Christian's Comstar might reply to his thread. I did not mean to hijack Christian's thread, just to embellish it, underscore his challenges in finding information and referencing the Compstar as various kinds of computer. Jeff acknowledges my point and adds modern context, other devices. Yeah, there's a long history about logical mechanisms as some kind of computing or analytical thing or even a kind-of person. If I'm not mistaken, Christian has/had in hand physically, at least the "compiler" Comstar product, maybe also the "controller" product? Not quite clear what he owns. I hope he puts it up on some kind of Web page or other editable Web-accessable thingy, that has stability and can be edited and refined. Too hard to do that in threaded discussions (this a case in point). It's not all nuts and bolts, the chips and a few words don't define the objects. I find this research, or curation, as much fun as restoration and repair. For those who have lost interest in those considerations and simply think "it's a computer, move on!"? Well, these things matter to some of us (oldies) who have seen a lot of change in the computing we have experienced. Those who look back decades and before their time, might get a richer experience by becoming aware of the expectations then, versus expectations at other times. As Christian describes, there's still discoveries to be made in vintage computing. 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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FWD from the 'The Embedded Muse' newsletter ...
by Herbert Johnson 16 Jan '24

16 Jan '24

> Neil Cherry wrote: I subscribe to 'The Embedded Muse' (Jack Gassle), one of his subscribers is looking > to restore a vintage computer. Request follows: > I’m restoring some old intel microcomputer kit. > ... but I'm still missing the original paper tape software. > You can contact Sid here:jones**** ***.co.uk I've been in touch with Sid Jones for some time, about his Intel intellec 4/40 development system. That's the "microcomputer kit", the British refer to many objects as "kit". Somehow, the model was lost in this copy of the request. He's looking for paper tapes or contents-of which Intel distributed or provided for it. He's contacted a number of Intel vintage owners. He's looked at known online archives. If someone has Intel 4040 or 4004 software that isn't available in various online archives, please consider offering it to those archives. Bitsavers.org and also archives of members of Google Groups intel-devsys (Multibus and prior Intel development systems). regards Herb -- 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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Speakers VCF East 2024
by Jeffrey Brace 16 Jan '24

16 Jan '24

I have approved all the currently registered speakers. Update talk descriptions are here: https://vcfed.org/vcf-east-talks/ There are still some spots left and some speakers that need to commit, etc. so more updates coming soon! 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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