March 2024 - vcf-midatlantic

Next Repair Workshop March 23 & 24
by Jeffrey Brace 16 Mar '24

16 Mar '24

Sign up is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-ncMX3hx72vnAsMttYW3UNU6kMX2z_49-NH… Take care! Jeff Brace 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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Kennett Classic Will NOT be open this weekend, internal only.
by Bill Degnan 15 Mar '24

15 Mar '24

Kennett Classic Will NOT be open this weekend, internal only. Earlier it was thought we could have a surplus sale preview this weekend, but we found that to be unworkable. The surplus sale opens with special hours at 7PM on Tuesday 3/19/24. Please visit kennettclassic.com for an up-to-date status of hours and news. We will activate online ordering prior to going live on Tuesday. This will give people the ability to buy now and pick up later. https://kennettclassic.com/surplus/ - the latest inventory https://kennettclassic.com/contact.cfm - how to sign up for the mailing list. Thanks for your patience. Bill

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online before the Internet
by Jeffrey Jonas 15 Mar '24

15 Mar '24

Sorry if this video was already discovered: https://youtu.be/1W_yfq1CLwY PlayNet: in 1983 - The Roots of AOL Miles Kurland In 1983 I worked at a tiny startup called PlayNet that was developing a radical concept: a network for personal computers to support gaming and socializing. Before going under, we licensed our technology to a competitor, QuantumLink, who turned it into something called "AOL". So, out of humble beginnings...

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Anyone want to split their hotel room for VCF-East?
by Ken 15 Mar '24

15 Mar '24

If anyone got a room with an extra bed, and wants to split the cost, I'd be thrilled to share it. (...and if more hotel blocks open up, or if anyone has a tip on a good other option, I'd love to hear!) Can't wait, can't wait... - Ken

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Need speaker assistant for VCF East 2024
by Jeffrey Brace 13 Mar '24

13 Mar '24

I need someone who will introduce speakers, move around the room to make sure the audience speaks into the microphone and walk them to the breakout room after their talk to continue questions with the audience. You don't have to do all the talks. Just what you can. I have one person so far committed to two talks. Let me know. Thanks! Jeff Brace

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Surplus Sale at Kennett Classic Update
by Bill Degnan 12 Mar '24

12 Mar '24

More hardware photos added. Sale starts March 19th 9AM. We've filled the shelves with vintage computers for sale. Just like a computer stores of old, walk in and buy a computer, ask questions and get knowledgeable answers. https://www.kennettclassic.com/surplus/ Join the kennettclassic.com mailing list to be kept up-to-date (via contact form). An update will be sent later tonight so if you want to get on the list do it soon! Proceeds benefit Kennett Classic a 501(c)(3) charity. Bill

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Kennett Classic Surplus Sale Starting Soon
by Bill Degnan 12 Mar '24

12 Mar '24

https://www.kennettclassic.com/surplus/ - this is a sampling of interesting stuff, not a complete list of all items. New things are coming in daily, as space opens on the shelves. We're ready to re-open with three rooms full of vintage computers, like an old-fashioned computer store. Walk in pick what you want off the shelf and buy it on the spot. Most items have been cleaned and tested as to their operational status. Many are fully operational or very close. Also have parts, cables, etc. OPENS OFFICIALLY 3/19, but soft open is later this week. If you want to be on the mailing list submit a contact form through kennettclassic.com Bill Degnan

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] AT&T 6386 WGS, Olivetti 380 computer, power supply schematic needed
by CJ Reha 10 Mar '24

10 Mar '24

Something else I just thought of - your messages imply the computer was working beforehand and just recently failed. This is a dumb question, but have you checked the voltage rails on the board for shorts? I have had at least one power supply come in for repair, and work perfectly on the bench - the customer's computer had a shorted tantalum or something on the motherboard masking as a bad power supply. I've been bit that way more times than I'd like to admit as well. Regards, CJ On Sun, Mar 10, 2024 at 1:30 PM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > Good afternoon > > I believe I have posted before with a question about a keyboard for this > computer (386-20), > but now I have a question about a schematic diagram for the power supply. > I am looking to repair the power supply which is currently dead, outputs > about .5 V -.5 V and that’s it. > Nothing obviously open or shorted. Somebody did have their hands in it > prior to me, replacing or at least soldering various transistors. > > My issue is: > I would like to find a schematic diagram for this so that I can do > repairs myself. > Or at the very least, connect an AT power supply or hook up an ATX power > supply to get the computer running. > > I would need to know what voltages besides the obvious 12 V, 5 V , -12 V > ,-5v needed to run this system. > > If anyone has experience performing such a task, > Please contact me directly if necessary. > > I won’t bring it to the workshop unless I can find someone who knows, and > I have a schematic diagram in hand. > > Thank you > Mike Rosen > > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. >

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] AT&T 6386 WGS, Olivetti 380 computer, power supply schematic needed
by CJ Reha 10 Mar '24

10 Mar '24

I'm not aware of any extant schematics or service manuals for that particular machine, but I can perhaps offer some general guidance if it would be helpful to you. A lot of those PC power supplies are pretty similar in topology and I've fixed a whole crap ton of them. Question - does it try to start? As in, can you hear it go "tick" and see the fan twitch or things hooked up to it try to light up? A very common problem in this era of supply (and power supplies in general from 40yrs ago) is the output caps going bad, so the supply can't properly regulate and shuts itself down. Also, lot of them use a small value cap (maybe 47uF or so) on the primary to "kick start" the switching circuit; it commonly goes bad, and will cause a no start condition. This sometimes manifests in a situation where the supply only starts after being plugged in for a long time (leaky cap slowly charging up). The way you talk about output voltages makes me assume the fuse is probably OK and it's at least trying to do something, so hopefully no blown up switching transistors or anything that would be a bigger headache to diagnose. Let me know if this is helpful! Regards, CJ On Sun, Mar 10, 2024 at 1:30 PM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > Good afternoon > > I believe I have posted before with a question about a keyboard for this > computer (386-20), > but now I have a question about a schematic diagram for the power supply. > I am looking to repair the power supply which is currently dead, outputs > about .5 V -.5 V and that’s it. > Nothing obviously open or shorted. Somebody did have their hands in it > prior to me, replacing or at least soldering various transistors. > > My issue is: > I would like to find a schematic diagram for this so that I can do > repairs myself. > Or at the very least, connect an AT power supply or hook up an ATX power > supply to get the computer running. > > I would need to know what voltages besides the obvious 12 V, 5 V , -12 V > ,-5v needed to run this system. > > If anyone has experience performing such a task, > Please contact me directly if necessary. > > I won’t bring it to the workshop unless I can find someone who knows, and > I have a schematic diagram in hand. > > Thank you > Mike Rosen > > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. >

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Hakko
by Martin A. Flynn 10 Mar '24

10 Mar '24

I was introduced to one of the engineers from Hakko and had an opportunity to talk up CDL, VCF, and to a lesser degree InfoAge (IE the five minute elevator speech that we all should be ready for) Out of that conversation: So, are there any legacy chips that CDL does not have hot air rework nozzles for ? Martin Flynn

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