April 2024 - vcf-midatlantic

Anonymous VCF East 2024 Post Event Survey
by Jeffrey Brace 19 Apr '24

19 Apr '24

Please fill out this anonymous survey about VCF East: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3BBB57G Thanks! Jeff Brace Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner

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Apple IIgs Black Screen
by James 19 Apr '24

19 Apr '24

Hi, I have an Apple IIgs and when I boot it I hear a beep shortly followed by another beep. The screen remains black. I've tried a second known working Apple monitor to the same result. I've tried it with both floppy drives attached and not attached. I don't have any disks but was assuming I would at least see a complaint on the screen about missing startup disk. I don't see anything. Does anyone know what my issue is or can you recommend a good Apple II troubleshooting site? Working on Apples isn't something I have much experience with.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Apple IIgs Black Screen
by David Riley 19 Apr '24

19 Apr '24

On Apr 19, 2024, at 9:42 AM, Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > From: Sentrytv <sentrytv(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Apple IIgs Black Screen > Date: April 19, 2024 at 9:42:51 AM EDT > To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > > > The Apple2 GS uses a specific monitor > And is not compatible with a Mac monitor! > > I can’t remember if the signals are digital or analog but I assume they are digital and it might be considered RGBI 15 kHz > I’M SURE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE THESE EXACT SPECS > Mike It's a 15 KHz horizontal refresh rate monitor, same as TVs and arcade monitors. Fun fact: you can hook the IIgs' monitor up to a lot of arcade boards as a display, though sometimes you might need to change from the default sync polarity. I used one to test my Defender boardsets back when I still had my IIgs, and it worked like a charm. There are also some Dell LCD monitors that support unusual features for LCDs (sync-on-green, interlaced video) though I'm not sure if they'd do 15 KHz. I no longer have a IIgs to test with, but I have heard very good things about the P1914's compatibility with a lot of things, and they're definitely very cheap on eBay these days, and worth keeping around for a lot of vintage things (a lot of old Macs also do sync-on-green, some of them like the IIci *only* do it, and a monitor that handles it correctly is essential if you don't want everything looking very green). If you're using a VGA converter, be cautious; the monitor sense signal lines function a little differently than they do on the standard Macintosh DA-15 video connector, and cheap ones can often short something to ground which prevents startup and may not be great for the machine in the long term. If you happen upon a Griffin MacPnP adapter, they're really the best of the bunch (and if you don't have one, let me know, I bought about a dozen of them a while back when someone was selling bucketsful on eBay for $4 each). - Dave

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Hackaday Article about VCF East 2024
by Jeffrey Brace 17 Apr '24

17 Apr '24

https://hackaday.com/2024/04/17/vcf-east-2024-was-bigger-and-better-than-ev… Enjoy! Jeff Brace

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First video of the 2024 event
by Christian Liendo 17 Apr '24

17 Apr '24

VCF East 2024 High Shelf Rich https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc1muoVObKc

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VCF East lost & found: sunglasses?
by Jameel akari 16 Apr '24

16 Apr '24

Pretty sure I dropped my prescription sunglasses in the talks room, probably up front stage right. They’re in a blue case. If anyone finds them, let me know and I’ll arrange shipping. Thanks! -- Jameel Akari

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Paying it forward: Byron and his Datasettes
by Dan FitzGerald 16 Apr '24

16 Apr '24

I want to very publicly thank Byron for something very kind that he did with the Commodore Datasette drives he was selling at VCF East Consignment this past weekend. Something that he didn't really have to do. He included program tapes with them. At the fall swap meet, I purchased my first C64 along with a Datasette drive from Steve's basement. But because I didn't have a new C64 power brick to go with it (and because the Datasette also broke), I was unable to do anything with it. This past weekend, I purchased one of Byron's Datasettes and a new PSU from one of the vendors. But because I didn't have a 1541 disk drive (or any real experience with C64s), I wouldn't have had any programs to run with it... except that Byron included two cassette tapes in with the drive. I've been exploring one of the two tapes, which seems to contain a large number of programs taken from Creative Computing and Compute!'s Gazette. So now I can get going with my first C64 without having to delve into advanced topics such as "How can I get a program from the Internet onto this thing", or "Oh crap I need to buy a 1541 now". So thank you Byron, for being extremely conscientious with your Datasettes. It was very thoughtful, and while it didn't cost you much it made a world of difference to me. -- Regards, Dan FitzGerald They/Them or She/Her Classical Computing Laboratory at IBM-Poughkeepsie http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] What do you guys always need for your vintage computing projects?
by Sentrytv 15 Apr '24

15 Apr '24

Kelly Leavitt is associated with the Sussex Hamfest, and he is also part of this group So if he’s reading this, he knows. Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > On Apr 15, 2024, at 10:08 AM, Christian Liendo <cliendo(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > If you know the people at SCARC just tell them their SSL cert expired > > >> On Mon, Apr 15, 2024 at 9:49 AM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic >> <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: >> >> Charlie, I don’t know if you’re aware of the VCF swap meet sometime in June. >> It is usually a pretty decent event and yes, there will be competition on selling your stuff, but bring as much stuff as you can. >> You really won’t be disappointed unless, of course, the weather turns ugly. >> >> Another large outdoor event (indoor also) is the Sussex County fairgrounds Hamfest on July 14th >> >> >> The 2024 SCARC Hamfest will be held July 14th 2024 >> >> Gates open at 6:00am for sellers/tailgaters >> 8:00am for buyers >> 270,000 square feet (Six Plus Acres!) of outdoor tailgate space and 10,000 square feet of indoor space. Food, Door Prizes and Ample Parking too! >> >> For info or tables contact SCARC at 973-862-8124 >> >> >> Mike Rosen >> >> Sent from: >> My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. >> >> On Apr 15, 2024, at 8:31 AM, Charlie's Computers via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: >> >> Awesome, thanks for the info everyone! >> >> On Mon, Apr 15, 2024 at 7:43 AM Benjamin Krein <superbenk(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >> There are other CAD programs out there that you might find more >> >> approachable if you're just starting out. TinkerCAD is one that comes to >> >> mind though I've never used it. I personally use Fusion360 but it can be >> >> daunting at first & their pricing tiers are weird & get expensive really >> >> fast if you're doing anything non-personal. There are some restrictions on >> >> the free version too from a functionality perspective. Just beware & know >> >> you have options if you're not already married to Fusion360. >> >> >> On the BlueSCSI Discord the maker of the PotatoFi PiSCSI case just >> >> recently opened up his license to be a bit more free (I think) & he has a >> >> number of really great models for various BlueSCSI/PiSCSI projects that you >> >> should check out. >> >> https://www.printables.com/model/72451-piscsi-slim-case - Just make sure >> >> you're honoring people's licenses & giving credit when/where appropriate >> >> (It's ALWAYS good to give credit to the original designer IMO). >> >> >> Other drive sleds are popular too. Expansion slot filler blanks or port >> >> mounts for things like joystick ports etc. come to mind as well for the >> >> Macs & Apple IIs. Probably lots of other things I'm not thinking of right >> >> now. >> >> >> Good luck! >> >> >> On Mon, Apr 15, 2024 at 7:12 AM Charlie's Computers via vcf-midatlantic < >> >> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: >> >> >> (I know VCF East 2024 *just* ended and I'm not asking about plans for next >> >> year, don't worry!) >> >> >> I'm thinking of being a vendor at next year's VCF East or the year after >> >> that. I'm getting into 3d printing and I'm going to buy a few more >> >> printers. >> >> >> If I 3D printed brackets and adapters and more and sold them, what do you >> >> guys always seem to need for your projects? Hard drive sleds? SCSI2SD >> >> adapters for old Macintosh computers? Floppy EMU cases? >> >> >> My 3d modeling skills are 0/10 so these things need to exist on >> >> Thingiverse >> >> or yeggi.com (3d print search engine) >> >> >> But I'll download Fusion 360 and try and figure out something, so if you >> >> guys have any ideas for useful things I could make, let me know! >> >> >> Sincerely, >> >> Charlie >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> - Benjamin Krein >> >>

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What do you guys always need for your vintage computing projects?
by Charlie's Computers 15 Apr '24

15 Apr '24

(I know VCF East 2024 *just* ended and I'm not asking about plans for next year, don't worry!) I'm thinking of being a vendor at next year's VCF East or the year after that. I'm getting into 3d printing and I'm going to buy a few more printers. If I 3D printed brackets and adapters and more and sold them, what do you guys always seem to need for your projects? Hard drive sleds? SCSI2SD adapters for old Macintosh computers? Floppy EMU cases? My 3d modeling skills are 0/10 so these things need to exist on Thingiverse or yeggi.com (3d print search engine) But I'll download Fusion 360 and try and figure out something, so if you guys have any ideas for useful things I could make, let me know! Sincerely, Charlie

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lost jacket
by Jeffrey Jonas 14 Apr '24

14 Apr '24

My US Army APFU physical training jacket is missing. Last seen at Bob Roswell's booth. No, I didn't write my name on the label :-( -- jeff jonas

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