September 2024 - vcf-midatlantic

OT: Someone that can refurbish commercial VCR?
by Ethan O'Toole 27 Sep '24

27 Sep '24

Hello, I have a Sony GCS-50 Super Beta machine. I like the machine a lot. It works, but the audio seems to fade out after starting playback after a few seconds. I assuming a recap is needed, but I assume that if I were to recap it -- it would throw off all kinds of tuning things that I don't understand. Anyone know a reliable legit person or company to refurbish said machine? - Ethan

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Maggie Smith, RIP
by William Sudbrink 27 Sep '24

27 Sep '24

If you wish to remember Dame Smith in a "vintage computer way", I highly recommend: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Millions It's a fun little movie. Bill S. -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. www.avast.com

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] NOVA Computer Meetup - 17 November 2024 @ 1-6pm
by Tim Gladding 27 Sep '24

27 Sep '24

Last time was a blast, I'm definitely going to be there again. The larger room had plenty of space for more people and tables too. I'll be able to add a couple of things :) On Fri, Sep 27, 2024 at 1:19 PM Ryan Stapleton via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > Hello All, > > I now have a date for a late fall Computer meetup in Chantilly, VA. 17 > November 2024 @ 1-6pm > > The Chantilly, VA Public Library. > > A link to my website that has some information. This will be continued to > be updated. > > http://www.bluewizard.net/pages/vintagecomputermeetup/ > > Thank you > -Ryan

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NOVA Computer Meetup - 17 November 2024 @ 1-6pm
by Ryan Stapleton 27 Sep '24

27 Sep '24

Hello All, I now have a date for a late fall Computer meetup in Chantilly, VA. 17 November 2024 @ 1-6pm The Chantilly, VA Public Library. A link to my website that has some information. This will be continued to be updated. http://www.bluewizard.net/pages/vintagecomputermeetup/ Thank you -Ryan

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Donation to VCF?
by Dean Notarnicola 27 Sep '24

27 Sep '24

Thanks, Mike! I’m in as well! On Thu, Sep 26, 2024 at 4:48 PM Mike Rieker via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > I'll chip in $20 > > > > VCF would like to get this Compact Flash card for our museum to make > demos > > easier for our visitors: > > https://www.reactivemicro.com/product/cffa1-apple1-only/ > > > > Would someone be willing to buy and donate this to VCF? > > If so, then please contact me. > > > > Take care! > > > > 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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Looking for an Amiga 500 case and keyboard
by Alexander Jacocks 26 Sep '24

26 Sep '24

Folks, I’m looking for a case and keyboard for an Amiga 500. I have a very nice Amiga 500+ motherboard that needs a home, and I don’t see a lot of good options available. If anyone has spare that they would be willing to part with, please let me know. Thanks! – Alex

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OT: Downsizing my retro collection
by Wil Birkmaier 25 Sep '24

25 Sep '24

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] OT HAM LICENSE
by Jeffrey Brace 22 Sep '24

22 Sep '24

It's hard to find time to learn as I'm doing so much for VCF, my job, etc. as it is. I will put it on my list of things to do which is extensive. I will start with the M.O.R.E. project which is run by Dr. Rebecca Mercuri: https://n2re.org/m-o-r-e-project I can make it happen when there is a lull between events or days where schools are closed and I'm not working. On Thu, Sep 19, 2024 at 2:25 PM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > ARRL practice test are Notorious for X&Y type answers. > > I have been buying, repairing and selling ham radio equipment for over 20 > years, > and still have not become a “Ham Radio, Amateur radio operator” by choice. > > I even received some door prizes at a Hamfest, so I was able to purchase > ARRL books but still haven’t bothered to get my license. > > But I do listen and learn on the airwaves. > > To those people who already have their license and have some recent spare > material to loan Jeff, I would suggest bringing them to him. > > Just my two pennies worth. > > > > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > > > On Sep 19, 2024, at 1:18 PM, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > > On 9/19/24 12:16, David Riley via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > >> Seriously, the max commitment it took from me was reading the ARRL's > cheap Kindle guidebook on passing the exam (which was useful for the non-EE > parts I wasn't as familiar with, like the traditional frequency offsets for > repeaters, atmospheric effects, licensing technicalities, etc), and one > hour on a weekend at the local radio club to actually take the test. You > can do infinite practice tests online for free to see if you're ready. My > free time is currently deeply in the red and I somehow managed it, so just > about anyone can. :-) > > > > Adding to this, not only use the online test but do try to understand the > > answers. I am dyslexic so I needed to understand the answer otherwise I'd > > get the X & Y type answers (similar but slightly different) mixed up. The > > understanding helped get around that. Some of the tests have very good > > explanations. > > > > -- > > 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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Repair workshops for 2024: Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
by Jeffrey Brace 22 Sep '24

22 Sep '24

Yes. There are two repair workshops in October. First one is Oct. 5 & 6 <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1onB9_JVSdS3xCxQSOitBgIXSe6K2dbcCtjq…> Second one Oct. 26 & 27 <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tnPdmCYFA6-Y3y28tVcdzTXKqHaArx_1VFl…> Normally I space these things out, but I had to move it twice: the second one was originally on Nov. 9, then Nov. 2, now Oct. 26. So since there is interest and there is space in the schedule, I will schedule one for November on Nov. 16. This is 3 weeks after the Oct. 26 one and 4 weeks before Festivus. So it should be space as well as possible. Nov. 22 is an alternative date if anyone feels like that would be better. No repair workshops for December. Any questions? Comments? Ponderings? Take care! Jeff Brace VCF Mid-Atlantic Event Manager

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Next Repair Workshop Oct. 4 & 5
by Jeffrey Brace 22 Sep '24

22 Sep '24

Yes. There will be a repair workshop Oct. 26 & 27. As stated by others the website was updated, but not the Google Sheet. Sorry I missed that and for the confusion. I also was waiting to announce the *that* repair workshop because I didn't want to overload people with information with three different things. I've found some are easily confused. I always do a repair workshop with the swap meet so it makes it more worthwhile for those driving from far. On Sun, Sep 22, 2024 at 10:25 AM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > So just a quick question > From the dates it seems that there is not going to be any work shop during > the day of the swap meet correct? > > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > > > On Sep 21, 2024, at 9:06 PM, Bart Hirst via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > > Doug I have it. > > > >> On Sat, Sep 21, 2024 at 5:00 PM Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic < > >> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > >> > >> I would like to see us use the time to expand our greaseweazle to > >> have an 8" drive hooked up and then give the imaging a try. > >> I'd recommend the whole computer setup arrive so we can test > >> the copies- assuming that all works, if not, do a restoration in > >> parallel with the weazle 8" augmentation. > >> Someone has my 8" drive floppy cable adapter interface... Ian? Thomas? > >> -DC > >> > >>> On 9/17/2024 10:21 PM, Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > >>>> On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 7:03 PM Jeff S <jsalzman(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >>> > >>>> I can certainly attempt to. I will probably need an 8" drive, data > >> cable, > >>>> and suitable power supply for the drive. > >>>> > >>>> An 8" external drive from the warehouse might have the power supply > >>>> built-in and an appropriate data cable. > >>>> > >>>> The only caveat is being able to test the disk on real hardware. As > >>>> mentioned before, I was successful with this operation on OSI disks > >> already. > >>>> > >>> > >>> OK. Let's take this offline and see if we can consult with Thomas to > see > >>> what we have in the warehouse. > >>> > >>> > >>>> > >>>> On Tue, Sep 17, 2024, 6:59 PM Jeffrey Brace <jeffrey(a)vcfed.org> > wrote: > >>>> > >>>>> Ah, I see. So should I tell the guy that you will make the floppies > for > >>>>> him and will bring them to the next repair workshop? > >>>>> > >>>>> On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 6:52 PM Jeff S <jsalzman(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>>> Wouldn't need to be decoded at all. Greaseweazle accepts the disk > >> image > >>>>>> format, then uses the data in the image file to create the > equivalent > >> flux > >>>>>> on the fly as it writes to a disk. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> On Tue, Sep 17, 2024, 4:56 PM Jeffrey Brace <jeffrey(a)vcfed.org> > >> wrote: > >>>>>> > >>>>>>> On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 11:51 AM Jeff S via vcf-midatlantic < > >>>>>>> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> I looked at the IMD files in HxCFloppy emulator. They are decoded > >> as 77 > >>>>>>>> tracks (probably a forced overread for that 77th track), > >> double-sided, > >>>>>>>> 15 > >>>>>>>> sectors per track. I see a lot of binary data, but there are a few > >>>>>>>> decodable sequences in some sectors that show portions of the > >>>>>>>> alphabet, in > >>>>>>>> sequence, in capital and lowercase letters. This may indicate that > >> the > >>>>>>>> decoded image data is correct. I've always found that if I can > read > >> a > >>>>>>>> disk > >>>>>>>> image cleanly in HxC Floppy Emulator, I can generally use it in > >>>>>>>> Greaseweazle to write out to a disk. But ultimately, it's up the > >> actual > >>>>>>>> machine the disk is made for that will decide in the process > works. > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> So do you think that you can decode the images and copy them to 8" > >>>>>>> floppies? > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 11:17 AM djg <djg(a)pdp8online.com> wrote: > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> > >> > https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/does-anyone-have-a-working-8-inch… > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> I took quick look at zip and files had extension imd so should be > >>>>>>>> pretty > >>>>>>>>> standard. Life got complicated so didn't go any further. > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> -------- Original message -------- > >>>>>>>>> From: Jeff S via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > >>>>>>>>> Date: 9/17/24 11:05 AM (GMT-05:00) > >>>>>>>>> To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > >>>>>>>>> Cc: Jeff S <jsalzman(a)gmail.com> > >>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Next Repair Workshop Oct. 4 & 5 > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> I used a Greaseweazle to both successfully image and recreate 8" > >>>>>>>> disks for > >>>>>>>>> an OSI computer a couple years ago. Since it's flux based, as > long > >>>>>>>> at the > >>>>>>>>> track spacing for the 5110 disks are the same as conventional 8" > >>>>>>>> disks, > >>>>>>>>> then it can theoretically be done using a Greaseweazle setup. I > >>>>>>>> always > >>>>>>>>> bring my Greaseweazle kit with me to Workshops, so I expect to > have > >>>>>>>> mine > >>>>>>>>> available at the next one. > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> I would like to see what the image files are. If the images are > >> pure > >>>>>>>> flux, > >>>>>>>>> then I won't need to do much preparation to try and create a disk > >>>>>>>> from > >>>>>>>>> those images. The Greaseweazle software recognizes quite a few > >>>>>>>> popular (and > >>>>>>>>> uncommon) disk formats, and can recreate the flux transitions on > >> the > >>>>>>>> fly as > >>>>>>>>> it writes the data out to the track. The only caveat is, having a > >>>>>>>> 5110 > >>>>>>>>> available to test out the disks. Greaseweazle works with flux > >>>>>>>> resolutions > >>>>>>>>> down to 25ns, so that might not be an issue, but it would be nice > >> to > >>>>>>>> test > >>>>>>>>> them right away. > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> Jeff Salzman > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> On Mon, Sep 16, 2024 at 11:36 PM Jeffrey Brace via > vcf-midatlantic > >> < > >>>>>>>>> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> There is someone looking to make 8" disks from images that he > has. > >>>>>>>> He > >>>>>>>>>> recently acquired a fully functional IBM 5110-3 (or 5120) with > >> dual > >>>>>>>>> 8-inch > >>>>>>>>>> disk drives. He found the image files to make 6 disks with > various > >>>>>>>>>> applications for this computer. > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> Is there someone that can make the disk images for him and bring > >>>>>>>> to the > >>>>>>>>>> repair workshop? > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> 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 > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>> > >> > >> -- > >> Douglas Crawford > >> VCF Mid-Atlantic Museum Mgr > >> InfoAge Science & History Museums > >> 2201 Marconi Road > >> Wall, NJ 07719 > >> > > > > > > -- > > Bart Hirst > > "This signature will now be eaten up and spit out by Velociraptors." > >

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