February 2025 - vcf-midatlantic

Free rk diskpac on FB
by Bill Degnan 21 Feb '25

21 Feb '25

https://www.facebook.com/share/12E2RMQSUeB/?mibextid=wwXIfr It’s not mine I am just passing along the info. Looks like an rk05 but I don’t know Bill

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$20 antique tv switchboard
by Bill Degnan 20 Feb '25

20 Feb '25

If you have a Facebook account and live in PA maybe you can spring for this $20 antique telephone switchboard? https://www.facebook.com/share/1BZQPzwJ9u/?mibextid=wwXIfr I don’t know the seller but I did notice the price has gone down week after week. Bill Degnan

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College Student in NY looking for old terminals for a film.
by Christian Liendo 17 Feb '25

17 Feb '25

A friend of mine's son is looking at renting some older terminals, preferably working for a college video. They are in LI and was hoping if someone around NY would have them. I have personal computers and the one terminal I had I sold to Ian.

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May Repair Workshop @ InfoAge cancelled
by Jeffrey Brace 13 Feb '25

13 Feb '25

We will all need a break between VCF East and the MARCH Swap Meet. Jeff Brace MARCH Fundraising Manager

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MARCH Hack-A-Thon (March 8 & 9, 2025)
by Jeffrey Brace 13 Feb '25

13 Feb '25

MARCH Hack-a-ThonA 2-Day, 8-Bit Computing Challenge *DATE: *March 8 & 9, 2025 *LOCATION*: InfoAge Science and History Museums, Wall, NJ *Fee*: None *Contact Email*: jeff.salzman(a)vcfed.org Calling all retro computing enthusiasts, programmers, and hackers! The Mid-Atlantic Retro Computing Hobbyists (MARCH) is proud to present the first-ever MARCH Hack-a-Thon, a 2-day, 8-bit computing challenge that will put your skills to the test. The Challenge Using a vintage 8-bit computer system, contestants will have two days to design, develop, and deliver a working project that showcases their programming skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. The project theme will be announced at the start of the contest, and contestants will have to work efficiently and effectively to complete their project within the allotted time frame. Eligible Systems The contest is open to any vintage 8-bit computer system that meets the following criteria: The system must have been first marketed before January 1, 1990. - The system must have a CPU and memory architecture primarily in the spirit of an "8-bit era" computer system. - Examples of eligible systems include, but are not limited to: - Apple II - Commodore 64 - ZX Spectrum - ZX81 and Timex Sinclair 1000 - Atari 8-bit - Texas Instruments TI-99/4A - TRS-80 - Amstrad CPC - MSX - Coleco Adam - Dragon 32/64 - Acorn Atom - BBC Micro - Electron - Enterprise 128 - Jupiter Ace - Oric-1 - SAM Coupé - Sinclair QL - For any other system that may qualify, please indicate the system you wish to use when registering for the contest. MARCH reserves the right to disqualify any system that does not fit the “spirit” of an 8-bit computing system. Rules and Requirements - A maximum of ten (10) contestants will be accepted. Entries will be prioritized and cut off based on the entry submission date. - Contestants must use a native programming tool(s) available for their chosen system. - All programming must be done on the vintage system itself; no cross-compilation or emulation is allowed. - Contestants may use any period-specific programming language or tool available for their system, including but not limited to BASIC, Assembler, FORTRAN, and FORTH. - The cutoff publishing date for period-specific programming tools is December 31, 1999. - For example, if the Apple II system just happened to be graced with a cool Apple II based set of programming tools in October 1997, then that programming tool would be fair to use for this contest. This applies to all eligible contest systems. - The final contest submission must be a standalone application that runs on the vintage system without the need for specialized external hardware or software. - As part of the judging criteria, contestants must provide a copy of their code and any relevant documentation to the contest organizers at the end of the contest period. - The challenge is to use original hardware, with an allowable exception of floppy or tape storage. We understand that disk or tape media is not as reliable as it used to be. If you wish to use original floppy and tape storage, by all means, do so. Flash-based storage will be allowed in a limited capacity. It must be designed to replace original media storage without significant enhancements. For example, storage devices cannot be capable of being bridged to the Internet, i.e Fujinet, Meatloaf, etc. Other stand-alone SD and CF based flash devices may be fine. - Once the contest starts, you won’t be able to download or add additional software tools to work the contest. Make sure you have all the programming and design tools you think you’ll need already on floppies, or pre-installed on your flash storage device. We reserve the right to inspect the content of your floppies and flash storage before the contest starts. - We understand it may be cumbersome to carry around programming guides, like memory maps and other system architecture resources. You may use Internet resources during the contest strictly for research purposes, not for downloading any additional code, data, or files onto your 8-bit computer. - All programming code should be of your own design. Judging Criteria The submissions will be judged by the MARCH Steering Committee members on the following criteria: - Creativity and originality of the project - Technical skill and proficiency in programming the vintage system - Overall quality and completeness of the project - Adherence to the contest rules and requirements Prizes and Recognition There will be three primary winners, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, chosen for the contest. - The primary winners will receive a prize as indicated below, along with recognition on the MARCH website and social media channels. - 1st Place: Their winning entry will be showcased at VCF-East. They will also receive a free three-day ticket to VCF-East 2025, along with a special “Golden Ticket” pass for exclusive entry to shop at Consignment 30 minutes before Consignment opens to the public, along with the privilege of bypassing any Consignment waiting line during open hours (if a line exists). - 2nd Place: Free three-day ticket to VCF-East 2025 and a “Golden Ticket” to wait at the front of the line when Consignment opens, and to bypass any Consignment waiting line during open hours (if a line exists). - 3rd Place: Free three-day ticket to VCF-East 2025. - All contestants who complete the contest, but are not one of the first three prize winners, will also have recognition on the MARCH website and social media channels. Schedule - Contestants may begin to set up their systems at 10:00 AM EST on Saturday, March 8, 2025. - The contest will start on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 12:00 PM EST, running until 8PM Saturday evening. The contest will continue from 9AM to 5PM on Sunday, March 9. Registration - Registration for the contest is free and open to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria. - Contestants must register in advance by filling out the online form at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1...c2ojJ1T_aKjCjzLejcRVpG1XA/viewform?us… <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfM4GE40lGEfo2t_6FVLL_xJc2ojJ1T_aK…> <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfM4GE40lGEfo2t_6FVLL_xJc2ojJ1T_aK…> - VCF officers, VCF management, and MARCH Steering Committee members are not eligible to participate in the contest. Venue - The contest will take place at the InfoAge Science Museum in Wall Township, New Jersey. - Contestants are responsible for bringing their own vintage system, power supply, and any necessary cables or peripherals. - Details for contest day activities (entry into the building, etc.) will be provided to the applicants closer to the contest date. We look forward to seeing your creative and innovative programming projects! Register now and get ready to hack your way to victory!

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OT: Workshop free stuff
by David Gesswein 13 Feb '25

13 Feb '25

Have a Laserjet 5p looking for a new home. Verified it did print the test page using printer buttons. Also a Nexus 10 Android 5.1.1 tablet. email me if interested. Can bring to workshop.

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Can someone please bring a 5170 diagnostic disk?
by Joseph Giliberti 13 Feb '25

13 Feb '25

Greetings, I'm planning on bringing an IBM 5170 to recap and restore this weekend. Can anyone who is attending possibly bring a diagnostic disk so I can get past POST after replacing the battery? Thanks in advance! Regards, Joe Giliberti

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February 15-16 Vintage Computer Workshop
by Jeff Salzman 13 Feb '25

13 Feb '25

Last reminder for this weekend. If you're interested in attending this workshop, please add your name to the document linked below. Repair workshops are events which are open to the general public where members of all levels technical abilities and experience get together to help each other repair vintage computer hardware. Repair workshops are a chance to work with other VCF members to help repair your vintage artifact. We are not there to do repairs for you, only to allow you the facilities and partnership to help you figure out how to repair it. Repair workshops are held about 9 times per year at the InfoAge location in Wall, NJ, 2 times per year at the System Source location. Any questions? Feel free to ask. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nHJHC4fgZdZZocCe9gkG-Vek5HlpDfyjCmG… Jeff Salzman Events Manager / Steering Committee Member Mid-Atlantic Retro Computing Hobbyists (MARCH)

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RetroBrite at VCF East
by Jeffrey Brace 12 Feb '25

12 Feb '25

Hey everyone, Javier can't make it to VCF East. Is there anyone else that can teach a RetroBrite class? Thanks! Jeff Brace VCF East Showrunner

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Vintage Computer Festival Montreal Survey
by Jeffrey Brace 12 Feb '25

12 Feb '25

We invite you to take part in a brief, anonymous survey about VCF Montreal. Click here https://bit.ly/vcfm2026pre-en Nous vous invitons à participer à un bref sondage anonyme sur VCF Montréal. Cliquez ici https://bit.ly/vcfm2026pre-fr We are creating a new Vintage Computer Festival franchise. We are in the very early stages. DATE: January 25 & 26, 2026. LOCATION: Montreal, QC, Canada Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President VCF East Showrunner MARCH Fundraising Manager Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity https://vcfed.org/ <http://www.vcfed.org/>

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