- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

Museum report
by Evan Koblentz 01 May '16

01 May '16

Doug and I were at the museum today. There were a good amount of visitors including my dad who hadn't been there since a few years ago. Doug learned about the Mimeo, and we have a productive discussion about how to do some fundraising. Corey texted to say he acquired a toolkit for our workshop.

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LSSM outing
by Mike Loewen 01 May '16

01 May '16

I had a great time at Dave McGuire's Large Scale Systems Museum (LSSM) on Saturday. Lots of interested folks touring the museum. Several Federation members in attendance, including (obviously) Dave McGuire, Matt Patoray, Connor Krukosky, Sridhar Ayengar and wife Roopa, Ian Primus, Jeff Jonas and Dan Roganti. Corey Little was just down the street with his pop-up CP/Museum. We managed to sneak in a little work on one of Dave's newly acquired systems, an HP 2117F mini. The power supply checked out (and no foam!), but entering a program from the front panel indicated some sort of memory issues. The system came with a 2102E High Speed memory controller, four 64KW HS memory boards, M.E.M. board, Memory Protect and D.C.P.C. board. The I/O cage had the Time Base Generator, Firmware Expansion Module (FEM), BACI, Terminal interface and 13037C disc controller interface. All it needs is an HP-IB interface (12821) and possibly some additional ROMs, and it can run RTE-6/VM. Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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OT: narrow LED flood bulb
by Evan Koblentz 01 May '16

01 May '16

I'm doing a personal project unrelated to computers. I need to use an LED flood light bulb 1.5 inches at its widest point. Google says to buy a bulb size called "R12" commonly found in elevators. The project will use ordinary 110V AC. What do I use for the bulb socket? I'm having difficulty finding a straight answer.

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September Workshop?
by Jeffrey Brace 30 Apr '16

30 Apr '16

I was thinking September 17/18. 10/11 is already taken.

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August Workshop will be Aug. 20/21
by Jeffrey Brace 30 Apr '16

30 Apr '16

The August workshop will be on August 20 & 21.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] MAC with squashed screen (william degnan)
by Earl Baugh 29 Apr '16

29 Apr '16

> > I am thinking about working to repair the display on my '84 MAC, > occasionally the horizontal is "squashed" although for now it recovers. > Was this covered in any VCF E classes this or last year? > > http://vintagecomputer.net/browse_thread.cfm?id=95 > > I assume there are a few places on the web that describe MAC repairs like > these, but any comments as to what to target are welcome and will save me > some time. > > b > Bill, Just an FYI, these two books : Dead Mac Scrolls ( http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Mac-Scrolls-MacIntosh-Thousands/dp/0940235250) and Mac Classic & Se: Repair and Upgrade Secrets ( http://www.amazon.com/Mac-Classic-Se-Upgrade-Secrets/dp/1566090229) Are extremely useful books for this type of repair. I use them both a lot on all of the unibody Macs that I'm fixing. Details on what parts drive what in ways that are fairly simple to understand (I just need the guidance as to what part to replace as well... not an EE... I can solder well enough for any sort of repair on these :-) ) I've also got some things for stuck drives (and sources for the gear that can go as well). Earl

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August workshop date?
by Jeffrey Brace 29 Apr '16

29 Apr '16

How about August 20/21? This spaces it out from the last event. August 27/28 are not available.

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July Workshop Date will be July 16/17
by Jeffrey Brace 29 Apr '16

29 Apr '16

The July workshop will be July 16/17. I realize this is one week before HOPE, but I want one more weekend to work on the Commodore 64 robot in case I don't get it working at the June workshop. July 9/10, 23/24, 30/31 were unavailable. I don't think anyone would want to do July 2/3 because it is a holiday weekend.

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not just another Apple II....
by Evan Koblentz 28 Apr '16

28 Apr '16

Took 11 years but someone is finally giving us a black BH Apple. That's all I know for now.

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Running Windows 1.04 in emulation
by Richard Cini 28 Apr '16

28 Apr '16

All — I’m progressing well with the Windows 1.04 SDK -- I’ve gotten all of the binders and books scanned. The software is fully captured and I’m trying to create a “build environment” for this as a demo. I’ve tried to get Windows to work properly in various combinations of virtual environments with limited success. I’ve used Parallels on the Mac, VirtualBox on the Mac and PC, Bochs on the PC and Microsoft Virtual PC on the PC. I have a complete log of my findings if anyone’s interested. Only Parallels on the Mac worked completely. On Microsoft VirtualPC under Windows 7, it almost worked, but button clicks didn’t register. Bochs was the worst performer. Most of the issues have to do with capturing the mouse — Windows 1 predated PS/2 mice so a mouse has to be mapped to the virtual COM port or the InPort bus interface, which the virtualizations seemingly do with limited success and not at all, respectively. Some had problems with MSDOS 3.31 diskette images or 32MB virtual hard drives (the limit for DOS 3.31). Others had issues booting Windows under DOS 5. Has anyone successfully gotten Windows 1 to work within any virtual environment with working mouse support? If so, what was the exact software configuration so that I can replicate it here? Thanks! Rich -- Rich Cini http://www.classiccmp.org/cini http://www.classiccmp.org/altair32

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Big rescue!
by Evan Koblentz 28 Apr '16

28 Apr '16

We haven't had any huge awesome big-iron rescues for the museum lately. There's nothing in the hopper, honest! Just that whenever I say it out loud, something tends to come up. :) So here's hoping...

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Decserver 300 PSU schematic?
by David Hoelzer 28 Apr '16

28 Apr '16

Does anyone have any thoughts on where I could find a schematic for a Decserver 300 power supply? I just picked up a 300 but there’s something wrong in the PSU. The capacitors look ok, though they are quite old. Normally I’d just replace them, but there’s pretty much zero output even though I see no fried components anywhere and there are 120 volts coming in. Thanks!

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MAC with squashed screen
by william degnan 28 Apr '16

28 Apr '16

I am thinking about working to repair the display on my '84 MAC, occasionally the horizontal is "squashed" although for now it recovers. Was this covered in any VCF E classes this or last year? http://vintagecomputer.net/browse_thread.cfm?id=95 I assume there are a few places on the web that describe MAC repairs like these, but any comments as to what to target are welcome and will save me some time. b -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm>

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updated teletype slideshow pdf format
by william degnan 28 Apr '16

28 Apr '16

For those of you who did not notice in the link to event pictures, also uploaded was the slideshow from Friday's VCF East Teletype class. This is an updated version to last year's class, edited and with more slides. 2Mb PDF http://vintagecomputer.net/vcf11/teletype/ Bill -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm>

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FYI, update website - getting old
by Dan Roganti 27 Apr '16

27 Apr '16

FYI, its a few weeks behind already :) http://vcfed.org

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VCF's HOPE exhibit
by Herb Johnson 27 Apr '16

27 Apr '16

> Evan wrote: > > For the [HOPE] exhibit, I would like to show vintage computer robotics.... > fix up our HERO....a Minimover arm can beg/borrow/steal ...We > also have a robot kit for the Commodore 64.. Are > there any other products we should consider for this exhibit? It should > be limited to 70s/80s (assuming there's nothing for the PDP-8!) > > PS - I found a lot of * computerized * robots -- those with CPUs inside > -- but for this exhibit I'd like to focus on robots * connected * to > computers, so we can show the computation side of things. > > end quote. Well, a quick comment is: show a PDP-8 with a Calcomp plotter. It's robotic, and computational, and "has the additional advantage of being true". Minicomputers ran robots in the 70's - that's all they had! for some time at least. But you're not gonna haul a minicomputer to HOPE. And certainly the HERO and Minimover and items are fine. But I object to your notion linking 1970's micros & "robots connected to computers.. for computation". I'm lecturing deliberately, so you have something to say to Hope attendees who would mock what seems like an Arduino on wheels. I'll remind you - I mean them - there were many more computers in private and small-company hands in the 80's than in the 70's - in the 70's there wasn't so much to connect a robot TO. And a micro board kit that ran motors STILL cost a few hundred dollars in the 1970's (when that would buy a decent used car). But buying a micro board that actually DID something physical, not just "blink lights", was a good excuse (to your boss, your spouse) to buy a microcomputer board, to learn the technology. Also, people in the 70's used such micros to run stuff - I don't know if you'd call a sprinkler system a "robot", but it's the same sort of "computations" and hardware as to move an arm or drive a motor. And many small manufacturers (most WERE small, then) bought single-board microcomputers, to run production equipment - a KIM could run a printing press for instance. here's such a card, from the late 1970's, a small-company product by Lee Hart. http://www.retrotechnology.com/memship/mem_basys.html this could run on solar power! Lee Hart attached motors and switches to it, put it in a box, and called it "ITSABOT". I don't have a photo of that product. Lee sells the 21st century equivalent board today, as a $89 kit. In other words: the 70's was a different world of microprocessors, as the 1980's would be a world where microcomputers became accepted. If someone at Hope is disappointed that a cigar-box robot on wheels "just" follows a white line and can avoid obstacles; explain that microprocessors were new technology, not cheap, and these devices taught the people who made the smarter/cheaper/faster stuff a decade or two later. "People don't mock babies for being toddlers", if you want a quicker reply. But if Hope is not a venue for such things and such lectures, that's your decision, show the Hero, it's pretty impressive for the era. Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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More VCF East 2016 photos
by Jameel Akari 26 Apr '16

26 Apr '16

Quick and dirty, haven't sorted them all yet, and they're not all winners: http://www.bithose.com/VCF_E_2016/ This will get updated, hopefully showing descriptions & tags. I decided now was a good time to switch to Adobe Lightroom, and, uh, it takes a while to really grok. ;) -- Jameel Akari

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Floppy Days Podcast #58 - Ralph Rees, Editor, VAST TI-99 Newsletter Interview
by Randall Kindig 26 Apr '16

26 Apr '16

http://floppydays.libsyn.com/floppy-days-58-ralph-rees-editor-vast-ti-99-ne… <http://floppydays.libsyn.com/floppy-days-58-ralph-rees-editor-vast-ti-99-ne…> Ralph Rees, Editor, VAST TI-99 Newsletter Hi, everyone and welcome to episode 58 of the Floppy Days Podcast. I’m Randy Kindig. To sort of finish off the TI-99 series of episodes I’ve been running, I have an interview-only show for you this month. This interview is with Ralph Rees, president and newsletter editor of the VAlley of the Sun TI-99ers (VAST) back in the 1990’s. He produced his high quality newsletter directly on a TI-99 system and received quite a few compliments about it while it was still being published. Ralph still has an extensive TI-99 collection today. This interview was conducted on June 7, 2015. Randall Kindig host Floppy Days Podcast floppydays.com

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] HERO batteries
by Corey Little 26 Apr '16

26 Apr '16

>Those 6V 5Ah sealed lead-acid cells look like the correct size. Two in the head on either side of the sonar system, two between the wheels? And what kind of operation time have you been able to get from your Hero 1 as a result? I think we might have a winner. Actually 3 down low between the wheels, for center of gravity, and one up higher to counterbalance the weight of the arm. The original batteries were about 6v lantern size, 2.5"x2.5"x4", 4Ah. The batteries I have are that size but 5Ah. The ones I referenced earlier on Amazon are rectangular, very slightly wider at 2.8"x1.9"x4". I'm not in front of the Hero now, but if recollection serves that should be well within the available space in all locations. As far as performance, we haven't gotten far enough with our restorations yet to push the battery capacity. Coming soon... ;-) -Corey L. Curator, cpmuseum

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] HERO batteries
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 26 Apr '16

26 Apr '16

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >> I've already polled the Hero robot owners group about what modern >batteries a Hero 1 can use > >My inclination is to remove the HERO battery, open it up (nearly >Dremeling is necessary), and have it rebuilt by Batteries Plus using >comparable NiCads with modern amperage. That's what I did for an IBM >Simon phone last year and it worked fantastically well. Rebuilt the two >halves of the pack with epoxy and then sanded it flat. > >Alex, let's talk (off-list) about when you can make another trip up >here. http://www.mogixaccessories.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/battery-super-ma…

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HOPE -- who's going?
by Evan Koblentz 26 Apr '16

26 Apr '16

Who already purchased or plans to purchase HOPE tickets? We anticipate being there Saturday/Sunday. It would be helpful if we can make scheduled shifts and actually stick to that plan :) so that we don't have to get expensive hotel rooms or leave our stuff unguarded overnight.

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SpaceCommand test, Multi-Screen, Multi-Player network game[video]
by Dan Roganti 25 Apr '16

25 Apr '16

SpaceCommand test [video] I promised some of you that I would let you know this This is the first test of Multi-Screen feature on this Multi-Player network game After a few months of glitches and brain-farts, this is working This is basically one step above Multi-Player This allows you to interact with any player in this virtual world The virtual world is 8x screen wide on the C64 = 2560 pixels One of the biggest glitches I came across was using Broadcast packets. The problem slowed me down for a couple months. that's why it was only 90% done All of the network communication is done with UDP. I found out eventually, that you can't use a consumer grade network switch Because they don't let you provision the server to prevent loopbacks So the server was getting inundated with it's own broadcast packets. Almost as if there was a DDoS on the server. So much so, the network lag in the game from the Server to the Players, was as long as 2min - we had to time to believe it :) I still have another glitch with Players 6,7,8 The missile can only fly on 5 screens at the moment There's an issue with receiving packets on those players And there's some anomaly on the Y axis when the missile flies in each screen There's some jitter as if it's dropping the LSB bit somewhere. The player screens are small cause the screenshot extend over 2 monitors I'll have to make another video later with my tablet so I can zoom in closer I turned off the soundfx for now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr1F8PMQd9I Dan

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VCF's HOPE exhibit
by Evan Koblentz 25 Apr '16

25 Apr '16

HOPE is July 22-24 at its usual spot -- the Hotel Pennsylvania, in New York City. VCF will have an exhibit there. For the exhibit, I would like to show vintage computer robotics. Alex P. pledged to help us fix up our HERO. I remember Bill S. said he's got a Minimover arm, so hopefully we can beg/borrow/steal one of those. :) We also have a robot kit for the Commodore 64. Have to see if it works. Are there any other products we should consider for this exhibit? It should be limited to 70s/80s (assuming there's nothing for the PDP-8!)

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Commodore Pet in pop music video? Or proptronics
by Ethan 25 Apr '16

25 Apr '16

Popular music video has what I think is a Commodore Pet that has been rebadged, or is it one of those plastic proptronics things that the furniture stores used? I see a classic mac in the video as well. Pet Keyboard looks real but I don't think they did ANSI graphics right? Capital Cities / I sold my bed but not my stereo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXqqWbnboJ0

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Kaypro 2X boot disk?
by Steven Michelsen 25 Apr '16

25 Apr '16

I just bought a Kaypro 2X on ebay - of course it comes with NO boot disk! Does anyone have a compatible boot floppy for this machine? I would be more than glad to send blank disks to you and a self addressed stamped envelope! Thanks! Steve

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museum report
by Evan Koblentz 25 Apr '16

25 Apr '16

I went to the museum today for normal operating hours. Happy to report that I didn't do anything at all :) except clean our workbench and generally spruce things up a little. There's already a decent list of stuff that needs building and/or fixing. We will start working on that stuff in a few weeks. For now, we all deserve plenty of rest!

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June Workshop - June 11
by Jeffrey Brace 24 Apr '16

24 Apr '16

June 4 & 29 are unavailable. And June 19 is Father's Day. So unless someone objects with some good reason, I will put in the reservation for June 11/12 for the workshop. --- Jeff Brace

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MMJ cables for cheap
by David Hoelzer 24 Apr '16

24 Apr '16

If you are in need of DEC MMJ cables, I have some good news and bad news. First, the good news: http://www.amazon.com/Flat-Modular-Cable-RJ12-6x6MMJ/dp/B000AA2SL4?ie=UTF8&… <http://www.amazon.com/Flat-Modular-Cable-RJ12-6x6MMJ/dp/B000AA2SL4?ie=UTF8&…> The picture is definitely an offset key (MMJ) six strand cable, 7 feet long, for only $3.92. The bad news… It’s not actually an MMJ, it’s just a regular MJ (Modular Jack). Even so, there’s still good news. With some strategic dremeling it is completely possible to trim one side of the MJ down so that it will fit quite well into a DEC MMJ socket. :)

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LSSM event announcement
by Dave McGuire 23 Apr '16

23 Apr '16

[I'm sending this around to several mailing lists] Most of you have heard of the Large Scale Systems Museum, a public museum in the Pittsburgh area that is focused on minicomputers, mainframes, and supercomputers. LSSM opened its doors to the public for the first time in October of 2015, coinciding with a city-wide festival. We have been doing tours by appointment since then, averaging 3-4 tours per month. On April 30th, there will be another such festival here in town, called "New Kensington Better Block". It's a large block party that will encompass much of the downtown area. There will be more than sixty street vendors offering food, handmade crafts from local artists, and just about everything else you can think of. There will be two stages' worth of live music, games, a beer garden featuring great brews from the historic Penn Brewery, lots of kids' activities like face-painting and caricature artists, drawings and raffles, the grand openings of three new businesses, and lots of other great stuff. Another star of the show, Pittsburgh-based C/PMuseum, as a guest of LSSM, will also be returning to Better Block with a special exhibit this time covering the history of the world's largest technology company, Apple Computer. From the humble beginnings of two friends named Steve, through today, Apple's 40th anniversary. See running examples of the actual machines that launched Apple in the 1970s and 1980s. In addition, the gaming wing of C/PMuseum will feature a display with running examples of game consoles from the earliest generations through the most modern 3D immersive virtual reality. Where else can you start out playing on a Magnavox Odyssey, and end up inside the VR world of an HTC Vive? The C/PMuseum pop-up at New Kensington Better Block, that's where! The LSSM will be participating in that event just as we did last October, by being open to the public all day. (I'm aware that this is very short notice; for that I apologize) Many of the Very Large Computers here will be running and demonstrated on a rotation throughout the day. Come and hack on DEC PDP-8, PDP-11, and VAX systems, IBM System/36s, and everything in between. See Cray supercomputers, DECsystem-20s, IBM System/370 and System/390 mainframes, and real rarities such as a Symbolics Lisp Machine, and minicomputers from the 1960s such as an HP 2116B (one of their first!) and a Varian 620-L. See a Heath H-1, a tube-based analog computer from 1956. See nearly all of the IBM "midrange" line. See how SSP, the operating system from the IBM System/36, can run in a virtual environment on an AS/400. See what an 800-pound hard drive looks like. All are invited! The LSSM is located at 924 4th Avenue, New Kensington, PA 15068, right in the middle of the block party area. New Kensington is about ten minutes' drive from the Allegheny Valley exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Exit 48. It's a very easy area to reach, and there are a number of decent and inexpensive hotels nearby. I hope you can make it. Once again I apologize for the short notice. And of course if you cannot make it, feel free to contact the LSSM via email to info(a)lssmuseum.org or on Facebook (search for "Large Scale Systems Museum") to set up a visit at your leisure. You can also see some photos of our first big public opening on that page. Please feel free to forward this message to anyone whom you think might be interested. Thanks, -Dave McGuire President/Curator, LSSM -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] MMJ cables for cheap
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 23 Apr '16

23 Apr '16

David Hoelzer via vcf-midatlantic writes: >If you are in need of DEC MMJ cables, I have some good news and bad = >news. First, the good news: > >= >http://www.amazon.com/Flat-Modular-Cable-RJ12-6x6MMJ/dp/B000AA2SL4?ie=3DUT= >F8&psc=3D1&redirect=3Dtrue&ref_=3Doh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00 = ><http://www.amazon.com/Flat-Modular-Cable-RJ12-6x6MMJ/dp/B000AA2SL4?ie=3DU= >TF8&psc=3D1&redirect=3Dtrue&ref_=3Doh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00> > >The picture is definitely an offset key (MMJ) six strand cable, 7 feet = >long, for only $3.92. > >The bad news=E2=80=A6 It=E2=80=99s not actually an MMJ, it=E2=80=99s = >just a regular MJ (Modular Jack). Even so, there=E2=80=99s still good = >news. With some strategic dremeling it is completely possible to trim = >one side of the MJ down so that it will fit quite well into a DEC MMJ = >socket. :) Why? MMJ plugs are still available even if complete cables might be a rare find. Make your own by crimping an MMJ plug on a piece of flat 6-conductor cable. Flip the cable over and crimp on the other end. Done! If you have to buy them: http://www.cabledepot.com/05MCPhoneMMJ.html Me? I just open up one of many boxes of them and put one out, even though I have ample MMJ plugs and crimper tools to make them. I only manufacture my own if/when I want a cable of a specific length to avoid having to take up the excess with zip-tied loops.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] MMJ cables for cheap
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 23 Apr '16

23 Apr '16

David Riley via vcf-midatlantic writes: >On Apr 23, 2016, at 3:11 PM, Dave Wade via vcf-midatlantic = ><vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >=20 > >Dave, >=20 > I think several folks have the crimp tools and jacks/plugs >needed to = make MMJ leads. The problem I have had is finding 9 or >25-pin adaptors = when I want to plug into a non-DEC terminal. The last >cables I made = were "bodged" from a similar cable. I cut one RJ12 off >and replaced it = with an MMJ plug, so I ended up with an MMJ<->RJ12 >lead. I then tweaked = an RJ12 DE-9 Socket to connect to a laptop with >serial port. In fact = these leads are a cheap source 6-Way cable... > >DE9 and DB25 to 8p8c adaptors with completely customizable pin = >selections are easily available from Monoprice, though they insist on = >calling them DB9 and RJ45 (you really DON'T want actual RJ45 going into >= your motherboard; those buffers are tolerant, but 50v is a lot): > >http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=3D1152 = ><http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=3D1152> >http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=3D1159 = ><http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=3D1159> Those are all 8-pin modular vis-a-vis RJ45. Blackbox sells MMJ adaptor kits akin to the 8-pin kits you posted. https://www.blackbox.com/store/US/SearchResults.aspx?term=mmj >Making 8p8c->MMJ cables is really the best way to go, especially with = >the presence of these little D-sub adaptors. I beg to differ.

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July Workshop Date?
by Jeffrey Brace 23 Apr '16

23 Apr '16

While I'm at it What does everyone think about July 16/17 for another workshop?

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Looking ahead to future workshop dates
by Jeffrey Brace 23 Apr '16

23 Apr '16

I'd like to reserve workshop dates for the next few months before the big area becomes unavailable. Unlike some people who like to wait until the last minute, I'm a planner and like to get things done way in advance and get them off my mind and prepare. August 20/21 is a good date. Any objections? September 17/18 is also good. Any objections? October, November, December are difficult because of InfoAge Base of Terror and Holiday Train show. It would have to be a smaller group in a smaller area if there was enough interest. December Festivus is open for now, but usually earlier in the month is better, how about Dec. 3/4?

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Tall display case needed for museum
by Evan Koblentz 23 Apr '16

23 Apr '16

Everyone, I'm hunting for the perfect display case for our ENIAC/UNIVAC exhibit. Currently we are using a black wooden case that's about 4 ft. tall x 4 ft. wide x 2 ft. deep. But the bottom 2 feet are storage; only the top half is a display space. It looks like this: http://www.achievedisplay.com/prodimages/half-glass-display-case-l.gif except the bottom is black. It has three redeeming qualities: it's lighted, it's on casters, and the inside back doors are mirrored. Anyway, we have more artifacts that should be shown and no extra floor space, so we could use something taller with multiple levels. What I envision: - shelves at (approx.) 2, 3, and 4 ft. tall - mirrored and locking back doors - all shelves lighted - black or metal exterior - hidden casters on all corners - glass or plexi front Does anyone have something like this or know where one could be obtained inexpensively? I could make it (stop laughing!) but the materials would be expensive.

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OT: I have too many phone systems
by Jason Perkins 23 Apr '16

23 Apr '16

Guys, I have a problem. I have too many PBXs and not enough space to put them in. System 1: AT&T Partner Plus. R4.1 processor card. Has one 206E card giving 6 stations and 2 CO lines, and a 200E card giving 2 additional CO lines. Has a Partner Mail VS 4.0 2 line voicemail card. Also comes with an original 2 port Partner Mail system. This is a 386 PC running concurrent CPM! I have several display and non display phones for this system. One nice thing about the AT&T Partner is that all station ports can drive both a MLS system phone and an analog / bell station. One bad thing about these early partner systems is that they forget their configuration when the nicad battery on the processor board runs out, but the programming is so simple it doesn't take long to put it back in. System 2: NEC UX5000. Has 16pt digital station card, 8 CO line card, and 4 port analog station card. Also has UX Mail card, however the CF card containing the OS died :( Has 4 display phones, one with a button sidecar. These are nice backlit displays, and the phone buttons light up too! If you buy a license from NEC this system will support IP phones. System 3: Comdial FXII. Has 2x 16pt small display station digital cards, 8 pt CO card, and an E&M tie line card. Also has battery backup cabinet, dead batteries removed. I administer a similar system at my day job, and really like the Comdial equipment. If this system had an analog station card I'd be more tempted to keep it. Bonus Item 1: Adtran TotalAccess 850. Has 6x 4pt FXS cards. This takes a T1 in and spits out 24 analog POTS lines. Has battery backup cabinet attached, dead batteries removed. If you're interested let me know and we'll talk price. I want this stuff gone, so my pricing will be very reasonable. I'm located in Springfield VA, just outside Washington DC. Thanks, -- Jason Perkins 313 355 0085

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Building a RAM Board for the Ohio Scientific Bus
by Systems Glitch 23 Apr '16

23 Apr '16

As promised, I've designed, built, and written up a project for putting a modern static RAM on the OSI bus: http://www.glitchwrks.com/2016/04/23/32k-ram-for-osi Complete with schematics, explanations of the various blocks of the circuit, and assembly tips! This was of course built on one of the clone 495 boards I had made. The linked design is a 32K board based around the common 62256 32K x 8 SRAM, which follows JEDEC pinouts. There's a number of compatible ICs, and you can also use ROM if you like. Memory is split up into 4K segments which can be individually enabled or disabled via DIP switch, allowing you to map around existing memory without disabling it. Pretty simple to build even using point-to-point wiring. I'll be working on adding a second SRAM and expanding the board to 64K this weekend. Another writeup will follow with details on that process. The upper 32K will be switchable like the lower 32K, to allow mapping around I/O devices and optionally enabling that 8K between 0xD000 - 0xE000 that CP/M wants on the 510 CPU board. I designed the circuit so that a Ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM) can be swapped in, with the addition of a write protect circuit. I'll cover that in a later writeup. Is this the sort of thing people would like to see turned into a proper board? I did the schematic in KiCad, so I'd be half the way to creating a board from the prototype. I can do a small run of them and provide either assembled/tested boards or kits. Thanks, Jonathan

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amiga 500 replacement drive wanted
by william degnan 23 Apr '16

23 Apr '16

Anyone have a replacement Epson SMD-400? I have a customer who sent me an Amiga with a bad drive. She also bought another drive, that one is bad too. I am also looking possibly for an upgrade ROM for the Amiga, so I can boot off an external drive instead..These are easier to find. b -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm>

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FS: More Ohio Scientific 495 Boards
by Systems Glitch 22 Apr '16

22 Apr '16

link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/272173918152 Buy it Now for $100, feel free to make an offer! $100 is slightly less than I have in each board. These are the three remaining spares from my prototype run. I'll use their sales to determine if/when I'm going to do another run -- don't want to get stuck with a ton of protoboards and be out the money. *** If you want one of these, let me know! *** I'd be happy to keep them as a stock item, but I don't think there's going to be huge demand for them. Thanks, Jonathan

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VCF East - Thanks!
by Blatboy 22 Apr '16

22 Apr '16

I've been lurking on the list here for a few months and finally made it out. Just wanted to quickly tell you how much I enjoyed VCF East. It was my first time to come to one, or to any event like this. Up to this point, I've not talked to many folks in person that share my interests in this field, so it was a rare treat. I'm going to try to make some more events in the future if schedule allows. Walter Hawkes http://www.jwalterhawkes.com http://www.blatboy.com like to know where/when I'm playing? Click here <http://www.blatomaster.com/mlist.php> to sign up for my list, and let the babble begin.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] VCF East XI....pics
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 22 Apr '16

22 Apr '16

william degnan via vcf-midatlantic writes: >> I saw those yesterday when you posted a link to your pix. I also see that >> I made the background in the IEEE's video report and I almost didn't make >> it there on Sunday. >> >> >I am glad you did, you really helped me with useful updates to my MicroVAX, >DECnet, and understanding how to set the configuration, queues, files, >networking, and so on. I was amazed my MicroVAX SMTP routing was being >hijacked already. I need to sure that up. > >I have already set things back for service, now with my new VT220, to >continue this project. You, as well as the rest of the internet, would be better served if you'd update/upgrade VMS and that Multinet installation on your machine. There are way too many nefarious types looking to exploit any system as soon as it is connected to the internet, as you were witness to on Sunday. There are many more safeguards in the recent versions that would serve you well.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] VCF East XI....pics
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 22 Apr '16

22 Apr '16

Dan Roganti via vcf-midatlantic writes: >On Thu, Apr 21, 2016 at 1:25 AM, Dan Roganti <ragooman(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> I posted a few pics It's still a rough cut, no title, no descriptions >> I was going to add these later, using the info from the exhibitors page >> on VCFed I didn't get pics of the classes since they were in parallel >> tracks oddly enough, a lot of the exhibitor pics don't include the >> exhibitor don't tell Evan you weren't at your booth :) >> http://www.rogtronics.net/blog/?page_id=3D688 >> Dan > > Vaxman, you're in there too in the deepest concentration :) > starting on the 33rd row I saw those yesterday when you posted a link to your pix. I also see that I made the background in the IEEE's video report and I almost didn't make it there on Sunday.

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Some post VCF East press
by Tony Bogan 21 Apr '16

21 Apr '16

http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/geek-life/history/theyre-alive-vintage-c… Sent from my iPhone

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] IEEE Spectrum article...
by Douglas Crawford 21 Apr '16

21 Apr '16

Great press. Thanks for pushing that out right away. On Thu, Apr 21, 2016 at 11:19 AM, Bill Sudbrink via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > > http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/geek-life/history/theyre-alive-vintage-co > mputer-fans-keep-the-great-machines-of-the-past-running > > For those who could not attend, you can see the Cyclops > in operation and see that still photos don't do justice > to the image displayed. Cyclops at around 45 seconds in. > > Bill S. > > >

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IEEE Spectrum article...
by Bill Sudbrink 21 Apr '16

21 Apr '16

http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/geek-life/history/theyre-alive-vintage-co mputer-fans-keep-the-great-machines-of-the-past-running For those who could not attend, you can see the Cyclops in operation and see that still photos don't do justice to the image displayed. Cyclops at around 45 seconds in. Bill S.

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Anyone bringing IBM 3270 related items to VCF?
by Jason Perkins 21 Apr '16

21 Apr '16

Is anyone bringing a machine which uses 3270 protocols over coax? I have an AppleLine 3270 adapter and I'd love to know if it works. Thanks, -- Jason Perkins

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LSSM event announcement
by Dave McGuire 21 Apr '16

21 Apr '16

[I'm sending this around to several mailing lists] Most of you have heard of the Large Scale Systems Museum, a public museum in the Pittsburgh area that is focused on minicomputers, mainframes, and supercomputers. LSSM opened its doors to the public for the first time in October of 2015, coinciding with a city-wide festival. We have been doing tours by appointment since then, averaging 3-4 tours per month. On April 30th, there will be another such festival here in town, called "New Kensington Better Block". It's a large block party that will encompass much of the downtown area. There will be more than sixty street vendors offering food, handmade crafts from local artists, and just about everything else you can think of. There will be two stages' worth of live music, games, a beer garden featuring great brews from the historic Penn Brewery, lots of kids' activities like face-painting and caricature artists, drawings and raffles, the grand openings of three new businesses, and lots of other great stuff. Another star of the show, Pittsburgh-based C/PMuseum, as a guest of LSSM, will also be returning to Better Block with a special exhibit this time covering the history of the world's largest technology company, Apple Computer. From the humble beginnings of two friends named Steve, through today, Apple's 40th anniversary. See running examples of the actual machines that launched Apple in the 1970s and 1980s. In addition, the gaming wing of C/PMuseum will feature a display with running examples of game consoles from the earliest generations through the most modern 3D immersive virtual reality. Where else can you start out playing on a Magnavox Odyssey, and end up inside the VR world of an HTC Vive? The C/PMuseum pop-up at New Kensington Better Block, that's where! The LSSM will be participating in that event just as we did last October, by being open to the public all day. (I'm aware that this is very short notice; for that I apologize) Many of the Very Large Computers here will be running and demonstrated on a rotation throughout the day. Come and hack on DEC PDP-8, PDP-11, and VAX systems, IBM System/36s, and everything in between. See Cray supercomputers, DECsystem-20s, IBM System/370 and System/390 mainframes, and real rarities such as a Symbolics Lisp Machine, and minicomputers from the 1960s such as an HP 2116B (one of their first!) and a Varian 620-L. See a Heath H-1, a tube-based analog computer from 1956. See nearly all of the IBM "midrange" line. See how SSP, the operating system from the IBM System/36, can run in a virtual environment on an AS/400. See what an 800-pound hard drive looks like. All are invited! The LSSM is located at 924 4th Avenue, New Kensington, PA 15068, right in the middle of the block party area. New Kensington is about ten minutes' drive from the Allegheny Valley exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Exit 48. It's a very easy area to reach, and there are a number of decent and inexpensive hotels nearby. I hope you can make it. Once again I apologize for the short notice. And of course if you cannot make it, feel free to contact the LSSM via email to info(a)lssmuseum.org or on Facebook (search for "Large Scale Systems Museum") to set up a visit at your leisure. You can also see some photos of our first big public opening on that page. Please feel free to forward this message to anyone whom you think might be interested. Thanks, -Dave McGuire President/Curator, LSSM -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA

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June Repair Workshop
by Jeffrey Brace 20 Apr '16

20 Apr '16

I'm looking ahead for a good date for the June workshop. I'm thinking June 4-5. Does anyone know if any dates in June that would conflict with any other events?

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Here it is, but come see it in person at VCF East
by Bill Dromgoole 20 Apr '16

20 Apr '16

Looks great. Looking forward to seeing it in person. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Sudbrink via vcf-midatlantic" <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> To: "'vcf-midatlantic'" <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> Cc: "Bill Sudbrink" <wh.sudbrink(a)verizon.net> Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2016 9:29 PM Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] Here it is, but come see it in person at VCF East > Hi, > > Decapped chip (via X-Acto) (Mostek, 1976 date code, TYPE B): > > http://wsudbrink.dyndns.org:8080/images/cyclops-latest/P4140002.JPG > > All wired up: > > http://wsudbrink.dyndns.org:8080/images/cyclops-latest/P4140003.JPG > > Money shot (just like Popular Electronics): > > http://wsudbrink.dyndns.org:8080/images/cyclops-latest/P4140004.JPG > > Test target: > > http://wsudbrink.dyndns.org:8080/images/cyclops-latest/P4140005.JPG > > Looks good: > > http://wsudbrink.dyndns.org:8080/images/cyclops-latest/P4140008.JPG > > How about a hand?: > > http://wsudbrink.dyndns.org:8080/images/cyclops-latest/P4140009.JPG > > By the way, my hand looks much better than that, the camera "freezes" > a frame which doesn't look so good. > > Bill S. > > >

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OSI Challenger III Clean-Up
by Systems Glitch 20 Apr '16

20 Apr '16

Just finished writing up my clean-up of my Challenger III: http://www.glitchwrks.com/2016/04/20/challenger-3-cleanup Apparently it was in our front room in NY when our brilliant contractor cut the old unused chimney off -- without covering the fireplaces! There was a nice thick coat of soot and lime mortar dust on everything inside. I had to disassemble the whole thing, remove the power supplies, et c. Getting ready to write up how to build a RAM board using one of the OSI 495 prototype boards I duplicated. In the process, I created a little copy of the OSI logo from a scan of an old print ad: http://www.glitchwrks.com/images/osi/osi_logo.png I've got the full-size (500+ px wide) original as a Gimp XCF file if anyone needs it. Thanks, Jonathan

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Citizen Receipt Printers in Consignment
by Systems Glitch 20 Apr '16

20 Apr '16

Anyone know who had the little receipt printers in the consignment area? I bought one and started working on it tonight, might like to get another as a parts unit. Thanks, Jonathan

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