- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

Posting Correction
by svcatitc＠aol.com 28 Sep '20

28 Sep '20

My last Museum Report post concerning Wednesday Sept 21, had certain text that may have been misconstrued as derogatory, or criticism given in bad taste.. That was certainly not my intent. I am sorry for any malice or insult being taken by the posting. Please accept my most humble apologies. Bill Inderrieden

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VCF East 2020 Virtual Show update 9/27/20
by Jeffrey Brace 27 Sep '20

27 Sep '20

Hey everyone, Just wanted to give you an update for those wondering and waiting. I am currently waiting for the last of the videos to be submitted. They should all be in by the end of the week Oct. 3 (hopefully), then I will send out the schedule for the show hopefully by Oct. 5. We plan on showing through YouTube in the Vintage Computer Federation channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MidAtlanticRetroComp I'm very excited about the lineup for this event! Lots of famous people (Bil Herd & Dave Haynie), interesting projects (C256 Foenix), cool stuff (Xerox Star), fun stuff (Atari8BitBot). We have 6 exhibitors showing off their exhibits in-person and on-site. The virtual show will be October 10 & 11 from 9AM to 6PM. The general public is not allowed to the show. This may seem obvious, but I've had to explain a few times to people what a virtual show is and now the general public isn't allowed only a small number of organizers and exhibitors only. More details to come! -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Board Member Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org cell: 732-759-1783

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Repair Workshop for VCF Museum owned artifacts: October 24 & 25, 2020
by Jeffrey Brace 27 Sep '20

27 Sep '20

Date: October 24 & 25, 2020 Time: 10AM to midnight (24th), 10AM to 6PM (25th) Building: CDL, 9032A VCF has a list of artifacts that need repair in the museum and the warehouse. We are looking for volunteers to come and help us repair them. Anything is fair game to repair *with permission*. These are artifacts either in the museum or warehouse. We want to get the ones in the museum working first as we like to have as much hands on working computers in the museum as possible. We are also looking for good or better demos for the computers in the museum. Any volunteers working on VCF stuff are *not* charged a fee this repair day and stay for free in the Sandy bunkroom. VCF will likely even pay for a simple breakfast (Dunkin Donuts) and lunch (Pizza). NEEDS REPAIRING: Mac Portable (needs good power supply and machine testing) TI Portable SWTPC HeathKit H89 Zorba (monitor) NEEDS DEMOS: Mac Portable TRS-80 Color 2 Challenger 2P Atari Mega STE? OREL Sinclair SX 80 clone SX 81 SWTPC TRS-80 Model I Osbourne 1 HeathKit H89 Zorba Commodore PET Atari 1040ST Amiga 1000 Commodore PET Zorba Signup here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PC9h_XgDNuKPhEVFC6_PMjt9SlKeLMhZgfq… -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Board Member Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org cell: 732-759-1783

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Festivus December 12 & 13, 2020
by Jeffrey Brace 27 Sep '20

27 Sep '20

I've been thinking about how we can make Festivus work while keeping safe with Covid-19. We have been very successful in keeping safe during our repair workshop with up to 20 people and using two different buildings. I have a few ideas that I'm developing: In addition to Festivus outdoor grilling: Festivus Swap Meet Repair Workshop Game Room My current plan is to use two (and possibly three) different areas: CDL (repair workshop, xbox lan party with Dan Jacobs) Sandy Area (Festivus Swap Meet, Food, game room) The date scheduled for Festivus is December 12 & 13. Signup is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lkvcwSpdy_c67MJQTiUEDspim2PrcIjM1Of… I'm hoping to make Festivus happen with modifications to keep everyone safe. I will update you as I figure it out. -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Board Member Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org cell: 732-759-1783

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Why we do what we do - Cub Scout Pack 113 visits the VCF Museum
by Adam Michlin 27 Sep '20

27 Sep '20

Sorry for the FB link, but it should work without a FB account. Cub Scout Pack 113 visits the VCF Museum: https://www.facebook.com/cubpackfun/posts/2723468621260446 Bravo, Jeff! -Adam

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Museum Report 2020-09-26
by Jeffrey Brace 27 Sep '20

27 Sep '20

A very busy day! We started out with a scheduled cub scout group of 20 children and adults. We broke them up into two groups with one group watching the model train museum down the hall and the other with me in the VCF museum. High interest people with one kid who was a repeat visitor who knew lots of things already was happy to see a Commodore 64 in action! He was so happy to get a The Print Shop printout to take home! I couldn't give one of those to everyone because it takes 6 minutes for each page. Instead I gave them a papertape punch out with their name on it from the PDP-8. They could type their name and the program would punch out the holes and it was a great souvenir for them to take home. I started the tour with the microchip section, but also showed them the difference between a vacuum tube, transistor and microchip. Kids seem to really like King's Quest on the PCjr. I have to sit down and figure out how to play that game. I get stuck at a certain point. It was fun to ask them questions like: "Do you know who Bill Gates is?", "Do you know who Steve Jobs is?", etc. After the tour there were still about a dozen total people coming through the museum with high interest. It was nice to have a busy day after a few weeks of lackluster attendance. I had to leave at 3PM, so Dennis and Dylan took over. Dylan helped me by talking with Jason Perkins to get the Xerox Star ready for demo at VCF East 2020's Virtual show in less than two weeks (Oct. 10 & 11). -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Board Member Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org cell: 732-759-1783

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recap kit for Mac Classic analog board
by Herb Johnson 26 Sep '20

26 Sep '20

As the subject suggests, I'd like to buy a recap kit for the Macintosh Classic analog board (power supply) model 630-0525. I'd think there would be more than one source. And I might use them for other analog Mac repairs. Does anyone know of a reliable vendor for capacitor kits? I see "console5.com" offers one kit for $20 + ship, a plausible amount for sourcing all the parts of the right size and specs for a few sets. They have other kits too. But has anyone dealt with them? Asking "the google" comes up with "review sites" that say awful things; but those could be scam-sites. Ebay? nope, except for a Russian site. why order overseas? Web search only yields a few recapping services, someone in Australia, and then some radio recapping services (https://hayseedhamfest.com/ looks good but not for Mac computers). If I were a part of some vintage Mac discussion groups, maybe I'd find something. But searching them from the inside or the outside is difficult. So: I did some homework to find a vendor. These are my results. Maybe Mac owners just order individually from Digikey and hope they get parts that fit well? - regards, Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT info

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] I'm going to Kennett Classic's event this Saturday, how about you?
by Blatboy 26 Sep '20

26 Sep '20

This sounds like a great excuse to get out of the city. I sent an RSVP in - I know I’m last minute... I'm hoping to get a gist of the whole thing, as next time I may want to get a table. My stuff is so horribly organized at the moment, I'd need another week to figure out what I'd bring haha. I should get there 11ish. And if anyone has any 2MB or 4MB SIMMs rated 100ns or faster, I’ll be in the market haha. Thanks, and looking forward. - Walter ++++++++++++++++++++++ https://jwalterhawkes.com like to know where/when I'm playing? Click here <https://jwalterhawkes.com/contact> to sign up for my list, and let the babble begin. -- Https://www.jwalterhawkes.com Sent from the Blat-o-phone. Please excuse txtspeak and other grammatical inaccuracies.

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Microsoft's 20HAL uploader
by Richard Cini 26 Sep '20

26 Sep '20

All – I’ve done a quite a bit of work with my Gazelle, and doing some work on 86DOS and its comparison to PC DOS 1.0 (at the code level, a very high correlation). Partially related to that is a program called “20HAL” which was a code uploader Microsoft used in the late stages to get code to IBM in Boca Raton, FL. I did a little write-up on it here (http://www.classiccmp.org/cini/hal.htm) There are some holes in the analysis – I think it’s pretty close, though -- but I’d really like to get some more details on it. Unfortunately, it’s 40-year-old code at this point and how many people remember how they used a file transfer utility that long ago. Anyway, enjoy the read. If anyone sees any corrections that need to be made, let me know. Rich -- Rich Cini http://www.classiccmp.org/cini http://www.classiccmp.org/altair32

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OT - The InfoAge Space Exploration Center (ISEC) monthly lecture series has gone virtual
by Martin Flynn 26 Sep '20

26 Sep '20

*Due to social distancing requirements, The InfoAge Space Exploration Center (ISEC) monthly lecture series has gone virtual!* * * *Video of the lectures hosted by our NASA Space Ambassador in residence, Frank O'Brien can found on the ISEC website at: **https://isec.space/lectures/ <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fisec.space%2Flectures%2F%3Ffbc…>*

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Kennett Classic weather today
by Bill Degnan 26 Sep '20

26 Sep '20

All..the weather forecast says 20%, 35%, 30% etc chance of rain each hour, but overall it should be occasional/light. It is raining now however a little but tailing off. So, bring a tarp to cover your stuff just in case. Think dry thoughts. We have a light tent set up for our outdoor supplies/snacks Bill

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Any DC area folk going to Kennett Classic (need favor)?
by Crawford Griffith 26 Sep '20

26 Sep '20

Folks, Bill Dromgoole has fixed one if my 8" floppy drives. Bill's attending Kennett Classic event this weekend, but I'm stuck in a wedding in WA state. Is anyone from DC metro going who would be willing to ferry the disk back for me? I can pick it up at your house next week. Thanks, Crawford Griffith

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Anyone from the Northern VA area going to Kennett Classic?
by Mark Whittington 25 Sep '20

25 Sep '20

All: I'd hoped to attend Kennet Classic this weekend but I have other obligations that I can't adjust. Is anyone from the Northern VA area planning to attend who could pick up the TI-99/4A and PEB that Mike Loewen is selling? Thanks very much. Mark

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Kennett Classic Swap Thread
by Mike Loewen 25 Sep '20

25 Sep '20

Here's a list of what I'll have for sale: TI-99/4A (black) with Peripheral Expansion Box PEB has a 32KB RAM module, RS-232, disk interface and a SS diskette drive Disk manager and Division cartridges Works fine TI-99/4A (beige) Powers up to the startup screen, but only two of the keys work TI PEB with disk interface and SS diskette drive Mostly works, but gets an occasional disk error on inner tracks TI PHP1500 speech synthesizer, untested Two Timex-Sinclair TS1000 systems, untested One has the 16KB RAM cartridge Atari 2600 Jr, working. A bunch of 2600 game cartridges. Pioneer DRM-624X 6-CD changer (external SCSI) Was working when removed from service. This one will read CD-Rs Numerous PC boards, mostly ISA with a few PCI and VLB boards. I/O, sound cards, video boards, network interfaces, modems, SCSI and more. Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] I'm going to Kennett Classic's event this Saturday, how about you?
by Sentry TV 25 Sep '20

25 Sep '20

Mike Please let me know how much the card is and maybe I can arrange with Evan K. to get it from you? He lives kind of close to me, maybe he would be able to help me out.? Evan, if you can, maybe you could see Mike L. at the Kennett's classic event this weekend and pickup the Soundblaster card for me?If not then I will find other arrangements.Please let me know. Thank you Mike Rosen On Thursday, September 24, 2020, 09:52:58 PM EDT, Sentrytv <sentrytv(a)yahoo.com> wrote: I’ll take it I won’t be at the swap meet in PA but I will be at the swap meet in New Jersey I don’t know if you live in New Jersey or not maybe I can pick it up from you if you do? Mike Rosen Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > On Sep 24, 2020, at 7:06 PM, Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > I have a Sound Blaster 16 Value, Rev A: > > https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/Creative_Sound_Blaster_16_Value > > It's not Plug-N-Play, but uses software settings and a few jumpers. I don't have any software for it. > >> Mike I'm wondering if you have any ISA cards that I can use. >> I am specifically looking for sound blaster 16 not the PNP version. >> Could you let me know if you do or don’t. >> >> Thank you >> Mike Rosen >> >>>> On Sep 23, 2020, at 5:42 PM, Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote: >>> >>> >>> I'll be bringing a few items for sale, but I don't think it will be a whole table's worth. Also, I won't be there until between 11:00 and 11:30. Is there anyone with a swap table that would be willing to host some items? I anticipate at least 2 TI-99/4A systems with PEB (1 working, 1 not), a Commodore 1902A monitor, and some ISA boards. >>> >>> >>> Mike Loewen mloewen at cpumagic.scol.pa.us >>> Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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Museum Report: 23 September and 24 September 2020
by svcatitc＠aol.com 25 Sep '20

25 Sep '20

Got in @ 1p. DEAD!! All Day! However, a busy day. Ray Chase had visited the Delran Rescue to pickup RADAR stuff in anotherpod from the CPU stuff. Hegave us a iMac white pedestal unit with chrome gimbal mount for the display. I am not familiar with Mac stuff so hopefully the braintrust on that equipment can decipher its historical place. Jeff Brace asked me to go up to IA admin., to get somevintage ENIAC posters that were found. Nice laminated stuff, and a blast from our past too. Their header shows the M A R CH logo. It would be nice to find a blank space on the wall for them. I furthered my documentation of the Houston Instruments(Allen Datagraph) Omnigraphic 2000 plotter for the EAI TR20 display. Again I have not come up withprints on the thing, purchased or otherwise. So the manual plod goes on. If anyone has prints on this model XY of recorder, it wouldbe appreciated to get a copy. Thursday Sept 24: Our management has asked me to start going through ourcollection of slide rules, which needed to be started anyway for the museum display in the hallway. I got through three boxes, initially to sort, as all thecollection boxes are a mish-mosh piles. I found some JEWELS !!! 1. An Intel 808x / 27xx memory speed circular slide rulecalculator to determine proper speed selection of the processor ROM compliment. See: https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Consumer/Archive-Byte-IDX/IDX/80s/80-… This is now on display in the processor exhibit. 2. Dick Tracypersonal code maker See: https://www.cryptomuseum.com/crypto/hand/lawrence/index.htm#dick_tracy The LawrenceSecret Code-Maker, also known as the Dick Tracy Code-Maker, is a fullyfunctional hand-operated transposition cipher in the shape of a linear woodenslide rule, sold from 1939 onwards as a children's toy by US slide rulemanufacturer Lawrence Engineering Service in Peru (Illinois? ed). See also pix. We haveall of this: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1960s-dick-tracy-secret-code-maker-w… And instructions: https://www.sliderulemuseum.com/Manuals/M102_DickTracySecretCodeMaker_Inst.… 3. The (probablytrade show hand out) Hewlett Packard,Scope Division R L C reactance calculator. Simiar to this:https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/hewlett_pa_vector_impedance_meter_48.htm… This is also on display in the museum over top of the HPmini. All in all a good two days. Bill Inderrieden

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] I'm going to Kennett Classic's event this Saturday, how about you?
by Mike Loewen 24 Sep '20

24 Sep '20

I have a Sound Blaster 16 Value, Rev A: https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/Creative_Sound_Blaster_16_Value It's not Plug-N-Play, but uses software settings and a few jumpers. I don't have any software for it. > Mike I'm wondering if you have any ISA cards that I can use. > I am specifically looking for sound blaster 16 not the PNP version. > Could you let me know if you do or don’t. > > Thank you > Mike Rosen > >> On Sep 23, 2020, at 5:42 PM, Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote: >> >> >> I'll be bringing a few items for sale, but I don't think it will be a >> whole table's worth. Also, I won't be there until between 11:00 and 11:30. >> Is there anyone with a swap table that would be willing to host some items? >> I anticipate at least 2 TI-99/4A systems with PEB (1 working, 1 not), a >> Commodore 1902A monitor, and some ISA boards. >> >> >> Mike Loewen mloewen at cpumagic.scol.pa.us >> Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] I'm going to Kennett Classic's event this Saturday, how about you?
by Bill Degnan 24 Sep '20

24 Sep '20

Not sure whether I will be parting with any SB cards, but I do intend to bring a few boxes of ISA boards, if space permits. Bill On Thu, Sep 24, 2020 at 12:59 PM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > Mike I’m wondering if you have any ISA cards that I can use. > I am specifically looking for sound blaster 16 not the PNP version. > Could you let me know if you do or don’t. > > Thank you > Mike Rosen > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > > > On Sep 23, 2020, at 5:42 PM, Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > > > > I'll be bringing a few items for sale, but I don't think it will be a > whole table's worth. Also, I won't be there until between 11:00 and 11:30. > Is there anyone with a swap table that would be willing to host some items? > I anticipate at least 2 TI-99/4A systems with PEB (1 working, 1 not), a > Commodore 1902A monitor, and some ISA boards. > > > > > > Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us > > Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/ > >

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] I'm going to Kennett Classic's event this Saturday, how about you?
by Bill Degnan 24 Sep '20

24 Sep '20

some of these will be for sale for sure. On Wed, Sep 23, 2020 at 12:42 PM Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > PS. I'm also looking to pick up some cool items for a display case in my > new house. I am fond of vintage electromechanical technology, so I'd be > interested in acquiring a telegraph key, mechanical adding machine, > sextant, perhaps a microscope, etc. ... it must be very clean and > presentable. Also would like to get some punched cards, a disk pack, a > roll of punched tape, and an 8" floppy. > > > On 9/23/20 11:54 AM, Evan Koblentz wrote: > > I'm going in the morning only, to see some old/real friends. > > > > I would like to buy some items if anyone has them available: > > > > - Early PC (8088-286), but not a real IBM XT/AT. I would like > > something smaller. It doesn't have to be a luggable but it cannot be a > > huge box. Must have an ISA slot and be fully working. Also need the > > keyboard, monitor, etc. Brand doesn't matter. Appearance should be > > decent/good. > > > > - One plain-Jane beige VGA CRT (for my 486). Also need a matching > > period keyboard and mouse, prefer no-name brands (not IBM/Compaq, etc.) > > > > - One plain-Jane composite CRT. Again I prefer non-branded or a > > no-name brand, and also prefer a beige color or off-white. > > >

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] I'm going to Kennett Classic's event this Saturday, how about you?
by Bill Degnan 24 Sep '20

24 Sep '20

It's free so... On Thu, Sep 24, 2020, 8:58 AM laurakid via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > oops! ok thanks. > > > Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone > > > On Thursday, September 24, 2020, 5:38 AM, Tony Bogan <tony.bogan(a)vcfed.org> > wrote: > > Laura, this is an event at Kennett Classic in Pennsylvania and not > affiliated with infoage. Their website is https://www.kennettclassic.com/ > Tony > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Sep 24, 2020, at 2:25 AM, laurakid <laurakid7(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > interested. i believe my father still has family membership at info > age... where can I find details? > > > Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone > > > On Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 6:43 PM, Ethan O'Toole via > vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > > On Wed, 23 Sep 2020, Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > > > > > > I'll be bringing a few items for sale, but I don't think it will be a > > > whole table's worth. Also, I won't be there until between 11:00 and 11:30. > Is > > > there anyone with a swap table that would be willing to host some items? I > > > anticipate at least 2 TI-99/4A systems with PEB (1 working, 1 not), a > > > Commodore 1902A monitor, and some ISA boards. > > > > > > > > > Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us > > > Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Old TV knocks out internet for entire village
by Ethan O'Toole 24 Sep '20

24 Sep '20

Cable network allows some of the RF spectrum to return for the upstream of cable modems. So the TV might of been connected to the cable system, and when on it was generating noise that was taking out the "upstream" from customers moderms to the CMTS. I would imagine the story hypes it a bit, and only people on a single node were bumped offline. Not the entire community. Not unless it was some kinda bug that turned into a DDoS or something? > [NON-Text Body part not included]

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clever PET things: MiniPET kit, and retrofitting new keyboards
by Jeffrey Jonas 24 Sep '20

24 Sep '20

I have not seen this mentioned: https://youtu.be/zHAIuE5BQWk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHAIuE5BQWk Mini PET - Build a Commodore PET from all new parts! and new replacement keyboards Aug 25, 2020 The 8-Bit Guy's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/adric22/videos http://www.the8bitguy.com/ Buy the PET-compatible "Petskey" keyboard PCB here: https://texelec.com/product/petskey/ And a big thanks to PCBWay for rushing me those boards! https://www.pcbway.com/

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Kennett Classic Swap Thread
by Bill Degnan 23 Sep '20

23 Sep '20

If you're planning to claim a ~ 7x 5 swap space, please remember to bring your own table or tarp. We'll mark numbers where the spaces are located. You're welcome to come before 9AM kickoff. If you're only bringing one or two things, share a table and have a way to keep track of what's yours, label clearly with a price, name, etc. Please advise spaces needed asap so we can plan for it. We're going to have a table or two of our own with Apple //e and Tandy 1000SX complete systems for sale and smaller things. ANY REQUESTS? Spaces will be allocated starting from the FRONT of the building and work back along the side of the building to the rear parking lot until there is no space. When you arrive swap sellers can claim the an unclaimed space and set up from the back of the building. There is a thin alley street a half block closer to the intersection of UNION and STATE that provides access by car to the back parking lot, but please do not park in the lot after unloading. The refreshments tent will be in the back. Signups to access the exhibits (per COVID capacity restrictions) will be managed at the front of the building. Masks are required to access the interior of the building, no exceptions. See https://www.kennettclassic.com for directions and more details on the event.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] I'm going to Kennett Classic's event this Saturday, how about you?
by Evan Koblentz 23 Sep '20

23 Sep '20

F/S: New-in-box (opened but never assembled) Digicomp-1 v.2.0 replica kit from Minds-On Toys. I bought this new for $62 last spring but then decided not to build it. Asking $50.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] I'm going to Kennett Classic's event this Saturday, how about you?
by Bill Degnan 23 Sep '20

23 Sep '20

On Wed, Sep 23, 2020 at 12:21 PM Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > I'm going in the morning only, to see some old/real friends. > > I would like to buy some items if anyone has them available: > > - Early PC (8088-286), but not a real IBM XT/AT. I would like something > smaller. It doesn't have to be a luggable but it cannot be a huge box. > Must have an ISA slot and be fully working. Also need the keyboard, > monitor, etc. Brand doesn't matter. Appearance should be decent/good. > > - One plain-Jane beige VGA CRT (for my 486). Also need a matching period > keyboard and mouse, prefer no-name brands (not IBM/Compaq, etc.) > > - One plain-Jane composite CRT. Again I prefer non-branded or a no-name > brand, and also prefer a beige color or off-white. > I will follow up with a swap-specific thread, but I know that there will be a complete Tandy 1000SX system for sale there, including everything for a complete system. Bill

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I'm going to Kennett Classic's event this Saturday, how about you?
by Jeffrey Brace 23 Sep '20

23 Sep '20

I think this will be a fun event to go to. I'm going to check out the new changes to the museum there and the outdoor event. I also heard a rumor that VCF will have a table there showing off a vintage computer. Who else is going to the event? I'm also looking forward to the dinner afterwards. -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Board Member Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org cell: 732-759-1783

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Keytronics repair - not foam related
by Bob Applegate 22 Sep '20

22 Sep '20

This has nothing to do with the deteriorating foam, so don’t suggest that. Has anyone debugged the “later” Keytronics keyboard electronics such as the A65-02495-001 (-01) like used on Franklin computer machines around 1983-1984? I’ve got a few of them where a few keys don’t work and I’m wondering if anyone has looked into what the most likely problem is. There are only seven chips on this model/revision board: 8048 XR 22-908-03A 74LS138 (two of them) 74LS374 74LS74 7406 My guess is that one row/column isn’t being scanned or read properly. Only the 8048 is socketed and NOS 22-908-03As are kind of pricey so before I spend the time to remove the chips I was hoping someone else had debugged this design and could offer a suggestion for what’s most likely at fault. The earlier ACE-100s and early 1000s had a different keyboard that was more generic with an edge connector. Franklin used a small PC board that plugged into the edge connector and then had the typical Apple/Franklin 16 pin IC socket. It also had more chips and an EPROM. The later keyboards had fewer chips and included the proper IC socket. Franklin’s Engineering department had nothing to do with the keyboard design other than providing the specs for what the interface looked like. Ie, I was never involved with the discussions with Keyytronics and never knew of our having source code to the keyboard controller. Any help would be appreciated before I remove/replace chips. Bob

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Slightly OT
by David Ryskalczyk 22 Sep '20

22 Sep '20

It's Facebook. You need to have an account and be logged in for it to work. David > On Sep 21, 2020, at 11:24 AM, Bob Aviles via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > From: Bob Aviles <raviles132001(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Slightly OT > Date: September 21, 2020 at 11:24:37 AM EDT > To: Tony Bogan via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > > > Link broken. > Bobby > On Sunday, September 20, 2020, 10:57:37 PM EDT, Tony Bogan via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > Shows up for me. > > Tony > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Sep 20, 2020, at 10:41 PM, Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: >> >> On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 8:46 PM Martin Flynn via vcf-midatlantic < >> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: >> >>> Heathkit Estate Lot $1,200.00 >>> >>> My dad collected over the years when he passed away we found out just >>> how much stuff he had. >>> Things I know for sure >>> 3 oscilloscopes >>> 20+ trainers >>> Manuals >>> Trainer Binders >>> Kits >>> Unbuilt inbox trainers >>> So many to list.. i think this is a fair price for a heathkit collector. >>> Pick up will be at our house in Mansfield Ohio. >>> >>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/53497998217/user/873975386/ >>> >>> >> Looks like that link has been removed. I can't access it. >> >> >> -- >> ========================================= >> Jeff Brace >> Vice President & Board Member >> Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner >> Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity >> http://www.vcfed.org/ >> jeffrey(a)vcfed.org >> cell: 732-759-1783 > > >

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Old TV knocks out internet for entire village
by Christian Liendo 22 Sep '20

22 Sep '20

I could go into all the different problems with this but given that we probably all have an old TV or monitor, it is something we may find funny. https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/22/uk/old-tv-breaks-broadband-village-scli-intl…

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VCF 2020 T-SHIRT DEADLINE
by Jeffrey Brace 21 Sep '20

21 Sep '20

This is your last chance to get a VCF 2020 t-shirt. If you want a VCF 2020 t-shirt you have until Wednesday 9/23 to let me know. I'm doing an order for in-person pickup. Send me an e-mail size, color, quantity. Cost for t-shirts is $20. Then I will send you a PayPal invoice. They come in Amber or Green. You can look here for pictures of them here: http://vcfed.org/wp/t-shirts You can still have them delivered to you while supplies last from here: http://vcfed.org/wp/t-shirts. Cost is $20 + shipping. -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Board Member Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org cell: 732-759-1783

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Slightly OT
by Tony Bogan 21 Sep '20

21 Sep '20

Weird. I see the HealthKit group, the thread about the person selling the stuff has 15 comments, 2 shares and 36 likes on it. Opens right up in The Facebook app on my phone. I did not try it on a desktop but if you’re logged into Facebook id imagine it would do the same thing. Tony Sent from my iPhone > On Sep 21, 2020, at 12:36 PM, Bob Aviles via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > <mime-attachment>

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Slightly OT
by Bob Aviles 21 Sep '20

21 Sep '20

Link broken. Bobby On Sunday, September 20, 2020, 10:57:37 PM EDT, Tony Bogan via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: Shows up for me. Tony Sent from my iPhone > On Sep 20, 2020, at 10:41 PM, Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 8:46 PM Martin Flynn via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > >> Heathkit Estate Lot $1,200.00 >> >> My dad collected over the years when he passed away we found out just >> how much stuff he had. >> Things I know for sure >> 3 oscilloscopes >> 20+ trainers >> Manuals >> Trainer Binders >> Kits >> Unbuilt inbox trainers >> So many to list.. i think this is a fair price for a heathkit collector. >> Pick up will be at our house in Mansfield Ohio. >> >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/53497998217/user/873975386/ >> >> > Looks like that link has been removed. I can't access it. > > > -- > ========================================= > Jeff Brace > Vice President & Board Member > Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner > Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity > http://www.vcfed.org/ > jeffrey(a)vcfed.org > cell: 732-759-1783

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Recapping a Mac IIci
by Ethan O'Toole 21 Sep '20

21 Sep '20

The problem is when the capacitors leak juice out it changes the chemistry of the solder or something. Unsodering leaked caps is often a difficult mess. I don't know if the IIci uses surface mount caps or not. I haven't had one in a long time (but wouldn't mind another one, they are cool. I was eyeballing that one at Festivus or whatever.) One thing you can do, clean it off as much as possible then try to add new solder to the old solder first, then try to desolder it. Another trick is cutting away the old cap first using snips, but this brings the risk of pulling up traces. Similar to the other poster, I always use leaded solder. I don't know anyone that uses lead free at home. On Sat, 19 Sep 2020, Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic wrote: [NON-Text Body part not included]

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Slightly OT
by Martin Flynn 20 Sep '20

20 Sep '20

Heathkit Estate Lot $1,200.00 My dad collected over the years when he passed away we found out just how much stuff he had. Things I know for sure 3 oscilloscopes 20+ trainers Manuals Trainer Binders Kits Unbuilt inbox trainers So many to list.. i think this is a fair price for a heathkit collector. Pick up will be at our house in Mansfield Ohio. https://www.facebook.com/groups/53497998217/user/873975386/

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EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION CLOSED! (for VCF East 2020)
by Jeffrey Brace 20 Sep '20

20 Sep '20

I was supposed to close exhibitor registration last Sunday, but forgot, so everyone had a bonus week to get their exhibits registration in. Two more people squeaked in during that bonus week. I closed the Google Form for exhibitors, instructors, presenters, so no more can be submitted. If you are already working on a video, then please get it to me ASAP! DEADLINE IS NOW! If you need more time, then I might be persuaded. I know the showrunner and he can be persuaded by homemade chocolate chip cookies. ;) -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Board Member Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org cell: 732-759-1783

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Moving files from an old 68k-Mac to an emulator or other machine
by Richard Cini 19 Sep '20

19 Sep '20

Kind of feels like someone should do a write up on this if it doesn’t exist somewhere already. I have a Pi 2+ lying around, a few different Macs, an Asante bridge and plenty of AppleTalk stuff. If you have an SD card image I can take a crack at doing it. http://www.classiccmp.org/cini Long Island S100 User’s Group Get Outlook<https://aka.ms/qtex0l> for iOS ________________________________ From: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic-bounces(a)lists.vcfed.org> on behalf of Glenn Holmer via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2020 9:22:59 AM To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> Cc: Glenn Holmer <cenbe(a)kolabnow.com> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Moving files from an old 68k-Mac to an emulator or other machine

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Recapping a Mac IIci
by Richard Cini 19 Sep '20

19 Sep '20

All — I have an Apple IIci main board that need recapping. Does anyone know of someone that does this? I bought a recapping kit and tried it on my spare machine and it doesn’t seem to work (I get the bing but no video; no explosion at least) but I’d rather not try it on the main machine. Thanks! Rich http://www.classiccmp.org/cini Long Island S100 User’s Group Get Outlook<https://aka.ms/qtex0l> for iOS

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Moving files from an old 68k-Mac to an emulator or other machine
by David Riley 19 Sep '20

19 Sep '20

On Sep 18, 2020, at 8:29 AM, Glenn Holmer via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > From: Glenn Holmer <cenbe(a)kolabnow.com> > Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Moving files from an old 68k-Mac to an emulator or other machine > Date: September 18, 2020 at 8:29:51 AM EDT > To: vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org > > > On 9/17/20 6:13 PM, David Riley via vcf-midatlantic wrote: >> Actually, IMO, the best option is: if you can get an Ethernet card in >> the SE, you can run Netatalk 2.x on Linux or NetBSD (both still >> support AppleTalk, but netatalk 3.x does not). > I'm keeping an old version of Debian on a Raspberry Pi so I can run Netatalk 2.2 for my Mac SEs. Is there anything current that will support AppleTalk? Nope. They dropped AppleTalk support from Netatalk at the 3.0 transition because: a) Almost no one used it (I was the only vocal complainer) b) No one was left on the project to maintain it (ironically, Thomas Kaiser, the last guy who did, is one of the lead maintainers for Armbian, probably the best generic Debian port for non-RPi ARM boards) c) Backwards compatibility with older versions of AFP (Apple Filing Protocol, the AppleShare protocol) was beginning to make adding new functionality difficult to add, so losing the older non-TCP versions really improved maintenance and security NetBSD and Linux both still have AppleTalk kernel support; I sent a patch to fix some AppleTalk bugs in NetBSD a long while ago that I believe has been mainlined, and Linux currently has a bug in its AppleTalk stack regarding multiple interfaces (important if you're trying to run an AppleTalk router, but irrelevant otherwise) for which I need to update my patch and send to the maintainer. But they both work. Apple got rid of AppleTalk for everything but printers in 10.4, and the rest of it in 10.5. OpenBSD dropped AppleTalk support a long time ago. I don't know about FreeBSD, since I don't do much hacking on it, but I'd be surprised if it still had support. Netatalk 2.x comes with source for a kernel module for Solaris to add AppleTalk support, but it was severely broken on Solaris 10 and I never finished trying to update it, and it definitely won't work on 11 because they changed the low-level networking interface quite a bit. So in general, Linux is probably your best bet, followed by NetBSD, IMO. There's no telling when Linux might get rid of AppleTalk (after all, they're deprecating the PC floppy driver), but NetBSD is unlikely to since they delight in supporting ancient and unusual things. What I *really* want to do is make a userland AppleTalk stack/library that works via BPF to do the packet handling on anything that handles BPF (so, most of the above, including Solaris 11, but not 10, IIRC). It would be a loser performance-wise on older machines, but for anything reasonably modern (last 15 years or so, really) it should be just fine for the kind of traffic even a medium-sized Mac lab could generate. It would also be decidedly more secure than a kernel implementation; the Linux kernel's AppleTalk stack is a real mess, and I wouldn't be surprised if there were some latent security vulnerabilities in it. If anyone is interested in trying to start that effort, I'd be glad to chat. LocalTalk support via custom interfaces would be especially neat (you can't do it on a regular PC serial port because it's actually 230kbaud SDLC, which the Z8530 on the Mac and Sun machines handles just fine, but 16550 and family definitely do not). In any case, to answer your original question: Netatalk 2.2.6 is, if I recall, the latest that will work. It incorporated some of the login module fixes backported from 3.0, but is otherwise in mothballs, so don't expect anything new unless you decide to fork it. - Dave

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Moving files from an old 68k-Mac to an emulator or other machine
by Andrew Diller 18 Sep '20

18 Sep '20

Are you are asking if there is a more recent Linux that will support netalk? Or are you asking if any recent OSX can access the netatalk shares in 2.x? I tend to think of AppleTalk on ethernet as Ethertalk, to disambiguate it from LocalTalk (which people may be using if they have a bridge). If you can keep everything on ethernet (i.e. you have a network card for all your macs so you can get them to a switch and a common network segment/subnet) I've found that even recent versions of OSX (10.10/Yosemite) can access a netatalk 2.x share via TCPIP and easily share files with older macs. The biggest issue is usually the form of the archive used and ensuring that the resource forks can be properly re-constructed. SIT files are the best to ensure this. I've also setup netatalk on a older laptop w/ Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid Lynx) and it works great for this transfer. being on an extra, older laptop I can just leave it till I need it again and even it's smallish HD is huge in comparison to the files for classic macs. -andy > On Sep 18, 2020, at 8:29 AM, Glenn Holmer via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > From: Glenn Holmer <cenbe(a)kolabnow.com> > Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Moving files from an old 68k-Mac to an emulator or other machine > Date: September 18, 2020 at 8:29:51 AM EDT > To: vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org > > > On 9/17/20 6:13 PM, David Riley via vcf-midatlantic wrote: >> Actually, IMO, the best option is: if you can get an Ethernet card in >> the SE, you can run Netatalk 2.x on Linux or NetBSD (both still >> support AppleTalk, but netatalk 3.x does not). > I'm keeping an old version of Debian on a Raspberry Pi so I can run Netatalk 2.2 for my Mac SEs. Is there anything current that will support AppleTalk? > > -- > Glenn Holmer (Linux registered user #16682) > "After the vintage season came the aftermath -- and Cenbe." > >

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Moving files from an old 68k-Mac to an emulator or other machine
by Richard Cini 18 Sep '20

18 Sep '20

Glenn - I have several Asante ethernet cards "in stock" but I never thought of putting one in the SE (I have one on my IIci). I also have a Raspberry Pi laying around. Are Debian images still around? Sounds like a project... Rich -- Rich Cini http://www.classiccmp.org/cini http://www.classiccmp.org/altair32 On 9/18/20, 8:30 AM, "vcf-midatlantic on behalf of Glenn Holmer via vcf-midatlantic" <vcf-midatlantic-bounces(a)lists.vcfed.org on behalf of vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: On 9/17/20 6:13 PM, David Riley via vcf-midatlantic wrote: Actually, IMO, the best option is: if you can get an Ethernet card in the SE, you can run Netatalk 2.x on Linux or NetBSD (both still support AppleTalk, but netatalk 3.x does not). I'm keeping an old version of Debian on a Raspberry Pi so I can run Netatalk 2.2 for my Mac SEs. Is there anything current that will support AppleTalk? -- Glenn Holmer (Linux registered user #16682) "After the vintage season came the aftermath -- and Cenbe."

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Moving files from an old 68k-Mac to an emulator or other machine
by Herb Johnson 18 Sep '20

18 Sep '20

Rich Cini says: have an old System 7 or 8 Mac, it put files on a Mac format ZIP disk. Then run a recent-enough OSX (pre 10.15) Mac that can read the ZIP disk via a USB ZIP drive. OK, got that. But I got lost when Rich said "use an emulator to get the files into the emulation environment". Rich, were/are you trying to copy files onto some modern computer, to make use of them with modern software? Or ... copy files ... to *run* them under some emulation of say Mac System 7? Or, both? People ask me about such things often enough. It would be good if I can tell them what they may be able to do. Most people won't want to run an emulator, they just want to migrate old files or at least archive it. I always warn them of the problem of old programs that make files, that new programs can't read (even if you "copy" them over to the new computer). regards, Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT info

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Moving files from an old 68k-Mac to an emulator or other machine
by Richard Cini 18 Sep '20

18 Sep '20

My IIci is on the fritz (need to re-cap it), and I wanted to get some files off of my mother’s old (and long unused) Macintosh SE. I thought I’d mention this archiving path in case someone else is in the same boat. Unfortunately, it requires more than one type of Mac, and multiple ZIP drives, so if there are other possibilities, I’d like to know. I worked with only what I had on hand (i.e., I didn’t buy any extra hardware), but I’m sure there is a better way. There are several parts to this: The original Mac SE (800K floppy only) A Mac that can read/write both 800k and 1.4MB disks (since the IIci was out-of-commission, I used my PowerBook 540c). Two iomega ZIP drives. It just so happens I have both SCSI and USB versions. A more current Mac that runs OSX *prior to* Catalina (10.15) since Catalina dropped support for HFS. I have a Mac Mini that runs El Capitan (10.11). It took a bit of time to set everything up, but basically you have to get the iomega Zip Client onto the original Mac. Assuming you have no original disk, you can use HFVExplorer to put zipclient4.2 onto a 1.4MB floppy and then use the second Mac to move the file to an 800K disk. I didn’t have a spare external 1.4MB drive to test on the SE, but not sure it works without a ROM upgrade. The second part is to use the SCSI ZIP drive on the SE to copy the files to a ZIP disk. The third part is to use the USB ZIP drive on the modern Mac to get the files off of the disk. So far, so good. Then, you can use Basilisk or other emulator that can access the host’s file system to get the files into the emulation environment. The help file for HFVExplorer says it can access the ZIP drive, but I wasn’t able to get it to work. Thus, the need to use the two lifeboat Macs to get the files into the emulation environment. I thought about Stuffing the files and then using a terminal program to send them to the modern Mac, but I couldn’t get MacTerminal to work properly; maybe a better terminal program would have worked. Happy archiving! Rich -- Rich Cini http://www.classiccmp.org/cini http://www.classiccmp.org/altair32

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Museum Report: 9 September and 16 September 2020
by svcatitc＠aol.com 17 Sep '20

17 Sep '20

Checked in and opened up around 1p Sept 9th :: DEAD, only one older gent who had been to IA before and was considering volunteering at IA now retired. We exchanged pleasantries while discussing general computer topics. Sept 16: Two couples showed up around 1/2 hour between. 1st couple was younger, and only a medium interest. She seemed bored to tears, while he showed the most interest, which picked up when we got to the PS2 70. He wanted to know more about the bootup process. Older couple was an EXCELLENT audience, as they both had 40 years of programming experience. The wife, in the very early years, talked to Bill Gates on the phone about a programming problem she had. The husband, worked with Cray on an install in his early years. Both live in North Jersey and will be back with the grand kids. They had smiles on their faces the whole time they were in the place, reminiscing. Ray Chase stopped by to show me a military electro-mechanical computational device that had to do with pressure. Talked with some of the guys that maintain the marine wireless association exhibit next to us. Good day! Bill Inderrieden

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Altos 586 boards
by Herb Johnson 16 Sep '20

16 Sep '20

I don't normally post Ebay links. But someone is offering an Altos 586 model CPU board and Altos 986 controller board on ebay as scrap. Parts value or possible repair of an Altos may be worth the price. Vintage 1982 Altos Computer Circuit Mother Boards Chips for Scrap Gold Recovery ebay #233714235023 Ends Sept 22 Regards Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT info

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VCF East Swap Meet - Save the Date - Saturday November 7 (Rain: Sunday November 8)
by Joshua Abraham 16 Sep '20

16 Sep '20

>> I was right about that, and I was right about hamfests. How many families and kids excitedly go to a hamfest? Swapmeets are incestuous, and that makes communities wither and go extinct. I couldn't help but weigh in on this. Before making snide remarks such as these it may help to make sure you have actual data to back that up. Hamfests can be rather small and boring but others are MASSIVE coordinated events with large attendance. Most notably, the annual Dayton Hamvention which had an attendance of over 32,000. This event is to hams what VCF is to us vintage computer enthusiasts. The event is hugely successful and they have a full on flea market to go along with it. Closer to my neck of the woods is the annual Shelby Hamfest, an event that's well more than a few decades old and boasts several thousand in attendance and even offers campground space for the folks they know are traveling far and bringing families along. Based on these events alone I'd say ham is alive and well and far from extinct. Personally I think the swapmeet is a fantastic idea and has much potential. -Joshua A

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Kennett Classic Dinner Afterwards Info
by Bill Degnan 16 Sep '20

16 Sep '20

Anyone interested in going out as a group for dinner after the event closes here is what I have so far 6PM. I have had a few people contact me already to let me know they are interested, keep them coming. I am going to speak with the restaurant owners (I know a few of them) within walking distance to see what the best deal is for us, depending on how many people we have by about Weds or so, with the assumption that there will be persons joining in at the last minute. I will try to get a group rate/deal so we can keep it simple, but *nothing is simple with COVID 19 *and I ask that you be flexible. Dinner will be outside, and I am leaning towards the Kennett Brewing Company a block away. (kennettbrewingcompany.com) because they usually have a band that night. Other options are La Verona and The Grain which also have outdoor dining. We will organize seating based on who can sit together with their masks off. If that's not practical we'll have the restaurant pack it up and we'll eat outside using the tables from the swap or as we can. Stay tuned and let me know via https//www.vintagecomputer.net/contact.cfm Thanks.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Sussex hamfest and swapmeets
by Matt Reynolds 16 Sep '20

16 Sep '20

This is mostly anecdotal, from a fringe, barely-active member, so take it for whatever it is: I got to Hamfests on a regular enough basis, even though I'm not a ham. I've been to some of the bigger ones like Sussex and Dayton and many, many small ones. I think it's very reasonable to say that it's a dying hobby, but is not dead. There's just more to do from a hobby standpoint than ever before, and only so much time in the day, and only so much time on the planet to live your life. There may be more members now, but there are more people on the planet now as well, and part of the boom rush in getting more members was dropping the Morse Code requirements. I'm in a different vintage electronics club and many of them have said that they never bothered to learn, or waited until the code requirement dropped before they took the test. Of course it's evolved, more digital and exotic than it was in the past. Less heavy boatanchors, more things that look more like computer parts than radio parts. More computer related than ever before. I've been to many estate sales of "silent keys" as well. The only people I see buying the heavy ham gear are other hams, which are most of the time within the same age range as the silent key who just passed. Very seldom do I see young guys at those types of sale picking up their first set of gear to get on the air with. The hamfest attendance still seems to me to be in the vast majority men, 50s and above to almost every fest i've been to. Are there younger men, women, kids? Absolutely (I'm not even in my 40s yet). Are they deliberately exclusive? no. There's just not a lot of enticement for anyone else to go to them unless they are already interested in the topic. I go primarily because the trend seems to be for most hams to buy some very expensive new rig that is small, not heavy, and does more, and the vintage stuff, including their test equipment, and quite often computer\consumer electronics, goes to the sale with them alongside their old boatanchor radios. The mentality of "this hamfest is not as big as it used to be" mentality seems to be something I've heard at almost every one I've ever attended, including Dayton, and is something that is brought up without ever mentioning it or asking about it. The toxicity of that mentality and similar companion attitudes in the hobby have been part of the reason I haven't prioritized taking the cert exams. I've never been "talked down to" by elders in any other enthusiast group as often as at hamfests. Asking questions seems to give you a gruff brush-off more often than it should, and more often than I encounter at other swap meets (car parts shows, coin-op shows, antique shows, collectible shows, etc.). It's a really strange phenomenon, because some of my best friends are hams and are on the opposite side of that mentality spectrum. The old fixture of the hobby, an "Elmer" or graybeard-like person there to help teach the others seems to be harder and harder to find at hamfests, because there are so many of the naysayers there polluting it for the Elmers. It doesn't take much to turn people off to a hobby when someone is only mildly curious to begin with. Many times I've thought to myself, why would I bother to get certified to get on the air to talk to grumpy old people talk about how things aren't as good as they used to be and brag about how expensive their radio is? I realize that it is not the only thing that happens, but I've encountered more of the grumps than the Elmers. Back to the original point, I can also see why having a swap meet takes away from an event where you are having exhibits and panels. I've been to other shows that have both at the same time, and I often feel torn between digging through the treasure and watching the panels or events. Maybe you are pondering whether to buy something or not, and while you are thinking about it you go to a panel, and you spend half the panel whether or not you should go buy that thing, or whether it's still there, etc. On the flipside, you have stuff you don't want anymore, you want to get rid of it. It's esoteric and the audience that knows what it is doesn't walk into the flea market everyday, online sales are not always attractive, etc. Seems like the best idea would be to have a separate event that was just a swap meet? Based on the replies already sent back and forth on this topic, there seems to be plenty of demand for one. Regards, Matt nocallletters On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 1:07 PM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > I’d like to say that you guys (Girls) put on a very good Hamfest, it is > unfortunate that this year it had to be canceled. > > I have been going there probably for the better part of 20 years, selling > and buying. > All of my friends who are into radio equipment have found some really good > deals there. > > I must say that you guys have the most diverse Hamfest/swap meet in NJ. > > Mike Rosen > > Looking forward to going next year. > > > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > > > On Sep 16, 2020, at 10:14 AM, Kelly Leavitt via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > > Not to flog a deceased equine but... > > Sussex County NJ is home to a great hamfest too. > > > > We have over a thousand buyers through the gates and over 200 sellers. > Ann and I usually run the kitchen. We see all kinds of folks. > > > > 73 de KE2L > > > > ________________________________ > > From: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic-bounces(a)lists.vcfed.org> on > behalf of Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > > Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 10:33 PM > > To: W2HX via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > > Cc: Dave McGuire <mcguire(a)neurotica.com> > > Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] VCF East Swap Meet - Save the Date - > Saturday November 7 (Rain: Sunday November 8) > > > > > > Butler, PA is in the middle of nowhere and generally consists of an > > odd mix of farmers and meth addicts, but there's one hell of a hamfest > > there every year. I too thought hamfests had pretty much died, but then > > I was very happily corrected! I never miss that one. > > > > Of course, every year at the Butler hamfest I run across constipated > > old men standing around complaining about how ham radio (not hamfests, > > but ham radio) is dying. Sometimes I'm in a snarky enough mood to > > interrupt and inform them that it's bigger than it ever has been, but I > > usually just shake my head and leave them to their bran muffins. > > > > -Dave > > > >> On 9/15/20 9:41 AM, W2HX via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > >> I'll pile on 'cause I'm a ham (don't mess with us! Haha). > >> > >> I frequently attend NEARfest which is a spring and fall hamfest event > in the New England area. I don’t know the exact attendance numbers but if I > had to guess I would say "a few thousand" when the weather is good. There > are more hams licensed with the FCC today than ever before in history. Over > 760,000 in the US alone (according to Wikipedia). > >> > >> And growing! > http://www.arrl.org/files/media/News/Ham%20Radio%20Stats%202014.jpg > >> > >> Worldwide the number is about 3,000,000 (again according to Wikipedia). > I wonder how many vintage computer hobbyists exist the world? Maybe we > should learn something from the hams. > >> > >> 73 Eugene W2HX > >> > >> > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic-bounces(a)lists.vcfed.org> On > Behalf Of Joshua Abraham via vcf-midatlantic > >> Sent: Monday, September 14, 2020 7:47 PM > >> To: vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org > >> Cc: Joshua Abraham <jarvideo(a)gmail.com> > >> Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] VCF East Swap Meet - Save the Date - > Saturday November 7 (Rain: Sunday November 8) > >> > >>>> I was right about that, and I was right about hamfests. How many > >> families and kids excitedly go to a hamfest? Swapmeets are incestuous, > and that makes communities wither and go extinct. > >> > >> I couldn't help but weigh in on this. Before making snide remarks such > as these it may help to make sure you have actual data to back that up. > >> Hamfests can be rather small and boring but others are MASSIVE > coordinated events with large attendance. Most notably, the annual Dayton > Hamvention which had an attendance of over 32,000. This event is to hams > what VCF is to us vintage computer enthusiasts. The event is hugely > successful and they have a full on flea market to go along with it. > >> > >> Closer to my neck of the woods is the annual Shelby Hamfest, an event > that's well more than a few decades old and boasts several thousand in > attendance and even offers campground space for the folks they know are > traveling far and bringing families along. > >> > >> Based on these events alone I'd say ham is alive and well and far from > extinct. > >> > >> Personally I think the swapmeet is a fantastic idea and has much > potential. > >> -Joshua A > >> > > > > > > -- > > Dave McGuire, AK4HZ > > New Kensington, PA > >

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Sussex hamfest and swapmeets
by Sentrytv 16 Sep '20

16 Sep '20

I’d like to say that you guys (Girls) put on a very good Hamfest, it is unfortunate that this year it had to be canceled. I have been going there probably for the better part of 20 years, selling and buying. All of my friends who are into radio equipment have found some really good deals there. I must say that you guys have the most diverse Hamfest/swap meet in NJ. Mike Rosen Looking forward to going next year. Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > On Sep 16, 2020, at 10:14 AM, Kelly Leavitt via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > Not to flog a deceased equine but... > Sussex County NJ is home to a great hamfest too. > > We have over a thousand buyers through the gates and over 200 sellers. Ann and I usually run the kitchen. We see all kinds of folks. > > 73 de KE2L > > ________________________________ > From: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic-bounces(a)lists.vcfed.org> on behalf of Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 10:33 PM > To: W2HX via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > Cc: Dave McGuire <mcguire(a)neurotica.com> > Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] VCF East Swap Meet - Save the Date - Saturday November 7 (Rain: Sunday November 8) > > > Butler, PA is in the middle of nowhere and generally consists of an > odd mix of farmers and meth addicts, but there's one hell of a hamfest > there every year. I too thought hamfests had pretty much died, but then > I was very happily corrected! I never miss that one. > > Of course, every year at the Butler hamfest I run across constipated > old men standing around complaining about how ham radio (not hamfests, > but ham radio) is dying. Sometimes I'm in a snarky enough mood to > interrupt and inform them that it's bigger than it ever has been, but I > usually just shake my head and leave them to their bran muffins. > > -Dave > >> On 9/15/20 9:41 AM, W2HX via vcf-midatlantic wrote: >> I'll pile on 'cause I'm a ham (don't mess with us! Haha). >> >> I frequently attend NEARfest which is a spring and fall hamfest event in the New England area. I don’t know the exact attendance numbers but if I had to guess I would say "a few thousand" when the weather is good. There are more hams licensed with the FCC today than ever before in history. Over 760,000 in the US alone (according to Wikipedia). >> >> And growing! http://www.arrl.org/files/media/News/Ham%20Radio%20Stats%202014.jpg >> >> Worldwide the number is about 3,000,000 (again according to Wikipedia). I wonder how many vintage computer hobbyists exist the world? Maybe we should learn something from the hams. >> >> 73 Eugene W2HX >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic-bounces(a)lists.vcfed.org> On Behalf Of Joshua Abraham via vcf-midatlantic >> Sent: Monday, September 14, 2020 7:47 PM >> To: vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org >> Cc: Joshua Abraham <jarvideo(a)gmail.com> >> Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] VCF East Swap Meet - Save the Date - Saturday November 7 (Rain: Sunday November 8) >> >>>> I was right about that, and I was right about hamfests. How many >> families and kids excitedly go to a hamfest? Swapmeets are incestuous, and that makes communities wither and go extinct. >> >> I couldn't help but weigh in on this. Before making snide remarks such as these it may help to make sure you have actual data to back that up. >> Hamfests can be rather small and boring but others are MASSIVE coordinated events with large attendance. Most notably, the annual Dayton Hamvention which had an attendance of over 32,000. This event is to hams what VCF is to us vintage computer enthusiasts. The event is hugely successful and they have a full on flea market to go along with it. >> >> Closer to my neck of the woods is the annual Shelby Hamfest, an event that's well more than a few decades old and boasts several thousand in attendance and even offers campground space for the folks they know are traveling far and bringing families along. >> >> Based on these events alone I'd say ham is alive and well and far from extinct. >> >> Personally I think the swapmeet is a fantastic idea and has much potential. >> -Joshua A >> > > > -- > Dave McGuire, AK4HZ > New Kensington, PA

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Not quite so linked lists (of books)
by Herb Johnson 15 Sep '20

15 Sep '20

Pardon me, Adam, but I'm a little challenged by your proposal and discussion and how it's progressing. First - it's so open ended and vague. What kind of vintage computing, do you want these book-readers to be interested in, or become interested in? What do you want them to do with that interest? What is the audience, what people, do you want to reach with that interest - who are they, what experiences or age or knowledge do you expect them to have? And what's your goal, your end result, your benefit, and for whom? Remember, you aren't just some person asking for books to read. I presume you have goals for VCFed Incorporated, or the museum at Infoage, or maybe something you personally or professionally are working on. But I don't know! and, pardon me - I have decades of computing experience. There's 40 or more years of "vintage computers" around from my own life; and older computers still. Plus all kinds of uses they were used for, ways they can be used now, things people do with them. Or they make their own vintage-class computers. Or they repair the old stuff, or hot-rod 'em. For each activity, there's some kind of entry point, something one can read about and get interested. That's point one - I don't know your plans, your interests, except as you tell people why their books won't work for you. Or any other details that inform me about a list YOU want for your purposes - as you seemed to indicate. Someone suggested a book with technical content; you said it would "scare off the average person". I'm of two minds about that thought. My initial reaction, as a technical person myself, is to be rude and say "scare off average persons? *good*, weed them out early". I'm not average. Many of the people I know in vintage computing, are not "average", many of them have extraordinary skills or interests, or enthusiasms. And: are the people in those suggested books, "average"? Are they doing "average" things? NOt at the time, that's why there's a book about 'em! And is working with old computers now, an "average" kind of thing? And: If you are looking for readers, to do things or be interested in things, or at least be interesting - why target books for *average persons*? What's up with "average"? Along those lines: knowledge of Windows 10 and OS X as a kind of credential? That's essentially a license to steer a modern computer. As soon as such a person sees a command line, or a program listing, or a computer chip - do you expect them to be particularly comfortable? I find, quite frankly, I have to talk people *out of their Windows expectations* as they deal with problems with their vintage computers. What they expect, isn't what happens, isn't how they work. Finally: there's people of all kinds of ages and skills-sets, that may want to look at vintage computing in some way. A particular book, may be a point of entry - depends on that person, and the book's content and context. IF that's your goal. This "average person" thing, and what you think "vintage computing" is about, and what you want some book to accomplish for someone - that all leaves me perplexed. But of course, the museum at Infoage attracts all kinds of people who visit it. Many of them are "average" in some way - or seem that way. Maybe you are trying to do some outreach, some kind of educational thing. Or maybe you want bland-non-technical books about great heroes in technology - gripping narratives that will hold the interest of most anyone. I dunno! So I'm back to square one. If all you want is a conversation, well, be fair about that and say so. Anyone can have some favorite books for some particular reason, if they want to chat about both. And Adam, if you have real goals and intentions, and specific interests, be clear about them when asking for a list from me. Then I can decide if I have some books worth YOUR interests to read, and my interests to write about. Regards, Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT info

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KennettClassic 1 Year Anniv / Swap 9/26
by Bill Degnan 15 Sep '20

15 Sep '20

1 year anniversary new exhibits and swap It will be 73 degrees and sunny Spaces still available. 484 732 7041 Please help support this project, COVID has been rough we can use a boost from the vcf community to help build the local hobby community. Benefits all. https://www.kennettclassic.com/kennett-classic-in-two-weeks-sept-26-2020/ Thanks Bill

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