- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

Get your Festivus Tickets!
by Jeffrey Brace 01 Dec '21

01 Dec '21

Only 7 people signed up so far for Festivus. I know that there are more people coming. So procrastinators, please get your tickets now! Or at the very least let me know that you are coming. Buy tickets through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/festivus -2021-tickets-194874814817 If you want to pay at the door, then you also have that option. I can have the iPad ready to take cash or credit, etc. It's important that I know how many are coming so that I can buy the right amount of burgers, hotdogs, etc. Here the info again: START: Sat, Dec 11 at 10AM END: Sun, Dec 12 at 5PM ANNUAL VCF MA Town Hall: December 11 at 8PM WHERE: 2201 Marconi Rd, Wall Township, NJ (InfoAge Campus) 9010-C = Cafeteria where we will eat and drink. 9010-C = Game room across from cafeteria 9010-D (Women's Bunkroom) = Mini Festivus Swap Meet where we can buy and sell 9059 = Festivus Repair workshop COST: $20 per person covers the whole event $25 per person per night for overnight stay Potluck signup: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UtSrLUdnIcRjY3LErfukhYltF1oHno0V6Nk… Video Game signup: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ccEP-PdZGuqz0HFZKNXmfxICtXaO3Hly892… Swap Meet Signup: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19jpgyvVoKaxAuUxQU-7_b3Grk9LWOQ6aAbQ… Repair Workshop Signup: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14C_OObkhtzCsA-LF7rzNhoagb3RovLDsXtB… ========================================= 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 <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> Virus-free. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

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Update on Steering Committee Voting
by Jeffrey Brace 30 Nov '21

30 Nov '21

22 votes in so far. Thanks for those that have voted so far! Please vote if you haven't yet! Vote here: < https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMYrxBkhg67lF7Qzi67H1ddydlwxrn2hO… > By Laws are here: < https://vcfed.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/VCFMA-By-laws.pdf> Election Info is here: < https://vcfed.org/wp/groups/vcf-mid-atlantic/elections-for-steering- committee/> Nominee Position Statements are here: <https://vcfed.org/wp/steering- committee-nominee-position-statements/> ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Chairman of the Board Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Get your Festivus Tickets!
by Lou 30 Nov '21

30 Nov '21

Purchased tickets for myself and the wife (I can actually say that now, wow!) Also nice to know there will be a workshop space for what I am going to be looking at that night.

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Festivus - Wanted: Logitech C7 Mouse, ISA Serial
by Ethan O'Toole 29 Nov '21

29 Nov '21

Heya, Just in case someone has one they want to get rid of... Looking for a logitech 3 button C7 mouse. IT looks like this: https://www.retrogamingmuseum.com/the-collection/logitech-c7 I also am in need of a ISA Serial card. Single port is best, or one where I can disable the 2nd port + disable parallel. Going into a Tandy 1000SX. Note, the Bus mouse version of the C7 along with the BUS ISA card would also work fine. Could pay cash, or you can pick from my stash that I will bring. - Ethan

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Steering Commitee Elections 2021
by Jeffrey Brace 28 Nov '21

28 Nov '21

11 votes in so far. Keep them coming! Vote here: < https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMYrxBkhg67lF7Qzi67H1ddydlwxrn2hO… > By Laws are here: https://vcfed.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/VCFMA-By-laws.pdf Election Info is here: https://vcfed.org/wp/groups/vcf-mid-atlantic/elections-for-steering-committ… Nominee Position Statements are here: https://vcfed.org/wp/steering-committee-nominee-position-statements/ ========================================= 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 <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> Virus-free. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

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VCF MA Steering Commitee Election Form
by Jeffrey Brace 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

Please fill out the Steering Committee Election Form found here: < https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMYrxBkhg67lF7Qzi67H1ddydlwxrn2hO… > By Laws are here: https://vcfed.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/VCFMA-By-laws.pdf Election Info is here: https://vcfed.org/wp/groups/vcf-mid-atlantic/elections-for-steering-committ… Nominee Position Statements are here: https://vcfed.org/wp/steering-committee-nominee-position-statements/ ========================================= 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

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WTB: ASCII terminal any model
by Enzo D'Amato 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

Hello, I am relatively new to the vintage computing community (VCF east 2021 was my first event, and I learned about the mailing list there). Now that the holiday season has come around, I was hoping to start off my collection by getting a simple ascii terminal. I am quite flexible when it comes to models, and I am comfortable with having to adapt it (within reason) to get it hooked up. I was hoping for a vt100 or similar however, as I think that they look quite cool, but I know that these older models are rarer. Thank you for any help that you can provide! Enzo

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C128 Neo PCB speaker @ VCF East 2022
by Jeffrey Brace 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

We have another speaker for Friday who will come from Sweden and talk about his C128 Neo PCB. More info here: https://c128.se <https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLU…> As a reminder VCF East is April 22, 23,24. Classes are April 22. Exhibits & speakers are April 23 &24. ========================================= 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

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Looking for working 5.25" 1.2MB drive to borrow/rent
by John Heritage 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

Hey All! :) I have a small amount of old 5.25" floppies I'd like to read some data off of. Does anyone have a working 5.25" HD drive that I could borrow? I have a Socket 7 system and a pair of 5.25" drives that seem bad. Drive 1 read a couple of disks "ok" -- the data was intact, took several tries. After swapping to Drive 2 to see if it was more reliably, Drive 1 now won't power up. Drive 2 also would read some disks but even less reliably than drive 1. I took the protective cover off of Drive 2, carefully used some canned air, and then carefully alcohol swabbed the read/write heads (as I have in the past with my Atari 8bit drives). Let it sit, and it read one more disk, but since then - even with additional cleanings won't read or write anything. I have both some old OEM disks (i.e. copies of PCBoard) I've tried using, and also a box of definitely unused 1.2MB floppies that look very clean, and can't get either config working. I'd actually like to read that PCBoard disk if possible so I stopped 'testing' with it and just focused on the clean unused disk. Anyway, I'd love to rent or borrow a 5.25" HD / 1.2mb drive that is good. I can paypal over some $ as a deposit or whatever if necessary. I have about 12 disks I want to read data off of and then i'll be done with the drive. I'm located in the King of Prussia PA area but have no problem driving wherever if in person is preferred. Thanks! John

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] [OT] My eyes are aging - glasses recos for electronics work/small print reading?
by John Heritage 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

Hey All - thanks for all of the recommendations. I ended up buying two devices: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007JZ3U6K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o… and https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08J2V8M8Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o… The first one is *really* comfortable to wear, and adds reading glass functionality (1.5x, 2.0x, or 2.5x) to safety glasses. These complement my contact lenses nicely, I went with the 1.5x and it's a huge quality of life improvement. The second unit was recommended by someone here and I think it'll be very useful for verifying work closely but for my eyes, the range that it makes something visible is on the order of 6" away from my face or less. I could see putting that on top of my head, using the light as needed, and then taking on/off the first pair while doing the actual work. It's a rare use piece for sure, but interesting. Anyway, thanks all for the recommendations and discussion! On Wed, Nov 17, 2021 at 3:21 PM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > One advantage is the tiny hands. > They Into those very tight places > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > > > On Nov 17, 2021, at 3:14 PM, Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > > one other solution is to outsource your vintage computing. I have sent > > all of my computers and parts overseas and they do all of the work > > remotely. I am told it's nice. > > b > > > >> On Wed, Nov 17, 2021 at 3:11 PM John Heritage via vcf-midatlantic < > >> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > >> > >> Interesting - thank you. I’ve previously been told I do in one eye > though > >> the last doc said it’s no longer apparent (?? :) ). I ordered a pair > of > >> safety + 1.5x magnification glasses to see how that works for the > >> electronics work. I will take your suggestion and just try a set of > >> pharmacy readers (+bring a couple of unreadable USB power supplies with > me > >> to test :)). thanks! > >> > >> On Wed, Nov 17, 2021 at 07:17 Jason Perkins via vcf-midatlantic < > >> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > >> > >>> John, > >>> > >>> Do you have an astigmatism? I do, and am nearsighted. I had a pair of > >>> glasses made which is mostly just an astigmatism correction, almost no > >>> distance. > >>> > >>> It makes doing close work *much* easier. Of course this means you'd > have > >> to > >>> switch from contacts to 2 different pairs of glasses. > >>> > >>> You could also stop by a pharmacy and try some of the readers on. > >>> > >>> -J > >>> > >>> On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 11:06 PM Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic < > >>> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > >>> > >>>> I use a large lighted magnifying lense with an adjustable arm that > >> allows > >>>> me to position to.see details. Great for checking solder joints, etc. > >>>> Bill > >>>> > >>>> On Tue, Nov 16, 2021, 5:58 PM Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic < > >>>> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > >>>> > >>>>> On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 3:16 PM John Heritage via vcf-midatlantic < > >>>>> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>>> I'm sure at least a few of you can relate. Hell, I *know* Crawford > >>>>>> Griffith can relate ;-).. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> I wear contact lenses and without the lenses I can read small > >>> print/see > >>>>>> tiny text on PCBs without problem. Once the contacts are in I have > >>>> real > >>>>>> trouble focusing in some cases on small fonts, or other details > >> such > >>> as > >>>>> the > >>>>>> crappy way manufacturers print specs on power supplies. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Any specific recommendations for eye glasses here? Are cheap > >> reading > >>>>>> glasses sufficient for [seeing] soldering "up close" and other uses > >>>> like > >>>>>> that or is there a type of reading / magnifying glass that's also > >> for > >>>>>> safety that someone would recommend? > >>>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> I never got around to getting a new pair of glasses for about 3 or 4 > >>>> years > >>>>> before getting some about a year ago. My eyesight isn't really bad, > >> but > >>>> it > >>>>> helps to have them when reading things from a distance. Had to get a > >>> new > >>>>> eye exam. Apparently I couldn't use contacts any more because of > >>> various > >>>>> reasons. They recommended Bi-Focals. I went with the most expensive > >>>> option: > >>>>> Progressive's lens which are a transition of distance higher on the > >>> lens > >>>>> and progressively closer as you get towards the bottom. They are also > >>>>> Transitions that get dark in sunlight. This way when I'm watching TV > >> I > >>>> can > >>>>> look at it (distance), then quickly look down at my phone (up > >> close). I > >>>>> went to America's Best Contacts and Eyeglasses. I recommend that you > >> go > >>>> to > >>>>> a reputable eye doctor to get a recommendation on your specific case. > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Thanks! > >>>>>> John > >>>>>> > >>>>> > >>>> > >>> > >>> > >>> -- > >>> Jason Perkins > >>> 313 355 0085 > >>> > >> > >

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