- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

Museum Report 7/16 & 7/17
by Jeffrey Brace 19 Jul '16

19 Jul '16

I forgot to mention in the workshop report that I was also giving tours to visitors both Saturday and Sunday. There was about a dozen visitors each day. It was nice to have other VCF members around who could help add more information to the tours. They could add more in depth knowledge about systems that they have worked on. For example Bill I. showed parts of the analog EAI machine and explained in more detail the mechanics and composition. == Jeff Brace

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] UNIX PC, was Re: Museum Report 7/16 & 7/17
by Brian L. Stuart 19 Jul '16

19 Jul '16

On Tue, 7/19/16, Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > The big deal with the UNIX PC is that it's a full-blown UNIX > system on a desktop for less than $10K, when such a thing was unheard of. It is a sweet little machine. One of these days, I'm going to have to write up my "desert island" experience with the first one I got. I picked it up at a hamfest in the early '90s missing a disk drive and without the compiler suite. To make things more interesting, it was a period when I didn't have Internet access. But i still managed to get gcc running on it. The secret is that it's possible to write a 68000 disassembler in AWK. :) It's also been useful in that I still use it's MMU for questions on my OS exams sometimes. > As a matter of opinion, this machine has the finest keyboard > I have every used on any platform. I completely agree. I miss using mine. BLS

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OT: Hamfest Sunday July 17th Augusta NJ
by Kelly Leavitt 19 Jul '16

19 Jul '16

Unfortunately I won't be there this weekend. Held at the Sussex County Fair Grounds, 37 Plains Road Augusta, NJ 07822 Gates open at 6AM for vendors and our food service area will have coffee and breakfast sandwiches for our early arrivals. Fair Grounds overnight camping fee is $10 to $25 depending on type of vehicle. Cold drinks, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs will be available later in the morning Buyers are asked to arrive closer to 8AM so vendors can finish getting set up. We will have a VE Session at the Fairgrounds Administration building at 10 AM. DXCC card checking will be available. For the VE Session details, go to: http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session and type in Zip Code: 07882 and CITY: Augusta Our fees for 2016 are the same as last year. * Buyers $7 * Tailgate spot $20 (includes one admission) additional persons $7 * Indoor Tables $20 each We have major vendors already planning to attend: * KJI Electronic * Quicksilver Radio * Hy Power antennas * Fisher Cable * Eagle One * Total Electronic Concepts (W1TEC) * Art W2REN * Manual Man WA2CWA * Satellite Sam * Towaco Imaging * The Wooden Ham * KD Cubed Door prize: Yaesu FT-1900R (50w 2meter rig) donated by KJI Electronics For more information our webpage is http://www.scarcnj.org/hamfest/<http://www.scarcnj.org/hamfest> Email Hamfest(a)scarcnj.org<mailto:Hamfest@scarcnj.org?subject=July%20Hamfest>

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DOS question
by Evan Koblentz 19 Jul '16

19 Jul '16

I'm using a Compaq 386. Rather than typing CD DOS every time that I need to run a program (BASICA) in the DOS directly, how can I create a shortcut that loads on boot to let me type BASICA at the C:\ prompt and have it run automatically? Also, is there a shortcut I can use (for example in autoexec.bat or config.sys) to make Caps Lock automatically enable on boot?

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WWW Proxy Translation for Older Computers?
by John Heritage 19 Jul '16

19 Jul '16

Hi folks! I was playing around and finally got my Amiga 1200 running NetSurf. Obviously it's horrendously slow, www.amiga.org took 141 seconds to render.. but still fun :). Does anyone know if there is a proxy server or similar out there that could 'simplify' web pages browsed through it.. for older computers like this? Examples of simplification might be: - Remove Ads - Convert JPGs to something simpler to process (reduce colors, resolution) - Strip Javascript or other 'difficult' stuff out I can't find anything like this, and maybe it's on the super complex side.. but I figured I'd ask.. www.google.com appears to load 200 KB of text.. not counting the google image, and even that takes ~ 15 seconds to render on this Amiga.. (68020 @ 28 mhz, 35MB total RAM, no FPU). Thanks! John H

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OT: FIOS Voice Backup Battery Replacement for 12V 7.2Ah
by Herb Johnson 19 Jul '16

19 Jul '16

> How do I know that the battery needs recharging vs. failing? Look for a date code, stamped or printed on the battery. But frankly, given the application - your phone and networking! - I'd say replace it every three-four years with a fresh battery. And keep one around on-charge for backup. You can trickle charge old batteries with a few-dollar 12V trickle charger - anything that puts out 10% of rated current at voltage (720mA at 14 volts max) will not cook your battery. Safety compels me to say: don't charge batteries unattended. There's a small chance of overcharge or shorting and excessive current, to lead to a fire. As to where to get these batteries. Many places that sell electroniics and car batteries locally sell them, at higher prices. Alarm companies use them, emergency lighting uses them, so those vendors may source them. Or you can mail-order them, and pay several dollars shipping. Jeff, without further comment - this is a once every three-four year purchase, so you decide how much shopping you want to do. This is a $15-$30 purchase. check the date of any battery you buy off the shelf. If it's more than a year old, I'd not buy it at retail prices. The size and placement of the terminals matters, as noted previously. So carry the old one to compare, or measure and photograph it, so you don't "ooops, the terminals are backwards, the wires won't reach, the connectors won't fit". Rule of thumb for lead type batteries: the heavier the battery for the same "ratings", the more capacity you'll actually have. The lead carries and produces the current; more lead means more current. battery makers won't waste lead but a more expensive brand won't cut lead. Herb PS: this is vaguely on-topic, for the robot builders. Gel batteries are often used in hobby robots, they are common and cheap as used/discards. -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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OT: FIOS Voice Backup Battery Replacement for 12V 7.2Ah
by Jeffrey Brace 19 Jul '16

19 Jul '16

So I heard this beeping about every 30 minutes or so. I thought it was a watch. My sister heard it too and didn't tell me so I was going nuts trying to find it. It turns out that it was the replacement battery light on our FIOS box. This is the battery backup in case power fails and lasts about 8 hours. It didn't help with Sandy because the power was out for 8 days. So anyway I need to replace it. It is 12V 7.2 Ah. The one that Verizon sells is 12V 8Ah: https://www.verizon.com/home/accessories/fios-voice-backup-battery/?&skuPar… . I figure that I can get a cheaper or better one (longer lasting). Before I start searching eBay, Google search are there any recommendations or warnings? Thanks! == Jeff Brace

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OT: Will be in Philly, anything I should check out
by Christian Liendo 19 Jul '16

19 Jul '16

Hi. This week I'm going to Philly to prep for the Democratic National Convention. I know there are some locals on this group and I'm asking if there is anything I should check out in the ways of finding food to some cool places to go. I figure Mon-Fri I will be nuts, Sat/Sun I should have some time. Any advice is appreciated.

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WTB: RCA VP4801 Terminal
by Herb Johnson 18 Jul '16

18 Jul '16

I'm looking for the RCA VP4801 terminal, that looks like a keyboard with video port and serial port. Here's some photos of one, from Josh Bensadon, he showed on at VCF-Midwest: http://www.retrotechnology.com/vcfmw9/josh_vp4801_5.jpg http://www.retrotechnology.com/vcfmw9/josh_vp4801_6.jpg Has to be in working condition and look decent. Contact me directly, please, at retrotechnology.com. Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Vintage computer finds at the Sussex Hamfest
by Herb Johnson 18 Jul '16

18 Jul '16

I was at Sussex as a buyer, got there about 9:30AM. Of course I saw Jeff Galinat, he showed me the KIM he obtained. It was a good show as is usually the case, Sussex is one of the largest hamfests in NJ now. But there was not much vintage computing there, or it was sold earlier in the day if brought. I left around noon, when most but not all the vendors left: by then it was hot, clear and muggy - probably upper 90's heat index. I saw a 8086 in-circuit emulator, but I do very little with the 8086, more with the 8088, so I let it pass. A few books were on 70's computing or on robotics, I bought those. Parts were of all kinds, I got some discounted IC sockets and on a lark, 200 removed NE2 neon lamps. A Radio Shack bulk-tape eraser was cheap - the grey device that looks like a hand-mixer without the twirley-bits. Handfuls of parts, otherwise. I see a number of 20Mhz-40Mhz oscilloscopes at the hamfests, which go begging. Most are secondary brand, some are not; most work. Seems to me, for not much more spent than for a logic probe, one can get a much MUCH more informative test instrument. I acquired two, which worked back home but need some mechanical repairs. I may make these available at a convenient venue. I saw several people in our vintage-computing world who recognized me, or I them. It's a good opportunity to see people who live north of New Jersey. It's pretty low-mountain country up there, and there's good mid-20th-C. diner food. The geology in Sussex County is interesting and in some cases world-class (the Sterling fluorite mine, colonial iron-mines). Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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