- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] museum report
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 04 Apr '16

04 Apr '16

Jonathan Gevaryahu via vcf-midatlantic writes: >On 4/4/2016 8:42 AM, Brian Schenkenberger via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > A >DECwriter LA-120 would have been the more appropriate 'console' for > >a/any VAX-11/78x with wide paper. I have a fine speciment of an LA-120 > >if you're interested for VCF. What rom revision does your LA120 have in >it? (i.e. what 23-xxxxx numbers on the chips?) I'm hunting for the >'older' LA120 ROM set, which was on 5 chips (all 2316 mask roms). I have >a good copy of the 'newer' ROM set on 2 chips (one 24-pin 2364, and one >2316). I have one logic board out at the moment. It has 23007E2 and 23038E4 on its chips. I need to run out to ship out an RMA. If I get a chance to, I'll check the chips on the board of the LA-120 I use most of the time.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] museum report
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 04 Apr '16

04 Apr '16

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >Dean and I worked in the museum from about 10am to 5pm. > >A few of the microcomputer cart backdrops came down overnight. We >addressed this by putting superglue between the adhesive side of the >velcro and the backdrop material. Hopefully they'll still be up the next >time we go there! If that still doesn't work then we will try a >mechanical fix (maybe put hose clamps and/or hooks around the cart >poles, or something along those lines.) You can see the wall side of the >micro exhibit and its new backdrops here: >http://vcfed.org/evan/backs_wall.jpg and the center aisle side here: >http://vcfed.org/evan/backs_center.jpg. Remember, there are going to be >signs on each unit where the rear poles extend beyond the top shelves. > >Per the recent discussion about terminals, we put the Televideo 750 with >the Prime 6500 and a VT100 with the VAX-11/785. There wasn't room for >separate tables in that area so we put the terminals on top of the >computers. A DECwriter LA-120 would have been the more appropriate 'console' for a/any VAX-11/78x with wide paper. I have a fine speciment of an LA-120 ir you're interested for VCF.

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Next up: more cleaning!!!
by Evan Koblentz 03 Apr '16

03 Apr '16

I know we won't get ** everything ** done by VCF East, but we can try! I'd like take another museum day this week (maybe Wednesday or Thursday) and of course this weekend again. The weekday edition should be 100% for cleaning: use those baby wipes (etc.) on ALL computers, dust all the window frames/sills, dust all the blinds, mop the floor .... none of this will be any fun, but the results will be great!

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Museum report
by Evan Koblentz 03 Apr '16

03 Apr '16

Sorry for the late and picture-less report. Mouse and I got to the museum around 11am today. Jeff J. came over in the afternoon and we all worked until early evening. Today's major accomplishment was installing decorative backings on all the microcomputer shelving carts. We also painted over some ugly spots on both of the black wooden display cases, added an industrial power strip to the workbench, did more cleaning (that never ends!), and so on.... Tomorrow it'll be Dean and I. Lots of detail tasks are on the list, such as (still more) cleaning, bringing the much-discussed terminals into the minicomputer display, doing some re-cabling, sprucing up the UNIVAC exhibit, etc......

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Which terminal for Prime 6550?
by Evan Koblentz 02 Apr '16

02 Apr '16

As discussed the other day: we'll use a Tektronix terminal with the DG Eclipse and an ADM-3A with the hobby systems. PDP-8 gets an ASR-33. That leaves the Prime 6550 (and also the PDP-11/785, but that one is easy because we have a selection of DEC terminals). So... which terminal (that we might have) is the best choice for the Prime?

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Prime 6550
by Ian Primus 02 Apr '16

02 Apr '16

With all this talk of a terminal for the Prime, does this mean you think you'll get it to the point where we can *run* the 6550? I've been offering to fix it up and get it in running condition for years, but that's never been an option due to lack of power for it. I mean, I know these machines very well, and I have all the service manuals, the operating system tapes and the spare parts. Getting it running is very doable. Problem is, that thing needs three phase in it's factory configuration. I can rewire it to run on anything (240 or 110), but you still need a *lot* of current, and that's historically been a problem for InfoAge, especially considering the problems I had just powering my little Prime 4450 when I've brought it to VCF. -Ian

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Which terminal for Prime 6550?
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 02 Apr '16

02 Apr '16

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >As discussed the other day: we'll use a Tektronix terminal with the DG >Ec= lipse and an ADM-3A with the hobby systems. PDP-8 gets an ASR-33. >That le= aves the Prime 6550 (and also the PDP-11/785, but that one is >easy becaus= e we have a selection of DEC terminals). So... which >terminal (that we mi= ght have) is the best choice for the Prime? More April Fools?

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Which terminal for Prime 6550?
by Mike Loewen 02 Apr '16

02 Apr '16

>> the last thing that you would use on a 6550 would be a genuine DEC >> terminal > > What DO we use? Try a PT250: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Terminal-prime-pt250.jpg Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] More museum reconfiguration
by Christian Liendo 02 Apr '16

02 Apr '16

Personally I think we should find all the episodes from the TV show "Wiz Kids" and do a 24hr Wiz Kid marathon. Granted there are only eighteen 60min episodes.

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Press / social media for VCF East
by Evan Koblentz 01 Apr '16

01 Apr '16

Our friends at Hackaday are sponsoring the eight-bit game programming hackathon. They wrote the first of several articles yesterday: http://hackaday.com/2016/03/31/hackaday-teams-with-vintage-computer-festiva… IEEE Spectrum is sending a reporter and photographer to the show. We've already been publicized on the Facebook/Twitter accounts of the ACM and of the IEEE History Center. Next week we'll be on the CSTA blog + social media (Computer Science Teachers Association). InfoAge sent out an announcement on their Constant Contact account recently. We have our own Constant Contact account and sent an announcement about two weeks ago. That was before Ted Nelson signed up, and there are other new details to share (more exhibits, class schedule, sponsors, etc.) so we'll send another blast soon... maybe tonight. I'm going to contact the Press of Atlantic City (daily paper there) and tell them the story of how, 40 years ago this summer, Apple made its public debut in their town... and that anyone can drive one hour north to see Apple history at our show/museum.

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