Re: [vcf-midatlantic] What are you working on for The next great workshop is Jan 14 & 15
I know this thread was from last week, but since I now know for sure I'll be making it for the whole weekend, I figured I'd chime in. This will be my first time since the 1980s to take a bunch of computer gear somewhere to set up on a table and mix with other enthusiasts. So, please pardon me if I'm totally green, chomping at the bit, over excited, annoyingly verbose, and to top it all off: under skilled. haha I apologize for the book I'm about to write here. I'm tempted to bring my full collection (I need to organize it anyway) as I'm not 100% sure what my goals are and what I can accomplish with this kind of dedicated time to devote to my habit, er "hobby." Any input from ye more experienced is appreciated. For sure I'm planning to bring: An Amiga 3000 with some interesting expansions and a multitude of kooky outboard SCSI gear. (CD drive... Floptical... Bernoulli...) I'm hoping to replace the spindle HD w/a SCSI2SD setup. I've yet to figure out how to get the computer to mount the outboard SCSI equipment. I'm hoping to get over that hump and be able to determine what hardware actually works and what doesn't. My first computer: A trusty/crusty C64. I need to take apart and clean the keyboard. I'll bring a soldering iron and some other tools. If I get that far, I've got a ZoomFloppy card and a C64 NIC+ card that I'd love to try to mess around with. I'll bring a 1541 or two as well. Note that I'm hoping to be able to archive old floppies of mine for both machines. I've already started the process with the c64 (with the ZoomFloppy) but I've yet to modify one of the 1541 drives with a parallel port. Certain disks (like GEOS) seem only be properly imaged via parallel. Tools...disks.... a Commodore monitor and a modern(ish) flat Dell monitor that works with the 3000 and also has S-video and composite inputs. A modern notebook running Win10 and Linux. A MacBook Pro running OSX. A iPad with all my tech books and docs. I'm considering bringing: Mac Classic II: It works great, but I need to prepare and add a SCSI2SD card for this machine. I have some interesting hardware that may allow for Ethernet connection. That'd be fun to experiment with. Macintosh Powerbook G3 Clam Shell ("Wall Street") running OS9. A great "middle man" machine that can communicate with both classic macs and modern ones. Atari 2600: I added some hardware that was supposed to allow it to work on modern monitors. (I forget now if it added a composite connection or something else...not digital.) It didn't go so well. I'd like to troubleshoot that. An A500: It works well and I've found it to be useful when working with the A3000. An SX64. Because I can. ;) A Vectrex. (see SX64) Again... any thoughts are appreciated. I'm also happy to bring stuff just because someone would like to see it. I have a pretty decent compliment of tools for general electronics. If there is something anyone is needing, please say so. I may be able to help. Thanks for reading my book here. Walter http://www.jwalterhawkes.com http://www.blatboy.com like to know where/when I'm playing? Click here <http://www.blatomaster.com/mlist.php> to sign up for my list, and let the babble begin. Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2017 19:39:12 +0000
From: Jeffrey Brace <ark72axow@gmail.com> To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] What are you working on for The next great workshop is Jan 14 & 15 Message-ID: <CAKVfvQwFrTUune3aUXdppfeqOQQat36QeZLLNHLZKmeAi_T7JQ@mail. gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Workshop attendees watcha workin on?
Also let me know about overnight dorm stay if needed.
Any input from ye more experienced is appreciated.
My advice is don't over-do it. Pick one or two projects. There is fine space and time. Bringing * that much * stuff is probably too much (or at least bring one or two things inside at a time, then put them back in your car to work on other things.)
On Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 3:59 PM Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Any input from ye more experienced is appreciated.
My advice is don't over-do it. Pick one or two projects. There is fine space and time. Bringing * that much * stuff is probably too much (or at least bring one or two things inside at a time, then put them back in your car to work on other things.)
This. 100% This. I've overdone it so many times. Wind up never touching 95% of what I bring. Now I pack one or two things I plan to work on and go from there. I expend more effort in bringing tools, parts and supporting gear. For tools, it's soldering equipment, oscilloscope, multimeter, logic probe, etc. Supporting gear is my ROM burning workstation, blank ROMs, floppy imaging system, supporting USB sticks, and modern laptop (for the internet). For parts, it's capacitors, connectors, all sorts of various ICs, and other components. It's easy for me to bring most of this stuff, as I've made sure my tools and parts are easily portable. I feel that multiples of a certain item are OK. This time I'll be bringing Commodore PETs. I'll likely bring all of the PET machines I have, once we are geared up to work on one, working on more than one is easy. You can also compare notes between machines. I might also bring my SX64 as I think I need to burn a ROM for it, and try as I might I can't seem to find the time to actually DO THAT when I'm on my own. So, workshop it is! I may also bring a working Commodore 64 as a frame of reference for working on the SX64. One other tip from prior workshop experience, I usually wind up working on other people's stuff instead of my own. It's more interesting to collaborate and generally the stuff I bring is boring and doesn't yield much discussion/collaboration. See ya! -Todd
Thanks Evan. After I wrote that whole thing... even I can see it's too much. I'll probably stick with the first two ideas, and I'll be happy if I complete one. I was planning on leaving a good bit of the gear in the car unless I needed it. Even that seems awesomely gluttonous to me. I can't ever leave anything in a car in NYC haha. http://www.jwalterhawkes.com http://www.blatboy.com like to know where/when I'm playing? Click here <http://www.blatomaster.com/mlist.php> to sign up for my list, and let the babble begin.
* Any input from ye more experienced is appreciated.
* My advice is don't over-do it. Pick one or two projects. There is fine space and time. Bringing * that much * stuff is probably too much (or at least bring one or two things inside at a time, then put them back in your car to work on other things.)
I may also bring a working Commodore 64 as a frame of reference for working on the SX64.
I'm happy to bring my working SX64 if you'd like to use it. The keyboard
needs a cleaning, but otherwise it works a treat. And thanks for your input. I'm definitely gonna bring a more focused set o' gear. w http://www.jwalterhawkes.com http://www.blatboy.com like to know where/when I'm playing? Click here <http://www.blatomaster.com/mlist.php> to sign up for my list, and let the babble begin.
On Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 4:23 PM Blatboy via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I may also bring a working Commodore 64 as a frame of reference for
working
on the SX64.
I'm happy to bring my working SX64 if you'd like to use it. The keyboard needs a cleaning, but otherwise it works a treat.
Thanks for the offer! I actually prefer using the "flat C64" when diagnosing SX64 machines. I find the SX64 to be a complete pain to take apart, taking two of them apart appeals to me even less. :-D The machines are "close enough" when you are diagnosing ROM/RAM/Mainboard issues that using a C64 as a "known good" works just fine. Thanks again, see you at the workshop! -Todd
Evan wrote: Have you been here, such as for VCF East, etc.? If not, then you'll also want to spend some time checking out our (new) museum space which we opened last spring. I was indeed at VCF East in 2016. I saw the space right after it opened. Great stuff. I'm sure I'll go through it again this weekend if the opportunity presents itself. I talked to a few of the people on the list here at VCF East, and if I remember correctly, you and I spoke briefly. Todd wrote: Thanks for the offer! I actually prefer using the "flat C64" when diagnosing SX64 machines. I find the SX64 to be a complete pain to take apart, taking two of them apart appeals to me even less. :-D The machines are "close enough" when you are diagnosing ROM/RAM/Mainboard issues that using a C64 as a "known good" works just fine. Thanks again, see you at the workshop! You're welcome! I look forward to seeing what you're working on. :) Walter http://www.jwalterhawkes.com http://www.blatboy.com like to know where/when I'm playing? Click here <http://www.blatomaster.com/mlist.php> to sign up for my list, and let the babble begin.
Thanks Evan. After I wrote that whole thing... even I can see it's too much.
You're welcome. Have you been here, such as for VCF East, etc.? If not, then you'll also want to spend some time checking out our (new) museum space which we opened last spring.
I can't ever leave anything in a car in NYC haha.
Very safe here.
On Wed, 11 Jan 2017, Blatboy via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Thanks Evan. After I wrote that whole thing... even I can see it's too much. I'll probably stick with the first two ideas, and I'll be happy if I complete one. I was planning on leaving a good bit of the gear in the car unless I needed it. Even that seems awesomely gluttonous to me. I can't ever leave anything in a car in NYC haha.
A musician friend of mine was in NYC last week, and left his banjo on the back seat. On the way back to his car, he noticed that the rear window was broken. Fearing the worst, he rushed back to the car to discover two more banjos on the back seat. (cue rimshot) Mike Loewen mloewen@cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/
On 01/11/2017 03:47 PM, Blatboy via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Atari 2600: I added some hardware that was supposed to allow it to work on modern monitors. (I forget now if it added a composite connection or something else...not digital.) It didn't go so well. I'd like to troubleshoot that.
I think I have one of these, if you figure that out let me know. I can't quite get the TV out to work with the device but I can get the Composite out to work. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
participants (6)
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Blatboy -
Douglas Crawford -
Evan Koblentz -
Mike Loewen -
Neil Cherry -
Todd George