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VCF Southwest 2024 a summary of activity

by Steve Lewis

Have some notes on my experience at VCF SW over last weekend. I got busy with my exhibits and talks, and didn't get as many photos to cover everything. But for those who couldn't make it over to Texas for this VCF, here is a summary of a few things there. VCF Southwest 2024 (Dallas/Richardson) — voidstar <https://voidstar.blog/vcf-southwest-2024-dallas-richardson/> https://voidstar.blog/vcf-southwest-2024-dallas-richardson/

2 years, 3 months

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Lunar Lander, bug

by emanuel stiebler

Interesting reading, as I believe, we all played it at least once :) https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/06/retired-engineer-discovers-55-year-o…

2 years, 3 months

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VCF West tickets available now! Aug 2 & 3 @ CHM

by Jeffrey Brace

Tickets for VCF West 2024 Aug 2 & 3, Mountain View, CA The show is looking to be bigger than ever! We will again be at The Computer History Museum. Tickets available through this link: https://buy.acmeticketing.com/events/499/list Existing VCF Members were emailed the coupon code for their 20% discount. New members can email us after creating their membership to get the code.

2 years, 4 months

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Experience using an Altair 8800 ("Personal computer" from 70s)

by Dave Dunfield

I case anyone is interested... I've just passed on my "Mits Altair 8800" - this is a very historic system from the 70s - it is: First Personal Computer (long before IBM PC) First S100 buss system First system Bill Gates wrote code for (long before Microsoft) I did write a pretty decent emulator for my exact Altair system some years ago... And with recent interest in the system, I've just updated it with a few minor improvements and a "cleaned up" edition of the software I created to bootstrap a hardware front-panel based system (no on-board ROM) via a serial port card - requiring you to enter only 18 bytes through the front panel So .. if you'd like to experience what it was like to use a system from the 70s - here's some of the things you can do: Bootstrap it cold Run NorthStar DOS (one of the first commercial DOSes) Run DMF (Device Management Facility) - a DOS I created for it - can you tell that at the time I was working on an IBM mainframe ... my - OS name sounds a lot like various IBM mainframe packages at the time. A few other software setups (for example there's a stand-alone bootable FORTH) Has Editors, Assemblers, BASIC and other tools from the era. and a few games - some written by yours truly - some very early commercial offerings (like "Cranston Manor Adventure", or "Valdez") Note1: My Altair emulator was created under DOS and is a 16 bit program! It does work very well with DosBox (I recommend the one on my site) Note2: I've not updated the ALTAIR.ZIP on "Daves Old Computers" yet - you can get the updated one from: "Daves Old Computers" -> Personal -> Downloads -> OlderDownloadsFromPrevious - look for "ALTAIR" under: Simulators and Emulators *** I don't follow this list nearly as much these days - if you want to reach me, use the contact link on my site! -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Search "Dave's Old Computers" see "my personal" at bottom!

2 years, 4 months

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The magic smoke....

by D. Resor

Seems this eBay seller let the magic smoke get out, then proceeded to power it on again one hour later. Litton Monroe OC 8820 https://www.ebay.com/itm/355793400092 See the description.. Don Resor

2 years, 4 months

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Re: Vintage computing in the San Francisco bay area

by Anders Sandahl

Hi! It's many interesting things here. I hope I can pass by Anchor Electronics. When I was looking on the map where to find it I noticed that Intel (and it's museum) is just a few blocks away. I think I'll miss Electronics flea market, I have read abut this in another context as well. It would have been great fun! We will miss the observatory's free views. Well, I have to stay longer the next time. /Anders On 2024-06-14 19:32, Curious Marc wrote: > If you happen to be there on the right Sunday, don’t miss the > electronics flea market! > Electronics Flea Market <https://www.electronicsfleamarket.com/> > electronicsfleamarket.com <https://www.electronicsfleamarket.com/> > favicon.ico <https://www.electronicsfleamarket.com/> > > <https://www.electronicsfleamarket.com/> > Also if you need old ICs and transistors at 1960’s prices, that odd > connector or the big old Sprague capacitor there is Anchor Electronics: > Anchor Electronics <https://anchor-electronics.com/> > anchor-electronics.com <https://anchor-electronics.com/> > favicon.ico <https://anchor-electronics.com/> > > <https://anchor-electronics.com/> > > You could view a lot, bid on it and pick it up at Auction BDI > Hibid <https://auctionbdi.hibid.com/> > auctionbdi.hibid.com <https://auctionbdi.hibid.com/> > <https://auctionbdi.hibid.com/> > > <https://auctionbdi.hibid.com/> > > Also take advantage of the clear California skies with telescope > viewing nights at the Foothill Observatory or at the Chabot Museum, > or, even better, at the Lick observatory > Foothill College Observatory - Foothill College > <https://foothill.edu/astronomy/observatory.html> > foothill.edu <https://foothill.edu/astronomy/observatory.html> > favicon.ico <https://foothill.edu/astronomy/observatory.html> > > <https://foothill.edu/astronomy/observatory.html> > https://chabotspace.org/events/free-telescope-viewings/ > lh_domes_wide.jpg > Public Evening Tours > <https://www.lickobservatory.org/events/public-evening-tours/> > lickobservatory.org > <https://www.lickobservatory.org/events/public-evening-tours/> > > <https://www.lickobservatory.org/events/public-evening-tours/> > > Marc > >> On Jun 13, 2024, at 12:15 PM, anders--- via cctalk >> <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote: >> >> Hi, >> >> Soon I will travel to US and San Francisco/San José Area. Any tips >> for vintage computing and surpuls electronics? >> >> CHM is manatory, I'll go there. It would have been nice to see the >> PDP-1 in action, but I suscpect that we will not make it when it's >> demonstrated. >> >> /Anders

2 years, 4 months

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VCF Southwest June 14-16, 2024 - Dallas, Texas

by Jeffrey Brace

If you’re in the area, come see the show. Great attendance so far this year! More info: vcfsw.org Vintage Computer Federation has a table there too!

2 years, 4 months

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tape duplicator program for pdp11

by Jacob Ritorto

Hi, Just got a real (Cipher M990 on TS05-emulating controller) tape drive running and would like to make exact copies of some [9-track] tapes "to guard against disaster." Probably will also do some imaging, so bonus if the candidate program can handle that too. This is on an 11/34; I don't have a good q-bus tape controller yet or I'd try it on uVAX with NetBSD or something less "exciting" :) Anyone know of good programs to do this with only one tape drive? Don't care which operating system. Been looking through DECUS archives but have found nothing yet (manually reading thru - 1/3 of the way done, maybe there's a better way to scan these?). thx jake

2 years, 4 months

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Seeking Remex RRS3300 Paper Tape Reader info

by David Wise

I was given a Remex RRS3300RB5/550/DRA/S358 back around 1999. This 300cps machine uses a capstan and brake instead of a sprocket. The 180ips spooler is AC motors, triacs, brakes, tension arms loaded with microswitches (including a discrete differentiator), six relays, and a soft-start ramp. In spite of the ramp, the spooler was murderous, snapping tape after tape. After some modifications and adjustments I got it working pretty well, but I don't like that I had to change it. I never found a manual, and it has always bugged me. Does anyone here have anything? I have a manual for the RRS3301 which has a similar reader section but the spooler (my sore spot) is completely different. I have a manual for the RTS3300 S239 which is a custom-mod to fit in GE CNC systems of the time. It has no reader electronics, and a spooler that shows common ancestry but again it's not like mine. Thanks, Dave Wise in Hillsboro Oregon To be specific, I made two changes and found a set of resistor settings that treats the tape gently. The changes are (a) eliminate continuous takeup during the startup ramp, (b) block the transition to full speed. The soft start board simply ramps up to maximum and stays there. I made it easy to back these changes out if I ever find out how to make the instrument behave in stock trim. What is my 358 custom mod?

2 years, 4 months

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Vintage computing in the San Francisco bay area

by anders＠abc80.net

Hi, Soon I will travel to US and San Francisco/San José Area. Any tips for vintage computing and surpuls electronics? CHM is manatory, I'll go there. It would have been nice to see the PDP-1 in action, but I suscpect that we will not make it when it's demonstrated. /Anders

2 years, 4 months

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