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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

40 year old loco upgraded to DCC (digital) control.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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HigashiJun
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by HigashiJun »

:dualthumbup:
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Having major issues with motivation (at work) at the moment due to being within a fortnight of ending employment.

Still, I have the retro computing festival to look forward to and plan for next weekend.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 05 Nov 2024 11:51 Having major issues with motivation (at work) at the moment due to being within a fortnight of ending employment.

Still, I have the retro computing festival to look forward to and plan for next weekend.
I can understand that, they seem to have really stabbed you in the back. Hope the festival goes well and takes your mind off things for a bit.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Well, most of the stuff is ready to transport to Cambridge tomorrow.

The boxed stuff is in the car already. I'm going to be packing the second QL and the ancillaries for the telephone exchange, QLs and One Per Desk into the bag this evening. That should just leave the loading into the car tomorrow morning.

I took the day off work today so as to finish the preparation, so did all the signage this morning and got the SAAB ready.

Why the SAAB? Well, it's got a cavernous boot so I can fit not only the items for the exhibition display but also all the machines and bits I'm giving away, such as two Apricot Xi machines, two Electrons, two Plus4s, cases, books and, of course, t-shirts. My living room and outbuilding should be a lot emptier after all that stuff has gone.

The two CRTs can go on the back seat and the LCD telly can go on the front passenger seat.

Once I've finished work I can get on with packing up the stuff people on here wanted posting to them... Gets rid of more stuff.

On the 1st December I'm off to The Cave again and can deliver more magazines. That should be most of the stuff received in the last donation rehomed and I'll have a clear living room floor.

After the event I can also move the OPD and monitors into the storage unit, which will clear up more space in the outbuilding, and finally put all the QLs back up into the loft... Or maybe not, as I may have to clear the loft for the solar panel installation. :-)

P.S. Oh yes, when doing final testing of the One Per Desk this afternoon it didn't want to load BASIC from the Gotek. It's loaded it fine all this time until now. Not really a problem as the version of SuperBASIC is so lobotomised so it's just a curiosity which can make the machine look more like a QL in use. Of course, it will load fine after the event won't it?
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 07 Nov 2024 17:37 Well, most of the stuff is ready to transport to Cambridge tomorrow.

The boxed stuff is in the car already. I'm going to be packing the second QL and the ancillaries for the telephone exchange, QLs and One Per Desk into the bag this evening. That should just leave the loading into the car tomorrow morning.

I took the day off work today so as to finish the preparation, so did all the signage this morning and got the SAAB ready.

Why the SAAB? Well, it's got a cavernous boot so I can fit not only the items for the exhibition display but also all the machines and bits I'm giving away, such as two Apricot Xi machines, two Electrons, two Plus4s, cases, books and, of course, t-shirts. My living room and outbuilding should be a lot emptier after all that stuff has gone.

The two CRTs can go on the back seat and the LCD telly can go on the front passenger seat.

Once I've finished work I can get on with packing up the stuff people on here wanted posting to them... Gets rid of more stuff.

On the 1st December I'm off to The Cave again and can deliver more magazines. That should be most of the stuff received in the last donation rehomed and I'll have a clear living room floor.

After the event I can also move the OPD and monitors into the storage unit, which will clear up more space in the outbuilding, and finally put all the QLs back up into the loft... Or maybe not, as I may have to clear the loft for the solar panel installation. :-)

P.S. Oh yes, when doing final testing of the One Per Desk this afternoon it didn't want to load BASIC from the Gotek. It's loaded it fine all this time until now. Not really a problem as the version of SuperBASIC is so lobotomised so it's just a curiosity which can make the machine look more like a QL in use. Of course, it will load fine after the event won't it?
Wow, you've been pretty busy!

Hope the trip and weekend goes well :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Thanks!
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
User avatar
stephen_usher
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Posts: 7376
Joined: 13 Nov 2017 19:19
Location: Oxford, UK.

Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

I'm back from Cambridge.

A very busy, tiring and fun weekend.

This was my table layout...

IMG_4052.jpeg

Setting up on Friday afternoon I found that the One Per Desk wasn't booting... More investigation found that one of the ROMs had jumped partly out of its socket! After pushing it back in through the Microdrive unit hole in the case the machine started up.

However, the machine was unstable all weekend, often starting with the modem not responding and the the whole machine locking up. It would only come back to life after being left for half an hour or so, though it spent most of Saturday working. Today it hardly worked at all. I'm going to have to investigate... but maybe not this week.

I returned, as planned, with far less than I took, with the only item not given away being a C64 (non-breadbin) case. So, a QL (Lee, More Fun Making It), two Electrons, two plus/4s, a home made BBC Master Compact dual floppy unit, a couple of AMX mice and two Apricot Xis all went to new homes.

I've only unpacked the monitor and TVs from the car so far as they were in the cab. I'll do the rest in the morning I took tomorrow off to do this and recover. The rest of the week will be taken up with leaving dos at work and an alumni dinner in London on Friday.

P.S. I've already been thinking about next year's theme... I think it will be "Rise of the 16 bits", so my Atari 520STM, a Mac Plus and I'll have to get an Amiga A500 to complete the trio.
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Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Posts: 14895
Joined: 17 Aug 2017 19:40
Location: Essex

Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 10 Nov 2024 23:19 I'm back from Cambridge.

A very busy, tiring and fun weekend.

This was my table layout...


IMG_4052.jpeg


Setting up on Friday afternoon I found that the One Per Desk wasn't booting... More investigation found that one of the ROMs had jumped partly out of its socket! After pushing it back in through the Microdrive unit hole in the case the machine started up.

However, the machine was unstable all weekend, often starting with the modem not responding and the the whole machine locking up. It would only come back to life after being left for half an hour or so, though it spent most of Saturday working. Today it hardly worked at all. I'm going to have to investigate... but maybe not this week.

I returned, as planned, with far less than I took, with the only item not given away being a C64 (non-breadbin) case. So, a QL (Lee, More Fun Making It), two Electrons, two plus/4s, a home made BBC Master Compact dual floppy unit, a couple of AMX mice and two Apricot Xis all went to new homes.

I've only unpacked the monitor and TVs from the car so far as they were in the cab. I'll do the rest in the morning I took tomorrow off to do this and recover. The rest of the week will be taken up with leaving dos at work and an alumni dinner in London on Friday.

P.S. I've already been thinking about next year's theme... I think it will be "Rise of the 16 bits", so my Atari 520STM, a Mac Plus and I'll have to get an Amiga A500 to complete the trio.
Looks excellent, hope you had a great weekend.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Posts: 7376
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Yeah, though with the OPD being unreliable and the crowd pleaser (oh, wow, that's today's news!) it was a little stressful.

I've got the OPD on test this morning and I can't get it to fail. The only difference is that I'm using the smaller mono monitor. Maybe I need to do a full recap of the computer PSU in the monitor.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.

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