GCCC Archives - Glenside Color Computer Club

Business Meeting How-To’s:

Posted on May 6, 2024 | by John Mark Mobley

The Business Meeting will be on Thursday, June 13th.

Guideline #1: Everything is to be done decently and in order. So we follow Robert’s Rules of Order.

Guideline #2: We need you to attend, or share your ideas with leadership.

Guideline #3: Get involved. Leaders sometimes need to delegate responsibility to someone. As you get involved, you may have an opportunity to become a leader yourself. Leaders are expected to serve the GCCC community.

Guideline #4: Know the Constitution and Bylaws of the Club: https://www.glensideccc.com//wp-content/uploads/2020/12/GCCC-Constitution.pdf

Guideline #5: Know how and when to amend the Constitution and Bylaws of the Club.

CoCoFest 32 Update

Posted on February 25, 2024 | by Grant Leighty

We are now less than 70 days until the 2024 Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFest. The weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer, and it will be here before we know it. I just wanted to provide a few updates on this year’s CoCoFest.

First, the tables sold out in the main room faster than any year before. I have worked with the hotel and we have come up with a couple of ideas. I have added 14 tables that will be in the hallway, and 9 tables that will be located across the hall in a smaller room. Both options will have power available to them. Each table will be 6 foot in length, and will cost $30 each. The main difference between the two locations will be the overflow will be locked up at the end of the night after the show. The tables in the hallway will need to be taken down and placed into one of the rooms at night. I would like to keep the tables in the main ballroom for people who are displaying or selling items. If you are wanting a table for a place to call home, or a place just to seat down, please use one of the hallway tables. If you want to move your existing table to another location, please send me an email to cocofest@glensideccc.com and we will get that done for you. One last thing, since we have to rent the extra tables, there will NOT be any extra tables to purchase on the day of the fest. To purchase a table for this year’s CoCoFest, go to our website at tandylist.com.

I am still looking for people to give presentations this year. If you want to give a presentation, please send me an email and I will get you add to the list. Don’t forget that this year’s theme is Star Wars. I would like to see the tables decorated in the Star Wars theme. There might even be a prize for the best decorated table. If you have any questions you can reach me on the CoCo Discord, or by email at cocofest@glensideccc.com.

MadLibs: 1st Glenside Challenge

Posted on February 17, 2024 | by Grant Bloedow

Welcome to the first Glenside Color Computing Challenge in 2024! We welcome all people who are interested or new to the platform to consider submitting a Mad Lib entry for the challenge.

The TRS-80 Color Computer, affectionately known as the CoCo has been around since 1979 when it was first announced as a 4K RAM, Motorola 6809 CPU and grew into several variants until its final commercial release of the Color Computer 3 with options up to 512K in its initial release, with a multitasking OS in Microware’s OS-9 and many, many additional options and upgrades from 3rd-Party sellers since.

The rules are simple:

THE PLATFORM
Submissions need to run in a virtual CoCo or in hardware. MS BASIC, BASIC-09, Assembly Language, or another option on the platform. Please submit it so the program/submission can run in a Virtual Environment like XROAR, VCC or CoCoPi/MAME.

Take your own pick on the target platform. This is a general guide of what you might choose (just remember it should be usable via the emulators listed above).
– Color Computer 1, 4K or MC-10, with Color Basic
– Color Computer 2, Extended Color Basic, BASIC09 under OS-9 Level I
– Color Computer 3, Extended Color Basic on the CoCo 3 with additional capabilities.
BASIC09 under OS-9 Level II.

Our goal in this and upcoming challenges is to bring interest to the TRS-80 Color Computers for someone who might already have an interest in other similar 8-bit computing platforms, someone young looking to find a retro-challenge, or anyone who loves the CoCo.

Since this is our first whack at a challenge like this, and based on the feedback and participation we have plans for other future challenges, we may modify the judging (if in person at the CoCoFEST!), the prizes and timelines.

Just an example from the internet of a MadLib and how it is filled out when completed. (source: Medium article 2018)

THE CHALLENGE

Create a MadLib program that allows a user to enter the fields/options for a MadLib style word game to produce a resulting ‘story’.

We ask that any resulting Mablibs be respectful of the community and platform; we are all here to enjoy and have fun, not at the expense of one another. Keep the MadLibs short enough that it isn’t a novel. Plenty of examples can be found online (but a 10-15 word fill-in seems about right).

If you are new to the platform, there are resources to get you up-to-speed in BASIC on the CoCo, and many useful examples of BASIC code at the Color Computer Archive. You can navigate through the Books, Manuals, or other resources there to get you started. Those who knew the computers from the start used the “Getting Started with …” books as a great introduction to BASIC programming and widely touted as the best introduction to BASIC written.

WINNERS will be announced at the 32nd Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST! Submissions are due by April 15, 2024 by 11:59pm. Submit your entries as an email to newsletter@glensideccc.com. Please include a shirt size with your submission if that is the winning prize for your category.

PRIZES may include vintage computing T-Shirt, a Color Computer 2, CoCoSDC (an SD card reader that emulates drives for easy use and loading of software), and more!!! We are waiting to see the initial response to determine what prizes will be available for this first challenge!

Are you ready, player one?!

For this challenge we will have two age groups.

Group 1 is ages 12 and under
Group 2 is for ages 13+

Details on judging and awards will follow…

An example of MadLibs and what can be done is demonstrated with this mobile app and there are printable examples: https://www.madlibs.com/printables/

Glenside Computing Challenges

Posted on January 29, 2024 | by Grant Bloedow

Welcome to the first of a continuing series of Glenside Challenges. We challenge you to play harder, think smarter, research and learn. Expand your reach in classic 8-bit computing with the TRS-80 Color Computer!

Coming soon to a galaxy near you…

**There will be loot! There will be glory!**

Programming Challenges
4k programming (keep it under 4 kilobytes)
Little Man Computer
(simple assembly language challenge)
Create a puzzle/game
BASIC Madlib generator
Write a new song using Lyra or midi notation (link to Lyra documentation)
Or UltiMusE III
ugbasic – challenge to create an app that works on multiple supported platforms Port your BASIC to another system!

Choose one of these, do your daring best –
& submit!

Live Triathalon Gaming!
Donkey Kong – Remix
Double Back
Defender
Are you ready?
PLAYER ONE!
Graphic Drawing – using a CoCo on-platform and the programs of your choice!

CoCoMax II, CoCoMax III,
ColorMax Deluxe,
Colormax 3, The Rat?

Distinct age classes
12 and under
13-20 and
21+

We want YOU to step up to the 6809 challenges!

If you don’t have access to a CoCo, use the online XROAR emulator when possible! Or download one to your local computer. Or use the CoCoPi on a RaspberryPi

We have some generous donations that will be used to entice your participation. If you have something you would like to donate we would happily accept. We already have some pretty cool swag!

CoCoSDC
Color Computer 2
CoCoIO
PLAYER ONE – T-Shirt
And maybe more!

The 32nd Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST

Posted on January 7, 2024 | by Grant Leighty

As we say goodbye to 2023, and we ring in the new year, CoCoFest will be here in a few short months. I’m excited to see what this years CoCoFest will bring. I have already heard that there will be some rare hardware and several new projects that people are working on. Don’t forget that this year’s theme is Star Wars since the fest is on May 4th. I am encouraging all the vendors to decorate their tables in the Star Wars theme.

We have opened the registration for all exhibitors and attendees. We were able to keep the prices the same as last year. We will be selling 8-foot tables for $40 each, and 6-foot tables for $30 each. This year I have increased the maximum number of tables from 2 to 3. If you are thinking about getting a table, please get it now before they are all gone. Tables are going extremely fast this year. This is a good problem to have, and I have already been working with the hotel about setting up additional tables in another room and in the hallway of the hotel. I will be posting updates on the Glenside website, Discord, and the Facebook groups. Since tables are in such high demand, we will not be taking payment for the them at the door this year. The tables MUST be paid in full no later than April 17^th. This way we can be sure that all the tables will be used and sit empty. If you would like to sign up for tables, you can do that at Tandylist.

If you would like to join us for this year’s for CoCoFest, you can. We will be at the same location as last year at the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Carol Stream (Wheaton), in Carol Stream, IL. The cost to attend this year’s fest will be free this year. The hotel has provided us with a block of rooms at a discounted rate. To book a room at the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Carol Stream, you can book your room online by clicking here. You must book before the cutoff date of Midnight Chicago time, April 17, 2024 for the special CoCoFEST! rate of $120 a night plus fees taxes for two queen beds, or a one king bed. There is an option for two rooms suite with a king bed for $135 a night plus taxes. They also have a two-room suite with two queen beds upon request. Please reach out to Grant Leighty if you are interested in this room. To get this rate, you must select any days between and including May 2nd to 5th and enter the CoCoFEST! group rate of GTS. You may alternatively call the Front Desk to book your room at 630-665-3000 and provide them the Group Code of GTS.

We will continue the tradition and will be having a buffet style dinner on Saturday night at the hotel. This year we will be offering a BBQ Buffet.

Garden Salad with two dressings
Smoked BBQ Brisket, and Pulled Pork with BBQ sauce
Baked Bean
Macaroni & Cheese
Desert

The cost of the Saturday dinner is $45 per person. You can register for the dinner at Tandylist. The dinners must be ordered and paid for no later than April 17, 2024. If you have a special diet need, please send me an email to cocofest@glensideccc.com and we will try to accommodate your needs.

This year’s theme will be Star Wars since the fest is held on May 4^th. I encourage everyone to decorate their tables this year, and even wear Star Wars costumes to the show. We will be giving a prize to the best decorated table. Also, we will be selling t-shirts this year on our store website. Salvador has created one design option, and you can see it on the Glenside website. If you have an idea for a t-shirt design, please send it to me at cocofest@glensideccc.com.

One last thing, if you would like to give a presentation at this year’s CoCoFest, please send me an email with your presentation idea and I will get you added to the schedule. Presentations will be limited this year to only Saturday to allow more time for people to attend the booths. Remember that attending the CoCoFest is free this year. If you want to become a member of the Glenside Color Computer Club you can purchase a membership on Tandylist for only $15. If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please send me an email at cocofest@glensideccc.com. I hope to see everyone later this year at the 32^nd Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST.

Glenside Picnic/Gathering Sept 23

Posted on August 24, 2023 | by Grant Bloedow

A friendly reminder we will have a gathering on Saturday, 2023 September 23 at the Woodfire Pizza in West Dundee, IL at 4:00pm. We will be there from 4:00pm until the last of us decide to leave! Glenside has made an allowance to contribute to the bill.

If you come early, there are many types of shops and amenities in the area including a river walk, vintage/antique store, old-time candy store (with sugar-free options!), retro-arcade, and more. Below are some links to additional things for you or anyone coming into town.

We won’t have a place to set up technology at the restaurant, just time to enjoy the day together. If you’re in the area and/or traveling a distance the links below are some attractions and places to visit.

LOCAL SHOPS:

Underground Retroarcade Open Saturday 5:00-11:00pm (all you can play $20 all day pass)

Around the Corner Candy Open 11:00-7:00pm

Half-Full Nest Vintage Market Open Saturday from 10:30-3:30pm

J and S River Antiques Open Saturday from 11:00-5:00pm

Depot Market – Flea Market Open Saturday from 10:00-3:00pm

Spring Hill Mall – Regular Shopping

A Hard (Drive) Bargain

Posted on August 13, 2023 | by Jim Brain

In June, I mentioned that I had extracted a ST-251 MFM HDD from what appeared to be the club’s main Color Computer system and sent it on to the designer of the MFM Emulator, David Gesswein. While David was able to coax a bit of data from the unit, the heads were out of alignment, which is common in drives of this age. To coax more from the drive, he’d need to take over the head positioning motor, called a “stepper motor“.

Stepper motors are unlike regular electric motors in that they are not designed for constant rotation. Instead of containing a set of coils that encourage the rotor (the part that turns) to spin, a stepper motor contains a set of coils designed to force the motor to shift by a small amount. It does this by using a set of coils that can be individually energized. To simulate constant rotation, one uses a stepper motor driver which sequences the various coils and coil polarities to constantly shift the motors position by a slight amount. Stepper motors are typically rated according to the number of full “steps” in a single rotation.

“Micro stepping” is the ability for a stepper motor driver to position the stepper motor in various fractions of a step by applying specific voltages and sequences to the motor windings. This reduces rotational speed and sometimes the force the motor can exert, but it also increases the resolution of the shaft positioning.

As is usual, nothing is easy. Most stepper motors utilize 2 phases, but the ST-251 head positioning stepper motor is a 5 phase motor. The difference is shown here. David linked to examples where he’d read data using a 2 phase microstepper circuit, but noted he needed to work on how to handle a 5 phase motor.

Obviously, I would not be posting if there was no progress. Mid July, David sent a note indicating he has been able to interface with the multi-phase stepper motor and read out the contents of the drive! He was gracious enough to send a dump of the data that can be read by toolshed. He cleaned up a few things in subsequent runs and I am thankful for his efforts.

As a next step, I’d like to see if any of our members is interested in taking this dump and getting it to boot using XRoar or (O)VCC to better understand what is held on the drive and what should be preserved. As the earlier posting implied, it is an OS9 drive, and it looks like it has CoCoFEST! 1996, 1997, and 1998 data on it, and perhaps PA98 was PennFest #2 in 1998? Many files appear to be club database information, while there also appear to be various member profiles stored on the drive. Obviously, I can’t share the drive publicly, to safeguard member’s privacy, but I am happy to work with a few folks who are willing to handle the data sensitively.

Anyway, if you would like to help investigate the material on this drive, perhaps extracting useful information or seeing what can be run from the image, please reach out to me via our contact page. I’d love to reconstruct some details for our Spring 2024 CoCoFEST! Again, many thanks to David Gesswein for imaging this drive (free of charge, even!) for the club. At the very least, the data on the now non-functional drive can live on as an image.

Here’s David’s run of the toolshed dir command over the image:

../toolshed-2.2/os9 dir -r coco2_good.ext 

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,
Bootcopy        CMDS            COMM4           DATABASE        Fest97b
GLNSD           IDE             MODULES         POS             PROFILE
SPOOL           SYS             UTILS           VED             aif.dba
aif.lbl         aif.rpt         aif.wdw         strtposdd       readme.pos
paposdd         s1              s2              s3              s7
startup         startup.bak     startup.org     d0backup1       termsettings
w1              w7              ww              dislex          roster
BURKE           w               i               n               d
o               zzzzzlist       z               zz              

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/Bootcopy
CMDS            date            display         dmode           echo
error           

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/Bootcopy/CMDS
ICONS           

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/Bootcopy/CMDS/ICONS


                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/CMDS
At              CD              Clock           DD              Devname
Dw_defdb        Dw_deflbl       Dw_defrpt       Dw_defwin       Dw_labels
Dw_report       Dw_wind         Dwindows        H1.dd           ICONS
IO              IO1             MakeVDefs       VDefsText       VSplit
Ved             Ved..help       Wattr           Wcopy           Window
ansied          ar              

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/CMDS/ICONS
icon.dw         icon.dw_wind    icon.dw_labels  icon.dw_report  

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/COMM4
t3.dd           t0.dd           t1.dd           NetLink         ReCobbler
SetPak          T0              T1              T3              

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/DATABASE
ROLODEX         MAGAZINE        VIDEO           MEDICAL         INVENTORY
CLUBLIB         

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/DATABASE/ROLODEX
Rolodex.dba     Rolodex.ndx     Rolodex.wdw     Rolodex.rpt     Rolodex.lbl


                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/DATABASE/MAGAZINE
Magazine.dba    Mag.category.ndx Mag.article.ndx Magazine.wdw    

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/DATABASE/VIDEO
Video.dba       Video.rating.ndx Video.name.ndx  Video.star.ndx  Video.wdw


                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/DATABASE/MEDICAL
Medical.dba     Medical.ndx     Medical.wdw     Medical.rpt     

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/DATABASE/INVENTORY
Inventory.dba   Inv.name.ndx    Inv.value.ndx   Inventory.wdw   

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/DATABASE/CLUBLIB
invintory.dba   oper.sys.ndx    type.ndx        author.ndx      name.ndx
location.ndx    status.ndx      media.ndx       inv.name.wdw    Club_lib.rpt
club_lib.lbl    

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/Fest97b
logo.pos        membership.pos  prices.pos      receipt.sat1    tot.sat.oops
tot.sat1        tot.sat2        receipt.sat2    

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/GLNSD
DISP            DRPT            DCTL            DATA            DKEY1
DKEY2           DKEY3           DKEY4           DKEY5           glnrc.lzh
roster          

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/IDE
cc3ide.6809     cc3ide_6.a      hi.ide          

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/MODULES
BBFhdisk        CC3Disk         CC3Go           CC3IO           CCDisk
CCIO            CO32            Clock           D0              D1
GrfInt          IOMan           Init            M1              OS9p2
OS9p3           P               PRINTER         Pipe            PipeMan
Piper           RBF             RS232           SCF             SIO
Sacia.Pak       Shell           SysGo           T1              T2a.dd
T2s.dd          T3a.dd          T3s.dd          TERM            Td.dd
VDGInt          aciapak.dr      bbfhdisk.dd     clock.bb.s2.60hz clock.bb.s3.60hz
clock.doc       clock.dsto2.50hz clock.dsto2.60hz clock.dsto2.s4.50hz clock.dsto2.s4.60hz
clock.dsto4.60hz clock.dsto4.s4.60hz clock.soft.50hz clock.soft.60hz d0_40d.dd
d1_40d.dd       ddmaker         h0.dd           hd              t1.dd
t3.dd           w.dw            w1.dw           w10.dw          w11.dw
w12.dw          w13.dw          w14.dw          w15.dw          w2.dw
w3.dw           w4.dw           w5.dw           w6.dw           w7.dw
w8.dw           w9.dw           windint.io      RAM             r0.dd


                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/POS
poscmds.arc     message.text    totals.data     prices.data     membership.da
CHI96           CHI97           CHI98           PA98            

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/POS/CHI96
pos_printr0     cposr1          prices.pos      logo.pos        readme.pos
os9arc          dearc           totals.pos      pos_printr1     apr1396
pos_printd1     cposd1          pos_printdd     membership.pos  cposr0
cposdd          t2              receipt.logfile 

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/POS/CHI97
cposd1          cposdd          cposr0          cposr1          dearc
logo.pos        membership.pos  newprices       os9arc          pos_printd1
pos_printdd     pos_printr0     pos_printr1     prices.pos      readme.pos
receipt.sat1    receipt.sat2    tot.sat.oops    tot.sat1        tot.sat2
totals.pos      receipt.logfile 

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/POS/CHI98
cposd1          cposdd          cposr0          cposr1          dearc
logo.pos        membership.pos  newprices       os9arc          pos_printd1
pos_printdd     pos_printr0     pos_printr1     prices.pos      readme.pos
totals.pos      receipt.logfile rcpts.sat       nmba.sat        

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/POS/PA98
cposd1          cposdd          cposr0          cposr1          dearc
logo.pos        mmbrshp.sat     os9arc          pos_printd1     pos_printdd
pos_printr0     pos_printr1     prices.pos      readme.pos      recpts.sat
totals.sat      working         receipt.logfile totals.pos      membership.pos


                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/PROFILE
prfl.lzh        dbases.lzh      X               DCTL            DISP
DRPT            DATA            

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/PROFILE/X
GLNSD           VNDRS           CLBS            prfl.lzh        CHRIS
CHRS            CHS             ADRSBK          PACA            

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/PROFILE/X/GLNSD


                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/PROFILE/X/VNDRS
vndrc.lzh       

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/PROFILE/X/CLBS
clbrc.lzh       

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/PROFILE/X/CHRIS
chris.lzh       

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/PROFILE/X/CHRS
chrs.lzh        

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/PROFILE/X/CHS
chs.lzh         

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/PROFILE/X/ADRSBK
adrsbk.lzh      

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/PROFILE/X/PACA
paca.lzh        

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/SPOOL


                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/SYS
config.sys      duopts          errmsg          events.sys      macro
option          shell.parameters stdfonts        stdpats_16      stdpats_2
stdpats_4       stdptrs         altfonts        rsb_env.file    clipboard.txt
logo.txt        BFONTS          helpmsg         

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/SYS/BFONTS


                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/UTILS
PP.file         PP.file.fon     acbbs24.ar      acbbs24.doc     adrlabel.pak
alarm.ar        almanac         almanac.OSK     ar              areacode.ar
calendar.pak    cc.pak          cc3go.pak       ccheck.arc      cursive.ar
ded             digiclock       dir.ar          dirutil.ar      dirutl
dmtree          dutils.ar       ed30.arc        ed30.doc        ed31.ar
ff.ar           files           files.pak       fileslist.sys   finance.pak
gdmap.arc       gif2vef.ar      gifos9.ar       glabel.ar       gshell
hdkit.ar        hdmtree         jtfm            kdutils.ar      lha_2_11.ar
lof.bo9         megaread.ar     menu.ar         modemio.sys     month
month.ar        month.bin       month.dat       month.dat1      os9arc.pak
pak             phonebook.pak   playsound.ar    pos.arc         pp
pp.ar           prfl.lzh        prfl.lzh.1      profile         profile.arc
reback.ar       repack          scanfile.pak    screensavemenu.ar sdump.ar
sled.ar         sound.ar        time.ar         unlzh_7.ar      view4.4.PAK
volume.bin      whereis.ar      wheres.lzh      windchill.ar    

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/VED
CMDS            SRC             MACROS          DOCS            

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/VED/CMDS
Ved             Ved..help       VSplit          MakeVDefs       VDefsText
s7              

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/VED/SRC
MakeVDefs       VDefsText       VSplit.c        

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/VED/MACROS
VedDefs.txt     

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/VED/DOCS
history         config          

                           Directory of coco2_good.ext,/BURKE
i               n               d               o               s

2023 Glenside Picnic coming in September!

Posted on August 3, 2023 | by Grant Bloedow

We’ve have a date for our annual picnic and gathering. Everyone is welcome. Put this on your calendars! Saturday September 23, 2023

This year we will be meeting in West Dundee, IL. It’s a little further west of Schaumburg, IL and has a lot to offer.

Come early for a casual afternoon. Bring the whole family or grandkids!

For those of you in the Chicago area it is an easy drive. Those coming from further out will find it directly off I-90.

We will have informal gathering for those interested at the Underground Retrocade at 1pm (open noon-11pm, $20 cover unlimited game play with all day pass). Then we meet as a formal group at 4pm at the Woodfire Pizza for a meal with up to $20/person on us!

Look on the Glenside Facebook Page or here on our website for any updates. If you plan on attending we would love to hear from you to get a semblance of the size of the group. Email if you’d like to RSVP.

A Hard (Drive) Life

Posted on June 15, 2023 | by Jim Brain

In late 2021, as GCCC worked to put on a belated 29th “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST!, a question arose about all of the storage of hardware and software items belonging to GCCC. Some were recent items destined for the cancelled 2020 show auction, some were for the upcoming 2021 show auction, some were items donated long ago and never auctioned, and still more were club owned items. I had no idea GCCC had accumulated so much stuff, but I felt it was important to do some cleaning and asked that folks storing items bring them to the show.

At the show, Tony Podraza and I quickly sorted through the myriad of totes (I bet there were 35 of them, in addition to items delivered the day before the show started) to sort out what was the club’s, what we auction, and what was junk. Tony and I focused attention on retaining paperwork (correspondence and newsletters from other clubs, historical GCCC materials, and materials for the hardware projects GCCC had sponsored), interesting software (things produced by the club, modified for the club, etc.), and a bit of hardware (I felt the club should retain a complete CoCo system to run a demo, BBS, or similar). The rest of the items were placed on the auction to allows others to enjoy (I saw no reason for the club to collect Game Paks or multiple copies of OS/9 and the related manuals).

On the hardware front, we found a club-owned (at least Tony were pretty sure) Burke and Burke XT-based HDD, 100% complete. Time grew short, so we packed it away after the show, but I always thought it would be nice to image the drive and get the data off it.

Sadly, I was not able to attend the 2022 show, but I did ask if there was an interested resource who could take the ST-251 MFM drive and attempt to image. Rick Ulland graciously volunteered to attempt, and diligently tried to read data off the unit, to no avail. We thank Rick for the attempt, as it was a long shot.

This Spring, as I packed the totes away at the end of the 2023 show, I saw the B&B HDD again and decided to take it home and see what I could accomplish. As I don’t know much about MFM technology, I asked on the Classic Computers Mailing List if anyone might be interested in helping me attempt to image the drive. I got a number of good responses and leads, but the best came from David Gesswein.

David, who some may know from his PDP8Online web page , has created an MFM reader/emulator, and he responded graciously offering to help me image the drive if possible. It took a bit of time, but I was able to ship the drive off this week, and he received it today.

As expected, the drive is in poor shape, with mis-aligned heads, which is why Rick was unsuccessful imaging the unit. But, David notes that he has had success manually “micro”-stepping the heads across the platters to overcome alignment issues. He notes he has more familiarity with 2 wire microstepping systems, where the Seagate ST-251 is a 5 wire unit, so he’s looking into how he might interface with this type of stepper motor.

But, he was able to pull a bit of data from the drive, ran the “strings” command on the resulting material, and rendered the following:

Exit to OS9
        Are you sure? (Y/N):
Disk Manager Tree, Version 1.10  

Chat procedure for access color bbs
Copyright 1989,1990 by Ezra Story

Brnout  Version 1.0
Copyright (c) 1991 By Keith Alphonso
Licenced to and distributed by COCOPRO!

I theorized the drive might hold a copy of a BBS installation, and there is a bit of evidence for that in the above data.

Obviously, there are no guarantees David will be successful at pulling more off the drive. But, I do appreciate David’s help in attempting an image, and I am hopeful more will be retrieved.

End of Year Tandy Tidings!

Posted on December 9, 2022 | by Jim Brain

Calling all Tandy (and work-alike system) enthusiasts to join the Glenside group on December 30th to share stories while we sip from our favorite beverages and eat our favorite holiday treats!

If you currently own a classic Tandy system (or a Dragon or Alice or another work-alike), use an emulator, previously owned one and have fond memories, or just want to learn a bit about the folks who do, join us via Zoom the Friday evening before New years Eve. We’ll open the “doors” at 6:30PM Central and stay as long as folks have stories to tell or anecdotes to share (or things to demo), or midnight, whichever comes first. As a virtual open house, drop by anytime and stay as long as you want. Bonus points for bringing and sharing your favorite beverage and/or holiday treat choice.

Why did you get interested in Tandy Radio Shack systems? What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen on the platform? 8085, Z-80, 6809, or 68000? What’s the most interesting thing you’ve done with your Tandy? Join us and share!

Please share on other Tandy-related or classic system groups.

Topic: End of Year Tandy Tidings!
Time: Dec 30, 2022 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

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Meeting ID: 844 0970 4633
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