Most liked posts in thread: ATARI OWNER VIDEO LINK - NEW YEAR 2021

Link for tomorrow, Sunday 10th January https://meet.google.com/ybo-cqnu-prt

 

Well I'm rather embarassed about the mess its in , I have all my shooting stuff stored, multiple computers i'm working on, two work benches (if you can call them that, and stuff piled all over the floor.
Guys only got a brief show, as I moved the webcam around by accident ..
Matt you have nothing to worry about, your command centre is great

Matt please join in fella, AL was on only on Microphone last time round. appreciate you might not want to show off your busted teeth..

Thanks AL are we on for video this time round ?

 

The more, the merrier, Matt.

None of us are that photogenic.

When we're out walking, even the cat disowns me.

 

Ok, I will try. Let's see, I think that means about 9 a.m. for me here, so that shouldn't be a problem, but I've never ever even used my mic and camera to my PC and tried something like this, I don't even know if I'll need to install a driver or not for my mic (or camera) or not, or if I'll be able to find them online if I do, as if they came with driver software, I've no idea where they would be, I've had these non-used items since I bought the PC about 10 years ago! If I can figure it all out in time, I'll join in.

 

No worries, Matt.

Bonus if we hear from you but, if it's a pain, hopefully we'll see you another time.

I;m the same when I try and get online using the better laptop we have here that Bev normally uses - there's no telling, when I try something new like log on with these retronauts, what will/won't play ball so it is a total lottery, mate, whereas if it were retro kit with an SIO cable on the end of it, it would just be a case of booting up our XLs and disk drives and we'd soon be in action! (The pixellated images might be a bit of a problem though and god knows what the sound would be like!! ;-) )

You cannot win and IF these "bugger bastard ping pong machines" detect that you need anything doing in a hurry.... well, you betcha they'll screw you around even more and that's when Murphy's Law, Sod's Law and a whole lot of others will kick in too - just to add a bit more salt to the wound!!

 

Sorry guys, I haven't gotten the mic to be recognized or work yet, it's going to take more time for me to figure it out. I've never used a mic or camera attached to my PC before, so I'm a completely lost noob with it, but I will look into it and hopefully get it figured out for the next time there is a video chat. I'm not even sure if it would work for me if I get them working as my internet connection right now is shite for speed, and not reliable since it's a phone hotspot with a very weak signal out here. It seems to work OK when just using my phone, not so much when using my PC except for browsing and downloading (streaming sucks)

 

OK, listen-up goggle-eyes, a few of the Atari Owner members got together online again today (15:00 GMT) and it was a BIG HELLO to our latest new kid on the block, none other than: Andy Vulcanman Black joining us on the old gogglebox. So, after a false start when Big Al Nysavant was busy adjusting his horizontal hold (he had me and Graham knocking on his virtual door but he thought he still had time for an Irn Bru and a lie down listening to the pipes), Graham rebooted the goggle confabulation and issued a new link-up address whereby, these four entities were suddenly thrust into each others' chambers:



Much hilarity was had when Al (middle bottom) suddenly appeared on his webcam dressed as an Amstrad salesperson. At least that's who we think he was disguised as? Answers on a CPC6128 next time, please, folks as that is what Al seeks more than any other piece of hardware at the moment (other than an Atmos to staple to his toilet door).

So, the afternoon was full of toilet humour, was it Baz? Well, not exactly, as you'll "sea" what I mean shortly.



Graham showed us some beautiful boards he'd been working on (through the night, by the sounds of it as he related a conversation he'd been having with Matt til 4am). Apparently these are PIA boards of his very own construction and designed to fit the Atari 800.



Graham discussed the software he uses to design these PCBs (you'll have to ask him about it, I think it's called
KiCad(?) but it is a freebie) and then showed us the track layouts above. Have a look here if you're interested in this type of software too: https://kicad.org/


3D viewer here allows us to see a version of the PIA he's made for the 800XL which allows for "overlap".



Talk then switched to other work Graham has been carrying out trying to get this "maxed out to the hilt" 800XL motherboard working with all the add-ons that Brenski can throw at it.
Apparently, it won't play ball at the moment due, possibly, to some over-long (read/write) wires which might need paring back a little.
Graham talked us through the "extras" this beast has onboard (the kitchen sink goes in next).
I kid ye not, I did not manage to note down all of the additions it has but certainly you can tick these off:

• x2 SIO ports
• PC2SIO
• Stereo Pokey
• Ram upgrade
• and tripler clone OS board (Ramrod XL?) which I think Graham mentioned was built by that other legend in Atari h/ware circles, Leonora?

You'll have to get confirmation from Graham on that but basically this thing has so many add-ons, I lost count and Graham's got a bit of a headache trying to get the lot to talk to each other without a red screen of death...

BEEBs next got a mention and Graham (owning four of these beasts) showed us more of his "extensive" stock as regards replacements caps and parts to fix those all too pesky "Smokey Joe" BBC power supplies:





We were then treated to some more hardware hidden up Graham's "sleeves" - Amstrad CPC sideways ROM expansion cards (left) and a MIDI board (right) for the Atari XL/XE classic.

Graham had MORE to show?

You betcha - a parcel had arrived just this week from Vyper Richie containing some Oric goodies so these were shown together with a replacement 3" drive which we all hope Graham will get going with Baz's Atmos as Graham now has a working Atmos of his own to test the brute on...





... and two hours had passed and the sun started to go down on the Scarborough beach (correctly spotted by Al) where Baz had been seated sunning himself all afternoon. He's been kidding you lot on that he's been home in Ull looking after his poorly missus but clearly - as you can SEA for yourself - the retrogeek has been hoodwinking you all and is basically lounging about on a lounger, loafing by the surf.

It's alright for some, eh?

Anyway, once more we must thank Graham for setting up the link and once more razzle-dazzling us with his extensive mancave/retro service depot (I won't even begin to describe his oscilloscopes, solder stations and Star Wars laser defence systems he keeps cloaked in the 4th dimension on/under/within his workbench as I've had to sign the Mattel Aquarius official secrets act of 1645). Thanks also to Andy Vulcanman Black for joining us and giving us an amazing account of the day at RAF Waddingham when he and a team of flight engineer guys actually flicked the switches and did an engine "warm up" of Britain's famous cold war V bomber...



and



Big thumbs up to Al Nysavant who was due to host us but the Irn bru got the better of him. Would you please, guys, keep your retro radars switched on for any affordable (ie. under £130) Amstrad CPC6128s or an Oric Atmos (dead one fine).

The next live link-up may well be the week after next and this time an evening meet has been suggested to give folks a better chance of also being available for a natter.

Can other members please let us know if something like a Wednesday/Thursday night at say 20:00 GMT would be a better time to JOIN US?

 

Brilliant summary as always Andy

Graham has more electronic projects than a 1980's branch of Tandy that's for sure!

 

Hi Andy
Once again a great summation of what we got up to, Andy B also showed off his Signal generator he'd built, Al admitted he was from Glasgow, however since I could understand him, unlikely his just kidding us all, as usually speak so fast that they'd have to miss (sometimes vital) words out in conversation.. Hence my visiting Dial House on a few occations..
P.S. beware the underground carpark by dial house, especially at night as it's in the Red Light district.

P.S. It was 20-25 years ago, so likely the carparks been built on ..

 

I worked just along the street from Dial House and used to get propositioned by the local ladies on a nightly basis when finishing my shift.....

 

A lovely video of XH558. I still remember getting stick from the wife, because of all the noise I made exercising the engines while our youngest had been put in the pram for a sleep in the back garden. Only 300 hundred yards from the Vulcan. Well worth getting my ear bent.

Regards

Andy

 

The Adult one above ... Big F . Off Kite then ?

I did wonder if actually being on the call may have helped you Paul, but it's nice you got to spend some good time with Serena & Cindy before Serena heads back to Uni ..
Lets just hope things calm down enough for you to be able to enjoy in the future. !!

 

Yes, big old Kite, got some footage of it today, seems like it likes here...Hope it does not fancy my chonker of a cat (Folox, the fat git would be too heavy for it).

Because of my own MH issues I get very wound up when baited like that, when it happens I go in to the bedroom and sit by myself. I'd have been like a fart in a space suit in a chat. Been better today but shes coughing so much I expect her throat to start bleeding soon and of course her old man is out delivering take away food with not a care about the people he could be infecting. He got to have it with the amount of uncovered coughing going on. Come on, you didn't expect her to cover her mouth did you?

Actually had a bit of luck for once, a. Serena is spending another night here which is great and b. I managed to reverse very lightly in to a car (very unusual for me) and jumped out to see his damage which was minute but being decent I said swap details but the second I said that he went "no no, no details, just forget" so clearly was driving illegally...Phew...For once I was glad to see someone doing that...

 

Sadly no way to stop the return and its good to see she wants to get on with course work even if it is just online initially. Its not like she is a million miles away and we chat through Whatsapp every day numerous times. She knows we are here at any time for her and I'm her go to person for problems or chats.

No problem re her name Graham, absolutely no need to apologise at all...To be honest I didn't notice and if I had I'd have smiled as its a bit of an odd name. Good thing I didn't use her second name, Khadija (its Arabic name), sort of a nod to my wife's religion but it was me that chose it, they just thought it was super sweet and agreed..

Don't worry I will be at the chat (neighbours / in laws allowing) normally its not as bad as its been but the in laws are all a buzz because the mum had her Covid vaccine and now she's hearing that its all fraud etc etc and add the dementia and its a hornets nest let alone my daft Sister in law Sharon who has stuffed herself over Xmas and is now going on like its everyone's fault. As for upstairs, I think the services of a hitman (or woman) are needed

But I'll get there I really enjoy them, its nice to see all the people and have a chat about stuff we all love and see what everyone is up to. It really improves my mood for days on end (not that I'm always miserable) it just boosts me for while.

Right, off to organise my daughter for her return, she has dads ability to be totally unorganised..

 

Ah, didn't realise you actually flew them, thought you were just an enthusiast.

During the Olympics we had the Typhoons up here (RAF Northolt) and boy did they make a racket when they took off, I can only imagine what a Vulcan sounds like....LOUD

One thing that my daughter loved as a nipper was seeing the planes at Heathrow, if she was having trouble sleeping then off went. Used to watch Concorde come in, such a lovely air craft. My old now passed mate Bob worked for BA and got shown around Concorde, the one picture I'd show him during the dementia that I knew would make him smile was him, head poked out of the cockpit with a beaming smile...

Left us some concorde memorabilia, pens, a glass model, playing cards etc, all concorde embossed..

 

Yes, sadly Great Britain managed many a land grab and the odd massacre in the name of 'The Empire'...

It was sad to see that Concorde over France in flames, you sort of knew that was the end of the line just by the immense level of fire, as you say it would not have happen if the runway was cleared, a pure freak accident which lead to so many dead..

And now new planes get built and within a month there's issues with them and then need to taken out of commission. Still doing that build with the cheapest crap and sell for the biggest profit. Reminds me of the Apollo craft, Gus Grissom hung a lemon on the simulator because he was very dissatisfied with the safety of the build, I seem to remember talk of it being built from very low quality parts purely because they bid the lowest amount. Poor Gus paid with his life from the unexplained fire, clearly he was right..

 

I'm up for it, daughter went back last night, just supplied in laws with food so should be a safe day...

 

As Baz is under the thumb ( ) I'll just say that I'm game when we all are..

 

I'm up for anytime although evening is more suitable if possible.

 

I might be okay for half ten, so I'll keep my eyes on any link getting sent out

 

Thanks again for setting us all up, Graham.

A good old, short but sweet, late night natter was had by the terrible trio of: Graham, Al and Baz (who came dressed as a Cyberman)...


ABOVE: Graham goes "Incognito" showing us his 800 add-ons etc.

Cheers and catch you soon, fellas.

 

All
Thank you both for joining in for a bit and I noticed that time disappears very quickly . Hope your not in trouble with Bev

 

Thanks for all the information. Hope to see you all soon in a meeting. Also, I'm sorry I didn't respond earlier when I was summoned somehow in this very thread. I'll try and contact klyde. My Italian accent and his French Je ne sais pas quoi will surely improve the general cheeriness of a video call together...

 

Hi Graham,

would certainly like another video call.

Regards

Andy

 

Only just seen this, my daughter snuck home for the weekend as the morons were driving her mad, so spending as much time with her as possible. Dropping her back later but no clue when at the mo. I'll check the thread for any links when I get back and see how it goes.