Articles, notes and random thoughts on Software Development and Technology
Early 80s in the UK was prime time for the 8bit home computer games industry. I posted a few links of some interesting computer history documentaries on YouTube a while back, including the TV Drama ‘MicroMen’ which covered the rivalry between Clive Sinclair and Chris Curry at the time.
Here’s a couple more:
My current packet setup is using the UZ7HO modem software – it seems to work pretty well, and as a software based packet modem it seems to work better than AGWPE since that seems to be a bit temperamental.
I’ve been experimenting using Outpost as a message client via UZ7HO. In the settings (Setup/TNC) on the AGW tab, you can enter an IP address of where your AGW software is running. This is an easy option to connect Outpost with UZ7HO since it can run in network mode. I also typically run a laptop running UZ7HO in my office where my radio is, and then I can connect to it from elsewhere in the house on another laptop.
The first issue I’ve noticed is that if I already have a terminal connected to UZ7HO remotely using my regular call, I can’t connect with Outpost using the same call. I guess this makes sense, and this is where the use of the ‘-number’ suffixes comes in that you commonly see on packet. This is what the error in Outpost looks like if you try and use the same call with no unique suffix:
3/4/2015 10:21:18 PM -- (N2) AGWPE Registration failed. Check for: 1. missing or invalid remote logon/password 2. station ID already in use by another AGWPE application
Ok, so to fix this you could put a number suffix on your call, but then when you connect to a local packet BBS to pick up messages, this doesn’t work as it appears to look for message sent to that matching call+suffix, so I’m guessing the callsign you configure in Outpost really does have to be your real callsign. This means you have to close any other connected terminal apps that you are running at the same time, or, configure the terminal to use a suffix on your call (maybe that makes more sense).
The next issue I’ve run into is that when I connect to a BBS using a terminal app directly, I have the ‘OP’ setting (‘output pause’, I think) set to some sensible number, like 10 lines, so I get the continue/cancel prompt when reading messages, or listing the messages on the BBS. It seems Outpost doesn’t know how to handle this, and will pause forever on message download, eventually timing out and disconnecting. There might be another way to configure this, but the only way I’ve found so far is to connect to the BBS directly, set ‘op 0’ and disconnect. Now when Outpost next connects, it downloads all your messages without interruptions.
I’ve just finished reading the first 3 chapters of Fire in the Valley, a history of the development of the PC. These first chapters were history prior to development of the Altair (which was before my time, but I’m familiar with the history), and centered on IMSAI and development of their 8080 computer.
Not having any personal experience with an IMSAI these first chapters were rather dry and slow going, but on the last page of chapter 3 it mentions IMSAI’s one and possibly only claim to fame was that an IMSAI 8080 was used as a prop in the background of WarGames when Matthew Broderick’s character was seen using his computer at home. Given that WarGames is one of my favorite films, this suddenly brought some conext and interest to this first part of the book. I always though that was an Altair on the shelf in the background, but apparently it’s an IMSAI 8080. More info on their site here.
If you spotted this post on the Java Posse’s Google Group, then you might have already seen this link to a photo on Twitter from Devoxx 2014. If you were at Devoxx 2014 and attended the live Java Posse session, then you already know this too. Of course, if you regularly listen to the podcasts then you would have noticed that the regular podcast sessions dropped off noticeably last year.
The Java Posse’s final podcast session (#461), recorded from Devoxx 2014 is now live on their feed.
I’ve listened to the majority of their podcasts (and the early Javacast episodes) since the first sessions in 2005, it’s definitely the Java related technology podcast that I’ve listened to and followed the most, and so it’s sad that the guys have finally decided to call it quits and not continue the series any more.
Thanks to the guys for producing the session all these years, you’ll be missed!
So where are they now?
What am I listening too now? I’ve listened to a couple of episodes of the Java Pub House, which is ok, and on my todo list is Java Enterprise Newscast. But I don’t think you can replace The Java Posse. Thanks again guys, and good luck in your other endeavors.