2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
Its back! You are all invited to TNMoC at Bletchley for this year's Econet LAN party. Bring your machine along and plug in. Last year we got 57 machines and several remote connections - how many can we do this year?
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/econet-l ... 3532547827
If you have any BBC or Archimedes machines with an Econet interface, please bring them along. We’d be very interested to see any other machines too, so if you have a rare System rack or an Atom, you’ll definitely attract our attention.
To make the event more memorable, we want to do some multiplayer gaming. Would you be interested in writing a simple game for the event? We’ve got Colossal Cave, but what about some other games? So we are putting a challenge out there. Could you write or convert another game to make it multiplay over the network?
As part of the event, we’re going to have some short talks with an Econet theme. We’re planning four talks on each day, exploring the past and present of Econet.
Details
Doors open 9:30am on both days. Clear up by 5pm on Sunday. The room will be locked overnight, so your equipment will be secure. If you wish, we can stay open late on Saturday night (with prior arrangement), or we can decamp to a local pub.
We will provide chairs and tables, a nearby mains socket and an Econet point(s). Please bring your own Econet cable and mains leads. To avoid confusion, we recommend you label your kit. We’ll be allocating Econet station numbers shortly. There will be several sub-nets, linked by bridges.
Please do not plug in any equipment that is damaged, unsafe or may have faulty mains capacitors. If you are unsure, we can work together to repair any power supplies on the day. Please do not have covers open on any equipment which runs at more than 12V. i.e. you can run your Beeb or Arc with its cover off, but not a monitor or partly dismantled power supply unit.
Some people have asked about monitors. We may be able to loan some monitors, so please get in touch with izzy.swaney@tnmoc.org to discuss your needs.
Here is the network map and any allocated network numbers: viewtopic.php?p=425201#p425201
Admission
Admission is £15/day or £25 for both days. The museum will be open to normal visitors too, and you are welcome to look around. Lunch is included in the ticket price.
Getting there
Sat-Nav postcode is MK3 6DS. Parking is available very close to the room. There is an electric car charging point on site, although this is a short walk from TNMOC’s building. Bletchley train station is a 5-10 minute walk away with two direct trains per hour to London and Birmingham.
Tom
TNMoC Acorn Curator
(Edited 5/3/24, adding full details)
(Edited 13/5/24, adding in link to network map and allocated station numbers.)
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/econet-l ... 3532547827
If you have any BBC or Archimedes machines with an Econet interface, please bring them along. We’d be very interested to see any other machines too, so if you have a rare System rack or an Atom, you’ll definitely attract our attention.
To make the event more memorable, we want to do some multiplayer gaming. Would you be interested in writing a simple game for the event? We’ve got Colossal Cave, but what about some other games? So we are putting a challenge out there. Could you write or convert another game to make it multiplay over the network?
As part of the event, we’re going to have some short talks with an Econet theme. We’re planning four talks on each day, exploring the past and present of Econet.
Details
Doors open 9:30am on both days. Clear up by 5pm on Sunday. The room will be locked overnight, so your equipment will be secure. If you wish, we can stay open late on Saturday night (with prior arrangement), or we can decamp to a local pub.
We will provide chairs and tables, a nearby mains socket and an Econet point(s). Please bring your own Econet cable and mains leads. To avoid confusion, we recommend you label your kit. We’ll be allocating Econet station numbers shortly. There will be several sub-nets, linked by bridges.
Please do not plug in any equipment that is damaged, unsafe or may have faulty mains capacitors. If you are unsure, we can work together to repair any power supplies on the day. Please do not have covers open on any equipment which runs at more than 12V. i.e. you can run your Beeb or Arc with its cover off, but not a monitor or partly dismantled power supply unit.
Some people have asked about monitors. We may be able to loan some monitors, so please get in touch with izzy.swaney@tnmoc.org to discuss your needs.
Here is the network map and any allocated network numbers: viewtopic.php?p=425201#p425201
Admission
Admission is £15/day or £25 for both days. The museum will be open to normal visitors too, and you are welcome to look around. Lunch is included in the ticket price.
Getting there
Sat-Nav postcode is MK3 6DS. Parking is available very close to the room. There is an electric car charging point on site, although this is a short walk from TNMOC’s building. Bletchley train station is a 5-10 minute walk away with two direct trains per hour to London and Birmingham.
Tom
TNMoC Acorn Curator
(Edited 5/3/24, adding full details)
(Edited 13/5/24, adding in link to network map and allocated station numbers.)
Last edited by Issue7 on Mon May 13, 2024 12:45 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
i’ll definitely save this date! thanks for organising once again tom
-Elliot
Lover of all things acorn, but especially the 8 bits!
- bbc b issue 7 with econet- electron issue 2 - microvitec cub 653 - a420/1 -
i like to use as much original hardware as possible, and only use disk and tapes!
Lover of all things acorn, but especially the 8 bits!
- bbc b issue 7 with econet- electron issue 2 - microvitec cub 653 - a420/1 -
i like to use as much original hardware as possible, and only use disk and tapes!
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
Thanks again for organising this, I'll block out the dates in the calendar!
Questions about software preservation (BBC, RISC OS or other platforms)? Please feel free to ask.
Currently looking for RISC OS software to archive and preserve, please drop me a PM if you have any to offer.
Currently looking for RISC OS software to archive and preserve, please drop me a PM if you have any to offer.
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
i'll be there
BBC Bs, Master 128s, Master Compact, and Electrons, and an A3000 with an ARM3
Don’t Panic and Always Carry a Towel
Don’t Panic and Always Carry a Towel
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
I think I can make it this time!
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
How exciting! I read about last year's one, but I assumed it was just a one off.
Not sure if I can make it, but perhaps on one of the days. I'm already working on a game with planned Econet support, so it's tempting though .
Not sure if I can make it, but perhaps on one of the days. I'm already working on a game with planned Econet support, so it's tempting though .
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
do 32bit machines work with 8bits on econet? this event is just after birthday so hopefully will bring along a beeb and archie!
-Elliot
Lover of all things acorn, but especially the 8 bits!
- bbc b issue 7 with econet- electron issue 2 - microvitec cub 653 - a420/1 -
i like to use as much original hardware as possible, and only use disk and tapes!
Lover of all things acorn, but especially the 8 bits!
- bbc b issue 7 with econet- electron issue 2 - microvitec cub 653 - a420/1 -
i like to use as much original hardware as possible, and only use disk and tapes!
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
They do indeed! You can use a 32bit machine as a file server for an 8-bit, and might be able to go the other way too (I'll leave it to someone who's used the BBC Fileserver software to confirm!).
The only issue is that the BBCs don't run as fast as the 32bit machines, so the network clock has to be a bit slower to let them keep up.
Questions about software preservation (BBC, RISC OS or other platforms)? Please feel free to ask.
Currently looking for RISC OS software to archive and preserve, please drop me a PM if you have any to offer.
Currently looking for RISC OS software to archive and preserve, please drop me a PM if you have any to offer.
- BeebMaster
- Posts: 7434
- Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:59 pm
- Location: Lost in the BeebVault!
- Contact:
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
I'll try to get there somehow.
Continuing the theme from the Manchester ABug, what about a multi-station effect for the Watford Beeb Digitiser? Be good to see an image of Flibble broadcast around 20 stations!
Continuing the theme from the Manchester ABug, what about a multi-station effect for the Watford Beeb Digitiser? Be good to see an image of Flibble broadcast around 20 stations!
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
That sounds a good idea. Something like:
* The machine with the camera does a broadcast, and
* All the receiver machines grab the data when they see it.
That's beyond my skills at the moment... would it be straightforward to write?
Some other ideas we've been chatting about:
* Card games - e.g. poker
* A clone of the 2-player Tetris on a game boy
* The machine with the camera does a broadcast, and
* All the receiver machines grab the data when they see it.
That's beyond my skills at the moment... would it be straightforward to write?
Some other ideas we've been chatting about:
* Card games - e.g. poker
* A clone of the 2-player Tetris on a game boy
- IanJeffray
- Posts: 6018
- Joined: Sat Jun 06, 2020 3:50 pm
- Contact:
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
I shall try and make it, with the dodgy 386 and EcoLink
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
I'll be there too, albeit over 5 stone lighter than last year, so carrying kit will be much easier for me
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
What sort of dodgy 386? And presumably an Acorn Ecolink? All working or a 'project'?IanJeffray wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 10:53 pm I shall try and make it, with the dodgy 386 and EcoLink
I spent practically the entire event last time grinding away unsuccessfully to get an SJ PC Econet card to work in one of TNMOC's ISA-slot PCs, being stalled at the first step of getting it to boot into either MS-DOS (to then run the Ecolink software), or FreeBSD (for which I have a driver with the same API as the R140 Econet, on top of which I can run fileserver and remote access terminals from BBCs).
Any collaboration we can do in advance to maximise the chance of actually achieving something useful on the day would probably be a good idea.
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
We could all *TALK to each other.
Code: Select all
$ bbcbasic
PDP11 BBC BASIC IV Version 0.45
(C) Copyright J.G.Harston 1989,2005-2024
>_
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
I have a few machines that I’ve been building and getting working over the last 9 months. They are now happily running MS-DOS and FreeBSD, so that we can get your board working.arg wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:19 pm I spent practically the entire event last time grinding away unsuccessfully to get an SJ PC Econet card to work in one of TNMOC's ISA-slot PCs, being stalled at the first step of getting it to boot into either MS-DOS (to then run the Ecolink software), or FreeBSD (for which I have a driver with the same API as the R140 Econet, on top of which I can run fileserver and remote access terminals from BBCs).
Any collaboration we can do in advance to maximise the chance of actually achieving something useful on the day would probably be a good idea.
Maybe I could bring them down to you in the next few weeks, so we can get them tested and ready before May?
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
Ooo, how did you manage that? Even being asleep for almost three weeks with Covid, I still haven't lost any weight.
Code: Select all
$ bbcbasic
PDP11 BBC BASIC IV Version 0.45
(C) Copyright J.G.Harston 1989,2005-2024
>_
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
Sounds great. I'll drop you a PM.jbredcar wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:30 pm I have a few machines that I’ve been building and getting working over the last 9 months. They are now happily running MS-DOS and FreeBSD, so that we can get your board working.
Maybe I could bring them down to you in the next few weeks, so we can get them tested and ready before May?
- IanJeffray
- Posts: 6018
- Joined: Sat Jun 06, 2020 3:50 pm
- Contact:
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
The one I had at the Manchester ABUG - the EcoLink part works a treat and we had it connected up to the big Econet there, but the 386 itself is a bit 'fragile', though I've done some work on it recently which appears to have helped a bit, but the BIOS won't successfully boot from hard drive and I've only 4MB RAM - I've been looking for four 4MB 30pin SIMMs - rare/expensive now! I like the form factor of this one though - smaller than an A310, which is handy, yet still able to swallow that monster EcoLink card.arg wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:19 pmWhat sort of dodgy 386? And presumably an Acorn Ecolink? All working or a 'project'?IanJeffray wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 10:53 pm I shall try and make it, with the dodgy 386 and EcoLink
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
Hotel Booked cant wait
(obviously not saying where as you never know who is watching)
(obviously not saying where as you never know who is watching)
BBC Bs, Master 128s, Master Compact, and Electrons, and an A3000 with an ARM3
Don’t Panic and Always Carry a Towel
Don’t Panic and Always Carry a Towel
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
@Tom....
Is this right???
BBC Bs, Master 128s, Master Compact, and Electrons, and an A3000 with an ARM3
Don’t Panic and Always Carry a Towel
Don’t Panic and Always Carry a Towel
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
(This is the URL @ukwebb is looking at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/econet-l ... 3532547827)
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
Yes that's the one!
I'm afraid we can't do it for free this year, but your admission price includes lunch.
Tom
I'm afraid we can't do it for free this year, but your admission price includes lunch.
Tom
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
And the ticket includes entrance to the museum, of course, which is normally a tenner.
Mark
Mark
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
I will try to make it again this year, I have an Econet project I'm working on (now I'm going to have to get my finger out and get it into a transportable state, as well as possibly enough software to be practical - it's possibly the first standalone RISC-V system on Econet too). No problem about having to pay, it's chicken feed compared to the costs of actually getting to Bletchley from the Isle of Man! Fortunately I have friends in Milton Keynes so a place to stay (and it's also right around my birthday!)
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
Just booked my tickets and hotel - hope to see you all there!
Questions about software preservation (BBC, RISC OS or other platforms)? Please feel free to ask.
Currently looking for RISC OS software to archive and preserve, please drop me a PM if you have any to offer.
Currently looking for RISC OS software to archive and preserve, please drop me a PM if you have any to offer.
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
sadly im not going to be able to make this one, as i have gcses around then and need to focus on them. @issue7 do you happen to know when the next fixathon might take place? thanks a lot!
-Elliot
Lover of all things acorn, but especially the 8 bits!
- bbc b issue 7 with econet- electron issue 2 - microvitec cub 653 - a420/1 -
i like to use as much original hardware as possible, and only use disk and tapes!
Lover of all things acorn, but especially the 8 bits!
- bbc b issue 7 with econet- electron issue 2 - microvitec cub 653 - a420/1 -
i like to use as much original hardware as possible, and only use disk and tapes!
- BeebMaster
- Posts: 7434
- Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:59 pm
- Location: Lost in the BeebVault!
- Contact:
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
Go anyway and tell them it's your computer science coursework!
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
i would but i have exams surrounding that weekend so will focus on just revising at weekends from abug onwards (aready revise quite a bit (taking a break from it rn lol)) but will hopefully do more events july onwards (after exams have finished)
-Elliot
Lover of all things acorn, but especially the 8 bits!
- bbc b issue 7 with econet- electron issue 2 - microvitec cub 653 - a420/1 -
i like to use as much original hardware as possible, and only use disk and tapes!
Lover of all things acorn, but especially the 8 bits!
- bbc b issue 7 with econet- electron issue 2 - microvitec cub 653 - a420/1 -
i like to use as much original hardware as possible, and only use disk and tapes!
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
Hi, we're not setting a date for the next Fixathon yet. The meeting room is due to close not long after the LAN party for building work. We're not expecting to get the room back until the very end of summer... and you know how building jobs tend to overrun!
Note the rest of the museum will stay open as normal through all this. When finished, we will get a much larger meeting room, so future events can have more space. There may well be a Fixathon much later in the year.
Tom
Re: 2024 Econet LAN party 18 & 19th May
Mine won't be coming, a tad too far, some days its a bit depressing being in .au when you lot get up to such fun.IanJeffray wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 11:50 pmThe one I had at the Manchester ABUG - the EcoLink part works a treat and we had it connected up to the big Econet there, but the 386 itself is a bit 'fragile', though I've done some work on it recently which appears to have helped a bit, but the BIOS won't successfully boot from hard drive and I've only 4MB RAM - I've been looking for four 4MB 30pin SIMMs - rare/expensive now! I like the form factor of this one though - smaller than an A310, which is handy, yet still able to swallow that monster EcoLink card.arg wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:19 pmWhat sort of dodgy 386? And presumably an Acorn Ecolink? All working or a 'project'?IanJeffray wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 10:53 pm I shall try and make it, with the dodgy 386 and EcoLink
IMG_5120.JPG
Its recently found a home in a modern PC case with no booming removable media driver bays. Its partner is a dx5-133 SBC,& I think the HD might be the original from my A4. though there is a flash drive destined for the job soon.