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RE: Z80 pods, 2 versions...
by Keith, Brendan 16 Mar '00

16 Mar '00

Disclaimers: 1. I thought about this overnight in order to compose this reply. 2. I have great respect for John's experience and knowledge. 3. I have received emails on this topic, so am not speaking solely from my own perspective. > From: John Robertson[SMTP:jrr@flippers.com] > > Well, what would you like me to do? I send out lots of email looking for > one unit, and several come back with various assortment of units and pods > that they want to sell as a set. > I don't know. I guess I expected something different from this list. Perhaps I thought it would be similar to the vector and raster list (from which this list sprung, vaguely) where interesting items are offered to members before being sent to ebay (a dirty enough word in itself). > They do not like breaking up sets. I have > made private trades with folks for these, plus I have sold some off. We > have a business here to run, and I need to make money to support it. > Sounds exactly what an amateur (we all know the etymology of that word) would do. Sometimes you have to take in more than you need. > So I buy them wholesale, then I see that some on eBay went for a fair > dollar, I > should give them away? > That's where our paths would start to diverge. > I bought a bunch of damaged probes and am fixing them > up, should I not profit from this service? > Certainly, but why not from some of the very people that joined this list in order to discuss, discover and collect these same tools? Or offer some of the broken ones that you don't want to fix. We know that your time is money. Only you can determine when you are losing profit by working on a pod vs another game that you should get out. I've been attempting to retrieve some of the archives of this list, but off the top of my head, I don't think I've ever seen any of your pods for sale or auction. I also wish that I could retrieve the charter for this list. It's slipped my mind what the full intent was. > I bought a bunch of Z80 pods in > various states, so I fix them and test them. Again, should I not do what > my > skills enable me to do? This is MY livelihood! > Once again, no argument. You, Ray Johnson, G. Stair, E. Spain (marginal), and others are all invaluable professional resources. Clay Cowgill is on the fence and he has his own detractors. Then there are the hobbyists, many with similar and varied skills. There just seems to be two separate factions in each of these lists. Maybe it's never been spoken out loud, but believe me, I know that they exist now. Let me reiterate: You are an exceptional resource. I have been fortunate enough to visit your shop. I have seen the voluminous reference materials. I have discussed with you some of the rare and obsolete platforms that you still support. I have drooled over your drool-worthy racks of PCBs, parts and machines. And I gladly bought the ESR and FBT tester kits. But you're not a hobbyist. I'm not picking up any harsh resentment from others, just a feeling of dismay. It's too bad that this "collection of pods" (5, 15, 50?) isn't spread around the list members. It also means that they are in the hands of the high bidders and, because they were so dearly bought, likely won't come back on the market. Dismaying. That's all I have to say on this. You're a businessman, I don't think your feelings will be hurt. I'm a hobbyist, I'll keep pegging away in my little basement workshop and scrounging for the deals. Your compatriot, nonetheless, Brendan Keith brendan.keith(a)wilcom.com To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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RE: Should John continue to host this list or not?
by Dale Luck 15 Mar '00

15 Mar '00

I vote for John to continue hosting it. Dale Luck To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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RE: Z80 pods, 2 versions...
by FBowen＠checkfree.com 15 Mar '00

15 Mar '00

I'm happy with you running it, John. Although I don't like the prices, I would rather have you put a "FA: on E-bay" e-mail on this list so I at least have the opportunity to bid on it if I (looking at my shoes) am well enough heeled. ;-) If others disagree, then I'll just get your user ID and check what you're selling once in a while. John Robertson <jrr(a)flippers.com> on 03/15/2000 01:09:18 PM Please respond to TechToolsList(a)flippers.com To: TechToolsList(a)flippers.com cc: Subject: RE: Z80 pods, 2 versions... So, I guess, I would like a rough tally of votes on should I continue to host this or turn it over to someone else? I don't have a problem with that at all, no offense, etc. So please LMK. To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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RE: Z80 pods, 2 versions...
by Joe 15 Mar '00

15 Mar '00

At 12:33 PM 3/15/00 -0600, you wrote: >Absolutely continue the list. I never implied anything differently. >We just now have all of our cards on the table. > >I'm sure IF you did feel like offering some of the pods that >you don't have time to repair, they'd be snatched up. > >Want to make money off of ebay buyers? >Try Pokemon cards or Beanie Babies. Or HP calculators or Altair computers or even old 8" floppy disks. The prices that some people will pay is frightening. E-bay abounds with suckers! Joe To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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Re: Multi-pod (was Re: test equipment)
by Mark Shostak 15 Mar '00

15 Mar '00

>I am awaiting a 6809 pod to arrive (someday) and will dissect it >in time to try and see how easy it would be to modify another pod >to do that. Perhaps a multi-pod is what some bright person here >needs to design! This is how I get into trouble; start with a SMALLER project. (Did I make smaller BIG enough :-) See if you can get the checksum project done. Then work your way up to the big ones. BTW, I'd keep your list where it is and the way it is. You can't win; you can't please everyone all the time. I give you credit for sticking around with all the shit we give you. We complain about the "operators" behavior, but boy I'd hate to have to look in the mirror. -Mark To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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RE: Z80 pods, 2 versions...
by Keith, Brendan 15 Mar '00

15 Mar '00

Absolutely continue the list. I never implied anything differently. We just now have all of our cards on the table. I'm sure IF you did feel like offering some of the pods that you don't have time to repair, they'd be snatched up. Want to make money off of ebay buyers? Try Pokemon cards or Beanie Babies. No one here will take offence. Brendan Keith brendan.keith(a)wilcom.com > ---------- > From: John Robertson[SMTP:jrr@flippers.com] > > Keith has a number of points here that I think need exploring. > > As a dealer, should I be running this list? I have wondered about the > conflict of interest that is possible here, > > So, I guess, I would like a rough tally of votes on should I continue to > host this or turn it over to someone else? I don't have a problem with > that > at all, no offense, etc. So please LMK. (I think there is at least one > other technical mail list floating around, saw a reference to one in a > search on google.) > To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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Re: test equipment
by Thomas43＠aol.com 15 Mar '00

15 Mar '00

In a message dated 3/2/00 11:25:29 AM, KKlopp(a)EROLS.COM writes: << How much effort would it be to build a 6809 pod from scratch? Documentation for the Fluke 90 also mentioned a 6809 version but I've never seen one. Kev >> Basically nothing. It's just a board with a bunch of inputs from the cat box, the lines cross all over the place, and then come out the other side in a different configuration. I think there is one small cap and one 2n2904 transistor on the board. It looks like a $2 board (that they sold for several hundred). I may have the schematics for all of these pods that I can scan and post. Scott To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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RE: Z80 pods, 2 versions...
by Keith, Brendan 15 Mar '00

15 Mar '00

So you're buying up more pods and accessories than you need, then ebaying them to maximize your profit, thus taking them off the market except to the most well-heeled buyers, whether hobbyist or not? Brendan Keith brendan.keith(a)wilcom.com > ---------- > From: John Robertson[SMTP:jrr@flippers.com] > > Unfortunatly I have a shop to support, not just a hobby...so I tend to > eBay > the things...I have three Z80 pods, five probes, and a 8048 pod > currently...Last Z80 sold for $183US, and last probe I got $125 (including > > postage)...plus I have one 9010A base with RS-232 (tested)... > > To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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RE: Z80 pods, 2 versions...
by Keith, Brendan 14 Mar '00

14 Mar '00

If you're buying "collection"s of pods, does that then mean that you're reselling them? Share the wealth, John, share the wealth. Brendan Keith brendan.keith(a)wilcom.com > ---------- > From: John Robertson[SMTP:jrr@flippers.com] > > In a collection of Z80 pods that I bought recently there was a Z80A pod, > opening it up reveled what looked like a standard Z80 with a slightly > different revision number on the hardware, and the eprom had a different > revision number. To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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RE: Does anyone have any HP5006A info?
by James Marous 14 Mar '00

14 Mar '00

No hurry on getting it back... James -----Original Message----- From: Jon Raiford [mailto:raiford@mindspring.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 1:43 PM To: TechToolsList(a)flippers.com Subject: Re: Does anyone have any HP5006A info? I have gotten about 95% of the manual scanned in for the HP5006A, but I have slowed down recently (I am using the copier and scanner from work). I decided to go ahead and send what I have to spies so people can see/use it now, as I'm not sure when my time will free up enough to finish scanning the schematics and polish it up. If you are interested, here is a link to the 10.5 Meg pdf file: "ftp://www.spies.com/incoming/HP5006A.PDF". James: Let me know if you are in a rush to get the original back and I'll force myself to take the time to finish this up. Jon To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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