If you own an Acorn computer with an Econet port, come and join the party! On 20-21st May we want to create the world's biggest Econet network at TNMoC – well, for 2023 at least!
We currently have 14 machines connected to our Econet network. For one weekend only, we want to see just how big we can make the network. We have extra servers, bridges and rare machines in our cupboards which we will bring out for the occasion. Share files, play Colossal Cave and meet other enthusiasts as we find out how effective Acorn’s technology of the 1980s really was.
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. As well as our current display, we aim to bring our collection of ABC machines, and some early Archimedes A305 and A440 machines will have their first powering in a long time.
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 may have to allocate Econet station numbers nearer the date.
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 your needs. We do have some Cubs spare at present, although we cannot guarantee they will be available in May – although our reliability is improving thanks to previous Fixathon events. We do have lots of HDMI input monitors, so if you have an HDMI converter, no problem. We may also have some SCART TVs or mono screens available.
Admission
Admission is free if you bring a machine to show off or if you can help us fix a museum computer (please bring your own tools and soldering kit). The museum will be open to normal visitors too, and you are welcome to look around.
Catering
As a minimum we will have tea and coffee available and sandwiches to buy from our shop/eating area. Depending upon interest, we can arrange pizza or take away.
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 station is a 5-10 minute walk away with two direct trains per hour to London and Birmingham.
