{"id":1133,"date":"2026-03-30T15:07:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T15:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/retrorendezvous.org\/?p=1133"},"modified":"2026-03-30T15:07:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T15:07:39","slug":"2026-03-falkirk-business-hub-the-i-t-crowd-scotland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/retrorendezvous.org\/index.php\/2026\/03\/30\/2026-03-falkirk-business-hub-the-i-t-crowd-scotland\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 03 : Falkirk, Business Hub \u2013 The I.T. Crowd (Scotland)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Meetup begins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Pieces of Michael’s poorly A3020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Michael’s BBC B setup<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ken’s BBC B with what looks like one of his IntegraB boards and Alasdair’s BBC B on the right being tested after some upgrades<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ian’s Acorn A4 laptop with one of his in development Ethernet cards fitted<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Gary’s Acorn Electron with his Plus 1 mini and custom sound card. Master Compact to the left<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dave’s setup<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Chris’s Archimedes A420\/1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

IT Crowd (Scotland) \u2013 March Meetup Roundup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Falkirk \u2013 Saturday 28th March 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s something quietly special about a room full of old machines being brought back to life\u2014especially when they\u2019re surrounded by people who understand them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our March IT Crowd (Scotland) meetup delivered exactly that: a relaxed but deeply engaging day of tinkering, troubleshooting, sharing ideas, and\u2014just as importantly\u2014enjoying the company of fellow enthusiasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Room Full of Living History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the moment things got underway, the room filled with that familiar blend of discussion, keyboard clicks, and the occasional victorious \u201cit\u2019s working!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setups ranged from neatly restored systems to open-case diagnostic workbenches. There\u2019s always a contrast at these events between machines in pristine condition and others mid-surgery\u2014and both are equally fascinating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Archimedes, A-Series and Modern Bridges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A highlight was seeing an Archimedes A420<\/strong> running happily alongside modern hardware, with RISC OS still feeling surprisingly usable. There\u2019s something enduring about that desktop\u2014clean, efficient, and unmistakably Acorn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also had an Acorn A4 laptop<\/strong> fitted with an in-development Ethernet card. This kind of work\u2014quietly pushing these machines into modern connectivity\u2014is exactly what keeps the platform alive rather than just preserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BBC Micro, Repairs, and Upgrades<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Several BBC Micros<\/strong> were in various states of attention\u2014from fully working systems to machines undergoing careful repair and upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • One setup featured an IntegraB board<\/strong>, showcasing just how far the BBC Micro can be extended.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Another machine was being tested after upgrades\u2014always a tense but satisfying moment when it springs back to life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Elsewhere, a \u201cpoorly\u201d A3020 had been partially dismantled, with components laid out for diagnosis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    These hands-on moments are where the real value of the meetup shines\u2014shared knowledge, second opinions, and that collective persistence to get things working again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Electron Experiments and Custom Hardware<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Acorn Electron<\/strong> also had a strong showing, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • A Plus 1 mini expansion<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • A custom sound card project<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      This kind of development work is particularly exciting\u2014it\u2019s not just restoration, it\u2019s reinterpretation. New capabilities being built for old machines, often with a level of ingenuity that rivals anything from the original era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Why These Days Matter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      What stood out most wasn\u2019t any single machine, but the spirit of the day<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • People bringing along projects in progress<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Others offering advice, parts, or just encouragement<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • A shared understanding that these systems are worth preserving\u2014not just as artefacts, but as working<\/em> machines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        There\u2019s also something refreshingly analogue about it all. No pressure, no rush\u2014just time spent understanding how things work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        Looking Ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        These smaller, focused meetups continue to prove their value. They\u2019re easy to attend, easy to contribute to, and always productive\u2014whether you come with a problem to solve or just curiosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If you\u2019ve got an Acorn machine (or any retro system) sitting idle, consider bringing it along next time. Chances are, someone in the room will help you get it running again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        And even if not\u2014you\u2019ll still have a good day talking about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n\n\n\n

        Thanks to everyone who came along, brought hardware, shared knowledge, and helped make the day what it was.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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