CrossBow

@- Ω - has already shared the link on why it is considered to officially be one. But I've also considered any movie that takes place during the Holiday season to be a movie of that Holiday season if that makes sense? 
Gremlins also qualifies to me as being a Christmas movie because again, it takes place during the Christmas holiday in the movie.
 

Wanted to update this thread to let anyone know that was interested, that I ended up getting a Synology DS220+ NAS. I will likely never use all the features this thing can do as it is quite a bit more sophisticated vs the MyCloud device I was using prior. But it does give me 2 drive bays that I can place pretty much any capacity HDD or SSD into for expandable storage. It uses a muticore processor and is essentially it is own computer with a desktop OS and apps to manage it and use it. Still learning things about it but it seems to be everything I needed and then some for now!
https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/DS220+
Main caveat with it is that it is much more complicated to setup than the old MyCloud was and it is pretty noisier compared to the MyCloud. To be fair though, this thing is designed for hi speed drives and is a more complex device hence why it requires an actual cooling fan and due to the more open nature of the case enclosure, the drives are louder as well. Perhaps in the future when TB SSDs are cheaper I might invest in those to keep things quiet.
 

So I'm wasn't sure where else to put this and I've not asked this in any other forums/groups so giving people here a first shot on their opinions on this. 
First if you didn't know.. NAS simply means Network Attached Storage. Usually a box with a set of Hard drives in it that contains a bare bones OS for the drives to work and operate. Having a NAS is pretty cool since you essentially have a bank of storage that isn't in your main PC that is always up and ready to use. In addition, many of them have cloud type apps or services so that you can actually grab files from your NAS from pretty much anywhere on the planet.
Now, what I have current and have been using for quite a number of years, is an old Western Digital MyCloud 3TB storage device. It has been excellent and done exactly what I needed over the years and it was cheap when I bought it. However, starting next year, WD due to secure concerns and updates will no longer support my device and in fact, I won't be able to use it for anything other than local network storage only so it won't be usable on their MyCloud website anymore. As it is a basic NAS I figure if I have to upgrade, now is the time to get something perhaps a little more?
First of all, I've only used up about 50% of the 3TB of storage my current one offers. That is because I don't copy a ton of stuff on there other than my digital music library and pictures. I used to store my rendered YT videos on it but then decided that was dumb since I can download any of my vids directly off YT whenever I want. However, my current device is just a single sealed 3TB spinner HDD and it is beyond its warranty timeframe already. Here are the questions I've been thinking about for my upgraded NAS:
- I want at least RAID1 support so that means I need a least a two drive bay NAS device. 
- Is it better to go with those that are sealed or hot swappable?
- I don't really plan to stream any high end videos from it so I don't know if I need one that can decode/encode on the fly as some now offer?
- Not sure if I need one with dual NICs since I only have a single Gigabit router and switch anyway
- Should I look at one with expandable RAM like the ones I've seen that actually use NVMe drives for cache use?
- What is the average size you think someone like myself might need?
- Is there a preference on brand and also with what HDDs to use?
 
Again, my apologies if this isn't the right place of group to discuss this but as I've only a few months before WD completely kills my current drive off I need to look at something now rather than later I guess.
 
 

I would try and participate, but I'm pretty book with service requests through this month currently and with my current wait queue,... I don't get much time to actually game myself these days LOL!
 

Here are two pics I just shot since I actually did remember to do so...
Here are the diecast Hot Wheels of the 1701-A and Reliant ships:

 
And here is the Metal world model of the 1701 next to one of the Space Shuttle and my Lego R2:

 
And yes, besides video games, I've a passion for Legos and architecture as well.
 
 

I would try and participate, but I'm pretty book with service requests through this month currently and with my current wait queue,... I don't get much time to actually game myself these days LOL!
 

Here are two pics I just shot since I actually did remember to do so...
Here are the diecast Hot Wheels of the 1701-A and Reliant ships:

 
And here is the Metal world model of the 1701 next to one of the Space Shuttle and my Lego R2:

 
And yes, besides video games, I've a passion for Legos and architecture as well.
 
 

I'm a fan of the TOS and did watch TNG when it was on. Once I got into high school and started working and driving, I didn't watch much of any TV. So I never watched DS9, Voyager, or anything after that. 
Having said that I will try and remember to get some pics later. I only have a few ST related items. I have the Hot Wheels diecast of the 1701-A refit and one of the Reliant from Wrath of Kahn (Still my fave Trek film). I also have one of those metal world models you put together of the original NCC-1701. I have a coffee mug I use frequently with just the Star Trek logo on it.
When I was in my early teens, I put together quite a few of those plastic type model kits. My two best were my 1701-A refit model that was quite large, and the one I did of the Space Shuttle that included the external tank and SRBs. That space shuttle model stood about 3ft tall as I recall and took me quite sometime to put together back then. Sadley I know longer have those and I assume my step dad tossed them out at some point.
 

I'm a fan of the TOS and did watch TNG when it was on. Once I got into high school and started working and driving, I didn't watch much of any TV. So I never watched DS9, Voyager, or anything after that. 
Having said that I will try and remember to get some pics later. I only have a few ST related items. I have the Hot Wheels diecast of the 1701-A refit and one of the Reliant from Wrath of Kahn (Still my fave Trek film). I also have one of those metal world models you put together of the original NCC-1701. I have a coffee mug I use frequently with just the Star Trek logo on it.
When I was in my early teens, I put together quite a few of those plastic type model kits. My two best were my 1701-A refit model that was quite large, and the one I did of the Space Shuttle that included the external tank and SRBs. That space shuttle model stood about 3ft tall as I recall and took me quite sometime to put together back then. Sadley I know longer have those and I assume my step dad tossed them out at some point.
 

Could do what I did with my TG-16. Wasn't the 'cheap' option no..but it was the easiest and gives me all the outputs I would need.
I bought a DB grafix booster from Castlemania to stick off the back of my TG-16 to provide me with RGB, s-video, and composite + audio. 
https://castlemaniagames.com/collections/turbo-grafx-16/products/dbgrafx-booster-ttp

Could do what I did with my TG-16. Wasn't the 'cheap' option no..but it was the easiest and gives me all the outputs I would need.
I bought a DB grafix booster from Castlemania to stick off the back of my TG-16 to provide me with RGB, s-video, and composite + audio. 
https://castlemaniagames.com/collections/turbo-grafx-16/products/dbgrafx-booster-ttp

Wanted to provide an update in this thread for any looking for parts. Best I believe still sells the original mylar flex for the Lynx II systems. But as they are NOS from the 90s, I've found that on half of them I end up having to apply additional kapton tape around the ends of the LED power indicator. If you weren't aware, Atari never actually soldered the power LEDs to the flex. They are just attached via tape. As a result, that tape over the years isn't wanting to hold up as well as it used to and the mylar used isn't designed to be soldered to so it can't handle the heat from an iron. 
Well, you could use some conductive paint or ink to try and correct for this, or..
There are now brand new mylar flexes for the Lynx II being created by Retrosix out of Europe. I've ordered a few of them as it came out to be about the same cost wise as ordering from best with shipping and Bradley's min requirements.
The new flex looks very much like the originals, but has a soldered on power LED to them and seem more durable in that regard. However, they use a bubble conductive section for the buttons for the backlight, power..options..etc and they will have a different feel. Not sure how they will last over time as compared to the originals using small metal domes but time will tell.
https://retrosix.co.uk/Lynx-MK-II-Ribbon-Membrane-p370595071

I did not know that?! And when I reached out to the folks at AtariMax I was told to use a standard controller in port 1 to select the game and then swap out. I only state this because on my Amax cart, the trak-ball causes it to go crazy and that is why I reached out to them. Maybe I have an old one or something that doesn't look for it properly or something? I first encountered it when the Xari Arena completed version was released through AtariAge and couldn't figure out how to get my trak-ball to work through the Amax cart. I even bought the game because of my frustrations with this LOL!
 

I did not know that?! And when I reached out to the folks at AtariMax I was told to use a standard controller in port 1 to select the game and then swap out. I only state this because on my Amax cart, the trak-ball causes it to go crazy and that is why I reached out to them. Maybe I have an old one or something that doesn't look for it properly or something? I first encountered it when the Xari Arena completed version was released through AtariAge and couldn't figure out how to get my trak-ball to work through the Amax cart. I even bought the game because of my frustrations with this LOL!
 

Vector Pilot and Vector Patrol are pretty much reasons along to own a Vectrex! Especially Vector Pilot as I still find secrets in that game it seems each time I figure it up. Vectroblade is very cool but I think I have an earlier version of the game that still suffers from some game breaking bugs. I bought mine from Sean Kelly before Packrat was selling them and sending them out so pretty sure it is an early release.
 

Vector Pilot and Vector Patrol are pretty much reasons along to own a Vectrex! Especially Vector Pilot as I still find secrets in that game it seems each time I figure it up. Vectroblade is very cool but I think I have an earlier version of the game that still suffers from some game breaking bugs. I bought mine from Sean Kelly before Packrat was selling them and sending them out so pretty sure it is an early release.
 

That is all good info to know. I'm sure I will pick up a concerto at some point in the future although I don't really need one at this time.
I've had a few pickups, although they are very minor things although video game related to be sure.
 



 
 

 
Another thing I picked up recently from the local electronics recycler place here is this cute little micro PC that I've got setup for streaming from the game room currently. Been using it past few nights. Only set me back $150 but I feel for what it can do, that it was very reasonable.

Awesome, be curious to get your take on it. I've not yet tried to purchase one since my DF cart does everything I need for the time being on the 7800.
 

It is an older model from like 4 or 5 years ago. But it has 16gb of RAM and I went ahead and installed a 500gb m.2 SSD internally so along with the 500gb spinner it already had it has a full 1TB of storage in it. And it seems to be decent enough at streaming 1080p provided my upstream on the ISP is good.
And yes, it is very TINY and pretty quiet although mine can get to being heard once I've been streaming for a few minutes.
 

Hmm... this is tough for me because I don't really plan on anything I get for my game room. Just kinda find something that interest me and get it if I'm able at that time. But... I do have some recent stuff I've bought that I haven't mentioned here. I did mention the little Dell opti 9020 micro PC I picked up for cheap and currently have in a temp location in the game room for streaming and recording game footage. I also got one of the Zelda game and watches and that is in the display case in the game room with other Zelda related stuff. But that is it for the game room. 

I know some games actually do a calibration check on the controller when power on the system. I believe even the AtariMax SD does this to a degree and that is why without a controller plugged into it, it just moves down on its own and keeps beeping is because it senses an infinite direction during controller check. 
I would never swap controllers with the system powered on btw. That is how the 4052 MUX chips end up getting fried. 

That is all good info to know. I'm sure I will pick up a concerto at some point in the future although I don't really need one at this time.
I've had a few pickups, although they are very minor things although video game related to be sure.
 



 
 

 
Another thing I picked up recently from the local electronics recycler place here is this cute little micro PC that I've got setup for streaming from the game room currently. Been using it past few nights. Only set me back $150 but I feel for what it can do, that it was very reasonable.

Maybe when they were brand new? But no, I don't recall ever having one sent to me that worked properly controller Bob on the screen. Usually he will have no issues moving right, up/down but going back to the left can be the challenge. More annoying, is that I have the game give me those control problems but then all other games played will control just fine without issue. So that is why I use BBSB as the main game to test controller calibration with.
 

It can be a struggle for sure. I have one of the loopback test boards and that makes adjusting the pokey trimmer MUCH easier. From there it usually works pretty well as is but on the rare occasion, it might require me to pop that game up with the top cover removed on the controller so I can manually adjust the throw of the pots internally. But if you can get a stock controller working with BBSB and Gyruss without issue, then you have about as perfectly a calibrated controller and 5200 set as you can get.
 

It can be a struggle for sure. I have one of the loopback test boards and that makes adjusting the pokey trimmer MUCH easier. From there it usually works pretty well as is but on the rare occasion, it might require me to pop that game up with the top cover removed on the controller so I can manually adjust the throw of the pots internally. But if you can get a stock controller working with BBSB and Gyruss without issue, then you have about as perfectly a calibrated controller and 5200 set as you can get.