View Full Version : Pete Deksnis home page


hposter
05-30-2011, 08:08 AM
Does anyone know what happened to Pete Deksnis' home page?

The link I try to follow is the latest I could find,
http://home.att.net/~pldexnis/
and it seems to time out.

Wasn't sure if it's a temporary morning headache or if AT&T pulled the plug on their home pages, and Pete needed to migrate....

ChuckA
05-30-2011, 12:13 PM
Pete lost the site the beginning of 2010 when ATT made some major changes.
He didn't have a full backup, but someone had saved about 100 pages from his site, don't know if he is going to start it up again.

Chuck

jr_tech
05-30-2011, 12:16 PM
I think AT&T pulled the plug several years ago... I plugged the link you posted into the Wayback Machine and found some archived pages:

http://classic-web.archive.org/web/*/http://home.att.net/~pldexnis/

Is that all that's left of a wonderful site? :sigh:
jr

Phil Nelson
05-30-2011, 01:53 PM
I have about 100 pages of printouts of Pete's website. I gave him a set of copies at last year's ETF convention and kept a set for my own reference. They could be re-webbed by scanning & capturing the text with OCR, and then formatting in HTML. Some quality would be lost in the images, since you'd be scanning printouts rather than using the original image files. Anyhow, it would be possible (through a lot of drudgery) to recreate a big chunk of the site.

Phil Nelson

ChrisW6ATV
05-30-2011, 04:17 PM
As jr tech noted, you can find nearly his whole site on archive.org except that almost all of the pictures are missing. If/when Pete is going to restore it, he can get the text parts there.

jhalphen
05-31-2011, 02:58 AM
Hi to All, Hello Harry,

Over time, i've saved about 200 documents from Pete's site, html text and photographs. If you want a zip compacted file i can Mail to your address. Size is 9.22Mb.

I gave Pete the data last year for an eventual rebuild project.

Best Regards

jhalphen
Paris/France

hposter
05-31-2011, 03:30 PM
Out of the saved material, did anyone get the CT-100 serial number database, or is it at any other web site? Thanks!

Phil Nelson
05-31-2011, 03:35 PM
I scanned a printout (from 2008) and posted it here:

http://antiqueradio.org/art/RCACT-100SerialNumbers2008.pdf

It doesn't reflect later updates, if any were made.

Phil Nelson

David Roper
05-31-2011, 04:02 PM
I do know that the CT-100 database is still being maintained and updated, but I don't know if it's currently published anywhere online.

ChrisW6ATV
06-01-2011, 01:59 AM
Out of the saved material, did anyone get the CT-100 serial number database, or is it at any other web site? Thanks!
Harry-

That is one of the items that is accessible from archive.org:

http://web.archive.org/web/20080526181241/http://home.att.net/~pldexnis/input/CTC2_Serial_Numbers_List.htm

It is a capture from May 2008, though, and there are no newer captures than that date.

The CT-100 I bought recently, number B1111566, is not on that list.

Pete Deksnis
06-01-2011, 10:09 AM
First, let me thank everyone who helped recover pages from my now-extinct CT-100 website. Fact is, the site will never be completely recovered without a direct link to the guy sitting on the archived ATT material. (it's been tried to no avail)

BACKGROUND: The site was built over eleven years starting in 1999 using a 'wizard' provided by ATT that generated the html code. Later years had some of the features written in WORD and saved in htm. These few items *are* archived in large measure on my old desktop. All the wizard-produced code was stored only in the ATT servers. But I figured, so what? ATT isn't going out of business...

WHOWOULDATHUNKIT: Briefly, the ATT division/section that hosted my site and my <pldexnis.att.net> and <THE_SET.att.net> email addresses was apparently sold to someone who kept the once-golden ATT name and shaved away what they didn't deem profitable, namely the division/section that hosted my site and email.

TODAY: While barely 25 megs in size, my CT-100 site was a maze of links and low-byte jpegs. In practical terms, it can not be rebuilt. The best I hope for are that core pages, written during the progression of my CT-100 restoration, will be posted again.

One could properly ask, were customers given an opportunity to download sites before the ax hit? I have shared my circumstances with some of you. Point is, the site is gone.

RECOLLECTIONS: Most of the editorial content consisted of personal CT-100 recollections: the very first caretaker to respond was Steve McVoy who, in his pre-ETF days, restored a CT-100 and Philco TV-123; both are now on display at the museum in Hilliard. Years before I ever met him, Bob Galanter had provided a tidbit of his youthful encounter with color television. John Folsom and I speculated in 1999 that probably only 50 Merrills remained (we were about 1/3 right). Bruce Buchannan and Scotty Avaid were talking and experimenting with early concepts of 15GP22 rebuilding. John Folsom had the first 15GP22 20-pin stems manufactured by 2004. Dave Abramson shared vintage color experiences for the site as did Steve Dichter and Steve Kissinger and Marlin Mackley; Ed Reitan phoned a CT-100 happening in 2002. All this and much much more is now vaporized in cyberspace. Depressing.

But we trudge on. I have been offered space on existing sites. When CT-100 restoration pages are again on line, I will post the URL here.

I very much appreciate your interest.

Pete

Pete Deksnis
06-01-2011, 10:12 AM
I do know that the CT-100 database is still being maintained and updated, but I don't know if it's currently published anywhere online.

Yes, the databases are being maintained; they are not yet on line anywhere though.

Pete

Pete Deksnis
06-01-2011, 10:14 AM
The CT-100 I bought recently, number B1111566, is not on that list. Chris, it is on the updated list and will appear there when published.

Pete

Electronic M
06-01-2011, 05:19 PM
It is a real pity you lost part of that great site of yours.

If they did not give you warning that the site was being nixed, then in your shoes I'd have raised a legal stink with both old and new owners.

Tom C.

Steve McVoy
06-01-2011, 07:21 PM
Pete, if you'll send me the databases I'll put them on my site temporarily if you wish.

ChrisW6ATV
06-01-2011, 09:36 PM
Pete-

If I can help you with the site restoration by recovering and/or mapping/cataloging the still-available content from archive.org or other actions, please let me know.

Pete Deksnis
06-03-2011, 02:55 PM
Pete, if you'll send me the databases I'll put them on my site temporarily if you wish.Have emailed you both the CTC2 (updated June 2011) and CTC2B (updated April 2011) htm files.

Pete

miniman82
06-03-2011, 03:24 PM
Can't remember if I asked or not: was my 2B added to the list? I assumed it was already on there, since it had been in a previous collection and was known.

Steve McVoy
06-03-2011, 04:57 PM
Pete's serial numbers are now at this page:

http://www.earlytelevision.org/color_database.html

Pete Deksnis
06-03-2011, 08:00 PM
Can't remember if I asked or not: was my 2B added to the list? The ETF link seems to be broken for now; here's the data; it was updated in April; please indicate additions/corrections to these sixteen known s/n's.

(21-CT-55 Living List)


B8800171


B8800438


B8800604
cabinet s/n 448

B8800957


B8801131


B8801607


B8801626


B8801861
cabinet s/n 2129

B8802095
cabinet s/n 2057

B8802252
cabinet s/n 2121 (blond)

B8802322
donor

B8802390
cabinet s/n 864

B8802584
donor

B8802628


B8802831


B8802897

Pete

Steve McVoy
06-03-2011, 08:22 PM
The link is fixed now.

miniman82
06-03-2011, 10:28 PM
please indicate additions/corrections to these sixteen known s/n's.

(21-CT-55 Living List)


B8800171


B8800438


B8800604
cabinet s/n 448

B8800957


B8801131


B8801607


B8801626


B8801632
cabinet s/n 2378

B8801861
cabinet s/n 2129

B8802095
cabinet s/n 2057

B8802252
cabinet s/n 2121 (blond)

B8802322
donor

B8802390
cabinet s/n 864

B8802584
donor

B8802628


B8802831


B8802897

Pete



Wait: there's only 16? I thought there were a lot more than that, ETF alone says they have 3. Add that to the private collectors who have 15, that makes 18. Unless I don't understand how the list works, I'm just kinda going by what info is out there right now.

I added my set into the list, in bold.

ChrisW6ATV
06-03-2011, 11:55 PM
Not every set has its serial number available for the lists. Thank you Pete and Steve for making this information available.

k6adtom
05-27-2012, 07:15 PM
Does anyone know how to get in touch with Pete Deksnis? I have what I think might be great news for him about THE SET CT-100 website that disappeared in 2010. I gather from posts on this website that he was trying to put "THE SET" site back up, but didn't have a backup when AT&T took it down.

So happens that I fully mirrored his website back on 4/1/09 (the copy runs on my local machine in a browser just like the online site). I often do this for technical websites that I really like, as all too often they disappear from the web forever. I'd be happy to send Pete a CD of his website (html files, pictures, attachments, and all), so collectors could once again benefit from this wonderful CT-100 resource.

I won't send out copies to anyone else, not without Pete's written permission, for obvious copyright reasons, so please don't even ask. Please forward my email address to him or let me know how to get in touch with him as the email address I have for him is no longer good. My addr is: k6adtom at hotmail dot com. It would be really great to have THE SET CT-100 site up and running on the web again. Tom

miniman82
05-27-2012, 07:20 PM
Wow, this is great news! PM sent.

mpatoray
05-27-2012, 10:15 PM
That is some great news! Heres to hoping that maybe it can get back online in a suitable location and might possible be expanded on with new info.

Pete Deksnis
05-27-2012, 10:21 PM
Well this really, really made my day! :banana: [Never used the banana before.]

Thanks Tom. Email sent.

Pete

k6adtom
05-28-2012, 11:04 AM
Nick, thanks for putting me in touch with Pete. We're exchanged emails and I'm going to forward the complete site to him (last mirrored on 4-1-09).

When his site disappeared, I emailed him a couple of times but never got a response (I guess AT&T cut off his email address, too). I tried Googling for THE SET over the years, but never got anything that way either. I figured Pete lost interest or something. Then yesterday, I happened to see his full name on the ETF site (my mirrored copy of the THE SET didn’t list his last name on any of the pages—just “Pete” and the non-working email address—so I had little to go on). So yesterday, with his last name finally in hand, Google led me to the VideoKarma site. It was then I saw the posts about him losing the site. I had no idea he was trying to resurrect THE SET all these years. Sorry I didn’t come across this sooner. But I guess better late than never, as they say.

Pete tells me that he plans to resurrect the site. I do hope he will endeavor to make it an active CT-100 "meeting place" again. That was the really neat thing about his site - it wasn't static like so many of the other TV sites (and that's why I mirrored it). It was kind of a combo informational site and forum. There was frequently new stuff that appeared and he often shared other people's emails and posts and pictures, kept the community appraised of developments. He really did a fantastic job. I'm hoping Pete still has the enthusiasm to bring this alive and make that CT-100 "meeting place" happen yet again.

Tom K6AD

k6adtom
05-28-2012, 12:49 PM
174587

Tomcomm
05-29-2012, 11:02 AM
Great news Pete’s “The Set” will be reconstructed. It was the first to recognize my 21CT55 as operational and join the Living List. Since it has no cabinet, I request its chassis SN be described as “Experimental” which is its present and future status. Thanks……Tom

[QUOTE=Pete Deksnis;3005100]The ETF link seems to be broken for now; here's the data; it was updated in April; please indicate additions/corrections to these sixteen known s/n's.

(21-CT-55 Living List) .......

B8802897
Experimental

Electronic M
06-01-2012, 05:33 PM
This is great news!

Please post a link to it once it is back up and running.

KentTeffeteller
06-01-2012, 07:20 PM
Glad someone saved it complete, a critical resource for early color lovers. Please post the new link when it is running, seconded, keep a copy of good technical websites complete. Never know when it might be needed.

Username1
06-01-2012, 10:45 PM
at&t was not the only one that turned off their free ftp space, aol did it about the same time. All of you that have stuff on free or some corporate or even your own paid space should back it up! and not write any web stuff in ms office, or especially frontpage. these programs make real crap code, and should be avoided at all costs. Use firstpage 2000 its free and makes decent code if you cant hand code.

These will be the next to go down....

http://community-2.webtv.net/stevetek/StevesCT100/

http://novia.net/~ereitan/rcvr_prod.html

http://www.ct-tv.50megs.com/

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/12123264

and many more.... at some point they will decide not to keep this stuff because revenue from the ads don't cut it, or the account gets closed, or if there is a paying account, money troubles will close it. Who knows.... But all these sites should be backed up, like the stories, pictures and experiences....

Pete Deksnis
06-09-2012, 10:30 AM
174587 Update: Have emailed Tom today as the CD has not yet arrived.

Pete

John Folsom
06-09-2012, 07:23 PM
So.... if I were to want to create a mirror os some website as was done with Pete's site, how would I go about doing this?

ohohyodafarted
06-09-2012, 08:08 PM
John,

There are special software programs that are needed to do this.

Try this link for more information and recommended freeware programs.

http://www.blogsdna.com/35/top-6-freeware-website-mirroring-tools-software.htm

Pete Deksnis
06-15-2012, 09:45 PM
For some reason it took the USPS two weeks and three days to get the CD from Tom in CA to me in MI! But it's here. And it works. Spent a few hours going through the site and found only one set of photos that didn't load. It was the page with 2006 Tournament of Roses parade pictures; the 2007 parade page pictures are there.

Thanks again Tom for the great save.

Pete

John Folsom
06-15-2012, 10:18 PM
Pete, and Tom, that is simply fantastic. Let us know when the website is back on-line!

miniman82
06-16-2012, 12:49 AM
Git-r-dun!!!

ChrisW6ATV
06-17-2012, 02:25 AM
Pete-

If you need online storage space, please let me know. I would be happy to host pictures or other data for you.

Pete Deksnis
10-08-2012, 09:42 PM
I've been busy for a few days and so just learned that Steve began hosting my site recently. Much thanks to him for taking the time and making the effort needed to assemble the hundred-plus pages. A big thanks also to Tom, K6AD, who mirrored the site eleven months before it was lost. Without Tom's interest, the site could never been as complete as it now is.

I have a handful of ideas for new pages and at least two that are virtually complete, but require technical-accuracy review. One covers the effect on vintage color sets by the loss of FCC-specified analog broadcast OTA signals and another that wants to define why the oft-referred-to definition of white is specified as 59-percent green 30-percent red and 11-percent blue.

Onward and upward.

Pete