Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => General chat about Amiga topics => Topic started by: tonyvdb on April 05, 2006, 06:59:41 PM
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As some of you know I have been having some trouble with my Video Toaster Flyer system.
I contacted Newtek's Tec. suport today and told them of my situation and what I have tried to remady the problem. The tec was very helpful and stated to me that they would have a look at the cards free of charge and do what ever it takes to repare the issue for free :-) This just blows me away that a company will still do something like this. After all I have had these cards for over 10 years.
Now if only Commodore would have offerd that sort of suport for there Amiga line they would still be around.
Way to go Newtek :-D
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Credit where it's due, that is fantastic.
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Awesome!
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Yes I just had two cards repaired for free!!! They are AWESOME!!!
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Update :-)
They received my Toaster card early this morning and have already fixed it and have just sent me an email that they have sent it back via Fedex late this afternoon.
Fast service or what :-D :-D :-D
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Let us know once you get it up and running. Any clue what was wrong with which card, or what they fixed exactly?
Jeff
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All the service tech told me over the phone was that he thought it was a problem with the video prossing section of the card.
hopfuly they will send an explination with the card as to what they fixed.
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My Toaster 2000 card actually went up in smoke! Good thing I was in the other room, I smelled the burning and came in and saw my A2000 on fire! (case was off too, good thing!) lol
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Heat has alwase been an issue with the Toaster cards. Need to keep tem cool with fans moving the warm air away.
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Wow, great service. That's got to be great for the resale price of their cards too. I think that kind of service would have to extremely rare in any industry, right?
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I can't think of another company that offers as fast a service to its costomers 10 years past it purchace for no fee at all.
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@tonyvdb
Incredible. I admire Newtek for standing behind it's product after all these years.
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redfox
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Hey Redfox good to see you. haven't talked for a while.
Yes I am very happy.
I contacted them today to find out what they did and they had to replace the CF cap on the Toaster 4000 card and flash the Flyer card Serial number for some reason.
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@tonyvdb
That's great. Sounds like you'll be getting it back quite soon then. :-D
I've been doing alot of shift work lately, so I'm lurking more than posting these days, trying to catch up on any news.
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redfox
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Yep, Newtek is a great company!
My only regret is that the PAL version of the Video Toaster 4000 never came out. Usefull if you stay in Europe.
It's too bad for NEWTEK that developed a nice piece of Hardware, so powerfull software for video editing tools and invest so much money in the R&D for it...
Than Commodore get Busted.
But one cool fact is the NEWTEK upgrade program for every Amiga Toaster product, you can have a discount of 2000 US $ if you when to buy they new Video Toaster 4 (that's 50%)
But yep it's on PeeCee and you will need a BIG Bi processor Machine, Large Ultra 160 SCSI, MEM etc...
But some other company should learn about the great support from NewTek
RESPECT to NewTek! :bow:
TorajaBoy
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That's fantastic to hear, pity it's the exception rather then the rule. A lot of companies could learn from this, if only NewTek had owned the Amiga instead... Oh well, we can dream can't we?
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tonyvdb wrote:
As some of you know I have been having some trouble with my Video Toaster Flyer system.
I contacted Newtek's Tec. suport today and told them of my situation and what I have tried to remady the problem. The tec was very helpful and stated to me that they would have a look at the cards free of charge and do what ever it takes to repare the issue for free :-) This just blows me away that a company will still do something like this. After all I have had these cards for over 10 years.
Now if only Commodore would have offerd that sort of suport for there Amiga line they would still be around.
Way to go Newtek :-D
Wait I.
Wait.
What?
They didn't demand that you send them the cards, tell you it'd take six months, and then lose/sell/strip your cards for parts/otherwise steal from you?
Are you sure this was an Amiga hardware company?!
(I kid - Newtek is great)
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Did they pay for shipping, too?
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They payed for the return shipping via Fedex. I had to pay the shipping to them (well worth it in my opinion)
The tracking info I have says I will have it on Monday :-D
Update: Received the cards and evreything is good.
A very pleased Amiga User :-)
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This company has always been a cut about the rest! That they still support us Amiga users is way beyond the call.
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I found this thread reading about recent topics and I find it very interesting.
Indeed it is good seeing that Newtek after 10 years still supports its Amiga users.
I wonder why none recently proposed them to create Amiga or MorphOS drivers for their VIDEOTOASTER II. :getmad:
Videotoaster II it was a PCI card, and if you haven't noticed it, but all new Amigas supports PCI. :roll:
Actually Videotoaster is version 4.
(http://www.newtek.com/vt/images/pagepics/hardwarespecs/VT4.jpg)
Here the hardware specs:
http://www.newtek.com/vt/specs.php
General:
Type: 3.3V / 5V ¾ length PCI Card
Analog Video Connectors: (3) 15 pin high density
(adapter cables with bnc connectors included)
Analog Audio Connectors: (1) 15 pin high density
Digital Video/Audio Connector: 90 pin digital video/audio bus
Interface: PCI bus mastering
Firmware: Field Upgradable
Supported Video I/O Formats: Composite, Component, S-Video (Y/C),
SDI, NTSC and PAL
Digital Format: 8 bit ITU-R BT.601
Uncompressed Video: Yes
Time Base Corrector: Internal. External unit not required
Genlock: Integrated; syncs either VT[4] or external house sync.
Vertical, horizontal and subcarrier phase controls
Comb Filter: 2-line luma and chroma comb filters including
adaptive luma comb for NTSC
Technical:
Video Channels: 1 input, 1 output (Analog), 3 input,
2 output (Digital Connector)
Audio Channels: 4 channels in adjustable mic or line level
4 channels out, line level
Video Levels (In/Out):
Composite: 1V p-p 75 Ohm
S-Video:
Luminance: 1V p-p 75 Ohm
Chroma: 286 mV p-p 75 Ohm
Compnent - Betacam:
Luminance: 714mV p-p 75 Ohm
R-Y, B-Y: 700 mV p-p 75 Ohm
Compnent - MII:
Luminance: 700mV p-p 75 Ohm
R-Y, B-Y: 486 mV p-p 75 Ohm
Video Performance:
Noise Level: -58 dB
Luminance frequency
response (maximum variation
to 4.2 MHz - multi burst): 2 dB
Differential phase
(Modulated 40 IRE ramp): 1 degree
Differential gain
(Modulated 40 IRE ramp): 1.5 %
Chrominance frequency
response (3 dB point)
-CBWR=0/1 800/500 KHZ
K Factor (K-2T): 1 %
Luminance Non Linearity: +/- 2 %
Minimum IRE passable
from input to output
(super black): 6.5 below black IRE
Maximum IRE passable
from input to output: 8 above white IRE
On Board Audio Performance*:
Frequency Response: 20HZ – 20KHZ +/- 1 dB
Harmonic Distortion
(THD+N): < .05 %
Dynamic Range
Unweighted/A weighted: >80 / >83 dB
Audio Sample Rate: 48 KHZ
And features are superbe. It is like having an entire studio for video production at your total command.
http://www.newtek.com/vt/features.php
Live Switching:
8 Component inputs
8 Y/C inputs
Up to 24 Composite inputs
DV input Support
Real-time FireWire input or output
Automated Audio Mixer
4 Component outputs
4 Y/C outputs
Preview output
4 Composite outputs
3 RS-422 machine control ports
Real-time chroma key
Cue mode in Digital Disk Recorder
500+ digital transitions
Dual GPI In / Out
8 Internal Tally light controls
Background generator
Internal Genlock
Audio Mixer:
Mix 8 stereo live and 8 4-channel online audio sources
4-track audio: 4 discrete channels of audio in and out
Talk-over, reduces mix levels for mic inputs to talk over
4 adjustable XLR balanced mic / line inputs with Phantom power
6 stereo unbalanced audio ins from live sources
8 stereo inputs from computer sources
DV and SDI audio inputs
Floating point audio with distortion-free audio levels
EQ, balance, mute and mono for all 16 audio inputs
Aux Mix: stereo aux send and aux returns for external sweetening
Automated mixing: transition between audio presets
Calibrated audio meters
Audio-follows-video option
Manage your output mix with Input Pass Thru
PA Mix Out: for live PA or control room feed
Balance on all inputs and outputs
Digital Disk Recorder (VT-DDR™):
Multi-format, multi-standard on-screen tape deck
Compressed or uncompressed playback
Play back a single clip or list of clips
Cue clips to roll when triggered by Switcher
Real-time transitions between clips
Count up or count down project time or clip time
Operate multiple DDRs simultaneously
EDL import/export (Grass Valley, CMX, Sony, Excel)
Proc Amp:
Brightness
Contrast
Hue
Saturation
U Offset, V Offset
U Gain, V Gain
Track Preview function
More than 70 adjustable parameters
Calibrate computer sources as well as analog sources
Auto Calibration for 75 IRE bars, 100 IRE bars and video pass-through mode
(requires SX-84)
VT-Scope™:
Full-frame data
60 fields-per-second
Monitor Program or Preview
Waveform of Y/C, Y, C, YUV or RGB
Vectorscope at either 75% or 100% Chroma
VT-Vision™:
Fully fielded on-screen playback
YUV video display
Monitor Program, Preview, Key / Aux or DSK buses
Display supports for 4:3 and 16:9 aspect
Underscan mode
Zebra stripes for 75 IRE and illegal video
Proc-Amp for matching computer display to reference video monitors
Character Generator:
WYSIWYG editing
Save projects or pages
Display Program output within CG interface
Use any installed TrueType font
Save pages as 32-bit images or animations
Soft shadows
Create graphic objects (boxes, circles, splines)
Instantly save or recall text styles
Powerful drawing tools
Digital Video Effects:
More than 500 real-time transitions
All transitions reversible
Expansions
Wipes
Curls
Trajectories
Fades
ChromaFX
Overlays
Rotations
Compressions
Borders
Much more
VT-Edit™:
Ultra-intuitive interface
Integrated Timeline and Storyboard editing
Unlimited layering in real-time
3D control of position, size and rotation of layers in real-time
Spline-based movement of all animations
Unlimited undo, saved with project
Real-time color correction
No rendering of complex projects required
Create subprojects within a project
CG Post™ for moving text
Real-time Targa sequence playback
Multi-format and multi-standard editing
Real-time playback of compressed and uncompressed clips
Real-time FireWire in and out
More than 500 real-time transitions
Real-time slow motion and reverse
Real-time chroma and luma keying
Real-time high-quality scaling of graphics
Real-time video and audio filters
Real-time audio mixing of unlimited layers
3D audio positioning
12dB of audio headroom prevents digital distortion
All performed in software
External Controller:
Control external decks from your VT[4] desktop
Supports multiple RS-422 and DV decks
Interfaces with batch capture deck lists and configurations
Jog and shuttle support
Record allows user to generate time code settings
LightWave 3D®:
Established industry standard
World-class rendering
Fast, versatile Modeler
Powerful scripting language
Advanced character Animation tools
Particles
Explosions
Numeric entry (and math in input fields)
Unlimited points and polygons per object
Multiple cameras per scene
Unlimited images
Unlimited surfaces
Easy import of Illustrator® data
Aura Video Paint™:
Amazingly fast 16-bit paint engine
Paint over live video
Four-point pixel tracking
Color isolation
3D compositing
Stroke recorder
Wide range of text controls
Instantly use a graphic’s alpha channel
Animate text along a path
Native DV support
AVI and QuickTime audio support
Apply Photoshop® filters to any animation
VT[4] Supported File Formats
Video Formats:
.avi
.dv
.rtv
.mpeg
.mpg
.mpe
.mpv
.m1v
.mp2*
.mpa
.mpv2
.mp2v
Graphic formats:
.jpg
.jpeg
.png
.tga
.tif
.gif
.bmp
.wbmp
.pcx
Audio Formats:
wav
.mp3
.au
.snd
.m3u
.aif
.aifc
.aiff
.wax
.dif
MPEG-2 support requires appropriate DirectShow player to be installed
System requests could still match actual Amiga PPC solutions with Altivec, but I think that new Pegasos III with dual G5 sure could help noteworthy boost any performance.
Recommended VT[4] System Configuration*
NewTek is providing free software upgrades for VT[5], when it ships, to all VT[4] purchases after February 1, 2006
Recommended VT[5] System Configuration*
Processor
Pentium 4 or Athlon XP processor that supports SSE2 (Dual CPU or dual dual-core systems are strongly recommended)
Interface
A free 66MHz PCI slot for the VT[5] card is recommended for best performance. (Additional slot needed for breakout cable)
DV Capture and Switching: any IEEE1394 Firewire card
Graphics Card
PCI Express or AGP-based graphics card
NVidia or ATI graphics chipset
Minimum 64MB onboard RAM, 128MB recommended
Full Open OpenGL and DirectX 9.0 support
Latest drivers from chipset manufacturer
Capable of 1280x1024 minimum screen resolution
System RAM
1 Gigabyte of system RAM.
Hard Drives
4x 10,00 RPM U160 or U320 SCSI drives, with the controller on a 64bit PCI bus (preferred); or 4x software-striped SATA drives
8 GB space for DVEs and content.
IDE or SATA system drive with 500Mb of free disk space
DVD Drive
Operating System
Windows® XP Professional (SP2)
Software
Windows® Media Player 9 or higher
Windows® Media Encoder 9 or higher for streaming
Drivers
DirectX 9.0c or higher
Latest graphics card drivers
For Hi Definition editing, dual CPUs or dual dual-core CPUs are suggested for the smoothest and fastest operation.
*NewTek recommends the optimal system configuration. Systems with slower processor and drive speed will work with VT[5], but some complex functions may not perform in real-time. To review the minimum specifications suitable to your production requirements visit www.newtek.com. Additionally, as new technology becomes available, system recommendations will be updated. Please refer to www.newtek.com for the latest information.
Note that Videotoaster still needs only a 66 MHz PCI slot, not 133 (or more) bus speed, and the card supports 3,3 or 5 voltage.
Prices are still nowadays competitive!
http://www.newtek.com/vt/pricing.php
Just spread the word. :-D
Some interested people with enough cash (DiscreetFX??? or others) could purchase one Videotoaster asking Newtek if they could realize drivers for new Amigas. ;-)
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Yes, I have had the opertunity to see the new VT4 in operation and all I can say is WOW :-o Newtek has really put alot of effort in this package Its just too bad its so exspencive. A compleat system will run you over $10,000US but is well worth it.
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Well, the Amiga doesn't even have a FireWire stack, so it wouldn't be just a matter of "making drivers". 8-) When it does and it catches up on couple of other things, and judging by the great support they have for Amiga users, who knows, it would probably be easy to convince them to port their stuff. That would indeed be awesome :-o There needs to be a userbase though.
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Jose wrote:
it would probably be easy to convince them to port their stuff. That would indeed be awesome :-o There needs to be a userbase though.
Gimme a working Videotosater 4 on Amiga, and I will pay to obtain being the reseller in Italy.
I could be capable to sell literally hundred of this systems into Local TV stations where the name AMIGA is still known and respected.
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I have read of similar stories about newtek in the past! And i agree totally with you and i read that they even repaired cards for people who bought it from a third person. This company deserves respect indeed!
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I wonder why none recently proposed them to create Amiga or MorphOS drivers for their VIDEOTOASTER II.
They are both just to slow for it to work properly. :-(
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Tomas wrote:
Raffaele wrote:
I wonder why none recently proposed them to create Amiga or MorphOS drivers for their VIDEOTOASTER II.
They are both just to slow for it to work properly. :-(
What are you talking of? TOO SLOW? :-o
Have you noticed that Videotoaster card still dialogue with the BUS at only 66 MHz of Speed?
Processor
Pentium 4 or Athlon XP processor that supports SSE2 (Dual CPU or dual dual-core systems are strongly recommended)
Interface
A free 66MHz PCI slot for the VT[5] card is recommended for best performance. (Additional slot needed for breakout cable)
DV Capture and Switching: any IEEE1394 Firewire card
66 MHz allows only a limited transfer rate, and sure both AmigaONE and Pegasos II could match it.
(Well, to be honest, I have some doubts about capabilities of Articia Chip on AONE)
At least, remember the fact that AmigaOS and MorphOS are very responsive, and do not consume resources so they will drive the card flawlessly and better than standard Windows.
Sure but it is needed software compatible with Amiga-like OSes.
I think that Pegasos II with PPC G4 at 1GHz with Altivec activated, plus a SATA PCI card for HHDs, and having Firewire port enabled, then it could preform the task of driving the Videotoaster 4 very well.
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no way without:
"Full Open OpenGL and DirectX 9.0 support"
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Another issue is there are not enough A-one users out there to suport making a VT for it, there are far more clasic amiga users and even that probably is not enough.
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I was more talking about the raw cpu capabilities. Yes, i know the amigaos is much more responsive, but this wont help much when it comes to pure cpu power. If the recommended requirements are anywhere near right, then both the g3 and g4 will be quite behind. And i also have some doubts about the capabilities of the chipset.
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Framiga wrote:
no way without:
"Full Open OpenGL and DirectX 9.0 support"
Wait, wait, wait. We need software for Amiga, not software for PC.
DirectX 9 is not necessary.
At least we need a good port of OpenGL, because then we will able to run same 2D/3d transitions of video wipes.
I hope that TinyGL and Mini-GL are worked on to improve more and more features upto catch mainstream OpenGL.
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Tomas wrote:
I was more talking about the raw cpu capabilities. Yes, i know the amigaos is much more responsive, but this wont help much when it comes to pure cpu power. If the recommended requirements are anywhere near right, then both the g3 and g4 will be quite behind. And i also have some doubts about the capabilities of the chipset.
Sure G3 it is no good at all because iot has no Altivec.
But altivec sure works as SSE instructions
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Sure G3 it is no good at all because iot has no Altivec.
A good DSP on the card (like High range Matrox or Pinnacle one's) can be the perfect solution to do all the tricks ;-)
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"At least we need a good port of OpenGL, because then we will able to run same 2D/3d transitions of video wipes."
Not true either the Video Toaster 4000 uses the AGA capabilities of the A4000 and was able to do 3D transitions just fine. I have even built my own 3D wipes on my Toaster Flyer.
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tonyvdb wrote:
"At least we need a good port of OpenGL, because then we will able to run same 2D/3d transitions of video wipes."
Not true either the Video Toaster 4000 uses the AGA capabilities of the A4000 and was able to do 3D transitions just fine. I have even built my own 3D wipes on my Toaster Flyer.
It is strange you wrote things like these.
Videotoaster 4000 it is not in any way hardware compatible with new AmigaPPC based on PCI BUS.
So even emulating Toaster4000 software on PPC Amigas it will not run or even crash.
Remapping Toaster 4000 software to run on new Videotoaster v.4 it could take more time than re-writing all the drivers and transition effects programs from scatch.
And then it will still be Motorola 68K compatible.
No, I think it is not way the effort.
We need new drivers and new software born from their first day to run on PPC Amigas, and the quickest method to implement video transitions effects programs is to use OpenGL, and activate compatibility with Altivec, so the software could use the Altivec circuit in PPC G4 which allows same capabilities of SSE2 instructiosn used in X86 world.
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Videotoaster 4000 it is not in any way hardware compatible with new AmigaPPC based on PCI BUS.
So even emulating Toaster4000 software on PPC Amigas it will not run or even crash.
True but as I said in a post earlyer there is no way Newtek would do this as there are not enough A1 users out there to suport such a move.
Remapping Toaster 4000 software to run on new Videotoaster v.4 it could take more time than re-writing all the drivers and transition effects programs from scatch.
Newtek would have to totaly redesign the hardware in order for it to work on an amiga (the card would be larger then the 4000 is) and it would most likely only work on the A4000 as the A1200 dosent have the space for a card of that size.
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Now that custom chips are once again the "up and coming thing" it would sure be nice if we could convince NewTek to try and get rights to the AmigaOS. They might even build something like a real Amiga, unlike the PPC boxen we have now.
I really doubt the absurd claims that the G3 and G4 aren't up to the task. Remember: the wintel VT boards were first offered for 500MHz x86 chips.
Anyway, NewTek's great support is exactly why i know people who stayed with the Video Toaster even after they added Wintel clones and Macs to their stable of video gear. They kept their Amiga VT stuff, because when you need something to work glitch-free, it's there. You can count on the Amiga VT. But they got the wintel VT stuff for the new bells and whistles and for NewTek's professional support.
That support is exactly why they bought 2 more wintel VT units. Support costs money, but it brings returns in customer loyalty and repeat business.
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"NewTek's great support is exactly why i know people who stayed with the Video Toaster even after they added Wintel clones and Macs to their stable of video gear. They kept their Amiga VT stuff, because when you need something to work glitch-free, it's there. You can count on the Amiga VT."
Exactly!
I dont know how many of you have had the opertunity to use the Video Toaster Flyer as I do but I can vouch that there is no editing system availavble for any platform that can perform as well as the Video Toaster. It truly amazes me how much you can do with the Amiga 4000 and the VT Flyer. I have no reason to "upgrade" to a PC baced system because it runs so well. The only thing I wish Newtek would have incorperated better is a nicer interface for a "true" timeline editing screen. There are some 3rd party programs that integrat into the Flyer but they dont work that well or look that nice as the VT4.
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They are right here in San Antonio and I have not once stopped by to take a look at the place.. I should do that..for nostalgia's sake..take pics etc..