Mailist to discuss all issues regarding the Digitech GSP-2101 Guitar FX Processor

Greetings all - 

After many years of passively letting all of my gear and guitars 
collect dust in my basement, I am starting to go thru and set up all 
my equipment and start doing some long overdue maintenance on all of 
my gear and start using it for performing live again after a long 
break.

I started taking the approach that I needed to replace my 2101 with 
either a new rack pre-amp (i was looking at mesa and rocktron 
equipment, it seems to be the most praised and popular right now), or 
replacing my preamp poweramp combo with a amp head like a dual 
rectifier (I have a mesa simul 2:90 power amp). But, quite frankly 
was suprised at the number folks who are still using the 2101, and 
how much information there was out on the internet, and the active 
groups discussing the 2101!! (I figured that it was to old and out-
dated piece of equipment that no one used anymore).

So I started thinking to myself that I should look into upgrading the 
software and/or hardware in my 2101, and seriously starting to learn 
how to program the thing and see if can get some more practical use 
of it. 

Here is my first step in this whole process:

I am going to upgrade my hardware and software from the current 
version runnning  V1.01.01 @ 10Mhz to V3.00.00.a @ 20Mhz - I have 
purchased the components from Dieter (from what I have read online, 
he is the bonified GSP2101 expert/guru of the world!) to perform this 
upgrade.

After I make this upgrade - I will look into possibly upgrading with 
PPC210 board (barring that I can find one, but it appears that they 
pop up now and again on eBay).

I am also interested in getting and utilizing someting like the 
MIDIWizard software to enable me to interface a PC with my 2101 to 
upload/download/dump/edit patches and algorithms, along with getting 
some patches available from other 2101 users that I can try out and 
experiment with.

Other thngs that I am intrested in hearing from other users:

Suggestions for tubes - the main jist I think you get from this is 
just try different ones until you like what you hear.

How does the MIDIWizard software work with the 2101 and where can I 
get this and try it out? Do I have to be upgraded to the 'Artist' 
version to use this? Do I need to add a special interface card on the 
computer that I going to use with this?

What About the battery? I have the original battery in my 2101 from 
over 13 years ago, common sense tells me to replace this. What 
happens when you remove the battery and/or the battery goes dead?

Anyone who has any words of wisdom/advice/comments/suggestions for me 
would be greatly appriciated!!

Thanks for reading my short novel!!

-Paul