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Retronics Amiga 1200 Dust Cover

October 28th, 2024 No comments

Dust cover for Amiga 1200 computer, made of high quality material, around 1 mm of thickness, not totally rigid, with small flexibility for protecting against damage (break etc.), but it is not flimsy! It protects console against dust, splash, UV radiation etc.

source: retronics.eu

Saba Videoplay (Fairchild Channel F) Restoration and Composite Video

September 5th, 2024 No comments
Saba Videoplay (Fairchild Channel F)

First of all i have to thank Ralf Schmitz for this gift. (Grazie Ralf).

Short description taken directly from Wikipedia of the Saba Videoplay console (Fairchild Channel F):

The Fairchild Channel F, short for “Channel Fun”, is a video game console, the first to be based on a microprocessor and to use ROM cartridges (branded ‘Videocarts’) instead of having games built-in. It was released by Fairchild Camera and Instrument in November 1976 across North America at a retail price of US$169.95 (equivalent to $910 in 2023)

The console come in a fair state of preservation but still had the following problems:

  • Broken reset button.
  • Both joysticks did not work properly.
  • A small part of the corner of the PCB of the power switch side was broken.
  • Rough repair with adhesive tape of the cable of both joysticks.

The repair was quite simple but boring, fixing the joystick cable was not exactly fun, i had to cut the cable because one or more wires inside are broken, i also had to invent a cable gland for a missing joystick and drill a cable gland with the broken cable right inside to then insert the cutted cable and solder the wires inside the joystick. (see photo)

The reset button was enough to glue it. (see photo)

I polished the console case that had the classic matte and dry black color of 70s plastics with linseed oil, a little is enough on a makeup remover PAD or a cotton rag, the result is amazing.

For completeness i also installed the e5frog composite video modification that works well, i only had to bring an auxiliary ground (although the ground of the negative power supply is already connected) from the PCB to the metal body (see photo) because it gave me video noise, now it’s perfect.

Below the photo gallery:

Restoration Grillo parlante Più (Super Speak & Spell)

June 24th, 2024 No comments
Restoration Grillo parlante Più (Super Speak & Spell)

I purchased the Texas Instruments Grillo Parlante Più (Super Speak & Spell) for a few euros and fully aware that the contact plates for the batteries due to an acid leak has been destroyed (see photo).

After testing it if actually still worked, i did a good cleaning of the battery compartment, body and display.

I replaced the contact plates for the batteries with similar ones recovered from an old dead and defunct cassette recorder.

The final result is perfect, it looks like the original, even better because i put the battery negative spring in the correct side, the original has the springs all on one side, both for the positive and negative of the battery.

Gallery of work done:

Video:

Sega SC-3000 (Boxed)

April 25th, 2024 No comments
Sega SC-3000 (Boxed)

First of all, i thank my friend who gave me his Sega SC-3000 found in the attic.

After a thorough cleaning of the cartridge connector, keyboard contacts and general cleaning of the internal/external case, the computer started working perfectly again.

Gallery:

i miss the old days

September 9th, 2023 1 comment

I have nothing else to say except that i miss the old days. :’(

Monitor TVM-10 APF Electronics, Inc.

August 12th, 2023 No comments
Monitor TVM-10 APF Electronics, Inc.

First of all, i thank my friend Gerben for giving me the monitor.

This is a Black and White monitor but for some reason a thin transparent film has been applied to the front of the cinescope to simulate the tonality of an amber cathode ray tube, furthermore the APF logo placed on the front of the monitor to the right of the power light is masked.

The TVM-10 APF Monitor is approximately 43 years old and was used with the Computer APF Imagination Machine I/II.

The Monitor had several functioning problems, below is the description of the work that has been done.

  • Removing the colored film.
  • Replacement of all electrolytic capacitors.
  • Replacement of a ceramic capacitor.
  • Horizontal synchronism calibration (H-HOLD) by delicately removing the wax that was melted inside the variable inductor.
  • Installation of a 1uf polyester capacitor in parallel with the 1.5uf one present for width adjustment horizontal (H-WIDTH) of the image, unfortunately the ferrite core inserted into the variable inductor for manual adjustment is blocked, probably with glue, forcing is not a good idea.
  • Check of the Diodes.
  • Calibration using the trimmer placed on the front of the PCB of the monitor for the power supply voltage which must be 12v.
  • Geometry adjustment.
  • General cleaning.

Only one geometry problem remains; the image on the top left side of the CRT tends to bend slightly for about 1cm and the left side of the image is slighty rounded, problem surely attributable to some polyester capacitor or resistance that has lost the capacity/value of the time.

Needless to say i checked almost all the polyester capacitors and resistors in the horizontal section and didn’t find nothing scandalous.

The photo gallery contains all the photos i made during the repair, i take this opportunity to thank a user of the plcforum who gave me tips on how to proceed with the repair.

Gallery of the repair:

Brazilian Odyssey 2 (Philips Videopac+ G7400) Cartridges

November 3rd, 2022 No comments
Brazilian Odyssey 2 (G7400) Cartridges

Brazilian Odyssey 2 (Philips Videopac+ G7400) Games:

  • 06 AV 9448 Serpente do Poder! Translation: “Power Snake!”
  • 06 AV 9475 Comando Noturno! Translation: “Night Commando!”

source: the-nextlevel.com/odyssey2/faq/brazil/

Sega Megadrive Mini 2

October 30th, 2022 No comments
Sega Megadrive Mini 2

Some time has passed since the last and useless purchase and like the previous ones there is little to say all the “mini” are practically identical, change the external box, the menu and some chips inside that for the occasion are the latest version (more or less).

I used a very lame HDMI to Composite Video converter to try it with a CRT monitor.

Gallery:

December 4th, 2021 Comments off

July 31st, 2021 1 comment

April 7th, 2021 Comments off

2 x Atari Lynx II Repair and Recap

March 21st, 2021 No comments
2 x Atari Lynx II Repair and Recap

2 x Atari Lynx II Repair and Recap.

The first Atari Lynx II did not turn on but when powering the console at 5v bypassing the power stage it worked properly.

I had to replace all the electrolytic capacitors and the critical components of the power stage.

  • 1 x MOSFET MTDJ055E with a equivalent one.
  • 2 x Transistor 2N3906.
  • 1 x Zener Diode 1N5991B.
  • 1 x 120 Ohm resistor.

The second Atari Lynx II working correctly so consequently i have only replaced the electrolytic capacitors.

Gallery of the repair:

February 27th, 2021 Comments off

February 27th, 2021 Comments off

February 27th, 2021 Comments off