stardot.org.uk

Channel 4 on either Saturday or Sunday mornings (forget which, may have been both) transmitted Elk/BBC, ZX Spectrum and maybe programs for other machines on the audio channel. I was successful in recording some for my ZX Spectrum including a game from Ocean called Pud Pud (but not the final version ...

The two fire buttons actually go to the Beeb's internal 6522 VIA chip, so are separate to the actual analogue channels. So ADVAL(0) only tells you about the fire buttons. As Tricky says, the four analogue channels are in two groups. One group of two for one joystick and another group of two for the ...

Well, in Derby quite a lot of the buttons don't seem to work properly. You have to press them several times before they light up. Yeah, but you don't press the button again after the system has acknowledged your input (or do you?). But some people keep pressing the button until the traffic lights c...

In real world logic systems where micro-controllers and micro-processors are not involved, both parallel unsynchronised, sequential logic and synchronised logic is used. And of course, 8/16/32 bit micro-controllers and micro-processors can do sequential logic and parallel logic (within limits). They...

Mark

Elminster wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 20, 2018 7:44 pm

That is okay I found a cheap seller of holes on eBay

Polomints?

Mark

No, no, no, no!
It's actual purpose is so you can enjoy the longer time for the program to load

Mark

Duncan, all joking aside, good luck with the various projects.

If everything works out, are you intending on posting up your BOMs?

Mark

Elminster wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 20, 2018 10:15 am

Nearly finished putting together parts order list for v7.7. 2 questions, all to do with holes.

What do I need to order for:

Fiducials:Fiducial_0.5mm_Dia_1mm_Outer

Tipex?

Yeah, except having a 'custom' chip did not stop all clones. For example, there were unlicensed clones of the ZX81 and of the ZX Spectrum. The most widely available clone of the ZX81 had it's own ULA that included features beyond that of a real ZX81! Of course, as laws changed and original manufactu...

One for Acorn System enthusiasts: a large quantity of Vero Eurocard racking, collection only from Devon: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vero-Eurocard-racking-and-enclosures-for-electronic-equipment-and-PCBs/153103738578 I'd be bidding if it weren't so far away... Well, being a bit nearer, I'm taking a ...

I've always thought that the TV uses the centre of the pulse. No. In most analogue CRT TVs, the synchronisation pulses are used to synchronise two free running 'oscillators', one for the horizontal defection system and one for the vertical defection. Note that each 'oscillator' is actually a curren...

I get the impression that old chips that are no longer in production, but for which there is some demand, attract the interest of unscrupulous recycling companies. Due to the low cost of labour in parts of the Far East, we already know that they are good at "pulling" used chips (either from sockets,...

Dave has hit the nail on the head. Please disregard the over simplified 'digital' is better perception that gets pushed by marketing people and others who jump on bandwagons. All LCDs are digital. It does not matter if the signal is analogue or digital, conveying information electronically always ha...

If you want to discuss copyright, please find a more suitable thread, or start a new one.

Mark

IIRC some of those you mention are alternative positions for SMD parts. If you look at the schematic, these resistors are in parallel pairs. They are all optional so IIRC, no need to fit them unless you experience problems. The resistor for the LED (R1 or R2, but not both) depends on which colour an...

Removing the resistor is easier, just put a soldering iron bit (a 3mm to 5mm chisel bit) nearly touching one side of the resistor, apply solder between the tip and each pad of the resistor, then use the iron to "flick" the resistor off the board... if needed, clean up any solder. Then clean the boar...

When using the RTC chips from Maxim, this is my general advice: The datasheet from Maxim is clear in showing how to connect a primary cell/battery (non-rechargeable). The positive connection of the cell/battery should only be connected to the chip pin identified as V BAT . There should be no other c...

Information on the ROM and the ROM socket inside the Plus 1 here.

Mark

It's possible to use a 74LS138 (or a 74HCT138) in place of the 74LS42 in position IC4, but the pin-outs are different.

Mark

Yes you can connect multiple devices on the 1MHz bus. Each device must use a different address (or address range if more than one address required per device). Only the last device should have line terminating resistors fitted. The length of the total length of ribbon cable between the 1MHz connecto...

I have seen I2C RTC modules on eBay based on these:

• PCF8563 I2C RTC link to datasheet
• DS1307 I2C RTC link to datasheet
• DS3231 I2C RTC link to datasheet

Mark

The RGB DIN connector is the same on both BBC B/BBC Master and Electron machines. However, the Electrons with earlier issue PCBs don't produce such a bright picture compared to the Beebs and the later Electron machines.

Mark

GadgetUK164 wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 15, 2018 8:23 pm

Do you happen to have the secondary side of that diagram? Just for future reference!

See the text in the post of mine that you quoted! I have not finished it yet.

Mark

Just to add to the confusion, the normal description in the U.K., is that for the normal dual pin IDC connectors, the PCB mounting part is the male plug. The connector that fits the male plugs, that attach to ribbon cable are line sockets. I am not sure that is right... Isn't a PCB box header a rec...

There's really only one type of cable connector; so it's just the type of socket on the BeebSCSI that can be varied. Sounds like you have a plan now though :) Just to add to the confusion, the normal description in the U.K., is that for the normal dual pin IDC connectors, the PCB mounting part is t...

i am a old men pc's are to moderne for me :) i can only work with paper , pencile and so on :shock: i even have plastic things with symbols #-o to draw :) Yeah, but I often work with paper and pen or pencil. It's only when I intend to publish or make a PCB board that I go to the effort of using a s...

Phill (Prime) is a regular here, so PM him. Alternatively he is on Facebook.

Mark

AFAIK, all 3 1 / 2 " drives use an optical sensor or microswitch to sense track zero. And I believe nearly all 5 1 / 4 " drives do the same. For most drives, there is however no sensor to detect the last track (40 or 80). So if the system is trying to step beyond track 41 to 42, or 81 to 85 (depends...

It's well worth while reading the Acorn Electron Expansion Application Note . Especially the bit about using ROMs. The Plus 1 ROM is ROM 12 (decimal). Note that the ROM socket on the Plus 1 PCB is not wired up so that a standard EPROM can be used. An alteration is needed if you want to fit a device ...