MonkeyMagic

After about 2 months of trying to fix my Vectrex I can say it is the hardest thing I've ever tried to do. I'm pretty much giving up as you need to have a high level of certain skills to fix it and a lot of time / patience. None of which I do not have

Unless some one has an easy way to remove the logic board that is But I'm guessing no.

Ok, update on this. Today I'm admitting defeat I could not get the bottom logic board out, it was attached to the power button at the front by 3 solder points that I could not really get to. I tried to dissemble the power button, but that just lead to more problems. So not been able to get the logic board out, it was pretty much impossible to desolder the IC's I needed to. It's been a very frustrating and annoying project, one that I've simply had enough of. I'm afraid this Vectrex is not going to be saved

When you were un-soldering the components did you only do it from the solder side? I'm finding it very difficult to get all the solder out just doing it on that side, however I don't want to do it on the other side and cause lasting damage! I'm also guessing you completely removed the boards before working on them?,

Awesome news on your Vectrex mate!!! I have not had much time to spend on mine yet. However I did manage to replace all the socket-ed IC's on the logic board with new ones, this did not fix it. So next task is to start replacing the ones that are soldered in place. When you were repairing yours, did you try re-fitting the actual sockets for the IC's on the logic board? Or did you do nothing to your logic board and just work on the power board?

That 6522 Chip you mentioned, that a logic board chip or a power board chip? cant find it on the schematics :-/

Awesome cheers man, found one. Will get one of those, then just need to find replacements for the other IC's CAP KIT ordered, hopefully this is all I will need.

I think I need to replace the DAC as well. When reading through what you posted he said he used the correct: MC1408CP 8 bit DAC However all I can find on Ebay is this - MC1408-8N 8 BIT DAC eBay Auction -- Item Number: 280709693727 Do you think that will be ok or does it need to be exactly the same?

Cheers for the voltage response, mine is also just under half a volt now I have double checked. Defiantly seems like I'm getting correct power at every place I need, just need to track down the little bugger that's messing with my logic board signal. Let me know how it goes once you have installed the LM379S. Where did you order the part from?

UPDATE# Does anyone know what voltage should be coming out from the X,Y,Z - I tested them earlier and X = 9v - Z = 9v - however Z = 0.5V. Is the Z supposed to output a lower voltage?? Tried reading the service manual but it does not say what the desired output should be from these connectors.

I read in the trouble shooting guide that a faulty IC401 can cause no vector / white dot. This could be the problem. However what you have said has pretty much confirmed for me that it is my logic board that is the issue, as my dot jumps around when I unplug the X.Y.Z cable. Don't suppose anyone knows where I can get replacement chips? I'm going to try re-cap and re-chip the logic board.

@iesposta - Yeah well I'm not 100% sure, I noticed it on the big caps, but this is on one of the smaller ones and it seems to have dripped and covered another component next to it. Also on a side not, if you unplug the 3 pin connector for the X,Y,Z and turn it on, what happens to your dot? Does it move to the dead center of the screen? Or does it stay where it is? @boxpressed - Yeah I tried that already unfortunately, I believe that is only a fix if the DOT is in the center of the screen. I tested the boards power connections. It seems that the board is getting enough power and power is making it around the logic board. So this makes me think that it is a signal problem and that it is not making it to the screen for some reason.

@iesposta - Good working tracking down the problem. When you did the cap kit, did you notice any orange glue like substance on any of the power board caps? I have just noticed that one Cap on the power board seems to have some orange substance on it, dripping down onto the power board, its solid now, but I'm wondering if the CAP has leaked or if that is meant to be there? I reseated all the chips today, that didn't improve anything. I'm not sure if its worth re-flowing the solder because it all looks to be in very good condition, is it worth doing it anyway? Cheers guys.

@Ataritard - Did you just remove them, clean the ports + chip then reseat? Also did you remove the bottom board to do this or just leave it in place? I did manage to get the two near the back of the unit out and cleaned, but there are two larger ones a little deeper I cannot currently get to. Did you do those ones also? @iesposta - I'm going to get a oscilloscope, from what I've read most people seem to track down the problem much faster by using one. Cheers for advice so far guys.

Hey guys, I'm new to the forums, saw few people talking about Vectrex stuff and I need a little help :-/ I bought a vectrex recently, came boxed, got 6 games with it as well all boxed with overlays. I was over the moon, until I turned it on. When I turn it on, sound comes out and I can hear the game playing in the background. However the screen has a tiny white dot on the bottom left part of the screen. If I unplug the X,Y,Z cable on the logic board the DOT will move to the centre of the screen. Makes me think its an issue with the logic board and the X,Y not getting enough power? Anyway I have cleaned all the inside, cleaned the front two IC's cannot really get to the others with removing the whole logic board, which will be my next step. Anyone got any thoughts on what the issue might be? I have had a look at the solder joints to all the power leads and they look in top notch order, is it worth re-soldering these regardless? Really appreciate any comments or thoughts you guys have.