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sprazzi

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Posts posted by sprazzi

    Rolo

    in User Feedback Forum

    Posted

    I bought Rolo's multicart and the extension for the Arcadia 2001/hanimex.

    very good communication and exceptional product.

    Works Just out of the box.

    The packaging was sturdy and shipping was very Quick.

    And very cheap too!

    Five stars out of five and very recommended!!!

    VecFever

    in Vectrex

    Posted · Edited by sprazzi

    The VecFever would be nice for (...) the possibility of running true Vector games on Mame down the road,

    THomas told me that this feature at the moment is only experimental and implemented on just few peculiar boards only given to friends (the ones who show up on youtube).

     

    It is not present on current vecfever boards (mine, for example)

    VecFever

    in Vectrex

    Posted · Edited by sprazzi

    A Quick reply from my phone:

    It is correct.

    I tried the vecfever with my no-buzz unità (serial 31xxxx) and the bad Apple demo plays with no sound (but no stuttering ...?)

    With a buzzing vectrex It plays Just fine though....

    High score feature seems to work even with original game Roms...

    I.e. scramble even shows the original title logo graphics in the hi score screen.

    VecFever

    in Vectrex

    Posted · Edited by sprazzi

    I can say I've got reply some 60 days after my request, and Thomas told me there are still "some" vecfevers available - without shell.

     

    We are both located in Europe so the transaction and shipping went straight and smooth.

     

    Thomas is a very nice guy, but i guess also a very busy person...

     

    now the vecfever is in my hands and I can say it does all the things it's supposed to do!

     

    It's a pity that there are so few roms to put on it, though...

     

    I strongly encourage developers to make available their work in rom format! :)

    Look at my new controller - SIGMA Multi-Function 2100

    in Atari 2600

    Posted · Edited by sprazzi

    I've recently acquire the same joystick. It has been modified sometime in the past with a gameport 15 pin cable (for PC). It works.

     

    But: has anybody a picture (or sketch) to share please of he internals with a db9 cable as I can't work out how to reverse it back to db9 pins? (for use with atari 2600).

     

    Thank you. :thumbsup:

    Vectrex screen takes 5 minutes to come up

    in Vectrex

    Posted · Edited by sprazzi

    Of course, gentlemen, I'm more than happy to oblige!!!

    I just wanted to let few days pass to be sure everything was OK, this time for real.

     

    So... this is what I did:

    First of all I put a classified to find someone in my area able to fix my Vectrex slow to light up; I was very low on hope but I was more than lucky to find this man (who works more than 20 years in electronics in my town) who is proficient in electronics... and loves retro games! (He's into neo-geo by the way)

     

    So I ordered the cap kit from console 5 (shipping was expensive) and he managed to replace them all in less than 1 hour! (and made his research so he did know that he should have been generous with the solder on the Vectrex...just to say)

     

    post-37920-0-69875800-1524755973.jpg

     

    But then the vectrex was still 40 seconds late in coming up; I was happy with that, it was an improvement after all. But the next day it died on me...just sound, no more video. :(

     

    I returned the Vectrex to him: at this point he borrowed an oscilloscope (the only piece of machinery he don't have) and after 14 day of research (in his spare time) found out the power was cut at this diode here. Replaced it and voilà... now it works like a charm!!!

     

    post-37920-0-81205700-1524756010.jpg

     

     

    Its serial number is T000994A italian.

     

    post-37920-0-75731400-1524756027.jpg

     

    I'm no expert, but any question you may have I'll try my best to reply.

     

    Now if only I could get my hands on a Vecfever.... :) :)

     

    Cheers!

    • Like 3

    Vectrex screen takes 5 minutes to come up

    in Vectrex

    Posted

    THE VECTREX SAGA - THE FINAL!!!

     

    Sooooo... After borrowing an oscilloscope we found out that the diode was cutting the power in

     

    We ordered a spare replacement (about 10 euros) and now we have a fully functional vectrex!!!

     

    So happy about it, so grateful. Thank to you all and your support too!

     

    Cheers from happy me :)

    • Like 4

    Vectrex screen takes 5 minutes to come up

    in Vectrex

    Posted

    Yes i'm Sorry the actual name is console 5

    And Yes the shopping cost is as Much as the cost of the kit itself...

    But buying Them One by One was no choice for me....

    By the way... I just noticed Amazon sells kits of 200, 300 even 600 assorted capacitors for quite cheap...

     

    Does anyone know if there's one with all the caps included for the vectrex?

    Vectrex screen takes 5 minutes to come up

    in Vectrex

    Posted

    Did you order the cap kit form console5? Cant find a console9 shop. Need some cap kits for my 2 vectrexs, but shipping costs put me off. 27 dollar shipping is a lot for a little kit. Did find a supplier in Germany, but his cap kit costs 29 euro. Can order at console5 since i also need some c64 power savers, but those are out of stock at the moment.

    Yes i'm Sorry the actual name is console 5

    And Yes the shopping cost is as Much as the cost of the kit itself...

    But buying Them One by One was no choice for me....

    Vectrex screen takes 5 minutes to come up

    in Vectrex

    Posted

    THE SAGA CONTINUES....

    So after playing for a while the Vectrex just died on me. :-o

    The screen fainted in a second, and like shrinked towards the top right corner of the video, then disappeared completely.

    I can still play "blind minestorm" as I hear the sounds, but no more screen...

     

    Back to the technician and let's wait for what he has to say.

    I've still faith because I see the will to make the machine work again...

    Let's hope so.

     

    Thanks for your words, they are inspiring.

    I'll let you know if there are some news.

    Cheers

    Vectrex screen takes 5 minutes to come up

    in Vectrex

    Posted · Edited by sprazzi

    THE FINAL CHAPTER. :)

    So today morning the technician (a former Westinghouse employee) in Milan changed a diode on the power board (101 or 104 not sure).

     

    Anyway he thinks it may be the LM555 causing the delay; he didn't have a replacement on hand, but anyway he said it could very well go on for another 30 years...

     

    So at the end of the story (recapped and diode replaced) the startup delay finally has reduced to a 40ish seconds.

     

    Not as new but not bad... what do you think?

     

    The total cost has been the kit replacement (15 euros + 15 shipping and a beer or two to my friend) and 35 euros of TV technician manwork...

    Vectrex screen takes 5 minutes to come up

    in Vectrex

    Posted

    A little update on the matter.

    I ordered the caps kit from console9 and my friend (who is very knowledgeable) did replace all of them.

     

    By the way, he noticed that C411 was not present and C523 was not part of the kit, so didn't replace it.

     

    Still, unfortunately, the vectrex has still the same problem...

     

    There's "no light at the end of the tube", so to speak. I don't know how to put it in technical terms.

     

    Any ideas fellows?

    Thanks

    Vectrex screen takes 5 minutes to come up

    in Vectrex

    Posted

    Mine also had a 5 minute monitor switch on delay. If I turned it off then back on again, sometimes it would come up quick, sometimes slow. It was the power switch, it needs cleaning. Now I just leave it on all the time and unplug from the wall socket. I'll fix it properly one day...

    Thank you for your input.

    May I ask How did you clean the power switch?

    Vectrex screen takes 5 minutes to come up

    in Vectrex

    Posted

    I alway find tutorials about the "dot" appearing on the screen or how to calibrate the video... but for the life of me I cannot find one where they address the issue of a slow warm up.

     

    At start I can hear the music and sound but the sreen stays black, then after 5 minutes or so it plays just fine...

     

    I come up thinking of spraying some WD 40 into the power-volume knob... do you think it will work?

     

    Thanks a lot in advance knowledgable people of the Vectrex :)

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