Vectrex: weird behavior w/ 3D Glasses & VecVox

[jasonbar]

Howdy-

 

 

I have 2 Vectrexes:

 

#1 - nice case, nice monitor, nice text, buzz-quieting fix, poor VecVox & 3D performance

 

#2 - beat case, wiggly vectors, slightly slanted text, buzzy, excellent VecVox & 3D performance

 

 

I've had #1 for quite a while & done some work on it. Just got #2 on craigslist on Thursday.

 

The VecVox & aftermarket Madtronix 3D glasses (not the original Vectrex model) use controller port 2. There seems to be some synching problem with Vectrex #1, which manifests as the VecVox voices being quite unintelligible & only 3D Minestorm working (3D Crazy Coaster & 3D Narrow Escape don't run--they use a wheel different from 3D Minestorm's, by the way). These items all work fine on Vectrex #2.

 

 

On Vectrex #1, I've recently swapped all of the capacitors that lead to the controller ports, & I also swapped the AY-3-8912 sound & I/O chip (to fix a phantom stuck button problem).

 

 

I'd really like to get these items working on Vetrex #1 & then I can sell/trade Vectrex #2.

 

 

Any ideas on how to tackle this fix? The only thought I had was to swap all socketed chips, but that's really grasping at straws. I've already reflowed the solder on every single darn joint on Vectrex #1 (to chase down a monitor horizontal sync issue).

 

 

Thanks,

-Jason

[jasonbar]

Fixed!

 

Swapped the AY-3-8912 Sound & I/O chip.

 

Oddly, the brand new one that I got in January was not working properly, but the original one from the other Vectrex was working fine. Wonder if the chip design changed in the last 20+ years...?

 

-Jason