General Stuff(tm)

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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

I'm just using the B*Blonde cream and cling film. As long as you agitate it every five minutes or so it's fine.

So far today's work on the Apricot FP case is going well. You can actually see the day-glow orange logo now! :-)


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IMG_2683.jpg (246.24 KiB) Viewed 1926 times

Actually, it's a lot better than this now.

A reminder of how Sun tanned it was originally...

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Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Still a slight hint of orange...

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Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

And the retrobrightening is complete. I had risk doing the keyboard without dismantling it. All fine.

Before:

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After:

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On the main case I only put peroxide cream on the locations which had yellowed, which shows that it has actually brought the colour back to the original and not over-lightened.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Oh, and new toy! :-)

Portable Owon 70MHz, 2 channel combined oscilloscope, multimeter and signal generator. For when a mains powered 'scope is too large or inappropriate. £170 via Amazon.

IMG_2687.jpg
IMG_2687.jpg (281.39 KiB) Viewed 1907 times
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Sat Apr 30, 2022 2:10 pm And the retrobrightening is complete. I had risk doing the keyboard without dismantling it. All fine.

On the main case I only put peroxide cream on the locations which had yellowed, which shows that it has actually brought the colour back to the original and not over-lightened.
I did ask on FB what method you used, but just saw this and question answered :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Sat Apr 30, 2022 2:29 pm Oh, and new toy! :-)

Portable Owon 70MHz, 2 channel combined oscilloscope, multimeter and signal generator. For when a mains powered 'scope is too large or inappropriate. £170 via Amazon.

IMG_2687.jpg
Neat, my 'scope is an Owon, very pleased with it.

Will the signal gen give you the frequency you need to test the C64, see if the crystal is bad?
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Sat Apr 30, 2022 5:33 pm Neat, my 'scope is an Owon, very pleased with it.

Will the signal gen give you the frequency you need to test the C64, see if the crystal is bad?
Possibly. I'll have to test the waveform using the other scope.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Sat Apr 30, 2022 6:19 pm
rubber_jonnie wrote: Sat Apr 30, 2022 5:33 pm Neat, my 'scope is an Owon, very pleased with it.

Will the signal gen give you the frequency you need to test the C64, see if the crystal is bad?
Possibly. I'll have to test the waveform using the other scope.
Sounds good to me :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
UnderTheRain
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by UnderTheRain »

stephen_usher wrote: Sat Apr 30, 2022 2:29 pm Oh, and new toy! :-)

Portable Owon 70MHz, 2 channel combined oscilloscope, multimeter and signal generator. For when a mains powered 'scope is too large or inappropriate. £170 via Amazon.


IMG_2687.jpg
We got the 40MHz one at work about 2 weeks ago took me 20 mins to figure out how to change the ranges lol nice bit of kit though.

Brian
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Hmm... The signal generator on the Owon 'scope is a bit pants anyway as it only produces by default positive/negative pulses centred on zero, +- 2.5V. The positive voltage only goes up to 2.5V maximum, so I tried changing the lower voltage to 0V, which works, but means that I can only ever get a 2.5V signal. It also seems to partly reset when the power goes off, such as if the power saving kicks in.

The interface is a bit iffy too as if you somehow accidentally change the lowest significant figures of a frequency, accidentally change range and the try to go back, it won't allow you to get down to the lowest values to change them to zero. Daft.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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