A Grand Day Out

[rubber_jonnie]

Just back after meeting up with @PhilC, and collected these lovely things from him 😁

PXL_20240204_142600112.jpg

.


Had a great chat about stuff too, very nice to meet a fellow forum member in person 😁

So has it spurred you on @JezC ?

[PhilC]

Nice to meet you too @rubber_jonnie .

P.S. @rubber_jonnie already had the air fryer and coffee machine.

[stephen_usher]

Looking Sharp with your C128. ;-)

[rubber_jonnie]

Nice to meet you too @rubber_jonnie .

P.S. @rubber_jonnie already had the air fryer and coffee machine.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[rubber_jonnie]

Looking Sharp with your C128. ;-)

Very smooth... :D

[rubber_jonnie]

Quick play with the MZ-700 and boom (Not literally) it boots lovely:

PXL_20240204_172528826.jpg

I have no idea what's next, so I tried typing 'LOAD' and it told me to press play, which I did with a tape in, but nothing happened...

Better go look for a manual :lol:

Nice modular machine though:

PXL_20240204_172830722.jpg

So top cover off revealing a slot for a printer and an internal/external selector switch, and the same for the cassette deck. I'll give the cassette deck a clean and once I know what I'm doing I'll try loading something again :)

Interesting machine and a super fast load time to the monitor, almost instantaneous. Interesting Z80 machine, I'm now wondering if it has a version of CP/M anywhere.

I do remember these from when I was younger, but the MZ80K with built in screen and chiclet keyboard was certainly more prevalent. Also quite expensive IIRC, so probably another reason why they didn't do brilliantly.

It'll get pulled apart in time for a clean, but in the meantime @PhilC I'm afraid the stickers are going! Perhaps there are RIFA's lurking too :lol:

The C128 is going to need a power supply sorting, so I'm working on that, and in the meantime I'll probably disassemble and clean in readiness for a run through with the diag kit when I have volts and amps :)

[JezC]

Had a great chat about stuff too, very nice to meet a fellow forum member in person 😁

So has it spurred you on @JezC ?

Nice haul @rubber_jonnie - but lots more work to build that one on the left into a working system methinks ;)

It's certainly increased my ambition to progress at least one of the systems (H4 works but needs the last few mods performing - RGB video brightness by lifting pins on the video DAC, HD Floppy mod, ACSI/DMA bodge board, fitting the cart port that I can remember while the H5 still has a problem with accessing the floppy).

I did start to check the connections on the H5 board: signals between the 1772 & its data buffer looked OK, will check the LS06 outputs and last few control signals on the 1772 but then I might just finish the H4 if it's still not revealed the issue.

Maybe I'll get time later tonight to finish checking the 1772 circuitry :D

[rubber_jonnie]

Had a great chat about stuff too, very nice to meet a fellow forum member in person 😁

So has it spurred you on @JezC ?

Nice haul @rubber_jonnie - but lots more work to build that one on the left into a working system methinks ;)

It's certainly increased my ambition to progress at least one of the systems (H4 works but needs the last few mods performing - RGB video brightness by lifting pins on the video DAC, HD Floppy mod, ACSI/DMA bodge board, fitting the cart port that I can remember while the H5 still has a problem with accessing the floppy).

I did start to check the connections on the H5 board: signals between the 1772 & its data buffer looked OK, will check the LS06 outputs and last few control signals on the 1772 but then I might just finish the H4 if it's still not revealed the issue.

Maybe I'll get time later tonight to finish checking the 1772 circuitry :D

Yes, the big purple, so named after it's Quality Street chocolaty counterpart (My favourite BTW) is going to be something I put away for a while. I may build it up at some point, but for now it's just a nice to have.

The C128 does need a bit of work, PSU needs sorting first, but I'm told it runs too, so probably going to be a long term resto and may some mods too :)

Good luck with your H4/5s, it's also reminded me that I have another H4 and an H5 to build, so I should get onto those at some point. I'll probably go for the H5 first as I already have a working H4.

[JezC]

Good luck with your H4/5s, it's also reminded me that I have another H4 and an H5 to build, so I should get onto those at some point. I'll probably go for the H5 first as I already have a working H4.

I actually have a second bare H4 board and a H5B1 to build...but wanted to get the first two working initially...

[rubber_jonnie]

Good luck with your H4/5s, it's also reminded me that I have another H4 and an H5 to build, so I should get onto those at some point. I'll probably go for the H5 first as I already have a working H4.

I actually have a second bare H4 board and a H5B1 to build...but wanted to get the first two working initially...

Well I wish you luck with both :)