Stuff and Things.

[rubber_jonnie]

Some general repairs to the Dolch LPAC-486 today after the FDD decided to fail on me. Here it is all naked like:

IMG20250928172239.jpg

I've been using it with the MQP Programmer I got from @exxos and needed to get the software off for a little experiment, but sadly all the drive did was make a buzzing noise and did nothing.

It turned out that the drive was non-standard too and used a 26 pin FFC to connect to an internal adapter. Bugger I thought as I realised that even if I did bin that adapter, since it was a attached to a normal floppy cable, none of the spare FDDs I had would actually fit as the drive appears to be a laptop/server drive so half the height of a 3.5" drive leaving me with no option but to fit something similar.

Then I remembered some server FDDs I'd raided ages ago and stuffed into a drawer and one of them worked a treat!!!

So, all back together and I was able to copy off the MQP software and move it over to - my Book8088 :)

Here it is all hooked up and just having read a 27C256 as a test:

IMG20250928180833.jpg

And the software runs just great especially with the Book8088 in Turbo mode:

IMG20250928180842.jpg

The main reason for doing this was simply the size of the Dolch. While it's portable, it does require a lot of space, even more with the MQP 170 hooked up, so using the Book8088 means a very small footprint, plus it can be run off the battery so doesn't need an external PSU.

Very happy with the results.

[HigashiJun]

Hmm, a naked Dolch...

:lol:

[rubber_jonnie]

Ooops I did it again...

Another waif and stray I fell into by accident:

Screenshot 2025-10-04 at 16.45.41.png

Screenshot 2025-10-04 at 16.48.00.png

It's a re-cased ZX81 that looks to have the same keyboard as the ZX81 I disposed of back in the day before I realised I was going to collect this stuff...

Also comes with a 16K RAM pack which I will likely repurpose for the ZX80 whenever I get it working...

Seems to be missing the 7805, but it could be underneath the PCB and connected to the metal case for better thermals. Also, it's an issue one :)

More on this when it arrives.

[HigashiJun]

Another waif and stray I fell into by accident:

:lol:

The kind of accident happening to a lot of members on this forum...

[rubber_jonnie]

Another waif and stray I fell into by accident:

:lol:

The kind of accident happening to a lot of members on this forum...

Indeed it does...

:dizzy:

[stephen_usher]

Most ZX81s are Issue One boards. :-)

[rubber_jonnie]

Most ZX81s are Issue One boards. :-)

My other one is too.

[rubber_jonnie]

Well I'm nearly in France again 😁

We should land in another hour or so, then we've got about 3 1/2 hours in the car before we arrive, which is likely to be about 0100 on Sunday morning.

Will be about on the forum but not doing a lot other than eating drinking and being merry for my birthday 😁

[HigashiJun]

Will be about on the forum but not doing a lot other than eating drinking and being merry for my birthday 😁

:yay2: :cheer: JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE ! :cheer: :yay2:

[rubber_jonnie]

Will be about on the forum but not doing a lot other than eating drinking and being merry for my birthday 😁

:yay2: :cheer: JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE ! :cheer: :yay2:

Merci beaucoup :)