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The G7000 is here and it's HUGE!!!

Blogs & guides and tales of woo by forum members.
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HigashiJun
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Re: The G7000 is here and it's HUGE!!!

Post by HigashiJun »

Nice !
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: The G7000 is here and it's HUGE!!!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

HigashiJun wrote: Wed Aug 05, 2026 6:14 amNice !
Yeah, it was a nice way to finish the day, at least I know the hardware works at a basic level and I probably just need to do some basic maintenance and then add a simple single transistor composite mod.
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: The G7000 is here and it's HUGE!!!

Post by stephen_usher »

With a lot of systems the load on the output from the capacitor mod is just too much for the drive circuitry. I wonder if this is the issue.
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: The G7000 is here and it's HUGE!!!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Wed Aug 05, 2026 12:35 pm With a lot of systems the load on the output from the capacitor mod is just too much for the drive circuitry. I wonder if this is the issue.
The mod is the simplest single transistor mod, there is no cap involved, it seems to be an issue elsewhere.

Not sure where just yet though. Trouble is I'm in the office today so can't look at it just now.
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: The G7000 is here and it's HUGE!!!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

OK, so I think I may have this fixed.

Prodding around IC 668 tonight where the scope probes had sort of made it work, and I got it to go to PAL. I figured I'd reflow IC 668 and since then it seems to have been fine.

More testing to do, but looking positive. Pics to follow.

The original soldering was particularly nasty, and is so across the majority of the board.
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: The G7000 is here and it's HUGE!!!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

OK, so good news, it looks like the reflow of IC668 on the G7000 has fully fixed the video output :) This has been running all morning.

Here we are in PAL composite:

PXL_20260813_082931939.jpg
PXL_20260813_082931939.jpg (293.99 KiB) Viewed 32 times

And via my UHF to HDMI adapter:

PXL_20260813_082904892.jpg
PXL_20260813_082904892.jpg (308 KiB) Viewed 32 times

Which is this fella from AliExpress:

PXL_20260813_094516610.jpg
PXL_20260813_094516610.jpg (321.29 KiB) Viewed 32 times

It's very handy and at just £15 is a nice easy way to test stuff that arrives with UHF only.

Once its all back together and comp modded, I can test the Joysticks and I will get back to the Enterprise 64.
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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HigashiJun
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Re: The G7000 is here and it's HUGE!!!

Post by HigashiJun »

Nice progress !

Had this one too when I was a kid, with only 2 cartridges: Satellite Attack and IIRC, Cosmic Conflict.

Swapped it for something else...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: The G7000 is here and it's HUGE!!!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

HigashiJun wrote: Thu Aug 13, 2026 11:15 am Nice progress !

Had this one too when I was a kid, with only 2 cartridges: Satellite Attack and IIRC, Cosmic Conflict.

Swapped it for something else...
All I have is one cart, Munchkin, but I'd like to try some others such as Pickaxe Pete, though it seems expensive. If there is an SD solution I will see about building one.

It is a nice boxed set too :)

I have to say that build quality is pretty low for the PCB and it has a phenolic PCB marking it as an early model.

Pretty poor that a solder joint was all that was wrong with it.
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: The G7000 is here and it's HUGE!!!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

OK, so nearly there. Small veroboard composite mod with sound is done and installed:

PXL_20260813_121926918.jpg
PXL_20260813_121926918.jpg (305.46 KiB) Viewed 20 times

I've reused the original UHF cable hole and strain relief (Plus a cable tie for extra security), so no case mods and fully reversible. The original (Very long) mudulator cable is tucked inside the case:

PXL_20260813_121955703.jpg
PXL_20260813_121955703.jpg (367.95 KiB) Viewed 20 times

And all is running great, so time to test the joysticks and then chuck the bottom of the case back on.

Fingers crossed it's done :)
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: The G7000 is here and it's HUGE!!!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

And - it's finished!!!


:girldance: :girldance: :girldance:


All back together and both joysticks work perfectly. The throw is a little long but they are decent for the time.

PXL_20260813_124117018.jpg
PXL_20260813_124117018.jpg (319.28 KiB) Viewed 11 times

Also the game - Mucnhkin. It's a surprisingly good Pacman clone with lots of game variations, such as walls that vanish when you move and reappear when you stop, plus ever changing mazes and mazes that change each time and a maze builder.

Seems to be better than the 2600 for the time ('78') but was only really successful in Europe. Oddly I don't recall seeing 2600's in the stores here, though I do recall seeing the Videopac.

Pretty pleased with it :)
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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