General Stuff(tm)

[stephen_usher]

Well, as suspected, the clock circuit is useless.

However, the rest (without the ROM) seems to be OK. At least it doesn't crash the OPD and OPD says that there's an invalid module, which means that it's detecting it and trying to read the ROM.

[stephen_usher]

Well, the board is complete other than the ROM and the floppy connector, which doesn't have the right space to fit with the chips in their sockets.

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The board is a bit on the tall side...

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Promisingly, the system sees the board and errors because the ROM doesn't have the correct header. I see the ROM /OE line go low a few times so it's definitely trying to read the ROM.

So, I think the first thing to do is try to hack together a working clock circuit. I can use one of the reference designs on-line.

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[stephen_usher]

Actually, I'll just buy a crystal oscillator and let someone else design and build the thing. Far simpler.

[stephen_usher]

This afternoon I cleared up the area where I'm going to have the bench I'll be bringing back from Cornwall later in the week, moving the Sun Blade 2000, Athlon PC and Mac IIci into storage as I have a rented van to take them in.

With the area free I was able to put some 12mm plywood on the wall of the outbuilding, fixed with three bolts at the top and "No More Nails" down the wall to fix it solidly to the plaster wall. This is strengthening for the... 19" rack. :-)

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Over Christmas I can install the network switch and telephony unit, allowing more machines to use the network and if the Synology can do it, LACP dual 1 Gb connection back to the house.

[stephen_usher]

Back down in Cornwall again, but this time with a van, so no retro-stuff for the next few days other than going through the stuff which had been left in the loft of my Dad's house.

Fancy a game of late 70s Computer Battleships anyone? ;-)

Or maybe Cross-Fire? (Fire ball bearings at a puck on a hardboard surface trying to push it into the other person's goal.)

OK, maybe not.

[rubber_jonnie]

Back down in Cornwall again, but this time with a van, so no retro-stuff for the next few days other than going through the stuff which had been left in the loft of my Dad's house.

Fancy a game of late 70s Computer Battleships anyone? ;-)

Or maybe Cross-Fire? (Fire ball bearings at a puck on a hardboard surface trying to push it into the other person's goal.)

OK, maybe not.

I remember having a ton of fun with Crossfire, one of my friends had it back in the day.

[stephen_usher]

Or maybe you'd like a nice game of chess?

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A 1980 vintage chess computer. It was the Christmas present to my Dad in 1980. It didn't work very well as it kept making illegal moves and/or crashing.

[PhilC]

I always wanted crossfire as a kid.

I’m amused at the chess computer, it’s so advanced it knows how to cheat :lol:

[stephen_usher]

Well, if you want one...

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:lol:

[stephen_usher]

I tried turning the chess computer on this evening. Unfortunately it's as dead as a dodo. No LED display, nothing. The wall wart PSU is giving out the correct voltage though.

I wonder what sort of processor it has inside. When I get it home I may open it up and take a look.

Otherwise it's been a little bit of an emotional day as some engineer friends came over and emptied the garage of all my Dad's tools, many of which we together fixed the cars in the 1970s and 80s.

Tomorrow I start in earnest to sort through the toys and putting the stuff of any value in stackable plastic containers ready for transport.