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Re: Uh Oh.Electron inbound
Posted: 01 Dec 2023 11:55
by rubber_jonnie
Well, on the basis that the build of Hoglets ULA replacement is off at least for now, I found this on ebay:
PXL_20231201_114521847.jpg
A complete, supposedly working Electron with the internal PSU included. Sat on my bench ATM waiting to warm up after arriving freezing cold.
It'll go in my 2nd rather beaten up Electron.
Re: Uh Oh.Electron inbound
Posted: 01 Dec 2023 12:01
by HigashiJun
Yay, another Acorn !
:D
Re: Uh Oh.Electron inbound
Posted: 01 Dec 2023 12:21
by stephen_usher
Good luck! :-)
Re: Uh Oh.Electron inbound
Posted: 01 Dec 2023 13:30
by rubber_jonnie
Well after a period of waiting, I powered it up and got s black screen, which doesn't bode well, so since the voltages are good at the input to the mainboard I'll have to pull out my good one and see if it just wants a keyboard or if it is composite out that's bad.
Need a speaker too, see if it bleeps on power up.
Re: Uh Oh.Electron inbound
Posted: 01 Dec 2023 13:31
by rubber_jonnie
HigashiJun wrote: 01 Dec 2023 12:01
Yay, another Acorn !
:D
You can't have too many :)
Re: Uh Oh.Electron inbound
Posted: 01 Dec 2023 13:33
by stephen_usher
rubber_jonnie wrote: 01 Dec 2023 13:30
Well after a period of waiting, I powered it up and got s black screen, which doesn't bode well, so since the voltages are good at the input to the mainboard I'll have to pull out my good one and see if it just wants a keyboard or if it is composite out that's bad.
Need a speaker too, see if it bleeps on power up.
Oh dear. I hope it's one of those, "Well it was working when I sent it." eBay purchases.
Re: Uh Oh.Electron inbound
Posted: 01 Dec 2023 13:45
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 01 Dec 2023 13:33
rubber_jonnie wrote: 01 Dec 2023 13:30
Well after a period of waiting, I powered it up and got s black screen, which doesn't bode well, so since the voltages are good at the input to the mainboard I'll have to pull out my good one and see if it just wants a keyboard or if it is composite out that's bad.
Need a speaker too, see if it bleeps on power up.
Oh dear. I hope it's one of those, "Well it was working when I sent it." eBay purchases.
We'll see, I really hope it does. It has one of the beautiful ceramic ULS though, very nice to look at.
I guess I can do the usual stuff and check power, clocks, address and data lines, test the output via UHF/RGB etc and in the meantime ping the seller.
Re: Uh Oh.Electron inbound
Posted: 01 Dec 2023 14:47
by PhilC
I think you need a keyboard connected for an Electron to boot, so connect that if you’ve not already
Re: Uh Oh.Electron inbound
Posted: 01 Dec 2023 15:14
by rubber_jonnie
And happy days :)
PXL_20231201_143402591.jpg
It just needed a keyboard hooking up and it boots up just fine :)
The keyboard is very much in need of some TLC, as the ribbon is on a path to self destruction. As it goes, there are on 2 keys not working, Z and E.
X and Return were both problematic, but a burst of key clicking did the trick and they started working again :)
So, it looks like with a bit of work, Electron 2 will live :)
If at any point in the future the IC I need for Hoglets ULA replacement become available, then I will definitely build one, but for now this will do.
Little refurb definitely required, and I may try a bit of retrobriting on this one as stuff is super yellow, but it should turn out nice.
Re: Uh Oh.Electron inbound
Posted: 01 Dec 2023 15:14
by rubber_jonnie
PhilC wrote: 01 Dec 2023 14:47
I think you need a keyboard connected for an Electron to boot, so connect that if you’ve not already
Lol, yes I remembered, see my post after yours :)