General Stuff(tm)

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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

After a busy few days where I've not been able to do anything retro I finally got some time.

Thankfully the parcel from RS Components arrived, holding all the caps I need to finish the BBC Master power supply, which I should be able to do tomorrow, and a whole load of dual wipe sockets.

Seeing as I now had the sockets to spare this evening I desoldered the MMU and ROM on the 800XL and fitted sockets in case I want to buy a U1MB board. Not too difficult. Just the usual moo gun, hot air and some minor hole cleaning with a 0.8mm drill then resolder. All good and back together.
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: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 13 Jan 2026 22:00 After a busy few days where I've not been able to do anything retro I finally got some time.

Thankfully the parcel from RS Components arrived, holding all the caps I need to finish the BBC Master power supply, which I should be able to do tomorrow, and a whole load of dual wipe sockets.

Seeing as I now had the sockets to spare this evening I desoldered the MMU and ROM on the 800XL and fitted sockets in case I want to buy a U1MB board. Not too difficult. Just the usual moo gun, hot air and some minor hole cleaning with a 0.8mm drill then resolder. All good and back together.
Splendid, all ready to go :)
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: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

rubber_jonnie wrote: 13 Jan 2026 22:02 Splendid, all ready to go :)
Yeah... *IF* I buy one. :-)

Oh, and the BBC Micro rubber feet I ordered nearly a week ago and posted the next day... still not arrived in the post, so the BBC B+ 128K will have to wait for its new shoes.
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.
Top
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Well, that's the BBC Master's power supply recap finished. It\s on test at the moment but I don't see why there should be a problem.

I just have to wait for the B+'s feet to arrive and then they can go back into storage.
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.
Top
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

No Beeb feet today.
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.
Top
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 14 Jan 2026 15:02 No Beeb feet today.
How very annoying 🙁
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: General Stuff(tm)

Post by HigashiJun »

:(

Really annoying !

I'm also waiting for a small parcel from Germany and have to postpone my project.

Hope to have it today though.
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

And... the feet have arrived. I can put the two Beebs back into the loft now.
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.
Top
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rubber_jonnie
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Posts: 14888
Joined: 17 Aug 2017 19:40
Location: Essex

Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 15 Jan 2026 13:47 And... the feet have arrived. I can put the two Beebs back into the loft now.
Hurrah!!!
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...
Top
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stephen_usher
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Posts: 7376
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Well, that 800XL rabbit hole went a bit deeper.. I bought a U1MB and it came today...

I didn't want to drill holes in the PCB so found an STL file for a bracket which uses the original RF shield holes. I decided to keep the lower RF shield as that adds rigidity to the PCB and hence protects it.

This is how I originally routed the cables...

IMG_4892.jpeg

You can see the 3D printed bracket...

IMG_4893.jpeg

Although this worked the cables got pinched between the top of the IDC plugs and the keyboard, which wasn't healthy. Removing the strain relief hoops from the tops of the IDC plugs allowed a more natural cable placement and a lower profile at the same time.

IMG_4894.jpeg

Far neater.

It all seems to work, though I've not had much time to test and play with it. Definitely no more time this weekend.
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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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