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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Posted: 02 Oct 2021 18:13
by stephen_usher
I've ordered a MiSTer Multi-System from the RMC shop. That won't arrive until the end of November though.

Re: General Stuff(tm)

Posted: 04 Oct 2021 09:02
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 02 Oct 2021 18:13 I've ordered a MiSTer Multi-System from the RMC shop. That won't arrive until the end of November though.
Oooh, nice, be interested to see some pics when you get it :)

Re: General Stuff(tm)

Posted: 06 Oct 2021 12:12
by stephen_usher
The vDrive sound boards have arrived at last. They spent 4 days in a DHL warehouse bouncing between "Processed" and "Hold" before moving on.

It's been manic at work this week as it's "0th Week" at Oxford University, meaning the week before the beginning of term but when students are starting to arrive. It's also the beginning of the academic year and also the powers that be have landed the task of rebuilding our A/V systems with only 3 weeks notice and expecting it all to be ready by the end of the week and documented... when stuff isn't arriving from the suppliers that quickly. Bah!

Oh, and I'm continuing to try to get everything ready for this weekend's Retro Computer Festival at home too.

Re: General Stuff(tm)

Posted: 06 Oct 2021 13:07
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 06 Oct 2021 12:12 The vDrive sound boards have arrived at last. They spent 4 days in a DHL warehouse bouncing between "Processed" and "Hold" before moving on.

It's been manic at work this week as it's "0th Week" at Oxford University, meaning the week before the beginning of term but when students are starting to arrive. It's also the beginning of the academic year and also the powers that be have landed the task of rebuilding our A/V systems with only 3 weeks notice and expecting it all to be ready by the end of the week and documented... when stuff isn't arriving from the suppliers that quickly. Bah!

Oh, and I'm continuing to try to get everything ready for this weekend's Retro Computer Festival at home too.
How are you getting on with the vDrives? I plan on ordering one before the end of the year so any feedback would be great.

Oh god, that sounds like fun!! I know how you feel about the delays, as I'm in the process of troubleshooting an internal system and have been waiting for 2+ weeks to get some specific logs that will help me plan the next phase of troubleshooting, and only now are they telling me half the logs are missing!!

Good luck with the A/V project, hope you can get it done in time :)

Also looking forward to meeting you at the Retro Computer Festival now that I have my ticket for the 9th :)

Re: General Stuff(tm)

Posted: 06 Oct 2021 14:15
by stephen_usher
vDrives work really well. If you have a QL then the vMap is invaluable so that you can make the vDrive to be both mdv1_ and mdv2_

Re: General Stuff(tm)

Posted: 06 Oct 2021 14:28
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 06 Oct 2021 14:15 vDrives work really well. If you have a QL then the vMap is invaluable so that you can make the vDrive to be both mdv1_ and mdv2_
Well then, I'm sold. I got a vLA81 from Charles and it's superb, so it seems like it's necessary for my QL :)

Re: General Stuff(tm)

Posted: 06 Oct 2021 14:39
by rubber_jonnie
@stephen_usher Out of curiosity, where did you get your vDrive QL from? Direct from Charlie's shop?

Just looking at the price direct and it's a little over £120 with shipping, so wondering if it can be had from a UK supplier.

Re: General Stuff(tm)

Posted: 06 Oct 2021 14:46
by stephen_usher
rubber_jonnie wrote: 06 Oct 2021 14:39 @stephen_usher Out of curiosity, where did you get your vDrive QL from? Direct from Charlie's shop?

Just looking at the price direct and it's a little over £120 with shipping, so wondering if it can be had from a UK supplier.
Yes, directly from Charlie, well, using the sellmyretro web store as Charlie didn't have a store a couple of years ago when I got mine.

Re: General Stuff(tm)

Posted: 06 Oct 2021 14:56
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 06 Oct 2021 14:46
rubber_jonnie wrote: 06 Oct 2021 14:39 @stephen_usher Out of curiosity, where did you get your vDrive QL from? Direct from Charlie's shop?

Just looking at the price direct and it's a little over £120 with shipping, so wondering if it can be had from a UK supplier.
Yes, directly from Charlie, well, using the sellmyretro web store as Charlie didn't have a store a couple of years ago when I got mine.
Cool, thanks, I got my vLA81 via SellMyRetro too, but he has a nice store now. Maybe for Christmas then! To be fair it's a complete kit with vDrive QL, case, vMap and cable, so it's a great price, I just can't justify buying one right now due to a number of other recent retro purchases!

Re: General Stuff(tm)

Posted: 06 Oct 2021 22:49
by stephen_usher
Well, I managed to find time to make up one of the new vDrive sound boards and it works:



Unfortnately, (a) the Dupont connectors are too tall so I'm going to have to remove them and solder the wires directly, and (b) the double sided sicky tape I have is about as strong as a gentle breaze on a calm day so it won't even hold the speaker onto the plastic case if everything's laying flat.

The speakers I got are a bit on the weedy side too.

Anyway, at least the electronics are OK.