It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

[rubber_jonnie]

No merlot involved in this one, just not paying attention.

That's what you say...

To be fair I ordered it the day before I went to France, so I am confident that Merlot wasn't involved

[rubber_jonnie]

Well, the missing DIP package is on the way for the through hole CDP1861 and all the SMD parts from DigiKey arrived too, so I can give the SMD CDP1861 another go soon too

[rubber_jonnie]

Still no DIP package for the through hole CDP1861 replacement...

However my shipment from Digikey for more SMD parts did arrive and I built a new one:

IMG20260604162835.jpg (255.84 KiB) Viewed 651 times

And I get video out, of sorts...

IMG20260604162818.jpg (282.97 KiB) Viewed 651 times

And what looks like a video signal on the scope:

IMG20260604162825.jpg (194.15 KiB) Viewed 651 times

So looking positive, but still work to do.

[HigashiJun]

Slowly but surely, that's how @rubber_jonnie builds his new goody...

[rubber_jonnie]

Slowly but surely, that's how @rubber_jonnie builds his new goody...

Hehehe

He's a poet and he doesn't know it

[HigashiJun]

Hehehe

He's a poet and he doesn't know it

Money, get back
I'm all right, Jack
Keep your hands off my stack
New car
Caviar
Four-star daydream
Think I'll buy me a football team.

Absolute rubbish, laddie !


(From a well-known song...)

[rubber_jonnie]

Hehehe

He's a poet and he doesn't know it

Money, get back
I'm all right, Jack
Keep your hands off my stack
New car
Caviar
Four-star daydream
Think I'll buy me a football team.

Absolute rubbish, laddie !


(From a well-known song...)

Who doesn't like a bit of Pink Floyd

[stephen_usher]

Hmm... no backporch, is there? Just like the ZX81. So maybe the display can't handle it?

[rubber_jonnie]

Hmm... no backporch, is there? Just like the ZX81. So maybe the display can't handle it?

Yes, I noticed that as well. I do have some ZX81 composite modules that add a back porch so I might rig one up to see if it'll improve things.

However I did also read that there is supposedly some setup needs doing before the display works as expected. There are also some jumpers I need to figure out, so I'll go down that avenue before I hook up a module.

We'll see, I'll have a think about what's easiest

Also hopefully the DIP IC for the through hole CDP1861 will come today (Please!!!) and I can see what the results are like with that.

[rubber_jonnie]

Hmm interesting.

I wondered if the original CDP1861 I built had something wrong with the PCB, so I slowly pulled the components off and it wasn't until I had just one or two items left over that the machine worked as normal.

So I built a 3rd using the original components - it does exactly the same thing...

So I think my Ali Express GALs are fake

I have 2 more from DigiKey, so I'll get those programmed at some point and install, see if it works then. My other SMD board, no 2, built from DigiKey parts seems to be working (Ish) so I need to figure out what's what as it clearly isn't the PCB.