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Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Posted: 25 May 2026 09:58
by rubber_jonnie
HigashiJun wrote: 25 May 2026 09:51
rubber_jonnie wrote: 25 May 2026 07:52 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 😁

Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Posted: 01 Jun 2026 23:46
by 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 :)

Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Posted: 04 Jun 2026 16:32
by 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

And I get video out, of sorts...

IMG20260604162818.jpg

And what looks like a video signal on the scope:

IMG20260604162825.jpg

So looking positive, but still work to do.

Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Posted: 04 Jun 2026 23:25
by HigashiJun
Slowly but surely, that's how @rubber_jonnie builds his new goody...

:lol:

Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Posted: 04 Jun 2026 23:27
by rubber_jonnie
HigashiJun wrote: 04 Jun 2026 23:25 Slowly but surely, that's how @rubber_jonnie builds his new goody...

:lol:
Hehehe

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

Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Posted: 05 Jun 2026 02:28
by HigashiJun
rubber_jonnie wrote: 04 Jun 2026 23:27 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...)

Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Posted: 05 Jun 2026 09:13
by rubber_jonnie
HigashiJun wrote: 05 Jun 2026 02:28
rubber_jonnie wrote: 04 Jun 2026 23:27 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 :)

Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Posted: 05 Jun 2026 09:18
by stephen_usher
Hmm... no backporch, is there? Just like the ZX81. So maybe the display can't handle it?

Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Posted: 05 Jun 2026 09:31
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 05 Jun 2026 09:18 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.

Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Posted: 05 Jun 2026 16:36
by 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.