Icky Projects

[PhilC]

So one RAM and one Flash Memory chip for upgrading my Z88

512K SRAM internal upgrade
512K Flash Memory internal upgrade

I knew they looked familiar, just couldn't think why.

[Icky]

Well that is the RAM chip (front and centre) desoldered. I'll do a separate topic on this Z88 upgrade.

IMG_3299.jpeg

[rubber_jonnie]

Well that is the RAM chip (front and centre) desoldered. I'll do a separate topic on this Z88 upgrade.


IMG_3299.jpeg

Looking good so far.

[Icky]

Looking good so far.

I have a sort of love / hate relationship with these types of upgrades. They are pretty simple to do but half the time I end up plotting how to build a board with a SMD Flash ROM and RAM chip combined that would just plug-in with a couple of fly leads.

[rubber_jonnie]

Looking good so far.

I have a sort of love / hate relationship with these types of upgrades. They are pretty simple to do but half the time I end up plotting how to build a board with a SMD Flash ROM and RAM chip combined that would just plug-in with a couple of fly leads.

LBH These things don't always work out as planned, as long as it works in the end 😁

[Icky]

That’s true. I did have a glitch before I started the upgrade and put it down to low batteries.

The LCD was all blue and after doing a hard reset the screen came up with the menu and low battery sign.

I then went ahead with replacing the RAM chip and am faced with the all blue screen again and hard reset doesn’t fix. Yes, I have used different batteries as well.

This, @rubber_jonnie you are right it’s not always as planned.

[rubber_jonnie]

That’s true. I did have a glitch before I started the upgrade and put it down to low batteries.

The LCD was all blue and after doing a hard reset the screen came up with the menu and low battery sign.

I then went ahead with replacing the RAM chip and am faced with the all blue screen again and hard reset doesn’t fix. Yes, I have used different batteries as well.

This, @rubber_jonnie you are right it’s not always as planned.

Damn, that's annoying, but I'm sure you'll figure it out. Reminds me I need to get back to my dead HX-20.

[Icky]

Oh my I am getting rusty and old.

I haven't been doing much electronics for well over 2 years now due to various reasons and finally I yesterday I decided to tackle a upgrade I wanted to do on my OSSC which involved a very simple remove a SMT 0603 resistor and ptut a fly lead from one of the pads to a SMT chip with a fine pitch. Easy right.

Absolutely not. Eyesight failing, shaking hands, and out of practice contributed in me pulling the 0603 pad off the pad that I actually needed to use.

Long story short I am back in the saddle with fine hardware work after getting hold of a 4K USB microscope and a jig to help with steading for soldering. Stripping back the line from the pad and soldering onto that line.

The OSSC is now upgraded to 1.12 and working fine. https://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/OSSC#v1.12

Now I am back in the saddle you may start to see me becoming more active again in the hardware perspective on the forum. It's been quite a hiatus.

[rubber_jonnie]

Oh my I am getting rusty and old.

I haven't been doing much electronics for well over 2 years now due to various reasons and finally I yesterday I decided to tackle a upgrade I wanted to do on my OSSC which involved a very simple remove a SMT 0603 resistor and ptut a fly lead from one of the pads to a SMT chip with a fine pitch. Easy right.

Absolutely not. Eyesight failing, shaking hands, and out of practice contributed in me pulling the 0603 pad off the pad that I actually needed to use.

Long story short I am back in the saddle with fine hardware work after getting hold of a 4K USB microscope and a jig to help with steading for soldering. Stripping back the line from the pad and soldering onto that line.

The OSSC is now upgraded to 1.12 and working fine. https://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/OSSC#v1.12

Now I am back in the saddle you may start to see me becoming more active again in the hardware perspective on the forum. It's been quite a hiatus.

Glad to have you back, I can totally relate to the shaking hands and eyesight issues, I have to use at least a magnifying glass for all soldering work now.

[Icky]

Glad to have you back, I can totally relate to the shaking hands and eyesight issues, I have to use at least a magnifying glass for all soldering work now.

Thanks @rubber_jonnie, I now need to get myself up to speed with where I left off some projects with @exxos and @ijor to re-ignite some of them.