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I've used channelmaniac's instructions for swapping the memory on my colecovision. The instructions are very easy to follow. The hardest part of the process is getting the old memory chips off the board. I bought the memory from channelmaniac also. He shipped it quickly and at a very reasonable price. Props out to channelmaniac - thanks for all your help.

I voted for option 1. I like the idea of using the orginal CV and building upon it with the expansion module.

I had this on a coleco I got and it turned out that the power brick was the problem. See this post. http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...=139613&hl=

Thanks for the advice. I will give it a try.

I picked up a second CV that was not functioning to see if I could get it working. I tested the PSU and all the voltages were good, so next I hooked the system up to the TV to see what would happen. I got a really nice black screen, but no text. I assumed that the power switch was really dirty and took it apart (It was really dirty). However after reassembling it still only displayed a black screen. I got out the multi-meter and tested at the switch to see if I was getting good power. Found that with the switch on or off I had great +12, however with the switch on the +5 dropped to +2. I used the psu from my other system and everything works perfectly. I assume that there is something wrong with the PSU on the +5 side. Does anybody have any experience with repairing the coleco vision PSU? Is it worth trying? Any advice would be appreciated.

Ok, time for a recap of the latest PMC events: Beta testing was completed long ago. 80 yellow cartridges were assembled last December, but a snowstorm the day I was leaving to Brazil kept me from shipping them to Luc. The box full of cartridges sat in my bedroom for more than a month. The 80 yellow Pac-Man Collection cartridges were shipped to Luc last week. He received a delivery attempt yesterday and is planning to pickup the games tomorrow (Friday). So I believe the people who reserved the yellow version should start having their copies shipped next week. People in the regular black case version list will need to wait a little long. Ah. Thanks for the update. I think I am on the list of interested parties, but I am not sure. To whom do I need to contact to find out? Thanks again.

This is really exciting. Any idea when the beta test will be complete so those who are not beta testers will be able to purchase this? Can't wait!

I'v just finished modding my Colecovision. My first project was to build the video board that I originally started this post asking about. The quality of the video is great and no RF static. I would highly recommend this video mod. I have not done or seen the benheck video mod, so I can not compare the video quality. I've also updated the memory on the Coleco to use the +5 (MK4516) DRAM instead of the touchy 4116 that Coleco put in the system and added a selectable bios chip to get around the 12 second Colecovision splash screen. I never realized how long 12 seconds is until I didn't have to wait through it any longer. Both modifications were really easy. I have not done very much work on PC boards or with ICs and found the process to be pretty fun and not that difficult. The memory upgrade was tedious but not difficult - removing the solder on 128 pins to get the old memory out got a little old, but was not too bad. I want to thank chanelmaniac for posting his repair logs they were most helpful in doing these upgrades. If you are considering doing either the bios or memory upgrade, his site will be most helpful. http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=40.0

Thanks RJ. I will probably order one from you in the near future.

Yes, I did tap into C88 and the ground right there for the audio, which worked great! The custom board really makes your project look professional. I appreciate your help with the project. Do you sell a flashed dual bios chip on your site?

Channelmaniac, Thanks for your help. Glad the 1/4 watt resistors are acceptable 'cause those are the size I have. I just got done assembling my video board and it works great! Not near and nice looking as your boards, but it works. Thanks agian for all the great info. I think I may try some more of the mods that you have posted on your repair logs site.

Channelmaniac, what wattage of resistors did you use for your board? Thanks!

I just found this post and the game looks great! I would be very interested in purchasing the game when it is available.

Hey 5-11under, Thanks for the recommendation on the 74s541 chip replacement. I just swapped them out and the blue player / level select screen now displays. Thanks again for the help.

What is wrong with the video? Have you cleaned the power switch? That seems to fix a lot of problems I have a lot of static on screen - I think mainly because I have lost the original game / antenna switch that connects to the TV. I am using an auto switcher from a Nintendo NES. I have taken the power switch apart and cleaned, which made a little difference. I am planning to do a video mod to allow me to connect via RCA cables to my television. Hopefully that will result in a better picture.

Thanks, but I found some. Haven't gotten around to changing out yet. Need to get the video working better before I worry about the controller module.

That board looks great. I have acquired some of the parts I will need to build my own, but depending on how much you will sell for, I may be more interested in buying one from you. Let me know how the test goes and what you will be selling a board for. I already have the RCA jacks, so I would not need those. Hope your test goes well.

Thanks again for all your help. Good luck with getting caught up!

Thanks! I'll look at replacing one or both of those. Do you have a recommended place to purchase the chip? Or do I have to find a parts system?

Does anybody have a link to a solution for the problem described in this post? I have been googling and have not been able to find a site that decribes the fix that birdie3 refrences. My system does not display the blue screen that allows you to select the number of players. Thanks! Brett

Thanks for the responses. If you get around to making the boards and figure a price, let me know. I may be interested in purchasing one from you. I may give building my own a try, but I have not souced all the parts as of yet. Do you have an electroics supply website that you recommend? My local Radio Shack does not carry all the required parts.

I did and liked the results. I designed a small circuit board for it (less than 1" square double sided) and ordered 30 of them. I'll be soldering them up into kits and putting them on my site. RJ Thanks to all for the replies. This has been helpful! I saw the post where you were talking about having some boads etched for the purpose of making the video amplifier. How much will you be selling them for? When would you have one available?

I saw that one, but the site said that there were none available. What does the BIOS update provide?

Hello. I found my old Colecovision in the garage over the weekend. I have lost the RF switch that you attach to the TV and have been reading about the video mods that people have done on their classic systems. It looks like a lot of people have done the ben heck mod and are happy with it. I've also seen some posts where people recommend adding an additional cpacitator and resistor to the setup. Thanks to all for posting these items! I did some searching and found a post on another site and wanted to know if anybody has tried this one? http://www.colecoworld.com/tools/hardware/CVAVMOD.pdf Any advice you all could provide would be greatly appreciated.