Adam problem with keyboard

[Spirografo]

Hi to all.

My first message here.

Recently i have added a Adam to my collection but this unit has a problem.

When i turn on in writer mode or booting with cpm or basic,

on screen appears a pattern of charachters, always the same every

time.

Moreover the keys on the keyboard corresponding to the visualized

charachters is not functioning.

Even the return key, so i can't give any command to adam.

In consolle mode instead all is perfect.

If i turn on without keyobard the problems does not appear,

but obviously adam is not usable.

I have tried to sconnect flat cable of the keyboard and to connect only

electronic board and the problem still show itself, so the problem is not mechanic.

I've removed 8405 chip and problem does not appear.

The cable is ok and the internal cable (the cable conected to the adam

motherboard) is ok too.

What can i also say?

I use with 220/110 converter, the cpm boots correctly so the basic too.

The other keyboard's keys is ok.

The pattern is:

 

/ <return key>

 

;'m,jkyu78

 

 

Thanks

Fabio

[+Yurkie]

Hi to all.

My first message here.

Recently i have added a Adam to my collection but this unit has a problem.

When i turn on in writer mode or booting with cpm or basic,

on screen appears a pattern of charachters, always the same every

time.

Moreover the keys on the keyboard corresponding to the visualized

charachters is not functioning.

Even the return key, so i can't give any command to adam.

In consolle mode instead all is perfect.

If i turn on without keyobard the problems does not appear,

but obviously adam is not usable.

I have tried to sconnect flat cable of the keyboard and to connect only

electronic board and the problem still show itself, so the problem is not mechanic.

I've removed 8405 chip and problem does not appear.

The cable is ok and the internal cable (the cable conected to the adam

motherboard) is ok too.

What can i also say?

I use with 220/110 converter, the cpm boots correctly so the basic too.

The other keyboard's keys is ok.

The pattern is:

 

/ <return key>

 

;'m,jkyu78

 

 

Thanks

Fabio

 

Welcome to AtariAge. Sorry I don't have a solution for you. NIAD?

[Spirografo]

The problem is grown.

Now i have garbage on video at typewriter boot,

the pattern does not appear but the all keyboard does not function.

I suppose a freeze, because the adam does not boot from cassette too.

The consolle mode seems ok.

I think a big problem for adam board.

One question: the adam board is a stand alone computer

or uses some chip of consolle board?

The chips on adam are covered by thermal and i don't see

model.

Thanks.

 

Fabio.

[NIAD]

The problem is grown.

Now i have garbage on video at typewriter boot,

the pattern does not appear but the all keyboard does not function.

I suppose a freeze, because the adam does not boot from cassette too.

The consolle mode seems ok.

I think a big problem for adam board.

One question: the adam board is a stand alone computer

or uses some chip of consolle board?

The chips on adam are covered by thermal and i don't see

model.

Thanks.

 

Fabio.

After reading your first post, I was hoping for your sake that it was a simple problem that could be fixed by simple taking apart the keyboard and giving it a good cleaning as well as checking for a short in the wiring as well as the possibility that whereever you got the system from might have lost the original ADAMnet RJ12 6 Conductor cable and replaced it unknowingly with a differnet, but similar looking cable.

 

Unfortunately it sounds like you have a serious problem now with the ADAM Logic Board that is snowballing out of control. From my past experiences trying to diagnose problems, the ADAM would generally start with a small problem in communicating with an external device (ie: keyboard, printer and disk drive... all of which are connected to the memory console and communicate via ADAMnet (a Serial I/O communications network reminiscent of today's USB standard). Fortunately, back in the day we had supplies of tested ADAM Logic Boards and would just swap them out... I didn't have to sit there and isolate the exact problem!

 

The ADAM Logic Board is not a stand-alone computer, it needs to be attached via the card edge cable to the ColecoVision Circuit Board in order to work. The ColecoVision board on the other hand can operate independently from the ADAM Logic Board. This is exactly why the ColecoVision part of the systems (what you referred to as CONSOLE) is still working.

 

Don't want to jump the gun here, but I'd say your solution would be to buy a new Memory Console or at the very least check out ADAM Services in Toronto, ADAM Supplies in Michigan or eColeco in Texas to get a replacement ADAM Logic Board.