e5frog Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 When I had a single button apart I noticed the spring was worn, I rolled out the ends a bit and problem was solved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Again I totally disassembled this bank of 5 pushbuttons .. I had it apply detoxit to all springs before reliability restored .. Now System II together and working. Note System II buttons are all normally closed, momentarily open with the exception of Reset which is momentarily closed, normally open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coddy Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 I've written simple video test for FCF. Binary and source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e5frog Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 Nice! So you're only using the "BIOS" characters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 there was something rattling around inside one of my carts. So I opened it up and found a small black disc cover .. Q: what is it for? Q: is there a collection of game manuals somewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted September 21, 2019 Author Share Posted September 21, 2019 If you just want the text in the manuals, there's this site: http://channelf.se/gallery/index.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubersaurus Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 10 hours ago, Rob Mitchell said: there was something rattling around inside one of my carts. So I opened it up and found a small black disc cover .. Q: what is it for? Q: is there a collection of game manuals somewhere? I believe it’s in there to cover and protect the chips inside the cartridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e5frog Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 Yes, if it's a shallow cylinder with a lid, seems to be one of few ways to break these carts. It's just glued on there so it's not surprising that that happens. Later versions have square covers with a pin in each corner, the don't have that problem. While on the subject, apart from two 40 pin PSU IC:s on the really early ones they also tried tranparent silicone (? or some rubbery stuff), there's another size of square cover and late in the production a dark rubbery substance. That seems common on #22 and #19 - and it seems to have been a bad method. Atari2600land already linked to my site so I won't do that again. When inspiration hits me I'll rescan all of them and make pdf:s... I think I need to buy more space for that though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Ok .. I’ll glue the disc back in place. On 9/21/2019 at 9:52 AM, e5frog said: Atari2600land already linked to my site so I won't do that again. When inspiration hits me I'll rescan all of them and make pdf:s... I think I need to buy more space for that though. Thanks for your site and efforts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted September 26, 2019 Author Share Posted September 26, 2019 Pac-Man on eBay @ $197.00: auction #233351982165 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e5frog Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 Yup, sold one for $189 when the $480 one was out - didn't believe it, but I sold another one for $198 - didn't quite believe that either, so now #3 - we'll see. There's an "offer" option as well. Maybe I'll be able to pay the bills this month after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikebloke Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 I think if people want to pay that much on a bidding system with a low starting bid then fair enough. If I had that kind of cash I'd pay it if it meant further development of the Fairchild Channel F, even indirectly through helping your cost of living. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e5frog Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 I'm going to need to buy more parts so, yes, it will help development. First on the hobby-agenda is to finish atari2600land's trimerous-cartridge, still some left to do on KHoL. Unfortunately it's not first priority, work and food (well all living costs) is. As I mentioned, I have an offer option, if you want a Pac-Man cart and can't afford the suggested price. I have been selling them for around $95-120 before - but as they seem to be sold for double the money as soon as offered on eBay I thought - why not? Someone mentioned it would be clever to always have one on eBay with a reasonable price so nobody will attempt to sell one for a shit-load of money... but I guess if it's an early version the game may differ somewhat (as the game was still developed further after carts started to be sold) that one might be worth a little extra, if it's known that it's different. Next on the Fairchild hobby agenda is trying to work more on the reprogrammable cartridge. Simplest method is probably to use RAM, battery backup, some µP like PIC or Atmega with enough I/O and I guess a bus switch as well, to be able to disconnect the memory interface when needed and a Prolific type of device so you can send data over USB and still only have to receive data over serial interface - so it doesn't need USB stuff in the µP as well. Don't seem to get there though - in the last 6-7 years or so, maybe next year when the wife is done studying - and I don't get sick (again), it's mainly a question of money, you need some to buy parts, some trial and error then a prototype etc. I have two Pac-Man carts left, one box has a beauty mark on the back, I'll probably put it down for $666 and call it a Cindy Crawford cartridge. Reason for this is that I have two more boxes left from the 2016 batch and it's an investment to get a new set printed - that I may never sell so unless there's a sudden demand for a bunch of Pac-Man carts I guess the Pac-Man making days are over. I have been tempted on correcting some details but that will end up on the Multi-Cart in that case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted October 1, 2019 Author Share Posted October 1, 2019 I got a French Backgammon manual. Are French manuals rare? Or perhaps this copy was sold in Canada or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e5frog Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 (edited) I haven't seen that many of them. Feel free to scan yours so I can add it to my gallery. Got this one: Edited October 1, 2019 by e5frog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted October 1, 2019 Author Share Posted October 1, 2019 Scanned mine: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e5frog Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Seems they could be Canadian... The Barco manual also has French (I think) as well as SABA's multi-lingual and Nordmende. I guess they wanted to expand the market - and they weren't assigned a certain territory with their license: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted October 2, 2019 Author Share Posted October 2, 2019 A copy of Football with box is now at $81. I wonder how high it will eventually get. eBay Item #153661451421 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e5frog Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 It's understandable if it's the one with color print box - but it didn't have any instruction booklet, right? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted October 2, 2019 Author Share Posted October 2, 2019 Nope, no instructions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e5frog Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 I have considered offering instruction reprints - for place holder in the collection or for usage with the original in the photo album (or wherever other people keep them). But... it's perhaps not worth the effort. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 (edited) Q: is there a better scan of the diagnostic manual somewhere? Edited October 5, 2019 by Rob Mitchell 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 (edited) Any advice on sliding the ribbon cables to the cart slot back into the mother board? The metal tabs want to separate and not go into the connector. this was not a problem on the model 2. Edited October 7, 2019 by Rob Mitchell 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e5frog Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 Glue or tape them to the plastic, then you need to be careful when inserting. Only 40 years and already there's troubles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 I wish there was a clamp down socket into which the ribbon could fit. That would be the perfect solution. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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