Voxel Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 5 hours ago, xkenx said: I will start with replacing the power regelator Don't forget to replace the heat transfer paste, I'm of the opinion the old one is failing because the old paste is no longer effective, so the heatsink is not doing its' job. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xkenx Posted September 26, 2020 Author Share Posted September 26, 2020 Unfortunately, changing the power regulator did not help. The new power regulator gives 5.07v. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChildOfCv Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 If you leave the case cover off and point a fan at it when you turn it on, does that seem to affect how long it goes before crashing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voxel Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 15 hours ago, xkenx said: Unfortunately, changing the power regulator did not help. Thanks for confirming. I would be interested to know if it's always the same amount of time the display goes out, or if it varies a little. If the time is pretty much consistent I'd suspect another component in the supply circuit, like the capacitor or a diode. However if the time for the display going out varies I'd also then suspect a solder connection, like on the power jack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 @xkenx I can see in the PlusStore logs several start menu request from your PlusCart. Did you ever moved the joystick and then pushed the button when the screen is black? If you try, you should wait about 10 seconds to be sure the WiFi module has connected and the start menu is loaded. Then move the Joystick down one time, because the first menu entry for your PlusCart should be a firmware update, and press the button. If only the Video part of your VCS is defect, i should see a different request from your PlusCart in the PlusStore log files. Btw. if you accidentally hit the firmware update entry the WiFi led might starts to blink multiple times and you must not switch off the VCS! (after it stops blinking you should wait at least 20 seconds before you switch the VCS off!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xkenx Posted September 27, 2020 Author Share Posted September 27, 2020 @Al_Nafuur I tried to do what you suggested. I reached the PlusCart menu. I navigated to the menu down to the entry below firmware upgrade before the system rebooted and I ended up at the screen before menu(with the plus logo) before the system”crashed” with vertical lines with and beeping sound. Is it possible to use CPU, RIOT and TIA chip from a PAL Atari 2600 on a NTSC? In know that NTSC TIA is different, but if I just want to test the function. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 12 minutes ago, xkenx said: @Al_Nafuur I tried to do what you suggested. I reached the PlusCart menu. I navigated to the menu down to the entry below firmware upgrade before the system rebooted and I ended up at the screen before menu(with the plus logo) before the system”crashed” with vertical lines with and beeping sound. I meant you should press the button when the screen is black, so we can sort out if only your video (mod) is affected or the rest of the system too.. I can see in the logs, that you have pushed the button for the "Public ROMs" menu at: 2020-09-27 18:09:02 (CET) But after this request there are 4 more start request from your PlusCart until 2020-09-27 18:10:00.. Did you turn off and on the VCS 4 times after you tried? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xkenx Posted September 27, 2020 Author Share Posted September 27, 2020 Quote But after this request there are 4 more start request from your PlusCart until 2020-09-27 18:10:00.. Did you turn off and on the VCS 4 times after you tried? No, It looks like the unit tries reboot by itself. Quote If you leave the case cover off and point a fan at it when you turn it on, does that seem to affect how long it goes before crashing? No difference with a fan. I could feel that the TIA chip got slightly warm. But not hot. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 4 hours ago, xkenx said: No, It looks like the unit tries reboot by itself. The PlusCart and it's WiFi module are not automatically sending requests to the PlusStore when they get powered up. There must be done a lot of steps by the VCS first.. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyHairy Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 13 hours ago, xkenx said: Is it possible to use CPU, RIOT and TIA chip from a PAL Atari 2600 on a NTSC? In know that NTSC TIA is different, but if I just want to test the function. You can definitely swap CPU and RIOT, and afaik you can swap the TIA too, you'll just get wrong colors. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Andrew Davie Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 I still think it's the cartridge connector 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 25 minutes ago, Andrew Davie said: I still think it's the cartridge connector I still think it's the video mod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voxel Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 On 9/28/2020 at 10:16 AM, Al_Nafuur said: On 9/28/2020 at 9:49 AM, Andrew Davie said: I still think it's the cartridge connector I still think it's the video mod I still think it's a voltage issue ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xkenx Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 Small and annoying update. Got a PAL Atari 2600 today. Tested the new PSU on the faulty unit. Played maybe five minutes before it crashed. For five minutes I thought I had a working unit. Next step, change the ICs. At least I now have a working PAL unit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 (edited) 38 minutes ago, xkenx said: Small and annoying update. Got a PAL Atari 2600 today. Tested the new PSU on the faulty unit. Played maybe five minutes before it crashed. For five minutes I thought I had a working unit. Next step, change the ICs. At least I now have a working PAL unit. Congratulations, as far as I can see you have setup a PlusStore account and registered your PlusCart to your account too. Unfortunately you registered after you set the new high score for Pitfall, that's why you are listed as "unknown PlusCart user 34" in the High Score Club now: https://highscore.firmaplus.de/?game_id=8 Edited September 30, 2020 by Al_Nafuur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.