Tony Firshman wrote: ...
>>I've had to resort back to my hacked (personal mod [again]) Phillips TX B&W >>TV (hacked in a Video input to bypass the demodulator which doesn't work) as >>my colour monitor died when I tried to use the QL after a long break >> > I wonder whether it is related to my Ferguson colour TX TV circa 1985. > The pcb was laid out to support RGB input - even with a modulator > disable pad. I zapped my RF modulator on this by dropping the disable > wire on a high voltage. It worked fine (and still is) with a > replacement module. My Phillips also had colour support on the main PCB (components marked but not filled). The demodulator used to work AFTER I had put in the video-in socket complete with a switch to change between the demodulator & the socket so it could still be used as a TV when required (rarely). Then the demodulator died - don't know when as I hadn't used it for ages when I tried it. >>(having >>finally got a replacement GC battery); the QL started playing up at around >>the same time. >> > Systems areOK with no GQ battery. You just lose the clock protection > etc. When I first removed the dead battery, the QL initially played up on re-inserting the GC before it settled down to working properly again. I finally got round to getting a new battery for the GC and it was after inserting that when re-inserting the GC that the problems started...perhaps I could take it with me to work tomorrow and have a look at it when I get a chance (got mains on my coach...). At one stage I did bend one of the pins on the connector when re-inserting the GC, but I don't remember the kind of crash I last had. I straightened said pin and all was AOK. ... >>I have just tried to re-insert the GC and it crashes on boot. Without it, >>it booted ok, so haven't tried to re-re-insert. Have subsequently tried ICE >>ROM and it has booted ok. Would poss suggest GC, but that *WAS* checked and >>found Ok - implying poss fault on expansion port of QL? >> > Yes indeed. I bet it is that. > Slightly bent pins can cause poor contact. It looks like GC and its > connector are OK as you have had it checked. > It could even be a pin bent right out of the way. That is very easy > with ones near the end, Typically they bend into an L shape. ie a bit > flat and the rest still straight. Often it can short against a > neighbouring pin causing the QL to fail (or crash - as you found). > If a pin is bent, then take the board out of the QL, and bend and > straighten the pin very very very very carefully - they are brittle and > you will probably only get one chance to bend it. Tweezers and > jeweller's screwdrivers will help. Last time I did that it didn't seem that brittle...I'll have to take it apart again and check the pins. > I have seen (and repaired) dozens of QLs with this fault. > > Of course as well do the std things - like cleaning chip legs (with hard > rubber) - 8302 is especially bad, and re-seat chips, heat sink compound > under the 5v regulator, cable from regulator to ram 5V (this was on > later boards) and mains filter. Mind you if you have a std US QL then > it will have loads of mods, including filtering components. > I think I say this and more in my QL troubleshooting guide on my web > site. Years ago (before expaning my QL) I had the QL failing quite regularly after a few hours of use. Taking it apart, I reseated the chips and it worked better thereafter. I can't remember if I did that or not this last time. > You could even bring it to the next North American QL show. Watch this > space.......... Long way to go from South Norwood, London, England - Tring's much closer (camped near there when I was in the cubs, travelling in the back of a removal lorry, sitting with the rest of the pack on our kit bags, with the top back doors open...oh such memories...oh such abandon...these days kids go by luxury coach - missing such pleasures...)! Robert -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Newson, E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
