Re: [M100] M-102 keyboard flat ribbon cable

[kjohnson3 . 14]

For the good of the community, this is what I determined you need to
replace the keyboard ribbon on a M102.

FFC (Flexible Flat Cable)
Pitch = 1.25 mm
Pins = 18
Type = B
Length = 150 mm (miniium, a bit longer should work).

I ordered them from Aliexpress: Link


I measured the width of the cable as 23.75 mm and the online spec sheet
says [pitch * (N + 1)] , which is 23.75 for 1.25 pitch.

The type B means the exposed conductors are on opposite sides of the
ribbon.

In a month I will know if I just wasted my money



On Wed, Jul 29, 2020 at 9:59 PM Bert Put  wrote:

> Hi Keith,
>
> I will take you up on that offer, thank you.  I'd like more than one
> since I'm sure I'll manage to mess up the replacement :-)  I'll email
> you off-list.  I doubt I can get them any sooner then you, and I'll be
> more than happy to pay for shipping and whatever number of ribbons
> you're prepared to let go of :-)
>
> Thank you for you offer Sir, it is much appreciated!
>
> Cheers,Bert
>
>
> On 2020-07-29 19:30, kjohnson3...@gmail.com wrote:
> > Hey Burt,
> >
> > Funny you mention that. I had the same problem with my M102. I tried to
> > glue the tracks down and it didn't work for me.
> >
> > I'm actually going to be placing an order on Aliexpress tonight. I found
> > 100 ribbons for $20.
> >
> > They will take till early September to get here. I would be willing to
> > mail you one when I get them... I would like a few spares... but 100 is
> > overkill.
> >
> > If not I can post the specs. and you can order them yourself.
> >
> > Keith
> >
> > On Wed, Jul 29, 2020 at 7:12 PM Bert Put  > > wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > Watching all the recent activity about the bad memory battery
> > replacements scared me sufficiently to go ahead and open up my M-102
> and
> > M-100 to check them.  I did, and sure enough the battery in the M-100
> > had started to corrode but luckily with very little reaching the
> > motherboard, so I whipped that puppy out, and I'll hit up
> arcadeshopper
> > for some replacements :-)  The M-100 is back together (minus a
> battery)
> > and working great.
> >
> > The battery in the M-102 looked OK but I think I'll go ahead and
> replace
> > it as well.  Cheap insurance.  However, I messed up the re-assembly
> of
> > the ribbon cable for the keyboard.  I agree with Josh that they
> cheaped
> > out on building the M-102, although it was still working after 30
> years
> > so I guess I can't really complain :-)
> >
> > I have not succeeded in re-installing the ribbon cable into the edge
> > connector on the keyboard end.  It turns out that it's difficult to
> get
> > a straight-line force to insert the edge.  Some metal tracks on the
> end
> > of the ribbon have moved and I'm concerned that if I keep fiddling
> with
> > it I'll tear it up even further.  I've left it disconnected while I
> > think about it some more.  I'm wondering if I can glue the tracks
> down
> > on the ribbon or something similar?  The keyboard connectors on the
> > M-100 are much more sturdy and I had no trouble at all getting that
> back
> > together.
> >
> > Any thoughts about how to proceed from here?  The keyboard ribbon
> cable
> > on the M-102 is the only problem at this point.  All the caps in both
> > machines looked good, no sign of swelling or leakage.
> >
> > Cheers,Bert
> >
> > p.s. the REXCPM is going into the working M-100.  That was always the
> > plan since the M-102 has a REX classic in it.
> >
> >
>

Re: [M100] M-102 keyboard flat ribbon cable

[kjohnson3 . 14]

Hey Burt,

Funny you mention that. I had the same problem with my M102. I tried to
glue the tracks down and it didn't work for me.

I'm actually going to be placing an order on Aliexpress tonight. I found
100 ribbons for $20.

They will take till early September to get here. I would be willing to mail
you one when I get them... I would like a few spares... but 100 is overkill.

If not I can post the specs. and you can order them yourself.

Keith

On Wed, Jul 29, 2020 at 7:12 PM Bert Put  wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Watching all the recent activity about the bad memory battery
> replacements scared me sufficiently to go ahead and open up my M-102 and
> M-100 to check them.  I did, and sure enough the battery in the M-100
> had started to corrode but luckily with very little reaching the
> motherboard, so I whipped that puppy out, and I'll hit up arcadeshopper
> for some replacements :-)  The M-100 is back together (minus a battery)
> and working great.
>
> The battery in the M-102 looked OK but I think I'll go ahead and replace
> it as well.  Cheap insurance.  However, I messed up the re-assembly of
> the ribbon cable for the keyboard.  I agree with Josh that they cheaped
> out on building the M-102, although it was still working after 30 years
> so I guess I can't really complain :-)
>
> I have not succeeded in re-installing the ribbon cable into the edge
> connector on the keyboard end.  It turns out that it's difficult to get
> a straight-line force to insert the edge.  Some metal tracks on the end
> of the ribbon have moved and I'm concerned that if I keep fiddling with
> it I'll tear it up even further.  I've left it disconnected while I
> think about it some more.  I'm wondering if I can glue the tracks down
> on the ribbon or something similar?  The keyboard connectors on the
> M-100 are much more sturdy and I had no trouble at all getting that back
> together.
>
> Any thoughts about how to proceed from here?  The keyboard ribbon cable
> on the M-102 is the only problem at this point.  All the caps in both
> machines looked good, no sign of swelling or leakage.
>
> Cheers,Bert
>
> p.s. the REXCPM is going into the working M-100.  That was always the
> plan since the M-102 has a REX classic in it.
>
>
>

[M100] Keyboard ribbon cable replacement for a Model 102

[kjohnson3 . 14]

Good Evening Folks,

I received my REXCPM from Steve, so I had to pull apart one of my Model 102.

I noticed the keyboard ribbon cable was damaged, either by myself or time.
I had problems with this unit and the keyboard, I assumed the keys needed
cleaning.

Does anyone have a source for these cables? I took some measurements and
looked on Mouser, but I couldn't find anything modern that would fit.

I figured someone out there must have had this problem as well.

Thank you,
Keith

Re: [M100] REXCPM update

[kjohnson3 . 14]

Steve,

I didn't think from your first post the REXCPM would work with the 102. If
it just takes a single wire, please put me down for one unit.

Thank you
Keith

On Wed, Jun 10, 2020 at 8:49 PM Stephen Adolph  wrote:

> Thank you everyone for the interest!
>
> I have indications for about 2x what I have on hand, but I have parts here
> to build to meet the need.  Nothing to order and wait for...
>
> For now I am putting down my Z80 conversion toy, and putting down my
> coding projects to focus on shipping and building for a while.
>
> As I grind down the list I will contact everyone with a total amount and
> to confirm address etc.
>
> One thing that is missing on the wiki is how to install in T102.  I will
> take some pics and write a few notes.  T102 requires a worr to be soldered
> in.
>
> I am adding an FAQ to the wiki page, which I will add to as you ask
> questions about things that may not be clear.
>
> Cheers Steve
>
>
>

Re: [M100] M100 repair video

[kjohnson3 . 14]

I have a M100 that has been sitting on my stack of projects to tackle for
far too long. I knew it was dead when I bought it but hoped for a easy fix.
The batteries exploded.

I'll have to give this a watch maybe it will help me.

On Wed, Jan 29, 2020 at 9:45 PM Randall Kindig 
wrote:

> Josh, this is great!  Thanks so much for helping the community with
> these.  The more 100/102s that we can get repaired and in use, the better!
>
> Randy
>
> On Jan 29, 2020, at 9:34 PM, Josh Malone  wrote:
>
> All,
>
> I finally made my first M100 repair video. This was a repair job that I
> picked up at Tandy Assembly -- one of several, actually. This may also be
> my first one-sitting fix (turned out to be a simple problem).
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSD01xLqwEc
>
> I'm still planning to make more videos of my repair jobs. I tried to
> include stuff that I thought might help others with their troubleshooting.
>
> -Josh
>
>
>