Britannia ROMBox and how NOT to fix them...

[Bryce]

Hi all,
    had to share this abomonation with you all. I was sent this device for repair this week. The owner tells me that it had already been repaired by someone else (who is confident enough to even advertise his repair services online). Finding the issue didn't take long, I only had to open the case....
This is how NOT to install an IDC header. Ignoring the fact that the solder joints look like they were done with a cigarette lighter and a hot knife, and the cable was cut with a blunt scissors, the connector is only half pressed down and then held in place with some sort of modelling plastic. 

(@Gryzor: We need a "Fill the page with Facepalms command")

Sad... but luckily still repairable this time. I won't name and shame the repair guy, as it wasn't my money he took for this disgraceful pile of shite, but the Britannia owner might like to inform the world where not to send their treasured hardware for repair in the future.


Bryce.

[ComSoft6128]

MMM.

"And there was a great wailing and gnashing of teeth"......in Glasgow.

Public naming and shaming is not something I am comfortable with, but if anyone wants advice on where not to send precious hardware - PM me for advice.

Or to put it another way, if repairs are required ask Bryce first.

No Cheers,

Peter

[Chinnery]

Wow.
Even my sausage fingered repair techniques are not that bad...
[most of the time anyway  ]

[Chinnery]

Public naming and shaming is not something I am comfortable with, but if anyone wants advice on where not to send precious hardware - PM me for advice.

m u s t  k n o w.
m u s t   r e s i s t   b e i n g   n o s e y!!!
m u s t  k n o w! ! ! !
n o...

[Bryce]

Sorted.

Bryce.

[ComSoft6128]

That is a very pleasant sight indeed!

[Gryzor]

OH DEAR GOD WHAT IS THAT THING!!!


I don't know if I'm capable of doing a better job, but I sure as hell just WOULDN'T do it. Know thy limits, people.


The contrast with the 'after' photo is phenomenal.


Also, this crap modelling plastic could be sugru, which is a very nice material if moulded correctly, very strong and with a long after-repair life. But I'm pretty sure it was never advertised as an electronics thing.


Concerning the guy who did this, I'd have absolutely no qualms naming him; it'd be a service to the community...

[Gryzor]

PS


10 print "facepalm"
20 goto 10

[Bryce]

So if I type CLS all the posts will disappear too?

Bryce.

[Gryzor]

So if I type CLS all the posts will disappear too?

Bryce.

Working on it. I have some trouble building a connector to control SQL from BASIC, but I'm getting there.


Slowly.

[Bryce]

Working on it. I have some trouble building a connector to control SQL from BASIC, but I'm getting there.


Slowly.

You're in the right thread then, you're not the only one that has issues with building connectors. 

Bryce.

[CPC_Fan]

Well what a mess that was 


But a great repair and recovery job by the wonderful Bryce 

[MikeSDK]

it's amazing what a shoddy job that was..

doing something like that is fine if it's your own stuff.. but someone else's? geez  .. I'm glad you could rectify this Bryce because.. damn
and what the heck had he/she done with the ribbon cable to put it in that state?

[LambdaMikel]

Damn! I recognize I good handyman if i see one! Plastic putty - that's smart. I am always using silly putty, hot glue, and staples 

[Bryce]

I am always using silly putty, hot glue, and staples 

Let me guess... To fix a scratched CD?

Bryce.

[LambdaMikel]

Let me guess... To fix a scratched CD?

No, for VHS  tapes and audio cassettes. 

[ComSoft6128]

Rombox working fine - Happy days

[Bryce]

Send over that camera and I'll see if I can fix the Auto-focus

Bryce.

[LambdaMikel]

Send over that camera and I'll see if I can fix the Auto-focus

You're going to use plastic putty, right?

[MikeSDK]

Are you kidding? For a case like that vaseline should do the trick nicely

[Bryce]

A bit of lens polishing with fine sandpaper and she'll be right as rain.

Bryce.