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#1
Technical support - Hardware related / Re: 464+ working but black scr...
Last post by eto - Yesterday at 23:21Quote from: evenmore on Yesterday at 22:53Thanks everyone, I will get my dad to help me test the board with the multimeter.What cable do you use? Can you take a picture of it? In the video it's not fully visible and looks slightly suspicious .
It's strange that it should work for my CPC464, but not the Plus.
That makes me think it is something to do with the computer rather than the TV.
It is an old TV, over 20 years or so.
I will let you know what happens!
Thanks very much for the advice!
Chris
#2
Technical support - Hardware related / Re: 464+ working but black scr...
Last post by eto - Yesterday at 23:18Quote from: tibbs1972 on Yesterday at 21:51Hi,
I'm a bit of a newbie to the plus range, started working on mine last week.
I found out that newer TV's might not handle the 464+/6128+ RGB output through the scart connection.
Also, I tried a Scart to HDMI upscale, but that definitely didn't work, it was grey and garbled.
I was lucky, I had a 10year old Murphy TV that detected the RGB signals thorugh the scart lead. A possible cause might just be the TV can't handle the signals. 🤔
Regards
Tibbs
then they probably don't detect that they should switch to RGB. They work in default mode and try to decode a (not present) composite video signal.
You need a Scart cable with power injection that puts the proper RGB detect signal on one of the pins.
You can find more detailed information on the Wiki.
#3
Quote from: McArti0 on Yesterday at 07:53AY Datasheet shows that write consists of tds=50ns before write signal, tdw = min. 1800ns write signal, and tdh=100ns HOLD write data AFTER write signal.
Data is transferred from Z80 to PPI and stored there. It is made available to the PSG non-stop afterwards (when the command 'OUT &F400,nn' finishes). The PSG will react to this data when its control lines (BDIR and BC1, the upper two bits of port C in the PPI) are set accordingly.
The shortest time the Z80 can influence something is 4000 ns for the 'OUT (C),r' commands and under some circumstances 3000 ns for the 'OUT (nn),A' command. In between there will be always sufficient time for the PSG to copy values.
If there would not be sufficient time for copying the values, then some parts of the circuit would work with newer bits, and other parts would work with older bits. For some circuits this would lead into disaster, for others it would only create some short-lived glitches. I guess the volume level is not critical in this case.
#4
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Technical support - Hardware related / Re: 464+ working but black scr...
Last post by evenmore - Yesterday at 22:53Thanks everyone, I will get my dad to help me test the board with the multimeter.
It's strange that it should work for my CPC464, but not the Plus.
That makes me think it is something to do with the computer rather than the TV.
It is an old TV, over 20 years or so.
I will let you know what happens!
Thanks very much for the advice!
Chris
It's strange that it should work for my CPC464, but not the Plus.
That makes me think it is something to do with the computer rather than the TV.
It is an old TV, over 20 years or so.
I will let you know what happens!
Thanks very much for the advice!
Chris
#5
General Discussion - Introductions / Re: FUN FACT: Amstrad was the ...
Last post by tibbs1972 - Yesterday at 22:28Also, although not a personal computer, our company was backing up the servers to tapes untill about 2008.
Regards
Tibbs
Regards
Tibbs
#6
General Discussion - Introductions / Re: FUN FACT: Amstrad was the ...
Last post by tibbs1972 - Yesterday at 22:27I thought I'd ask Grok on X.com 
Asnwer below (I use grok a lot for tech questions).
The last computer released with a built-in data recorder (cassette tape drive) was likely the Amstrad CPC 464 Plus, released in 1990. It featured a built-in cassette deck for data storage, a feature retained for compatibility with earlier CPC models in cost-sensitive markets.
While some sources suggest the SAM Coupé (December 1989) as a contender due to its external cassette interface for ZX Spectrum compatibility, the CPC 464 Plus is generally considered the last with an integrated tape drive. By the early 1990s, floppy disks and hard drives had largely replaced cassette storage in home computers, especially in Western markets, though cassettes lingered in Eastern Europe and other regions due to affordability.
Asnwer below (I use grok a lot for tech questions).
The last computer released with a built-in data recorder (cassette tape drive) was likely the Amstrad CPC 464 Plus, released in 1990. It featured a built-in cassette deck for data storage, a feature retained for compatibility with earlier CPC models in cost-sensitive markets.
While some sources suggest the SAM Coupé (December 1989) as a contender due to its external cassette interface for ZX Spectrum compatibility, the CPC 464 Plus is generally considered the last with an integrated tape drive. By the early 1990s, floppy disks and hard drives had largely replaced cassette storage in home computers, especially in Western markets, though cassettes lingered in Eastern Europe and other regions due to affordability.
#7
Technical support - Hardware related / Re: 464+ working but black scr...
Last post by tibbs1972 - Yesterday at 21:51Hi,
I'm a bit of a newbie to the plus range, started working on mine last week.
I found out that newer TV's might not handle the 464+/6128+ RGB output through the scart connection.
Also, I tried a Scart to HDMI upscale, but that definitely didn't work, it was grey and garbled.
I was lucky, I had a 10year old Murphy TV that detected the RGB signals thorugh the scart lead. A possible cause might just be the TV can't handle the signals. 🤔
Regards
Tibbs
I'm a bit of a newbie to the plus range, started working on mine last week.
I found out that newer TV's might not handle the 464+/6128+ RGB output through the scart connection.
Also, I tried a Scart to HDMI upscale, but that definitely didn't work, it was grey and garbled.
I was lucky, I had a 10year old Murphy TV that detected the RGB signals thorugh the scart lead. A possible cause might just be the TV can't handle the signals. 🤔
Regards
Tibbs
#8
General Discussion - Introductions / Re: Hi from Retro PC Fanatic
Last post by Prodatron - Yesterday at 21:49@norecess464 very funny: In my case it's 100% the same.
#9
Yeah, that's the one I played the most.
1997 was my most Revolution Software year: I discovered Lure of the Temptress in an MS-DOS pirate CD (remember doing "DIR" on the "ADVENTURE" folder!) during my 3 month exile at my dad's house, but was super confused and quickly switched to other games. Later in the year, I bought the Playstation (my mum's house didn't have a computer or home console, only the Game Boy!), which was a life-changing experience for me as I was 17 and going through a crisis, and completed the beautiful, but boring Broken Sword demo.
Some years later (2000), one of the first games I downloaded from Home of the Underdogs was Beneath a Steel Sky. This one I played some hours into it, but it was a bit frustrating and also abandoned it.
If you like Watchmen, try Miracleman and the Time Twisters/Future Shocks collections by the same hairy writer.
1997 was my most Revolution Software year: I discovered Lure of the Temptress in an MS-DOS pirate CD (remember doing "DIR" on the "ADVENTURE" folder!) during my 3 month exile at my dad's house, but was super confused and quickly switched to other games. Later in the year, I bought the Playstation (my mum's house didn't have a computer or home console, only the Game Boy!), which was a life-changing experience for me as I was 17 and going through a crisis, and completed the beautiful, but boring Broken Sword demo.
Some years later (2000), one of the first games I downloaded from Home of the Underdogs was Beneath a Steel Sky. This one I played some hours into it, but it was a bit frustrating and also abandoned it.
If you like Watchmen, try Miracleman and the Time Twisters/Future Shocks collections by the same hairy writer.
#10
Technical support - Hardware related / 6128+ Keyboard Membrame
Last post by tibbs1972 - Yesterday at 20:57I wonder who the genius was who came up with Keyboard Membrame, back in the 80's, Ribbon Cable did the job. 
I've just got my 6128+ back together. The Disc Drive and Cartridge are working and I got it into Basic, also Burning' Rubber worked.
Amazing how long Cartidges work, I've got Pacman and Space Invaders for the Atari 2600. A bit of work with a Fibre Glass Pen on the edge connector and away they went.
Unfortunately, there are many cracks and splits on the 6128+ Keyboard Membrame at the edge connectors.
I've got a new Membrame on order, but I thought I'd try some Conductive Paint. I've got a Bottle on order.
It can't damage the Membrame anymore than it is already. It's also an experiment for future repairs.
Looking forward to testing the Paint when it arrives.
Regards
Tibbs
I've just got my 6128+ back together. The Disc Drive and Cartridge are working and I got it into Basic, also Burning' Rubber worked.
Amazing how long Cartidges work, I've got Pacman and Space Invaders for the Atari 2600. A bit of work with a Fibre Glass Pen on the edge connector and away they went.
Unfortunately, there are many cracks and splits on the 6128+ Keyboard Membrame at the edge connectors.
I've got a new Membrame on order, but I thought I'd try some Conductive Paint. I've got a Bottle on order.
It can't damage the Membrame anymore than it is already. It's also an experiment for future repairs.
Looking forward to testing the Paint when it arrives.
Regards
Tibbs