January 2000 - TechToolsList - listserv.classicarcade.com

RE: Signature Analyzers
by Chris Loggans 14 Jan '00

14 Jan '00

Every time I've used my HP 5006, the signatures have matched the Atari documentation. -Chris -----Original Message----- From: Jon Raiford To: TechToolsList(a)flippers.com Sent: 1/14/00 11:27 AM Subject: Re: Signature Analyzers Ok, thanks. I guess it really is the right one to go after. Is it true that the it reports the same signature as a cat box? I've heard two different stories, so I wasn't sure what to believe :) Thanks again Jon At 08:20 AM 01/14/2000 -0800, you wrote: >As far as I know - any signature analyzer should do fine. The HP 5004A >has the most documentation available online as far as troubleshooting >video game boards. > >I bought the HP 5004a for $100 although you may see it for slightly less >on ebay. I got mine simply because most of the documentation on using the >Cinematronics exorsizor mentions this particular model. > >Just my 2 cents. > > >Matt > > >_____________________________________________________________________ > >On Fri, 14 Jan 2000, Jon Raiford wrote: > > > I have decided that I should get a Sig. Analyzer. What is the one to > > get? I keep seeing people talk about the HP 5004A, is that was I > > should be targeting? I'm sorry if this has been discussed to death > > already, I just now finally joined this list. Also, what should I > > expect to pay for one? > > > > Thanks, Jon > > > >

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RE: Signature Analyzers
by Chris Loggans 14 Jan '00

14 Jan '00

The HP 5006 is also an option if you cannot find the 5004. The HP 5006 is the same as a 5004 with a few more bells and whistles. -Chris -----Original Message----- From: Matt Rossiter - Verio Southern California To: Tech Tools List Sent: 1/14/00 11:20 AM Subject: Re: Signature Analyzers As far as I know - any signature analyzer should do fine. The HP 5004A has the most documentation available online as far as troubleshooting video game boards. I bought the HP 5004a for $100 although you may see it for slightly less on ebay. I got mine simply because most of the documentation on using the Cinematronics exorsizor mentions this particular model. Just my 2 cents. Matt _____________________________________________________________________ On Fri, 14 Jan 2000, Jon Raiford wrote: > I have decided that I should get a Sig. Analyzer. What is the one to > get? I keep seeing people talk about the HP 5004A, is that was I > should be targeting? I'm sorry if this has been discussed to death > already, I just now finally joined this list. Also, what should I > expect to pay for one? > > Thanks, Jon > >

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Re: test of autoreply #3
by John Robertson 14 Jan '00

14 Jan '00

Third test of edited control file... Think I have it now...this should also enable folks to auto-subscribe by just sending a message to the list, plus "Reply-To" will invoke the list address instead of the author, and finally a mistake will cause the "Help" file to be sent to the sender. Second test of edited control file.. At 07:53 AM 1/13/2000 -0800, John Robertson wrote: >I have no idea if this will work or if I broke the list...will just send >this out to the list and see if I can reply to it... > >John :-#?# John's Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9 Call (604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games) http://www.flippers.com "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

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test of autoreply-failed
by John Robertson 13 Jan '00

13 Jan '00

Dang my test of autoreply didn't work...does anyone know how to edit mail list rc.custom files so it will work correctly? John :-#?# John's Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9 Call (604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games) http://www.flippers.com "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

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RE: Fluke T-shooters
by Clay Cowgill 11 Jan '00

11 Jan '00

> Since we're on the topic of the rs-232 port on the 9010... > has anyone looked > into whether there is a terminal mode available so we could > write a pc based > front-end for the t-shooter?? The pc software side would be > a breeze if > that sort of mode is already available. However, if we had to write a > program on the 9010 to translate the commands.... that might > get a little > hairy. Any thoughts? The 9010 has a software compiler and downloader that runs on a PC with a serial port connection. You can write programs that run on the 9010 stand-alone, or you can write stuff that uses the PC as a more verbose host for doing automated test scripts and examining the results with user interaction. (The idea was to have the PC be something of an "engineer in a box" that lets technicians carry out complex debugging tasks in short time. Sort of a manually-programmed expert system for debugging a board.) A sample session might go like: PC: Automatically tests RAM and ROM and CPU bus and decides all is well. PC: "Place test probe on pin 2 of IC 2M (74LS00) and press 'enter'" Fluke: *beep* (displays signature of 2AF4) PC: Looks at 2AF4, decides it's right, and directs the trouble shooting to the next step. PC: "Place test probe on pin 6 of IC 3H (74LS393) and press 'enter'" Fluke: *beep* (displays signature of 333F) PC: Decides that that signature is wrong, and based on the program knows that the only thing that could be wrong is a certain IC. The PC displays "IC 1B (74LS02) is defective and needs to be replaced." (obviously it takes more steps than that, but you get the idea.) There are some programs like this floating around for old arade games (I remember Pole Position in particular). -Clay

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RE: Fluke T-shooters
by Chris Loggans 06 Jan '00

06 Jan '00

>I have no idea what the Clock Mod. is, and the only useful >pod there is the Z80, it is worth $100+US...if working... The Clock Module is used for signature analysis. It has Start, Stop, Clock, Enable and Ground lines on it. I'm not sure that it can be used on the 9010 though, I'll have to check my documentation tonight. I have one on my 9100 and it goes to a dedicated connector which I don't remember seeing on the 9010. -Chris

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RE: Fluke T-shooters
by James Marous 06 Jan '00

06 Jan '00

Since we're on the topic of the rs-232 port on the 9010... has anyone looked into whether there is a terminal mode available so we could write a pc based front-end for the t-shooter?? The pc software side would be a breeze if that sort of mode is already available. However, if we had to write a program on the 9010 to translate the commands.... that might get a little hairy. Any thoughts? James -----Original Message----- From: John Robertson [mailto:jrr@flippers.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2000 9:39 PM To: Kev; techtoolslist(a)flippers.com Subject: Re: Fluke T-shooters The RS-232 is bi-directional. You can store and retrieve test patterns. Haven't tried it yet... John :-#)# At 01:37 PM 1/5/2000 -0800, you wrote: >Hey John! > > > > The list isn't dead, just not very busy...perhaps the need is not so >great > > as I thought... > > To tell if a Fluke has an RS-232 port, look on the rear, it looks like the > > old AT style serial post, a DB-25 jack with male pins. As for software, it > > seems that it just puts out simple ASCII text, and this can be saved in a > > text doc. > >Well given the discussion of a Raster list who knows what the demand is? > >So, the 232 is only for output? I thought you could create & store test >patterns offline? > > >Kev >mowerman(a)erols.com >http://www.erols.com/mowerman John's Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9 Call (604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games) http://www.flippers.com "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

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RE: Fluke T-shooters
by James Marous 06 Jan '00

06 Jan '00

I think the 9010 uses a Z80, but I am not sure what you are asking. The 9010 has its own internal language, something one step above assembly. According to the manuals, there are routines to send and receive files via the serial port, but I am trying to find some way to emulate keyboard commands via the serial port without having to resort to downloading an entire program to the Fluke. Using something like LabWindows/CVI you could set up a GUI front end on the pc to command the 9010 (Theoretically) and, taken to the next step, use the pc to send/receive series of commands and results, all in theory of course. James ps, Kev, check out my Tech page, there is a model of a replacement roller-controller for the dedicated Major Havoc, should have the first prototype in a week or so. Got tired of looking for one, so I decided to just build one :) -----Original Message----- From: Kev [mailto:KKlopp@EROLS.COM] Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2000 11:42 AM To: James Marous Cc: techtoolslist(a)flippers.com Subject: Re: Fluke T-shooters What CPU is inside the 9010 to run the computer? > Since we're on the topic of the rs-232 port on the 9010... has anyone looked > into whether there is a terminal mode available so we could write a pc based > front-end for the t-shooter?? The pc software side would be a breeze if > that sort of mode is already available. However, if we had to write a > program on the 9010 to translate the commands.... that might get a little > hairy. Any thoughts? Kev mowerman(a)erols.com http://www.erols.com/mowerman

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Re: Fluke T-shooters
by Peter Fyfe 06 Jan '00

06 Jan '00

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Re: Fluke T-shooters
by John Robertson 06 Jan '00

06 Jan '00

The RS-232 is bi-directional. You can store and retrieve test patterns. Haven't tried it yet... John :-#)# At 01:37 PM 1/5/2000 -0800, you wrote: >Hey John! > > > > The list isn't dead, just not very busy...perhaps the need is not so >great > > as I thought... > > To tell if a Fluke has an RS-232 port, look on the rear, it looks like the > > old AT style serial post, a DB-25 jack with male pins. As for software, it > > seems that it just puts out simple ASCII text, and this can be saved in a > > text doc. > >Well given the discussion of a Raster list who knows what the demand is? > >So, the 232 is only for output? I thought you could create & store test >patterns offline? > > >Kev >mowerman(a)erols.com >http://www.erols.com/mowerman John's Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9 Call (604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games) http://www.flippers.com "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

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