March 2000 - TechToolsList - listserv.classicarcade.com

ISO: Frequency counter, Pace MBT solder and extractor
by FBowen＠checkfree.com 23 Mar '00

23 Mar '00

Is this an adequate frequency counter for videogame repair purposes: Heathkit Frequency Counter Model IM-4100 http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=289956727 If not, what would be a good brand/model to get that is available and cheap? Also looking for the solder gun and extractor for a Pace MBT-200 at a reasonable price. I bought one of Clay's stations a few months back but haven't had much luck finding these at a decent price. Thanks! To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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Re: ISO: Frequency counter, Pace MBT solder and extractor
by Mark Shostak 23 Mar '00

23 Mar '00

>Is this an adequate frequency counter for videogame repair purposes: > >Heathkit Frequency Counter Model IM-4100 >http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=289956727 > >If not, what would be a good brand/model to get that is available and cheap? The Heathkit counters are ok; I have one I love. But... A) This is one of the cheap ones (not a major issue) B) They never specified its maximum frequency C) They never said it worked D) They never said if it was originally a kit or sold pre-assembled E) If it was a kit, depending on who made it, will determine a lot as far as how reliable or repairable it will be F) I've never used a counter on a video game... for anything. I'm not sure what you're going to use it for. I'd spend my money on a good DMM, scope, transistor tester, cap meter, signature analyzer or beer, before getting a counter for use in VG repair. -Mark To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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Re: beginner's question
by John Robertson 20 Mar '00

20 Mar '00

Some of the universal eprom programmers also test many devices. I have a Xeltek (II don't recommend it) that will test 74XX, CMOS and a few different RAM as well as burn proms, eproms, gals, pals,,,,, John :-#)# At 02:34 PM 3/19/2000 -0500, Magiera, Joe (AIT) wrote: >Sorry for the beginner's question. > >What specific device would people recommend for a RAM/ROM (and other chip) >tester? > >Joe > >joe.magiera(a)ameritech.com 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." To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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beginner's question
by Magiera, Joe (AIT) 19 Mar '00

19 Mar '00

Sorry for the beginner's question. What specific device would people recommend for a RAM/ROM (and other chip) tester? Joe joe.magiera(a)ameritech.com

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Re: DATA I/O 29B
by ayeckley 18 Mar '00

18 Mar '00

>Perhaps they are simple address decoding...Version 5 does not seem to work >any better with PL 6.10 than the earlier version, however the 29B does come >up in remote mode as default. Now that's odd! Even I have to do <Select><F><1><Start><Start> Alex http://home.neo.lrun.com/ayeckle/ ayeckley(a)neo.lrun.com (Play) yecklea(a)diebold.com (Work) To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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RE: DATA I/O 29B
by Fish, David 18 Mar '00

18 Mar '00

> [Ranger Mike] > I use 3.10, with code 10, and have not had one bit of > trouble. Of > course, being a computer old timer, I still think 9600 baud > is pretty quick, > and am happy to use it (the baud rate which I am happy using a VT320 > connected to a vms box). This is probably the cause of my problems. It's been years since I used the older (pre-version 6) Promlink and don't have access to it anymore. Did someone have it available on thier website? The problem with the RAW BINARY code 16 is that my 29B will not recognize it. The firmware in mine is version 6, the EPROMs are numbered 315-14-49 thru 315-14-55. I haven't tried Alex's version 5 EPROMs yet. I'm hoping that it doesn't require a PAL change to swap versions, DATA I/O use to be famous for this. > [Ranger Mike] > I tried using the 6.10 version, and get the hanging > problem as well. > With 3.10, I use net rom binaries, and have no problems at all. Mike, what the version number of your firmware in the 29B? Dave To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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RE: DATA I/O 29B
by Fish, David 18 Mar '00

18 Mar '00

> So what is Code 10? Is it a simple raw binary, or is it > somewhat padded? > This is from a 2900/3900 manual I happen to have handy, the translation formats are the same as in the 29B for TF-10 and TF16. Format Code Formatted Binary 10 Absolute Binary 16 "Formatted Binary Format, Code 10 Data transfer in the Formatted Binary format consists of a stream of 8-bit data bytes preceeded by a byte count and followed by a sumcheck. The Formatted Binary does not have addresses." "The programmer store incomming binary data upon receipt of the start character. Data are store in RAM starting at the first RAM address specified by the Memory Address Begin parameter and ending at the last incomming data byte." Note: The START CODE looks to be FF. It's really the RUBOUT paper tape character. "Format 10 does not function properly unless you select NO parity and 8-bit data" This format was originally used for paper tape input. "Absolute Binary Format, Code 16 Absolute Binary format is a literal representation of the data to be transfered, and no translation of the data takes place during the transfer. There are no overhead characters added to the data (i.e. no address record, start code, end code, nulls or checksum). Every byte transfered represents the users data. This format can be used to download unformatted data such as a ".exe. file to the programmer. Since this format does not have an end of file character download transfers will terminate after no more data is received and an I/O timeout occurs." Dave To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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Tektronix 1241 Logic Analyzer
by Matt Rossiter - Verio Southern California 18 Mar '00

18 Mar '00

Well, I just got one of these the other day and don't have much experience or knowlege in using one, but I thought, what the heck - I'll learn. Sometimes test equipment is just as much fun to play with as Video games. I got a tektronix book which describes the basics of Using the Logic Analyzer and have read through about half of it already. So far I've got the basic idea of what it does, but maybe someone could help me in my learning process. I have the base unit, one 1240D1 card, three 1240D2 cards, and one P6460 data acquisition probe and a bunch of grabbers. What kind of useful tests or analysis can I do on an old microprocessor board (such as a game board of course) and what additional accessories would I need? What would be the best way to put this to the best use? Just simple questions I know, but I'm almost starting from scratch. I do have a basic understanding of TTL and Microprocessors. Thanks for any input.... Matt To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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RE: DATA I/O 29B
by mike_ranger＠dofasco.ca 17 Mar '00

17 Mar '00

This seems to imply that PL may be adding the size and checksum, which would explain why i have no problem with using it on net roms! Mike > -----Original Message----- > From: Fish, David [SMTP:dfish@bev.etn.com] > Sent: Friday, March 17, 2000 11:56 AM > To: 'TechToolsList(a)flippers.com' > Subject: RE: DATA I/O 29B > > > So what is Code 10? Is it a simple raw binary, or is it > > somewhat padded? > > > > This is from a 2900/3900 manual I happen to have handy, the > translation formats are the same as in the 29B for TF-10 and > TF16. > > Format Code > Formatted Binary 10 > Absolute Binary 16 > > "Formatted Binary Format, Code 10 > Data transfer in the Formatted Binary format consists of a > stream of 8-bit data bytes preceeded by a byte count and > followed by a sumcheck. The Formatted Binary does not have > addresses." > "The programmer store incomming binary data upon receipt of > the start character. Data are store in RAM starting at the > first RAM address specified by the Memory Address Begin parameter > and ending at the last incomming data byte." > > Note: The START CODE looks to be FF. It's really the > RUBOUT paper tape character. > > "Format 10 does not function properly unless you select > NO parity and 8-bit data" > > This format was originally used for paper tape input. > > "Absolute Binary Format, Code 16 > Absolute Binary format is a literal representation of the > data to be transfered, and no translation of the data takes > place during the transfer. There are no overhead characters > added to the data (i.e. no address record, start code, end > code, nulls or checksum). Every byte transfered represents > the users data. This format can be used to download unformatted > data such as a ".exe. file to the programmer. > Since this format does not have an end of file character > download transfers will terminate after no more data is received > and an I/O timeout occurs." > > Dave > > To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in > the > message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other > questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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RE: DATA I/O 29B
by mike_ranger＠dofasco.ca 17 Mar '00

17 Mar '00

> My reading of the code 10 indicates that it stuffs extra bits in with the > data-Start/Stop or some such, I don't have the book at home. So do you not > > need to convert the raw binary to code 10 before transferring it to the > 29B? Or am I missing something? > [Ranger Mike] I use 3.10, with code 10, and have not had one bit of trouble. Of course, being a computer old timer, I still think 9600 baud is pretty quick, and am happy to use it (the baud rate which I am happy using a VT320 connected to a vms box). [Ranger Mike] I tried using the 6.10 version, and get the hanging problem as well. With 3.10, I use net rom binaries, and have no problems at all. Mike To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the message body to: techtoolslist-request(a)flippers.com. Please direct other questions, comments, or problems to jrr(a)flippers.com.

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