Available for sale the ZOE RGB rev 2.0 interface for Mattel Intellivision.

The Zoe interface lets you connect the PAL Mattel Intellivision console to a TV/monitor through the RGB signal of a SCART connector, dramatically increasing the quality of the video signal and bringing it to the highest possible quality: the original output is a modest RF/Antenna signal.

The interface is connected in place of the National LM1886 IC (TV Video Matrix DAC) to take the RGB and Sync signals and convert them for the SCART output.

Below some examples of video quality using a Sony PVM9041QM CRT Monitor and a Sony KD-49XD8305

The ZOE rev 2.0 interface is tested individually piece by piece before shipment.

The assembled kit is available and you can buy it now from ebay or privately (An installation service on the console will be available for less experienced users)The kit includes:

• 1 x ZOE rev 2.0 pcb with 3 bioadhesive supports.
• 1 x Dupont connector to the 8-pin DIN female panel socket (30cm long)
• 1 x Flat cable to connect the ZOE RGB to the socket of the LM1886  (19cm long)
• 1 x SCART Cable to 8-pin DIN male (2mt long)
• 1 x Audio cable with dupont connector from one end and to solder on the other side (30cm long)
• 1 x Precision IC Socket to replace the LM1886.
• 2 x Screws to fix the 8-pin DIN female.

Video test (Italian Only):

The video was made by a friend Vincenzo Sinceri.

If someone wants to remake the din-scart cable (example: more length), this is the pinout:

Download: Zoe RGB rev 2.0 Interface Installation Manual (English/Italian) (1193)

If you have problems to viewing in the correct way the manual in PDF format click here for the instruction how to configure the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

This poor computer was given to me in year 2015 but unfortunately it arrived at destination destroyed.

In these days i have decided to fix it and make some upgrades to make it more usable.

Upgrading & Restoration:

• General cleaning of external case and motherboards.
• Fixed the ventilation grid as the best i could do.
• Glued the pins where the screws lock the keyboard.
• Cleaning and Belt replacement of the 360k Floppy Drive.
• Replaced MASKROM MSX VG-8235 (U7) with an EPROM 27C512 with the firmware of the MSX VG-8245 to use 720k floppy disk on the internal drive.
• Replaced the original Floppy Drive with the GOTEK (HXC).
• Removed the battery for the system clock.
• Bypassed the impedance L1 on the power supply stage (solves video noise if the original Floppy Drive is not used)
• Rerouted Floppy Drive cable to make it compatible with a standard Floppy Drives.
• Fix for the missing signals of the Internal Floppy Drive but present on the external Floppy Drive (you need to solder 2 wires)

Gallery of the work done:

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Download: MSX 8245 50hz Rom [27512] (952)

Playing with the MSX and HXC with DSK support, meanwhile updating the ROM of the FDD Interface to support double sided disk (720KB).

Gallery:

Download: MSX FDD Interface ROM (360k/720k) (686)

Sony HITBit HB-75P (Keyboard repair).

Defect:

• Some keyboard key doesn’t work (3, MINUS, Q, SPACE, CODE [DX]).

Fix:

• Cleaning the PAD inside the Key Switch.
• Redone the soldering of the pcb pad (space switch) that was broken at the base.

Gallery:

Sony HB-F1XD (MSX2) Repair.

Defect:

• Missing Sounds.

Replaced parts:

• 3 x SMD Capacitors. (2 x 10uF – 1 x 100uF) on the Audio/Video Encoder PCB.

Gallery of the repair:

Download: Sony HB-F1XD (MSX2) Technical manual (673)

Atari 800 XL Repair (1 of 2)

Defect:

• Cartridges don’t work.
• Some games or demos via SIO don’t work.

Replaced parts:

• Replaced ROM CO61598B (U5) with a EPROM 27C128.

Gallery of the repair:

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Atari 800 XL Repair (2 of 2)

Defect:

• The computer starts only in SELF TEST mode.

Replaced parts:

• Replaced ROM BASIC C060302A (U4) with a EPROM 27C64 through adapter from 2364 to 2764.

Gallery of the repair:

Download:

• Atari OS Rom 800XL (829)
• Atari BASIC Rom 800XL (789)

Commodore Amiga 1200 Sostiuzione Condensatori.

Gallery:

Hantarex PCB Coin-OP Monitor Full Recap.

Not very funny but someone has to do it. 8-)

Retro Things to be repaired for some friends.

• 1 x Amiga 1200 (Full Recap)
• 1 x Atari 800 XL (don’t runs anything)
• 1 x Atari 1010 (check)
• 1 x Commodore 1571 (freezed/error)
• 1 x Hantarex PCB Coin-op Monitor (Full Recap)
• 1 x Sony HITBit HB-F1XD MSX2 (missing sound)
• 1 x Sony HITBit HB-75P (keyboard problem)

Vampire A600 V2 – Video Flickering with Black Screen Fix

According to Gunnar on the Apollo Forum a way to fix the video flickering with black screen that afflicts some installations is soldering two capacitors of 22uf 16v on top of C3 and C6 of the Vampire A600 V2.

Seems to work properly for now.

Gallery:

Commodore Amiga 1200 Full Recap & Cleaning Floppy Drive.

Gallery:

I start immediately to say; Floppy Drive, Metal base with the Transformer are ended up in the trash, are unrecoverable (see photo).

What i did is carefully clean the external case of the Floppy Drive which i am quite satisfied of the result.

Then i have started to repair and carefully clean the motherboard of the Floppy Drive (REV 1540050) that had the following problems (see photo):

• I had to use the sockets for all the integrated circuits, because the rust had crept under all the integrated circuits, creating many problems.
• Remove the voltage regulators and clean the rust that was under the heatsink.
• Clean and try all integrated circuits after removing them.
• Clean the PCB.
• Replaced 2 x 6522 (VIA) that is not working.
• Replaced 1 x 6502 (CPU) that is not working.
• Replaced 1 x HM6116P (STATIC RAM) that is not working.
• Replaced 2 x Resistors of 9.1k 1% interrupted.
• Replaced for safety also 1 x Resistor of 91ohm 1%.
• Moved the ceramic capacitor (FIX by Commodore) to the solder side, which was fixed above the 74LS86.

What i have used to clean the external Floppy Drive case:

• I have used a plenty of running water by rubbing with a brush to remove everything you could do without using specific products.
• I have used CIF GEL with bleach that i left to act for 30 minutes.
• I have rinse thoroughly with water, always rubbing with the brush and with a stanley plastic spatulas
• I repeated these last two phase for least 3 times.

• I have used CIF Degreaser with Bicarbonate that i left to act for 10 minutes.
• With a Brush / Toothbrush / Toothpicks / Cotton Fioc / Stanley plastic spatulas o have rubbed and cleaned the most dirty and hidden parts.
• I have rinse thoroughly with water, always rubbing with a brush.
• I repeated these last three phases for least 4 times.

• I have completed the cleaning with the Glassex and Alcohol.

I have used a Floppy Drive mechanics and a transformer that i have found in the laboratory that i have installed in the Floppy Drive VC-1541 case.

Restoration and Repair Gallery:

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Differences before and after the restoration Gallery:

Commodore VIC-20 (ASSY 250403) Repair

Defect:

• Black Screen.

Replaced parts:

• Replaced MOS 65245 [74LS245] (UF8)

Gallery of the work done:

Commodore 128 (REV 310381) Repair

Defect:

• Black Screen.

Replaced parts:

• Replaced 74LS08 (U61)
• Replaced CPU 8502R0 (U6)
• Replaced PLA 8721R3 (U11)

Gallery of the work done:

Pioneer LaserActive CLD-A100 – Repair/Recap & Modules full Recap.

Defects:

• The Game cartridges on the Sega Genesis Module do not work but the games on CD-ROM work correctly.
• The INTF Ass’y Interface has some leakage capacitors and in short circuit.
• The PSU has some leakage capacitors and in short circuit.
• Solder joint jumped out on the three connectors that connect the two horizzonal/vertical motherboards.
• Some cold solder on the power stage.

Works that have been done:

• Cleaning and Full Recap PSU.
• Cleaning and Full Recap Sega Genesis/Sega CD PAC-S10 Module.
• Cleaning and Full Recap Nec PC Engine PAC-N1/N1 Module.
• Cleaning and Recap INTF Ass’y Interface.
• Rebuilding PADs of the two pcb connectors.
• Rebuilding cold solder joint on the power stage.

Pioneer LaserActive CLD-A100 Gallery:

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Sega Genesis/Sega CD PAC-S10 Module Gallery:

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Nec PC Engine PAC-N1/N1 Module Gallery: