Firing up Asteroids

BeagleBoy

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I've purchased:
Asteroids power brick in unknown condition
Asteroids AR/I in unknown condition
Asteroids PCB in unknown condition
Asteroids monitor in unknown condition
Asteroids harness that has seen better days.

Would you hook it all up and flip the switch? Or test it along the way? Test the AR? Test the video outputs?

-Jim
 
For the fear of frying stuff I would test the power brick first, then the AR1. Also, power up the monitor and see if the spot killer comes on with no signal.
 
I'm glad I looked, though it probably wouldn't have mattered. But my brick was set for 100VAC (had the violet jumpers). So now I've got a 120V violet jumper. Glad I bought that .93 pin extractor the other day.

In any case, so far, so good. Voltages were good, so I hooked up the PCB, and I got a nice bump bump bump bump when I started a game, so at the very least, it plays blind. Going to check the video voltages next, before hooking up the monitor.

-Jim
 
All hooked up, and spot-killer is on. :(

Do I have any chance of debugging this without a scope?

-Jim
 
The B&W Vector Monitor FAQ will only help you with the monitor. The problem is just as likely (IMO) to be on the PCB as the monitor.

So I'd say the first order of business would be to try and determine which it is. Easiest way would be to hook up a known-good monitor (or 'scope in X-Y mode). I'm guessing you don't have access to either option. Next thing you can do is look at the X-OUT and Y-OUT test points on the PCB and see if there's any signal on them. A signal should manifest itself as a couple of volts or so AC on each line. If they're dead flat (no AC content), the problem is on the PCB. If you have these deflection output signals, proceed to monitor troubleshooting.
 
The problem could also be in the power supply. He doesn't mention if the game plays blind or not. Before doing any troubleshooting of the monitor or board, he needs to check voltages in the power supply, and verify that it's working correctly. It's pointless to troubleshoot anything else if you're unsure of your power supply.

-Ian
 
The problem could also be in the power supply. He doesn't mention if the game plays blind or not.

Yes, he does, in message #3 -

"Voltages were good, so I hooked up the PCB, and I got a nice bump bump bump bump when I started a game, so at the very least, it plays blind"

:)
 
I suppose I should have been more specific. I've actually already read the vector FAQ, but I have no idea if the board is generating output.

I'll check the voltages on those test points and see what they look like.

If necessary, I might be able to check out an x-y scope from work.

-Jim
 
I hooked up to the test lugs, and saw a nice ~4V AC on the Y output, but only a measly 0.1VAC on X.

So while I was looking at the X output schematics, I glanced at the PCB, and noticed the DAC at D11 is missing.... So I'm pretty sure I know my next step. :rolleyes:

The DAC in the Y circuit has been socketed; it's an AD40715. I'm assuming it's pin-compatible with the AD561J.

And does anyone have any spares floating about?

-Jim
 
From what I can tell AD40715 is synonymous with AD561J.

Ah, good. I was confused when I originally read that thread. But today I re-read it, and it made sense. Must have been up too late yesterday. Or not late enough.... :rolleyes:

-Jim
 
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