Paperboy Issues...

modessitt

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Well, I'm having a power issue that I need to confirm is actually a power issue. Right now, the +5 tab on the Video PCB is reading +6.8vdc - way too high. I've already rebuilt my ARIII with all new caps, new TIP32, new 2N3055's (NTE130's actually), and new +5 Adj pot. I even swapped out the LM305 with another 305 taken from a working ARII. I did find an open resistor at R28, but changing it didn't affect anything.

I also noticed my +10.3 is running at +11.86. I checked the supposed +10.6 coming from the power brick, and it is reading +14.58. I replaced the bridge recitifier in the brick, swapped out the Big Blue, and for some reason there is another big blue wired in off to the side of the power brick, and I swapped that out, too. No change.

Since I'm pretty sure the board is not operating properly anyway, could it's lack of proper function be not providing enough of a load to pull the +5 down where it should be?

I really need to make sure my power is right before I try tackling board issues....
 
IIRC, you also asked about the switcher as well? Did you put in a new one? If so, I'd use that to power the +5V even just as a test.

How's the Power Harness and power connectors? Usually, they are burnt up.
 
The main power connector from the ARIII to the Video board was cut off and the wires were soldered directly to the pins. I pulled them off, made a new connector and it's the way it should be now.

I was thinking about just removing the +5 and GND wiring from that connector and running it to the switcher. I can leave the +15 and -15 from the ARIII hooked up to the Video PCB since they are measuring properly.

Still, I think the overvoltages on the +5 line must have damaged something at some point, as I'm only seeing some weird blocky garbage on the screen....
 
Okay, I used the switcher for the +5, and only used the +15 from the ARIII. I now have signs of life.

I'm actually getting picture, but the kid on the bike is going off at a weird angle through houses and stuff, and it resets every once in a while.

I put it into test mode and it's failing all the 6116 RAM. The sound seems to be working okay, though.

I'll get some new 6116's and see where that leads me....
 
Okay, switcher is now putting out ALL +5 for the board. Found that my local parts jobber/overstock buyer had some 6116's in stock for $1 each. Bought some and came home and put them in - and now the game works. I (and my wife) have played many games so far with no issues.

I'll be rebuilding the monitor now, and going through the controls, but it seems to be fixed now, although it would have been nice to figure out the ARIII +5 issue...
 
If you want to mess with it, try looping the 5+ output of the ARIII to the sense+ line and the GND to the Sense-. See what you measure on the 5+ after that. I don't think the ARIII actually needs a load to regulate it's output.

Note: Don't acutally put the +5 to the Paperboy PCB.
 
Cool, now I don't have to crawl inside the one in the garage to try and help out.

All I have to do is put in the new 6116 RAM when it arrives.
 
Well, the monitor is rebuilt and rejuved, but I still have a bit of a problem getting all the colors balance properly, but everything seems to look pretty good for now. The main problem is that the newspaper attract screen appears a bit pink when I'd think the newspaper should be white, but if I turn down the red, then most of my red goes down to an orange in gameplay. I'll have to pull it up in MAME to check it.

Next will be the control panel. The kid on the bike pulls a bit to the left when the handlebars are centered. Have to turn it slightly right to go straight (at the angle I mean). Not sure if it's a pot or optic board or whatever yet. Also don't know if there is a centering adjustment in the menu or not.

This guy had a credit with me, and I've got it running now from totally dead, but that ate up his credit. I'll have to check if he wants me to go into any cosmetic-type stuff like marquee lights, wood damage around the base of the control panel, etc., since he'll have to pay for that...
 
Okay, fixed the red-tint problem. Even though I could turn the green up and get green grass and everything in gameplay, when I put it into test mode, it wouldn't show the green color test screen. Fixed a quick connector problem on the Video PCB, and I have true white on the screen again.

Took a look at the handlebars - there is a definite pull to the left if it's centered. If I turn it slightly right, then it no longer pulls. It appears to have a regular pot under there, so I may replace it, although I wonder if I just need to mark the position it THINKS is center, pull off the pot, center the handlebars, then put the pot back on?

Of more importance, there are two centering springs on the handlebars shaft. They each wrap around the shaft in opposite ways with one end out and locked into the bracket, causing the springs to recenter the handlebars. Well, one of the spring has that flat end broken off, so one side pushes towards center, but the other side does not push back. What are the odds of finding the right spring (or something similar) to replace it?
 
Okay, fixed the red-tint problem. Even though I could turn the green up and get green grass and everything in gameplay, when I put it into test mode, it wouldn't show the green color test screen. Fixed a quick connector problem on the Video PCB, and I have true white on the screen again.

Tell me more about this, as the one I have out in the garage seems to be running a little pink vice red. Which connector was causing the problem on the video board?

Got a pic of the spring in question?
 
Tell me more about this, as the one I have out in the garage seems to be running a little pink vice red. Which connector was causing the problem on the video board?

There are two connectors on the very bottom of the video PCB - one from the ARIII power, and one to the monitor. The monitor connector was hooked up fine, and I could see green grass if I turned up the green, but all my whites looked pink.

I applied some extreme pressure to the video connector (pushing in hard but not enough to bend the pins or crack or ground out the backside of the board) and suddenly had a full screen of green. Let off the pressure and it's gone again. Tried flexing the board around it in case it was cold solder or cracked traces, but got no green out of it. Backed the connector off the pins slightly and all my green came on super hot. Pulled the connector off and cleaned all the pins. Put it back on, adjusted my green down, and all is right in the world again.


As for a pic of the spring, it'll have to wait until tomorrow night...
 
Dave with Ram controls has a smoking deal on Atari 5k pots right now in the buy/sell forum. A group of us are trying to talk him into making a long overdue paperboy controller rebuild kit. There is nothing you can do about the physically non-centered controls. I have tried to offset the pot - it does not change anything.
 
Well, it looks like it's just turning based on a gear setup. If I mark on the pot gear where the center thinks it is, then pull it off, move the handlebar gear to center, then put the paperboy pot back on, it should work....
 
There are two connectors on the very bottom of the video PCB - one from the ARIII power, and one to the monitor. The monitor connector was hooked up fine, and I could see green grass if I turned up the green, but all my whites looked pink.

I applied some extreme pressure to the video connector (pushing in hard but not enough to bend the pins or crack or ground out the backside of the board) and suddenly had a full screen of green. Let off the pressure and it's gone again. Tried flexing the board around it in case it was cold solder or cracked traces, but got no green out of it. Backed the connector off the pins slightly and all my green came on super hot. Pulled the connector off and cleaned all the pins. Put it back on, adjusted my green down, and all is right in the world again.


As for a pic of the spring, it'll have to wait until tomorrow night...

Thanks for the heads up, I will look into it when the RAM comes in.
 
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