Qesmann
New member
I'm trying to restore a Robotron, but I've run into a roadblock. This is my first time working on a game so I don't know many tricks and I don't have spare working parts for testing.
The problem is that the game is stuck in rug pattern mode when the power is turned on. The pattern sweeps onto the screen, and then about ten seconds later it starts over. After a while it may play a sound while the rug pattern is drawn. On the ROM board, it flashes the 1-3-1 error code.
I know that code may mean that the RAM at that position is bad or that the power to the RAM is bad. I think I've eliminated those possibilities by using new 4116 RAM chips, rebuilding the power supply, and verifying all the power connections. The motherboard is definitely getting 12v, 5v, and -5v. The voltages at every RAM chip are 12v, 4.95v, and -5.02v. Also I put in a new 40-pin cable between the motherboard and ROM board and tested each pin for a connection. Replacing the cable fixed a problem where the error code would sometimes show garbage. Now it's a consistent 1-3-1.
I think I've covered the basics, but that's the limit of what I'm able to do on my own. Maybe there are bad chips somewhere on the motherboard, but I don't know how to do tests to find them.
Is there anything else I can try before sending the boards out for repair? (or maybe finding someone near Seattle who can repair it)
Thanks
The problem is that the game is stuck in rug pattern mode when the power is turned on. The pattern sweeps onto the screen, and then about ten seconds later it starts over. After a while it may play a sound while the rug pattern is drawn. On the ROM board, it flashes the 1-3-1 error code.
I know that code may mean that the RAM at that position is bad or that the power to the RAM is bad. I think I've eliminated those possibilities by using new 4116 RAM chips, rebuilding the power supply, and verifying all the power connections. The motherboard is definitely getting 12v, 5v, and -5v. The voltages at every RAM chip are 12v, 4.95v, and -5.02v. Also I put in a new 40-pin cable between the motherboard and ROM board and tested each pin for a connection. Replacing the cable fixed a problem where the error code would sometimes show garbage. Now it's a consistent 1-3-1.
I think I've covered the basics, but that's the limit of what I'm able to do on my own. Maybe there are bad chips somewhere on the motherboard, but I don't know how to do tests to find them.
Is there anything else I can try before sending the boards out for repair? (or maybe finding someone near Seattle who can repair it)
Thanks
