EclipseEye
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- Oct 18, 2010
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I recently took ownership of a Tempest PCB set, I have no information on it's history. This is the first time I have looked at a Tempest, although I do have some experience repairing Asteroids PCBs.
The PCB was initially dead, and I have now got it to the point where it will display on TEST, which is almost working 100%.
In-game forces the PCB to reset constantly.
So far, I have done the following;
One thing to note, when I flick to TEST, I do not get the 1st screen which shows the number of seconds played and so on. Instead, TEST goes straight to screen 2, not sure why, although it did display screen 1 the one time fine);
The following pic is supposed to be a square being scaled down (with the audible tones dropping with it). I am getting the tones, but the screen is completely static;
Note, the grid is missing in the next pic;
Does anyone have any clues as to where to concentrate to find the problem?
Is there a way to disable DMAG0, as per Asteroids to determine if the problem is with VSM?
Here is a video of what I am seeing in-game, occasionally you can get a glimpse of the Tempest game for a split-second before it resets (not shown in video though);
The PCB was initially dead, and I have now got it to the point where it will display on TEST, which is almost working 100%.
In-game forces the PCB to reset constantly.
So far, I have done the following;
- Confirmed my test rig is fine with a working Tempest PCB set.
- Connected a proven working AUX board (no change).
- Used a new (Bob Roberts) Interconnect cabe (no change).
- Reflowed all Interconnect header pins.
- Verified all ROMs, and even used a proven working set to eliminate (no change).
- Verified all 8 Vector RAM 2114 ICs as good (no RAM check sound in TEST either).
- Checked all voltages on the MAIN board and AUX board.
One thing to note, when I flick to TEST, I do not get the 1st screen which shows the number of seconds played and so on. Instead, TEST goes straight to screen 2, not sure why, although it did display screen 1 the one time fine);
The following pic is supposed to be a square being scaled down (with the audible tones dropping with it). I am getting the tones, but the screen is completely static;
Note, the grid is missing in the next pic;
Does anyone have any clues as to where to concentrate to find the problem?
Is there a way to disable DMAG0, as per Asteroids to determine if the problem is with VSM?
Here is a video of what I am seeing in-game, occasionally you can get a glimpse of the Tempest game for a split-second before it resets (not shown in video though);
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