Thanks Vince, I think I'll spend a bit more time looking over the board next time! Really appreciate your support. Thanks looking forward to watching your amstrad repair... always wanted to do one of those.
Thanks! I'm sorry it's been a while since my last video, but there is lots more yet to come. Hope to inspire some more soon. I really appreciate your kind words. Thank you
Another great video. When searching on eBay what search terms do you tend to use? Also, what temperatures do you usually set your soldering iron to pls? My first console was Astro Wars and computer was Toshiba MSX HX10 64-bit (in 1985 I think). TIA
Hi Scott. I use quite a few different terms when searching eBay, too many to list but "electronic game" and "vintage computer" are among my favourites. I also search for common misspellings. generally though I just browse the categories of interest. I run my iron about 350 for through-hole, which is on the hotter end I think, but its a cheap solder station and I am not sure its very accurate. Astro Wars remains a favourite of mine and the one I remember best from my youth. I have never had an MSX, I wish I had bought one a few years ago but prices recently are high. Thanks again for your comments
Nice sleuthing! You know, my Firefox F-7 (or as it's badged here in the US, Galaga X6) has quiet sound on one of the channels... I wonder if that was a factory error?
Thanks Nathaniel. I love my F7 / X6 I too wondered if it left the factory that way. I suspect not, but who knows. These things were made to a cost so perhaps the odd one sneaked through. I would be suspicious of solder joints to the piezo sounders but have learned to be careful with soldering iron temps on those as a hot iron damages them. Anyway I am glad you enjoyed the video, it's great to have another US viewer. Thanks for the comment.
We've missed your uploads, great to see you back. Such a cool 80s game, I'd love to own one. Interesting stuff as always, you did well to stick at it. Cheers 👍
Thanks Skyway73. Really appreciate your comments and support. I think F7 makes amazing use of VFD tech. If I happen across another one cheap I'll send one your way. Glad you enjoyed the video. It's not doing great with views 😕 but I was quite happy with it.
Not sure if you have come across this or not; I replaced the same transistor on mine but the Select and Start won't work. Gave them a clean and tested continuity back to the main chip and all is good, now I'm stuck. Any ideas?
Oh wow that is weird. I have repaired a lot of these games but haven't ever seen that. I have seen cleaned contacts still not work due to carbon pill wearing off the button so if you havent done so id double check that pressing select is closing the contact. I've also seen hairline cracks at the pcb pads of the IC, where the pressure from the meter overcomes thr crack so they buzz out ok but don't work in use. So I'd inspect under magnification and maybe reflow the joints to they extend onto the track a little. It could be partial IC failure though I haven't seen this myself. Good luck. Let us know how it goes. Thanks so much for your question
Nice fox, love how the VFD gives such a colourful animated display. Still have my Astro Wars in the original box and might get it out for another play shortly.
Thanks Wnlocktvdx I love the VFD games. I have a few more awaiting repair yet that I haven't featured before. A lot seem to have the same fault though and I don't want to bore people. Astrowars remains a favourite of mine and the one I remember best from my youth. Thanks agin for your comments
Thanks Dan, really appreciate the feedback. I had similar feedback on this video from elsewhere and I understand on some devices the music was especially intrusive on this vid. I don't plan to use music anymore except in some specific cases. Thanks so much for your comments. Feedback like this really helps me improve the channel
Thanks Dave C. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Perhaps I was a bit hard on myself with my voice over. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement!
Hi there! Welcome along I've been fixing stuff a couple of years it does get easier with time and it's a rewarding hobby. Retro is easier than new tech to fix, those games like astro wars are a food place to start I have lots of videos on those types of games
@@RetroTechRepair there are stuff in my area where they sell non working lsi video games. like em but kinda xpensiv , dunno if its worth it. do u hav like a boundary when it comes to buying non working ?
Hi @@boysopas5951 I don't do this for profit, I just pick stuff that I think is interesting to bring to the channel. I don't therefore have a price in mind when I buy things. I aim not to lose money after fees, but I often do. Sorry I can't be more help.
It's been a while but worth the wait. Another great repair, well done on finding the reason for the burning chip. How do you manage to find stuff so damn cheap? Keep em' coming ;)
Thanks 8bits I appreciate the feedback especially from someone with such a good channel as your own. I have had a few questions about how I find stuff cheaply on ebay, I think its just persistence and good luck. I don't have any special search terms I just browse for hours!
Great video! I like the idea of using a chip holder like that so you can switch between IC's or maybe you could create a breakout board to measure current etc. I recently had to do the opposite on a Topping audio DAC that had intermittent distortion in one channel once it had warmed up. It was caused by an op-amp that was socketed (to allow for easy upgrades). One pin was occasionally floating. Ended up soldering the op-amp in and it's been fine ever since. Really enjoy your video's, thanks!!
That's great like you say almost exactly the opposite! I got the socket idea from a comment on another video of mine. It worked fine but I did solder the chip back in in the end. The sockets I have are cheap and didn't hold up well. But I'm sure a good quality one would make a huge difference. Thanks again for your comments and support. Hope you are well
Marvellous video as always and thanks again for your comprehensive walk-through/talk-through of your fault diagnosis. I have two eBay sourced F7’s I need to fix at some point when I find the time... I still need to pick up one of those great de-solder tools like yours. It seems so effortless!
Thanks Michael... I LOVE my desolder tool. Speeds things up so much. Mine is a cheaper one (duratool) from CPC FARNELL. Firefox like most of these games often fail because of the D882 transistor which you can get on ebay (and maybe from CPC too). Thanks the kind words and feedback. Good luck with the repair
@@RetroTechRepair I always enjoy your videos and have gained an appreciation for the old tabletop games. I have just restored Astrowars and have a Space Turbo - requiring a new joystick. To 3d print or sacrifice a discwasher vintage joystick ho hum lol. Thanks for the content, you have been missed. The Oneirophagic Geists of Egregore salute you. Yessss👻
Thank you Stuart. I am glad that you enjoyed it. So far the video has bombed (shame I think it turned out ok) so I am especially grateful for your comments. Cheers!
Hi Tomorrowsphere! How are you? Sorry I have been away so long, been super busy with work. I was wondering where you had got to. I gave you a shoutout in on of my more recent vids... thought I'd scared you off! Glad you are still with us and thanks SO much for your kind words and comments. I really really do appreciate the help and support.
I don't know of anyone making replacements so if the joystick has snapped your choices are probably to repair what you have or try to find parts from a scrap game. If the joystick isn't working but is physically intact, there could be many reasons it's not working. In that case I'd start by careful dissemble and gently cleaning the contacts and carbon pills. This is not advice, just what I would do if it were my game. Thanks for your question.
@@RetroTechRepair thanks heaps. The functionality of the joystick is still fine, it’s just snapped off and therefore needing a new one. I’ve had no luck finding a replacement however
This is interesting. I have one that had a faulty D882 transistor. I replace it with a different model transistor. Now I get the start up music but no display. The replacement transistor gets very hot and the bench PSU tells me the system is drawing 0.8A. Hopefully when the new D882 transistors arrive, I can test it further. Thanks for the video.
Hi Phil, if you are getting sound but no display after the D882 replacement and the transistor is hot and current draw high. My guess is you also have a diode failure somewhere. Perhaps take a look at my astrowars videos or my puck monster video for this type of fault. Thanks for you comments? Glad you found the video useful. Stop back and let us know how it goes and thanks for the comments
@@RetroTechRepair Thanks for your reply. I pulled a leg from each diode, one at a time, checking for a change after each one. 8 in total. The system is still taking 0.8A. I'll watch those videos now.
@@PhilipBryden happy to help... interesting result with the diodes. Sometimes they are hidden behind the vfd etc but or could be something completely different. Thanks for reporting back I love these game so I'm interested to see what the problem is.
@@RetroTechRepair I did pull the ones behind the screen too. The smaller C945 tests ok too (out of circuit). I have emailed a link to a short video about this board
@@RetroTechRepair Do you have any info on the pinouts of TX-30. If pin 1 is on the arrow, then pin 1, 7 and 10 go to ground. 7 seems correct but there are diodes on [ins 1 and 10, so that doesn't seem right to me.
Well done Roger, sneaky little bridge!!! Great video mate 👍
Thanks Vince, I think I'll spend a bit more time looking over the board next time! Really appreciate your support. Thanks looking forward to watching your amstrad repair... always wanted to do one of those.
Good eye catching that short circuit! BTW, I really enjoy these DIY repair videos, very educational/inspirational for me to get started on a project.
Thanks! I'm sorry it's been a while since my last video, but there is lots more yet to come. Hope to inspire some more soon. I really appreciate your kind words. Thank you
Another great video. When searching on eBay what search terms do you tend to use? Also, what temperatures do you usually set your soldering iron to pls? My first console was Astro Wars and computer was Toshiba MSX HX10 64-bit (in 1985 I think). TIA
Hi Scott. I use quite a few different terms when searching eBay, too many to list but "electronic game" and "vintage computer" are among my favourites. I also search for common misspellings. generally though I just browse the categories of interest. I run my iron about 350 for through-hole, which is on the hotter end I think, but its a cheap solder station and I am not sure its very accurate. Astro Wars remains a favourite of mine and the one I remember best from my youth. I have never had an MSX, I wish I had bought one a few years ago but prices recently are high. Thanks again for your comments
Nice sleuthing! You know, my Firefox F-7 (or as it's badged here in the US, Galaga X6) has quiet sound on one of the channels... I wonder if that was a factory error?
Thanks Nathaniel. I love my F7 / X6 I too wondered if it left the factory that way. I suspect not, but who knows. These things were made to a cost so perhaps the odd one sneaked through. I would be suspicious of solder joints to the piezo sounders but have learned to be careful with soldering iron temps on those as a hot iron damages them. Anyway I am glad you enjoyed the video, it's great to have another US viewer. Thanks for the comment.
We've missed your uploads, great to see you back. Such a cool 80s game, I'd love to own one. Interesting stuff as always, you did well to stick at it. Cheers 👍
Thanks Skyway73. Really appreciate your comments and support. I think F7 makes amazing use of VFD tech. If I happen across another one cheap I'll send one your way. Glad you enjoyed the video. It's not doing great with views 😕 but I was quite happy with it.
Not sure if you have come across this or not; I replaced the same transistor on mine but the Select and Start won't work. Gave them a clean and tested continuity back to the main chip and all is good, now I'm stuck. Any ideas?
Oh wow that is weird. I have repaired a lot of these games but haven't ever seen that. I have seen cleaned contacts still not work due to carbon pill wearing off the button so if you havent done so id double check that pressing select is closing the contact. I've also seen hairline cracks at the pcb pads of the IC, where the pressure from the meter overcomes thr crack so they buzz out ok but don't work in use. So I'd inspect under magnification and maybe reflow the joints to they extend onto the track a little. It could be partial IC failure though I haven't seen this myself. Good luck. Let us know how it goes. Thanks so much for your question
Nice fox, love how the VFD gives such a colourful animated display. Still have my Astro Wars in the original box and might get it out for another play shortly.
Thanks Wnlocktvdx I love the VFD games. I have a few more awaiting repair yet that I haven't featured before. A lot seem to have the same fault though and I don't want to bore people. Astrowars remains a favourite of mine and the one I remember best from my youth. Thanks agin for your comments
Detailed and interesting. Great work. You don't need to add music though, and especially not when you are talking
Thanks Dan, really appreciate the feedback. I had similar feedback on this video from elsewhere and I understand on some devices the music was especially intrusive on this vid. I don't plan to use music anymore except in some specific cases. Thanks so much for your comments. Feedback like this really helps me improve the channel
No videos are bad, they are all interesting,
Great fix.
Thanks Dave C. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Perhaps I was a bit hard on myself with my voice over. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement!
WOW, NICE . love repairing stuff but dont hav any knowledge. hope i revive some old retro stuff
Hi there! Welcome along I've been fixing stuff a couple of years it does get easier with time and it's a rewarding hobby. Retro is easier than new tech to fix, those games like astro wars are a food place to start I have lots of videos on those types of games
@@RetroTechRepair there are stuff in my area where they sell non working lsi video games. like em but kinda xpensiv , dunno if its worth it. do u hav like a boundary when it comes to buying non working ?
Hi @@boysopas5951 I don't do this for profit, I just pick stuff that I think is interesting to bring to the channel. I don't therefore have a price in mind when I buy things. I aim not to lose money after fees, but I often do. Sorry I can't be more help.
It's been a while but worth the wait. Another great repair, well done on finding the reason for the burning chip. How do you manage to find stuff so damn cheap? Keep em' coming ;)
Thanks 8bits I appreciate the feedback especially from someone with such a good channel as your own. I have had a few questions about how I find stuff cheaply on ebay, I think its just persistence and good luck. I don't have any special search terms I just browse for hours!
Long time no see... but hallo
Hi Renata. Sorry its been so long. Hope you are well and that you enjoyed the video
Great video! I like the idea of using a chip holder like that so you can switch between IC's or maybe you could create a breakout board to measure current etc. I recently had to do the opposite on a Topping audio DAC that had intermittent distortion in one channel once it had warmed up. It was caused by an op-amp that was socketed (to allow for easy upgrades). One pin was occasionally floating. Ended up soldering the op-amp in and it's been fine ever since. Really enjoy your video's, thanks!!
That's great like you say almost exactly the opposite! I got the socket idea from a comment on another video of mine. It worked fine but I did solder the chip back in in the end. The sockets I have are cheap and didn't hold up well. But I'm sure a good quality one would make a huge difference. Thanks again for your comments and support. Hope you are well
Marvellous video as always and thanks again for your comprehensive walk-through/talk-through of your fault diagnosis. I have two eBay sourced F7’s I need to fix at some point when I find the time... I still need to pick up one of those great de-solder tools like yours. It seems so effortless!
Thanks Michael... I LOVE my desolder tool. Speeds things up so much. Mine is a cheaper one (duratool) from CPC FARNELL. Firefox like most of these games often fail because of the D882 transistor which you can get on ebay (and maybe from CPC too). Thanks the kind words and feedback. Good luck with the repair
Great video!
Thanks Jason. Thanks for the feedback
Hi Roger hope you're well, great to see you back. Great video as always Mike 👍👏🍻
Thanks Mike, glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for your comments.
Wow, this is Cool 😮👍
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your comments
re-ee-pair-ye--the way -of--the-board-Jonas.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Great youtube name ByteGeist
@@RetroTechRepair I always enjoy your videos and have gained an appreciation for the old tabletop games. I have just restored Astrowars and have a Space Turbo - requiring a new joystick. To 3d print or sacrifice a discwasher vintage joystick ho hum lol. Thanks for the content, you have been missed. The Oneirophagic Geists of Egregore salute you. Yessss👻
@@ByteGeist Brilliant. Good luck with the repairs and thanks so much for your kind words and support.
Thanks again for another interesting fix
Thank you Stuart. I am glad that you enjoyed it. So far the video has bombed (shame I think it turned out ok) so I am especially grateful for your comments. Cheers!
Awesome vid! Patience of a saint! :)
Hi Tomorrowsphere! How are you? Sorry I have been away so long, been super busy with work. I was wondering where you had got to. I gave you a shoutout in on of my more recent vids... thought I'd scared you off! Glad you are still with us and thanks SO much for your kind words and comments. I really really do appreciate the help and support.
Where can I get spare parts to repair a broken joystick on these types of electronic games?
I don't know of anyone making replacements so if the joystick has snapped your choices are probably to repair what you have or try to find parts from a scrap game. If the joystick isn't working but is physically intact, there could be many reasons it's not working. In that case I'd start by careful dissemble and gently cleaning the contacts and carbon pills. This is not advice, just what I would do if it were my game. Thanks for your question.
@@RetroTechRepair thanks heaps. The functionality of the joystick is still fine, it’s just snapped off and therefore needing a new one. I’ve had no luck finding a replacement however
This is interesting. I have one that had a faulty D882 transistor. I replace it with a different model transistor. Now I get the start up music but no display. The replacement transistor gets very hot and the bench PSU tells me the system is drawing 0.8A. Hopefully when the new D882 transistors arrive, I can test it further. Thanks for the video.
Hi Phil, if you are getting sound but no display after the D882 replacement and the transistor is hot and current draw high. My guess is you also have a diode failure somewhere. Perhaps take a look at my astrowars videos or my puck monster video for this type of fault. Thanks for you comments? Glad you found the video useful. Stop back and let us know how it goes and thanks for the comments
@@RetroTechRepair Thanks for your reply. I pulled a leg from each diode, one at a time, checking for a change after each one. 8 in total. The system is still taking 0.8A. I'll watch those videos now.
@@PhilipBryden happy to help... interesting result with the diodes. Sometimes they are hidden behind the vfd etc but or could be something completely different. Thanks for reporting back I love these game so I'm interested to see what the problem is.
@@RetroTechRepair I did pull the ones behind the screen too. The smaller C945 tests ok too (out of circuit). I have emailed a link to a short video about this board
@@RetroTechRepair Do you have any info on the pinouts of TX-30. If pin 1 is on the arrow, then pin 1, 7 and 10 go to ground. 7 seems correct but there are diodes on [ins 1 and 10, so that doesn't seem right to me.