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Obituary

madmekonmadmekon
edited December 2002 in Sinclair Miscellaneous
Yesterday my spectrum died :(
Over 7 years of faithful service its finally gone to Silicon heaven.


Rest in peace spectrum 48k+
Born sometime in 1986
Died 23rd December 2002
Always be remembered
Post edited by madmekon on
I'm a 21st Century digital boy, I don't know how to live but I've got a lot of toys.

Comments

  • WalrusWalrus
    edited December 2002
    Our thoughts are with you. Especially at this difficult time of year.
  • Alessandro TommasiAlessandro Tommasi
    edited December 2002
    That's weird... did it die by itself? What is the problem?
    The idea of one of my spectrums to leave me is just unbearable...
  • Javier Alca?izJavier Alca?iz
    edited December 2002
    Sorry, god always take with him the better ones
  • MattLambMattLamb
    edited December 2002
    Just 16 years old too. I can be truely said that only the good die young...
  • madmekonmadmekon
    edited December 2002
    I'm not sure whats wrong with it. The only way i could connect it to my tv was use a scart cable lead. All I get is black. no picture no flashing squares. And no sounds when i press any keys :(
    I'm a 21st Century digital boy, I don't know how to live but I've got a lot of toys.
  • Takashi64Takashi64
    edited December 2002
    On 2002-12-24 20:11, madmekon wrote:
    I'm not sure whats wrong with it. The only way i could connect it to my tv was use a scart cable lead. All I get is black. no picture no flashing squares. And no sounds when i press any keys :(
    Tried a RF cable? But i'm sorry anyway. Why not keep it in a collection. I did that when my Mega Drive 2 RF lead broke (sniff).
  • madmekonmadmekon
    edited December 2002
    I'm not sure where my RF cable is, but that isnt the problem. There is no sound when i press the keys. I should be hearing a quiet tick kind of sound but I'm not :(
    I'm a 21st Century digital boy, I don't know how to live but I've got a lot of toys.
  • Takashi64Takashi64
    edited December 2002
    On 2002-12-24 21:08, madmekon wrote:
    I'm not sure where my RF cable is, but that isnt the problem. There is no sound when i press the keys. I should be hearing a quiet tick kind of sound but I'm not :(
    Is that the Digital Sound or the keyboard itself? I'll know what the problem might be :)
  • madmekonmadmekon
    edited December 2002
    From the keyboard its self. Generated from the Speaker inside the spectrum.
    I'm a 21st Century digital boy, I don't know how to live but I've got a lot of toys.
  • Takashi64Takashi64
    edited December 2002
    So the Keyboard's screwed up.
  • ArjunArjun
    edited December 2002
    Truly sorry to hear that mate. May Gob bless the darn thing. Amen.
    Zero - A modern Spectrum emulator for Windows.
    Bytes:Chuntey - Spectrum tech blog.
  • Takashi64Takashi64
    edited December 2002
    I took apart my Speccy +2A and found out how the keyboard's made. The cables probably ripped so...
    May it rest in peace. Not like the Atari Jaguar which rests in pieces...
  • DunnyDunny
    edited December 2002
    It's probably not the keyboard - if that were the case, the ROM would still run, and you'd get a copyright message, but no user interaction.

    It's more likely that the power circuits have fried or shorted, which may have corrupted the ROM in hardware - a total mess to fix and replace :(

    Takashit- that keyboard clicking is produced by the ROM in response to the keyboard moving into contact - a dodgy keyboard is unlikely to prevent the whole machine from working.

    D.
  • Takashi64Takashi64
    edited December 2002
    On 2002-12-29 16:54, Dunny wrote:
    It's probably not the keyboard - if that were the case, the ROM would still run, and you'd get a copyright message, but no user interaction.

    It's more likely that the power circuits have fried or shorted, which may have corrupted the ROM in hardware - a total mess to fix and replace :(

    Takashit- that keyboard clicking is produced by the ROM in response to the keyboard moving into contact - a dodgy keyboard is unlikely to prevent the whole machine from working.

    D.
    What I mean is the connection from the keyboard to the board is wrecked. Have a look at the inside of your Spectrum.
  • Alessandro TommasiAlessandro Tommasi
    edited December 2002
    ...er, but could it be that the power unit is fried? I mean, black screen, no clicks, it could be that the computer just doesn't get any power? Does it heat up when connected?
  • GPGP
    edited December 2002
    It's *not* the keyboard or any of the connections :roll:

    It does sound rather like the main (+5) power supply could be down - there is a 7805 regulator in there which converts the 9v (usually more like 12) to a stable +5 - all the ICs draw from this - no picture probably means no ULA function.

    I concur with the suggestion to check to see if it gets warm first.

    don't write it off just yet ! :)
  • madmekonmadmekon
    edited December 2002
    I haven't let it get warm yet but its not the PSU. I can hear the electrical hum coming from the 9VDC port
    I'm a 21st Century digital boy, I don't know how to live but I've got a lot of toys.
  • Alessandro TommasiAlessandro Tommasi
    edited December 2002
    Still, it *might* be that there's a power failure someplace... who knows, perhaps CPU, ULA, ROM and RAM are ok.

    I suggest you don't dispose of it in ANY case, since it might come in handy for spares!
  • madmekonmadmekon
    edited December 2002
    Hey I'm not getting rid of it. I'll keep it and use it as a display piece.
    I'm a 21st Century digital boy, I don't know how to live but I've got a lot of toys.
  • GPGP
    edited December 2002
    that hum is the coil in the oscillator - and most likely means the +5v, and the secondary power supply circuit it feeds, is ok.

    listen carefully to the tone as you switch it on - listen out for no apparent 'loops' - if all is ok, the top suspect is the ULA - finally cooked :)
  • Takashi64Takashi64
    edited December 2002
    On 2002-12-30 10:33, madmekon wrote:
    Hey I'm not getting rid of it. I'll keep it and use it as a display piece.
    Good Idea. Just like my rare boxed mint japanese copy of Chrono Trigger!
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