Giving up on Spectrums
Hi all...
Bit of a downer post here... I'm really close to giving up on Spectrums.. My 48k has given me nothing but head aches since day one... and today is possibly the last straw.
I have a black and white picture issue at the moment which i've ordered a replacement chip for. That was annoying enough but also my keyboard membrane (brand new) started packing up on me. I've literally typed about 4 or 5 commands in total on this membrane.
It only seemed to happen when i closed the case so mailed the seller (who shall remain nameless at this stage) and he told me to put something behind the ribbon cable as its common for the cable to come away from the contacts when the case is on... seems logical so i tried it.
Did that and it didn't work so i took it back out and then tried a slightly thicker piece to make it touch more did that and tried to connect it and while pushing down against the ribbon cable 2 of the contacts on the metal side just simply fell off... These membranes are extremely poor quality obviously no excessive force was used at all.
So now I'm left with yet more crap to buy for this annoying 48k... It really is one thing after another with it and i think it's time to give up. Whats worse is i actually glued the tin cover on over the keyboard thinking the membrane would last many many many years so now i doubt i can even remove it which means i need an entire top half of my 48k...
Annoyed :x :(
Bit of a downer post here... I'm really close to giving up on Spectrums.. My 48k has given me nothing but head aches since day one... and today is possibly the last straw.
I have a black and white picture issue at the moment which i've ordered a replacement chip for. That was annoying enough but also my keyboard membrane (brand new) started packing up on me. I've literally typed about 4 or 5 commands in total on this membrane.
It only seemed to happen when i closed the case so mailed the seller (who shall remain nameless at this stage) and he told me to put something behind the ribbon cable as its common for the cable to come away from the contacts when the case is on... seems logical so i tried it.
Did that and it didn't work so i took it back out and then tried a slightly thicker piece to make it touch more did that and tried to connect it and while pushing down against the ribbon cable 2 of the contacts on the metal side just simply fell off... These membranes are extremely poor quality obviously no excessive force was used at all.
So now I'm left with yet more crap to buy for this annoying 48k... It really is one thing after another with it and i think it's time to give up. Whats worse is i actually glued the tin cover on over the keyboard thinking the membrane would last many many many years so now i doubt i can even remove it which means i need an entire top half of my 48k...
Annoyed :x :(
Post edited by dreamscape on
Comments
one 48k+ the keyboard ribbon has split
grey +2 with velesofts mutant HAL won't work with any interfaces (it was doing fine till the other day)
one +2b refuses to work with my divides yet it is my main gaming machine that sits under my plasma with a divide attached, the other has popped it's ram
even my speccies I think are working have same stupid quiks about them
can't find my toast racks power supply
I'm ready to sling the whole f****** lot in the bin, working ones too
I know where you're coming from as my first purchase was sold as 'was working but unable to test', which of course meant it didn't work.
Unlike you I haven't a clue about hardware, so didn't even attempt to fix it, instead I sent it to the mutant caterpillar repair service (Spirantho on WOS) and he fixed it nice.
And that's my advice, if you just want a working Spectrum send it to him :-)
I've actually got a +2A and I agree they are so hardy, work so well and i will be sticking with mine now. The 48k will go in the bin I can't be bothered with it anymore.
I'd also like to note that the seller, dataserve_retro on eBay who also runs http://www.dataserve-retro.co.uk was extremely unhelpful the best thing he could say was "Oh dear - you must have put the plastic at the wrong side of the membrane leg. You may have now damaged the membrane." I'm not stupid I do know which side to put it onto... the traces just fell apart no excessive force, nothing. As far as his membranes go I would recommend to all of you not to ever go near them they are EXTREMELY bad quality. I managed to type around 4/5 commands on mine and now its broke.
Avoid like the plague!! :x
IIRC there was a batch of very poor ones around (maybe still are) that should be given a bit of a wide berth.
This must be one of them then. I can't work out any other reason why a "new" product would be such terrible quality.
It started playing up with the case on first I'd have to lift the case to get it to work and I contacted Dataserve_Retro they told me to put plastic or something on the other side of the ribbon so i did and when putting it back in the traces fell to bits. I could accept if i had been too forceful or something but I used barely any force in fact with the plastic on the back of the ribbon it went in easier than it would normally.
Terrible product and seller isn't interested. It's put me off bothering now. Same goes for my ZX81 which needs a new keyboard... screw it now.
Well the direct translation of that phrase from ebay English to normal English is "tested it and it doesn't work".
I always put a bid of "not tested" hardware representitive of a bid for non-working hardware. So far I have not been disappointed, every single one has arrived as non-working hardware (usually I'm just after spares or a repair project)
What you're learning is that the rubber key Spectrums are not the most reliable machines in the world, and the premium charged by RWAP, Macc and others for fully refurbed machines is very much worth it if all you want is a guaranteed working machine.
Buying cheap Speccies off eBay etc and fixing them up is also fun, as long as you adopt a methodical approach and not take failures to heart too much :)
Edit: totally agree with Winston, anything sold on eBay as 'not tested' is code for 'doesn't work', and should be bid on as such!
B
zx-diagnostics - Fixing ZX Spectrums in the 21st Century (wiki)
Sinclair FAQ Wiki
BP
I may need to get another one off Rich again soon, depending on the state of my latest "not tested" purchase. :p
Yep as bagpuss says. I know how annoying the failures are. I've had one where after replacing the membraine, new capacitors, and comp modded, it worked fine for about 30 mins, then died of a lower ram fault. :-(
The later Amstrad models seem more reliable, but can be fussy loading certain games. I have the +3 with a Multiface 3, external cassette recorder, and a 3.5' floppy drive for drive B. Keeps my speccy enjoyment alive:D
B
zx-diagnostics - Fixing ZX Spectrums in the 21st Century (wiki)
Sinclair FAQ Wiki
Don't give up: it is rare that in doing a basic repair you destroy the spectrum, unless you ram the soldering iron through the ULA or something. However, patience, and some of the right tools (the other thing I learned the hard way) are what is needed. As you see in these forums, everyone is keen to help!
... But, when a brand new item used 4/5 times breaks apart in front of you when all you are doing is putting it into the slot it was designed to use with no excessive force then I'm sorry, but the item isn't and perhaps never was fit for purpose and I'd never accept blame for a crap product.
On a brighter note though I have found a better (and cheaper!) seller (rwap on here) and I'm happy to report that I have ordered another membrane and will try one last time to sort this machine out. I was so impressed with his quick replies and helpful attitude (unlike DSR) that I decided to do a bit more business with this guy and buy some other bits too including a nice new ZX81 keyboard/membrane.
Sorry for all my disheartened posts and I seriously appreciate you all keeping my chin up. You have a great community here one which one day I can hopefully add value to.
:-D
Right, you've glued the metal template down onto the top panel - what glue have you used?
When you replace it, use double sided adhesive tape - then you use a hair dryer set to high to help remove it later for replacing the membrane.
Depending on the glue you've used, you may be able to use hot air to soften the adhesive?
In all honesty, you can buy replacement templates, but they are far too expensive for my taste. A cheaper option is to buy a duff Speccy from Ebay and transplant the board/new membrane over - that way you'll get a few spare parts to use also.
Spare parts can be got from RWAP, Sintech and several other places.
Whilst I agree with what you're saying, the customer services of the seller you've used previously could do with some polish, but you have to understand that keyboard membranes only tend to get fitted once, maybe twice and that's it - they're only designed for "normal" use. Ask Rich of RWAP (or any seller for that matter) what they would do if you tried to return a new membrane you've fitted five times or so. They are business men, they do not design, engineer or manufacture. They sell you a product that is fit for purpose and that's it. With all the best will in the world, no seller will absolutely guarantee a membrane that's been changed 5 times, especially since fitting and refitting has been done by somebody other than themselves - what you do with that membrane is beyond the sellers control. You've been unlucky, sad to say, unfair as it is, but that's how it is. Just don't use that seller again (I bet you don't plan to either ;) )
Read those documents I sent you in PDF format - those will teach you which components are which, will explain polarity, will explain how to solder and why you can't just go at a 1mm copper trace with a 30 Watt iron. A 12 Watt Antex is enough and I personally use a 17W Antex iron for pretty much everything spectrum. You just can't unscrew a cassette tape with a carpenter's screwdriver, proper tools for a proper job.
Get some soldering practice - those documents contain projects you can build, including a pretty decent continuity tester - get some practice before you start playing with a 30 year old FR4 PCB.
Don't be scared to ASK us on here, we're here to help but listen to us rather than going it alone and causing problems that you have to fix at the expense of more time, money and frustration later on.
Slow down dude, it will come to you in the end.
Don't we all! I know how difficult it is to do it properly early on: I am still in the process of sorting out an Issue 2 board that I pulled up a trace on some time back by mistake. However, patience, and practice, as DEATH says, really makes the difference. Oh, and a soldering station you can control, and DEFINITELY a good desoldering iron! ;-)
But stick at it, these great little computers depend on folk like us to give them a future.
I should just note, I've never had any problems with the seller you mention, and have bought quite a few components from him over the past couple of years... Seems like bad luck on your part there, but you won't go wrong with RWAP.
Daft question, but did you ask the original seller to replace the membrane as the original was faulty?
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No problem there already dealt with that :D Slowly took the top off and spent about an hour carefully removing the old glue... sticky tape next time.
Very true! I thankfully mine came off fine so no worries there.
You're not kidding! :D
After his first few replies I didn't want to talk to the guy at all let alone ask for help.
It's had various repairs. sadly my 48k is a one thing after another deal so It's been opened afew times. I still think you should be able to open and close it a number of times before it falls to bits. Hell I've had originals which I've been able to open up 9+ times and its been fine so why shouldn't a new one?
Anyway, again thank you all for keeping my chin up and at this stage I'm going to just leave the hate messages etc for dataserve lay to rest. Like DEATH says perhaps I've just been unlucky, it happens so... end of, onward and upward now.
I've ordered a new membrane for both my ZX81 and my 48k :D
Just remember, bottom line is - it's just a circuit board. No need to let it beat you, no need to get angry with it. Just treat it like a naughty child and give it some love and patience, it'll respond properly eventually ;)
For what it's worth, many of us have been "on the edge" of throwing it all in and off to pastures greener - you certainly aren't alone in that respect.
Welcome back :)
Lololol :P
Edit: jesus CHRIST! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
Turned the machine on today to do some tests with a multimeter on IC14 and... its completely dead... no buzz from coil, no TV output... nothing...
I.. am.. DONE! :lol:
Bye guys
Composite modded Speccies generally put out some kind of video signal unless there's no 5v supply (check output of 7805 reg) or the ULA is removed or seriously toasted :D
B
zx-diagnostics - Fixing ZX Spectrums in the 21st Century (wiki)
Sinclair FAQ Wiki
Remember what I told you - rule #1 - Thou shall check voltages
Is the PSU actually working? Do you get 12 volts on pin 1 of the 7805? 5 Volts on pin 3?
You know the drill, get your multimeter out!
You did pay the leccy bill, right? :P
Oh and dont go and throw them out I am sure there are people on here that would jump at the chance of having them.