[2018-07-29 19:59:39 CEST] * heinz joined [2018-07-29 20:06:18 CEST] * rune joined [2018-07-29 20:06:28 CEST] hello heinz [2018-07-29 20:07:01 CEST] hello dave [2018-07-29 20:07:36 CEST] Very wet here. How is potsdam [2018-07-29 20:08:01 CEST] very hot for the last 6 weeks. [2018-07-29 20:08:10 CEST] 35 degree celsius. [2018-07-29 20:08:17 CEST] and very dry. [2018-07-29 20:08:33 CEST] Almost the same here. but rain and winds yesterday and today [2018-07-29 20:08:54 CEST] no rain, even for the next 6 days. [2018-07-29 20:09:07 CEST] locally some thunderstorm. [2018-07-29 20:09:30 CEST] and forest fire. [2018-07-29 20:09:42 CEST] Yeah, forest fires all over the world [2018-07-29 20:09:49 CEST] Its crazy [2018-07-29 20:10:08 CEST] in uk also? [2018-07-29 20:10:26 CEST] Yes, a moor up by manchester burned for a couple of weeks [2018-07-29 20:10:36 CEST] They couldnt get it under control [2018-07-29 20:10:58 CEST] here it is under control now. [2018-07-29 20:11:25 CEST] The rain here will help. About 80mm fell in a day [2018-07-29 20:11:47 CEST] the problem in our forest consist also in the fact that there is still munition from world war in. [2018-07-29 20:11:55 CEST] But the ground was so dry and rivers down it didnt cause any flooding [2018-07-29 20:12:14 CEST] What dropped bombs or german munitions [2018-07-29 20:12:49 CEST] yes, and hence it is dangerous to go in the forest for the fire workers. [2018-07-29 20:13:18 CEST] I bet it is. We have an area here where the munitions were buried when the Americans went home [2018-07-29 20:13:38 CEST] Now the shell casings are rusting away and the chemicals are poisoning the ground [2018-07-29 20:13:41 CEST] same also with the rusians. [2018-07-29 20:13:49 CEST] russians [2018-07-29 20:14:19 CEST] We still get lots of bombs (brit and german) turning up [2018-07-29 20:14:37 CEST] german bomb found washed up in centre of london recently [2018-07-29 20:14:48 CEST] also here, mainly in oranienburg city. [2018-07-29 20:14:59 CEST] about 50 each year. [2018-07-29 20:15:01 CEST] I think british or american bombs were found in german city [2018-07-29 20:15:28 CEST] Worst is belgium from WW1. They cal it the iron harvest [2018-07-29 20:15:57 CEST] Farmers collect them and bomb disposal comes round regularly and takes them away [2018-07-29 20:15:59 CEST] look for oranienburg bomben in the web [2018-07-29 20:16:38 CEST] what about the zx81? [2018-07-29 20:17:13 CEST] Im still trying to sort it out. The reset pin is high [2018-07-29 20:17:31 CEST] Im getting signals at all the pins most of the time [2018-07-29 20:17:38 CEST] is there some clk signal? [2018-07-29 20:17:43 CEST] But the crystal doesnt give anything [2018-07-29 20:17:53 CEST] Yes, clock looks perfrect [2018-07-29 20:18:12 CEST] TR2 has a nice oscillation at the emitter [2018-07-29 20:18:14 CEST] original ula? [2018-07-29 20:18:23 CEST] No Andy new one [2018-07-29 20:18:32 CEST] ok. [2018-07-29 20:18:46 CEST] Do you think his crystal is giving me the signals? [2018-07-29 20:18:53 CEST] andys ula has its own crystal onboard. [2018-07-29 20:19:13 CEST] the old crystal will not work. [2018-07-29 20:19:45 CEST] OK, thats why I dont get any signal [2018-07-29 20:20:13 CEST] But it connects directly to TR2, wouldnt I get somethig at the pin? [2018-07-29 20:21:25 CEST] I've soldered turned pin sockets onto an Issue 3 board. I'll put headers on next for the transistors and crystal and need ot replace some caps and resitors [2018-07-29 20:22:17 CEST] ... but my grass is installed. The dog thinks its a carpet and I need to take him over the woods to pee [2018-07-29 20:22:24 CEST] you should find the clk signal also at pin 14 of the ula (feeding tr2) [2018-07-29 20:22:43 CEST] Yes, its fine there and also on the Z80 [2018-07-29 20:23:04 CEST] what is seen on the screen? [2018-07-29 20:23:09 CEST] White [2018-07-29 20:23:13 CEST] no cursor [2018-07-29 20:23:36 CEST] could you change the rom? [2018-07-29 20:23:44 CEST] and the cpu? [2018-07-29 20:23:50 CEST] Sometimes, very occaissionally I get a pattern and once 6 black and white bands [2018-07-29 20:24:13 CEST] The Z80 is brand new and I have tried 3 ROMs [2018-07-29 20:24:37 CEST] the ram is soldered, or isnt it? [2018-07-29 20:25:01 CEST] do you have an ext ram extension? [2018-07-29 20:25:02 CEST] The ram is soldered, 1K but I also use a RAM pack [2018-07-29 20:25:20 CEST] I have data at the ram, z80 [2018-07-29 20:25:30 CEST] even the ram pack did not help? [2018-07-29 20:25:34 CEST] But I dont know if its valid or not [2018-07-29 20:25:58 CEST] no other zx81 for testing the pack? [2018-07-29 20:26:18 CEST] Nope, and this board worked fine. Yes, I checked it a few weeks ago [2018-07-29 20:26:43 CEST] RAM is perfect. I dont think it had even been taken out of the box before I used it [2018-07-29 20:27:14 CEST] The ULA signal shows the back porch, but no data is on it [2018-07-29 20:27:16 CEST] what do you mean by "valid or not"? [2018-07-29 20:27:59 CEST] I dont know if the signals on the scope are valid. Or if they are just random noise [2018-07-29 20:28:09 CEST] i see. [2018-07-29 20:28:22 CEST] who did change the sockets? [2018-07-29 20:28:36 CEST] no track were cut? [2018-07-29 20:28:39 CEST] On this one, they are original [2018-07-29 20:28:49 CEST] i see. [2018-07-29 20:29:03 CEST] no. I was using the board as a testbed for RAM packs etc [2018-07-29 20:29:28 CEST] no, i mean the faulty board. [2018-07-29 20:29:34 CEST] Maybe removing CPU/ULA etc did something to the sockets, I heard they were fragile [2018-07-29 20:29:55 CEST] I changed them a week ago [2018-07-29 20:30:17 CEST] the ISSUE 3 board, I was taking all caps etc out to replace with new [2018-07-29 20:30:27 CEST] did you check carefullly for intact tracks? [2018-07-29 20:30:51 CEST] Yes, as far as I could. I checked all connections between ICs [2018-07-29 20:31:03 CEST] whic sockets did you replace? [2018-07-29 20:31:09 CEST] With multimeter and visual [2018-07-29 20:31:41 CEST] I replaced ULA, Z80, ROM and RAm. But remember, this board is a work in progress. [2018-07-29 20:31:56 CEST] It is the untouched Issue 1 that no longer works [2018-07-29 20:32:44 CEST] how did you remove the old sockets? [2018-07-29 20:33:32 CEST] I desoldered with a solder sucker, then cut the socket up so that most of it fell out. Then I used solder iron and tweezers for the pins that were stil lstuck [2018-07-29 20:33:59 CEST] ok. [2018-07-29 20:34:57 CEST] Today I found the original ROM, so I may try that again [2018-07-29 20:35:21 CEST] may only proposal would be to check again the connectins of all data and address lines from cpu to ula and ram. [2018-07-29 20:35:54 CEST] and rd, wr from cpu to ram. [2018-07-29 20:35:55 CEST] Yes, I will do that. I just need to get the time. There has been too much other work recently [2018-07-29 20:36:26 CEST] do you have still some holiday? [2018-07-29 20:36:30 CEST] I have a video camera that I will set up and test all the pins. [2018-07-29 20:36:47 CEST] Yes, Im going to Nerja start of October# [2018-07-29 20:36:59 CEST] i remember, sorry. [2018-07-29 20:37:08 CEST] We are staying at my friends appartment in the old town [2018-07-29 20:37:16 CEST] but just now you have to work, right? [2018-07-29 20:37:40 CEST] Yes, Im negotiating with the boss. I want to retire, he want me to stay [2018-07-29 20:38:07 CEST] Hopefully we can come to an arrangement where I work 2 or 3 days a weeks with some of that from home [2018-07-29 20:38:16 CEST] you told me about that. did youu decided meanwhile? [2018-07-29 20:38:31 CEST] that would be good. [2018-07-29 20:38:56 CEST] I've decided, but he isnt listening. Basically if I leave they will lose 1.4 million a year because they cant support the product [2018-07-29 20:39:22 CEST] So I have a strong negotiating position [2018-07-29 20:39:23 CEST] no successor? [2018-07-29 20:39:42 CEST] No, I have been saying we need someone for 3 or 4 years [2018-07-29 20:40:11 CEST] My boss is very very poor. No technical knowledge, no business skills, no man management skills [2018-07-29 20:40:37 CEST] how could he become the boss? [2018-07-29 20:40:44 CEST] He is in his position because the director isa his friend and protects him [2018-07-29 20:41:09 CEST] Director is only interested in getting his bonus at the end of the year and I think he will be gone [2018-07-29 20:42:33 CEST] It seems to be similar everywhere in the UK and France. Dont know about other countries. Im surprised businesses make profit at all [2018-07-29 20:43:15 CEST] dave, next sunday i will be in frankfurt. no sunday talk. [2018-07-29 20:43:28 CEST] OK, is that the Spectrum thing? [2018-07-29 20:43:46 CEST] no, my son with family. [2018-07-29 20:44:11 CEST] Have a great time. Are you going to visit the new baby [2018-07-29 20:44:41 CEST] right. brigitte is already very excited. [2018-07-29 20:44:58 CEST] Does bridgette knit or make cloths for the baby [2018-07-29 20:45:27 CEST] she has knitted socks and other clothes, of course. [2018-07-29 20:45:45 CEST] Liz is the same, she kits all the time [2018-07-29 20:45:53 CEST] gloves too. but it is very hot. [2018-07-29 20:45:53 CEST] knits [2018-07-29 20:46:25 CEST] They will do in winter. Do you get the hats withthe big woolen bobble on top [2018-07-29 20:46:28 CEST] let us stop for today. [2018-07-29 20:46:38 CEST] OK, talk to you in 2 weeks [2018-07-29 20:46:47 CEST] regards to liz. [2018-07-29 20:46:50 CEST] bye. [2018-07-29 20:46:56 CEST] Sure, thanks. Bye [2018-07-29 20:47:02 CEST] * rune quit (Leaving) [2018-07-29 20:47:02 CEST] * heinz quit (EOT)