Arcade Restoration - Week1: Acquisition

Wednesday Max and I went on an econoline field trip to bring back two classic cabinets in fair condition.  

I will show our restoration progress in here as time permits. Work will progress slowly since this is really a pet/coding break/lunch break project for us.

Analog TV Death toll

Its Analog TV Death Day in Canada and to celebrate here are a few personal observations.

While I sadly don't have access to any sort of statistics, just going to work each day using my bicycle I got to see lots and LOTS of Analog TVs on the curb. NO thanks to the imps at BestShop for turning customers away from the standalone ATSC->composite converters and towards new LCDs instead. "You know your TV will be dead soon" ... My dad couldn't give a rats ass about HD, while of course I do to an extent.

I bet you a hundred bux my Dad's 1988 Sony Triniton will outlast any new Chinese LCDs. Just please don't listen to the imps cause this is what happens when you do:

Ecocentre des Carrières, Montreal

As a Video Game Console turned Arcade PCB collector, I have to say that right now I'm on the lookout for good analog monitors with RGB inputs being thrown away, these really REALLY can't be replaced. You just have to be able to experience a game on the support it was built for and classic arcade PCB's output pure Analog RGB with 15KHz sync. While I have a trusty Commodore 1084 to support this format It ain't immortal so I need backups!

So the other day, going to work this scene really torn my heart apart:

Poor 1702's! They don't even have a TV TUNER! ... no RGB either, but they of course support SVideo (if you split its luma/chroma signals to separate RCA cables), and Composite. Great for any classic console. A Copper Joke ain't worth that much you scavengers!

Collectors, please stash up at least a spare analog monitor and keep it in a cool dry place, cause prices someday might make you regret you didnt.

Playing the revolution/Home Computer Invasion Documentaries in Trouble???

Original Link being gone, it makes me fear the worse.
I REALLY hope the reason isn't because of damn lawyers!

Here are two other sources for the Teasers on the most thrilling documentary series since The machine that Changed the World:








There's never been a computer documentary this well shot EVER, and nearly everyone I respect and admire in the industry took time to get interviewed. I really don't want this to be shelved.

(SAFE) US SMS Japanese Mod in action

Charles MacDonald provided a circuit for me to try
HERE

Good news is that it now works after a few treaks.
Just have to to a proper protoboard version now.

I'll be receiving two different FM Units soon, the original and the "Australian Reproduction"

The reluctant US SMS that didnt want to be japanese

EDIT2: A new solution (much more invovled ) was suggested by Charles MacDonald this will be interresting to try.

EDIT: Nice, I got my answers in that thread. I'll have to backtrack on when did this become a dangerous thing to try, FYIW I used 10k res to short pin 34.

This MOD does not work on my SMS:

I tried everything, including burning a Japanese BIOS which works great here:

While its cute and all (especially with my RGB mod to a Commodore 1084), I still don't get the mark III boot on my Wonderboy 1/2/3 carts when I ground pin 34 on 315-5216.

Another user is getting the exact same prob with this motherboard rev.

Any takes?

Does ... not ... compute...

Added Internal Picture:





Theres a piezo in there... now if I could
make it beep.....

Horrible damage due to the leaking internal soldered 2x1.5v AA batteries (removed)