Vertical bands on screen

Discussions about Sinclair ZX80 and ZX81 Hardware
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2169
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Vertical bands on screen

Post by Lardo Boffin »

I have just got a zeddy and it is a bit poorly. I believe the ULA is dead amongst other things - I put the ULA in a known working zeddy and it produces a white screen with no cursor.

Having put in a working ULA I get the following:-
IMG_6071.JPG
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I have done the following so far:-

Swapped out the ULA (to get the cursor)
Swapped the Z80
Swapped the ROM
Plugged in a 16k RAM pack to bypass the onboard RAM

The PCB is in lovely condition:-

IMG_6072.JPG
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Could it be the modulator? I haven't had time to fit a ZX8-CCB yet.

Any further suggestions? I don't have a 'scope or anything that sophisticated!

Also there is some of the keyboard strip stuck in the KB2 connector - not me being clumsy! The ribbon was already broken when I opened it. Any suggestions as to how best to remove it without destroying the contacts?

Thanks

Lardo
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
sirmorris
Posts: 2811
Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 5:45 pm

Re: Vertical bands on screen

Post by sirmorris »

The modulator might have a tiny tuning pot - you could wiggle that. That pattern also kind-of reminds me of a power issue I once had. Do they move or are they static?
Moggy
Posts: 3266
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:00 pm

Re: Vertical bands on screen

Post by Moggy »

I have had black banding albeit horizontal when the power supply or regulator is giving up the ghost so assuming a good power pack the only thing I can suggest,Lardo is to multi meter the regulator and check for a steady 5volts, taking care not short anything.

As for the broken ribbon try using two jewellers screwdrivers of the smallest size if you posses them in a pincer like fashion to tease the cable up taking care not to damage the contacts.
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2169
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: Vertical bands on screen

Post by Lardo Boffin »

sirmorris wrote: Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:24 pm The modulator might have a tiny tuning pot - you could wiggle that. That pattern also kind-of reminds me of a power issue I once had. Do they move or are they static?
They are pretty static - I am using a good quality power pack and will replace the regulator with a new one.

I have never wiggled the modulator before! Very liberating. I tried various setting and after re-tuning the telly got this:-

image.jpg
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It is an early ULA I am using so a black output is not unexpected I guess. Maybe a combination of composite mod and new regulator will sort it. I will find out when I have time to dust off the soldering iron!

I also need to find out where I can buy a reasonably priced ULA! If there is such a thing these days.

Lardo
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2169
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: Vertical bands on screen

Post by Lardo Boffin »

Moggy wrote: Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:26 pm I have had black banding albeit horizontal when the power supply or regulator is giving up the ghost so assuming a good power pack the only thing I can suggest,Lardo is to multi meter the regulator and check for a steady 5volts, taking care not short anything.

As for the broken ribbon try using two jewellers screwdrivers of the smallest size if you posses them in a pincer like fashion to tease the cable up taking care not to damage the contacts.
I have a set of jewellers screw drivers so will give it a go. I managed to do similar before (my fault that time) and stuffed up the connector in the process - I bent one of the contractors back. Had the replace the whole connector which was a pain.

Edit - removed the last remaining bit with no damage!
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
MaFli
Posts: 75
Joined: Mon May 08, 2017 5:14 pm

Re: Vertical bands on screen

Post by MaFli »

Lardo Boffin wrote: Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:55 pm
I also need to find out where I can buy a reasonably priced ULA! If there is such a thing these days.

Lardo
You can try here: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2386
Not sure if these are already sold, but you could give it a try!
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2169
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: Vertical bands on screen

Post by Lardo Boffin »

MaFli wrote: Thu Jun 08, 2017 4:08 pm
Lardo Boffin wrote: Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:55 pm
I also need to find out where I can buy a reasonably priced ULA! If there is such a thing these days.

Lardo
You can try here: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2386
Not sure if these are already sold, but you could give it a try!
Thanks. I had seen those a while ago but at £28 each I was hoping to find something a little cheaper if possible! :oops:
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
gozzo
Posts: 452
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:52 pm

Re: Vertical bands on screen

Post by gozzo »

£28 each is far too expensive, especially as they are not fully tested and seller wont give refund if found partly duff..
Last edited by gozzo on Thu Jun 08, 2017 4:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
gozzo
Posts: 452
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:52 pm

Re: Vertical bands on screen

Post by gozzo »

your machine has the earliest ula and this is lacking the 'back porch' part of the signal, so WILL give poor dark picture on a colour tv, even if its perfectly ok... it will usually be ok on a black & white set..the zxvid or zxccb will cure it by adding the back porch..dont worry too much about the 'bands' at the moment, they will most likely also disappear with a zxvid /zxccb
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2169
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: Vertical bands on screen

Post by Lardo Boffin »

Having fitted a ZX8-CCB all is well. I now need to tune it in properly and find a replacement ULA.
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
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