2 red lines on the screen

Post Reply
Yobe
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2021 5:01 pm

2 red lines on the screen

Post by Yobe »

Hi,
New to this forum and wondering if someone has an idea related to my problem.
Just started up once my old Spectrum 48K.
I’m using the mod for the composite signal.
Computer seems to work fine but there’s clearly noise on the screen. More specific 2 horizontal red coloured lines that split the screen in 3 parts.

Any idea where these lines come from or better I post also a screenshot?

Regards
User avatar
1024MAK
Posts: 5101
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:56 am
Location: Looking forward to summer in Somerset, UK...

Re: 2 red lines on the screen

Post by 1024MAK »

Hello and welcome :D

You may wish to say hello and introduce yourself in the welcome area :(

Yes a photo would definitely help, as I’ve not heard of this problem before...

Mark
ZX81 Variations
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp

:!: Standby alert :!:
There are four lights!
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb :!:
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
Yobe
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2021 5:01 pm

Re: 2 red lines on the screen

Post by Yobe »

Hi all,

In attachment 2 screenshots. Not so easy to take a good picture.
Not sure if this is normal but screen also look very blue. I expected white (or close to that)
Attachments
61304CD9-7A7E-4CC0-A01F-768E96F6C1EC.jpeg
37278F6F-571A-4995-87B2-40D6D3ED7CCB.jpeg
User avatar
Tiger
Posts: 88
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2020 10:37 am

Re: 2 red lines on the screen

Post by Tiger »

looks very mysterious - is it possible to try it with an other monitor or tv? The red lines are looking so perfect - much clearer than the "NEW" prompt :ugeek:
Moggy
Posts: 3231
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:00 pm

Re: 2 red lines on the screen

Post by Moggy »

They also exceed the width of the Spectrum's display area too almost as if it was an artifact of the TV rather than a fault with the computer.

Does changing the paper colour make any difference?
Yobe
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2021 5:01 pm

Re: 2 red lines on the screen

Post by Yobe »

Thanks,

Good idea to see the impact of changing paper color.
Will also try on another screen and see the outcome
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2160
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: 2 red lines on the screen

Post by Lardo Boffin »

Is it an issue two PCB? They have adjusters for the colour mix (I have issue two which has a blueish screen) but are not that easy to work with. Apparently an oscilloscope is recommended.
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
User avatar
1024MAK
Posts: 5101
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:56 am
Location: Looking forward to summer in Somerset, UK...

Re: 2 red lines on the screen

Post by 1024MAK »

Lardo Boffin wrote: Sun Jan 03, 2021 6:32 pm Is it an issue two PCB? They have adjusters for the colour mix (I have issue two which has a blueish screen) but are not that easy to work with. Apparently an oscilloscope is recommended.
As do issue one boards, but the preset resistors (variable resistors) only change the overall colour encoding. So they affect the white / yellow / blue (etc) colours of the whole screen. But I can’t see how poor adjustment can cause those horizontal red lines.

Although a ‘scope is recommended in the service manual, it’s often easier to set them by eye if you program the machine to show a screen with all the colours.

Later issue boards (three onwards) have different colour bias circuitry and don’t need manual setting up.

Mark
ZX81 Variations
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp

:!: Standby alert :!:
There are four lights!
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb :!:
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
Yobe
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2021 5:01 pm

Re: 2 red lines on the screen

Post by Yobe »

Hi guys,

Yep,
Root cause was the TV. Another one provides a nice screen.
Found out 2 columns of keys not working. Will need to check flatcables...
Attachments
D14145D8-39E4-42D3-A017-B91882BB8851.jpeg
Yobe
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2021 5:01 pm

Re: 2 red lines on the screen

Post by Yobe »

Compositie signal from my WII works fine on the first TV. Weird it has problems with the Spectrum.
Perhaps better install a composite module than the current wire bridge....
Post Reply