TIP: This is a great tool for PCB repair !

[Level42]

Not my auctions, but you gotta check this out if you always wanted an oscilloscope:

http://business.search.ebay.com/_Business-Industrial_W0QQsacatZ12576QQsassZgreentekusa

I have one of these since 1996 and still works fine. It's a great little scope, especially when connected to a laptop/pc. The price REALLY cheap and definitly worth it.

You can power it mostly directly from the PCB you're working on (12V).
The frequency range of it is more than adequate for the classic games (up tot the 90's I'd say). Don't expect to be able to read Ghz's with it...

[shardian]

Something like this would be perfect for testing all of my dead system 1 pinball boards! I've put it off because I didn't have an oscilloscope. I think I might be in for one of these. My basic requirements are Mhz frequency readings for an on-board crystal, and simple logic probing that is too quick for a DMM to pick up accurately.

[ChadTower]

I'd be all over that if I didn't have two scopes already.

[Level42]

My basic requirements are Mhz frequency readings for an on-board crystal, and simple logic probing that is too quick for a DMM to pick up accurately.

This is the tool for you. You can do frequency reading with the PC software (you gotta move cursors for that, but that's normal for a digital scope....

[shardian]

Something like this would be perfect for testing all of my dead system 1 pinball boards! I've

Off topic, but I've found that 90% of System1 board issues are connector related.

Make sure you're testing them in a completely solid machine before you write them off as dead.

All connectors replaced in machine. Still, boards are tested on test bench with bench power supply. Unfortunately in system 1, pretty much anything on the board can cause it to not start up. And you just have to hope that all the "road block" replaceable components were able to sacrifice themselves to save the spider chips.

[shardian]

Wah! I decide to wait until morning to buy one and two are bought out from under me and the other is bid on.

[Level42]

Wah! I decide to wait until morning to buy one and two are bought out from under me and the other is bid on.

Posted this on the KLOV forum as well.....I think two guys picked one up.....

[shardian]

They won't even boot unless every pin on the connector is making good contact.  Back when I used to care more, it would drive me nuts when people would repair System1s like this:

Buy Machine -> Doesn't Work -> Throw out MPU -> Buy NiWumpf -> Doesn't Work -> Repin connectors -> Works


But it makes for cheap, fully working 'dead' MPUs on Ebay.  Just get stuck playing with sloppy NiWumpf rules.

Repinning the connectors was the first thing I did - the existing pins were HORRIBLE. My original P/S was also shot. Have a replacement that works 100%.

The original MPU that came with the machine had significant acid damage. I neutralized and sanded it. Then booted it on a test bench. It was stone cold dead there too. I got two more "untested boards" off of flea bay. One was missing two chips I didn't notice before buying. The other was missing one chip I was aware of, but got because it had zero acid damage and had a sticker on it saying it tested good as late as 1992. I replaced that chip and put it in the machine with no dice. Replaced driver board, as it was questionable due to a repaired "explosion" spot - even though it tested good. Needless to say, I have done everything but put a known working cpu board in the thing.

Anyways, I have a project thread here:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=70663.msg724371#msg724371

Welcome back to the real world jim. I always knew you had pretty good knowledge and could be a contributing member if you just tried.

[shardian]

Well that sucked. I bet the guy who bid instead of buying now feels like a tard though.

Know of any other suppliers. They have to be available to purchase somewhere.

[Level42]

Think the seller may have wondered why they all were sold in such a short time all of a sudden
Can I claim a percentage ?

Farnell UK still has 56 of them, but they are expensive:
http://export.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp;jsessionid=HCGF3O4MMVRILQFIAFOJLTQ?N=0&Ntk=gensearch_001&Ntt=oszifox&Ntx=&_requestid=120554

The Oszifox is not longer produced. This is also mentioned on the other Farnell entry....

Try searching for Oszifox or ProbeScope (as RadioShack called it)...

[shardian]

Got one just now from the same guy on ebay. He told me the other day that he would be listing more, and he did. No screwing around this time - I used buy it now immediately.

[Level42]

So you mentioned me for the 15% right ? 

Let me know if it works for you !

[JackTucky]

 if I didn't have two scopes already.

Of course you do.

=J

[shardian]

So you mentioned me for the 15% right ? 

Let me know if it works for you !

NOW you tell me!

So I am assuming I can just clamp the alligator clips right to the leads of the 5v entry cap to get my voltage for measurements? Same for 12v stuff, etc?

[Witchboard]

Obviously, he's noticed an interest considering his latest one has a BIN of $100 and a starting price of about twice of the previous auctions.   

[shilmover]

Obviously, he's noticed an interest considering his latest one has a BIN of $100 and a starting price of about twice of the previous auctions.   

Yeah.  I noticed that.  I asked him if he will post any more and he mentioned he would.  Imagine my surprise when he put the BIN at $100.95.  I asked him about the increased price and he has ignore me.  Oh well.   

[ChadTower]

Of course you do.

Got them both off Freecycle, so I offered one of them to multiple locals on this list but none wanted it.   

[shilmover]

Still have one?

[ChadTower]

Yes, but it's not really up for giving away anymore.  Been there, tried that.  Maybe trade at this point.

[shilmover]

Yes, but it's not really up for giving away anymore.  Been there, tried that.  Maybe trade at this point.

PM Sent

[Angry_Radish]

I've got one of these things, only it's the radio shack branded one, called a probescope..
No clue where the software disk went, but I think I have the rest of the bits.
If there is any intrest I'd be intrested in doing a trade or something for it as I have a full sized scope now :-)

It will be a bit till I can get at it though as I'm moving into a new house this weekend and all my stuff in in boxes.
PM if interested!

[Pac-Fan]

Yeah.  I noticed that.  I asked him if he will post any more and he mentioned he would.  Imagine my surprise when he put the BIN at $100.95.  I asked him about the increased price and he has ignore me.  Oh well.   

Simple solution: No one buy until the price goes back down to $26 and then don't outbid each other. He obviously has a large amount of them.

[shardian]

I didn't see this $100 item you mentioned. He did sell one for $60 BIN.

[Level42]

So you mentioned me for the 15% right ? 

Let me know if it works for you !

NOW you tell me!

So I am assuming I can just clamp the alligator clips right to the leads of the 5v entry cap to get my voltage for measurements? Same for 12v stuff, etc?

RTFM




 


The alligators are just for powering the Oszifox. It needs between 9V and 13V DC, so I connected it to a +12V test point (RED alligator) and a GND test point (BLACK alligator) on the Centipede PCB. A cap that has the same voltage is OK as well of course.

Connect the tiny white wire with clamp to Ground (0 Volt) on the bottom side of the Oszifox. Then hook this to a known (test) GND point on the PCB. You could extend this wire, but  there really should always be a GND point somewhere around where you're measuring.

Then touch the point you want to measure with the metal tip of the Oszifox. You can select settings with the buttons on top. You can center the line by sliding the AC/DC switch to GROUND.

Was there a floppy or any software included ? If so could you post it ?


That seller owes me a couple of bucks !

Using it with a laptop makes reading the signals a lot easier, but you still get enough clue's from the tiny display for basic measurements (like "do I have a clocksignal or is it missing". If you want to know if the clock is the correct frequency/amplitude, you'll need the pc/laptop.

[shardian]

What F'ing manual?

Yes, power for the scope is what I was meaning.
Just wanting to clarify if the scope itsself needed ~12volts regardless of what is being measured. System 1 uses +5 and -12, so I'll just grab +12 from the pc power supply. I like those little probe wires. Odds are I'll just set the probe to the side and use those.

[Level42]

Yeah It doesn't matter if you measure 1, 5, 12, 24 or 45 volts ( I wouldn't go higher, although I think it can handle upto 100V. Again, not an issue for our goal). The oszi itself wants between the mentioned voltages (that is between 9 and 13 V)....I bet it's pretty flexible about it, but I haven't tried running it out of spec (like on 5V...)

You're going to use it for the pinball right ? check if the reset line of the CPU is constantly low.....

[shardian]

You're going to use it for the pinball right ? check if the reset line of the CPU is constantly low.....

If I had to guess, the reset circuit is probably the only thing wrong with at least one board. I've ordered enough components to fix two boards - assuming the spider chips are good.

[Angry_Radish]

Here's the manual and software for the probescope:
http://www.radishville.com/arcade/Probescope.zip

[Level42]

You're going to use it for the pinball right ? check if the reset line of the CPU is constantly low.....

If I had to guess, the reset circuit is probably the only thing wrong with at least one board. I've ordered enough components to fix two boards - assuming the spider chips are good.

Try shorting the reset pin of the CPU to +5v (that is if it is actively low) for a moment....
Worked wonders for my Centipede PCB:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=63654.msg753767#msg753767

[shardian]

I would, but don't know which pin to short. You'd think that would be right there in the system1 guide as part of the testing, but its not.

[Level42]

I'll switch to your pinball thread......