Vectrex 2nd Controller Acts Funny, 1st is Intermittent Too (only on menu!)

[jasonbar]

My Vectrex is a bit flaky when dealing with a 2nd controller plugged in (to the left port).

I have 2 controllers & have tried swapping them & get the same behavior, so I know that the problem lies in the Vectrex itself, not the controllers.

Problem #1: using a controller test program, I see clearly that the Vec thinks that player 2's 3rd button is always held down.  When I press P2's 3rd button (or 2nd button), the Vec thinks that the button is released.  Weird.

Problem #2: When I launch a game from an original cart or from a multicart, the selection screen is often unresponsive--hitting buttons on P1's controller won't start the game or change the game # or # of players for half a minute or so, then it will respond.  Sometimes it behaves better.  This almost suggests a cracked solder joint somewhere in the Vec controller plug or PCB somewhere, since it's intermittent....but this happens only during the initial game menu & the controller's always well-behaved in-game...


Anybody seen these problems?  Any Vec repair experts out there?  Any suggestions?


Thanks,
-Jason

[ChadTower]

First steps same as any game... open it up, reflow all solder joints.  If that doesn't fix it all, replace all electrolytics.  Odds are that will do it.  If not, just start testing individual components in the circuit that is problematic.  The Vec doesn't have many ICs in it so odds are this won't be hard to fix.

[jasonbar]

Thanks, Chad--good basic advice.

I'm a little gunshy about the Vec, since I tried to install a Zanen Get Well cap kit in my "good" Vectrex a while ago & killed it... 

Still, I'm puzzled to know how a bad cap or solder joint could make P1 controller buttons unresponsive sometimes, but just in the game menu...   


Thanks--I'll post again when I get around to it.

-Jason

[ChadTower]

Still, I'm puzzled to know how a bad cap or solder joint could make P1 controller buttons unresponsive sometimes, but just in the game menu...   

It is a little weird but you really never know with that analog joystick circuit.  Maybe it's a bad rom on the motherboard.

[jasonbar]

Tried the following:

1 - reseating & reflowing solder & cleaning legs & sockets for all 4 socketed chips.  Had some funky graphics & sound behavior until I redid these steps a couple of times.  Back to normal now

2 - reflowing solder on controller connector solder points & around these points

Noticed a bank of teeny capacitors that appear to go from each joystick connector trace into the rest of the PCB--perhaps capacitor rot would result in my weird Vec behavior & I ought replace these?  Anybody got a P/N or specs?


Oddly, when I run my Vecflash cart, the controls respond just fine, navigating the menus.  But when I select a game or run a straight Vec cart, the controls are unresponsive in the player/game select menu.  The control responsiveness sometimes returns, but I can't tell what triggers the return to normalcy...



Thanks!
-Jason

[ChadTower]

That's weird.  I can't remember the controller circuit on a Vectrex.  Are the caps really unmarked?  I could see them being totally dead causing issues if the menu is expecting a different set of analog values than it is now capable of producing. 

[jasonbar]

Well, only 1 "short" month since I last looked at this.  I replaced all the .001uF & .1uF capacitors & the 3K3 resistors next to the joystick ports.  No change in behavior (I'm actually surprised that I didn't fudge anything up in the process! ).

My next (and final?) possible culprit is the AY-3-8912 sound/input chip.  Anybody know where I can find a replacement to try swapping in?

Thanks,
-Jason

[ChadTower]

Found it here...

I cannot vouch for this vendor as I have never dealt with them. 

[jasonbar]

Thanks for augmenting my weak Google skills.  :]

arcadechips.com has a $15 minimum order, and that items $6.50.  :[

But another helpful soul pointed me to an English eBay auction.  With shipping & all, still $9.36.  Not bad.  http://cgi.ebay.com/Microchip-AY-3-8912A-P-IC-AY38912-Buy-2-get-one-FREE_W0QQitemZ160308334173QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Video_Games_Coin_Operated_MJ?hash=item160308334173

If that doesn't fix me up, I'll pop over to rec.games.vectrex.  Haven't been there in over a decade!

Thanks,
-Jason

[ChadTower]

I'd go there and search the group archives for your problem before ordering the chip.  It can't be a new problem.

[jasonbar]

Turns out I did indeed have a bad AY-3-8912 chip.  Swapped in the new one from the auction (very reasonable price & shipping cost & shipping speed) & now my Vec controllers behave!!!


YESSS!!!!!!!!

 

Bring on the 2-player Armor Attack & Rip-Off & all the rest!!!

-Jason

[ChadTower]

Nice! 

Fire up Web Wars.  Great game.  And Lord of the Robots if you have it.

[jasonbar]

I have a Web Wars overlay, but no cart yet.  I do have *War* of the Robots, but not Lord...

My list below.  I think I'll ditch my VecFlash & get a 72-in-1 multicart instead...the few remaining carts I don't have are pretty pricy to buy individually...

Thanks,
-J


All Good Things: Rockaroids, More Invaders!, Vectris, Spike's Water Balloons   
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Bedlam   overlay
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Blitz! (original cart)   overlay
Clean Sweep   overlay
Cosmic Chasm   overlay
Fortress of Narzod (original cart)   overlay
Heads-Up [no cart!]   overlay
Hyperchase   overlay
Mad Planetoids Demo   
Minestorm II   overlay
Patriot   
Pole Position [no cart!]   overlay
Rip Off   overlay
Scramble   overlay
Solar Quest   overlay
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Vecmania: Star Fire Spirits, Repulse, Rockaroids Remix 3rd Rock, Abyss Demo   
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Web Wars [no cart!]   overlay
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