Search found 19 matches

by WDeranged
Fri Jun 19, 2020 11:18 pm
Forum: Emulators
Topic: Retro Virtual Machine 2.0 beta 1 released
Replies: 34
Views: 12369

Re: Retro Virtual Machine 2.0 beta 1 released

With emulators for Commodore (UK) systems I've always set my refresh rate to 50hz for the silky smooth scrolling. Is there any benefit to running 50hz with the UK computers that were mostly incapable of it? I know the Speccy occasionally manages a bit of smooth scrolling text so would these effects ...
by WDeranged
Fri May 15, 2020 5:53 am
Forum: Hardware
Topic: +2 azimuth adjustment - Possible to damage tapes?
Replies: 5
Views: 890

Re: +2 azimuth adjustment - Possible to damage tapes?

It's looking like maybe it was an issue with the pinch roller. I think my initial cleaning with isopropyl and a cotton bud might have worn the rubber smooth. I've roughed the surface with some fine sand paper and so far I've not had any damage while testing old (sacrificial) tapes.
by WDeranged
Thu May 14, 2020 10:45 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Recapped +2 - RF Colour bleed appears worse
Replies: 6
Views: 1079

Re: Recapped +2 - RF Colour bleed appears worse

Nichicon, are some of the best caps out there, if they are not fake (most probably are not). Without a picture is difficult to evaluate what you are seeing, but in a general if the output is still RF, it's going to have noise, no matter what. You might want to mod the RF into a composite video out,...
by WDeranged
Thu May 14, 2020 5:51 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Recapped +2 - RF Colour bleed appears worse
Replies: 6
Views: 1079

Recapped +2 - RF Colour bleed appears worse

So I took the time to fully recap my grey +2 and it appears that the colour bleed on the RF output is worse, RGB is as clear as ever. I was very methodical and I've triple checked everything, looks fine. Am I being paranoid or is it possible one of the new caps I fitted was a dud? Do the electrolyti...
by WDeranged
Wed May 13, 2020 7:54 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Fixing audio on a grey +2
Replies: 9
Views: 5598

Re: Fixing audio on a grey +2

That's a shame. The sound quality through RF is far better than what you get from the rear jack, apart from the digital chatter. If it's just a +2 issue I'm surprised more people haven't noticed.
by WDeranged
Wed May 13, 2020 5:52 am
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Fixing audio on a grey +2
Replies: 9
Views: 5598

Re: Fixing audio on a grey +2

MatGubbins wrote: Sun Mar 11, 2018 11:48 am I also found that the RF sound had a lot more bass (both AY and BEEPer) than the SOUND output socket, this is on the same TV.
This is a problem I'm getting with my +2. I don't suppose you ever found a cause/solution?
by WDeranged
Sat May 02, 2020 3:42 am
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Disabling Upper RAM
Replies: 28
Views: 4214

Re: Disabling Upper RAM

N00b question. Why would anyone want to disable the upper ram?
by WDeranged
Fri May 01, 2020 6:31 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: +2 azimuth adjustment - Possible to damage tapes?
Replies: 5
Views: 890

Re: +2 azimuth adjustment - Possible to damage tapes?

Hmm. On second thoughts something does seem to be damaging the tapes. Treasure Island Dizzy won't even load any more. It does look very much like damage from the capstan/roller but they are both spotless. The only other thing I can think of is that maybe the new belts are too tight? I've been playin...
by WDeranged
Fri May 01, 2020 4:14 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: +2 Tape deck sometimes doesn't auto stop
Replies: 0
Views: 400

+2 Tape deck sometimes doesn't auto stop

My +2's datacorder often doesn't automatically stop the tape after loading. It just sits there making a rather disturbing grinding noise. I thought maybe replacing the belts and adding a little bit of grease to the moving parts would fix it but I've only seen a small improvement. Anyone know a possi...
by WDeranged
Fri May 01, 2020 4:01 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: +2 azimuth adjustment - Possible to damage tapes?
Replies: 5
Views: 890

Re: +2 azimuth adjustment - Possible to damage tapes?

Thanks for the replies. Putting my mind at ease. I've only seen the marks on two Dizzy games I recently got from the same dealer on ebay. It does look like the kind of damage a pinch roller could cause. I've just tested a copy of Oh Mummy that I'm not bothered about damaging and I can't replicate th...
by WDeranged
Fri May 01, 2020 2:13 am
Forum: Hardware
Topic: +2 azimuth adjustment - Possible to damage tapes?
Replies: 5
Views: 890

+2 azimuth adjustment - Possible to damage tapes?

I've been trying to dial in the correct azimuth on my +2 and I noticed some tapes needed different adjustments. Anyway I was trying to find a happy medium but I've noticed some damage on the tapes I've been using, vertical impressions. I suspect I've been careless when tightening the adjustment scre...
by WDeranged
Thu Apr 30, 2020 5:11 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Video: ZX Spectrum 128K Toastrack Repair and Jailbar Reduction
Replies: 2
Views: 495

Re: Video: ZX Spectrum 128K Toastrack Repair and Jailbar Reduction

My grey +2 has a mild case of jailbars through the RGB. Is there a similar fix?
by WDeranged
Fri Apr 17, 2020 3:08 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: Karnov and its great use of colour
Replies: 41
Views: 36702

Re: Karnov and its great use of colour

No mention of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

Image
by WDeranged
Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:16 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Acquired a near mint +2 - Modding advice needed.
Replies: 15
Views: 1827

Re: Acquired a near mint +2 - Modding advice needed.

Ast A. Moore wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:10 pm
WDeranged wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:03 pm The resistor I used is fairly old and cheap, could this affect the bass response?
Not very likely, but not impossible either.
Thought not. Thanks, you're being very helpful :)
by WDeranged
Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:03 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Acquired a near mint +2 - Modding advice needed.
Replies: 15
Views: 1827

Re: Acquired a near mint +2 - Modding advice needed.

wouldn't increasing the resistance of R80 reduce the audio level for the data interpreter? Not in the least. In fact, you could remove R80 entirely and it wouldn’t affect the loading of programs. though the AY output still sounds extremely thin. Yeah, that is a bit peculiar. Make sure there are no ...
by WDeranged
Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:04 am
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Acquired a near mint +2 - Modding advice needed.
Replies: 15
Views: 1827

Re: Acquired a near mint +2 - Modding advice needed.

*edit* Actually I'm a bit confused. If R45 affects Datacorder output volume what does R80 do? One resistor is in line with the input (R80) and the other with the output (R45). That was done so you could hear the sound if you saved data, too. They are not completely separate, however (at the ULA), s...
by WDeranged
Wed Apr 15, 2020 10:56 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Acquired a near mint +2 - Modding advice needed.
Replies: 15
Views: 1827

Re: Acquired a near mint +2 - Modding advice needed.

Wouldn't changing R45 reduce the level of the ULA audio? I'm hearing very clear beeper audio so I'd rather raise the AY volume to match the ULA otherwise both signals would be swamped in the background hum from the tapedeck's amplifier. Yes, it would, but there’s no way around it. You can’t drop th...
by WDeranged
Wed Apr 15, 2020 6:57 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Acquired a near mint +2 - Modding advice needed.
Replies: 15
Views: 1827

Re: Acquired a near mint +2 - Modding advice needed.

Thanks for the quick reply. Wouldn't changing R45 reduce the level of the ULA audio? I'm hearing very clear beeper audio so I'd rather raise the AY volume to match the ULA otherwise both signals would be swamped in the background hum from the tapedeck's amplifier. The RGB cable is from Retro Compute...
by WDeranged
Wed Apr 15, 2020 6:18 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Acquired a near mint +2 - Modding advice needed.
Replies: 15
Views: 1827

Acquired a near mint +2 - Modding advice needed.

I recently got given a near mint Speccy +2 and a nice 14" Sony Trinitron TV. It was quite an experience opening her up and seeing how clean and immaculate the internals were :D Anyway, the RF output is (as expected) messy but still better than I remember from my childhood. I eventually ordered ...