Unoffical empeg BBS

Quick Links: Empeg FAQ | RioCar.Org | Hijack | BigDisk Builder | jEmplode | emphatic
Repairs: Repairs

Page 2 of 2 < 1 2
Topic Options
#257223 - 02/06/2005 21:12 Re: A sample installation.. with photos [Re: frog51]
maczrool
pooh-bah

Registered: 13/01/2002
Posts: 1649
Loc: Louisiana, USA
What I find works in addition to large amounts of flux is to apply a very small amount of solder to the tip of the iron, then some of the solder onto the RAS line. This intermediary step helps to further diminish the amount of solder at the eventual joint at the Strong Arm pin. Then hold the end of the wire to the proper pin and briefly touch the iron to the end of the wire where the solder is.

I just think it's easier to transfer a small amount of solder from the tip of the iron onto the RAS wire then to take it directly to the wire and pin.

Stu
_________________________
If you want it to break, buy Sony!

Top
#257224 - 02/06/2005 22:44 Re: A sample installation.. with photos [Re: mlord]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14472
Loc: Canada
Update:

My modded player developed stability issues -- random crashes and the like.

My theory is mechanical issues -- the memory expansion card adds a lot of stiffness to the main board, and when the main board is subsequently screwed back into the stainless steel enclosure, it wants to bend to match the enclosure screw posts (flat?). This puts stress on the connections between the two boards, and I think something just "gave" in the end.

So, I've put enough hours into this for now, and tonight I disassembled the player and removed the memory card again. Not quite as clean a removal this time around -- destroyed several of the test pads, but they're not really important or needed for anything other than the (removed) memory card, so no big deal.

Back to 16MB for now, but I do still have a couple of pairs of chips to do the stacking method with eventually.

Cheers

Top
#257225 - 04/06/2005 20:31 Re: A sample installation.. with photos [Re: frog51]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
Quote:
steady hand
and
Quote:
Amersfoort


Doh!
_________________________
One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

Top
#257226 - 06/06/2005 13:34 Re: memory board progress [Re: pca]
pca
old hand

Registered: 20/07/1999
Posts: 1102
Loc: UK
The first 10-15 boards should ship by the end of the week. Most of the rest will go out next week, with a bit of luck. I'm waiting for some antistatic bags to turn up, and finishing the manual.

pca
_________________________
Experience is what you get just after it would have helped...

Top
#257227 - 06/06/2005 20:31 Re: memory board progress [Re: pca]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
I can't wait!
_________________________
Brad B.

Top
#257228 - 09/06/2005 00:05 Re: A sample installation.. with photos [Re: mlord]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Any more updates Mark?
_________________________
Brad B.

Top
#257229 - 09/06/2005 01:39 Re: A sample installation.. with photos [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14472
Loc: Canada
Quote:
Any more updates Mark?


Err. not since I removed the memory board in the end (post above).

Of course, now I suppose I should find a new home for the memory board I have here (with chips).

Cheers

Top
#257230 - 16/06/2005 01:19 Re: memory board progress [Re: pca]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Were these sent out? I was very early in the queue...
_________________________
Brad B.

Top
#257231 - 20/06/2005 14:49 Re: memory board progress [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
pca
old hand

Registered: 20/07/1999
Posts: 1102
Loc: UK
By the end of tomorrow, the first 25 boards will have shipped. There will be a slight delay for the next twenty-five.

pca
_________________________
Experience is what you get just after it would have helped...

Top
#257232 - 20/06/2005 18:10 Re: memory board progress [Re: pca]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Thank you, thank you! I hope I didn't come off as complaining about any delays or doubtful about any progress. Just curious.
_________________________
Brad B.

Top
#257233 - 23/06/2005 09:11 Re: memory board progress [Re: pca]
mtempsch
pooh-bah

Registered: 02/06/2000
Posts: 1996
Loc: Gothenburg, Sweden
Quote:
By the end of tomorrow, the first 25 boards will have shipped. There will be a slight delay for the next twenty-five.
pca


Just picked mine up at the post office Will start disassembling the player tonight...
_________________________
/Michael

Top
#257234 - 23/06/2005 12:39 Re: A sample installation.. with photos [Re: mlord]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14472
Loc: Canada
Quote:
My modded player developed stability issues -- random crashes and the like.

Patrick has since emailed me about this, and he said that the culprit may be insufficient current flow from the power/ground test pads. To remedy this, he is recommending additional short jumper wires from another location of the main board to the memory board. Apparently Hugo's Mk2 player needed those, and works well now with 64MB + Mk2a_bootloader + latest Hijack.

I'm not redoing mine until I hear how others make out with their upgrades. Also, Patrick said something about finishing up the installation manual soon (if not already), which ought to help.

Cheers


Edited by mlord (23/06/2005 18:26)

Top
#257235 - 23/06/2005 14:44 Re: memory board progress [Re: mtempsch]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
Quote:
Will start disassembling the player tonight...


Carefully...
_________________________
One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

Top
#257236 - 23/06/2005 15:15 Re: memory board progress [Re: schofiel]
mtempsch
pooh-bah

Registered: 02/06/2000
Posts: 1996
Loc: Gothenburg, Sweden
Quote:
Quote:
Will start disassembling the player tonight...


Carefully... : smirk:


lyou mean no blowtorch, 5-pound hammer and chisel? Awww.... spoilsport!
Got to say that helping to rip out the kitchen - everything, down to raw floor/walls/roof - at a friends house last summer was serious fun . Not everyday you get to really live out your destructive urges. Better yet was that the old cabinets were fairly sturdy, none of the pressboard crap of today...

Since there appears to be a need for some extra wiring for power anyway, I'll take it very slow (and carefully ) until Patrick says something 'official'.
_________________________
/Michael

Top
#257237 - 23/06/2005 15:26 Re: memory board progress [Re: mtempsch]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
The manual with revised wiring description are being written at this very moment.
_________________________
One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

Top
#257238 - 23/06/2005 16:03 Re: memory board progress [Re: schofiel]
mtempsch
pooh-bah

Registered: 02/06/2000
Posts: 1996
Loc: Gothenburg, Sweden
Quote:
The manual with revised wiring description are being written at this very moment.


Great!

BTW, any chance to pick up a new rotary encoder at the meet? The current one occasionally glitches and jumps the wrong way - often envigorating , but sometimes slightly embarrasing
_________________________
/Michael

Top
#257239 - 23/06/2005 16:31 Re: memory board progress [Re: mtempsch]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
Yup - I would suggest someone start a thread with a list of "parts wanted" for Amersfoort, and I'll make sure I have the bits ready. Gotta go!
_________________________
One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

Top
#257240 - 25/06/2005 17:42 Re: memory board progress [Re: mtempsch]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Quote:
Just picked mine up at the post office Will start disassembling the player tonight...


Mine must be caught up in Customs... I was order #3 and it's not here. Let's hope I'm not on a terrorist watch list!
_________________________
Brad B.

Top
#257241 - 25/06/2005 18:35 Re: memory board progress [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
mtempsch
pooh-bah

Registered: 02/06/2000
Posts: 1996
Loc: Gothenburg, Sweden
Quote:
Mine must be caught up in Customs... I was order #3 and it's not here. Let's hope I'm not on a terrorist watch list!


You bet you are Odd electronics, association with the Hijack guy, obvious suspect Then again, Mark has previously expressed some negativity towards the USPS, so if that's what Patrick used, it might just be normal incompetence and not malice

My progress so far: I got he mainboard out - eventually, that center screw just wouldn't budge! Ended up doing stuff that Rob shouldn't know about Had to reassemble and check that everyhing still worked; all OK. All the pads that'll be under the board are cleaned off with desoldering braid and the boards are completely flat against each other. Now just waiting for the commandments to be handed down before proceeding... Only thing that concerns me is getting that last RAS line in place...
_________________________
/Michael

Top
#257242 - 25/06/2005 21:52 Re: memory board progress [Re: mtempsch]
caseyse
member

Registered: 07/10/2000
Posts: 112
Loc: CA, USA
Rec'd 2 of my 3 boards today. I'm going to upgrade one of my mk2 units first, once instructions are available. These are very nice looking boards. Thank you for your time and effort on these Patrick Also, thank you Mark for the expanded memory kernel


Edited by caseyse (26/06/2005 00:08)

Top
#257243 - 25/06/2005 23:40 Re: memory board progress [Re: mtempsch]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14472
Loc: Canada
In addition to the RAS line, you'll also need to run extra (SHORT!) power and ground signals from the capacitors on the main board just above the main board memory chips over to the capacitors on the memory board. One set of power and ground should do it, I'd think.

Failure to do this may result in all sorts of weird memory errors, or having things appear to work, and then fail when operating at a different temperature.

Cheers

Top
#257244 - 26/06/2005 23:34 Re: memory board progress [Re: caseyse]
FireFox31
pooh-bah

Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
I just found the postal notice saying they tried to deliver my memory board on Saturday. Now I can go pick it up when I ship out buttons in the morning!

But then my only lit player goes to Eutronix for the upgrade. I will be back in the dark ages.
_________________________
-
FireFox31
110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set

Top
#257245 - 28/06/2005 13:15 Re: memory board progress [Re: schofiel]
alex25
member

Registered: 30/06/1999
Posts: 179
Loc: Switzerland
Any news on the manual for the memory board? Am I right that it is not yet available? (At least I have not found it)
I've got the board yesterday and can't wait to upgrade the player. I don't need a full featured, colored manual. I'm happy with a simple step by step installation guide.

Top
#257246 - 28/06/2005 15:06 Re: memory board progress [Re: alex25]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
Only a little while before it's ready.
_________________________
One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

Top
#257247 - 28/06/2005 16:13 Re: memory board progress [Re: schofiel]
Defiler
journeyman

Registered: 23/09/2003
Posts: 50
Rockin'. Picked up my two boards from the post office today.

Top
#257248 - 18/07/2005 13:02 Re: memory board progress [Re: pca]
Glen_L
member

Registered: 24/02/2003
Posts: 111
Loc: Elk Grove, CA
Patrick,

Any update on when the next batch might be ready?
_________________________
No longer a stranger, finally a full-fledged member! \:D

Top
#257249 - 23/08/2005 14:26 Re: memory board progress [Re: pca]
Glen_L
member

Registered: 24/02/2003
Posts: 111
Loc: Elk Grove, CA
Bump...is the second batch still on hold? I've held off ordering a larger hard drive and installing 3.0a11 until I have the memory board installed. I believe I was #32 in the queue.


Edited by Glen_L (23/08/2005 14:29)
_________________________
No longer a stranger, finally a full-fledged member! \:D

Top
#257250 - 23/08/2005 14:35 Re: memory board progress [Re: Glen_L]
pupvogel
journeyman

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 96
Loc: Hamburg, Germany
i guess we'll just have to wait...
i have order #2 - pca's last reply in july was they'll go out soon.

too bad there's a great deal of flexibility in the word 'soon'...

well i don't complain as i have no idea yet how i get those boards into my empegs...i really don't think i should do that myself...

Top
Page 2 of 2 < 1 2