Apple II

Apple //gx (Customised //gs)

Submitted by Timelord on April 7, 2020 - 11:36pm

Here is the first look at the custom //gs, that I have dubbed the '//gx', as I am making it to appear as a hybrid around the style of the //x prototype. 

 

Still some work to do on it, but it is now in one piece after I rebuild the KB mechanism. 

 

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Apple II

Datanetics DC-60 Switch Restoration - Lubrication

Submitted by Timelord on April 7, 2020 - 2:57am

My original ][ uses a 1979 model 2 Keyboard with Datanetics  DC-60 switches (straight stem).

 

Many of them do not return true and are not making proper contact. I hand jumpered the solder points to identify that the encoder is fine, and that the mecanism works properly. THe only issue is that the keys do not return to their false state, so the matrix is corrupted by partially closed gates. 

 

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Apple IIc keyboard issue

Submitted by Northband on April 5, 2020 - 7:54pm

Hi - I recently picked up a descent IIc  and it booted fine but the keys didn't work. I checked to ensure the keyboard button was engaged and disengaged but still no keys work. However, control and reset does reboot the machine.  

I have tore the machine apart to clean up the components and inspect them. I also took all the keys off and cleaned up the key connectors and also checked for continuity. All seems fine.  

After reassembly I have the same issue. The keys simply won't work except the control and reset.  

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Apple II

GS Rom 0 Stuck on Firmware Splash; blown disk controller.

Submitted by Timelord on April 5, 2020 - 5:08am

One of my other GS logic boards has a logic fault: When powered on, it hits the Apple Firmware splash screen, but it never attempts to scan for drives or devices. With no drives connected, it does not reach the 'bonk', 'No devices' screen, and I cannot exit to the Control Panel. It is stuck solid on the splash screen. 

 

This unit has always been a drive tested for rebuilding and aligning drive mechs. I'm pretty sure that someone connected a Mac drive to its Disk port, which likely fried something. 

 

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Apple II

3.5 Drive Card Failures

Submitted by Timelord on April 5, 2020 - 4:57am

I tested both of my 3.5 Drive cards today, and both have issues:

 

I believe that Apple used an AMD EPROM and not a Mask ROM for these cards, as I can felel an erasure Window under the labels, so I suspect that bit rot has caused both to become unusable. 

 

Here is what I see if I attempt to boot from a 3.5 Drive connected to one of the cards.

 

Occasionally I see `Check Startup Device` or `Failed to Load ProDOS`.

 

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Apple II

apple iic monitor a2m4090 horizontal width adjustment

Submitted by rami shaked on April 4, 2020 - 6:34am

hello,

Cant find the way to adjust the gorizontal width size of the picture. Look at the picture i attached. i want to use all the screen width with no black margins.

i think i tried every potentiometer/knobs i have found on the board, they do all the other things accept what i'm looking for

 

any help on this ?

 

 

 

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Apple II

Disk ][, and Mastery Development Cards

Submitted by Timelord on April 3, 2020 - 12:21pm

I came across my big box of Disk ][ cards, and a large set of Mastery Development Teacher/Slave cards today. 

 

Is there an easy way to identify if the Disk ][ cards are 16-sector? I certainly do not recall how, other than the '16' decal that was on the later-model cards. 

 

I'm unsure what I will do with the MD cards. I certainly have enough to make a serial network in here, but I have no practical application for that as no-one else is here to use it. 

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Apple II

Apple ][ Restoration Project

Submitted by Timelord on April 2, 2020 - 9:20pm

I've been going over one of the original Apple ][ models, cleaning it up and getting it into a usable state to add to my wall of systems.

 

I've had this for forty years, but in the last two decades, it's seen some daemons. The little machine was completely choked with dirt, dust, and soot. Thus far, I disassembled and cleaned every component, and I have started a deep clean of the keyboard. 

 

I decided to do a bench test on it, and, after 40 years, it still works perfectly. The video connector could use a reflow, but other than that, no issues thus far. 

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Apple II

TranswarpGS Diagnostics

Submitted by Timelord on April 2, 2020 - 9:12pm

If anyone here is familiar with diagnosing issues on the TranswarpGS:

 

I installed my TWGS card in two different GS systems, a Rom 0, and a ROM 1. Both present me with the same issue.

 

I'm attaching photos of what I see on the display. Please advise if you may know how to determine the cause of the fault. 

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Apple II

65C816->65C02 Board from a2heaven?

Submitted by Timelord on April 2, 2020 - 12:19am

I noticed the 65C816->65C02 Board on a2heaven.

 

Does this function as a ZIP chip did in the //e ? The page states that it runs up to 14 MHz, but it doesn't say if it supports running standard software at higher speed as the ZIP chip did, via a switch of some sort, or how you toggle the mode or set the clk; or if it only allows you to make custom software that can take advantage of the 65c816. 

 

Has anyone here used this product? It's bloody cheap so I may buy one ust for fun, should I want to write any software to take advantage of such a hybrid instr set. 

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