From: Charles Eicher Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Sol-20 Restoration: further adventures.. Date: 7 Nov 1999 20:59:29 -0800 Lines: 46 Message-ID: <805lbh$19ip@edrn.newsguy.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: p-048.newsdawg.com Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!naxos.belnet.be!news.belnet.be!news-FFM2.ecrc.net!newsfeed.berkeley.edu!pln-w!spln!extra.newsguy.com!newsp.newsguy.com!edrn I've been periodically posting updates on my restoration project of my old Processor Technology Sol-20. These usually coincide with pleas for help. Now may be such a time. I tested the power supply while unplugged from the motherboard, got a thumbs-up. I've been slowly collecting connectors and missing parts, like the RGU-58 to RCA adapter. That was a tough one! So everything is assembled and it was time to fire up the whole unit, see if it works. I connected the Sol's B&W video-out to my 30 inch Sony Trinitron XBR set. I decided to videotape the event in case of catastrophic failure. I also checked the fire extinguisher, which, to my dismay, had not been checked in years, and was flat. I had a hard time getting the power switch to stay on, but indeed, I got a nice SOLOS/CUTER prompt: > I can't remember any commands, so I just try typing on the keyboard. No response. I remember the keyboard had LEDs on some keys, like the horrible LOCAL key which would blitz whatever you were programming, and you had to watch out not to hit it. The LEDs are dead, or I'm not getting any power to the keyboard. None of the LEDs light up. Time to disassemble, see if I'm even connected to the motherboard. I did give it a rather serious spray with compressed air, maybe I knocked something loose. Darn it, the keyboard is attached, although there are two extremely similar non-keyed molex connectors right next to each other, maybe its connected wrong. I vaguely recall this being a problem once, about 20 years ago. Hmm.. time to dive back into the construction manual again. So, I'm halfway there. I have a working 8080 CPU, its definitely processing or I wouldn't get a cursor on video. But I have a failed keyboard. Its a damn shame because one of the strengths of the Sol was its professional quality keyboard. Hope its not anything internal, these PT keyboards were shipped assembled from the factory, there's not anything you can do to repair that I know of. And I was really good at fixing keyboards, so maybe I'll figure it out. If anyone has suggestions or prior experience with this sort of problem, please chip in your 2cents. ObKeyboardFolklore: A long time ago, I used to repair AppleIIs, and the most constant repair was replacing a single keyboard switch. I got pretty good at replacing them, and had a huge stock of individual switches for all the different keys in the various early apple models. I could desolder and replace one in about 15 minutes, and I'd charge you a minimum 30 minute repair charge out of my $30/hour rate. I think the keys themselves were about $3.50. So, for under 20 bucks, I'd replace your busted key. I felt like a typewriter repairman, I always had AppleIIs lined up for keyboard repairs. The quality keyboard with replaceable components was one reason the AppleIIs were so popular, people spent a lot of time typing, and appreciated the user experience. Apple never forgot that. ###### From: bobstek@ix.netcom.com Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Sol-20 Restoration: further adventures.. Date: Mon, 08 Nov 1999 17:25:59 -0500 Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com Lines: 35 Message-ID: References: <805lbh$19ip@edrn.newsguy.com> X-Complaints-To: newsabuse@supernews.com X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 1.6/32.525 X-No-Archive: yes MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!newsfeed-zh.ip-plus.net!news.ip-plus.net!News.Amsterdam.UnisourceCS!skynet.be!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!nntp.ntr.net!remarQ60!rQdQ!supernews.com!remarQ.com!news.supernews.com!not-for-mail On 7 Nov 1999 20:59:29 -0800, Charles Eicher wrote: >I've been periodically posting updates on my restoration project of my old >Processor Technology Sol-20. , the keyboard is attached, although there are >two extremely similar non-keyed molex connectors right next to each other, maybe >its connected wrong. I vaguely recall this being a problem once, about 20 years >ago. Hmm.. time to dive back into the construction manual again. been there, done that! > >So, I'm halfway there. I have a working 8080 CPU, its definitely processing or I >wouldn't get a cursor on video. But I have a failed keyboard. Its a damn shame >because one of the strengths of the Sol was its professional quality keyboard. >Hope its not anything internal, these PT keyboards were shipped assembled from >the factory, there's not anything you can do to repair that I know of. And I was >really good at fixing keyboards, so maybe I'll figure it out. If anyone has >suggestions or prior experience with this sort of problem, please chip in your >2cents. If it's not the wrong connector, it may be that some (all?) of the foil-backed foam inserts in each key have distintegrated (literally). If you still have your manual, there is a section in it which describes using the keyboard without the keys. The capacitance of your fingers touching the two half-moons on the pc board is enough to operate it and will at least tell you that the keyboard circuitry is working. The foam pads are still made by and available from Keytronics(?) I have the reference somewhere if and when you need them. Good luck ( and when you are ready to play TARG, let me know). Bob Stek Saver of Lost SOLs ###### From: Charles Eicher Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Sol-20 Restoration: further adventures.. Date: 8 Nov 1999 17:36:54 -0800 Lines: 37 Message-ID: <807trm$2f7g@edrn.newsguy.com> References: <805lbh$19ip@edrn.newsguy.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: p-964.newsdawg.com Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!newsfeed-zh.ip-plus.net!news.ip-plus.net!News.Amsterdam.UnisourceCS!newspeer.te.net!news.indigo.ie!news-out.cwix.com!newsfeed.cwix.com!howland.erols.net!news.pbi.net.MISMATCH!cyclone.pbi.net!165.113.238.17!pln-w!spln!extra.newsguy.com!newsp.newsguy.com!edrn In article , bobstek@ix.netcom.com says... > >On 7 Nov 1999 20:59:29 -0800, Charles Eicher wrote: >> >>So, I'm halfway there. I have a working 8080 CPU, its definitely processing or I >>wouldn't get a cursor on video. But I have a failed keyboard. Its a damn shame >>because one of the strengths of the Sol was its professional quality keyboard. >>Hope its not anything internal, these PT keyboards were shipped assembled from >>the factory, there's not anything you can do to repair that I know of. And I was >>really good at fixing keyboards, so maybe I'll figure it out. If anyone has >>suggestions or prior experience with this sort of problem, please chip in your >>2cents. > >If it's not the wrong connector, it may be that some (all?) of the >foil-backed foam inserts in each key have distintegrated (literally). >If you still have your manual, there is a section in it which >describes using the keyboard without the keys. The capacitance of >your fingers touching the two half-moons on the pc board is enough to >operate it and will at least tell you that the keyboard circuitry is >working. The foam pads are still made by and available from >Keytronics(?) I have the reference somewhere if and when you need >them. Someone contacted me via email about keyboard refurbish kits he sells for $25. Something about replacing a contact pad. I don't know if that's what is wrong, this machine was stored well and in excellent condition, it wasn't really even dusty. All the keys travel and seem just like new. I think I'll take it apart and see how bad it looks. >Good luck ( and when you are ready to play TARG, let me know). > >Bob Stek >Saver of Lost SOLs Can't wait to play TREK80. Nobody believes me about how it made its sounds through an AM radio, with radio interference. I want to get it on videotape.. ###### From: Don Maslin Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Sol-20 Restoration: further adventures.. Date: 9 Nov 1999 05:48:54 GMT Organization: CTS Network Services Lines: 50 Message-ID: <808ck6$pb6$1@thoth.cts.com> References: <805lbh$19ip@edrn.newsguy.com> X-Trace: thoth.cts.com 942126534 25958 205.163.0.7 (9 Nov 1999 05:48:54 GMT) X-Complaints-To: newsmaster@cts.com User-Agent: tin/pre-1.4-19990413 ("Endemoniada") (UNIX) (crash/3.2 (i386)) Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!newsfeed-zh.ip-plus.net!news.ip-plus.net!News.Amsterdam.UnisourceCS!skynet.be!tank.news.pipex.net!pipex!oleane!newsfeed2.news.nl.uu.net!sun4nl!uunet!ams.uu.net!ffx.uu.net!alpha.sky.net!mercury.cts.com!thoth.cts.com!not-for-mail bobstek@ix.netcom.com wrote: : On 7 Nov 1999 20:59:29 -0800, Charles Eicher wrote: :>I've been periodically posting updates on my restoration project of my old :>Processor Technology Sol-20. , the keyboard is attached, although there are :>two extremely similar non-keyed molex connectors right next to each other, maybe :>its connected wrong. I vaguely recall this being a problem once, about 20 years :>ago. Hmm.. time to dive back into the construction manual again. : been there, done that! :> :>So, I'm halfway there. I have a working 8080 CPU, its definitely processing or I :>wouldn't get a cursor on video. But I have a failed keyboard. Its a damn shame :>because one of the strengths of the Sol was its professional quality keyboard. :>Hope its not anything internal, these PT keyboards were shipped assembled from :>the factory, there's not anything you can do to repair that I know of. And I was :>really good at fixing keyboards, so maybe I'll figure it out. If anyone has :>suggestions or prior experience with this sort of problem, please chip in your :>2cents. : If it's not the wrong connector, it may be that some (all?) of the : foil-backed foam inserts in each key have distintegrated (literally). : If you still have your manual, there is a section in it which : describes using the keyboard without the keys. The capacitance of : your fingers touching the two half-moons on the pc board is enough to : operate it and will at least tell you that the keyboard circuitry is : working. The foam pads are still made by and available from : Keytronics(?) I have the reference somewhere if and when you need : them. : Good luck ( and when you are ready to play TARG, let me know). : Bob Stek : Saver of Lost SOLs They are available from Keytronics at $0.10 apiece plus a $6.50 fixed minimum shipping charge. Point of contact is: Fred Engel Key Tronic Corporation Accessories Sales Coordinator PH# 509-927-5320 FAX# 509-927-5252 email address: fengel@keytronic.com An alternative approach is to get a used Keytronics PC keyboard at a swap meet and denude it of ones that still seem 'springy'. - don ###### From: Don Maslin Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Sol-20 Restoration: further adventures.. Date: 9 Nov 1999 05:52:06 GMT Organization: CTS Network Services Lines: 43 Message-ID: <808cq6$pb6$2@thoth.cts.com> References: <805lbh$19ip@edrn.newsguy.com> <807trm$2f7g@edrn.newsguy.com> X-Trace: thoth.cts.com 942126726 25958 205.163.0.7 (9 Nov 1999 05:52:06 GMT) X-Complaints-To: newsmaster@cts.com User-Agent: tin/pre-1.4-19990413 ("Endemoniada") (UNIX) (crash/3.2 (i386)) Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!naxos.belnet.be!news.belnet.be!news-FFM2.ecrc.net!newsfeed.enteract.com!hermes.visi.com!news-out.visi.com!uunet!ffx.uu.net!alpha.sky.net!mercury.cts.com!thoth.cts.com!not-for-mail Charles Eicher wrote: : In article , bobstek@ix.netcom.com says... :> :>On 7 Nov 1999 20:59:29 -0800, Charles Eicher wrote: :>> :>>So, I'm halfway there. I have a working 8080 CPU, its definitely processing or I :>>wouldn't get a cursor on video. But I have a failed keyboard. Its a damn shame :>>because one of the strengths of the Sol was its professional quality keyboard. :>>Hope its not anything internal, these PT keyboards were shipped assembled from :>>the factory, there's not anything you can do to repair that I know of. And I was :>>really good at fixing keyboards, so maybe I'll figure it out. If anyone has :>>suggestions or prior experience with this sort of problem, please chip in your :>>2cents. :> :>If it's not the wrong connector, it may be that some (all?) of the :>foil-backed foam inserts in each key have distintegrated (literally). :>If you still have your manual, there is a section in it which :>describes using the keyboard without the keys. The capacitance of :>your fingers touching the two half-moons on the pc board is enough to :>operate it and will at least tell you that the keyboard circuitry is :>working. The foam pads are still made by and available from :>Keytronics(?) I have the reference somewhere if and when you need :>them. : Someone contacted me via email about keyboard refurbish kits he sells for $25. : Something about replacing a contact pad. I don't know if that's what is wrong, : this machine was stored well and in excellent condition, it wasn't really even : dusty. All the keys travel and seem just like new. I think I'll take it apart : and see how bad it looks. It is an age problem, Charles. The foam pads look like polyfoam and it deteriorates over time. Even PC keyboards suffer, and they are a bit newer. - don :>Good luck ( and when you are ready to play TARG, let me know). :> :>Bob Stek :>Saver of Lost SOLs : Can't wait to play TREK80. Nobody believes me about how it made its sounds : through an AM radio, with radio interference. I want to get it on videotape..