Search found 436 matches

by Silvester
Fri Apr 16, 2021 4:10 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Sinclair QL Factory Test Jig
Replies: 40
Views: 10127

Re: Sinclair QL Factory Test Jig

PM your address and I'll pop it the post. Ignore the above, button came today! PM me when you see this, I need to send you some money. Wow, that took a while. It was posted on 29th March - two weeks and a day - I've had stuff quicker from China recently. It must be Covid, Brexit, or both. It wouldn...
by Silvester
Mon Mar 29, 2021 1:36 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: vintage keyboard interface
Replies: 16
Views: 5624

Re: vintage keyboard interface

Here are the scans of what I did back in 2009 on the Schon PC keyboard and interface. Hope they are of use in reviving/repairing or for curious interest. Like several long term projects I have running (don't we all?), I still have to get around to resolving three issues with the original design: Fir...
by Silvester
Sat Mar 27, 2021 1:05 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: vintage keyboard interface
Replies: 16
Views: 5624

Re: vintage keyboard interface

OK, I'll scan it. To get all the detail it'll probably be too big for forum so I'll email or dump it somewhere. I was hoping to add a different keybaord, so I did all the key tables (from EPROM dump). But the tin foil thing seemed worth a try first, it worked with the membrane switches on a Yamaha s...
by Silvester
Wed Mar 24, 2021 3:59 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: vintage keyboard interface
Replies: 16
Views: 5624

Re: vintage keyboard interface

Hello everyone, has anyone seen this kind of QL keyboard interface before? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154371862956 It may have been used not only to connect a serial ( six pin DIN) keyboard, but also to destroy Rick Dickinson's balanced industrial machine design – but looking at the pictures [1] I ...
by Silvester
Wed Mar 24, 2021 3:36 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Sinclair QL Factory Test Jig
Replies: 40
Views: 10127

Re: Sinclair QL Factory Test Jig

Yes, weird coincidence :o I've got a Maplin ZX81 keyboard, custom Elektor SC/MP clone, and QL analogue joystick interface all using the same buttons. I had one keyswitch and keytop left over, but used the keyswtich to replace the overused ENTER key on my Schon PC keyboard (I'll post pic later *), so...
by Silvester
Mon Mar 22, 2021 3:07 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Sinclair QL Factory Test Jig
Replies: 40
Views: 10127

Re: Sinclair QL Factory Test Jig

Did you ever get a keytop ?

I have one if you need it. I was going to try and sell it on ebay as a unicorn's tooth for £99 :lol: , but you can have it for postage.
by Silvester
Tue Feb 16, 2021 1:42 pm
Forum: Software & Programming
Topic: QMENU hint (or best kept secret?)
Replies: 1
Views: 727

QMENU hint (or best kept secret?)

When I first got QMENU I couldn't figure how you could get FILE_SELECT$ to remember the last directory the user navigated to, at least without resorting to DIR_SELECT$. But found there is a very simple way, just give full pathname of last file selected. Like OPEN_DIR it just discards file name part:...
by Silvester
Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:21 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: QIMI interface repair
Replies: 23
Views: 6452

Re: QIMI interface repair

Hi, The missing pin 40 on some my QIMI interfaces is great news. I just need to replace broken Rom socket pins. Think of a better way to attach the mouse/RTC battery cable. I was thinking of a CR2032 battery, in a holder, would this be okay? You'd need the rechargeable version of CR2032, but I thin...
by Silvester
Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:12 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: QSound and QPrint Interface
Replies: 185
Views: 65902

Re: QSound and QPrint Interface

I have a few Windows programs that are quirky under Wine so I'll probabaly get a Windows laptop soon (last contribution to M$ was W95! in 1995). It should play uncompressed YM files (LHA -lh5-), Archivers Control Panel can do it. I've got C code for LHA to translate to 68K version. I tried the YM fi...
by Silvester
Wed Feb 10, 2021 1:04 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: QSound and QPrint Interface
Replies: 185
Views: 65902

Re: QSound and QPrint Interface

Added QSound emulation support so now it also plays on Marcel's new QPC2 v5. Hope AY sounds clean on Windows, my machine (Linux + Wine, dual 2GHz) is a bit choppy. Even the QSound BELL sounds crackly, strange thing is if you pitch a tone register just right it produces a clean sound. I think it is s...