Thema: I fixed my Vec !!! - for all interested Datum: 31 Dec 1997 02:03:05 GMT A (long) while ago I posted my busted Vecs symptoms and since then I've received many emails asking me to post when I found a solution. Briefly: the problem was the screen initially condensed into one vertical line, and after opening the unit up a reseating the few chips I could reach without major disassembly, the screen expanded to a full screen. However, the screen was very unstable, and would waver very badly. Someone suggested I replace the video chip, the 6522. Well, I FINALLY had a weekend free and my brother and I rolled up our sleeves and got into the Vec. We actually were able to find an electronics supplier that could sell us a 6522 chip. (I'll post the source later, if anyone's interested). Anyway, we open up the darn thing, pry out the old 6522, and replace it, and guess what; same damn problem! So we know two things, one the 6522 we bought is compatible, and two the 6522 is NOT the problem. By this time, we're pretty frustrated, and figure we got nothing to loose. So, as a last ditch effort we try to reseat all of the chips on the one main board. What I call the main board is the board with the CPU, the 6522 and the memory. So, we take the Vec apart just enough so we can get at all the chips. We found the least destructive way is to take out the four (I think ?) screws that hold the board to rest of the case. There is one thick wire that connects the two main boards inside the Vec that we HAD to cut. After the screws are removed and the wire cut, there is just enough slack in the rest of the connecting wires such that the board can be pulled out of the Vec and held horizontally(Note, the joystick ports and reset switch (with the know removed!) pull though the back of the panel). With my bother holding the back of the board for support, I (carefully!!!) pried all the chips out of their sockets and reseated them. For a few of the chips, I needed to use another chip as a lever to insert the tiny screwdriver into the notch, so I used a piece of cloth to make sure I didn't damage the other chip. After painstakingly going through all the chips, we reinstalled the board. My brother, with his impressive soldering skill, soldered in a plug connection where the hardwiring was, between the two boards, just in case we need to remove it again. So, anyway, after reassembling the whole shebang, I'll be damned if the Vec doesn't work! A nice stable screen, even after we left in on for the rest of the afternoon. Hopefully, these directions will help someone whose Vec is suffering from the same malady. Now if only we can get our hands on a legitimate Vectrex controller!!! (Ours came sans controller). The next project is to convert a Sega pad to Vec duty, however, I'd still like an authentic controller. If anyone can help me here, I'd like to hear about it! I'll keep looking! paul123@mail.eclipse.net