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+--- Thread: My Microbee 128k Overdrive upgrade (/thread-223.html)
My Microbee 128k Overdrive upgrade - ChickenMan - 07-11-2020
With a new Premium Keyboard Kit in hand, I decided it was time to upgrade my Microbee Overdrive (a 128k Premium unit with BN60 rom and 2 floppies attached to the top of the case) as so many keys dont work and sick of removing and repairing them. So removed all key switches and added in the new keyboard kit. Installation was nice and simple really with the easy to follow instructions provided in the kit. So now looks like this without the key tops in place
The Keyboard kit also includes 2 switch mode voltage regulators for the main board that replaces the two 7805 regulators riveted to the keyboard metal framework, so decided to replace the 2 on the coreboard as well. These are 5v 3 watt units. Since these original 7805 regulators are pop riveted to the PCB and small heat sink, I just cut off the legs and de-soldered them with the new regs going over the top, as there is plenty of room really. You can also see in the pic were the 5v for the 2 floppy drives is picked up off the coreboard. I also made two new extended power cables :-
Next was to replace A: drive with a Gotek complete with LCD screen, speaker and Rotary controller. Since I'd previously made up a Gotek ready for the Overdrive, that was the easy part, I also replaced B: drive (an old Chinon 720k drive) with a new Sony 920 floppy -
All done, so now assembled all back to original with key tops installed and ready to test it out. Works a treat
Now ready for some quality game time, now wheres my joystick
RE: My Microbee 128k Overdrive upgrade - someone - 07-11-2020
You've turned your microbee into a Frankenstein machine consisting of parts from the Late 20th and Early 21 century parts!
As someone says - "Go for it!!"
RE: My Microbee 128k Overdrive upgrade - jclark - 08-11-2020
Looking good ChickenMan. Good job. I've always wanted one of those Bees with that slimline disk drive system.
Tell me, what's the blue box with the Microbee logo with cables running out of it in between the Bee and the Monitor?
RE: My Microbee 128k Overdrive upgrade - ChickenMan - 08-11-2020
Thanks, changing the keyboard took the longest time, rest was pretty simple really. Yep the Overdrive is a fairly rare version of the Microbee, never seen one on eBay and only know of 1 other in a collectors hands. When the Bundoora Fairs start up again after all this Corona lock downs ends here in Vic, I will have it on show
Arr that little blue box is a WifiSer unit, shouldnt have been in the photo
It can connect your Microbee to wifi and then with a modified Telcom you can connect to the 100's of Telnet BBS via the internet This is still in development and I have been doing some beta testing for Ewan. The unit works great, Telcom needs some further work though.
RE: My Microbee 128k Overdrive upgrade - MbeeTech - 09-11-2020
Nice work CM