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+--- Thread: Reconnecting to the Bee (/thread-435.html)
Reconnecting to the Bee - mjelic - 22-02-2022
I purchased a 128k off eBay on Sunday and am learning how to get it going again... Yes, the majority of the keys don't work. Wonder why that is so common??
Anyway, my story is that we had a few Bees and a couple Mac II in a computer room of Katoomba High School that were all largely unused except for myself and a handful of my geek friends.
I was already into playing with a Z80 trainer called the TEC-1 which I am still developing and involved with a fairly active group on Facebook.The fact the Microbee is Z80 based is what made me want to get one again... But this keyboard thing is a pain. Really need the replacement keys being made available on the store, ASAP.
RE: Reconnecting to the Bee - someone - 22-02-2022
Welcome aboard!
Unfortunately, investing in a vintage microbee means investing in a decent desoldering tool to replace or fix those bad keys.
The Pace SX-100 Sodr-X-Tractor desoldering tool is perfect for the job!
You'll be up and going in no time.
RE: Reconnecting to the Bee - MbeeTech - 22-02-2022
(22-02-2022, 06:41 AM)mjelic Wrote: But this keyboard thing is a pain. Really need the replacement keys being made available on the store, ASAP.
I will be ordering key switches to go in the replacement keyboard kits but need to order a min 10k pieces.
I need to do this for the Classic Plus kit release anyway, but holding off right at the moment til that is signed off.
In the meantime, depending on how far gone the keys are, you might attempt repairing them. It is a horrible job
but a reasonable degree of success can be had.
I prepared a repair guide which can be found < here >
RE: Reconnecting to the Bee - ChickenMan - 22-02-2022
Firstly, welcome to the forum, thought I recognized the name
Yes those keys are a pain. I have one here that a friend dropped off to check out, I eventually got the Return key to work and the down arrow
Wiggle the key cap helps.Two solutions to the keys, as someone said, de-solder all the keys, pull them apart and clean the small carbon impregnated donut and resolder back in. Or have a word to Ewan to get a Keyboard Kit and fit new keys, I've done that to 5 of my bees so far and still need more done.
Also join up to the Repository and check out our Talking Electronics folder
RE: Reconnecting to the Bee - robert1949 - 22-02-2022
Make sure the pull up resistor SIP pack is a 33K or 22K type some keyboards had 4.7K which is too low for reliable operation. To replace this you will need a de-soldering tool, in fact you will need this to remove the key switches as well. The motorised vacuum type is cheap these days. Also I have found the conductive pad becomes non conductive over time and all the cleaning in the world won't make it any better but you can paint it with conductive paint to make it conductive again. Be careful when pulling apart the switch as the spring can fly out. Get yourself an analogue multimeter to check the key switches , a digital one will give false readings as they don't apply much potential to the switch circuit. It is a time consuming job and requires a great deal of patience. If you don't have any experience with a de-soldering tool practice on an old through hole board first, it requires some skill.
I have bought two of these machines back from the dead now and there was more unservicable than faulty key switches, I am an electronics tech of too many decades with a lot of digital experience. The Microbee was dear to my younger self back in the 1980's. I watch all bees coming up for sale for spare bits but they go for too much money for my blood now. Most bees being offered on ebay will have problems due to age, fault finding them is wonderful for the mind. Patience is the key with analytical fault finding techniques. Test equipment should include an oscilloscope as well.
Regards Robert
RE: Reconnecting to the Bee - CheshireNoir - 22-02-2022
Welcome Mjelic.
As mentioned above, fixing keys is practically a rite of passage for Microbee owners.
I was lucky with mine. One worked perfectly. One worked mostly and one...
Well that was a whole 'nother story. I documented my "adventure" here: https://ilike8bits.com/2021/11/28/repairing-microbee-no3-keyboard/
It's definitely worth doing, even if I accept that I'll probably need to do it all again in a few years.
Chesh
RE: Reconnecting to the Bee - mjelic - 23-02-2022
(22-02-2022, 09:15 AM)ChickenMan Wrote: Firstly, welcome to the forum, thought I recognized the name
Yes those keys are a pain. I have one here that a friend dropped off to check out, I eventually got the Return key to work and the down arrow
Two solutions to the keys, as someone said, de-solder all the keys, pull them apart and clean the small carbon impregnated donut and resolder back in. Or have a word to Ewan to get a Keyboard Kit and fit new keys, I've done that to 5 of my bees so far and still need more done.
Also join up to the Repository and check out our Talking Electronics folder
I'm hoping to land one of these new replacement keyboard when they get back in stock. It sounds like cleaning these old keys is a pain and only temporary.
OK, so I don't recognise your handle... Spit it out.
What is "the Repository" ?
(22-02-2022, 10:28 AM)robert1949 Wrote: Make sure the pull up resistor SIP pack is a 33K or 22K type some keyboards had 4.7K which is too low for reliable operation.
Thanks, Robert... I'll take a look.
RE: Reconnecting to the Bee - ChickenMan - 23-02-2022
I'm ChickenMan on the TEC-1 forum also, but I dont regularly visit or post, I no longer have a TEC-1
We maintain a file Repository of Manuals, Software, etc for not only the Microbee but also for most Australian designed and made vintage computers, including everything produced by Talking Electronics. So check out https://www.microbeetechnology.com.au/MTFR_Access/MTFR_Access_NonEUA.htm to gain access to our Vintage Repository.
Ewan has to order a min of 10k keys which he will doing shortly when his new Classic Bee is ready, so shouldn't be to long.
RE: Reconnecting to the Bee - mjelic - 24-02-2022
Thanks ChickenMan. Shame you don't have the TEC-1 any more... Things are still being developed for it
Yes I've applied for access to the Repo.
Really hope the keys come in soon. I can't be bothered cleaning the keys for them only to die again in the future.