Vectrex 2nd Controller Acts Funny, 1st is Intermittent Too

[Jasonbar]

[Wow, didn't know DP had a tech forum...duh! Moved this from the classic forum to here]


My Vectrex is a bit flaky when dealing with a 2nd controller plugged in (to the left port).

I have 2 controllers & have tried swapping them & get the same behavior, so I know that the problem lies in the Vectrex itself, not the controllers.

Problem #1: using a controller test program, I see clearly that the Vec thinks that player 2's 3rd button is always held down. When I press P2's 3rd button (or 2nd button), the Vec thinks that the button is released. Weird. Indeed, 2-player games like Armor...Attack & Rip Off are zany to play when player 2 is moving nonstop *except* when he hits the "thrust" button...

Problem #2: When I launch a game from an original cart or from a multicart, the selection screen is often unresponsive--hitting buttons on P1's controller won't start the game or change the game # or # of players for half a minute or so, then it will respond. Sometimes it behaves better. This almost suggests a crcked solder joint somewhere in the Vec controller plug or PCB somewhere, since it's intermittent.


Anybody seen these problems? Any Vec repair experts out there? Any suggestions?


Thanks,
-Jason

[Jasonbar]

Tried the following:

1 - reseating & reflowing solder & cleaning legs & sockets for all 4 socketed chips. Had some funky graphics & sound behavior until I redid these steps a couple of times. Back to normal now

2 - reflowing solder on controller connector solder points & around these points

Noticed a bank of teeny capacitors that appear to go from each joystick connector trace into the rest of the PCB--perhaps capacitor rot would result in my weird Vec behavior & I ought replace these? Anybody got a P/N or specs?


Oddly, when I run my Vecflash cart, the controls respond just fine, navigating the menus. But when I select a game or run a straight Vec cart, the controls are unresponsive in the player/game select menu. The control responsiveness sometimes returns, but I can't tell what triggers the return to normalcy...



Thanks!
-Jason

[Jasonbar]

Well, only 1 "short" month since I last looked at this. I replaced all the .001uF & .1uF capacitors & the 3K3 resistors next to the joystick ports. No change in behavior (I'm actually surprised that I didn't fudge anything up in the process! :D).

My next (and final?) possible culprit is the AY-3-8912 sound/input chip. Anybody know where I can find a replacement to try swapping in?

Thanks,
-Jason

[dendawg]

My next (and final?) possible culprit is the AY-3-8912 sound/input chip. Anybody know where I can find a replacement to try swapping in?

A quick google search turns up:

http://www.arcadechips.com/product_info.php?products_id=111&osCsid=63379c815f17e356e1344345fb6bd153

[WizDawg]

You should ask over at rec.games.vectrex, you will get your answers there.

[Jasonbar]

Thanks for augmenting my weak Google skills. :]

arcadechips.com has a $15 minimum order, and that items $6.50. :[

But another helpful soul pointed me to an English eBay auction. With shipping & all, still $9.36. Not bad. http://cgi.ebay.com/Microchip-AY-3-8912A-P-IC-AY38912-Buy-2-get-one-FREE_W0QQitemZ160308334173QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Vi deo_Games_Coin_Operated_MJ?hash=item160308334173

If that doesn't fix me up, I'll pop over to rec.games.vectrex. Haven't been there in over a decade!

Thanks,
-Jason

[Jasonbar]

Turns out I did indeed have a bad AY-3-8912 chip. Swapped in the new one from the auction (very reasonable price & shipping cost & shipping speed) & now my Vec controllers behave!!!


YESSS!!!!!!!!

:band:

Bring on the 2-player Armor Attack & Rip-Off & all the rest!!!

-Jason