hcj@lzsc.ATT.COM (HC Johnson) (04/10/90)
OK, I have now received my PC-Ditto 2! Its smarts is a pretty board with a Nec V30 and a slot for a 8087-2 Math Coprocessor. Its connection to the Atari, is best described as DEPRESSING! This is made using a PC board that has cable connector pins hanging off the bottom that are supposed to "grip" the outside of the M68000. Bear in mind that the M68000 pins are zinc or solder coated and are designed to be soldered to with flux. They work somewhat in a socket that grabs them tightly. The board supplied is a real cludge! I have not been able to get it to work. Unfortunately Avant-Garde is so peronoid over its connection to the 68000 that there is no advise on detecting other bad components, such as 2 cables and 2 boards. Questions for others who have got this bugger running: 1. If you just "pressed on" the adapter clip over the M68000, what have you done to keep a working connection. Has it held up? 2. Has anyone attempted to just solder the thing on? P.S. I got this at half price. I would not recommend that anyone pay full price unless it includes Installation and Guarantee by a Dealer. Howard C. Johnson ATT Bell Labs att!lzsc!hcj hcj@lzsc.att.com
lawrence@isc-br.ISC-BR.COM (Lawrence Kelley) (04/12/90)
In article <1571@lzsc.ATT.COM> hcj@lzsc.ATT.COM (HC Johnson) writes: > >Questions for others who have got this bugger running: > >1. If you just "pressed on" the adapter clip over the M68000, what have > you done to keep a working connection. Has it held up? So far it's holding up. But I am having intermittent video glitches that may or may not be related to the clip. I agree with you, the clip looks extremely lo-tech. I was expecting something that really cliped on, not just slipped over the pins. I *really* put a lot of pressure on the clip's pins to bend them in (before I put it on the 68000, of course). My first few attempt didn't work. The hard part is bending the pins evenly so they all apply the same pressure. > >2. Has anyone attempted to just solder the thing on? > I'm considering soldering the four corner pins to hold it in place. I managed to pop it off once while attempting to ensure that it was seated. This caused me some excitement since the ST was on. >P.S. I got this at half price. I would not recommend that anyone > pay full price unless it includes Installation and Guarantee > by a Dealer. I tend to agree. shalom, lawrence
chris@tharr.UUCP (Chris Allen) (04/12/90)
In article <1571@lzsc.ATT.COM> hcj@lzsc.ATT.COM (HC Johnson) writes: >OK, I have now received my PC-Ditto 2! [description of PC-Ditto2 Clip] > >Questions for others who have got this bugger running: > >1. If you just "pressed on" the adapter clip over the M68000, what have > you done to keep a working connection. Has it held up? > I have spent many hours trying to get the thing working, often ending up by being *certain* that something other than the clip was at fault. The trick is to bend the pins on the clip well inwards and then make certain that the two rows are *dead straight*. A single pin out of alignment and it will not work at all. Once you have done this it will stay clipped on and (in my case), working through fairly rough handling. -- chris@tharr.uucp ..!ukc!axion!tharr!chris Disclaimer: The views expressed above are those of my employer..