Yahoo Groups archive

Fairlight-CMI

Index last updated: 2026-04-29 00:03 UTC

Thread

Restoring a Series IIx - Some help needed

Restoring a Series IIx - Some help needed

2008-02-23 by dvdborn

After having rebuilt the CPU Controller Card I went to pick up the rest of the Series IIx.

It's only now that I've got the complete system and that I can see what else is wrong with 
it.

First thing that I'll be doing before I power it up is to see if the power supply outputs the 
correct voltages and if there are some caps that need to be replaced.

The system contains the following cards:
CMI02, CMI08, CMI01 - CMI08, Q256, Q133, Q209, Q219, QFC9

1. Is it normal that there's only one Q256 card? I notice that there are 2 slots for Q256 
cards.

2. Here's a picture of all the cards with all the connectors connected: 
http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/cardcage1.JPG
Is it normal that the CPU controller card Q133 has 1 port that's not connected? I didn't find 
a connector loose that would fit on that port.

3. The light pen connectors are gone. Here's a picture of the monitor with the missing 
connector:
http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/Monitor_lightpencon.JPG
And here's the light pen:
http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/Lightpen.JPG

I received a light pen with the system but I'm not sure that it's the original one. Can 
anyone confirm this? Also, the wires of the light pen and the wires that come out of the 
monitor have different colors. Does anybody know which color should connected to which 
color, if this is indeed the original light pen? 

4. There's a loose wire on the CPU Controller card. One side is connected but I need to 
know at which IC/pin I need to connect the other end. 
Here's a picture of the restored CPU controller card:
http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/restoredcard.JPG

Lots of questions but I hope that some of you can help me out. Thanks in advance.

Best,
David

Re: Restoring a Series IIx - Some help needed

2008-02-24 by dvdborn

--- In Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com, "dvdborn" <dvdborn@...> wrote:

> 3. The light pen connectors are gone. Here's a picture of the monitor with the missing 
> connector:
> http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/Monitor_lightpencon.JPG
> And here's the light pen:
> http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/Lightpen.JPG
> 
> I received a light pen with the system but I'm not sure that it's the original one. Can 
> anyone confirm this? Also, the wires of the light pen and the wires that come out of the 
> monitor have different colors. Does anybody know which color should connected to 
which 
> color, if this is indeed the original light pen? 

It seems that the light pen I got with the system is an original one. Its model number is 
I.C.C. LP-730. I read in the archives that this is indeed the light pen for the IIx but that its 
too large to fit in the monitor housing.

Now if only I could figure out how to connect the cables. The light pen has got 5 wires: 
red, yellow, green, white, black and 'ground'. The monitor has 4 cables coming out of it: 
White, purple, black and grey.

Any help is much appreciated.

David

David

Re: [Fairlight-CMI] Restoring a Series IIx - Some help needed

2008-02-24 by Jean-Bernard EMOND

Hi David,

Le 23 févr. 08 à 21:12, dvdborn a écrit :
> after having rebuilt the CPU Controller Card I went to pick up the  
> rest of the Series IIx.
>
> It's only now that I've got the complete system and that I can see  
> what else is wrong with
> it.
>
> First thing that I'll be doing before I power it up is to see if  
> the power supply outputs the
> correct voltages and if there are some caps that need to be replaced.
>
> The system contains the following cards:
> CMI02, CMI08, CMI01 - CMI08, Q256, Q133, Q209, Q219, QFC9
>
> 1. Is it normal that there's only one Q256 card? I notice that  
> there are 2 slots for Q256
> cards.
>
Yes is normal... the second Q256 is optional...

> 2. Here's a picture of all the cards with all the connectors  
> connected:
> http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/cardcage1.JPG
> Is it normal that the CPU controller card Q133 has 1 port that's  
> not connected? I didn't find
> a connector loose that would fit on that port.
>
Its normal !

> 3. The light pen connectors are gone. Here's a picture of the  
> monitor with the missing
> connector:
> http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/Monitor_lightpencon.JPG
> And here's the light pen:
> http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/Lightpen.JPG
>
Ouuppsss...

But mine is modified too and work...
If I have time I send to you my schematics...

> I received a light pen with the system but I'm not sure that it's  
> the original one. Can
> anyone confirm this? Also, the wires of the light pen and the wires  
> that come out of the
> monitor have different colors. Does anybody know which color should  
> connected to which
> color, if this is indeed the original light pen?
>
> 4. There's a loose wire on the CPU Controller card. One side is  
> connected but I need to
> know at which IC/pin I need to connect the other end.
> Here's a picture of the restored CPU controller card:
> http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/restoredcard.JPG
>
Nice work !

Open front picture of my CMI IIx :

http://jbemond.free.fr/Fairlight/DSC05872p.jpg
http://jbemond.free.fr/Fairlight/DSC05873p.jpg

JB
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> Lots of questions but I hope that some of you can help me out.  
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Best,
> David

Re: Restoring a Series IIx - Some help needed

2008-02-24 by buchla300

David
the Lightpen is correct
You can come to my place and see how the wiring on my IIx and Series I
are. Maybe that will help !
David

--- In Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com, Jean-Bernard EMOND <jbemond@...>
wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> Hi David,
> 
> Le 23 févr. 08 à 21:12, dvdborn a écrit :
> > after having rebuilt the CPU Controller Card I went to pick up the  
> > rest of the Series IIx.
> >
> > It's only now that I've got the complete system and that I can see  
> > what else is wrong with
> > it.
> >
> > First thing that I'll be doing before I power it up is to see if  
> > the power supply outputs the
> > correct voltages and if there are some caps that need to be replaced.
> >
> > The system contains the following cards:
> > CMI02, CMI08, CMI01 - CMI08, Q256, Q133, Q209, Q219, QFC9
> >
> > 1. Is it normal that there's only one Q256 card? I notice that  
> > there are 2 slots for Q256
> > cards.
> >
> Yes is normal... the second Q256 is optional...
> 
> > 2. Here's a picture of all the cards with all the connectors  
> > connected:
> > http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/cardcage1.JPG
> > Is it normal that the CPU controller card Q133 has 1 port that's  
> > not connected? I didn't find
> > a connector loose that would fit on that port.
> >
> Its normal !
> 
> > 3. The light pen connectors are gone. Here's a picture of the  
> > monitor with the missing
> > connector:
> > http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/Monitor_lightpencon.JPG
> > And here's the light pen:
> > http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/Lightpen.JPG
> >
> Ouuppsss...
> 
> But mine is modified too and work...
> If I have time I send to you my schematics...
> 
> > I received a light pen with the system but I'm not sure that it's  
> > the original one. Can
> > anyone confirm this? Also, the wires of the light pen and the wires  
> > that come out of the
> > monitor have different colors. Does anybody know which color should  
> > connected to which
> > color, if this is indeed the original light pen?
> >
> > 4. There's a loose wire on the CPU Controller card. One side is  
> > connected but I need to
> > know at which IC/pin I need to connect the other end.
> > Here's a picture of the restored CPU controller card:
> > http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/restoredcard.JPG
> >
> Nice work !
> 
> Open front picture of my CMI IIx :
> 
> http://jbemond.free.fr/Fairlight/DSC05872p.jpg
> http://jbemond.free.fr/Fairlight/DSC05873p.jpg
> 
> JB
> > Lots of questions but I hope that some of you can help me out.  
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Best,
> > David
>

Re: [Fairlight-CMI] Restoring a Series IIx - Some help needed

2008-02-24 by Glenn

Good news about that wire, I think. On mine, the same
chip, 74LS14, that pin is unused: not connected to a
trace in any way. I was going to suggest using an
ohmmeter to see if maybe whomever put that there was
trying to just bridge a short but when I looked that
pin is unused. You can see by looking for traces
leading away from it (lines) and there aren't any. You
can hold it up to the light and feel certain. At least
if yours is like mine. My guess is you can clip that
wire off and put it out of your mind safely.

Missing battery on CPU controller card (the one inch
circle)  is tadiran  TL-5135 3.6 volt lithium,
orderable
here:http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=439-1024-ND

the leads are shorter but still okay just have to use
a solder sucker and get the holes empty first and hold
it in place at least till one lead's set.. Tadiran has
not made the ones will really long leads for so many
years that if one did find the long lead version of
the battery, it would work for 6 months or
something.(Just so  you don't waste time looking for
them)  These are new and should be good for at least
10 years.

Best Regards,

Glenn

p.s. I have a composite monitor connection not a
fairlight monitor on IIx but no pen at all, if anyone
could share how to successfuly acquire/ rig a lightpen
 I'd be most greatful.



--- Jean-Bernard EMOND <jbemond@free.fr> wrote:

> Hi David,
> 
> Le 23 févr. 08 à 21:12, dvdborn a écrit :
> > after having rebuilt the CPU Controller Card I
> went to pick up the  
> > rest of the Series IIx.
> >
> > It's only now that I've got the complete system
> and that I can see  
> > what else is wrong with
> > it.
> >
> > First thing that I'll be doing before I power it
> up is to see if  
> > the power supply outputs the
> > correct voltages and if there are some caps that
> need to be replaced.
> >
> > The system contains the following cards:
> > CMI02, CMI08, CMI01 - CMI08, Q256, Q133, Q209,
> Q219, QFC9
> >
> > 1. Is it normal that there's only one Q256 card? I
> notice that  
> > there are 2 slots for Q256
> > cards.
> >
> Yes is normal... the second Q256 is optional...
> 
> > 2. Here's a picture of all the cards with all the
> connectors  
> > connected:
> >
> http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/cardcage1.JPG
> > Is it normal that the CPU controller card Q133 has
> 1 port that's  
> > not connected? I didn't find
> > a connector loose that would fit on that port.
> >
> Its normal !
> 
> > 3. The light pen connectors are gone. Here's a
> picture of the  
> > monitor with the missing
> > connector:
> >
>
http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/Monitor_lightpencon.JPG
> > And here's the light pen:
> >
> http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/Lightpen.JPG
> >
> Ouuppsss...
> 
> But mine is modified too and work...
> If I have time I send to you my schematics...
> 
> > I received a light pen with the system but I'm not
> sure that it's  
> > the original one. Can
> > anyone confirm this? Also, the wires of the light
> pen and the wires  
> > that come out of the
> > monitor have different colors. Does anybody know
> which color should  
> > connected to which
> > color, if this is indeed the original light pen?
> >
> > 4. There's a loose wire on the CPU Controller
> card. One side is  
> > connected but I need to
> > know at which IC/pin I need to connect the other
> end.
> > Here's a picture of the restored CPU controller
> card:
> >
>
http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/restoredcard.JPG
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> >
> Nice work !
> 
> Open front picture of my CMI IIx :
> 
> http://jbemond.free.fr/Fairlight/DSC05872p.jpg
> http://jbemond.free.fr/Fairlight/DSC05873p.jpg
> 
> JB
> > Lots of questions but I hope that some of you can
> help me out.  
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Best,
> > David
>

Re: Restoring a Series IIx - Some help needed

2008-02-25 by dvdborn

Hi Glenn,

--- In Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com, Glenn <glenn234@...> wrote:
> if yours is like mine. My guess is you can clip that
> wire off and put it out of your mind safely.

That's good news. I'm going to try it without the bypass cable.

> 
> Missing battery on CPU controller card (the one inch
> circle)  is tadiran  TL-5135 3.6 volt lithium,
> orderable
> here:http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=439-1024-
ND

I read in the archives an unconfirmed message (#2814) that it's OK to leave the battery off 
the card. The only downside would be that you have to enter the date and time each time 
the Fairlight boots up.

So I'm going to try it without the battery. Unless someone can confirm that the battery is 
really needed.

Best regards,
David Vandenborn

Re: Restoring a Series IIx - Some help needed

2008-03-04 by simon

Hi David

As far as I understand it, the battery is not essential. It holds date, time, and these can be 
entered on power up..

Can I help you at all, I'm currently working on fixing a IIx here in London, UK.

If you need a set of eproms burning, I can do that very easily, I have plenty of 16k / 64k 
eproms here to use, I just made a set for myself today. Just let me know where to post them 
to and I'll do that right away.

Hopefully you can help me, can you photograph your floppy card, qfc9? Just so I can see what 
eprom you have in there..? And what eproms do you have on your cmi 28 card, slot 2, what 
size are they?

best wishes

simon

[Fairlight-CMI] Re: Restoring a Series IIx - Some help needed

2008-03-04 by Laurent LEMAIRE

Hi All,

Thanks to JB and David, all the eProm images and Service Manual are  
available online for the IIx :

     <http://egrefin.free.fr/eng/fairlight/cmi2xEpromsE.php>

     <http://egrefin.free.fr/eng/fairlight/cmi2xmanuals.php>

Hope it helps.

      Laurent.

Re: Restoring a Series IIx - Some help needed

2008-03-04 by dvdborn

--- In Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com, "simon" <simonflinn@...> wrote:
> As far as I understand it, the battery is not essential. It holds date, time, and these can 
be 
> entered on power up..
Thanks. I always assumed this. But now I know for sure.

> Can I help you at all, I'm currently working on fixing a IIx here in London, UK.
> If you need a set of eproms burning, I can do that very easily, I have plenty of 16k / 64k 
> eproms here to use, I just made a set for myself today. Just let me know where to post 
them 
> to and I'll do that right away.

Thank you! But it won't be necessary. I've got my own Eprom burner which has been 
helpful restoring the CPU controller card.

But my Series IIx still isn't working either. It seems that the CPU card has also sustained 
damage caused by the battery acid. We're now putting most IC's on sockets so they can be 
easily replaced.

Currently, when I boot the IIx I get vertical screens on the monitor and the drives aren't 
responding. I know for sure that my CPU controller card and the CPU card are defective 
since I tested them in another working IIx.

> Hopefully you can help me, can you photograph your floppy card, qfc9? Just so I can see 
what 
> eprom you have in there..? And what eproms do you have on your cmi 28 card, slot 2, 
what 
> size are they?

Here you go:

QFC9 card: http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/QFC9_1.jpg
QFC9 card close up: http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/QFC9_2.jpg
Slot 2 card:  http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/slot2_1.jpg
Slot 2 card close up: http://kunst.phl.be/~dvdborn/fairlight/slot2_2.jpg

Not the best photographs but I'm guessing they'll do for your purpose. If not, let me know.

Let me know if there's any progress with repairing your IIx. I'll do the same on this forum.

Best,
David
http://dvdborn.blogspot.com

Re: [Fairlight-CMI] Re: Restoring a Series IIx - Some help needed

2008-03-04 by krec

Jb and David Are good guy ;)

Eric.


Le Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:45:29 +0100, Laurent LEMAIRE <llemaire1@free.fr> a  
écrit:

>
>
> Hi All,
>
> Thanks to JB and David, all the eProm images and Service Manual are
> available online for the IIx :
>
>      <http://egrefin.free.fr/eng/fairlight/cmi2xEpromsE.php>
>
>      <http://egrefin.free.fr/eng/fairlight/cmi2xmanuals.php>
>
> Hope it helps.
>
>       Laurent.
>



-- 
Utilisant le client e-mail révolutionnaire d'Opera :  
http://www.opera.com/mail/

Re: Restoring a Series IIx - Some help needed

2008-03-04 by simon

That's great, the photo's confirm the eproms for me..I see there are
new images up today with checksums, I'll check them against mine.

Well, you know what cards are bad, that's a great place to work from.
I don't have the luxury of a system to check cards in...any user in
London or south east that would let me bring a few cards round..?

thanks again

simon

Move to quarantaine

This moves the raw source file on disk only. The archive index is not changed automatically, so you still need to run a manual refresh afterward.