🇲🇩 Вектор 06Ц (Vector 06C): Part 3 (Video Troubleshooting Starts) [TCE #0614]
29The Vector is known to have issues with modern displays because of its sloppy sync timing. I'm not really sure the best way to fix it ... I've scrolled through over 50 pages of Russian language forum posts where 15 different solutions were proposed, but no-one seems to have a definitive answer for the 02 model ... well, definitive enough for this lazy non-Russian speaker to just pick up and use.
The pinout for the 7-pin video is:
Pin 1 = sound (звук)
Pin 2 = video (видео, i.e. composite sync)
Pin 3 = blue
Pin 4 = green
Pin 5 = red
Pin 6 = ground
Pin 7 = +12v (упров/control)
There was also a lack of easy-to-find information on the 02 model, so I've created a new repository with what I've found:
https://github.com/0ddjob/Vector-06C
00:00 ... Intro
04:50 ... Video test with cable & GBS Control
05:18 ... Schematics
08:44 ... Sync pulses on oscilloscope
13:24 ... An almost stable image?
15:30 ... Channel thanks & Outro
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From Part 2:
Let's try powering this interesting Moldovan machine on. As it uses an 8080-compatible CPU it requires three voltages: ±5VDC and +12VDC. I normally use a Mean Well GP25A13A-R1B with a 5-pin DIN plug for this. Comparing the 7-pin DIN socket on the Vector it's a very close match to the pinout on the Mean Well ... pin 2 on the Mean Well is 0V/GND but is -5VDC on the Vector.
Easiest solution ... I'm not in the mood to make cables ... is to de-solder the 7-pin socket on the Vector and cut the track connecting pins 2 & 4 (-5V) so that pin 2 is not used. This will mean I can plug my Mean Well PSU directly into the Vector. Simples!
Revised pinout for my Vector's 7-pin power socket to match the Mean Well's 5-pin plug:
Pin 1 = ground
Pin 2 = not connected (ground on Mean Well)
Pin 3 = +5V
Pin 4 = -5V
Pin 5 = +12V
Pin 6 = not connected (ground on Vector)
Pin 7 = not connected (+5V on Vector)
Next, checking the CPU and video output with the oscilloscope definitely shows activity! The keyboard doesn't seem to trigger anything ... no key press beep, no change in РУС/ЛАТ LED.
Also ... the RGBS output on my Vector is 7-pin DIN and not 5-pin like on the schematic I'm referring to ... most likely because I've got a 06Ц.02 model and the schematic is for the original.
When in doubt, guess!
And ... it does seem there is a video signal ... it appears to be the tape loading screen, with ВЕКТОР 06Ц written up the top! But, as @night_gryphon warned in the Part 1 comments, the video output is a bit weird ... so some massaging to get it to work with modern equipment, in Australia, will be required:
"The other catch is the non standard video output with non standard sync and inverted RGB levels. It was designed to cheat the CRT TV but most likely will confuse most of scan doublers etc."
But, I'm happy that the machine appears to be functional!
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From Part 1:
Let's have a look at a unique 8080-based (КР580ВМ80А) machine that was designed in the Moldovan SSR and released in 1987. This is the 2nd version of the machine, the Вектор 06Ц.02. The original had a 512 byte ROM that was enough to bootstrap loading from tape but this machine has a 2KByte ROM (556РТ7А, similar to a Philips 82S191) that has more functionality.
The machine was apparently well regarded for its excellent graphics capabilities.
As it's an 8080 machine it requires ±5V and +12V DC via a 7-pin DIN. I'll need to make up a 5-pin to 7-pin converter so I can use my Mean Well power supply with it.
It has 64KBytes of DRAM in 32 x КР565РУ6 (similar to Intel 2118) ... yay! Lots of chips where something could go wrong!
More information can be found here:
https://github.com/alemorf/retro_computers
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