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Next: Arcade Collecting: TECH: Domino Man sync on a G07
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Since: Feb 05, 2008
Posts: 7
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(Msg. 1) Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 3:49 pm
Post subject: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher
Archived from groups: rec>games>video>arcade>collecting (more info?)
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I've done quite a bit of searching on this topic and it seems that:
1. With a switching power supply, you can't save your highs, even if
you put in a new "button" or watch type battery instead of the AA's
that originally came on the board.
2. With the original linear power supply, you could save the scores
with the new "button"style battery, but the risk of having the linear
supply go bad is great (and may ruin your boards/game).
So, it seems that you can't have both unless you get the NVRAM
conversion, but nobody is making those kits right now, and hacking it
in myself is beyond me.
I also saw some info about adding a cap between the +12v from the
switcher and the boards but nothing specific as to if that works, if
it's safe, etc.
I did find this one old post:
http://tinyurl.com/392qmd
Can anyone confirm that works, and should it work for a Robotron as
well if it does work for Defender?
In short, I have a new switcher I want to use but also want to save my
high scores, settings, etc. on both my Robo and Defender. |
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Since: Feb 05, 2008
Posts: 7
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(Msg. 2) Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 3:58 pm
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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On Feb 5, 5:56 pm, "Mark C. Spaeth" <mspa....DeleteThis@mit.edu> wrote:
> Texasguy <b1b....DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote:
>
> : So, it seems that you can't have both unless you get the NVRAM
> : conversion, but nobody is making those kits right now, and hacking it
> : in myself is beyond me.
>
> I still make NVRAM kits for wms 
>
> --
> Mark Spaeth mspa....DeleteThis@mtl.mit.edu
> 50 Vassar St., #38.265 mspa....DeleteThis@mit.edu
> Cambridge, MA 02139
> (617) 452-2354 http://rgvac.978.org/~mspaeth
And this would take care of my problem for both Robo and Defender with
switchers?
How much for 2 kits? How would I pay you? |
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Since: Nov 17, 2007
Posts: 7
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(Msg. 3) Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 9:04 pm
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Texasguy wrote:
> I've done quite a bit of searching on this topic and it seems that:
>
> 1. With a switching power supply, you can't save your highs, even if
> you put in a new "button" or watch type battery instead of the AA's
> that originally came on the board.
>
I've heard this alot too...
.... but it's not a problem for me..
I have BOTH a Robotron and a Defender,
both using switchers and both saving the high scores just fine.
I really don't understand why a switcher would make any difference.
(...if anything, doesn't a switcher give you more stable voltage ? ...)
So, although I don't deny that some people obviously have
problems with switchers, I can attest that it does not
happen with every switcher.
(...although I don't know why that is... )
Steph
www.Hobbyroms.com
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >> Stay informed about: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher |
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External
Since: Nov 17, 2007
Posts: 7
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(Msg. 4) Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 9:08 pm
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Texasguy wrote:
> I've done quite a bit of searching on this topic and it seems that:
>
> 1. With a switching power supply, you can't save your highs, even if
> you put in a new "button" or watch type battery instead of the AA's
> that originally came on the board.
>
I've heard this alot too...
.... but it's not a problem for me..
I have BOTH a Robotron and a Defender,
both using switchers and both saving the high scores just fine.
I really don't understand why a switcher would make any difference.
(...if anything, doesn't a switcher give you more stable voltage ? ...)
So, although I don't deny that some people obviously have
problems with switchers, I can attest that it does not
happen with every switcher.
(...although I don't know why that is... )
Steph
www.Hobbyroms.com
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >> Stay informed about: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher |
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External
Since: Dec 06, 2007
Posts: 84
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(Msg. 5) Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:56 pm
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Since: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 108
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(Msg. 6) Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:47 am
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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I hear this a lot that using a switcher wont let you keep your high scores.
I never tried it myself, still have the original PS in all my Williams
games. Of curse I rebuild them.
As long as the switcher is hooked up correctly not sure what the difference
is. The CMOS still gets the voltage to keep the setting from the batteries
on the board once the ps is turned off.
The only thing I noticed is that the 2032 battery (coin type) will drain
quicker than the AAs. I rather change the 2032 a couple times a year than
risk battery leaking on to my boards.
I'll have to hook up a switcher to one of my games and see how it goes with
keeping the high scores. I'm rebuilding a Robotron cocktail soon, I'll try
it in there and post back to the group with results.
Andre
www.arcadesolution.com
"Texasguy" <b1bbet.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote in message
news:6d4b10bc-a53d-4d0d-a389-2c1ef647889f@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> I've done quite a bit of searching on this topic and it seems that:
>
> 1. With a switching power supply, you can't save your highs, even if
> you put in a new "button" or watch type battery instead of the AA's
> that originally came on the board.
>
> 2. With the original linear power supply, you could save the scores
> with the new "button"style battery, but the risk of having the linear
> supply go bad is great (and may ruin your boards/game).
>
> So, it seems that you can't have both unless you get the NVRAM
> conversion, but nobody is making those kits right now, and hacking it
> in myself is beyond me.
>
> I also saw some info about adding a cap between the +12v from the
> switcher and the boards but nothing specific as to if that works, if
> it's safe, etc.
>
> I did find this one old post:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/392qmd
>
> Can anyone confirm that works, and should it work for a Robotron as
> well if it does work for Defender?
>
> In short, I have a new switcher I want to use but also want to save my
> high scores, settings, etc. on both my Robo and Defender.
> >> Stay informed about: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher |
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Since: Jun 11, 2005
Posts: 73
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(Msg. 7) Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:17 am
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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On Tue, 5 Feb 2008 15:49:40 -0800 (PST), Texasguy <b1bbet.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote:
>1. With a switching power supply, you can't save your highs, even if
>you put in a new "button" or watch type battery instead of the AA's
>that originally came on the board.
I've seen a few high score table losses on Wms games running switchers but it's
nowhere near so bad that I'd say you "can't save your highs" ... it's an
occasional glitch.
>2. With the original linear power supply, you could save the scores
>with the new "button"style battery, but the risk of having the linear
>supply go bad is great (and may ruin your boards/game).
If you don't want the linear to go bad, rebuild it. It's easy and the parts
don't cost much. Many people throw the Wms linears into the same group as being
board destroyers, but in fact it's the ones from Defenders and early Stargates
that don't have the overvoltage protection. Later ones have it built-in.
Richard >> Stay informed about: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher |
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Since: Dec 06, 2007
Posts: 84
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(Msg. 8) Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:05 pm
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Hobbyroms <info.TakeThisOut@spamthishobbyroms.com> wrote:
: Texasguy wrote:
: > I've done quite a bit of searching on this topic and it seems that:
: >
: > 1. With a switching power supply, you can't save your highs, even if
: > you put in a new "button" or watch type battery instead of the AA's
: > that originally came on the board.
: >
:
: I've heard this alot too...
: ... but it's not a problem for me..
:
: I have BOTH a Robotron and a Defender,
: both using switchers and both saving the high scores just fine.
:
: I really don't understand why a switcher would make any difference.
: (...if anything, doesn't a switcher give you more stable voltage ? ...)
The difference seems to be with the sequencing of the voltages. I've never
really looked into it, since I've got NVRAM in all of my games, but ostensibly
if the reset comes up too soon before the other voltages are stable, you could
get spurious accesses/writes to the CMOS, and any checksum errors can cause sections
of the CMOS to be erased.
--
Mark Spaeth mspaeth.TakeThisOut@mtl.mit.edu
50 Vassar St., #38.265 mspaeth.TakeThisOut@mit.edu
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 452-2354 http://rgvac.978.org/~mspaeth >> Stay informed about: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher |
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Since: Feb 05, 2008
Posts: 7
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(Msg. 9) Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 4:26 pm
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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On Feb 6, 8:17 am, someotherguy
<someotherguy.RemoveThis@SPAM_SUCKSsomeotherplace.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 5 Feb 2008 15:49:40 -0800 (PST), Texasguy <b1b....RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote:
> >1. With a switching power supply, you can't save your highs, even if
> >you put in a new "button" or watch type battery instead of the AA's
> >that originally came on the board.
>
> I've seen a few high score table losses on Wms games running switchers but it's
> nowhere near so bad that I'd say you "can't save your highs" ... it's an
> occasional glitch.
>
> >2. With the original linear power supply, you could save the scores
> >with the new "button"style battery, but the risk of having the linear
> >supply go bad is great (and may ruin your boards/game).
>
> If you don't want the linear to go bad, rebuild it. It's easy and the parts
> don't cost much. Many people throw the Wms linears into the same group as being
> board destroyers, but in fact it's the ones from Defenders and early Stargates
> that don't have the overvoltage protection. Later ones have it built-in..
>
> Richard
Is there any way to "add" that overvoltage protection now? I have a
linear in my Defender and am tempted to keep it but don't want to
eventually fry my boards. >> Stay informed about: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher |
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Since: Jun 14, 2005
Posts: 49
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(Msg. 10) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:32 am
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Since: Feb 14, 2008
Posts: 6
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(Msg. 11) Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:08 pm
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Hobbyroms <info DeleteThis @spamthishobbyroms.com> wrote:
: I've heard this alot too...
: ... but it's not a problem for me..
: I have BOTH a Robotron and a Defender,
: both using switchers and both saving the high scores just fine.
I have never had a problem saving high scores on my Sinistar. I've had
it now for, what, 10 years, if not more. Switcher just fine for me.
I will add that I removed the AA Cell holder on the Main PCB and installed
an off-mounted D Cell battery holder. I haven't even changed the batteries
yet.
-Doug
--
"How would you like it if you were a business executive, and when you
made a mistake, a red light went on and 18,000 people started
screaming?" - Jacques Plante, goalie
METS = My Entire Team Sucks GO RANGERS!!! >> Stay informed about: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher |
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Since: Feb 05, 2008
Posts: 7
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(Msg. 12) Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:27 pm
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Since: Feb 05, 2008
Posts: 7
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(Msg. 13) Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:39 pm
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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On Feb 17, 7:27 pm, Texasguy <b1b....RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote:
> Ah, well.
>
> I installed the NVRAM conversion and still get FACTORY SETTINGS
> RESTORED and such. 
>
> Any hints as to where to go from here?
Oh, also - I now get a CMOS error after the install while I used to
get NO CMOS ERRORS DETECTED. Is that typical after an NVRAM
install? >> Stay informed about: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher |
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Since: Feb 05, 2008
Posts: 7
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(Msg. 14) Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:24 pm
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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On Feb 17, 7:39 pm, Texasguy <b1b....DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote:
> On Feb 17, 7:27 pm, Texasguy <b1b....DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > Ah, well.
>
> > I installed the NVRAM conversion and still get FACTORY SETTINGS
> > RESTORED and such.
>
> > Any hints as to where to go from here?
>
> Oh, also - I now get a CMOS error after the install while I used to
> get NO CMOS ERRORS DETECTED. Is that typical after an NVRAM
> install?
Anyone? >> Stay informed about: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher |
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Since: Feb 05, 2008
Posts: 7
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(Msg. 15) Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:51 pm
Post subject: Re: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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On Feb 17, 7:39 pm, Texasguy <b1b... DeleteThis @aol.com> wrote:
> On Feb 17, 7:27 pm, Texasguy <b1b... DeleteThis @aol.com> wrote:
>
> > Ah, well.
>
> > I installed the NVRAM conversion and still get FACTORY SETTINGS
> > RESTORED and such.
>
> > Any hints as to where to go from here?
>
> Oh, also - I now get a CMOS error after the install while I used to
> get NO CMOS ERRORS DETECTED. Is that typical after an NVRAM
> install?
Would installing a cap somewhere in-line help since, to the best of my
understanding, the screwup is happening on powerdown and the cap would
keep a bit of power, just long enough for the NVRAM to use it? >> Stay informed about: Defender/Robotron high score save with switcher |
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