Carl Bicknell wrote:eeek! I have a serious problem!
The Master is not powering up properly. It comes on and does it's little sounds, but all the buttons have frozen after that. I've tried using the ACL key, etc etc.
Any ideas? Anyone fix these things in the UK? All remaining games in the tournament are do do with the Master...
This is unfortunate. There's not a lot I can suggest here, the Master is normally
a very reliable unit. Is the problem the same either on batteries or adaptor?
Is the adaptor regulated? A regulated adaptor will give the same output voltage
whether it is under load or not. I never use unregulated adaptors.
If it's running under batteries, are you sure they are good? Being new does
not guarantee they are good. The battery terminals are good, I'm assuming,
ie, no signs of earlier batteries having leaked, causing green stains.
Sometimes the reset (acl) button does not completely reset the game. I've
found this with the risc2500. Putting the game away, then trying it again
the next morning can sometimes give a pleasant surprise, it works again!
Still no luck...the next port of call is to take the back off. Some of the
chips may be push fit rather than soldered into place. Any push fit chips
can be gently taken out, the legs brushed with perhaps an old toothbrush,
and then just as gently replaced. Careful here, the legs are easily bent.
Hope things work out. We are looking forward to the rest of the tourney.
Larry