Tandy Pocket Computer Palooza - Overview, testing and repairs

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In this video we take a look at my Tandy branded pocket computer collection. We’ll do some cleaning and we’ll so some repairs. At times things break faster than they can be fixed but we wind up with almost everything working and ready to take to Tandy Assembly 2022. At the end we show off some items that were donated by a 3rd party for the TASM 2022 auction.
Timeline:
00:00 - Welcome
01:10 - The Tandy PC-8
02:10 - The Tandy PC-7
04:06 - The Tandy PC-6 and PC-5
06:17 - The Tandy/TRS-80 PC-4 and Tandy PC-3
18:22 - The TRS-80 PC-2, some repairs too
48:35 - The TRS-80 PC-1, some repairs too
58:14 - Wrap up, donations, thanks!
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Credits
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[@phreapersoonlijk]

An hour of Jeff goodness !

[@MrWaalkman]

My RS/Tandy collection began and stopped with the TRS-80 PC-2 (as well as the Sharp PC-1500). I could see that the 1500 was the best (of the Tandy Pocket Computers) and that was good enough for me. You've got quite the nice collection, thanks for showing it off. :)

[@d.j.peters]

Years ago I added a tiny flat speaker to the Tandy PC-8 so the included basic beep command works on this calculator also. By the way peek(address) and poke address,byte are undocumented but works too.

[@RonLauzon]

So I'm trying to understand the concept of the cassette/printer dock for the PC-2 "battery needed to regulate the rest of the voltage". I have someone else telling me the same thing, but then I have other people telling me differently. I tested trying to power the cassette/printer dock using a 2A power supply at 6V - I get a "CHECK 8" and the printer won't self-test. Same when I set the power supply for 7.5V. It only works when I set the power supply for 9V. Note that I had long ago removed the battery from my cassette/printer dock.

[@HeyBirt]

The DC input jack is designed to slowly charge the battery, not power the whole unit in operation. There is a couple of diodes and a current limiting resistor in series so you can never get enough current to run the unit at the proper voltage. The current limiting resistor is NOT designed to pass the current to required to run the unit. The old power adapters were unregulated, i.e. a transformer, rectifier and capacitor. There is no voltage regulator. If the adapter is rated for 6V, 600ma then the output voltage will be about 6V when the load is 600ma. If loads less than 600ma the voltage will be higher. When the battery is in the circuit it presents a load to the power supply, dropping the voltage to the proper level. I do build battery packs for the CE-150. I did a whole video about this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGO2mZ2Bbtqkb7s

[@RonLauzon]

@@HeyBirt I'm interested in a battery pack.

[@flownaway2856]

I decided to go the external power only route on my PC-2 printer interface. I got a 6V 2000mA power supply, but it still gives me the "CHECK 6" error.

[@HeyBirt]

I did a video on selecting modern power supplies for vintage computers and the possible pitfalls like you are experiencing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGO2mZ2Bbtqkb7s

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

DOOD!

[@Fezzler61]

Tremendous collection and work! Enjoyed video. Will the Tandy Conference be streamed or someone reporting?

[@HeyBirt]

It will be streamed. I'll post a link as soon as I have it.

[@LoneWolfZ]

I really wanted one of those when I was a youngster. What do you use them for in modern times?

[@HeyBirt]

Mostly for fun. I always have one on my desk to use as a calculator too.