The Sinclair QL Forum

Hi,

I was trying to get my old QL working again, for the challenge, and also on the off-chance I could save some programs off my really old microdrives.

I needed a new membrane, but the keyboard is now functional again. The QL boots up and shows Gold Card V2.31 at the top and the old F1/F2 stuff at the bottom. Mdv1_ spins up on pressing F1/F2 and I can get mdv2_ to spin as well. As for my floppy drives, they light up when trying to access them but no sign of motors spinning up. Does that signal a problem with the interface or the drives themselves?

I can only get a very hazy image via the UHF output. I have a SCART cable, but all that shows is a light blue screen, shifted slightly to the left. Does that signal a defunct video chip?

My plan was to re-felt a couple of mdvs that I hoped to get working again, then save to floppy.

If I could get a decent picture, I'd definitely be interested in keeping it going after that. What are the chances?

Sebright wrote: Sat Apr 05, 2025 11:46 am I can only get a very hazy image via the UHF output. I have a SCART cable, but all that shows is a light blue screen, shifted slightly to the left. Does that signal a defunct video chip?

If the colours are correct on UHF, the video chip is most likely working as it should.
What you need is a decent video adaptor, for example one of the numerous QL Pico VGA variants: viewtopic.php?t=4338

It is always worth resurrecting a QL Just finished my third and last QL with missing keys, pulverised membrane and crusty sockets.
Always fun to finally hear the whizzing sound of the microdrive spinning up!

I have a few populated boards of the QLpicoVGA left. You can see my version at the end of the thread that Peter mentions.
Send me a PM if you are interested. I can supply the assembled PCB or a bare board if you fancy soldering one yourself. It is tiny though!
I have a few 3D printed enclosures lying around as well.

Peter wrote: Sat Apr 05, 2025 2:33 pm
If the colours are correct on UHF, the video chip is most likely working as it should.

That's great news! Looks like a go'er then.

Marcel_X wrote: Sat Apr 05, 2025 3:07 pm It is always worth resurrecting a QL Just finished my third and last QL with missing keys, pulverised membrane and crusty sockets.
Always fun to finally hear the whizzing sound of the microdrive spinning up!

I have a few populated boards of the QLpicoVGA left. You can see my version at the end of the thread that Peter mentions.
Send me a PM if you are interested. I can supply the assembled PCB or a bare board if you fancy soldering one yourself. It is tiny though!
I have a few 3D printed enclosures lying around as well.

Expect a PM from me soon

I'm happy to report that my QL resurrection has been a success! I have one working floppy drive (which is strictly off-limits to my old disks, which finally wrecked my other floppy drive, despite lots of head cleaning with cotton buds and IPA). And now having re-felted a number of microdrives, I have finally transferred an old program that I had feared lost forever.

And not only that, Marcel_X's QLpicoVGA was set free from customs and arrived today. Wow - it's so beautifully made and packaged, and it works beautifully too! The screen is so clear and pixel-sharp. What a difference from plugging into my big TV with composite video. Thanks so much Marcel

Thanks also to all who helped answer my incessant questions. My QL is happier now and so am I

Cheers,
Alan

Some pics...

I've downloaded Finding Evan and will be giving this a go soon - looking forward to a new AP adventure after all these years.

PS - there is a typo in the "From the Tower of Valagon" heading on your website.

Sebright wrote: Sat May 03, 2025 3:27 pm I'm happy to report that my QL resurrection has been a success! I have one working floppy drive (which is strictly off-limits to my old disks, which finally wrecked my other floppy drive, despite lots of head cleaning ...
IMG_4592.jpg

Congrats!
And amazing package!
I wonder how did it with the plastics. Really very very very high quality.

Sparrowhawk wrote: Sat May 03, 2025 4:53 pm I've downloaded Finding Evan and will be giving this a go soon - looking forward to a new AP adventure after all these years.

PS - there is a typo in the "From the Tower of Valagon" heading on your website.

Hope you have fun, and thanks for the heads up on the website...

Cheers,
Alan

p.s. How is yours coming along?

Sebright wrote: Sat May 03, 2025 5:12 pm p.s. How is yours coming along?

Ahem. Well, quite. Move along, nothing to see here!

TBH, I’m too busy writing my sequel to Midnight/MU and some business software right now. I have started on the parser though.

Sebright wrote: Sat May 03, 2025 3:27 pm I'm happy to report that my QL resurrection has been a success! I have one working floppy drive (which is strictly off-limits to my old disks, which finally wrecked my other floppy drive, despite lots of head cleaning with cotton buds and IPA). And now having re-felted a number of microdrives, I have finally transferred an old program that I had feared lost forever.

And not only that, Marcel_X's QLpicoVGA was set free from customs and arrived today. Wow - it's so beautifully made and packaged, and it works beautifully too! The screen is so clear and pixel-sharp. What a difference from plugging into my big TV with composite video. Thanks so much Marcel

Thanks for the compliment! And thanks to Holmatic as he is the one that made the firmware and initial hardware. But good to hear it arrived in good condition. It did take quite some time to arrive I was getting worried.

Popopo wrote: Sat May 03, 2025 5:09 pm Congrats!
And amazing package!
I wonder how did it with the plastics. Really very very very high quality.

That's a trade secret Nah, just kidding! I got myself a vacuum forming machine and still learning the ins and outs of the machine. So this was a nice opportunity to make something useful. Modelled up a mould for the packaging and could make a few inserts before the mould started to deform due to the heat and vacuum. On Alan's picture you can already see the infill from the 3D model showing up as a rectangular pattern on the top surface. Which is actually not that bad looking!