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That's super cool! I have an old BBC Micro in a box under a desk somewhere which I want to get back on its feet someday - last time I powered it up I think it w

by taneq 6y ago

That's super cool! I have an old BBC Micro in a box under a desk somewhere which I want to get back on its feet someday - last time I powered it up I think it was working (made the right boop-BEEP noise!) but I didn't have a screen to test it with. I also have a box of 5.25" floppies that I want try and read any data off - they've been untouched for decades, is there anything I should/shouldn't do before plugging in the floppy drive and spinning them up?

retrohax 6y ago
Have a look here then ;) https://retrohax.net/beeb-errr-bbc-micro-restoration-and-upgrades/ https://retrohax.net/beeb-errr-bbc-micro-restoration-and-upg...
tom_ 6y ago
For connecting to a TV, easiest thing might be to buy an RGB to SCART cable from eBay. Less than £15, good picture quality. Good summary of potential disk/drive issues and cleaning options: http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/clean_disks.html http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/clean_disks.html. Spatula-shaped cotton wool buds are handy for cleaning drives, as there might not be much room inside. As per the article, http://stardot.org.uk/ http://stardot.org.uk/ is a good resource for all things BBC Micro in general.
- justinlloyd 6y ago
  Purchase a scan converter. There is a popular OpenSource project and many manufacturers are making them. Several support RGB, S-Video, RF, VGA and SCART and can upscale to something a 1080p HDMI TV/monitor can use. Supremely useful for all of those retro consoles and computers in our modern day. Kaicco is the more popular brand for the project, though I don't think that one supports S-Video. Edit: You can connect a BBC Micro (and many other 8-bit micros) to the standard OSCC. It simply doesn't have the plug on the board, you will need an adapter cable.
linker3000 6y ago
Be aware that a couple of mains-rated capacitors in the power supply don't age very well and it's almost a given that they should be replaced ASAP and before any further use of the computer. https://www.retro-kit.co.uk/page.cfm/content/BBC-Micro-PSU-X2-capacitors/ https://www.retro-kit.co.uk/page.cfm/content/BBC-Micro-PSU-X... I'd love to have a beeb to play with (I just missed the wave first time around - went from PET at school to PC at work), but they are going for silly prices on ebay. Maybe a garage or junk sale will turn up something!

by taneq 6y ago

retrohax 6y ago

Have a look here then ;) https://retrohax.net/beeb-errr-bbc-micro-restoration-and-upgrades/ https://retrohax.net/beeb-errr-bbc-micro-restoration-and-upg...

tom_ 6y ago

For connecting to a TV, easiest thing might be to buy an RGB to SCART cable from eBay. Less than £15, good picture quality. Good summary of potential disk/drive issues and cleaning options: http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/clean_disks.html http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/clean_disks.html. Spatula-shaped cotton wool buds are handy for cleaning drives, as there might not be much room inside. As per the article, http://stardot.org.uk/ http://stardot.org.uk/ is a good resource for all things BBC Micro in general.

justinlloyd 6y ago
Purchase a scan converter. There is a popular OpenSource project and many manufacturers are making them. Several support RGB, S-Video, RF, VGA and SCART and can upscale to something a 1080p HDMI TV/monitor can use. Supremely useful for all of those retro consoles and computers in our modern day. Kaicco is the more popular brand for the project, though I don't think that one supports S-Video. Edit: You can connect a BBC Micro (and many other 8-bit micros) to the standard OSCC. It simply doesn't have the plug on the board, you will need an adapter cable.

linker3000 6y ago

Be aware that a couple of mains-rated capacitors in the power supply don't age very well and it's almost a given that they should be replaced ASAP and before any further use of the computer. https://www.retro-kit.co.uk/page.cfm/content/BBC-Micro-PSU-X2-capacitors/ https://www.retro-kit.co.uk/page.cfm/content/BBC-Micro-PSU-X... I'd love to have a beeb to play with (I just missed the wave first time around - went from PET at school to PC at work), but they are going for silly prices on ebay. Maybe a garage or junk sale will turn up something!