Coleco ADAM:: Advice please

[Charlie]

I recently bought a complete, boxed, Coleco ADAM from the otherBay. Call me crazy but I've been after one of these for years. It was listed as "untested" which we all know really means "I know it's broken but don't want to say so." Unsurprisingly it doesn't work so time to start working out why:

Printer/PSU seems good
Keyboard power light comes on
No output from Composite / TV out (not, as yet, wired up a cable for the DIN out)

More worryingly no life from the tape drive on reset which makes me wonder if there may be a fundamental problem.

The machine is in pretty darn good condition, although the first thing I did was open it up as it had a rattle. A couple of heat-sinks were loose, no doubt as a result of unsympathetic handling by the delivery company. I refitted those before first power on, and found nothing else obviously jiggered.

So:
I'm going to build a PSU brick for it (likely with an ADAM Net port) to replace the gigantic Printer/PSU for daily use, which will put any doubts over the PSU to bed. I'll likely buy some replacement RAMs as that may be part of the problem, and if not a DIY memory upgrade looks to be pretty simple.

But as it's currently dead fixing it is a higher priority. Does anyone here have experience with these machines and could give some advice on common issues before I take the long way round?

Thanks

PS
An F18a may prove a good upgrade which may also overcome some issues, but I'd like a working machine to start.
In the longer term I'm going to have to look in to mass storage options. For the life of me I can't find any info on DIY projects or indeed any documentation on the ADAM Net protocol / wiring that might allow me to come up with my own solution. Yes, there is a commercial SD drive but there's no fun to be had in buying pre built and it's darn expensive! If anyone has further info that would be great.

 

[SkydivinGirl]

Hi Charlie,

I wish I could help but I'm not sure where to start with the issue you are having. I hope you get it fixed.

I have a couple ADAM computers myself. I did buy the CF solution and the other card to allow booting directly to it. I haven't seen any DIY solutions either. I'm happy to chat with you about the items I have in case you have any questions. It's been a while since I powered up the ADAM but I recently picked up an F18a for it so I'm sure I'll be getting to it this winter.

Heather

 

[TheCorfiot]

Hi Charlie

It's basically an expanded Colecovision which is a sort of stripped down MSX lol.

Standard off the shelf components regarding DRAMS, Z80, TMS9929 VDP and a BBC Texas Sound chip

First test to carry out is there any Video being produced, Black screen yes but along with a 50 or 60Hz SYNC.. your TV info button may display this.
If SYNC is present then the Video section is fine. The CPU side is not functioning as the VDP has not been programmed up to do anything yet.

 

[fordav1]

The Adam is really the kind of thing you buy only if you know how to fix stuff.
They failed for a reason... they were crap quality even when new, and many units were recalled.
Now everything in there is 35 years old.
If should be easy to fix for someone who has board-level electronics repairing experience and the right equipment.
If you don't have that, I advise you to seek help from someone local (ideally a friend because getting it repaired commercially is cost-prohibitive).
Definitely find someone who can fix it the right way and not butcher things like so many noobs do nowadays.

 

[Charlie]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone, I appreciate it. I may well be back shortly with more questions if you don't mind.

I'm tempted to start a restoration thread along with personal impressions if anyone's interested.
While it's been apart and I'm pondering an electronic plan of attack I've made some observations about the good (ghasp!) and bad with regard to construction / design and, a-hem, build quality.

For the moment it's getting a darn good clean and Retr0brite. So far comming up very nicely.

 

[Charlie]

A quick update:

My gigantic pile of awesome known as the Coleco ADAM is now completely working!

Hurrah

​

Along with fixing the massive beast I've also been cleaning and Retr0briting, and it's mostly done - looks pretty much brand new... if I may say so the ADAM version of Buck Rodgers is only slightly less dire than the Colecovision's. I must find a modern solution for downloading / loading software software in to the thing, although it has to be said I think the ADAM's tape drive is utterly awesome.... as is the (actually not that) loud printer with all it's 10cps clackiness.

Thanks again for the advice / support, I took some photos so I think I might start a first impressions / repairs / mods thread shortly. I intend making a replacement PSU and doing a DIY RAM upgrade, and then see about storage options.

I do love a new / unfamiliar retro system.

 

[fordav1]

if the Adam can accept Coleco carts you may want to try to get one of these.... I was lucky and got one when they were initially released a few years ago. Looks like they are still available here

 

[SaviorX]

one of the major selling points of the ADAM back in the day was that you already had the ColecoVision game library to use. (about 130 titles)

only about 20 ADAM Tape-pack games/applications came out, and there was a more limited Floppy Drive for it with 5 disk releases.

 

[Charlie]

Thanks for the heads-up. As it happens to moment I got my ADAM working I bought an Atarimax Colecovision Ultimate SD cartridge. Part of the appeal of the ADAM for me is it's a very interesting computer which comes with a Colecovision built in.

Future plans include:
-A PSU brick to use in place of the gigantic printer on the rare occasions when I don't need to use it.
-I really want to make my own Super Game Module for the fun of it rather than buy one. Should anyone know of some design details / schematics I'd be grateful.
-I want an SD solution to replace the data drives, but fear making my own will be beyond me. Especially as I can't find any specific info on ADAM Net.
-HDD might be nice, and as the after-market one I've spotted isn't expensive I may forgo making my own.
-80 column card for CPM will be nice. In theory easy as the ADAM's 80 column expansion is just a serial modem and terminal. Again any specific info will be gratefully accepted.

I guess that will do!

 

[McTrinsic]

What would be really cool would be an adaptor like the early MP3 player for the car had. You know one of those things you put inside the tape deck but got their music from an MP3.

 

[Charlie]

What would be really cool would be an adaptor like the early MP3 player for the car had. You know one of those things you put inside the tape deck but got their music from an MP3.

That very thought had occurred to me too, and I suspect not beyond the bounds of possibility for someone who knows their way round a micro-controller. Sadly that's not me at this point in time.

 

[McTrinsic]

Probably wouldn't work anyways due to the double utilization of both tracks as you mentioned in your last post.