Ben Ryves
@benryves.com
Croydon-based web developer, retro gaming and computing enthusiast and electronics hobbyist
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?
I need a saga. What's the saga? You can't even hear it...
I need a saga. What's the saga? You can't even hear it...
November 17, 2025 at 2:25 PM
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?
I need a saga. What's the saga? You can't even hear it...
I need a saga. What's the saga? You can't even hear it...
That brought the missing columns back, and I didn't even need the additional padding inside the back of the screen so I removed those to allow the organiser to snap shut properly. Here are the two organisers side-by-side; I haven't touched the other one yet as its LCD faults are intermittent.
November 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
That brought the missing columns back, and I didn't even need the additional padding inside the back of the screen so I removed those to allow the organiser to snap shut properly. Here are the two organisers side-by-side; I haven't touched the other one yet as its LCD faults are intermittent.
The flex can't be directly heated, but there is a thick track on the back of the LCD PCB. I put two spring clamps either side of the missing column to apply pressure, then held a 350°C soldering iron to the back of the PCB for a few seconds. Be very careful not to slip and melt the flex!
November 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
The flex can't be directly heated, but there is a thick track on the back of the LCD PCB. I put two spring clamps either side of the missing column to apply pressure, then held a 350°C soldering iron to the back of the PCB for a few seconds. Be very careful not to slip and melt the flex!
If it's just a bit more pressure that's needed, then additional rubber strips in the back of the cover can help provide some additional force. With all this in place I was still one column missing, but the pressure was bending the screen and the organiser no longer clicked shut. No good!
November 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
If it's just a bit more pressure that's needed, then additional rubber strips in the back of the cover can help provide some additional force. With all this in place I was still one column missing, but the pressure was bending the screen and the organiser no longer clicked shut. No good!
That's a big improvement already, but we're not quite there. Squeezing the LCD in just the right spot brought back the rest of the columns...
November 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
That's a big improvement already, but we're not quite there. Squeezing the LCD in just the right spot brought back the rest of the columns...
With the screen out, the strip can be very carefully slid under the ribbon between the PCB and the LCD. There are two strips of tape installed from the factory that I very carefully peeled off the PCB and cut (don't try to peel it off the fragile flex cable). The LCD can then be screwed back in.
November 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
With the screen out, the strip can be very carefully slid under the ribbon between the PCB and the LCD. There are two strips of tape installed from the factory that I very carefully peeled off the PCB and cut (don't try to peel it off the fragile flex cable). The LCD can then be screwed back in.
If reheating the adhesive is not possible, a mechanical fix might be. Here I've taken some 2mm rubber sheet, put two layers of Kapton tape on each side and cut a strip 3mm wide and 105mm long.
November 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
If reheating the adhesive is not possible, a mechanical fix might be. Here I've taken some 2mm rubber sheet, put two layers of Kapton tape on each side and cut a strip 3mm wide and 105mm long.
The back of the screen enclosure is clipped on, so pop it off starting at the hinge. The LCD glass is taped to the front, so push carefully from inside. Re-heating the long column flex cable is not possible due it being folded over (missing rows can be fixed by carefully re-heating the short flex).
November 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
The back of the screen enclosure is clipped on, so pop it off starting at the hinge. The LCD glass is taped to the front, so push carefully from inside. Re-heating the long column flex cable is not possible due it being folded over (missing rows can be fixed by carefully re-heating the short flex).
I picked up a couple of Sharp ZQ-770 organisers this week. Both had succumbed to very severe battery leaks (hence the discoloured paintwork) but I was able to get both powering up after a thorough clean. Both have the usual LCD failure issue, this one being the worst.
November 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
I picked up a couple of Sharp ZQ-770 organisers this week. Both had succumbed to very severe battery leaks (hence the discoloured paintwork) but I was able to get both powering up after a thorough clean. Both have the usual LCD failure issue, this one being the worst.
Really enjoying the new album Aeons from @espritdair.com and very much looking forwards to seeing them live soon! Thank you, Kai. :)
November 14, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Really enjoying the new album Aeons from @espritdair.com and very much looking forwards to seeing them live soon! Thank you, Kai. :)
I couldn't find any replacement ink rollers for this printing calculator but a few drops of endorsing ink seems to have got the old roller working again and the violet seems to be a good match. Now I just need to find a source of 37mm-wide plain paper rolls, else I'll have to get the scissors out!
November 13, 2025 at 7:10 AM
I couldn't find any replacement ink rollers for this printing calculator but a few drops of endorsing ink seems to have got the old roller working again and the violet seems to be a good match. Now I just need to find a source of 37mm-wide plain paper rolls, else I'll have to get the scissors out!
Richard Russell's "Z88 BASIC Patch" adds graphics support to BBC BASIC. It can also print out the graphics area, but this requires an Epson-compatible printer which the Serial 8056 isn't. I've developed a patch for a patch, in other words. benryves.com/bin/z88/8056...
November 11, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Richard Russell's "Z88 BASIC Patch" adds graphics support to BBC BASIC. It can also print out the graphics area, but this requires an Epson-compatible printer which the Serial 8056 isn't. I've developed a patch for a patch, in other words. benryves.com/bin/z88/8056...
I'll need to build a new battery pack. I'm also somewhat puzzled by what I think is the charging resistor, here designated R39Ω, but which is clearly a zero ohm resistor. One of the electrolytic capacitors was also installed backwards, so I'm not sure what's gone on here!
November 9, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I'll need to build a new battery pack. I'm also somewhat puzzled by what I think is the charging resistor, here designated R39Ω, but which is clearly a zero ohm resistor. One of the electrolytic capacitors was also installed backwards, so I'm not sure what's gone on here!
Of all the components I'd expect to go bad, a quartz resonator is pretty far down the list. I bought this very cute printing calculator as faulty, expecting leaking Ni-Cd cells inside. A previous owner had removed them (hooray!) but the seller couldn't get the calculator to run on external power.
November 9, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Of all the components I'd expect to go bad, a quartz resonator is pretty far down the list. I bought this very cute printing calculator as faulty, expecting leaking Ni-Cd cells inside. A previous owner had removed them (hooray!) but the seller couldn't get the calculator to run on external power.
The serial cable matches an IBM PCjr, thanks to /r/retrocomputing for spotting that and for pointing out that the Sinclair QL version originally included an adaptor in the box. I bodged together a DE-9 adaptor for use with my PC in the meantime, will need to build a Z88 adaptor too.
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 PM
The serial cable matches an IBM PCjr, thanks to /r/retrocomputing for spotting that and for pointing out that the Sinclair QL version originally included an adaptor in the box. I bodged together a DE-9 adaptor for use with my PC in the meantime, will need to build a Z88 adaptor too.
I'm not even sure what computer this is supposed to be used with! Listing said Sinclair QL but this isn't the right plug? The PCB marks the signal lines (RD and CTS) and I beeped them out to the plug. Old issues of Format and QL World provide clues to baud rate (1200) and some format escape codes.
November 6, 2025 at 1:07 AM
I'm not even sure what computer this is supposed to be used with! Listing said Sinclair QL but this isn't the right plug? The PCB marks the signal lines (RD and CTS) and I beeped them out to the plug. Old issues of Format and QL World provide clues to baud rate (1200) and some format escape codes.
This is a big (80 column) thermal printer, for what it's worth. Was quite dirty so wanted to clean before switching on in case debris jammed the mechanism. Can't find a manual so at a guess held down Paper Feed when switching on and it does a test print. Looks like it's working!
November 6, 2025 at 1:07 AM
This is a big (80 column) thermal printer, for what it's worth. Was quite dirty so wanted to clean before switching on in case debris jammed the mechanism. Can't find a manual so at a guess held down Paper Feed when switching on and it does a test print. Looks like it's working!
I was told to avoid smoking the RIFA, so not sure if I should pre-emptively remove these - at least they're on a separate board and have a plastic shield over them to contain any explosions!
November 5, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I was told to avoid smoking the RIFA, so not sure if I should pre-emptively remove these - at least they're on a separate board and have a plastic shield over them to contain any explosions!
This is why I only use AV cables with antivirus protection. Can never be too careful!
November 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM
This is why I only use AV cables with antivirus protection. Can never be too careful!
The printer, case, cables, tapes & charger still ended up cheaper than I was able to find a charger on its own and it was a fun restoration, even if the results aren't perfect. The melted "Remote" switch was also from the previous owner's wandering soldering iron, so glad to finish what he started!
October 27, 2025 at 1:25 PM
The printer, case, cables, tapes & charger still ended up cheaper than I was able to find a charger on its own and it was a fun restoration, even if the results aren't perfect. The melted "Remote" switch was also from the previous owner's wandering soldering iron, so glad to finish what he started!
The cones were in rough shape on the old solid axle - likely caused by using on a hub with cups damaged when the old axle snapped, causing uneven wear. Rebuilt with the balls and cones from the old quick release axle, seems to be running smoothly - just hope it lasts until I can afford a new wheel!
October 10, 2025 at 1:14 AM
The cones were in rough shape on the old solid axle - likely caused by using on a hub with cups damaged when the old axle snapped, causing uneven wear. Rebuilt with the balls and cones from the old quick release axle, seems to be running smoothly - just hope it lasts until I can afford a new wheel!
Pictures related and I really hope I didn't just give myself a hernia. Planning to transplant the axle and bearings from another wheel (with a damaged hub) for a short-term fix...
October 9, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Pictures related and I really hope I didn't just give myself a hernia. Planning to transplant the axle and bearings from another wheel (with a damaged hub) for a short-term fix...
I've been hearing an unnerving creaking when putting force into the pedals for the past 2-3 weeks. I guess that would explain it! Only had solid axles before where a snapped axle failure is rather more obvious and catastrophic, the quick release skewer has put up a good fight...
October 9, 2025 at 11:03 PM
I've been hearing an unnerving creaking when putting force into the pedals for the past 2-3 weeks. I guess that would explain it! Only had solid axles before where a snapped axle failure is rather more obvious and catastrophic, the quick release skewer has put up a good fight...
All working now! The discolouration in the bottom corner of the CE-125 reveals where the battery leaked. I love this form factor, and these computers are a big upgrade over the PC-1211 but can actually fit in a pocket unlike the more powerful PC-1500. Well, maybe not when attached to the printer!
October 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
All working now! The discolouration in the bottom corner of the CE-125 reveals where the battery leaked. I love this form factor, and these computers are a big upgrade over the PC-1211 but can actually fit in a pocket unlike the more powerful PC-1500. Well, maybe not when attached to the printer!
This example came with a microcassette still in it - handy for testing, and looks like this one has some of the previous owner's programs on it so I'll be interested to see what's on there. Looks like the belts I've stuck in there are about the right size at any rate!
October 5, 2025 at 8:07 PM
This example came with a microcassette still in it - handy for testing, and looks like this one has some of the previous owner's programs on it so I'll be interested to see what's on there. Looks like the belts I've stuck in there are about the right size at any rate!