Raymond
@channelmaniac.bsky.social
Owner of a small business, board member of a non-profit, and one of the organizers of VCF Southwest.
You can find my projects and contributions at https://github.com/channelmaniac
You can find my projects and contributions at https://github.com/channelmaniac
Always nice to get pictures from customers of their games running with the boards we repaired for them. :)
November 16, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Always nice to get pictures from customers of their games running with the boards we repaired for them. :)
It's fun repairing a Galaga arcade game boardset that another tech messed up. Not only did they not replace a chip that failed when vibrations occurred (internal die bond failure), they left resistor packs unsoldered which made the game very unstable - crashing and rebooting often.
October 30, 2025 at 10:20 AM
It's fun repairing a Galaga arcade game boardset that another tech messed up. Not only did they not replace a chip that failed when vibrations occurred (internal die bond failure), they left resistor packs unsoldered which made the game very unstable - crashing and rebooting often.
Every year I get older, it gets harder to do these crazy road trips... ~600 miles from 11am to 11:25pm to pick up a half trailer load of vintage computer gear from the late 70s to late 80s.
Had to wait out a break in the storms and route around them. Got the break, took US70 over to I35 then south.
Had to wait out a break in the storms and route around them. Got the break, took US70 over to I35 then south.
October 26, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Every year I get older, it gets harder to do these crazy road trips... ~600 miles from 11am to 11:25pm to pick up a half trailer load of vintage computer gear from the late 70s to late 80s.
Had to wait out a break in the storms and route around them. Got the break, took US70 over to I35 then south.
Had to wait out a break in the storms and route around them. Got the break, took US70 over to I35 then south.
A bad crystal... A hard to find one at that. This is an odd failure as they are usually a reliable part.
I'm trying to fix a ham radio I rescued from Computer Reset a few years back. Already replaced the disintegrated microphone cable and the IC chip that uses this crystal.
I'm trying to fix a ham radio I rescued from Computer Reset a few years back. Already replaced the disintegrated microphone cable and the IC chip that uses this crystal.
October 8, 2025 at 8:58 AM
A bad crystal... A hard to find one at that. This is an odd failure as they are usually a reliable part.
I'm trying to fix a ham radio I rescued from Computer Reset a few years back. Already replaced the disintegrated microphone cable and the IC chip that uses this crystal.
I'm trying to fix a ham radio I rescued from Computer Reset a few years back. Already replaced the disintegrated microphone cable and the IC chip that uses this crystal.
There's always time to learn something new. In this case, it also improved safety.
Polished the headlights on the CX-7. HUGE difference!
Polished the headlights on the CX-7. HUGE difference!
September 26, 2025 at 1:53 AM
There's always time to learn something new. In this case, it also improved safety.
Polished the headlights on the CX-7. HUGE difference!
Polished the headlights on the CX-7. HUGE difference!
Tonight I made a big pot of the 2 packages of fresh "French green beans" I got on markdown at Kroger. I used the last of the pre-cooked and marked down bacon from Aldi.
Minced an onion to go in it. Added salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Who says you can't eat well AND cheap? This was less than $6.
Minced an onion to go in it. Added salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Who says you can't eat well AND cheap? This was less than $6.
September 23, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Tonight I made a big pot of the 2 packages of fresh "French green beans" I got on markdown at Kroger. I used the last of the pre-cooked and marked down bacon from Aldi.
Minced an onion to go in it. Added salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Who says you can't eat well AND cheap? This was less than $6.
Minced an onion to go in it. Added salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Who says you can't eat well AND cheap? This was less than $6.
Who else loves to cook?
Picked up 2 "young whole chickens" at Aldi for 50% off and turnip greens on markdown at Kroger.
Prepped a chicken with garlic and Italian spices, the 2nd with Cajun and garlic, and tossed them in the smoker.
Used some marked down pre-cooked bacon and cooked the greens. :)
Picked up 2 "young whole chickens" at Aldi for 50% off and turnip greens on markdown at Kroger.
Prepped a chicken with garlic and Italian spices, the 2nd with Cajun and garlic, and tossed them in the smoker.
Used some marked down pre-cooked bacon and cooked the greens. :)
September 23, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Who else loves to cook?
Picked up 2 "young whole chickens" at Aldi for 50% off and turnip greens on markdown at Kroger.
Prepped a chicken with garlic and Italian spices, the 2nd with Cajun and garlic, and tossed them in the smoker.
Used some marked down pre-cooked bacon and cooked the greens. :)
Picked up 2 "young whole chickens" at Aldi for 50% off and turnip greens on markdown at Kroger.
Prepped a chicken with garlic and Italian spices, the 2nd with Cajun and garlic, and tossed them in the smoker.
Used some marked down pre-cooked bacon and cooked the greens. :)
Sometimes you just need to tune out the world....
And when you do, you can sometimes be pleasantly surprised.
Shaved 10 seconds. :)
And when you do, you can sometimes be pleasantly surprised.
Shaved 10 seconds. :)
August 31, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Sometimes you just need to tune out the world....
And when you do, you can sometimes be pleasantly surprised.
Shaved 10 seconds. :)
And when you do, you can sometimes be pleasantly surprised.
Shaved 10 seconds. :)
What do totems do when nobody is watching?
They jam to an awesome techno beat!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9x7...
They jam to an awesome techno beat!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9x7...
Ummet Ozcan - Totem (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by Ummet Ozcan
www.youtube.com
August 7, 2025 at 6:45 PM
What do totems do when nobody is watching?
They jam to an awesome techno beat!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9x7...
They jam to an awesome techno beat!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9x7...
What's your must-stop when traveling? We don't have White Castle in Texas, so when I travel to areas where they are, I have to stop in. :)
It's a guilty pleasure.
It's a guilty pleasure.
August 7, 2025 at 6:41 PM
What's your must-stop when traveling? We don't have White Castle in Texas, so when I travel to areas where they are, I have to stop in. :)
It's a guilty pleasure.
It's a guilty pleasure.
It's fun to add easter eggs to projects. This is on the 8031 Microcontroller-based computer I released at VCF Southwest in 2023.
The easter egg is a throwback to Monty Python's parrot sketch and fits perfectly since most of the CPUs used for this came from parted out casino gambling machines.
The easter egg is a throwback to Monty Python's parrot sketch and fits perfectly since most of the CPUs used for this came from parted out casino gambling machines.
August 7, 2025 at 6:39 PM
It's fun to add easter eggs to projects. This is on the 8031 Microcontroller-based computer I released at VCF Southwest in 2023.
The easter egg is a throwback to Monty Python's parrot sketch and fits perfectly since most of the CPUs used for this came from parted out casino gambling machines.
The easter egg is a throwback to Monty Python's parrot sketch and fits perfectly since most of the CPUs used for this came from parted out casino gambling machines.
Did the unthinkable and found a stash of NOS Neo-Geo custom ICs.
They are up on my web site at: www.arcadecomponents.com/neo-geo.html
Hope these help you keep your systems alive and well!
They are up on my web site at: www.arcadecomponents.com/neo-geo.html
Hope these help you keep your systems alive and well!
Neo-Geo
www.arcadecomponents.com
July 28, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Did the unthinkable and found a stash of NOS Neo-Geo custom ICs.
They are up on my web site at: www.arcadecomponents.com/neo-geo.html
Hope these help you keep your systems alive and well!
They are up on my web site at: www.arcadecomponents.com/neo-geo.html
Hope these help you keep your systems alive and well!
Restoring a very old, late 70s computer, a SOL-20, with an incredible homebrew modification: An NSC800 CPU replacement for the 8080A.
What's so cool about that? It's a Z80 compatible CPU which greatly expands the software that it can run.
And I reverse engineered it
github.com/channelmania...
What's so cool about that? It's a Z80 compatible CPU which greatly expands the software that it can run.
And I reverse engineered it
github.com/channelmania...
GitHub - channelmaniac/NSC800_SOL-20: NSC800 CPU adapter for a SOL-20 Computer
NSC800 CPU adapter for a SOL-20 Computer. Contribute to channelmaniac/NSC800_SOL-20 development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
June 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Restoring a very old, late 70s computer, a SOL-20, with an incredible homebrew modification: An NSC800 CPU replacement for the 8080A.
What's so cool about that? It's a Z80 compatible CPU which greatly expands the software that it can run.
And I reverse engineered it
github.com/channelmania...
What's so cool about that? It's a Z80 compatible CPU which greatly expands the software that it can run.
And I reverse engineered it
github.com/channelmania...
There's only room for one king in America...
June 13, 2025 at 9:31 PM
There's only room for one king in America...
This Simpsons arcade board took damage from a wiring short inside the cabinet. It came in through the Player 1 Coin Input, damaged it, then took out this custom chip and four ROM chips.
Luckily I had a parts Lethal Enforcers PCB here to salvage a replacement custom chip. I hand soldered this in.
Luckily I had a parts Lethal Enforcers PCB here to salvage a replacement custom chip. I hand soldered this in.
June 1, 2025 at 3:39 AM
This Simpsons arcade board took damage from a wiring short inside the cabinet. It came in through the Player 1 Coin Input, damaged it, then took out this custom chip and four ROM chips.
Luckily I had a parts Lethal Enforcers PCB here to salvage a replacement custom chip. I hand soldered this in.
Luckily I had a parts Lethal Enforcers PCB here to salvage a replacement custom chip. I hand soldered this in.
Every once in a while a rare game gets shipped in for repair.
Unfortunately, this Atari Liberator arcade game board worked 100% on the bench. The owner, a local arcade, has to do some more troubleshooing inside the game cabinet. I gave them some pointers on what to check.
Unfortunately, this Atari Liberator arcade game board worked 100% on the bench. The owner, a local arcade, has to do some more troubleshooing inside the game cabinet. I gave them some pointers on what to check.
June 1, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Every once in a while a rare game gets shipped in for repair.
Unfortunately, this Atari Liberator arcade game board worked 100% on the bench. The owner, a local arcade, has to do some more troubleshooing inside the game cabinet. I gave them some pointers on what to check.
Unfortunately, this Atari Liberator arcade game board worked 100% on the bench. The owner, a local arcade, has to do some more troubleshooing inside the game cabinet. I gave them some pointers on what to check.
SchoolHouse Rock - No More Kings
YouTube video by tennesseejed93
www.youtube.com
May 31, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Want to go and learn at a prestigious university? One that rejected our false king and his son?
Want to do it for FREE?
There are 133 free courses available.
pll.harvard.edu/catalog?pric...
Want to do it for FREE?
There are 133 free courses available.
pll.harvard.edu/catalog?pric...
Catalog of Courses
Browse the latest courses from Harvard University
pll.harvard.edu
May 30, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Want to go and learn at a prestigious university? One that rejected our false king and his son?
Want to do it for FREE?
There are 133 free courses available.
pll.harvard.edu/catalog?pric...
Want to do it for FREE?
There are 133 free courses available.
pll.harvard.edu/catalog?pric...
Another Macintosh SE is ready for the VCF Southwest fundraising auction. Replaced 2 bad BIOS ROMs and a bad AM5380 SCSI Controller IC.
May 29, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Another Macintosh SE is ready for the VCF Southwest fundraising auction. Replaced 2 bad BIOS ROMs and a bad AM5380 SCSI Controller IC.
For our third year we finally broke into some kind of mainstream media with our expo! We're expecting 1500 attendees this year.
Who knew it would be so difficult to get this done beyond self publishing on area event calendars and having to pay to get that spread?
dallasrightnow.com/blog/the-vin...
Who knew it would be so difficult to get this done beyond self publishing on area event calendars and having to pay to get that spread?
dallasrightnow.com/blog/the-vin...
Vintage Computer Festival showcases relics of tech's past
See rare and nostalgic P.C.s, gaming systems and international systems.
dallasrightnow.com
May 26, 2025 at 10:29 PM
For our third year we finally broke into some kind of mainstream media with our expo! We're expecting 1500 attendees this year.
Who knew it would be so difficult to get this done beyond self publishing on area event calendars and having to pay to get that spread?
dallasrightnow.com/blog/the-vin...
Who knew it would be so difficult to get this done beyond self publishing on area event calendars and having to pay to get that spread?
dallasrightnow.com/blog/the-vin...
Kits are ready for the Intro to Surface Mount Soldering training I'm doing at VCF Southwest next month!
May 26, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Kits are ready for the Intro to Surface Mount Soldering training I'm doing at VCF Southwest next month!
If 47's administration overturns any of Biden's pardons, the next admin should overturn all of the pardons of the Jan 6 crowd.
May 19, 2025 at 7:50 PM
If 47's administration overturns any of Biden's pardons, the next admin should overturn all of the pardons of the Jan 6 crowd.
Crossing the Border | Robot Chicken | Adult Swim
YouTube video by Adult Swim
www.youtube.com
May 18, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Killian lives and is coming to a TV near you!!!
May 18, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Killian lives and is coming to a TV near you!!!
If a judge who ignores an ICE warrant that was NOT signed by a judge gets arrested, what happens to the snitch who told Kid Rock's restaurant they were about to be raided by ICE?
May 17, 2025 at 5:37 PM
If a judge who ignores an ICE warrant that was NOT signed by a judge gets arrested, what happens to the snitch who told Kid Rock's restaurant they were about to be raided by ICE?