[Coco] Back to the COCO

[Henry Rietveld]

I just picked up a dual fd502 and MPI.   The seller through  in a non working ‎coco3.

Sent from my ⑩ Passport SE; not running Android.
  Original Message
From: Bill Gunshannon
Sent: Monday, January 2, 2017 10:25 AM
To: coco at maltedmedia.com
Reply To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
Subject: Re: [Coco] Back to the COCO


On 1/2/17 2:29 AM, Barry Nelson wrote:
> Regarding CoCo 3’s, they still do show up, I have seen some recently, I picked one up a few months ago for it’s keyboard as my keyboard had failed.
>

I did a quick search for COCO and "Tandy COCO" and all I got was
a couple of game cartridges.  Used to see a lot of computers,
usually overpriced, but available.


> I found several just now when I looked (there were a few more I just listed these 4):
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tandy-128-K-Color-Computer-3-Model-26-3334-/332075907460?hash=item4d51443984:g:-h8AAOSw-0xYZUkZ <http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tandy-128-K-Color-Computer-3-Model-26-3334-/332075907460?hash=item4d51443984:g:-h8AAOSw-0xYZUkZ>
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Tandy-128K-Color-Computer-3-with-Original-Box-/222360136478?hash=item33c5b26b1e:g:AkMAAOSw241YZELE <http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Tandy-128K-Color-Computer-3-with-Original-Box-/222360136478?hash=item33c5b26b1e:g:AkMAAOSw241YZELE>
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-TANDY-128-K-COLOR-COMPUTER-3-MODEL-26-3334-/311762814621?hash=item489683069d:g:Yi8AAOSw241YVtVl <http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-TANDY-128-K-COLOR-COMPUTER-3-MODEL-26-3334-/311762814621?hash=item489683069d:g:Yi8AAOSw241YVtVl>
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tandy-128k-Color-Computer-3-with-6-games-/162317084688?hash=item25cada2810:g:JRYAAOSw2xRYTfCE <http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tandy-128k-Color-Computer-3-with-6-games-/162317084688?hash=item25cada2810:g:JRYAAOSw2xRYTfCE>
>

Interesting, wonder my my search didn't find them?

> Also, you might want to try with the keyboard unplugged, trust me, a bad keyboard can sometimes cause the whole machine to lock up if the right key(s) get stuck. Trust me, I know. :) Of course make sure everything else is unplugged too, except for video and audio out. No disk controller or MPI. On the off chance the keyboard is the issue, I should tell you that most CoCo 1 or 2 keyboards will work on a CoCo 3 in a pinch and if the keyboard won’t let the machine start it may be because it got moisture in it. Of course there are MANY other causes that can cause loss of video, but the keyboard is easy to test, and many people wouldn’t think it could cause the computer to fail to startup. With the power off also make sure to reseat all the chips, including the GIME. By the way, if you can’t get it working, please don’t throw it out. Sell it for parts instead. It may have just the part someone else needs.

I see no reason for the keyboard to suddenly go bad, but turning them
on and off repeatedly while testing could have damaged the PSU, I guess.
As it turns out, I have two more dead 3's from probably 20 years ago, I
always assumed it was CPU's and have periodically searched for
replacements.  I think I got one from some place in Eastern Europe once
but never worked on any of them. Of course, if the GIME's are dead I
quess that kills them for sure as I don't think there ever were any
replacements for them.  Guess it's time to dig out the meter and scope
and get my hands dirty again.

If I have to sell stuff, I have a lot.  Most bought while my COCO's were
stored away and never used until now.  I'll offer them here first. While
I buy things from ebay I have never had any luck selling stuff there.

bill






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