[Coco] Probably a Redundant Question

[gene heskett]

On Saturday, December 17, 2011 11:55:08 AM John Orwen did opine:

> Diego
> Thank you for your reply.
> 
> My concern is: How much longer is this Coco hardware manufactured in the
> early 80's to the early 90's going to last.
> Long term electrical stress ( 20 to 30 years ) and the temperature
> induced deterioration of components that age.
> Particularly electrolytic capacitors.
> 
> The circuit board in the coco3 I currently have is foreign made.  The
> two electrolytic capacitors next to Q1 have started leaking electrolyte
> onto the circuit board.  The computer still works but how much longer.

Depends on the heat.  Mine has had the psu stripped out for many years, and 
a 6309 cpu.  The heat rise in continuous operation is perhaps 2F, right 
over the 2 meg disto kit.
 
> I know this may be an easy fix for many of the coco hardware gurus but I
> am sure that many of the coco users out there are in their mid 50's to
> mid 60's and may not possess the physical and visual ability to make
> such repairs.

At 77, and diabetic, that is not yet a problem for me. :)  OTOH, I've been 
doing such for about 65 years too.

> I have recently starting using Drivewire4 on my PC and the HDB DOS with
> DW3 in the disk controller on the coco.
> If the coco dies this will not be able to be used.
> 
> I see a lot of the current still operating cocos out there dieing in the
> near term future.
> 
> The FPGA may indeed be the route to take but not everyone has the
> ability to get the current complexity of it going easily.  If someone
> posses the skill and resources to make it available in a plug and play
> package it would definitely  be something I would be interested in.
> 
> On 12/16/2011 5:26 PM, Diego Barizo wrote:
> > I would say the CoCo 3 FPGA
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CoCo3FPGA/
> > 
> > Diego
> > 
> > John Orwen wrote:
> >> This may very well be a redundant question.  Until very recently I
> >> have been totally away from any activity with a Coco due to health
> >> issues.  I have now as a matter of great therapy reacquainted myself
> >> with it with considerable endeavor.
> >> 
> >> After visiting the www.Coco4.com website an immediate question comes
> >> to mind that may have already been addressed on this list many times
> >> in the last year.  If it has, I apologize for being redundant.
> >> 
> >> What is the most current status on the Coco4 project ?  Has anything
> >> taken place in the last year to bring the described Coco4 emulator,
> >> the coco4 I/O board, and or the described "enhanced version of Basic
> >> " into reality and available to serious Coco users ?
> >> 
> >> Even though I am a past member of the Coco4 website, I have long ago
> >> lost or forgotten my password to log onto
> >> it and I seem to be unable to post a message to the administrator
> >> Steve Bjork.
> >> 
> >> If anyone has any information or knowledge about this project in full
> >> or in part, I would appreciate hearing about it.
> >> 
> >> John Orwen
> >> jorwen at neb.rr.com
> 
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Cheers, Gene
-- 
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