Re: Zx81
 

Thank you.
That looks very much like like hum on the video to me - i.e. there is a 50/100Hz waveform superimposed on the video output. Try powering the ZX81 from a battery...
Steve.

Re: Zx81
 

The voltage was 14v - seemed steady though I don’t know if it’s smooth because I don’t have an oscilloscope.

Re: Zx81
 

That’s a great idea! Will do and I’ll let you know-thank you.

Re: Zx81
 

The heavy diagonal black bars in the picture are presumably just artefacts caused by the TV frame rate and the camera refresh rate interacting. I would imagine they are not present when viewed with the Mk1 eyeball, is that right?

Unfortunately those artefacts are so prominent they make it a little bit difficult to see the effect you are really trying to portray.

That buckled, washed out effect is what I would expect to see if I was tuned to the edge of the signal or the wrong side of the signal rather than the centre of it. You've definitely tuned manually, in very small steps, all the way across the signal from one side to the other?

Re: Zx81
 

Hi-yes those artefacts can’t be seen by the naked eye. I did fine tune it the best I could and this was the result. It’s bang in the middle of the tuning area with the colour reduced to zero.

Re: Zx81
 

Another vote for a tuning error. It looks just like the TV needs a tweak.

Re: Zx81
 

Are you around channel 36 because I used to pick up a similar false signal further up the band on my old ZX81 and it looked just like that washed out and pretty unwatchable but tune back down the band and it was fine

Re: Zx81
 

What sort of tuning does that Daewoo have, John, is it twiddly wheels or knobs or on-screen tuning via the remote?

I'm wondering if you are tuned to an 'image' of the signal rather than the actual signal. Try tuning completely off the signal you are currently tuned to and keep going for some way first higher than and then lower than the signal you know about.

According to my ZX81 manual which is conveniently to hand, the signal output from the ZX81 should be on UHF channel 36. However your TV is tuned, it should give you some indication of where in the channel range you are currently tuned to.

Edit: Cross posted with nigelr2000, who is thinking along the same lines.

Re: Zx81
 

I wasn't refering to the big diagonal lines, just the wobbly image. Having seen it though I do think SiriusHardware's suggestion of being tuned to an image is a good one and as he suggests you should have a tune through the entire band to see what you find.

I wish you well with this, there's a lot of fun to be had with a ZX81:)

Steve.

Re: Zx81
 

Yes, channel 36 is where it is sitting. I’ve been up and down the band and this is the best slot.

Re: Zx81
 

Unfortunately there are no knobs to twiddle and it’s all through the remote. I use the manual tuning to find the signal on ch 36 then fine tune it and this is the best. I don’t know what you mean re: tune to an image?

Re: Zx81
 

This is the tv I have :
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F202881667062

Re: Zx81
 

An 'Image' is a false or secondary weaker signal which a receiver can sometimes 'see' on a frequency some distance away from the frequency which the signal is really on. We were thinking you might be tuned to an image signal rather than the real signal.

Can you check the 'aerial' lead for continuity?

Check that there is zero ohms between the centre pin of the TV end of the lead and the centre pin of the ZX81 end of the lead, and also check that there is zero ohms between the outer part of the TV end of the lead and the outer part of the ZX81 end of the lead.

Finally, check that there is NO connection between the inner and outer parts of the TV end plug (All measurements to be made with the lead just by itself, not plugged into anything).

Re: Zx81
 

Will do-thank you. I took this this morning

Re: Zx81
 

LOL! This is what I get if I apply slight pressure on the ZX81 RF input connector! Almost perfect!

Re: Zx81
 

Interesting. Now when I go to type something everything disappears and all I have is a blank white screen. Unplugging it and plugging it back in and the prompt is back. When I go to type though-same thing happens. Overheating causing this? Doesn’t feel very hot.

Re: Zx81
 

Okay, now it’s switching itself off and resetting to prompt all the time. I’m going to switch it off and let it cool down and try in an hour.

Re: Zx81
 

Sounds like a loose contact to me.

Re: Zx81
 

Possibly the connecting lead has an intermittent break in it, if so, this would usually be a break in the inner conductor of the lead just at the point of entry/exit to one of the plugs as that's where they tend to get bent around the most - also people have a bad habit of pulling them out by gripping the lead close to the plug and pulling, rather than gripping the body of the plug and pulling that.

Do you have an alternative aerial / RF lead you can try?

Re: Zx81
 

Hi, yes - same result. I have tested the ohms and all seems well with the inner and outer connections and there is no short between them.

I haven't switched it back on yet because it was almost like it was short circuiting causing it to reboot. Picture went really off signal and the prompt kept disappearing. Strange.