Vectrex Buzz Off Kit
Here’s a video that’s both relevant and timely to pretty much everyone: How to fix the buzz on a rare games machine from 1983. I anticipate that I’ll be able to retire after this one goes big. https://youtu.be/nVx9rJv6HFE
[Hyperbole mode disengaged]
A quick plug
In other news - I wonder if any of the electrical experts reading this can help me identify a power socket, so I can search for the appropriate plug/cable that fits in it.
It's almost the same dimensions as an IEC C7 (commonly referred to as a 'Figure-of-Eight plug') - but a bit shorter, oblong and with an indent only on one side (the left). If all else fails I'll take a Dremel to an IEC C7 - but the pin spacing is a bit different. I don't seem to be able to embed a picture here - so here's a link to a picture of the socket with a IEC C7 plug next to it for comparison. https://ibb.co/vYnFt51
The IEC C9 is a similar shape, but much bigger, that's more like a kettle lead...so it's not one of those. It's on a piece of weird old Japanese equipment, so you can probably strike out the IEC plug types, I seem to remember seeing it before on a piece of 1960s US equipment too...but the socket must have a name - I was thinking of calling it Brian...
UPDATE
Many thanks for all the suggestions about the plug - I've ordered a few things now and I'll see if any of them fit when they arrive. I also had to do a tiny fraction of a second snip to the video - so that's now been re-uploaded (the 4K version may still be processing) .
Thanks again.
Comments (52)
If you don't have one, get yourself a small compressor and keep it in your garage for cleaning out vintage tech - you wouldn't believe how much more effective it is than a can of air or the completely useless toy vacuum cleaners you used to get for computer keyboards. Compressed air is like "spraying newness" into old kit. If you are cleaning computers, stick a finger/pencil etc. into the fans before blowing air onto them - they sound like little jet turbines as they spin but it can damage the bearings..
I should get something - as you can imagine, space is at a premium.
really cool! Never knew there was a lightpen for the Vectrex though. It's interesting. It was the second ever games console I saw and tried when I was young. I loved it from the start! In the mean time, my cat is tearing my center speaker apart that I installed yesterday. Oh well. It's good to see that I'm not the only slightly clumsy person attempting stuff like this. Watching Jan Beta, but also 8-Bit Guy almost prevents me from tinkering, afraid I'd completely destroy what I try to work on... Thanks Mat!
Not sure if I'm a fan of your name for that socket...
It was going to be Alan, but I was concerned people would think it was...a LAN socket.
I had never thought about a lightpen on a vector display. Since there is no raster, how on earth does the machine know where you have placed the pen unless you are placing it right on top of something that is already lit up?
That's a very good question - and if anyone can figure it out, it's you.
"If you put your hands very near massive voltages, you could die, etc." Timeless advice for the ages. <3
You won’t believe (or maybe you will) the number of self-righteous comments I’ll get about voltages when the video goes live. It’s like the stupidest person in the class - who’s so deluded that they think they’re the cleverest in class - trying to demonstrate their superior knowledge in a public forum by telling everyone something that’s already common knowledge.
I'm far from being an electronics expert ,but I would have assumed mounting an amplifier to a power supply would _not_ have reduced interference :)
Yep - and yet here we are, just shows what I know. I leave things like this to the experts - the videos and manual showed mounting it here.
Can't believe you missed your chance to say "and to those people I say... buzz off" And now I'm thinking "oh no, is this one of the comments he predicted everyone will be saying, and I'm getting on his nerves?!" I dug a hole for myself.
I’ve got to be careful with offending people nowadays - so anything edgier than children’s TV is off the table.
Wonder if that's the same socket my rather cheap 8mm projector uses. It's a figure of 8 one, but only slightly bigger. And all eBay searches bring up are the smaller ones.
It’s OK I’ve ordered a couple of things, I’ll see how those work out.
Hyperbole is literally the best thing in the Universe, ever!
It's a bit like Rollerball - but even better.
Let me be among the first to say congratulations on the 1 000 000 subscribers! You've earned every single one. I think I found your channel some time in 2016... Been a patreon for long too. Happy to be. My spouse likes you too! And yes this is way early still but I wanted to say it...
Well thanks. I think I get a plaque - but really that's about all that happens. It seems everyone else is more excited about it than I am. Perhaps I should get on board.
I also own two vectrex and now I also want to remove the buzz. Better than recapping the orginal amp.
"I've got two Vectrex" ...or is that 'Vectrices'? 'Vectrexeses'? 🤔
Vectri
Nice work on the mod!
Wasn't there also a "programming" cartridge of some sort?
It doesn’t ring a bell - although there were quite a few things planned that never saw the light of day.
Excellent as always, Mat. I was one of the few who bought the light pen for the Vectrex. I truly wish I could remember what happened to mine. I think I gave it away to someone.
I I think it’s great that we have connector standards... But we just have too many of them these days! 🤦♂️
I realize that I am a bit late to the game here, but is there a shop in your vicinity that sells radio scanners, RC toys (of better quality,) CB radios etc? Because I am 90% certain that the plug you are looking for, were used for some citizens band radios as a DC input connector: http://www.cb-shack.co.uk/2-pin-round-power-lead-for-cb-radio/
It looks very similar - but the rounded ends make me feel like it’s not supposed to fit in the squared off hole. However I have ordered a few things that look right - so in a week or two I’ll find out if they fit. Thanks for the suggestion.
Interestingly (to me anyway) I saw this article yesterday and learned more about Vectrex history and how it works. One of the commenters linked to your Vectrex overlay video. https://jalopnik.com/the-torchinsky-files-meet-the-vectrex-the-strangest-g-1843543685
It appears that the center convergence of the overlay and the graphics are in different places. I think the overlay like the "hole" is offset to the top and the graphics converge closer to the bottom. I believe the lines on the graphics will follow the lives on the overlay if you trun it over.
Oh unfortunately it will never line up. Tempest isn’t a proper Vectrex game - it’s an arcade rom running on an accelerated emulator cart and it’s an early beta version of the game called Vortex.
Mat, I see on your VecTrex that the overlay for Tempest is upside down. Would like to see how it looks with it rightside up. Love your videos. Always look forward to seeing them. Keep it up and stay healthy.
That’s just a general overlay called Grid - I think it’s the same either way up (except the colours change ends).
Awesome video! It made my lunch very pleasant, so thank you!
Hmm, bit worried about Techmoan going ultra-mainstream these days what with blatant Trending-bait like this 🤔 😂
Next video - 10 Things you don’t know about Billie Eyelash - Number 12 will amaze you.
mildly off topic, but when you go out, carry a pen in your pocket, so you can press buttons without needing to touch them with your fingers; get one with a stylus nib and it'll work on touchscreens as well.
An excellent suggestion.
On a totally separate subject, bloody hell! How much is Deoxit!
It's crazy - and that's for the cheaper D5 version. They do a better D100 one as well that you really can't get for love nor money over there.
What about this cable and plug? https://www.amazon.com/Woods-0295-Appliance-6-Foot-Brown/dp/B000KKJS12
It looks close, but the pin holes on the connector section are flat rather than round.
Here we are!!! https://it.dhgate.com/product/single-female-plug-power-cord-b-shaped-female/432524437.html
Bingo, that looks like it. Nice find!
I have a very similar socket on my Philips Shaver, smaller than the IEC7 , is not square but i bet that can fit https://www.amazon.it/Compatibile-ricarica-alimentazione-Philips-Norelco/dp/B07TVJ1KY5
I’ve got one of those with some hair clippers - I’ll have a look and see if it fits.
Number 23? https://www.plugsocketmuseum.nl/PowerCord1.html
That looks like it - now to find a cable...
Great video, have to get one of those vectrexes some day. It seems to be one of a few consoles where it is hard to emulate the experience with crt vector graphics ant these unique accesories.
What a flashback, a Vectrex video from Techmoan. Have to install the amp module I bought ages ago in my Vectrex as well. On the other hand, is it still a Vectrex if it doesn't buzz? One can get really used to it ;-)
Buzz in any kind of device annoys me most of the time. I wish it didn’t but my ears just tune in on the buzz instead of the actual noise (for some reason)