KIM-1 repair advice wanted

[Cameron Kaiser]

> Well, one of the supposedly-working exhibits is my KIM-1, but it died
> this afternoon.  I can't get it to do more than occasionally display a
> single zero, on the leftmost 7-segment display.  A cursory look with a
> logic probe (and no docs to hand) shows the clock is running and at
> least a few address lines are too.  I bet it's a memory fault.
> 
> What are the common faults?  I'm hoping it's one of the 2102 RAMs,
> because I stand a chance of having a suitable replacement.  However, I
> fear it's more likely a 6530, and I assume they're unobtanium.  Has
> anyone ever come up with a kludge to effectively use a 6532 (and are
> they any easier to find?) with an EPROM?  Or anything else?

6532s are definitely not pin-compatible, and I've never seen any means of
converting them or integrating an EPROM for the mask ROM component. My own
KIM-1 is a little flaky and after awhile will do something similar, but
usually only after it's been running for some time or if there was a power
fault (and RS usually sets it right).

You could try replacing the RAM, but I don't think that explains your
symptoms.

-- 
---------------------------------- personal: http://www.armory.com/~spectre/ --
 Cameron Kaiser, Floodgap Systems Ltd * So. Calif., USA * ckaiser at floodgap.com
-- "I'd love to go out with you, but my personalities each need therapy." -----