"JP1 bridge cable"? What for? Device not found error

[Linzino]

Hi

I have an almost perfectly working PAL Vic 20 with a "Device not found error" and a possible culprit.
The innocent chips (all tested on other Vic 20's) are:
- both CIA
- 6502
- kernal

The most probably culprit is the "bridge cable" that is supposed to go from JP1 (near the userport) to JP1 (near the led connector).
In this Vic 20 the cable is not connected at the JP1 point next to the userport.
I have tried to clean the userport contacts and keep the cable connected (not yet soldered) but I still get the same error.
What is this cable responsible of?
I wonder whether a not so good connection of this "bridge cable" is the real and only cause.

Could someone provide some helo?

Linzino

[Mike]

This cable makes the 9 VAC available at the user port. It is most likely unrelated to your issue. Of course you shouldn't let dangling ends of the cable cause any short circuits.

You could try replacing UB4 (7406 TTL hex-inverter). This IC is easily "shot" by hot-plugging the serial cable.

BTW, the VIC-20 uses two VIA chips, not CIA.

[Linzino]

Thanks a lot Mike for your help!

You are right about the VIAs.

The missing 9v on the userport could be the problem because I am using a userport-powered SD2IEC,
which might not be probably powered because of the dangling cable.

I do not have an soldering iron at hand. Before I try to fix the dangling cable, I wil try to power the SDI2IEC externally.

Linzino

[Linzino]

Hi

My SD2IEC refuses to be powered by a different computer than the one it is connected to through the serial cable.

I will have to first propoerly solder the JP1 9v power cable and see if that is enough.

Linzino