Post B1iKSCVIA69KgWxGca by Gammitin@mastodon.social
(DIR) More posts by Gammitin@mastodon.social
(DIR) Post #B1iKRWC1TLmRSbcHku by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-12T17:29:10Z
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Telic-Alcatel Minitel 1B arrived in pieces, I've decided to take the hit and try to repair it. There's no way I'm shipping back to be destroyed and thrown away.Wish me luck 🤞
(DIR) Post #B1iKRXohR2JQUqiggC by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-12T17:40:19Z
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I need to get it into shape to hold up the CRT, as it is very tricky (shirt wires) to work on. The tube itself looks in good physical shape, but won't know until I switch it on - needs to be done safely.Retro Jigsaw:
(DIR) Post #B1iKRZ5kh7XyS1hotk by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-12T17:44:56Z
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(DIR) Post #B1iKRa1XEHlfLEjxxo by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-12T17:47:11Z
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(DIR) Post #B1iKRauTvzii5eRqbo by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-12T18:17:31Z
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(DIR) Post #B1iKRbqyQWVZ13oYmO by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-12T18:20:00Z
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(DIR) Post #B1iKRcaLhonvHn2nVQ by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-13T00:34:52Z
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Bottom corner fixed, also three of the four screen posts are in, thinking of ways I can strengthen them as they will be taking the screen weight 🤔
(DIR) Post #B1iKRdCzO9iFDd7ejY by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-13T00:47:39Z
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I have some steel wire mesh I'm also going to cut up and melt into the back of the main frame to strengthen it too. But it's the posts I'm worried about.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRdpd4UcZ9TCVxg by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-13T12:37:44Z
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Starting to look better! The button is going to be tricky, looks like supports have all disintegrated.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRejdiFQLxBPFGS by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-14T16:45:44Z
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Slow progress, but still progress, it's like a jigsaw with no picture or reference and some small pieces missing.Next steps will be strengthening and then testing....
(DIR) Post #B1iKRfLZRDlVqp9XO4 by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-15T17:20:37Z
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I'm pretty much done in terms of finding where all the large pieces go and I've managed to sort the case clips (there are no screws on this just 4 clips). I'm going to strengthen it all now, but, I've got to also get the keyboard back in, which is a little tricky.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRfsXSe8XV4Zrm4 by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-15T17:23:45Z
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Next I'm desperate to see if this thing works (electronically) as it had quite a rough journey. The keyboard had corrosion and a few of the copper connectors had all bent up, these have been sorted. Also a few of the clips had broken, which I've now fixed.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRgcchJ03o08fbc by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-15T17:25:55Z
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Le mamelon du tube cathodique (CRT Nipple) is all intact, phew 😌
(DIR) Post #B1iKRhQFimhOHvMIxk by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-15T17:27:55Z
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The power button is fixed and is staying in place.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRiB2uo84d3Ffto by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-15T17:32:22Z
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The mains power cable had been cut off, so I've repaired this.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRij4sHLqKbAqwa by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-15T17:44:54Z
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I've added some brackets to the CRT to take weight and lift it up so I can get the mainboard and keyboard underneath.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRjHon78m4LQb5s by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-15T17:46:25Z
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Ground wired reconnected.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRjzm9gIoGfzhbs by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-15T17:51:06Z
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The Moment of Truth, will it work! 🤞🤞🤞First power on test, here goes.😬
(DIR) Post #B1iKRkpt1vzCsINJpo by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-15T17:56:45Z
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Safety first Frens! ⚡
(DIR) Post #B1iKRln5TpLDpu4b6u by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-15T18:02:34Z
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Hello World (Kinda')
(DIR) Post #B1iKRmoteaNn1nvYZM by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-16T21:34:30Z
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Attempting (not very well so far) to get this working with a Raspberry Pi that I want to mount inside.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRnW93myfBwA5yq by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-16T21:45:10Z
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I think I'm going to have to go for a RS232 to USB adapter, things are looking a bit weird!
(DIR) Post #B1iKRo98ioAZ8sPElE by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-16T21:58:01Z
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I have one of these FTDI FT232RL's, so I may give that a go:
(DIR) Post #B1iKRojIYN5ox1K77Y by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-17T18:46:34Z
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Got a login prompt! 👍
(DIR) Post #B1iKRpJ6PFjUk44hvc by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-17T18:49:45Z
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Ooooffff 😍
(DIR) Post #B1iKRq7nMmHZHHnBwW by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-19T12:36:43Z
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Wow, nearly there now, from a bunch of pieces of broken plastic ☺️
(DIR) Post #B1iKRqrAe4ZvY11QfY by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-19T13:52:01Z
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After nearly being killed by a CRT in my very curious youth, I ain't taking no chances!
(DIR) Post #B1iKRrhdV0XuAjZKRk by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-19T14:03:45Z
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Tip for anyone reassembling one of these:To get the keyboard back in, you need to take the back cover off if first, slide in and clip it shut, then snap the back into place.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRsEbWQuvoyzepk by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-19T14:06:06Z
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C'est Fantastique!
(DIR) Post #B1iKRswurgMY2Pj2u0 by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-19T14:09:54Z
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The back stamp, showing the date of manufacture: 1986
(DIR) Post #B1iKRtfECvoAFqSQyG by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-19T14:20:37Z
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Keyboard moves correctly and the clip at the top works to release it.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRuR5L05aeGqeZ6 by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-19T14:22:21Z
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So after messing about, I just noticed the connectors are loose from the ribbon, so BRB!
(DIR) Post #B1iKRvBAZex6xCPSOe by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-19T14:49:51Z
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Made a small spatula, to apply a very small bit of super glue.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRw0DVrmlVWIDxo by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-19T14:53:54Z
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Tiniest bit of glue underneath the metal so that it doesn't spill out, then used flat tweezers to bend it down and hold it in place for a few seconds. Also cleaned it with IPA and tested connectivity. Seems to be fine! 👍
(DIR) Post #B1iKRwV3fCSJ3Air2G by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-19T16:18:44Z
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When I thought I was wrapping up!Literally the hardest part of this repair is getting the keyboard connector back in. I put it all together powered on fine - then guess what!?Some keys not working FFS!Took it apart again, disaster strikes!Back to the repair bench it goes 😂
(DIR) Post #B1iKRxVRvEMYAfugHg by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-19T16:34:17Z
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Yep, found the piece, proceeded to accidentally drop it on the floor and loose it, yay!I'm going to try a piece of sticky copper and then solder a bridge. If that doesn't work I'm going to get a bit creative and potentially change the connector.Hopefully the 1st option works!
(DIR) Post #B1iKRy0e3FJfjQVauO by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-21T17:22:53Z
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This was so fiddly to do, so small, just have to solder it and hopefully for the best. I'm hoping that there's no breaks further up, but we shall see.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRycZmDepd4Ft20 by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-21T19:33:47Z
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Well good news and bad news, the fix worked, I can now use the funct + t, a to put it into ANSI mode.Bad news, there's still a few keys not working so, excuse me while I go an scream into a pillow! 😤
(DIR) Post #B1iKRzHLKeGdfVKRZg by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-28T16:59:10Z
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The Minitel saga continues..... I discovered the first connector has also snapped off.
(DIR) Post #B1iKRzqnCqcjRRukpU by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-28T17:01:58Z
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Here goes, I cannot tell you how many times I've now taken this apart and discharged the CRT, fingers crossed 🤞
(DIR) Post #B1iKS5RUPpwsmi7dDs by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-28T17:05:44Z
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RESULT, IT'S FIXED!Whoop whoop 😁
(DIR) Post #B1iKSCVIA69KgWxGca by Gammitin@mastodon.social
2025-12-28T17:12:25Z
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After and Before: