Fester alerted:
> I was browsing through the seller's other items. They
> have a Nicolet 445 for less than $50.
> The same model appears here for almost $6000.00
THANK YOU for the alert Fester - I went there and "bought it now" within the hour! Truly thanks, and thanks again uncle!
Though shipping that monster costed more than the item did, it was worth it. It was DOA as the item description said...
I disassembled it and reseated every card - still dead.
I tested all the power supply voltages - all ok - still dead.
Then I noticed an internal hand (not tweaker) adjustable control for intensity and moved it clockwise = INSTANT DISPLAY: seems that it was semi-working all along!
I re-focused it, but there was still something wrong with fow the characters&fonts displayed.
While troubleshooting that a day or two later I somehow actualy broke it - no display. :.(
...found a mini 5A fuse on one of the wire wrapped boards that I had blown because I'd had it all un-folded to troubleshoot with the power on: Bravo to the designers to even have sub-level PCB fuses!
Replaced the fuse and reseated litarally all the hundreds of TTL chips on all the PCBs - Now the fonts are all scribed perfectly on the CRT = a clear case of "Socket-itus".
Now it seems to be 95% functional with some of the front panel switchs being intermittent. Its good that they are easily replaced since they are REAL 1970's flip-switches and not flat plastic membrain crapola.
> Curiously enough, it seems to be the same picture...
Heh: I will post some new pictures of it here later, proving that I snagged it and it really does work!
Perhaps I should re-list it on eBay for 6000?
Nah, I'll just add it to the collection...
Peace,
JoeT
