Make your own ColecoVision at home, part 5

9 hours ago

The author discusses improvements and challenges in creating Leako, a ColecoVision clone, focusing on version 7 of the board.
Key changes include switching to USB for power instead of a barrel jack to avoid polarity issues and improve accessibility.
Structural enhancements were made to reduce strain on the board from cartridge insertion and controller ports, though some design flaws persisted.
Component shortages affected parts like the 74LS541, leading to delays, and increased the overall build cost to over $80.
The BOM generator script was improved to streamline part ordering and assembly, including better labeling and footprint splitting.
Assembly tools like the StickVise and Kester solder improved efficiency, but soldering issues still caused reliability problems.
Testing revealed bugs such as cartridge interference, incorrect -5V generation, and controller input errors, requiring fixes.
Multiple Leakos were built by others, with mixed success, highlighting the need for further revisions and debugging.
The project faced setbacks due to design errors, part shortages, and soldering quality, but progress was made in reproducibility.
Future versions will address issues like component placement and logic errors to enhance reliability and reduce costs.

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