Jan Beta
@janbeta.net
I repair/hack/make/destroy stuff on YouTube/PeerTube.
Retrocomputing, VintageAudio, Tinkering. As unprofessional as it gets.
Chaotic good. Anti-fascist. C64 rules.
https://janbeta.net/
Retrocomputing, VintageAudio, Tinkering. As unprofessional as it gets.
Chaotic good. Anti-fascist. C64 rules.
https://janbeta.net/
Turned out to be a cold solder joint on the wire wrap connector. Works like a charm again after reflowing generously. 👍😊 (2/2)
November 17, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Turned out to be a cold solder joint on the wire wrap connector. Works like a charm again after reflowing generously. 👍😊 (2/2)
Quick fix on the kid‘s CD player (Harman/Kardon HD200 from around 1988). It was completely dead so I suspected the power supply section. I started measuring voltages and when I touched one of the connections going from the transformer into the PCB with the multimeter probe, it sprung to life. (1/2)
November 17, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Quick fix on the kid‘s CD player (Harman/Kardon HD200 from around 1988). It was completely dead so I suspected the power supply section. I started measuring voltages and when I touched one of the connections going from the transformer into the PCB with the multimeter probe, it sprung to life. (1/2)
It’s done! Much more effort than I anticipated but it turned out nicely, if I may say so myself. Very pleased with it. Video coming soon! #SNEStoration #Nintendo #SuperNintendo #SNES
November 16, 2025 at 2:37 PM
It’s done! Much more effort than I anticipated but it turned out nicely, if I may say so myself. Very pleased with it. Video coming soon! #SNEStoration #Nintendo #SuperNintendo #SNES
SNEStoration going on. #InTheLabDoingStuff
November 13, 2025 at 11:36 AM
SNEStoration going on. #InTheLabDoingStuff
New old tool in the Beta Lab: #Mitutoyo calipers I randomly found on eBay for little money. Not exactly sure how to date these but the logo appears to be the one used roughly from 1962 to 1965 (according to leftover.engineering/2020/09/06/m...). They are still VERY accurate as far as I can see. <3
November 11, 2025 at 10:56 AM
New old tool in the Beta Lab: #Mitutoyo calipers I randomly found on eBay for little money. Not exactly sure how to date these but the logo appears to be the one used roughly from 1962 to 1965 (according to leftover.engineering/2020/09/06/m...). They are still VERY accurate as far as I can see. <3
Apparently, somebody at @ifixit.com liked my videos enough for them to send me their new FixHub portable soldering station for free. It’s "a bit" faster and more powerful than my aging Weller soldering station from some decades ago. The battery pack is optional, the little iron also works USB-C.
October 10, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Apparently, somebody at @ifixit.com liked my videos enough for them to send me their new FixHub portable soldering station for free. It’s "a bit" faster and more powerful than my aging Weller soldering station from some decades ago. The battery pack is optional, the little iron also works USB-C.
Recapped and readjusted the #NAD7020e today. Meditation Beta style. #InTheLabDoingStuff
September 4, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Recapped and readjusted the #NAD7020e today. Meditation Beta style. #InTheLabDoingStuff
Did some Amiga 600 updates and upgrades today and made it run more stable again (I hope). #InTheLabDoingStuff
August 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Did some Amiga 600 updates and upgrades today and made it run more stable again (I hope). #InTheLabDoingStuff
The keyboard needs "some" TLC and the machine herself lost two of the plastic feet during shipping. Unfortunate, but not unfixable. Will have a closer look at everything in a series of videos. Coming soon to a screen near you! ;)
August 20, 2025 at 3:54 PM
The keyboard needs "some" TLC and the machine herself lost two of the plastic feet during shipping. Unfortunate, but not unfixable. Will have a closer look at everything in a series of videos. Coming soon to a screen near you! ;)
The main attraction seems to have made it over more or less intact thankfully. Will have to inspect the innards more closely, of course (it needs repaired anyway). It’s huuuge and clunky and gorgeous and best of all, it’s mine now!!
August 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
The main attraction seems to have made it over more or less intact thankfully. Will have to inspect the innards more closely, of course (it needs repaired anyway). It’s huuuge and clunky and gorgeous and best of all, it’s mine now!!
Unfortunately, there was some carnage… 😭
August 20, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Unfortunately, there was some carnage… 😭
Any guesses? (It’s beige and comes with a set of keys.)
August 20, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Any guesses? (It’s beige and comes with a set of keys.)
Here you go. Tried reflowing with hot air and lots of flux, no change unfortunately. Might be the BGA main IC then, but I’m probably not going to go through reflowing that. VGA and other analog inputs are fine so it’s likely going to end up with something connected to those.
August 20, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Here you go. Tried reflowing with hot air and lots of flux, no change unfortunately. Might be the BGA main IC then, but I’m probably not going to go through reflowing that. VGA and other analog inputs are fine so it’s likely going to end up with something connected to those.
Had a look inside the LIPS TV (really an elderly LG) that broke down recently. Not much I can do, I’m afraid. Measured some of the birdseed components (all good), the ICs are likely acting up. The only thing wrong with it is the HDMI inputs not working, so it might be the HDMI switcher chip?
August 19, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Had a look inside the LIPS TV (really an elderly LG) that broke down recently. Not much I can do, I’m afraid. Measured some of the birdseed components (all good), the ICs are likely acting up. The only thing wrong with it is the HDMI inputs not working, so it might be the HDMI switcher chip?
Didn’t get much else done today, but I successfully modded and updated my (outdated) #OSSC. #InTheLabDoingStuff
August 10, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Didn’t get much else done today, but I successfully modded and updated my (outdated) #OSSC. #InTheLabDoingStuff
I finally managed to repair my Amiga600’s disk drive today! Gave it a good clean and checked the alignment, too. I can play Turrican from disk again! Video coming soon. #Amiga #Commodore #Repair #RetroComputing #VintageComputing
August 3, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I finally managed to repair my Amiga600’s disk drive today! Gave it a good clean and checked the alignment, too. I can play Turrican from disk again! Video coming soon. #Amiga #Commodore #Repair #RetroComputing #VintageComputing
Started filming a repair video about this #NAD 7020e receiver from the 80‘s today, only to find out that it worked like a charm after some cleaning. Sounds really sweet (same circuit as the NAD 3020, afaik). Maybe the video is going to end up as a bonus episode for supporters, I guess. 😅
August 2, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Started filming a repair video about this #NAD 7020e receiver from the 80‘s today, only to find out that it worked like a charm after some cleaning. Sounds really sweet (same circuit as the NAD 3020, afaik). Maybe the video is going to end up as a bonus episode for supporters, I guess. 😅
The new #Commodore's acquisition of Commodore Corporation B.V. is complete, it seems. Got the official press release email yesterday. #WeAreCommodore #AreWeCommodore
August 1, 2025 at 11:39 AM
The new #Commodore's acquisition of Commodore Corporation B.V. is complete, it seems. Got the official press release email yesterday. #WeAreCommodore #AreWeCommodore
Joining the #SolderingTweezers club with this ~12€ model. Not sure if they are going to help with SMD desoldering or if I’m going to burn the lab down with them. 😅
July 31, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Joining the #SolderingTweezers club with this ~12€ model. Not sure if they are going to help with SMD desoldering or if I’m going to burn the lab down with them. 😅
My beloved old LIPS TV kicked the bucket. Well, the analog inputs still work (but the lag is even worse than with the cheapo upscaler I‘ve been using). All HDMI inputs just show "No Signal" with all cables/sources I tried. Trash-picked Samsung to the rescue until I find something better. Farewell! 🫡
July 29, 2025 at 4:58 PM
My beloved old LIPS TV kicked the bucket. Well, the analog inputs still work (but the lag is even worse than with the cheapo upscaler I‘ve been using). All HDMI inputs just show "No Signal" with all cables/sources I tried. Trash-picked Samsung to the rescue until I find something better. Farewell! 🫡
A viewer sent me an email, asking me to look over a schematic for an autofire circuit that he had a generative AI create for him.
This is the circuit he sent me.
It doesn’t make any sense.
I sent him a circuit that works from an old magazine I used before.
Don’t fricking trust AI with anything.
This is the circuit he sent me.
It doesn’t make any sense.
I sent him a circuit that works from an old magazine I used before.
Don’t fricking trust AI with anything.
July 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
A viewer sent me an email, asking me to look over a schematic for an autofire circuit that he had a generative AI create for him.
This is the circuit he sent me.
It doesn’t make any sense.
I sent him a circuit that works from an old magazine I used before.
Don’t fricking trust AI with anything.
This is the circuit he sent me.
It doesn’t make any sense.
I sent him a circuit that works from an old magazine I used before.
Don’t fricking trust AI with anything.
Spent the better part of the day figuring out why the VIC-20 Diagnostics Cart I used in the last video didn’t work correctly. Multiple little things, actually. Now it does work beautifully and is switchable between the NTSC and the PAL version of the Diag. Phew. #Commodore #VIC20 #VC20 #Diagnostic
July 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Spent the better part of the day figuring out why the VIC-20 Diagnostics Cart I used in the last video didn’t work correctly. Multiple little things, actually. Now it does work beautifully and is switchable between the NTSC and the PAL version of the Diag. Phew. #Commodore #VIC20 #VC20 #Diagnostic