Great video, it brings back so many memories! During my undergraduate (>20 yrs ago!) I used an identical Tektronix 2445. One of our assignments was to make a videogame on a 68k training board and have it rendered on the scope. The real purpose was to learn how to use ACIAs but many of us got carried away. I made a version of Block Out (3D Tetris) which didn't implement hidden line removal, thus was nearly impossible to play once you had stacked up more than a couple of layers; it was however quite pleasant to see. I recall having to be specially mindful of the timing and computing the number of times to redraw an edge according to its projected length on screen, so that the pieces at the bottom of the stack wouldn't be exceedingly bright in comparison to those on higher levels. The experience definitely gave me an appreciation for vector graphics arcades.
Thank you for the video..... Nice to see young techs learning about analog scopes. Please turn down the CRT brightness so not to burn spot on your CRT screen.
Hehe the video is fun. Glad you Tek 2445 is working as mine has issues with the attenuators which I recently tried (and failed) to fix. It's so awesome that vectrex replica exists!
Look at those gorgeous green vector graphics! Thanks for putting this together and sharing. Veronica Explains recommended you a few days ago, and I have been burning through your backlog ever since!
The thingy that looks like a "C" is from Star Castle, the inspiration for the best game ever, in the whole world ever, bar none to come out on the Atari 2600 --- "Yars' Revenge". Nice build and scope btw
I failed to buy a Vectrex when they were new despite my ability to do so so many years (decades) later I bought one and I love it. I'm glad you were able to get that all working.
Subscribing! I love the laid-back approach with you all look like you are having fun! I have a scoptrex board I want to build, so this is so useful! I will be using a vectorscope with is different from an oscilloscope in that is uses an electrostatic CRT. This is supposed to give a much higher refresh rate.
I enjoyed this episode so much! I love how you wait for the video to see if it all works, I do the same thing! Hahaha. You're story was amazing, I can't imagine how much time you spent on this. Happy to see it mostly working! That moment though when you both saw it fire up, that was priceless. Well done ladies! Rocking it
I wonder why you didn't go with the UDOO RYZEN Bolt V1000 Maker Board SBC and use Machine code and would have the required speed to make the SCOPETREX programming a breeze.
glad to see you got the oscilloscope working! the 2445 is hard to use and for other folks watching i'd recommend something like a Tek 465 instead. for the cart problem: maybe there's an issue with the edge connector. not much else to go wrong there.
Can't quite tell, but the "Starship Enterprise" on the motherboard looks to be one of the two ships from 1977's Cinematronics vector game Space Wars (itself based on the PDP version from 15 years earlier), that charged a quarter for every 1:30 of play (and I spent *way* too much on it way back). I know it was ported to the Vectrex in 1982 and aside from added music, was pretty close to the arcade from what I remember. As others have mentioned, the nested hexagonal shapes is from Star Castle (also by Cinematronics in the arcade (1980) and on the Vectrex in 1983), another favourite of mine from back in the arcade days. The sheer excitement and joy the two of you exuded when it worked (after getting a second oscilloscope) was worth the video! P.S. Loved the guitar chord shirt in the key of D... and the mini Marshall stack. :)
Space Wars was one of my favorites. You could crank up the gravity from the center star and then it was survival mode instead of hunt mode. My brothers and I played that game A LOT!
I vote for stacking good scopes on top of bad scopes. It fits with the nostalgia of the channel- a throwback to when we'd put our new TV on top of the dead console TV. 🤣
Hiya Taylor and Amy. Just happen to be up at 6am here in Ireland and your new upload drops, or ups? 🤔 Anyways, very interesting and much kudos to committing to getting the Scopetrex up and running after all the set backs. Looks very cool, especially when the lights got turned down and I think Amy nailed the swirly pattern on the board as l think that might be something like Star Castle as already mentioned in the comments. Great video ladies ☺️👍🏼
Very cool! I've heard of this project, but I don't have an analog scope, so it seemed out of reach. I'm still feeling like I can't justify the cost, but it does look so fun!
Normally you can control left/right rotation with the joystick instead of spinning around on the spot continuously. And there's another button that thrusts like in Asteroids. I'm impressed you finished a level without either of those :)
Could be that one of the adjustment pots on the controller is maxed out, causing a direction to be stuck on. You have left, right rotate on the joystick and thrust, fire and hyper space on the buttons
Loved the video, as always… I imagine the hiccups you had along the way with parts scarcity, dodgy parts and failing 'scopes would’ve driven me (more) mad! Hopefully the end product is worth it! It certainly looked like it!
Finally got time to watch…. The unknown logo: I’m certain I’m wrong, but it looks like Omni Consumer Products, maker of RoboCop. Blowing up the first oscilloscope: it looked (watching once) like you powered the test board, then the scope. Always turn on the test equipment first, then the unit under test. Stacked scopes: I was hoping the video would turn into troubleshooting the first scope with the second. Maybe that is next week’s video??
I'm still amazed that the original Vectrex controller anticipated the left analog stick standard. We're so used to it today, but back then it was just weird.
I had a Vectrex back in the day, such a fun little thing. I could reach the last level of Mine Storm, but it defeated me, it was just too crazy. Oscillotrex seems to have become your White Whale/nemesis.
Great video! Now I'm inspired to build one myself! I really want to use IC Component Sockets for all of the Chips. I noticed you have yours socketed, would you by chance have the part numbers for the ones you used? That would save me a bunch of time!
Ocelot-scopes sure are intimidating looking. The basic idea seems simple enough, but then why are there a zillion different knobs and buttons? I used them in school, but only for some really simple stuff ... never did learn how to properly use them for real.
@@fractalMD Can I just say to both you and @IBM_Museum, it it were not for VCF South panel everyone was one I would never have bumped into the Taylor and Amy channel. And that fact you made contact with Eric S. is even better. I've marveled at Eric's segments on the curiousMarc channel using his "magic finger" as Marc calls it, to fix dodgy chips on an old IBM PS2 Mod. 50 motherboard. This is a great community, and I'm glad you're all in the "thick of it" so to speak. Keep on scoping, building and modding All the Thingz.
Hey Amy and Taylor. Would you accept a nice and simple electronics kit to put together? If they simple 48 flashing LED grid controlled by an 6502 processor. I can send it to your address for free. I'd love to hear your opinion on it.
I'm not sure which is more off-the-wall:the lengths these goofy, genial Gen-X geeks went to use that Vectrex reconstruction, or the fact that a Vectrex reconstruction exists, given the challenges of vector-scan graphics.
It's from Star Castle, which is like Asteroids meets Yars' Revenge. Yars' Revenge actually started as an adaptation of Star Castle, but it was then reworked to better suit the Atari 2600's strengths.
Did my comment get deleted? Looks like you have a problem with your controller. Your ship isn't supposed to spin endlessly like that on Minestorm. You probably have one of the controller trim pots all the way on fully.
You guys are so entertaining.
Hooray!
Great video, it brings back so many memories!
During my undergraduate (>20 yrs ago!) I used an identical Tektronix 2445. One of our assignments was to make a videogame on a 68k training board and have it rendered on the scope. The real purpose was to learn how to use ACIAs but many of us got carried away. I made a version of Block Out (3D Tetris) which didn't implement hidden line removal, thus was nearly impossible to play once you had stacked up more than a couple of layers; it was however quite pleasant to see. I recall having to be specially mindful of the timing and computing the number of times to redraw an edge according to its projected length on screen, so that the pieces at the bottom of the stack wouldn't be exceedingly bright in comparison to those on higher levels. The experience definitely gave me an appreciation for vector graphics arcades.
I'll bet that looked really cool.
Thank you for the video..... Nice to see young techs learning about analog scopes. Please turn down the CRT brightness so not to burn spot on your CRT screen.
Hehe the video is fun. Glad you Tek 2445 is working as mine has issues with the attenuators which I recently tried (and failed) to fix. It's so awesome that vectrex replica exists!
Oh, we watched every second of your video while trying (and failing) to diagnose the first scope!
@@TaylorAmyShow I saw it sitting in the background! So busted huh? I never fully fixed the thing. Analog stuff is kind of magical
It did give the excuse to take it all apart.
Indeed, vectors for the win 👍
Hey, lovely project! And a nice Tek.
We love it!
I have to say that this is your finest frustration-filled vector-based episode ever. Oscilloscopy Forever!
FOREVER!!!!
That mysterious thingo is from Star Castle, another great Vectrex game :)
Yeah originally an arcade game by Cinematronics. ua-cam.com/video/qOFLaa3bmiU/v-deo.html
Robin! We love our Scopetrex so much!
If we can get the edge connector going we will SO PLAY THIS!!!
@@elyuwKewl.
These are so cool!
Right?!
Look at those gorgeous green vector graphics! Thanks for putting this together and sharing. Veronica Explains recommended you a few days ago, and I have been burning through your backlog ever since!
We absolutely love her. Welcome! 😄
Taylor. I love the way you make up your nails🎉. Now. Don't move the oscilloscope that hard!!!!😂'😂😂😂😂... soon there will be a third one❤
The thingy that looks like a "C" is from Star Castle, the inspiration for the best game ever, in the whole world ever, bar none to come out on the Atari 2600 --- "Yars' Revenge". Nice build and scope btw
Thanks, Peter! I knew we'd get all the low down on the greeblies from the hive mind.
Glad you got it working!
10 years later...... 😅
You guys are just a riot to watch 🙂
😄😄😄
Wow! fresh video, and I get to watch first! I feel sooo special! :)
Looks like Star Castle
Sloooooopy
Super cool! I did not know of this kit - another great modern retro project. Thanks for sharing it!
Scopetrexy goodness.
Awesome!
I have two of these scopes and now, maybe something really fun to do with at least one of them.🤔
Thank you for demonstrating this!
You totally should!
I failed to buy a Vectrex when they were new despite my ability to do so so many years (decades) later I bought one and I love it. I'm glad you were able to get that all working.
Eventually!
Subscribing! I love the laid-back approach with you all look like you are having fun! I have a scoptrex board I want to build, so this is so useful! I will be using a vectorscope with is different from an oscilloscope in that is uses an electrostatic CRT. This is supposed to give a much higher refresh rate.
It was realy fun to watch your video ladies! 😂
When we weren't crying we were laughing.
The dot surrounded by parts of circles is from Star Castle, an early space game.
Nice
Seriously, I always wanted a Vectrex and could never justify the expense. This is a very cool project!
All credit to Tube Time!
Quite simply awesome, oh and the scopetrex is pretty cool too.
Hooray!
I enjoyed this episode so much! I love how you wait for the video to see if it all works, I do the same thing! Hahaha. You're story was amazing, I can't imagine how much time you spent on this. Happy to see it mostly working! That moment though when you both saw it fire up, that was priceless. Well done ladies! Rocking it
SO HAPPY when it worked!!!!
I wonder why you didn't go with the UDOO RYZEN Bolt V1000 Maker Board SBC and use Machine code and would have the required speed to make the SCOPETREX programming a breeze.
glad to see you got the oscilloscope working! the 2445 is hard to use and for other folks watching i'd recommend something like a Tek 465 instead. for the cart problem: maybe there's an issue with the edge connector. not much else to go wrong there.
You are the true hero of this saga!
Can't quite tell, but the "Starship Enterprise" on the motherboard looks to be one of the two ships from 1977's Cinematronics vector game Space Wars (itself based on the PDP version from 15 years earlier), that charged a quarter for every 1:30 of play (and I spent *way* too much on it way back). I know it was ported to the Vectrex in 1982 and aside from added music, was pretty close to the arcade from what I remember. As others have mentioned, the nested hexagonal shapes is from Star Castle (also by Cinematronics in the arcade (1980) and on the Vectrex in 1983), another favourite of mine from back in the arcade days.
The sheer excitement and joy the two of you exuded when it worked (after getting a second oscilloscope) was worth the video!
P.S. Loved the guitar chord shirt in the key of D... and the mini Marshall stack. :)
LCB, you know literally everything! 😄😄😄
@@fractalMD - That's because I am **old**...
@@CurtisBoyle But.... same!
Space Wars was one of my favorites. You could crank up the gravity from the center star and then it was survival mode instead of hunt mode. My brothers and I played that game A LOT!
I vote for stacking good scopes on top of bad scopes. It fits with the nostalgia of the channel- a throwback to when we'd put our new TV on top of the dead console TV. 🤣
A total aesthetic!
Just awesome! Ultimate nerdiness. 🚀🎮
We love it!
Pure fun, self deprecating humor, great entertainment!!
Thx! 😊
I think my brain might explode … this was a lot of technology for my wee mind!! 😮❤
We will just z blank it!
Hiya Taylor and Amy. Just happen to be up at 6am here in Ireland and your new upload drops, or ups? 🤔 Anyways, very interesting and much kudos to committing to getting the Scopetrex up and running after all the set backs.
Looks very cool, especially when the lights got turned down and I think Amy nailed the swirly pattern on the board as l think that might be something like Star Castle as already mentioned in the comments. Great video ladies ☺️👍🏼
Man, you caught it like when as fresh as a daisy. What's the craic?
Someone did something similar at a place that has a lot of classified technology.
Very cool! I've heard of this project, but I don't have an analog scope, so it seemed out of reach. I'm still feeling like I can't justify the cost, but it does look so fun!
Not gonna lie, getting the right scope wasn't not a struggle. But if you stumble across one, totally go for it.
Normally you can control left/right rotation with the joystick instead of spinning around on the spot continuously. And there's another button that thrusts like in Asteroids. I'm impressed you finished a level without either of those :)
Could be that one of the adjustment pots on the controller is maxed out, causing a direction to be stuck on. You have left, right rotate on the joystick and thrust, fire and hyper space on the buttons
Hey Robin!
Yeah, you get to rotate by doing nothing. 🤣 We still have a few things to sort out.
Excellent video and build :)
Thank you!
Love this project. Maybe you can bring it to CoCoFest next year. Taylor’s comment “Can’t throw a football without hitting one” LMAO
Isn't it cool? We might have to get the ocelot its own seat on the plane.
Wow! I love Vectrex, so this is insane! Now we all need a proper oscilloscope ;) Wonder if my Rigol can deal with the inputs, I bet not.
Ben, it is worth a look to see. This is just THE COOLEST.
This was such an exciting episode- I ended up watching it twice! Super fun and super neat!
Hey! You are the sweetest. And can I again tell you the footage for the SECRET PROJECT was beyond delightful. ❤❤❤
@@fractalMD I very much enjoyed SECRET PROJECT and can't wait for you to share it. It's going to be epic!
Yes that Z Blanking is a very important feature on the O scope cool project
All the letters!
Yes All are important@@fractalMD
Quote of the video:
“How did that get behind it?”
“Oh just entropy.”
😂😂😂
Entropy. She can be a real mofo. 😅
Loved the video, as always… I imagine the hiccups you had along the way with parts scarcity, dodgy parts and failing 'scopes would’ve driven me (more) mad! Hopefully the end product is worth it! It certainly looked like it!
It was agony, cause we knew what the end product would be but just couldn't get there!
Looking forward to more oscilloscopy videos! I wonder how hard it would be to hack an old CRT monitor to display the vector image.🤔
If you do that, we want to know!
Finally got time to watch….
The unknown logo: I’m certain I’m wrong, but it looks like Omni Consumer Products, maker of RoboCop.
Blowing up the first oscilloscope: it looked (watching once) like you powered the test board, then the scope. Always turn on the test equipment first, then the unit under test.
Stacked scopes: I was hoping the video would turn into troubleshooting the first scope with the second. Maybe that is next week’s video??
Ugh. We tore the first one open and went all thru it. Could NOT figure out the problem. Maddening. 😢
I'm still amazed that the original Vectrex controller anticipated the left analog stick standard. We're so used to it today, but back then it was just weird.
You know. I hadn't thought about that. But that is so very very true.
I had a Vectrex back in the day, such a fun little thing. I could reach the last level of Mine Storm, but it defeated me, it was just too crazy. Oscillotrex seems to have become your White Whale/nemesis.
Let's try the Konami code!
You quite literally made me laugh my pants out with oscilloscopy!
Ocelot o scopy!
Awesome vid! Way to truck on through the issues and get it going. If not fixed before vcfmw bring it up and lets work on that edge connector!
Oooooh. Careful what you say!
@@fractalMD it'll be fun! Little table top surgery for the passers-by!
@@JamiesHackShack Give the ppl what they want!
adorkable!
So very!
"Mistakes were made," is going to be the epitaph on my gravestone.
They made themselves!
The mystery shape is from Star Castle - one of my fav Vectrex games.
We must play this at some point.
Great video, please make more Vectrex videos!
Thank you!!! 😊
I owned a vectrex for a week; the screen was wonky and needed returned to EBAY. Loved it though.
Bummer!!
It’s Odyssey of the Mind Redux.
Every day! ❤
That is too cool. I have an actual Vectrex and made up a cart to allow me to play whatever game I want using EPROMs.
Don't tell anyone, but we also have a (borrowed) Vectrex.
Great video! Now I'm inspired to build one myself! I really want to use IC Component Sockets for all of the Chips. I noticed you have yours socketed, would you by chance have the part numbers for the ones you used? That would save me a bunch of time!
I'll see if that information might be contained in The Lab.
Oof, apparently she bought a huge bag of them off Amazon a couple years ago.
Thanks anyway, that's not a bad idea. 😊
❤
❤
Love your videos, I had a vextrex.
Thank you! Vectrexessssxes are the kewlest.
Too bad they were not more popular..
@@chrissimpson1183 But seriously! I'd have a beowulf cluster of them about it.
Is that a Tempest game reference on the PCB? It was a vector game.
Yes!
You gals are something else. Marry me, 25 years ago.
Awe. Love it.
I have that same little Marshall amp, however mine is black. Very cool!
I freaking love it and its cuteness.
@@fractalMD Same. I've had mine since the late 1990s when I had a part time job at Guitar Center. \m/
The Taylor and Amy Oscilioscopi channel, now that's a niche and a half! 🤣
Vary vary specific
Ocelot-scopes sure are intimidating looking. The basic idea seems simple enough, but then why are there a zillion different knobs and buttons? I used them in school, but only for some really simple stuff ... never did learn how to properly use them for real.
I mean, knobs FOR DAYS.
Ooooooo!!!
It's David Ladd!
Eric is a very smart guy...
Just like you! We are getting really lucky surrounding ourselves with geniuses. We are not worthy.
@@fractalMD Can I just say to both you and @IBM_Museum, it it were not for VCF South panel everyone was one I would never have bumped into the Taylor and Amy channel. And that fact you made contact with Eric S. is even better. I've marveled at Eric's segments on the curiousMarc channel using his "magic finger" as Marc calls it, to fix dodgy chips on an old IBM PS2 Mod. 50 motherboard. This is a great community, and I'm glad you're all in the "thick of it" so to speak. Keep on scoping, building and modding All the Thingz.
Blanking the Zs sounds like something, but I don't know what exactly. Edit: I left out the word "naughty".
🤔
You have the brightness turned up too high. Brightness down, contrast up and focus to sharpen.
It's not really Z blanking unless it comes from the Zed region of France
yes, it's really just Sparkling Attenuation.
Taylor beat me to it!
And is HAS to be CRT... :)
Analog or bust.
Hey Amy and Taylor. Would you accept a nice and simple electronics kit to put together? If they simple 48 flashing LED grid controlled by an 6502 processor. I can send it to your address for free. I'd love to hear your opinion on it.
Sounds fun!
@@fractalMD great. I'll send you one this week.
@@CDE.Hacker wow, thanks!
I'm not sure which is more off-the-wall:the lengths these goofy, genial Gen-X geeks went to use that Vectrex reconstruction, or the fact that a Vectrex reconstruction exists, given the challenges of vector-scan graphics.
All of the above? 😅
Sorry about your first oscilloscope.
The oscilloscope is dead. Long live the oscilloscope!
2:26 Asteroids?
We need an official Easter egg list
It's from Star Castle, which is like Asteroids meets Yars' Revenge. Yars' Revenge actually started as an adaptation of Star Castle, but it was then reworked to better suit the Atari 2600's strengths.
@8_Bit We might have a song we are working on that references Yars Revenge.......😀
@@fractalMD We need more Yars' Revenge songs!! :)
@@8_Bit You're gonna love it!
I like this video. Its distracting the way she looks over there. :)
The scope. Yes. She is distracting.
Did my comment get deleted? Looks like you have a problem with your controller. Your ship isn't supposed to spin endlessly like that on Minestorm. You probably have one of the controller trim pots all the way on fully.
Oh yeah. That's is definitely happening. All the ppl on that ship are vomiting.
Is there a joke I am missing? Not really funny. An opportunity to inform and educate, LOST.