On Robots

[Steve B]

Thats it Fern
muck around in my misery
i dont care..these things dont bother me at all

Taking the gas pipe Regards
Steve

[sje]

Some dedicated units are unfortunately rather susceptible to immediate, permanent failure when connected to an incompatible power adaptor. My first Novag Super VIP failed with a fried transistor in the voltage regulator circuit when the unit was connected to a wall wart adaptor that had the right DC voltage but the wrong polarity.

Nowadays, I check an adapter first with my oscilloscope. This has helped diagnose some problems including a dead charging adaptor for a friend's cell phone.

[Steve B]

Some dedicated units are unfortunately rather susceptible to immediate, permanent failure when connected to an incompatible power adaptor. My first Novag Super VIP failed with a fried transistor in the voltage regulator circuit when the unit was connected to a wall wart adaptor that had the right DC voltage but the wrong polarity.

Nowadays, I check an adapter first with my oscilloscope. This has helped diagnose some problems including a dead charging adaptor for a friend's cell phone.

its interesting
when i do get the right adaptor from Novag and if the computer still does not work .. i can claim it was their erroneous adaptor in the first place that caused the problem
when i received the computer there was no warning about an incorrect adaptor
i plugged it in and nada
so i called the seller and only then was informed not to use it and another was going to be sent to me
if it still wont work after the right adaptor arrives i will probably just buy another one from a different seller and not deal with this seller again
personally its just not worth the time or effort for me to send this one back for the refund
what bothers me the most is i had some free time this 4 day weekend and i wanted to play some games with it against the Excalibur Phantom force and also to compare it to the Star Beryl
now i cant and that ticks me off more then the money
Time is Money Regards
Steve

[sje]

If the seller sent the wrong adaptor or an incorrectly configured adaptor, then they should do something to make things right.

There are international standards for labeling both adaptors and the devices that use them. These standards indicate voltage, maximum current, polarity (if DC), and AC/DC output mode. Unfortunately, it's often the case that slave labor countries tend to omit some of these labels in their products.

If you don't have an oscilloscope, a decent AC/DC digital voltmeter can help diagnose problems. It may not fix things, but at least it's better than not knowing what's failing.

[fern]

You will do well with purchasing another one as much I already informed the first seller you had used 234 different trasnformers and so it was clearly your fault.
They will duly inform about this to other sellers to put you in a black list.
Nevertheless, for a moderate amount I could do the operation for you.

100 bucks would be enough regards
fern

[Steve B]

You will do well with purchasing another one

i think i will take a drive to ICD's Store today
i am not far from it
an unannounced surprise visit
will probably pick up another 2Robot but i really want to see if Steve is really in retirement or just in hiding in his store

oh and it is..

315 Adaptors Regards
Steve

[Steve B]

OK
went to ICD(our sponser) and picked up another Robot(Pun Intended)

First game of a three game match pitting the only two chess playing Robots released for sale in the 21st Century

not a pretty affair
the 2Robot loses the exchange for no reason with a blunder at move 23
the Phantom Force wipes the board with the 2Robot after that:

[Event "Chess Robot Match Of The Century"]
[Date "2008.11.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Novag 2 Robot "]
[Black "Excalibur Phantom Force"]
[Time Control "1 Minute Per Move"]
[Result "0-1"]

1.f4 d5 2.e3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bd7 5.Bb5 Nb4 6.O-O Bxb5 7.Nxb5 e6 8.a3 Nc6 9.Re1 Be7 10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.fxe5 Nd7 12.d4 O-O 13.Bd2 a6 14.Nc3 Nb6 15.e4 Nc4 16.exd5 Nxd2 17.Qxd2 exd5 18.Qe2 Kh8 19.Qf3 c6 20.Rad1 f6 21.Qh5 fxe5 22.Qxe5 Bf6 23.Qf4 Bh4 24.Qd2 Bxe1 25.Rxe1 Qf6 26.Qe3 Qf7 27.Qe2 Rae8 28.Qd2 Qf4 29.Qxf4 Rxe1+ 30.Kf2 Rxf4+ 31.Kxe1 Rxd4 32.b4 Kg8 33.h3 Kf7 34.Ke2 Kf6 35.g3 Ke5 36.g4 h5 37.gxh5 Rh4 38.Nd1 Rxh3 39.c4 dxc4 40.Ne3 c3 41.a4 Rxh5 42.Kd3 Rh3 43.Ke2 g5 44.a5 Ke4 45.Ng4 c2 46.Nf2+ Kd4 47.Kd2 Rh2 48.Kxc2 Rxf2+

FINAL POSITION
[d] 8/1p6/p1p5/P5p1/1P1k4/8/2K2r2/8 w - - 0 49
i resigned for the 2Robot here...

Its Hopeless Regards
Steve

[fern]

So, my dear steve, you do not only ruined a computer, but then you bought another AND then you realized it has a shity program.
What next?
You need urgently some spiritual advise, otherwise you will purchase for one thousands bucks a CC7 and then try to put it to work submerged in the loo.
May I suggest you to put some of your better contrivances under my care?
In fact I am asking to a court in NYC a warrant of protection for your stuff.

Policemen heavily armed are already going to your home regards
fern

[Steve B]

It was worth the trip to ICD just to see good old Steve
he gave me a huge greeting..showed me around the store ..personally poured me a cup of hot coffee and even bought me lunch for old times sake
we reminisced for hours on end about the old chess computers and he thanked me for being his oldest and most loyal customer for over 20+ years
we even talked of the fateful night when the two of you decided to create the CTF
yes.. it was well worth the money alone.. to be able to see good ol Steve S again

He was no where in sight regards
Steve

[Steve B]

Game two of the Clash of the Robots..

Was a sordid affair with the 2Robot as black defending first with the Caro ..transposing into a Pirc and then going on to lose the exchange yet again..this time by move 16..
i let the Phantom play this one out to mate(it announced a mate in three at move 56)

[Event "Chess Robot Match of the Century"]
[Date "2008.11.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Excalibur Phantom Force"]
[Black "Novag 2Robot"]
[Time Control "1 Min. Per Move"]
[Result "1-0"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.O-O b5 7.Be2
Nbd7 8.d5 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Qc7 10.dxc6 Ne5 11.Nxb5 Qxc6 12.Nc3 Bg7 13.Be2 O-O 14.Nd5 Rae8 15.a4 Nxe4 16.Bb5 Qc8 17.Re1 e6
18.Bxe8 exd5 19.Bb5 Qc5 20.Be3 Qc7 21.Qxd5 Nf6 22.Qd1 Rc8 23.c3 Qe7 24.Bf4 Qc7 25.a5 Qe7 26.a6 Qe6 27.Be3 Rb8 28.Ra5 Qe7 29.Qd4 Qd8 30.Qxa7 Nd5 31.Bd4 Rc8 32.Ra4 Rc7 33.Bb6 Rxa7 34.Bxd8 Ra8 35.a7 f5 36.Rd1 Bf6 37.Ba5 Rxa7 38.Rxd5 Rb7 39.Bb4 Nf7 40.Ra8+ Kg7 41.g3 h5 42.Kg2 Rb6 43.Ra7 Kg8 44.Bc4 Rc6 45.Bb3 Be5 46.Rxf7 Kxf7 47.Rxd6+ Kg7 48.Rxc6 g5 49.Bc2 f4 50.Rg6+ Kf7 51.Rxg5 Bc7 52.Rxh5 Ke6 53.Rh6+ Kd5 54.g4 Ke5 55.c4 Kd4 56.Rc6 Ba5 57.Bxa5 f3+ 58.Kxf3 Ke5 59.Bc3# 1-0

FINAL POSITION
[d] 8/8/2R5/4k3/2P3P1/2B2K2/1PB2P1P/8 b - - 0 59


Massacre Regards
Steve