I'm looking for a AY-5-3600 Keyboard Encoder, not fussed about date ranges etc, just looking for the component for the right price. The cheapest on eBay at the moment is around $15 from some warehouse in China i.e. - I doubt it exists (going off personal experience here).
Any takers? I'll put up $20 for the chip including shipping to Australia.
Hello CWJ-Wilko,
Take a look here:
http://parts.electronic-components.com.au/?part=AY-5-3600+PRO
or at these and ask by phonecall:
http://www.altronics.com.au/storelocations/
or call here at phone listed below:
http://au.rs-online.com/web/zr/?searchTerm=AY-5-3600+PRO&ossc=Zero&relevancy-data=636F3D3426696E3D4931384E4272616E644D504E266C753D656E266D6D3D6D61746368616C6C7061727469616C26706D3D5E5B5C707B4C7D5C707B4E647D5C707B5A737D2D2C2F255C2E5D2B2426706F3D3526736E3D592673743D4B4559574F52445F4D554C54495F414C5048415F4E554D455249432673633D592677633D4E4F4E45267573743D41592D352D333630302050524F267374613D41592D352D333630302050524F26
bear in mind that most professional dealers have special terms with obsolete parts
and partners that store such chips....... so there is good chance to get the chip from such dealer
at reasonable price....
sincerely speedyG
See eBay item number:321114416979
Less than $10 each Australian delivered.
I've had no trouble getting parts from China to Oz.
Hello laurieboshell2004,
in general the problem is not the transportation when purchase is performed with China,
the problem is that about 30% to 40% of the chips are faked - meaaning that they have
been extracted from old PCB´s and in some cases even have been "relabeled wrong" .....
or they got damaged by heat while the extraction - and claim to be "new" is - if given from
dealer in HongKong or China as "reliable" like a promise from a dealer of used cars ......
Therefor it´s good habit to check before you order - that the ebay-seller is at least
for period of 4 to 5 years in business and has at least 95% positive feedback.....
otherwise there is a good chance that you will need to claim for the ebay buyer-protection....
speedyG
Hi speedyG,
You are 100% correct in the risks of purchasing from Asia.
Having said that, I've heard stories about fake stuff from Hong Kong,
but personally have only had good components arrive.
Perhaps I should have added that I checked the feedback of sales of those
chips in the last month. One buyer said 'Fantastic' another buyer stated
'Good working chip, fast delivery'.
Laurie
Both are good points. Mainland China and Hong Kong have both been very good at providing cheap parts in the past, but it's still a gamble as far as I am concerned. After my last experience I'll avoid buying from such warehouses wherever possible - three months of waiting and a difficult language barrier made me regret not paying 'full price' to buy NOS from the states or Europe.
For me personally, it's not worth the trouble anymore.
I'm actually thinking about whether it's cheaper in the long run just to buy an Apple //e logic board and scavenge it for parts when needed. It must only be a matter of time before other components start dying, especially after running it 24/7 last year when I had the BBS up.
Hello CWJ_Wilko,
agree with both points .....
just remind to third point:
cooling !
Most people just do not recognize how hazerdous high temperature is to PCB's
in the long term run.... causing faster "ageing".......
It's really important to keep systems running at temperatures above 5 degrees Celsius
and below 40 degrees Celsius ! That's really a lifesaver...
It's good habit to pay attention to basics of physics....
and just extending the previous posting:
( that is also valid to Australia.... )
Allthough some of the component dealers only deal with resellers in larger towns
of down under some of the local stores have an account with that large distributors
and can add such a device to their monthly order and avoid "punishment payment due to small order"
- the task is to call some of that large stores and ask if they use that source....
and once detecting such a store with account at large IC distributor to use that contact in future
on demand....
If i understood documentation films about down under well it's a common habit to meet up "after work"
with friends at a BBQ and a can of beer... that would be the chance to ask if someone has contact
to a company or engineer who cares about electronics in hospitals or government facilities and
sometimes faces the need to repair "obsolete electronic PCBs".... such a guy would be able to tell you
immediatly 2 or 3 stores that have contact with such a electronic distributor like Rochester electronics:
https://www.rocelec.com/
they have customers all around the world ordering obsolete IC's.....
You can even ask them by email for partners in down under....
Once you know such local partner that's your source for obsolete chips !
speedyG
That's some great info speedy. I would much prefer to buy locally through a distributor when possible.
Basic electronic parts are available at a chain store called Jaycar, which I understand is similar to Radio Shack from the 1980s. Lots of discrete components and you don't feel too ripped off when you leave from there.
In any case I ordered the encoder off the Chinese seller this morning, hope it eventually arrives and actually does what it says on the label. I'll look at getting an Apple //e logic board for cheap as well I think.