A new Robot?

Scally · Post by **Scally** » Tue Aug 01, 2017 9:37 pm

The Square Off Chess Computer has now been put back to September, no email update this time, just a reply to my query on their Facebook page:

Alan 'Scally' Cooper: Hi, what’s the latest on delivery? I had an update at the end of June stating August, we haven’t had a July update? Thanks, Al.

Square Off: Hi Alan,
Your Square Off board is going through some upgrades and hence there is a delay. We expect to start shipping in September'17.

Cheers,

Al.

Scally · Post by **Scally** » Mon Sep 11, 2017 6:19 pm

Hi all,

I just got update number 17, delivery is now expected in December!

Cheers,

Al

blaubaer · Post by **blaubaer** » Tue Sep 12, 2017 12:46 am

Hi Al,

the timetable looks promising....

Picochess engine compiling regards, Michael

Scally · Post by **Scally** » Tue Sep 12, 2017 7:00 am

blaubaer wrote:Hi Al,

the timetable looks promising....

Picochess engine compiling regards, Michael

Hi Michael,

Yes let's hope there are no more hold ups, it would be a nice Christmas present.

(I hadn't made the PicoChess connection, I'm glad you have. I think I'll put the basics on there and email you the technical stuff if you like, plus a copy of my armv7lAl folder?)

Cheers,

Al

Bryan Whitby · Post by **Bryan Whitby** » Tue Sep 12, 2017 7:44 am

Hi Al

I think it's time for them to contact Ron Nelson for help 😃

Phantom regards
Bryan

Scally · Post by **Scally** » Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:10 am

Chessmaster Ireland wrote:Hi Al

I think it's time for them to contact Ron Nelson for help 😃

Phantom regards
Bryan

Hi Bryan,

Yes I'd love a Phantom but guess they wouldn't last long now.

I've seen a few on eBay but they're too expensive for a gamble.

Cheers,

Al

Bryan Whitby · Post by **Bryan Whitby** » Tue Sep 12, 2017 9:55 am

Hi Al

There seems to be a few always on eBay USA but very limited here in Europe.

I have two, one works 100% but the other packed in. Berger has offered to repair it but until the working one packs in, then I will probably get him to have a look at it.

Regards from Cheshire
Bryan

blaubaer · Post by **blaubaer** » Tue Sep 12, 2017 3:46 pm

Hi Al,

Scally wrote:
blaubaer wrote:Hi Al,

the timetable looks promising....

Picochess engine compiling regards, Michael
Hi Michael,

Yes let's hope there are no more hold ups, it would be a nice Christmas present.

(I hadn't made the PicoChess connection, I'm glad you have. I think I'll put the basics on there and email you the technical stuff if you like, plus a copy of my armv7lAl folder?)

It was easier for me to make the connection, because I knew that you are busy with Picochess testing...

Email plus folder copy would be nice!

I appreciate your help!

Regards, Michael

Scally · Post by **Scally** » Tue Sep 12, 2017 5:29 pm

Chessmaster Ireland wrote:Hi Al

There seems to be a few always on eBay USA but very limited here in Europe.

I have two, one works 100% but the other packed in. Berger has offered to repair it but until the working one packs in, then I will probably get him to have a look at it.

Regards from Cheshire
Bryan

Hi Bryan,

I found one on another 'selling site' it was on for £65,
My offer of £50 was accepted. Not sure about the site,
However I took a chance. Will let you know if it arrives ...

Cheers,

Al

Scally · Post by **Scally** » Tue Sep 12, 2017 5:32 pm

Email plus folder copy would be nice! I appreciate your help!

Regards, Michael

Hi Michael,

You'll have it by Thursday evening, if not before.

Cheers,

Al

Scally · Post by **Scally** » Fri Sep 15, 2017 5:38 pm

Hi Bryan,

My Phantom Force arrived today from another selling site. It looks in good condition, and powers up correctly announcing in English.

However I’ve tried setting the pieces in their start position or at the sides, I can hear the mechanism whirring away, but the pieces either slightly wiggle or jump and land on their sides sticking to other pieces. I’ve tried the reset button ....

Any ideas?

Cheers,

Al.

Post by **Steve B** » Fri Sep 15, 2017 6:25 pm

Hi Al

make sure you have the proper pieces
sometimes sellers will just toss in any small magnetic chess set and that will not cut it with a Robot

the pieces should look EXACTLY as they do on the box:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@ ... 922174592/

May The Force Be With You Regards
Steve

Scally · Post by **Scally** » Fri Sep 15, 2017 6:34 pm

Hi Steve,

I’d already emailed the seller who naturally said it was fully working before he sent me it. However I’d already noticed that on the box the pieces look metal or plastic and are white and black, mine are beige and brown wooden pieces with felt bottoms and look like Chess Challenger pieces.

Is it possible for you you to show me the underneath of a piece, I’m thinking that maybe Saitek pieces may work?

Cheers,

Al.

Post by **Steve B** » Fri Sep 15, 2017 6:41 pm

Scally wrote:Hi Steve,

I’d already emailed the seller who naturally said it was fully working before he sent me it. However I’d already noticed that on the box the pieces look metal or plastic and are white and black, mine are beige and brown wooden pieces with felt bottoms and look like Chess Challenger pieces.

Is it possible for you you to show me the underneath of a piece, I’m thinking that maybe Saitek pieces may work?

Cheers,

Al.

those are definitely NOT the correct pieces
no way the seller was able to play a game with wooden chess challenger pieces with felt bottoms

the correct pieces have the magnet exposed on the bottom of the piece with no felt covering
cant post a photo at the moment
to be honest Al ..the Phantom is a commonly found computer
they appear on Ebay quite often (with the proper pieces)
unless you paid a large sum of money I would keep this Robot as a spare backup and go buy another one on Ebay

Bite The Bullet Regards
Steve

Bryan Whitby · Post by **Bryan Whitby** » Fri Sep 15, 2017 6:47 pm

Hi Al

Switch on without the pieces on the board and press new game and let the Phantom groan away while it thinks it's resetting the pieces.
After it stops and awaits your first move now place the pieces on their start position and make a move.

What happens, does the Phantom piece just wiggle or jump?
If it just wiggles the electromagnet isn't making enough contact with the magnet in the base of the piece. As for the piece jumping and falling over, it sounds like the piece magnet is in reversed polarity??

Very strange, try putting another magnet under the piece that just wiggles and see if by making the magnet stronger it might make it move.

Regards
Bryan