do you really need the metal shield?

dirkies · 17 August 2016, 14:08

I was wondering for my A500s and my A1200, is there any need to keep the damn shield in place? Or can I just toss them out?
(for the A1200, I use an SSD so the mounting of a HDD is not a problem as such)

I know there was talk about 80s radio interference but I wonder if this still makes any sense in 2016.

Thanks for enlightening me

ajk · 17 August 2016, 14:21

No, you do not need them.

eXeler0 · 17 August 2016, 14:25

Maybe the RF modulator itself, but for the rest, I havent noticed any difference with the shield off.

That being said, it is also acting as a physical shield preventing you to accidently touch the chips and destroy them with static electricity, so with the shield off, you need to be a bit more careful when poking around.

Daedalus · 17 August 2016, 14:28

Only if you're trying to pass 80s- and 90s-era FCC rules

But the point about protection is a good one, it's easier to damage something on the board when it's bare like that. But once you're careful when working inside the machine and secure everything properly (drives, clockport-connected expansions etc.), it'll be fine.

dirkies · 17 August 2016, 14:31

yeah, I know the danger of invisible static, no probs.
So time to get rid of them then!

ps: the RF modulator in the A1200 was already removed to make place for a USB port

Amiga1992 · 17 August 2016, 16:03

The RF shield as far as I understand is not to shield the Amiga from RF nterference affecting it, rather to protect OTHeR things from the Amiga interfering with them.

In any case, it's useless, it's always been, and there just by regulation. German units didn't come with it for example.

KONEY · 17 August 2016, 16:44

I got rid of it 20 years ago and I'm still alive and kicking

happymondays · 17 August 2016, 22:41

I did just the same 22 years ago with my A1200 and no problems so far. I don't even know where it is (I mean the shield).

dirkies · 17 August 2016, 22:42

Sounds convincing

Michael Sykes · 17 August 2016, 22:47

I got a 3.5 inch harddrive in '97 and the tech guy who installed it took a good chunk out of the shield so the drive would fit in there. I got rid of the remaining parts a few years later. I think the airflow in the case is better now...

dirkies · 17 August 2016, 22:51

Thanks for all the feedback, unlike Star Trek, shields will be gone over here!

Pyromania · 18 August 2016, 03:30

Shields down Captain!

paul1981 · 22 August 2016, 12:44

Coffee and Coke shield. I'd keep it installed if possible, unless it needs to be removed to accommodate extra hardware.

I'd never throw away Amiga parts anyway, I like things complete and original.

eXeler0 · 22 August 2016, 16:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul1981

Coffee and Coke shield. I'd keep it installed if possible, unless it needs to be removed to accommodate extra hardware.

I'd never throw away Amiga parts anyway, I like things complete and original.

One of my many projects is to create and 3d print a custom cover where stuff like CF cards, cables and stuff can sit nicely and at the same time providing some level of protection from physical abuse ;-)

Skickat från min HTC One via Tapatalk

Cobe · 22 August 2016, 19:24

Only CD32 shielding is mandatory.

Amiga1992 · 23 August 2016, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobe

Only CD32 shielding is mandatory.

Why?

Cobe · 23 August 2016, 17:16

Before I was opening my cd32 I read about it before. My cd32 that reads all cd-rs, without shielding didn't want to read anything. Actually motor was hardly spinning, if it was spinning at all I don't remember exactly. I'm not into electronics but to me it looked like that shielding has to have contact with cd motor maybe it gives ground or something like that.

bebek · 23 August 2016, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobe

Before I was opening my cd32 I read about it before. My cd32 that reads all cd-rs, without shielding didn't want to read anything. Actually motor was hardly spinning, if it was spinning at all I don't remember exactly. I'm not into electronics but to me it looked like that shielding has to have contact with cd motor maybe it gives ground or something like that.

Mhmm, when I am testing CD drive with CD32 I keep it in my hand and it does not touch anything. Still works fine.

Toni Wilen · 24 August 2016, 11:27

Same here, if metal shield was removed and CD mechanism was put back in normal location (not moved 10cm+ away from main circuit board), CD mechanism become really unreliable.

Sandro · 24 August 2016, 11:46

the static electricity where you can damage a chip is a urban myth

the shield is for RF interference, fact is that commodore exaggerated a lot specially on the A500 armored like a tank
I remember the A501 expansion was totally armored as if that small expansion produce huge amounts of emissions

17 August 2016, 14:08	#1
dirkies Zone Friend Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Belgium Age: 51 Posts: 1,296	do you really need the metal shield? I was wondering for my A500s and my A1200, is there any need to keep the damn shield in place? Or can I just toss them out? (for the A1200, I use an SSD so the mounting of a HDD is not a problem as such) I know there was talk about 80s radio interference but I wonder if this still makes any sense in 2016. Thanks for enlightening me

17 August 2016, 14:25	#3
eXeler0 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Sweden Age: 50 Posts: 2,951	Maybe the RF modulator itself, but for the rest, I havent noticed any difference with the shield off. That being said, it is also acting as a physical shield preventing you to accidently touch the chips and destroy them with static electricity, so with the shield off, you need to be a bit more careful when poking around. Last edited by prowler; 17 August 2016 at 22:06. Reason: Direct signature not allowed.

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17 August 2016, 14:21	#2
ajk Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 1,341	No, you do not need them.

17 August 2016, 14:28	#4
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,343	Only if you're trying to pass 80s- and 90s-era FCC rules But the point about protection is a good one, it's easier to damage something on the board when it's bare like that. But once you're careful when working inside the machine and secure everything properly (drives, clockport-connected expansions etc.), it'll be fine.

17 August 2016, 14:31	#5
dirkies Zone Friend Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Belgium Age: 51 Posts: 1,296	yeah, I know the danger of invisible static, no probs. So time to get rid of them then! ps: the RF modulator in the A1200 was already removed to make place for a USB port

17 August 2016, 16:03	#6
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	The RF shield as far as I understand is not to shield the Amiga from RF nterference affecting it, rather to protect OTHeR things from the Amiga interfering with them. In any case, it's useless, it's always been, and there just by regulation. German units didn't come with it for example.

17 August 2016, 16:44	#7
KONEY OctaMED Music Composer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Venice - Italy Age: 49 Posts: 667	I got rid of it 20 years ago and I'm still alive and kicking

17 August 2016, 22:41	#8
happymondays Registered User Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Szeged Posts: 219	I did just the same 22 years ago with my A1200 and no problems so far. I don't even know where it is (I mean the shield).

17 August 2016, 22:42	#9
dirkies Zone Friend Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Belgium Age: 51 Posts: 1,296	Sounds convincing

17 August 2016, 22:47	#10
Michael Sykes WinUAE end user Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Bremen Age: 44 Posts: 649	I got a 3.5 inch harddrive in '97 and the tech guy who installed it took a good chunk out of the shield so the drive would fit in there. I got rid of the remaining parts a few years later. I think the airflow in the case is better now...

17 August 2016, 22:51	#11
dirkies Zone Friend Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Belgium Age: 51 Posts: 1,296	Thanks for all the feedback, unlike Star Trek, shields will be gone over here!

18 August 2016, 03:30	#12
Pyromania Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 3,375	Shields down Captain!

22 August 2016, 12:44	#13
paul1981 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: England Posts: 419	Coffee and Coke shield. I'd keep it installed if possible, unless it needs to be removed to accommodate extra hardware. I'd never throw away Amiga parts anyway, I like things complete and original.

22 August 2016, 19:24	#15
Cobe Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Belgrade / Serbia Age: 41 Posts: 1,004	Only CD32 shielding is mandatory.

23 August 2016, 17:16	#17
Cobe Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Belgrade / Serbia Age: 41 Posts: 1,004	Before I was opening my cd32 I read about it before. My cd32 that reads all cd-rs, without shielding didn't want to read anything. Actually motor was hardly spinning, if it was spinning at all I don't remember exactly. I'm not into electronics but to me it looked like that shielding has to have contact with cd motor maybe it gives ground or something like that.

24 August 2016, 11:27	#19
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,513	Same here, if metal shield was removed and CD mechanism was put back in normal location (not moved 10cm+ away from main circuit board), CD mechanism become really unreliable.

24 August 2016, 11:46	#20
Sandro Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: spain Posts: 897	the static electricity where you can damage a chip is a urban myth the shield is for RF interference, fact is that commodore exaggerated a lot specially on the A500 armored like a tank I remember the A501 expansion was totally armored as if that small expansion produce huge amounts of emissions

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