Gone 8 Bit ???

[Vipersan]

More good news ..
I finally got the binary dumps for the 2 bare cartridges I had in my collection ..
I knew the one with 2 eproms was a final cartridge III ..but in truth I wasn't sure what the other was ..?
Took a guess it was an Action Replay ....but what version ?
Turns out version 4.2 ...
Managed to extract the binary dumps from .CRT files used in PC emulator files used with VICE ..

Once extracted it was just a question of trial and error ..
..trouble is the 27C256 Eproms have to be erased using strong UV light between each programming attempt ..so it can be time consuming..
rgds
VS

 

[Channel Hopper]

..just made an offer on a VIC20 case (only) £10 delivered ..and it was immediately accepted..
I really must be mad ..
but I do have another board I repaired recently ..which is caseless..
So...I get to make another one

Full bundle here

Commodore Vic 20 | eBay

 

[Vipersan]

Full bundle here

Commodore Vic 20 | eBay

Yep ..
but not wanting more than a case ..in this case ...pardon the pun..
I already have 3 complete workers ...plus a board needing a case ..
rgds
btw ..
keep your eye on the bidding on that one CH ..
I'd be very surprised if it dont top 60 or 70 quid..
having said that ..vendor claims 'untested'..and that might put some folk off..

 

[Vipersan]

better bundle here ..
4 bidders and 4 days to run ..already at £32..
Vintage Commodore Vic 20 Bundle | eBay

 

[Channel Hopper]

Thanks but no, I had a go with machine code processing in the early 80's with a Motorola 6800, and apart from a small amount of dabbling on an Arduino in the past 12 months, I really don't think I need to do any more, not with Commodore equipment anyway.

Though I do have that Atari 1040 ST unit and monitor, yellowing and collecting dust/spiders in the shed.....

 

[Archive-8]

apart from a small amount of dabbling on an Arduino

Sorry to hijack the thread.

CH does that run the same os as the raspberry pi?

 

[Channel Hopper]

Sorry to hijack the thread.

CH does that run the same os as the raspberry pi?

I doubt it very much. For Pi you stick an existing operating system onto the device (I think, since you get one on an SD card), I have one, but never took it much further than updating the card and checking the video output.

With arduino you compile instructions from scratch, and write a simple programme that does what you need when you get things right.

There might be an operating system that is Arduino friendly though.

 

[Vipersan]

Just a quick update ..
the 'bundle' I linked to is now at £49 plus postage ..
Yes ..there is money in these old computers..
oh ..
..and I now have the C16 board working ...but sadly without an RF modulator ..
I borrowed one from a PLUS 4 pcb (identical) ..so I need to find a totally scrap c16 or plus 4 pcb just for the modulator..
cest la vie

 

[Channel Hopper]

Yep ..
but not wanting more than a case ..in this case ...pardon the pun..
I already have 3 complete workers ...plus a board needing a case ..
rgds
btw ..
keep your eye on the bidding on that one CH ..
I'd be very surprised if it dont top 60 or 70 quid..
having said that ..vendor claims 'untested'..and that might put some folk off..

Ahem

 

[Channel Hopper]

I doubt it very much. For Pi you stick an existing operating system onto the device (I think, since you get one on an SD card), I have one, but never took it much further than updating the card and checking the video output.

With arduino you compile instructions from scratch, and write a simple programme that does what you need when you get things right.

There might be an operating system that is Arduino friendly though.

Found this which seems to clarify things

Do microcontrollers have operating systems? • r/arduino

 

[Vipersan]

Been at this a couple of months now ..and still have a few to complete ..including another VIC20 ..and a C64 ..
..also an AppleII Europlus.
Pictured are the completed items ..
..and with the exception of a couple of VICs ..and the C16 ..they dont have power supplies ..
I use this one ...
Power Supply for Commodore 64 & 64C – Retro Game Supply
..but made my own leads to replace the short one for C64 only supplied as standard..
I have made a 1 mtr replacement which fits both VIC and C64 ..
and a 1 mtr lead with the odd square DIN as used by the Plus4.
I like this psu ..as it has overload protection ..so ..very useful when fixing breadbins commodores etc..
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

Resurrected another C64 pcb ....but..
after checking I had all the parts I needed but 1 for a rebuild.
The power plug escutcheon ..
what to do ?
Well ..I thought..I wonder if I could make one ..
After some rummaging in my scrap metal box ..I found some used right angled aluminium stair riser edging.
Not exact dimensions ..but close enough.
So ..set about with a hacksaw ..some files and the press drill..
4 hours later..
The result is in the photo ..
(I do love a bit of metalwork repurposing)
Not perfect but close enough I think.
I could spray it black ..but I actually quite like it silver.
what do you guys think ..madness or obsession..lol
rgds
VS

 

[Captain Jack]

what do you guys think ..madness or obsession..

Nothing wrong with either. Or both.

 

[Vipersan]

got another crazy idea in my head atm ..
The non commodore project.
I recently unearthed an AppleII Europlus ..which ..truth be told I had never seen running..
it was gifted to me broken over 20 years ago ...
and has sat in my loft all this time..
So ..after digging it out and cleaning I set about restoring it.
So far I've repaired the main board..and the floppy drive controller card..
..plus one of the floppy drives..
not sure about the other ..this may be beyond salvage.
none the less ..it now boots and gives a mono video output.
I managed to find a dos disk to boot ..but ..disaster ..
over 50% of the keyboard is non functional..and replacements are nigh on impossible to find.
I donned my thinking cap ..and tried to think my way around this dilemma.
I think I have a solution which may work.
I'll reconstruct the keyswitch contacts ..outside the switch body ..like superman wears his underpants on the outside..
I'm having some success ..and am waiting for some conductive rubber tubing (didn't even know this existed) ..which might provide the missing piece to the jigsaw..
I'll send you a pic of the hopefully working replacement in due course..but for now..this is what I have in mind.
..The metal washer to be replaced with a conductive rubber washer ...thus utilising the burgered switches internal return spring.
rgds
Evan

 

[Vipersan]

So ..the conductive rubber tube arrived ..
No idea if this is adequate ..and it wasnt cheap...
Cut myself a small 2mm washer off the end of the tube ..and checked it with the meter..
Yes it has resistance but not very low ohms ..
checks in at approx 200 ohm ..
Will this be enough to bridge contacts successfully ?
Only time will tell ..
If not it may serve as a sprung buffer for a metal washer..
lap o the gods..

 

[Channel Hopper]

Colour if with a graphite pencil if it doesn't want go play ball.

 

[Vipersan]

Winner winner ..chicken dinner..

I subbed one of the faulty keys (Key 9) ..with the modded key dangling in the photo..
Lookee Lookee ...I have 9s on the screen..
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

...and so my romance with 8 bit continues ..
Too unwell to 'play' outside with dishes atm ..so to keep the grey matter ticking over ...this is currently my chosen distraction.

Took a few attempts to get the wiring just right ..and gather together the bits I needed..
but I'm pleased with the result ..
Here are a few pics of the user port/control port harness ..and a photo of it in action with the keyboard dongle ...and serial port dongle in place ..
Plus a recently repaired Commodore 64 1983 250407 board test screen..
rgds
VS

cheers for the dropbox discovery link Chris

 

[Vipersan]

Not had an awful lot of time to persue my interests ..but I did manage to buy an Apple Clone keyboard ..for my old pre 1980 europlus..
Now ..I knew it wouldn't be a direct swap ..not even electrically similar..but providing it had a full set of working key switches ...I would MAKE it work..
Came up with an idea to strip the old keyboard of switches ...and mount the clone key switches under the metal plate rather than through it ..
then attached wire legs at 90 degrees to the clone key switch pins ..and solder them on floating leads ..
Not stable enough ..so potted the heath robinson keyboard in silicon ..thus making them more stable ..and bolting the key plate escutcheon in place ..
perhaps better explained with some photos ..
so here we go..
..and yes it works 100%

 

[Topper]

Crickey prototyping a 70s keyboard 50 years later