Me, after making yet another useless purchase.

I’ll try to explain what happened; i already knew about the existence of this product but having a practically similar if not identical one i gave up but i always had my eye on the FNIRSI LCR-P1 which is built a little better, lighter and the firmware is frequently updated and consequently some bugs are solved, but 28.00 euros, no way!

I signed up for the twentieth time to aliexpress by creating a new account, the price from 28,00 euros dropped to 18,00 euros as a first purchase on Aliexpress but it was still too much.

I searched the internet for discount coupons for aliexpress, they can be found, i found a discount coupon of 6,00 euros (after trying at least twenty it worked) i applied it and the total at this point amounted to 12,00 euros shipped. How can you not buy something for 12,00 euros! how?

The product is good, similar to the previous one that you can find here with the review and photos.

So i won’t write everything again that i had already written in the other post, it’s identical but a little better.

I leave you to the photo gallery.

Gallery:

12►

source: fnirsi.com

.- the inexpensive dual-SID/FM replacement that you can build yourself -.

SIDKick pico by Frenetic is a microcontroller-based C64 SID replacement. Analog inputs for paddles and mice are available just as for the original SID.

This release contains the firmware for SIDKick pico with only minor changes:

• The reset behavior has been modified to avoid the problems reported for old ultimax cartridges (e.g. Jupiter Lander).

Note:

There are different .uf2-files are firmware files with PWM and/or DAC output, flashing (RGB-)LED on/off AND for hardware revision 0.1 and 0.2, and the new SIDKick pico2040DAC.

Please read the troubleshooting section in case you experience problems.

Review:

My SID Player plays SID tunes with the SIDKick-pico.
SIDKick-Pico by Frenetic.

Download: SIDKick-Pico Firmware v0.211 (26)

source: c64-wiki.com github.com/frntc/SIDKick-pico

The saying “if you spend few amount of money you get shit” is not always valid and this could be an example.

I would just like to clarify before receiving gratuitous insults that these tools are intended for Hobbyist use and NOT Professional.

FNIRSI (Shenzhen FNIRSI Technology Co., Ltd.) is a large Chinese manufacturer of electronics instruments at low price, given the very low cost i wanted to try three products and i was pleasantly surprised by the operation and precision, they are less ‘Chinese’ than other products with the same price.

I wanted to make a simple comparison with the FNIRSI® 2C53T (3in1 Oscilloscope 50MHz, Multimeter, Signal Generator) and with my now ancient WELEC W2022A oscilloscope with some problems and should be replaced, but that said the FNIRSI defends itself well and for some measurements it is more precise, the same goes for the smaller model namely the DSO-153 2-IN-1.

The Smart Digital Tweezer is undoubtedly very comfortable and quite precise, I noticed some hesitation on the measurement of Electrolytic Capacitors even after calibration while it is acceptable for the measurement of Inductors, Resistors and Capacitors (for example Ceramic, Polyester), another strong point is that it is magnetized (see photo) a small adhesive metal plate is provided.

Attention there are different purchase options for these products, some include all the accessories others do not, obviously it costs less.

Products tested:

• FNIRSI® DSO-153 2-IN-1 Mini 1MHz 5MS/s Digital Oscilloscope,Waveform Generator.
• FNIRSI® 2C53T 50MHz 250MS/s Handheld 3in1 Oscilloscope,Multimeter,Signal Generator.
• FNIRSI® LCR-ST1 Mini Smart Digital Tweezer LCR SMD ESR Tester.

FNIRSI DSO-153: https://www.fnirsi.com/products/dso-153

FNIRSI 2C53T: https://www.fnirsi.com/products/2c53t

FNIRSI LCR-ST1: https://www.fnirsi.com/products/lcr-st1

FNIRSI 2C53T Oscilloscope Review (not made by me): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nmr54Ez5Cs

Gallery:

12►

Commodore 64 Breadbin Case – Your Color Your Style.

The Breadbin is back and better than ever!

I replaced the Commodore 64C style case color SX64 purchased back in 2017 from return-magazin.de of my Commodore 64 with U64 first version with the new transparent case in Breadbin style indiegogo campaign.

As you can see from the photos there is also a new transparent dust cover, the new keyboard from indiegogo campaign of a few years ago, the internal LED strip has been configured to use only the white color with medium brightness.

Gallery:

source:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/commodore-64-breadbin-case-your-color-your-style/
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/keycaps-for-your-commodore-computer/

NEW TAG: C64 BIG GAME PACK

Some new games or tools (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups.

Titles:

• Piddle 2
• Piddle 2 +1HD (Excess, Hokuto Force)
• Dr. Maria V1.1 +3HD
• Soiled Iron +1D
• Weights and Crates Deluxe +8D
• Matchblox Preview (Hokuto Force)
• Weights and Crates Deluxe
• Pinball +
• Knights Attack +
• Bombers Dodge +
• Santa’s Workout 4 +1PD
• Soiled Iron +2DI
• Laura non c’è – Nek [MUSIC] (Hokuto Force)
• Hitokiri +
• Action Biker +6DHMP 100%
• Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eiffel 65 [MUSIC] (Hokuto Force)
• Parallaxian Preview +DG
• KWIK-Ware! Collection
• 666 Number of the Beast Preview +
• Safari Search &DF
• Aladdin’s Cave +2D
• Wacky Races +7D
• Apprentice Preview +1D
• Final Spook + Grid Commander Preview 2 (Hokuto Force)
• Hollywood Poker Pro – Upgrade +4DF [easyflash]
• JollyDisk An 8-Bit Christmas Card & Yule Log
• All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey [MUSIC] (Hokuto Force)
• Snowman +GDT (Hokuto Force)
• Quatris
• Trinity Sampler +S
• Bereft
• Bereft +D
• Santa’s Ice Crisis +1D
• Twintris DX +3HDGF
• Mr. Cool +5HD V2
• Shamus +6DH V2
• LED Storm +7HFD V2
• Space Game +
• Stargate +5HD V2
• Modulus +4DG (Hokuto Force)
• Starforce +4HD 101%
• The Pretzelves
• Santa’s Fall 2 +
• Hero Fantasy: The King’s Sword +2 (Excess, Hokuto Force)
• Santa’s Fall 2 +1G (Hokuto Force)
• Manky 3 Preview +2GJ (Hokuto Force)
• The Pretzelves +3
• Escape from Mystery Mansion +DG (Hokuto Force)
• Concentration +DG (Hokuto Force)
• Snowman Slider +1D (Hokuto Force)
• Duel +1D (Excess, Hokuto Force)
• Fort Apocalypse +5DGHM
• Abenteuerland V1.2 [german]
• Osotos +4HD
• Piratenabenteuer V1.2 [german]
• TantooMan Preview
• Decade of Ruin Preview 3 (Hokuto Force)
• Frogger +3DGHM 101%
• A Train to Piccadilly
• TantooMan Preview +2
• Thornfell Manor: 1984
• TantooMan Preview +D (Hokuto Force)
• Logos 64 V2.0.4 +G (Hokuto Force)
• TantooMan Preview [easyflash]
• Silly Willy +2
• Space Game V1.0.2 +1D (Hokuto Force)
• Black Hole V1.3 +1D
• Hero Fantasy: The King’s Sword +4TD
• Befana vs Balloons Beta V1.1 +2DG (Hokuto Force)
• Maps 64 – Britain +D
• Whackadoodle V1.1 +1D (Hokuto Force)
• Snek64 +D
• Golf Dash Extended + (Excess, Hokuto Force)
• Golf Dash Extended
• Golf Dash Extended +1P
• Santa’s Troubles V1.3 +9D
• Micro-Pac 64 Preview +DG (Hokuto Force)
• TantooMan Preview +4
• Senir Preview 2
• Schreckenstein-64 +2TI
• Mieyen +1D
• Win Puzzle 2025 +G (Hokuto Force)
• Madness Combat 1982 +
• Tank in a Dungeon V1.4 +2DF (Excess, Hokuto Force)
• Decade of Ruin Preview 3 +1D
• Action Biker Enhanced
• C64 Pong +DG (Hokuto Force)
• Archon +4D
• Centipede Emulator (Build 2025-01-16)
• Centipede Emulator +1D
• Flappy Bird Preview +1D (Hokuto Force)
• Centipede Emulator (Build 2025-01-17)
• Tutankham Returns V1.2 +6D
• Tutankham V1.2 +6D
• Alpha Man +D
• Tiburoncy V1.1
• Quasimodo’s Christmas Caper (R4.3) +9HD
• Invaders +4DGH
• Tiburoncy V1.1 +1D (Hokuto Force)
• Tiburoncy V1.1 +2HD
• Abyssal Karma – Part One +2H [seuck]
• Tiny Tron +1DG (Hokuto Force)
• The Happiest Days of Your Life +4D
• Ponk Preview +1DG (Hokuto Force)
• Santa’s Troubles V1.4 +9D
• Ultima – Escape from Mt Drash

Download: All Games in One Archive (623)

source: csdb.dk

Hoxs64 written by David Horrocks is a Commodore 64 emulator for Microsoft Windows (DirectX 11+)

The emulator substantially reproduces this legacy machine in minute detail.

Download:

• Hoxs64 Commodore 64 Emulator v1.1.2.7 (162)

source: hoxs64.net

Flashcart for Atari 2600 and Atari 7800 by Andrea Ottaviani based on Pico “Purple” clone, easy to build and cheap.

This is a “double-face” flashcart, it could be used for both Atari 2600 and Atari 7800, simply rotating it and inserting the cart in different Atari, it doesn’t support all bank-switching schemas, but enough to enjoy your Atari 2600 / Atari 7800 with a single flash-carts.

I made some improvements to the PCB and the cartridge case taking inspiration from the project published on GITHUB.

PCB improvements:

• 4 x Holes for PCB fixing.
• 1 x Resistor for the LED.
• Fixed component silkscreens.
• Removed pads and silkscreen of the front switch.
• Added two pads for the side mini switch.

Thanks to a dear friend who can draw 3D (i’m completely hopeless) we redesigned the cartridge case from scratch recovering all the measurements of the original cartridge (Atari 2600/7800).

There are many improvements, below i try to list some of them.

• Through holes for closing the case, the carbon steel screw is screwed directly onto the bolt on the back side of the cartridge that is embedded in the plastic, this is to prevent the screw from deforming the plastic over time.
• Hole to use the USB-C connector of the Pico Purple without opening the case every time you want to update the ROM files.
• Hole and lateral support for mini switch.
• Supports for the PCB so that if you have to open the cartridge it remains stuck in the front part of the case.
• Hole for the lateral button cover of the correct size.
• Stronged the entire structure of the cartridge including the inserts (horns) to give a feeling of solidity.
• Repositioned Atari logo and writings on both sides of the cartridge.

The GERBER file for the PCB and STL for the cover will soon be available on Andrea Ottaviani Flashcart 10400 GITHUB page.

I leave you the links to buy the screws and micro switches.

M2 screws with countersunk head: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0D3DXFGHW
Mini SPDT Switch: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0BTM3WQXN

Gallery:

12►

Download Gerber & STL Files:

• PicoA10400 Alternative Version (Gerber & STL) (216)

Download:

Trebors 7800 ROM PROPack: http://7800.8bitdev.org/index.php/Trebors_7800_ROM_PROPack
Atari 2600 ROM: https://archive.org/details/Atari2600FullRomCollectionReuploadByDataghost

source: github.com/aotta/PicoA10400

A new version of the firmware for the Kung Fu Flash Cartridge by Kim Jørgensen is released.

Changelog:

• Fix race condition in menu startup #206. Thanks lunadog

Download:

• Kung Fu Flash Firmware v1.52 (166)

source: github.com/KimJorgensen/KungFuFlash

NEW TAG: C64 BIG GAME PACK

Some new games or tools (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups.

Titles:

• Cow Boy +2D (Excess/Hokuto Force)
• Drelbs +3DGHM 101%
• Osotos
• PETSCII Lumberjack
• PETSCII Lumberjack +2D
• Olympic Skijumper
• Space Taxi +15HD (V4)
• The Celebrity Cookbook Volume 1 &D
• Quasimodo’s Christmas Caper (R4.2) +9HD
• Bug vs. Bug +1D (Excess/Hokuto Force)
• Trex Preview +1D (Hokuto Force)
• Peter Shilton’s Handball Maradona +DP
• Juice! +6HD
• Dicksplode
• Matrix +5HD
• Stargate +5HD
• Street Surfer +3HD
• Z +8HFD
• The Blob Preview V2 +4
• Campaign Manager 2024
• Cursed Tombs 64 +1D
• Fallout RobCo Hack Game
• Fallout RobCo Hack Game +
• Flying Spaghetti Monster +2D (Excess/Hokuto Force)
• Harvey Headbanger &D
• Booty +7HD
• Miami Vice +6D
• Mega-Run
• Portal Buster +1D
• Mega-Run +1D
• Decade of Ruin Preview 2 +1D
• Jet Fighter Preview +D
• Mutant Monty +6DGHM
• I Play 3D Tennis +D [EasyFlash]
• Tank in a Dungeon +2D
• Portal Buster +2D
• Star Post +3HD
• LED Storm +7HFD
• Tiburoncy +1D
• IO’s Enigma +2HD
• Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders [italian]
• Block-Game Preview (Hokuto Force)
• Chrono Snare +2D (Excess/Hokuto Force)
• Thunderforce +8H
• Pupu +P
• Animal Kingdom +D
• Mushrooms that Grow in the Woods +3
• Quest for the knight [english/german]
• TREX +1HD (Excess/Hokuto Force)
• Project 10 Beta Trial Preview
• In The Clouds Preview
• Mushrooms that Grow in the Woods +6P
• Tetris Preview +D
• deeDubbya’s Daily Commute To The Office
• DeeDubbya’s Daily Commute To The Office + (Excess/Hokuto Force)
• Born in the U.S.A. [AUDIO] (Hokuto Force)
• Tetris Preview 2 +D (Hokuto Force)
• Island &D [english/hungarian]
• Balatro Preview (Hokuto Force)
• Arthur Remastered +DSMap [english/hungarian]
• Tetris Preview 3 (Hokuto Force)
• Animal Kingdom &D
• Aquarius
• Herra47
• Herra47 +2FD
• Balatro Preview 2
• Kuusneppis Preview 2
• Herra47 +1D
• Mach Baron
• Mach Baron +2
• Bug Blitz Prototype +3
• Mach Baron +2D
• The Last Z-8 +
• The Last Z-8
• Boulder Dash: Zombford’s Resurr-Action
• Woodris
• All That She Wants [MUSIC] (Hokuto Force)
• Rodland
• Beanstalk +3D
• Double Starblitz
• Duck and Cover +1D
• Paw Noir Deluxe Preview +
• N4N0R4C3R +1D
• Battle for Cronos +D
• Sideral +2DTH
• Paw Noir Deluxe Preview +2
• The Riddle Cover by Gigi D’Agostino [MUSIC] (Hokuto Force)
• Logos 64 V2.0.3 +G (Hokuto Force)
• Henry’s House +3DGHM
• Squaredrift +2TD (Excess/Hokuto Force)
• Tetris Preview 4 (Hokuto Force)
• Light Cycle Duel Deluxe V1.1 Preview (Hokuto Force)
• Mach Baron V1.1
• Mach Baron V1.1 +2D
• Autoverseny Preview (Hokuto Force)
• Tetris Preview 5
• Highnoon +1DGH V2
• Highnoon +1DGH
• Snake Preview +
• The Runner Preview 2 +
• Make 10 or 50 +1D
• Make 10 or 50
• Rhythm Is A Dancer – SNAP! [MUSIC] (Hokuto Force)
• Space Pong Preview
• Aquarius 1541
• Ships Ahoy &D
• Backstreet Brawl +D (Excess/Hokuto Force)
• Shmup Preview +1D (Hokuto Force)
• Missile Command Preview +2 (Hokuto Force)
• Maze 3D Preview (Hokuto Force)
• Lander Preview (Hokuto Force)
• Connect Four Preview (Hokuto Force)
• Breakout Preview (Hokuto Force)
• Moon Lander +
• Nixy and the Seeds of Doom
• Black Thunder
• Mermaid Madness +4DHMP
• Nixy and the Seeds of Doom +1D
• Nixy and the Seeds of Doom +7D
• The Dam Busters +6HDG
• Nixy and the Seeds of Doom V1.01 +7D
• Pucky +2DTGH
• Nixy and the Seeds of Doom V1.02 +7D
• 500 +2D (Excess/Hokuto Force)
• Nixy and the Seeds of Doom V1.02
• Rockit – Herbie Hancock [MUSIC] (Hokuto Force)
• Tetris +D

Download: All Games in One Archive (1185)

source: csdb.dk

I received this console to made a repair and a video chip upgrade.

The repair:

The failure appeared as a malfunction of the Joystick inserted in port #1 of the console. This problem is absolutely not new to this console.

The failure is due to the 74LS541 IC which, in addition to being uncommon (it is rarely used), is very sensitive to electrostatic electricity, consequently if you try to connect the joystick with the console turned on, the probability that it will fail is very high.

I preferred to replace with a socket for both IC, one for each joystick port, because the probability of a future failure remains very high.

Video Chip Upgrade:

I would like to point out that this CBS ColecoVision model does not have native RGB video output but only RF.

It was possible to do the Composite Video mod but since in recent months the good Troy Schrapel has released on github the Pico9918 project that completely replaces the TMS9918A video chip and the Video RAM with a very low cost i decided to do the replacement.

This Video Chip are used in many consoles and computers including the CBS ColecoVision.

The Pico9918 can be configured using a different firmware to output in VGA or via SCART RGB.

I obviously chose the RGB SCART output, the installation is quite simple, you have to unsolder the TMS9918A, insert a socket and at this point you can insert the pre-programmed Pico9918 and connect the R-G-B-GND-SYNC (H/V) signals, optional you can completely remove the PCB with the RF modulator.

The wires that you see soldered directly on the ColecoVision motherboard are for the AUDIO output (purple wire) and for the 5v (orange wire) the 5v are for the RGB switching of the TV.

The connections inside the scart connector are as follows: the 5v go to pin 8 and then via a 150ohm resistor to pin 16.

Also as you can always see from the photos i put some adhesive tape on the metal cover at the height of the Pico9918, i did it only for my personal paranoia, the metal does not touch the Pico9918 but better to be safe :-D

Gallery of the repair and upgrade:

12►

source: github.com/visrealm/pico9918

Although these diagnostic roms for Intellivision are freely downloadable online i had a bit of trouble finding them so i decided to write this post.

The ZIP archive contains the ROMs and the .CFG file for the correct mapping.

Download: Mattel Intellivision Diagnostics Roms (409)

I installed the ZOE RGB rev 2.0 interface for a friend, this interface allows you to view the images with an RGB output signal with a much better quality instead of the only output supplied as standard which is RF.

This interface was purchased by me many years ago and was the last batch of the ZOE RGB rev v2.0 that i had assembled.

After several years i can confirm that the image quality is perfect and clear.

Gallery:

12►

Unfortunately, as often happens, the mechanics of the ATARI XC11 cassette recorder also suffer from old age problems. The cap/block of the belt drive pulley broke and consequently, being under pressure with a spring, it popped off.

I fixed the cap on the small plastic pin of the pulley with cyanoacrylate glue, it could work forever or only for a short time, only time will tell.

Gallery of the repair: