Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports: + many more….

USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Floppy Emulator Firmware v3.3.1.2a -> v3.4.4.6a cumulative changelog:

• QuickDisk support : Fixes/Timing improvements. Data masked outside the read window.
• OSD : Keys/Rotary regression fixed.
• QuickDisk support : Various write enhancement for Roland machines support (Roland S-10,S-220,…)
• OSD : Keys/Rotary wake-up behavior changed/enhanced.
• QuickDisk support : More Fixes again ! Blank.qd image : Ready window increased from 5s to 5.5s
• QuickDisk support : More important write support fixes !
• QuickDisk support : Write support fixed (DMA descriptors fixed).
• Work in progress : QuickDisk emulation support added !
• A new build variant is now available to emulate QuickDisk drive !
• The Gotek floppy port to the QuickDisk interface is:
  • – Shugart pin –          — QuickDisk Machine–
  • Pin  2 (/DC)           ->  /MS (/MediaSense)
  • Pin 10 (/DS0)          ->  Connect it to GND/VSS
  • Pin 16 (/MotorOn)      ->  /MO
  • Pin 20 (/Step)         ->  /RS (/Reset)
  • Pin 22 (/WriteData)    ->  /WD (/WriteData)
  • Pin 24 (/WriteGate)    ->   WG (WriteGate)
  • Pin 28 (/WriteProtect) ->   WP (WriteProtect)
  • Pin 30 (/ReadData)     ->   RD (ReadData)
  • Pin 34 (/Ready)        ->  /RY (/Ready)
  • Pins 4,6,8,12,14,18,26 and 32 can be left unconnected on the Gotek.
  • Odd pins Gotek pins (1,3,5,7,…,33) should be connected to the GND/VSS.
  • The jumper must be set to “MO”.
  • A Blank QuickDisk floppy disk can be found in the firmware archive in the /QuickDisk folder.
• Fix 3.3.8.14a PC Floppy interface mode regression.
• Faster disk-change state head-step clear and mask ready during the diskchange delay. (Fix Yamaha Clavinova diskchange issue)
• USB stick browser : Faster/smoother files/folders browsing.
• USB stick folder Auto mount : Faster files copy/image generation.  
• You can hide HXCSDFE.CFG, AUTOBOOT.HFE and /mount/emptyfat.img files on the stick now.
• Default 7 segments screen standby / powerup can changed on the custom firmware page : https://hxc2001.com/custom_fw/
• Fix non-working v3.3.6.1a firmware !
• On screen display : Separated HSYNC/VSYNC signals support added:
  • For machines without CSYNC (Composite Sync) signal.
  • Once this option is enabled the Gotek video IOs are mapped as this :
  • OSD Video out : Gotek U8 Pin 5 (PB15).
  • OSD Video HSYNC in : Gotek “JTCK-SWCLK” pin (PA14).
  • OSD Video VSYNC in : Gotek U8 Pin 1 (PB12).
• New system family raw file support : Roland W30/W50/S50/S330/S550. (7 digits display menu entry -> 019)
• Fix floppy IO pins state when the select line is permanently low (v3.3.4.1a regression).
• Write codes speed optimizations.
• HFE : Format support : Fix the “too early index” issue.
• Raw files : Fix interface mode settings. (v3.3.4.4a regression)
• File sorting : Ignore file name case.
• Direct access : Fix the “set index” command.
• OSD : CSYNC Pull-up enabled.
• Fix some possible format issues.
• Some more optimizations.
• Head settling time default value fixed on the custom firmware page : https://hxc2001.com/custom_fw/
• “Interface CFG” LCD/OLED/OSD menu entry fixed.
• OSD:
  • Code speed optimizations (CPU pipeline + Flash prefetch optimizations).
  • OSD Polarity can be now set with the “OLED screen polarity” parameter.
• Better/lower lines jitter while floppy emulation is running.
• USB : Code speed optimizations (read & write Fifos, ISR).
• ASM ISR (Step, Drive Select…) : Many code speed optimizations (CPU pipeline + Flash prefetch optimizations).
• The firmware is now stable with both OSD and floppy emulation working in the same time !
• “Normal mode” / Direct disk browsing : Files entries are now alphabetically ordered. Folders appears first then the files images.
• “Load Last selected image” : Fix reload issue with some long file names.

This is only a little part of the changelog. The original one is very long and you can read it here. (instruction manual here)

The HxC Floppy Emulator Firmware Customization page: https://hxc2001.com/custom_fw/

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.4.4.6a (955)

source: hxc2001.com

Pocket-Go (Bitt-Boy Landscape version) / LDK Game (Landscape version) Open Source Retro Gaming Handhelds.

I’m always been fascinated by these small retro gaming handhelds consoles especially for the low cost.

These small consoles emulate quite well most games of consoles and computers and are supported by an active community of enthusiasts.

I don’t think it’s necessary to do the hundredth review of these portable consoles, i leave you with the technical specifications of each consoles and some useful links.

LDK Game Retro Gaming Handheld Technical (Landscape Version) Details:

• Processor: JZ4760B Dual-Core 64Bit 528Mhz
• Software Functions: Retro Gaming Emulation, Audio/Video Playback, Audio Recorder, E-Book.
• Pre-Installed Emulators: CPS1, CPS2, Neo-Geo, Megadrive / Genesis, Sega Master System, GameGear and so on.
• Display: 2.7″ Inch Color Display (TFT) Adjustable screen brightness.
• Resolution: 320×240.
• Video Playback: Supports the following formats: RM, RMVB, AVI, MKV, WMV, VOB, MOV, FLV, ASF, DAT, MP4, 3GP, MPG, MPEG
• RAM: 128MB DDR2.
• Storage: 16GB Fast-Accessing Storage.
• Storage Expansion: Micro SD Card Slot (For up-to 128GB)
• Speakers: High Quality – Built IN.
• Analog Stick.
• Audio Playback: Supports the following formats: APE, MP3, WMA, DRM WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, WAV, AAC (Including: AAC-LC/AAC HE/AAC+V1/V2)
• Audio Recording: Supports Audio Recording in .WAV (High Quality)
• I/O: RCA Component for TV Output, 3.5mm Headphone Jack, Micro USB Port, Micro SD Card/TF Card Slot.
• Languages: Multi.
• Battery: Li-Ion BL-5C 1020mAh Built-in.
• Dimensions (cm): 12.9 x 8.8 x 1.7
• Package: Consoles, USB Cable, USB-SD Card Adapter, User Manual, 32GB SD Card.

Link:

• CPU Datasheet
• Custom Firmware

Pocket-Go (Bitt-Boy Landscape version) OpenDingux Technical Details:

• Processor: ALLWINNER F1C100S ARM9 up to 900MHz
• Software Functions: Retro Gaming Emulation, Audio/Video Playback, Audio Recorder, E-Book
• Pre-Installed Emulators: CPS1, CPS2, Neo-Geo, Megadrive / Genesis, Sega Master System, GameGear and so on.
• Display: 2.4″ Inch Color Display (IPS) Adjustable screen brightness with a tempered glass protector for the screen will effectively reduce the problem of screen scratching.
• Resolution: 320×240.
• Video Playback: Supports the following formats: RM, RMVB, AVI, MKV, WMV, VOB, MOV, FLV, ASF, DAT, MP4, 3GP, MPG, MPEG
• RAM: 32MB DDR2
• Material: ABS
• Memory card type: Micro SD
• Storage: supported up to 128GB
• Speakers: High Quality – Built IN
• Audio Playback: Supports the following formats: APE, MP3, WMA, DRM WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, WAV, AAC (Including: AAC-LC/AAC HE/AAC+V1/V2)
• Audio Recording: Supports Audio Recording in .WAV (High Quality)
• I/O: RCA Component for TV Output, 3.5mm Headphone Jack, Micro USB Port, Micro SD Card/TF Card Slot
• Extra: Support vibration on games.
• L,R Buttons.
• Battery: 1000mAh lithium battery
• Languages: Multi.
• Battery lasts 3–4 hours
• Dimensions (cm): 12.3 x 5.6 x 1.4
• Package: Consoles, USB Cable, USB-SD Card Adapter, User Manual, 8GB SD Card, Nintendo Style Buttons Replacements.

Link:

• CPU Datasheet 
• Custom Firmware
• Custom Firmware Installation
• Official Homepage

Gallery:

Hoxs64 written by David Horrocks is a Commodore 64 emulator for Microsoft Windows 2K/XP/Vista/Seven (DirectX 9+)

The emulator substantially reproduces this legacy machine in minute detail.

Changelog (v1.0.21.2):

• Changed command line option -autoload “hostfilename.d64″ “:c64filename” such that c64filename will have the case flipped.
• Added command line option “@” to index a directory with no file type filter.

Download:

• Hoxs64 32/64 bit/Win98k v1.0.21.2 (724)

source: hoxs64.net

What is DiagROM?

DiagROM is a diagnostic tool for the amiga computers.

And it is to be used on defective machines, trying to help no-boot situations etc.

You simply replace the Kickstart roms in the Amiga with the DiagROM. and when poweron. your Amiga will start a diagnostic software. It will try to dump info on the serialport (and actual menus etc aswell) while also trying on the screen.

Changelog:

• Now Diskdrivetest should work on most machines.
• Memchecks should now detect non working ram better.
• Experimental CIA test added that should work on NTSC machines aswell. MIGHT give false results on TOD-B  tests. It will still say that IRQ is needed, this is not true :)
• Added RGB Test.
• Usual “bugfixes” pressing left mousebutton when chipmemdetect starts skips serial output and makes startup faster. holding down left mousebutton while doing memscan at start skips memtests. (good if it hangs during scan. known not found bug yet!)
• Updated to tested values if new CIA test that should be more correct.
• Also in memoryedit mode (memtest) added pageup/down functions with Q and Z keys.
• (or Amigastandard shift+cursor keys)  also added official support to execute code from current locaton using the X key. (this is very much not really useful for most people)

Download: DiagoROM v1.2 Stable (831)

source: diagrom.com

Plugs directly into IEEE of your PET / CBM Series Computer.

TFW8b and Tynemouth Software have once again brought the best of both worlds together, this time giving PET owners a high quality SD Card storage solution.

SD2PET Future:

• Plugs directly into PET IEEE-488 port.
• Powered from rear datasette port.
• SD Card accessible at rear of PET.
• Reset button and activity LED (Red/Green)
• Works with BASIC 2 & 4 Machines (BASIC 1 Machines can be upgraded with PET ROM/RAM)
• Supports PRG, D64, D80, D82 Disk Images.
• Simply plug it in your PET and it’s ready to go.

Supported Machines:

• Commodore 2001 (with BASIC 2 or BASIC 4 Upgrade)
• Commodore 2001N-XX (BASIC 2 or 4)
• Commodore 3008/3016/3032
• Commodore 4008/4016/4032
• Commodore 8032/8096/8296

Untested:

• Commodore CBM II 600/700
• Commodore SuperPet.
• Commodore VIC20/C64 with IEEE-488 Cartridge.

Unsupported (Due to different connectors):

• Commodore 8032-SK
• Commodore 8096-SK

Designed by Tynemouth Software & produced by TFW8b.

Gallery:

Video:

source: thefuturewas8bit.com blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk

The Atari XE Video Game System (Atari XEGS) is a home video game console released by Atari Corporation in 1987.

Based on Atari’s 8-bit 65XE computer, the XEGS is compatible with the existing Atari 8-bit computer software library. Additionally, it is able to operate as either a stand-alone console or as a full computer with the addition of its specially designed keyboard.

In computer mode, it may utilize the majority of peripherals released for Atari’s 8-bit computer line. Atari packaged the XEGS as a basic set consisting of only the console and joystick, and as a deluxe set consisting of the console, keyboard, joystick and light gun.

Gallery:

source: wikipedia

This is the official demo party results from Datastorm 2019. See also the CSDB DATASTORM 2019 section for more informations.

C64 Demo:

• 1 – The Last Truckstop 3 by Fairlight
• 2 – Two Sided by Atlantis
• 3 – Essentials by Hack n’ Trade
• 4 – Svensk Husmanskost by Insane
• 5 – Snustricks 2 by E-Grass

C64 4K Intro:

• 1 – 4k PETSCII Intro by Genesis Project

C64 Music:

• 1 – Neutron Bouncer by Stinsen/dLx
• 2 – Unpolished by Qdor
• 3 – Melodeus by Magnar Harestad
• 4 – Dawnstar Ascendant by Nightbeat
• 5 – Datatanten Strikes Back by AnaNg

C64 Graphics:

• 1 – Eyes of the Storm by Malmix
• -    Asian Wolf by The Sarge
• 3 – Music Box by Magnar Harestad
• 4 – Yesterday I saw Fluffy Clouds by Facet/Magic

Mixed Graphics:

• 1 – Insane Heart by Insane
• 2 – Attitude by Insane
• 3 – Unsensible Soccer by Fatzone
• 4 – Flush Love Sweden by Flush

Download: Datastorm 2019 Full Party Stuff (784)

source: datastorm.party

This is a very old article from 2016 that i never published on my blog.

Summarizes the purchase, shipping, cleaning and simple repair of a Commodore 4064 with a very low serial number.

Since i had not talked about the repair, i begin to tell that only the VIC-II 6569 Video Chip in Ceramic format was broken.

In the photos there is also a comparison between the Commodore 4064 (PAL) and the Commodore Educator 64 (NTSC)

Below the old article.

The title of this post is: I want it at all costs.

But what? a computer! which model? an old one that I missed to complete a part of my collection.

This computer is really unusable, as are all of them, but this one beats them all.

It’s a Commodore 64 in a PET case produced in 1982, with a green phosphor monitor, stripped of the sound chip (SID 6581) and colour RAM (2114), with a modified kernel that doesn’t use any colour, and a keyboard with different 1..8 keycaps (no colour code on the front).

What’s left? An useless computer with no sound and no green-scale colours; it just uses black and green, while the Commodore Educator 64 has sound and can show colours in shades of green.

After getting the Educator 64 I wanted to complete the pair with a Commodore 4064, and I started to look for it.

I saw a few 4064s that sold for bizarre prices – I can’t say that they were high, because if you want something you are willing to buy it whatever the price, but anyway…

Here begins my adventure :-D

At one time a 4064 pops up in a well known auction site – take note that I don’t use artificial intelligence search engines to look for items, I don’t give a shit… if I find something when I look for it, that’s fine, otherwise it’s not a big deal.

That one was located in Germany, the price was low (at least for me – someone considered it very high), but was the seller willing ship? No he wasn’t.

I wrote to him, no reply, I sent the same message translated in German (thanks google), he responded in German telling me that the item was too big and he didn’t know how to deal with it.

I wrote him again in google German, telling him that I could send him some shipping and packaging instructions – I have them ready in many languages. His reply: I don’t ship.

I was sad and discouraged, because even if the unit wasn’t working, it was in an excellent aesthetic condition and with no missing parts.

I asked for help to my friend Andrea, who asked Ciro, who told me that I could ask his German contact Ralf Schmitz if he could lend me a hand.

Meanwhile the auction was getting near the end… still at a low price.

I wrote to Ralf – a very kind person – and he explained to me that he lives 530Km far from the place where the computer was located. Things got complicated.

I asked Ralf to contact the seller, who maybe preferred to talk with a compatriot :-D

The seller didn’t reply, the auction was ending, what should I have done? I love to risk, and while in chat with Ralf I told him the maximum amount to bid.

I won the item at the right price, in the right moment.

Then what? The seller didn’t have many feedbacks but Ralf suggested to pay right away with Paypal which offers buyer’s protection without the risk of losing the money.

I sent the money to Ralf with Paypal, and he paid the seller.

Ralf wrote him. No reply. The Easter weekend went by, still no reply.

And then one day… the guy replied! Ralf could contact him by phone and they chatted for more than one hour. The man seemed good; old but fair.

The seller told Ralf that he didn’t want to ship because he didn’t know how to properly package, he didn’t have packaging material and he didn’t want to look for it… then he told that he should have to buy some tape, and petrol for the post office, and so on…

I talked with Ralf, and one of the ideas we ditched was to ask someone to go to the seller’s place to help him to pack the 4064 and have it sent to Ralf with some kind of hitch-hiking.

I was suffering.

New solution: simplify the shipping.

I explained Ralf how to separate the monitor from the base: it’s a matter of unscrewing 5 screws, detaching a connector from the motherboard, and cutting two wires (I didn’t even think about explaining how to unsolder them).

The seller was was fine with the idea.

Ralf had to send a huge package containing the packaging material – boxes, foam and bubblewrap – and written instructions from me and Ralf.

The seller shipped the packages with DHL, which in Italy delivers using SDA (one of the cheapest and lower quality couriers). Panic.

The seller is old so he shipped one box at a time: the monitor first, that arrived in 5 days, then the base, that took much longer and made my anxiety skyrocket – Ralf told me that DHL had a few problems in Germany but the package should have crossed the border.

While he was writing to me, the second package arrived at destination.

The computer is now complete and in excellent condition, and with a slightly low serial number :-D

My thanks to Ralf Schmitz because without him this wouldn’t have been possible, and to Andrea for putting up with my anxiety during the last 20 days.

And my thanks to Giacomo Vernoni for translating this report, otherwise I would have written just a paragraph of text – and that would have been a pity :-D

Gallery:

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First of all, a premise: All the repairs i do are for hobby purpose ONLY. It is NOT a job, and i fix stuff for a selected people group that i consider needs my help. All other people please ask somewhere else to get your items repaired back.

A guy contacted me 3+ months ago (April 2019) asking help to fix his Amiga 4000D (Yellow screen at boot for a couple of seconds, and then black). I agreeded to help him.

This Amiga 4000 was tested with A3640 and a Phase5 Cyberstorm MK3 CPU cards, with which the A4000 does not work with the same issue descripted above.

I immediately noticed a fairly important damage caused by battery and caps acid leakage (especially in the audio area, see photo).

After cleaned everything, i rebuild some interrupted pcb tracks on the motherboard (audio / ram / status led section) and replaced capacitors on both motherboard and 3640 (the fault persisted, of course).

Next, i used the Chucky DIAGROM: the DIAGROM is useful to understand what might be that doesn’t work, and the output via RS232 is also very useful if nothing is displayed on the screen.

DIAGROM reported some issue with all IRQs and CIA Timings, but everything else was working (video output, images, sound, mouse, joystick ..ect..).

The IRQ problem is well known in the Amiga 4000 repair circle, because it could be caused by IRQ _CIPL or _IPL interrupted lines, the pcb tracks start from PAULA and goes to the GAL U701, and from the GAL to the CPU connector.

Well, I checked all the IRQ lines, and they were good. I checked again, everything was ok (the checks must be done from PAULA to the GAL and from the GAL to the CPU connector, amiga pcb solder side and CPU card pcb solder side) at this point i thought that GAL U701 was dead, so i programmed a new GAL and replaced it. Unfortunately nothing changed.

Thinking about what it would cause the GAL not working properly, i pointed the finger to the GAL CLOCK, exactly to the pin 1 of the GAL U701.

The Clock was there but something was not clear to me: the signal i see on the oscilloscope was corrupt, fixed at 5V. At this point i said to myself, what is that supplies clock signal to the GAL? Clock on the pin 1 of GAL U701 is supplied by the IC 74F86 U711, pin 6, via the resistor R702 (obviously resistor was good).

I called my friend Andrea (Andry) and asking him to check on his A4000 the value of that pin (6) of the IC U711 (i could have done that myself on my Amiga 4000, but disassemble it’s a nightmare). My friend does not have an oscilloscope, so i asked him to check the power using a digital or analogue DC tester. On his A4000 the value of U711 pin 6 was was completely different than my value.

Bingo, it is! i run to the local electronics store to buy a SMD 74F86 IC, but obviously they didn’t have it.. so, i purchased it on Ebay, replaced it, and yes, it was dead.

It was not the only faulty component, because replacing the new GAL U701 with the original GAL U701 did not work. So, the original GAL was dead, too.

New IC U711, new GAL U701 and the A4000 is back to life.

Other minor fixes i have been done on this Amiga 4000 are: useless replacement of an 8520 (U300), installation of cooling fan on the CPU 68060 – 50MHZ on Cyberstorm MK3, rebuild of a broken resistor damaged by the caps leak.

No more other to say, except that i am happy i succeeded to repaired this Amiga 4000 for a person that needed my help.

Gallery of the repair:

1234►

Video:

I will never stop repeating; please you must repleace all capacitors of the newbrain before turning it on.

I have replaced all capacitors some with acid leaks and this time everything has worked very well.

I left the computer running for a couple of hours and no other problems have been manifest yet … but it won’t last forever.

Gallery of the repair:

Useful link to visit: 8bit-homecomputermuseum.at

The first thing to do with this home computer before turning it on after many years that it was off is replacing all capacitors, which i did (some capacitors with acid leaks) and the computer worked well for about 15 minutes.

After the first 15 minutes while running a “for next” cycle, the computer started to show signs of slowing down and then freezed.

The problem was a RAM (4116) on BANK 2 [POSITION 416] (see photo), replaced the RAM the computer has started working again for another 15 minutes then it was freezed again.

I turned it off and on again and in this time a single line was repeated for X times, only with the composite video output, the VFD Display worked well (see photo)

Looking at the wiring diagram i found the area that manages the composite video output and i started to making measurements with the oscilloscope and after quite some time i have found the IC 74LS157 [POSITION 449] with a strange measurements that did not convince me for example the output pin 7 (OUTPUT Y2), in fact was broken, replaced the component the computer has started to work again.

Hopefully nothing will happen again: D

Gallery of the repair:

Useful link to visit: 8bit-homecomputermuseum.at

Grundy Newbrain – Expansion Interface & Disk Controller Module – Disk Drives – Monitor.

This single block of 14 kg i think is a single piece and it was assembled and customized by J.G.M. Oude Nijhuis.

This single block contains the following things:

• Grundy Expansion Interface Module.
• Grundy Disk Controller Module.
• Disk Drives (2)
• Power supply with 3 independent outputs.
• Power Strip.
• Parallel Interface for Printer.
• Outputs and inputs for the Grundy Newbrain BUS, Power and Monitor.

The Monitor should be placed above the two Disk Drives and the size is perfect like the color of the case very similar to the rest, it adapts perfectly.

The external case with the two Floppy Drives and space for the Disk Controller Module should be the one sold by Tradecom International B.V.

Gallery:

12►

I used the 22Disk & TeleDisk software for writing the Floppy Disks for the Grundy Newbrain.

The Floppy disk writing software & the Grundy Newbrain software can be downloaded here: newbrainemu.eu

Gallery:

This is the Battery Pack for the Newbrain, very comfortable and very light :-D useful for taking the computer to the beach during the summer holidays.

Obviously the Battery Expansion Unit after many years of inactivity has presented some problems of the 20 x 1.2V 600mA NiCd batteries.

The batteries besides being completely exhausted i had leaked acid. (see photo)

Fortunately, there are no major damages with the leakage of acid and it was enough to clean well, unsolder the 20 batteries and replace them with new ones of 1000mA.

Last update: I noticed a malfunction of the Battery Expansion Unit, when i set the switch to OFF the “discharge” LED remained on.

Looking at the schematic, the switch suspend the charge and the use of batteries, the problem was caused by a pcb pad (see photo) that at first sight seemed to be connected together with another, immediately close, but in truth it was not so, it was enough isolate the connection and now everything works correctly.

Gallery:

12►

I have removed the blown filter capacitor of both PSU and cleaned the dirty cables.

Gallery: