First of all, i thank my friend who gave me his Sega SC-3000 found in the attic.
After a thorough cleaning of the cartridge connector, keyboard contacts and general cleaning of the internal/external case, the computer started working perfectly again.
Gallery:
After almost 18 years since the last time I had used this USB interface (eMPIA with EM2820 chipset) for acquisition of analog video signals i was curious to try if it still worked, especially due to a driver problem.
Well what can i say, it works perfectly with both video inputs Composite and S-Video, S-Video is the input that i’m using now with a Commodore 64.
Tested with Linux (Driver included in the Kernel) and with Windows 10 (Windows 8 drivers installed).
As a software i used Guvcview for Linux and VLC for Windows.
Gallery:
Commodore 1982 (VIC-20) and the choice of the alias 1985
The Shugart SA455-3AA is a DSDD Floppy Disk Drive (360K).
The work that has been done:
- Replacement of the Electrolytic Capacitors on the Motor PCB.
- Greasing the head sliding rods with silicone grease.
- Reconstruction of the pcb track corroded by the loss of the 10uf electrolytic capacitor.
- Replacement terminals for selection with jumpers.
- Ceramic capacitor replacement.
- General cleaning.
- Read/write test with GreaseWeazle interface.
List of replaced electrolytic capacitors:
- 1 x 10uf 25v
- 1 x 47uf 16v
- 1 x 0.47uf 50v
- 1 x 0.22uf 50v
- 2 x 22uf 25v (non-polarized)
Gallery:
Download: Shugart SA455-SA465 Service Manual (242)
I decided to replace completely the PCB of the Amiga Power Supply (312503-03) because although after replacing all capacitors 1 year ago (30/4/2023) the voltages are not always stable, especially the 5V which fluctuated between 5.2v and 6.9v.
Using a Gotek HXC drive as a floppy device has burned two USB sticks, i recovered one replacing a shorted smd capacitor.
So let’s retire the old power supply pcb and welcome to the Mean Well RPT-60B fully compatible about voltage and amperage.
I leave you the Aliexpress link.
Gallery:
Nightfall LAB – Commodore Rulez!
The usual boring replacement of all exhausted capacitors.
Gallery:
A new version of the firmware for the Kung Fu Flash Cartridge by Kim Jørgensen is released.
Changelog:
- Fix loading via EF3 USB (since v1.49) #187 #189. Thanks stefagnani, mvancopp1, jperrin72
Download:
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:
- Snail +2
- Paku Paku C64 +1HD
- The Spirit Preview +2M
- Delve Deeper V1.2 +1FD
- Metal Gear +8DFR
- The Last Ninja +12DGI *Hokuto Force*
- Schreckenstein 64 RC1 +2
- Metal Gear +8DFR V2
- Dig Dug +5D
- Stunt Car Racer +6D [cartridge version]
- Befana vs Balloons Beta +3HD
- Binary Battle V1.01
- Astro Rescue +
- Mugwump +
- Mugwump
- Astro Rescue
- DRAK 101% +3D
- Leberkäse +3R
- Psychedelia II
- Binary Battle V1.01 +4
- Krakatoa! &S&Map
- Alone and Dangerous Preview 2 +1J
- Schreckenstein 64 RC1 +2T
- Caverns of Eriban +4HD V2
- Arctic Fox +8DIRS V2
- Shamus +6HD
- Shamus: Case II +6D
- Fort Apocalypse +4HD V2
- Paku Paku C64 +2HDI
- Huck on the Mississippi +2DF
- Yewdow +6HD
- Edd the Duck +6DFGH *Hokuto Force*
- Orange Squash +15D
- Metal Piramid +4M
- Elevator Action +2DHP
- The Secret of Monkey Island Bundle (D64/D81/CRT) English/German
- Cavern 512
- Kid Niki To The Rescue +6DHI *Hokuto Force*
- Cavern512 +
- Pains ‘n’ Aches +6MD 101% [easyflash]
- Vexed +1D
- Pegged +
- Minesweeper
- Minesweeper +G
- Petsciinoid +1D
- Nesterin Trail +DS
- Corescape +D
- Snake Escape 64 Preview 3 +
- Mega Wizards Preview 2 +D
- Rainbow Chaser +G
- Encounter +4DGHM
- Cruisin’ For A Bruisin’
- Arena 3000 +G
- SnowBalls +D
- King Solomon’s Mines &S&Map
- Grey Preview 7 +4D
- 2112 V3.1 *Digital Monastery, Hokuto Force*
- Rock n’ Bolt Enhanced
- Phantomas III: The Return of Brok Preview +2
- Survivor +3DG
- The Runner +1D
- Tiny Quest
- De Sekte +DSMap [dutch]
- Murder On The Zinderneuf +4DFIR
- Grid Pix – The New Levels +2D
- Fizz V1.0.5 +DI
- Labyrint (DK) [cartridge]
- Santa’s Troubles V1.1 +9D
- Skier-64 +3D
- Tiny Quest 1.1
- Tetris 256
- Blockout255
- Lumberjack 256 [256 bytes]
- Giana Power [cartridge]
- Pitfall +3DGHJM
- Ad Astra 2420 +4D
- Sherlock Holmes Returns &DSol
- SeaWorld +5D
- The Darkest Hour &DS&Map
- Double Tap
- Delve Deeper V1.3 +1FD
- Ballance +F
- Scorpion +6DHF
- Potato World +
- Out Run (U.S. Gold * clean like genuine)
- Castle Quest &S&Map
- Pakacuda +2DH
- Pakacuda +2DH V2
- A Bee’s Trip +1D *Hokuto Force*
- HazePad +D [dutch]
- New Escape MCP +4DH *Hokuto Force*
- Get to the Point &D
- Spritrunner +H
- The Search For The Holy Grail +2 *Hokuto Force*
- Farmer’s Life + *Hokuto Force*
- Spritrunner
- Annihilator +5DH
- Caverns Of Xydrahpur +3D *Hokuto Force*
- Lock’n'Chase +3D
Download: All Games in One Archive (2170)
source: csdb.dk
I wanted to try the SIDKick pico also with my SID Player, everything is ok, it works as well as i expected.
The green LED just below the SID Socket indicates that the SIDKick is playing.
Video:
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.
SIDKick pico uses firmware similar to its “big brother” SIDKick. However, the pico variant is based on the Raspberry Pi Pico board that uses the RP2040 microcontroller which is much cheaper and has better availability than the Teensy that is used by the normal SIDKick.
Technical features:
- Dual 6581 and/or 8580 emulation based on reSID 0.16 (optional: extension for digi-playing techniques).
- 2nd-SID address at $d400, $d420, $d500, $d420 + $d500 simultaneously, $de00, $df00 ($d500 is not available on the C128), or any address when an external chip select signal is used (e.g. on Ultimate 64 boards).
- Paddle/Mouse support.
- Built-in configuration menu (launch with “SYS 54301″/”SYS 54333″, also from C128-mode).
- Sound output via PWM (mono) through the C64/C128 mainboard, or in stereo using a PCM5102A-DAC-board.
- Flashing RGB-LED (WS2812) on GPIO 23 (installed on some Pico-clones)
My personal opinion:
My personal opinion as an inveterate purist is that no emulation or implementation will have the sound performance of the native SID (6581/8580).
I can accept as a good implementation the FPGASid and ARMSid where the developers have done a really good job.
SIDKick defends itself well and is low cost, furthermore it’s Open Source, also has a nice feature that i appreciated a lot, it has integrated configuration software that can be run with a simple SYS in both C64 and 128 modes.
So my final opinion is most people will never notice any difference, but i assure you that the differences are there, so i recommend it to everyone unless you are a SID purist.
Note:
The audio output and emulation improves if you use the PCM5102A-DAC add-on card, in my test i chose not to use it because i wanted to show you a plug’n'play without too many cables, jacks and patches. Maybe it was better to include this additional module directly on the SIDKick PCB? probably yes.
The KIT was purchased from restore-store.de, fast shipping and impeccable service.
Gallery of the shipping box:
Gallery:
Video:
source: c64-wiki.com github.com/frntc/SIDKick-pico restore-store.de
A new version of the firmware for the Kung Fu Flash Cartridge by Kim Jørgensen is released.
Changelog:
- Hide hidden and system files/folders (#184). Thanks buzbard.
- Bugfix: Wait for a valid C64 clock before selecting NTSC/PAL handler.
Download:
source: github.com/KimJorgensen/KungFuFlash
A new version of the firmware for the Ultimate-64 (U64/U64E) / U2/ U2+ / U2+L by Gideon is released.
Changes in 3.11, compared to 3.10i/j:
- This version adds WiFi support for the Ultimate 64 and Ultimate 64 Elite. Please read the manual on how to set up the ESP32 module. https://1541u-documentation.readthedocs.io/en/latest/howto/wifi.html
- Assembly 64 integration. Many users use the offline version of the great Assembly 64 online database, by running Fredrik’s tool to copy the content into folders onto a USB stick. Now, the Ultimate is the first embedded ever system that integrates access to this online database! You can now simply download and play titles directly from the internet on your Ultimate device. Please read the manual about this here: https://1541u-documentation.readthedocs.io/en/latest/howto/assembly.html
- The Ultimate now supports a basic http daemon; also known as webserver. This allows some simple files to be served from the Ultimate. This server also implements a ReSTful API, which allows an external device to control the Ultimate with standard web URLs. Read up on the API here: https://1541u-documentation.readthedocs.io/en/latest/api/api_calls.html
- JiffyDOS support for the built-in SoftwareIEC drive. This is a first step to make the internal drive more usable. More effort needs to be done to make the command set more compatible with CMD.
- On the Ultimate 64 it is now possible to isolate the serial bus from the computer, which allows the Ultimate 64 to be used as external drives. Look for “Serial Bus Mode” in the “Ultimate 64 Specific Settings”.
Fixes:
- Various small fixes, such as the telnet session closing upon mount, configuration of the cartrdiges that serve VIC data from external ROM, quite a few fixes in the emulated printer, configurable page margins, … and so on.
Download:
source: ultimate64.com github.com facebook
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