My Work Bench for small electronic Repair.

Finally available the C64anabalt Cartridge for Commodore 64.

C64anabalt is an official conversion of Adam Atomic & Danny B.’s award winning single-button 2009 indie game Canabalt for the 8-Bit, 64KB RAM, 1Mhz Commodore 64 home computer developed by Paul Koller (Paulko64). This particular version was designed to run from a 16KB cartridge.

source: rgcd.co.uk

The cartridge EasyFlash III by Skoe is available on Retro-Donald shop. Like the previous version the VHDL code is open source.

This version introduces several new features, like:

• Kernal emulation (no need hardware changes).
• If you choose to use the Kernal emulation the RAM will be available.
• You can choose 8 Kernal’s.
• You can choose 7 EasyFlash’s.
• USB connector for firmware updates.
• Emulation of FinalCartridge III, ActionReplay…

source: retro-donald.de skoe.de

Autopsy:

After 8 long months of waiting i finally received the Ultimate 1Mb module by Candle’o'Sin.

The Ultimate 1Mb module is a expansion for Atari XE/XL.

This module allows a easy installation regardless of machine type one chooses and is not intrusive to original hardware. The Ultimate 1Mb was designed to fit in any XL/XE computer, including 1200XL and XEGS – there are no versions as such, the only diffrence might be with lenght of ribbon cables it connects to motherboard

Features:

• To be as much solderless as possible (only RW, PHI2, HALT and RESET lines need soldering)
• Fully flashable SpartaDOS-X with up to 320kbytes for its purposes
• RTC module for SDX with battery backup and NVRAM
• Fully flashable 4 OS ROM slots
• Hardware WRITE PROTECT for whole Flash array
• Configurable memory expansion with 4 modes of operation (disabled, 320k RAMBO, 578k COMPY SHOP, 1088k RAMBO)
• Customizable BASIC and MISSLE COMMAND slots (also flashable)
• System select/Memory exp mode select from integrated BIOS

source: spiflash.org atariage.com

This new project based on a ZoomFloppy device makes it possible to read and write cassettes with a Commodore Datassette and a PC via USB.

Specifications:

• 16MHz sampling rate.
• CAP / TAP file format, C64, C16, VIC-20 and experimental Spectrum48K support.

source: zoomtape.de.vu

The HxC Floppy Drive Emulator is a software and hardware system created by jfdn aka Jeff.

The aim of this project is to replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device emulating the floppy disk drive (list of supported Computer/Hardware).

There are two differents emulators:

• A USB version which allows to connect the floppy disk drive interface of the computer to a PC via a USB cable.
• A SDCARD version which allows to emulate floppy disks which images are stored in a SDCARD.

Release notes for the HxCFloppyEmulator software v1.6.11.15:

• zlib updated : zlib 1.2.5
• New files Support : Winimage *.IMZ file.
• New files Support : *.GHK (Ensoniq EPS) file image support.
• Oric DSK : Deleted address mark support added!
• TI99/4A TI99PC99 loader : sector search function corrected.
• TI99 V9T9 format : New disk geometry supported, double sided disk support corrected.
• … full release notes here

Download: HxCFloppyEmulator software v1.6.11.15 (1049)

source: hxc2001.free.fr

Autopsy:

After ten years of use, i finally decided to replace my old Willem programmer with an updated version of this nice programmer. The Willem PRO 4 ISP.

Willem PRO 4 ISP is the most popular programmer on Europe. Programmer is built on two-sided laminate with metal-plated openings, solder mask complete with description of components.

Willem PRO 4 ISP could be connected into devices directly via ISP (In System Programming) connector.The main advantage of ISP is possibility to program devices directly in place without any need to dismount them. Because of that and high-tech software solutions our programmer is much more useful in various programming tasks. ISP could be powered directly by Willem Programmer or by device’s power supply.

source: programatory.com

Blok Copy cartridge for Commodore 64 is now available for ordering.

from the homepage:

TMR and I debated for some time on whether or not to wait until after our ongoing competition before releasing Blok Copy on cartridge. However, as we both have a lot on over the coming months (what with the Replay Expo 2011 coming up), we decided to just go for it and add the cartridge to the shop page. It’ll probably be a little while before the official disk release from Cosine comes out, but I’m sure that a pirate will get a cracked version out in the next few days ;)

Blok Copy began as a game written in order to learn the Atari 2600 hardware, where it utilised vertical splits to achieve seven independently coloured playfield objects. Although the Atari 2600 version is near enough complete, to date it remains unreleased on T.M.R’s workstation. However, although the game is yet to make it’s debut appearance on Atari hardware, Blok Copy has been released on three Commodore variations; namely the PET, C64DTV and of course the C64 (this cartridge).

source: rgcd.co.uk

This is a new ZoomFloppy package v2.0 that include a new release of OpenCBM and the ZoomFloppy Firmware v0.7.

Here are the changes in the v2.0 version:

• Many improvements and bugfixes.
• Add support for IEEE-488 drives. Implemented by Thomas Winkler.
• Add experimental support for 1571 serial nibbling via the SRQ protocol. Now you don’t need a parallel cable with a 1571. Implemented by Arnd Menge.
• Add support for low-level drive analysis with a 1541 index-hole sensor. This works only on drives with a parallel port and nibtools.
• Bugfix: cbmcopy -r or cbmread now no longer hangs at the end of a transfer.
• Bugfix: don’t reset the bus twice if previous command was interrupted and this command is “cbmctrl reset”.
• Bugfix: increase reset time to 100 ms to be sure all drives are reset.
• Linux build fix for more modern kernels.

Download: OpenCBM (Win) + ZoomFloppy firmware v0.7 (1721)

Download: ZoomFloppy Manual v2.0 (1992)

source: google groups sourceforge.net tommy winkler homepage retro innovations

The PETdisk is a new storage device, made by bitfixer, for the Commodore CBM / PET with an IEEE-488 port.

The system is in two parts. A datassette module that makes it possible to play “data” from a PC soundcard to the CBM / PET and play “data” from the CBM / PET to the PC. The IEEE-488 module has an SD card and a micro processor.

You can use the commands LOAD, SAVE and LOAD “$” to load or store data on the SD card. The device number can be changed with a help of a jumper. The USB cable is used to provide 5VDC from the datassette module to the IEEE-488 module.

For more informations,schematics,documentations and price of the kit please visit the site of the author.

source: bitfixer.com

Propeddle is an Open Source hardware/software project and it’s a universal platform to (re-)create many types of 6502-based computers, or design a new one.

The name Propeddle is a contraction of “Propeller” and “Peddle”, after Chuck Peddle, the principal engineer behind the 6502 and the PET-2001.

Download: Schematics and board layout (REV 5A) (1061)

source: savagecircuits.com propeddle.com

The HxC Floppy Drive Emulator is a software and hardware system created by jfdn aka Jeff.

The aim of this project is to replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device emulating the floppy disk drive (list of supported Computer/Hardware).

There are two differents emulators:

• A USB version which allows to connect the floppy disk drive interface of the computer to a PC via a USB cable.
• A SDCARD version which allows to emulate floppy disks which images are stored in a SDCARD.

Release notes for the HxCFloppyEmulator software v1.6.11.6:

• New files Support : Roland W30 file image support.
• BUG : HFE writer buffer overflow corrected.
• SAP Thomson file support Enhanced.
• STT Atari ST file support : Track signature check added.
• … full release notes here

Download: HxCFloppyEmulator software v1.6.11.6 (1014)

source: hxc2001.free.fr

The cartridge EasyFlash III by Skoe is slowly taking shape. Like the previous one the VHDL code is open source.

This version introduces several new features, like:

• Kernal emulation (no need hardware changes).
• If you choose to use the Kernal emulation the RAM will be available.
• You can choose 8 Kernal’s.
• You can choose 7 EasyFlash’s.
• USB connector for firmware updates.
• Emulation of FinalCartridge III, ActionReplay…

source: forum64.de

petSD is the name of the new AVR-based hardware. It’s a modern mass storage solution for Commodore PET/CBM computers with IEEE 488bus using SD cards as floppy or hard disc replacement.

If you know the SD2IEC or µIEC: the petSD is just the same but for the older parallel IEEE 488 bus instead of the newer serial IEC bus.

Site update:

Nils Eilers has made a new layout with some bugs fixed and has ordered a first batch of PCBs.

source: nils eilers homepage

This project by Frank Buß is a cheap solution to connect a digital joystick to a PC using the USB interface.

The interface uses Freescale microcontroller that will simulate a USB keyboard and translates the joystick signals to keyboard signals.

source: www.frank-buss.de