KryoFlux is a USB-based floppy controller designed specifically for reliability, precision, and getting low-level reads suitable for software preservation.

Technical Specs:

• Compatible with USB 2.0 (high-speed).
• Powered by USB interface (approx. 500mA). Drive requires it’s own power.
• Shugart (with extensions) drive interface. 34-pin dual-row header connector.
• Developed with 3.5″ Samsung SFD-321 and 5.25″ Newtronics D509 drives and compatibles. Other types of drives and media (such as 3″) currently under investigation.
• Connection of two drives supported using a dual floppy cable, one can be accessed at a time.

source: kryoflux.com

Floppy Emulator (PCB by Lotharek):

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The HxC Floppy Emulator is very smart device, designed by Jean-François DEL NERO. It allows you to emulate any 34 pins floppy disk drive. The SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator can replace different kind of floppy disk drive and allows you use SDCard media instead of floppy disk.

This emulator is actually used on Amiga, Atari, CPC, PC computers, different keyboards and samplers, CNC machine tool, and scientist instruments. The full list of supported host computer/instruments are on the project website.

source: hxc2001.free.fr lotharek.pl

Autopsy:

Manosoft the author of the famous interface C64SD in these days is selling a replacement part for our Commodore 64 (first model) and SX64, we are talking about the PLA chip (906114-01), the component for excellence of failure of many Commodore 64.

The chip PLA (906114-01) is no longer sold as spare part, but the file for build a ‘homebrew’ PLA clone is available online. The Manosoft PLA is designed specifically to meet all people.

I and Manosoft after a careful reading of C64 forums we concluded that we must utilize a 27C512 PROM 90ns from ST (instead of an EPROM). This means you get a good compatibility (like 99%) with all Software and Hardware available for the Commodore 64.

source: c64sd.roxer.com

This site is about recreating gaming hardware from the past in modern programmable devices, known as FPGAs.

source: fpgaarcade.com

Individual computers has been working on a new turbo cards for the Amiga 600 and 1200. If you wish to purchase the turbo cards visit the official resellers Vesalia.

source: vesalia.de

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 v1.5.0.0:

• New Feature : Floppy disk dump tool : To use this tool you need the fdrawcmd driver (http://simonowen.com/fdrawcmd).
• E-Mu Emulator I support : E-Mu Emulator I FM track support added (generator & sector extractor)
• E-Mu Emulator I support : E-Mu Emulator I RAW file image support added (*.emuiifd)

source: hxc2001.free.fr

DualSID is a device which allows you to plug in two different SID models to your Commodore 64. You can set the second SID‘s address to five different memory locations.

Both SIDs can be set to the same memory area which enables stereo sound to your favourite games. DualSID is compatible with most stereo SID software and demos.

Features:

• Second SID can be either 8580 or 6581 with any C64 board assembly.
• Second SID address is selectable from: $D400, $D420, $D500, $DE00, $DF00
• Small PCB, only 40mm x 50mm
• Game compatibility.

For more information and price visit the Tomi Malinen homepage

source: dual sid homepage

Autopsy:

The Expansion Ram 320XL is a external plug and play 320kB memory expansion card for Atari 600XL and 800XL machines designed by ctirad a user of AtariAge Forum.

Additionally there is a possibility to disable internal memory and remap it onto card (switchable via jumper), thus one can “fix” many failing XLs without even looking inside. Also, an unexpanded 16kB 600XLs can be upgraded to 320XL without any additional work.

The Expansion Ram 320XL uses banking via bits 2,3,5,6 and 4 of PORTB. As you can see this is compatible with “Atari magazine” expansion rather than a most common RAMBO or Compy shop setup, however I have to say the comaptibility with both old and new software is excellent. There can be only problem with some programs, which does use the separate Antic/CPU banking.

The Installation is very easy. The Atari 600XL users will just plug it into PBI port. For Atari 800XL is a bit more complicated, because Atari decided to remove 5V power from the PBI connector from it. Thus 800XL users will have either to use additional power cable which will fit into joystick port or solder one wire inside atari to make the PBI port powered like on 600XL (look photo).

For more information and price visit the atariage.com.

source: atariage.com

This is a Joystick port Switcher for Commodore 64.

It switches the digital signals from the joystick and the analogue signals for the mouse or paddles. The Green LED is turned on when the ports are being swapped.

The Joystick port Switcher remembers the last swap state when turned off and will resume that mode when the Commodore 64 is next turned on.

Provides ESD protection for the Commodore 64 CIA’s as there is no direct connection from the Commodore 64 ports to the joystick inputs.

For more information and price visit the lemon64.com

Here you can see some photo of the first version of the 1541 Ultimate II tape extender. With the latest firmware it’s now possible capture tape data to a .TAP file!

source: 1541ultimate.net

Micro SwinSID (SwinSID88) is a hardware replacement for legendary SID sound chip which was placed in every Commodore C64 computer.

This project is based on the microcontroller ATMEGA88PU from Atmel and the emulation code is written by Swinkels. The first version of the pcb (prototype) was made by Crisp.

On the left you can see the tiny PCB of the Micro SwinSID made by a user of the forum64.de.

*This PCB is compatible with Commodore 64 and 64C but you need to Remove the resistor R3 if you install the Micro SwinSID on Commodore 64/SX64 where the SID 6581 is used.

For more information and price visit the forum64.de.

from C64scene homepage:

Tomi Malinen is currently developing a dual SID board, although there are other solutions available for your C64 this one is interesting because of the ability to use either 6581 or 8580 as SID #2 no matter the board revision.

This means that you can play games with 6581 sound from the first channel and 8580 sound from the second.

Other features of the dual SID board are:

• Small board, only about 40mm x 50mm.
• SID #2 address jumper selectable between D400, D420, D500, DE00, DF00.
• MSSIAH-compatibility at DE00.
• Full game compatibility with double mono setting at D400.

Installation requires soldering, two wires attach to the cartridge port and two have to be soldered to the Kernal IC. When the SID #2 is mapped to D400, D420, D500 the wires to the cartridge port are not used.

Photo of both protypes installed:

source: c64scene.com lemon64.com

Autopsy:

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My new desoldering station and a magnifying lamp has arrived!

After some frustrating times removing solder on an almost 30 year old PCB i decided to get a desoldering station.

So after using this for a few hours what one word can I use to describe this station? AWESOME! I don’t know how i lived without this in the past. Using desoldering braid or a soldapullt is OK but not consistent.

Package content of Aoyue 474A+:

• 474 Station.
• Desoldering Gun.
• Filter pads 6pcs.
• Silicone Grease.
• Filter pipe.
• Nozzle cleaning pins.
• Power cord.
• Desoldering gun holder.

source: aoyue.com

This is the last notice for the Ultimate 1541 version 2.

from 1541 Ultimate homepage:

• It is now possible to order accessories for the 1541U-II. This is possible through the “Order Status” page. In case your unit has already been shipped, please create another order of 0 (zero) 1541U-II units, and add the accessories to that order.
• Tape connector boards have been ordered. Expect 150 of them in about 2 weeks. One board clicks under the 1541-II case; the other holds the 2×6 pin tape connector and tape feed-through. The two boards connect to each other using a standard 10-pin flat cable. The part that clicks under the 1541-II case can also be used to power the cartridge for stand-alone mode (requires software update). I am planning to ship the tape connector boards as build-it-yourself kits to keep it cheap. Assembly possible for a small extra fee.
• If you paid after June 1, you will need to wait until the new production batch is finished. You will receive an E-mail about this soon! (Refund possible..)

Read more…

USB-64 – Turning Commodore 64 into a USB host for Mass Storage Drives.

The prototype uses two devices:

• A cartridge to provide software and commands to operate the USB device.
• A user-port device that interfaces with the USB stick.

With the proto-type it is possible to transfer files at 1.2 kB/s (serial) or 9.5 kB/s parallel.

source: luigidifraia.com