This is the story of a Commodore CBM (PET) 3032 recovered in a pitiful state.

The motherboard was covered of rust and many IC are in short circuit. I had to replace some IC (broken or full of rust), rebuild some paths of the pcb and clean very well.

I have also restored the inside of the case, using an anti-rust gel painting.

Photos and Description of the work made:

Read more…

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This is a Video RGB Hack for the console Sega SG-1000 II (Mark 2).

The Sega 315-5066 Video Chip inside the Sega SG-1000 II (Mark 2) used in the latest version of the console uses two video output formats: NTSC Composite video (converted to RF), and RGB (not connected).

The RGB Video is the stuff from which all other formats are born. Once your RGB is tapped it can be easily converted to Component or S-video, giving stunning output far superior to what the Sega SG-1000 II natively offers (only RF).

There are several caveats, of course. The biggest is the quality of the RGB output – it’s not very bright, and will result in an image without much contrast, so you will probably need to add an amplifier. Even on monitors that display a very good image without the amp you’ll sometimes find the sync signal needs an amp to generate a stable image.

I have used the same RGB/Sync Amplifier used on the PC-Engine, components and the Original schematic are shown below.

Schematic:

Components:

• 4 x 2SC1815 (Transistor)
• 4 x 220 μF 16v (Electrolytic capacitor)
• 4 x 10 μF 16v (Electrolytic capacitor)
• 4 x 75 Ω (Resistor)
• 8 x 10 KΩ (Resistor)
• 1 x 300 Ω (Resistor)

The three photos below show the connection between the RGB Amplifier and the PCB of the Sega SG-1000 II.

In this rainy day i have decided to commit myself to create a boot floppy disk for my Tandy Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 4P.

The right steps to create the boot disk:

Download LS-DOS or TRSDos (DMK version) floppy image from here , now you need to use the DMK2IMD program, a tool inside the package ImageDisk to convert the DMK floppy image to IMD (ImageDisk), then … burn it with ImageDisk.

Download:

• LS-Dos v6.3.1 (IMD) (1707)
• TRSDos v6.2 (IMD) (1774)

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I have found a Kaypro 4/84 in a non working state and some days ago i have decided to open it and i have realized that some components of the power supply are exploded and the video pcb was cracked.

I have not repaired the power supply because some components like the two burned transistors (Motorola W30 and V30) are not on the market, if you have more information about these components please leave me a message.

I had to fix the video pcb and i have installed a 200w Slim ATX power supply inside the Kaypro. I have made also other improvements to the computer, replaced the battery, totally exhausted and installing the KayPlus rom that offers some enhancements to this computer.

Below you can find the image of the Floppy Disk CP/M 2.2F 62k patched + Tools KayPlus in IMD format (ImageDisk) for the Kaypro 4/84.

Download: Kaypro 4/84 CP/M 2.2F 62k + Tools KayPlus (1488)

In these days i have had the necessity of a computer with the DOS operating system to create Boot Disk with the ImageDisk program, so i decided to retrieve my old Olidata P133 and install FreeDOS.

I have installed:

• 3COM 3C905 PCI Ethernet Card.
• TCP/IP Stack via 3COM 3C905 Packet Driver.
• Amstrad 1640 5 1/4 Floppy Drive (I had to change a jumper, see photos)
• Upgraded SIMM Ram (100 Mb)
• DOS Driver for Crystal 4232 Sound Card (SoundBlaster Compatible)
• A small fan for the cpu.
• Some Games and Utility.

Gallery:

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My Work Bench for small electronic Repair.

I am very happy to have repaired for my friend four PCB Commodore in one and half hour.

The defects are:

• Motherboard Commodore 64 ASSY 250466 with IEC bus broken. (replaced ic 7406 – U8)
• Motherboard Commodore 64 ASSY 250407 with a Video Output problem with some programs, like FIBR File Manager. (replaced ic 6526 – U2)
• Motherboard Commodore 64 ASSY 250425 with strange character at startup. (replaced ic 4264 – U12)
• Motherboard Commodore Floppy 1541 ASSY 1540050 REV C with IEC bus broken. (replaced ic 7406 – UB1 and ic 7414 – UA1)

My Modern PC with a 5.25 Floppy Drive (Epson SD-600).

This Floppy Drive model works perfectly with the programs: Omniflop / winImage / raWrite.

Download: Diskette Configuration Guide (1447)

I have recovered a Osborn 1 in pretty nice cosmetic conditions but broken ;-(

List of broken stuff:

• Startup Garbage screen.
• Long startup beep.
• Reset works 1 times out of 20.
• Modem port desoldered.
• Powersupply ripple.
• Some screws missing.

Solutions & Fixes:

• Powersupply Ripples: Replaced some capacitors.
• Modem Port de-soldered: Fixed the cold solder.
• Startup garbage screen/long beep/reset: I have replaced a broken 4116 RAM.
• Screws missing: Replaced with a new one.

I have to thank Terry ‘Tezza’ of Classic Computers Blog for the piggyback ram guide.

I used an oscilloscope to find the faulty ram cause all ram in my motherboard seemed to work well. In the photo #9 you can see the signal of the pin 2 (data in) of a faulty ram, while in the photo #8 the same signal of a working a ram.

I continue to upgrade my Amiga 2000 PAL REV 4.5. After the upgrade of the chip Fat Agnus and the Kickstart/4MB, today i have replaced the Denise chip with a new one. The Super Denise chip is capable of still higher resolutions and bit depths.

I have created a funny Poster with some things from my Museum.

Download: NightfallCrew Poster (29Mb / 4677 x 3307)

I had to make this change to get the Expansion Ram 320XL running on my Atari 800XL:

• 5v Power wire on PBI connector.
• Stabilize the clock signal for PBI Devices. (link #1 – link #2)

source: atariage.com

These are some Sid examples which i have recorded from a Commodore 64 with the SwinSID installed. You can Download the original Sid track in .sid file format and the SwinSID in .ogg file format (High Quality), so you can compare the musics.

• Natural Wonders 2 by Alexander Rotzsch (Fanta) 2008 Oxyron – SID (8580)
  
• Natural Wonders 2 by Alexander Rotzsch (Fanta) 2008 Oxyron – SWINSID

• The Alibi by Thomas E. Petersen (Laxity) 1989 Maniacs of Noise- SID (6581)
• The Alibi by Thomas E. Petersen (Laxity) 1989 Maniacs of Noise- SWINSID
  

• My Little Pony by Alexander Rotzch (Fanta) 2005 Chorus – SID (8580)
• My Little Pony by Alexander Rotzch (Fanta) 2005 Chorus – SWINSID

• Albino Human by Alexander Rotzsch (Fanta) 2006 Fanta – SID (8580)
• Albino Human by Alexander Rotzsch (Fanta) 2006 Fanta – SWINSID

Some Sid tracks play perfectly others need some emulation fixes.

I wanted to try my new desoldering station Aoyue 474A+ with the motherboard of the Commodore 64, i have unsoldered all chip and i have added a socket. It works so good and is so fast.

I continue to upgrade my Amiga 2000 PAL REV 4.5. I have upgraded the Kick Rom and added my Vector A2000i zorro Card with 4MB of fast memory.