It’s been 4 years since i last updated the firmware of these devices, so it was time to do so.
Gallery:
Download:
The A8PicoCart is a very cheap multi-cart for the Atari 8-bit (XL/XE) which you can make at home with only basic soldering skills.
The cartridge supports the following file formats: ROM/CAR/XEX and a limited support for ATR files.
Instruction manual, firmware, gerber & STL files and other documentation can be found on Robin Hedwards github page.
You can see a short video i made click here.
Gallery:
This is a short story of the Roland MT32 Midi repair.
The MT32 MIDI interface had an annoying audio problem (you can listen to the audio files attached to this post).
It seemed like the classic problem of exhausted electrolytic capacitors, but instead it was due to the ROM ROLAND R15449121 (TC534000P) position IC37.
To replace the original ROM it would have been enough to use an OTP Eprom 27C040 which however i didn’t have in the laboratory so i used a FLASHROM AM29F040 by modifying some connections.
The filename of the file used to program the FLASHROM is “r15449121.ic37.bin” which you can find in the archive attached to this post.
Below is the documentation how to adapt the AM29F040 instead of a 27C040.
Tie 29F040 WE (PIN 31) and connect to VCC (PIN 32)
Tie 29F040 A18 (PIN 1) and connect to PIN 31 on Socket or PCB
Monkey Island Audio difference before and after repair:
Gallery:
Download: Roland MT32 (various OS and extra ROMs) (256)
source: Synth Eprom Dumps
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:
Download: All Games in One Archive (1420)
source: csdb.dk
A new version of the firmware for the Kung Fu Flash Cartridge by Kim Jørgensen is released.
Changelog:
Download:
SD-1000/PiCOLECO/PiRTO-II are Flash Multicarts for Sega SC3000/SG-1000,CBS ColecoVision,Mattel Intellivision by Andrea Ottaviani based on the cheap version of the Raspberry Pi Pico clone (purple PCB).
I wanted to try and assemble this interesting project and i must say that i was very satisfied. I also contacted Andrea for a small problem of loading the ROMs for the Multicart Intellivision and he was immediately available even though it was Sunday lunch time :-)
I assembled two Multicarts for each console model because as soon as i informed my friend Andry about this project he wanted them too :-D
The Multicarts you see in this article are NOT for sale, for more information about firmware,flashing fw,gerber,3D case model i recommend you visit the github site where these projects are published.
How much did i spend for each multicart?
More or less for each single Flash Multicart complete with all components you will spend around €6.00.
This includes the components that i already had at home and the minimum order from JLCPCB for each PCB which are 5 pieces, as a result i did the division on the JLCPCB invoice total.
Download the ROMs for Sega SC3000/SG-1000, ColecoVision, Intellivision (including CFG mappers) fully renamed and divided into folders in alphabetical order here.
Flash Multicarts Cartridge Case Shell Cover:
I purchased the Texas Instruments Grillo Parlante Più (Super Speak & Spell) for a few euros and fully aware that the contact plates for the batteries due to an acid leak has been destroyed (see photo).
After testing it if actually still worked, i did a good cleaning of the battery compartment, body and display.
I replaced the contact plates for the batteries with similar ones recovered from an old dead and defunct cassette recorder.
The final result is perfect, it looks like the original, even better because i put the battery negative spring in the correct side, the original has the springs all on one side, both for the positive and negative of the battery.
Gallery of work done:
Video:
I wanted to remake the RGB connections of my CBS ColecoVision console a bit and design a new diagram for connecting the RGB video output.
This console was sold with an external modulator (CBS Electronics Adaptateur Antenne 7466 – 6F) that converted the signal from RGB to RF and it seems a Scart cable was not provided for direct connection to the television.
The original ColecoVision D-SUB DB15 to Scart cable that i have doesn’t have the correct pinout but it works perfectly with another ColecoVision always with RGB output but with an internal encoder that converts the Y (B-Y) (R-Y) to RGB signals (PAL Secam Converter A).
This fact is really curious, apparently there are more versions with RGB output as well as RF.
I decided to remove the old RGB cable that i soldered internally about 15 years ago and replace it with an RGB cable connected to the Coleco native connector.
The problem with doing this operation has always been the D-SUB DB15 connector which must be of a certain size, otherwise it won’t fit.
Brilliantly solved using a SNK NeoGeo Joypad extension cable, where we have a DB15 D-SUB connector pre-cast in the plastic where all 15 pins are used (in theory only 14 are needed for the NeoGeo Joypad, but all 15 are connected)
I cut the cable from the neogeo joypad male connector side and soldered the wires to a Scart connector and for the Fast Switching signal before connecting it to pin 16 of the scart i used a 100ohm resistor in series, i did not use the Function Switching signal.
One more thing, the Audio signal from the console native RGB connector is very low, so i made a jumper (see photo) to bypass a resistor and a ceramic capacitor, therefore i took the audio directly from PIN 7 of the SN76489 (Sound Generator).
Of course everything works perfectly.
Gallery of work done:
A new firmware update for the ARMSiD has been released by Nobomi.
News features and fixes in FW 2.16:
Download: ARMSiD v2.16 [PRG/D64/CONFIG] (329)
source: nobomi.cz github.com/nobomi/Arduino-ARMSID-configurator
.- the inexpensive dual-SID/FM replacement that you can build yourself -.
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.
Changelog:
Note:
There are different .uf2-files are firmware files with PWM and/or DAC output, flashing (RGB-)LED on/off AND for hardware revision 0.1 and 0.2.
Review:
My SID Player plays SID tunes with the SIDKick-pico.
SIDKick-Pico by Frenetic.
Download: SIDKick-Pico Firmware v0.202 (256)
source: c64-wiki.com github.com/frntc/SIDKick-pico restore-store.de
.- the inexpensive dual-SID/FM replacement that you can build yourself -.
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.
Changelog:
Note:
There are different .uf2-files are firmware files with PWM and/or DAC output, flashing (RGB-)LED on/off AND for hardware revision 0.1 and 0.2.
Review:
My SID Player plays SID tunes with the SIDKick-pico.
SIDKick-Pico by Frenetic.
Download: SIDKick-Pico Firmware v0.201 (233)
source: c64-wiki.com github.com/frntc/SIDKick-pico restore-store.de
A new version of the firmware for the Ultimate U2+L by Gideon is released.
Changes in 3.11a:
Due to “life” (e.g. house renovation) there has not been any time for testing this firmware for other hardware platforms. Will come soon.
Download: Ultimate U2+L v3.11a Firmware (298)
source: ultimate64.com github.com facebook
.- the inexpensive dual-SID/FM replacement that you can build yourself -.
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.
Changelog:
Note:
There are different .uf2-files are firmware files with PWM and/or DAC output, flashing (RGB-)LED on/off AND for hardware revision 0.1 and 0.2.
Review:
My SID Player plays SID tunes with the SIDKick-pico.
SIDKick-Pico by Frenetic.
Download: SIDKick-Pico Firmware v0.20 (233)
source: c64-wiki.com github.com/frntc/SIDKick-pico restore-store.de
The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall
Based on the Project and Hardware Schematic by Markus Gritsch released in the years 2011-2015 on the forum dangerousprototypes. Thanks Markus.
Changelog:
v2.00 – 11/5/2024
Added:
Below is an excerpt from the “config.ini” file.
# FPGASid/Armsid Auto Switching (0:Disabled – 1:Socket #1 – 2:Socket #2) – default: 0
# When you use this mode the other socket it does not activate automatically.
FPGASID_SOCKET=0
When choosing this mode the FPGASid must be installed ONLY in one of the two sockets, you must also choose which socket to use for the FPGASid by editing the configuration file.
When configuring auto switching for the FPGASid during boot the SID Player is displayed the message “FPGASid Socket #” followed by the socket number where the FPGASid was configured in the configuration file. This message is intended only to inform you that the configuration has been correctly activated.
*** Please read if you want to use the FPGASid in Auto Switching mode ***
The status LED indicating the SID that is used to play the song will remain fixed on the socket where the FPGASid was installed, therefore it will not change between Socket #1 and Socket #2.
The display of the SID model from the music track being played will consequently be displayed Only on the display.
The ‘sidSet’ mode will work exactly as before, the only difference is that if no SID is installed in the other Socket no sound will be played :-D while if a SID model 6581 or 8580 is installed you will be able to compare the fidelity of the FPGASid by switching between the two SIDs (obviously better if the same model).
The configuration of the model of the Sid with which to play the piece of music in the configuration file although working in this case it is to be considered Virtual because we would no longer have a change of state between Sockets for each SID model, therefore i decided to assign a static numbering to the SID.
For files in DMP format (conversion from RSID to RAW) playback is automatically forced with the 8580 SID of the FPGASid.
Jumpers to configure if the FPGASid is installed:
Updated:
Fixed:
NOTE: The SID Player currently only supports the FPGASID for SID auto switching.
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