Sakhr Computers was a Kuwaiti company (Al Alamiah co.) that was selling MSX computers imported from Japan in all of the Arab world. These MSX were localized and rebranded for some Arabic markets.

The AX-370 is the Sanyo WAVY PHC-70FD MSX2+ computer localised by Al Alamiah with more RAM (128kB instead of 64kB). This machine has an Arabic QWERTY keyboard.

The Rensha controller (autofire), the Pause key and the X-BASIC (or Turbo-Basic) have been removed, the MSX2+ bios roms have been replaced by MSX2 roms, but there’s still the MSX2+ videochip, the Yamaha V9958. It means that software using in language machine the MSX2+ features, especially SCREEN 10 to 12 and the horizontal scrolling, can be runned on this MSX2 computer.

This machine comes with version 2.03 of Arabic firmware, present on all Sakhr/Al Alamiah computers. The firmware can be skipped by pressing CTRL key while booting and until you come on the MSX-BASIC screen. By doing that, the machine will be in International mode and the Arabic characters will not be available.

However, from MSX-BASIC, you can fully enable the Arabic mode with CALL ARABIC, _ ARABIC, CALL ARABON or _ ARABON. It is also possible to keep the Arabic BASIC active without the other Arabic features by entering first CALL ARABIC or _ ARABIC, then CALL ARABOFF or _ ARABOFF.

This firmware adds Arabic characters, new MSX-BASIC commands (see Arabic BASIC) and 4 applications. You can choose them in the menu with the keys 1 to 4.

By comparison with version 2.02, a new application has been added, it’s Sakhr BASIC or how to use BASIC directly in Arabic language. Other options are Word Processor with choice between English or Arabic Word Processor, the Arabic version of The Painter, a graphic tool in screen 5 (the original version can be found in the Yamaha YIS-805) and the Calendar.

If you press key 5 when you are in the menu, you will go to MSX-BASIC. Going back to the menu is possible with CALL MENU or _ MENU. From MSX-BASIC, the Word Processor can be launched with CALL SWP or _ SWP, Sakhr Basic with CALL SBASIC or _ SBASIC, The Painter with CALL PAINT or _ PAINT, the Calendar with CALL CALENDAR or _ CALENDAR.

If you are in International mode, only CALL SWP or _SWP can be used, you will directly go to the English (or French) Word Processor. It’s not recommended to use the other commands without first enabling the Arabic mode.

Gallery:

Gallery of Cleaning and Testing:

source: msx.org

I used a product to regenerate the rubber keypad of remote controls to repair the keyboard flat cable of a Home Computer MSX.

I have used this product many times for my work of Retro Computer restoration but never to regenerate the rubber keypad of remote controls :D

Gallery of the repair:

Keyboard #1

Defect:

• When the keyboard is connected, the computer doesn’t work (black screen)

Components replaced:

• 1 x 74LS132P (U4)

Keyboard #2

Defect:

• The Caps lock flashes three times and the keyboard doesn’t work.

Fix:

• Cold solder joint on the capacitor (C11)

Gallery:

Some new games or tools (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups.

Titles:

• QWAK 1.2 +4H
• QWAK 1.2 16K Compo Final
• QWAK 16K V1.2 +4HF
• Evil Garden +4D
• Scout +5DGH
• Ghosts’n Goblins Arcade / Commando Arcade SE / Bruce Lee II [easyflash] [bugfixed]
• Munch Load +M
• Zorro in Wonderland 2 Preview
• Color Code
• Sea Slug +3D
• Honey Bee [real sales version] +6D
• Challenge of the Gobots on the Moebius Strip +5DGH
• Deja Vu & Uninvited +1DW [easyflash]
• Excalibur +
• Ocean Ranger [1581,FD,HD]
• Mission Odessa +2DTS
• Excalibur
• The Curse of Sherwood +26D
• V.I.O.S. (Special Edition 2011) +2 [seuck]
• Estados of Brasil
• States of Brazil
• Kabura
• Gunslinger [1581,FD,HD]
• Valhalla +3DMS
• Tycoon Tex Preview +2
• Dorks Dilemma Preview +2
• Kabura +2T
• The Crown of Ariiance
• Breakaway
• Super Jumpkick Preview

Download: All Games in One Archive (3529)

source: csdb.dk

CBM prg Studio Version 3.5.0 is released. There are a lot of new features in this version. I’d really appreciate it if you report any bugs you find or have any suggestions/comments.

CBM prg Studio allows you to type a BASIC or Machine Code program in using a nice Windows environment and convert it to a ‘.prg’ file which you can run on an emulator, or even a real C64 / VIC20 or PET if you’re feeling brave and have the right kit.

CBM prg Studio is the result of merging C64PrgGen and VIC20PrgGen. Adding new features and fixing bugs in two apps which were 95% similar was a bit of a nightmare so merging them made sense.

It was also a good opportunity for a face lift and to add some new features, such as:

• Programs are project based, meaning all related source files, sprite files etc. are kept in one place and multiple source files can be linked more easily.
• Tabbed MDI.
• Syntax highlighting.

What CBM prg Studio isn’t is a front-end for tok64, cbmcnvrt, bastext or any other tokeniser / detokeniser / assembler. It’s all been written completely from scratch.

New features in v3.8.0:

• Assembler:
  • Logical operators.
  • Code relocation.
  • Watch labels/addresses.
  • Local character mapping.

• Screen Editor:
  • More export options.
  • Change border colour.

• Sprite Editor:
  • Multiple layers for preview.
  • Invert sprite.

• General:
  • Load VICE palettes.
  • Open a command line.

Bugs Fixed:

• General:
  • Remember ‘close start page’ state.

• Sprite editor:
  • Imported sprites had the same data.
  • Select mode on scratch pad didn’t work.

• Screen code builder:
  • Left arrow generated wrong code.

• Character editor:
  • Export characters as hexadecimal.
  • Multicolour chars flip left/right not working.

See the help for a complete list of new features and fixed bugs.

Note In this version, each target machine can have its own default project directory. If you are upgrading from a previous version (before version 2.5.1) of CBM prg Studio you may be asked to set up your project directories again. Your current projects will not be affected.

Download: CBM prg Studio v3.8.0 (921)

source: ajordison.co.uk

Below the description of the repairing of two Processor Technology SOL-20.

Processor Technology SOL-20 #1 Repair

Defect:

• Dead/Split Screen.

First of ALL!

• You should never replace CD4029 with HCF4029 although apparently could work and maybe it works .. on some motherboard could do bizarre defects or video glitches, like a split screen!

Components replaced and fixes:

• Replaced all IC series HCF 4XXX HCF with the right CD 4XXX series.
• Sprayed DUE-CI G-22 on all Texas Instruments IC sockets.
• Replaced wrong ic 74LS157 in place of a 74LS367 (U29)
• Rebuild broken pcb track near the caps (C15)
• Replaced wrong capacitor of 22uf in place of a 1uf (C67)
• Rebuild  bridges under the IC U46 that has seen better days.
• Replaced Capacitor (C31)
• Remake cold welding on the PSU connector and the socket of CPU Intel 8080A.
• Removed a little piece of solder under a socket (see photo)
• Replaced 74LS138 (U34) dead without reason while typing this text on the SOL-20 (FUCKKKK!!!!!!!!!)

… Some Beers… :-D

Gallery of the repair:

Processor Technology SOL-20 #2 Repair

Defect:

• Black Screen/Dead.

First of ALL!

• You should never replace CD4029 with HCF4029 although apparently could work and maybe it works .. on some motherboard could do a bizarre defects or video glitches!

Components replaced and fixes:

• Replaced all IC series HCF 4XXX HCF with the right CD 4XXX series.
• Sprayed DUE-CI G-22 on all Texas Instruments IC sockets.
• Cleaned the motherboard and connectors with Kontakt PCC (Printed Circuits Cleaner)
• Temporarily removed the IC 74LS136 (U22) which put in short-circuit the personality card and burned the 74LS04 (U24). Probably this is a “homebrew” modification for a particular Personality card.
• Replaced wrong ic 74LS04 (U23) in place of a 74LS20 (U23)
• Replaced RAM 2102 (U15)

Note:

• Many sockets not of the Texas Instruments completely rusted are previously been replaced by the owner of this computer (Alessandro Polito).

Gallery of the repair:

12►

TekTronix DS1000G (NTSC version) Television Demodulator

The television demodulator can demodulate M/N standard television signals to baseband video and audio. In addition, the DS1001G provides the capability of recognizinga GCR signal and applying
correction to the baseband video output.

TheDS1001A/DS1001G covers the tuning range of 55.25 to 801.25MHz. The high performance of the conversion guarantees a measurement-quality signal after demodulation.

Gallery:

Download: TekTronix DS1000G Manual (1098)

A friend of mine left me some ZX Spectrum clones produced in the 90′s in Czechoslovakia and Russia.

As you can see from the photos i have tried to find the right pinout of the RGB video and audio output.

Thanks again Andrea Pierdomenico.

Gallery:

A friend of mine left me some ZX Spectrum clones produced in the 90′s in Czechoslovakia and Russia.

As you can see from the photos i have tried to find the right pinout of the RGB video and audio output.

Thanks again Andrea Pierdomenico.

Gallery:

A friend of mine left me some ZX Spectrum clones produced in the 90′s in Czechoslovakia and Russia.

As you can see from the photos i have tried to find the right pinout of the RGB video and audio output.

Thanks again Andrea Pierdomenico.

Gallery:

A friend of mine left me some ZX Spectrum clones produced in the 90′s in Czechoslovakia and Russia.

As you can see from the photos i have tried to find the right pinout of the RGB video and audio output.

Thanks again Andrea Pierdomenico.

Gallery:

12►

A friend of mine left me some ZX Spectrum clones produced in the 90′s in Czechoslovakia and Russia.

As you can see from the photos i have tried to find the right pinout of the RGB video and audio output.

Thanks again Andrea Pierdomenico.

Gallery:

source: https://k1.spdns.de/Vintage/Sinclair/82/Clones/Russia/LENINGRAD/

…from the author website:

Since the end of 2015, it became clear that the “good old” 1541 Ultimate-II was at the end of its life cycle. Xilinx, the manufacturer of the most important chip of the cartridge, had started to increase the prices of the chip. Also the memory chip started to be harder to get and at higher cost. When the news came that the company that made the black plastic cases for the 1541 Ultimate-II had lost the injection mold tool, it became evident that the 1541 Ultimate-II would be no more.

I have given it some thought. What would be the best way to continue with this project? When the feelings of being upset about the lost injection tool had subsided, I realized that this may be the perfect moment for an upgrade. This is when set backs change into opportunity.

Since then, a lot of work, and I really mean A LOT OF WORK has been done to create a successor: the “Ultimate-II+”.  Why not “III”, you may ask or think. Well, the foremost reason is the software. The install base of the “1541 Ultimate-II” is rather large (>3000 units), and I do not want to let my customers down that have just purchased a unit. This means that in case of new hardware, the same software should run on both the new board, as well as on the older board. So, the new board will offer similar functionality. You could see it just as an upgrade, not an entirely new product.

Although the “Ultimate-II+” is similar, there are also differences:

• No more MicroSD!  (… that needs to be pushed in with something sharp, could fall into the case, … etc)
• More USB ports (… one to compensate for the lost SD, and just one bonus: 3 in total)
• IEC connector moved (… further back to facilitate use on some C128 models)
• Integrated Ethernet (… no more need for an external USB2LAN adapter, and a smaller step to CS8900A compatibility)
• Dual Flash (… no more worry that a software bug or upgrade failure leads to a bricked device)
• Integrated Speaker (… who connects a speaker set to the audio jack for hearing drive sounds??)
• External power supply connector with auto-switch over circuit (… for stand alone mode, and to lower the demand on the power supply of the C64)
• Improved Audio (… audio codec, 24 bit/96 kHz*, for sampled sounds and SID emulation)
• Improved Tape connector (… no more custom board and able that snaps in on the bottom, but standard USB 3.0 cable)
• Improved power supply circuits (… for some reason they seemed to break down relatively often)
• Slightly bigger and faster FPGA, as to control the new features

source: 1541ultimate.net

A new version of the firmware for the interface 1541 Ultimate II is released. This version runs only on the 1541 Ultimate II cartridge (new fpga).

Release notes 3.0 beta 7:

r297 | gideonz | 2016-04-15 21:27:25 +0200 (Fri, 15 Apr 2016)

Download: 1541 Ultimate II Firmware v3.0 Beta 7 (1232)

source: 1541ultimate.net

Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports:

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.8.2a

• HD floppy disk format issue corrected : write buffer size corrected.

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.0.8.2a (1152)

source: hxc2001.com