First of all, I must thank my dear friend Andrea for helping me financially to purchase this interface (one of the last pieces of the third batch).
Unboxing R&D Automation CFFA3000:
This is a CompactFlash / USB flash drive interface for Apple II family of computers.
Specifications:
- Support 1 to 13 partitions under ProDOS and GS/OS, and 2 virtual floppy drives
- Virtual Floppy image support allows the use of almost any non-copy-protected floppy disk image, including .dsk, .2mg, and .nib files. Note: .nib files of protected floppies will not work with the CFFA3000
- Allows storage of thousands of floppy and smartport disk images
- User configurable partition count
- Boot from either device and any partition
- Allow booting from Dos3.3, Pascal, CPM, Contiki, ProDOS or GS/OS directly from the Interface card (for a floppy-less system)
- Configurable as a CFFA smart port controller (i.e. a mass storage device) or as a floppy controller, or both. When configured as both, requires 2 slots in your Apple II, one for the physical card, and one for the virtual floppy controller.
- Hardware supports DMA, although v1.0 software does not currently support DMA. Future support is planned, but not guaranteed.
Apple IIgs through the GBS 8200 v4:
Apple IIgs through the GBS 8200 v4 (display scalar board) to a VGA Monitor.
The cable that i have made takes from the Video Connector of the Apple IIgs the 12v voltage for the GBS 8200.
Schematics:
Video Demostration of CFFA3000 through the GBS 8200:
source: CFFA3000 Homepage
Gallery:
On the occasion of my birthday i have bought the Weller WS81 solder station that replaces my old station Weller WHS40 who has almost 13 years behind him.
The Weller WHS40 solder station was designed for a hobby use and was no longer suitable for my current use.
Autopsy:
The SD2Snes cartridge is a SD Card Cartridge for the Super Nintendo / Famicom / Snes.
This cartridge, unlike previous products such as the NeoFlash SNES Myth Cart, has more space inside the Xilinx Spartan FPGA to store code so in the future it is possible to support any special chip as long as it has been firmware updated with the latest code provided that support has been developed and implemented.
Xilinx Spartan FPGA Firmware updates can be done without any special hardware, again, unlike the NeoFlash product. You can put the firmware on an SD card and it will automatically find the file and allow you to flash it right in place.
This cartridge already supports the Capcom CX4 microchip which is used in both the Megaman/Rockman X2 and Megaman/Rockman X3 cartridges. NTSC/U/J and PAL/E ROMs will run without a hitch as well as the Megaman X3 Zero Mission ROM (with the latest firmware update which readdresses some of the memory mapping in code).
It also works with ALL DSP chips including third party vendors (DSP1A/B, DSP2, DSP3, and DSP4). SD Gundam GX and TopGear 3000 run as well as Dungeon Master and Pilotwings. All of these titles load in a fraction of a second and are fully playable. There is no difference between the gameplay of these ROMs using sd2snes than playing them on original cartridge hardware.
Features:
- SD/SDHC/SDXC support (tested up to 64GB; no exFAT support so SDXC cards must be reformatted using FAT32)
- High quality push-push memory card slot.
- Fast ROM loading (~9MB/s)
- Fast menu navigation.
- Directories are sorted automatically, no need for FAT sorting tools.
- High resolution menu (512×224) for adequate display of long file names.
- Real Time Clock.
- Supports ROM size up to 128MBit (96Mbit actually implemented)
- Automatic near-time SRAM saving to SD Card (while the game runs). Some limitations apply:
- near-time saving is switched to periodic saving when a game is found to use the SRAM as work RAM.
- Automatic saving is disabled when MSU1 is used. SRAM is saved on reset.
- Enhancement chip support (see below for implementation status)
- BS-X memory map / Satellaview base unit registers (clock)
- DSP1 / 1b
- DSP2
- DSP3
- DSP4
- ST-010
- Cx4
- MSU1 (Each supported enhancement chip can be used in conjunction with MSU1.)
- S-RTC
- SuperCIC key (SNES CIC clone):
- enables operation on unmodified consoles of all regions.
- supports software 50/60Hz switching on SuperCIC enhanced consoles only (to be performed by sd2snes firmware, not yet implemented there)
- Auto region patching: eliminates “This Game Pak is not designed…” messages regardless of 50/60Hz setting.
A few things that may be added via Firmware updates in the future:
- GSU-1/2 (SuperFX)
- Action Replay/Game Genie code support
- SPC7110
- and more…
SD2Snes Video Review:
Download: SD2Snes Cartridge Label (1750)
source: sd2snes.de tototek.com
Autopsy:
1 Cents Atari 2600 Video Composite Mod: This very simple/cheap and functional mod adds a Video Composite output to the Atari 2600 console. I have shorted the five contacts Luma/Chroma and Sync for get a decent composite Video Signal. I have also cut a resistor (R55) to get better colors, for the Audio signal see the picture.
The Harmony Cartridge is a simple, affordable, time-saving, space-saving, hassle-free way to play hundreds of games on your Atari 2600 console.
Using a Harmony cartridge is easy. Just insert the Harmony cartridge into your console slot the same way you would with any ordinary Atari game cartridge. Put your favorite game binaries on an SD card, pop it into the Harmony Cartridge and you’re ready to go. Turn on the console, select the game you want to play from the list and start having fun.
source: harmony.atariage.com
Autopsy:
Today i’m very happy to present three new cartridges for the Commodore 64.
Nowadays, i’m very pleased to see new cartridges for Commodore 64. Many years are gone but this computer doesn’t want to die and honestly i am very happy.
If you like to purchase these fantastic games go here.
source: rgcd.co.uk
Autopsy:
After many years of use i have decided to replace my pfSense IPCop firewall installed on a Pentium III 500MHz / 512MB RAM with an embedded system like the “PC Engines Alix”.
The PC Engines ALIX series of system boards gives OEMs a higher performance replacement for the WRAP series of system boards.
Applications: Thin clients, kiosks, industrial user interface, wireless routers, firewalls, special purpose network devices…
source: varia-store.com
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
Autopsy:
Today i’m happy to present two new cartridges for the Commodore 64; Not Even Human (NEH) Inhuman Edition from Onslaught and Edge Grinder from Cosine.
Nowadays, i’m very pleased to see new cartridges for Commodore 64. Many years are gone but this computer doesn’t want to die and honestly i am very happy.
If you like to purchase these fantastic games go here.
source: rgcd.co.uk
Autopsy:
The interface 1541 Pocket Plus is a evolution of the Pocket 1541 released a few years ago. The 1541 Pocket Plus emulates the Commodore 1541 floppy drive with an SD (Secure Digital). The firmware like many Floppy Drive Emulation Interfaces for the C64 is based on the Open Source project SD2IEC and its operation is very simple and transparent, the interface is powered directly from the C64.
What can I do with it? It’s easy to say, with a normal SD (Secure Digital) you can store your favorites games and programs and you can load from the C64 everything directly from your memory card (SD), no more disk drives or datassette.
The differences from previous version, there are many, i’m going to list only the most important.
- 5VDC Powered from the Cartridge port of the Commodore 64.
- New CPU ATMega 1284PU (128k) clocked at 8MHz.
- External 48-pin Expansion slot.
- Internal expansion slot for future implementations.
- PocketCard with Bank Switching and 4Mbit flash memory (interchangeable)
- PocketCard PC 64 software can allows you to create Flash files for the 29F040.
- External Kernal with addon PocketCard PC 64 (requires PocketPLA 64).
- PocketPLA 64.
My first impression: I must say that has made a very good impression, the KIT Pocket 1541 Plus consists of several components built in an absolutely accurate and professional. The use of the addon PocketCard 64 at first time may be a bit complex for a beginner, but following the manual (you can find on the seller’s site) the configuration becomes easy and fun.
The Kernal cartridge mode is a very nice features, it overrides the PROM 901227. This feature requires the installation of the PocketPLA 64 and is only compatible with the Commodore 64 first edition (brown) with a PLA 906114.
In the sad case that the PocketPLA 64 can not be installed on your Commodore 64, the PocketCard 64 can be used to speed up the file loading with a TurboDisk Cartridge. The PocketCard 64 supports all types of cartridges (Ultimax or Standard) including games or utility. You can use the software PocketCard-64 to generate the file for the 29F040 flash with your compilations of Programs/Games or Kernal.
I suggest to buying this kit to all Retro Fans of the Commodore including people who want to ‘hack’ and not just play ;-D
source: rgmelsat.com
Autopsy:
The Sic!Cart (Super Inexpensive Cart) is a low price Flash Cartridge System for the Atari XL/XE series computers.
Sic!Cart available configurations:
- Programmed GAL.
- Sic!Cart with 2Mbit memory.
- Sic!Cart with 4Mbit memory.
source: atariage.com
Autopsy:
The 1541 Ultimate-II is a peripheral developed for the Commodore 64 (C64) by Gideon Zweijtzer.
It’s a C64 compatible cartridge that carries an Action Replay, The Final Cartridge III, Super Snapshot, Retro Replay or TurboAss with Codenet support (whatever the user prefers) and a fully compatible FPGA-emulated Commodore 1541 floppy drive that is fed from a built-in Mini SD card slot with C64-compatible files (e.g. .D64 diskimages or .PRG single program files).
The difference between 1541 Ultimate-II and other SD-based & .D64 mounting cartridges (like the MMC64, Super Snapshot 2007, or MMC Replay, SD2IEC) is that the 6502 microprocessor that powers the 1541 floppy and the 1541′s mechanical behavior (even sound) is fully emulated, making it theoretically compatible with almost anything.
File selection and management is done via a third button on the cartridge that brings up a new menu on screen.
For the full features list click here.
source: 1541ultimate.net ar.c64.org
Autopsy:
IDE Plus 2.0 is a new IDE host adapter by Simius for Atari (XE/XL) computer.
Some features:
- Is not much greater than a 2,5-inch IDE disk.
- Does not require an external power-supply.
- Contains an XE (CART+ECI) connector, an XL (PBI) connector, a cartridge port, and a connector for a 2,5-inch IDE disk.
- Contains 96 KB ISP Flash ROM and 32 KB RAM available to the internal PBI BIOS and flashable from the Atari.
- Contains 512 KB or 1024 KB ISP Flash ROM for SpartaDOS X (or any other cartridge of such type), flashable from the Atari. This ROM can be physically disabled using a dedicated switch. The switch is not installed in the device shown on photos below.
- Contains a real time clock circuitry to be used with SpartaDOS X. If someone doesn’t want to use it, the module is anyway fully compatible with an external R-Time 8 or internally mounted ARC.
- A LED flashing during the I/O.
source: atariage.com
Autopsy:
Preview of the new Manosoft C64SD Infinity v2.0.
This project is interesting not only because it’s another mass-storage solution but because it combines already existing solutions to a new and fresh product. Damiano has always followed all the Commdore related websites and forums especially concerning the MMC and SD2IEC projects.
That’s when he got the idea to build a solution for which one doesn’t need soldering, wire cutting or the IEC cable. C64SD utilizes the Datasette pass-through connector to power the SD2IEC circuit. An IEC pass-through connector connects right into the IEC port.
The whole module stand vertical along the back of the C64/128 (or VIC20). The module is fitted with two rather large buttons, one reset and one diskswap/multi-function button.
Remember: with a external power supply the C64SD works fine with Commodore 16/Plus4.
C64SD Infinity new Features:
- TAPE pass-through connector.
- Reset on User Port.
- CPU Type ATMEL ATmega 1284P(128k)
- SD Filesystem for firmware upgrade FAT16/32
- Standard Commodore 128 IEC Cable.
The interface can be purchased on the Manosoft site.
source: manosoft.it youtube.com
Nano SwinSID Prototype by x1541:
This project is based on the microcontroller ATMEGA88PU from Atmel and the emulation code is written by Swinkels.
The prototype of Nano SwindSID is a scaled down version of the Micro SwinSID, so far so good, and here’s my initial impression.
x1541, a user of the forum64.de has made a very nice work, the pcb has the same size of the original SID chip (6581/8580), the components are arranged very well and the entire space of the pcb was used. I can just say to buy it when the Nano SwinSID kit will be available, your money will be spent well.
Nano SwinSID Features:
- ISP Connector.
- Same size as the original SID.
- 6581/8580 Jumper.
- Smd ATmega.
source: forum64.de
Autopsy:
Personal note (PLA Compatibility): I have tested the EasyFlash cartridge with a Commodore 64 with installed a PLA replacement by Manosoft and it works Perfectly!
I bought mine fully assembled from Mike Betz via Lemon64 Forums.
EasyFlash is a cartridge for the C64 expansion port. In contrast to traditional cartridges, this one can be programmed directly from the C64.
You can easily create various classic computer game cartridges, program collections or even a diagnostic cartridge to track down issues with your hardware with it. All what you need to do this is a C64, an EasyFlash, the software available here and an image of the cartridge (*.crt). As these CRT files may be quite large, a large disk drive like the FD-2000 or an sd2iec may be useful.
EasyFlash is not a freezer cartridge like the Final Cartridge III or the Retro Replay. And it’s no replacement for a 1541 disk drive like the sd2iec.
source: skoe.de/easyflash lemon64.com
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