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Commodore Joystick

September 28th, 2017 2 comments
Commodore Joystick

A lot of joysticks have been produced between the 80′s and 90′s years, this model made by Commodore was missing in my collection.

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Dragon32/Coco2 Multi-Cartridge with Extensions (Odyssey 2/Vectrex)

September 6th, 2017 3 comments
Dragon32-Coco2 Multi-Cartridge with Extensions (VideoPac-Vectrex)

The Multi-cart by Rolo was designed to to hold a variety of Dragon 32-64/CoCo 2 rom cartridge based programs, which are running directly from the eprom at address range $c000 to $ff00.

The cart holds up to 64 8k-roms. It can play roms with a size of 1k to 16k. You simply select a memory slot from 00 to 63, press RESET on your Dragon, and the program launches.

This enables you, to use your Dragon simply without further hardware setup: no cables, no drives, no extra PSUs, no controller-carts.

The Dragon/CoCo 2 Multi-cartridge now can also be used for other systems.

Currently there are three Extension Cartridges (adapters) available:

  • VECTREX.
  • Odyssey 2/PHILIPS G7000/G7200/G7400.
  • INTERTON ELECTRONIC VC 4000.

A compilation of rom-files for all four systems can be burned on a single eprom (27C4001), adding versatility to the device.

Gallery:

source: archive.worldofdragon.org atariage.com

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Empty PCB

August 29th, 2017 No comments
Texas Instruments TI-99-4A Empty PCB

Texas Instruments TI-99-/4A Empty PCB

This is what remained after the recovery. Some components (all TTL) are not been recovered, others were are already recovered some times ago for spare parts.

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Commodore VIC-1210 (VIC-1000 Series) 3K Ram Pack

August 12th, 2017 No comments
Commodore VIC-1210 (VIC-1000 Series) 3K Ram Pack

Commodore VIC-1210 (VIC-1000 Series) 3K Ram Pack

I must thank to my friend Andrea Pierdomenico (Andry) for this fantastic gift.

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Donation: TI-99/4A Cartridges

August 6th, 2017 No comments
Donation: TI-99/4A Cartridges

Donation: TI-99/4A Cartridges

Thanks to my friend Ciro Barile of the TI-99 Italian User Club for the donation of these TI-99/4A Cartridges.

Titles:

  • The Attack.
  • Blasto.
  • BurgerTime.
  • BigFoot.
  • Chisholm Trail.
  • Hunt the Wumpus.

ZX Spectrum-ZX-81 & Amstrad CPC Homemade Interfaces

August 6th, 2017 No comments
ZX Spectrum-ZX-81 & Amstrad Homemade Interfaces

ZX Spectrum/ZX-81 & Amstrad Homemade Interfaces

Thanks to my friend Andrea Pierdomenico for these unknown/homemade interfaces for ZX-Spectrum(ZX-81) / Amstrad CPC.

Interfaces:

  • Unknown ZX-Spectrum JOY Interface.
  • Unknown Amstrad CPC ROM (PARADOS / UTOPIA) Interface (Floppy ?)
  • ZX PIO Trainer Interface by Federleiste.

Philips Videopac G7400 RGB-Composite Hack – Repair – Recap

August 2nd, 2017 14 comments
Philips Videopac G7400 RGB-Composite Hack - Repair - Recap

Philips Videopac+ G7400 RGB/Composite Hack – Repair – Recap

I have received a gift from my dear friend Andrea Pierdomenico a Videopac+ G7400 console with the BASIC Microsoft module and some cartridges that go into my collection of videopac cartridges.

This console running smoothly but with some problems.

  • Power button not working (as usual)
  • A capacitor of the power supply section has a broken leg.

The works that have been made:

  • Replacing the power switch with a compatible one.
  • Full recap of the power supply section.
  • RGB/Composite HACK for unparalleled video output.
  • RF Module Removal.
  • Shifted the 220V Power Cable into the hole of the RF antenna.
  • Two video cables (Composite-Audio / RGB-Audio)

Videopac+ G7400 RGB/Composite Hack (components that need to be added):

All the works that have been made are documented in the photos below:

source: g7400 guide rgb mod

Hyperkin Supaboy S (SD2Snes & Hardware Gallery)

July 3rd, 2017 No comments
Hyperkin Supaboy S (SD2Snes & Hardware Gallery)

I think it is totally useless to make another review of the Hyperkin SupaBoy S, there are hundreds on the net.

I wrote this short article and made a short video just to confirm the compatibility with the SD2Snes cartridge and take some photos of the inside of the SupaBoy S.

The SupaBoy S is not a Super Nintendo/Super Famicom emulator but a hardware clone of the original console, other consoles like the Yobo FC Twin had used the same choice.

This choice is absolutely winner because the compatibility with the software is very high, i have tested some games without any problems, including MSU-1 games with CD-quality Audio and Video Movies.

The only painful note is the video signal,  external and internal because BOTH are composite, which is not really the best, they could do better, maybe take the RGB signal immediately after the SONY CXA 1645M video encoder and make it available externally with a video connector.

I leave you to the photos and video.

Gallery:

Video:

Silcom Telegioco / Otron / Inno-Hit – Pong style games

April 12th, 2017 2 comments
Silcom - Otron - Inno-Hit - Pong style games

I thank Luca, a reader of our blog for the donation of these consoles of the 70′s years.

Consoles:

  • Silcom Telegioco (RE-EL / REggiana-ELettronica) [1977]
  • Otron Gamatic 7606 [1977]
  • Otron Gamatic Programmable Videogame 8600 + 3 x Cartridges [1978]
  • Inno-Hit Sportron GT66C [1977/1978]

Gallery:

Nintendo Famicom Mini

April 6th, 2017 No comments
Nintendo Famicom Mini

I have already the Nintendo Classic Mini, but i wanted to have both models.

Commodore bag available during the mid-1980s

April 6th, 2017 1 comment
White Commodore bag available during the mid-1980s.

Commodore bag available during the mid-1980s.

Many thanks to my friend Ralf.

Exidy Sorcerer II (DP1000-2) Repair

March 20th, 2017 No comments
Exidy Sorcerer II (DP1000-2)

This computer is of a dear friend; Paolo Cognetti.

Short story of the repair:

I have checked the voltages and are correct, although a couple of capacitors on the power stage need to be replaced.

I have tried to turn on the computer and i have see immediately a problem, the screen is full of random characters, with the oscilloscope i have tried to see if i have data stream on the CPU (Z80), interrupts and so on.., nothing, it seemed completely dead, replaced.

The computer has started better then before but with some video glitches, raster lines scrolls from bottom to the top and some characters scattered on the screen. I double checked the voltages and i have realized that the 12v are gone and the 7812 warmed a lot, about 80 degrees after 2 minutes.

Almost all tantalum capacitors of 1uf and 33uF on the 12v line are shorted, i have decided to replace them all (22 pieces)

After the replacement of all tantalum capacitors and two electrolytic capacitors on the power supply stage the computer has started to work correctly but with some video problems, characters scattered on the screen, after replacing two Static RAM 2114 everything works perfectly, including the Basic Cartridge that until now had never worked.

Works that have been made:

  • Fixing broken Fuse Holder.
  • Fixing a cold welding of a capacitor on the power supply stage.
  • Testing Voltages.
  • Replaced CPU Z80.
  • Replaced 12 x Tantalum Capacitors (1uf)
  • Replaced 10 x Tantalum Capacitors (33uf)
  • Replaced 1 x Axial Electrolytic Capacitor (470uf)
  • Replaced 1 x Axial Electrolytic Capacitor (1500uf)
  • Replaced 2 x NMOS 2114 Static Ram.
  • Fixed the botton cover with two missing screws.
  • Cleaning the top cover using only water and a sponge.

Exidy Sorcerer II Repair Gallery:

Exidy Sorcerer II Gallery:

source: wikipedia

Laser Slim Line Computer DataRecorder (Model DR-15) Boxed

March 5th, 2017 No comments
Laser Slim Line Computer DataRecorder DR-15

Thanks to my friend Andry for the donation of this DataRecorder.

Laser Slim Line Computer DataRecorder (Model DR-15).

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Video Technology (Vtech) Laser 500 Color Computer

March 5th, 2017 3 comments
Video Technology (Vtech) Laser 500 Color Computer

Thanks to my friend Andry for the donation of this computer.

The laser 500 is identical to the previous version, the laser 350. The only differences are in the memory configuration (64 KB instead of 16 KB), the keyboard (77 keys instead of 49) and extended graphics modes.

Technical features:

  • Production: 1985
  • CPU  NEC D780c (Z80A compatible) at 3.7 MHz
  • RAM: 64 KB, expandible to 128 KB
  • ROM: 32 KB
  • Text modes: 40 x 24 in 16 colors and 80 x 24 in 2 colors.
  • Graphic modes: 160 x 96 a 16 col., 160 x 192 a 2 col., 320 x 192 a 2 col., 160 x 192 a 16 col., 320 x 192 a 2 col., 640 x 192 a 2 col.
  • Sound: 1 voce, 6 octave (Beeper)
  • I/O ports: Tape-recorder (600 bauds), Composite Monitor out, RF Port, Memory expansion port.
  • Power supply: 9v 500mA (Positive Centre)

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Commodore 64 – KCS & Captain Miki II Cartridges

March 3rd, 2017 1 comment
Commodore 64 - KCS & Captain Miki II Cartridges

Thanks to my friend Andry for the donation of those two cartridges for Commodore 64/128.

Cartridges:

  • KCS Cartridge for C64.
  • Captain Miki II (Clone?) for C64.

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