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ITS Module: TAP player for the C64SD v2.0 (based on sd2iec)

July 11th, 2013 No comments
ITS TAP Module with C64SD v2.0

Autopsy:

I have to thank my friend Damiano for sending me the ITS Module with a low serial number, which like the previous one (C64SD v2.0) i really appreciate it.

The ITS module is a interface that enables SD2IEC to play .TAP files version 1 and version 2 to a commodore machine. The ITS module was designed to fit into the pass-through tape connector of C64SD Infinity and to be connected to the C64SD by a four wires cable that allows C64SD to manage it.

SD2IEC firmware has been modified in order to add the commands and the routines needed to control the external ITS module without removing any of the original SD2IEC functionalities

Features:

  • Play back any V1 or V2 standard .TAP files in order to load them into a commodore machine belonging to the “classic” or “264” series including: VIC-20, VC20, C64, C16, C116, C128 (all
  • versions) and Plus/4. Note: some models of C128D doesn’t have the tape edge-card connector, of  course ITS is not compatible with these machines.
  • Rebuild the original tape grabbed into all the .TAP version 1 and for most of the version 2
  • Work permanently connected between the tape port of the commodore computers and the corresponding datassette (either 1530 white model flat plug or 1531 black model mini-din plug) acting
  • As a pass-through transparent gateway or activated in order to play back .TAP files: no need to connect and disconnect the module to use your datassette.
  • Play back .TAP content with optimal accuracy and completely in digital format without the hassle of file conversions or level adjustment
  • Simulate tape motor activation logic fully so that the play back of the tape is managed as it would be in a real C2N tape. An override button has been provided able to stop the play back of the “virtual tape” at any time when necessary.
  • Work with either 1530 (White model, flat plug) datassette recorder as well as with 1531 (Black, mini-din plug) datassette
  • Load .TAP with multiple programs recorded one after the other (like the classic tape compilations sold in the 80′s)  

What Can’t You Do:

  • Create a .TAP file representing the content of a Tape (i.e. ITS is not a “tape content grabber”)
  • Fix the content of a TAP file in case it’s broken. Broken .TAP won’t load on your Commodore box. Since there are literally thousands of utilities to create and manipulate .TAP files there is the possibility to come across non-standard or incorrect .TAP files.
  • Play back the content of .TAP of version V0. Use an utility to convert V0 .TAP files to V1 such as TapClean then you will be able to use the converted .TAP file with ITS module.
  • Manage programs saved on tape that are based on the tape-counter management or on the time of wind-rewind of the tape.

The ITS Module can be purchased on the Manosoft site.

ITS Tape Loading video:

source: manosoft.it

FPGA Arcade site updated: Replay – ready to ship

June 27th, 2013 No comments

It’s been six long years of Design and Testing of the FPGA Arcade Replay Board and now finally is available for purchase.

Price is 199 Euro for the version without composite/SVHS output, 229 Euro with.

FPGA Arcade Replay features:

  • Very large FPGA with high IO pin count for expansion.64 MByte of DDR memory.
  • Six layer PCB for high performance and stability.
  • 24 bit HD DAC with DVI / HDMI / VGA and legacy 15K monitor support.
  • Video line buffer / filter for highest quality output.
  • 24 bit / 192KHz audio DAC.
  • Flexible clock generator.
  • Small board size, fits in standard itx/atx case.
  • Lots of expansion for custom daughterboards or IO adapters (JAMMA for arcade cab use).
  • Optional dual host USB with dedicated CPU for low latency.
  • Daughterboard with Ethernet, fast USB and optional 68060 processor being designed.
  • Designed from the ground up to support multiple platforms (Amiga, Atari and others)

source: fpgaarcade.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

MCUmall GQ-4X Universal USB Programmer + Adapters

Adapters that you see in the photo:

  • GQ-4X GQ-3X | WILLEM 3in1 PLCC32 to DIP32.
  • GQ-4X GQ-3X | JTAG & SPI in circuit programming adapter | ICSP/ISP MODE ADP-056
  • GQ-4X GQ-3X | WILLEM ADAPTER MCS-51 / AVR + PLCC44

My personal considerations:

This is a great programmer and certainly more stable of the classic Willem (parallel or usb). I have tried to program some EPROM and FLASH without problems. The power supply via USB is very stable and accurate.

from the homepage of MCUmall:

The GQ-4X is the newest model of True USB Willem Universal Programmer series from MCUmall Electronics Inc Canada.

With its complete new professional design, True USB PRO 40pin willem programmer GQ-4X is the first & exclusive Willem universal programmer in the market that owns the unique features:

  • Neat robust enclosure; 40pin ZIF socket, fully automatic; JTAG support; Fast mode SPI support.
  • Support O/S XP 32bit, XP 64bit, Vista 32bit,Vista 64bit, Windows7 32bit/64bit.
  • Real True USB interface for both data transfer and power supply.
  • High speed/fastest; most-user-friendly; simplest-to-use.
  • Software update regularly; free life-time software upgrade/download.
  • Multi-languages support capability: Chinese, Czeh, English, French, German, Spanish, Portugues, Italian.

The application-oriented & application-enhanced design facilitates GQ-4X supports thousands of most popular application devices (growing) and ideally suits the portable/convenient applications that includes: car automative field ECU chiptuning, airbag reset, mileage, satilite devices, BIOS refreshing, motherboard BIOS in-circuit upgrade, xBox,Wii gaming machines EPROM duplicate, Altera Xilinx JTAG, PIC/MCU development, newer laptop technology and newer desktop PC etc.

It has outstanding performance which supoprts the devices that other similar products are not capable of supporting: such as 25LF SPI series, PSOP44,TSOP48, 25VF SPI series, Altera Xilinx CPLD JTAG, PLCC84,SST39VF3201, TE28F102, 27C1024, 27C1028,HD6475,29F800, 29LV800, 29F032…

source: mcumall.com

SD2Snes Tiny status update

Tiny status update of the SD2Snes Cartridge from Ikari

Directly from the SD2Snes Homepage:

So I’ve been getting a lot of questions pertaining to current progress, understandably. ;)

SuperFX is still crawling along, I’ve gotten a basic CPU core control unit and partial instruction decoder to work which can run test code in simulation fine, albeit limited. But it doesn’t deal with the different memory delays, stalling and parallelism yet; also the SNES interface, plot logic and other supplementary stuff are still missing.

The SuperFX uses pipelining which is a thing I haven’t fully understood yet, so that’s going to take some brain work and likely multiple complete rewrites of the CPU core. I’d rather not give an estimated time of completion for that at the moment… ;) Implementing pipelining properly is important because game code is laid out to take advantage of it and will not run correctly otherwise.

Besides the SuperFX, kogami has discovered a BS memory mapping bug, a regression that snuck into firmware 0.1.5 where I rewrote the BS memory mapping based on my own RE efforts. Also some graphical corruption has been found when using the “Run previous game” feature (Start button). I expect to make a bug fix / minor release addressing these issues (possibly others) in a couple of weeks.

source: sd2snes.de

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

FM Radio for Commodore 64

April 29th, 2013 No comments

Listen to your favourite radio stations on your Commodore 64.

The Software is written in C and compiled using CC65 compiler. Check the readme in the zip file for more information.

Download: C64 FM Radio v0.1 (917)

source: fm-radio-for-c64

Unboxing D2K Arcade cartridge for Mattel Intellivision

February 26th, 2013 No comments
D2K Arcade cartridge for Intellivision

Autopsy:

from Elektronite Homepage:

One smart ape has escaped from his cage. Mario, the zookeeper, is in a real fix! The gorilla Darwin has captured a very special lady and made his way onto a construction site and up bewildering, unfinished structures and a veritable King Kong! Leap for your life over bouncing barrels, ride fast-moving platforms to dizzying heights, scurry under runaway springs, and avoid roaming flames and dangerous balls of gas as you make your way up. It will take not only Mario but one of his brothers Toni and Bruno to outsmart the big ape and return the girl to safety.

It’s TWO games in one! The first arcade game, PLUS a second game with five all NEW levels inspired by the arcade hit D2K: Jumpman Returns! 9 Screens in total!

Features:

  • New graphics and sound effects. Hear DK growl for the first time!
  • Separate high scores for Game 1 and Game 2. Perfect for high-scoring competitions!

Video D2K ARCADE review for IntelliVision:

source: elektronite.com

Everdrive N64 – OS Update v1.29 released

January 21st, 2013 2 comments

It was released a new OS Update for the Everdrive N64 Flash Cartridge (Nintendo 64) by Krikzz. The upgrade instructions can be found here.

Changelog:

  • Allows to load/save controller pak to file. Please use any .mpk file and c-down button. It works only if controller pak plugged into joy port1. /ED64/dummy.mpk file can be used for exchange.
  • Ability to force default save type.
  • Ability to force M-PAL TV mode. Not sure if it work properly, cuz i don’t have PAL-M system for tests.
  • Os can run Banjo-Tooie U without manual patching.

Download: Everdrive N64 - OS Update v1.29 (1543)

source: krikzz.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

SD2Snes Progress update

October 21st, 2012 No comments

Ikari want to make a bit of clarity of the future of the SD2Snes interface.

Directly from the SD2Snes Homepage:

Progress update & (rough) road map:

In the past weeks, amongst a number of smaller feature requests, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about SuperFX progress. I’ve even seen rumors spread about SuperFX support being cancelled. This is not the case.

SuperFX is the most complex core to implement to date, and it even took me several months to complete Cx4 support. That was before the public release of sd2snes, however, so less people noticed. Rest assured that SuperFX support is still in progress. It will take at least the rest of this year though.

To me, having existing features working properly takes priority. That’s why I’m addressing reported bugs and also minor feature requests which have been in the queue for quite long in parallel to working on SuperFX. I expect there to be 1-2 more releases before SuperFX support is introduced in v0.2.0, not counting critical bug fixes should need for them arise. Since people seem to get annoyed at my love for the Satellaview I’ll put off further work on that until after SuperFX.

There will be a v0.1.5 release shortly, which supports large SRAM properly, fixes sorting of long directory entries, fixes a glitch in SPC playback with S-APU consoles, works properly with non-standard controllers plugged in (e.g. Super Scope), and has more faithful BS-X memory mapping (<- actually finished a couple of weeks ago).

v0.1.6 will probably introduce proper SuperCIC support (allowing to select 50/60Hz from the menu) and maybe rudimentary cheat code support (ROM patching only). Both might be delayed to v0.2.0.

Keep in mind that while I’m continuing work on SuperFX support it helps do something else now and then.

source: sd2snes.de

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

Unboxing & Assembly BitFixer PETdisk in Kit

September 28th, 2012 No comments
BitFixer PETdisk interface

Gallery:

The PETdisk is a new storage device, made by bitfixer, for the Commodore CBM / PET with an IEEE-488 port.

The system is in two parts. A datassette module that makes it possible to play “data” from a PC soundcard to the CBM / PET and play “data” from the CBM / PET to the PC. The IEEE-488 module has an SD card and a micro processor.

You can use the commands LOAD, SAVE and LOAD “$” to load or store data on the SD card. The device number can be changed with a help of a jumper. The USB cable is used to provide 5VDC from the datassette module to the IEEE-488 module.

For more informations,schematics,documentations and price of the kit please visit the site of the author.

Video demostration:

source: bitfixer.com

HxC Floppy Emulator: Mac OSx Support *Beta Software*

September 26th, 2012 No comments

The HxC Floppy Drive Emulator is a software and hardware system created by jfdn aka Jeff.

The aim of this project is to replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device emulating the floppy disk drive (list of supported Computer/Hardware).

There are two differents emulators:

  • A USB version which allows to connect the floppy disk drive interface of the computer to a PC via a USB cable.
  • A SDCARD version which allows to emulate floppy disks which images are stored in a SDCARD.

Release notes for the HxCFloppyEmulator software v2.0.3.0:

  • PRE-RELEASE – IN DEVELOPMENT: HxCFloppyEmulator software v2.0.3.0 (Windows & Mac OS X support !)

Download: HxCFloppyEmulator v2.0.3.0 *BETA* (1063)

source: hxc2001.free.fr

Manosoft C64SD Infinity v2.0 Blue version soon on Stock

September 14th, 2012 No comments
Manosoft C64SD v2.0 Blue version

Gallery:

This is the preview of the Manosoft C64SD Infinity v2.0 Blue version. This version will be soon available for sale.

Here the full review of the Manosoft C64SD Infinity v2.0.

source: manosoft.it

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

SNK Neo Geo Universe Bios v3.1 by Razoola released

September 7th, 2012 1 comment

SNK Neo Geo Universe Bios v3.1 released.

The UNIVERSE BIOS is for owners of MVS or AES hardware that want an easy way to change country region or between Arcade or Console mode on boot.

Also included are other features that are not possible using the standard MVS bios.

source: unibios.free.fr

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

Everdrive N64 – OS Update v1.28 released

July 28th, 2012 No comments

It was released a new OS Update for the Everdrive N64 Flash Cartridge (Nintendo 64) by Krikzz. The upgrade instructions can be found here.

Changelog:

  • SRAM saves bugfix.

Download: Everdrive N64 - OS Update v1.28 (1229)

source: krikzz.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

The VC 314: Rasperry Pi in a Commodore 64

July 25th, 2012 No comments

Retrotext has made a interesting modding of a not working Commodore 64 with a Raspberry Pi.

For this project Retrotext has used the following things:

  • Commodore C64 with a working Keyboard.
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Keyrah USB interface.
  • 4-way USB port.
  • Three RCA connectors.
  • Ethernet and HDMI cable.
  • On/off Switch.
  • Power Supply and some other items.

The Commodore 64 runs under the Vice emulator (Linux) on the Raspberry Pi so we can play our favorites games.

About the Resperry Pi

The Raspberry Pi is a  small, inexpensive computer that is capable of running tasks like most other PCs, however it is smaller, a lot smaller in fact it measures  85.60mm x 53.98mm x 17mm , almost the size of a credit card and costs £25. It has an ARM11 chip at its heart, which finds its origins in early UK microcomputers, notably first in the Acorn Electron, the brain child of  Mk14, ZX80 and 81s’ Chris Currie and Austrian physicist Herman Hauser.

source: retrotext.blogspot.co.uk

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

Everdrive MD – OS Update v35 released

July 24th, 2012 No comments

It was released a new OS Update for the Everdrive MD Flash Cartridge (Megadrive/Genesis) by Krikzz. The upgrade instructions can be found here.

Changelog:

  • SRAM auto backup bug was fixed.

Download: Everdrive MD - OS Update v35 (1979)

source: krikzz.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today